#I want them to have to sacrifice something

[merchantziro]

Alright but I also like to add the idea Cass KNOWS about what Tim thinks he's doing behind her but also... She can feel the PTSD and trauma radiating off Tim, more than anyone his age should ever have. She can see the age and exhaustion in his eyes... But also a glimmer of hope and justice behind it all.

Cass doesn't approve, she can tell Tim knows that as well. But... She can also see how relieved he looked right now when the Second Robin was saved by Deadshot, with the Joker found dead in the explosion instead.

Batman was spotted carrying the injured Boy Wonder away. He's definitely trying to look stoic, but she could tell he was shivering and hiding the tears rather well. He was scared for Robin's life.

Meanwhile that appeared to be the last job Deadshot did as he mysteriously disappeared (Tim gave him enough money for him and his daughter to live safely and far away from his old life for the job, on the additional grounds he never returns to his "original work" after this one job).

She can tell Tim did something, he made something change using Deadshot... But she couldn't tell what changed, why he did it, or how he even knew.

...Did... Did the second Robin die that night?

That thought hangs over her as she looks back at the footage of Batman and Robin, a father clearly fussing over his son and not wanting to let go in fear of them disappearing.

...She thought back to her mother and father and...

...

It's clear Tim isn't doing this for senseless violence and trying to make a positive change. She still doesn't approve of his methods, and never will believe murder is just... But Tim seems to share those same sentiments and she respects the fact he clearly acknowledges it.

But she can see the difference is he's willing to go down to this level, if only so nobody else has to bear the burden of blood on their hands. He's the type to sacrifice his own happiness if it means happiness for everyone else's sake...

...

Tim had forgotten, in his one man (and the admittedly liberal usage of hired guns) crusade at everything that had hurt his family, that he was technically a child. A time traveling 21 year old Tim Drake in his younger body, sure, but he’s still a nine year old child.

Tim was violently, unpleasantly reminded of this as he opened his front door to… Gotham Primary’s truancy officer.

Oh shit. He still had to go to school. Tim scrambled for an excuse.

“Hello, Timothy. Are your parents home?”

“Uh- no, sir. Only my nanny. I’ve been really,” think, Timothy, think! Are you Red Robin for nothing? “really sick. She went out for some medicine.”

Tim knew what the officer saw as he looked down at him, a pale, drawn little boy who looked like a sickly Victorian child. He has no idea that Tim had the beginnings of lean muscles and strong grip strength underneath his baggy clothes.

“I see. I’ll have to talk to your nanny, then. We need to be informed of when you’re ill, Timothy.”

“Oh. She-” shit, shit, shit! “Doesn’t speak English.” Was that racist? That felt racist. Gods, he probably sounds like a snobby classist elite. “I’ll let my mom know to email you, sir?”

The truancy officer sighed. By Tim’s lucky stars, he agreed. The man pulled out a singular paper from his plastic folder, clearly used to this kind of thing, especially from the elites of Gotham, and said, “Email the school. And have her sign this note, please.”

Tim nodded seriously. Like hell he would.

When the officer was gone, Tim closed the gate immediately. He had forgotten to close it after getting back home from stalking the Bats last night. Well, Bat, singular, because Jason was still benched.

Tim sighed, grabbing a pen to fluidly forge Janet Drake’s signature on his paper about truancy and proper procedures and what not. Then, he moved to the computer, easily stealing his mother’s credentials, emailing the school about his sick leave, and their decision to have him home schooled.

He’d miss Ives, but honestly, Tim needed the free time. Plus, maybe this way, he’ll graduate high school this time around. He drafted another email to the counselor, asking them what kind of curriculum and tests he needed to pass to obtain future degrees and what not.

He gets an email back, with all of the testing required and the steps “Young Timothy” should take in order to succeed in the rest of his academic career. Tim would like to point out he’s nine, and that this was pretentious. Helpful, sure, but pretentious all the same.

“That’s what people don’t mention about time traveling. It’s all fun and games until you get hit with the mundane and tedious things.” Tim muttered, setting up his appointments for testing. He’ll have to find someone to drive him to the tests…

His mind turned to his neighbors… hm. That’s a possibility.

Tim wiped all traces of his activities from his mother’s email, doing a quick and hidden bit of rerouting to get any educational emails regarding him sent to his own inbox.

Tim swigged a mouthful of coffee and continued on his merry way.

His new goal?

Find Cassandra Cain.

[izzih22]

Prompt idea

P + A steal a few min to themselves in the locker room after the natty win. Maybe one of them pulls the other into a side room to have a cute moment to themselves to soak it all in.

Just Us

Note: I just re watched the whole game today. Does anyone else do that? Just me?😂

The confetti was still raining down in the arena, bright and colorful, but it felt so distant to Paige as she stood there, taking in the roaring crowd, the flashing cameras, and the excitement of the moment. They had just won the national championship. Something they had both dreamed of since they were kids, and now, it was real. The culmination of years of work, countless sacrifices, and overcoming so many obstacles.

But as much as the celebration was happening around them, Paige only had one person on her mind. Azzi.

They hadn’t even spoken yet, but Paige knew Azzi was feeling the same overwhelming rush of emotions. The crowd, the cameras, the coaches, and the teammates all surrounded them, but there was a moment when their eyes met, and Paige felt that familiar pull between them. That quiet, comforting connection they had always shared, no matter how chaotic the world around them was.

Azzi caught her eye across the court, her face beaming, eyes sparkling with joy. Paige didn’t wait another second. She gently pushed through the crowd, maneuvering around teammates and staff, and made her way to Azzi, who was in the midst of a group hug with her teammates. Paige’s heart fluttered in her chest as she reached out, lightly grabbing Azzi’s hand, pulling her gently away from the cluster of people.

“Paige?” Azzi asked, surprised, but she didn’t resist. In fact, she followed her effortlessly, as if knowing exactly what Paige was doing.

Paige didn’t answer verbally; instead, she tugged Azzi down a quiet hallway. Away from the media, away from the noise. Just the two of them.

The door clicked softly behind them as Paige led Azzi into a small, empty room. The lights were dim, the echo of the crowd’s energy muted. Here, it was just them—no distractions, no noise, no expectations. Only the two of them, in this quiet moment of triumph and relief.

Azzi’s breath came out in a shaky laugh, still riding high from the game. “What are we doing in here? Everyone’s celebrating out there.”

Paige smiled softly, stepping closer to Azzi, her heart still racing with adrenaline. “I wanted to be with you,” she said quietly, brushing a strand of hair from Azzi’s face. She leaned in and kissed Azzi’s forehead, the softest kiss, a tender, lingering moment.

Azzi’s eyes fluttered closed at the touch, a soft sigh escaping her lips. She tilted her head to look at Paige, a soft smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. “I needed this. Just us.”

Paige smiled back, her fingers gently cupping Azzi’s cheek, the connection between them so natural, so deep. The air between them felt charged now, more than just a quiet celebration of victory. It was their shared dream, realized. All those late-night conversations, the pain of injuries, the doubts they had faced along the way, the countless hours of training and healing it had all led them here. Together.

“I can’t believe we did it,” Azzi whispered, her voice thick with emotion. She looked up at Paige, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “This… this is everything we talked about.”

Paige’s heart swelled at the sight of Azzi so vulnerable, so open. She leaned down, her lips brushing against Azzi’s forehead again, this time pressing a bit longer, savoring the feeling of just being close. “We did it,” Paige whispered back, pulling Azzi into her arms.

The embrace felt so natural, as if they had always fit this way like they had always been meant to hold each other after every challenge, every triumph, every struggle. Paige’s arms wrapped securely around Azzi, her hands gently running up and down Azzi’s back. Burying her face in the crook of Azzis neck, as Azzis arms wrapping tightly around Paige’s waist.

The silence stretched between them for a moment, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. It was the quiet after the storm, where nothing else mattered but the two of them. Paige could feel Azzi’s heartbeat, thudding in sync with her own.

“I’m so proud of you,” Azzi whispered, her breath warm against Paige’s skin.

Paige pulled back slightly, just enough to look into Azzi’s eyes. “I’m proud of us,” she replied, her voice hushed and full of sincerity. She leaned in again, this time pressing her lips softly against Azzi’s, just a quick kiss that spoke volumes. Her hands cupped Azzi’s face as she deepened the kiss, both of them losing themselves in the warmth of each other.

Azzi smiled against Paige’s lips, her fingers gently threading into Paige’s hair. “You’re so beautiful,” she murmured, pulling back just enough to look at Paige, as if savoring every moment of this reality.

Paige laughed softly, her fingers lightly grazing Azzi’s jawline. “I’m not the one who just played the game of her life,” she teased, but there was no teasing in her voice only admiration, pride.

Azzi’s smile softened, and she kissed Paige again, this time more deliberately. The kiss was slow, a little more intense as if they were both trying to imprint the moment into their memories. It was a kiss of relief, of fulfillment, of love. A kiss that spoke of years of shared dreams, of hope, of the silent promise that they’d always have each other. No matter what.

After a few moments, they pulled back just enough to breathe, but their hands remained tangled together, their foreheads resting against one another. The world outside might have been celebrating, but in this small room, it was just them no pressure, no expectations. They didn’t need anyone else. Not right now. They had everything they’d ever wanted, right here.

Azzi’s fingers traced lightly down Paige’s arm, sending shivers down her spine. “You’re everything to me,” Azzi murmured softly.

Paige smiled, her heart full as she kissed Azzi’s forehead once more, lingering this time, savoring the warmth of the moment. “And you’re everything to me, Azzi. Always.”

They stayed in that quiet moment for a while, each kiss, each touch, a reminder of the journey they’d been on together. The struggles, the setbacks, the time apart it had all led them to this. To this win. To this moment.

Finally, after what felt like hours of just holding each other, touching, kissing, and letting the weight of everything sink in, Paige pulled Azzi back into her arms again. “You know what this feels like?” she asked softly.

Azzi leaned into her, resting her head against Paige’s chest, eyes fluttering closed. “What?”

“It feels like… we’re just getting started,” Paige whispered, her voice full of warmth and promise. “Like this is only the beginning of everything we’ve talked about. All our dreams. All our wins. Together.”

Azzi smiled, the contentment in her heart matching the glow on her face. “I couldn’t agree more,” she murmured, kissing Paige once more before resting her cheek against her chest.

For a few more minutes, neither of them spoke. The silence was no longer heavy it was comforting, filled with the love they had shared for so long, and the promise of more.

Together, they had reached their dream. And this quiet moment, just the two of them, was everything they had always wanted.

[wolfpants]

fic collages, part one: the nature of time

Digital collaging is a hobby I picked up at the start of the year when a bunch of my friends and I got together to make new year boards. And since I've been in a bit of a writing-rut lately, I've found myself playing around on these and my desire to stretch my wings a bit beyond my writing (which, let's be honest, isn't really happening much right now!). I thought, why not create collages for the fics and creators I love? So here we are! I included myself for this first post as a bit of a test run... but I hope these amazing writers and friends like what they see 🖤

I will be posting these in themed batches. This edition is all about the nature of time, whether that's time jumps or loops or alternative realities, time lost, time saught, memories and nostalgia. These are all favourite tropes of mine. There's just something about dwelling on time that really tugs my heartstrings.

-

Falter by @skeptiquewrites, Drarry, E, 3.7k

Two’s company. Three is ridiculous. Draco and Harry in Gibraltar on a job, a tent, and a conversation that’s desperately overdue.

-

A Design For Life by @maesterchill, Drarry, E, 76.9k

Harry Potter doesn't want to become an Auror. And Draco Malfoy would quite like to stay alive and out of harm’s way. Neither have any desire whatsoever to time-travel into the future, especially not with each other. But Fate? Well, she has other plans.

-

The Loophole by @getawayfox, Drarry, E, 14.2k

Working as an Unspeakable means making sacrifices: silence, secrecy, and an ancient Oath. Harry knows the rules. But when it comes to Draco, breaking them feels inevitable.

-

Thickets by me!, Drarry, E, 17.3k

When Draco returns to the UK after two decades of building his career as an internationally-renowned artist to look after his ailing, estranged father, he crosses paths with his former flame, Harry Potter, in the most unexpected way.

[askangie]

Forbidden Love in the Heavens: The Secret Romance of Satan and Jesus

Written by yours truly

From The POV of Jesus

(@jesus-oficial)

Prologue 

In the beginning, there was only the celestial realm, where the divine beings resided. Among them were the most powerful and influential figures: God, Jesus, and Satan. This is a story of love, sacrifice, and the struggle to maintain a forbidden relationship between Jesus and Satan.

Chapter 1: The Unlikely Encounter

As I wandered through the heavenly gardens, my thoughts were consumed by the will of my Father. The beauty of the surroundings did little to alleviate the burden of my divine mission. Suddenly, a rustling in the bushes caught my attention. I turned to find Satan emerging, his eyes downcast and a look of guilt etched upon his face.

"Jesus," he muttered, "I wasn't expecting to see you here."

I studied him, noticing the slight tremble in his voice. "Is something troubling you, my old friend?" I asked, taking a step closer.

He hesitated, then sighed. "Yes, but it's nothing I can share with the Father."

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Why not? Are you not His favored angel?"

Satan laughed mirthlessly. "Indeed, I was. But now, I fear I have fallen out of His grace."

Chapter 2: A Secret Desire

Over the following days, Satan and I met in secret, sharing our deepest thoughts and fears. It was during one of these clandestine meetings that our relationship took an unexpected turn. As we sat beneath a celestial tree, our hands brushed against each other, sending a spark of electricity through our divine bodies. Our eyes met, and in that moment, a connection was formed that transcended friendship.

"Jesus," Satan whispered, his voice filled with longing, "I want you in a way that I cannot describe."

I felt my heart race as I looked into his eyes, seeing the raw desire that mirrored my own feelings. "And I want you, Satan," I confessed.

Chapter 3: Forbidden Love

Our first kiss was tentative, as if we were both unsure of how to proceed. But as our lips met, a wave of passion washed over us, and we found ourselves lost in the moment. Our kisses grew more fervent, our hands exploring each other's bodies as we tried to satiate the hunger that had been building between us.

However, our love was not meant to be. We knew that our relationship would be met with disapproval from our Father, and so we resolved to keep our love a secret.

Chapter 4: Hiding in Plain Sight

We continued to meet in secret, stealing kisses and moments of intimacy whenever we could. It was a constant struggle to maintain our relationship while hiding it from the all-knowing gaze of God. We grew adept at creating illusions and diverting attention, ensuring that our secret remained safe.

Yet, even as we hid our love, we could not quell the desire that burned within us. Our kisses grew more desperate, our touches more urgent, as if we knew that our time together was limited.

Chapter 5: Betrayal

One fateful day, our secret was discovered. God, in His omniscience, had become aware of our relationship, and He was not pleased. As I stood before Him, my heart heavy with guilt and fear, I knew that I had to face the consequences of my actions.

"Father," I began, "I can explain-"

But God cut me off, His voice filled with disappointment. "No, Jesus. There is nothing you can say that will change what has happened. Your actions have betrayed My trust, and I cannot simply overlook them."

Satan, who stood beside me, watched as I continued to speak to my father. "Father, I take responsibility for this. I know that I have sinned, and I am willing to accept any punishment You see fit to bestow upon me."

God looked upon us with a mixture of sadness and anger. "Your love is forbidden, and yet you chose to pursue it anyway. You have brought shame upon the celestial realm, and for that, you must be punished."

Chapter 6: The Price of Love

God's punishment was severe. Satan was cast down from the heavens, his once-glorious form now twisted and marred. I, too, was punished, forced to endure a mortal existence on Earth, where I would ultimately sacrifice myself for the salvation of mankind.

As I hung upon the cross, my thoughts were of Satan, and the love that we had shared. I knew that our relationship was doomed from the start, but the passion and connection we had shared could not be denied. In those final moments, I thought of our stolen kisses and the moments of happiness we had found in each other's arms.

Oh you hate me? So enemies to lovers?

[ooooo-mcyt]

I am also generally confused by the take that Scott in some way forces his allies to kill him against their will (presumably so he can feel like a hero or something?) because no he doesn't?

The closest I'd say Scott has come to 'making' an ally kill him is with Gem at the end of Secret Life, in that he insisted she do so when she was hesitant to, and that she has since then shown disdain for the concept of similar team sacrifices. But I really don't think the interpretation that Scott made Gem kill him, especially out of selfishness, is a fitting one. I mean, first of all they were in a desperate time sensitive situation, on extremely low health with no way of regenerating. Scott was a one shot, if either of their enemies shot at him they'd get extra hearts and Gem wouldn't stand any chance. Sure, Scott is a little "pushy" in this scene, but it doesn't read at all as him trying to strongarm Gem into killing him for personal reasons to me, he's a bit frantic because this is a desperate situation. Also Gem is an adult who can make her own decisions? And a very strong willed one at that? She didn't kill Scott because he told her to and she can't say no, she killed Scott because, even though she didn't want to, she also recognized it as the only option they had.

And other than that, I genuinely can't think of any time Scott was even remotely pushy for an ally to kill him?

I mean, I guess he was a little frantic with telling Martyn to kill him that one time in Limited Life, I guess, but they'd already discussed Martyn killing Scott prior to this, and Scott was once again being 'pushy' in tone because he was actively being chased by someone trying to kill him first and Martyn needed to come kill him immediately, so again, I feel like that's just desperation, not him trying to be forceful. And lets be completely real, Martyn didn't mind killing Scott for extra time.

Scott offers lives to allies on other occasions. Gem in Secret Life (the first time, when he's yellow) and Pearl in Wild Life come to mind right away. But they were both absolutely undoubtedly willing to take that offer.

And he's not always the one who initiates his allies killing him!

For some quick examples, Jimmy called Scott in Limited Life specifically because he needed more time and knew Scott would give him a life, and Cleo just walked up to Scott and asked if they could kill him in Simple Life. People know Scott is willing to give lives for them, and they are, in fact, very much willing to take advantage of that offer when it benefits them. This isn't something that Scott just does to make everyone uncomfortable (i genuinely don't know where that idea comes from), people are more than willing to go to him and ask to kill him.

Plus lets not forget that not all of his allies ask to kill him! Martyn didn't hesitate to drop tnt where it could easily have killed Scott in Limited Life episode one (which scott instantly forgave), and Martyn outright full betrayal killed Scott at the end of Limited Life. Gem and Impulse were both willing to kill Scott as part of the Boogeyman Army in Secret Life and the Boogeyman Army didn't hesitate to attack him once he was one of the last few left. While they didn't try to kill him directly, both Pearl and BigB (independently, not knowing the other had also done so) colluded with The Spanners to let them kill Scott in the same episode and Etho cleanup-killed Scott out of the series in Wild Life (i know this was an accident, according to what etho said immediately after, but scott didn't know that and he was fine with it). Joel and Grian were also very quick to try to kill Scott even though they'd been working together in Simple Life.

I'm just saying I think it's silly that there's this perception of Scott forcing his allies to kill him for his own ego or because he wrongly thinks he knows whats best for them when that doesn't happen? The only times Scott has been even remotely "pushy" in getting his allies to kill him were during extremely high stress time sensitive situations where he was clearly acting out of desperation, and much much more often his allies are more than okay with killing him, to the point where they'll bring up the idea first, or even just do it without asking.

[kuroposting]

Now, obviously, I don’t think Sebastian knows that this is a trigger. Or that he grabbed his hand in a familiar way the first time, either.

I think it’s symbolic. Yana is constantly drawing hands as analogous to relationships. Sebastian is insecure in his ability to understand the complexities of human emotions and, by extension, his ability to care for Ciel in this arc. He has an idea, but he defers to Takana’s authority on the subject (initially); I’ll make another post about that later. Meanwhile, the crisis of conscience Ciel is experiencing is over his growing camaraderie and dependence on Sebastian, in r!Ciel’s place.

Using Sebastian to attain revenge is one thing, but to stop holding a grudge against him for presumably eating r!Ciel’s soul and shamelessly accepting his attachment to Sebastian and the autonomy that he provides Ciel with, is a severe betrayal. A betrayal of r!Ciel, and of Ciel’s own morals.

Sebastian is at least somewhat aware of this. I’m not totally sure- I think Sebastian is under the impression that Ciel did intentionally sacrifice r!Ciel in his place, and that he took on his identity out of jealousy. He wanted to be heir, and he wanted to marry Lizzy. Sebastian may believe that Ciel regrets doing it and resents Sebastian for being the living proof of Ciel’s wickedness. He wants to force Ciel to confront this aspect of himself and do something about it, but I think he’s slowly come to realize that Ciel isn’t actually to blame, and feels conflicted over his own attachment to him.

These last two panels, by Sebastian’s expression and the black backgrounds isolating the two of them, read to me as if Sebastian is slighted by Ciel’s scolding and lack of gratitude for saving him; something Sebastian is good at and took pride in. It reminds me of his interactions with Will. Even so, it’s apparent to me that he otherwise admires Ciel for being so resistant to the temptation of accepting his comforts, but then he sincerely wants to comfort him. By rejecting Sebastian and maintaining all the loyalty to his brother that he can, Ciel maintains this very unique (“pure”?) form of integrity that Sebas both resents and yet also wishes to maintain himself. Allowing Sebastian to touch will get his master dirty, so he changes his gloves and offers himself again. Unbeknownst to Sebastian, part of the guilt Ciel feels is over him fulfilling r!Ciel’s role as his devout protector and guide. This will have to be elaborated on in a part 2. (will add a hyperlink here when I have it written)

On the other hand, Ciel already believes himself to have already betrayed his brother for being able to benefit from his death whatsoever. This makes him beyond redemption and beyond saving. We have reason to believe that between r!Ciel’s acceptance of his role as first born and Ciel’s illness keeping him holed up in the manor while r!Ciel had fencing lessons and went traveling with their parents, r!Ciel was less innocent than his younger brother. Our Ciel believes himself wicked and weak for having shamelessly accepted their roles, as his role allowed him to be so naive and complacent that he never felt the same responsibly to protect anyone; most notably, r!Ciel. For that, there were consequences.

His powerlessness cost r!Ciel his life and at the cost of his life Ciel was granted the pursuit of living; the ability to help people and bring justice to evils are things only granted at the price of facing the horrific realities of a world that has failed others. Of feeling the weight on your soul when you take on the responsibility of other people that you can fail, responsibility for the failures that are inevitable in pursuit of your goals. Chess is a game of sacrifice.

When Sullivan gave them a chemical shower and performed it as a “purification ritual”, something thematically relevant was happening. Their personal feelings of inadequacy surfaced and they’ve been forced to confront them- though Ciel’s was much more immediate and visceral. His pursuit of Sebastian was an acceptance of himself, that he is worth living for despite what he expressed to Finny. That he accepts the responsibility for his own survival in the face of all who have been sacrificed for his continued existence so far.

Here Sebastian almost seems to reveal the truth of the matter to Ciel, that the ritual was not required to summon him and that it most likely wasn’t even the true intentions of the adults who had committed such evil against him. Demons can appear on a whim, and he repeats as much to Sullivan. On Twitter, Yana said that Ciel was about to ask “did you come on a whim?” but dropped it because it ultimately didn’t matter. She said it wasn’t relevant to the arc iirc, but I disagree lol, It’s at least relevant to the philosophy this manga holds as truth. Ciel wondered if he was already prepared to forfeit his soul for his wish or if Sebastian chose to come to him regardless.

You could wonder if that means that Ciel actually is responsible for sacrificing r!Ciel’s soul (however unintentionally), because that meant that Sebastian never would have eaten him if only Ciel cherished his own soul more.

You could wonder if Sebastian made the decision to take r!Ciel’s soul just to crossover and meet Ciel’s calls completely on his own. You could wonder if Ciel wasn’t prepared to forfeit his soul at all, until he was manipulated and pressured into it by Sebastian.

Who is the blame supposed to fall on? What were Sebastian’s motivations?

You could wonder about any of that, and it doesn’t matter, because the outcome is the same to Ciel. It does not change where they are now. What is done cannot be undone.

[estellardreams]

Ice And Flesh

For @lululocomo's New Past AU, specifically the Season 3 finale.

This wasn't supposed to happen. Xiaotian knew it when he rushed from the mountains after trying to reactivate Red Son's samadhi fire in the ritual... It went out of control. It took everything in himself to reach him. But he wasn't done.

He had a demon to kill for a second time.

"Xiaotian! Where are you going?" Macaque called for him. MK's ear twitched, but he said nothing.

"I... I have to go."

Wukong pulled him back. Xiaotian turned his gaze to his dad.

"If you're thinking of fighting the Lady Bone Demon by yourself, I'm not going to let you."

"No. I need to do this. If I don't, she's going to hurt more people." Xiaotian pulled his arm away.

"We can work together on this! We're coming with you."

"No... You're not."

"Xiaotian..." Macaque began to approach him as well.

"I'm not dragging you two into this. I prevented a crucial event from the last cycle and I could've figured out how to prevent Mystic from freeing her if he just... Kept trying to be the mayor. In the last cycle, he gave me that key as a reward. I messed around, I found out. And now I've completely removed that event from this timeline thanks to me wanting to fix something else. In a way, it's my fault she's out."

Xiaotian turned away, his fur gently blowing in the wind.

"... Xiaojiao. Meihua. I trust you two to take care of Red and help him figure this out. But I'm leaving."

"No, you're not!" Wukong yanked MK back.

The boy froze, his eyes widening as his necklace cracked. Sparks emenated from him before he suddenly zapped out of his father's grasp.

"I am, and that's final!" he yelled. He backed up and leapt off the edge, vanishing into a shadow portal below him.

Meihua shifted her gaze to Red, who was curled up on the ground, seemingly in pain.

She quietly came up to him, rubbing his back. "It's okay... You're gonna be okay."

"We're going after him. And I have a feeling she's not going to hold anything back." Nezha informed them.

"Right. I'll go get our armor." Macaque slipped through a shadow portal and out of sight.

Mk didn't waste any time stalling. He landed right onto the mech, blowing back any stray flames from him.

"Ah, your timing couldn't have been more perfect, Qi Xiaotian. It seems like your-" she froze as the kid lunged at her, slamming her into the mech's head. Mystic ran to rescue her, only for MK to spin around without letting go, punching him so hard he flew off the mech.

"Y-you..." she seemed to freeze into place and MK pushed her further into the ice.

"I should've destroyed you instead of letting Tripitaka seal you away." he growled.

"But if you destroy me, you'll destroy the host! Have you become so desperate to end me that you'd sacrifice this blameless, innocent child?"

"You're not giving me a choice. You haven't changed a bit and it shows. I will not be making the same mistake again."

Her eyes widened. "I've come too far to let you ruin everything again!"

Xiaotian knew where this was going. But either he ends her now or he got posessed instead.

He chose to strike her.

Blue fog suddenly clouded his vision, thousands of screaming souls pouring into his back. He screamed, hearing the faint yelling of both of his parents before he blacked out.

Wukong, Macaque, and Nezha showed up a few minutes after MK struck down the Mayor onto the ground. They paused at the crater, then heard a loud scream.

Wukong froze.

"KID!"

"XIAOTIAN!"

Laughter seemed to break out from on top of the mech. Rocks and debris began to float up as an aura surrounded Xiaotian. He turned his gaze to the trio below.

Lady exhaled. "Admittedly, this is an unforseen adjustment. But a fortunate moment of spontaneity nonetheless. Fate has given me the perfect champion."

"What have you done to him?" Macaque asked softly in horror.

She laughed lightly. "Oh, don't you see? Perhaps now you'll finally begin to understand how pointless your efforts to stop me truly are!"

She concentrated her power on himself, seizing full command over the monkey. The energy blew everyone back and away from the mech. Nezha dug his spear into the ground, holding onto Wukong and Macaque to prevent the two from falling back further.

"The Samadhi fire will be mine, and I will use it's power to reforge this world!" she declared.

Xiaotian held onto artifact he was given to control his power. He tore it off, crushing it into his palm.

"Go."

Nezha's eyes widened. He turned back to the two monkeys, pushing them out of the way. Xiaotian slammed the prince into the ground, shattering his spear in the process.

Lady raised her hand, conjuring up a spear of ice from the ground. Xiaotian tore it from the ground, gripping it tightly. He approached his parents, spinning it like the staff.

"Wukong! We gotta go!" Macaque urged.

"But the kid! We can't just leave him!" Wukong yelped.

"We'll figure out a way to save him afterwards! Now let's go!" he summoned a portal under them, letting them both fall through right before Xiaotian struck them.

The boy breathed, standing back up in place after the two escaped.

"Return here. You need a proper attire to go find the Samadhi Fire."

The air felt just as frigid when the returned.

"Pleasure for you two to join us." Lady began, floating above the two.

"Where is he?" Wukong growled.

"Oh, your son? Ah, yes. I'm sure he missed you two very much." she lowered herself to the ground. Xiaotian came up from behind her, planting his ice staff into the ground.

The monkey's fur seemed to be dulled, his eyes glossed over. He wore an outfit akin to his parents, but more symmetrical with what looked like ice spikes protruding from a center point on his belt. His hair seemed to flow in the wind.

He positioned himself, ready to attack the two monkeys.

Wukong paused, glancing between MK and his staff.

"... You could get impaled... Are you sure-"

"Yes." Macaque said firmly.

Xiaotian charged at the two, ice staff in hand. Macaque tore him away from Wukong and threw him to the side.

Wukong rushed up to his staff, planted into the ground.

"No matter what you do, you cannot change the path of destiny." Lady spoke, her hair flowing in the wind.

Wukong froze, hearing a piercing cry in the clouds. Then a hard thud. He slowly turned to see Macaque, pinned to the ground, the spear piercing through his previously wounded arm, tearing the scar back open.

He pulled it out, blood dripping from the wound.

"What can you hope to accomplish what your son has failed?"

Footsteps echoed through his ears.

"Cast aside your stubbornness and face your demise with honor."

Wukong turned back to Xiaotian, his hand still holding onto the staff.

His son...

His breathing hitched. He slowly removed his hand from it, stepping forward towards the boy approaching him.

This could either work or fail. He knew this, but... It didn't seem like there weren't many other options. And he didn't wanna fight him either way.

"Good little simian. Now you see what destiny wanted from you."

Xiaotian charged at Wukong, ice staff in hand, aiming for him.

"Wukong! No!"

Wukong leapt up to the boy, wrapping his arms around him the second the ice pierced through his chest. He buried his face into the boy's shoulder.

The monkey's ear twitched. His clouded over gaze seemed to drift to the monkeys face as he remained stuck in this position.

Then... His ears lowered. His eyes flickered. Purple and gold pupils returned, albeit faded. Tears welled up in his eyes as he pulled his dad into the hug.

Macaque staggered up, running over and pulling Xiaotian into the hug as well.

"I... I'm so sorry, I thought..."

"It's... Okay, bud..." Wukong winced.

Macaque froze, still noticing the ice impaling his mate. He quickly let go and tried to pull it out from the other end. His paws stained with blood as the ice clattered to the floor, now a deep shade of crimson.

"... Y-your wound isn't healing." he murmured.

Xiaotian froze, more tears flooding his eyes as he held onto Wukong.

"Of course it's not. My enchanted crystals are impervious to regeneration magic." Lady reaffirmed.

Xiaotian kept ahold of his dad, reaching over to his staff. He gripped it tightly, yanking it out of the ice.

The sheer force of power released sent her crashing into the back of the mech, alongside releasing him from her hold. He winced, shakily standing back up as he kept Wukong in his hold.

"I'm okay, kid... You can let go of me, now."

"No, you're bleeding too heavily! Just... I can..." Xiaotian cradled him in his arms as much as he could.

"But if Xiaotian's not under her control anymore..." Macaque began.

"Oh no..." Wukong tensed up.

"Predictably unpredictable fools! I'm not one to rush destiny, but I will not be undone by a troop of headstrong simians!" she yelled, forcing as much power as she could. She released herself from the girl she had posessed.

Macaque didn't hesitate, rushing over and catching the girl before she hit the ground.

"If the bull prince won't give me the samadhi fire willingly, then I will RIP IT FROM HIM!"

The fire suddenly exploded from the mech, sending everyone flying off of it except for her.

Xiaotian grabbed Wukong, holding onto him as the two toppled to the ground.

"Monkey King?!" Tang exclaimed, running over in a panic.

"I-I'm fine, don't worry about me." he winced, trying to wave him off.

Xiaotian breathed in shakily, turning his gaze back to the mech.

... Right. Follow the story.

Meihua was inside the mech with Red Son. He had to make that mech, then... They'd come out. She would finally die. This would all be over.

He stood up.

"Kid..."

Xiaotian couldn't look back. Not once.

He ignored her speech. He planted the staff down... And his mech emerged once more.

It's game time.

"No. No! I will not be stopped by a foul, insignificant creature! You would allow this world to continue to fester and rot, the eternal misery of countless souls because of your sentimentally for mortal pleasures?!" she cried out.

Xiaotian growled. "You can't judge things by their worst qualities!"

"This world might not be perfect but it's still worth fighting for!" Tang declared, casting a ring of magic below everyone.

"Yeah! Sometimes it's that little bit of char that makes for a more flavorful meat, even if it is a bit tangy." Pigsy chimed in.

"No matter what happens in the world, there's always going to be ups and downs! What matters is that we stick together to experience it!" Mei said.

Mo meowed.

"You said it, Mo. The world may be full of darkness but to let the light shine, all we need to do is stand together!" Sandy said.

The ring lit up. Macaque focused, drawing out his shadow powers as he kept ahold of Wukong. The ginger monkey blasted his golden energy first, then a stream of shadow powers.

Everyone's power shot out from the ring, flying into the back of the mech. It began to emerge with a golden shell, grasping onto the flaming swords tightly.

"The perfect world is what we make it. So as long as I have my friends by my side, this world! Is! Perfect!" Xiaotian yelled, pushing back against her.

"A childish notion! I will not be indulgent!" she cried out.

"Please! Listen to me! You are stronger than this! You controlled this before! Everyone is counting on you!" Meihua pleaded admist the flames surrounding the two.

"I know you can do it, Red! Don't just use it, become it! Like you always have!"

Red stared at her, closing his eyes before he felt something inside him click. He pulled her closer to him, shattering through the crystal he was trapped in and back outside.

The glass cracked, the two bursting through inside the flames.

"Hey noodle boy."

"Red?!" MK exclaimed.

"Brother! You're okay!" Meihua hugged him tightly.

Mk hugged her back.

"Now, let's finish this!"

Tang used his power to summon a huge magical ring over the mech. A beam of light came crashing down on it, the blast beginning to shatter the crystals covering the world.

More beams of power began to fly into the ring, powering up the mech further. It seemed to ascend over the bone mech, summoning the golden staff. He gripped it tightly, everyone right behind him.

Nezha appeared right behind them, placing his rings onto the mech's feet.

"Here... Comes... MONKEY-"

The staff slammed into her shield.

"No! You will not take my destiny from me!" she yelled.

Red leapt out of the mech, grasping the staff to encase it in the samadhi fire.

Lady's eyes widened.

She was going to die.

"KID!!!"

The staff crashed through the shield, obliterating her mech and herself in the process.

It was finally over...

"... You've done this before. Haven't you?"

Xiaotian paused. "Well, yeah."

"Then tell me this, child." she drifted up to him.

"Are you proud of yourself? Proud for defying the original path? Proud for this change of a timeline? You are aware we're one in the same. We follow the path lined out for us, but you chose to change it."

"So? Why does it matter to you?"

She smiled briefly. "Because I know that our pursuit for righteousness, even when it defies all odds, only leads to pain. But it also leads to monsters."

She came up to his ear.

"Like you."

Her form faded out in the white abyss, leaving Xiaotian alone.

"I swear I'm fine! Don't worry about it!" Wukong waved him off.

Pigsy pushed the bowl of noodles into his hands anyway.

"Still, you should eat. Food would help you heal faster."

"Right, um... Thanks."

Xiaotian quietly watched. He slipped away, trying to ignore the tears pricking his eyes every single time he saw those bandages.

They were still getting bled through by the hours.

"Xiaotian...?" Macaque quietly came up next to him.

Xiaotian tearfully looked up at him. Then at his papa's arm. The wound was still fresh.

His heart ached. He backed up, bolting from the mountain top.

"Xiaotian! Wait!"

He skidded to the ground, crashing through the jungle trees and to the muddy floor below.

He couldn't help but sob.

He felt horrible. He wanted to change things, but seemed to only make it worse for himself and others.

And now... He knew that he wounded both of his parents. It was his fault.

It was his fault he let himself get posessed.

It was his fault for tagging along on that journey for the map in the first place.

It was his fault he was stuck in this cycle.

Although he missed everyone... So much had changed.

... Because a monster, with bloody paws, chose to change destiny with no regard for others.

[ang3lmoans]

Angel listened closely, though his gaze drifted slightly, fixed on some distant store as Garam spoke. He heard every word, especially the parts Garam tried to keep light or dismissive—the subtle tension behind “no rush on that talk happening,” and the veiled protectiveness hidden in “prefer having you all to myself.” Angel knew what jealousy looked like, what it felt like, and he understood it even when it was dressed up in sweet tones and laced with humor. He didn’t blame Garam for feeling it—he knew firsthand how hard it was to share someone you cared about with people who’d once held their heart. But it still weighed on him. He didn’t like how familiar all of this felt. The way he was slowly pulling away from Darius, not because he wanted to, but because he felt he had to. Not that Garam ever told him to stop being friends with him—he never would—but Angel could feel it in the spaces between Garam’s words, in the way his jaw tensed slightly at Darius’s name, in the way he always softened afterward to make up for it. Angel had been there before. With Axel. The slow compromises. The quiet sacrifices. And always thinking this time it’s different. He didn't blame Garam for his actions. No matter how they made him feel Angel understood them. He went as far as to hit on Axel to prove a point. Even though Garam apologized for saying it, the words were prevalent in his mind. “you started it, you intended for something to happen between the two of you, you just weren't expecting where he decided to take it. It's his fault for not stopping you, for not stopping himself if you told him to stop. But he never would have done anything with you if you hadn't provoked him." as they walked through the crowd Angel clenched his fist and dug his nails into his palms. The crowded mall, all the noises and people swirled together with his thoughts it was all too much. Then everything went silent, when Garam smiled at the idea of making pizzas—truly smiled, warm and unguarded—it made something tight in Angel’s chest loosen. He was trying. Garam didn’t hide his flaws, and in some ways, that made it easier to accept them. His jealousy wasn’t cruel; it was human. Angel could work with humans.“You better not hog all the pepperoni,” Angel said with a light laugh, trying to match Garam’s levity. He was becoming a pro at pretending he was okay “And you only get extra slices if you clean the dishes after.” He smiled back, but his eyes studied Garam for a moment longer as if looking for cracks in the surface. Angel released a truly deep breath as he slowly released his palms, careful to tuck them away behind his back as they entered the store to search for a ring camera. When Garam suddenly asked about his work schedule, Angel tilted his head. The way he asked… it wasn’t casual, not really. He caught the way Garam’s eyes shifted briefly toward the door, the slight twitch in his fingers. Anxiety. Not about him. About Axel. Angel’s smile faded a little, and he softened. “I’ve got two shifts this weekend—Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. But I’ll be around most of the week,” he said gently. “And I won’t avoid work just because of him. I’ve switched shifts. No money lost” He paused, stepping a little closer, his voice lowering to something quiet and sure. “Let's be quick. Too many people I'm ready to head home.“

"he's probably predisposed to not like me because of your feelings for me. knowing the person you like likes somebody else, lots of jealousy rises there." something garam knew from experience, what's stopped him from being friends with a lot of his past partners' friends. even though he, himself, held jealousy towards darius and angel's relationship, he was going to try his best not to let that show anymore. "i mean, i wouldn't like it very much if the person i liked had feelings for somebody else." he was sure angel understood given the situation he'd been in for who knows how long. using how he currently felt as experience, his own jealousy arising at the idea of somebody taking angel away from him, it only made him feel more guilty for essentially putting angel in the place he had his entire relationship, at the very least, with axel. garam felt very foolish, though. there wasn't anything to worry about, really, as angel was already distancing himself from darius. he was nervous and acted out for nothing, for the time being anyways. he didn't know when angel would speak to the other man but he also wasn't about to ask as he didn't want to put any sort of pressure on angel into having that talk with darius. he'd just have to live with knowing that angel wouldn't be spending that time alone with him. "but no rush on that talk happening." his tone nonchalant to subtly further express his distaste for darius. while garam did want to know more about angel's other friends and possibly find friendship in them as well, getting all close and personal with darius wasn't very high on his list of things he truly wanted. the root of why he wanted to know darius better was because of the whole know thy enemies thing. "as much as i'd like to get know him, i much prefer having you all to myself." he was being selfish, he knew that but he didn't care much since angel was willingly putting space between himself and his friend. when angel brought up their little pizza date, though he was cautious after what happened when they tried this last time, garam slowly began to smile. he really did want to make that pizza with angel, he wanted to prepare a meal with him, he wanted to enjoy something prepared for him by somebody he sought interest in. "i would really like it if we made pizzas." garam spoke slowly, his tone hushed as if he thought it would hide his excitement but his smile, the way his eyes lit up, how both his cheeks and his ears started to blush, they all betrayed him. "i promise i'll be on my best behavior so we don't end up arguing beyond what to put on top or how many slices we get to have." garam tried to make light of the situation, to show he was trying to move past what they fought about before, to show his interest in this little pizza date. "oh," garam stopped suddenly, turning quickly to face angel, "when do you have to work next? you shouldn't avoid working because of anybody, don't let anybody stop you from living your life as normal." the true reason behind his questioning was because he wanted to be prepared for when he had to be alone in angel's apartment. if he knew when the time was going to come, he could prepare himself for both the momentary solitude and for an escape route if axel decided to show up again. he could possibly invite a friend over, or he could use that time to get his computer set up sorted out and running. he'd also have to figure out what to do for meals. garam couldn't help but smile more at the thought of preparing a meal for angel to come home to.

[utdr-fractured]

PAGE 6

PROLOGUE | PREVIOUS | NEXT

Awh, they're already yelling like they're siblings!

I realized how unhappy I am with the style of the comic up until now so I decided to render it further. Sure, the simpler style makes it faster to create but I don't want to compromise the quality for speed. I want to be proud of this comic so I am going to move forward with this style from here on out. Asks will still be in the original style because I can't keep up with them to save my life, that is something I need to sacrifice for speed unfortunately!

I still have the lineart for the previous pages so I may redo those pages whenever I have free time. No major changes to those pages other than the rendering (and maybe fixing lineart a little) so that it looks cohesive.

[whitehairandtraumatized-bracket]

White Hair and Trauma Brawl Round 1, Poll 54

remember, voting is based on swag, trauma, and favoritism!!

trauma and propaganda under the cut!

Trauma! 

Thancred:  He feels as though he is responsible for the death of his adopted sister's father and therefore tries to always protect her, until she sacrifices herself to save another world, and then he has to be a parent to her reincarnation

Ozpin: TL;DR: he's the reincarnation of a guy with an abusive ex (who is currently an active threat to the entire world) and a really messed up form of "immortality" involving repeatedly being reincarnated into someone else's body, slowly merging with their soul, and losing his own sense of identity while eroding that of his host, without any real control over it.

Once upon a time he was a brave hero who rescued a lonely princess from a tower, and they fell in love and got married and things were fine until he got sick and died, at which point the princess angered the gods in her desperation to get him back, leaving her cursed to be immortal in a destroyed and empty world. The gods then decided the immortal they'd created was a problem, actually, and offered his soul a choice to return to Earth in order to protect the world and unite humanity, conveniently leaving out the screwed-up way they were going to return him. So he accepts because his wife is now immortal and he wants to be with her again. He wakes up disoriented in the body of a man with white hair and goes to find his beloved, and at first they live together seemingly happily and they start a family. He and his wife are the only people left with magic, so she decides to use it to take over the world, and then when their children start developing magic, she hatches a plan to destroy non-magical humanity and replace them with their "superior" magical lineage. At this point he finally decides to take the children and leave her, attempting to sneak away in the night, but she catches him and starts a battle to the death, killing him and all their children. He's reincarnated into someone else's body again, and again every time he dies, at first sharing a body with the person he's reincarnated into but slowly and inevitably absorbing their soul into himself, at the same time losing touch with who exactly "himself" is supposed to be. Not every incarnation has had white hair, but several of them have, including the most recent incarnation to become part of the collective, who goes by Ozpin.

Propaganda!

Ozpin: I  think Ozpin's reincarnation curse is really interesting and also something I wouldn't wish on anyone. It's existentially horrifying especially because new people are repeatedly getting swept into this painful cycle and burdened with all this trauma, losing their individual identities without getting any choice or control in the matter. It's implied that Ozpin grows to care for each person he reincarnates into, but is then forced to destroy them in a way through merging, and forced to saddle them with all his lifetimes' worth of trauma and guilt. It happens over and over again, but I'd imagine it would be freshly painful each time, because he's a new person, in a way, each time.

I love Ozpin because he keeps trying to do good, yet feels guilty and personally responsible for the mistakes of every past incarnation of him, every person he's had to become, and because he somehow keeps a sense of fun and whimsy despite everything (he's facing the horrors but he stays silly), without losing touch with the seriousness of his mission and what he's up against. 

[Thancred did not receive propaganda. rip.]

[first-time-tma]

I don't think we asked you yet, so. Who is your favorite character at the end ? And your favorite dynamic ? The statement/ episode you like the most ? The fear you find the most interessing ?

heyyy, it took me AGES to answer this but here we go:

Favorite character:

MARTIN MARTIN MARTIIIIIN!!!!!

I loove him so much. His kindness, his bravery, his optimism but ALSO him being frustrated, angry, jealous. He would do everything for Jon but he wouldn't sacrifice the world for him even if he wants to do desperately

He would sacrifice himself immediately but he also knows that being willing to LIVE for someone is worth even more than dying for someone.

He is brokem traumatized and such an REAL AND AMAZING CHARACTER!!!

WITH SO MUCH GROWTH!!!!

Favorite dynamic:

Favorite ship and relationship dynamic is and will forever be Jon and Martin but I will make a seperate post avout them.

Otherwise: Georgie and Jon I think!

I love and adore their friendship I love that they BOTH APOLOGIZED AND ADMITTED THEIR MISTAKES, i love that even after their fallout in season 4 they managed to repair their friendship!!!

But also Daisy and Basira. Their trust, their dependency on each other, the love between them ... its AMAZING

Yes, its brutal and both have done terrible things and they are not good people but exactly because of this i love them soo much!!!!

Favorite episode/ statement:

Episode: SO MANY

195 breaks my heart but I love it. So does 137. And so so many more. I love all the episodes with a lot of character interactioms so the ones in season 5 with jon and martin in the tunnels with georgie and melanie are AMAZING for example

There are too many haha

Statement: the man who wasnt there was SO interesting omg. Such an amazing one

But also the ones with the space station!!! I loved to hear the three different perspective and finding out about what was really going on.

Same for everything about hilltop roads and the lightless flame. AMAZING.

Fear:

The spiral. Yes, I love michael and helen snd yes, that has something to do with it.

But overall, its such an interesting fear because its so... different!!! No statement about it is the same and i love it!!!!

I hope I answered your question good enough, thank you for sending it!!!<333

[theseinfernalangels]

hi hi love your writing !!! could you do #29 with aaric graycastle pleaseee ???

29: Staring at each others lips for a moment before moving closer, as if drawn together by an unseen force. 

He stares at you with an unreadable expression, his jaw set and his lips pressed together. Something is swimming in those eyes of his — something, you decide, akin to either disturbance, disbelief, disappointment, or even a mix of the three.

“You shouldn’t have,” he murmurs, running a finger down the scarred skin of your abdomen. Although it was mostly healed now, the last Aaric had seen of it was in the form of a near-fatal laceration while you’d slumped to the ground in a bleeding frenzy. Thank the gods for Menders and competent healers.

You keep your gaze level. “Of course I should have,” you counter. “And I’d do it again if it meant everyone else was unharmed.”

His jaw tightens even more, a shadow passing over his face at the mere suggestion that you’d willingly be killed for them all. Killed for him. He couldn’t allow that — not while he was still up and breathing.

“You’re too selfless,” he comments quietly, dragging his gaze from the ruined flesh to your eyes. “I don’t think I could watch that happen again.”

The flash of silver. Jerking back from the venin’s knife, only to feel nothing while a bone-chilling shriek left you. Blood pouring from you — so much blood staining your body, writhing in agony. He shudders, and it doesn’t go unnoticed by you. 

“Hearing you scream,” he continues, stroking your thigh with his index finger. “Watching you drop, all the blood—“ He trails off, his free hand clenching into a little fist. 

His head lifts so his piercing jade eyes can meet yours. “I’d have to be struck down with my face in the dirt before I let that happen to you again.”

You blink, not prepared for such a raw confession from the generally-silent boy. His eyes don’t leave yours, as if he was trying to convince you by looks alone that he was dead serious.

“It could happen.” You try to sound calming, reasonable. “But that’s to be expected, Aaric. That’s the way of the rider.”

“That’s bullshit.” You freeze at the rough conviction in his voice. “I know we’re in constant danger, but if you really think I’m going to accept that you could be killed like that — so easily— then you’re dead wrong.”

He shifts, taking half a step towards you. “I will not let them take you from me,” he whispers, taking your hands in his. “Not today, not ever. They will have to rip me apart limb from limb if they want to touch you.”

Your eyes are wide, stunned from how Aaric looks at you — like you’re the most precious thing in the known world, a priceless treasure that he’d sacrifice himself over and over for if it meant keeping you safe. The boy is usually so collected that you can’t read him, but you’re sure your almost-death had left him feeling one thing that he’d never truly felt it its entirety before: terror. Pure, unadulterated terror.

Your mouth opens and closes as you lose your words — because what are you supposed to say to that? Aaric’s gaze drops to your lips before he meets your eyes pleadingly again.

“Please,” he begs in the softest possible voice. “Never do that to me again. Never risk your life in order to save mine. That’s my job, and I’ll be damned to the lowest hell if I catch my woman dying because of me.”

You squeeze his hands gently, trying to break him from his desperation. He doesn’t even let you speak; instead, he lowers his head a little.

“Please,” he repeats, pressing his forehead to yours. “Don’t leave me here alone.”

Your eyes soften. “I would never,” you insist, drawing him closer. “Not to you. You’re too important to me for that.”

Aaric doesn’t respond — doesn’t want to, can’t force the words swirling so desperately on his tongue to actually leave his mouth. So, what does he do instead?

He just pressed his mouth to yours, pleading and wanting and scared. He kisses you like your demise is written in stone, and he just wants one more feel of his lips before your heart gives out. It’s harsh and claiming, but still Aaric in its underlying softness and longing.

You break away, drawing in a shaky breath. “Shit, Cam.”

Those darling green eyes search yours. “Please?” He all but begs. “I can’t lose you now. Not here.”

You reach up to cup his cheek in your palm. “Not today,” you whisper. “You have my word. It’s going to take a lot more than a knife to kill me.”

Maybe it will. Maybe it won’t. Either way, Aaric knows this is all for naught. He’s seen it too many times, the mental image of you laying bloody and broken hitting him as he goes about his day. He knows he can’t change it — he never can — but dammit, he can try.

He smiles weakly. “I’ll hold you to that,” he says, tracing your figure with what he prays isn’t a look of resignation. “Because you’re not going anywhere that I can’t follow.”

[boopiemadz]

♫ Taylor Swift|Travis Martinez ♫

A/N:

Not sure if this concept makes any sense but whatever, I just wanted to attribute lyrics to songs that reminded me of Travis/ Travis in a relationship with reader. Also I have some stuff in my inbox im slowly working through (yellowjackets x cm) but I love getting asks or just general questions or statements in my inbox!

---

"But I'm a fire and I'll keep your brittle heart warm..." -Peace

Travis makes sure your always warm, especially in those long winter months. Anytime he sees you show any signs of a chill he will sacrifice his own warmth by giving you his outer layers. You would always contest this trying to convince him you were fine, but it was no use, he clung to you at night to give you warmth, boiled you water to drink, and even woke up early to start the fire for you when you wake up so that you could 'defrost' right away.

"I want to wear his initial on a chain 'round my neck, Chain 'round my neck. Not because he owns me, But 'cause he really knows me" -Call it what you want

Its not much, but it was something. Travis didnt even know it was your birthday, not until Misty brought it up. He felt like such a bad boyfriend for not knowing, I mean sure, they werent in the best spot to focus on things like that, but he knew that it was so important to you that you made sure to keep time in your notebook to make sure you didnt miss it. So instead of going out to hunt he convinced Nat to go alone as he took the time to gather supplies and handcraft a necklace for you. He used some dried leaf stems to make the chain, gathered pebbles from the lake shore to make holes in and use them as beads, lastly for a pendant Travis placed the ring he brought with him on the trip as the centre of the necklace. Ever since he gave it to you, you never took it off. Even when the two of you had moments of uncertainty the marker of love stayed right infront of your heart.

"I lived like an island, punished you with silence, Went off like sirens, just crying. Why'd I have to break what I love so much? It’s on your face, don't walk away, I need to say. Hey, it's all me, in my head, I'm the one who burned us down, But it's not what I meant. I'm sorry that I hurt you..." -Afterglow

Travis was never one to be the first to speak. He will admit he was a dick, cold and cruel. Everything in him faught to keep his facade, to be the man his father had taught him to be. You were a safety net, he found himself slipping and not intentially revealing layers of himself he never knew existed. The more he grew close, the more he distanced himself. You never took it well, you tried to understand but you could only do so much pushing and fighting until you just had to accept it, accept that you werent important enough for him to be vulnerable. When he saw the face you made when you looked at him, the way you would avoid eye contact, he realized he screwed up. Everything in him wanted to fight, but in that moment he knew, love had won, and he could no longer be this person if it meant never loving you.

"So you were never a saint and I loved in shades of wrong. We learn to live with the pain, mosaic broken hearts. But this love is brave and wild!!" -State of grace

Neither of you were the perfect standout type. He never understood why you werent popular, he thought you were perfect, you shouldve been a saint, you were in his eyes. And obviously he knew he didnt know how to love, love was a word he had heard a minimal amount of times. Displaying love was never his strongsuit, but for some reason you made him want to try. Both broken, both full of pain and grief, yet in that came brightness in the glow of the gentle love that didnt heal, but patched the scars of pain.

"Uh-oh, I'm fallin' in love, Oh no, I'm fallin' in love again ,Oh, I'm fallin' in love. I thought the plane was goin' down how'd you turn it right around?" -Labyrinth

The day he realized he was in deep, he tried to swim back to shore. He didnt know what that fuzzy feeling felt, what that flutter was when you touched, how was he to know? But then he did find a word to describe it, love, what could he do but stand and stare. Then came the rush of fear, the running away, flood of regret that washed over him as he realized that if he loved you, and lost you, that would be way too much to handle, he would have nothing to live for. He couldnt be the man you deserved, he couldnt love you. Until you kissed him like you usually did, it was morning and you had come up to him and placed a soft kiss on his cheek. He had been trying to distance himself that week, but that simple moment of soft warmth gave him hope, how did you manage to turn this plane wreck (no pun intended) into a field of darkness with a shining light.

"Cause they got the cages, they got the boxes and guns. They are the hunters, we are the foxes and we run. Baby, I know places we won't be found, and they'll be chasing their tails tryin' to track us down. 'Cause I, I know places we can hide. I know places, I know places..." -I know places

Through the times you were his in secret, he would take you away to a secret spot in the woods. A hollowed out stump right next to a creek, thats where he would take you when the noise of the group got too loud. The others had their suspicions, they dug and chased down answers, but when you were alone, none of it mattered. Not the hunts, not the hunger, not the wilderness, just for a second the rituals and suffering faded away, even for just a second.

"Would it be enough if I could never give you peace?" -Peace

Was he enough, enough for you. Everything he was, was the opposite of what you deserved. You shouldve never been put in this situation, none of the pain was fair. All you deserved was peace. But thats something he couldnt offer, he didnt even have it himself. But in those long nights what mattered more to you then him giving you peace, was him being there, by your side as the sun went down curled up in his arms. He never promised healing, he couldnt give you anything, but what was enough was love.

---

^^^ look at my man 🤭🤭😍😍😍

[smoulderingocean]

I want (need!!!) to believe that Max loves, respects and understands his character way to much to say that an end with him being ruined is somehow satisfying. Dead? Sure, maybe, I can see that. At this point an ultimate sacrifice could be seen as satisfying in a way (not for me but ok, I guess), but ruined? Like, full dark side out of nowhere? Nope

Exactly! I think he'd be a lot more evasive in his answers if things ended badly for Osblaine and for Nick. He doesn't play games with his fans, he's fairly straightforward and honest with us, and that holds up to now even though he can't really say much as Nick's big good plots are coming in eps 9 and 10. (Plus him being really busy filming that hbo show.)

He's well aware that people are going to be upset as it is by Hannah not escaping and Gilead not failing, so if Osblaine and Nick were to fail too, he'd be particularly cautious in his language as there wouldn't be a lot of satisfying stuff without it. He's not being super measured and cautious in his language. Coy, yes, reserved, yes. He has to be because the Nick stuff is so incredibly redacted that he can't even hint at it. I've followed this show's press closely since S2. That Max can't even hint at what his favourite scene is indicates he's been really censured. And it's also a good sign that his favourite episode and scene is so good that he can't discuss it at all! He could have said ep 3 or 6 as both have good Osblaine and Nick scenes in them and would not be as verboten for him to discuss as eps 9 and 10. That all means that something big and good is coming in those final two eps.

Trust in Max, he never does us wrong!

[artandpunishment]

The Currents

*Spoilers for Thunderbolts* after the intro*

I felt a spiteful love for Walker growing when I saw the first Thunderbolts trailer. Like everyone else, I hated him during TFATWS. But like with the literal Greek hero, Achilles, I wanted to take Walker under my wing, respectfully. I was glad that we got to see his room in the void and wanted to elaborate more.

Summary: just a musing of John Walker post TFATWS and throughout the duration of Thunderbolts*.

Trigger warnings: brief mentions of alcoholism, mild language, mention of mcu violence (nothing crazy)

John Walker was an asshole. John Walker was a failure. The dime store Captain America, the "Junior varsity Captain America." He knew it was clear as day. He knew it every time he put on his U.S. Agent suit. U.S. Agent. Yeah, right. U.S. Vigilante, U.S. mistake and regret. This was his sideline, this was his punishment. Sure, he could still fight, it was the only thing he could still do—aside from fucking up his life even more.

His best friend was dead. When he thought he did the right thing, avenging him, you'd have thought he would be commended. If it weren't for the witnesses, if it weren't for the broadcasting of his brutality, no one would have known—or at least would sympathize without the gruesome image of him bashing someone's head in. That was what got to him. He did what he knew to do as a soldier. Yes, he wasn't the best one, that obviously was Steve Rogers. But you'd think after trying so hard to emulate the guy, John would have turned out better. So many acknowledgements, addendums, stipulations, and unfortunate circumstances. All of them led to him becoming bitter, acrid even, and single. His loyalty, his sacrifice for his country, all sidelined in the face of his dark side—the simple reality of a man, the result of his glory. Who knew what Steve Rogers, or even Bucky Barnes did in their free time. There was no way they wouldn't have drank if they had the metabolism.

Sitting beside his child's crib, John Walker was faced with article after article, proclaiming his downfall. He was a historic misstep in a hard time of missteps. He would drink too, if his metabolism would let him. He could sit around and lament the soldiers that came before him, one is dead, the other a shadow of a man, but at least he's a senator. Walker knew he was ignoring his wife and child. He wasn't surprised when she left. It was one decision he didn't have to make, but his inaction was a decision with a result he could have stopped.

Now, alone, in a dark apartment with rent barely paid, he was where he felt like he deserved to be. A grimace now beginning to be permanently etched on his face, this was just fine. After what he did, had he really tried all that hard? He knew before he brought that shield down, that he should have waited. He knew that he should have picked up his son, held him and his wife longer. But he didn't. He was too engrossed in what he thought should have been; what he wanted it to have been.

Every day was a struggle. Going out, hoping that no one recognized him was a dance he hated participating in. It rarely happened. The paranoia is what bothered him. Anxious, he would walk to the bodega, always looking over his shoulder or ducking around a corner. If anyone stared too long (they weren't paying attention), if someone was following him (never more than two blocks and never with the same destination), he had to react. He had to move. John didn't want to be caught, he didn't want to be made to feel worse than he already did. It wasn't the consequences that he didn't want to face, it was the quiet, lonely aftermath. Currently, he was Captain America. Then time passed. Currently, he was a waste of space, a colossal mistake, but another added to America's massive pile. Currently, he was worried that he would never receive the chance to be something better.

At first, Val was that saving grace he craved. For months, Walker had agonized over that 'something better.' Each mission she sent out made his medals worth it. It gave him adrenaline he had longed to embrace. From making people in his hometown proud with his football wins, to protecting his country, Walker loved it. Deep down, he loved making people happy. No matter how stupid people made it sound, although, he didn't admit that out loud. He was a soldier, his opinions were hardly ever wanted, only orders.

When Valentina sent him into that mile-deep room, hunting the Black Widow's sister, he was under the impression that she had done something horrific. He was ready to keep proving his worth, to keep killing. At that point, hardly anything other than fight and survive were thought in his head. As he had to work with not only her, but Ava, and 'Bobby,' something started to click. The desire to protect was shaking awake, albeit very slowly. That look Yelena gave him when she realized his wife left him, that he was in just as deep as the rest of them, was a rather solemn feeling. He felt included. Seen. It was a no-brainer to jump in front of Bucky when Sentry redirected the bullets. It was second nature to run after Yelena and to help cover Bob from the Void.

The oncoming fourteen months were hard but they were infinitely better than the past five years of his life. And through those fourteen months, they were better because he wasn't alone. He was learning to be kind again. No matter what fight came next, he had something so much stronger than him on his side. Currently, he had a family.

[crimmsonflower]

Since the thunderbolts movie is out, no idea what it's about but I know bucky is in it, here's some stucky fics since that's the only marvel thing I read. Everything in this list is AU so nothing is super canon compliant. As always read the fic descriptions that the fic actually gives since my plot summaries don't really cover it.

My Arms Were Made To Hold You by portraitofemmy, rainbow_marbles

A no powerse au where Bucky's neigbour is single father Steve. Steve's kid night screaming is keeping Bucky up so he goes to help Steve. it's a cute and long oneshot where we see Bucky gradually finds himself becoming part of Steve's family as he helps take care of Joey (Steve's child). Sorry that you have to be dead for the plot Peggy but we'll always love you <3

Thirty-Eight Days and Counting by thecommodore_squid (orphan_account)

Bucky is in witness protection and for his new identity he's married to Steve Rogers, the man assigned to protect him. It's an intriguing story with moments of domesticity as we watch the two fall in love as they act out a married life. The other avengers are featured within this fic and their stories are interconnected to the main plot. I really like the cute and domestic moments within fic as seeing Bucky be silly and having fun is really fun to read. His relationship and interactions with Tony I enjoyed reading especially. There's still a good amount of angst within this fic.

the sirens and the thunder by legete

The most canon compliant fic in this post since Steve still becomes Cap and Bucky still becomes the Winter Soldier.

IT'S ABOUT THE NATURAL PULL BUCKY HAS TOWARDS STEVE. IT'S THE WAY THEY HELP EACH OTHER. IT'S HOW BUCKY SACRIFICES/GIVES HIMSELF TO STEVE. IT'S THE RESPECT STEVE HOLDS FOR BUCKY. I really like mythology and folklore so an AU where Bucky is a selkie was enough of a pull for me but the development of Bucky and Steve's relationship was something I loved reading. Since they're not a childhood friends we see them gradually warm up and learn to trust to each other. Bucky's natural longing and instinct to be in the ocean vs his want to take care of Steve was great to see. I like instinct vs. logic thing so.

I'm going to post another stucky fic recc soon (hopefully) because this post would be way to long if I recommended all of my fav stucky fics. I might even have enough Outsider POV stucky fics to make a post of just that.