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trippydooda · 1 year ago

Text

Fandom: Stray Kids

Pairing: Han Jisung/Seo Changbin

Rating: Safe for minors for this excerpt

Word Count: 1,352

Changbin quickly, for a lack of a better phrase, gets his shit together after the embarrassing conference he has with Seungmin.

The spellcaster had leveled him a look of unfiltered pity and Changbin hated it. Of all the people to look weak in front of, it had to be him. Changbin’s own ability to read ether, perfected by instruction from the spellcaster, has almost seemed to backfire on Seungmin. It’s unclear if he’s noticed yet, but there’s something slimy and slippery hiding under the viscous ether that covers the man. Seungmin has never treated Changbin with anything other than poise and respect, but he won’t—can’t—trust the practiced smiles; the gentle touches laced with equally practiced concern. Until Changbin finds what exactly it is that lights his nerves aflame around Seungmin, he won’t ever let his guard down.

Again, his own brain betrayingly muses. Changbin scowls all the same, not bothering to hide it as he sits cross legged, arms folded, on a pathetic stone that must have once served some residential purpose.

Ever the diligent solider, the moment sweat didn’t threaten to suffocate his skin, Changbin went back to tracking J-One. Either his target doesn’t bother to hide his machinations or he simply does not give a fuck if—when—anyone finds him. Though at this point Changbin is almost sure the only person out for his blood is, well, Changbin. Something twists in his gut at the thought, an emotion he has no reference to deduce.

Regardless, J-One’s current choice of residence leaves a lot to be desired. The only benefit, Changbin thinks, is that the current ruins are not charted on any map; there was no need to necessarily know where it was, not having any monetary or otherwise value attached to the land anymore. The moment he feels the air definitively shift around him, he makes the approaching figure privy to his useless ruminations.

“I love what you’ve done with the place,” Changbin greets, J-One stumbling into view now. A breeze tussles his unkempt hair, a look of surprise quickly replaced with something else Changbin will never be able to decode.

There was no point in it, anyway. A coroner will soon be the only one left to decode his lanky target. Changbin resolutely does dare to describe J-One as lithe nor nimble.

Infuriatingly, J-One absolutely beams at Changbin, taking the daring steps forward to dimmish the distance between them. “Your voice is almost as pretty as everything else about you,” J-One says and Changbin flinches from pensive anticipation of a fight—definitely not of anything else.

“Do you always flirt with death like this?” Changbin says as a reply, ignoring the…strangely soft compliment.

“Nah, just with you.”

“Pretentious,” Changbin tsks.

J-One’s hair is a faded pink colour, approaching a pastel peach hue. It hadn’t been long since they first met and that obnoxious blue taunted Changbin. He idly wonders why bother to change it so much but answers his own question with what he thinks is fair enough logic: to throw off would be pursuers. Too bad for J-One that Changbin doesn’t rely on such dynamic and fruitless things to track down his targets as style.

Unsurprisingly, J-One ignores Changbin’s annoyed turmoil in favour of declaring, “I��m so honoured you decided to finally talk to me.” And—the way a genuine smile tugs at his lips, the way his ether pulsates with uncomfortable desire, Changbin believes him. He does not comment on it as he unsheathes his scythe from its ring instead, fearing if he keeps on the conversation his resolve will crumble pathetically into rubble not too dissimilar from the very terrain he finds himself on.

Because the thing was—J-One was interesting. He made Changbin curious. It made Changbin want to know more about his target for purely selfish reasons. Even as his scythe struggles to meet a conjured blade, he wonders where J-One learned to fight so effortlessly. Changbin has never relished in his ability and duty to act as executioner but this time he briefly dreads it.

For now, at least. In the coming year the trepidation he will carry like shackles on his ankles will feel more like torture.

Apparently his target has no qualms with conducting an interview as they dance their tango of inevitable death.

“How old are you?” he asks Changbin, his ether the only betraying clue that he’s exerting any effort at all.

For reasons unknown to even Changbin himself, he replies, “Far too old for you to be concerned with the matter.” He slashes at J-One’s feet, but his target hops back just in time. Bastard.

In between the clanging of weapons and skidding of dirt beneath their feet Changbin hears his target hum thoughtfully. It’s all so infuriating; the way J-One moves so fluidly, almost better than Changbin (almost being the operative word, his ego reiterates); how he smiles as he does so but there is not a trace of malice in the curve of his lips. Changbin wants to cut his mouth from his damn face just so he doesn’t have to see the brightness therein.

“I’ve read about you, Grim Reaper,” J-One finally says, the smile replaced with a cocky smirk, “I hear you’re all the rage at the agency. I also heard some more interesting things.” He barely dodges the next slash Changbin aims at his face; a small cut no bigger than a sliver begins to ooze blood. It rolls down his target’s cheek like a promise for more, but J-One either is ignoring it or just doesn’t notice all together. “Would you like to know what I heard?”

“Absolutely not,” Changbin finds himself responding despite his desire to shut his own mouth. He’s never held conversation with one of his targets, let alone had one of his targets want to have a chat. The way J-One keeps dodging and Changbin keeps slashing makes him momentarily think the whole thing is distracting him, and the anger that surfaces underneath his skin at the thought has Changbin pressing his lips into a thin line. He ignores the way J-One’s gaze flits down, fleeting, to them as he does so.

He’s almost sure J-One continues, just a monologue now, but Changbin focuses instead on the whole reason he’s here: to kill. To eliminate. To report back of his success; restore order. The purpose he has in these convictions spurs him to concentrate his ether tightly where his heart uselessly occupies his thoracic cavity, pushing into it as if to will the organ to beat again. J-One’s lips stop moving then, instead gaping open slightly like he’s just put the pieces together that he’s about to die and unceremoniously shuffle off this wretched mortal coil. Changbin does not take any satisfaction with the prospect; he’s only bound to obey.

Twisting his fists tighter on the grip of his scythe he digs his feet in the dirt, legs spread, swinging the blade behind him with force. J-One makes the rookie mistake of not watching his own footwork, tripping over something in the dirt—a pebble maybe; a brick that was once known as some sod’s chimney—and rather poetically falls backwards as Changbin brings his scythe down, slicing right across J-One’s chest, deep and purposeful. When J-One’s back hits the ground he coughs, more sputters really, eyes momentarily rolling back into his skull.

And Changbin stands above him, legs on either side of his torso, scythe twirled into a position of the blade pointed down, intent clear and precise; motions practiced and sure. Only J-One’s eyes find their composure and tumble back so he gazes up at Changbin. There’s something dark swirling in his irises, something as resolute as Changbin’s desire to end this dance, but it is not Changbin who makes the curtain call. He does not close out the act despite the tip of his scythe resting assuredly against J-One’s neck; despite the blood already being drawn from the pressure he’s placed there.

“I meant it, you know,” J-One whispers like a confession to the wind alone, “you truly are beautiful, Seo Changbin.”

Binsung fic? in this economy??

well hey there.

i am indeed alive, arguably. i debated whether or not to post any writing here anymore but i'm determined to procrastinate studying for two finals i have tomorrow so here we gooooo.

this will be in two parts, but a brief elaboration or w/e: both excerpts are from a mammoth WIP fic i have been working on for over a year now i think? i don't work on anything resembling a consistent basis and found that posting my WIPs in their chronological order just ended up backfiring in terms of spurring motivation. as such, these are both excerpts from in the middle of the fic and designed to not make any bloody sense in terms of you all understanding fully wtf is going on. i just really like these scenes and i think they paint a good picture of the general feel of the first half of the fic's plot so indulge me, o grand internet, as i struggle for crumbs of serotonin.

i think i'm going to post them in replies to this post cuz my explanation here ended up being the total opposite of brief lol. i'll provide a general summary of the fic, even though once again the excerpts won't make a lick of sense since no context. i'd post the prologue too but i don't like it enough and want to rework the first few pages of the fic itself lol.

anyway! it's a Binsung fic from Stray Kids, a fandom i haven't posted anywhere on the internet before yet despite the fact that i'm a total fucking simp lol. enjoy :')

#stray kids fanfic #Binsung #Stray Kids #Han Jisung #Seo Changbin #slow burn #slower than the decay of the sun tbh #not me forgetting how to format tumblr and editing the first excerpt like 50 times #no beta we die like my motivation to study

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waitimcomingtoo · 4 years ago

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Obedience

Part two

Pairing: Peter Parker x Reader

Synopsis: after being tortured by HYDRA, you have to obey every command given to you

warnings: mentions of suicide

Masterlist

“How is she?”

Steve stared at you with sad eyes, watching your through the glass window on your door. It had been three months since HYDRA captured you during a mission. In those three months, they put you through a form of torture worse than the team could imagine. You’d finally be found and had been staying in the hospital until your vitals were stable.

“Not good.” The nurse sighed. “She doesn’t say much. Eye contact is even more rare.”

“Do you know what they did to her?”

“It’s unclear.” The nurse said. “She has no physical injuries. She doesn’t like it when we turn the lights off, though. We think they kept her in the dark.”

“Can I see her?” He asked, without taking his eyes off you.

“You can.” She nodded. “We can’t promise she’ll speak to you.”

“I’m gonna try.” Steve smiled at the nurse before going into your room. You jumped slightly and withdrew your knees to your chest at the sudden noise of the door opening.

“Hey Y/n.” Steve smiled at you as he slid his hands in his pockets. “It’s good to see you.”

“Hey, captain.” You slowly unfurled your body at the sight of someone familiar. Steve went to close the door behind him, but you protested.

“Wait, don’t close the door. They used to…” You trailed off and seemed to space out, so Steve took his hands away from the door.

“It’s okay.” He assured you. “I’ll leave it open.”

“Thank you.” You mumbled quietly.

“No problem. Mind if I sit here?” He asked as he pointed to a chair by your bed.

“Yes, sir.” You nodded stiffly.

“How are you feeling?” He asked as he took a seat.

“Not great.” You smiled weakly and rubbed the side of your head. “They uh, they fucked up my head, sir.”

“I heard. Here.” He handed you a bottle of juice he grabbed from the cafeteria. “You should drink something.”

“Thank you, sir.” You didn’t look at him as you accepted the bottle. You took a long sip and grimaced after you swallowed it.

“Whats wrong?” He asked when he saw the look of disgust on your face.

“I hate orange juice.” You confessed as you took another sip.

“Then why are you drinking it?” He wondered. “I have water right here.”

You took the glass of water and briefly looked him in the eyes, giving him a weak smile.

“It’s HYDRA. They got inside my head.” You whimpered. “I cant say no to something, even when I want to.”

“Oh.” Steves face fell as you told him. “Don’t worry about this, Y/n. I’m gonna figure out how to fix you.”

“Okay.” You said cheerfully, sitting up straight with a bright smile. Your body language did not match your sudden chipper mood, and it alarmed Steve.

“Woah, what happened?”

“You told me not to worry.” You said sadly. His eyes widened as he realized the extent of your condition. He found it deeply disturbing to watch you, knowing your smile was fake, but kept a straight face.

“Right, sorry.” He nodded. “You can relax.”

With that, your body slumped and you fell over on the bed. You looked at him sadly as you laid there, looking anything but relaxed.

“This might be harder than I thought.”

When Peter heard the car door close, he rushed to the window. He stopped sleeping the first night you were gone and stoped eating when you were legally declared dead a month later.

“There you are.” Peter rushed away from the window to Steve. “Is Y/n with you? Is she okay?”

“She’s with me but she’s not okay.” Steve said quietly, giving Peter a stern look that told him to relax.

“Why?” He felt himself getting emotional. “What did they…”

He trailed off when you walked through the front door looking skinnier and smaller than ever. Peter let out a breath of relief as tears came to his eyes. You didn’t look at him, but he was staring at you.

“Hey.” You said weakly, slowly lifting your eyes to look at him.

“Hey.” Peter said back, wiping his face free of tears. “I missed you. I’ve been really worried. I, uh, how are you? How are you feeling?”

“Tired.” You nodded. “I’m just gonna go to sleep, if that’s all right?”

You looked to Steve for permission, which he wasn’t expecting. Peter looked between the two of you in confusion.

“Yeah, of course.” Steve told you. “You can do anything you want.”

“Thank you, sir.” You said softly.

“Are you sure?” Peter asked. “You’ve been gone for so long. You should eat something”.

You immediately stopped in your tracks and went to the kitchen. Peter watched as you robotically took an orange from the fruit bowl and began to peel it with shaking hands.

“Whats happened?” He whispered to Steve. “Why is she doing that?”

“Thanks to whatever HYDRA did to her, she obeys every command given to her.” Steve whispered back as he watched you.

“That wasn’t a command.” Peter told him. “I was just suggesting that she eat something. She looks so hallow.”

“It doesn’t matter.” Steve shrugged. “She just has to do what she’s told.”

“Is she in pain?” Peter asked him as he watched you with guilty eyes.

“Not physically.” Steve shook his head. “I think it’s hurting her on the inside. A lot.”

“Really?” Peter asked sadly. You had now finished your orange and sat waiting for further instruction.

“May I go to bed now, please?” You asked, uncharacteristically spoke spoken.

“Yeah.” Steve smiled softly at you. “You don’t have to ask.”

“Thank you.” You nodded before running off your room. Once you were gone, Steve hung his head in his hands and let out a long sign. Peter watched him curiously, not used to seeing him show this kind of emotion. He looked up with glassy eyes and looked at Peter, shaking his head sadly.

Two months since HYDRA

“Good morning”. You greeted Peter as you sat next to him at the kitchen table. It was a rare morning when you were out of your room, and an even rarer moment to see you smiling.

“Hey.” Peter smiled brightly at you. “How’d you sleep?”

“Um.” You bit your lip as you thought back on your restless night. “Fine. Just had a few bad dreams.”

“Do you want to talk about them?” Peter asked politely.

“I would prefer not to, if that’s okay?” You asked him as if it was up to him. It pained him to see you asking permission for everything.

“Then we won’t.” He assured you. “Do you want some cereal?”

“You mean you didn’t eat it all?” You teased, showing a glimmer of your usual self.

“Shut up.” He chuckled as he nudged you. You instantly shut your mouth, looking frustrated with yourself for doing so.

“Sorry.” Peter apologized immediately. “I didn’t mean it like that. You can speak.”

“Thank you, sir.” You cleared your throat, all traces of the person Peter once knew reverting back inside.

“You don’t have to thank me.” He said softly as he rubbed your shoulder. “And you don’t have to call me “sir.” It’s just me. Just Peter.”

“Can we just change the subject?” You asked him, looking at him with pain filled eyes.

“Yeah.” Peter nodded. “Are you coming in the mission later?”

“Yeah.” Your smile returned again. “Mr. Stark cleared me for work last night.”

“Thats great.” Peter smiled back. “I’ve missed my partner in crime.”

“I missed you to.” Your smile faded a little. “Thinking about you was what got me through when they…you know.”

“I thought about you too.” Peter put his hand over yours and rubbed his thumb softly on your knuckle. “Every day. Nothing else would enter my mind.”

“Do you think I’m ever gonna be normal again?” You whispered as you leaned closer to him.

“I do.” Peter nodded, tilting his face to the side as he inches closer. “It’s all going to be okay.”

Peter your lips could touch, Sam walked in the room with a bowl of cereal. He was one of the Avengers who assumed you and Peter had gotten together years ago, so he didn’t feel bad interrupting your moment.

“Ew.” Sam snorted. “Don’t do that in front of my cereal.”

You immediately pulled away, physically having to obey Sam. You sighed angrily and looked at Peter with sad eyes before getting up.

“Y/n.” Peter called after you, not wanting you to leave but not wanting to give you a command. You kept walking, not wanting to talk about what happened.

You didn’t bring up the almost kiss all day, which Peter was grateful for. You acted normal around him at the mission, too excited to be working again to think about the awkward moment. You focused on completing your task and got through most of the mission without a problem.

“I got the vials.” You proudly held up three stolen vials of Pym particles to show Peter. He finished webbing the security guard and smiled at you.

“Nice job.” Peter high fived you. “Hank is gonna be so relieved.”

“I know. Come on we gotta go.”

You and Peter began to run towards the jet when you tripped an alarm by accident. A guard came out of the watchtower and shined a flashlight on you, making you run faster.

“Hey!” He shouted. “Stop right there!”

Your face scrunched in frustration as your feet stuck to the floor. You tried to keep running but you were stuck in place.

“What are you doing?” Peter exclaimed when he noticed you weren’t behind him. “We have to go!”

“I can’t move!” You shook your head angrily. “He told me to stop.”

“We gotta go.” Peter quickly scooped you up and ran with you. You held on to him and hid your face in his neck, not wanting him to see how upset you were. Peter ran all the way back to the jet and climbed inside.

“What happened to you two?” Tony asked as Peter set you down. You turned around and punched the wall out of anger as Peter watched you.

“He told Y/n to stop so she had to obey.” Peter said quietly, making Tony’s face fall. You turned around and nodded, looking angry with yourself.

“I’m sorry, Y/n.” Tony sighed. “But until we get this figured out-“

“I can’t go on the missions.” You nodded, already knowing what was coming.

“I’m sorry.” He apologized.

“Yeah.” You sighed and kept your eyes down. “I’m sorry too.”

Eight months since HYDRA

“Where are you?” Peter called you to ask when he didn’t find you in the tower. You were usually waiting for him when he came from patrol, but you were nowhere to be found today.

“I’m at some store downtown.” You answered as you turned down a street corner.

“Alone?” Peter worried.

“It’s fine, Peter.” You assured him. “I was going crazy sitting in the tower all day. I needed to go out.” You sighed.

“It’s not safe for you to be outside when you can’t say no to anything.” Peter reasoned. “I can think of a million bad things that can happen. You shouldn’t be alone.”

Your feet started moving before you had a chance to process what he said and you planted yourself next to the first person you saw. You smiled awkwardly at the man and tried to walk away, but you were stuck. Peter told you not to be alone, so you had to obey.

“Nothing bad is going to happen.” You assured him. “No one knows about my condition.”

“Can I at least meet you where you are?” He asked, careful not to give you a command. “It will make me feel better.”

“Okay, fine.” You agreed. “You can meet me here.”

“Okay. Thank you.” Peter sighed in relief. “I’ll see you soon.”

You tried to walk again and were able to this time. You started walking down an alleyway to find a store to meet Peter at when you heard a mans voice behind you.

“Hey.” He called. “Slow down.”

You started walking slower despite your inner protest and felt your heart rate pick up. The footsteps behind you got faster and soon you were joined by the man from earlier.

“I overheard you on the phone.” He began. “Is it true you say yes to everything?”

“I’m sorry, I have to go.” You gave him a tight smile and continued walking slowly.

“Answer my question.” He called after you.

“It’s true.” You blurted, always having to obey. You began to sweat as he caught up to you again and began to toy with your hair.

“Interesting.” He remarked. “Spin around.”

You shut your eyes in frustration and spun around in a circle, earning an amused laugh.

“Wow.” He clapped his hands. “Isn’t that amazing?”

“I really have to go.” You told him. “Please just leave me alone.”

You started walking away again, allowed to run now since his original command wore off.

“Stop.” You heard his voice, and you had to stop.

“So it’s true.” He smirked as he circled around you. “You do obey everything. Even when you don’t want to?”

You stayed silent and kept your eyes down, praying he’d get bored and leave.

“Answer me.” He got too close to you to say into your ear.

“Yes.” You answered in a weak voice.

“I could have fun with this.” He smiled and folded his arms. He stared at you for a minute before tracing his finger along the side of your face. You tried to move but you stayed still.

“You don’t want to do this.” You told him. Your threat was pretty empty without your suit or your free will. If you tried to fight him, he could just tell you to stop.

“Aw, but I do.” He pouted. “You’re pretty when you threaten me. But it would sound a lot better if you had a smile on.”

You smiled against your will, feeling a hot flash of embarrassment.

“That’s better.” He talked to you like you were a child. “Now, walk with me.”

You began to walk side by side with him, having no idea where he was taking you. You passed some police officers on the street and tried to make eye contact.

“Don’t say anything.” He mumbled in your ear. “Keep your eyes down.”

You did as you were told and continued walking with him until you reached a black van.

“Get in the car.” He said, and you began to climb in. You tried to fight the urge to climb into the car, gripping the side and pushing yourself back. Your need to obey commands overtook your instincts and you got in the car.

“There we go. Now buckle your seatbelt and-“

Before he could finish his sentence, he was kicked in the head. You peeked your head out of the car and saw Peter punching the man in the face.

“Jeez, dude. Where are you manners?” Peter asked as he shook out his hand. He webbed the man to the ground and dialed 911 before turning to you.

“Peter.” You breathed in relief, forgetting he was supposed to meet you. Peter pulled you out of the car and hugged you tightly. You squeezed him back, grateful he was overprotective today.

“Are you okay?” He asked. “I heard him as I was swinging over.”

“What do you think?” You asked, suddenly getting angry. “Do you know how bad that could have been?”

“I know.” Peter nodded. “But it’s okay now.”

“Why does everyone keep saying this is okay?” You let go of Peter and backed away. “I have no free will. Do you know how it feels to not be the one in control?”

“I don’t. And I’m sorry.” He tried to calm you down. “But the team is doing everything they can to fix you. Just calm down.”

Your frown immediately faded as your shoulders relaxed, calming down against your will.

“I’m sorry.” Peter realized what he did. “I didn’t mean that as a command.”

“It doesn’t matter.” You shrugged sadly. “I still have to obey.”

“This won’t last forever.” He promised you. “But you shouldn’t go anywhere alone until we figure this out.”

“Great.” You laughed humorlessly. “So I already have to obey commands, and now I need a leash. HYDRA turned me into a fucking dog.”

“I’m sorry.” Peter mumbled, not sure what else to say. “I wish I could help you.”

“Stop apologizing. It’s not your fault.” You said without looking at him. He could tell you didn’t want to talk about it anymore.

“I know. I’m sorry.” He apologized again before realizing what he said. “Shoot. Sorry. Let’s just go home.”

Your body jerked forward and you started moving in the direction of the tower. Peter squeezed his eyes shut, cursing himself for giving you a command.

“I didn’t mean-“ He began as he jogged beside you.

“Whatever.” You cut him off, not wanting another apology. “It’s fine. Let’s just go home.”

You didn’t want Peter to think you were mad at him from the other day, so you went to his room to talk. He couldn’t be blamed for what happened with the man on the street, and you couldn’t be blamed for the anger it caused you. To make sure everything was okay, you knocked on his door and went it when you heard his voice.

“Hey, Pete. What are you up to?” You asked as you took a seat on his bed.

“I’m trying to fix the calibration on my web shooter. I couldn’t get a web out fast enough today.” He grumbled as he tweaked the wires that were popping out of his web shooter.

“Did something happen?” You worried, examining his face for injuries. He froze and looked up at you with guilty eyes.

“Um, kinda.” He answered before pulling up his shirt to reveal a deep, poorly bandaged wound.

“You got stabbed?” Your eyes widened. “Again?”

“You would not believe how fast knives have gotten.” Peter defended himself.

“I probably wouldn’t.” You shrugged. “It’s been five months since I’ve been on a mission.”

“Sorry.” He grimaced. “I didn’t mean to bring it up.”

“It’s fine, Peter.” You shrugged it off. “Let me bandage you up. That’s not sanitary.”

“You don’t have to.” He told you and you gave him a look.

“But you can if you want.” He followed up. You had broken your habit of asking for permission for everything, but you were still sensitive about commands. You got up and got some of his medical supplies from his top drawer, knowing exactly where they were. You sat back on his bed and helped him pull his shirt over his head, pretending not to notice the way he flushed to his ears. You carefully removed his bandages and poured some hydrogen peroxide on a Cotten ball.

“This is gonna sting.” You said quietly as you looked in his eyes.

“Okay. Hold my hand, please?” He asked shyly as he uncurled his hand. You slipped your hand into his before you had time to process what he said.

“Wow.” You teased. “Using my condition against me, I see.”

“Well you’ve been isolating yourself so I’m taking advantage of my time with you.” Peter said, giving your hand a squeeze. “I miss you.”

“Yeah.” You squeezed back. “I miss you too.”

You smiled at him before dabbing the Cotten ball on his wound. You bandaged it tightly, smoothing your hand over his side to secure the gauze.

“Thanks.” He mumbled, never taking his eyes off you. “It feels better already.”

“No problem.” You smiled shyly. “How’s the web shooter coming along?”

“Let’s see.” Peter snapped out of his daze and picked his shooter back up. “Okay, be honest-“

“I like you.” You blurted, immediately slapping a hand over your mouth. Peter looked up in shock at your confession and dropped the shooter on his lap.

“What?” He asked, an involuntary smile breaking out into his face.

“I’m sorry. You said “be honest” and I must’ve taken it as a command.” You stammered as you got off his bed. “I’ll leave.”

“Wait! Don’t go.” Peter protested, making you stop in place. “I mean, I hope you don’t go.”

You were released from the command and found yourself able to move but not wanting to.

“I would appreciate it if you sat back down on my bed.” He said quietly, and you purposefully obliged.

“You don’t have to phrase everything like that.” You told him as you sat back down.

“I don’t want to give you any more commands.” He said softly. You gave him an appreciative smile and handed him his shirt, realizing he never put it back on. Peter thanked you and pulled it over his head, leaving his curly hair tousled and adorable.

“Do you really like me?” He asked quietly as he nervously pulled at his fingers.

“I do.” You nodded, finding no use in denying it. “That wasn’t exactly the way I wanted to tell you, but I do.”

“Well I’m not complaining.” Peter shrugged, making you laugh. “I personally think that was a perfect way to break the news.”

“Break the news.” You laughed again at his wording. “I’m not pregnant, Peter. Just in love with your dorky ass.”

“You’re so mean.” He laughed and shoved your slightly. You leaned into him as you came back from the shove, your faces almost touching.

“Kiss me.” He whispered as he looked into your eyes. You did as you were told, but it didn’t feel like a command. It felt like something you had been waiting for for years.

Peter kissed you back to the best of his ability, but his emerging smile kept getting in his way. He relaxed enough to stop smiling and put his hands on your face, kissing you the way he’d always wanted to. When you pulled away, he was finally able to let that smile out.

“Did you do that because you wanted to or because you were obeying me?” He asked softly.

“I promise, I wanted to.” You told him before pulling him into another kiss.

Ten months since HYDRA

“Y/n, please. I would like to talk about this.” Peter called after you as the two of you barged in the front door. Tony quickly stopped eating his lunch to eavesdrop on your fight.

“There’s nothing to talk about, Peter.” You grumbled as you walked past the kitchen. “Don’t follow me.”

“What happened?” Tony got up to stop you. “Are you hurt?”

You stayed quiet as you stared at Tony with pained eyes, feeling too embarrassed to explain what had happened.

“Do you want to tell him?” Peter asked quietly from behind you, not wanting to upset you anymore than you already were.

“I crashed my car.” You stated as you kept a straight face. You were just waiting for Tony to take away your driving privileges, one of the few things you had left.

“What?” He asked. “How?”

“It was my fault.” Peter began and you rolled your eyes. “She was bummed out about her condition so I told her to keep her head up and-“

“And I did.” You laughed humorlessly. “I kept it up so I couldn’t see the road and I nearly killed someone. I could’ve killed you!” You screamed at Peter.

“But you didn’t.” He said back, trying to stay calm. “It’s okay, really-“

“It’s not okay! Stop saying it’s okay!” You shouted as you tugged at your hair. “I can’t live like this anymore.”

“We’re working on a cure.” Tony assured you. “We’re going to-“

“To what? To fix me?” You asked. “You’ve been saying that for almost a year and I’m still like this. I can’t work, I can’t drive, I can’t go anywhere alone. What am I doing?”

“These things take time.” Tony said calmly but you weren’t having it.

“I don’t have time. I almost killed Peter today.” Your voice came out hoarse. “I nearly got myself killed a few months ago. If you don’t have a cure by next week, then…”

“Then what?” Peter interrupted, but you kept your back to him.

“Then it’s time to start thinking about my other options.” You said, only to Tony.

“What other options?” Peter asked but Tony knew exactly what you were talking about.

“It’s too soon to start thinking about that.” Tony stated. “Bruce and I are getting closer every day.”

“You said I had a year.” You reminded him. “It’s been a year.”

“It’s been 10 months.” Tony retorted.

“What are you talking about?” Peter asked again, getting more worried by the second.

“You promised.” You whispered. “You promised me we could talk about this if you couldn’t find a cure.”

“Talk about what?” Peter questioned, but was again ignored.

“I will find a cure.” Tony promised. “You just have to give me some more time.”

“I’m out of time. And so are you.” You angrily pointed at him.

“Screw this.” Peter sighed and jumped to drastic measures. “Y/n, tell me what you’re talking about.”

“Mr. Stark said he could euthanize me if he didn’t find a cure in a year.” You blurted. You turned around slowly and looked at Peter with betrayal in your eyes. He was too focused on what you just admitted to see the extent of what he had done.

“What?” He yelled. “You said what?”

“It’s none of your business, Peter.” You snapped. “How could you use my condition against me like that? You had no right to give me a command. You knew I’d have to obey it.”

“I’m sorry, I panicked.” He apologized. “You want to kill yourself?”

“You have no idea what pain I’m in every day.” You shook your head. “I gave it a year and I’m still miserable.”

“Miserable?” He whispered, taking your words personally. He knew you were still in pain, but he thought you’d been better since you started dating. Your words made him believe he was wrong. You noticed the sadness in his eyes and sighed, your anger simmering away.

“Could you give us a minute, Mr. Stark?” You asked without turning around.

“I’ll be in the lab.” Tony nodded, grabbing his food before leaving.

Once he was gone, you walked to Peter and pulled him into a kiss to apologize. He tearfully kissed you back before pushing you away and wiping his eyes.

“You’ve been miserable this whole time?” He sniffled.

“Not the whole time.” You promised as you wiped his tears. “But when I am fighting a constant battle of what I want to do and what I’m told to do, I end each day exhausted. It’s terrifying somedays. And it’s so, so lonely.”

“But you have me.” He said quietly.

“I do.” You smiled a little. “But you’re away a lot. And I can’t put all of my happiness on you. That’s not fair to you and not healthy for our relationship.”

“I know you’re hurting, but killing yourself is not the answer.” He told you. “How could you even consider that?”

“You don’t get it, Peter.” You sighed. “I am one part of your already great life. You get to go on life saving missions during the week and explore the city on your free time. And you have someone who loves you to come home to when you’re done. It’s not like that for me. All I have is you. I just sit here waiting for you to come home. Like I’m some kind of…”

“Dog.” He finished your sentence, understanding your pain in a new way.

“Exactly.” You nodded. “I don’t expect you to understand, but I’m hoping you can at least try to see things from my side.”

“I’m gonna start helping Mr. Stark and Dr. Banner in the lab.” Peter decided. “We’re the world’s mightiest heroes. One of us has to be able to fix this. This can’t be your last choice.”

“It’s been nearly a year Peter.” You shrugged sadly. “I don’t think this can be fixed.”

“But I can try.” He grasped your hands tightly.

“All I’m asking for is another year. One year to do everything I can to fix you.”

“I don’t know if I can take another year of this. I’m sorry.” You cupped his face to apologize, set on your decision.

“Please?” He whispered. “For me?”

“Okay.” You agreed, making his face light up. He hugged you tightly and kissed the side of your head, thanking you for giving him a chance. In the heat of the moment, it didn’t occur to Peter that you only agreed because you had to. You began to silently cry as you hugged him back, not having the heart to tell him you didn’t mean what you said. You didn’t want to agree, but you had no choice in the matter.

He asked for a year, and you had to obey.

PART TWO

Tag List 🏷

@awesomebooklover17 @thebookwormlife @imanativeofswlondondahling @weirdr-artiest @serendipitous-amor @dummiesshort @foreverxholland @lavender-writer @michaela072796 @whatareyouhidingpeter @takenbyheartstrings @ultrunning @imyourliquor-youremypoison @andreasworlsboring101 @waiting-to-be-myself @letsloveimagines @peterparkoure @a-villain-vying-for-attention @justcallmehitgirl @jackiehollanderr @tiny-friggin-human @mara-twins @iamaunicorn4704 @maryjanee23 @geeksareunique @emmamarshmellow @unbelievableholland @rebekkah4766 @flixndchill @sovereignparker @thisisthebiplace @spideydobrik @every-marveler-ever @undiadeestos @caelestii-e @eridanuswave @itscaminow @fiantomartell @solarxmoonchild @where-art-thau-romeo @canyouevencauseicant @illwritetomorrow @thehappygrungelife @saysomethingspiderman @smilexcaptainx @quaksonhehe @kelieah @kickingn-ames @babeyspidey @seasidecrowbar @lovelessdagger @love-sick-blues @electraheart-3174 @unbelievableholland @yourtypicalhotmess @spideyanakin @horanxholland @thesuitelifeofafangirl @anapocalypseinmymind @marshxx @heyheycharlatte @nooneinvitedfascistbarbie @tomshufflepuff @cookiemonstermusic258 @maybemona @young-romanoff @alexxcorona113 @lethal-wisdom @xo-spidey @im-still-tryin-to-find-it @big-galaxy-chaos @pandaxnienke @theincredibledeadlyviper @thestylestour @officialsimppage @mrvelscaptains @peterbenjiparker @itsemohours @satanswitchings @okkulta @parkerlovebot @just-here-to-escape-from-reality @mati4188 @geminiparkers @jungkxxkk @friendlyneighborhood-mendes @whatthefuckimbisexual @olixerwxxd @starkbrain @creatorofthegalaxy @far-from-holland @f-hollands @ilovefrogs1000 @itstaskeen @itmatteredatthetime @monimillion @amazinggracy @slutforsebstan @iprobablyshipit91 @magicalxdaydream @whereismytelephone @theonly1outof-a-billion @leilanixx @namoreno @bi-lmg @dracoswhore007 @tomhollandloml @avengers-hamiltrash @sunshinepeterparkr @gh0stgurl @p-prettywhenicry @so-very-asleep @veryholland

#peter parker x reader #peter parker x y/n #peter parker x you #peter parker fanfiction #peter parker imagine #peter parker angst #tom holland x reader #tom holland x you #iron man #tom holland fluff #tom holland fanfiction

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canary3d-obsessed · 4 years ago

Text

Restless Rewatch: The Untamed Episode 17 second part

(Masterpost) (Previous Post) (Pinboard)

Warning: Spoilers for All 50 Episodes!!

Breaking Good

Wen Qing comes to visit Wen Ning in their backyard meth lab, and tells him that he fucked up a recipe, merely by taking a whiff of the concoction. She uses the approved "wave fumes toward self" way of smelling that you learn in high school science if you live in a country that believes in teaching science, which OP does not.

Wen Ning wants to know if they are going to have a feud, and she tells him there already is one. She tells explains to him that they're good Wens, not evil Wens, and that Jiang Cheng is fucked, and they should send the Jiangs away in the morning before Wen Chao comes around.

Wen Ning whines at her about all of this, shifting into little-brother persona and acting like he didn't just take down 40 of Wen Chao's soldiers in a single night. He does this same persona shifting in his later unlife, with Wei Wuxian. When there is trouble, he's extremely effective, and can even tail WWX and Lan Wangji without getting caught, but then he is hopeless when dealing with turnips or children.

Here, it seems like a version of Wei Wuxian's own little-brother persona, in which he pretends to be helpless so that his sister can take care of him.

#studyblr

Wei Wuxian comes into Wen Qing's head shop to ask her for medical books. He loves his brother so much he's volunteering for a research project. We've seen him be clever before; we've seen circumstantial evidence that he's a good student, but now we're going to see him actually buckling down and doing intellectual work.

Wen Qing thinks its hopeless and wants Wei Wuxian to get some rest. But he gives her puppydog eyes, so she sets him up in her library.

Wei Wuxian reads a huge pile of medical books and learns interesting things about the human body.

(more after the cut)

Hopefully he does not splotch ink all over them while he holds this wet brush directly over the page. Why does he even have a brush in his hand? Is he taking notes in the margin?

Wen Qing eventually tells him to take a break and go see Jiang Yanli.

Segmentation fault (core dumped)

Jiang Yanli is tending to Jiang Cheng, gently telling him to suck it up by citing their father, which is probably not the greatest idea.

Yanli's wearing dark blue with white and looks awesome. It's not Gusu Lan blue, but the blue and white is an interesting choice for the excruciating heart to heart they're about to have.

Wei Wuxian shows up looking terrible, or the Xiao Zhan version of terrible, i.e. handsome and a little scruffy. But also worn out, unhappy, and fragile.

Jiang Yanli wants him to rest, but he wants to find a way to repair Jiang Cheng's core, and his mind races, trying to think of where he can get books and who can help him. His thoughts instantly go to Cloud Recesses and Lan Wangji. His face lights up at the thought that Lan Wangji will help him, and he hops up, ready to dash off and find him.

The first time I watched this I was like, dude yes you’re in love, but you can’t just dash off to find Lan Wangji, not when there’s a war on. This time I was like, actually wow things would turn out a whole lot better if you got Lan Wangji to help you, instead of coming up with your own plan.

Mother Mother Can You Tell Me

Jiang Yanli tells him to slow his roll. He's pushing himself too hard and she's afraid he will collapse. Then Wei Wuxian comes out and says what's driving him: maybe all these disasters are his fault.

It's telling, I think, that he cites Madame Yu, not Jiang Cheng, in this moment, even though Jiang Cheng has blamed him much more thoroughly and consistently. He's talking about one mother figure, to another mother figure, and looking for absolution.

He super does not get what he's looking for.

Jiang Yanli slowly lets go of him and goes the fuck off. She asks, rhetorically, what he's to blame for, and then lists off all of the shit that's happened. She finishes up by saying, look at our situation; blaming won't help anything.

It's unclear, because language/translation, if her answer is "it doesn't matter who's to blame" I.E. "yes, it's your fault, but I'm letting it go" or if she is saying "how does blaming yourself help anything?" I.E. "it's not your fault, stop being a drama llama."

Her body language, though, seems pretty blameful - she lets go of him, yells at him, sits down and turns away from him. And his reaction is not one of shared grief, or of someone who is trying to get over himself; he's totally crushed, and he literally never unburdens himself to her again. Even when he asks her, much later, about love, he immediately backs out of the conversation.

There is no violence in this moment and her reaction is understandable, but this is kind of similar to that one time when his brother choked him in a beautiful field of grass, in order to make himself feel better.

Then she kind of relents and takes his hand, telling him that she needs him and reminding him that he promised that they will go back to Lotus Pier. I don't remember him promising this, but okay.

He puts his head on her lap and he cries, she cries, comatose Jiang Cheng cries; FUCK this episode.

Jiang Cheng manages to cry only one tear and does it on the side of his face that his siblings can't see because he's not going to give them the satisfaction of sharing this moment with him, I guess.

When Wei Wuxian puts his head on Jiang Yanli's lap, it's part of a ritual for them, that they both are comforted by; he does it again much later, after they return to Lotus Pier. But this ritual does not actually do anything to relieve his burdens. As a male adult, and the only Jiang Clan disciple with any abilities, it falls to him to save the clan, whatever it takes, and he is heavily aware of it.

Wen Qing comes along and sees the sweet part of this complicated Shijie-Shidi dynamic, and decides to help with Wei Wuxian's research project. When the trio had just lost their parents, gotten sick, been pursued by enemies, & had one of Yanli's little brothers horribly wounded, Wen Qing was like, eh, I'll do the doctor stuff but that's it. But lap-crying is another level.

Wen Qing: Nooo don't put your head on her knees I failed my saving throw

Group Project

Wen Qing goes and cleans up the mess in the library, putting everything in order and settling in to read systematically. Wen Qing probably has the prettiest bullet journal. (OP looks proudly at the 100 loose slips of paper and piles of random stuff on her own desk)

Wei Wuxian has shaved and rested and comes in with a tray of food for Wen Qing, and then goes to his table in the back to start working. He claims he made "porridge" for her and that she has to eat to gain strength, and she gives him an intrigued expression. This moment is just blatant het baiting.

In fact the food he brings her is clearly not porridge, which might just be a translation error, but also he totally can't cook, so it's not clear if he's joking and Yanli or Wen Ning made the food, or if this is just inedible.

The Things We Do For Love

Yanli is working in the meth lab and coughing a lot. Yanli's chronic illness is a sign of what's to come for Wei Wuxian, because strong cultivators don't get sick. Yet Yanli, as a physically vulnerable person, who has either a weak golden core, or none, is still intrinsically valuable. Her presence in this scene is a reminder that Jiang Cheng's life is not, actually, over; he just feels like it is.

While Yanli cooks the meth, Wei Wuxian and Wen Qing have a study montage that is the equivalent of a training montage, except without "Eye of the Tiger" on the soundtrack.

Jiang Cheng remains unconscious. Apparently if you stick nails in the top of someone's head, you make them sleep, and in the back of their head, you turn them into part of your zombie army. Fortunately Wen Qing's aim is good. Jiang Cheng is looking devastatingly handsome as usual the TV version of unwell, and has grown a perfect Dorito-chip of stubble on his chin to go with his new 'stache.

Eventually Wei Wuxian changes back into his non-vampire robe and he finds the answer in an old scroll book. The Ikea instruction picture shows arrows going from the guy on the left to the guy on the right. Clearly it's not a great procedure for the guy on the left.

Wei Wuxian's face shows us exactly how not great.

Like walking in the rain and the snow and there’s no place to go and you’re feeling like a part of you is dying

He goes outside and gazes up at the trees and the sky as he contemplates the sacrifice that circumstance is forcing on him. He's not even making a choice at this point; his choice was made the moment he found the procedure. But it's going to be a tremendous loss for him. He values sword cultivation at least as much as Jiang Cheng does; he even fell in love with a boy over crossed swords. So he sits and just kind of comes to terms with this new understanding of his future. (Big gifs here)

Wen Qing finds him sitting, stunned, on the porch. She doesn't know what's up so she just sits quietly with him until he's ready to tell her.

She doesn't love the plan.

Thunder, Th-th-thunder

Wen Ning is bringing food up when he sees them arguing, and he is startled by situationally appropriate thunder and lightning. Having recently watched The Lost Tomb Reboot I've come to expect thunder and lighting to appear on cue in any possible situation, so the fact that this mini-storm clears right up again doesn't bother me.

What About You?

Wen Ning dashes inside to see what Mom and Dad are fighting about. They're having a polite shouting match because Wen Qing refuses to yank out Wei Wuxian's core.

Wen Qing: I hate the idea of harming you Wei Wuxian: I don’t even understand that sentence

Wei Wuxian doesn’t, of course, feel that he is important in any way, and ignores her concerned and appalled expressions in favor of telling her to just do it anyway. Amazingly, this does not convince her.

OP’s 177cm-tall son keeps telling her this

Then Wei Wuxian plays the "you know Jiang Cheng" card, which...I guess she does? Maybe he was chatting her up more than we saw in Cloud Recesses? He hasn't given her the comb or anything yet. Wei Wuxian explains that Jiang Cheng cares about gain and loss, and cultivation is his life. If he can only be ordinary the rest of his life will be ruined.

Wen Qing asks the question that nobody ever asks him: What about you?

Wei Wuxian has literally nothing to say to that, possibly because the question is so new to him.

Wen Ning doesn't know what's going on but comes squarely in on team Wei, of course, and begs his sister to Do The Thing. How fucking horrified is Wen Ning going to be when he learns what The Thing is? What he is personally going to help do to his beloved friend? Yikes.

Wen Qing caves, warning them that the chance of success is only 50 percent. Wei Wuxian is happy to take those odds.

Lan Wangji, projecting his voice from Episode 46: fifty percent, are you fucking kidding me?

Soundtrack: 1. Mother Mother by Tracy Bonham 2. The Things We Do For Love by 10cc 3. Thunder by Imagine Dragons

#fytheuntamed #the untamed #the untamed gifs #wen qing #wen ning #restless rewatch the untamed #canary3d-original #my gifs #episode 17 #OMG this episode #god I miss lan wangji #warning: psychic pain

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canyourscienceexplainthis · 4 years ago

Text

Handyman Sokka

“Aang this is impossible!”

Zuko is hunched over a pile of dark wood and black metal beams, screws and flat rings strewn about the carpet. He’s gripping an instruction manual hard enough to tear the pages in one hand and a rusty screwdriver in the other.

“No, it isn’t. Just read the instructions.”

“I’ve read the instructions 4 times! They’re written in jibberish and I can’t figure out the pictures! I knew I should have just gone to an actual furniture shop and paid for an already assembled desk! Ikea furniture is always such a pain in the ass! But apparently I never learn from my mistakes and my punishment will be endlessly assembling desks and side tables and bed frames in my own personal hell that is move in week!” Zuko exclaims, once again cursing the fact that his depth perception is fucked and his patience is thin.

Aang is silent on the other end, likely waiting to see if Zuko is just catching his breath before starting round two of his anti-Ikea diatribe.

“Sorry Aang, I’m just so frustrated.” Zuko huffs, feeling all the pent-up pressure leave his body and setting the screwdriver down as he lowers his elbows onto his knees.

“No kidding. I’m glad you’re taking it out on me instead of a poor sales person, though.” Zuko chuckles at that. He knows he can be a bit of a hothead but he’s not that much of an asshole (not anymore, at least).

“Where are Jet and Haru,” Aang asks, “why can’t they help you out?”

“Ugh, they’re still so honeymoon-y,” Zuko pretends to gag. “I’m honestly scared to even walk by their room let alone interrupt whatever unspeakable thing they’re doing.”

“Pretty sure you know all about the unspeakable things your ex is doing with his current boyfriend, Zuko,” Aang retorts far too lightheartedly.

“Yeah but it’s not like I want to think about it! It’s so—“

“Oogie?” Aang offers.

“Exactly! Oogie!”

“Okay, well, my schedule is pretty packed this week with orientation activities and TA stuff, but if you can wait till the weekend I can come by and make sure everything ends up assembled instead of in a smoking pile of remains on your front lawn.”

“You’re never going to let that go, are you?” Zuko sighs over the phone. Apparently, if you light one dresser on fire suddenly you’re like a serial arsonist or something. Personally, Zuko thinks the whole thing got blown a bit out of proportion.

“Nope,” Aang pops the ‘p’ and Zuko can practically hear his smirk over the phone.

“Hey, it’s ok, I know you’re busy. Maybe I’ll just hire someone to do it.” Zuko sighs, slumping his head between his knees.

Ever since Zuko’s morally corrupt and abusive father died, leaving his estate to Zuko and his sister, he’s been trying to spend his father’s money in ways he hopes will make him roll over in his grave. Zuko doesn’t even know why he was mentioned in the will. His father hated him and they hadn’t talked for over 5 years before he died. Probably still worried about his reputation from beyond the grave, Zuko thinks.

Shortly after his death, Zuko told a family friend of his plan to throw money at things he knows his father would have despised him for. They countered with the classic, “one should not speak ill of the dead,” to which Zuko had responded, “then he shouldn’t have been such a piece of shit before he died.”

So yes, Zuko would be more than happy to pay someone to assemble furniture for him because it would have infuriated his father to no end that he couldn’t just figure it out for himself; that his “hard earned” (aka stolen) money is being wasted. Zuko’s not sure if he believes in an afterlife, but if there is one he hopes Ozai is watching in disgust.

“You sure? I really don’t mind—“ Aang starts before he’s interrupted by a much more chipper sounding Zuko.

“No, no, don’t worry about it, I’m just gonna hire a handyman to do it.”

“Okay, if that’s what you wanna do,” Aang says with only a hint of hesitation in his voice. Zuko has known Aang for years, having attended the same fancy international boarding school since junior high and now the same university. While Zuko hadn’t disclosed the truly horrific details of his and Ozai’s relationship, Aang picked up on enough to understand why he was more than happy to spend a small fortune on certain things. Returning to school one fall with a sizeable scar covering the left side of his face was probably a pretty good hint.

“Actually I know someone who might be able to help you out! Remember last semester when I accidentally signed up for that math class?”

Zuko laughs into his phone, “how could I forget? You had a Zuko versus Ikea style rant about how the registrar needs to change the format of the course signup page because sometimes course names are so unclear and—“

“Yeah yeah yeah don’t make me relive the worst mistake of my academic career.” Zuko can practically hear Aang wincing over the phone. “But I met a guy in that class who’s like, a math genius. I honestly think Piandao even had trouble understanding his final project cause, like,” Aang makes a noise that Zuko assumes is an explosion sound, “mind blown.”

“Buddy, I’m really very happy that you made a friend, but what does this have to do with my lack of places to sit, work, and sleep?” Zuko asks, trying not to let his words drip too heavily with annoyance.

“Well if you’d let me finish,” Aang continues with a dramatic exhale, “we hung out a couple times and he mentioned that he sometimes does general handiwork for extra cash. I bet if I asked he’d be down to help out with your stuff, and he’s probably cheaper than a professional.”

Obviously, cost isn’t really a consideration, but Zuko can still sully his father’s memory without being an outright spendthrift.

“Yeah, that sounds great actually, thanks Aang.”

“What are best friends for? Oh, also you owe me a sushi night.” Before Zuko has time to offer a faux annoyed comeback, Aang chimes, “later, hotman!”

Ugh, Zuko hates that nickname.

#is this worthy #of putting on ao3 #or continuing at all?

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jaskiers-sweetkiss · 4 years ago

Text

Sunset Swerve - Part 3

Pairing: Luke x OC

Word Count: 2.6k

Warnings: none(?)

A/N: Me publishing back to back updates? More likely than you think. We’re finally through with episode 2! As always, let me know what you think and send me a message or ask if you want to be tagged in future chapters! Also, thank you to all who have left kind messages on the last few parts, I really appreciate it! Now back to your (ir)regularly scheduled fanfic.

Part 2 Masterlist

___

“Let’s go, Moss,” Luke yelled and Jordan groaned, “Rise and shine.”

For what felt like the last few hours, Jordan had been curled up on the couch, wrapped up in a blanket. They were all pretty certain that ghosts couldn’t sleep but Jordan felt exhausted from the day and she didn’t feel like exploring all night with the guys so she did her best to emulate the experience. At some point, she had reached a dream-like stupor, which she assumed was as close as she’d get to real sleep.

“Where exactly are we going?” She asked, rolling over to face the inside of the room and slowly opening her eyes.

She was met with the three boys much too close to comfort and staring at her. She screamed on instinct, sitting up quickly and pulling the blanket with her, holding it tightly to her chest. The guys started screaming too, the four ghosts momentarily thrown into chaos.

“You can’t do that to a girl!” Jordan admonished, standing up to slap each of their shoulders. “Give a girl some privacy!”

“You were sleeping on the couch,” Reggie pointed out and Jordan scowled.

“And you guys could’ve stood a respectful distance away!”

Reggie nodded, stepping back and raising his hands in surrender.

“C’mon, we don’t have time to keep arguing,” Luke complained, “We’re gonna be late!”

“Late for what?” Jordan asked, still having no clue what was going on.

“Julie’s gonna play for her teacher to get back into her music program!”

The guys had filled her in on the drama of Julie’s life the night before but she’d hadn’t heard anything about her playing today.

“That’s new,” she remarked and Luke grinned.

“It was my idea,” he seemed so proud of himself. “I convinced her last night.”

“So she’s going to ambush her music teacher?” Jordan asked, remembering Luke’s solution to everything when they were alive.

“The Sunset Curve way.” He grinned proudly and Jordan rolled her eyes.

“Teachers usually aren’t big fans of Ambush Mode,” she sighed but started to get ready anyway, gathering up a new outfit from the bag of her clothes she had found and making her way to the bathroom.

It was nothing too special, she was mostly just happy to be out of the clothes she had died in. The pair of high waisted mom jeans paired with her worn Rolling Stones t-shirt and her Doc Martens were much more comfortable. She kept the simple black choker she’d been wearing the day before and cuffed her jeans, deciding at the last minute to tie her hair back in a half up-do with a scrunchie. She was in and out of the bathroom in less than five minutes, though when she opened the door Luke looked like he had been about ready to start yelling for her to hurry up.

“So are we going to support Julie or what?” She asked, pulling her bag across her body while the guys just stood in place.

“Right, yeah, okay,” Alex said softly while Luke rolled his eyes, probably thinking up some snide comment about how she had been the one they were waiting on.

Surprisingly, he kept whatever he was thinking to himself as the four of them converged, all poofing out of the garage together.

___

Jordan didn’t know what she expected to see when she arrived at Julie’s high school but a collection of girls in brightly colored wigs and matching outfits singing and dancing in the gym was not it.

“Man, I miss high school,” she heard Reggie sigh and rolled her eyes. Boys.

Jordan turned to Alex, hoping the boy would have a similar reaction as her but as she looked to the blond she found him mimicking the choreography.

“Oh my gosh, yes Alex!” She cheered him on and he grinned before Luke elbowed him, shaking his hand in front of his neck to say ‘cut it out.’

They turned to see Julie, looking clearly disheartened and Jordan gave her an apologetic look.

“Julie!” She gasped excitedly, finally getting a good look at the girl. “That jumpsuit is so fly!”

She knew from their introduction yesterday that the young Latina had a great sense of style and the camo jumpsuit she was wearing today only served to further prove that.

Julie gave her a confused smile, like she wasn’t sure if it was a good thing or not, and Jordan furrowed her brows trying to figure out why her compliment hadn’t been properly received.

“People don’t say ‘fly’ in 2020, do they?” She asked dejectedly and Julie shook her head.

“Okay well then that jumpsuit is so cool,” she modified and Julie smiled graciously.

Their attentions were drawn back to the gym floor as the girl group finished their performance.

“Thank you, thank you,” Jordan mocked the leader’s overly preppy voice and attitude and Julie laughed.

“What’re you waiting for?” Reggie asked after Julie’s friend had walked away and two women who Jordan assumed to be the principal and music teacher began speaking to the crowd. “This is your time!”

“Yeah. I mean, you look really nervous,” Alex observed concernedly, “Like yak-in-a-bowl nervous.”

“I just don’t think I had enough time to work on the song.” Julie addressed Luke.

“I wouldn’t have given you the song if I didn’t think you were gonna rock it!” Luke reassured her enthusiastically. “Now, there’s a piano on that stage with your name on it.”

The four watched as Julie nodded before running out of the gym to get to the stage door.

“You gave her one of your songs?” Jordan asked the guitarist curiously.

“Yeah, we never got a chance to record it but it’s perfect for her voice.”

“Which song?” Jordan asked. She may have hated the band but there was no denying that their music was good and she had heard plenty of it over the years.

“Bright.”

“Oh, I love that one,” Jordan gushed before she realized what she was saying and who she was talking too. “I mean, it’s not as good as any of Apollo 81’s stuff but,” she tried to brush it off though she knew she had failed.

Thankfully, the boys decided to let it go as Julie had just stepped up to the piano.

“You got this!” Luke called out and Julie smiled, taking a breath to steel her nerves before starting the song.

“Damn, you should’ve added a piano part to this years ago,” Jordan noted quietly as they listened to Julie play. Luke nodded, watching the girl with awe.

“We should play with her,” he said turning to look excitedly at the other boys before raising a brow at Jordan, silently inviting her to join them.

“I don’t know the song.”

“Please, a talented musician like you can figure it out.” He spoke like he was teasing her however his eyes held a sincerity that had her chest swelling with pride.

She rolled her eyes but nodded, the four of them exchanging grins before poofing to the stage just in time for the chorus.

“And rise through the night, you and I. we will fight to shine together, bright forever,” A surprised grin took over Julie’s face as they materialized with their instruments, Jordan deciding on filing the rhythm guitar part. Julie jumped up from the piano, immediately taking center stage. For someone who, as far as Jordan knew, had never been in a band, the girl sure knew how to rock a stage. She had a major stage presence. “And rise, through the night, you and I. We will fight to shine together, bright forever.”

It felt so good to be back on a stage performing that it took them all a minute to realize that Julie’s classmates could see them. They all shared looks of shock, Luke instructing them to ‘just go with it’ as he jumped in for the second verse.

“In times that I doubted myself, I felt like I needed some help. Stuck in my head, with nothing left.” Luke turned to look at Jordan, gesturing the girl over to his mic with a head nod and Jordan grinned. Her voice joined his vocals as Julie continued to rock out with Reggie and Alex. “I feel something around me now. So unclear, lifting me out. I found the ground, I’m marching on.”

Jordan stepped back in time for Reggie to take over for the pre-chorus, grinning as she watched the two boys perform together for the first time in twenty-five years. It felt like magic to be up on that stage with them, her own styles mixing with that of Sunset Curve and Julie. Luke wasn’t kidding when he said she was a powerhouse. The two had immediate chemistry as well, Julie walking him to center stage as he started the bridge, the two rocking out together before the rest of them joined in for the chorus once more. Jordan had never been happier to sing backup, the girl’s vocals were killer.

The song was over much too soon for Jordan’s tastes. She was still buzzing with adrenaline as she slung her guitar to the side, taking a bow with the group. However, before they could finish soaking up the applause they vanished, reappearing at the side of the stage.

“Oh god, how is she gonna explain that?” Jordan groaned, looking anxiously between the three guys who looked about as clueless as she did.

“Wait, were those holograms?” A girl called out from the crowd and Julie let out the breath she was holding, quickly affirming the girl’s suspicions.

“Holograms? Like in Star Wars?” Reggie questioned, eyes wide, “Those are real now?”

“Apparently,” Luke answered, seemingly also in disbelief. “That’s wild, that they could see us when we were playing but not when the music stopped.”

“Ooh, we should double-check!” Reggie said, climbing up the stairs before wiggling his butt in front of the unfazed crowd. “Yeah, I don’t think they can see us.”

“I wish I couldn’t see you.” Alex deadpanned and Jordan snorted.

The guys were swept away with the crowd of students as they were dismissed from the gym, Reggie eagerly attempting to get one of the multi-colored girl’s number. Jordan stuck back as Julie spoke to her teacher, wanting to know if the girl got back into her program. However, she too was sidetracked as a small boy walked off the stage with a string bass, dragging it carelessly down the stairs.

“Oh, hell no.” She gasped, aggressively lecturing the boy as she followed him out of the gym despite knowing he couldn’t hear her. “That is no way to treat such a gorgeous instrument!”

She only stopped her passionate rant when she hit the hallway and noticed the guys there staring at her like she was crazy.

“You know he can’t hear you, right?” Luke asked slowly, like if he spoke too aggressively she would become more unhinged.

“You should’ve seen him drag that bass down the stairs! It was criminal,” she explained, before shouting down the hall at the boy, “Criminal!”

“O-kay,” Luke said, dramatically looking away from her and making circles with his finger near his head to signal her craziness to the guys.

“You’re a real comedian, Patterson,” she responded dryly and Luke laughed.

“Anyway, let’s go find Julie and talk about what just happened!”

They wandered around the school trying to locate their living friend. It felt weird to be back in a high school, especially one that had been so different from her own. Unlike the guys, none of Apollo 81 had dropped out of school for the band. This meant that they’d had to continuously bust their asses to get gigs and stay on top of their schoolwork; they didn’t have all afternoon to practice like Sunset Curve but Jordan always felt like they were better for it. Still, high school seemed to have changed considerably in the twenty-five years since her death. For starters, they definitely didn’t have a music program like Julie’s, sure there was band class but Jordan learned most of her musical skills outside of the school building.

“There weren’t this many people dressed like animals when we were in high school, right?” Jordan asked after accidentally walking through one of said students.

“Definitely not.” Alex answered, looking just as confused as she felt.

She knew they were dressed up like the school’s mascot, a blue bobcat, but she just couldn’t figure out why.

“Julie!” She called out once they finally located the girl, “What’s with all girls dressed like bobcats?”

Luke elbowed her in the side, stepping in front of her.

“Who cares!” He exclaimed, as if the words were bursting out of him uncontrolled, “Are we not gonna talk about what happened?!”

“Yeah, the whole school saw you. It’s kinda freaking me out,” Julie said, sounding like she still hadn’t quite come to terms with it.

“Okay good, cause it’s kinda freaking me out too,” Alex started, talking and moving with a manic energy. “Y’know, you could see us, and now people can see us whenever we play music. And my clothes are made of air, but for some reason I’m still getting a wedgie.”

Luke patted the blond on the back sympathetically while Jordan leaned passed the boy to stare at Alex concernedly.

“Dude, are you okay?”

“Nah,” Alex said airily, but waved off her concern.

“The important thing is that we rocked that place!” Luke interjected, rerouting the conversation. “They loved you!”

“Are you kidding?” Julie said excitedly, “They loved us!”

The group all shared proud smiles.

“That was a great song, Luke. Thanks,” Julie said sincerely and Luke grinned, blushing slightly.

“Did you see the cheerleaders looking at me? I think they were looking at me!” Reggie added excitedly and Luke grinned, matching his energy as the dark haired boy grabbed his face. “Please tell me they were looking at me.”

“Bro, they were looking at you!”

“Oh, I knew it!”

“I’m so- I’m so confused, y’know?” Alex spoke, taking the conversation back to his anxieties. “The afterlife should come with instructions, or a quick-start quite or something.”

“Seriously man, are you good?” Jordan asked again and Alex shrugged.

“Well, the good news is everyone thought you were holograms and I got back into the program.”

Julie’s announcement was met with a chorus of congratulations but the girl didn’t look very excited herself.

“Why do you look so bummed?” Reggie asked.

“Yeah, dude, you’re making this face,” Luke proceeded to do a poor reenactment of Julie’s expression.

“That is not my face,” Julie said pointedly and Jordan nodded in agreement while the guys all made noises of dissent, “And things just got weird between me and Flynn. She asked about you guys and I couldn’t say.”

“Sweet, girls are already talking about us,” Reggie said lowly and Luke high fived him.

“Stop it assholes,” Jordan sighed, smacking them both on the chest from her position between them. “This is serious!’

“Thanks Jordan,” Julie smiled sadly, “I can’t tell her about you guys for the same reason I can’t tell my dad; she’ll think I’ve gone off the deep end!”

“Well this dude definitely thinks you’ve gone off the deep-end,” Reggie said, pointing to the janitor who had just walked through Jordan. She shivered, still not used to the feeling of being made of air.

“I need to get to class,” Julie finally spoke once the disgruntled janitor had walked away.

“Later Julie,” Reggie called. “Ooh, and tell those cheerleaders I’m single!”

“Oh, and that he’s dead.” Alex quipped, earning a high five from Jordan.

“Nonono, leave that part out!” Reggie panicked. “Leave that- she’s gone.”

The rest of the group merely shook their heads at the boy’s antics before they all poofed home to the garage.

Part 4

___

Taglist: @oopsiedoopsie23

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whatyouwantedmetosee · 4 years ago

Note

Thoughts on some Jack X Joey??

Boy howdy do I have a lot of thoughts!! (I actually love this ship, whoops.)

Disclaimer: a lot of my thoughts are from before the Illusion of Living, but now that I know the IOL stuff, I can’t not factor that in to my thoughts. So, various slight spoilers for the Illusion of Living under the cut!

Secondary Disclaimer: My information about the books is via other people, so I may have slight information wrong. This is a lot of headcanons anyway so please excuse any inaccuracies!

(It’s also honestly a lot of rambling character analysis rather than ship thoughts, so I guess if you want to hear my TED Talk on Jack Fain’s personality that’s in here too.)

SO! Obviously this one isn’t exactly like... an Obvious Pairing. But it’s one I think could, theoretically, be pretty nice.

First off: So like, I’m honestly just, gobsmacked, the amount of fuel for my sorta niche ship that showed up in the Illusion of Living? Joey Drew and Jack Fain have coffee and chat, that’s cUTE??? (Also apparently the audiobook puts weird emphasis on Joey enjoying their... meetings, which IDK, it’s probably intended as a like “haha yeah it’s a work meeting even tho we’re actually just having coffee for most of it” but tOO BAD I MADE IT QUEER NOW.

Anyway, on to actual thoughts, which I have split into mini chapters because I am physically incapable of being succinct:

Part One: The Accidental TED Talk About Jack Fain (Or At Least How I View Him)

A lot of my thoughts on this ship are affected by how I view Jack as a character, I think? I see him as someone who’s soft, and nice, yeah, and overall very chill, but I don’t really see him as a pushover, really? I feel like, Jack’s a character who can tell what people want, and then sorta... gently steer them in a direction, rather than just going with what they want.

So like, with Sammy - Sammy is real direct and blunt and rude, and somehow Jack manages to work with him well. This is actually sorta how I view that one IOL scene where Jack interrupts Joey and Sammy’s Gay Reminiscing:tm: - he sees Sammy getting off track and distracted, and decides to step in to keep things back on topic.

I feel like this probably is also how they’re able to work together so well, because Jack can tell when he needs to step in to keep Sammy on track, while also understanding how Sammy wants him to act and doing what Sammy wants him to do. (And as a side note, I honestly feel like Sammy probably knows this and appreciates it? Helps keep things running smoothly. Probably why he isn’t as much of an ass to Jack as he can be to other people.)

Basically, I see him as having a pretty good skill at like, working out people’s systems, working out how to please them, while also coming to compromises that help him also get his point across.

I also feel like, I’m not sure how much of Jack’s Big Attention Seeking Energy is him, so much as him filling a role to do what needs to be done? I don’t think he necessarily hates it, but like... Working with Sammy, someone has to be doing that role. He knows how to work with people, work an audience, get the attention the duo needs to be successful the way Sammy can’t. (Sammy outright doesn’t want attention, but alas, that doesn’t really pay the bills.)

But then, when you hear about Jack at JDS, he tends to get away from everything and be more chill - and I read that as more like, now that he doesn’t need to draw attention for his job, he’s able to settle down a little in that regard. Writing is a lot different from pleasing a crowd, so he doesn’t need to maintain that persona, and can slip into more comfortable habits, get some more peace as he works on writing.

(Also, wrt the one audiolog he has about not being too bothered about that one award being in Joey’s name - I feel like, if he doesn’t actually want the attention so much, I could see him... like, legitimately just not minding it that much, actually, rather than being passive aggressive about it or anything.)

Anyway!!! Those are my thoughts on Jack, so now we can move onto...

Section B: Jack/Joey? On This Blog??? It’s More Likely Than You Think

So then, with regards to like... shipping with Joey. Note that we’re now sliding into even more headcanon-y territory.

I feel like at the very beginning, Joey probably misreads Jack a lot. He’s still kinda expecting that showy, charismatic, crowd-pleasing persona, the like... what he reads as wanting attention. (Which, true, Jack was seeking that out - because the job required it, not because he, specifically, wanted it.)

So, what he gets is a bit more of a surprise - a bit more chill, calmer. But, he still has that ability to work with people, even though he’s not using it on a crowd.

From the sounds of things in IOL, it seems like, the meeting stuff between Joey and the Music Dept. Boys goes pretty smoothly... but like, I get the impression that later on in the studio’s timeline, things go slightly less well between Sammy and Joey. (Stares at the conspicuous lack of Jack Fain in DCTL. Hm.)

But yeah, I like to imagine, Jack in meetings with Joey and Sammy, helping like... smooth things over more when changes need to be made or the music isn’t working out quite how Joey wants it to. Jack knows enough about Sammy to know how to appeal to his side of things, while also compromising enough with Joey’s side of things, incorporating the changes Joey wants but suggesting ways it could work better, helping tone down Joey’s helpful suggestions that wouldn’t work as well as he thinks they would.

I’m a big fan of the concept of like... Joey originally has a big crush on Sammy, he’s so mysterious, what’s going on in his head, etc. - but then, a lot more slowly, he gets to know Jack better, spends more time with him, slowly works out how Jack actually works. Learns to appreciate that more subdued charisma he has, the way he can tell how people work and work with it.

And then, it’s just nice to imagine a nicer more chill Joey ship. Have some nice meetings, get coffee together, casually make out in Joey’s office. That’s some good content.

(It also works nicely because I feel like... IDK, I don’t think Jack would just put up with Joey’s Being Joey, I don’t think he’s that much of a pushover. So like, IDK, in this scenario Joey learns to be a bit less of a jerk, maybe things don’t go so bad. Or, I mean. Stares some more at the conspicuous lack of Jack Fain in DCTL. Hmmmmm.)

...

Also like, this is also good opportunity for a Joey/Sammy/Jack OT3, give Joey the best of both worlds. Jack cares a lot about Sammy, Joey is infatuated with Sammy and slowly grows to understand Jack, Jack helps Sammy and Joey clash slightly less and work together better, etc. It’s a different ship, but also good.

Act III: Okay But What If I Added Some Angst? Eh? Any Takers???

So, first up, consider: this very good post of Jack Fain thoughts by @inkyvendingmachine. Now hear me out:

Jack Fain, who (through whatever nonsense) ended up with his office nice and tucked away in the sewers where he has some peace and quiet. Due to Some Reason, be it poor memory on Joey’s part or unclear instruction when he demanded that the Ink Demon be locked up...

The Ink Demon gets locked away in the Infirmary... but, unbeknownst to Joey, Jack is still in there. Things don’t go well. Joey realises, and...

Well.

Add in some previous Jack/Joey shipping, and Joey suddenly realising what he’s caused, unintentionally or no. Lead that into either Joey losing it and turning to his weird ink nonsense, or Joey going further than he meant in attempt to somehow reverse what he did.

Throw in some additional: Jack is no longer there to help balance out Joey’s Joeyness. He’s also no longer there to help out with Sammy and Joey interactions - a Sammy who can tell something’s happened with Jack, but Joey sure isn’t going to just tell him what happened, and that certainly isn’t helping things here.

...

maybe i put something like that in my requirement au. just a little. its fine. i lov to cause myself pain

#batim #bendy and the ink machine #mochi writes #mochi replies #anon #bendy: the illusion of living spoilers #jack fain #joey drew #jack/joey #batim requirement au #through technicality #my condolences to anyone who reads this essay i wrote #a lot of this is probably headcanon territory whoops #im not sorry #also apologies for any typos or anything its 4:20- oh hey blaze it- its 4:20 and im too tired rn to proofread #mochi ships

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chaoticevilbean · 4 years ago

Text

So, there’s this whole Youtuber Atla Au, and I have Stuff stuck in my Head. This is Sokka-centric bc thassa me.

Here Goes:

- Sokka has a mixed channel. He does educational videos, how-to videos, political videos, stories about him and his weird friends, dancing and singing videos, makeup videos, parkour videos, etc. He’s a very well known account.

- He uses fake names/obscure nicknames/code names for anyone he mentions. Anyone featured in his videos either wears a mask/facepaint or allows him to say their real name. He uses only they/them pronouns unless the person is with him and has given him other pronouns to call them by.

- He has never mentioned his name, refuses to be called Boomerang despite someone suggesting it because “that’s a disrespect to boomerangs, please don’t”, and he responds to commenters asking for his name with “;)”, “:)”, and “...”

- People only know he’s a male because he put that in his first video

- Sokka always wears facepaint in his videos, and absolutely no one recognizes him. He is unidentifiable. His continuous need to wear contact lenses and wigs of varying styles and colors also messes with people. No one can figure out what Nation he’s from (there are all four in this AU).

- Sokka has seven different facepaint styles he’ll wear.

- - Earth Kingdom is just Kyoshi Warrior facepaint. Someone attempted to drag him for disrespecting a elite warrior and all-female team. The Official Kyoshi Warrior account responded with this and only this: “Back off, he’s ours.”

- - Southern Water Tribe is based off their traditional warrior paint and La. Northern Water Tribe is based off of Tui and wolves.

- - Air Nomads is brown and blue arrows and flying lemur markings around his eyes.

- - Fire Nation is based off of Agni and the Painted Lady. It’s simple with red and yellow markings, and the accents will either be black (if he’s talking about something funny), blue (if he’s talking about something weird), or white (if he’s talking about something cool). People had to figure out those meanings themselves.

- - The Spirit World is based off of Hei Bai and Wan Shi Tong, a black, white, and grey style.

- - The blended one is cut into six sections. Fire and Air are the top two, taking up his forehead and creeping into his hairline. Water and Earth are on the bottom, bleeding down his neck. The Spirit World and nonbending sections are on his eyes. For those, he does fox markings on both sides, and the Spirit side is colorful like many of the minor Spirits are (bugs and birds and others). The nonbending side has normal fox colors, and the edges of all sections are blended together.

- - Each mask has a different meaning, which wasn’t figured out until later. If something is about a story, then it will be Fire Nation or Water Tribe. If the story includes strangers, then it will be Fire Nation, but if it’s mostly his pre-established friends, then he’ll have Water Tribe. Any sort of performance is Earth Kingdom, unless he’s doing it with someone else, which is when he wears his blended one. If the video is instructing in any way, it’s Air Nomad. If it’s a political video, he will always have his Spirit facepaint on.

- Most people assume he’s Air Nation because he seems nomadic. He’s constantly talking about new friends, his backgrounds change every video and he speaks all the languages one could possibly learn.

- As a Note, there are all four Nations. They all have different languages. There are formal and informal of each language (or common and high-speak). There is also the General Common, which is the language basically everyone knows so they can communicate with other nationalities. Air Nomads have many different slangs depending on where the nomads are from, but only one central language. They don’t have formal or informal.

- Sokka’s most viral video is called Secret Tunnel. He met some nomads and they taught him to use their instruments at an amateur level. He then asked if they wanted to record a video with him. They said yes, so he recorded them singing and dancing to the song, and he joined in on guitar (or whatever the stringed instrument is called in that episode). The video ‘solidified’ that Sokka was from the Air Nomads.

- Things people know about the channel and the Friends (called ‘Boomeraang’, though no one seems able to figure out why - most pass it off as a typo, but true fans know Sokka pays too much attention to his work and his boomerang)

- - Lady is either related to Sokka or as close as a sibling. They’re a master waterbender and extreme activist. They’re constantly starting rebellions and protests and getting into trouble through that. They have once impersonated a Spirit in order to get rid of a corrupt company that was polluting a river and then got the nearby fishing town to work together to clean said river. Lady got their education in waterbending after beating “an old coot in battle, didn’t have much to learn but Lady needed ‘finesse’ or something.”

- - Kuzon is Lady’s SO. They were friends first, SO’s second, and Sokka had to endure the pining. Kuzon acts older than they look, and uses extremely outdated slang. A video with Kuzon in the background as Sokka told a story confirmed the fact when Sokka asked “What did you say to Bluey?” “Flameo, Hotman!” It is assumed that Kuzon is a bender, but no one knows which type. Kuzon once threw a raging party because his school was really strict. The entire student body was invited and the cops were called, but no one got in trouble because they weren’t breaking any laws.

- - Bluey is either a nonbender or a firebender. Sokka’s stories are unclear on that, but one thing is clear: Bluey is a vigilante. And works in a tea shop. And holds some sort of position of power somewhere. It varies from “Bluey stopped a drug ring this month” to “Bluey’s uncle told them they can’t work the night shift because they haven’t slept” to “Bluey just passed a rule saying no drinks during meetings. They’re just mad that I kept slurping my cactus juice.”

- - Bandit is an actual criminal, but also holds some position of power. They are blind, maybe, and an earthbender. Apparently the greatest earthbender in the world, but that could also be Rocky. Bandit scams scammers, usually ones on the street that can’t call the police because they’re also criminals. They’ve made a lot of money that way, and Bandit uses the funds for a combination of food and taking Sokka shopping since he helps them. Bandit also fought in an underground earthbending tournament and won the title every time. Sokka says that the reason behind Bandit even going there was that their family was awful and somehow thought they were fragile, so they learned how to ditch their escort and vent their frustration via illegal fighting ring.

- - Rocky is a king. And insane. And friends with Kuzon and some old people. Nothing else is known, besides they’re a bender.

- - Bison. Is maybe an actual bison. Is Kuzon’s best friend and they’re constantly kissing everyone and messing around with Lemur. Lemur is flighty and loyal and like lychee nuts. Not much else is told, but they’re in many stories and the wording is weird enough that no one can tell if they’re animals or humans.

- - Wheaty was a real jerk when they all first met, and the group all left on bad terms. However, when they met back up, Wheaty was much nicer and was trying to be better than they originally were. They had to go to therapy to help with anger issues and were recovering well when the group reunited. Gurl (Sokka makes sure to spell it out for the viewers) is one of Wheaty’s best friends, having been there for the other through everything. Yuyan was in a similar boat, and was usually the ‘voice’ (Sokka would laugh at that, before continuing as if he hadn’t) of reason. The trio were all very nice and helpful, and had some other friends that Sokka met and hit it off with. Mini-Me was someone who was smol and idolized Sokka. Big Man always traveled with Mini-Me, but never once stopped them from following Sokka around.

- - Warrior is a nonbender and is the one who taught Sokka to fight with fans. They also educated him on toxic masculinity, getting rid of the sexism ingrained in him (*note, in this AU, Sokka wasn’t as sexist, due to being exposed to a few more people and the internet, and therefore finding more female idols. Suki helped him stopped what was left, because he still struggled and wanted to be better). Warrior is about 30% of Sokka’s impulse control, which is still a large chunk considering how many impulses he has. They have been in a few videos wearing an entire robe and mask get-up, and spoke once (1) when they told Sokka that Knife and Ballerina were head over. It was the middle of a video about how to fight with fans.

- - Princess, Knife, and Ballerina were a trio that could rule the world. Princess probably would’ve turned out awful if they hadn’t left home with their uncle. Knife hated any sort of protocol, but never seemed to show emotion. Both they and Yuyan were people that had to be observed to understand their emotions at any one point. Ballerina was happy, a gymnast, a yoga instructor, and a nonbender. It is assumed that Knife is a nonbender who uses only knives and Princess is a master firebender, but there is speculation.

- - Roller and Pusher were best friends. Roller was in a wheelchair and Pusher always pushed them. Roller was incredibly intelligent and often helped Sokka with inventions, while Pusher was a skilled earthbender who used more finesse than most.

- - The Moon is mentioned once and never again, and everyone wonders why he mentioned them in the first place (when discussing what he’d done while Lady battle for her education “I hung out with The Moon”).

- - Most likely to appear in a video are Roller, Pusher, Bandit, and Gurl, all in masks. Bandit’s they can’t possibly see through, but they walk like everything’s normal.

- - Most likely to be off-screen in a video are Kuzon, Bluey, and Lady.

- - Most likely to be mentioned in a video are Kuzon, Bandit, Bluey, Lady, and Warrior.

- Things that are known about Sokka:

- - He learned Earth Kingdom formal from Bandit and informal from a combination of Friends and observation. He learned Fire Nation formal from Bluey’s uncle and Bluey occasionally slipping into it and informal from Kuzon and some colonists he met. He learned the dialects of the Southern and Northern Water Tribes from The Moon, Lady, and Lady’s family. He learned Air Nomad from a variety of monks and people like Chong and Lily.

- - His parkour skills come from a combination of his Friends’ illegal activities, chaotic antics, and just a dash of bad luck.

- - He learned fighting from practically everyone he’d met, and observing them or having them teach him. He hadn’t actually wanted to learn to fight with fans or knives, but Warrior and Knife had taken one look at him and told him he had to or else. In fact, the only weapons he wanted to learn to use were a sword, a club, and his boomerang. He learned the first from Rainbow Father, the second from Bi Father, and the third was self-taught. Everything else, he posted videos as he learned new skills, and also told the varying stories of how he was coerced into being taught. For example, Ballerina insisted on teaching him chi blocking, a very obscure form of fighting, and would randomly use it on him until he agreed. They always undid what they blocked immediately after, but it was still annoying to randomly lose use of both arms.

- - Sokka’s Boomerang is deadly in his hands. He does not know this. During a livestream, Gurl snuck in after causing a distraction outside of the room he was in and read it off someone’s comment. They informed the viewers to never bring it up because Sokka didn’t know and if he underestimated his Boomerang, than everyone he used it against would, too. And that led to hilarious situations.

- - Sokka is a genius and inventor who has several patents. However, no one can find him through them, mostly because he didn’t want any attention when he put the items out into the open. He invented submarines and airships (people had no use for them before, but found they were incredibly useful when Sokka got everything patented and got a sponsor). He also invented cactus juice, which is as mentally impairing as alcohol with none of the lasting physical effects. Bandit loved that one.

- - Sokka has seemingly been everywhere. He’s mentioned meeting the Spirits Hei Bai, Wan Shi Tong, and the Moon and Ocean Spirits in passing. (*while wearing the Spirit facepaint* “I mean, I get that the Spirit World seems great and all, but I’ve been there. Not that exciting. Met Hei Bai and had to be rescued. Don’t see the appeal. And there isn’t a single bathroom there.”)

- - Can dance pretty average, but knows a lot of different styles because of various Friends. Can also sing and whistle well, and usually hums Secret Tunnel while doing parkour. Most of his music videos include other people, minus a few where he was asked to demonstrate his instrumental skills. He, again, is average and only knows the different instruments because people decided he should learn.

- - He is amazing at makeup. Every person he brings in to do (mostly people who aren’t seen again on the videos) leaves with stunning work done.

- - He can draw and paint, but he didn’t start off good. He started doing instructional videos based off articles and lessons he found. His viewers learned with him, and he’s improved greatly. He’s also prone to adding random rainbows to his landscapes, even in the black and white ones (it starts a trend of usually colorful things done in black and white, or in a way that’s more appealing to colorblind people).

- - Sokka wants to get rid of patriarchal societies and old men with problems. He fully supports his Friends’ protests and rebellions, and is likely to have cohesive arguments backed up with verifiable evidence and trustworthy sources.

- - He loves terrible jokes, and knows they’re terrible, but that’s the point.

- - He’s theorized to be in a position of power because once King Kuei and his bear Bosco walked on-screen from behind (Sokka was at a park and had his Earth Kingdom facepaint, so he definitely wasn’t expecting anyone to come), spotted Sokka and looked absolutely delighted, came straight over and hugged the boy from behind while he was explaining a move with a club. King Kuei said nothing, just hugged him until it was returned, let go, and waved goodbye. Bosco did a similar thing before following his owner. Sokka just continued the video as if nothing had happened, so it seems that he’s used to being around heckin’ royalty.

- Boomeraang gets a lot of hype and Sokka does sell merch and earn money, but only sells what is specifically requested. Someone requests he make t-shirts with his channels logo on it, he starts selling them, and doesn’t stop until there aren’t any more demands. Spoiler, there’s always demands. He tries to tell them he doesn’t want to take their money, but he almost had a riot when he suggested not selling anything anymore because he felt bad.

- The Gaang knows about the channel and talk about it a lot. Sokka had planned to keep it small, anonymous, and just have fun with his catch-all videos. He’s 2/3 at this point.

- Katara has her own activist channel, and considered making a second as the Painted Lady and use Sokka’s rep to eventually boost her, but decided against it. Her channel is called ‘Freedom Water’, based on the fact that water is the element of change. She has a moderate following.

- Toph has her own channel as well, which consists of Sokka holding the camera for her and videotaping her as she performs complex earthbending. She calls her channel ‘roc’. Her following is mostly other earthbenders who aren’t too proud to learn from a preteen, and other kids who think she’s cool. She also has a channel called ‘Bandit’, which is just her in the mask she wears for Boomeraang, telling all about different ways she’s scammed scammers, occasionally also showing videos of those instances. Sokka is her cameraman there as well, and will sometimes go on-screen with his facepaint. That channel has a large following because of Boomeraang. Toph is actually good at not slipping into the wrong nicknames or giving away genders.

- Aang has a channel called ‘The Temple’, which is almost solely different animals he spots. Some people try to say that he isn’t at the Air Temples, but he just laughs and ignores them. It drives people insane and it’s just accepted that the name of the channel is misleading. He has a small to moderate following, mostly animal enthusiasts, and the others are nature enthusiasts.

- Zuko has a channel followed by only theater kids and wannabe theater kids. He literally put ‘Title’ as the name, and uses his videos to rant about different plays and a lot about how the Ember Island Players botch the best of shows.

- Jet has an official channel for his Freedom Fighters, which is now solely used for spreading awareness and raising funds for those who need help (orphans, abused people, and people affected by disasters). The group lost a lot of followers when they changed their tune from angry and vengeful to calm and actually trying to help instead of harm. However, Katara and Zuko both gave shout-outs to the channel, and Toph ‘mentioned’ them as well (*read: threatened her followers if they didn’t check it out*). Their following has grown and now has a very good rep.

- Azula, Mai, and Ty Lee share a channel called ‘Royal Three’ where they show off their skills. They have a large following.

- Teo and Haru help manage everyone’s accounts and Teo is the official Kyoshi Warrior technician by the time everyone is done. Both are paid by their Friends for the work and recommend the duo to literally everyone possible.

- The Kyoshi Warriors are extremely well-known. There was an uproar when Ty Lee was announced as an official Kyoshi Warrior. They post basic fighting tutorials.

#atla #sokka #katara #aang #suki #zuko #toph #kyoshi warriors #sokka is a kyoshi warrior #youtube atla #atla youtube au #boomerang #sokka's boomerang #youtube au #avatar the last airbender #avatar

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blackfemmecharacterdependency · 4 years ago

Text

Grace Heals 01: How Did You Betray Simon?

This is dedicated to the growth and wellness of Grace Monroe. I hadn’t seen much fic content for where Grace may go next that wasn’t centered around “fixing” the series. I don’t feel like it needs fixing, but just wanted to venture where I’d love to see Grace go and be as she works on things after we last see her in Book 3. So, everything that was canon precedes this story that I’ve began for my beloved baby girl @pearlseleganciess and my sister @andromidagalaxie (I cannot tag you sis, I don’t understand why, so I’m sorry, but this goes out to you). @i-am-a-passenger Idek if you wanna read it, but it seems like something we’d be on about in the messages, so I’m tagging you at least to this one to see how you feel.

“How did you betray Simon?”

Grace had been standing there for a while, after having had every denizen plaything brought to her so that she could try to see if they could be mended. She was taking a break whenever Lucy’s voice rescued her from her thoughts, but it took her a moment to try to process the question. “How did I, or why did I? We have to get in the habit of clarifying our questions before giving our answers, so that we know what we’re saying. That way… There are no misunderstandings and if anybody is hurt, it’s not because we lied to them.”

“Is that how it happened? You were unclear when you lied to him?” Lucy sounded a little disappointed in that thought.

“No. I was clear. I deliberately lied. I thought that I was doing what was best, and I stand by it. But… I get that… maybe if Simon and I could’ve been clearer sooner, understood each other more instead of just leaning into what we thought we needed… Maybe I wouldn’t have felt like I needed to lie to protect Hazel. Maybe we would’ve been better for each other. Maybe we wouldn’t have misguided so many kids that I genuinely wanted to help in the same way that I thought I was helping Simon…”

Lucy picked up Simon’s book and began scribbling in it. “If we’re going to change our language, maybe I should edit out every usage of the N word.” Grace appreciated that she took the liberty of doing so on her own, instead of looking to her for permission. “Replace the Null of Dissention with… The Denizen of… Repentance?… No. That’s too long. I’ll just put H.. was it Hazel?” Grace’s eyes welled with tears and Lucy’s good eye noted it. She nodded once, “It was Hazel,” she said, going through to edit.

She stared at the book for a while longer, then finally said, “I meant how. How did you betray Simon? I didn’t know him as long as you did, and I didn’t like him as much as you did, but it was still really hard for me not to listen to him. Even when what he said sounded wrong. What he said about you didn’t sound like you. But, I believed him. I trusted him. How did you figure out how to not trust him? How did you decide not to follow the king?” Lucy looked shaky, regretful. She was asking for instructions, not for Grace to explain herself.

Still, Grace had to be certain, just like she promised, to be clear about the conversations she had with others and to answer them to the best of her knowledge. She couldn’t be a know-it-all anymore. She had to just be honest and straightforward, even when she didn’t know, and do her best to understand what was being asked of her, instead of presuming. “Lucy… Are you asking me this as a way to help you figure out how to learn to stick up for yourself?”

“I want to be brave enough to overthrow an unfit leader. Simon was an unfit leader. A lot of us had to have known. I couldn’t be the only one who didn’t like... the changes…”

Grace sighed and nodded her head. She sat down, legs sprawled and rested her elbows on her knees as she thought, “Well… I think that first and foremost, the important thing to understand is that even if you were the only one who didn’t like it, there’s nothing wrong with that. There’s nothing wrong with not thinking like everyone else. There’s nothing wrong with thinking for yourself and having a different opinion than other people. The problem isn’t in our opinions, but our actions. Whenever I… realized that I cared about Hazel, I knew that Simon had a different opinion, but… my actions. I wanted so much to keep what I had with Simon, to keep our peace, to keep him happy, I hurt a little girl that thought I cared about her. I couldn’t take that back.”

“We were going to wheel you… Can… can we not take that back?” Lucy asked, worried.

“The good news is that I made it. I know how it feels to let down a friend and to hurt them, and I never want to make you feel that way. As long as we’re both still here, there is time to change, and time to talk it out. So, to answer your question, we can’t undo what we’ve already done, but we can use what we learn from what we did wrong to do better in the future.”

“But… Do you hate us? Doesn’t some part of you hate us, like Simon hated you when you betrayed him?” Lucy was now losing her tough exterior and clenching the book tightly.

Grace reached out and touched her shoulder. She loosened up and Grace took the book from her and tossed it aside to hold both of her hands.

“I could never hate you, Lucy. You and me, we’ve gone through something together that has forever changed us. I’m really glad that you have a better chance now.”

Lucy shook her head and started crying, “But, what if we had wheeled you? What if we had wheeled you like all of those nulls that we’ve wheeled, and now have to think about how wrong it was for us to do that to them? What if we had to think about that too? About having done it to you?”

“You didn’t! You didn’t!” Grace said, trying to calm her.

She reached for a hug, but Lucy resisted and shook her head. “I called you a void. I knew that it didn’t seem right, but I still listened to Simon. You should be throwing me to the wheels.”

Grace clasped her hands together and sputtered out a breath. “Nobody should be thrown to the wheels. Believe it or not, I wouldn’t have even wanted that for Simon. I loved him more than I can put into words. From the first time I saw that I needed to protect him, that’s… just what I did. It was nice, to be needed. It was nice to have someone see me and see the best,” Tears were in Grace’s eyes now, “And it was so hard to have him see me and see the worst. For a moment, I even thought that I deserved it. I thought, what I’m guessing you’re thinking, that because I did something to hurt him, maybe I had to do more to help him.”

“You told him a stupid lie and he tried to kill you. I feel like that’s an overreaction,” Lucy complained. “He failed us.”

“No, Lucy. We failed you. He’s just the one who didn’t live to fix it.��

“Shouldn’t all fall on you,” Lucy said and kicked Simon’s book off the table.

“And, it doesn’t. Remember, we’re doing this together. I can try to help you, but I can’t fix everything. But, you have me here and I’m telling you the truth when I say that you deserve to get to change. Everybody does.”

“Then, why can’t everybody change? Why couldn’t Simon?”

Grace shook her head and blinked away more stinging tears, “I can’t answer for Simon, but maybe a part of life continuing is not having an answer for everything. Maybe… we’ll all do our best to find answers that are good and sound, because we saw how… badly it could end… if we’re not willing to see any other ways but our own. I know I'm willing to give it my best shot." Lucy nodded her head and finally was ready for a hug. Grace squeezed her tightly, thinking of Hazel, but not wanting to equate Lucy and Hazel. They were both two very different little girls. She had regrets about Hazel, but she had also come to terms with that mentally. Maybe she would see her again, but probably not and she couldn’t equate every kid she knew with Hazel; just like she shouldn’t have equated every kid she met with a sad short boy in socks and sandals.

But, she was never going to stop loving either of them. That was just… How she was. People didn’t get close to her and the ones who had… Well, she was going to have to learn how to let other people get close too. It would take some of these kids a long time to trust this new evolution of hers, but most of them wanted to.

Lucy had wanted to. “Umm… Grace?”

“Yes, Lucy?”

“Can… you stop hugging me. It’s getting a little uncomfortable.” Grace quickly let go and placed her hand on the back of her neck, laughing. Lucy just smiled at her, almost like you would some poor silly fool. “Thank you for clearing it up,” Lucy said and picked up Simon’s book off of the floor. “On second thought, I don’t think we need this. I’m gonna wheel it,” Lucy said. Grace wanted to stop her, for sentimental reasons, but… None of the other kids touched Simon’s things. There would be something that she could hold on to, whenever she had the nerve to go in there. That book… it was probably filled with things that she never wanted to think about, with all the parts of Simon that she didn’t quite notice until she started changing.

“Lucy!” She called after her, realizing that she had never answered her question. The girl stopped, panicked for a moment, thinking that maybe she had done something wrong. “I changed. That’s how I betrayed him. I became a person that valued something more than I valued what we had, what we built.”

“But… you built something that was bad,” Lucy said. Grace nodded. “So, you changed into someone good.”

“I changed into someone who was thinking from a good place. I don’t know if I feel comfortable saying that I became good.”

“I feel comfortable saying it, because I have a different opinion than you, and that’s okay.” Grace smiled at Lucy as she trotted along to the door to get rid of the book. At least somebody believed that she was good.

#Infinity Train #Nesha Fanfiction #Infinity Train Fanfiction #fics #Grace Heals #Grace Monroe Fanfic #Grace Monroe #Infinity Train Grace

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atlas-of-a-human-soul · 4 years ago

Note

18, 19 & 24 for E?

18. "You're not gonna hurt me."

19. "I hate Halloween."

24. "I’m the tall dark stranger your parents warned you about."

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Warnings: murder, blood, violence, swearing

The curfew started an hour ago yet the streets were filled with trick or treaters. A part of her wondered if the parents who let their kids out unsupervised were sane, but then again, wasn’t she out as well?

The murders shaking up the little town had yet to stop, the seventh victim had been found.

Seven women, all drowned to death but it wasn’t before the killer had his sick fun with torturing them first.

Shuddering, Y/N wrapped her arms around herself, looking around for the reason why she’s outside. If it were up to her, she’d be holed up inside with a scary movie on and a big bowl of popcorn to satisfy her anxiety. His arm would be around her, easing the fear, and they’d steal glances at each other every so often until one of them would give up and steal a kiss.

Y/n’s ideal Halloween would have been just like that. Unfortunately, she agreed to go out for a movie date with her boyfriend and his twin who was in town for a night.

“AH!” She screamed as someone jerked her from behind, laughing and wheezing at the same time.

“You should ‘ave seen your face!!” Grayson cackled, falling on his ass from laughter and she frowned before looking to her boyfriend.

“I hate Halloween.” She rolls her eyes, standing by her statement as Grayson wheezes and Ethan chuckles.

“C’mon! It was funny!” Ethan opens his arms and while reluctant, Y/N embraces the opportunity to hold him close. He was her flame and she a moth who willingly played with fire.

“You scared me half to death.” Complaining, her words are muffled by his chest where she buried her face, all too embarrassed about the way she screamed and angry she’s so easily scared.

“As if anyone could hurt you when I’m around.” Ethan presses a sweet kiss atop her head, swaying her left to right. Gazing up at his face, she notices a beautiful smile adorning his plush lips and there’s a sense of pure awe washing over her.

Ethan is a man many would fall for. Many did.

Charming, incredibly witty and intelligent, he owned every room her entered. He didn’t even ask for the attention, it was given freely and in abundance. His good looks attracted girls, his sporty hobbies attracted the men and no matter how many times she asked herself how he could have fallen for her - a social misfit, her brain never could form a believable answer.

“We’ll be late, love birds! Save the smooching for the bedroom.” Grayson teased, going ahead of the two. It was known he was definitely a Halloween fan and while horror movies scared him, Grayson insisted on watching one every year.

Walking hand in hand, Y/N and Ethan reminisced. It was easy to get lost in the autumn magic, the colorful trees around them and the dim light of streetlights making them wish they were alone to kiss without anyone giving them dirty looks.

“I’m really glad you came with us tonight.” Ethan whispers, making Grayson shush him as result. The movie had started a while ago, nothing too interesting to keep Y/N’s attention. She had watched The Hills Have Eyes so many times before it just lost its appeal.

Moving her legs aside, Y/N had let a girl pass by, only to turn her attention back to Ethan.

“I’m glad you wanted me to.” Smiling sheepishly, she let him take her hand, watching him pull it up to his lips and press a tender kiss.

“Do you want anything? I’ll go to the bathroom quick.” He raises an eyebrow, expecting her to ask for a popcorn refill but she shakes her head.

“Just you to come back.” Her smile wide, Y/N pressed a kiss to the corner of his lips, even if he did shake his head and smirk at her instead of giving her a kiss she craved.

It was an unstoppable craving for Ethan ever since he first kissed her after Sociology. She was smitten, hopelessly infatuated by him.

“Count on it.” Pecking the tip of her nose, Ethan was quick to disappear, leaving Y/N with a growing unsteadiness within.

Minutes passed and she began to grow anxious. Nervously bouncing her leg, Y/N sighed, checking her phone a few times before texting Ethan who had not sent a reply.

Chewing on the inside of her bottom lip, she couldn’t even follow what’s happening on the screen, lost in her own thoughts and the possible reasons why he has yet to return.

Perhaps there was a line for the bathroom? Perhaps he just needed to take a dump? Maybe he decided to get her the popcorn anyway?

Whatever the reason may be, she was done waiting.

“Gray”, she whispered, getting his attention. “I’ll go check on E.” She stood up, catching a nod in acknowledgement before leaving.

She didn’t bother checking the entrance, heading for the bathroom straight away. She knocked on the men’s room, calling his name but there was no answer and her raging heart told her something’s wrong.

Instead of panicking, she figured she should call him again in case he didn’t hear the texts. Walking into the women’s room for privacy, Y/N had expected anything but what she found.

Her eyes noticed the blood on white tiles, contrasting like rubies in the winter snow. Her black boots were already in the puddle of the pungent smell of iron - the kind that one smells after rain had corroded the pipes.

Shaky hands, tense body, Y/N dared to look ahead and toward the body of the lifeless woman who was very much alive when she moved out of her way earlier. She had her eyes open just as she did in the theatre, but there was nothing behind them - no happiness nor pair, no hope for the future.

And that’s when she found the culprit walking out of a stall.

There’s no remorse on his angelic, blood splattered, face nor guilt in his hazel eyes. The lips who showed her nothing but tenderness now formed a scowl she could never erase from memory.

“E-Ethan?” She stuttered in disbelief, looking to the knife he clutched possessively with his left hand.

“You really should have stayed and watched the movie.” Ethan sighs, too dramatically for it to be real. He step over the body as if it’s trash, nearing Y/N who stumbled back only to crash into a wall.

Breathing shallow and fast, she no longer felt tense but broken and shaken beyond what she believed to be possible. Her mind spins with every step he gets closer and there’s no strength inside her to run.

She always thought in a situation where it’s “fight or flight” she’d be able to run, but her body froze, remaining at the mercy of the one she thought loved her.

“You’re not gonna hurt me.” Her tone lacked conviction, but her eyes remained on him.

Ethan could smell the fear on her. Even if she spoke valiantly, he’d see through her. Widen eyes, nostrils flared, breathing as if she had run a marathon? She feared him. And he liked it.

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that, love.” He drawled it out, lifting his arm until the tip of his knife pressed against her throat. “You see, she thought so too.” Ethan cranes his neck so Y/N could see the victim behind him only to snap his head back into position, making her gasp.

“Why? At least tell me if it was all a lie?” Her shaky voice entertains him and the way her carotid pulses only excites him. She’s a pretty girl, but she’s gorgeous when she’s scared of him.

“What do you think?” He raises an eyebrow, a cunning smile spreading across his lips as her chin quivers. “I’m the tall dark stranger your parents warned you about.”

But before he makes the fatal cut, Ethan hears the sirens. It’s unlikely they’re for him, but he can never be too careful.

“I guess it’s your lucky night, love. Do clean up and head back. I’ll join shortly.” Nodding his head toward the door, Ethan steps back, bringing the tip of the blade to his lips. “And be quiet if you know what’s good for you.”

Pushing the heavy door, Y/N ran out, her legs finally serving her right. She ran past the theatre, straight to the register.

“Call 911!”

Her instincts told her not to. Her treacherous heart screamed at her to pretend she didn’t see anything. She wanted to. She really wanted to pretend, but as the guy asked questions why, she covered her mouth and held back a sob.

Shaking her head, she turned away and ran outside as the guy called the police regardless of her lacking response, aware she could be the reason why Ethan is apprehended.

And that should make her feel good, right? She should be happy? It certainly looked like he was the killer everyone’s been talking about, so why didn’t she feel good about it? Why did she feel sick to her stomach with the thought of never having his arms around her?

Perhaps she was just as mad as he is.

As the night went on, Y/N remained in her bed, terrified to turn on the news. But she had to. Something told her she had to.

‘The Beast has struck again, leaving the county police with yet another horrendous death on their hands. The cashier at the movies told us there was a girl running out of the bathroom, instructing him to call the police. It is unclear if the girl had witnessed the murder or just found the body, but as of now, no arrests have been made. The cameras were disconnected at the time of the murder and an hour after. According to the police, the footage of the witness and possible murderer is unrestrainable.’

“Fuck.” Y/N mutters under her breath. Not only did the news just tell Ethan she had called the cops, but they also confirmed he wasn’t even a suspect. That means...

“Knock, knock!” She heard the pounding on her front door, breaking her out of her thoughts. The voice is familiar, the one she once adored now making her question everything.

“Open up and let’s have a nice chat!”

#dolan twins #ethan dolan #ethan dolan x reader #ethan dolan au #dolan twins halloween blurbs #halloween prompts #grayson dolan

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thedreammweaver · 5 years ago

Text

You really thought I’d leave? (Burton-Schumacherverse riddlebird , trans!Oswald)

Warnings: Dysphoria, misunderstandings, accidental misgendering, Clueless Ed is clueless, brief mention of suicidal thoughts of no physical consequence, medium to mild amount of blood, forced to come out by stupid dumb uterus, so. many. penguin. tears., A N G S T, pain, suffering, the lads talk about their trauma, 🙃🙃🙃🙃🙃🙃 (it turns out okay though)

Ed was still feeling his post heist high when he threw himself onto Oswald’s bed while Oswald was hanging up his coat, hat, and umbrella. Ed looked over when he heard Oswald sigh, he was rubbing at his back like it hurt. “I’m sorry..” Ed blurted out.

“It’s not your fault.” Oswald said flatly as he went behind an ornate screen in the corner of his bedroom to change into pajamas. Ed had wondered a few times why Oswald didn’t change in front of him but after all they’d only been in a relationship for a few weeks, it felt like longer to Ed, but maybe the other man just needed more time. Ed rested his head in his hands, feeling guilty

“I was being theatrical and I took too long...if I had hurried up like you said batman wouldn’t have gotten there in time to hurt you..”

Oswald scoffed “It’s OK, Eddie! I needed to let off some steam anyways.”

“If getting thrown into a cement wall where you could’ve been seriously hurt and I would’ve spent forever wishing it had been me instead because..” ‘Because I love you. C’mon, Ed, just say it!’ Ed screamed at himself in his mind “well... because it just wouldn’t be right..I mean if that’s you’re idea of letting off steam then sure.” Ed pouted, kicking himself mentally and burying his face in Oswald’s bed, the comforter smelled like him which lifted Ed’s spirits a bit. “I don’t wanna go home tonight.” He hadn’t meant to say that out loud but didn’t regret it either. “Then stay,” Oswald said, coming out from behind the screen now dressed in black and purple satin pjs “I mean...if this- or- we work out you’ll probably be staying here half the time anyhow, right?” “Yeah, I guess so.” Ed said absently getting off the bed to peel himself out of the green glittery spandex suit he was in, he only had his briefs and a plain tank top underneath, he’d learned to wear some sort of undershirt with the spandex if he was going to Oswald’s after unless he wanted his core to feel an ice box. “Look! The bat got you too, we’re even.” Oswald chuckled pointing out bruises on Ed’s arm and shoulder as he got under the covers. Ed rolled his eyes and crawled into bed next to Oswald he had been afraid this would be awkward but the idea of falling asleep next to Oswald came naturally and he was soon asleep.

Ed was stirred awake just as easily as he’d drifted off by Oswald quicky getting out of bed and muttering curses “Shit, shit, shit...goddamnit..” Ed sat up a bit “Wha...Ozzie, what is it??” He asked groggily. “Uh- it’s- just- nothing, nothing just uh-uh stay there or you maybe better sleep on the couch instead uh...just- go back to sleep. Don’t turn the lights on.” After that panicked deluge of unclear instruction Oswald ran off to the bathroom down the hallway. Ed still drowsy, now worried and curious he turned on the lamp by the bed and looked over to Oswald’s side of the bed, all he could make out was a blurry red blob. He huffed and clumsily reached for his glasses, he’d left them on the nightstand before he and Oswald had gone on the heist as he’d gotten changed at Oswald’s too. His eyes were slowly adjusting and the red blob revealed itself to be a sizeable bloodstain, Ed’s heart dropped. He got up and ran down the hall to the bathroom as well. When Ed went to open the door there was a shrill “DON’T COME IN!!” which made him jump and step back. “But Oswald you’re bleeding!”

“I know, Ed, it’s normal...” Ed could hear that Oswald’s teeth were gritted. “That was a lot of blood Oswald! You could have internal damage from “letting off steam” with the bat earlier. I have to take you to the hospital, I know you hate doctors but-“

“It is normal, Edward! Now leave me be!!”

Ed was taken aback, Oswald had never yelled at him like this before. He put his ear to the door, he could hear plastic ripping and crinkling, was Oswald trying to tend to the damage himself? “Oswald, please please let me help. I know you have a lot of weird..stuff going on but bleeding like that isn’t normal.”

“Yes, it is. This has nothing to do with that son of a bitch Batman, this happens every month..”

“EVERY MONTH?! Since when??”

“...since I was about twelve or thirteen..I don’t remember.”

Ed was bewildered “Since you were- you mean as in years old right??? Oswald! That could be indicative of SERIOUS health problems!!”

“Ed just leave me alone please...stop worrying, it’s fine.”Oswald’s gruff voice was beginning sound shaky. Ed was wracking his brain trying to figure out what was going on. “Oswald please talk to me, if this is “normal” I want to understand why..I-I mean is it like the stuff that comes out of your mouth or-“ “No! It’s not like that...”

“Then what??-“

“Gimme a minute! I’ve never really had to..vocalize it..before..”

Ed leaned his head on the door, now he felt confused and impatient. Oswald cleared just throat nervously “So...I’m a man right except I- Except I got born with the wrong sort of...equipment for that..”

“What??” Ed asked, more a noise of exasperation than a question. “Jesus, Ed- I...got born with a chick’s body but later I figured out I’m not a chick alright, not really..not on the inside-We’re both guys but if you wanted to narrow things down to a strictly physical matter I have more in common with the catbitch than with you..”

Ed’s brow furrowed “So you’re a woman?”

“NO!! GOD NO, ED!! DID YOU EVEN HEAR A WORD I JUST FUCKING SAID?!”

“Okay! Okay! I-I-just-“

“DON’T EVER SAY THAT SHIT TO ME AGAIN!!”

“OKAY!!” There was an uncomfortable beat of silence before Ed spoke again “So.....what are are you?” Oswald scoffed, a pitiful tone to the noise “You’re just trying your damndest to make me feel like shit aren’t you?” Ed’s heart broke when he heard Oswald’s voice break. “No! No! I- Oswald, I swear I’m just trying to understand. S-So you’re a guy? Right? On the inside..that’s what you said? But you have...girl..parts? Then-so the blood.......oh......you-...you’re just..menstruating?” Oswald didn’t answer him. “Oswald??” Ed gently pushed the door open. Oswald was on the floor leaning against the bathtub, he was just in his underpants and pajama top now, the blood stained bottoms tossed aside. Parts of his thighs were also bloodstained, he was sobbing into his flippers, a pathetic gasping hitching noise. Ed got on his knees beside Oswald, he’d never seen the man cry before and it was making him panic “Oswald, please...I didn’t mean to- did-did...I get it right the last time at least..?” Oswald whined “Yes!...yes...but it doesn’t matter...you don’t like me anymore..” “What?? Of course I still lo- like you.” Ed grabbed the other man by the shoulders to make them face eachother. Oswald took his flippers down from his tear drenched face “Just wait, you say that now but in time..you’ll get frustrated and you’ll leave, your need for a “real man” will win out over any feelings you claim to have for me. Eddie, I’ve been through this before..I know how this works..” Oswald broke down into sobs again “Except it’s worse this time..because you actually fucking matter to me, you’re not someone I paid to tell me they love me just because I needed to to hear it on a shitty night.” He was beginning to hyperventilate now “I-I never needed anyone before like I need you and I-I didn’t mean to keep this from you but I got so scared! I was so SCARED!! Scared because I think if you left me especially because of this I’d-I’d just have to go and find the tallest building in Gotham and throw myself off...see if maybe one penguin an fly after all...this poor old bird couldn’t take that, not after everything....not after all this. I thought about it so much and I’d really rather die than have you leave me, Eddie, leave me like every other little sparkling thing that cuddled up to me as if I meant something to them! Like my parents the night I was born!! They doomed me to a life of being thrown away. Th-They cursed me that night do you understand?! An-and I so need you to be the one that breaks that curse cause I. AM. telling. you! I can’t stand that happening again..not one time more...please...not once more..please.....pleease...” Oswald begged as he collapsed into Ed’s arms, sobbing, burying his face in the other man’s chest. “Oh...Oswald I- please don’t talk like that...like you’re nothing..” Ed felt tears flowing down his own face as he cradled his bird. “I..love you. God, Oswald, I love you..you really thought I’d leave?” Oswald raised his head a bit “...Eddie, people get killed for being like me...you can never tell how people will react to what they don’t understand..” Ed absently rocked himself and Oswald softly “...I love you...I wanted to say it for so long but I was scared too, I thought you were gonna be like these type of guys I messed around with in school, they’d call you baby when you’re alone and act like they really care but then you see them with their girlfriends the next day, acting like they don’t know you...and you just feel like a fucking idiot all because they don’t like who they are... I never thought I could mean as much to you as...how you said.” Oswald wrapped his arms around Ed’s waist. “You love me? Why?” There was a pitiful wistfulness in his voice. Ed didn’t have to think for long “You’re warm. You’re the only thing that makes me feel held, only thing that makes me feel safe, wanted. It’s like I wasn’t even real before I met you...I was just here..barely. I carry your warmth with me everywhere now, so I can feel real all the time..instead of like I’m floating away. You...obviously love me too, why?”

“You make me feel human. I got too used to being an animal after being treated like one...manipulated like one. You talk to me like- I don’t know...like you care..” They sat there holding eachother for a few minutes more until Oswald’s crying resumed “It wasn’t enough that I had to get born like this..” he sobbed gesturing to his flippers and nose “I had to get born with the wrong insides too...as if I wasn’t a complete freak already..” Ed held the shorter man tighter “No, no, no, no, no, don’t say that, Oswald, don’t say that,” Ed cooed, stroking Oswald’s hair “I promise I’m going to learn how to treat you right, after all this time you deserve it..I promise I’m gonna learn, okay? And I’m not leaving, you don’t have to be scared anymore..” Oswald was still crying, Ed scooted back a bit so he could see Oswald’s face. “Look, look, I-I can run you a bath so you can get cleaned up and I’ll take care of the bed, then you don’t have to think about it anymore tonight. Would that be good...if I did that?” Ed offered earnestly. Oswald sighed and nodded, Ed smiled weakly and cupped the other man’s cheek “Good-..good, so I’ll- I’m gonna do that and you can stay here and just relax, please.” Ed kissed Oswald’s cheek before getting up and turning on the bath to let it fill while he stripped the bed. Before leaving the bathroom he just had to say it once more “I love you, Oswald.” “I love you too, asshole..” Oswald grumbled, while wiping the dried, drying, and still wet tears from his face. Ed sighed happily knowing that his bird was starting to calm down already, and basking in the knowledge that he was loved back.

#oswald cobblepot #edward nygma #the riddler #the penguin #riddlebird angst

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chris-evans-indian-fanfic · 5 years ago

Text

Past. Present. Future?

One-Shot

This Bucky one-shot is for @iguessweallcrazyithinktho 's awesome summer challenge 😍 From the long list of prompts I am using number 69 (because I am as mature as a 10-year-old). Check out the challenge here.

Prompt 69-You couldn’t handle me even if I came with instructions.

Description: As the ex-Winter Soldier tries to put back together the few, misplaced pieces of Sergeant James Buchanan Barnes, he meets someone who reminds him of the charming, buoyant 1942 Bucky. But is that enough to truly bring him back?

This one-shot is based in 2024 and exists in the original MCU.

P.S.- Image isn't mine. I found it on Google.

Warnings: Curse words, brutal fight scene, torture, mentions of rape, spoilers for Avengers Endgame

PROCEED ONLY IF YOU ARE 18+!!

I don’t consent to have any of my work published or featured on any third party app, website or translated. If you are seeing this fanfiction anywhere but tumblr, it has been reposted without my permission. In that case, please do share the link and let me know.

Fuck. Fuck. FUCK. Raw terror gripped Connie Tucker as she hid in a corner beneath the staircase. Amid the chaos, she heard heavy footsteps above her, thundering down the stairs. "Where the fuck did she go?" shouted one voice, "She couldn't have gone far," another responded, "All the gates are locked, she has to be in the compound," explained a third voice. "FIND HER" screamed the first voice, "And bring her to me aliv... AARGGH!"

Connie heard a metallic wooshing sound, followed by a large THUD. The air was filled with gunshots and exclamations. She dared to peek from behind the stairwell, only seeing the swirling colours of red, white and blue and a black shadow. Captain America was here, with him.

It took a while for the din to settle down in the faux military base. In the past year, Hydra had risen again, disguising themselves as members of the military and more. The government was unwilling to accept both; the return of Hydra and second, Sam Wilson as Captain America. Hence, they refused to acknowledge any mission by the duo and instead branded them as criminals in the media by feeding the people false information.

Bucky and Sam did a final check across the base, looking for any innocent prisoners or survivors.

As they neared the stairwell, Bucky's enhanced hearing caught on ragged breathing from behind it. He motioned Sam who nodded and kept his shield ready to strike.

They could hardly make out a balled-up shape in the corner. Dressed completely in black from head to toe, the person wore a mask, black sunglasses and a hoodie. The shape slowly revealed itself to be a trembling woman.

"Ma'am are you alright?" Sam asked, his voice deep. "Ye... Yes Captain," stuttered Connie as she removed her mask and sunglasses, "I am not... I am not with them. I am with you."

"What do you mean by 'with us'? Did you follow us here?" asked Bucky sharply. In all of his years as the Winter Soldier, he had been taught not to trust anyone- men, women or children.

"N... No. No. But I have pr... proof," she stammered again, clearly terrified of Bucky.

"What kind of proof ma'am?" Sam asked her, his tone a little gentle than Bucky's.

Before she could answer, a device in Bucky's hand beeped. "Shit," he muttered, "We have company approaching. Two minutes, max," looking at Connie, he said gravely, "Let's take her with us."

Sam sighed, but nodded in agreement. As Bucky held Connie by her hand, he smelled the faint scent of rose, delicate, sweet and lingering, coming off her. He stopped in his tracks as the scent took him back to 1942.

He heard a woman's laughter and saw flashes of fireworks in the sky illuminating what looked like a fair.

"What's wrong, Cyborg?! We gotta go!" Sam urged Bucky, effectively pulling him out of his reverie.

Connie was surprised as well. Did he somehow manage to recognise her...? But before she could complete her thought, she felt a light prick in her arm, and her vision went black.

...

Hidden in their safehouse under the radar, Sam noticed Bucky's anxious behaviour. Bucky kept pacing across the room, stealing glances at their unconscious roommate covered with a blanket. He finally sat in the corner, closing his eyes in frustration as he pressed his fingertips to his temples.

Sam hesitated before approaching Bucky. Bucky was his responsibility now. Even though he had compete control of his mind, he sometimes went through banxiety attacks. But this was different...

Bucky tried to focus on the memory. There was laughter, colorful lights, a large crowd and... Steve! Yes! He remembered Steve telling Bucky that he was taking all the stupid with him to the war. Damn that scrawny Brooklyn bastard, he thought. He strained his mind further to look at the petite figure. There was music. Was he dancing?

"Hey man," Sam put a hand on his shoulder, "Talk to me. What's going on?"

Bucky looked pointedly at the unconscious figure. "There's something about her that's... Familiar," he said slowly.

"Like as in you met her when you were a 'Cold Fighter'?", Sam could hardly keep his smile in check. Over the course of the months, he had found that Bucky hated the title 'Winter Soldier' and was reluctant to discuss his previous activities. So, he had to find new names to address his past. "Winter's Children" was met with a deadly growl, "Soldier's Adventures" received a hateful stare and "Starbucks' Orders" (because why the hell not) was greeted with an incredulous and confused expression. The "Cold Fighter" was somewhat of a neutral term, as in Bucky did not react to it. Which was progress.

Bucky frowned, "No. I think this memory is before all of that shit. Before the war. Back when," he smiled a little, "Back when Steve used to wear newspapers in his shoes."

"Ahh so this memory is from your youth?" Sam replied with a cheeky smile.

"I may be a 100 years old, but I can still kick your Willy Wonka ass," stated Bucky.

"Willy Wonka?" Sam raised his eyebrow.

"Sam Wilson. Willy Wonka," Bucky explained matter-of-factly, "Just like Bucky and Starbucks."

Sam patted Bucky's head, feigning disappointment, "It's okay grandpa. I am just so proud to see you trying. You will surely get there one day uncle."

Before Bucky could catch him, Sam skipped to the side, his laugh taunting Bucky. "What about her triggered the memory anyway?" he inquired.

Bucky shook his head, "It's her perfume. She smells like roses, but not the red ones. It is the scent of the sweeter roses, you know? Delicate, yet strong."

Sam slowly inched towards her, and took a large whiff. "Dude I only smell sweat and grime. You seriously need to stop sniffing women grandpa. It is frowned upon in the 21st Century," he quickly ducked and ran when Bucky sent a random box flying towards his head.

...

Connie slowly opened her eyes. At first, she thought she had gone blind, but slowly, she realised she was in a dark, cold basement of sorts. With her head still spinning, she managed to sit.

A light was suddenly switched on a few feet from her. She saw Captain America sitting beside the crude lamp. As her eyes adjusted further to the darkness, she saw the faint glint of the light reflecting off a metallic surface in the corner. The metal was attached to a man. To him.

"There's water besides your bed if you need it," Sam spoke, his voice stern. After Connie had gratefully taken a few sips, he continued, "You said you were with us. You said you had proof. Care to explain?"

Connie wrapped the blanket around her and nodded. "I am... I run a blog where I expose the Government and their elaborate lies. When they started to brand you two as terrorists, I... I knew there was something wrong. So I used some of my contacts and skills to figure out what were the authorities hiding," she paused to drink more water.

She then explained to them how she had tried to collect any sort of proof, be it photos, videos, emails, documents etc. That's when she stumbled upon the faux military bases where Hydra was hiding under disguise.

"Once I figured out where they were located, I went ahead to... To collect more proof. Today was the first time I visited such a base, and they caught me. I don't know what they would have done if you guys hadn't... Thank you," she gratefully ended her story.

Bucky stepped into the light, his body tensed, his face sporting a glare. Sam stroked his chin thoughtfully.

Noticing their distrustful stance, Connie reached into her pockets and pulled out a few things, "Here is the camera and the pendrive. These contain all the necessary information. You... You guys can take a look," she meekly suggested.

As Sam went ahead to confirm her claims, Bucky stood guard. Connie gathered up the courage to stare at the Winter Soldier in his eyes. She could barely make out his features in the dim light. Bucky noticed her curious gaze travel all over him, as if looking for something. What are you searching for? he thought. There was just something so familiar about her wondering look. Fuck this is frustrating! Where have I seen that before?

After a short while, Sam returned and gave a slight nod to Bucky. While she had been truthful about the proof, there were still a lot of things left uncleared.

"We need more information before we can proceed," Sam spoke to Connie carefully. Taking a seat, he further asked her questions about her contacts, her aforementioned skill set, how had she managed to enter the faux military base and so on. She informed them that they still had friends in the world, the most concerned friend being a man with a black eye-patch...

The interrogation lasted for what seemed like hours. When they were satisfied with the information shared, they decided to let her go. But before they did, Bucky had to ask her one last question, "What is your name?"

"Connie."

Connie.

The name rang like the bells of Notredame in Bucky's head. Connie.

He remembered her excitement when he had asked her to come to the Stark Expo with a friend. He recalled her curiously examining everything on display at the Expo. Her enthusiasm for dancing late into the night had been infectious.

Connie. The dark-haired young-dame who had been his date before he was shipped off to England. Whose faint rose perfume had him enveloped in a cocoon the night before he had left.

Connie.

Bucky had stood still, staring silently at the wall. He froze, feeling overwhelmed due to the memories which started flooding into his mind.

"Bucky. Bucky. BUCKY," Sam shook Bucky's shoulder. The Winter Soldier turned to look Sam, his eyes glistening with tears. Uh oh, Sam thought, and took Connie out of the room, pricking her hand with the sleeping medicine.

...

Connie woke up the next day in her house. Groggy with the medication, she barely managed to eat before she passed out again. The next day was slightly better for her. At least she managed to take a bath and eat breakfast and lunch. She also realised that her camera and pendrive were missing.

It was the third day when she stated feeling a lot better. After her morning routine, she scrolled through the news on her phone. The headlines barely suprised her.

"New Captain America and the Winter Soldier Proven Innocent."

"Government's Dirty Secrets are Out to Dry."

"Is our Government Hydra?"

"Captain America is Back, and this time he is Black!"

"Can we Trust the Winner Soldier?"

"Who is Sam Wilson and Why Should you Follow him?"

Smiling, she relaxed and sipped on her coffee. From what she knew about James Buchanan Barnes, he would find her soon enough.

...

10 months passed. 10 long months and there was still no sign of James. Connie kept checking the news for updates on their missions. While some people had claimed spotting them across different parts of the country, there was no concrete proof. Even their friend with the eye-patch had stopped answering her calls.

One of the fan sites had claimed spotting "The Winter Soldier" in her city, but that was weeks ago. Her hopes had been crashed when she didn't find James at her doorstep.

As she walked down the street, she stopped to look at her reflection in the store window. While she didn't look exactly like her Great Grandmother Connie, she still had some of her features. The cute button nose, big brown eyes and rounded cheekbones were quite similar to her ancestor. He had recognised the perfume, right? He must have seen the similarities... Or else he wouldn't have been so perturbed around her.

Lost in her thoughts, she started crossing the street without looking. A loud blaring horn scared Connie out of her wits. She jumped and looked at the oncoming truck, like a deer in the headlights.

Fuck. Fuck. FUCK.

Her mind willed her to run, but she stood rooted on the spot.

A strong pair of hands grabbed her waist, and pulled her to the safety of the sidewalk. Her coffee spilled over them both, but she was too terrified to notice. She kept looking at the truck with shock as it passed, it's driver hurling abuses.

"Are you okay?" asked a rough voice, gently. She turned to face him, her nose almost touching his face. Dark brown eyes stared into deep blue.

James had saved her.

When she finally managed to nod, he asked her further, "Who are you? You can't be... Her. Are you her?" his grip on her waist tightening further.

"I am her... I am her great-granddaughter," Connie confessed, looking down. Suddenly she gasped, "I spilled coffee all over you! I am so sorry! I... I didn't mean to I swe..."

"Who was she?" Bucky asked her, his hands on her waist stayed the same. Her rose perfume assaulting his senses in the most delicious way.

Color rose to her cheeks. "She was your girlfriend."

...

Bucky was behind Connie as they entered her small one-room-kitchen apartment. She had wanted to show Bucky something. She asked him to take a seat on the small couch, while she retrieved an old and weathered leather box from her cupboard.

Connie sat besides him with the wrinkled box in her lap. She carefully opened it, and said, "This box belonged to my great-grandmother. She gave it to me when I was just 10-years-old. She said that this box was full of memories of... Of her first love, who died in the war, fighting alongside Captain America against Hy... Hydra," her eyes were brimming with tears now.

Connie gingerly picked up an old crumpled photograph and gave it to Bucky. "This was taken at the Stark Expo, where I guess you guys had your last da... date." She then gave him a stack of envelopes, "She always wrote letters to you. Even after the news of your... your accident, she still kept writing them, but she never sent then across."

Bucky had an incredulous expression on his face. Why was it that he could recall every murder, could hear the painful screams of all his victims, but he couldn't remember the woman who had loved him so much?

He picked up the box and started going through its contents. He found a diary, two blue silk ribbons, a few pretty bows, a torn handkerchief and one dried daisy. "You had given her that daisy on your first date to the park. She... She kept it safe with her," Connie added.

"Did I give her all these things?" Bucky quietly asked her.

Connie smiled in response, "I know you have a lot of questions. Why don't you read her diary? You will hopefully find a few answers."

Bucky nodded. Thanking her, he took the diary and stood up as if to leave.

"Sergeant James," she said. As he turned around, her hands almost flew to her mouth, as if realising her mistake. "Can... Can I call you Sergeant James?" she asked slowly. When he nodded, she continued, "You can take the box as well. I think she might want you to have it."

...

Bucky read the diary from beginning to end, went through every letter, and checked all the records. Everything seemed genuine. She was genuine. He still felt as though he was missing out on something. But he just couldn't place his finger on it. If only Steve were here to help him remember...

When Bucky finally shared his concern with Sam, Sam nodded, understanding his friend's predicament, "That is expected. We spend our lives looking behind our shoulders. So when something good, someone good comes along, we just can't accept it. Why don't you spend more time with her? Get to know her better! Afterall she helped save our asses."

Bucky nodded, "Yeah you are right."

"Of course I am right baby! Now show me that famous buck-toothed smile!"

Sam dodged just in time to avoid a book hurtling towards him.

...

1 month after he had seen Connie, Bucky visited her again. Slowly, these visits grew in number as they helped him remember a small part of who he was. He saw the 1942 Connie through the memories she had left behind. Her great-granddaughter helped him navigate the letters and the diary by sharing whatever little she could remember about her ancestor.

Slowly, Bucky started nurturing feelings for the Connie in front of him, the rose perfume making it difficult for him to focus on anything other than her slender neck, her rounded cheekbones, her pink lips...

3 months later they officially started dating, having 'sealed the deal' with a kiss.

Bucky... No... Sergeant James had started smiling a lot more now. He even cut his bangs, shedding a part of the Winter Soldier from his life.

8 months later, when Connie was tending to James' recent wounds, he kissed her passionately, intimately. That night, the wounds lay forgotten.

13 months later, Connie moved in with James in his cosy cottage which was right outside the main city.

Hiding a small diamond ring under the floorboard of his bedroom, James was happy. He had found his personal ray of sunshine. He was finally free of the dark, cold life he had once led.

He sauntered towards the kitchen, where Connie was unpacking the ripe plums. They often made plum jam together for James and the rest of the new team. As James started washing the fruits, Connie's phone buzzed. Looking at the phone, she sighed, "I have to take this. It is my boss." James almost whined, "Don't. It's Sunday. You deserve a day off."

She kissed his cheek and headed towards the door, "This is will be just a minute. Don't eat the plums while I am gone!" James looked at her and took a large bite in mock defiance.

Shaking her head, she laughed and stepped outside the house.

"Hello," she answered the call.

"Madame Hydra, we are in position."

She turned around to look at the house. Shame, it was a beautiful cottage.

"Go ahead."

Lost in his bliss, James heard the gunshots a little too late. 3 bullets pierced his vibranium arm as another grazed his right shoulder. He ducked behind the kitchen island, but the bullets destroyed the marble. 10 agents broke-in through the ceiling, while armored vehicles knocked down the walls of his house.

Unable to find the hidden guns, James threw knives, pans and whatever else he could find at his attackers. He had to protect Connie. He couldn't loose her!

But an army of 150 men was too much even for the ex-Winter Soldier to fight. He laid face-down on the floor, with his vibranium arm broken and his left stub bleeding. His legs were pushed apart with a vibranium rod, with cuffs at both the ends securing his ankles. His right hand was twisted at a bad angle and was tied to his neck in such a way that he couldn't move his arm without crushing his wind-pipe.

He managed to breathe with his bleeding mouth, his nose already broken. All he could do now was send a silent prayer to the lord above. Please please keep my Connie safe.

As he finished that thought, a man stepped forward and started chanting, "Longing, rusted, furnace, daybreak, seventeen, benign, nine, homecoming, one, freight car."

James laughed. "Those words don't work on me anymore you dumb fuck!" he said, spitting his blood.

"No they don't, but I bet these new ones will." The scent of roses filled the room as James finally passed out.

...

He woke up in a cold, dark, empty chamber. Chained to a metal chair hanging from the ceiling, he tried to recollect what had happened. Was his Connie really working with Hydra? No, that couldn't be possible. How could she?

But before his thoughts could ramble on, the door opened behind his back and he heard footsteps.

The sweet scent of roses filled the chamber, again clouding his senses. The woman in front of him had the same face as his Connie, but she was so different from her.

While his Connie liked wearing summer dresses and comfortable jeans and sweatshirts, this woman was dressed impeccably in a dark green pant-suit, with a floor-length cape draping her frame.

His Connie was always shy, innocent and adorable, whereas this woman was cold, hard and ruthless.

"I am not going to lie. Looking at you, all bloodied and tied up helplessly, does make me feel good," she said, slowly circling him, "Even though I have studied you for decades now, I am still eager to learn if you have figured it all out, or not."

She huffed when James stayed silent.

"You know, I always used to look at those typical action movies and wonder, does a villian really monologue in actual life? And now," she turned to face him, "as I see you are actually clueless, I can't help but feel excited to tell you what's been going on. You might want to sit down for this," she added with a chuckle.

"Back in 1942, when you left for your assignment, you had given me your Mother's locket as a promise that you will marry me as soon as you came back. But we all know what happened in 1945. You went ahead and got yourself killed," she waved her arms as if annoyed, "I waited for you for 3 years, and for what?! Just to get a condolence letter from the Government?"

"Wait… What… You? No it was... No," James shook his head, as if trying to clear it.

"Yes James. Me. Just like you, I am a woman out of time myself," she dipped her head to the side, as if sympathizing with him.

"A year later after your death, so you know who payed me a visit? You will get a 100 points for guessing!" she said in mock excitement.

James shook his head, still trying to process everything.

"Hydra silly! That's who! Aaawww too bad you couldn't guess that one."

Immediately, James felt a strong electric shock from his chair. He gritted his teeth, barely being able to keep his anguish mute.

"So Hydra tells me that you are alive and they want to take me to you. Yada yada yada. Of course I went with them. But it turned out they only wanted me to carry your child! To them, it didn't matter when you didn't recognise me. They didn't care if you hurt me. Nope. They only wanted to get the job done. Which is what I like about Hydra. They always get the job done."

She clicked her heels, and started walking around him again. Only this time, she tugged on a little rope hanging from his chair, so he turned around with her.

"When you finally couldn't get me pregnant, they were about to throw me away. But not before every man in Hydra had his 'fun with me'," she said with a scorn. "I was still breathing after they were done with me, multiple times. They were actually suprised to find me alive. Other women had suffered less and still couldn't live for another minute, while I had endured them for days. So they ran some more tests on me, and guess what?! While you couldn't get me pregnant, your sperm had somehow made me stronger. But not completely powerful yet. So they started their experiments."

She stopped to look at him. James face was filled with guilt. He knew first-hand how inhumane Hydra could be. To think his sunshine had to go through all that…

She twisted the corner of her lips at him, disappointed with his reaction. "This monologue is getting too one-sided, don't you think?" "I am sorry," he said quietly. His sorrowful eyes met hers, "I can help you. Please Connie. Let me help you."

"Help me?" she laughed a humorless laugh, "Help me? Darling, you couldn’t handle me even if I came with instructions!"

She started swinging him back and forth. Every moment painful than the last for James. "Now where was I? Hhmm yeah the experiments! I will save you the trouble of knowing what happened to me in the last few decades. Let's fast forward to 2014 when SHIELD and Hydra fell. While others got arrested or killed, YOU, my love, escaped! There was not a single man left in Hydra. And so from its ashes of, I made sure Hydra was reborn. Afterall, cut off one head, two more shall grow, amirite?"

She held his chair and yanked him down towards her. James finally yelled, the physical pain too much for him to endure. "Didn't even think once about me did you? How could you? You don't even remember me! You left me to rot. You ignored my cries for help when you fucked me every night in that cell. You, James Buchanan Barnes, ruined my life. And for that, I will make sure you pay a hefty price."

With that, she stepped back a few paces. "Now as I understand, your old trigger words don't work on you anymore, do they?"

"Please," James managed to say through the pain, "Please hurt me, but no more innocent lives… Please… Not Sam… Please..."

"Oh yeah absolutely. Any other request?" her tone dripped with sarcasm.

"I love you. And I can… I can help you. Please let me."

"Aaawww baby I love you too! Now let's get started," she clasped her hands together.

"Rose. Silk. Box. Diary. Tattered. Letters. Daisy. Memory. Rebirth. Connie."

After each word, Bucky's body convulsed with an electric shock. As the words were repeated over the next few hours, the intensity of the shocks grew. Finally, Bucky lost the ability to think and hung his head in defeat.

Standing triumphantly in front of his defeated body, Connie asked, "Winter Soldier, are you ready for compliance?"

"Rea…" before he could complete his word, they heard a loud explosion in the distance. A few armed Hydra agents entered the chamber. "Madame Hydra, he is here."

Fuck. Fuck. FUCK.

"Sam," Bucky quietly chucked.

Connie faced Bucky, with venom in her voice, "I promise you darling. We will meet again. Soon."

As she left with her agents, Bucky quietly promised, "We will, my sunshine."

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