#Just to fit the time period and setting…

[blissfullyecho]

A Very Niche Level-Up + Looksmaxxing Idea List for 2025

This list is for the girls that get it. It’s niche and not for everyone, but I’m throwing up at the fact that every “how to level up in 2025” post talks about journaling sad pages 24/7, drinking 8 cups of water a day, and walking 10k steps. How original.

Again, this is a very niche set of ideas. If you can’t relate then you can’t relate. But if you enjoy a good plastic surgery post and luxe lifestyle, maybe you will :)

1. Upgrade your car. We’re getting the Lexus’, the BMW’s, the Mercedes, the Jag’s, etc.

2. Upgrade your home. We’re living in high rises, we’re living in coastal areas, we’re living up in the mountains, we’re living where Amazon can drop our package off and we don’t have to worry about a porch pirate; we’re living in nice areas and in nice units/homes.

3. Breast augmentation.

4. Rhinoplasty.

5. Medical grade skincare.

6. Fresh, organic whole foods; focusing on lean protein, nuts and seeds, mushrooms, onions, leafy greens, pro/prebiotics, sea moss gel, etc.

7. Russian manicures and pedicures or a good acrylic set. Dip powder had its thing for a while but I’m not going to dip my nail in a powder everyone else dipped their nails. I bet they don’t even wash their hands and if they did, they prob didn’t even use soap.

8. Laser hair removal. Everywhere. If you want a design down there that’s cool, but you literally use the bathroom and it drips in the hair. “Oh but I use a wipe”. Okay, next time you need to wash your hair.. don’t use shampoo. Use a wipe. Invest in a bidet but still, hair shouldn’t be in your 🍑 or near the sensitive areas of your 🦋 the top is fine but if you have a period, pee, or “the other thing”, hair should be no where near those areas.

9. Lip filler. Everyone can benefit. Ask for a pout that sticks out a little bit. I don’t suggest a lip flip, I couldn’t do anything with a lip flip and it was driving me nuts.

10. Fake tan. Sunlight is fine but a spray tan just makes you look a million times better. Every skin tone and every race benefits from a spray tan. Trust.

11. Muscle definition. Muscle looks so much better than fat AND bones. You want muscle. Did you see how Bella Hadid had her foot on our necks at the VS fashion show this year? I was sickkkkkk.

12. Long hair. But if you have a face shape like Hailey Beiber, short hair looks better.

13. Makeup. Remember water-based products and oil-based products don’t mix, so make sure you choose your products wisely so your makeup doesn’t separate and you look a mess.

14. A better paying job. I left my hospital job and now I work in luxury real estate and international yacht sales.

15. Red light therapy for face and body. I have a body red light therapy dome that I got online for around $3,000 (USD) and it’s life. The one I have for the face is from Sephora and I spent like $400-$500 on that one. Whatever it says on the website.

16. Lashes. If you’re a pro at strip lashes, then yes. But I get my lashes done. Do not go crazy. Natural lashes are in so I ask for a classic whispy set focused for thickening my lash line and NOT for length.

17. Morpheus8 for skin tightening. I used it on my inner thighs and it literally saved my life

18. Lipo. If you’re a good candidate, get it. Sometimes belly pooch is hard to lose. I don’t have a pooch but I’m sure when I have kids I will.

19. Vampire facials. I can confidently say my best facials were vampire facials. My med spa charges around $950 for each facial

20. People can tell you’re wearing Shein. Their clothes are cute online but I’m going to hold your hand when I say this, they never look flattering in person when they’re being worn. People can see the loose thread and the see-through material. They also don’t fit anyone well and makes a lot of you look square. You get what you pay for in clothing. Learn about the basics of clothing and you’ll quickly only buy quality.

Yeah this list isn’t meant for everyone, but walking 10,000 steps isn’t going to take you to the next level. Neither is drinking water. They’re good habits, but they’re not going to level you up. And yeah I understand my list requires having money, but this is literally what my blog is about.

My 2025 Mindset Level Up book is here!

[mariacallous]

Next year will be Big Tech’s finale. Critique of Big Tech is now common sense, voiced by a motley spectrum that unites opposing political parties, mainstream pundits, and even tech titans such as the VC powerhouse Y Combinator, which is singing in harmony with giants like a16z in proclaiming fealty to “little tech” against the centralized power of incumbents.

Why the fall from grace? One reason is that the collateral consequences of the current Big Tech business model are too obvious to ignore. The list is old hat by now: centralization, surveillance, information control. It goes on, and it’s not hypothetical. Concentrating such vast power in a few hands does not lead to good things. No, it leads to things like the CrowdStrike outage of mid-2024, when corner-cutting by Microsoft led to critical infrastructure—from hospitals to banks to traffic systems—failing globally for an extended period.

Another reason Big Tech is set to falter in 2025 is that the frothy AI market, on which Big Tech bet big, is beginning to lose its fizz. Major money, like Goldman Sachs and Sequoia Capital, is worried. They went public recently with their concerns about the disconnect between the billions required to create and use large-scale AI, and the weak market fit and tepid returns where the rubber meets the AI business-model road.

It doesn’t help that the public and regulators are waking up to AI’s reliance on, and generation of, sensitive data at a time when the appetite for privacy has never been higher—as evidenced, for one, by Signal’s persistent user growth. AI, on the other hand, generally erodes privacy. We saw this in June when Microsoft announced Recall, a product that would, I kid you not, screenshot everything you do on your device so an AI system could give you “perfect memory” of what you were doing on your computer (Doomscrolling? Porn-watching?). The system required the capture of those sensitive images—which would not exist otherwise—in order to work.

Happily, these factors aren’t just liquefying the ground below Big Tech’s dominance. They’re also powering bold visions for alternatives that stop tinkering at the edges of the monopoly tech paradigm, and work to design and build actually democratic, independent, open, and transparent tech. Imagine!

For example, initiatives in Europe are exploring independent core tech infrastructure, with convenings of open source developers, scholars of governance, and experts on the political economy of the tech industry.

And just as the money people are joining in critique, they’re also exploring investments in new paradigms. A crop of tech investors are developing models of funding for mission alignment, focusing on tech that rejects surveillance, social control, and all the bullshit. One exciting model I’ve been discussing with some of these investors would combine traditional VC incentives (fund that one unicorn > scale > acquisition > get rich) with a commitment to resource tech’s open, nonprofit critical infrastructure with a percent of their fund. Not as investment, but as a contribution to maintaining the bedrock on which a healthy tech ecosystem can exist (and maybe get them and their limited partners a tax break).

Such support could—and I believe should—be supplemented by state capital. The amount of money needed is simply too vast if we’re going to do this properly. To give an example closer to home, developing and maintaining Signal costs around $50 million a year, which is very lean for tech. Projects such as the Sovereign Tech Fund in Germany point a path forward—they are a vehicle to distribute state funds to core open source infrastructures, but they are governed wholly independently, and create a buffer between the efforts they fund and the state.

Just as composting makes nutrients from necrosis, in 2025, Big Tech’s end will be the beginning of a new and vibrant ecosystem. The smart, actually cool, genuinely interested people will once again have their moment, getting the resources and clearance to design and (re)build a tech ecosystem that is actually innovative and built for benefit, not just profit and control. MAY IT BE EVER THUS!

[duhragonball]

Daima 06: Lightning

Centipedes? In my rations? It's more likely than you think!

Last time, Goku's group set out for the next leg of their trip, when the plane crashed. Apparently it wasn't that big a deal. Panzy concludes that they put too much luggage on board, which kept the plane from flying very far, but it didn't actually do much damage. Panzy recommends they leave a bunch of their supplies behind and she'll give the engine a look and they can be on their way.

Okay, I think there's a growing consensus among fans that Daima is slower-paced, and maybe this is setting up a controversy over whether this is a good or bad thing. Maybe the honeymoon period for the show is winding down, or we're just far enough into the series for the audience to realize it's probably going to be this way from here on. So I'll go ahead and weigh in on this.

For my part, I think the pacing is fine. It's different from the other shows in that you don't have this constant reliance on filler to pad the runtime. We're not checking in on King Kai to see what he thinks about all of this, or sending Goku on a fetch quest that ends up becoming a plot cul-de-sac. Instead, we're mostly laser-focused on this one set of characters on a journey, and occasionally we'll switch over to Gomah or Bulma's group on Earth, and pretty infrequently too.

But Daima does its own padding for time, and it does it by lingering a bit on things that probably don't need quite so much time. Conversations take a bit longer than they need to. The running gag where Goku gets Glorio's name wrong. The fight scenes are a tag gratuitous, but I think everyone gives them a pass because they're good. Still, I don't think anyone was worried about whether Goku could win that barroom brawl. If this show had half as many episodes allotted to the same plot, I'm pretty sure they could cut a lot of material and get the important stuff to fit.

I don't mind that much, because this relaxed pace kind of reminds me of reading the Dragon Ball manga. By that, I mean each episode kind of feels like a manga chapter, and not that much gets done in a single chapter. You might have several panels of characters getting to know each other, and then just enough exciting stuff to make the chapter feel worthwhile. Actually now that I think about it, it's a lot like my experience reading the Jaco the Galactic Patrolman manga. It's like twelve chapters, and the first five or so are very focused on introducing characters and situations, so it really doesn't pick up until the end, and even then, it's still quite low-key. But it's so good that I didn't mind it. It was just really chill. Daima feels a lot like that.

That having been said, I do find this plane crash between Episodes 5 and 6 kind of a cheap way to waste time. King Kadan described all the extra provisions he loaded onto the plane in Episode 5, then the plane started to go down and Panzy said it was the excess luggage. Then in Episode 6 the plane lands and Panzy repeats that the luggage was the problem, and she lists all the supplies all over again.

Then Panzy gets out her tools to run a diagnostic on the engine, but instead of actually working on the plane, she asks the Supreme Kai what his whole deal is. And that's fine, but it starts to wear thin in places. Like, they could have just had this conversation on the plane and gotten wherever they're going. The plane crash just adds time, and I'm not sure how many more times they're going to pull that trick before it gets old.

Nevertheless, I'd rather watch these characters talk about themselves outdoors than on the plane, so I'm not too worked up over it. But I can already tell this is going to be a focus for Daima critics in the future.

I like the way Goku explains the Supreme Kai. He tells Panzy there's a "bunch of god-like guys called 'Kais.' And the greatest one of them all is Supreme Kai-sama here!" and he gives him a hug while he says it, like he's bragging on a pal, which I guess he is. I just think it's nice to hear Goku's perspectives on all of his friends.

Panzy's impressed that Shin is a god, and that he made a smart move leaving the Demon Realm to take the job, but then she finds out he doesn't get paid, so it sounds less impressive to her. This kind of raises more questions than answers. Does Panzy even understand what a god is? Also, it seems pretty clear now that Shin and all the other Kais were born in Demon Realm and left to become gods in the Outer Universe, but how did that work? Did Grand Zeno put up a help-wanted sign? Were their other overseers that the Glind replaced when they became the Kais?

I just always assumed these guys were some sort of weird feature of the design of the universe. Like, there were always Kais running things, and they were literally born and bred to carry out that role. But no, they're just Demon Realm expats who showed up to work one day. If the universe functioned without them before, then why do we need them now? Hopefully this series will answer all of this.

Anyway, Goku's gotta poop, so he just announces this to everyone for no reason. He farted in Episode 3, so I have this sneaking suspicion that this show is going to do a lot of Goku poop-and-fart stuff as we go. That might be a good idea, as it keeps the show from getting too reliant on "Goku's hungry" gags. GT did those a lot, and it got pretty ridiculous. It got to where Goku would complain about being hungry right after he got done eating. If he said he had to poop half the time, at least it would cut the hungry gags down to a manageable level.

Anyway, Gomah's troops show up while they're waiting for Goku, so Glorio and the others have to play it cool to get rid of them. Glorio claims to be from the First Demon World, and Shin from the Second, but since Panzy's from the Third, they want to scan her collar, which she has under her scarf. Gomah apparently made all the Third Worlders wear the collars to make it easier to collect taxes from them, but he didn't implement this policy elsewhere, since the goons aren't too suspicious of Glorio or Shin. They find the idea of tourists traveling around the Third World strange, but let them go. Oh, and they ask if they've seen a kid with spiky hair and red pole, because there's a ten gold coin reward out for him.

Goku returns when they leave, and Shin suggests that Goku tie his hair back or something. Goku says his hair is too resilient for this. Oh, right, there was that Super episode where he had all that hair gel in it, and his hair sort of broke loose like when the Incredible Hulk rips through Banner's pants legs but not the crotch. Panzy asks if Goku washed his hands, and the answer to that question is no. Goku, that's nasty.

The gang take off again, and Panzy asks Shin if it's true that Glinds are born from trees. Shin confirms this, so I'm glad we're not doing away with that lore. I was seriously beginning to wonder if Toriyama forgot about all that stuff, or if he was dumping it in favor of new lore. Of course, this is all news to Goku, so the Supreme Kai explains how his kind are born "once every few centuries from the Glind Tree". There's a flashback to show this, and we see these trees with big purple trunks that are all fat on the bottom, and the newborn Glinds are in these holes in the bark, just hanging off of stems from their backs.

Also interesting to note: the Glind buildings and vehicles in this shot look a lot like Namekian houses and ships. I don't know if that's intentional, or this is just Toriyama's aesthetic for this sort of thing. I always thought Majin Buu's house looked a lot like Namekian architecture, for example.

So does that make the Supreme Kai and the other Glinds plants? I never really thought of it that way, so Goku raises an interesting point. Shin says he "doesn't know about that". I feel like there ought to be a firm answer to this, one way or another. Goku also asks if this is why Shin only drinks liquids and never eats, but Panzy jumps in before he can respond. I feel like we've seen Shin eat before, but oh well.

Panzy wants to know about Degesu, who works as Gomah's second-in-command. Is he Shin's brother? Yes, because he was born from the same tree about 216 years after Shin. Are all of the Glinds brothers, since they're all born from the same tree? No, because there's five Glind Trees. Kibito and the Elder Supreme Kai must have been born from one of the others.

Panzy wants to know why Degesu remained in the Demon Realm instead of leaving with the other Glinds? Okay, this implies that there was one Glind migration out of Demon Realm, and Degesu chose not to go. But for this to work, it must have happened after Degesu's birth, which is well after Shin's.

The thing is, Kibito is much older than both of them, and the other Supreme Kais from Universe 7 are even older still. I'm talking about the ones who fought Majin Buu and Bibidi like five million years ago. The whole point of all that was that Shin was the rookie Supreme Kai, implying that the others had been doing the whole god thing for a lot longer.

And then you have the Elder Supreme Kai, who's much, much older still. He claimed to be the Supreme Kai from fifteen generations prior. I'm not even sure what that means if they were all born from the same five trees. Maybe it just means there were thirteen Supreme Kais between the Elder and the current Supreme Kai. But Shin reigned as Supreme Kai for at least five million years, so these aren't short terms in office.

I'm not too worried about this, because I have to assume we'll get to an episode that explains the Namek and Glind exodus from Demon Realm. They keep bringing it up, so it must be important. And I guess this is what I mean when I say I don't mind the slow pace of this show. There's still a lot to look forward to, even if it's just characters swapping lore.

But back to Degesu, Shin says that he was very ambitious and didn't get along with the other Glinds. That doesn't seem like much of an answer to me. Then again, Shin came along on this mission because he hasn't seen Degesu in so long and he really doesn't know what he's been up to after all this time. He may not know a whole lot about him in the first place.

Panzy asks about a Glind woman who's a genius scientist, and Shin confirms that this is Arinsu, his older sister. Or, more accurately, they're siblings, since Glinds don't actually have genders, so they're not "exactly men or women."

Again, I had heard this about the "Core People" before, and I'm glad they didn't toss out this lore. I've never quite understood it, though, since the Elder Kai is big horndog, and the Supreme Kai of Time once got a big crush on Bardock in Xenoverse 2. Arinsu has big ol' titties, and I don't know how you get those if you grow from a tree. Like, none of these guys have anything to do with sex at all, right? The trees might have freaky deaky alien tree sex, but not the Glinds themselves.

Then again, I guess this is all just fantasy stuff, and I might as well be asking why Arinsu has nostrils or ears. There must be some magic that makes these trees grow people, and maybe some of them end up with big ol' titties or a magnum dong or both or neither. But until today I kind of figured all of the Kais were just completely smooth down there. Like they didn't even have buttholes.

Perhaps they modify their bodies at some point in their life cycle, and some of them present as man or women just out of a personal preference or some sense of fashion. This might explain the Supreme Kai of Time's transformation where she gets really tall and shapely. They all sit around figuring out what they want to look like, like they're screwing around with a character creator mode in a video game. Chronoa's like "Yeah, I want my base form to be all smol and cute, and then my super form's gonna have a big ass and big-ass titties."

Wait, maybe I'm onto something. The Supreme Kai gave Goku those pointy ears with remarkable ease. Maybe that's not a special weird power that only gods have. Maybe all the Glind have it and they do it to themselves all the time. Degesu just gives himself a third testicle for a week to "see how it rides."

Anyway, we don't learn anything new about Arinsu in all of this. She's a mad scientist who also stayed behind for the excitement of Demon Realm, but this was already known.

Night falls and Panzy explains that it's perpetual twilight on Third Demon World nights because there's two suns. Glorio wants to land and make camp in a cave for the night, and Panzy hates this because she wants to shower. Goku's like "skill issue, just never shower, like I do."

While Goku sleeps off dinner, Panzy asks why Glorio says he's from First World, when he looks like a Third World guy. He claims that he got hired by someone in First World, so he currently lives there. Who hired him? He deflects the question. Shin asks why he wants to defeat Gomah, and he claims it's because Gomah is evil, but Shin finds it odd for a Majin to have such a defined sense of justice.

Anyway, we find out exactly who Glorio's working for, because he phones up Dr. Arinsu while the others are asleep. But Shin hears him return to camp, so he clearly knows something's up, even if he doesn't know what.

By early morning, a minotaur comes out of the cave they're sleeping in, and he plans to eat them all. Apparently he stinks really bad. Goku isn't scared because he thinks the guy is a cow, so he doesn't get why this guy thinks he's on the other end of the food chain. Normally this is where Goku would kick some ass, but Glorio volunteers first, and Goku's like "Uh, I'm the main character, I should fight this guy." But Glorio doesn't see it that way, because he doesn't think Goku's that much stronger. Well, there's only one way to settle this, so it's on.

Yeah, the minotaur gets reduced to a spectator, and it's Goku vs. Glorio. Goku's impressed with Glorio's abilities, but we all know he's not trying very hard. Finally, Glorio whips out some purple lightning powers, and Shin asks Goku to fight harder so he can see the true extent of Glorio's power. I guess he figures that'll help him understand Glorio's agenda better.

So Goku fights harder, but Glorio manages to knock the Nyoibo out of Goku's hand, and he prepares to fire some big finishing lightning move. Goku decides to try something out, and he turns Super Saiyan. He did this briefly in Episode 5, but now he's staying in that form, and just stands there and lets Glorio shoot at him so he can try to deflect the beam. And he does. He just throws out his hand and it dissipates on contact. Goku does a little self-satisfied "Hmp!" and then snap-vanishes behind Glorio and puts his hand on his back. Fight's over, Goku wins.

This is a really great way to introduce Super Saiyan into the series. This is very likely the most iconic aspect of Dragon Ball. Maybe the Kamehameha clears it, but I don't think there's much else that comes close. So it's hard to imagine viewers who don't know anything about the form, but they're still out there and they need to know. So we have Goku fighting in base form, and then he decides to use it, not to win a hopeless battle, but to do something cool in a sparring match. Base Goku could probably have done something else to defend against Glorio's power, but Super Saiyan Goku can just tank the thing and get past Glorio's guard all at once.

It doesn't give away the entire Super Saiyan experience. It's a power up, and it shows a lot of promise, but here, it's just one of Goku's many techniques. The full extend of it can be shown off later. It's still an open question how well Goku can fight this way. He's been de-aged, and the environment in Deamon Realm slows him down further, so it's possible that he can't use Super Saiyan as long as he could before, or maybe he can, and it just doesn't give him the same boost that it normally does.

Also, it's just really cool to see Goku enjoy showing it off. He does this cool smile when he finishes transforming, and he looks all badass when he blocks Glorio's beam, and he's grateful that he can still do it in his kid body. "Yep, I'm whatcha call a legend, nbd. The missus doesn't like the hair color, but what're ya gonna do, right?"

Oh, right the minotaur. Well Goku hasn't forgotten him, but the minotaur suddenly remembers that he had a big dinner the night before, so he's too full to kill and eat these guys like he said he would, so he goes back to bed. Well, that's a shame. Maybe they should swing by this cave on their return trip.

Goku poop update: He has to go again.

Meanwhile, back on Earth, Vegeta is doing reps on the Lookout while Bulma finishes the Supreme Kai's old plane. They all pile in to follow Goku to Demon Realm, but Bulma… stays behind? That's weird. Anyway, the ship lifts off, then immediately breaks down. It didn't even get twenty feet into the air. So that's another plane crash cliffhanger for you. I sure hope this show finds a more reliable mode of transportation soon.

[marifilue]

Part 7: Silent Wars

Pairing: Logan Howlett x F!Mutant!Reader - Slow burn, no use of y/n.

Summary: You're an X-Men member with regenerative healing ability and skilled marksman. On a routine mission with the team things take a drastic turn when a mutant-inhibitor collar is forced onto you, leaving you vulnerable, unable to heal. With no quick fix in sight, Logan becomes your reluctant anchor, helping you get through each day as you fight to survive, unexpected bond with Logan begins to grow, one that becomes far stronger than either of you could imagine.

Warnings: Explicit language, Violence, Blood

WC: 10,6k

<- Part 6

Logan stood in front of the mirror, buttoning his white shirt before adjusting the black suit Ororo had picked out for him earlier. He tugged at the fabric with a grimace, the sleek cut far from his usual rugged style. The polished shoes felt unnatural, and the stiff collar made him want to rip the whole thing apart. Still, he attempted the tie after a failing a first try, fumbling with the knot until it resembled something passable. Or so he thought. After inspecting his reflection, he sighed. “Good enough,” he muttered, stepping out of his room.

The team was leaving soon for the gala to find Killebrew, and Logan made his way down the hall. That’s when he saw you, halfway up the stairs with a basket of clean laundry in hand. You were heading toward your room, but the sight of him stopped you in your tracks. Your steps faltered, and for a moment, you just stared. Logan in a suit was unexpected, he looked sharp, almost elegant, though the sight of him trying to fit into something so formal was oddly amusing.

Your lips twitched into a grin as your eyes swept over him and you couldn’t help but think he looked like a time traveler from some period drama. Except…

“What?” Logan asked, his brow furrowing as he caught your stare.

You smirked, gesturing vaguely at his neck. “You're not leaving with that tie.”

Logan glanced down, frowning. “What’s wrong with it?”

“Are you going to a nine-to-five job or a gala?” you teased, shaking your head. Standing outside your door, you pointed a finger at him. “Don't move.”

Before he could protest, you disappeared into your room, setting the basket of laundry on your bedroom floor. You returned moments later, Logan still rooted in place, his expression an unamused mix of confusion and impatience.

Without a second thought, you walked right up to him, fingers reaching for his tie. “Hold still,” you ordered, undoing the uneven knot with quick, precise movements.

“That took me two tries,” Logan grumbled, his breath brushing against you as you worked.

“Yeah, and it shows,” you replied without missing a beat , the corner of your mouth twitching into a smile.. Your focus remained on the fabric in your hands, but you couldn’t ignore the faint scent of cologne mixed with his usual tobacco scent. He’d tried to clean up for the mission, and you silently appreciated the effort.

Logan stayed quiet, his gaze dropping to your face. He watched the way your brows furrowed in concentration, the soft purse of your lips as you looped the fabric into a neat bow tie.

“There,” you said, tightening the knot one last time. “Perfect.”

You glanced up, your words catching in your throat when you realized he was already looking at you. His hazel eyes were unrelenting, and the intensity of his gaze made your pulse stutter.

“They’re waiting for you,” you said, your voice quieter than you intended, flicking your eyes to his left, then his right, trying to avoid the pull of his stare.

“Huh?” Logan blinked, his brows lifting slightly as if snapping out of a trance.

“The team,” you repeated, stepping back to create some distance. “They’re already downstairs.”

Logan reached up, tugging at the tie as if testing your handiwork. “Right,” he muttered, clearing his throat. “Thanks.”

You offered a small smile. “Good luck.” You said, he nodded, clearing his throat. “I’ll see ya around.” his voice softer.

You turned, opening the door to your room as Logan walked down the hall and descended the stairs. Once inside, you closed the door and leaned against it, your heart racing in your chest. You glanced at laundry, waiting on your floor to be folded, but all you could think about was the way Logan had looked at you, and how it made your pulse quicken.

As you folded the last of your laundry. It was a simple, repetitive task, but tonight, even mundane chores couldn’t keep your mind from wandering. Yesterday’s news lingered heavily in your thoughts—a cancer diagnosis. Your mind refused to fully grasp it. How could it? One day you were fighting alongside mutants, the next you were grappling with mortality in a way you never imagined.

Pushing the thoughts aside, you grabbed the laundry basket and headed downstairs. Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters felt eerily calm tonight. Scott, Jean, Ororo, Logan, and Charles were at the gala, leaving you and Hank as the only adults in charge. The younger kids were scattered throughout the mansion, laughing in small groups or lost in their own conversations.

You walked down the hallway, glancing into the TV room where a small cluster of teenagers were gathered, the sound of an action movie blaring from the screen. Hank sat in an armchair nearby, his sharp blue eyes catching yours as you entered.

“Hey,” he said, giving you a small smile. “How are you feeling?”

You sank into the couch beside him, shrugging slightly. “I’m okay. Just the headache is a pain in the ass.”

He nodded knowingly. “Have the pills been helping at all?”

You shook your head, letting out a quiet sigh. “Not much. Jean prescribed me something, but I can only take it every twelve hours. By hour six, the pain’s already back.”

You didn’t elaborate. There wasn’t a point. The words felt hollow anyway. You knew Hank and the others were doing their best, and the last thing you wanted was to make anyone feel worse. They’d given you a family here, and you owed them everything. So, for now, you swallowed your emotions and tried to keep them at bay.

The movie played on, the chatter of the kids filling the room like white noise. Maya, one of the new students, eventually joined you, curling up against your side. Her small frame fit easily under your arm, her warmth grounding you in the moment. You stroked her hair absently, letting the comfort of her presence ease some of the tension coiled in your chest.

Then, the quiet started to unravel. A distant, rhythmic thudding filled the air, faint but unmistakable.

You froze, your ears straining.

Hank noticed it too, his gaze snapping toward the window. His expression darkened, and he glanced back at you.

“Helicopters,” you muttered, your voice low.

He nodded, his jaw tightening. The sound grew louder, closer. You both knew what this meant. It wasn’t your first time dealing with an attack. It never started quietly.

You gently nudged Maya off your lap and stood, your pulse quickening. “We need to move the kids. Now.”

Hank didn’t hesitate. “I’ll take the east wing, you handle the west.”

You turned to the teenagers. “Everyone, listen up. Go to your dorms, grab your essentials, and follow the evacuation route. No questions, no hesitation. Move!”

They scattered immediately, fear flashing across their faces as the urgency in your voice spurred them into action.

You bolted down the hallway, checking every room to ensure no one was left behind. The sound of the helicopters grew deafening, vibrating through the walls. By the time you reached the hidden tunnel entrance in the west wing, a group of younger kids had already gathered, their wide eyes filled with panic.

“It’s okay,” you said, kneeling to meet their gazes. “Follow the tunnel. Stick together, and don’t stop until you reach the safe zone.”

They nodded, some of them trembling, but they moved. Once they were through, you sealed the entrance and sprinted back toward the main hall, your heart pounding as you searched for any stragglers.

“Hank, how’s the east wing?” you shouted as you met him near the center staircase.

“Cleared!” he called back, his fur bristling with tension. “They’re in the tunnels.”

The unmistakable sound of metal boots hitting the ground outside sent a chill through you. The helicopters were landing.

You exchanged a glance with Hank, a silent understanding passing between you. The kids were as safe as they could be. Now, it was up to you to buy them time.

••••••••

The sleek, polished floors of the Manhattan ballroom glimmered under the cascading light of crystal chandeliers. The gala was in full swing, with attendees dressed in tailored suits and elegant evening gowns. The room buzzed with polite conversation and the clinking of glasses, the perfect cover for the X-Men’s covert operation.

Charles Xavier’s connections had secured their invitations, giving them access to the exclusive event. The mission was clear: locate Killebrew and gather the information necessary to free you from the inhibitor collar. The team blended effortlessly into the crowd, their formal attire hiding the dangerous intent beneath the surface.

The team approached the grand staircase leading to the entrance, their polished shoes clicking softly against the marble steps. Ororo’s long, flowing red dress shimmered in the dim light, its elegant cut accentuating her regal demeanor. She walked hand in hand with Logan, a playful smile tugging at her lips as her gaze fell on his bow tie.

“I didn’t take you for a bow tie kind of guy,” Ororo remarked, her tone light but teasing.

Logan glanced sideways at her, his expression deadpan. “I’m not,” he replied gruffly, though the slight twitch at the corner of his mouth betrayed his amusement.

Just ahead of them, Jean walked hand in hand with Scott, her sleek black dress a stark contrast to his sharp navy suit. Hearing Ororo’s comment, Jean turned her head with a grin. “He’s definitely not. He didn’t even know how to do one,” she teased, her smile widening.

Scott, curious, leaned closer to Jean. “What does that mean?” he whispered, keeping his voice low.

Jean chuckled softly, glancing back at Logan. “Let’s just say it wasn’t his handiwork.”

Logan flushed slightly, the faint color creeping up his neck. Ororo’s teasing smile grew as she leaned in mock-conspiratorially. “Someone else do your bow tie?” she asked, her tone lilting as she searched his face for an answer.

Jean laughed at Logan’s evident discomfort, and Logan grunted, his usual gruff demeanor slipping into mild annoyance. “Red, if you peeked into my head, that’s really creepy, y’know. Should’ve been illegal,” he shot back, grumbling as his hand adjusted the offending bow tie.

Jean only smiled wider, clearly amused. “I wasn’t intending. Your mind’s really loud,” she quipped, her tone airy.

That set Jean, Scott, and Ororo laughing, their lightheartedness echoing down the steps. Logan rolled his eyes, muttering under his breath as they finally reached the entrance, but the faintest smirk lingered on his face as he escorted Ororo inside.

Jean spotted Killebrew first, standing near the bar with a glass of champagne in hand, flanked by two bodyguards. Killebrew's posture was relaxed, his confidence oozing as if he had nothing to fear. She tilted her head slightly, signaling to Logan, who was nursing a drink a few feet away.

“Got him,” she murmured through their comms, her lips barely moving as she pretended to sip her wine.

Scott’s voice came through. “Stick to the plan. No improvisations, Logan.”

Logan grunted in response, his patience already wearing thin.

Jean, with an air of practiced elegance, glided toward Killebrew. A strategically placed stiletto misstep had her spilling her glass of red wine all over his pristine white suit.

“Oh, my goodness!” she exclaimed, feigning mortification. “I am so sorry.”

Killebrew cursed under his breath, brushing futilely at the spreading stain. “Watch where you’re going!”

Jean placed a delicate hand on his arm. “Please, let me help. The restroom is just over there.” She gestured to the nearby door with an apologetic smile.

Killebrew huffed but nodded, motioning for one of his guards to wait outside the restroom. He disappeared through the door, oblivious to the trap waiting for him.

Inside, Logan leaned casually against the wall of a stall, the faintest smirk playing on his lips. The door creaked open, and Killebrew stepped inside, muttering curses under his breath. Before he could notice anything amiss, Logan moved swiftly, grabbing him from behind and locking him in a chokehold.

“What the—” Killebrew struggled, but Logan’s grip was unyielding. Within seconds, the doctor’s body went limp, unconscious.

Logan let him drop to the floor, his expression grim. “Nighty night,” he muttered, dragging the lifeless form out of sight.

When Killebrew regained consciousness, he found himself tied to a chair inside the dimly lit interior of the Blackbird. His head lolled to the side as he groaned, his vision clearing to reveal Scott standing in front of him, arms crossed.

“We’re going to make this simple,” Scott began, his tone calm but firm. “Tell us everything you know about the inhibitor collars. How do we remove them?”

Killebrew chuckled darkly, his eyes glinting with malice. “Ah, you filthy mutants are cute. Trying to save her? Lemme tell you a thing—you can’t. She’s going to experience a slow, excruciating death. The kind that makes every second feel like a lifetime. No cure, no miracle. Just pain.”

Scott’s jaw tightened, his fists clenching at his sides. “Not under our watch,” he snapped, his voice steady despite the fire in his eyes.

Killebrew sneered, leaning back against the chair. “You think you’re heroes, don’t you? But the clock’s ticking. Tick-tock. And when it’s all over, you’ll realize just how helpless you really are.”

Scott stepped closer, his visor glowing faintly. “You’re going to tell us everything you know, or you’ll wish you had,” he said, his voice low with simmering anger.

Killebrew’s lips twitched into a defiant smirk. “Do you think tying me to a chair and playing good cop is going to work?”

Logan stepped out of the shadows, his claws extending with a menacing snikt. “I’m not here to play cop, bub.”

Killebrew flinched slightly at the sound but quickly masked it with a smirk, his pretentious bravado returning. “The wolverine,” he began, drawing out the name. “I’ve spent my years studying you, dissecting your genetic material, perfecting it. You’re an open book to me. Every scar, every growl, every feral instinct.”

Logan’s claws inched closer, the metal glinting in the dim light. “You don’t know a damn thing about me.”

Killebrew’s smirk widened, his tone turning sharper. “Oh, but I do. Just like I know about her. Fire and flesh, the perfect weapon. I built her, the way she moved on the battlefield, so precise, so merciless..”

Logan’s claws twitched, but his expression remained cold. “Keep her outta your fucking mouth.”

Killebrew tilted his head, feigning innocence. “She’s wasting her potential, playing house with your little band of mutants. But you're a bunch of fools if you think you've tamed her. It’s only a matter of time before she relapses, before she craves the chaos again. Because that’s who she is, war and death incarnate. You're just counting your days until she realizes it.”

Logan’s claws scraped against the wall as he slammed them dangerously close to Killebrew’s head, his voice a low growl. “Say another word, and I’ll make sure you don’t get a chance to regret it.”

Killebrew’s smirk faltered, but his voice remained mocking. “Touchy, aren’t we? Face it, Logan. You and she are cut from the same cloth. Weapons pretending to be people. How long until she burns everything down, just like she was made to?”

Logan leaned in close, his voice cold and unyielding. “You don’t know a damn thing about her.”

“Logan.” Jean’s voice cut through the tension like a blade. She stepped forward, placing a hand on his shoulder, silently asking him to stepped back.

Logan growled under his breath but retracted his claws, stepping back reluctantly.

At that moment, Charles entered the room, his calm presence immediately commanding attention. “Apologies for the delay,” he said, his gaze sweeping over the scene. “There were matters to address.”

Killebrew’s smirk returned. “The famous Professor Xavier. Come to play the moral high ground?”

Charles ignored the taunt, his expression serene as he moved closer. “Dr. Killebrew, I don’t have the luxury of time for your games.” He placed his fingers gently against his temple, his eyes closing as he delved into Killebrew’s mind.

The room fell silent, the tension thick as Charles sifted through the layers of Killebrew’s thoughts. His eyes snapped open moments later, a flicker of something dark passing across his features.

“What is it?” Scott asked, concern lacing his voice.

Charles hesitated for a moment before answering, carefully withholding the full truth. “The collars are prototypes, unfinished technology. I can't find the key to unlock them. The only way to remove them is by destroying the metal. But…” He paused, his voice heavy. “…doing so could harm the wearer.”

Logan’s fists clenched at his sides. “That’s it? That’s all this punk knows?”

Charles nodded solemnly. “Unfortunately, yes. However, I’ve learned the location of another laboratory where these collars were developed. It may hold the answers we seek.”

Scott exchanged a glance with Logan, both of them visibly frustrated but resigned.

“What do we do with him?” Logan asked, his tone cold.

Charles’ gaze shifted back to Killebrew. “He’s of no further use to us.”

Without another word, they hauled Killebrew out of the Blackbird and left him unconscious in an alleyway near the gala. As the Blackbird ascended into the night sky, Charles’ thoughts lingered on what he had seen in Killebrew’s mind—the truth about the collar’s devastating effects. For now, he chose to keep it to himself.

••••••••••

You and Hank moved swiftly through the darkened hallways of the mansion, your steps careful yet purposeful. The power had been cut, leaving the intruders at a disadvantage. While they stumbled blindly, you and Hank knew every twist and turn of the mansion’s layout by heart.

Hank, already in his Beast form, was a formidable sight as he scanned each room. “Check every corner,” he growled softly. “We can’t risk leaving anyone behind.”

Nodding, you veered off toward the equipment room. The flickering emergency lights cast an eerie glow as you entered, your eyes immediately landing on the wall-mounted array of weapons. Among them, a bulletproof vest caught your attention.

For a moment, you froze, staring at it. You hated the thought of needing it. You were the bulletproof one back then, you thought bitterly. The collar around your neck weighed heavier than ever, a constant reminder of how vulnerable you’d become.

With a resigned sigh, you grabbed the vest and adjusted it over your torso, fastening the straps securely. The irony wasn’t lost on you.

A faint noise pulled your attention, a shuffle just beyond the room’s corner. Your heart skipped a beat as you approached cautiously, your gun drawn. Turning the corner, you saw a small figure curled up, hugging her knees tightly.

“Maya,” you breathed, lowering your weapon. Your heart sank as the young girl looked up at you with wide, tear-filled eyes.

“Are they here to take me?” she whimpered, her voice trembling.

You knelt beside her, checking for injuries but finding none. “No one’s taking you, sweetheart,” you reassured her, brushing a hand over her hair. “I promise. But we need to move now, okay?”

She nodded hesitantly, her small hand clutching yours as you led her back into the hallway. You moved quickly, guiding her toward the secret tunnel where the other children were already gathering.

Just as you reached the hallway’s intersection, shadows emerged from the opposite end. Guards. Their rifles were already raised, and without hesitation, they opened fire.

“Get down!” you shouted, shoving Maya behind the wall and throwing yourself beside her. Bullets ricocheted off the metal-lined walls, the deafening sound echoing in the confined space.

Maya was trembling, her hands clamped over her ears as tears streamed down her face. Then, she screamed—a piercing, unnatural sound that made your blood run cold.

The guards crumpled immediately, their hands flying to their ears as they collapsed, unconscious or worse. But the force of her supersonic scream was overwhelming. You cried out, your hands instinctively covering your ears, but it wasn’t enough. Pain exploded in your head, and you felt a warm trickle down your neck. Your ears were bleeding.

Maya was sobbing now, horrified by what she’d done. Gritting your teeth against the pain, you forced yourself to your feet, pulling her up with you. “It’s okay,” you said, your voice hoarse. “You did good. Now let’s keep going.”

You led her the rest of the way, your vision swimming slightly from the pain in your head. Finally, you reached the tunnel entrance, where Hank was ushering the children inside. He took one look at you and Maya, his sharp eyes narrowing at the blood streaking from your ears.

“She’s safe,” you rasped, gently pushing Maya toward him.

Hank nodded, his massive hand resting reassuringly on Maya’s shoulder as he guided her into the tunnel. “Now go,” he told her firmly.

Turning back, you adjusted your vest and readied your weapon. “Let’s finish this.”

Hank’s lips curled into a fierce grin. “Gladly.”

The two of you moved together, a practiced dance of coordination honed through years of training. You stayed low, firing calculated shots to disable the guards. Meanwhile, Hank charged forward, his claws slashing through their ranks with precision.

The intruders wore full black tactical gear, but even their advanced equipment couldn’t match Hank’s brute strength or your unerring aim. You fired at an enemy attempting to flank Hank, your shot hitting its mark and dropping him instantly.

Another guard lunged at you, but you sidestepped, slamming the butt of your gun into his temple. He fell unconscious, his weapon clattering to the ground.

Hank roared as he took down the last of them, his claws raking through the guard’s chest plate and sending him flying into the wall.

Breathing hard, you leaned against the wall for a moment, your hands trembling slightly. “Is that all of them?”

Hank sniffed the air, his sharp senses searching for any remaining threats. “For now,” he said, his tone cautious.

You reloaded your weapon, your ears still ringing from Maya’s scream. “I'm just getting warmed up,” you muttered.

Hank nodded, his gaze softening for a moment. “You’re doing good,” he said, his voice quieter now.

You offered him a faint smile. “So are you.”

With that, the two of you turned and began to sweep the mansion again, ensuring it was secure. But in the back of your mind, you couldn’t stop thinking about Maya’s terrified question. Are they here to take me?

And you wondered just how much longer any of you could hold out.

You and Hank stood in the backyard of the mansion, both watching as the remaining helicopters retreated in the distance.

“They’re aborting?” you asked, your voice laced with suspicion, your grip still tight on the rifle in your hands.

Hank adjusted his glasses, still in his Beast form, his expression grim. “Seems like it. But why?”

Your question was answered almost immediately as the Blackbird appeared, its engines roaring as it hovered on the other side of the mansion. You exchanged a quick glance with Hank, and without a word, the two of you sprinted toward the hangar, Hank flipping the mansion’s power back on with a flick of a hidden switch as you ran.

By the time you reached the hangar, the Blackbird had landed, its ramp lowering smoothly. Professor Xavier was the first to emerge, his calm gaze meeting yours. He didn’t ask a single question—he didn’t need to. The weight of what had happened was already evident in his expression as he absorbed the chaos from your mind and Hank’s.

Logan followed close behind, his movements hurried and purposeful, his bow tie askew and his black suit already unbuttoned. He barely glanced at where he stepped as his eyes immediately landed on you, scanning you from head to toe.

“What happened?” Logan demanded, his voice rough with concern. His sharp gaze zeroed in on your disheveled appearance, noting the blood smeared along your neck and the exhaustion evident in your posture.

You couldn’t even summon the energy to answer. Your limbs felt like lead, and the weight of the bulletproof vest dug into your shoulders.

Hank stepped in, his tone measured despite the tension. “There was an attack—three helicopters. Two of them left as soon as you arrived.”

Logan’s jaw clenched, his hands curling into fists as he continued to watch you. Your knees wobbled slightly under the combined weight of the vest and firearm, and with a soft grunt of frustration, you shrugged the vest off, letting it fall to the floor alongside with the firearm with a dull thud. The noise felt distant, your vision blurring slightly as nausea twisted your stomach.

The voices around you became muffled, distorted, as you pressed a trembling hand to your mouth. Acid burned at the back of your throat, and without saying a word, you turned and bolted for the bathroom down the hall.

“Shit,” you heard Logan mutter behind you, followed by the heavy sound of his boots as he moved after you. “I’ll check on her,” he called back to the team.

You barely made it to the toilet before throwing up, your body trembling as your stomach heaved violently. The pain in your head pounded in time with your heartbeat, making the world spin.

A moment later, you felt Logan’s presence behind you, his familiar scent of cigar smoke grounding you. He didn’t say a word, but you heard the sound of him pulling tissues from the dispenser.

When you felt his hands gently gather your hair and hold it back, you froze for a second, caught off guard by the tenderness of the gesture. He crouched beside you, one hand steadying your hair while the other offered a tissue.

Wordlessly, you took it, wiping your mouth as you flushed the toilet. For a moment, you simply leaned against the cool porcelain, trying to steady your breathing.

“I can see your night is much more fun than mine,” Logan quipped, his voice low but with a touch of that familiar sarcasm.

You let out a weak laugh, the corners of your mouth twitching despite everything. “Fuck off, Logan,” you muttered, though your tone lacked any real bite.

He smirked, releasing your hair as he stood, his eyes never leaving you. When he noticed the unsteadiness in your movements, he instinctively reached down, offering his hand.

For once, you didn’t argue. Placing both hands on his for support, you allowed him to help you up. Your legs wobbled slightly, but with his steady grip, you managed to stay upright.

As you moved to the sink, Logan hovered close behind, his presence both comforting and suffocating. You turned on the faucet, splashing cold water on your face before catching sight of your reflection in the mirror. The dried blood on your ears and neck painted a grim picture.

Grabbing a tissue, you dampened it with water and started wiping the blood away from your left ear. Logan watched silently for a moment before stepping closer, his movements deliberate. Without asking, he grabbed another tissue, dampened it, and began wiping the blood from your right ear.

You tensed at first, but his careful touch surprised you. He was gentle, his rough fingers brushing against your skin with an unexpected softness. Through the mirror, you caught sight of him—still dressed in his suit, bow tie slightly loose, his expression unreadable.

“You okay?” he asked finally, his voice softer than before.

You leaned against the sink, your exhaustion catching up with you. “Maya,” you said quietly, your voice hoarse. “The intruder… they were shooting at us. She got scared and screamed. Her mutation, I think it's a supersonic scream.”

“Huh, explains why you look like hell.” He muttered, his voice low

You huffed a tired laugh, the corners of your lips twitching despite the pain in your head. “Thanks for the compliment, as always.” your gaze falling to the sink as you gripped its edges. “She saved us,” you added after a moment. “It nearly broke me.”

Logan didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he finished cleaning the blood from your neck and discarded the tissue in the trash. When he finally spoke, his voice was low but steady.

“You did good,” he said, his tone gruff but sincere. “Getting her out of there,” His tone was a bit different this time, you could sense there's something more coming.

“But you shouldn’t have gone in alone,” he said after a long silence, his tone gruff but not unkind.

You stiffened slightly, glancing at his reflection. “What choice do I have? Hank and I had to protect the kids. You weren’t exactly here.”

Logan’s jaw tightened, his hazel eyes flicking up to meet yours in the mirror. “Still. You’re human now. You don’t have a healing factor to fall back on anymore.”

The reminder hit harder than you cared to admit. Your grip on the sink tightened as you felt your stomach twist, the weight of the collar around your neck seemingly growing heavier.

“I know what I am,” you snapped, more harshly than intended.

Logan didn’t flinch, his gaze unwavering. “Yeah? Then maybe you should start actin’ like it.”

Your temper flared, the exhaustion and pain boiling over. You turned abruptly, facing him. “I don’t need a lecture from you, Logan. I did what I had to do to keep Maya safe.”

His hands dropped to his sides, his shoulders tensing. For a moment, neither of you said anything, the air between you crackling with unspoken emotions.

Finally, Logan took a step closer, his presence overpowering in the small bathroom. “And what happens next time? Or the time after that? How many more of these do you think you can handle before—” He stopped himself, his voice catching.

“Before what?” you challenged, your voice trembling. “Before I die? Is that what you’re worried about?”

His eyes darkened, the intensity in them making your breath hitch. He didn’t answer, but the way he looked at you said everything.

The silence stretched, heavy and suffocating. Then, as if sensing you were seconds away from breaking, Logan’s voice softened. “You’re not alone in this, y’know.”

The words hit harder than any argument could have. Your resolve wavered, and you let out a shaky breath, your shoulders slumping. “I know,” you murmured. “But it doesn’t make it any easier.”

Logan’s hand hesitated before reaching out, his rough fingers brushing against your arm in an awkward but sincere gesture of comfort. “It’s not supposed to be easy,” he said quietly.

You nodded slowly, unable to meet his eyes. The vulnerability in his voice, paired with his uncharacteristic gentleness, was too much. It threatened to unravel the fragile control you had left.

Logan seemed to sense this, because he stepped back, giving you space. “C’mon,” he said, his voice back to its usual gruffness. “Let’s get you back out there before the team thinks you’ve keeled over.”

You forced a faint smile, wiping your damp hands on your pants. “Right. Can’t let them think I’m weak.”

Logan smirked, though his eyes still held a shadow of concern. “You? Weak? Not a chance.”

Without waiting for a response, he opened the door, holding it for you as you stepped into the hallway. You didn’t miss the way he hovered slightly behind you, close enough to catch you if you stumbled.

••••••••

Scott and Ororo led the children down the hall, their calm voices echoing softly as they reassured the kids that they were safe here, far from the chaos outside. You envied their composure, the way they seemed to have endless patience and strength to guide others. Meanwhile, you sat stiffly in the laboratory, your back against the cold surface of the examination table.

God, how you loathed this place—the sterile white walls, the smell of antiseptic that lingered in the air, and the bright overhead lights that always seemed too harsh. The memories tied to labs like these made your skin crawl, yet here you were again.

Jean approached with a syringe in hand, her movements calm and deliberate. “Just a quick injection,” she said, offering a small smile as she prepared the needle.

You didn’t bother asking what it was; you trusted her enough, but that didn’t make you feel any less like a test subject under scrutiny.

Your attention drifted across the room to where Logan stood in the corner, deep in conversation with Professor Xavier. Their voices were too low for you to hear, leaving you to wonder what they could possibly be discussing. Logan’s posture was tense, his arms crossed over his chest as he nodded occasionally to whatever the Professor was saying.

“Something on your mind?” Jean’s voice broke through your thoughts as she administered the injection.

You blinked, realizing you’d been staring. Jean followed your gaze to Logan, a knowing smile tugging at her lips. “He cares about you,” she said casually, as if stating a simple fact.

“Huh?” You frowned, caught off guard.

“Logan,” Jean said, her tone light and teasing. “He has a soft spot for you.”

You stared at her, taken aback by her words. “Why are you so sure ab—” You stopped mid-sentence, realization dawning as you remembered Jean’s telepathic abilities. A sense of discomfort crept over you. “Never mind, forget I asked. Please don’t get into my head too. I feel violated.”

Jean chuckled softly as she set the empty syringe aside and reached for another to draw your blood. “The feeling is mutual, don’t worry.”

“I don’t know what you mean by that,” you said, feigning ignorance, though the slight heat creeping up your neck betrayed you.

Jean didn’t press further, her grin widening as she focused on her task. “Relax,” she said, her tone soothing as she carefully inserted the needle into your arm. “I’ll need to scan your brain again after this. Then you’re free to go.”

You nodded, your eyes drifting away as she drew the sample. The hum of the lab’s equipment filled the silence, a stark reminder of how much you hated being in spaces like this. Every second felt like an eternity, and you couldn’t wait to be anywhere else.

Jean capped the vial and stepped away to label it, leaving you to brood quietly. The endless tests, the needles, the scans—it all blurred together into an exhausting cycle that left you drained.

“Almost done,” Jean assured you as she returned, her hands already reaching for the scanner. “Then you can go back to pretending none of this ever happened.”

“Sounds like a plan,” you muttered, though you knew deep down that forgetting wasn’t an option.

Your business in the lab was finally over. Jean dismissed you with a reassuring nod, the tests done for now. Logan was leaning casually against the doorframe, waiting for you to leave. His sharp gaze softened when he saw you step out, exhaustion written across your face. Professor Xavier gave you a small smile as you passed, his voice calm and encouraging.

“Get some rest,” he said, his words heavy with understanding. As he turned back toward Jean to discuss something—what, you could only guess—you were already walking away, longing for your bed and the peace of sleep.

The hallway felt quiet, the weight of the night pressing down on you. Logan followed a few steps behind, still clad in the suit and bow tie you’d made earlier. The sight would’ve amused you under different circumstances, but now it only reminded you of how much had happened in a single night.

“We’ve got a lead,” Logan said, breaking the silence. His voice was steady, calm, yet purposeful.

You glanced at him, too tired to muster much of a reaction. “How strong of a lead?” you asked, your voice weak and raspy.

“It’s pretty solid,” he replied. “We’ll check out the lab where they made that collar first thing tomorrow—at dawn.”

You looked up at him, the weight of guilt settling heavily in your chest. The team had barely rested, and now they were preparing for yet another mission. You wanted to help more, to be more useful, but your current state made that feel impossible.

“So, you found Killebrew?” you asked, curiosity breaking through your exhaustion.

Logan shrugged nonchalantly. “Yeah. The bastard wasn’t much of a help. We left him unconscious in a dark alley.”

The way he said it, with that familiar gruffness, made you grin despite yourself. A small, satisfied chuckle escaped your lips. “Serves him right,” you murmured, the hint of amusement lightening your expression.

Logan gave you a sideways glance, the faintest smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth, as if your reaction pleased him. But he didn’t say anything more, letting the silence settle between you both as you reached your doors.

The two of you arrived at your floor, your footsteps slowing as you reached your respective doors. The soft light in the hallway illuminated Logan’s face, his usual stoic expression giving way to something gentler.

“Thank you,” you said, hesitating with your hand hovering over your door handle. “For everything. I wish I could be more of a help.”

Logan shook his head slightly, his gaze meeting yours. “You just need to rest,” he said, his voice low but firm. “We’ll handle it.”

His words, simple as they were, carried a weight of reassurance that made your chest tighten.

“Goodnight, Logan,” you said softly, pushing open your door.

“Night…” he muttered, your name slipping past his lips with an almost inaudible tenderness.

You stepped inside your room, closing the door behind you. The bed called to you, its promise of comfort irresistible. You swallowed the pill by your nightstand, the bitter taste barely registering as exhaustion overtook you.

Within minutes, sleep claimed you, pulling you into its embrace and silencing the chaos of the night.

••••••••

The morning was cold and heavy with anticipation. The team gathered in the hangar just before dawn, their faces set with determination despite the early hours and you were still asleep, safe and sound in your room. The Blackbird hummed with power, its sleek frame ready to take them to their destination. Pennsylvania laboratorium, where the inhibitor collar was created.

Logan stood near the ramp, adjusting his gloves, his expression unreadable. Scott was at the helm, running pre-flight checks, while Ororo’s white hair shimmered faintly in the dim light as she prepared for potential weather manipulation. Jean, her brows furrowed, sat beside Charles, whose calm demeanor anchored them all.

“Alright, team,” Charles said, his voice clear and steady. “This lab may hold the answers we seek, but it is also likely to be heavily guarded. Be cautious and stay together. Goodluck” Charles gave a speech before wheeling down from the blackbird, watching the team before they take off.

The Blackbird took off smoothly, cutting through the early morning skies.

After an hour trip trough the sky, industrial park on the city’s outskirts was desolate, abandoned structures looming like ghosts in the dawn light. The lab was tucked away in one of the larger buildings, its entrance obscured by rusting machinery and overgrown weeds.

Logan sniffed the air as the team approached. “Blood,” he muttered, his jaw tightening.

Scott led the group, disabling a few rusted cameras with precise blasts. The entrance was locked, but Ororo’s lightning made short work of it. Inside, the lab was a stark contrast to its dilapidated exterior. Sterile white walls gleamed under harsh fluorescent lights, and the air was thick with the scent of antiseptic and something far darker.

Rows of steel tables lined the main hallway, some still holding remnants of experiments—tools, dried blood, and shattered syringes. Jean paused, her hand brushing the air as her telepathy picked up faint echoes of terror and pain.

“I can feel it,” she murmured. “Fear… desperation. The mutants they brought here…”

One side room caught Logan’s eye. He stepped inside, finding containment pods arranged against the walls. Some were cracked, their contents long gone, while others held lifeless figures suspended in fluid—mutants who hadn’t survived.

Jean entered behind him, her breath hitching. “Maya Fernandez” she said, spotting a file on a nearby desk. It contained detailed notes on her mutation, the experiments she endured, and a chilling final note: Subject released. No further use.

Logan’s hands tightened into fists, the claws threatening to unsheathe. “Bastards,” he growled.

As the team moved deeper into the lab, a sensor tripped. Alarms blared, and laser turrets descended from the ceiling, their beams sweeping for targets.

“Get down!” Scott shouted, blasting the nearest turret with his visor.

Ororo summoned a gust of wind, disorienting the remaining turrets long enough for Logan to charge forward, slicing through the machinery with brutal efficiency.

“It’s never easy, is it?” Logan muttered, shaking off sparks from his claws.

In a darkened corridor, a containment pod hissed open, releasing a creature unlike anything they’d seen before. It was part animal, part weapon—its skin patched with metal, its eyes wild with rage. The creature roared, lunging at Logan.

“Keep moving!” Logan barked at the team, meeting the creature head-on.

The fight was vicious, claws against metal, but Logan’s ferocity kept the creature at bay. Jean and Scott worked together, using blasts and telekinesis to pin the creature long enough for Ororo to incapacitate it with a precise lightning strike.

As it collapsed, Logan stared down at it, breathing heavily. “What've they done to you..” he said, his voice gruff. Logan didn't have the heart to abandoned the creature, he needs to bring it back with him, to rescue it.

In the lab’s control room, Jean hacked into the computers, her fingers flying across the keys. “There’s a lot here,” she said, her voice strained. “Blueprints for the inhibitor collar, notes on Killebrew’s research… and a list of other labs. This isn’t just one operation—it’s a network.”

Scott frowned. “How big?”

“Big enough,” Jean replied, pulling a hard drive from the terminal just as the screens flickered.

An automated voice blared: “Self-destruct sequence initiated. Five minutes remaining.”

“Damn it!” Scott cursed.

The team sprinted through the lab as explosions began to rock the building. Logan carried the unconscious creature over his shoulder, while Jean levitated files and equipment to safety. Ororo summoned gusts of wind to clear debris from their path, and Scott led the way, blasting through blocked corridors.

They barely made it out, the lab erupting into flames behind them as they boarded the Blackbird.

The creature Logan carried into the Blackbird was a massive hybrid, a mix between a wolf and a dog. Its fur was patchy, revealing scarred, raw skin beneath, especially around its back and legs where jagged metal plates were fused into its flesh.

The head was wolf-like, with sharp, predatory features. Its long tail was thick, partly covered in metal, giving it a monstrous, patchwork look. Its claws were unnervingly sharp, with metallic tips, and its muscular frame suggested immense strength. Despite its fearsome appearance, the creature lay still, unconscious, but radiated an unsettling power.

Logan carefully maneuvered the creature’s unconscious body into the back of the Blackbird, a low growl vibrating through its chest. Its enormous frame filled most of the space in the compartment. As he secured it, the creature’s heavy, metal-patched skin shimmered faintly in the dim light, and Logan's mind raced to piece together what had happened.

He muttered a low curse as he stepped back, making sure it wouldn’t move too much.

The door slid open just as he settled into the seat, and Scott stepped in, his eyes widening at the sight of the creature in the back.

“Why the hell is that thing here!?” Scott nearly yelled, his voice sharp with disbelief as he stepped further into the Blackbird. His eyes were wide, fixed on the unconscious creature sprawled across the rear compartment.

“It’s just a dog,” Logan muttered, grumbling under his breath as he sank into the seat. His tone was dismissive, but the way he avoided Scott’s gaze spoke volumes.

Scott wasn’t convinced. “A dog? Do you have any idea what you’ve just brought on board? Put it back where you found it, Logan,” he demanded, his voice rising again. “What happens if that thing wakes up while we’re flying fifteen thousand feet above the ground? You’re risking all of us!”

Logan shot him a sideways glance, his expression stony. “Then it’ll be my responsibility, I've got it under control just fine” he said curtly, flipping switches on the control panel. “Take your seat. We’re taking off now.”

Scott opened his mouth to argue further but stopped himself, his jaw tightening. Shaking his head, he muttered something under his breath and took his seat near the front.

Jean and Ororo stood near the entrance, both looking uncertain, unsure of how to respond. Jean’s eyes flicked between the creature and Logan, but she didn’t speak, sensing the tension in the air. Ororo, however, wasted no time, walking briskly toward the cockpit. Without another word, she slid into the co-pilot seat, hands already working to start the Blackbird.

The Blackbird’s engines roared to life as Ororo guided the jet into the sky, leaving the argument—and the mysterious creature—behind them for now.

••••••••••

The smell of sizzling eggs and freshly brewed coffee filled the kitchen as you stood by the stove, flipping eggs with a practiced hand. You had only woken up half an hour ago, but there was already a certain rhythm to the morning. The soft buzz of the mansion's quiet atmosphere was comforting, but it didn’t help quiet the nerves in your chest.

You glanced up at the clock. It was almost nine. The team was due back soon.

A sense of anxious anticipation rolled through you. The mission, whatever had happened in that lab, still weighed heavily on your mind. You cracked open another egg, a quiet focus settling over you as you worked.

But you couldn’t shake the feeling that something was different. The Blackbird had landed a few minutes ago, its distinctive hum now just a faint noise in the background. You could almost feel the tension rising in the air as the team returned.

You finished plating the breakfast, glancing out the kitchen window and catching a glimpse of the Blackbird. It was always strange to see it land so quietly, its presence belying the intensity of what it carried inside.

With a sigh, you put the finishing touches on the breakfast and placed it on the counter. The team would need food and rest, but more than that, you were eager to know what had happened out there. What had they found at the lab?

The hangar buzzed faintly with energy as the Blackbird powered down. Hank approached the team, his sharp eyes scanning the group. "Everyone in one piece?" he asked, his tone calm but probing. His gaze lingered on Logan, who gestured toward the massive, unconscious creature slumped near the back of the jet.

Jean stepped forward, handing Hank the device she had collected from the lab. "This might help shed some light," she said softly. "And, uh, we’ve brought something else too." Her tone was less confident now, and her eyes flicked toward the creature.

Hank followed her gaze, his brows furrowing deeply. "What... is that?"

Logan grunted as he stepped closer. “A dog, It’s alive, and it’s staying unconscious for now. We’ll need it in containment.”

Scott descended the Blackbird’s stairs, his footsteps heavy with frustration. As he passed Logan, he purposely bumped his shoulder into Logan’s from behind. “It’s not a dog,” Scott snapped, his tone sharp. “That thing nearly killed us all.”

Logan stopped, turning his head slightly to glance at Scott, but he didn’t say a word. His silence was pointed, and his expression remained unreadable, a mix of restrained irritation and indifference.

Hank nodded slowly, clearly curious but deciding not to press further. “I’ll take care of it,” he said, motioning for help as he prepared to transfer the creature to a secure cage.

Logan sniffed the air suddenly, his nose twitching. A faint grin crept onto his face. "Anyone else hungry? I smell breakfast upstairs," he said, his voice carrying a rare lightness as he turned and walked briskly toward the exit.

Scott shook his head, his irritation barely concealed. “That super smelling sense is creepy. You can’t convinced me otherwise,” he muttered to Ororo as they followed Logan, Jean trailing behind after finishing her conversation with Hank.

Logan entered the kitchen first, his mood visibly lifting as the aroma of fresh breakfast hit him. His gaze immediately fell on you as you set glasses of orange juice on the table. “Thank god,” he said, his tone full of gratitude. “I’m famished.”

Scott, still simmering with frustration, let out a sarcastic comment. “Hm, someone’s in a good mood.”

Ororo laughed softly, and Jean placed a calming hand on Scott’s shoulder, rubbing gentle circles.

“Let it go, Summers,” Logan said dismissively, pulling out a chair and sitting down. “Nothing happened.”

You sensed the tension hanging in the air and decided to diffuse it quickly. "Please, enjoy your breakfast,” you said warmly, gesturing to the plates you had set out. “It’s the least I could do.”

Ororo gave you a grateful smile as she took a seat. “Thank you,” she said, already reaching for her fork.

You put the juice carton back in the fridge, noticing the only seat left was next to Logan. Without hesitation, you slid into the chair, feeling his gaze shift briefly toward you. The table settled into a hum of quiet conversation as everyone began eating.

As the team chattered lightly, you noticed Logan staying out of the conversation, his focus entirely on his plate. Ororo and Jean were discussing something animatedly, their laughter a soft contrast to Scott’s occasional interjections. Taking the chance, you glanced at Logan, watching as he ate quickly, his large spoon practically disappearing into his mouth with each bite.

“Everything okay?” you asked quietly, leaning slightly toward him.

Logan raised an eyebrow and glanced to your side, pausing mid-chew before swallowing. “Yeah,” he replied curtly. “We found something big.”

You tilted your head, curiosity lighting your features. “Big as in… dangerous?”

Logan shrugged, pushing his plate slightly forward as he reached for a glass of orange juice. “Could be. Too early to say.”

The vague response left a sense of unease lingering in the air, but you didn’t press further—not yet, at least. You could tell he wasn’t in the mood to elaborate. Instead, you shifted your gaze back to the table, where the others were now discussing their next moves.

Logan’s voice broke through again, softer this time. “Thanks for breakfast,” he said.

You smiled faintly, your curiosity temporarily taking a backseat. “Anytime,” you murmured, turning your attention back to your plate, though your mind couldn’t help but linger on whatever big thing they’d found.

Charles’ voice suddenly echoed in your mind, clear and commanding, “Everyone, gather in the meeting room.” The slight shift in expression from those around the table confirmed the message had been sent to all of you. Without missing a beat, the team rose from their seats, leaving their dirty plates and glasses in the kitchen as they filed out.

In the meeting room, Hank stood by the central console, his face unusually serious as he worked through the data pulled from the hard drive Jean had recovered. The faint hum of the holographic display filled the room as he turned to address the team.

“I’ve gone through most of the files from the lab,” Hank began, his tone measured but heavy.

“There’s good news and bad news. Let’s start with the good. I believe I can build a chip to unlock the collar.” His gaze flickered to you. “But it’s going to take time. Weeks, at least. The components I need are specialized and will have to be sourced from around the world.”

The room was silent except for the faint shifting of chairs. Hank pressed a button, projecting scans of your brain and blood tests from the night before onto the screen.

“Now for the bad news,” he continued, his voice softening. “The scans show your condition is deteriorating. Your blood isn’t replenishing itself properly, and the tumor is putting more pressure on your brain. I know you’ve been hiding it well, but…” Hank hesitated, his usual confidence faltering. “I can’t let you keep suffering like this. Not under my watch.”

Your stomach tightened as his words hung in the air. You knew things were bad, but hearing it laid out so plainly made it feel crushingly real.

Hank exhaled deeply before continuing. “From the files, I’ve found a potential temporary solution. It involves a bone marrow transplant—from Logan to you. His healing factor could regenerate your blood temporarily, buying us more time until I can remove the collar.”

You’re immediately against it. The thought of another injection derived from his DNA dredges up memories of your transformation into a mutant, an experience you’ve never fully reconciled.

You fear the idea of becoming too much like him, as if losing more of yourself every time his DNA alters you.

Logan’s eyebrows shot up, but he didn’t hesitate. With a shrug, he muttered, “I’ll do it. No problem.”

Hank looked relieved, nodding gratefully. Before he could say more, Jean chimed in. “We can prep everything tonight. Hank and I will keep digging through the drive for more information.”

“I"m sure you both can ensure her well being,” Ororo added, her calm voice cutting through the tension.

Charles nodded in approval. Then Hank turned to Scott, seeking his input. Scott crossed his arms, his expression unreadable. After a long pause, he simply said, “If it’s what she needs, then we should do it.”

The team seemed to settle into agreement, but no one had thought to ask you. Finally, you broke the silence.

“No.”

The word came out sharp and clear, cutting through the room like a knife. Every head turned toward you. Logan’s eyes narrowed slightly as he leaned forward. “What’s wrong, Varmint?”

You met his gaze, your voice unwavering. “I can’t do that.”

Logan frowned, clearly trying to figure you out. “Nothing's gonna happened to me. I’ve been through worse, and if this gives you a shot at life, it’s worth it.”

You shook your head, the words you wanted to say stuck in your throat. It wasn’t about Logan—it was about you. But how could you explain that? Your voice cracked slightly as you repeated, “I’m sorry. I just… I can’t.”

Without waiting for a response, you pushed back from the table, rising abruptly. The team watched in stunned silence as you strode out of the room. You moved quickly down the hall, your steps echoing off the walls, climbing the stairs until you reached the sanctuary of your room. The door closed with a soft click behind you, sealing you off from the questions and expectations left behind.

Back in the meeting room, the team exchanged puzzled glances. Hank and Jean shared a quiet look, unsure of how to proceed. Charles, however, seemed unsurprised. His calm gaze turned to Logan.

“She needs a little push,” Charles said gently. “You can convince her, Logan.”

Logan’s jaw tightened. The idea of being in a room with two telepaths poking at his thoughts made him uneasy, but he couldn’t deny the truth in Charles’ words. He gave a slight nod, his mind already focused on finding you and trying to understand.

With a gruff sigh, Logan stood and left the room, determined to bring you around—even if it meant pushing you harder than he’d like.

Logan climbed the stairs to the third floor, his heavy boots echoing faintly in the quiet hallway. He paused in front of your door, hovering for a moment before reaching for the handle. It clicked open easily—it wasn’t locked. Stepping inside, his sharp eyes immediately found you sitting by the windowsill, your arms wrapped tightly around your knees like you were shielding yourself from whatever he was about to say.

You glanced at the door, spotting Logan, and cursed softly under your breath. Why didn’t I lock it?

“It wasn’t about me,” Logan said simply, his voice low but steady.

Your eyes stayed fixed on the view outside, refusing to meet his.

“It’s about you,” he continued, his tone firm but not unkind, reading you like an open book. It frustrated you how easily he could cut through your defenses, even when you tried so hard to keep him out.

“I’m not gonna do it, Logan,” you said, your voice quiet but resolute.

Logan stepped further into the room, his movements careful, as if trying not to spook you. He sat across from you, close enough to catch even the smallest flicker of emotion on your face. But you kept your gaze firmly on the window, refusing to look at him.

He tilted his head slightly, watching you for a long moment before speaking again. “I need to show you something downstairs. Come on.”

You hesitated, the weight of his words sinking in. But then he stood, tilting his head toward the door in a silent invitation. Without a word, you unwound yourself from the windowsill and followed him out, your steps quiet against the wooden floors.

As you walked side by side through the hallway and down the stairs, Logan finally broke the silence. “Scott was furious because of this thing,” he confessed, his voice gruff but tinged with something softer.

You glanced at him briefly, the faintest flicker of curiosity in your eyes. “What is it?”

“A dog,” Logan said, his lips twitching into a humorless smile. “He was ready to toss it out mid-flight.”

Logan stopped in front of the reinforced cage by the lab, dragging it slightly into the light. The dog-wolf creature lay inside, still unconscious but breathing steadily. The harsh glow illuminated the jagged metal patches on its body, emphasizing its unnatural appearance. Logan's gaze fixed on the creature.

“This thing was made. Torn apart and put back together like it didn’t matter. It’s probably been through hell.”

But his words barely registered. As soon as the creature came into view, your breath hitched. Recognition struck you like a blow to the chest. You stepped closer, your eyes wide with disbelief.

“Fenris!” you exclaimed, your voice trembling as you dropped to your knees in front of the cage.

Logan froze, his sharp gaze flicking between you and the creature. “Fenris?” he repeated, his tone tinged with confusion.

Ignoring him, you unlocked the cage without hesitation, your fingers trembling slightly as you pushed the door open. You reached inside, gently placing a hand on the creature’s head. Despite the cold metal plating and the harsh scars marring its body, there was still something familiar in the way its chest rose and fell, the faint remnants of the dog you once knew.

“What have they done to you…” you whispered, more to yourself than to anyone else. Your fingers trailed over the patchy fur and metallic implants, your heart sinking as memories surged back.

Logan crouched beside you, his brows furrowed as he studied both you and the creature. “You know this thing?” he asked, his voice low and careful.

You nodded, your throat tight. “Fenris was…is…one of them. A weapon. The military used him for a short time, a biological weapon. They'd injected him with rabies to attack the enemies, back when they were developing experimental war assets. He was just a dog when they got him, but they…they turned him into this.”

Logan’s expression darkened, his jaw tightening. “You were there?”

You hesitated, your hand still stroking Fenris’s head. “I wasn’t on the battlefield, but I saw him after each mission. They’d send him out and…when he came back, it was worse every time. More scars, more metal. They kept adding to him, taking away the parts that made him…him.”

Logan didn’t say anything for a moment, but his silence spoke volumes. He glanced at the unconscious creature, his gaze heavy with understanding.

“I tried to stop them once,” you admitted, your voice barely above a whisper. “Tried to tell them he was suffering, that he wasn’t just a machine. But they didn’t care. They didn’t see him as anything more than a tool.”

Logan sighed, leaning back slightly. “They never do. That’s how they see us, too. Tools, experiments. Nothing more.”

You met his gaze, and for a moment, you saw the shared weight of pain and loss in his eyes. Turning back to Fenris, you gently stroked the fur where it was still soft, untainted by the metallic implants.

“I used to sneak at night,” you said softly. “I’d sit with him. Bring him treats”

You swallowed hard. “…I don’t know if there’s enough of him left to bring back.”

You stayed seated by the cage, your fingers gently tracing the cold metal bars as Fenris’s slow, steady breaths filled the room. Logan crouched beside you, his gaze flicking between you and the creature.

“Fenris would still need you.. to be around.. Please…” Logan’s voice was gruff, and there was a hesitance in it, like he couldn’t quite believe he was saying the words. “You need to do the procedure.”

Your hand stilled, and you glanced at him. His eyes held something you hadn’t expected—concern, not just for you, but for Fenris too. You shifted your gaze from the unconscious creature to Logan, your heart heavy with doubt.

“What if It changed me?” you asked quietly, the vulnerability in your voice catching even you off guard. “What if I survive, but lose everything I have left?”

Logan’s palm rested on your arm, his thumb brushing lightly over your skin. The touch was grounding, steady. His voice was low but firm. “You’re already more you than anyone I’ve ever met. A shot of me ain’t gonna change that...” He muttered your name softly.

His words held an unshakable confidence, and for the first time, you found yourself believing him. His gaze never wavered, holding yours with an intensity that made it hard to look away. You felt a strange sense of comfort in it, a reassurance that had been missing for so long.

Logan’s lips twitched into a faint smirk. “C’mon, do it for Fenris.”

A soft smile broke through your uncertainty, despite yourself. “You’re not gonna stop playing that card now, are you?”

“Not a chance,” he replied, his tone lighter now but still laced with sincerity.

You glanced down at his hand, still resting on your arm, and then back at Fenris. There was a warmth in Logan’s touch, an unexpected solace that made the decision feel just a little less daunting. Finally, you exhaled deeply, the tension in your shoulders easing.

“I can’t wait to throw this right at Scott’s face,” Logan said with a quiet laugh, breaking the heavy atmosphere. “The dog I rescued that he hated for an hour straight? I was right, and he was wrong.”

You chuckled softly, your smirk growing. “Thank you, for not leaving him behind.” You said which Logan just silently respond with a small smile, flickering his eyes between your eyes and lips.

With a small shake of your head, you pulled your arm from his touch and reached to close the cage. As much as you hated breaking the connection, the moment felt less weighty now, more manageable.

“Let’s get it over with,” you said, standing and casting one last glance at Fenris. Logan followed, his hand resting briefly on your back as you both turned toward the door. “For Fenris,” you muttered under your breath, and though the words were small, they carried a growing sense of determination.

Part 8 ->

[delusionalme8]

hey, i have been a fan yours since your Instagram and old tumblr days, so just wanted to pop in ask you how you've been doing? also asking for your hinny fic recs!

Hey, that's actually so cool!

It's been about three years since I stopped using that account. Unfortunately I had to study a lot to get into University and my free time has been greatly reduced. But all in all I'm fine now, thanks for asking. I hope you are too!

There are so many fics that I love that it's impossible to remember them all, so I'll try to fit some in here!

Consider that I like really everything from these authors, so I recommend you read their other fics in addition to the ones I suggest. It's totally worth it!

-Brumous by @seriouslysam8 and its prequels (my personal favourite is Backstabber). As far as I'm concerned, it's one of the best fics I've ever read and she's an amazing writer. She's on a break from Brumous at the moment, but is releasing Selcouth which is just as good in my opinion!

-7 Scandals and a Baby by @ginnyw-potter ! It's a story set during the Regency and has an incredible atmosphere around it! She's an incredible writer and has an insane creativity too. Think of any trope and 99% of the time she's already written about it lmao (if she hasn't already, she almost certainly will). Also, her Harry and Ginny are soo good. (Not a Done Deal is one of my favourites too!)

-These Cuts I Have by Melindaleo and its sequels. It's a trilogy set in the post-war period and it's a wonderful read. I just reread it for the third time and I love the way it deals with Harry's horrible childhood and the relationship he develops with the Weasleys! Read it!

-The Path From You by @takeariskao3 too! I feel stupid for only now discovering her work, but I'm spending my afternoons catching up on it all lol. It's a story full of angst and great tension building before Hinny arrives. But I love a good slow burn, I have to admit, and she wrote it so damn good! I really recommend reading it!

-An Hour of Wolves by @solvskrift ! This one is quite heavy and angsty because it deals with a particularly sensitive subject, but I think it's absolutely worth it. The worst thing is that it's about something that could have easily happened in the canon and it's horrible to think about. I love the way it is written and deals with such sensitive topics, as well as the wonderful characterization of the characters. It is a work in progress, but it is definitely worth reading because it is incredible!

These are just a few fics and I don't know how many more I'm missing, but feel free to recommend me some too!

[eachuisge-cc]

Not to mention that actual medieval warhorses looked more like short chunky pony-like horses, nothing like the modern warmbloods.

You might've heard about an upcoming horsy game called Windstorm: The Legend of Khiimori, it's set in medieval Mongolia, and I am so disappointed they gave in and added warmbloods upon the popular demand. Since the audience deemed mongol horses "not aesthetically pleasing" enough.

I understand you gotta sell the game, but come on

YES, we severely need more appreciation for the less Conventionally Pretty breeds because they have a lot to offer and are honestly so cool looking in their own way if you let go of the idea that a 16hh warmblood is the ideal equine form for every purpose in every context. especially with a lot of those more distinctive-looking breeds being endangered and/or tied to really cool regional horse cultures that have been breeding them for centuries. those horses are usually extremely well suited to their specific environment which is what I really wanted to evoke with the skyrim horses (and with the mod in general, I’m really doing what I can within the constraints I have to make distinctive horses that fit with the aesthetic/cultural influences of different parts of tamriel instead of just having the entire continent be a nonsensical horse melting pot). I’m limited by the size of the skeleton but with all Skyrim’s fauna defaulting to Big and Chonky it’s not hard to imagine the horses would follow suit, and with dole horses being a thing there’s precedent for draft-sized horses being a thing there.

and yeah I was really bummed to learn that a game made to showcase the mongolian horse gave in and added Even More Warmbloods. if they wanted more breeds they could at least have gone for altai horses or some other less known east/central asian breeds that might conceivably have found their way into mongolia or like. existed in the same time period.

[fantasiac]

Sonic X Silver Unleashed would be really cool

especially for 2026, which seems like it might be year of Silver, as Sonic 4 has rumored to have Silver in it, sega would probably want to do the Sonic X Shadow generations success again, as well as finally establishing Silvers origin and finally Sonic Unleashed for modern consoles, and a pc port that people have been BEGGING for

Giving silver the chance to fix his origin would be a great chance to take if they decide that his Rivals story isn't canon (because of the way it breaks Eggman Nega), or just isn't well known enough by fans, finally setting why everyone knows him would be cool

although, he wouldnt actually meet sonic in this game, but maybe he could interact with characters that aren't in the original story, adding more to it, and maybe could have sonic and silver meet in an epilogue short like Dark beginnings

it would also probably just fit really well, with silver coming back in time to fix the ruined planet, not that I want another "silver comes back to the past to fix the future" plot, but it could work, especially if they decide to rewrite him, and because it would take place during unleashed, it could definitely work as a good introduction for his character to the world, as it's the next main game after 06 (besides secret rings) so it could probably be much more of a "this is what happened instead of 06 because the timeline reset", if they decide to lean into that (it would live up to the stuff 06 was claiming to be, a cool new direction/reboot to the Sonic world, setting Unleashed as what happened instead of 06 would not only make that statement correct, but also reintroduce silver around that time period in the series)

they could also put shadow in it, because all the fans new and old would want more of him in games, especially in "the best game in the franchise", also seeing shadow post shadow 05 would be cool, Ian Flynn could work in the Super Hard Mode being canon, where he joins GUN at the end, bringing "Shadow's best characterisation" not only into main canon finally, but also into the best game in the franchise

it would print millions for sega

and Silver's powers could get reworked for the boost engine, which would be interesting, and his powers could react with the dark Gaia energy somehow, changing the playstyle to match up with base unleashed

and I somehow didn't mention that I DESPERATELY want more of that peak unleashed world building, with the distinct cultures in the world, it would blend into silvers story really well, as he's not used to all the people and life, finally capturing that "woah, this time period is beautiful" element that wasn't there very much in 06, despite it helping his motivation to save his world so much

and because unleashed is already one of everyone's favorites, bringing it to the forefront of the Sonic franchise for new players to enjoy would probably put sonic back on top as a gaming icon

also a mixing up more of the anthros from Forces into the humans of unleashed, would not only be cohesive, but add to sonics world, Sonic, Tails, and Amy wouldn't be the only animal characters seen in the game where you see the entire planet, making sonic seem special among them and explaining why nobody really questions sonic's existence

unleashed is one of the only games that really builds up a full world for sonic, and all the other games subsequently forgot about it all instantly, I desperately want to know where Station square is on the map, or White Acropolis, or Westopolis, or Seaside Hill, or Sunset Heights, I want all the stages from the games on one big map.

Frontiers also confirms that unleashed is part of the canon, so it would set standards for the next games to add on to it, because the stages in unleashed are considered the best In the whole franchise, in music, stage design AND worldbuilding. we need it to be a base for the rest of the franchise to follow at least a little bit when making new stages, a remake would not only fix that, but also give the silver game that people have been begging for for 18 years, and finally give him a base intro to the story for the wide audience to fall in love with, because silver is rad as hell

also a game that takes place before whatever forces does would be cool, because after unleashed, the games barely even touch on the world of Sonic anymore, Colors? in space, Generations? timeless void, Lost World? Lost Hex, only really touching on it in Forces, where Eggman completely shapes the globe in his image, but they don't even really show what he changed besides "sand hill", and then Frontiers is on a separated island that we don't know where it is on the planet, if unleashed was remade, it would bring back the worldbuiilfing it had, and open up the doors to have games that add on to the main timeline come out while sticking to that worldbuilding without it seeming off because unleashed is a recent and well talked about game by this point

it could work so well sega, pleeeaasse

I just love unleashed so much, and I'm not the only one

[hitracks]

I can’t stop thinking about pumpkinduo funger au someone HELP ME !!!!!!!!!!!! I should make a new endings for them that fit into ending B … I could make little photo cards and stuff oh my days. I feelr ill

Feeling like this rn.

[lopposting]

The original waltz, "Fascination", written in 1904, and quite fitting to the game: composed by a man who had italian origins, but written in france.

Do you ever think he imagined people still like his song?

[jasontoddenthusiastt]

On the subject of gotham county line and batman noel and so on and so forth it’s pretty frustrating (from a watsonian pov) that anytime Bruce hallucinates Jason being loving/ caring/helpful/compassionate towards him it’s always as robin and never as his current self

[averlym]

@remylong :

[cinemaocd]

Furiosa x Jack are like Peggy x Stan if there was an apocalypse on Madison Ave. in the '60s...

[mishy-mashy]

The same fic as Hasta la Vista baby, but going a bit more back in time to focus on En's wacky marriage with his best friend (Hima. An OC) when he was actually alive

In which two ace people marry into a QP relationship, because one (Hima) wouldn't shut up about marriage

Featuring,

Tall woman + short man = PROFIT?

"Ah! Ow! I'm sorry OW!! Hey!!!"

En hmphed, leaning back in his chair with his arms crossed.

"Just so you know, I've grown another inch."

She rubbed her head, relieved of his pulling her hair for her slight. "Congratulations on hitting 5'2, then."

En deals with spontaneous proposals everyday until he agrees

[Day 1]

"Let's get married!" she seemed to decide, planting her fists on her hips.

"....."

"What's with that look?!"

En had stopped midstep and stared at her, eyes slightly wide in confusion, brows crinkled, not sure what to say or if she really meant it. Much like the face of one seeing a drug addict suddenly burst in front of them, butt naked, and running off. She was absolutely the equivalent to that right now.

".... We- We're 19," En tried to reason, not understanding why she decided that. "We just graduated, and we're too young-"

"Age is just a number," she deadpanned. "Jail is just a room. Marriage is just an agreement."

"How does jail tie into this conversation?!"

"Clearly, you deserve it, for breaking my heart," she sniffed. "Jail! Jail for a thousand years!"

***

Banjo squinted. Because did En just sprint by in a panic, with Hima-san on his heels with a rolled newspaper, shouting "JAIL!!!"?

"... Was that En?"

"He probably deserved whatever it was," Torino dismissed. He kept his gaze ahead, taiyaki between two fingers. "You don't argue with girls. They'll rain hell when you do."

Banjo didn't look convinced. His brow scrunched, turned in the direction the pair ran off.

"Would you'd like to get in Hima-san's warpath?" Torino quirked a brow. "Once she makes up her mind, she doesn't stop. I don't doubt her Quirk influences that."

"Welp! Good luck, En!" Banjo threw him under the bus, turning away immediately to continue a happy march down the ruined pavement.

[Day 2]

"Please please please please please!"

En stared blankly at her. Then his gaze went down to the distance between them. His paused yellow tape measure was pointedly stretched in front of him.

"Didn't I say five meters?"

She slumped in her dogeza. "Come on, En! I didn't mean to knock you out! I'm sorry! Marry me!"

"En, it was only for a few seconds," Nana said, exchanging paper bills with Torino in a silent bet over the pair. "And to be fair, you're the one that ran into the pole."

"I wouldn't have been running if she wasn't chasing me," En kept on, arms crossed.

[Day 3]

En didn't look away from the hamburger menu he was pointedly keeping his attention on, gaze up at the shining neon.

Very obviously so, to avoid looking at his friend, who currently bended down on one knee to his left, waiting for his attention to propose.

"Oh, honeybunch? Sugar plum?" No way was she starting to sing-song for his attention. "Pumpy-umpy-umpkin?"

"No."

"Hey, my sweetie pie-"

En speedruns the marriage process because his friend wants to (divorce included?)

"Sorahiko-senpai, give me the marriage certificate," En nearly hissed over their burgers.

Sorahiko chewed slowly. "Why?"

"I'm about to set the world record for fastest divorce—!!!"

Sorahiko is the worst person to go to for relationship advice.

[Case 1]

"Gran Torino, you should really keep your nose out of their business," Crimson Riot said, after watching Hima walk off after a quick conversation with Torino.

"I didn't say anything bad," Torino said.

"You just told Hima-san to fill Smoke Eater's shoes with pie filling and bake for 20 minutes?"

"If she can't find Smokey, he'll eventually come looking for her as the culprit," Torino defended.

Then his phone started blowing up with panicked texts from said Smokey.

"See? She found him."

"Actually," Crimson glanced at his own phone, receiving similar messages, "he's asking why you told her to do that. She just texted him the new plan you told her to do."

Couldn't she have just texted him for his location? Crimson thought.

Truly, she was not the sharpest person there was.

"Her phone was 1%, so it's probably dead now... he can't reach her cell either," Crimson read, taking in the new information pouring through his texts in even more of a frenzy. "Straight to voicemail. And he's two districts over, so he's not gonna make it home in time to stop her. Oh, wow."

He chewed. "Sounds like a skill issue."

"Torino—"

[Case 2]

"I'm just saying, naming a kid Butter Stick isn't a bad name," Torino defended over his mochi. That he stole from En's pantry, but no one really cared to stop him at the time. They already learned to stop buying taiyaki, because Torino was a rat who kept breaking into their apartment for it.

It still didn't stop them from waking up and finding him eating their cereal in the kitchen. He'd broken 3 windows – always the same one – before Hima finally explained how to open it.

En currently laid on the couch he was kicked to sleep on tonight, back facing them and angry steam wafting from his head.

Nana pulled the container of mochi away from him. After he egged on En's wife, leading to her original "intellectual debate" over what foods would work as human names becoming too heated, Torino didn't deserve his sweet cravings fulfilled. Especially when it was out of En's pocket.

[Case 3]

"Divorce her," Torino declared immediately, after bearing witness to Hima blue shelling En on the TV.

"It's just a video game," Nana said from her spot on the couch. "Stop telling him that every time something happens."

"She took the last taiyaki earlier, she deserves it," Torino decided.

"Right," Nana mumbled into her hot chocolate. "Tell me that again when she's strung you up on a flag pole with her Quirk."

[sixohsixoheightfourtwo]

re: what fandom 'a little life' came from, my immediate knee-jerk thought was "backstreet boys." i have absolutely no basis for this other than Terminally Online Brain Worms esp bc..........there are 5 of those boyband fellas and as far as i remember only 4 main characters in that book lmfao. what can i say. the boyband angle feel right

yeah i'll incorporate that into my belief system

[milf-harrington]

no because now i cant stop thinking about stranger things but in the warriors universe

[milo-is-rambling]

Was high and sleepy but remembered I hadn’t taken my pill yet so I got out of bed and ate even tho I didn’t want to and then took my meds and also remembered that my sheets were in the drier and then put them on my bed everyone be proud of me