#I’m not a big Talia fan or anything I don’t know why I’m so set on defending her haha

[cologona]

He also didn’t grow up the instant he was thrown into the Lazarus pit, so he wouldn’t have had problems being inside an unfamiliar body.

Now that I’m thinking about it, as much as I like trans allegories I’d prefer to liken the Lazarus pit to HRT rather than something which induces dysphoria. I prefer to think of Talia and the pit as being flawed but also genuinely healing. It’s just that sometimes healing involves being angry. And in my memory Talia is one of the only people who acts in a manner that says ‘yes you were wronged, you should be angry’.

Also- most teenage boys reach their full height by 15-16 years old, but Jason is clearly growing taller and lankier during the Lost Days training arc. He gets a second puberty from the Lazarus pit, it’s practically canon!

I think people forget that Jason didn’t come back to life as a grown man. He came back to life at the age he died. So when people say things like, Jason should mentally still be the age he died, I’m confused. Because even if you argue about the time of his life he was comatose , he wasn’t like that for years and then recently snapped out of it.

[izcana]

“Darling, I’m Home!”

Disclaimer: I do not Teen Wolf. That credit goes to Jeff Davis. The only thing I own is the plot line. Enjoy! If I'm being honest here I might as well mention that I've never watched a single episode of Teen Wolf (:p) but I've read plenty of fanfiction about it and I did some research on fandom about the plot – hopefully, it's enough! It's canon-divergent anyway so I don't think it'd be that big of a deal but if anything (vital)'s wrong, please tell me so I can fix it straight away!

***

"When are you going to tell them you're married?" Laura asked after dodging yet another crowd of fans. "You can't go on like this forever, you know." Laura was probably right. She's always right. Yet Derek couldn't do it. Separating his personal life from his acting career was the best solution and he was standing by this. Derek felt bad for Stiles, his lovely mate, at home all alone and caring for the precious pups in his stomach. Despite all this...

"I can't, Lo," Derek mumbled, opening the door to the Camaro.

"Why not, Derek?" She demanded, pulling the door angrily, though not with her full force, of course. Being an Alpha wolf meant that she could have ripped the door off its hinges. "Cora announced her marriage to Scott a couple of months ago and she's doing just fine. Plus, if you tell them you're mated, the fans will leave you alone. Isn't that what you wanted?"

"It is, okay, Laura?" Derek glared at the window, pouting at nothing. He hit the horn, though it felt more like a tap to his Alpha senses. "Cora's...different."

"For your information, Der, she's also a very sought after actress. And don't go on saying how you're more popular than she is."

"I wasn't going to," Derek replied simply, rolling his eyes.

Laura flipped her hand dismissively and glared into her phone. Derek scowled at the car in front of him and beeped his horn.

"At least talk to Stiles about this, Derek," Laura implored, her eyes softening at the mention of the said Omega. There was practically no one in the Hale family who disliked Stiles; Talia dubbed him the most adorable little boy and though he wasn't the "ideal" Omega, no one (who mattered, at least) cared and loved Stiles all the same. Derek felt a wave of shame run over him once he remembered how much he's been neglecting the pregnant little were-fox. "He'll probably want you to stay with him. He's pregnant, Derek! Start thinking a little about your mate, shall we?"

"I am, Laura," Derek denied, though he agreed that he really ought to pay more attention to Stiles.

"Your heartbeat skipped. You agree with me, so stop lying!" Laura scolded. Derek silently cursed Alpha werewolf hearing.

"Whatever, Laura, I'll think about it." And that was that. End of the conversation.

***

Derek fumbled for the keys of his apartment, having finally shaken Laura off. "Darling, I'm home!" He called into the loft. Blank silence followed.

Derek wasn't too worried about it since he could hear his mate's heartbeat beating peacefully in the background and the peaceful smell of Stiles. Under normal circumstances, Stiles would already be awake since were-fox hearing was very sensitive (Derek could think about a million other things that were sensitive about his mate but that's beside the point) despite the fact that the bedroom was soundproofed. It only worked for were-wolves and were mainly for the benefit of the Hales, who dropped by at some of the most absurd times. However, after the pregnancy was discovered, Stiles had been sleeping a lot more and he seemed tired every day (not that Derek could blame him).

He stepped into the loft quietly, making sure to drop off his shoes next to the door as his mate had apparently cleaned the hallway earlier today, even though Derek had told him time and time again not to tire himself out – it wasn't good for the baby. Stiles refused to listen, though. Stiles was Stiles.

Perhaps, Stiles might actually listen to him when the pups are almost due...

He tip-toed around the enormous leather sofa Talia had insisted they get and into their shared bedroom. He took off his clothes carefully and stealthily walked to the washroom, turning the shower console to low so it wouldn't disturb Stiles, even though Derek was certain he'd wake soon if he hadn't woken already.

By the time Derek wrapped a towel around his waist and crept into his bedroom to get his clothes, Stiles was already awake, his slightly red-rimmed and puffy amber eyes staring sleepily back at Derek, nonetheless alert. "When did you get back?"

"Half an hour ago," Derek murmured gently. Stiles nodded and stretched, showing off the beautiful milky white skin and the swollen stomach that was full of Derek's pups. Derek and Stiles' pups. "Do you want anything to eat?" Derek now knew from experience that Stiles was always hungry and came up with the most peculiar food combinations.

"Yes, please," Stiles answered predictably. "Can you get some gherkins with whipped cream?" That was one of the "favourites".

Derek went to get the said "favourite". When he came back, Stiles was on the phone.

"Huh? Oh, that. Pause. No, no, he hasn't told me. Pause. Who told you? Pause. Oh, typical. Pause. I'll ask him. Pause. I'm wonderful, thanks. Pause. Bye, Cora! Visit whenever you want!"

"What did Cora want?" Derek asked, setting the cup of herbal tea and the plate of gherkins with whipped cream on the table.

"She told me that you and Laura talked about your career," Stiles said, scarfing down the gherkins. "When were you going to tell me?"

Knowing fully well that lying to Stiles was impossible (were-fox hearing and Stiles being Stiles) he admitted "Never."

"That's what I thought. Cora seemed to think so, too."

"Do you want me to?" Derek asked softly.

"Honestly? This is selfish of me, but I do. I wish you'd be around for my pregnancy. By the pace we're going at now, you won't even be there for the birth!" Stiles cries, and to Derek's horror, promptly burst into tears. He clutched at Derek weakly, as if willing for him never to leave again but not having the strength to stop him.

"It's not selfish, Honey, you're allowed to feel what you feel," he murmured softly into Stiles's peach-scented hair.

"But..b-but..." Stiles stuttered.

"But nothing. If that's what you want, Sweetheart, I'll tell my boss tomorrow to put me on paternal leave."

"I don't want to get in the way of your work, Alpha." That's when Derek knew Stiles was completely gone. He only called Derek "Alpha" if he was in heat or upset. "You seem to like acting so much, I didn't want to slow you down," he added pathetically.

"You're my mate, Stiles," Derek said, sighing. "You don't 'slow me down', you inspire me. Where did you get that idea? I love you."

"You're a movie star! Why are you still with me? You can get someone so much better," Stiles moaned sadly, clutching his stomach when the baby started kicking at his kidneys.

"Listen. I love you, only you, never anyone else, okay?" Derek said, staring straight at Stiles, who was avoiding his eyes.

"Okay," Stiles whispered, his eyes shining with tears. One slipped out and Derek wiped it away. "I believe you."

***

Should I keep doing a/b/o stories? Please tell me in the comments – I've been very interested in a/b/o recently but I didn't know whether I was good at writing it? If you want me to, I can definitely continue; practice makes perfect!

There will be a sequel in response to requests on Archive of Our Own.

Epilogue 

[hyunrun]

Dream SMP/Batfam

This is my reasoning for connections between Dream SMP members and the Bats. This was all just for fun, but feel free to give feedback if you’d like! And do say if I’ve made a mistake. I haven’t done everyone, so if there’s anyone else you’d like me to do, lemme know! Please read, I spent a good while on this :D

Batman (Bruce Wayne)/Technoblade: Technoblade's Dream SMP origin story starts with his parents dying, so the backstory fits. He swears to kill all orphans because of the way they killed his parents (Similar to the way Bruce wanted to stop crime from running rampant in Gotham). Techno is also, technically, an orphan as Bruce was. I've always imagined Bruce's voice to be kinda like Techno's, especially that monotone tone he uses, and especially when he's Batman and not Bruce Wayne. Bruce Wayne is -Bat-man and Technoblade is a pig, need I elaborate? Both of them seem to stay up till ungodly times of the day, and I'm sure their sleep schedules are never on the same clock as anyone else's, Bruce's because of his vigilante lifestyle and Techno because... well, he's a Minecraft YouTuber. Both of them have a father figure, although not biological. They also have a friendly rivalry with a fellow content creator/hero (Cough Dream/Superman cough). We say Dick/Wilbur is dramatic, but you can't possibly mean to tell me Batman/Technoblade isn’t subtly more dramatic. They practically invented being dramatic in their respective businesses.

Alfred Pennyworth/Philza Minecraft: Is the father figure to Batman/Technoblade. Is really a force of chaos but everyone pictures them as a soft, loving dad because we all have parental issues and we need more father figures. Both of them are very badass in their own ways. Old and British. Here's a parallel I thought was pretty cool. Philza had been building up his hardcore world for 5 years before he died. It was like his home disappeared in front of his eyes as he fell away from his life. I'm not sure which continuity/arc this is from (Please do not hate on me, I am but a small child) bUT I do know that Alfred died of a heart attack/stroke at the same time the Wayne Manor was destroyed. His home was destroyed as he died. Just as Philza's had been.

Damian Wayne/TommyInnit: Is never really loved by anyone at first glance (From the fandoms). Tommy's the loud, annoying one, Damian's the grouchy, haughty one. But everyone eventually gravitates towards their characters later on. Their families were wary of them at first but grew to love them. Both of them are the youngest, and generally angriest child. Both are not American, Tommy being British and Damian, Arabic. They both have ICONIC mothers. MotherInnit is a queen, we all know this. If she can handle Tommy, she can handle absolutely anything. Talia Al Ghul has a reputation of her own right, and while she hasn't quite the pristine repertoire, she definitely strikes a strong mark on people. Now, this is a dumb connection between the two, but hair!! Tommy’s seems nice and floofy while Damian's is generally drawn spiky, and I think that's a cool contrast. Their love for pets is also important to note. Tommy's the one that's known for starting wars over the deaths of his pets, and it's easy to know that Damian wouldn't hesitate to hurt someone if they did anything to Titus or Batcow. It’s been shown on multiple occasions that he loves his pets a lot.

Jon Kent/Tubbo_: Best friends with Tommy/Damian. Do not try to argue that Jon and Damian aren't best friends because come onnn. And PLEASE do not take this as a dumb excuse to ship Tommy and Tubbo, as I know people ship Dami and Jon. Both are the embodiment of chaos wrapped in kindness, and both are definitely the more stable of their friendship with the other gremlin children. I am confident that both would probably refer to their parents as mother and father dearest. You cannot convince me otherwise. Tubbo has already done so, and Jon would never disrespect his parents, so this would obviously be the next best alternative for when he is upset by them. Jon’s powers fluctuate upon shifts in emotion and he can’t really control his powers, like the shifting of Tubbo’s alter egos. We never know when Toob or Big Law will creep out of the shadows.

Dick Grayson/Wilbur Soot: (Second) most dramatic in the family, though perceived as the drama queen because of their boisterous personalities. The one that was probably a theatre kid in school. The lighthearted one that keeps everyone cheerful, but also the one with the easiest path to a horrid descent into madness. They have a flair for drama, the glitter and sparkles to Batman/Technoblade’s sombre smoke and haze, which is why they work together so well. The closest family member to Tommy/Damian. Their little brother/big brother dynamics are just impeccable. Both are the most simped for by their respective fanbases (from what I’ve seen). The token pretty boys. Both artistically talented in different ways, with Wilbur’s music and Dick’s acrobatic skills. Also the ones that get constantly shipped with every woman they literally even look at. They also express their dramatic tendencies through their clothes, Dick with his jazzy Discowing suit and Wilbur’s dramatic L’manburg outfit.

Superman/Dream: The OP gods, need I say more? Friendly rivals with Technoblade/Batman. Very often perceived as ‘Perfect’ which they are not, but many refuse to accept that. A funny parallel I drew was the fact that both of them are famous in their own rights, but can just walk around and not get recognised despite millions of people knowing their online/superhero identities. Both are technically not human.

Stephanie (Batgirl/Spoiler)/Sapnap: Both of their names start with S! Not my only reasoning, but I’ll take it into account anyway. Both are basic looking in my head (Blue eyes blonde hair for Steph?? There’s at least 3 other girls that look EXACTLY like her in the nearby DC universes. And Sapnap blends in with every other white boy, though I love him regardless.) but both also have immaculate personalities to make up for it. They’re the most normal people out of all their co-streamers/superheroes in my eyes, also my favourites. (I didn’t realise as I put them together that I loved them most but here we are). They’re both great at dumb banter. They don’t have huge, hilarious bits often or any constant jokes that are pulled on time and time again, but their general atmosphere makes everything seem like a joke. They may not be the best at what they do in their friend groups but are actually really good nonetheless and do not get due credit for their effort and talent sometimes. Has a warring relationship with Damian/Tommy (Sapnap over the pets and Steph and Dami didn’t have the most friendly relationship at the start)

Jason/BBH- Same but opposite but same. Exists to cause chaos. I wouldn’t have associated these two with each other till the Badlands became a thing… but then the Badlands became a thing and I had to. Now, I know that technically Bad doesn’t have a grudge against Techno, but Jason would totally set up a whole empire just to mess with Bruce’s plans, just to get in the way, to instigate, to fan the flames of the fire till he’s driven Bruce to his breaking point. Bad isn’t exactly trying to do that, but he’s only around for the chaos. He’s only here for his own benefit, and he’s only here for that because of the hurt caused to him by the nation he came from. A parallel being Jason causing havoc because of the pain Bruce caused him. Besides, both have a cool red and black colour scheme, and both wear jacket!! Both are also technically not alive (If we're considering BBH as a demon).

Roy Harper/Skeppy: I have absolutely no explanation for this, but it just Fits. Besides, they have cool opposing colour schemes and are best friends with BBH/Jason!!

Aaaand last but not least

Jason/Technoblade: Now you must be thinking But Kaly you already spoke about them! And yes, I did, and they do go really well with their respective characters but I couldn’t simply ignore the connection between these two, so I thought I might as well write about it. Technoblade was an English major (If I remember correctly) before he dropped out to pursue his youtube career. Jason, though this may not be a well-known fact, was a definite literature nerd at school before he met his demise. Their cut off education in English is an interesting parallel to me. Both of them also have destructive tendencies, with Technoblade being an anarchist and Jason periodically running an underground empire to make sure he can do whatever the hell he wants to. They don’t generally care who they hurt on their way to reach their end goal. Jason’s reckless shooting and killing clearly shows this, as he continuously justifies his actions by saying he’s ending crime rather than just making it wait in line for its turn to pop up again, while Technoblade’s release of the withers and excessive use of his firework crossbow clearly shows that the deaths of the residents of L’manburg do not matter to him as long as he abolishes the government.

[shadowhuntertrash]

High Notes

Chapter Ten

Characters belong to Cassandra Clare

The rest of the concert went well. The girls sang their set while James, Matthew, Thomas, and Christopher put their stuff up and helped set up a bit for the meet and greet for the fans. 

   When it was Alastair’s portion of the concert, Thomas had made his way backstage to watch him. He passed Cordelia and Lucie on the way and they both sent him matching smirks and Cordelia winked. Thomas had flipped them off but he was smiling too big for it to be taken rudely.

   Alastair had looked beautiful. His face was bright, his eyes more alive than Thomas had ever seen. Alastair was always a people pleaser, even if he’d rather have one on one conversations and interactions. He used to act like he hated everyone but Thomas had always been able to see through that act.

   Thomas was sure he looked utterly ridiculous watching Alastair sing like some lovesick fool but he couldn’t help the brazen smile that didn’t seem to want to leave his face. There were a few times when Alastair would turn and sing a line directly at Thomas and Thomas laughed at the fans who craned their neck to catch a glimpse of who Alastair was singing to.

   After his set, Alastair walked directly up to Thomas and grabbed his hand, dragging him to what Thomas presumed was his changing room. “We should go on that date now.” Thomas laughed at the giddy eagerness of Alastair’s words, a slight fluttering feeling in his chest at the thought that he got to go on a date with Alastair.

   “We still have the meet and greet.” Thomas said and laughed again when Alastair pouted. It made Thomas feel good, the amount of trust Alastair seemed to have in Thomas. Alastair was himself around Thomas which was a big thing since he was relatively masked around everyone else.

   “You have no idea how this could go, you could hate me for all you know. This could be a terrible date.” Thomas said, a smirk on his face to hide the heavy feeling the words left on his heart.

   Alastair’s eyes narrowed. “I could never hate you, Thomas Lightwood.” The fluttering feeling returned to his chest and Thomas averted his eyes, a warm feeling creeping up his neck. He couldn’t help the stupid smile that stretched across his face.

   Thomas turned his eyes back to Alastair as he realized he had to go over some things, warn him about some of the downsides of dating Thomas. “I think it’s only fair to warn you that I’m not out yet. Whatever we have, if it works out I mean, would have to be a secret for a while. At least until I come out.” Thomas fiddled with his sleeves, his tongue running over his lips anxiously.

   “If you don’t want that I completely understand, it’s a lot. I don’t want to make you do anything that you feel is uncomfortable.” Thomas watched as Alastair smiled softly, his hands coming up to cup Thomas’s cheek. He wondered briefly if Alastair could hear his racing heartbeat but then found he wouldn’t mind if he did.

   Alastair smiled at him, wider this time. “Lightwood, you’re worth the wait.” Thomas let out a shuddering breath and closed his eyes instinctively. When he opened them again Alastair was exponentially closer, his eyes locked on Thomas’s lips as he licked his own. 

   Thomas let his eyes fall closed as he leaned in closer, anticipation thrumming through his veins. The moment was interrupted by the door opening and Thomas stepping back quickly. Both of their eyes opened and found Cordelia, her mouth opened as her eyes went back and forth between the two boys.

   “Oh god,” She said, a quick breath leaving before a large smile appeared on her face as her eyes lit up. “Oh my god.” She said louder this time. “I knew it, oh my god, I knew it. Lucie owes me ten bucks.” She squealed as she launched herself into her brother’s arms. 

   Alastair caught her easily as he laughed at her excitement. His eyes found Thomas’s and he laughed again at the blush that had spread across Thomas’s cheeks. Lucie bound in a moment later and smiled at all of them.

   “We have to go to the meet and greet now, stop being so slow.” She said, her hand going to Cordelia’s wrist as she dragged her friend out of the room. “You owe me ten bucks.” Cordelia said happily before they got to the door. 

   Lucie turned to her confused. “Why do I owe you ten bucks?” She asked and Cordelia just smiled before looking back at Thomas and Alastair who were both standing there flushed. Lucie followed her gaze and her mouth fell open as her eyes widened in understanding. “You’re kidding. Tell me your kidding.” She said, her wide eyes stuck on Thomas’s scarlet face. 

   Cordelia shook her head and laughed brightly. Lucie shrieked and threw her arms around Thomas in a way that was so like Cordelia that Thomas wondered how they weren’t siblings. Thomas wrapped his arms around Lucie and laughed quietly. “I’m so happy for you, Tommy.” Lucie said, her voice lower than it had been. Thomas sighed happily and let her go so he could look her in the eye.

   “As much as I appreciate your enthusiasm girls, we’ve not done anything. We just decided to go on a date, which we haven’t even done yet.” Thomas said. Alastair laughed softly behind him but Cordelia and Lucie rolled their eyes. “Yes, but at least the pining is over.” Both boys went brilliant shades of red and Thomas coughed slightly to clear his throat.

   “Yes, well, nevermind that.” The girls laugh and Lucie took his hand. “Don’t worry, by the way, we won’t tell anyone.” Thomas smiled and kissed her forehead, grateful that she was able to read his mind. 

   Thomas guessed that Lucie reading his mind came with being so close but he was thankful none the less. Lucie took his hand and pushed him so that his back was to her and he had barely managed to squat in time for her to throw her weight at his back. He groaned and pretended to drop her, Lucie squealed and tightened her grip around his neck. Thomas choked slightly and brought a hand up to pull Lucie’s arm until she was hanging on loosely. 

   “If you didn’t want me to choke you out then don’t pretend to drop me.” She huffed indignantly and Cordelia and Alastair laughed behind them. Alastair threw Thomas a soft look and Thomas couldn’t help the smile that spread across his face. 

   Cordelia took her brother’s hand and gave Thomas a knowing smile. “You two are going to have to wait a little longer because we really do have a meet and greet we need to get to.” Thomas laughed and nodded as he ducked under the door, mindful of Lucie’s head. Lucie took her arms and placed her hands on Thomas’s head before resting her chin on them. “I’m really proud of you Tommy. We all are. Are you going to tell the boys?” 

   Thomas hummed. “I will when this is real. Matthew knows far too much about how real I want this to be and how much I want this to work. If this doesn’t work out then I don’t want them all to pity me.” Lucie nodded and ran a hand through his hair. “I understand that.” Lucie looked over to where Cordelia and Alastair were laughing a little behind them. “I think this will work Thomas. I hope it does you both deserve it.”

   Thomas lifted her up further and lifted his head so he could look at her. “Thank you. So when were you planning on telling me about Jesse?” Lucie turned a dark scarlet and looked ahead, Thomas laughed.

  “I- We-” Lucie was saved from further embarrassment when James walked out of the door they were walking to. “There you are, what took you so long?” James said, grabbing Thomas’s arm and pulling him into the room. Thomas ducked again, Lucie bending her head so it wouldn’t hit the door frame.

   There were about twenty people in the room. Most were teenagers, some parents, and few children. Thomas set Lucie down and winked at her. “That conversation was not avoided, simply postponed.” Lucie groaned and walked towards Cordelia.

   Thomas spotted Talia right away, their eyes meeting at the same time. Talia smiled widely and ran over to him with her arms wide. Thomas bent down and scooped her up, spinning her in a circle as she giggled. “I’m very glad you stayed.” Thomas said as he rested her on his hip. Talia laughed again and wrapped her arms around his neck. 

   She bent her head forward and whispered. “Me too but it’s ten o’clock which is past my bedtime.” She giggled and looked over at her mom who was currently smiling at them from a chair across the room. “My mom hasn’t noticed though so don’t tell her.” Thomas laughed quietly and nodded seriously. “I would never.” He said and Talia gave him a calculating look that was rather intimidating for a six year old.

   Talia leaned away from him before extending her pinky finger to him with narrowed eyes. “Pinky promise?” Thomas laughed softly but hooked his pinky around hers. “Pinky promise.” He said secretively. A large smile graced her face and she rested her head on his shoulder.

   Thomas walked around and greeted a few people, Talia now asleep on his shoulder. Thomas found he rather liked meet and greets. It wasn’t as overwhelming as seeing a whole bunch of people at once nor as surprising as seeing someone in your everyday life.

   After a while he sat down and talked to Talia’s mom. He had already grown quite fond of the little girl, not having known her very long. As it turns out the cheerful little girl that was still snoozing on his shoulder came from a relatively poor household. Her mother, Joyce, was a teenager when she got pregnant and was now a single mother. She had discovered she had breast cancer the year before and Thomas felt a wave of sadness wash over him as he listened to Joyce talk about their struggles as if it was a normal thing. 

   Thomas was rather rich from the music industry but growing up poor and sickly he knew the struggles it brought. He was offering financial help before he even registered what was happening, not that he changed his mind when his brain caught up to his mouth. Joyce blushed and Thomas felt a wave of guilt at having made her feel bad. 

   “Please, it’s really no trouble. We have what we need to get by.” Thomas just shook his head, his eyes on the sleeping girl in his arms. “I don’t doubt you do, I just think a family as special and sweet as y’all’s deserves more than the necessities. I grew up quite like you so just think about it as me projecting really. I want to help you give Talia what I didn’t have growing up.”

   Joyce had stared at him for a minute and Thomas suddenly felt as if this had been a bad idea and she was offended or mad at him for even suggesting such a thing. Instead she just shook her head, a small smile gracing her lips. “Bless you Thomas Lightwood. You’re good people.” She said kindly as she hugged him gently, mindful of her sleeping daughter.

   “We almost didn’t come tonight. A guy I work with was going to take his daughter but they both got sick and he knew how much Talia loved your music and so he gave us his tickets.” Thomas smiled widely. Fate seemed to know good people when it saw them. “I’m very glad you did.” Thomas said warmly before writing down his number on a napkin for Joyce to take.

   “I do have to ask you not to give anyone that number naturally.” Joyce nodded with a quiet laugh. “I won’t. Thank you again for everything, I know my daughter can come on strong.” Thomas laughed and patted the girls head affectionately. He had always loved kids, he’d always wanted some. It was a hard thing to realize and come to terms with when he discovered he was gay and wouldn’t get to ahve any biologically, well without surrogates and such.

   “You’re very welcome, it was my pleasure.” Thomas said softly as Joyce took her daughter. They hugged one last time before Joyce left. 

   Thomas had a warm feeling in his chest. He barely knew them but he was excited to get to know them better. They seemed like they were good, kind people. They were the type of people who truly deserve help.

   Alastair made his way over as the last of the fans made their way out. Alastair grabbed his hand and pulled him out of the room, dragging him back to his warm up room. 

   Once they got there Alastair plopped on the couch and Thomas wasted no time laying down beside him. Alastair stiffened slightly before relaxing and running his fingers through Thomas’s hair. Thomas sighed contentedly as he let his eyes close, exhaustion creeping up on him. So much for the date that night. 

   “Who were you talking to?” Alastair asked quietly, his voice tired too. Thomas yawned before he answered. “That was Joyce, Talia’s mom. Turns out she’s a single mom, only twenty three. She’s sick and they’re poor so treatments are expensive.” Thomas yawned again, his arm going around Alastair’s waist. “Helping them pay.” He said, his voice turning sluggish from the fatigue.

   Alastair’s hand stilled in his hair. Thomas looked up at him and saw Alastair watching him with a smile he’d never seen before. “You’re helping them pay for the treatments?” Thomas nodded, his head tilted to the side as he tried to figure out what Alastair’s smile was. “Yeah, mortgage too. I mean I understand what it’s like growing up that way, the money it takes to get better. I thought it was a chance to make a difference in somebody’s life and you have to admit, Talia is the cutest kid you’ve ever seen.”

   Alastair laughed and shook his head. “You’re such a good person Thomas.” He said quietly before dropping a kiss to his forehead. Thomas’s heart managed to skip a beat and speed up at the same time, a wave of heat spiking through his body as his cheeks flamed. 

   Thomas buried his head in Alastair’s chest, a stupid grin on his face. Alastair laughed and resumed stroking Thomas’s hair. 

   They sat there in comfortable silence, Thomas’s thoughts racing over the simple affection. Cordelia opened the door sometime later, Thomas had fallen asleep so he wasn’t sure how long they’d been there.

   “We’ve got to get on the buses now. By the way, the boys have been looking for you Thomas.” Thomas groaned before getting up and stretching, not missing the way Alastair’s eyes fell to the strip of stomach that showed when his shirt rode up. A weird stroke of confidence hit him and he winked at Alastair before walking out.

   Alastair’s cheeks heated up and Thomas took pride in reversing the roles for once. He heard Cordelia say something about being ‘so whipped already’ to Alastair before the door shut behind him.

   Thomas found Matthew and James talking in hushed voices on the way to the bus. Matthew turned and saw Thomas first. “Thomas, there you are. We’ve been looking for you everywhere. Why is your face paint smudged?” Thomas felt a rush of alarm ring through him but he just shrugged with a tired smile. “I fell asleep.”

   James nodded, believing it easily but Matthew stared at him for a minute before the ghost of a smile crossed his face and he tugged on James’s wrist. “Jamie, I’m tired.” Matthew whined. James smiled at his boyfriend and wrapped an arm around his shoulders before guiding them back to the bus.

   “You good for the night, Thomas?” James asked as they stepped onto the bus. Thomas stood there for a second, confused, before he remembered that he and Alastair shared a bus for the nights. Thomas turned around in an attempt to hide his blush. “Yeah. You two get some sleep. I’ll meet up with you tomorrow.” James voiced his agreement before shutting the door to their bus.

   Thomas yawned and made his way to the other bus. He climbed up the stairs and found Lucie sitting there with Cordelia. “Where’s Alasair?” Thomas asked as he plopped down on the small couch next to Lucie, his head resting in her lap.

   Lucie ran her fingers through his hair with her long nails scratching his scalp, chills broke out on his arms. “He’s helping Jesse clean but all the equipment up.” Cordelia said. Thomas opened his eyes and looked at Lucie with a broad smile. 

   “Ah, Jesse. I do believe you owe me a story, love.” He said sweetly to Lucie who was blushing. Lucie flicked his forehead with her finger and bit her lip. “Do you two really want to know? It isn’t all that fun.” 

   Cordelia rolled her eyes and gave Thomas a ‘can you believe this girl’ look that made Thomas laugh loudly. “Yes we really want to know, you haven’t shown an interest in anyone since I met you and now you have a mysterious boy who seems to only like you? Yes, sweetheart we want to know so spill.” Cordelia said, excitement clear in her voice.

   Lucie rolled her eyes before playing with Thomas’s fingers. “Well, I met him at boarding school. We didn’t really talk but then this guy stole my journal, the one where I write all my stories and started reading them out loud to the entire class. I was about to get up and tell him off in my, as you two call it, scarily feisty way, but this kid who has been silent all year just pushes the kid down, grabs my journal, and gives it back before walking straight out of the room.”

   Lucie smiled slightly and Thomas could tell she was in the memory rather than just recalling it. “I followed him because as much as I appreciated it I could have handled my own and it would have been less embarrassing.” Lucie huffed slightly. “We all know I don’t need a stupid knight in shining armor, and I told him that. He just smiled at me and told me he knew very well that I could have stood my own but that I didn’t always have to.”

   Cordelia’s face broke into a smile and she shared a look with Thomas. Lucie studiously ignored them. “Of course that was one hundred percent the best thing to say and he just left it at that and walked away. We normally didn’t see each other much but it’s like every turn we made we ran into each other. So we became friends and we may or may not have kissed a few times. I left before he did and we texted a while but then we just kind of stopped talking I guess.” Lucie’s face turned a little bittersweet.

   “He’s gone through a lot, but he’s a good guy. I’m glad he’s here with us, when he opens up I think you all will like him a lot.” Thomas smiled at her and pulled her hand so he could kiss it gently. “I am very excited to get to know him. I have to say though, keep that story to yourself until James is really friends like him. That way James can’t hate him since he’s already admitted to liking him.”

   Cordelia and Lucie laughed. “Thomas, bless your beautiful brain.” Thomas laughed loudly. “I have to say, only you could find Prince Charming in a school of knights.” Cordelia said, her voice somewhat dreamy. Lucie smiled softly, her eyes slightly glazed. “Yeah, I guess so.”

   They fell into a comfortable silence that stretched until Alastair walked in. Thomas opened his eyes which had gained a hundred pounds with the exhaustion that crept in. Alastair looked at them all with a tender smile as he made his way over to Thomas.

   “Tired?” He asked quietly when Thomas opened his eyes as wide as they would go, it wasn’t much but he could see Alastair and that was always enough. Thomas nodded and looked at the girls, both of whom had fallen asleep.

   Alastair chuckled and took Thomas’s outreached hands to pull him up. Thomas stood, almost falling down when his leg refused to hold him up. “If I knew you were falling for me this hard, I would have asked you out earlier.” Alastair said with a smirk as he caught him with a questioning gaze, Thomas blushed. “Sorry, my leg’s asleep.” Alastair laughed and made sure Thomas could balance properly before going and waking his sister up.

   Thomas turned and shook Lucie gently. Lucie just groaned and turned over so Thomas decided to take drastic measures. Lucie screamed as her sides were attacked by Thomas’s fingers. “Stop! Stop, I'm awake! I’m up!” She shrieked around her laughter as she swatted Thomas’s hands away.

  Thomas laughed and looked over to where Alastair was talking quietly to Cordelia as her eyes opened slowly, his hand brushing away the dark curls that fell in her face. Thomas couldn’t help the rush of affection he felt as he watched the pair. Lucie sighed as she watched them too.

  “Why can’t you be sweet like that, Thomas? Why must you attack me?” She asked as she draped herself across his back dramatically. Thomas laughed and shook her off, turning to see the pout on her lips. “Lucie, darling we all know I’m only sweet like that to my boys.” Lucie chuckled and shook her head.

   Thomas shooed her with his hands. “Go get some sleep before tomorrow. No one wants a grumpy Lucie on the road or at practice.” Lucie huffed, affronted, and Cordelia laughed as she stood stretching. “Isn’t that true.” Lucie crossed her arms, sulking. Cordelia walked over and grabbed her arm, tugging gently as she walked towards the door. 

   “We have to get going so all the buses can leave. Plus they need some alone time.” Cordelia added with a stage whisper that made both boys turn red. Thomas shifted slightly, suddenly nervous to be alone with Alastair.

   Thomas didn’t really have experience with boys. He’d dated a few in high school but when he started getting famous he shut everything down to stop rumors or the chance of forced outing. He hadn’t kissed anyone in at least two years and he didn’t know exactly what Alastair had planned.

   What if Alastair had planned on kissing him already? What if he wanted to do more already? Thomas tapped his foot subconsciously as the doubts and anxiety started to build up. He felt a hand on his shoulder and jumped as he turned to look at Alastair.

   Alastair was watching him with a concerned expression. “Are you okay, Thomas?” Thomas laughed tensely and looked down. “Umm, yeah. I’m just tired.” He said, hoping Alastair would take the hint and they could go to sleep.

   “Okay.” He said slowly, his eyes never leaving Thomas’s. “You do know that I’m not going to do anything you’re uncomfortable with, right? That’s a known fact?” Thomas laughed incredulity, questioning how people could read him so clearly.

   Thomas turned and looked at Alastair with a small smile, the anxiety loosening in his stomach. “Thank you.” Thomas said softly. Alastair just rolled his eyes and grabbed Thomas’s wrist. “Don’t thank me, that’s just being a decent person.” Thomas laughed as he let Alastair pull him to the bathroom.

   They brushed their teeth and got ready for bed next to each other, going to their own rooms to change. Thomas peeked his head in Alastair’s room to find him reading on the bed. Thomas opened the door and stood there for a second not wanting to intrude, but Alastair looked at him and beckoned him in.

   “Sorry, I was tired but I’ve woken myself up again.” Thomas said as he sat on the edge of the bed not quite sure how to talk to Alastair. It was like they had been friends forever but at the same time it felt like his life was moving so fast he couldn't catch up. 

   Alastair smiled at him sweetly, the book still open in his lap. “It’s no problem. I can’t go to sleep without reading first so I’ll be up if you want to stay a bit.” Thomas smiled gratefully at him and laid down, not too close to Alastair. “What are you reading?” He asked after a moment of silence had passed.

   A book appeared above his head and he laughed quietly as he read the title, Frankenstein. Thomas hummed, he’d read it before but he’d liked it a lot. “Read it to me?” He asked quietly, instantly regretting it when Alastair gave him an unreadable look. 

   “Or don’t. You don’t have to, I can sit here. Sorry that was stupid.” Alastar shook his head quickly, his hand reaching down to Thomas’s shoulder. “No, you’re fine. People just don’t normally ask that, especially not this book.” He said laughing, Thomas joined him and let out his own nervous laughter. “Oh, well it’s one of my favorites.” Thomas said quietly as he watched Alastair pick the book back up.

   Alastair winked at him from top of the book. “Mine as well.” He said before he began reading. Thomas loved Alastair’s voice, it was soothing and smooth in a way that was just so Alastair that it brought a smile to Thomas’s lips.

   Thomas found his head in Alastair’s lap as his eyelids regained their heaviness. Thomas quoted a few lines with Alastair, the filter in his brain that kept him from coming on as a full nerd gone with exhaustion. 

   “I have love in me the likes of which you can scarcely imagine and rage the likes of which you would not believe. If I cannot satisfy one, I will indulge the other.” Thomas mumbled sleepily. It took him a minute to realize that Alastair was no longer reading and when he looked up he was Alastair’s eyes closed, mouth twitching as if he were still trying to read.

   Thomas laughed quietly and sat up. He gently took the book out of Alastair’s hands and placed it on the table beside the bed. He pulled the blanket up to Alastair’s chin knowing he was almost always cold, where he knew that he was completely sure.

   After he got Alastair settled in he made it to his own room and sent a quick text to his sister.

(Thomas = bold, Barbara = italics)

guess who got a date with the guy they’ve liked since they were eleven

Thomas you didn’t?!?!

How?!?

What happened?!?!

   Thomas laughed at his sister’s excitement and lack of ability to send more than one sentence in a text.

we were about to get ready and we had been singing together and he just looked at me and asked if i wanted to go out

THOMAS?!

YOU SAID YES RIGHT?!?

I SWEAR TO GOD IF YOU SAID NO CAUSE YOU OUT I WILL PERSONALLY COME AND TELL HIM ALL ABOUT YOUR MOPING WHEN YOU THOUGHT HE DIDN’T LIKE YOU

   Thomas glared at the screen.

you wouldn’t

but yes I did agree, we’re going to go on one the day after tomorrow fyi

Thomas I’m really proud of you

Look at us getting dates and getting married

The dream 

*is scoffing* getting married and going on a date is certainly not the same thing but I appreciate the sentiment anyway

It’s a step in the right direction.

How was the rest of your day? How was the concert?

it was magical Barb

everyone was so energetic and they were all screaming it was like a dream

i met this six year old, Talia, remind me to tell you more about her tomorrow

I’m glad everything went well. 

We’ve all been worried you wouldn’t do well with so many people

wow, thanks for the faith

i do have to say all those people wore me out so i'm about to go to bed

Okay, but don’t forget to text me tomorrow. I love you sweet dreams use protection!!

BARBARA NOOO GO TO BED

   Thomas turned his ringer off and sat his phone on the table next to his bed as he laughed. He knew Barabara would be excited for him, she knew how much he liked Alastair. It meant a lot that she was so supportive of him.

   He was ready to see her again, he couldn’t believe she was engaged and he hadn’t even gotten to hug her.

   Thomas shrugged off the homesick feeling and buried himself in the covers, a stupid smile still stuck on his face.

[thattimdrakeguy]

Who’s Damian when he’s actually Damian?

People really freaking exaggerate how much of a maniac Damian is in his early years (besides his origin, obviously).

Like his origin to Batman and Robin is a giant stretch to be completely honest. Decapitating people, to helping people in a matter of months is a really big battle against the suspension of disbelief. Which is honestly my biggest problem with early Damian beyond the other writers completely messing with him to the point that it makes him come off like a crap character.

But beyond being extra violent with criminals, stubborn, and obviously bitter: He honestly isn’t that bad? He gets along with Dick well enough, except when they have a genuine moment caused by Damian’s glorification of himself and his parents. Though they really write Dick and Damian wrongly nowadays.

It’s really exaggerated how much of a maniac he was though.

Has lessons to learn obviously, and isn’t well-adjusted. But I enjoy it.

I really like the dynamic Damian has with Dick and Alfred when it came to how it was supposed to be. He’s a mature, young adult at the age of 10, and they treat him so, but yet he’s still a kid that needs to learn so they find a balance in it. As in they still mostly treat him as the young adult he is at heart, but still acknowledge that he has a lot to learn.

Dick treats Damian with respect as much as he can, and isn’t over affectionate like they act like nowadays. Like they basically to an extent gave Dick and Damian Tim and Dick’s relationship--when Dick and Damian had their own unique and interesting dynamic that suited them much more.

He’s more of a dad knowing he has to find the best way to teach his kid a lesson rather than all the nicknames and hugs and stuff they act like they are now.

I’m not saying Dick was abusive to Damian or anything, cause he probably isn’t smacking him all that hard. But they greatly changed their dynamic for something already done and a lot less interesting.

And people always sort of implied this thing were Damian cared a lot about Robin, but in context Damian didn’t really care. It was more about something different than that.

He wasn’t about Robin.

It was all about his dad and living up to his legacy. He has this super idealized version of Bruce in his head (even though he seemed to really dislike him initially in his origin, but Damian was super inconsistent even by the same writers) that he wants to live up to. And later on it was about his father son relationship with Dick. Damian’s parental figures are what causes his inner conflict.

Like Damian’s adult personality I also just find kind of endearing? Like I don’t like the current Damian at all. At freaking all, because it isn’t him. The Damian they act like is just--more of a normal kid in spirit I guess(?). Damian being a miniature adult and people respecting that is so much better than implying him being different is a problem by making him more normal. I enjoy the respect they have for him here with how he is. He’s just being himself and they aren’t pushing him like it’s a problem with him as a person. It’s about his morals not how he’s different. They respect that he’s different from other people his age. Which is oddly a warm dynamic to me that I appreciate. The current stuff trying to act like he’s more normal--completely misses the point of who he is as a character and personality, or even what the point of his lessons were.

As the way it was meant to be, they don’t treat him in a way that he would clearly find incredibly patronizing.

Which is super refreshing after so many writers decided to ignore the uniqueness of Damian to instead make him a lot more--typical and cheap fan service-y.

I also wanna say. I don’t think the comic is good by any means. Characters are out of character sometimes. Dick tries to resurrect Batman when he was against Tim trying it. Which they mention--but, like, it comes across like they only mention it because they’re aware they’re making a big contradiction, and it’s barely even handled. They make Jason have some strange complex about being Dick and dying his hair, even retconning his white streak being dyed in to being a gray streak from the Lazarus pit. They also imply Dick wants to date Kate Kane--which is...ew.

Also Dick constantly saying “Tim Drake” instead of just Tim, like they’d confuse him for some other Tim, as if he’s already partially forgotten comes off totally wrong. I can’t imagine it was the intention but it’s sort of icky how they completely changed their dynamic just for the sake of a change.

But as far as Damian’s character goes. It just makes it a lot sadder what they ended up doing with him. When he was a lot more interesting the way they had him. Instead of making him constantly regress, and at the same time use him for fan service by having things he wouldn’t do, and even turning him into a freaking joke. Just continuing with what made him unique would’ve been a lot better.

When they went for an odd gag it actually was because of them using his character instead of the joke being “Haha Damian is doing something he wouldn’t ever do” which is horrible character work, and super lazy comedy. When doing a joke that uses the character is far better at representing the character, and even builds characterk.

And another thing I much more appreciate is how they actually have Damian caring about his dad dying.

One of the biggest pains of Red Robin to me was the scene where Tim became Red Robin. One, cause Tim would never hit a kid. Two, Dick wouldn’t just suddenly think Tim is his equal and cast aside Tim when he knows how much Robin meant to Tim. Three, because Damian came off as a generic snotty kid who didn’t even care his dad died.

Damian doesn’t make jokes here. It’s his thing that’s he’s very serious. He’s very mature and adult-like for his age, that’s his endearing quality. He’s very serious and intense when it comes to his dad--like how it would actually be.

They portray Bruce as Damian’s main weakness. There’s no weird contradictions here about rather Damian is egotistical or insecure. He’s very prideful in himself and who he came from, but when it comes to his dad he becomes worried, because of how highly he thinks of him.

The portrayal of Talia (that I didn’t really feel like screenshotting) is of course infamously horrible, and out of character for her. But tis the reason why I’m not an actual fan of this serious or Grant Morrison in-general, or even this era.

Like it’s a plotpoint she does something to Damian’s spine to make it so she can control him--it’s super freaking dumb even for a comic. At least in this modern age.

Just how soulful and mature Damian is, is always why that’s what I say I like in him when ever I talk about him when I like him (which is whenever his writing doesn’t really annoy me at that time, or some other thing). Because it’s like--what he’s meant to be like. They ruined him afterwards to me personally. Trying to make something he’s not just like Tim except in their own unique ways given they’re different characters.

And personally, I don’t even think Damian’s character arc is that well done. It sounds great, but reading it, it honestly isn’t that amazing. He just kind of accepts to be better, and, like, he has a few moments here and there of learning, but it’s not actually a lot. It’s very overhyped. It’s genuinely done super lazy, like I think a lot of the writing in this series is lazy, but while there’s a few great moments--it’s just moments, and it’s hard for me to really get into it when it’s just moments.

To me this comic is very overrated, but like--as a showing of what Damian’s meant to be, given this is written by his creator. It makes things really disappointing for me more so, even though current comics already had me depressed with Tim, and even already Damian to an extent, but this just really sets it in.

I’m still someone who has the complicated opinion of I like Damian as a character in a way but I don’t really. Because he still doesn’t really have any stories I like--I pretty much just liked how he was in the beginning because of how interesting he was even if his stories never used it well--and continued to not like him because I feel like pretty much every other writer no matter what the fandom says bastardized him.

So most of my opinions still remain besides a different perspective on how Damian actually was in the beginning, but still. Like I still don’t think he’s a good character purely because of his later writers, and his character arcs general laziness when it comes to how it actually is on the page. But it’s just what he could be I guess. Which is how a lot of people are about him I suppose.

It really gets me how he has the same similar problems as Tim. Had a very obvious set character, random changes that people treat as character development even though when you look deeper it’s a lot more shallow cause it doesn’t freaking add up, they can’t even freaking draw them right anymore, and everyone has a weird inconsistent idea on what they’re even like because of all the bad writing.

It’s a headache.

[bellaireland1981]

Lights, Camera, Coffee in LA Part 2

Ok! Here’s part 2!!!  I hope you all like it! I’m really loving writing this one, so I may do more, but we shall see!!

Thank you again to @denisemarieangelina​ for bouncing ideas around with me and for reading it over! 

Characters: Chris Evans x Reader

Warnings: Minor angst (if you squint) FLUFF

After breakfast, I went to grab a shower and get dressed while Michael and Chris discussed the movie project.

Thirty minutes later, I felt more awake and energized. I was excited about being able to spend more time getting to know Chris better. I wrapped my long brown hair up into a towel to soak up some of the excess water before I attempted to wrangle it into any kind of style. While it was towel drying I looked through the clothes I brought with and decided on a pair of boyfriend style cropped distressed jeans with a white v-neck, buttoned down loose fitting tank.

I tackled my hair next, deciding to just comb out the tangles and allow it to air dry. When I didn’t take time to blow it dry and flat iron it, I had a natural wave to my hair. Sometimes it was a nice change of pace to leave it natural.

My phone chimed alerting me to a new text just as I was finishing my makeup. I set my mascara down and picked up my phone to see who had text me.

C: (10:34) I just wrapped up the meeting with your brother, I’ve got a few other things to do this morning, then I’m free. Want to meet at Caffe Luxxe in Santa Monica around noon? It’s close to the pier…

L: (10:35) Sounds great! I’ll see you at noon! I may have to check out the pier after we get our beverage. I’ve never been there. ;)

C: (10:36) Wow! I’m not living that one down. You’ve NEVER been to the PIER?? That’s it...we’re going.

L: (10:38) You’re probably not wrong about that! And you obviously can’t see it, but I’m doing a happy dance right now about seeing the pier!

C: (10:39) So… only happy to see the pier? You can’t see it, but I’m crying over here.

L: (10:41) Wow...needy much? LOL  Don’t cry, I’m more excited to see YOU again! ;)

C: (10:42) That’s better! ;)  See you soon!

Smiling, I tucked my phone in the back pocket of my jeans and headed downstairs to find my brother again.

It wasn’t hard, he was out on the patio where I’d left him and Chris earlier. He was finishing a phone call as I sat down in the chair Chris had been in.  

“So, figure out what you’re doing today?” Michael asked after hanging up the phone.

“Yup!” I replied beaming at him, “I’m meeting Chris for coffee at Caffe Luxxe in Santa Monica and then we’re going to go to the pier. I’m trying to tame the inner freak out before I go meet him so he doesn’t realize I’m a complete dork.”

“Dork or not he’s the lucky one to get to spend time with you, Little Bit.” Michael replied looking worried, in a way only a big brother could. “Just be careful. I don’t know that you know what exactly you’re getting into here Lena.”

“I thought you liked Chris, Mickey.” I said, frowning at my brother. “Why are you now cautioning me against him?”

“I do like him, Little Bit” He explained, “He’s a great guy, but he’s not just some random guy you met on a plane with a “normal” job. He lives in the public eye, and has a very large fan base. Dating a celebrity isn’t easy. Not to mention, he seems to have commitment issues.”

“Wow” I replied, annoyed with my brother. “I admit that your concerns about him being a celebrity have some merit, only from the standpoint that you’re right, I’ve never dated anyone famous. Not that I’d call going for coffee and hanging out at the pier necessarily “dating”. I don’t even know if he is interested in me that way or if he simply wants to be friends. But you’re not in any place to talk about commitment issues, Michael. Before you met Talia you were a manwhore and said often you didn’t want to be “tied down”. Obviously, people can change and what may be true of someone when they’re younger, may not be the case as they get older.”

I got up from the table to head back into the house. I loved my brother, but he’d always been overprotective of me and never really seemed to get that I’d grown up.

“Lena,” Michael called after me, “I’m not trying to piss you off, I just want you to be careful is all. I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“I’m a big girl, Mickey.” I replied glancing back, “I don’t need you to protect me. I am capable of deciding who I am friends with and even who I date.”

“I know that, Lena” He replied, “I’m just trying to look out for you. It’s my job.”

Thankfully, Lia walked out onto the patio at that moment, having just gotten back from her meeting. I needed her to run interference with  Michael and give me  a chance to breathe.

“She’s not even here for a day, and you’ve already pissed her off I see.” Lia commented, eyeing us both as she sat down in the seat I had vacated. “Does it have anything to do with a certain Captain Hottie?”

“Not you too” groaned Michael, scrubbing a hand over his face in frustration, “You’re not even Team Cap!”

“No, but I’m Team Lena” Lia said, looking at Michael with a raised eyebrow, “And I like Chris. I think they could be good for one another. Now stop being an overprotective brother and tell your sister to have fun today!”

“Have fun, Little Bit.” Michael parroted his wife, “I’m still planning on grabbing stuff to grill out tonight… maybe see if Chris would like to come for dinner?”

I knew he was trying to smooth things over so I cut him some slack for now. I walked back over and gave him a hug.

“Now was that so hard?” I asked, smiling. “I can check to see if he’s available, and I’ll text you to let you know.”

“Have fun, Lena!” Lia said, winking at me. “I can’t wait to hear all about it!”

“Thanks, Lia!” I laughed, hugging her, “I’m so glad you married my brother!”

I left them on the patio and went back inside to grab a drink and head up to my room to finish getting ready.

________________________

A few minutes before noon, I arrived at the coffee shop as luck would have it found parking close by. I pulled my phone out to send Chris a quick text to let him know I’d arrived. He’d text me twenty minutes ago letting me know he was headed back towards the cafe, but that traffic was heavier than he’d anticipated.

L: (11:55am) Just got here, I’m going to head inside. No rush, please drive safe!

I headed inside not expecting a reply as he was driving. I found a quiet table in the back corner where I figured we’d be able to blend in a little more. The cafe wasn’t overly crowded, being noon, so we’d have some semblance of privacy.  

My phone pinged with a new message as I sat down. I quickly pulled it out to check it.

C: (11:58am) I’m about 5 minutes away. Be there soon!

L: (11:59am) STOP TEXTING AND DRIVING CHRISTOPHER!

C: (12:01pm) Voice to text, I swear! I kinda like it when you yell at me lol.

L: (12:02 pm) You’re a meatball. You can’t see me right now, but I’m rolling my eyes at you. Just be safe. I found a table in the back corner to the left as you walk in.

L: (12:02pm) Gonna order drinks, whatcha want?

C: (12:03 pm) Hold on, walking in now!

A couple seconds  later the cafe door opened up and Chris strolled in, eyes scanning the room. A smile lit up his face once he saw me and he headed back to the table I had claimed.  

“That was a very accurate time estimate” I said teasingly, “5 minutes on the dot.”

“Do I lose cool points if I admit it’s what my GPS told me?” He asked, laughing.

“I’ll give it to you this time.” I said, smirking at him.

“I’ll go grab us some drinks,” He said, still smiling. “What would you like?”

“Iced mocha, please!” I requested, “Too warm for hot coffee.”

“It’s never too warm for coffee.” he said, giving me the cocked eyebrow look and failing to look stern.

While Chris went to the counter to get our drinks, I glanced at my phone and saw a missed text from Talia.

T: (12:06 pm) Don’t forget to invite Captain Hottie for dinner!

L: (12:08 pm) LMAO, does Mickey know you’re continuing with that nickname? And I will ask him…if you promise to keep my brother on a leash ;)

T: (12:08 pm) DEAL! And he knows my heart belongs to him...and Iron Man.

I laughed at my sister in law as I tucked my phone away.

“One blasphemous iced mocha for you.” Chris said, and set the drink in front of me, “One normal and perfectly perfect coffee for me.”

“Blashphemous coffee, huh?” I asked, laughing at him. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard coffee referenced in that way.”

“I mean, I just call it like I see it.” He replied, taking a sip of his coffee. “What had you laughing when I was walking back?”

“Lia text me” I said, suddenly nervous to ask him over for dinner. I didn’t want to appear over eager or assume too much about our new friendship. Of course, Chris was perceptive enough to catch the change in my voice.

“Hey,” he said smiling, “I can hear you thinking over there, everything ok?”

“Yeah” I replied, taking a deep breath.  Deciding the worst that could happen would be he’d say no, I forced myself to ask him. “She was reminding me to ask ‘Captain Hottie’ over for dinner tonight. My brother is grilling.”

Chris threw his head back and grabbed his chest, laughing. It gave me a rush to know I’d accomplished making him laugh hard enough for the left boob grab twice now since meeting him. I had to laugh with him, because his laugh was actually contagious.

“There’s so much to unpack there” he said, once he got himself under control again. “First, I’d love to come to dinner, it sounds great. Second, I’m not sure how I feel about the new ‘Captain Hottie’ title… at least from your sister in law… I could be open to it from a certain new friend… and finally, were you really nervous to ask me? You’re adorable when you get nervous by the way.”

At a complete loss for words, I took a moment to collect myself and took a sip of my coffee. I wasn’t sure how to handle Chris flirting with me. Was he flirting? Ugh!

“I don’t even know what to say to any of that.” I admitted, blushing. “So, I’ll just let them know you’ll be coming to dinner.”

Chris laughed again, and winked at me as he took a drink of his coffee.

“So, how did the rest of the meeting go with my brother?” I asked, changing the subject.

“It went well, actually.” He smiled, knowing what I was doing. “It looks like I’ll be in LA most of the summer.”

“That’s great!” I exclaimed, a little too enthusiastically, “I mean, since it was a project you were wanting and all.” Smooth, Lena, not at all obvious here.

“It is great!” He agreed, “I’m very excited to do this movie, but I’m also really interested in spending some more time with this fun, gorgeous, wicked smart, and hilarious girl I met on the way out here.”

“This person sounds pretty great” I replied, melting at his words, “You’ll have to introduce us! I could use some friends to hang out with this summer. And did you seriously just use “wicked” as an adjective? You’re so Boston.”

“Alright, Miss sassy pants” he said, tossing a balled up napkin at me, “Let’s head to the pier, see what kind of trouble we can find.”

We spent several hours hanging out at Santa Monica Pier. We rode the roller coaster, ferris wheel, played a bunch of games, ate way too much junk food, and I swear, I’ve never laughed so hard in my life. I really enjoyed spending time with Chris.

After we finished exploring the pier we decided to head down and walk along the beach for a bit before we needed to head to my brother’s for dinner.

“I had a lot of fun today, Chris!” I said beaming at him. “I can’t believe I’ve never been here before.”

“It was fun seeing it as new through you,” He replied, causally reaching out to hold my hand in his as we strolled, “It’s been a while since I’ve been here. I think my nephew Miles was three the last time we were here.”

I enjoyed the feeling of his strong fingers laced through mine as we walked along the beach. I always loved being by the water, but being here with Chris made it even better. It was like we were in our own little bubble.

We walked a little further down the beach lost in each other’s company, laughing, and just enjoying the afternoon. Suddenly, Chris stopped walking, his hand squeezed mine tighter, causing me to stop walking and turn towards him.

“Everything OK?” I asked seeing that he had tensed up, a frown on his face.

“Yeah” he replied, his voice full of tension mixed with what sounded like anxiety. “We should head back.”

I wasn’t sure where the abrupt change in him came from. Had I said something wrong and upset him? I frantically went back over the conversation, not sure what could have upset him.

“Chris?” I started softly as we walked back towards the pier and his car. He had dropped my hand and was moving at a faster pace. I wasn’t even sure he’d heard me. When he didn’t reply, I decided to keep quiet and follow his pace.

It only took a few minutes to make it to the parking lot where Chris’ car was parked. He unlocked it remotely and walked over to the passenger side to open the door for me. Even now, he was a complete gentleman. I quietly got in and buckled my seatbelt waiting on him to walk around and get in on the driver’s side. I kept quiet on the way back to the cafe where my car was parked, trying to figure out what to say to him.

He pulled in next to my car and put his in park, turning to look over at me. I could see the wheels turning in his head. Deciding to let him off the hook and get out of this before my emotions got the best of me, I turned towards him and tried to paste what I thought was a genuine smile in my face.

“Thanks for today, Chris,” I said softly, not trusting my voice, “I had a lot of fun.”  I quickly unbuckled the seatbelt and reached over to open the door.

“Lena” Chris jumped out of the car and quickly caught up to me. He reached out and gently grabbed my hand, turning me around. “Wait.”

“It’s OK, Chris” I reassured him, my resolve quickly leaving me, “We can hang out another time…. If you want that is. If not, I had a really great time getting to know you.”

“Lena, stop” He replied, thankfully stopping my babbling. “I had a lot of fun with you today, I like being with you. It’s easy to forget the rest of the world exists when I’m talking to you…. I just got so caught up in you, I  let my guard down and forgot to be on the lookout for paparazzi. They followed us on the beach, and I’m pretty sure they got pictures of us together.”

“So, it wasn’t something I said or did that upset you?” I asked quietly, hating that I was feeling so insecure.

“Fuck no,” He replied instantly pulling me towards him and engulfing me in a hug. God, this man could hug, and he smelled amazing, even after being in the hot sun all day. “Lena, I doubt there’s anything you could say or do that would upset me. It’s just that in the past, my relationships often tanked because of the media or over-critical fans hounding whoever I was dating. It would kill me for you to be hurt by that.”

“I’m made of tougher stuff than that,” I replied, “Today’s insecurites aside, that is. I guess I just wasn’t really sure what this was, and didn’t want to assume anything. I thought we were having a great time and then after the beach I thought you wanted to get away from me as fast as humanly possible...or that you were wishing you had some of Cap’s super speed. I’m going to shut up now.”

Chris laughed and dropped his head down so that his forehead was now resting against mine, which brought me up against the solid wall of his chest again.

“This,” he started pulling away slightly to look me in my eyes, “was definitely a memorable first date. That is going to quickly be followed by our second date, which is dinner at your brother’s. Then, being as it’ll be our second date and all, I’m hoping to get to kiss you goodnight after making arrangements to meet up for our third date. I’m thinking Disneyland for that by the way. After that, I plan on continuing to date you until I eventually wear you down and you agree to be my girlfriend. How’s that for transparency?”

“I got stuck on the second date and mentions of kissing.” I smiled up at him, biting my lip, “Is that a hard rule for you… waiting for the second date? Because then I can make the argument that coffee was technically the first date then, the pier was our second and dinner tonight would be third.”

“That’s where you got hung up?” He asked laughing, “Ok, what about the rest that whole spiel?”

“Dinner, kiss, Disneyland, more dates, girlfriend, got it.” I answered, “So back to the second date thing.”

“As long as we’re on the same page.” He joked, tilting my face up towards his. He leaned down and brushed his lips against mine gently before pulling back again way too quickly.  

“You’re killing me Smalls” I groaned at the teasing kiss. “You’re not playing fair.”

“Great movie!” He laughed, “I promise to make it up to you, Sweetheart. After our third date.”

“I plan to collect.” I replied smiling.

“I look forward to it.” he said then leaned in and brushed another quick kiss on my lips, “See you in a bit. Drive safe please, precious cargo and all that.”

“Ditto.” I said getting into the car. “I’m really glad I had an early morning flight to L.A.”

[bigskydreaming]

Beware: do not consume the following post in the belief that there’s a point being made with it or like. Any real reason to it whatsoever. LOL. Just something I’ve been pondering.

So, its interesting to me that there’s such a lack of fics about Bruce raising his kids with a partner. And by interesting I mean just that, lol....I’m not trying to imply anything, I’ve no specific opinions or conclusions on that myself, I’m just...thinking about it lately.

Literally just that. That I’m kinda intrigued by how rarely I see fics where Bruce has a co-parent that his kids would equally deem as much their parent as Bruce himself. There’s plenty of Bruce ship fics, with various of his children usually playing fairly large roles in the fics rather than it just being about Bruce and his ship partner. But not a lot that pursue or at least show that relationship through to the point where they’re effectively a co-parenting team rather than like...Bruce and his kids, plus Bruce’s new partner who likes his kids well enough but doesn’t really feel its their place to parent them.

There are a number of Batcat AUs where Bruce and Selina have a pretty established relationship from fairly early on in the timeline, but in general, most of them tend to have her take a pretty hands-off approach to the kids. They’re still pretty much viewed as Bruce’s kids. While she’s someone they might come to when they need to vent about Bruce and want a sympathetic ear, she’s not really front and center making the child-rearing decisions alongside Bruce. (In a lot of the ones I can think of, she usually doesn’t even officially live in the Manor herself, she’s more just a strong presence who will still leave to return to her own space when things get too chaotic around the house). 

And even in fics where she and Bruce marry, she’s usually written as the stepmother to his kids rather than....hmm, I don’t mean to come across as disparaging of step-parents or to imply that they can’t be just as fully a parent to a child as any biological or adoptive parent. 

Let me put it this way. Just to clarify, when singling out Selina, Clark and Talia as step-parents in fics I’m generalizing about here, the thing I’m really trying to get at is like....for instance, you might see plenty of Selina having a positive relationship with the Batkids, but you rarely see her being like...equally involved in the decision to adopt any of the kids. Either because they’ve all already been adopted, or the fic is set in a window where whichever kids are present have already been present in Bruce’s life when she officially begins a relationship with him, and the fic ends before any of the later kids come into his life. 

And same thing with Bruce’s other partners I refer to in this post. Like, there’s plenty of fics where you can certainly assume that after the conclusion of the fic, any later kids to come into their lives, Bruce and his partner/spouse decide to take in together, are equally invested in giving them a home and a family, etc....I literally just mean, this isn’t something you usually SEE in any of these fics, which is part of what I find interesting and have been kinda musing on.

Anyway. Then there are a good number of Superbat fics, that usually diverge from canon before Clark ever starts forming a family with Lois, but retaining all the Batkids. My assumption is this is because the Batkids as a family unit are more established and still the ‘preferred’ family overall, and if you feel you have to pick and choose because say, you have trouble picturing or don’t want to write Tim and Kon and Jon and Damian as stepbrothers, etc, then I can understand why a writer would go that route. 

But what’s interesting to me here is the way most of these are set timewise....there’s a number I can think of that have Bruce and Clark get together early on, when Dick is still Bruce’s only kid...but by and large, these ones almost always end when Bruce and Clark officially get together. Like, there may be plenty of Clark and Dick bonding scenes, but the fics themselves don’t normally progress past that ‘finally getting together’ resolution, so there’s no real delving into Bruce and Clark as actual co-parents for Dick and then the later kids. 

And then on the other side of things, there’s a lot of Superbat fics I know of where Bruce and Clark only get together at a point comparable to ‘current’ canon. Where basically all Bruce’s kids are already present, Dick, Jason and Cass at least are all adults and living on their own, usually Tim as well, and so of course, they’re all very much Bruce’s kids by the time Clark even comes into the picture. Their child-rearing officially done and over with, so even when Clark eventually becomes the cool approachable stepdad or whatever, again, its that angle where he’s involved, but it wouldn’t really be accurate to describe him as a full co-parent with Bruce.

(As far as Bruce/Clark goes, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Superbat fic that has them get together at some point in the middle of Bruce’s.....umm...child acquisition period, let’s call it. LOL. I just mean, there’s not really any fics I can think of where Bruce’s kids only include Dick and Jason so far, etc. Again, it tends to either be early on, when Dick is really young, or ‘contemporary’, where all the kids are around.)

Similar to the Superbat take is the BatLantern. I’ve seen a few of these, and again, you tend to see Hal and Bruce get together when Bruce has all his kids already and most of them are fully grown, or early on when its still just Dick. Actually, as opposed to Superbat, I think I have come across one Batlantern fic that was set when Dick was Nightwing and Jason was Robin, but that was it. However, there’s possibly a bunch of Batlanterns I haven’t even looked at, as I’m uh....not a Hal fan, so who knows what I’ve skipped over there. *Shrugs* 

And then we’ve got Bruce and Talia fics, which.....I confess aren’t my favorite, as my general impression of fics that have them officially get together, live together, the whole nine yards, is that pretty much all the ones I’ve come across tend to heavily prioritize Jason and Damian as ‘their’ kids, and Dick and Tim are usually just kinda...there, or more often than not, the antagonistic foils/sources of family drama. Which. Umm. Not my thing, obviously. 

And interestingly, a lot of Bruce/Talia fics I can think of, where they live and raise the kids together, like....there’s a lot of them that are full AUs, even No Capes/No Powers AUs, at least relative to how often Bruce’s other big ships go the No Capes route. My personal assumption there is because its the easiest way to separate Talia from being heavily associated with the League, even just in the fic’s past, whereas with Selina, Clark, etc, there’s less of a narrative concern how their comic-book pasts/origins might affect a relationship with Bruce and his kids. Who knows if I’m in the right direction there or not, its honestly just my gut theory, and doesn’t really matter, its just something I find interesting and worth noting.

But even in the full AUs here, even ones where Bruce and Talia are married, she’s largely written as the stepmother to his kids rather than someone who was already there and present as a co-parent throughout various kids’ adoptions or fosterings. Often she’ll be written as particularly close to Jason, or with a soft spot for him, but it tends to be kinda a ‘he’s her favorite of Bruce’s kids, aside from Damian, who is of course as much her kid as he is Bruce’s.’ 

Granted, there are some Bruce/Talia fics I’ve seen that come the closest to what I’d describe as them being full co-parents to several of the kids from the start of whenever they meet those kids in the fic. But lol, again, I’m not really a good source for delving into the specifics of those fics, as the ones I’ve come across IMO tend to prioritize getting Talia more involved early enough that Jason’s ‘hers’ as much as Bruce’s, and uh, most I’m familiar with aren’t too complimentary to Dick, who takes the role of the rude, resentful holdout who dislikes his wicked stepmother from the word go...which is when I usually go too, lol, so I can’t really claim to know how those fics handle later arrivals like Tim and Cass. But with maybe only one exception, I definitely don’t think I’ve ever seen a fic that tried to tackle Bruce and Talia co-parenting Dick as much as any of the others. Even the full AU fics where Dick doesn’t have his canon reasons for disliking/distrusting Talia, lol.

Anyway, that’s it, basically. That’s the post, the train of thought I’ve been pondering, though to what end...eh, I’ve got no clue. I rarely do, though. So, just putting it out there in case this is of interest to anyone else for any reason, lol. Hell, its not even that I particularly would like to see more fics of this vein myself - I’m honestly just not a huge Bruce shipper....I don’t honestly think I have a preference for any of his bigger ships, beyond just....disliking Hal, and refusing to give Morrison’s take on Talia (or on Damian’s conception) the time of day. Ugh. Morrison. Eww. Why is he. Just. Anyway.

Actually! One last interesting (to me) thought, lol....now that I’ve written this whole post and processed it, I can think of literally one and only one fic that I would describe as the Batkids being taken in and raised equally by Bruce and a co-parent....and the bizarre thing is its a Nolan-verse fic. The bizarre part is I hate the Nolan trilogy, like, with an intensity that burns like no other (look I know I say that a lot, and about a lot of things, but I swear its almost always true). 

Anyway, literally the only thing I like about the Nolan trilogy is I have a soft spot for Hathaway’s portrayal of Selina. Which is pretty much the only reason I ever read this one fic where after the third movie, Bruce and Selina ‘start over’ in Europe and end up taking in and raising Nolan-verse versions of Dick, then Jason and then Tim together. Its actually a pretty damn compelling Selina, and I found the boys and their dynamic completely adorable, so I mean, not like that was the point of this post but its worth a read IMO. I know I have it on my bookmarks page and shouldn’t be too hard to find as its literally the only Nolan-verse fic on there, lol. 

(Also, it was written over ten years ago, I’m pretty sure, which is why its just those three kids.....Damian hadn’t even been created yet at the time, and the author’s non-movie Batfam knowledge was mostly cartoon based, which is why Cass wasn’t present, which was pretty much my only complaint about the fic from what I recall).

Anyway, that’s it, that’s the post. These are my thoughts, I’m all done with them so here, you can have them.

[jbuffyangel]

The Light Bulb Moment: Arrow 7x05 Review (The Demon)

Oliver Queen has a light bulb moment that’s been seven years in the making. 

Team Felicity (yes that’s the name) has one as well, which means we are that much closer to being done with the prison arc!

Let’s dig in...

Oliver Queen

We finally find out who The Demon is and I gotta say I was legitimately surprised. However, as soon as I found out it was Talia Al Ghul I thought

It had to be someone related to the League of Assassins and Talia would consider herself The Demon since Ra’s Al Ghul is dead. It’s not like Talia and Nyssa are besties. The amount of hoops Oliver had to jump through to get to The Demon also fits perfectly with Talia Al Ghul, as he notes.

The real question is how Talia ended up in Slabside and it seems we have Batwoman to thank. Nice shout out to Gotham and a not so subtle reference to the rapidly approaching crossover. 

Talia survived Lian Yu, but it was Diaz’s super drug that healed her. Not unlike how it temporarily healed Diggle’s injury.  Excellent tie in writers. 

Talia is beholden to Diaz, but unfortunately she has no idea where he is. UGH. 

It’s a little surprising Talia believes Oliver will help her escape. Listen girlfriend, you sided with Adrian Chase and his baby Mama ended up dead. 

However, Talia (rightly) points out Oliver murdered her father. She’s not exactly an Oliver Queen fan. So, whatever Dr. Parker is doing to the prisoners is making Talia pretty desperate.

Oliver: You stood on the same side as Adrian Chase and my son lost his mother. So now I’m here trying to save what’s left of my family because I am stuck in a cycle of violence and I have been stuck there since the moment you told what to do with my father’s list.

(Not gonna lie, I was a little verklempt when Oliver referred to Samantha as his family. Olicity and Samantha would have killed it at co-parenting.)

It seems like Oliver has bought into Dr. Parker’s brain bullshit, but he’s just playing along. He doesn’t really believe he’s been stuck in a cycle of violence. I mean, he has but not in a bad way or at least not entirely. I also argue with his conclusion the cycle began when he met Talia. Oliver was thrown into violence the second he stepped onto the raft. 

Talia didn’t create “the monster.” She just gave Oliver direction on how to use it.

There are a couple reasons why Oliver is pretending to be brain washed. It is possible he believes he’s being watched and doesn’t want to tip off Dr. Parker. Also, he met “The Demon” and she can’t help him with jack, so I don’t think he’s highly motivated to blow his cover for Talia. Finally, Oliver isn’t convinced Dr. Parker is doing anything horrible yet. He’s not buying what Dr. Parker is selling, but Oliver still believes he is trying to reform prisoners. What’s wrong with that?

A lot if you try to kill them. When Oliver sees the dead body of the inmate who attempted to murder him in the shower fight, things start to look more alarming on Level 2. Talia is surprised Oliver cares about a man who tried to kill him, but he argues whatever is happening behind the creepy and nondescript door isn’t right. Talia is the one who told Oliver to help others and fight for justice, which is all he’s trying to do now.

This is an extremely important development for Oliver. Helping criminals has never been the Green Arrow’s modus operandi. Since Green Arrow is the warmer and fuzzier version of The Hood and The Arrow, you can trust neither of those identities were invested in helping criminals either. In fact, the Green Arrow put most of the criminals in Slabside. Oliver never thought much about why someone became a criminal and he never thought of them again after they were locked up. Of course, the locked up criminals are the lucky ones. There are many who never made it to jail. They went straight to a graveyard.

Oliver’s policy on killing is fluid, ever evolving and occasionally flip flopping, much to my frustration most of the time. Let’s review:

Season 1: Killing

Season 2: Not killing (except for The Count)

Season 3: Not killing (except for attempting to kill Ra’s Al Ghul on the mountain because Felicity said it was okay and ultimately killing Ra’s Al Ghul in the season finale)

Season 4: Not killing (except for Damien Darhk because he killed Laurel)

Season 5: Killing (except for Adrian Chase because that would’ve proved his point)

Season 6: Not killing (he never caught Diaz so the jury is still out on how Oliver plans to deal with him, but I am thinking jail)

Looking at this it’s fair to say Oliver doesn’t have a hard and fast rule when it comes to killing. He operated from a kill or be killed perspective in Season 1 and Season 5. 

His “no killing” rule was set aside anytime the Big Bad was perceived as a large enough threat or for retribution in Season 3 and Season 4. 

The whole point of having a moral code is to stick to it. If Oliver is prepared to deep six his code whenever it’s inconvenient or difficult to hold to then it’s not really a code. Hence, the reason I’ve been coming down on him so hard about this for the last seven years.

I believe all human life has value and therefore we cannot kill another human being. Of course, war or acting in self defense is a different story, but my overall stance on killing is a big, fat NO. However, I’m not losing any sleep over any of the people Oliver Queen has killed. These villains are awful, they did horrific things, and deserved to get got. We can even make the argument the world is a better place without these people in it.

However, simply because someone deserves to die doesn’t mean he/she should. Oliver doesn’t get to be judge, jury, and executioner simply because he wears a mask. He may catch criminals outside of the law, but Oliver is not above the law. His killing is a strong argument against vigilantism and Oliver has been striving to be a better hero for several years now.

This isn’t entirely Oliver’s fault. For some reason, the writers are determined to box him into an either or choice. Either the criminal goes free or you kill him. I’ve been screaming, “WHAT ABOUT JAIL?” for the last seven years because guess what? We have a way of keeping society safe without killing the criminal. 

Is it a perfect system? Of course not, but no system is. Not allowing Oliver to avail himself of this option while Barry Allen gets to have his very own meta prison seems a little unfair.  

Yes, men like Ra’s Al Ghul and even Damien Darhk may too much to handle even for Slabside, but Oliver had his very own A.R.G.U.S. prison on Lian Yu that he never used, except for Slade Wilson and the Boomerang guy. 

Why? Because that’s Arrow and sometimes Arrow is dumb. They want to Oliver constantly deciding whether the villain lives or dies because it’s one way they mark his superhero evolution.

I was particularly hard on Oliver regarding Damien Darhk. Not because I believed Darhk deserves to live – he nuked an entire city. However, Oliver killed Darhk because he killed Laurel. Damien was unarmed and de-magicked. Oliver easily could have handed him over to the authorities. Instead, he drove an arrow through him on live television. Thus, creating many of the legal problems Oliver faced in Season 6 and Season 7.

And that’s the point. Killing doesn’t erase consequences. It creates them. Yes, maybe the villain escapes prison and more lives are lost. Maybe the justice system won’t work. Although are we really worried the legal system won’t punish perpetrators of mass genocide? No. Probably not.

Killing Ra’s Al Ghul ignited a rage in Talia. She sided with Adrian and played a role in Samantha’s death. If you want to know how Damien Darhk’s daughter turns out flip on Legends. It ain’t pretty. 

Retribution begets retribution. This is the lesson Adrian Chase taught Oliver and so he began to view killing a different way in Season 6. 

It’s why Oliver tried to catch Diaz and not kill him.

Oliver: These people are being treated like they are disposable. No one deserves that.

Oliver’s always evolving morality is taking a very important step. He is feeling empathy for the very murderers he helped locked away. Oliver believes these people deserve basic decency despite the horrible crimes they committed. He is beginning to see the criminals’ humanity.

Why is this important? Oliver’s “destiny” is to become the Green Arrow – a fully evolved superhero. Superheroes typically don’t kill. These characters, for the lack of a better word, are Christ like figures. Superheroes have integrity, determination, love, compassion, honesty and honor beyond the regular, everyday person. They are capable of things most people could never dream of doing. It’s why they inspire us. They challenge us to be better because they are better. It’s what makes them superheroes.

This is where Oliver is headed. His morality has to be beyond reproach. Superheroes don’t lie, cheat or kill. Oliver has worked very hard at fixing these problem areas in his life for the last ten years. Is he perfect? No, not even a superhero is perfect. He/She is pretty close though, which is hopefully where Oliver’s origin story ends.

Maybe you or I can’t feel empathy for a criminal, but Oliver Queen is called to be better than us. He will draw the line in the sand, so it’s important he doesn’t cross it. The Green Arrow will be the example Star City will look to, so his moral code better be unbreakable.

This means NO KILLING. Not even when the villain deserves it. Not even when Oliver has the moral high ground. Not even when Oliver deserves revenge. Not even when it may protect the city. 

There will always be unforeseen consequences to killing, but the real reason Oliver shouldn’t kill is because every life has value. Oliver can understand and even empathize with some of these people now that he is considered a “criminal” too and has spent so much time with them. It will be very difficult for Oliver to kill a villain when he can see their humanity. It doesn’t mean they deserve freedom, but they don’t automatically deserve death either. There’s a middle ground here. If Arrow will finally allow the Green Arrow to avail himself of the prison system, then he can be a better example to the city.

Talia isn’t impressed with Oliver’s new found empathy for criminals, because he did not show it to her father when it mattered. Yeah, well your father tried to poison an entire city cutie, but that’s just details.

Oliver: No because I back then I still allowed the monster that you unleashed to take over.

This is how we know Oliver is faking with Dr. Parker.  You can call it whatever you want – Oliver’s monster, darkness, demons, etc. The name doesn’t matter. Oliver has evolved beyond it. The rage he feels no longer controls him. He faced his “monster” in Season 5 and learned to control it in Season 6. He’s already dealt with all of these issues.

Oliver: Ra’s death was my fault. I couldn’t see past what he intended to do to my city, so I didn’t stop and think about his family, and for that, I am truly sorry.

I could argue Oliver deserves prison. Technically, he is a murderer and not all of his “kills” were done in self defense. 

He acknowledges there was another way with Ra’s Al Ghul, but he didn’t take it. Talia is one of those unforeseen consequences to that decision and Oliver is truly sorry for the pain he caused her.

If you believe Oliver deserves redemption for some of those calls then apologizing to who he hurt is an important part of the process. It’s no different than Bl*ck S*ren. Is an apology enough? No, but Oliver has also spent six months locked away from his wife and child. He’s been beaten, tortured, psychologically lobotomized, and almost killed. (Also, I raise my “Ra’s Al Ghul committed mass genocide” flag again.)  We’re not dealing with apples to apples here, but in the cosmic scale I think Oliver Queen comes out just fine.

Oliver and Talia fight their way into “the room” to take on Dr. Parker. 

Source: @olivergifs​

We get some extremely excellent fight scenes.I am so happy we are back to the days of Oliver taking down 50 bad guys by himself or with someone who actually knows how to fight. 

Now it’s Oliver’s turn to drop some truths on Dr. Parker.

Oliver: My father pushed people away. He kept secrets, and I made those same mistakes. But if I choose to break the cycle, I’m gonna do it my way.

Source:  olivergifs

MY SON IS SO GROWN!!!!!! 

Oliver yelling his name in his growly voice will always be awesome. I am thrilled any time Oliver can achieve insights into himself and his father. It’s not the cycle of violence he needs to break. If he’s going to be the Green Arrow and Oliver Queen (and yes that’s where this is headed) then there’s going to be some violence. Oliver can tweak how much violence he’s going to engage in though.

What’s really important is breaking the cycle of lies and walls. Oliver cuts himself off from those he loves just like Robert Queen did. He has grown so much over the past seven years, and his sacrifice was so selfless, but he still lied to Felicity about prison. He made the decision without her. Every time Oliver lies and pushes people away he hurts those he loves and himself. 

The monster no longer has power in Oliver’s life because he’s embraced love. Every time he chooses an unrighteous path it’s an opportunity for the monster to regain control. Every step away from the light is a step towards darkness. Being a good man is not limited to wearing a mask. He must be a good man as Oliver Queen and as the Green Arrow.

Source: @olivergifs

SEVEN YEARS Y’ALL!!!!!!!!!!! I HAVE WAITED FOR OLIVER QUEEN TO COME TO THIS CONCLUSION FOR SEVEN YEARS!!!!!!!!! 

Season after season, review after review, waiting, watching and hoping for him to finally understand man and mask must be one. I am legit screaming. SCREAMING.

This was the light bulb I’ve been waiting to go off in his head. THIS MOMENT WAS EARNED! And worth the wait.

Oliver gives Talia the USB with the evidence they gathered to give to Felicity. He refuses to leave the prison because then he’d be a fugitive for the rest of his life. #OliverQueenPuttingHisFamilyFirstAlways.

Source:  smoakmonster

Trust me, Talia. She knows. 

Oliver returns to Level One and is reunited with his prison wife Stan, who quickly informs him his real wife came for a visit. 

Every time Oliver hears Felicity’s name I swear to God his heart stops.

My heart broke for Oliver when he realizes he missed a precious visit with Felicity. He must have noticed she hasn’t visited as often as she could. (More on that in a minute).

Source:  oliverfelicitygifs

Stan tells Oliver that Felicity has a beat on Diaz and he’s not exactly thrilled. Oliver absolutely did not want Felicity going after Diaz and it’s clear he’s scared to death she’ll be hurt. He has no way of protecting or stopping her, which is exactly the point. Oliver doesn’t get to decide this time. He has to simply wait and see. Whatever is going to happen will happen. It’ll be interesting when these two are reunited because there are issues.

Oliver has retained his light inside of Slabside, he’s developed more empathy towards the people he’s fighting against, and he understands he can no longer separate his two identities. If Oliver is in need of redemption (particularly with Felicity) then I say he’s learned the necessary lessons to achieve it.  It may be difficult for a time, but Oliver and Felicity will work through their problems once they are together again. In no small part because Oliver Queen is ready to be the man Felicity Smoak deserves and the hero Star City needs.

Source:  smoakmonster

Felicity Smoak

I am falling in love with Felicity Smoak and Bl*ck S*ren. Nobody is more shocked than me. I don’t know what to tell ya.

They make the perfect odd couple. Felicity is sunshine and roses while Bl*ck S*ren is a snarky (reformed?) murderer.  There are some similarities to Oliver and Felicity or Laurel and Tommy, which is probably one of the reasons I am enjoying it so much. Light meets dark. Funny meets serious.

Source:  hollandrooden

The sass and banter is funny and honest.  Neither is worried about hurting the other’s feelings because they aren’t really friends. It allows the characters to say things to each other Felicity and our L*urel would never say. It also makes the development of whatever potential friendship they may have in the future feel natural.

Source:  dinah-lance

Whereas with L*urel, I feel her friendship with Felicity was rushed and didn’t develop organically. We went from L*urel glowering and not speaking to Felicity to immediately “favor friends” inside of a single episode. 

HUH? 

It was also a little weird how they never talked about the Oliver shaped elephant in the room too, but whatever that’s all past.  None of this is a problem with Bl*ck S*ren and F*licity. In fact, all the things I asked for with L*urel L*nce I am actually getting with Bl*ck S*ren.

The writers are giving Bl*ck S*ren screen time to develop at a semi reasonable pace, the lawyer thing notwithstanding.

The other characters aren’t pretending she’s a saint or glazing over her mistakes. Bl*ck S*ren is being held responsible for the things she’s done wrong.

Felicity (and Oliver) have no problem taking shots at Bl*ck S*ren occasionally, because they don’t trust her and she deserves them.

Bl*ck S*ren fires back (hilariously I might add) and is rapidly becoming the Spike to Team Arrow’s Scooby Gang - something I think the show needs.

Bl*ck S*ren is lawyering more than Laurel ever lawyered even though she’s not a laywer, which is hilariously amazing in an off kilter sort of way.

Most importantly, she’s helping Felicity in a way that’s actually helpful!

If Bl*ck S*ren helps get Oliver out of prison and then my faves have all the sex, Imma gonna bake her cake or something. Anyone assisting Felicity this season gets an A+ and a gold star from me and Bl*ck S*ren is at the top of that list.

Listen, nobody is as shocked as me since I was loudly advocating for BS to remain evil. I still like her evil and will be fine if she regresses. However, if they are going to have a L*urel type character on this show then I want the writers to use her effectively. Thus far, they are with Bl*ck S*ren. It may all go to hell in a hand basket shortly, but for now leave me to my joy.

Source:  felicitysmoakgifs

The best scene was BS asking Felicity out on a friend date. It was almost as cute as Oliver asking Felicity out. It was really sweet to see the part of BS that craves human connection reaching out to Felicity in such an adorably awkward way.

Alright, that’s enough about Bl*ck S*ren. Time to talk about our girl. Did anyone notice Felicity seems reluctant to visit Oliver? 

Source:  smoakmonster

 Bl*ck S*ren tells Felicity to visit her husband and essentially kicks her out of the office. Welcome the Olicity ship BS! The bar is in the back.

Her reluctance is very telling. Felicity is feeling bad about her last visit with Oliver. Girl, why? You’re fine. The man has lessons to learn. 

Unfortunately, Felicity is denied access to Oliver when she arrives.  Felicity demands to see Oliver and think she uses “wife” and “husband” about twenty times in a sentence. Remember when we held our breath for one “wife” or “husband” last season? Now they use it with reckless abandon. It’s fabulous.

I have been dying for Felicity to meet Stan and yet I had no idea how Arrow would logically put these two characters together. I know logic isn’t always Arrow’s thing, but it’s not like Felicity can run into Stan and Oliver having dinner together. Turns out, this is not that hard!

Stan lets Felicity know Oliver has been moved to Level 2. I will always be eternally grateful to Stan for telling Felicity the photograph has become Oliver’s binky.

I guess I was a little surprised at Felicity’s shock over Oliver stabbing a guard. She’s very “He would never!” about it whereas I am more “Sounds right. He broke a dude’s neck once.” Yes, that was during Oliver’s pre-Felicity days, but he’d burn down Slabside if it means protecting her and William. Her whole “Oliver is a choir boy” reaction rang false to me because Oliver is not a choir boy.

The first person Felicity runs to for help is BL*CK S*REN. We are living in the Upside Down. 

Source:  dinah-lance

How much did you love Bl*ck S*ren yelling and threatening so Oliver and Felicity can visit each other? C’mere girl. Sit next to me. I made you a margarita.

Felicity confirms she’s only been there ONCE, and granted she was in witness protection for most of Oliver’s incarceration, but yeesh. It has to sting a little for Oliver that she hasn’t been back since. Don’t lie and make unilateral decisions next time, big fella. 

Felicity would visit in sexy lingerie and bring store bought baked goods if you just LOOP HER IN.

Source: felicitysmoakgifs

Bl*ck S*ren and Felicity go to Dinah to get information on Slabside’s Level 2, since there are no digital records. 

Source: oliverfelicitygifs

Dinah hems and haws about helping Felicity, and she pretty much has to beg, which ticks me off to no end. You are part of the reason Oliver is in prison, Dinah. MOVE YOUR ASS. If Felicity wants to access to the evidence room you should be making her a copy of the key so she can come and go as she pleases. #NewbiesStopPissingMeOff2018

The records are a mess. 

Source:  dinah-lance

Dinah and BS spend a lot of time arguing about which legal method is best to help Felicity, but to be frank both their ideas suck and take too much time.  Felicity kind of loses it.

Source:  oliverxfelicity

She’s feeling an immense amount of guilt for being angry with Oliver over his decision to go to prison and not visiting. In typical Felicity fashion, she blames herself for whatever Oliver is going through. She believes she could have prevented it.

Source:  oliverfelicitygifs

Felicity Smoak breaks my heart. Listen sweetie, Oliver is a big, dumb oak tree A LOT. It’s okay to get mad at him sometimes. This man is a full time project. He’s exhausting.

If anyone is concerned about Felicity and Oliver’s marriage then this speech should tell you everything you need to know. Being mad at your partner does not automatically mean you don’t want to be with your partner. Marriage doesn’t work like that. For better or for worse is legit. You can be so angry with your spouse you want to throttle them and yet still love them more than anything else on this earth. 

Felicity can be mad at Oliver and still be madly in love with him. What Oliver did is no little thing. He made a massive and unilateral decision for their entire family without consulting Felicity. She has to live with the consequences, but had no say in her own life. 

We’ve seen time and again when Felicity is angry with Oliver she needs time and space to process those emotions. Felicity needs to work through her feelings before she can work through the problem with Oliver. It doesn’t mean she wants to end their relationship.

While she’s been looking for Diaz and processing her anger, Oliver has been going to extremes in his battle to track Diaz too. Unfortunately, now he’s missing.

This all hits Felicity where it hurts because her worst fear is losing Oliver. She thought losing her husband was bad enough, but now Felicity is scared Dr. Power’s mind warp program will take Oliver from her forever.

Source:  oliverfelicitygifs

I just want to hug Felicity and tell her she doesn’t have to worry about Oliver’s mind being erased. 

He dealt with all his deep and dark issues in the sewer with her. Felicity loved him through it and that’s the reason Oliver has remained intact on this new island. UGH. MY BABES.

Oliver and Felicity have remained connected despite their physical separation, but the distance is having an impact on them. They are starting to feel the consequences of time, distance, hurt feelings, and lack of communication. ENOUGH ALREADY! LET THEM BE TOGETHER! I WANT IT TO STOOOOOP!

Long story short, Felicity discovers Dr. Powers is going to erase Oliver’s mind and finds evidence connecting him to a cold case murder. That, along with Oliver’s evidence, is enough to get the Level 2 program shut down. It makes me a little sad Felicity doesn’t know the evidence is from Oliver. TALIA YOU HAD ONE JOB.

Source:  felicitysmoakgifs

Team Felicity, yes that’s the name, has such a fantastic light bulb moment when they realize they can use this Slabside evidence to appeal Oliver’s conviction. I don’t know how. I’m not a lawyer. I don’t know how Oliver was convicted in the first place because he was acquitted. How is he legally in prison? Whatever. I don’t care. Just get him out and send him home to his woman. That’s all I want. I’ve enjoyed the prison arc more than I anticipated, but I’m ready to be done.

Curtis and Diggle

Lord people. I cannot with Curtis. His undercover mission takes up a significant chunk of the episode and this is how much I care:

Fourteen PhDs???? FOURTEEN!!!!!!!?????? 

I am trying to hang with you show, and I realize you are a fantasy drama, but this is not humanely possible. Also, I am taking issue with Diggle reading out Curtis’ credentials when just last week Felicity tipped her hat to her credentials. She mentions going to MIT and then next week we are listing Curtis’ ridiculous number of PhDs and six languages?!

It feels like a bizarre pissing contest and yet these writers want me to believe this character is not in competition with Felicity.

Cammien Ray tweeted something brilliant yesterday and I thought it really summed up one of my primarily beefs with Curtis and Diggle having this storyline. This is everything we asked for Felicity, but they gave it to Curtis.

Felicity is off doing her own hero-ing and therefore the writing team’s ass is saved, but this character is in constant competition with Felicity. More often than not, Curtis over shadows Felicity so he has a friggin purpose on this show. Arrow is an extremely male dominated series. We don’t need one of few strong female characters sidelined for another male character’s benefit. 

Curtis bemoans all of the misery being a vigilante has brought into his life. Yes, Curtis has suffered the most out of all the characters. 

Oliver lost his freedom, Felicity lost her husband and child and Dinah’s boyfriend is dead. Hell, even Rene has more to bitch about. Zoe’s life was in danger for most of Season 6. BL*CK S*REN has more to be upset about. Her boyfriend, father and pseudo father figure are all dead.

But Curtis? He got a divorce. Sure, that’s sad, but his ex husband isn’t dead. Curtis is probably paying him alimony. 

Curtis was stabbed, his boyfriend shot, THEY BOTH SURVIVED, but woe is me.

Diggle has the audacity to compare Curtis to soldiers who have fought in war. 

We are not comparing Curtis and his T balls to men serving in the military. The reason why Curtis doesn’t look “done” when compared to those soldiers, John is because HE HAS NOT FOUGHT IN A FUCKING WAR OR SUFFERED ANYWHERE NEAR THE AMOUNT THOSE HEROES HAVE. 

Both of you please shut up.

I couldn’t understand why Diggle was arguing for Curtis to remain Mr. Terrific when he’s given up on Spartan and Green Arrow.  This is the second character IN A ROW Diggle has argued to break the rules and continue life as a vigilante. Whereas when it comes to Felicity she can’t be Overwatch or break any laws to free her husband. 

I also don’t understand why Diggle is arguing Curtis is so vital to the team when the truth is there are other characters that can do what he does and BETTER. Rene and Dinah are better fighters than him. This is the first week he looked mildly proficient in the field. This is why I say he’s the new LL. One week he can’t take down one bad guy, but the next he’s fighting twenty different people. It’s inconsistent and illogical.

Felicity is a genius and all the tech goddess we need. 

Anytime they use Curtis’ brilliant mind it’s to short change her. NO THANKS. The only thing Curtis brings to the table is his T spheres and pretty much everyone can operate them. I am quite annoyed with Diggle for trying to talk Curtis out of sidelining himself. 

Arrow continues to glaze over Curtis’ role in Oliver ending up in prison, there’s been no apology and he refuses to help Felicity. Instead, they write an episode where Curtis is given all the storylines we’ve asked for Felicity. Then Curtis whines about how tough life is when the other characters he refuses to help are suffering more. This is not the way to win me over. USE THIS CHARACTER LESS. He needs to disappear from my TV screen for a long time or, God willing, permanently. The more this show shoves this character down my throat the more I dislike him and I have a sensitive gag reflex. 

Stray Thoughts

“Empathy’s a word I’m learning. It’s a work in progress” HA! Loved this line.

I know neither Dinah nor BS are Felicity’s besties, but it was nice having all the women work together in an episode. It also gave Felicity a chance to unload some of her grief and fears. Can we make this a regular thing? Felicity needs girlfriends.

“I taught you to separate the man from the monster. Instead, you exposed your true identity for all the world to see and became the monster you always feared you were.” Bitch where?

Talia teaching Oliver to separate his two selves ultimately lead to her father’s death, so there are consequences for her choices too.

Felicity changes out of her high heels and skirt into jeans and tennis shoes for her visit with Oliver. The practicality in Felicity’s wardrobe this year is A+, so let’s keep the logic. Nobody drives to a prison in heels and she sure as hell shouldn’t wear them out in the field.

Oliver’s face when he finds out there’s no visitation in Level 2 looks like he was just told his puppy has cancer. Source:  olivergifs

You have not met Felicity “I Will Always Always Always Wait For You” Smoak. Suck a hot one, guard. Source: olivergifs

Why are the A.R.G.U.S. uniforms so dorky? Let’s cool them up costume department.

I need Stan to be good. Can we just let Stan be good?

Stephen Amell is 6 ft so the inmate who died is ENORMOUS.

Don’t you love how there’s been zero Diaz in any of these past few episodes? He’s just like the Boogey Man, but we never have to see him. It’s fantastic.

I don’t buy for a second Diaz took out a bunch of Bratva, but my larger concern is don’t hurt my Anatoly.

No flashbacks. Interesting.

That Elseworld promo was jarring. I’m scarred for life.

Disclaimer: Any gifs on the blog are not mine. If you would like a gif removed from my reviews, please message me. 7x05 gifs credited.

If you’d like to support the blog, please buy me a cup of tea!

[ebhenah]

Klance AU Month Feb 1: Coffee Shop

Gross Klance AU Month- Feb 1: Coffee Shop (A Future Klance-Family fic)

“I don’t like it here,” Lucas grumbled, poking at the sodden mittens his Papi had draped over the heating vent.

“Stop picking at them let them dry,” Lance sighed, pushing a literal bucket of cocoa across the table. Keith would grumble about portion size, but Keith hadn’t had to try to entertain Lucas and Kashi all day and Lance was hoping sugar and chocolate overdosing the boys would buy him like… ten minutes of pleasantness. Please, God… just, TEN minutes! “Here you go, the biggest cocoas they had, with caramel syrup, extra whipped cream and chocolate shavings for Lucas…. And the same, but with hazelnut syrup and cinnamon instead for Kashi. And cafe con leche for me.” He wrapped his cold hands around the mug and breathed in the heavenly smell.

“I don’t like weather,” Kashi said, “I like when the air doesn’t have STUFF in it- snow, ice, water droplets… just… no.”

“Yeah,” Lucas jutted a thumb out toward his brother, “what he said! On the Atlas, it is never too cold, or too hot, there’s never rain or… whatever THAT stuff is!”

“Sleet,” Lance supplied, “that stuff is sleet… and I’m not a fan either.”

“Why would Thace even WANT to go to college in a place where the AIR throws ICE in your face???” Kashi huffed. He was not a fan of his eldest brother moving away for college in the first place… which meant that neither was Lucas… and they’d both been SO vocal about it that when it came time to do campus tours, it quickly had been evident that the youngest pair of their five kids needed to be occupied elsewhere.

So, HIS day had been miserable. Fingers crossed that Keith had had better luck with Thace and the twins.

“This school has an EXCELLENT Engineering program,” Lance reminded them.

“Better than apprenticing under Uncle Hunk on the Atlas?” scoffed Lucas.

“Yes… and even Hunk would say that. Hunk recommended this program to us in the first place.”

“Boston sucks,” Kashi muttered.

“No, it doesn’t. Today was just… not a great day.” Tweens would be the death of him. They really would. It was like his sons had lost the ability to feel joy if one of their parents was in the room. “We can’t control the weather.”

“You can on the ATLAS!”

“Lucas,” he sighed, “we’ve talked about this…”

“No one has made a final decision but Thace deserves to have all the information before he does yadda yadda yadda…” Kashi pushed some whipped cream around with his spoon, looking for all the world like a tiny, sullen Keith (with a SENSIBLE haircut, thankyouverymuch). It took every scrap of willpower Lance possessed not to pinch his cheek. It was endearing how much the younger boys hated the idea of their big brother moving out. So endearing that he didn’t have the heart to tell them that there was virtually no way Thace was going to decide to stay on the Atlas with them when the option was to live on campus WITH his long-term girlfriend.

Because his firstborn was 18 and in love and thought himself all grown up and ready to take on the world, and Lance couldn’t say a peep, because when he was 18 and in love he was on the front lines of a war, pining for his teammate, and making far dumber decisions than Thace was likely to.

The bell at the door chimed and they were hit with a blast of cold air carrying the exhausted voice of his husband. “Would you three knock it off, already?!? Rai, you don’t get a vote on where Thace goes to school. Talia- we KNOW you are planning on Olkarion, stop bringing it up. Thace- weather is not a factor in your decision, understood?”

“But there is actual SLUSH falling out of the sky,” Thace pointed out. “I don’t want to live where the sky throws slush at me.”

“It’s sleet!” Lucas chimed helpfully, his mood vastly improved by Thace’s apparent rejection of this school.

“Maybe Juanita LIKES sluuu-sleet,” teased Talia, “what will you do then?”

“We’ll have a conversation and make a decision together,” replied Thace, “what are you going to do if Bailey doesn’t want to move to a whole other galaxy for school?”

“Oh. My. God! Bailey and I are like baaaaaarely even dating! I’m not making any decisions about school based on a guy I am just like… kinda, sorta seeing.”

“Uh-huh,” mumbled Rai, “barely even dating… just fused at the mouth 24/7.”

“What’s this now?” Lance asked, prompting his daughter smack her twin and turn beet red.

“NOTHING!” She yelped, “I’ll order the drinks! Thace come help me!”

Keith just shook his head at them as he pulled his gloves off and set them next to the boys’ mittens on the heater. He was peeling out of his scarf when he caught Lance’s eyes and smiled, tension melting out of his features. Lance’s heart skipped a beat and his belly flipped and he felt his smile turn giddy from the look on his husband’s face. “Hi,” purred Keith, leaning in to kiss Lance gently as he sat in the chair beside him.

“Hi yourself,” Lance answered as the kiss broke.

“GROSS!” chorused all five children.

“Ugh, save it for your ‘naps’, weirdos,” drawled Rai, using finger quotes and rolling his eyes.

“Hey, knock it off,” Lance countered, “that was just a little hello kiss… it could be soooo much worse…”

“I doubt it,” mumbled Lucas.

“Ohhh was that…”

“No! No, it wasn’t anything!” Kashi elbowed Lucas.

“Did I... did I hear someone…

“Nothing! He said nothing!” insisted Rai.

“No, no… I think I did!”

“Papi! No! I didn’t!” squawked Lucas.

“Yeah, yeah… I DEFINITELY heard someone issue ME, Loverboy Lancey Lance Kogane, Pilot of the Red Lion, a challenge…”

Keith cackled, as the kids groaned, “now you’ve done it, boys. You know what he’s like…”

Lance turned his chair, then yanked Keith’s closer, “heya handsome.”

“Hi, babe,” Keith answered.

“You look cold,” Lance observed, leaning close, “which seems impossible for someone as hot as you are.”

“Kill me now,” muttered Rai.

“This is YOUR fault,” Kashi hissed to Lucas.

“You offering to warm me up if I am?” laughed Keith, his cheeks flushing.

“Oh, you know I am,” he tangled his fingers with Keith’s, “you’ve got really nice hands, did you know that?”

“Stop it,” whimpered Lucas.

“So do you,” Keith replied, rubbing his thumb across the back of Lance’s hand. “Long fingers… like a musician.”

“I do play a little guitar,” he scooted even closer. “You’re gorgeous… you look like you could be a rock star… little bit of a bad boy vibe going on.”

Keith laughed, his eyes dancing, “I’m more of a martial arts kind of guy than a musical one.”

“What… What is happening here?” Talia asked, her voice stunned.

“They were being gross,” Kashi answered.

“Were? WERE?! This is ARE! They ARE being gross!! Why are they STILL being gross?”

“Lucas,” muttered Rai.

“That’s really hot,” Lance continued, “but I bet I could make you sing like a bird.”

“MY EARS!” Thace yelped, “I can never unhear that!”

“Lucas? What. Did. You. DO?” Talia turned pointedly AWAY from her fathers, shielding her eyes with the coffee in her hands.

“Papi said they could be worse and Lucas said he doubted it,” Rai explained.

“Nope!” She said setting Keith’s coffee in front of him. “I’m not sitting with them. I’m sitting… uhh… over there. Bye!”

“Yeah, I’m joining you,” Thace agreed, handing Rai his drink. “Have fun with… all that, guys.”

“I hate them,” Rai muttered.

“You sound pretty confident,” laughed Keith, cheeks blazing now. He was happy to indulge Lance’s competitive streak and make the kids squirm, because… well.. Payback, honestly. They’d been awful all day… and who the heck complains about their parents GETTING ALONG!?!?

“I do, don’t I?” Lance grinned, waggling his eyebrows.

“OKAY YOU WIN!” squawked Lucas, “you were right! The kiss was nothing. This is way grosser. Stop! Please stop!”

“But… this is fun,” pouted Lance.

“You won, Loverboy,” chuckled his husband, “give the kids a break. You can flirt later when they aren’t around.”

Lance’s expression brightened and he leaned in to kiss Keith’s cheek, “promise?”

Keith rolled his eyes, “yes, I promise. Rai… go get your brother and sister… the little melodramatic pair of them.”

Rai sighed, but left the table, and Lance gestured to the younger boys. “I have been informed that our sons do not like ‘weather’.”

“They don’t, huh?” Keith wasn’t sure where Lance was going with this.

“I think they’ve been spoiled by the climate controlled life aboard the Atlas,” he explained.

“I don’t like where this is going,” whispered Kashi.

“Sooo, I’m thinking we should maybe trying living on the surface for a couple of years,” he finished cheerfully, “and commute.”

“You want to commute?” Keith confirmed.

“Yeah, I think it would be good for the kids.”

“To the Atlas?”

He nodded.

“In orbit.”

“The Lions can do it in no time flat.”

“Everyday?”

“Mmhmm…”

“Lance that’s…” he shook his head, “that would be a nightmare, babe!”

“What would be a nightmare?” Talia asked.

“Papi is talking about moving to the SURFACE,” Kashi hissed.

“Like… Cuba? Cuba would be cool,” Rai said, dropping into a chair, “I could work at the shop with Tio Luis after school.”

“Ummm… Do I get a vote? Because I don’t want to change schools!”

“No one is talking about changing schools,” Keith assured her.

“Then how is he going to work at Tio Luis’ shop?”

“We’re moving? Why are we moving?”

“Woah- everyone calm down,” Keith’s voice cut through the din, “we are in public and getting loud. Not acceptable. Everyone sit. Papi had an IDEA. That is all. It’s barely been mentioned let alone discussed or decided.”

“But if it goes anywhere,” Lance interjected, “we will have a family meeting and you will ALL have a chance to talk as much as you want about what you think of it. We are a team, and Team Kogane works together. Right?”

They all murmured their agreement, and settled into chairs, the table going quiet for a moment as the idea of leaving the Atlas bounced around. Talia’s phone bleated and she pulled it out, the smile on her face when she saw the text betraying the sender. “Say hi to Baiiiii-leeee,” crooned Lucas.

“Really, kid?” sighed Lance, “again? I’m telling you, youngest to youngest, you are going to REGRET giving them a hard time about the people they date when you start dating. Older siblings hold grudges. I promise you, this,” he gestured at Talia and Thace, “whole thing you’ve got going on? It’s going to kick you in the butt. Mark my words.”

“He is speaking from experience,” agreed Keith, “they gave him SUCH a hard time about Allura!”

“ALLURA!?!?” the children chorused.

“Way to blurt THAT out, Mullet,” Lance muttered.

“Hold on,” Talia tore her attention away from the phone, “you and Auntie Allura were a thing?”

“Not so much a thing, no,” Lance sighed, “there was A date. One single date. That proved to both of us that we were not meant to be a couple.”

“Then why did they give you a hard time?” asked Rai.

Lance glared at his husband, “I’m going to divorce you. I’m going to divorce you and this will be the reason. You understand that, right?”

“You don’t scare me. You’re not going to divorce me,” Keith chuckled, “you threaten to divorce me every day. I’m immune to the divorce talk.”

Lance gasped dramatically, clucking his tongue and shaking his head. “Just you watch me! DIVORCE!”

“Not gonna happen,” Keith said calmly, “they gave him a hard time because of all the blushing and pining.”

“Awww,” cooed Thace, “how cyoooot! Papi had a CRUSH on the Princess!”

“Are you implying that Allura of Altea is NOT crush-worthy?” Lance asked.

“What?” Thace went pale, “I didn’t say that! Please don’t tell Auntie Allura I said that! Oh… GOD! Please don’t tell CORAN I said that!!”

“He had it BAD for Allura from the moment he met her,” Keith supplied, ready to save Thace from his own panic.

“A literal Princess literally fell into my arms, and then told us we were destined to be heroes,” Lance pointed out. “It was like something out of a fairytale.”

“You’ve always been a hopeless romantic,” Keith chuckled.

“By the time we got back to Earth I didn’t see her that way anymore though. I’d just gotten used to the idea of being in love with her and it being hopeless…”

“But, you said you went on a date? And Dad said there was blushing.”

“I don’t remember saying your Papi was the one doing the blushing,” tsked Keith.

“Yes. ONE date. She came to dinner with my family. We went for a walk. There was a very sweet kiss. It was a lovely date. I remember it fondly. But, mainly because it was what made Allura and I see each other clearly for the first time, which is why we can be such good friends now.”

“What did YOU think of the whole date thing?” Talia asked Keith.

“Ohhhh, GOOD question!” Lance turned to smile at him, “I can’t believe I never thought to ask you that!”

“I… wanted my friends to be happy. If that was with each other, then the important thing was that they were happy,” Keith answered. “But… if they weren’t… then I needed to smarten up and make some changes.”

“Changes?” Rai echoed, “what kind of changes?”

“I….” Keith faltered.

Lance slipped his hand over Keith’s, “he wasn’t ready for a serious relationship then. He knew I wanted…. All this. Marriage. Kids. You guys. He did, too… he just didn’t know HOW to make this work and had to figure it out.”

“So… you guys were already in love when you went out with Allura?” Lucas asked.

“I don’t think either of us had figured that out yet,” Keith laughed.

“Kissing Allura made it pretty clear to me,” Lance said, “I knew what it SHOULD feel like and it… was nice. Sweet… but not the same.”

“The same?” Kashi narrowed his eyes, “you guys had ALREADY kissed!”

“How did we end up talking about this?” Keith asked no one in particular. “Guys, we were in space a long time. We didn’t know we were falling in love, but that doesn’t mean there wasn’t interest. Okay?”

“But-”

“Hold up!” Lance laughed, “I will tell you guys the whole story, if you want me to… buuuuut I will remind you that you think us kissing each other hello is gross. So, be absolutely SURE you want to hear the answer before you ask any more questions about the two teenage boys we were back then. Okay? Okay.”

“Eww,” Lucas made a face. Rai and Thace blushed. Talia rolled her eyes, and Kashi was visibly debating whether he should ask something.

“No gross stuff… but if YOU knew after you kissed Allura,” Kashi started, “when did YOU know?”

“When did I know I was in love with your Papi?” Keith clarified. Kashi nodded and he sat back, thinking. “I don’t think I really had like a moment where I went ‘oh, I love him’. For me, it was more like… he kept getting a little more important to me and then a little more and a little more… and eventually being able to offer what he deserved was more important than the stuff I was afraid of. It was easier to get myself together than it was to live without him. It was easier to stay than to go.” He sighed, “I’m making myself sound really lazy. None of that stuff was EASY. It was REALLY hard to stop being afraid of getting left behind. It was REALLY hard to learn how to be part of a couple, and to work through the fights and the hurt feelings. All that was so much harder than anything I’d ever done. But being HAPPY with Lance was the easiest thing in the world… and NOT doing the other stuff? Like, staying away and not being with him, that was IMPOSSIBLE. Keeping people at a distance used to be easy for me, but I could NOT do that with him, so I had to figure out how to be close.”

“Awwww, Mullet,” Lance cooed, lifting Keith’s hand to kiss his knuckles. “You never told me any of that.”

“Okay, but WHEN,” Kashi asked again, exasperated, “when’s the FIRST time you remember knowing that you were in love with Papi?”

“In the Quantum Abyss,” Keith said after a moment, “that’s when I knew it wasn’t just an interest… when it could be something real. When I didn’t know if I would ever see the others again, and how much MORE it hurt to think that I’d never see Lance again… Yeah. That’s when I knew something had changed.”

“So… you completely changed who you were, for a guy?” Talia asked, “aren’t you always telling us NOT to do that?”

“He didn’t change who he was,” Lance said quickly, “he is still the same hot-headed, stubborn, brave, awkward, loyal, quick-thinking, introverted, amazing guy he always was. He just faced his fears and dealt with the shit that was holding him back. He COULD do that because of who he really is. If you find someone who makes you want to face your fears and slog through the darkest parts of you to be with them, we’ll support that. That is NOT the same as pretending to like American football and hate ACTUAL football, or not talking about being Cuban, or doing things you know are wrong to impress someone.”

“Okay, okay,” she rolled her eyes, “geez!”

“So… when did you actually get together?” Lucas asked, “like, officially.”

“Our very first official date was the second of April before my twentieth birthday,” Lance said with certainty.

“It would have been the first, but he didn’t want to risk it being a prank,” explained Keith.

“And then you dated for how long?” asked Kashi.

“We got engaged that December… he proposed at the ice skating rink- you guys know that story,” Lance supplied, “and we were engaged a year and a half before the wedding.”

“That’s not that long. Juanita and I have been together longer than that,” Thace mused.

“Don’t even think about using us as some kind of relationship planner,” Keith laughed, “I was stuck on a Space Whale for two years, then we all jumped ahead three… and we were a mess in the beginning. You and Juanita set your own pace. There’s no rush.”

“Any last questions?” Lance asked, “I promise, I’ll answer ANYTHING you ask me…” He waited a moment and when no one spoke up and he was greeted with assorted variations on a head shake he polished off his coffee, “alright. Good. Now, Thace, what was your FAVORITE thing about the campus?”

“My favorite?” Thace thought for a moment, blue eyes flashing, “the robotics lab. They had tech there that was amazing. So much more variety than what we have on the Atlas!”

“Really?” Talia interjected, “I thought you were all about library, with that interactive study support program?”

“Yeah, that was pretty impressive, too.” He launched into a description of the holographic tutors and test prep programs the library offered. Which led to a discussion of how the engineering programs were structured and what he liked and didn’t like about them. Before long the entire family was debating the pros and cons of the school. Keith went quiet, watching the most important people in the world to him laugh and talk and argue. His kids. His husband. Before long, Thace would be out on his own. Then the twins would be off to face the world. Even Kashi and Lucas were barrelling toward adulthood far too fast.

He stood heading to the counter to get a fresh round of drinks, because his brood of extroverts (and Rai, his sole introverted kid) would be hashing this out for a while, and the weather outside was anything but inviting.

“Excuse me?”

He turned, blinking in surprise when he realized that the person speaking to him was Galra, “yes?”

Her yellow eyes widened and her fluffy ears flattened slightly, “I’m sorry to disturb you… You are the Black Paladin, yes?”

“Yeah,” he answered with a smile, “I am. Can I help you?”

“I just…” she sighed, “I wanted to thank you. My father… he was a Blade of Marmora. I know you… you helped Kolivan after… everything. I never thought I’d get the chance… just… thank-you. Thank-you for making sure the Blades weren’t forgotten.”

“You don’t need to thank me for that,” he said in a rush, “the Blades were, to a man, among the strongest, bravest, most honorable men and women I have ever had the privilege of knowing. They deserve to be remembered and honored. I named my son after a Blade who sacrificed himself for me, for the mission. Without his work, his selflessness, we never would have been able to defeat Zarkon.” He nodded to the table, “the tall one with the brown hair, his name is Thace.”

“Thace?” she echoed, “his name is Thace?”

“Yeah,” he confirmed, “we’re touring colleges right now. He graduates in the spring. Oh… oh no… are you crying?” He grabbed a napkin from the counter for her.

She blotted at her eyes, nodding. “It’s alright… I’m fine… I just…” She took a shuddery breath and pulled out what he recognized as a Galran holo-locket and pressed it into his hand. “Look. This is my father.” He did as she asked, triggering the little projector. The light flickered for a moment, it must have taken damage somewhere along the way because the image glitched and blinked out before coming into focus. A handsome, familiar face appeared before him and time froze. His eyes flicked back to the woman, connecting her features to the hologram in front of him. He pulled her into a hug, “he was a great man. A GREAT man. A true hero.” Releasing her he cleared his throat. “Please… PLEASE come meet my family. They would be so honored.”

He bustled her over to the table of people quietly but animatedly discussing… cafeteria food, at the moment and rested his hand on Lance’s shoulder to get his attention. “Guys… your Dad has someone for you to meet,” Lance said, his voice serious enough that they all fell silent.

“Everyone… this is… oh, I never got YOUR name, I’m so sorry!”

She laughed awkwardly, waving off his concern, “I’m Dai’sa. My name is Dai’sa.”

“Dai’sa,” he repeated, “this is my husband Lance, the Red Paladin, and our children. That’s Lucas, by the window. Then the one that looks like me is Kashi. This is Talia, and her twin brother Rai… and this… this is Thace. Everyone, Dai’sa’s father was a Blade of Marmora.”

They fell over each other to offer their condolences and gratitude. Lance made a point of standing and shaking Dai’sa’s hand, repeating that the Blade is a family, and so she should consider them to be family, as well and generally being his charming, gracious self.

“Did you know her Dad?” Kashi asked after a moment.

“I… uh… I did, actually,” Keith answered, “he saved my life. We named your brother after him.”

“Thace?” Lance asked, astounded, “your father was Thace?”

She nodded, “did you know him, too?”

He shook his head, “no, I never got that honor. But I know he was a hero. He saved… thousands of lives, millions possibly. I am so sorry that the war took him from you. If you EVER need anything of us. Of Voltron, the Paladins, or… just… us… the Koganes. Please do not hesitate to ask.”

“Uh.. thank-you. Thank-you.”

“Hey, chiquito, come say hi,” he waved his son over. Thace was tall and long-limbed, like Lance and his sister Rachel, who’d carried him, but broader through the shoulders and a bit bulkier. He looked like the McClains, with his softly curled brown hair, blue eyes, and coppery skin, but you could see Keith in the shape of his eyes, the quirk of his smile, and in the way he moved and spoke.

“I’m Thace Kogane,” he said softly, “it is such an honor to meet you. To meet another child of the Blade… but YOU specifically, too. I want you to know, I am VERY proud of the name I carry. I am proud to be Galra, even if I am only one quarter Galra. I know I have very big shoes to fill, I hope I can live up to the legacy of the name I carry. I hope I can make you proud.”

“Thank-you,” she repeated, laughing and blotting at her eyes, “I feel like I have been saying nothing but that since I approached!”

“Well, you should stop,” Talia interjected, “because we are the ones thanking you… and we’ve all done that. So, how about, instead of us all tripping over one another in gratitude, you join us for a coffee and tell us all about the great man that brought us together?”

“Please,” Keith said, gesturing to an empty chair.

“Oh, no! I couldn’t possibly intrude! You are with your family!”

“The Blade IS a family,” Kashi insisted.

“There is plenty of room,” added Rai.

“Alright… if you insist…” Lance nodded to assure her that, yes, they really did and she took a seat. Keith hurried back to the counter, paying for Dai’sa’s order as well as his family’s and collected the tray that held all the drinks. He settled into his seat, clasping Lance’s hand in his own. Thace’s daughter. He’d had no idea that such a person even existed, but he could see the resemblance.

Lucas looked over at his parents and rolled his eyes, “thanks for joining us Dai’sa… you being here might actually keep them from being gross!”

[kneesheee]

Little Devil

warnings:  cursing | vague references to child abuse | age regression

|two|

Jason stared down at the girl bowing before him. She was a foot and some inches shorter than him standing at a solid five feet. Her once milk chocolate colored hair was fanning around her face, but he didn’t concentrate on that. No, he paid attention to the white strip curling through her hair. He had no doubt that if she were to look up then her eyes would be glowing green.

“My apologies for declining to answer your messages,” she stated into the night. “I had not known that it was the Born-Again Prince that was attempting to contact me.”

“Mila,” he groaned exasperated. Jamila Al Ghul. Daughter of Nyssa Raatko and Slade Wilson after Ra Al Ghul decided to play mad scientist with his daughter’s genes. Sister to Conner Hawke/Al Ghul/Queen whichever one he was going by these days. The only friend he had made while in Talia’s care. “I told you to stop calling me that.”

“Did you honestly think that I was going to stop, dear cousin,” she questioned as she stood from her crouch. The two of them stared at each other before folding into a hug. It had been awhile since they had last seen each other. “Are the rumors true? Are you the new Heir to the Demon?”

Jason grimaced, “Yes. And before you ask, so are the rumors about Nyssa attacking Talia.”

Jamila sneered, “I always knew Mother held no honor. Despite my resentment of him, I am thoroughly grateful that Grandfather chose not to reveal my existence to either of my parents.”

Jason sighed and ran a hand across his face, “Despite everything, T is doing well and she’s safe. I need a favor from you though.”

His cousin slouched a little and crossed her arms, “The Big and Bad Red Hood needs a favor from mwah? Oh, whatever shall I be?”

“No need for the snark,” Jason crossed his own arms looking at her. Her own eyes glowed with the power of the pit behind them. He didn’t want to know how she ended up in such a predicament. He knew she could take of herself. He knew she could overcome the effects of the pit. If anything, it just made his skin crawl as recounted his own experience with the magical waters. “What I do need is for someone to be out there getting me intel. I need a link to the League so I can know Shiva’s process on helping T and if she needs any backup. I also need someone with ears on the ground for whatever it is Nyssa might be planning.”

“And pray tell, why you cannot do this yourself?”

“From what I’ve been told, I’m the reason that Nyssa attacked Talia. If I step outside of Gotham, then I’m going to have eyes on me everywhere. I need to keep a low profile.”

Jamila hummed as she looked him over. She ran a hand through her hair. “The wishing well near Ivy’s Garden. Whatever information I managed to get then that’s where I’m going to leave it.”

“Don’t you want to be the Heir instead, Mila?”

“Not a chance in Heaven or Hell,” she scoffed.

Jamila moved towards the edge of the rooftop the two of them were standing on. A slight breeze picked up and blew her hair through the air. She turned to look at him and the fierce expression on her face soften into something gentle, “Jason, do be careful. You may not be my cousin by blood, but you are the cousin of my heart. I will destroy the world thrice over if it meant that you keep some happiness.”

She fell backwards off the edge before he could give promise to her words. But he watched as she appeared a few buildings over and heading away from the streets of Gotham and he wonders if she can hear his silent pleads that she do the same.

--

When Jason made it back to the manor, he slipped in through the window leading to his old room. A quick glance at his bed and he could see Talia still lying there sleeping peacefully. Even in her sleep, she still looked like a warrior princess.

He sighed deeply. He needs to find a way to help her get back to her rightful age asap. But… but a part of him wanted to delay it as long as it was possible. He wanted to give her the childhood she should have had instead of the one she was forced to live.

He removed his boots and armor from his body before walking into the bathroom to slip into more comfortable clothing. He checked to see if Talia was still asleep before carefully moving two of the floorboards and placing the minimum weapons, he had carried on his person back in their place. With one last check on his charge, he reestablishes the rigged security system on the window that he made. Bruce and the others were so sure that the motion detectors would catch anybody sneaking onto the premises, but Jason learned his way around those from the very first moment he put on the pixie boots. At least with his security, whoever might try to break it would lose their fingers and then their life when Jason arrived to catch them.

Talia sacrificed everything for him. It’s only right that he repays the favor.

Jason made his way out the room with one more glance at Talia before softly closing the door. When he turned around, Cass was standing there. He quirked an eyebrow. “Guard duty,” was all she said.

He nodded his head and the two of them continued down the hallway. Making their way to the kitchen where the rest of the family had gathered before Jason left to make contact with Mila. Three days had already passed with Talia being stuck as a toddler and he was no close to figuring out how to help her. They had no knowledge if it was magic, science or even technology that made her this way.

“Ah, Master Jason, welcome back. Have a seat. I’ll bring out something for you,” Alfred greeted, walking off before Jason could protest. He shook his head with a fond smile and made his way to the dining room where the rest of the family was waiting.

“I’m just saying Bruce, we shouldn’t be distributing so many resources to help that-that woman after all she’s done to this family. It’ll be for the best to keep her as she is. At worst with our help, we can keep her from turning into the Talia we know today and at best, we can just ship her off to another family.”

It had been years since Jason had felt any effects from the pits. Maybe it had ignited after seeing the evidence on his cousin or maybe the anger he was feeling at Barbara’s words were strong enough to relight it. Either way, he could feel it nipping at the back of his mind... Staying there. Stagnant. It was more of a tool for him to use instead of a leash to control him.

“Look Gordon, I get you have your issues with Talia. But you don’t know jackshit about her and if you speak another word about her, then I’d happily show you exactly just how you’re not actually all that great.”

The rest of them startled not having noticed him come in, but he only had eyes for Barbara. He looked up to her. Cherished her even. She was his batgirl. But Talia was his mother and he wont stand for any ill will to her.

“Jason, what Babs was trying to say—” Dick began, but Jason rose a hand in the air. “She can speak for herself, Dick, and she made it perfectly clear how she felt. I’m making it known how I feel, and I won’t stand for any slander against her. You can speak about whatever problem you have with her on your own time, but so long as she’s here… so long as I am here, then you will keep your thoughts to yourself or leave her wellbeing to me and go back to playing with your computers.”

The two held a small staring match as she tried to gauge how serious he was, and he expertly conveyed the threat in his eyes to the next person that spoke on Talia negatively. She nodded her head at him before turning away. Jason took a deep breath and mentally pushed the pit away. He had been doing good and he didn’t need a relapse.

He kept on to his seat and thank Alfred as he placed his food in front of him. He said a quick blessing over his food just like Talia had demanded of him before he slowly began to it.

“Um, Jason, what did your contact say,” he heard Timmy ask from his seat. Jason looked up to see him typing furiously on his computer with one hand and reaching for the coffee cup that Cass was carefully keeping out of his hands.

“She didn’t tell me much and I didn’t press for much. What she did say is that the rumors about who the new Heir is and how fast the information surrounding Nyssa’s attack is spreading.”

Everyone’s brow furrowed. To know that there was someone out there that might be getting ready to start the biggest war in the criminal world was frustrating. They didn’t know who they were looking for or what to expect from them.

“Well, did she at least tell you who the Heir was,” Stephanie questioned. All eyes turned to him and he narrowed his eyes at her. He took great care of what he alluded with his body language before he answered. Heaving a deep sigh and taking on a look of exasperation, he set his fork down and ran a hand through his hair.

“I already knew who the Heir was and believe me when I say they want nothing to do with the title.”

Tim went back to typing on his computer, “Still it would be good know who the Heir is just in case they cause trouble later down the line.”

Jason scowled at the brat, and here he thought Timmy was his favorite. He then sent a silent prayer of forgiveness to Jamila and he swore he could her sharpening her knives and cursing at him. Jason sighed as if he was exhausted with the topic and didn’t want to let this particular amount of leverage go. “Her name’s Jamila. You’d probably find better information on her if you looked up Death Demon. It’s her code name, but she’s even more of a ghost in the underground world than the Winter Soldier from your comics, Timmers. But she is real. I met her a couple of times while training with the League. She put a knife to my throat and told me to stop killing all of her teachers before she got finished punishing them.”

“Am I the only one trying to figure out why Jason seems to be on first name basis with assassins,” Dick exclaimed.

Jason snorted, “I was one myself, Dickhead. I worked directly under Talia before she let my leash go and set me out on the world. Hell, in some parts, I’m still considered one. There are many places that are living in fear afraid of the Red Ronin to come back and rain down vengeance.”

“I don’t think that’s something to be proud of,” Duke muttered from his spot at the table.

Small patter of feet caught everyone’s attention and Jason looked over to the doorway to see Talia peeking in. Her features were twisted in a scowl and Jason was sure that only he and Cass could see the fear lurking in her eyes.

He rose up from his seat immediately catching her attention and then she disappeared. When he sat back down, he pushed his chair further from the table to catch the small body that landed in his lap.

“Hello, تاليا,” he muttered as he scooted back near the table. She laid her head on his chest and whispered, “Hello, Jason” in English. Jason nearly cried with joy. In the past three days alone, she had spoken in French, Spanish, German, Greece, Swahili and Chinese. Sometimes she would switch languages mid-sentence. It was nice to know that she could speak English also though he still felt like a scolded kid whenever she rose a brow at him when he stumbled from her dialect switch.

He handed her the fork in his hands and let her eat the fruit off his plate. Another thing everyone learned was that she was a vegetarian. But she had spoken to him in silence and broken words that Ra had already been training such weakness from her and forcing her to eat meat. She hates it but she won’t go against her father.

“Hi, Talia. I’m Stephanie!”

Right, despite that they had been here for three days coming and going because like hell was, he going to spend the night at the manor… Talia successfully managed to avoid everyone in the house. Everyone except Alfred and Tim that is. She had told him that watching them concentrate on their task was soothing and orderly. It reminded her of home.

She looked up at Stephanie with a blank stare before looking back at Jason. “It’s up to you.”

“Bright.”

Jason nodded his head, “Hey, Steph. Tone it down a little.” He looked backed down at Talia who nodded her head. “Hello, Stephanie.” The girl in questioned almost squeal in delight before the rest of them started to introduce themselves.

When Damian introduced himself, Talia blinked before leaning his direction. She turned back to Jason, “He looks like Mother’s brother. Family?”

Jason pretend not to notice the emotions in Damian’s eyes. He knows that the boy knows little of his Grandmother’s family. “He is my brother.”

“Potential,” she stated with a raised brow. “Worthy of Nobutora name.”

Talia smiled lightly at Damian before she disappeared from his lap and the sound of her feet were heard back in the hall as she headed back to the room. Jason turned to look at Damian who was staring after his mother with a shocked look on his face.

“She had never told me that before.”

Jason crouched down beside him, “It doesn’t mean it’s not true.”

He ruffled the kid’s hair and gave thanks to Alfred for the dinner. He walked out of the room with everyone else wondering what Talia told Damian. “Call me if you get a lead or anything,” he called behind him.

He needed to get back to his apartment and give Talia her bath before they settled in for the night. The Bats could handle patrol for one more night.

[disneydreamlights]

For the controversial ship meme - ALL symbols for Persona, Kingdom Hearts, and Hatoful Boyfriend.

You really out here wanting me to die tonight for my opinions.

Persona:

Ship that you have as an OTP: 🌹

SHUAKE FOR LIFE. God I love Shuake. Enemies to lovers in general just gives me life but the fact that Akechi and Akira were made to be foils to each other is just good shit.

Ship that you’re indifferent to: 😑

Honestly most Phantom Thief shipping I’m pretty ambivalent to, but if I had to pick the one I’m like...truly the embodiment of “meh” about I’d probably say Ann/Akira. I don’t love it or hate it, it just kinda exists.

Ship that makes you sad: 💔

God I’ve got two: Akiham and Fool Moon. You want depression? Great, take these ships and run with it. And if you thought the fact that Shinji dying made Fool Moon depressing, how about the fact that if you romance Aki you can’t save Shinji, so he’s lost his parents, his sister, his absolute best friend in the entire world, and now you too.

...Akihiko deserved better.

Ship that you find disgusting: 💩

KEN/MINAKO CAN GO DIE IN A HOLE BYE.

Ship that you find cute but don’t ship: ✌

I don’t really ship it but of the female confidants and Akira, ShuMako is definitely the cutest.

Ship that you secretly like: 💚

I will never own up to this again but Ann/Ryuji actually lowkey is kinda cute, and while I’m not super into it I’d definitely get behind it.

Ship that you used to have as an OTP: 💙

None really? For me to dump a ship at OTP status you gotta cataclysmically fail as bad as Lotura and have a fanbase worse than some KH ships.

Ship that you find most sexy:👅

I got held up on this for like ten minutes because I’ve never actually thought of this in regards to Persona...I guess probably Shuake? All my other ships I see as sexually incompetent to some degree. 

Ship that you can never see happening: 👎

Any of the kid/adult ships. Also Futaba/Akira, the two are practically like adoptive siblings and that’s just weird.

Ship that is canon but you don’t ship: 💤

n/a. The only canon ship in Persona is Junpei/Chidori and that’s...good.

Ship that is unpopular but you still like: 💘

...Honestly Ann/Ryuji I’m pretty sure is unpopular. Also anything P3 because the fandom is too quiet.

Ship that is taboo: 💦

Shuake? I can see this ship being classified as taboo given I had to leave a server over hate for it.

Ship that pisses you off: 💣

...Ken/Minako please fuck off.

Ship you’re curious about: 👀

I would love to see more of MakoHaru, it’s got a lot of potential but not a lot of attention and that’s a real shame.

Ship that needs more love: 💖

Every one of my P3 ships. Give Akiham more love, give Fool Moon more love, give Mitsuru/Yukari more love. Give Junpei/Chidori more love.

Ship that is most misunderstood: 💢

Shuake is misunderstood even by its fans because too many of its fans white knight Akechi and erase his wrong doings when half of the interesting things from the ship come from Akechi growing from everything he did wrong and that’s the tea.

Kingdom Hearts:

Ship that you have as an OTP: 🌹

I always crossfire my OTPs but I guess if I had to pick one to top all of them it would probably be RikuShi? Hard to say.

Ship that you’re indifferent to: 😑

Tequa. I want to like Tequa, I really do. I just can’t bring myself to care about it that much, and that saddens me.

Ship that makes you sad: 💔

Hey canon SoKai absolutely broke my heart, crushed my dreams, destroyed my soul, and I want to cry.

Ship that you find disgusting: 💩

I sat here for like an hour because I genuinely wanted to avoid naming the ship and in the end I decided I’m tied between Ak*R*ku and Ak*Shi. The age gap plus the fact that Axel feels more like their dad just makes me uncomfortable, that being said if the arts good I’m still gonna reblog.

Ship that you find cute but don’t ship: ✌

There are a lot of good high crack combinations out there like Sora/Ariel, Sora/Rapunzel. I also admire R*kuShi from a distance but the fanbase kinda turned me off pretty bad given the ship wars between them and RokuNami.

Ship that you secretly like: 💚

Terra/Cinderella is a ship I will never talk about shipping but it’s actually genuinely really cute and I blame Talia for making me ship it.

Ship that you used to have as an OTP: 💙

Once upon a time back in 2018 I was a huge S*RiK*i shipper. Then KH3 came out and well...

The behavior of some people has kinda turned me off big time from a specific third of the ship and if you don’t like all three parts then what’s the point of OT3ing.

Ship that you find most sexy:👅

Vanqua. Which I feel weird saying but you know what, that would one hundred percent be it. The rest of my ships completely lack sex appeal but Vanqua has Aqua in it and she’s literally the most attractive character in KH.

Ship that you can never see happening: 👎

Well of my own ships...Vanqua, but of the other ships...

You know what, for my own safety, I’d rather not say.

Ship that is canon but you don’t ship: 💤

Well I ship the canon and implicated canon ships so...

Ship that is unpopular but you still like: 💘

GULAVA HAS THREE SHIPPERS AND YOU KNOW WHAT I WILL PROUDLY BE ALL OF THEM.

Ship that is taboo: 💦

Vanqua. Big taboo here.

Ship that pisses you off: 💣

...

...

...

Look.

I don’t want to die Perla.

You already know my answer and why.

You know how much I hate that one theory and hate the fandom’s attitude and it’s made me legitimately angry over a ship.

I think you know the answer.

Ship you’re curious about: 👀

Aquarella looks real cute. So does NamiXi but not enough content.

Ship that needs more love: 💖

RokuNami needs more love, the ship’s fallen into quietness, but also my eternally rare pairs of GulAva and RikuShi and Vanqua and XehaEra need more content and deserve to be fed.

Ship that is most misunderstood: 💢

VANQUA

JESUS FUCKING CHRIST GUYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH AN AGE GAP BETWEEN A SIXTEEN AND EIGHTEEN YEAR OLD STOP PORTRAYING IT AS GROSS THERE ARE UNDERSTANDABLE REASONS TO CALL VANQUA BAD AND A REASON I WOULD NEVER WANT IT CANON BUT THE AGE GAP DIFFERENCE IS NOT IT.

Hatoful Boyfriend:

Ship that you have as an OTP: 🌹

My oc x Yuuya because Zoe and I rped that and it’s one of my top ships period. Sakuya/Ryouta is honestly a very good ship and 10/10 would ship again.

Ship that you’re indifferent to: 😑

Honestly most ships? There’s just not a lot of birdie combinations I’m super into in general.

Ship that makes you sad: 💔

Hiyoko/Ryouta is particularly tragic, even if I’m not a shipper of it, once you take into account BBL.

Ship that you find disgusting: 💩

Yuuya/Sakuya

Fuck off with that incest.

Ship that you find cute but don’t ship: ✌

I’m not super big into Anghel/Nageki but it’s real cute anyways, just not enough canon substantiating it.

Ship that you secretly like: 💚

N/A. Don’t really had any of my Hatoful ships.

Ship that you used to have as an OTP: 💙

None? Same deal as P5 there was no fuckery in the fanbase to turn me off. It’s a nice chill fanbase over here.

Ship that you find most sexy:👅

...They’re birds.

Ship that you can never see happening: 👎

Shuu/Yuuya. I know there are people who ship it and no.

Ship that is canon but you don’t ship: 💤

N/A. No canon ships.

Ship that is unpopular but you still like: 💘

...I’m not involved in the fandom enough for this tbh.

Ship that is taboo: 💦

None I’m interested in tbh.

Ship that pisses you off: 💣

PEOPLE WHO SHIP EITHER SETS OF BROTHERS. JUST NO.

Ship you’re curious about: 👀

Anghel/Nageki. Let them interact more in the next game.

Ship that needs more love: 💖

...All of them. This fandom is tiny give the game more love before its ships.

Ship that is most misunderstood: 💢

None that I can think of?

[buckyscrystalqueen]

Winter Wolf: Part 7

Pairings: Bucky x Reader, Eventual Natasha x Reader

Warnings: Swearing, angst, fluff, death

Word Count: 3,583

Box Filled: Gender Swap

A/N: This series was written for @marvelfluffbingo​ and it took on a life of its own. Enjoy!

Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4 / Part 5 / Part 6

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

“This movie is really violent.” You said simply as you sat sideways across the single chair on Bucky’s lap watching some horror movie he wanted you to see. You scrunched your nose and cringed as you watched as the woman in whatever contraption she was in had her skin ripped off her stomach. “Scary violent.”

“Really, babe?” Bucky asked as he absentmindedly played with your hair that he had draped over his shoulder and the back of the chair to keep it out of the way of the pair of socks you were kitting for a local homeless shelter. “You’re an assassin…”

“Yea, I killed people with calculated shots and knives to the jugular. This…” You said as you gestured to the TV with your knitting needle. “…is just gratuitous violence.” You watched for only a moment longer before you shook your head and leaned into Bucky’s chest to pay attention to your knitting.

“Want me to turn it off?” He asked as he glanced down at you.

“No it’s fine.” You said with a shake of your head. “I’m content. I have like four more pairs of socks to do for that box for the shelter anyways.”

“Well if you’re sure.” He said as he kissed your forehead with a smile. “I’m gunna keep watching because I love these movies.”

“That’s because you have severe problems.” You giggled as you tapped his chin with the flat end of your knitting needle. “Serious, probably certifiable problems.”

“You love it.” He sighed as he wrapped his arms around your middle and pulled you impossibly closer. You tucked your forehead against his throat with a smile and continued to work on your socks. You were just finishing up the sock you had started at the beginning of the movie when someone grabbed your metal arm and yanked you off Bucky’s lap.

“Don’t speak.” Nat hissed at Bucky with a glance over her shoulder down her hallway. “You haven’t seen me.”

“You got it.” He said with a wave of his hand as he looked away from Natasha dragging you down to his room.

“Will you be gentle?” You asked as she practically shoved you in the door and ran in after you. 

“Why would you say that?” She asked as she pushed you up against the wall by the door. You searched her tear stained face as she frantically tried to touch every inch of you that she could. “My star…”

“Shhh…” You said softly as you quickly pulled her into your arms. “I’m here, little love…” She sobbed silently against your chest, letting you see a weakness no one else saw, and you ran your fingers through her soft, red hair. “I couldn’t let you lose him, baby girl.” You whispered against her forehead. “Love is way to precious…”

“But what about our love, huh?” She asked harshly in Russian as she pulled back to glare at you. “What does our love mean to you?”

“Talia…” You tried but she shook her head.

“You can’t just throw me away like that. Do I mean nothing to you?”

“Natalia!” You snapped as your face contorted in heartache.

“You replaced me.” She said as a scary calm look flashed across her face almost instantly. “That’s it. You replaced me in your heart…”

“Talia…”

“It’s Natasha.” She said evenly as she stormed out of the room. “Your little love is gone.”

“Natalia!” You hissed as loud as you dared after her as she ran across the living room toward her room. Your whole body started to shake violently as Bucky lurched off the chair to figure out what happened.

“What…?” Was all he got out before you burst into tears and sank down to the floor against the door frame. “Fuck… come here.” He said as he picked you up off the floor and carried you down to your room since all his pillows and blankets were on your bed. His heart felt conflicted as he lowered you down to the mattress that still sat on the floor since he was watching one of his close friends break the woman he loves’ heart for loving him.

“I’m sorry.” You cried as he laid down beside you and wrapped you in his arms. “I shouldn’t…”

“Don’t be sorry, (Y/N). I understand, sweetheart.”

“I don’t.” You sobbed as you wrapped your arms around him as much as you could and held on tight. He sighed and kissed the top of your head with a nod.

“I know, baby. Me neither.”

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

You stood in the mirror in your bathroom, staring at your reflection, honestly wondering who you were. Natasha’s words struck deep to your core and after a restless nights sleep, you started to think about what you were doing. Were you replacing Natasha with Bucky out of connivence?

You glanced over at the man sleeping on your bed and a small smile pulled at the corner of your lips. He was sprawled out across your bed like a starfish with your pillow hugged against the side as if you were still there and the blanket was just draped over his boxer clad right thigh only. His long hair, which was his personal screw you to the US government for making him continuously cut it when he joined the Army, was fanned out across the pillow and his soft, almost unheard breaths were guaranteed to help you fall asleep in a matter of minutes.

But he wasn’t just a warm body to you; he was your rock. He could read your emotions like a book and he had already taken it upon himself to make sure that when you were headed down, he was the only one that brought you right back up. He listened when you talked and was actually curious about your life; your whole life. He wanted to know every little detail he could, from what your favorite color was and is; it used to be sunflower yellow but soft, sky blue like the very start of a sunrise won these days. He was trying to learn some basic Russian to try and help out during those now rare nights that you had flashback nightmares. He let you vent to him when Tony pissed you off and helped you pick on Steve when he was being… well, Steve. He made you laugh to the point where you were near tears just to hear the sound. He honestly reminded you so much of John.

You sat down on the floor and tried to picture your life without Bucky in it; even the idea was nauseating. You couldn’t imagine not having him to talk too at three in the morning when a memory popped up in a dream that you just had to share. It broke your heart to picture even knitting without him playing with the ball of yarn like a cat just to get you to smile. It nearly killed you to imagine going through your days without having him in them. And no matter how much you loved her, if you had to choose, you needed Bucky more than you needed Natasha. Because you were not the same person you were back then.

You got to your feet and looked in the mirror once more. You cringed as your eyes dragged down your fresh out of the shower wet body. There were no visible scars left other than your shoulder; your mutation taking care of that for you, but you could still see them in your mind. The gashes, burns, and gouges from horrors too imaginable for words. You looked back up at your face with a sigh and ran your hands through your wet hair.

“Buck.” You called out as you separated the strands and pulled them in front of your chest. When he didn’t say anything, you looked over at him. “Baby?” Your boyfriend sat bolt upright in bed and looked around the room to find you. You stepped into the door way with tears in your eyes and a weak smile. “Can you help me cut my hair?”

“What?” He asked with his brow furrowed as he brushed his hair out of his face. 

“My hair.” You repeated. “I want you…”

“No, I heard you, baby.” He said as he got up out of bed with a groan. “Why are we cutting your hair?”

“It’s not right.” You said as you grabbed a hair tie off the counter and began collecting the long locks in your slightly shaky hands behind your back. “It’s not me anymore.”

“OK. Alright.” He said as he said calmly as he pulled your hair from your hands so it wouldn’t get caught in your metal hand in your haste. “Let’s see what we can do here.” You nodded your head as he started the long process of pulling your knee length hair into a pony tail at the base of your neck. “How long do you want it, sweetheart?” You shook your head and shrugged as he found your tear filled eyes in the mirror. “Are you sure about this?” You nodded again as you grabbed his small beard scissors and held them up toward him.

“Please?” You said as he searched your eyes in the mirror. He nodded and smiled as he took the scissors from your hand.

“Alright, baby girl. Let’s do this. I’m gunna leave a little length, though.” He said as he pulled the elastic through your hair to the middle of the small of your back. He pushed his thumb into your back where he had stopped and looked back up for confirmation. “There OK?” All you could do was nod as tears fell from your eyes. “Stand up straight for me, baby.”  You did as you were told as he made one last adjustment of the hair tie and crouched down behind you. Your eyes closed as he began the process of cutting at least a foot and a half off your hair. 

You didn’t look as you pictured the weight of everything you had gone through in your existence being cut away with the strands. Every ounce of pain and torture; of loss and anger. Every murder committed at your hands and at the hands of the White Wolf, even the Wolf herself; you let them all go. It took nearly an hour with the tiny scissors but when the last strand was cut, you felt more free than you had in more than a century. 

“How’s that feel?” Bucky asked as he set the pony tail aside and ran his fingers through your hair so he could even out the ends.

“Freeing.” You breathed as you wiped your your tears away. You went to look down at the pony tail and Bucky gasped.

“No don’t wiggle!” He laughed as he moved the scissors away so he didn’t cut a big chunk of your hair off accidentally. “Stay straight. I gotta fix this line.”

“Let me see then.” You said as you held your hand out for the hair he cut. You waited a moment as he cut a tiny section and put the pony tail in your hand for you.

“You know what I like about this?” He asked as he evened out another little section. “I get a better view of this cute butt of yours.”

“God, you’re such a man.” You teased as you whacked him with the pony tail in the side before putting it on the counter. 

“I would hope so.” He chuckled as he got the last little area and stood up. “Alright, what do you think?” He asked as he ran his hands through your hair and pulled it forward over your shoulders. 

“Oh, my Lord.” You said as your eyes looked at the shortened locks. “I love it!” You smiled and looked up at him as he moved you a step to the side so he could wash his scissors and hands. “Thank you.”

“Of course, baby.” He chuckled as you kissed his cheek. “Throw my shirt from yesterday on and go grab the dustpan to clean up so we can jump in the shower and get these little hairs off your back. You’ll be itchy all day otherwise.”

“You gunna help me wash my back, Buck?” You asked with a smirk on your way out into the bedroom.

“And I’ll be a perfect gentleman about it, too.” He chuckled as he dried off his hands so he could finally use the bathroom.

“Oh, I bet you will.” You giggled as you pulled your hair from the collar of the shirt and ran your fingers through it a couple times. With a smile, you told yourself that this was the start of something new in your life and you were not going to allow your past to weigh you down any more.

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

“So I got a question for you.” Tony said as he flopped down on the couch beside you while you watched ‘Gone With The Wind’ with Wanda and Bucky and pointed out all the historical inaccuracies to them and Steve, who was in the kitchen making dinner for the team. You glanced over at him with your eyebrows raised as Wanda paused the movie. “So on a scale of one to ten, how crazy do you think you are?”

“Really, Tony?” Wanda asked as she leaned around you and Bucky from her chair to glare at him.

“She’s not crazy!” Bucky yelled over her and Steve simply groaned the billionaire’s name.

“About a four.” You said with a shrug at the same time. You glanced over at Steve as he came around the kitchen island to look at you with a scowl. “What?! I have metal claws, I can’t die, and the voice in my head thinks being an Avenger is a good idea. I’m sort of crazy.”

“Perfect. She’s ready for a mission.”

“Sounds good.” You said as the other three Avengers protested loudly.

“Be in the briefing room in ten minutes. I’ll find Banner!” Tony called out as he got up quickly and walked away before anyone could verbally or physically attack him. When he was gone, three pairs of eyes turned on you.

“Are you sure you’re ready for this?” Bucky asked as he rubbed your back. You shrugged as you stopped the movie and looked at the remote to make sure you hit the ‘all off’ button.

“Gotta find out sometime, right?” You asked as you looked over at him and Wanda. The pair of them looked up at Steve for his opinion as he came around the couches to look at you. He searched your eyes for a moment before exhaling through his nose and nodding.

“Alright. Let’s go.”

——

“Alright. What do you see?” Steve asked in the comms in your ear. You looked at the man who was waiting to buy some kind of biological weapon technology from a different man (you were only half paying attention in the briefing because you didn’t really care exactly why bad guys were being bad) and sighed.

“Bucky can’t cut a straight line.” You teased as you ran your fingers through your short hair and pulled the strands in front of you.

“Really?” Bucky asked monotonously as he peeked over the edge of the building above your head at you.

“(Y/N). Pay attention.” Steve scolded as the man you were waiting for rounded a corner three blocks down the road.

“I am.” You said as you picked up your cup of watered down coffee and downed the rest of it. “We’re moving in 17 seconds.”

“Wait, what?” Wanda asked from a few tables back.

“Bucky do you have eyes?” Steve asked as you watched the man that had thought sunglasses, a horribly applied false beard, and a hair piece was an acceptable disguise. 

“Ten seconds.” You said as you reached down with your right hand and slowly pulled a small knife from your hip.

“I’m not seeing this!” Steve said.

“Blue shirt.” Bucky said as he followed your eyes to where you were looking. “I think.”

“What are we doing, Cap?” Tony asked as his red suit caught your eye a few buildings down on the opposite side of the road.

“Five seconds.”

“There’s four people with blue shirts.” Wanda said with a shake of her head as the man approached the buyer with the neurotoxin.

“You’re missing your window.” You said as your hands itched for the action.

“Cap!”

“(Y/N), take ‘em if you have eyes.” Tony said. You lurched to your feet and threw your knife with expert precision and it embedded into the disguised man’s hand as he reached out toward the buyer. A second knife was thrown less than a second later, and trapped the buyer’s hand to the metal table. People screamed around you as you took off a run toward the first man before the rest of your team even caught up to what happened.

“Where ya goin’?” You asked as you lunged and tackled the seller to the ground. You looked up at Tony to see where he was to help when a panicked looking man a block down the road met your eyes and took off at a run in the opposite direction. Without thinking, you broke the man you tackled’s leg and took off at a run after the second man.

“(Y/N)!” Steve shouted in your ear as you launched over a car and turned on a dime to head down the alley the man was trying to get away from your down.

“I got a runner.” You called back as you hurtled over over a trash can he had knocked over and picked up your pace.

“I got her.” Bucky said as Red Wing’s shadow sailed across your head and sputtered a bit to keep up with you. The man you were chasing screamed as he tried to scale a fence but you were too fast. You grabbed the back of his shirt, threw him onto the ground, and quickly stuck your metal finger in his mouth so he couldn’t crush a cyanide pill in his mouth if he had one.

“Where are you going?” You asked as you pinned his hands to his side with your thighs as you held his chin in your hand so he couldn’t struggle..

“He’s got a gun, baby.” Bucky said in your ear as Red Wing hovered over your head.

“I saw it.” You said with a nod as the man tried desperately to bite through your finger. “What are you trying to accomplish here? You’re chewing on metal.”

“Don’t encourage.” Steve said as he came down the alley to assist.

“He’s biting me.” You said as you pulled the cyanide cap off the man’s back tooth and put it in your other hand. “Come on, I know you got one more.”

“How did you even see this guy?” He asked as you found the second cap and put it in your palm with the first. 

“Sixty years of training.” You sighed as you swept through the guys mouth once more just to make sure before pulling your finger free.

“You’ll pay…” The guy shouted before you backhanded him hard with your metal hand and knocked him unconscious.

“Yea yea.” You groaned as you got your feet under you and grabbed his arm. You accidentally broke his arm on purpose as you lifted him up off the ground and passed him to Steve. “Here you go. One bad guy.”

“Damn, baby.” Bucky said as he rounded the corner. “You broke that guys leg good!” You simply shrugged as you dropped the caps from your right hand to the ground and crushed them with your heel.

“Bad guys deserve bad thing happening to them.” He smirked as he stopped in front of you and looked down at you.

“Who knew someone so tiny would be such a little spit fire.”

“Watch it, Barnes.” You laughed as you pushed his shoulder and took a step around him to head back to the rest of the team. 

You all completely missed the sniper across the street in the third floor corner window.

Your body was thrown back at least twenty feet as the thirty caliber bullet slammed into the center of your chest. You felt your lungs collapse and your spleen rupture as you started to convulse on the ground because your body was deprived of air.

“(Y/N)!” Bucky screamed as Tony blasted through the window and tackled the man that shot you to the ground. You sucked in wet breaths as fast as you could as tears welled in your eyes.

“B-b-b…” You tried as you tried to push yourself away from the mouth of the alley only to realize the bullet must have hit your spine because you couldn’t feel your arms or legs. 

“No, it’s OK. It’s OK, baby girl. Don’t talk.” Bucky said with a shake of his head as he tried to wipe the blood pouring from your mouth away. Tears fall from his eyes rapidly as he put his hand on the center of your chest in a vain attempt to keep the blood in.

“I… I love… you…” You gasped as your vision started to tunnel from the blood loss.

“I love you, too baby girl. But you’re gunna be just fine.” You nodded your head subtly and took one final breath as his blue eyes disappeared into the darkness.

Part 8

[ravensandwritings]

You know what’s really exhausting in fandom? Having gotten your degree in any sort of Literature. English Lit, Creative Writing, Rhetoric, etc. Any of the classes you took will make you look at the latest screed by someone who hates one pairing over an other and go “son you really need Jesus in your life.” Mostly because the “arguments” made for nearly anything have no fucking logic and even the basest reading of the text doesn’t support it. 

This got so fucking long and full of memes I put it under a cut.

Like, guys, I did this for a living. I edited papers with students and got paid for it. Literally. By the institution. I helped people get better grades and create better writings and really LOOK at their arguments. That was my job! And I’m not alone in that! I know some of you are smarter than this, I just don’t know which ones you are cause you’re all throwing shit like howler monkeys half the time.

It’s why fandom can be so  fucking painful, because it’s just like:

You have no thesis! No facts! No supporting evidence! You cherry pick to prove your point! It’s a hot fucking mess because.... well, part of it is the medium for some of you.  (Lit fans, TV fans... you have issues too.)

Comics fandom is especially awful in this, because it’s  literally all fanfiction at this point. If it’s not Bob Kane and Bill Finger, it’s fanfic. All of it. 100% corporate owned and directed fanfic.

Now, in that fanfic, some things are just-- set in stone, and no matter how many permutations you look at, you’re never going to get some things and you ARE going to get specific other things. However, they’re set in stone up until someone puts a version out that Changes That One Things. Welcome to AU land! Woo hoo, AU! Like: Batman doesn’t kill people, does he?

And that’s what I’m getting at here. In one version of the canon, in your AU or an AU or WHATEVER, you’re going to get part of the permutation AU you want. In the other... you’re not. 

So, Batman is never going to love [Riddler / Two-Face / Joker / Mr Freeze / ManBat / Scarecrow / The Mad Hatter / Killer Croc / Punch OR Jewelee / Ra’s Al Ghul / Selina Kyle / Talia Al Ghul / literally any of his kids you sick incestuous fucks! ] Captain America is not and has never been banging Bucky. The list goes on and on and on and on. 

And you know what? It’s okay. Whatever your fanon pairing is, it’s not going to happen. Ever. Love it. Accept it. Embrace it. It gives you freedom to imagine all the ways it could happen and make them all yourselves, and share with the people who feel the same way.  

But you know what needs to stop? Stop shitting on other fans for not sharing the things you like. Don’t say you “can’t trust het shippers” or do weird fucking fandom purity litmus tests to try and ‘prove’ true fandom or pairing love or whatever hoop or goalposts you set up. Don’t spend like, an hour in a Discord going on about how [Problematic Writer] doesn’t understand [your pairing / the pairing you hate] and declare your opinion to be fact. Or go on that YOU can do better (maybe you can! if so, get working on breaking into the business, or shut the fuck up, OR JUST ENJOY YOUR FANFICTION AND FAN ART?) 

Just fucking back away, and let it go. ENJOY THE THINGS YOU ENJOY! By all means. I have so many ships it’s not even funny. I ship Riddler with literally everyone. I have no suggestion in the text that this is ever going to be true. (In fact, in the canon I write the Big Long Fucking Riddler Fic in, where Eddie spends a very long time screaming about how filthy carnality is and no he doesn’t want to mate Batman, he wants a CHECKMATE YOU SAVAGE.)

Enjoy the good things that fandom has to offer. Give back to your fandom, your OTP, your fellow [whatever] fans/shippers. But if you enjoy shitting on other people, cut that right out. It’s not healthy for you, or for the people you interact with.

Just... love your fandom, man. Put love into it, get love out of it. You put shit into it, all you’re getting back is a shit sundae, and you’re gonna be the one eating it because you’re the one with the fucking problem.

[shadowhuntertrash]

High Notes

Chapter Ten

Characters by Cassandra Clare

The rest of the concert went well. The girls sang their set while James, Matthew, Thomas, and Christopher put their stuff up and helped set up a bit for the meet and greet for the fans. 

   When it was Alastair’s portion of the concert, Thomas had made his way backstage to watch him. He passed Cordelia and Lucie on the way and they both sent him matching smirks and Cordelia winked. Thomas had flipped them off but he was smiling too big for it to be taken rudely.

   Alastair had looked beautiful. His face was bright, his eyes more alive than Thomas had ever seen. Alastair was always a people pleaser, even if he’d rather have one on one conversations and interactions. He used to act like he hated everyone but Thomas had always been able to see through that act.

   Thomas was sure he looked utterly ridiculous watching Alastair sing like some lovesick fool but he couldn’t help the brazen smile that didn’t seem to want to leave his face. There were a few times when Alastair would turn and sing a line directly at Thomas and Thomas laughed at the fans who craned their neck to catch a glimpse of who Alastair was singing to.

   After his set, Alastair walked directly up to Thomas and grabbed his hand, dragging him to what Thomas presumed was his changing room. “We should go on that date now.” Thomas laughed at the giddy eagerness of Alastair’s words, a slight fluttering feeling in his chest at the thought that he got to go on a date with Alastair.

   “We still have the meet and greet.” Thomas said and laughed again when Alastair pouted. It made Thomas feel good, the amount of trust Alastair seemed to have in Thomas. Alastair was himself around Thomas which was a big thing since he was relatively masked around everyone else.

   “You have no idea how this could go, you could hate me for all you know. This could be a terrible date.” Thomas said, a smirk on his face to hide the heavy feeling the words left on his heart.

   Alastair’s eyes narrowed. “I could never hate you, Thomas Lightwood.” The fluttering feeling returned to his chest and Thomas averted his eyes, a warm feeling creeping up his neck. He couldn’t help the stupid smile that stretched across his face.

   Thomas turned his eyes back to Alastair as he realized he had to go over some things, warn him about some of the downsides of dating Thomas. “I think it’s only fair to warn you that I’m not out yet. Whatever we have, if it works out I mean, would have to be a secret for a while. At least until I come out.” Thomas fiddled with his sleeves, his tongue running over his lips anxiously.

   “If you don’t want that I completely understand, it’s a lot. I don’t want to make you do anything that you feel is uncomfortable.” Thomas watched as Alastair smiled softly, his hands coming up to cup Thomas’s cheek. He wondered briefly if Alastair could hear his racing heartbeat but then found he wouldn’t mind if he did.

   Alastair smiled at him, wider this time. “Lightwood, you’re worth the wait.” Thomas let out a shuddering breath and closed his eyes instinctively. When he opened them again Alastair was exponentially closer, his eyes locked on Thomas’s lips as he licked his own. 

   Thomas let his eyes fall closed as he leaned in closer, anticipation thrumming through his veins. The moment was interrupted by the door opening and Thomas stepping back quickly. Both of their eyes opened and found Cordelia, her mouth opened as her eyes went back and forth between the two boys.

   “Oh god,” She said, a quick breath leaving before a large smile appeared on her face as her eyes lit up. “Oh my god.” She said louder this time. “I knew it, oh my god, I knew it. Lucie owes me ten bucks.” She squealed as she launched herself into her brother’s arms. 

   Alastair caught her easily as he laughed at her excitement. His eyes found Thomas’s and he laughed again at the blush that had spread across Thomas’s cheeks. Lucie bound in a moment later and smiled at all of them.

   “We have to go to the meet and greet now, stop being so slow.” She said, her hand going to Cordelia’s wrist as she dragged her friend out of the room. “You owe me ten bucks.” Cordelia said happily before they got to the door. 

   Lucie turned to her confused. “Why do I owe you ten bucks?” She asked and Cordelia just smiled before looking back at Thomas and Alastair who were both standing there flushed. Lucie followed her gaze and her mouth fell open as her eyes widened in understanding. “You’re kidding. Tell me your kidding.” She said, her wide eyes stuck on Thomas’s scarlet face. 

   Cordelia shook her head and laughed brightly. Lucie shrieked and threw her arms around Thomas in a way that was so like Cordelia that Thomas wondered how they weren’t siblings. Thomas wrapped his arms around Lucie and laughed quietly. “I’m so happy for you, Tommy.” Lucie said, her voice lower than it had been. Thomas sighed happily and let her go so he could look her in the eye.

   “As much as I appreciate your enthusiasm girls, we’ve not done anything. We just decided to go on a date, which we haven’t even done yet.” Thomas said. Alastair laughed softly behind him but Cordelia and Lucie rolled their eyes. “Yes, but at least the pining is over.” Both boys went brilliant shades of red and Thomas coughed slightly to clear his throat.

   “Yes, well, nevermind that.” The girls laugh and Lucie took his hand. “Don’t worry, by the way, we won’t tell anyone.” Thomas smiled and kissed her forehead, grateful that she was able to read his mind. 

   Thomas guessed that Lucie reading his mind came with being so close but he was thankful none the less. Lucie took his hand and pushed him so that his back was to her and he had barely managed to squat in time for her to throw her weight at his back. He groaned and pretended to drop her, Lucie squealed and tightened her grip around his neck. Thomas choked slightly and brought a hand up to pull Lucie’s arm until she was hanging on loosely. 

   “If you didn’t want me to choke you out then don’t pretend to drop me.” She huffed indignantly and Cordelia and Alastair laughed behind them. Alastair threw Thomas a soft look and Thomas couldn’t help the smile that spread across his face. 

   Cordelia took her brother’s hand and gave Thomas a knowing smile. “You two are going to have to wait a little longer because we really do have a meet and greet we need to get to.” Thomas laughed and nodded as he ducked under the door, mindful of Lucie’s head. Lucie took her arms and placed her hands on Thomas’s head before resting her chin on them. “I’m really proud of you Tommy. We all are. Are you going to tell the boys?” 

   Thomas hummed. “I will when this is real. Matthew knows far too much about how real I want this to be and how much I want this to work. If this doesn’t work out then I don’t want them all to pity me.” Lucie nodded and ran a hand through his hair. “I understand that.” Lucie looked over to where Cordelia and Alastair were laughing a little behind them. “I think this will work Thomas. I hope it does you both deserve it.”

   Thomas lifted her up further and lifted his head so he could look at her. “Thank you. So when were you planning on telling me about Jesse?” Lucie turned a dark scarlet and looked ahead, Thomas laughed.

  “I- We-” Lucie was saved from further embarrassment when James walked out of the door they were walking to. “There you are, what took you so long?” James said, grabbing Thomas’s arm and pulling him into the room. Thomas ducked again, Lucie bending her head so it wouldn’t hit the door frame.

   There were about twenty people in the room. Most were teenagers, some parents, and few children. Thomas set Lucie down and winked at her. “That conversation was not avoided, simply postponed.” Lucie groaned and walked towards Cordelia.

   Thomas spotted Talia right away, their eyes meeting at the same time. Talia smiled widely and ran over to him with her arms wide. Thomas bent down and scooped her up, spinning her in a circle as she giggled. “I’m very glad you stayed.” Thomas said as he rested her on his hip. Talia laughed again and wrapped her arms around his neck. 

   She bent her head forward and whispered. “Me too but it’s ten o’clock which is past my bedtime.” She giggled and looked over at her mom who was currently smiling at them from a chair across the room. “My mom hasn’t noticed though so don’t tell her.” Thomas laughed quietly and nodded seriously. “I would never.” He said and Talia gave him a calculating look that was rather intimidating for a six-year-old.

   Talia leaned away from him before extending her pinky finger to him with narrowed eyes. “Pinky promise?” Thomas laughed softly but hooked his pinky around hers. “Pinky promise.” He said secretively. A large smile graced her face and she rested her head on his shoulder.

   Thomas walked around and greeted a few people, Talia now asleep on his shoulder. Thomas found he rather liked meet and greets. It wasn’t as overwhelming as seeing a whole bunch of people at once nor as surprising as seeing someone in your everyday life.

   After a while, he sat down and talked to Talia’s mom. He had already grown quite fond of the little girl, not having known her very long. As it turns out the cheerful little girl that was still snoozing on his shoulder came from a relatively poor household. Her mother, Joyce, was a teenager when she got pregnant and was now a single mother. She had discovered she had breast cancer the year before and Thomas felt a wave of sadness wash over him as he listened to Joyce talk about their struggles as if it was a normal thing. 

   Thomas was rather rich from the music industry but growing up poor and sickly he knew the struggles it brought. He was offering financial help before he even registered what was happening, not that he changed his mind when his brain caught up to his mouth. Joyce blushed and Thomas felt a wave of guilt at having made her feel bad. 

   “Please, it’s really no trouble. We have what we need to get by.” Thomas just shook his head, his eyes on the sleeping girl in his arms. “I don’t doubt you do, I just think a family as special and sweet as y’all’s deserves more than the necessities. I grew up quite like you so just think about it as me projecting really. I want to help you give Talia what I didn’t have growing up.”

   Joyce had stared at him for a minute and Thomas suddenly felt as if this had been a bad idea and she was offended or mad at him for even suggesting such a thing. Instead, she just shook her head, a small smile gracing her lips. “Bless you Thomas Lightwood. You’re good people.” She said kindly as she hugged him gently, mindful of her sleeping daughter.

   “We almost didn’t come tonight. A guy I work with was going to take his daughter but they both got sick and he knew how much Talia loved your music and so he gave us his tickets.” Thomas smiled widely. Fate seemed to know good people when it saw them. “I’m very glad you did.” Thomas said warmly before writing down his number on a napkin for Joyce to take.

   “I do have to ask you not to give anyone that number naturally.” Joyce nodded with a quiet laugh. “I won’t. Thank you again for everything, I know my daughter can come on strong.” Thomas laughed and patted the girl's head affectionately. He had always loved kids, he’d always wanted some. It was a hard thing to realize and come to terms with when he discovered he was gay and wouldn’t get to have any biologically, well without surrogates and such.

   “You’re very welcome, it was my pleasure.” Thomas said softly as Joyce took her daughter. They hugged one last time before Joyce left. 

   Thomas had a warm feeling in his chest. He barely knew them but he was excited to get to know them better. They seemed like they were good, kind people. They were the type of people who truly deserve help.

   Alastair made his way over as the last of the fans made their way out. Alastair grabbed his hand and pulled him out of the room, dragging him back to his warm-up room. 

   Once they got there Alastair plopped on the couch and Thomas wasted no time laying down beside him. Alastair stiffened slightly before relaxing and running his fingers through Thomas’s hair. Thomas sighed contentedly as he let his eyes close, exhaustion creeping up on him. So much for the date that night. 

   “Who were you talking to?” Alastair asked quietly, his voice tired too. Thomas yawned before he answered. “That was Joyce, Talia’s mom. Turns out she’s a single mom, only twenty-three. She’s sick and they’re poor so treatments are expensive.” Thomas yawned again, his arm going around Alastair’s waist. “Helping them pay.” He said, his voice turning sluggish from the fatigue.

   Alastair’s hand stilled in his hair. Thomas looked up at him and saw Alastair watching him with a smile he’d never seen before. “You’re helping them pay for the treatments?” Thomas nodded, his head tilted to the side as he tried to figure out what Alastair’s smile was. “Yeah, mortgage too. I mean I understand what it’s like growing up that way, the money it takes to get better. I thought it was a chance to make a difference in somebody’s life and you have to admit, Talia is the cutest kid you’ve ever seen.”

   Alastair laughed and shook his head. “You’re such a good person Thomas.” He said quietly before dropping a kiss to his forehead. Thomas’s heart managed to skip a beat and speed up at the same time, a wave of heat spiking through his body as his cheeks flamed. 

   Thomas buried his head in Alastair’s chest, a stupid grin on his face. Alastair laughed and resumed stroking Thomas’s hair. 

   They sat there in comfortable silence, Thomas’s thoughts racing over the simple affection. Cordelia opened the door sometime later, Thomas had fallen asleep so he wasn’t sure how long they’d been there.

   “We’ve got to get on the buses now. By the way, the boys have been looking for you, Thomas.” Thomas groaned before getting up and stretching, not missing the way Alastair’s eyes fell to the strip of stomach that showed when his shirt rode up. A weird stroke of confidence hit him and he winked at Alastair before walking out.

   Alastair’s cheeks heated up and Thomas took pride in reversing the roles for once. He heard Cordelia say something about being ‘so whipped already’ to Alastair before the door shut behind him.

   Thomas found Matthew and James talking in hushed voices on the way to the bus. Matthew turned and saw Thomas first. “Thomas, there you are. We’ve been looking for you everywhere. Why is your face paint smudged?” Thomas felt a rush of alarm ring through him but he just shrugged with a tired smile. “I fell asleep.”

   James nodded, believing it easily but Matthew stared at him for a minute before the ghost of a smile crossed his face and he tugged on James’s wrist. “Jamie, I’m tired.” Matthew whined. James smiled at his boyfriend and wrapped an arm around his shoulders before guiding them back to the bus.

   “You good for the night, Thomas?” James asked as they stepped onto the bus. Thomas stood there for a second, confused before he remembered that he and Alastair shared a bus for the nights. Thomas turned around in an attempt to hide his blush. “Yeah. You two get some sleep. I’ll meet up with you tomorrow.” James voiced his agreement before shutting the door to their bus.

   Thomas yawned and made his way to the other bus. He climbed up the stairs and found Lucie sitting there with Cordelia. “Where’s Alastair?” Thomas asked as he plopped down on the small couch next to Lucie, his head resting in her lap.

   Lucie ran her fingers through his hair with her long nails scratching his scalp, chills broke out on his arms. “He’s helping Jesse clean but all the equipment up.” Cordelia said. Thomas opened his eyes and looked at Lucie with a broad smile. 

   “Ah, Jesse. I do believe you owe me a story, love.” He said sweetly to Lucie who was blushing. Lucie flicked his forehead with her finger and bit her lip. “Do you two really want to know? It isn’t all that fun.” 

   Cordelia rolled her eyes and gave Thomas a ‘can you believe this girl’ look that made Thomas laugh loudly. “Yes we really want to know, you haven’t shown an interest in anyone since I met you and now you have a mysterious boy who seems to only like you? Yes, sweetheart, we want to know so spill.” Cordelia said, excitement clear in her voice.

   Lucie rolled her eyes before playing with Thomas’s fingers. “Well, I met him at boarding school. We didn’t really talk but then this guy stole my journal, the one where I write all my stories, and started reading them out loud to the entire class. I was about to get up and tell him off in my, as you two call it, scarily feisty way, but this kid who has been silent all year just pushes the kid down grabs my journal, and gives it back before walking straight out of the room.”

   Lucie smiled slightly and Thomas could tell she was in the memory rather than just recalling it. “I followed him because as much as I appreciated it I could have handled my own and it would have been less embarrassing.” Lucie huffed slightly. “We all know I don’t need a stupid knight in shining armor, and I told him that. He just smiled at me and told me he knew very well that I could have stood my own but that I didn’t always have to.”

   Cordelia’s face broke into a smile and she shared a look with Thomas. Lucie studiously ignored them. “Of course that was one hundred percent the best thing to say and he just left it at that and walked away. We normally didn’t see each other much but it’s like every turn we made we ran into each other. So we became friends and we may or may not have kissed a few times. I left before he did and we texted a while but then we just kind of stopped talking I guess.” Lucie’s face turned a little bittersweet.

   “He’s gone through a lot, but he’s a good guy. I’m glad he’s here with us, when he opens up I think you all will like him a lot.” Thomas smiled at her and pulled her hand so he could kiss it gently. “I am very excited to get to know him. I have to say though, keep that story to yourself until James is really friends like him. That way James can’t hate him since he’s already admitted to liking him.”

   Cordelia and Lucie laughed. “Thomas, bless your beautiful brain.” Thomas laughed loudly. “I have to say, only you could find Prince Charming in a school of knights,” Cordelia said, her voice somewhat dreamy. Lucie smiled softly, her eyes slightly glazed. “Yeah, I guess so.”

   They fell into a comfortable silence that stretched until Alastair walked in. Thomas opened his eyes which had gained a hundred pounds with the exhaustion that crept in. Alastair looked at them all with a tender smile as he made his way over to Thomas.

   “Tired?” He asked quietly when Thomas opened his eyes as wide as they would go, it wasn’t much but he could see Alastair and that was always enough. Thomas nodded and looked at the girls, both of whom had fallen asleep.

   Alastair chuckled and took Thomas’s outreached hands to pull him up. Thomas stood, almost falling down when his leg refused to hold him up. “If I knew you were falling for me this hard, I would have asked you out earlier.” Alastair said with a smirk as he caught him with a questioning gaze, Thomas blushed. “Sorry, my leg’s asleep.” Alastair laughed and made sure Thomas could balance properly before going and waking his sister up.

   Thomas turned and shook Lucie gently. Lucie just groaned and turned over so Thomas decided to take drastic measures. Lucie screamed as her sides were attacked by Thomas’s fingers. “Stop! Stop, I'm awake! I’m up!” She shrieked around her laughter as she swatted Thomas’s hands away.

  Thomas laughed and looked over to where Alastair was talking quietly to Cordelia as her eyes opened slowly, his hand brushing away the dark curls that fell in her face. Thomas couldn’t help the rush of affection he felt as he watched the pair. Lucie sighed as she watched them too.

  “Why can’t you be sweet like that, Thomas? Why must you attack me?” She asked as she draped herself across his back dramatically. Thomas laughed and shook her off, turning to see the pout on her lips. “Lucie, darling we all know I’m only sweet like that to my boys.” Lucie chuckled and shook her head.

   Thomas shooed her with his hands. “Go get some sleep before tomorrow. No one wants a grumpy Lucie on the road or at practice.” Lucie huffed, affronted, and Cordelia laughed as she stood stretching. “Isn’t that true?” Lucie crossed her arms, sulking. Cordelia walked over and grabbed her arm, tugging gently as she walked towards the door. 

   “We have to get going so all the buses can leave. Plus they need some alone time.” Cordelia added with a stage whisper that made both boys turn red. Thomas shifted slightly, suddenly nervous to be alone with Alastair.

   Thomas didn’t really have experience with boys. He’d dated a few in high school but when he started getting famous he shut everything down to stop rumors or the chance of forced outing. He hadn’t kissed anyone in at least two years and he didn’t know exactly what Alastair had planned.

   What if Alastair had planned on kissing him already? What if he wanted to do more already? Thomas tapped his foot subconsciously as the doubts and anxiety started to build up. He felt a hand on his shoulder and jumped as he turned to look at Alastair.

   Alastair was watching him with a concerned expression. “Are you okay, Thomas?” Thomas laughed tensely and looked down. “Umm, yeah. I’m just tired.” He said, hoping Alastair would take the hint and they could go to sleep.

   “Okay.” He said slowly, his eyes never leaving Thomas’s. “You do know that I’m not going to do anything you’re uncomfortable with, right? That’s a known fact?” Thomas laughed incredulity, questioning how people could read him so clearly.

   Thomas turned and looked at Alastair with a small smile, the anxiety loosening in his stomach. “Thank you.” Thomas said softly. Alastair just rolled his eyes and grabbed Thomas’s wrist. “Don’t thank me, that’s just being a decent person.” Thomas laughed as he let Alastair pull him to the bathroom.

   They brushed their teeth and got ready for bed next to each other, going to their own rooms to change. Thomas peeked his head in Alastair’s room to find him reading on the bed. Thomas opened the door and stood there for a second not wanting to intrude, but Alastair looked at him and beckoned him in.

   “Sorry, I was tired but I’ve woken myself up again.” Thomas said as he sat on the edge of the bed not quite sure how to talk to Alastair. It was like they had been friends forever but at the same time, it felt like his life was moving so fast he couldn't catch up. 

   Alastair smiled at him sweetly, the book still open in his lap. “It’s no problem. I can’t go to sleep without reading first so I’ll be up if you want to stay a bit.” Thomas smiled gratefully at him and laid down, not too close to Alastair. “What are you reading?” He asked after a moment of silence had passed.

   A book appeared above his head and he laughed quietly as he read the title, Frankenstein. Thomas hummed, he’d read it before but he’d liked it a lot. “Read it to me?” He asked quietly, instantly regretting it when Alastair gave him an unreadable look. 

   “Or don’t. You don’t have to, I can sit here. Sorry that was stupid.” Alastar shook his head quickly, his hand reaching down to Thomas’s shoulder. “No, you’re fine. People just don’t normally ask that, especially not this book.” He said laughing, Thomas joined him and let out his own nervous laughter. “Oh, well it’s one of my favorites.” Thomas said quietly as he watched Alastair pick the book back up.

   Alastair winked at him from the top of the book. “Mine as well.” He said before he began reading. Thomas loved Alastair’s voice, it was soothing and smooth in a way that was just so Alastair that it brought a smile to Thomas’s lips.

   Thomas found his head in Alastair’s lap as his eyelids regained their heaviness. Thomas quoted a few lines with Alastair, the filter in his brain that kept him from coming on as a full nerd gone with exhaustion. 

   “I have love in me the likes of which you can scarcely imagine and rage the likes of which you would not believe. If I cannot satisfy one, I will indulge the other.” Thomas mumbled sleepily. It took him a minute to realize that Alastair was no longer reading and when he looked up he was Alastair’s eyes closed, mouth twitching as if he were still trying to read.

   Thomas laughed quietly and sat up. He gently took the book out of Alastair’s hands and placed it on the table beside the bed. He pulled the blanket up to Alastair’s chin knowing he was almost always cold, where he knew that he was completely sure.

   After he got Alastair settled in he made it to his own room and sent a quick text to his sister.

(If you couldn't tell Barbie is Barbara)

Tommy <3

guess who got a date with the guy they’ve liked since they were eleven

Barbie

Thomas you didn’t?!?!

How?!?

What happened?!?!

   Thomas laughed at his sister’s excitement and lack of ability to send more than one sentence in a text.

Tommy <3

we were about to get ready and we had been singing together and he just looked at me and asked if i wanted to go out

Barbie

THOMAS?!

YOU SAID YES RIGHT?!?

I SWEAR TO GOD IF YOU SAID NO CAUSE YOU FREAKED OUT I WILL PERSONALLY COME AND TELL HIM ALL ABOUT YOUR MOPING WHEN YOU THOUGHT HE DIDN’T LIKE YOU

   Thomas glared at the screen.

Tommy <3

you wouldn’t

but yes I did agree, we’re going to go on one the day after tomorrow fyi

Barbie

Thomas I’m really proud of you

Look at us getting dates and getting married

The dream 

Tommy <3

*is scoffing* getting married and going on a date is certainly not the same thing but I appreciate the sentiment anyway

Barbie

It’s a step in the right direction.

How was the rest of your day? How was the concert?

Tommy <3

it was magical Barb

everyone was so energetic and they were all screaming it was like a dream

i met this six year old, Talia, remind me to tell you more about her tomorrow

Barbie

I’m glad everything went well. 

We’ve all been worried you wouldn’t do well with so many people

Tommy <3

wow, thanks for the ego boost

i do have to say all those people wore me out so i’m about to go to bed

Barbie

Okay, but don’t forget to text me tomorrow. I love you sweet dreams use protection!!

Tommy<3

BARBARA NOOO GO TO BED

   Thomas turned his ringer off and sat his phone on the table next to his bed as he laughed. He knew Barabara would be excited for him, she knew how much he liked Alastair. It meant a lot that she was so supportive of him.

   He was ready to see her again, he couldn’t believe she was engaged and he hadn’t even gotten to hug her.

   Thomas shrugged off the homesick feeling and buried himself in the covers, a stupid smile still stuck on his face.

[thattimdrakeguy]

I don't like damian, it's a little cocky shit, I think he's too rough with his team and I understand that because he was raised as a prince by Talia and his grandfather. I think most writers didn't handle it properly, they make it seem like Damian is not a jerk for like two pages and then he's a little shit again in the next issue. Maybe I think so because the only thing I read with him has been supersons and teen titans when he is the leader. sorry for the rant

I go back and forth on rather or not I like Damian quite a bit, because I feel like his character has a lot of potential to be really good, and has his moments were its seems like he is going to be at least somewhat good, but then a mix of fans and DC writers drop the ball with him and it ends up with me not liking him that much.

They let him mostly get away with a lot of stuff he does besides occasional things, they try to give him sympathetic moments that don’t really feel sympathetic, they’ve done small retcons to make him more sympathetic, try and turn other characters into jerks to make him look more likable in comparison, and ignore a lot of behavior stuff he does, all while trying to force him to be cute and quirky in all these contrived moments that are actually kind of messed up, because to fans who are more casual and either don’t care or pay attention to details they’ll suck it up regardless of how he’s supposed to be.

Like a big example of what I’m talking about is in an issue of Red Robin, and I’ve brought the issue up before, so I feel like to some people that read this it might be annoying if they’ve already seen me talk about it before, but it encapsulates a lot of what I said there.

Damian breaks into Tim’s base, and hacks Tim’s computers, were he finds out he’s on a hit-list of Tim’s (not a hit-list where to kill him, but to keep track of them, I’m decently sure Superman was even on the list), and later on Damian assaults Tim, with the potential chance that he wanted to kill him because he doesn’t think it’s fair Tim doesn’t trust him.

but

He broke into Tim’s base, hacked into his things, and assaulted him all in the course of a day.

He’s showing Tim why he shouldn’t trust him, plus the last time Tim met him and actually interacted with him was when Damian was mocking Tim as he was having a mental breakdown and was on the brink of losing his sanity.

Tim doesn’t have any reason to trust him besides Dick saying he’s gotten better, but it’s never shown to him that he has gotten better.

However Damian is clearly being portrayed in a sympathetic light as if we should feel bad for him since Tim doesn’t trust him, but the logic shows that he does a ton of bad things, and Dick even when tries to punish him,  it’s barely anything, I believe he says he’ll talk to him, and he seems to give Tim more crap for it, or at least it seems that way because that’s what we see, giving more boost to the idea we’re only supposed to focus on how sympathetic Damian it is.

and it’s moments like that where I find Damian to be an annoying character, because writers keep dropping the ball with any kind of realistic character dynamics, they just ignore so much stuff to put Damian in a light without earning him being put into that light.

They ignore the obvious things Damian has and continues to do that made Tim not trust him in the first place, they water down Tim and Dick’s brotherly bond for the sake of Damian and Dick’s relationship, and after the fire they only focus on Damian saying it’s not fair and Tim getting talked too about how it’s not fair more than anything else.

For another example of what I said, in an issue of New 52 Batman and Robin (another issue I’ve brought up before, so I’m sorry for anyone that’s already seen me talk about these issues and I’m seeming repetitive, they’re always just the best example of what I’m talking about),

they force Tim’s character to play the role of the jackass, he mocks Damian for no good reason, something Tim never done before, because before Tim’s thoughts on Damian was that he had a hard time trusting him because of his connections to the Al Ghul family, and his history of belittling him and assaulting him. He never just made fun of Damian, he mostly just kept bringing up why he couldn’t ever trust him, but because Tomasi (the writer) wished to make Damian more likable, he made Tim act out of character for it, and later on in that same issue

Damian pledges to beat the shit out of the other Robin’s to prove he’s superior, and even tries to gaslight Tim into believing he’s as bad himself.

Meaning, Tim doesn’t like Damian because he’s formerly killed people, assaulted Tim himself, and overall treated him like crap.

and Damian tried to make the argument that, because Tim was furious at the people that killed someone around him, that he’s just as bad as him.

It makes no sense, and it sounds like Damian should clearly be the bad guy just off of those actions, but they give him a “it’s not fair” moment to try and turn the wheel to make Tim look bad instead, it’s conflicting and confusing, but that’s how they do it to make him sympathetic in these genuinely forced ways. They tried to ruin characters in these moments for his benefit.

–

The tragedy of Damian’s character history that’s sympathetic is how they showed that he was brainwashed since birth to kill that he always was desensitized to it, and so when he goes to meet his dad he decapitates people who did wrong and tried to murder Tim because that’s what he thought would bring him honor in his mind and heart and he was shocked and heartbroken when he realized that’s what wouldn’t bring him his father’s love.

It’s tragic to think about something like that happening to a person, to be desensitized from such actions since their literal birth is tragic, but to me, later on, they ruined the point.

They later on showed flashbacks of Damian crying because the Al Ghul’s asked him to kill an animal, it’s a moment shared a lot to bring sympathetic tears to Damian but it never worked for me,

because it’s inconsistent to what they’ve shown before.

Before they’ve shown Damian to be desensitized to violence before he could walk, completely unaware that being violent is the sort of behavior that isn’t normal and should be shunned from normal society. He’s full blooded confused that Bruce doesn’t think that should be something that’s honored. He’s not at all used to something like that.

Thinking killing is wrong was alien to him.

So to show him knowing it’s wrong already ruins the whole point of his origin story and character growth.

It tries to make it seem like he’s always known it wrong, instead of how he actually learned it was wrong.

I genuinely feel it took a lot away from his character to do that to him. It chopped away his character growth only to make him seem more sympathetic in flashbacks they didn’t even have to do. It was unnecessary, because being brainwashed in a cult since literal birth is a genuinely tragic tale, and to see them move past that and learn that the cult was wrong is what his satisfying growth was.

To give Damian that flashback only took away from his story and character growth.

–

There’s even some points where they can’t make up their mind on what he’s like. Sometimes he’s genuinely so arrogant that he genuinely thinks he’s above people, and deserves grand treatment instantly, and tsks at people who don’t.

Which is how he was introduced and continued to be under his original writer, and still others since that’s how he was introduced.

But then sometimes writers seem to misunderstand him wanting his father’s honor into him being insecure.

Causing disconnect even that way, even the basics of his character some writers can’t keep clean and understandable.

So it’ll go back and forth between him and his inner monologues talking about how he doesn’t deserve it because of all he’s done with a arrogant expression.

To him being sad because he doesn’t deserve it in a more insecure light like it hurts him more. Making it go back and forth between the two with no reason as to why.

Some say it’s an act, but they have him get sad in front of people when they do that, like it’s not an act.

He can still get sad, he was sad when he couldn’t get his father’s honor, and how he was treated in his past by his mother, but they couldn’t recognize his behavior in other moments to get a fuller picture of it. They made him messy to follow with writing like that.

They couldn’t keep it clean and consistent so he could manage to be a stronger character that people could recognize and understand his behavior from. They kept changing it between writers. It’s very clumsy character work in that way.

Then during some of this and especially currently, Damian’s basic personality gets shredded, just to make him a contrived cute character.

–

They give him short jokes that don’t work, because originally he was actually quite tall for his age, but they ignore that because the casual fan is rarely ever going to know that fact.

They even try to portray his heinous behavior as quirks.

In the build up to Super Sons, Damian Wayne kidnapped Jon Kent and looked like he was going to begin to conduct an experiment on him because Damian thought Jon was going to become hazardous, and it appeared as if he was going to murder him.

Despite having super powers, Jon Kent was raised as a practically normal kid, went to school like a normal kid, and his behavior is a normal kid. He wasn’t a superhero yet besides moments where he had to be. 

He was a practically normal kid who thinks like a normal kid, and got kidnapped to some mysterious place to be threatened by a stranger.

Superman came busting in to save his own child from the horrendous position Damian put Jon in.

and then the next step in the story treats all of this as if it was cute and quirky, because Clark and Bruce set their kids up on a play-date to learn to get along, and treat Jon’s potential trauma that he realistically would have as nothing and ignore what he would most likely have, because that wouldn’t be cute to anyone, and that’s all they wanted. For Damian to seem quirky and cute.

Even in the very first issues of Super Sons, Damian stalks Jon Kent for the whole day while he’s at school using disguises and even breaks into his home at night while Jon’s vulnerable sleeping.

Horrifying behavior

and stuff that was previously taken very seriously and presented as horrifying behavior before, but by this time they treat it like it’s a cutesy quirk, and have Jon shrug it off like it wouldn’t be terrifying having a stalker. They treat it like “aw Damian wants a friend”.

I’ve even seen people try to force a romance between them into it.

Characters don’t even question the behavior that much besides a few moments that feel ignored in their own right because the writer’s don’t want Damian to be viewed as unlikable for it, and waste every opportunity to craft a story that’s worth Damian’s character.

Sometimes some writers even add in nonsensically cutesy moments for him like riding his dog out of no where for him to seem more quirky, 

ignoring the history with his animals and how he treats them with the upmost respect because they helped him gain an understanding of empathy after being brainwashed since birth.

Something full of depth and good moments simplified to make him cute.

He isn’t cute.

He shouldn’t ever be cute as a character trait.

He does horrible things. To simplify him and change him for lazy writing is a disservice to his character.

Genuinely allow Damian to be Damian in stories that are worth his character instead of forcing him into crap that he doesn’t belong in because you have to change him for it to work.

If you have to change a character to fit them in you shouldn’t use that character.

He’s a character that’s been wasted several times only to woobify him, and I’m desperate for him to be in a comic that can actually use his character well instead of continuing the trend.

For me it’s again and again and again they waste Damian’s character, ignore his previous history, force him into boxes he doesn’t fit into, and not too many people ever call it out-

-because when I see people do it (respectably may I add, I’m not counting the jerks) they typically just get insulted for it aggressively even when it’s purely just for critical thought.

For me I can’t help but go back and forth on my opinion of him because while I find aspects of his character interesting, and very possible for good stories, the longer his character continues the more bad writing no one acknowledges continues. It’s frustrating for me.

Damian was one of the characters that helped me get back into DC comics, I was another person who came into the fandom because as a kid I enjoyed the Batman and Teen Titans cartoons, and then later on as a teenager I found “Batman vs Robin” I thought it sounded cool and watched it, found it interesting, and after a while I got into the comics the characters spawned from.

When I started, it could be argued Damian and Jason were my favorites, but after reading an absolute crap ton of comics, Tim was the one I was able to read 200 comics in a row for, while Damian’s writing annoyed me more and more because I just kept seeing more flaws that ruined the connotation of his character for me.

It still frustrates me because they dropped the ball with him repeatedly like he bounces.

So if it helps you feel better, as a person who has a heckuva lotta thoughts on the character, and has read crap tons of comics with him in it, I have a love hate relationship with him.

He had good potential, but the writers ruined him for me. They had no idea how to use him right, so I think it’s a-okay if you don’t like him.

It’s nothing to worry about, at least to me, because there is continuous problems with his writing that are valid, in my eyes at the very least.

Even though I still believe he deserves a better writer to actually get stories befitting of his character.

[saebrfan]

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Did you know from the beginning that you were actually Prometheus? 

JOSH SEGARRA: Clarify beginning. [Laughs.] When I first spoke to Marc [Guggenheim] and Wendy [Mericle], they described who I was going to be. I really can’t remember if they mentioned the name Prometheus or not in that first conversation. I remember hearing the name throughout, but I didn’t associate that with my character. I don’t know why I didn’t. You’re waiting to get to work and you’re waiting to see a post online that says you’re joining the cast and it says Vigilante. Then, when I read that, I go, “Interesting, okay, okay, I didn’t know I was going to play this guy. That’s pretty fun.” That’s when I did all my nerdy stuff that I take a lot of pride in and did my reading. I spoke with Marc or Wendy where I was telling them about how I’m reading up on Vigilante and Chase and they’re like, “Oh, yeah, oh, okay, we have to explain something to you…” “Oh, got it! That makes a lot of sense now. I feel like you guys would’ve told me this, right?” “Yes, sorry!” Thankfully we got to have, as much as we could, an in-depth conversation about who Prometheus is going to be, who they wanted him to be and what I thought I could bring to the table. So that all started permeating very early on before I got out here to Vancouver. Honestly, I’ve gotten clarity of who he was throughout the journey as well. That’s what’s been fun about him is that I’m truly creating him with the writers of the show, and the people are creating him with me. I’ve had the benefit of having some smart folk take care of me along the way, and it’s been a pretty fun process, introducing this guy to the world; it’s been very cool.

Can you talk a bit about what motivates him, because Chase is basically doing everything he hates Oliver for?

Absolutely. There’s a fire inside of him that has been fun to explore. What motivates anybody to do anything? Why do you grab a bite to eat? Because you’re hungry. But this is a much bigger thing. Why did this guy end up in the mayor’s office next to this mayor? How long has this plan been in motion? That’s what’s been fun to play. That’s where you don’t know when he started, you don’t know when this plan all started, you don’t really know why isn’t he trying to kill him right now? Why didn’t Chase try to kill him a long time ago? That’s a cool little secret nugget that I get to keep inside. So what motives him? I think you’re going to see that play out a little bit more. Chase is going to give a lot of clarity to that soon. That’s going to be a lot of fun to watch.

What is Chase’s ultimate goal with Oliver? Just to watch his life crumble to pieces?

Oh, absolutely. I think it’s just to burn the world around him. All the things he’s trying to bring to light in Oliver, you see those qualities in him. What drives him is to maybe watch it crumble around him, to play the game, to play the chess match, to put him in checkmate, [Laughs] which is [the title of the episode] this week. I hope you dig it this week, where he looks at him like, “Hey man, I got you, now what?” and then we get to watch Oliver respond.

Chase has kidnapped Susan (Carly Pope). Is she just a bargaining chip so Oliver doesn’t kill him? And should we be worried about other people in Oliver’s life?

One, yes, it is a bargaining chip. I think you nailed it right on the head. He knows that she matters to Oliver. Chase knows that Susan matters, and that’s the move. You take the people that matter most, right? It’s Chase going, “Hey man, I know that you care about her, so I’m going to take her.” Two, I think that’s also the move that goes, “Hey, I know that you’ve been seeing Susan, and I got her, but I also know everybody else that you’re close with. I’m not just here, I’m everywhere else.” That has been fun to play with with Stephen. I’m a big fan of his and a big fan of the show, so I’m trying to take the things that I enjoy and put them into the show as well. I’m trying to take things that I’ve seen and be like, “Hey man, let’s do this.” This week, you watch that permeate with these guys, and see that Chase is coming for Oliver.

Does Chase think he’ll survive all this? Or was he going in basically with a death wish?

I wouldn’t call it a death wish, but I think this is the most important thing to him. What drives this man? If you allow fogginess to get in the way of what your end goal is, you won’t achieve it, right? That’s what Chase is doing. He’s playing this game and he has the checkmate in his brain, and he knows how he’s going to get there, and we get to watch if this man gets there. So, is it a death wish? No way. But if he were to die I think he’s okay with that, because this is the fire, this is what he’s been planning for years, this is the endgame, this is the goal, and he’s going to win it. That’s what drives him, he’s going to win.

What kind of connection does Chase have with Talia (Lexa Doig)? It seems she also trained him. To what end?

I do know that they have history, because she trained him. She knows who he is. To be honest with you, I don’t really know the answer to what extent their relationship will be on the show. I know what I’ve created in my head is that she has history with this man, and there’s a reason why she says to Oliver, “He calls himself Adrian Chase.” I know those reasons that I had to find for myself as an actor, so I don’t want to muddy the waters. But, to that regard, I know there’s history and she trained Chase. She gave him certain skill sets that Oliver possesses. You’re going to have a good time watching how that plays out, the skill set at least. That’s an exciting part of this for me, because that’s the little boy in me, that I got to come out here, and I got to train with the bow and arrow, and I got to work on some combat stuff. Those are all things that he got from Talia.

Were you in the costume at the beginning of the season or just recently?

I was. Oh yes, I was. I’ve been in it from the very beginning. There have been parts of course that I give a lot of love to my [stunt double]. He kills it for me. That’s my dude right there, because he’s creating this guy with me, and he’s really important to me. There are definitely times where he’s killing in that suit, and I sit off to the side and I watch my man do his thing, I watch him do something I respect a ton. But from the very beginning, I made it very clear, and I was very happy that they embraced it with open arms, that I would love to play in the suit. That’s an important part of me to this character. I want to do as much as I can, because everything when he’s in the suit, Chase is exploring something that makes him who he is out of that suit, and that’s important to me to craft this guy. I wanted to do all of him. I wanted to create this man so that I could introduce him to the world. I’ve been very fortunate, everyone from the editors down to the crew, everyone is taking care of this guy. I’m blessed to do it, because it’s been very cool.

Is there anything you can tease of Chase’s endgame?

He’s coming for this guy, he’s coming for him, that’s all I can say. Chase wants to watch the world around Oliver crumble, he just wants to watch it crumble.

Arrow airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on The CW.