#I sort of answered this in the replies but also I just-

[irisintheafterglow]

move like an odd sight, come out at night

↻ ◁ II ▷ ↺ now playing: hozier - "movement"

summary: you escape to hell's kitchen, but your reputation follows you no matter where you run. the vigilante on your roof, however, believes you're more than just a weapon.

wc: 2.9k

cw/tags: black widow!reader, canon-typical violence and blood, minor injury, explicit language, pre-ddba bc i put bullseye and fisk in this as antagonists, angst with happy ending, iris loves matt murdock's ass

note: *cautiously approaches 'marvel x reader' writing tag, sets this on the doorstep like a cat with a bird, and runs away*

likes, reblogs, and replies are appreciated <3

Truthfully, neither of you were very skilled at working with other people. It’s why you were vigilantes, not superheroes; heroes worked on teams and played nice on the playground. You preferred more direct forms of getting the job done, of swinging your pink plastic shovel and beating away kids threatening to invade your square of sandbox territory. Or at least, you did in the past. As of late, you only donned your tactical gear again because unfortunately, the best hiding place you could find was truly a shithole. 

“Got anything yet?”

“No. Whoever’s talking about you, they’re making a point to do it quietly,” he replies, his expression blank as his ears sort through the noises of Hell’s Kitchen trying to find a needle in a city-sized haystack. He’s crouched on the brick ledge your legs dangle off of, looming over the street below like a gargoyle guarding a cathedral. “What was your plan the other night?”

“The night where you crashed my surveillance spot, you mean,” you quip. “And the same night I made the Devil jump out of his skin.” He sends a heatless glare in your general direction.

“What I’m hearing is, you didn’t have a plan and you’re avoiding the question.” Smart-ass.

“My plan was to listen in on police comms and get some extra energy out, but there was a trespasser on my roof.” He hums, satisfied with your answer. To your unwelcome surprise, you ran into both of his identities within twelve hours of moving into your crummy little apartment–Matt at the deli down the street and Daredevil on top of your building. Both times, you also caught him off guard to the point where he nearly threw the nearest cylindrical object at you. The first time it was a sandwich, and the second time it was a baton, but you only had Foggy to save you in the shop. 

You can’t go throwing sandwiches at pretty ballerinas that come into the shop, Matt, you heard Foggy say when he thought you were out of earshot. 

They’re a ballerina? Foggy snorts, assuming that Matt already knew you were jaw-droppingly stunning. In fact, he was waiting for the day his best friend came out as not actually being blind and only using it to reel in women.

Yeah. You would know they were a new teacher at the studio down the street if you weren’t busy trying to assault them with pastrami. 

They caught me off guard, Matt dodges. What’d you want me to do?

Not scaring them off would be a good start. Jeez, I thought you were the charming one in this duo. 

“I can’t say I’m a fan of a spy who can slow their heartbeat,” he admits, finally cracking the smallest of a smile. “It’s a cool trick, but pretty unfortunate for a guy who relies on hearing the bad guys.”

“Good thing I’m not an opponent, Murdock.” Like you, he’s not used to people knowing both his vigilante and his civilian faces interchangeably. You pieced together each other’s alternate identities the moment you interacted on the roof for the first time; your mind clocked his gait, his height, and his voice while he sensed the faintest scent of perfume he smelled earlier in the deli. Because of the accidental encounter, a severe lack of information regarding your new home, and a few other reasons you were purposefully hiding until the need arose, you begrudgingly asked Matt if you could run surveillance with him. He agreed, shrugging and asking if there would be people trying to come after you. 

A buzzing in your pocket grabs your attention and you scowl when you see the dollar sign notification with a hefty amount of zeroes. “Problem,” you huff. 

“What is it?”

“He put a bounty on my head.” The muscle in Matt’s jaw clenches. “Said to bring me in alive, thankfully, but I guess he doesn’t like I’ve been ghosting him. He also didn’t verify how alive I had to be.” 

“He’s used to getting what he wants,” Matt explains with severe distaste. “Fisk isn’t a kind of guy you say ‘no’ to. Last guy who tried to tell him something he didn’t like–”

“Got well acquainted with a car door,” you finish unexpectedly. “Intelligence community, remember? We hear everything, including the brutal executions. It’s why he wants me in the first place.”

“A Widow in his pocket’s like having the Winter Soldier for a genie.”

“Ex-Widow,” you correct. “You know, I met the guy once. Big metal arm. Scary blue eyes. Not my type, especially the greasy hair.”

“Oh?” Matt allows amusement seep into his tone, despite the fact that your freedom just had a price tag put on it. “And what is your type?” You loose the first thought in your head like an arrow straight into his heart. 

“A blind vigilante with a ton of Catholic guilt really get me going,” you answer casually and bite back a smile when he tries to hide his speechlessness. “I figure it’s easier to explain my history to him than Martin the accountant living a few doors down. Plus, the vigilante’s got a nicer ass.”

“I’ll bet,” Matt remarks and you allow yourself to feel the flutter in your stomach at his softer tone. You weren’t used to having a friend, let alone a friend who would help make sure you weren’t used as a weapon again. It didn’t hurt to flirt with him, just a little bit. 

His head suddenly jerks to the side, concentrating. “Found ‘em.”

“Where?”

“Warehouse six blocks down. Fisk’s best prepping for a hunt.” A chill runs through your body and you exhale slowly through your nose to center yourself. It’d been months since you were freed from Dreykov’s mind control, weeks since you first arrived in the Kitchen, but the need to fight for your life was something that would never disappear. It constricted your throat, blurred your vision, and made your palms too clammy to hold a knife. Without the one-track-mind of a Red Room assassin, you found yourself able to feel fear…and it terrified you. “You alright?”

“Peachy,” you deadpan, your voice no longer melodically carefree. 

“You’re not telling the truth,” he says and you swallow thickly. “It’s the one time I hear your heartrate go up, when you’re afraid.” Up until now you would work exclusively solo and you’re unfamiliar with someone who would call you out when you were scared. Your defenses raise immediately.

“Yeah. What about it?” He takes your standoffish nature in stride, rising from his crouched position and holding out his gloved hand to help you from yours. You take it with only a moment’s hesitation and let him give it a comforting squeeze. 

“You’re not fighting alone anymore, you know. As long as you don’t shoot me, I’ll have your back if you have mine.” You nod and even if he can’t see it, it’s mostly for yourself anyway. “Unless, of course,” he continues with a shit-eating smirk, “you’ve got another blind vigilante in mind you’d rather–”

“Alright, Murdock. You’re done,” you chuckle, feeling more at ease. “Let’s get this done quickly; I’ve got class tomorrow.”

—

The confrontation could barely be considered a fight, and you easily would handle them on your own had Matt not been with you. Though, it was much faster having four fists throwing punches instead of two. 

“You didn’t use the guns at all,” he notes once you’re both done knocking out and disarming the three dozen enemies in the warehouse. Catching your breath, you stick your batons in the sheaths on your back and shrug.

“You’re the one who said not to shoot you,” you point out.

“I appreciate the thoughtfulness.” His head tilts and you watch him listen to the labored breathing of a nearby thug. “One’s still conscious. I’ll get him.”

“He’s all yours.”

He stalks toward a guy who you would’ve assumed was unconscious and grabs him by the collar to reveal him very much awake. “Why’s Fisk after them so badly? Answer,” he hisses, “and I won’t break your hands.”

“I’ve found they talk if you dislocate their shoulder,” you suggest nonchalantly, your voice muffled under your mask. The guy’s eyes dart over to you, wide and bloodshot with fright. “Then, relocate it but slightly misaligned. Makes a weird kind of friction if you swing it back and forth.” Matt visibly pauses, considering your stomach-churning advice for a good ten seconds. He wasn’t used to working with others, let alone someone with your skillset; it was like having a slightly more stable Elektra, and that wasn’t much of an improvement. He doesn’t have time to act on your words, though, because suddenly the dam of information in the guy breaks.

“He’s scared of you!” The man exclaims and your eyes narrow. 

“Scared of who?”

“Both of you,” he squeaks and looks back at you. “You were supposed to kill the Daredevil, not team up with him, you deceitful bitch!” Shit. Matt’s body goes deathly still. 

“Fisk hired a Widow to kill me?” He asks lowly. Shit!

“He tried. That’s why he’s pissed.” The scene feels frozen, like a snowglobe on a high shelf. You didn’t necessarily feed Matt a lie; you rejected Kingpin’s offer the same night you went up to your roof, looking for a way to punch out your anger. “And you weren’t supposed to get involved,” he spits on the cowl and it’s the last thing he says before Matt knocks him out cold. 

You stare at his back while he stands, your muscles tensed and ready to retreat or fight, however he reacts. 

“You can take your hand off your gun,” he says without looking at you and your attention flicks down to your hands. You hadn’t realized your fingers found the cool metal on pure instinct. They feel naked without access to any immediate weapon.

“Are you upset?”

“Why would I be?” He turns to face you squarely. Every nerve in your body wants you to run, but you root yourself into the floor because your mind can’t understand how this so-called ‘friend’ could ever hurt you. 

“Because I was supposed to kill you. Your archnemesis wants me to kill you.”

“And you didn’t,” he states patiently. “Your heart is racing.”

“I’m waiting for you to attack me, so I’m not sure what you expect,” you reply carefully. Puzzlingly, his posture remains relaxed, and it’s impossible to read what he’s thinking. “I lied to you. Aren’t you angry?” 

“Why would I be angry for actions you didn’t take?” You blink and look down, suppressing your reflex to bolt when he approaches you until his boots are in front of yours. He murmurs your name, so quietly that only you can hear it. “I’m not Dreykov. You don’t need to plan an escape if you do something I don’t agree with. You’re your own person now.” 

“Am I?” You whisper. “I get out, and yet I still feel like I’m nothing but a weapon.”

“I don’t think you’re a weapon.” Your body is still stiff as a board, waiting for a berating or a beating that won’t come.

“Then what am I?”

“A friend.” 

Your mouth opens to reply, but a flash of movement catches your eye in the doorway you used to enter the warehouse. Acting on its own, your body shoves Matt to the side as an object goes flying past you and a stinging sensation blooms on your upper arm. You duck behind a storage container and find that your self-proclaimed ‘partner’ has disappeared into the shadows. Warmth drips down your arm and you remove your gun from its holster for the first time that night, steadying yourself. 

“Alright, Widow. The boss is mad, so let’s not keep him waiting,” your assailant announces, his voice echoing off rusted metal walls. You hear him make a noise of disgust and kick something solid. “You left a shitshow to mop up, too. I thought you people were supposed to be clean killers. Quick with your target, just like me.” You fight through the adrenaline and finally piece together his identity with one word: target.

“Fuck off, Poindexter. I’m not going,” you snarl and immediately change positions to avoid a small knife that moved with the precision of a homing missile. The blade lodges itself in the metal where your head used to be and you don’t bother trying to yank it out. “Missed.”

“That was a warning, darling.” Creeping carefully from container to container, you catch the reflection of his nearly-identical Daredevil suit in the broken glass on the floor. It crunches beneath his feet as he paces leisurely, waiting for you to reveal yourself. “Let’s go, Widow. Don’t make this harder than it has to be. It’s just you and me here.” He thinks it’s just you.

He doesn’t know that Matt is here. 

“How do I know you’re not gonna kill me when I step out?” Another phrase, another quick change of positions. 

“If I wanted you dead, you wouldn’t be alive to mouth off.”

“You say that with such confidence.” 

“This confidence is turning to impatience, so let’s go. Don’t make me take you in struggling,” he warns.

“Fine, but don’t throw anything at me, asshole,” you say with as normal of a voice as you can muster, reholstering your gun and stepping into the exposing moonlight. “Entrance in the front’s too exposed. There’s an alley out back we can go through unseen.” Without another word, he follows you to the rear doors and, for once, you’re relieved for your heart to be beating out of your chest. You figure it’s easier for Matt to track your movement.

“Fisk is pissed about your little tantrum the other night, but enough groveling will get you back in good graces.” 

“Like I care about that,” you retort. 

“You should. He won’t stop hunting you.”

“If he does, I’ll come after him myself.” You step out of the warehouse and the top half of your face is hit with frigid air. He was lurking somewhere, you could sense it. A small rectangle of paper crinkles under the toe of your boot and you peer down at it, smiling when you recognize the familiar font of Nelson, Murdock, & Page. “I’m not an asset anymore, Poindexter,” you declare once you’re both shrouded in the dark alley. “And I don’t fight alone anymore.” 

Your stealth training takes over, slowing your heartrate and disappearing from his senses, if only for a moment. Before Poindexter can attempt to find you, there’s a whoosh of air in front of you and the sound of gravel beneath another pair of boots. Matt doesn’t give his enemy a chance to grab any projectiles, bruised knuckles striking in the darkness while you slip behind and knock out his legs. 

When your enemy regains consciousness while slumped on the wet asphalt, there is no trace of the Daredevil or the Widow to be found.

—

Your students catch wind of your fondness of the ‘hot lawyer down the street’ a few weeks after you move into his apartment, and Matt doesn’t do much to keep your relationship a secret.

“Let’s, uh,” your voice trails off when you see him enter the studio for the first time, his mere presence making your cheeks outrageously hot. “Let’s run that combo one more time and call it a day, yes?” Your students follow your eyeline to the man waiting for you by the door and they all perk up at the same time, dancing with near perfection that makes you wonder if Matt should show up at the end of all your classes. 

“Hope it’s alright I came to walk you home,” he greets with that easy smile that sends all sense of reason into the atmosphere. 

“You were a definitely a distraction, but considering that we call the same place ‘home,’ I’ll let it slide,” you reply. His hands pull you by your hips and you press a kiss to the corner of his mouth, your forearms resting on his shoulders.

“Can we go out tonight?” 

“Don’t we always?” You ask, confused. “We’re out so much where I think our collective sleep hours are in the negatives.”

“Not on patrol,” he corrects. “Let me take you to that place you’ve been wanting to try. The one with the rotating pie stand.” Your mouth gapes. If there was someone who had a worse work-life balance than you, it was your boyfriend. Yet here he was, recommending you both skip patrol. “I wanna give you a proper date. Please?”

“Since when are we allowed to take nights off, Murdock?” You tease.

“Since I made a deal with Spiderman to swing through the Kitchen once a month,” he drawls, attempting to kiss you and frowning when you gently pull back like you’ve offended him. “Sweetheart.”

“You can’t kiss me until you tell me how you managed to pull off a deal with Spiderman.” His forehead creases above his red-lensed glasses.

“I called in a favor.” You know he can hear the skepticism on your face. He exhales before continuing, “I told the kid I’d proofread his friend’s job application. Some opening as a photographer for the Bugle.”

“You tell him you were a lawyer?”

“I told him I’m a very good lawyer.” The last of your students wave goodbye, their eyebrows waggling as they leave the studio.

“Well, counselor, if it is your professional opinion that we should go on a date tonight, I’d be happy to oblige.” 

“God, I love you as a partner,” he breathes.

“For romance or vigilantism?”

“Both.”

if you enjoy my writing and would like to support me, you can buy me a coffee on my ko-fi! you can also check out my full masterlist here :)

[rewatching-sam-and-dean]

It’s Rant Time Again, Friends!

And today’s rant is brought to you by the silliness that came scross my Twitter feed this week in the form of an absolutely pointless question, but even more so by some of the asinine answers I saw. Some of you probably already saw this (and responded) if you’re on Twitter, so I’m not screenshotting it. Besides, people are allowed to ask (stupid) questions. But, I’m also allowed to comment on how dumb the questions are.

The Question:

“If it came down to saving Sam or Cas, who do you think Dean would save first?”

Question Issues:

If someone watched the show at all, the answer to this question is more than obvious. But the question isn’t even just “who would Dean save” but “who would Dean save first?” I mean the answer to both is the same, but surly even the “found family” crew of fans should be able to recognize that Dean will always try to save Sam first. The ones who claim otherwise have to be knowingly lying, because if not … I fear for society that people are that lack that much media literacy.

The responses:

So, here’s what gets me even more than the “innocent” question, the responses. Of course the vast majority of reposts and replies are saying some variation of “Sam, obviously.” Because it is obvious. The show has showed us again and sngsinghdt Dean would put Sam’s life above his own, his parents, his friends, anyone.

But what’s really amusing/annoying/sad is seeing people twisting themselves into pretzels just to avoid having to admit the truth. These are the ones saying things like:

“Dean would find a way to save both of them!” - Would he though? When “Zeke” gave Dean the ultimatum between sending a penniless, powerless, helpless and hunted Castiel out into the world on his own … or him leaving Sam, stopping the healing and potentially (only potentially) resulting in Sam dying, there is no hesitation. Dean clearly feels bad, but he tosses Cas out on his ass in a blink. What does he not do? He doesn’t try to arrange something so they are both safe. Hell, he doesn’t even give Cas anything to help feed, cloth or protect himself. He just sends him out into the world to try and figure shit out on his own.

“Dean would kill/sacrifice himself, if it meant he could save Cas, too.” - Umm, where have we ever seen him put Cas above himself? Would he risk his life to save Castiel? Of course he would, but he would also risk his life to try and save a complete stranger. That sort of comes with the territory of being a hunter. But the only person Dean has ever directly and intentionally sacrificed himself for is Sam. I saw some argue that he was willing to kill or himself to bring Cas back after Chuck snapped everyone away in Season 15, but that’s a misinterpretation (selective listening), common among hellers and Cas stans, of what Dean is actually saying. Dean and Sam say they will kill each other if Chuck will bring everyone back, including Cas. They are not offering to do this just for Cas, it’s for the world. Besides, in his scenario I get the feeling that the intention is for both Sam and Dean to die, so they’ll go out together to save everyone else.

“Dean would save Sam, but his life would be over, or he’d give up after without Cas.” - LMAO. No. Unless you want to argue that a smiling happy and content Dean is secretly trying to drown his sorrows in the finale when Sam is the one to bring up Jack and Cas, and Dean is basically like, “yeah sure, losing them was sad or whatever, but like we gotta live Sam. Now let’s destroy this pie.”

And my personal favourite…

“It totally depends on what season of the show we are talking about.” - Bitch please, it would make no difference. There isn’t a single episode, let alone whole Season, where Desn would try to save Cas before, or instead of, Sam. See my examples from Season 9 and 15 above. There are so many examples of Dean not doing much to save Cas, vs him begging, pleading, or trading humans to save Sam.

[aeryssickfics]

I look forward to probably including some variant of this in the upcoming fic! I wasn't going to elaborate a ton after I first read this but like, i've been stewing on it as Im prone to and I love what you said so much??? I think probably when touching on this Im going to have to be careful not to absorb too much of the thought process lmao.

I definitely understand WHY it's the variation you would take, and it's a very logical chain. And I agree that the core of Nari being like avoiding telling Cyno is he Knows it will worry cyno but he also genuinely thought he was fine/it wasn't serious he just needed a little rest. But the trouble w/ being the main healer of the area he's in is that there's not rly anyone to overrule him when he's maybe a bit, ah, compromised and normally he compensates! but anyone can make a mistake.

So. Tighnari miscalculated (or maybe he didn't! But Collei worries anyway, she's never seen him like this!) and Cyno gets a message abt Tighnari from Collei and his heart just drops because why is he hearing this from her what went wrong that Tighnari didn't tell him himself.

And, I was originally leaning a bit into the "why wouldn't you tell me you needed me here" along the angle of "yes we're both incredibly busy people and my duties are important but you are important to me of course I want to be here/want to help" but like, cyno stews on it while taking care of Tighnari. because ofc he wouldn't Say That even if he's thinking it for so long it turns into the 'did he really not want me here/are we not really that close' trains.

And ofc nari is grateful to have him there, if apologetic for pulling him away from xyz and also for it ending up happening the way it did because no he didn't expect someone else to tell him, and he Probably Knows Cyno got more worried than necessary from that alone.

It's them tho. they'll talk about it.

Heya <3 it's Aery. I hope everything's going okay! (both with the previously mentioned cat stuff and the Life Stuff). Things get busy so don't worry and take your time!

I've been thinking a lot about Cyno coping with a sick Tighnari (totally not for fic purposes nope [/joking]) especially centered on Tighnari trying really hard not to let him be told? Because like! The distance means Nari can get away with A Lot. So Cyno finds out Nari's been ill, but like because a third party sent him a message.

I can't get out of my head the slight "I always call for you why wouldn't you tell me you needed me here" that has tucked into my brain and I don't know if it fits Cynos personality??? I don't think he'd say it but I've been chewing on it a lot idk. All that to say - I'm Extremely curious for your take on such a thing if you feel up to giving it! Cyno finding out, second hand at best that Nari's been sick for days. (also aha I figured out how to trick it into letting me send long anons x.x maybe???)

Aery!! Thank you!! Things are still chaotic but we're getting there haha, I appreciate you and your patience <333

This is so interesting to me because yes!! I love this vibe and I think there's a place for it in a CynoNari fic but I also agree that Cyno wouldn't say it out loud??!? So I've been mulling it over and I wonder if Cyno would go more of the internalizing route. Instead of "why didn't you tell me?" it might be more "what did I do wrong so that Nari didn't trust me with this?"

Because yeah, Cyno goes to Nari to recharge and feel better and get taken care of, so I think he is gonna worry when Nari doesn't do the same with him. I imagine that his first reaction is panic - Is Tighnari okay? I need to be with him, right now. How can I fix him? And then there's some hurt - Why didn't he tell me? And then some internalized guilt - Have I done anything to break his trust? Or even: Are we not as close as I thought we were? Doubts and second-guessing.

Damn, I'm picturing Cyno being there caring for Tighnari and thinking he's selfish for it. Thinking that once Tighnari's more lucid, he won't want Cyno there. And then when Nari is more lucid, Cyno apologizing and moving to leave before Tighnari even says anything. Nari's confused, and like "Wait– Cyno. Why are you apologizing?" And then they chat and it comes out that Tighnari really didn't think he was in such bad shape, and he didn't want to bother/worry Cyno, but like - he's so glad that Cyno's here. He never feels safe like he does when Cyno's around. He's sorry for not being more open and honest with him from the start etc etc.

Agh I love this!! I'm sorry I derailed it a bit XD Feel free to disagree, too!!! I'm curious if you'd take it a different direction!

[megumi-fm]

.

[crossbackpoke-check]

the pics of morgan and joel are from travis sanheim's wedding this weekend!

^^^me experiencing the one-two knockout punch of “oh they WERE each other’s wedding date” followed by the realization that sanny finally got married 🥹😭 cheers indeed!!!

[unluckyxse7en]

You get one magic potion right now, what does it do?

Admittedly I think because I associate potions with "internal change" fsr, I'm assigning it the answer I'd give to the Classic 'superpower' question - shapeshifting, the ability to change my form as I'd like visually - even with my poor visualization skills. Skills and strengths that come with the associated trait would be nice but aren't necessary overall... Although if there's tails or emotive ears involved that'd be a nice harmless caveat to have them about as capable as you'd expect.

If not that... I guess time stops would be helpful? Just enough that if I physically or mentally Need everything to stop for a bit I just Could.

God I guess I could come up with a lot of answers if I think about physical wants and needs as the angle... I think the shapeshifting answer covers most of it though so we'll just go with that one.

[kxllerblond]

Happy Tuesday everyone, I will now be unloading unsolicited opinions about the RPC.

People take 'This is a hobby!!' way too far to the point you are not taking into account other real people also exist and are only thinking about yourself and it can come across as scummy and self-absorbed and a lot of people use the 'just a hobby!' to excuse this shitty behavior and an inability to communicate with other hobby enjoyers like adults.

No one should get mad at people for dropping threads or not being active, but it's also super shitty to just ghost people and go 'teehee just a hobby so you aren't allowed to be upset!'. Like, yeah, you have limited time and a real life but so does?? everyone else on here?? It's super not cool to just invalidate people who are upset their limited time is, in their view, being wasted.

Obviously, I'm not defending people that don't just unfollow or block and move on and who get passive aggro about it all. And I'm also not calling out the people that don't do much but are like PRESENT to some degree even if it's just ooc shitposting.

I mainly mean the people I see who refuse to do threads, to answer asks, to communicate when stuff is being dropped to some degree, to participate and be social in any capacity and then get kinda pissy when no one wants to send them shit anymore. Like you are entitled to exist and participate in this hobby as you see fit....but it is a social hobby. You HAVE to give to get and if people pin you as someone who only takes, they're going to stop giving. None of us have little meow meows that are so interesting that we can just expect people to frolic to them and gush about them and shower them with interaction without some sort of reciprocation.

And, frankly, I don't think there's room to complain when that happens. You can't have your cake and eat it too in this scenario. You can 'this is just a hobby!' your way through things how you like, but you also have to realize the consequences of that and you can't be upset when they come down on you and your blog.

[byanyan]

"Here, hold this." Flynn's digging in his backpack for something, depositing some sort of wrapped bar (a protein bar? A chocolate bar? He can't remember) in Byan's hands. Tellingly, he doesn't ask for it back - seemingly content to let Byan 'steal' it from him.

feed the raccoonㅤㅤ∘ ˚ ( accepting )

ㅤan eyebrow raises at the prompt, but byan's hand outstretches regardless — he's held their shit for them while they've rifled through their bag on numerous occasions before, they kinda owe him — and they eye the chocolate bar placed within with interest. tempted though they are, they don't snatch it away instantaneously. instead, they give flynn a minute to continue his search before finally closing their fingers around the snack, pulling it closer and adjusting their grip on it in order to start peeling it open with an obvious crinkle.

eyes now flitting back to their companion, they watch as he digs around for a moment longer while taking a contented bite of the sweet, fully anticipating some sort of protest or complaint. one that... never actually comes. even once his backpack is zipped back up, flynn doesn't say a word about it. ...huh. puzzled, byan carries on chewing, falling into step at the other's side when he simply resumes walking onward again.

it's a good minute or two later, halfway through their second bite, that they finally speak around a mouthful of chocolate, casting a sidelong glance flynn's way;

ㅤㅤ" ...so, like. didja want half'a this, or...? "

[yanlei-a]

pspspsps mains pspspsps

[stormyoceans]

ALSO THE WAY WE ALL THOUGHT PORJAI IS HIS SISTER WHEN SHE'S EX SKSKSKSKSK

I KNOW THIS IS AN ALMOST ONE WEEK OLD MESSAGE AND IM INCREDIBLY SORRY BUT I GOT REMINDED OF IT WHILE THINKING ABOUT PHORJAI AND LISTEN. WE MAY HAVE CLOWNED BUT IN OUR DEFENSE

idk about y'all but this picture was so misleading to me, mostly because thinking that she's actually mork's ex and that she's witnessing mork smiling (probably more than he ever did while being with her) and putting food into day's plate like she's not even there????? THAT'S PAINFUL AS HECK OKAY LIKE GIRL LET ME GET YOU OUT OF THERE AND TREAT YOU RIGHT

[galaxyofender]

You mentioned in your tags that Dawn doesn't have as much of a backstory as Selene does. Do you know how she got turned into a werewolf?

so. update. dawn has a bit more backstory now! im telling you it all sorry not sorry

place names are hard, but dawn was an orphan child on the capital of this kingdom (yet to get a name-) who gets taken in a member of the silverbloom hunter guild, group who dedicate themselves to hunting vampires and was originally founded in the honor of the weeping lady (the goddess of death of this world's pantheon, who despises the undead since they are a disgrace to her domain), even if not all members of silverbloom are that religious or followers of the weeping lady necessarily- but a good amount of them do follow this goddess

the hunter that took dawn in also took another child in, theodore, who dawn grows to be quite close to, seeing him like a brother, and another orphan who ended up becoming quite a devout follower of the weeping lady and very excited to join the hunter guild once he is old enough, he sees it that getting rid of such vermin in the eyes of his goddess is a great honor 

(theodore was bdubs in the original au, the goddess was originally cleo but weeping lady became merged with another goddess from an original pantheon that didn't have a world and doesn't resemble cleo that much anymore)

so, after several years of insisting that she joins too, theodore drags dawn to join the silverbloom hunters, even if she did have some doubts, and it's during a training hunt that dawn gets bitten by a werewolf 

dawn got lost from the path in the middle of the forest, did not realize it was a full moon, ran into a “weird wolf” and got attacked and bitten by it on the leg. she hides the bite from the rest of the trainees, and ends up joining the hunters 

the bite happens roughly four to five ish months before the start of the story, so dawn is pretty new to being a werewolf still and the quest to the town where dawn meets selene is the first proper one she gets sent to by silverbloom

[picnokinesis]

What are your favorite fun (or not so fun) facts about the Campervan and Redacted verses?

Hmmmmmm your timing is impeccable because I've actually been writing campervan au this evening. I've had a similar ask to this sitting in my inbox for a little while now (sorry for not answering, whoever sent that one!) and honestly it's kind of a difficult one to answer because I can't really think of anything specific off the top of my head right now. It's not a fun fact so much, but I do really love how I can find out something in one au, and then suddenly it reveals something in all the other aus. When I was thinking intensely about AU5 a few months back (which is the one where thoschei run away from everything when they're kids) I actually figured out some REALLY key important things about Graham, of all people, that I go reaaaaaally into depth about in campervan part 6. There's a conversation he remembers having with Grace that he also has in AU5, but it's a couple of decades earlier than literally all the other verses and so whilst it has the same emotional impact, the result is very different because the context just isn't the same hahah

Ok my other favourite thing is the way that, in multiple AUs, Grace and Graham take one look at the Doctor (and, in some cases, Koschei too) and are like 'ok we're parents now' HAHAH

And then hm a ziptie funfact - in Campervan AU, it takes quite a long time within the story for the information to all get revealed. In ziptie, it happens a lot faster, and (believe it or not) in LESS ideal circumstances than it will be revealed in the main au, which means the Doctor essentially gets a TON of lifechanging information dumped on her very quickly, not in the right order, and she. Does NOT cope with it very well at all hahah. Also in ziptie - I take the whole 'kasaavin has a mind texting function' to the next level, which is so strange when I think about campervan au because the kasaavin has only been talked about in part 1 and 2, whereas in ziptie it's like....so crucial to the plot of the entire thing, in many ways. Koschei gets one put on his neck pretty early on, and the Doctor gets hers put back on again as well - and then they never come off RIP. An attempt is MADE to get them off, but there's an...incident that involves the kasaavin which actually messes up the Doctor and Koschei's heads real bad, but also the side effect is that the kasaavin kind of gets. Fused on. So then later attempts by UNIT to get it taken off don't work. The worst part is that the Doctor and Koschei are both lowkey relieved by this, because it was something that connected them and made sure they couldn't lose each other (by this point they are horrifically codependent) but at the same time they're also freaked out by the fact that this thing is now Part of them. The mess in their heads can't be undone. Lots of fun. That, combined with the fact that, in ziptie, Koschei is directly responsible for the death of Yaz, Ryan and Graham, is..........a Lot. The Doctor is having a great time.

[protectivemuses]

@stelliferousduo | From this ask | I started this and now I'm hurt

After everything the two had been through, from before they entered Teyvat and even after the two were split up, Aether had never intended to let her get hurt if he could stop it. Granted, he knew if she did, chances were too high it'd be his fault, but that didn't mean he'd let it happen. And even now, as everything had hit the final climax and both sides fought each other in the name of what they all deemed right, he still kept that promise.

He had always promised he wouldn't let her get hurt, even before Teyvat, and he meant it until his last breath. Which he could tell was more than likely to be soon.

His body had moved on its own, really. Saw the attack going towards her and when there was no way for her to dodge it, he did what a brother would do and moved to protect her even if it meant taking the hit from his own side. Although, this was hurting so much more than he had anticipated. Between the electric shocks radiating through his body, and some of the burns he could already feel blistering from an opposite attack at the time.

Forcing out words through gritted teeth and among the exhaustion wracking his body in between visible shocks, he weakly tried to move her hand from his wound while shaking his head. "Lu.. mine.. Go.." It wasn't safe here. Not anymore, not when he had started this. Granted, most of his side had begun retreating momentarily, waiting to see what would happen now. "I'm.. sorry.. I put.. you through all of this.." All of the pain he had caused her. How many tears had been because of him?

"Please.. leave me and go.. I don't.. want you to get hurt..." There's so much more he wants to say. Has to say. But the pain in his body isn't helping, and if he's honest, he doesn't expect anything different. There weren't exactly healers on his side, and no friends of hers would have a reason to care what happened to him, or so he imagined.

But man were his eyes getting so heavy.. maybe closing them for a few moments wouldn't be a bad idea..

[umilily]

(at the top of my lungs) I HATE UNIVERSITY

[fingertipsmp3]

Just sitting here eating breadsticks in the calm before the storm tbh

[inkedbybarnes]

none of it was fake

bucky barnes x avenger!fem!reader

summary: you've been undercover with bucky as husband and wife. upon returning, he seems to have forgotten that it was all pretend.

word count: 1.6k+

warnings: two idiots cluelessly pining for each other. fluff. usage of petnames such as sweetheart, doll, and baby. lowercase writing.

note: hi, babies. how's everyone? this is my first fic in ages, so sorry if it's not my best one. i just wanted something cute ++ this is unedited & not proofread, might fix it laterrr. still hope you'll enjoy this one! xo

dividers made by @firefly-graphics!

comments, reblogs, and likes are highly appreciated. thank you! ♡

“i can't believe your first kiss happened during a mission. an undercover mission!

wanda huffed, still hung up on the mission you had with bucky weeks ago wherein you had to play pretend as a married couple. there had been a kiss or two during that time, and it felt impossible not to tell your best friend about it when you had been crushing over the soldier for ages.

wanda knew what you felt towards bucky. in fact, she was the only one who knew, or at least the one you shared th information with, and she made sure to ask everything about the mission, even if it took days for her to interrogate you.

“excuse me? that was not my first kiss,” you said defensively, reaching for a cup from the cupboard that you had just opened. “and why are we still talking about this? you and nat already squeezed out every information from me for an entire week.”

“i didn't mean your first first kiss!” she exclaimed, following you around the kitchen as you made yourself a cup of coffee. “you've had a crush on the guy for so long, and the first time you two kiss each other is when you're pretending. that's not how i pictured it at all!”

you had to admit, the mission was sort of a blessing in disguise and a curse at the same time. you were glad to be able to spend time with bucky in ways you've dreamt of, but there was also the horrible reminder that none of it was real. with how avoidant bucky was with you, it was impossible for any of it to happen outside of the mission.

“well, maybe you should stop picturing us doing that sort of stuff. you're way more invested in this than i am, wanda. don't you have your own relationship to think about?” you asked. although you knew she was in a happy relationship with vision, you just wanted her to take a break from all the bucky talk. “when is your man home anyway?”

“my relationship is doing great, so i'm good. i don't need to think of it as much since he gives me everything that i need, and i think of yours because you deserve happiness as well.” she smiled fondly, her eyes sparkling with happiness. “and i'm glad that you asked because this reminded me that vision's arriving with bucky soon.”

“already?” your eyes widened at her statement, completely forgetting that bucky, along with steve, clint, and vision, were coming home today from their mission. “why didn't you tell me sooner!?”

after finishing your mission with bucky two weeks ago, he was immediately sent into another mission which specifically needed him. so, today would technically be the first time you're seeing him again since you last called him your “husband,” which was more nerve-wracking than you expected.

“hey, i'm your best friend, not your alarm.” wanda raised her hands up, defending herself. “and why are you so worried? i can feel your anxiety without needing to be in your head.”

“well, we never talked after.. you know,” you replied, taking a big sip out of your cup. “i know none of it meant anything and that we were just doing our job, but it's the first time i'll be with him normally and not as a pretend married couple. it's kinda awkward, wands.”

“you were able to pretend you didn't like the guy for months, you can do it again for another day.” she answered. “unless you finally tell him what you feel?”

“oh, that? yeah, never happening. i'm not going to risk—”

“there you are, sweetheart.”

there was a collective shocked gasp from both you and wanda, recognizing that voice from behind. except the gasps had different reasons.

you were surprised with his arrival.

wanda was surprised that he casually called you sweetheart.

you turn to find bucky already walking towards you with a smile on his face.

this man never smiles unless he was tasked to do so!

“bucky! you're back!” you awkwardly greeted him.

“yeah, didn't they tell you? i was looking for you when we landed.” he said, pulling you close to him before bending to place a soft kiss on your lips like it was something he'd always done. “you okay, baby? you look pale. did you eat?”

i look pale because wanda is right here with us and you just kissed me while acting like we're dating!

“um, yeah, i'm fine. i'm fine,” you answered, gently pulling yourself away from his arms before he could wrap them around you completely. “can we talk? privately?”

he frowned, worry etched on his face, but he nodded and squeezed your arm softly. “of course. where do you wanna talk, doll?”

“anywhere where wanda isn't there.” you said lightheartedly, throwing a sharp glance at wanda who finally understood what you wanted her to do.

“oh! right, right. i'm sorry, you guys can stay here. i have um..” she paused, thinking of a reason to say. “i have to look for vision anyway. we're supposed to watch a movie together. bye!”

and just like that, wanda was gone and you were left alone with bucky in the kitchen.

before you could speak, bucky asked you first. “what's the matter, doll?”

“what's the matter?” you echoed in a higher tone. “what was that all about?”

“what are you talking about?” he asked, seemingly confused.

“you kissed me, bucky, like it was nothing. then you keep calling me these nicknames.” you reminded him. “we're back home, not in los angeles in our fake house that we used as a fake couple.”

bucky took a step back when he realised his actions, now finding it hard to look at you. “i.. i'm sorry. i completely forgot. i just.. i wasn't thinking. i got used to how we were before,” he mumbled, still finding the right words to say. “did i make you uncomfortable?”

“no, but you made me confused,” you replied. “i'm guessing you got used to how we acted as a fake married couple, but you were gone for another mission. how are you still stuck with the old routine we had?”

“because that's all i could think about,” he answered, now staring at you. “while you're back here in the tower, completely done with our mission, i was thrown back into another one, having only you in my head to pull me back up from the fatigue.”

“you're telling me that you kept thinking about us even when you were gone? why?”

“haven't you?”

“is this a trick question?”

“it's a question to find out whether you like me too or not.”

“you.. you like me?” you blinked. “that's impossible.”

“how on earth is that impossible?”

“because you're always so cold and grumpy around me,” you answered. “i think you're just confused with all the acting we've done, bucky. you don't like me.”

“i was supposed to go on that mission with sharon, not you.” he exhaled. “she volunteered to do it, so she was initially picked. i tried getting out of it, but i had advantages that they needed for the mission to go smoothly. so, i agreed, but in one condition.”

“what was it?” you whispered.

“that you should be my partner,” he answered quickly. “ask me why.”

your heart pounded. “why?”

“because i wanted an excuse to act the way i've always wanted to. i wasn't cold or grumpy because i didn't like you, i just didn't want to scare you.” bucky explained, his hand reaching out for yours. “god, doll. figuring out whether you like me or not has got to be the hardest mission i had to deal with. so do me a favour and get me out of this misery.”

once your lungs found a bit of oxygen again, you finally spoke. “what you said.. you mean it?”

bucky nodded. “every word.”

“well, i like you too.” you tried to bite back a huge smile. “for some time now, actually. wanda will eventually tell you all about my obsession with you. i can't believe we were both worrying for the wrong things.”

“your obsession with me, huh?” he asked cockily, a teasing grin plastered on his face.

“really? i said all that and that's what caught your attention?”

“can't help it. i've been obsessed with you for a long time now as well.” his eyes crinkled at the corners, a little smile gracing his lips while his arm slipped around your waist.

your eyes peeked up at him through your lashes. “does this make it real now?”

“do you want it to be?”

“you're really asking me that?” your chest rumbled. “of course i do.”

“then let's make it real.”

bucky watched you intensely for a few seconds as if he wanted to frame this exact moment before licking his lips and leaning down. you suck a breath, eyes closing as you felt his soft lips meet yours.

you never realised how much you've grown familiar with his touch and affection since your time together as a fake couple.

except this time, none of it was fake.

should we see their time in los angeles as an undercover married couple? 👀

if you have any requests for bucky, send them my way! 💌