#Katerina Winters

[womeninfictionandirl]

Arya Stark by Katerina Gorbunova

[atv-migrated]

What plot points would change due to the inclusion of your character in canon? / Katerina

so in kat's bio, i've definitely tried to keep as close to canon as possible so that other people don't have to adjust their canon to fit my oc too much.

that being said, if i had it my way there would have 100% been a plot point surrounding kat being engaged/married at some point likely in one of the earlier seasons. and not even necessarily to loras, as much as i find kat and loras' potential dynamic fun, i think if kat were canon she would have been proposed as a wife to someone else who could be a better ally to the baratheons (without interfering with potential plans to marry joffrey to margaery). as one of the eldest and a young woman, she likely would have been the priority to have her married even before myrcella (and maybe even before joffrey). the scene where robert proposes joining their houses to ned might have even included a choice between marrying sansa to joffrey or robb to kat. obviously, the choice of your daughter becoming queen is hard to turn down so sansa would have probably still would have been sent to king's landing, but the choice would have been there. (i have arranged marriage brainrot for kat all the time so that's why this is first on the list lol)

cersei's prophecy also might change (but it also might not) the original prophecy scene goes as follows (this is just the quotes i got from here):

"When will I wed the prince?" she asked. "Never. You will wed the king." - ... "I will be queen, though?" asked the younger her. "Aye." Malice gleamed in Maggys yellow eyes. "Queen you shall be . . . until there comes another, younger and more beautiful, to cast you down and take all that you hold dear." - ... "Will the king and I have children?" she asked. "Oh, aye. Six-and-ten for him, and three for you." - The old woman was not done with her, however. "Gold shall be their crowns and gold their shrouds," she said. "And when your tears have drowned you, the valonqar shall wrap his hands about your pale white throat and choke the life from you."

firstly, as much as i want to think cersei wouldn't be threatened by her own daughter that's simply not true. she loves her, but she knows ESPECIALLY as kat grows older that she would make a good queen. so i think cersei might think kat could be the younger and more beautiful queen that the prophecy talks about and would therefore put more effort into putting distance between her and the crown (circle back to my earlier marriage point)

ALSO while i don't entirely subscribe to the theory that myrcella is robert's trueborn daughter, the prophecy could stay the same if we're going off that theory because cersei would still have three children OR the prophecy would change to account for the fourth OR the prophecy wouldn't change because maggy didn't account for a twin because twins are in the womb at the same time so it would be four children but still three pregnancies.

kat would also have a much more independent character journey. in her current bio, i've tied her to specific characters/arcs at specific times to make it easier to integrate her into canon, but if she were canon her story would likely diverge at some point and she would have her own journey/independent plotline, i think this would start to happen when she meets hylla with one of the big events of her plotlines being joffrey's death, obviously, but also hylla's death happening shortly after. i cannot express how much of a major player kat would be from the beginning, serving as both a foil to cersei and someone with the potential to inherit the throne after all. i've always said kat doesn't want the iron throne she just wants to vibe, wield a sword, and kiss women somewhere where she won't be bothered, but that's exactly why she'd be good at it. after everything, she'd be a threat to the status quo because she grows more and more angry throughout the seasons as she loses people and her life as she knows it crumbles.

currently kat has a s8 compliant ending because i don't know where the books are going, if a certain someone ever finishes these books i'll probably make kat's ending more compliant with the books because fuck s8 all my homies hate s8. that being said, i wouldn't shy away from kat ending the story as a knight like brienne rather than creating her own house. whether she ends up knighted by sansa, daenerys, bran, whoever wins, if kat isn't queen (which is always something i'm interested in exploring) then i think she'd likely serve the crown as a knight or even hand of the queen/king.

there's definitely probably more but this is what's coming to mind rn

[rwpohl]

nathan der weise, oswald döpke 1979

[niphuial]

Elias whimpered, joints aching and popping even more loudly. "Mommy, hurts," he gasped, attempting to burrow into her, his tiny claws tearing into her clothes.

Instantly Katerina was beside Caroline and Elias, eyes soft. "We have to bring him inside, Caroline. The cold is bad for him, especially on the night of the full moon. It's not good for his little body," she whispered, voice soft. "He has a thick velvet blanket inside, right in the kitchen. He has medicine to take too, to help with the pain." She adds, watching Caroline cling to her son. "We'll have to change his trousers and socks as well," she murmurs, glancing at the soaked wool pants and socks. "Come, inside." She adds, catching the little boy's agony covered face. She picks him up, holding him close as he begins to sob heavily and moves towards the castle, Caroline, Elijah and Niklaus following after her.

________

Lucian snorts "I just told you how I was going to pay him. He's getting the honor of living a but longer by taking on apprentices before you get to kill him." He murmured, smirking lightly. "Isn't that payment enough?"

this would be fun to watch

[quietlyimplode]

ignite your bones

After the fall of General Dreykov, and the remnants of the Red Room still at large, Natasha first year at SHIELD is anything but healing. Labeled a traitor and a turncoat, Natasha tries to find her footing in a strange new world.

Whumptober 2024: Day 12 - just a little more

Warnings: red room torture (of the black widow girls)

Word Count: 1.3k (pictures not mine - from comics)

Summary: Natasha and the girls of the red room survived a lot. Even each other; a story of the red room.

Masterlist

Whumptober Masterlist

.

There’s a vastness to the Red Room that all the girls know. The cavernous halls ring with their foot steps as they’re lined up and marched from one end to the other.

From drills, to ballet, to weapons training; their lives are planned and ordered.

Natasha loves it and hates it.

Days that pass as they’re supposed to seem the easiest, morning exercises followed by breakfast, then weapons and hand to hand combat followed by lunch, then lessons and languages leading into dinner.

It’s often easy and fun.

There are days though, like today, that anxiety rolls through the halls and the world seems and feels different.

The guards don’t look at them.

Their weapons masters are on edge, more harsh than usual. There’s more people around.

It’s Ioanna that whispers it into existence, the feelings of apprehension.

She comments on the differences, her insight unnerving.

Katerina tells her to shut up and Natasha watches them both.

Natasha notices it too. There’s a sense of unease.

Lunch is a sorry affair.

A piece of bread and two small potatoes.

They’re made to eat quickly, the bell sounding through out the hall for them to finish and line up.

Twenty four girls in four lines of six.

Natasha expects them to head into languages.

That’s what’s supposed to happen next, but as they march deeper into the Red Room, she feels the dread that Ioanna voiced and follows the others into the bowels of compound.

.

Snow White plays for the third time, this time in French.

The opening scenes with the castle on the hill makes Natasha think of the Red Room and she ascribes places she knows to the different rooms in the castle.

The queen approaches the talking mirror and Natasha tries not to move her body.

She recites the words with the other girls, this time trying to perfect her French accent, as the words move across the screen.

The stress positions they’ve all been in for the last three hours hurt every muscle, as they’re supposed to.

The reprieve of staring and reciting at the televisions helpful.

She wonders just how long they’re going to be made to stay on their knees, even as, for the third time, the movie plays.

Dreykov prowls the rows of four, stopping in front of Natasha and looking down at her.

She looks straight ahead, avoiding his gaze as the queen talks to the mirror.

Watching the girls, he bangs his cane three times on the floor and she steadfastly schools her body not to flinch.

“Someone has been stealing from us,” Dreykov starts, talking over the girls recitations.

“Tell us who, and this can stop.”

None of the girls move.

They all know it’s Ioanna.

The girl had worried about food ever since the two winters gone when they all had nearly starved out on the plains of Siberia.

They had been given a choice, catch food, survive off the land or… die.

Ioanna had killed the two other girls she was with for their food, and had come back changed.

Natasha understood but still despises her.

She was smart and cunning and made a good widow, but she was also mean.

Natasha tolerated her, stayed friends with her for obvious reasons, and didn’t make her feelings known, but the girl filled her with unease.

She didn’t like people who were mean.

She understood how she got there, and how the trials of the Red Room changed a person, but she also understood better than anyone, that to stay true to yourself was the greatest feat.

To not let them change you.

For Ioanna, they had changed her, they had made her someone cruel.

Natasha had no other way to describe it.

She knew why they wanted her; Ioanna would have ways of bribing guards to get what she wanted. Dreykov probably wanted to know which of his guards could be manipulated.

Dreykov moves to the next girl.

This was a test.

If they talked, they lost.

If they didn’t, they lost.

It seems that all the girls feel the same because no one looks away, no one says anything, and the movie continues.

Sweat drips into Natasha’s eyes.

Six hours.

It was worse than repetitive ballet exercises.

She was tired and hungry and still they remained immobile.

Katerina was the first to move, adjusting her position, and she had been hauled up.

Natasha’s not sure why, maybe the first to move were deemed as weaker.

Taken to the front of the room where Snow White was still playing, this time in English, she was tied by her wrists on a hook.

They’d asked her questions.

Who was taking food from the pantries.

Who was stealing other contraband.

Natasha had tried to stare doggedly at the screens, continuing to speak the words in English, ignoring Katerina’s shouts and groans as they hit her.

Still she says nothing.

Natasha wants to tell them it was Ioanna.

She wouldn’t feel bad, condemning her to the fate of the guards.

One particularly vicious punch, and Katerina goes quiet.

Natasha’s not sure if dead or knocked out, and still alongside the other girls she recites the words.

Another hour and they’re back to French.

Natasha’s bones scream in pain.

Two more girls drop.

Ioanna is the forth.

They string her up and the other two girls look at her accusingly.

Natasha feels hungry.

She thinks it was by design, feeding them so little and then leading them down here.

She feels the sweat drop down her back as every muscle screams to break this position.

Another of the girls break.

She screams that it’s Ioanna and that she’s the one that’s been hoarding food and talking to the guards.

One of the girls near Natasha stops reciting; the French words failing her as a gun is produced.

Things seem to escalate and Natasha feels scared.

It overrides all the feelings of her body and makes her stomach flip uncomfortably. She wants to leave this room and never return. None of them will steal now. Of that she’s sure.

The lesson is clear.

Ioanna tries to refute it.

Tries to explain.

But the words are not enough.

The girls tied next to her give away Ioanna's hiding spot, they’re removed from the hanging hooks and made to stand at attention.

They tell the girls to show them the cache, and Ioanna looks scared.

Natasha swallows.

She doesn’t feel sorry for her.

The girl is mean, angry and has bullied Natasha more than once.

She’s not sure that means she deserves to die though.

The girls return with food from Ioanna’s stash.

Everyone is on edge.

“Stand,” comes the command as Snow White is turned off.

The girls stop speaking, words that were on their lips lost.

Natasha finds she can’t.

She’s not alone, her legs dead from being in the same position, she panics and tries again.

The guards on her left, smirk in amusement but for Natasha, it doesn’t feel funny.

“Wiggle your toe,” one of the girl says quietly, “start there.”

And Natasha does.

It feels like a lifetime but she gets stiff, tired legs underneath her and stands.

They’re lined up.

Three lines of six and one line of five.

Ioanna still hanging as Natasha takes one final look at her.

She doesn’t feel sorry for her.

She just feels sad.

.

The girls in the red room tell stories.

Little ones that give them hope.

To help them make sense of the world that is so confusing at the best of times.

Natasha knows that she’s one the better ones, but no one tops Irina. Everyone hangs onto her every word.

Irina sits on her bed. The events of the day leaving them harrowed and tired.

No one feels like sleeping. Ioanna’s bed is still empty. They don’t have hope she will return.

The guards finish their last rounds, and Irina smiles.

She reaches into her pillow case and pulls out some biscuits.

Natasha looks on, her stomach rumbling as they pass them around.

“Who wants to hear a story?”

.

[trofysisters]

Большое спасибо @vikomdynasty и @maaaryyyyx за приглашение поучаствовать в опросе и за их выбор персонажей.

Имя/Name — Катя/Катерина (Katya/Katerina)

Прозвище/Nickname — отсутствует (absent)

Гендер/Gender — женщина (female)

Знак зодиака/Star sign — Телец (Taurus)

Рост/Height — 168 см (168 cm)

Ориентация/Orientation — гетеро (straight)

Национальность или этническая принадлежность/Nationality or ethnicity - с юго-западных территорий Симского Союза (from the southwestern territories of the Sim Union)

Любимый фрукт/Favourite fruit — яблоки (apples)

Любимое время года/Favourite season — весна (spring)

Любимый цветок/Favourite flower — роза (rose)

Любимый аро��ат/Favourite scent — духи Красная Тайга (perfume Red Taiga)

Кофе, чай или горячий шоколад/Coffee, tea or hot chocolate — черный чай (Black tea)

Обычное количество часов сна/Average hours of sleep — меньше 8 часов (less then 8 hours)

Собаки или кошки/Dogs or cats — собаки, потому что их любит ее муж (dogs because her husband loves them)

Путешествие мечты/Dream trip — за границей не бывала и не хочет (hasn’t been abroad and doesn’t want to)

Количество одеял/Number of blankets — одно (one)

Случайный факт/Random fact — в молодости она завидовала более успешным девчатам: Тосе за то, что муж красавец, Анфисе за то, что муж богатый. Катя искренне считала, что жизнь к ней несправедлива, а ее Сашка только на гармошке играть умеет (in her youth, she envied more successful girls: Tosya because her husband was handsome, Anfisa because her husband was rich. Katya sincerely believed that life was unfair to her, and her Sashka only knew how to play the harmonica)

Имя/Name — Петр (Peter)

Прозвище/Nickname — герой-любовник (lover Hero)

Гендер/Gender — мужчина (male)

Знак зодиака/Star sign — Козерог (Capricorn)

Рост/Height — 182 см (182 cm)

Ориентация/Orientation — гетеро (straight)

Национальность или этническая принадлежность/Nationality or ethnicity - со средней полосы Симского Союза (from the middle zone of the Sim Union)

Любимый фрукт/Favourite fruit — апельсины (oranges)

Любимое время года/Favourite season — зима (winter)

Любимый цветок/Favourite flower — ему не важно, какие цветы дарить женщинам (he doesn’t care what flowers to give to women)

Любимый аромат/Favourite scent — запах женщины (smell of a woman)

Кофе, чай или горячий шоколад/Coffee, tea or hot chocolate — кофе без сахара (sugar free coffee)

Обычное количество часов сна/Average hours of sleep — 6 часов (6 hours)

Собаки или кошки/Dogs or cats — он мог бы завести кота, но чтобы тот был сам по себе (he could get a cat, but the cat should be independent)

Путешествие мечты/Dream trip — вернуться на тропические острова (return to the tropical islands)

Количество одеял/Number of blankets — одно (one)

Случайный факт/Random fact — несмотря на видимую легкомысленность, он очень ответственно относится к работе и боится нищеты, поэтому продолжает зарабатывать деньги, даже имея хорошую сумму на счету (Despite his apparent frivolity, he is very responsible at work and is afraid of poverty, so he continues to earn money, even with a good amount in his account)

Передаю эстафету @ledyanoykrolik, @laforets4, @blue-hearts

[thepersonalwords]

Unforgiveness,splinter in your breastbone, lives there lodged like a small tree.Withers in winter, looms in spring. Its fruit is sweet on first bite, then turns into the taste of your own flesh.

Katerina Stoykova Klemer, The Porcupine of Mind

[lady-rose-moon]

The Selection || Loki x Reader || Masterlist and Selected list ||

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

The Selection came around again and this year, you were eligible to sign up for it. You didn't want to, of course, coming from a family that barely got by through the winter and knowing that the Royals had no idea how much people like you suffered. However, your little sister signed you up and now your name is called on the television as one of the lucky twelve to move to the capital and begin the games to winning the Prince's heart.

Two years ago, the Selection had televised Prince Thor's journey to finding a wife. This year, it was Prince Loki's turn.

Prince Loki. The 'Dark Prince', not seen a lot in public other than the times that Prince Thor dragged him outside. Closed off. Self-centred. Arrogant. Right?

Follow Y/N through her journey from beginning to end. With eleven other contestants, will you win Prince Loki's heart?

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

Chapter One ~ Chapter Two ~ Chapter Three ~ Chapter Four ~ Chapter Five ~ Chapter Six ~ Chapter Seven ~ Chapter Eight ~ Chapter Nine ~ Chapter Ten ~ Final Chapter ~

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

Selected List:

Y/N Y/L/N – Brekstad, Midgard – didn’t really want to be Selected

Cleo Dameerin – Fetsheim, Vanaheim – there for love – 19 (533)

Phoebe Meera – London, Midgard – wishes to make friends – 22

Lorelei – Durdnheim, Vanaheim – there for the money – 18 (500)

Sophia De Mareen – Alzara, Alfheim – there for money 24 (645)

Chloe Olsen – Raneer, Asgard – there for money – 18 (474)

Adriana Sirandrew – Quolequeel, Jotunheim – wishes for love 21 (675)

Regan Seleucus – Soleheim, Niflheim – there for love or money 23 (50)

Isabel Bates – Adelaide, Australia – needs money for family – 20

Lara Oneal – Helian , Helheim – there for love – 25 (1500)

Summer Parkerdottir – Illias, Asgard – there for money 19 (520)

Katerina Godding – Essex, Midgard – there for status – 24

[fawnvelveteen]

Lanvin ‘La Diva’ evening gown, made of midnight-blue velvet and silver-metal sequins. Winter 1935-36

Collection Palais Galliera © Katerina Jebb, 2014

[atv-migrated]

someone gimme a plot where olenna arranges to have kat 'kidnapped' for leverage against the lannisters but like she's actually just chillin in high garden until they need her.

[koisplosion]

Sebastian id pack !

Names:

August, Alexander, Alexandra, Alexandria, Alexandro, Alex, Alexis, Alexia, Aiden / Ayden, Auden, Ashton, Asher.

Benjamin, Bastion / Bastien / Bastian, Bastille, Basil, Beckett, Brien / Brian / Bryan.

Casper, Caspian, Cassian, Callum, Callister, Castiel, Cillian, Crispin, Cyprien / Cyprian.

Desmond, Damien / Damian / Damion, Darien / Darion / Darian, Dorien / Dorion / Dorian.

Emiliano, Emilia, Ethan, Evelien / Evelian, Evelin / Eveline / Evelyn, Evelyne.

Felix, Finnian, Finnigan, Fletcher, Felician / Felicien.

Gabriel / Gabrielle, Gabriela / Gabriella, Grayson / Greyson, Gillian, Griffin / Griffon, Griffith.

Hawthorn / Hawthorne, Hector, Hectare, Hadrien / Hadrian, Hasien, Hastien.

Imogen, Irving, Isadore, Isadora, Ien / Ian / Ion, Irine.

Jasper / Jazzper / Jesper, Julian / Julien / Julion, Julius, Jesker, Julio, Julie, Julia.

Kasper, Killian, Kaspian, Kassian, Kasabian, Katrine, Katrina, Katarina / Katerina, Katrien / Katrian.

Lucien / Lucian, Lucifer, Lien / Lian, Leon / Lion, Lillian / Lilian / Lillien / Lilien, Lucianus, Lucio / Luceo.

Matthew / Matthieu, Matthias, Morgen / Morgan, Mien.

Nicholas / Nickolas, Nathaniel, Nyx / Nix, Nyxton / Nixton, Nox.

Obsidian, Onyx, Oren, Orius, Orion, O'Brien / O'Brian, Octavian / Octavien, Orien.

Parker, Preston, Porter, Poet, Poem, Paien, Peregrine / Peregrien.

Russel / Russell, Rien / Rian / Ryan, Racien / Recene, Regien / Ragien.

Savannah, Sterling / Stirling, Sullivan, Sylvester / Sylvestre, Sylvanus, Sylvania, Spencer.

Theodore, Tristan , Tomas / Thomas, Thatcher, Tobias, Terien / Terrien.

Urien

Void, Victor / Viktor, Victoria / Viktoria, Vespian / Vespien / Vaspian / Vaspien, Vien, Vivian / Vivien / Vivienne.

Wilbur, William, Wacien.

Xaydien

Zadrian / Zadrien / Zaydrien.

1st p prns:

I / me / my / mine / myself.

Ci / cige / ciggy / cigarine / cigaretteswlf

Ei / ege / eggy / eggine / eggself

Fi / fre / froggy / frogine / frogself

Fri / froze /frozy / frozine / frozenself

Mi / me / mounty / mountine / mountainself

Oi / obse / obsidy / obsidine / obsidianself

Pi / pe / pumpky / pumpkine / pumpkinself

Si / se / sebby / sebine / sebself

Si / sebe / sebby / sebastine / Sebastianself

Si / soe / soupy / soupine / soupself

Si / sashe / sashy / sashimine / sashimiself

Si / se / summery / summerine / summerself

Smi / sme / smokey / smokine / smokeself

Ti / te / teary / tearine / tearself

Vi / ve / voide / voidy / voidine / voidself

Wi / wine / wintry / wintine (winterine) / winterself

2nd p prns:

You / your / yours / yourself

Co / cigar / cigars / cigarself

Eu / egger / Eggers / eggerself

Fro / freezer / freezers / freezerself

Fro / frogger / froggers / froggerself

Mo / mounter / mountaineers / mountaineerself

Ou / obsidianer / obsidianrs / obsidianerself

Po / pumpkiner / pumpkiners / pumpkinerself

So / sebber / sebbers / sebberself

So / Sebastianer / Sebastianers / Sebastianerself

So / souper / soupers / souperself

So / sashimir / sashimirs / sashimirself

So / summer / summers / summerself

Smo / smoker / smokers / smokerself

To / tear / tears / tearself

Vo / voider / voiders / voiderself

Wo / winter / winters / winterself

3rd p prns:

They / them / theirs / themself

Ci/cig, cig/cigs, cig/arette, cig/ar, cigar/cigars, cigar/ette, cigar/cigarette, cigarette/cigarettes

Eg/egg, Egg/eggs, egg/eggy

Fro/zen, froze/frozen, frozen/frozens, frozen/tear, Fro/og, frog/frogs, frog/froggy, frog/egg

Mount/ain, mount/mountain, mountain/mountains, mountain/road

Obsi/dian, obs/idian, ob/sidian, obsidian/obsidians

Pum/pkin, pump/kin, pump/pumpkin, pumpkin/pumpkins, pumpkin/soup

Seb/sebby, seb/Sebastian, sebby/sebbys, seb/by, sebby/Sebastian, seb/astiolan, se/bastian, sebas/Tian, Sebastian/sebastians

Sou/p, so/up, sou/soup, soup/soups, soup/soupy, sa/shimi, sash/imi, sash/sashimi, Sashi/mi, sashimi/sashimis

Smo/ke, smo/smoke, smoke/smokes, smoke/smokey, smoke/smoker, su/mmer

sum/mer, sum/summer, summer/summers, summer/summery, summer/summertime

Te/ar, te/ear, tea/er, tear/tears, tear/teary

Vo/oid, vo/id, voi/d, voi/void, void/voids

Win/ter, win/winter, wint/er, won't/winter, winter/winters, winter/wintry, winter/time

Titles:

The gamer, the smoker, the mountain dweller

The seasonal smoker, the village smoker

The farmers smoke buddy, the cigarette owner

The void egg admirer, the frog egg fan, the sashimi lover

(prn) who loves sashimi, (prn) who enjoys pumpkin soup

(prn) who treasures obsidian, (prn) who smokes

(prn) who owns frog eggs, (prn) with the cigarette in hand

(prn) who admires void eggs, (prn) and (prns) addicted self

(prn) who plays games with friends, (prn) with the bottled emotions

Coinings:

Sebastian + romance

Smokerscentstellic - dissomeismoker

Stardewanatomic - stardewgender

Voidchickspritic - obsidiagem

Mascorette

Tagging:

@the-church-of-strabismus @sanguinaryfreaks and @hewasanamericangirl

Request status on the inbox

Please read the byf linked in fox's pinned post

[memphisnovels]

Evermore

Chapter 10. So scarlet it was maroon

Masterlist

Previous chapter

It's mission time!

There is going to be an evident shift in Pietro and Nadia's relationship over the next couple of chapters and I'm very excited to share them xx

pairing: Pietro Maximoff x OFC

warnings: Canon-typical violence, lots and lots of tension, soft Pietro, Nadia totally isn't in denial, PTSD, and trauma, mean Nadia (and then soft Nadia :)).

“Your bodies belong to your country. Remember that.” A chill sat over the room, pricking at my bare skin as Matron Katerina circled us. There was snow falling outside, blanketing the landscape in powdery white. It made me think of the powdered sugar, like what they sprinkle on Tippaleipä. I’d never seen one until last week in Finland, I was there to eliminate an official who was being paid hush money by the Americans to allow CIA agents to sniff around under the radar. On either side of me stood lines of other Widows, awaiting inspection. It was a weekly procedure. Matron Katerina would measure us, check our wounds and ensure that we remained physically desirable to our marks and were not fatally ill. “This is how you show your patriotism.”  She said the same thing every time. I watched the window as frost spread across the glass as she wrapped the measuring tape around my waist.

It had been easy. To kill the official. It was a slice to his left femoral artery as he’d been climbing on top of me on the hotel bed, pants around his ankles. With my hand over his mouth, he bled out in 1 minute and 35 seconds. I stayed longer than I should have after, staring at the small picture of his wife and two daughters that he’d kept hidden in his wallet. It was old, worn, and had fold lines across it but, to me, it was beautiful. They would probably be better off without a father who leads 16-year-old girls to his hotel room after spending the night allowing his wandering hands to roam unchecked.

They did not ask us to let the targets fuck us. They told us to complete the mission, by whatever means necessary. I never let them go any further than believing they were taking me to bed, but I knew others had gone the rest of the way; whatever means necessary. That is what they mean, our bodies, they are not ours. We suffer the pains, the indignities, the torture, for our country. That is our first mission.

Matron Katerina’s fingers felt like the ice that coats the windows in the harsh Russian winter as they press against my skin. I don’t flinch, none of us do. We stand silent, unmoving, in our underwear until she dismisses us. I can see Yelena in my peripheral, staring straight ahead of us, awaiting her turn. She turned 17 yesterday, for her birthday I told her about the Tippaleipä dessert I’d seen on my mission. For the first time since Natasha left, she had seemed almost at ease.

Things were getting worse here. Dreykov had ordered that we get a new injection, they said it would make us stronger. I wasn’t sure I believed them.

“Is it weird to be home?” Pietro managed to get out around the half-chewed cookies stuffed in his mouth. I grimaced at the sight, extending the handle on my suitcase, and beginning toward the hotel before us. “Sorry, I think that might have been a stupid question.” I continued to ignore him as we approached the receptionist.

“Hello, I’m so sorry do you speak English at all, my Russian is terrible,” I spoke in a smooth American accent, a favorite of mine.

The woman behind the desk nodded at me. “Yes, I do, how can I help you?” I told her the name that our booking was under, the same one that had been on the fake documents given to Pietro and me. “Ah, yes, I see. Here is your keycard, Mr., and Mrs. Wharton.” I forced down another grimace at her words. “Enjoy your stay and welcome to Moscow.”

I accepted the card from her hands, offering her a warm smile as I turned, entering the elevator quickly. “How did you get so good at accents?”

“You’ve done the same accent as well.”

“Yes, but that’s just American, it’s all I can do.”

My hands were clenched in the pockets of my large coat. They had scarcely loosened since we stepped off the plane in Russia. “I’ve played a lot of roles.” My jaw was clenched I realized as my words came out around gritted teeth.

“Why so tense? Do you normally get so nervous on missions?” I closed my eyes, swallowing heavily as the elevator approached our floor. My stomach was churning, I had not been back here since… it had almost been 10 years, and yet it had never felt more recent. The wind, so cold it burned my flesh. “Are you ignoring me, now?”

“Fucking hell, just shut up, Pietro! Jesus, we should have demanded separate rooms, I cannot fucking stand you!” He rose his hands defensively, amusement evident on his features. I threw the door to our room open, abruptly stopping in my tracks. “I am going to fucking kill Stark.”

Pietro was honest-to-God giggling behind me as he peered over my shoulder at the solitary bed that lay in the center of the room. “I mean that solves the problem of the cold I suppose.”

“Keep going and I might accidentally smother you in your sleep.” The look in my eyes shut him up quickly. I was dialing the compound within the minute. “What the actual fuck?!” I shouted the second the line opened, not even asking who was on the phone.

“I’m gonna leave this with you, Tony.” I heard Steve mutter before a shifting sound filled the receiver.

A sigh filled my ears before his voice did. “Hi there, something I can help with?”

“You are not funny, Stark, book another room right now.”

He was quick with his reply, no hesitation whatsoever. “No can do, Nads. See, the cover is that you and Speedy are husband and wife, you need to look like it. Hence… marital bed.”

“I will fucking kill you!”

His chuckle echoed down the line. “It’s a nice hotel though, right? The reviews were killer, only the best for Mr. and Mrs. Wharton.” “Think of it like bonding time.”

“You’re a bastard and you better sleep with an eye open when this shit is finished.”

“That is a truly bone-chilling sentiment, Nads. Anywho, good luck!” With that, the line went dead and I was left with only Pietro who was currently lounging on the plush bed. I locked the door before throwing my luggage down and ripping apart the edible arrangement that sat on the table. Within it were our earpieces and my gun. I muttered curses as I tested out the equipment and hid the firearm, searching the room to locate the other places with concealed weapons, knives, an extra gun, and ammunition.

Pietro’s laughs only furthered my ire. “You have a filthy mouth, you know that?”

“Fuck you!” His laugh grew in volume. He interlocked his fingers and rested them behind his head as he watched me. I jammed the secret insert back into the drawer before slamming it closed, the sound of metal clattering and wood groaning under the force caused Pietro to sit up quickly. “Fuck!” I shouted, swiping the destroyed basket of food from the table, tugging at the roots of my hair.

Pietro was on his feet then, hands out before him, palms facing me. I kicked at the food that was now spread all over the marble floor. “Nadia, you need to take a breath.”

“Seriously just shut up. Get off your ass we need to get started!”

“What’s wrong with you?”

I laughed dryly, narrowing my eyes at him. “What’s wrong with me? You mean outside the obvious being here on a mission with your incompetent ass? Maybe it’s the fact that this whole thing is just a big fucking joke to everyone but you’re going to get us both fucking killed!”

The hurt was only visible in his eyes for a split second before he banished it, not entirely though. I still saw it, the way his blue eyes looked like they were melting as he watched me. His expression hardened. “So, what, you’re going to act like a child and throw things around because you didn’t get your way?” 

“I beg your pardon?”

“No, keep going, please it’s amusing to watch you lose your shit and behave like a spoilt brat.” I swung at him, but he caught my arm, pinning me to the bed in a blur of blue and silver.

I thrashed around in his hold. “Get off of me, prick!” He didn’t budge even slightly as I threw my body weight around, yanking and kicking. My face was hot, and my eyes were beginning to sting. “Fucking let me go, Pietro.”

“Not until you tell me the real reason you are so upset.”

I told him to get off again but with far more colorful language.

“Nadia, you are going nowhere near this mission until you cool off, take a breath, and tell me what the hell is going on with you.” I shut my eyes tightly, clenching my jaw as rage simmered in my belly. “I’m sorry for touching you again without your permission, but you need to calm down. Please, Nadia.” My body felt as though it were vibrating, thrumming as white-hot, liquid fury pulsed through me. I set him with a glare. “Hate me all you want. I can take it, but I’m not letting you go and get yourself killed because you won’t tell me the fucking truth.”

“Fuck you.”

“Fuck me. Fine, get it all out, we’re not going anywhere until you calm down.”

I clenched my jaw tighter, struggling against him again. “You’re a fucking prick you know that.” He only shrugged. “I hate you, Pietro.” Still, he held onto me. I kept going, swearing, insulting, and spewing cruel words at him. He did not flinch in the face of my rage, instead, he faced it head-on, stepped into it with me, and did not break eye contact once. “Do you think this makes you brave? Huh, do you? You think this makes you a hero? You’re not a fucking hero, you’re just a madman’s science experiment.”

“You want me to let go of you so badly, don’t you? We both know you don’t mean a word you’re saying right now, you’d say anything to get me to leave you alone. What is it, do you actually have a death wish?”

“I’ve killed people. You know that don’t you?” He was silent at my question. “People who did nothing to me. What do you think I’ll do to you when you do let me go?”

I felt something warm press to my forehead then. “Nadia. Open your eyes.” What? They were open, I could see him just fine. “Please, just take a breath and open your eyes.” His forehead was pressed to mine and his dark lashes were fluttering against his cheeks, blue eyes hidden from my gaze. That is what I saw when I opened my eyes finally. I realized then that his thumb was stroking the side of my wrist, had been the whole time. Then I was gasping, breathing heavily as if I’d never really tasted air before. There was warm liquid pouring down my cheeks and my heart was racing. Pietro let go of me and laid beside me, no longer touching me as I curled in on myself. I turned away from him clutching my legs as the tears continued.

“I’m sorry,” I muttered finally; my throat raw.

He told me it was okay.

“It’s not… I-I.” I did not know what to say, so I opted for the truth, well some of it. “The last time I was here… I was dying.” He stayed silent; an offer for me to continue. “This was never my home. It is just the only place I remember living before I left the Red Room. I have not been back here since, and the truth, Pietro, is that it fucking terrifies me.”

He let the room go quiet for a long while before he spoke up again. “I know you did not mean what you said, Nadia.”

“I am not going to hurt you, I’m sorry I said that.” I stared at the food strewn across the floor through blurry eyes. “You’re not just a science experiment.” It was gentle, quiet, a breath carried away by the air.

“You’ve killed people… that is what you cannot forgive yourself for, isn’t it? That’s what you meant that day when you said I didn’t know the things you had done.”

“I’ve done worse than that.”

I could feel the warmth of him radiating into my back, the sound of movement of the duvet filled my ears but he did not touch me. “It was not you, Nadia.” Silence came once again then. I closed my eyes, the darkness a welcome relief.

“Wasn’t it?”

…

“Okay. This is the plan.” Pietro clapped his hands together when I returned from the bathroom. Our hotel room was clean, no longer in a state of disarray, it was after my frantic behavior earlier. “You’ll take the bed, and I’ll sleep on the couch.”

I shook my head. “You take the bed, it's fine.” He placed his hands on his hips, giving me a bemused look.

“I cannot believe this, there must be cameras around to catch this.” He glanced around the room theatrically before continuing. “Nadia Pimenova actually offering to make things easier for me.” I rolled my eyes, walking past the man to open my suitcase and search through it for my pajamas. “Why don’t we take turns? You take the bed tonight; I’ll take it tomorrow night… and maybe on the third night we’ll cuddle.” The look I sent him was glacial. “Compromise, no?”

“I like the part where you have to sleep on the couch. The rest? Not so much.”

A crooked grin broke out across his features as he watched me. When I looked at him the first thing, I noticed was the dimples embedded on his cheeks. I felt my own lips upturn. “What are you looking at?” He teased, his smile growing. It was then that I realized I had been staring. I averted my gaze quickly, yanking the clothes I’d been looking for from my suitcase and turning to go back into the bathroom again. “I wasn’t telling you to stop.” I glanced back at him over my shoulder. “I like it when you look at me.” My face heated up at his words, the heat spreading through my body quickly. I shut the door to the bathroom, leaning back against it and rubbing a hand over my face. What the hell was going on with me?

I barely slept that night, tossing and turning as my mind whirred with thoughts of what we needed to do tomorrow. Being in Moscow wouldn’t affect me because I wouldn’t let it.

The air was crisp and cold with the arrival of autumn. I looked out at the yellowing leaves that had fallen into the Moscow River, drifting upstream. It was too early in the year for snow, but it would be here within the coming months, painting the streets white and piling along this very bridge. I ran my glove-clad hands across the railing, I’d walked across this bridge many times when I was younger, and for a while, it symbolized a quiet serenity. One that was a rarity for me then. “It’s nice. Cold, but nice.” Pietro’s voice pulled me from my reverie, I hummed quietly.

“The Moskva.” I nodded toward the water flowing beneath us. He came to stand beside me, looking out at the boats passing by. “It wasn’t cold in Sokovia?”

“It was, but not like this.”

A quiet laugh passed my lips. We hadn’t spoken about what happened yesterday, I’d woken up hours before him to get ready. Eventually, throwing a pillow at his head to get him up off his ass. We were in Moscow to collect intel on a drug ring that had surfaced here, seemingly looking to dominate the market with the new drug they were selling. Our mission was to locate the Moscow base and report it to the DEA division that had jurisdiction here and to report back to headquarters with samples for testing. Pietro and I would pose as existing investors, Naomi, and James Wharton. Wealthy socialites who had been pouring money into the business for years. The real Wharton’s were in custody back in New York, but as they were silent partners who’d never been seen by the higher-ups at this company, we would be taking their places.

“Are you nervous?” Pietro asked, following closely behind me as I guided him toward the building where we would be meeting with the partners.

“Not really. You?” I glanced back at his to see him shrug slightly.

He inhaled deeply. “Should I be?”

I tilted my head back and forth in thought. “Well, that depends… Are you planning on doing something stupid and getting yourself killed?” He offered me an unamused look in response. “It is good to be nervous, it means you care. But you don’t need to worry.”

“Because you will always protect me?” He asked, frown turning into a cheeky smile.

“Cap would be super irritating if I let you go and die. So, I suppose I will have to make sure you make it back.”

Pietro chuckled heartily in response. “It is okay, Nadia, you can just admit that you’d never let anyone hurt me because you love me wholeheartedly, I won’t judge you.” He walked ahead of me, looking back over his shoulder. “What was it that made you fall so head over heels? Was it my stunning wit or my unbelievable sex appeal?”

“Perhaps it was your incredible humility.” I taunted, overtaking him once more.

He stopped at my side as the building came into view. “Can I touch you?”

I huffed at him.

He grinned slightly in response. “Just to make our cover believable of course.”

I agreed with a roll of my eyes. His body heat radiated onto me through my coat as he wrapped an arm around my shoulders, his chest pressed against my side as we walked. I swallowed heavily at the contact, glad that my coat prevented his flesh from touching mine. A shiver raced down my spine at the thought. I wasn’t sure whether it was a reaction of discomfort, or something else entirely.

“If you are uncomfortable, tell me, and I will stop.” His breath was hot on my ear as he spoke. I considered his words, it would be suspicious if we did not touch at all, but was this too much for me? I wondered if the feeling of prickling at my skin came from wanting him to stop touching me or from the nagging thought in the back of my mind that I wanted him to keep doing it. I chose not to respond verbally, instead opting to lean further into his chest as we crossed the threshold of the building. We walked to the front desk, and I told the woman the codeword.

“Mr. Rostokov will meet you when you arrive on level 4.” She responded with a warm smile. He did in fact meet us, the moment the elevator doors opened he was there. A wide smile across his face, it was eerie how toothy his grin was. The way he peered at us with eyes so dark they appeared almost black.

“I’m so glad you could make it. Mr. and Mrs. Wharton” Two men in all black suits were in our space as soon as we stepped into the corridor. “Ivan and Sergei are just going to conduct a quick search before we take you to meet my partner, it is procedure, I’m sure you understand.”

I smiled at him, nodding immediately. “Of course, we’d expect nothing less, Mr. Rostokov.”

“Please!” He waved his hand dismissively. “Mr. Rostokov was my father, call me Anatoly.”

“It’s a pleasure to formally meet you, Anatoly. I’m Naomi, and this is my husband, James.” I linked my arm with Pietro’s after they finished searching us. We hadn’t brought any weapons, not today, this was a preliminary meeting. I had a tiny microphone pinned in my hair, invisible to the naked eye but highly effective for missions like this.

“My wife and I have been looking forward to making this for months,” Pietro added, rubbing my upper arm. He’d adopted the American accent surprisingly easily. I smiled at him as we both turned back to the man before us who was currently scouring my body. He passed a hand over his dark, slicked back hair before returning our smiles and beginning to lead us down the hall passed the glass conference rooms and offices filled with people. When we made it to the end there was a large room that was surrounded by walls rather than clear panes, the interior was completely hidden from the outside. The first door was closed swiftly behind us by Ivan and Sergei who remained outside. We had stepped into a small room, only occupied by two plastic tubs situated atop a table. I glanced toward Anatoly who had stopped before a set of double doors and was now facing us.

“Mr. Vasiliev is very particular when he meets people for the first time.”

We had been briefed about this before leaving the compound, the terms under which the two men operated. He wanted us to strip down to our undergarments and that is the state we would meet Mr. Vasiliev in. They said it was a safety precaution, as the things discussed in his office were delicate matters, confidential. However, I knew what this was about. They had already searched us, and no doubt scanned us the moment we entered the building, they knew we were not wearing wires nor concealing weapons, this was about one thing: power. He wanted us to know how much he had, he wanted us to know that we were subject to his will. I’d known many men like him in my life. When our clothes were neatly folded in the tub and Pietro, and I stood in nothing but our underwear the double doors were opened, and we were ushered into the large office.

“That’s a nasty scar you’ve got there, Naomi.” Mr. Rostokov spoke, running his fingertips over the skin of my shoulder. I swallowed down my disgust at his tone, clenching my fists at my side to keep from pulling away from him, my skin felt scratchy and overwhelmingly clammy then. Pietro moved closer to me, his wrist grazing my own as he switched sides with me. The scratchiness lessened.

I forced a laugh. “Yeah, I’m something of a clutz. I fell off my bike when I was younger, took a nasty tumble.” I lied easily, recalling the way it had felt as the blade of a knife sliced through the delicate flesh. It happened after the Red Room while I was working as an agent for S.H.I.E.L.D.

“Ah, my friends, how wonderful it is to meet you at last.” Mr. Vasiliev stood, rounding his desk to shake our hands.

Anatoly leered at me the entire time we spoke with the two men, making small talk and discussing our travels. I only really started to listen when they began to speak about the farm. This was the suspected location where they manufactured and stored the narcotics. Eventually, the two men excused themselves, offering us both greasy smiles as they turned to each other and began to conduct what I assumed was meant to be a private conversation.

“Можно ли им доверять?” Can they be trusted?

“Они отдали много денег на дело, было бы не в их интересах нападать на нас сейчас.” They’ve given a lot of money to the cause; it wouldn’t be in their best interest to turn on us now.

“Мы отвезем их на ферму завтра вечером” We’ll take them to the farm tomorrow evening. “Если они окажутся ненадежными, мы убьем их до того, как они уедут из Москвы.” If they prove untrustworthy, we kill them before they leave Moscow.

I smiled widely at Anatoly and Mr. Vasiliev as they turned back to us telling us a time and location to meet them at tomorrow.

“Did they buy it?” Pietro asked the moment we were behind the door of our hotel room.

I dropped my coat over the back of a chair. “They don’t not trust us, but we need to really sell it tomorrow.”

“And if we don’t?”

With a shrug, I glanced over at him. “We die.”

“So no pressure…”

[breaniebree]

Kismet Characters & Family Trees Part Thirteen:

Sirius Black (3 November 1959) GRYFFINDOR m. Zahira Zacarias (7 April 1964) NA (1999): 1. Harry Potter (31 July 1980) GRYFFINDOR m. Ginevra Weasley (11 August 1981) GRYFFINDOR (2000): i) James “Jamie” Sirius Potter GRYFFINDOR (5 April 2004) m. Hadley Grace Pritchard (2005) RAVENCLAW (2029): a) Rhysand James Potter (28 May 2032) GRYFFINDOR b) Emerson Fleamont Potter (11 March 2035) GRYFFINDOR c) Flynn Harry Potter (2 July 2037) GRYFFINDOR d) Grace Ginevra Potter (18 December 2040) GRYFFINDOR ii) Albus “Alby” Fleamont Potter (1 June 2006) SLYTHERIN m. Scorpius Malfoy (6 January 2006) SLYTHERIN (2031): a) Lyra Astoria Malfoy (1 June 2037) RAVENCLAW b) Celeste Ginevra Malfoy (5 March 2039) RAVENCLAW c) Archer Kai Malfoy (6 July 2044) SLYTHERIN iii) Lily Luna Potter (3 November 2007) GRYFFINDOR m. Oakley Wood (8 January 2007) GRYFFINDOR (2028): a) Nash Oliver Wood (31 July 2030) GRYFFINDOR m. Nixie Sparks (2032) RAVENCLAW (2058): aa) Sirius Harry Wood (25 December 2061) GRYFFINDOR bb) Remus Oakley Wood (25 December 2061) GRYFFINDOR b) Noah Harry Wood (31 July 2030) GRYFFINDOR  c) Magnolia “Lia” Katherine Wood (2 May 2033) RAVENCLAW d) Zinnia “Zin” Ginevra Wood (11 August 2035) HUFFLEPUFF  e) Zahira “Zee” Sorcha Wood (11 August 2035) HUFFLEPUFF iv) Cedrella “Ella” Theodora Potter (21 October 2010) SLYTHERIN m. Spencer Kane-Nott (3 July 2010) SLYTHERIN (2036): a) Logan Theodore Kane-Nott (23 March 2040) GRYFFINDOR b) Zeke Harry Kane-Nott (21 January 2042) SLYTHERIN  c) Nolan Everett Kane-Nott (11 November 2044) RAVENCLAW d) Westley Sebastian Kane-Nott (9 December 2046) GRYFFINDOR v) Everett Arthur Potter (21 October 2010) RAVENCLAW m. Xara Scamander (13 September 2016) RAVENCLAW (2039): a) Hazel Ella Potter (2 September 2040) HUFFLEPUFF  b) Galina Xara Potter (28 April 2042) RAVENCLAW  c) Landon Everett Potter (19 June 2044) GRYFFINDOR d) Waverly Luna Potter (7 February 2046) RAVENCLAW vi) Genevieve “Evie” Zahira Potter (9 May 2012) HUFFLEPUFF m. Christian Lyon (2008) RAVENCLAW (2033): a) Leif Christian Lyon (1 October 2035) GRYFFINDOR b) Autumn Ella Lyon (21 September 2038) HUFFLEPUFF c) Winter Willow Lyon (21 December 2041) RAVENCLAW d) Summer Lily Lyon (21 June 2043) GRYFFINDOR e) Spring Rose Lyon (21 March 2047) HUFFLEPUFF vii) Henry Remus Potter (31 July 2020) GRYFFINDOR m. Daniella Zabini (7 July 2018) RAVENCLAW (2049): a) Cameron Blaise Potter (1 January 2052) GRYFFINDOR b) Aidan Hunter Potter (23 July 2055) GRYFFINDOR  c) Jameson Henry Potter (14 March 2058) GRYFFINDOR  d) Emilia Ginevra Potter (17 August 2060) RAVENCLAW viii) Hunter Colten Potter (31 July 2020) GRYFFINDOR m. Sloane Hart (2023) GRYFFINDOR (2046): a) Simon Hunter Potter (14 February 2049) RAVENCLAW b) Shay Cedrella Potter (14 February 2049) HUFFLEPUFF  c) Colin Fleamont Potter (7 March 2053) GRYFFINDOR  d) Beckett James Potter (19 June 2055) HUFFLEPUFF  e) Parker Harry Potter (24 September 2059) SLYTHERIN f) Noelle Ginevra Potter (25 December 2061) GRYFFINDOR

2. Minerva “Mina” Euphemia Magnolia Black (31 December 1996) GRYFFINDOR  m. Grayson Goyle (28 September 1997) HUFFLEPUFF (2017):a) Zelena Minerva Goyle (26 December 2019) GRYFFINDOR m. Katerina Baxter (7 March 2015) GRYFFINDOR (2040): i) Erica Goyle-Baxter (2043) GRYFFINDOR ii) Antonia Goyle-Baxter (2043) HUFFLEPUFF b) Ariel Sorcha Goyle (3 April, 2021) HUFFLEPUFF m. Philip Davenport (2017) RAVENCLAW  (2047): i) Siri Davenport (2049) SLYTHERIN ii) Gregory Davenport (2051) RAVENCLAW c) Helia Marguerite Goyle (14 February 2023) RAVENCLAW m. Henry Rawlings (2008) RAVENCLAW (2048): i) Julius Rawlings (2052) RAVENCLAW d) Orion Sirius Goyle (6 September 2025) SLYTHERIN 3. Leonardo “Leo” Mikhail Sirius Black (31 December 1996) SLYTHERIN  m. Aydin Weasley (1 December 1996) GRYFFINDOR (2018): a) Colten Raleigh Black (4 March 2020) SLYTHERIN m. Florencia Fazio NA (2022) (2045): i) Misha Black (2049) HUFFLEPUFF ii) Leonardo Black (2051) GRYFFINDOR  iii) Raleigh Black (2053) RAVENCLAW b) Bram Charles Black (27 August 2022) GRYFFINDOR m. Rebecca Higgins (2028) HUFFLEPUFF (2051): i) Zoe Black (2054) HUFFLEPUFF ii) Cadence Black (2057) GRYFFINDOR c) Jordan Arthur Black (6 February 2024) GRYFFINDOR m. Jaya Mukherjee (2022) RAVENCLAW (2055): i) Ari Black (2058) RAVENCLAW d) Jackson Sirius Black (22 October 2026) GRYFFINDOR m. Deanna Finnigan (31 January 2026) HUFFLEPUFF (2055): i) Norah Edwina Black (2060) HUFFLEPUFF e) Zayn Harry Black (4 November 2029) GRYFFINDOR m. Nari Chung (2028) SLYTHERIN (2052): i) Dal-Rae Black (2054) RAVENCLAW ii) Ayla Black (2057) GRYFFINDOR iii) Hana Black (2060) HUFFLEPUFF f) Nova Molly Black (3 June 2033) RAVENCLAW m. Nick Buckingham (2028) GRYFFINDOR (2057): i) Maverick Buckingham (2059) GRYFFINDOR ii) Micah Buckingham (2061) RAVENCLAW g) Nevra Charlotte Black (3 June 2033) GRYFFINDOR m. Wyatt Williams (2025) GRYFFINDOR (2054): i) Walker Williams (2059) SLYTHERIN ii) Wilder Williams (2061) GRYFFINDOR

Thanks to @ellieoryan7447 for taking the time and effort to create these!

[lokiwhitewolf]

Red Hot Winter Chapter 2

Chapter 2: "I won’t crucify the things you do."

After spending more time with Davina, in which Elena learned that the witch feels suffocated by being forced by Marcel to stay in the attic, even though she loves him because he saved her from a much worse fate, the brunette vampire leaves, promising to come back soon.

"Katherine! Can I ask a favor?" Davina said this before Elena could leave.

"Of course! Anything!" 

"I know you don’t like to go to these types of events, but would you go with me to the Dauphine Street music festival in a few days?"

"Yes, I would love to! But do you think that Marcel would let you?"

"He will. After everything I do for him, he has to let me go out for a night."

"Oh, he better let you!"

Elena left the attic and walked into the streets. She intended to go back to the Originals' mansion but was stopped in her tracks by two vampires.

"Miss Pierce, Marcel would like to see you."

"By all means, lead the way, boys." She said it smiling. Elena was escorted to Marcel's compound, which, according to Rebekah's stories, was where the Mikaelsons lived before he took over. Even though the Originals didn’t live there anymore, Elena recognized their family crest on the walls, well hidden by plants.

She was escorted to what could only have been Klaus’s office at other times; there were even some of his paintings on the walls. What she didn’t expect to find was the hybrid himself beside Marcel, but she guessed he could help corroborate her story.

"Katherine Pierce, as I live and breathe!" Marcel said, smiling and standing up to be in front of her.

"Marcel Gerard, so we meet again." Said Elena, looking at him for the first time. It was easy to see why Rebekah fell in love with him, but it was also easy to see the threat underneath the warmth of his smile.

"I didn’t expect you back in my city so soon after the fun we had last time," He said, touching her face. Well, of course Katherine slept with him, thought Elena. Klaus scoffed at Marcel’s use of "my city."

"I wish I was here to have more fun with you," Said Elena, smiling and leaning into his touch. "But Klaus had other plans for me."

"Well, you see," Klaus started talking, "Ever since Elena Gilbert died, Katerina had decided to stay in Mystic Falls, and since I decided to come back to New Orleans, I thought why not compel Katherine and have her do whatever I wanted her to do?" She did run from me for half a millennium, and it’s only fair."

"You call this fair?" Marcel said, visibly enraged. Marcel did like Katherine.

"Marcel, this is between me and Katerina. And besides, right now all she has to do is look after Hayley." Said Klaus.

"You’re in my city, Klaus; remember that," Said Marcel in a threatening tone, turning to Klaus.

"Marcel," Said Elena, trying to get Marcel to calm down. Somehow she knew that Klaus could and would kill Marcel if he kept pressuring "It’s okay. He won’t do anything to me. Elijah won’t let him. And I just went to see Davina! She wants to go to the Dauphine Street music festival with me."

"I don’t know Kath; it’s too dangerous…"Marcel said, but Elena silenced him with two fingers.

"She’ll be safe with me, Marcel; you know you can trust me." She then kissed her fingers and hugged him.

Okay," Marcel caved in, "But my guys will be watching at all times, and also my friend will come too."

"Which friend?"

"Camille. She’s a bartender." Marcel said, smiling after they separated.

"I’ve been gone for a while, and you already have another friend?" Elena pretended to be jealous.

Now, c'mon, Kath, she’s nothing like you." He kissed her cheek and said, "One day I’ll get you out of Klaus's grasp, I promise."

"Thank you," Elena said, then she kissed him near his mouth.

"I’m impressed," Said Klaus, when both of them got into his car to go back to the Originals' house.

"What? You didn’t think I would be able to pull it off?"

"No. I think you and Katherine are not so different after all."

"Katherine and I are nothing alike."

"That’s where you’re wrong. You both survived me, and apparently, you both fell for Elijah." He said it, smiling.

"What? No, I…" Elena was at a loss for words.

"You think I didn’t know where Marcel was keeping my brother? Of course I did; I helped build that church, Elena."

"I just wanted to know where he was so I could tell Rebekah," Elena said.

"Katerina would be proud of you, Elena."

As soon as they got to the house, Elena found Rebekah and Hayley in the wolf's room, along with someone else that she didn’t recognize.

"Katherine," Said Hayley, standing up. She grabbed Elena by her neck and lifted her against the wall. "You almost had me killed!"

"Well, that didn’t work, did it? Klaus saved you," Elena said, remembering how Klaus, Hayley, and Rebekah filled her in on everything Katherine had done before this point. Elena balanced herself and got Hayley off her carefully. "And besides, Klaus compelled me to your little maid thanks to the five hundred years I spent running from him."

"Katherine Pierce," Said the unknown woman.

"And you are?" Elena said.

"I’m Sabine," The woman said, raising her hand, which Elena was going to grab until Rebekah interrupted her.

"Katherine, come with me."

The brunette and blonde vampires left the room and went into Rebekah's room.

"She’s a witch," said the blonde after closing the door. "If you touch her hand, she’s going to know you’re not Katherine."

"A little heads up would’ve been nice," Said Elena.

"I’m sorry, I had to take care of Hayley. She was attacked too last night."

"Is everyone in this family going to get attacked? Is this what’s going to happen to me?"

"Not if you play your cards right. Now tell me, did you find him?"

"I did! I found Elijah! He’s in the attic, in the church, with Marcel’s witch. Her name is Davina. She can’t control her powers yet, but Marcel asked her to kill him anyway, but Elijah doesn’t believe she will. He asked me, "

"Wait, he talked to you?"

"Yes, I touched his hand, and he told me what to do. He asked you to bring him your mother's grimoire. Do you know where it is?"

"Yes, I do! Did he tell you anything else?"

"He asked me to take care of Hayley because he doesn’t trust Klaus, and..."

"And…?"

"And that the vampires of New Orleans think he and Katherine are having a relationship, so he and I will have to pretend once he is out of his coffin."

"Oh, I guess knowing it's you and not Katherine makes it better for me."

"What do you mean?"

"Elijah certainly has a type. I think he fell for you, Elena; coming back to Katherine was a relapse. And he was the one that brought you back, not the torture session from the Salvatore boys."

"I don’t know how to feel about this."

"I think this time you need a man, Elena, not a boy. And from the looks of it, you’re not going to have much time to think. Elijah is going to get himself out of that coffin, and he is going all in for the kill, even if in public he has to call you Katherine or Katerina."

Rebekah knew which spell her brother was talking about. It was a spell to unlink two people. He wanted to break the spell Sophie’s sister had cast. The vampire removed the page from the grimoire and gave it to Elena, who put it in her pocket. Both of them returned to Hayley’s room, but she was no longer there. They found her with Sabine in the kitchen. Hayley was lying on the counter, and the witch was in some sort of trance.

"I thought witches couldn’t do spells," Said Elena.

"It’s not a spell. She’s just figuring out the sex of the baby," Said Hayley.

"Yeah, I’m pretty sure you could go to a hospital and get the same answer." The brunette vampire said this, thinking something was wrong. And she was right. Right before Sabine said the sex of the baby, she made a horrified expression.

"It's a girl," Sabine said, smiling. "You're having a girl."

Hayley and Rebekah were static, but Elena was suspicious. Sure, Elijah would love to know he was having a niece run around the house soon, but still, something was off.

Sabine took off shortly after, and while Rebekah filled Hayley in on the news about Elijah, Elena followed Sabine.

She ended up in the city's cemetery. Following the witch closely behind, she watched the woman get into an old crypt.

"The wolf is having a girl, but the baby is going to be powerful. More powerful than any other creature that’s ever existed, it's one of its kind," Said Sabine.

"What did you expect? She’s the daughter of an aberration; of course, it's a threat, not only to us but to the balance of nature itself." Said an older witch. "I don’t like what I’m going to do, but it needs to be done."

That older witch grabbed an ancient box with an old syringe inside. Two other warlocks brought Sophie into the crypt.

Please, Agnes, don’t do this!" Begged Sophie

"Your sister shouldn’t have done this in the first place!" Said the witch named Agnes, putting whatever was inside the syringe inside Sophie.

Sophie passed out immediately, and the other witches and warlocks left the crypt. As soon as everyone was out, Elena got in and grabbed Sophie, taking her to the Originals' house.

Elena left Sophie inside her room in the Originals' house. She didn’t know what was inside that syringe, but she knew it couldn’t be good since Sophie was linked to Hayley.

The brunette vampire came back to the attic; this time it was empty. Davina was most likely in the shower since Elena could hear water running.

Elena simply removed the dagger from Elijah’s chest, just like she had done in the past, and left the spell inside his suit jacket. They needed him more than ever now.

Sophie woke up two days later in the living room. Elena had told Rebekah what had happened because Klaus was nowhere to be found.

"You have two seconds to tell me exactly what was in that syringe before I kill you," said Elena, in a very Katherine manner.

"It’s an old potion. It’s meant to abort a baby. I’m not pregnant, but Hayley is," Said Sophie.

"Unlink yourself from her right now!" Demanded Rebekah, with her hand around Sophie’s neck and her fangs starting to show up in her mouth.

"I can’t! Marcel will know, and I’ll die!" Sophie said. 

"Sister, if you kill her, our niece will die too. So if you please, remove your hands from her neck," Said a very polite voice.

Rebekah dropped Sophie on the couch. That voice could only belong to one person.

"Elijah!" She said, happily, she was going to hug him.

Elijah hugged her back and kissed her cheek. Rebekah separated herself from him and smiled at Elena.

"Katerina," Said Elijah, smiling. He walked up to her, and one of his hands went to her waist while the other went to her face. "I missed you," He said sincerely, almost whispering. Then he kissed her so tenderly and so sweetly, like he was worshiping her. Elena kissed him back, her hands going to his hair, as if Katherine would do it, but mostly for herself. She always wanted to know what his hair felt like.

He ended the kiss with a peck on her lips. "Come with me, help me pick another outfit"

"Yes," said Elena, breathless.

They both went up the stairs, Elijah never letting go of her hand, while Rebekah and Sophie went to take care of Hayley, who was starting to develop a fever.

Elena walked into Elijah’s room. It was very spacious, with a king-size bed and two large windows with white curtains. He had modern things, like a smart TV and a stereo, but the room also had space for a desk with some papers on it, along with shelves with books and a walk-in closet packed with suits but, surprisingly for Elena, regular clothes as well.

"I’ll make space for you here."

"What?" Asked Elena.

"I know you’re here of your own free will, but I don’t trust my brother Elena. I’ll feel better if you’re in my room with me. And besides, we have to put on a little show, don’t we?" He said this, smiling at her, picking up his suit and changing in front of her, removing his shirt first.

"Elijah!" She said, turning around somehow mortified. The original vampire chuckled.

"We’re playing a couple, Elena; we might as well behave like one." He said "It’s okay if you want to look at me while I’m changing." He said this, whispering in her ear and kissing her neck, making Elena tremble. He smiled and stepped away from her to put on his suit.

Elena turned around.

"How do I look?" Asked Elijah.

"Dashing as always," Elena replied, smiling.

Hayley’s fever was getting worse as the day went by. The concoction Sophie made had helped a bit, but Hayley depended on Davina's ability to unlinked both of them. Elijah had faith in the young witch, saying that if she completed that spell, she could choose the next spell they would work on. It was already night, and they didn’t know what else to do to get her fever down.

"Take her to the pool!" Elena said. "The water is freezing; it will make her body temperature go down!"

Elijah grabbed Hayley, and both of them got inside the pool. Hayley was having convulsions and holding onto her belly. Elena got into the water, not caring if her impersonation would blow or not. She held Hayley’s body along with Elijah's.

"Davina is going to make it; I know she is," Elijah said, almost sounding scared.

"Elijah, it’s going to be okay." Said Elena, looking deep into his eyes.

All of a sudden, Hayley’s body stopped moving. Sophie grabbed a knife to check if they were unlinked by making a small cut on her palm. Elena grabbed Hayley’s palm. It wasn’t bleeding. They were unlinked.

"It worked," said Elena.

Elijah breathed out in relief and was about to take Hayley inside when Sophie asked him something.

"Please don’t let Klaus kill Agnes. She’s one of our ancestors; she didn’t know what she was doing."

"Agnes won’t die at my brothers' hands; you have my word," Said Elijah.

Elena was following him, only to be stopped by Sophie.

"The Katherine I knew would’ve never gotten into that pool."

"If Hayley dies, I die, remember? I’m Katherine Pierce; I’m a survivor." Elena said, "If you pull another stunt like this against us, I don’t think you’ll survive to tell the tale. Elijah has a rather bad habit of ripping out people’s hearts.

After making sure Hayley was safe inside her room with Rebekah watching over her, both Elena and Elijah got changed. Elijah had gotten a phone call from Klaus to meet him in the church.

"I’ll go with you. I don’t trust Klaus around you," Said Elena. They both got into Elijah’s car and got to the church shortly after.

"Elijah! Katherine! Welcome to the party! You see, while you two were making sure that Hayley was safe, I was hunting down the witches that had threatened my family. And I found them here!" Said Klaus, going around the church killing the witches one by one but leaving Agnes for last. "This one here is the one that poisoned my heir. What am I going to do with you?"

"Niklaus, you asked for my forgiveness, remember? You shall have it if you don’t kill Agnes. I promised Sophie she wouldn’t die at your hands. If you want my forgiveness, this is how you shall have it."

Klaus let go of Agnes’s neck. Elena knew what was following and looked down.

Elijah went to Agnes, who was crying.

"I promised Sophie you wouldn’t die at my brother's hands; I didn’t say anything about mine." Elijah put his hand inside her chest and said, "No one messes with my family and lives," and then he removed her heart.

The first time Elijah had done this in front of her, it had certainly terrified her. It proved to her that he was a very powerful man, not to be messed with.

Elena doesn’t condone violence in the slightest, but she had seen what those witches had done. They would’ve killed Hayley’s baby. That should’ve been a decision that Hayley should've made, and she decided to keep the baby. She knew the Mikaelsons would do anything for each other, but now she has seen it, and she was in the middle of it. Right where she should be.

"You two love birds Go ahead; I need to do something before I get home. I need to tell someone justice was done."

Elijah got a handkerchief from his pocket to wipe his hand, grabbing Elena by his other hand.

"I’m sorry you had to see that," He said.

"Well, it’s not the first time I’ve seen you rip someone’s heart out," She said.

"Elena," He said, putting both of his hands on the car, trapping her between the car and his body. "Thank you for removing the dagger from my chest."

"Well, I did dagger you once, if I recall correctly."

"You were trying to stay alive and didn’t know if you could trust me. I don’t blame you."

"I still feel bad for it, though."

"You don’t have to. It’s not your fault. You helped me with Hayley tonight. And looked out for her when I wasn’t there. Thank you."

"I was just keeping my word."

"This...relationship that we have to fake. I don’t want to fake it with you, Elena. I want you. All of you"

Elena’s heart was beating so loudly that she knew Elijah could hear it.

"Elijah…"

"I know you might be afraid of history repeating itself because of what happened between me and Katerina, but I assure you my lovely Elena, she is in the past. I want you."

And with that, he kissed her. He kissed her like she'd never been kissed before. It was not like she was with Stefan and Damon. It was so much better, like she was in heaven, as if Elijah was perfectly made for her, or as if she was made for him. The best part about being a vampire is that you don’t need to breathe. So Elijah grabbed one of her legs, wrapping it around his waist, while his other went inside her t-shirt. And to think that one of his hands, which had ripped out a heart just half an hour earlier, was now on her back. Her hands went to his hair, pulling it hard from his roots, which he seemed to like. It was the softest thing she had ever touched.

Hey, love birds, this is a church, not a motel!" Said Father Kieran, he said, interrupting them. Elena hid her face in Elijah's neck, holding back a burst of laughter.

"I’m sorry, Father, for I have sinned." Said Elijah.

Elijah and Elena got into the car, and holding each other's hands, they got back to the house.

[crimsonlyinglilly]

What would Elijah/Persephone have done if upon draining Katherine/Hades Silas had inadvertently sucked Katherine/Hades into himself, thus locking her inside Silas's body, but that Caused Elijah/Persephone to awaken? Would Elijah have realized upon seeing his Katerina's body? Or seeing Silas? Or would he just immediately attack Silas once he saw Katherine's corpse?

Great Question,

Silas would have to be lucky that Katherine's memories stayed asleep or the power of Hades would have killed him instantly and Katherine would wake up on her throne.

Elijah's works out who Hades is quickly from his memories. The only reason Esther's spell was able to alter his essence, make him a vampire, at all, was because she had used Tatia's blood, Hades' blood.

If Tatia hadn't been Hades, Elijah would never had returned as a vampire, he would have just died to Mikael's sword and been reborn in a new life.

With his memories as Persephone returned he would recognise why he was drawn to Tatia and Katarina.

Again depends on the season, if it was winter, as soon as Elijah remembered he would have gone to their thrones expecting his husband there, dealt with Cade. Elijah would free their son but then go looking for his husband.

Any other time He would go straight for his other half, the only reason Katherine couldn't do the same for Persephone was because she is bound to the underworld.

In this the pair of them combined their powers when the 'married' to stop themselves being parted, so with Katherine still unaware/sealed within Silas, Elijah would have both her powers and that of Hades.

Silas would be screwed as soon as Elijah found him which wouldn't be hard for Elijah to find him by tracking his other half.

Silas is a powerful witch but Elijah is the daughter of nature itself and a goddess of life along with Hades' power, he would tear Silas apart to get his husband free.

If it's winter they would be reunited in the afterlife, the rest of the year even when Elijah freed Katherine, with her memories and powers awake she would be drawn back to the afterlife and they would be parted again until September.

The only thing that held the gods in check are the other gods and Ken. Normally Hades and Persephone were happy keeping order and being with their children however with the other gods missing and their daughters along with them, they are pretty much free to do as they like.

Hope than answers you question.

Thank you. ♥️

[lime-sketches114]

Alright here are some crossover ship names for characters I thought would be cool. This is for my RWBY X Last Pegasus stuff so yeah. I'll label things as such bc most of them are adults haha. I do have platonic/friendly ships because of cute interactions I've thought up. (I'll be sure to update as needed)

Also feel free to ask about them or ask about a ship because I would LOVE to talk about them (Especially Qrow, Ironwood, and Tyrian and whatever else bc I like em)

Romantic (canon/switchable/crushes)

Platonic (mostly with the younger ones or are mostly friends)

Crack ship (bc it was a cool thing/idea)

In RWBY AUs they're mostly older unless changed to canon ages in original story.

★★★★★★★

Katerina Wolfe (Dove Faunus so to speak) (Bi) (21-22) (ADHD, Anxiety)

Black Angel/Death Angel (Qrow)

Peaceful Time (Ozpin)

Kind Heart (Ironwood)

White Cannon (Oobleck)

Downy Magic (Glynda)

Poisonous Quill (Tyrian)

Worthiness (Watts)

Lucky Recovery (Clover)

Clipped Wings (Raven)

Silver wing (Ruby)

Holy Knights (Jaune)

Flash Wolfe (Dragon Faunus) (Bi) (21-22) (Is Twin of Kat) (ADHD, HF Autism, Sass)

Chaos Theory (Qrow)

Russian/Atlesian Roulette (Ironwood)

Maleficent (Glynda)

Domination (Watts)

Lucky Shot (Clover)

Grunge Match (Raven)

Dry Ice/Dragon's breath (Winter)

Robbin Hoards (Robyn)

Little Reds (Ruby)

Alexandra "Ally" Wolfe (Siren Faunus) (Straight) (27-28) (PTSD)

Ironwhip (Ironwood)

Straight and Narrow (Glynda)

Mad Siren (Watts)

Icy Fury (Winter)

Motherly instinct (Weiss)

Terresa "Terri" Wolfe (Golden Eagle Faunus) (Pan) (25-26) (ADHD)

Magic Shield (Glynda)

Trust Fall (Clover)

Golden Sword/Feather (Raven)

White Knight (Winter)

Aegis (Ironwood)

Brave Burn (Yang)

Hammer time (Nora)

Avalina "Ava" Wolfe (Fox Faunus) (Unknown/Asexual) (17-18) (HF Autism, Sensory Issues)

Glyph Gears (Ozpin)

Nature walk (Oscar)

Firefox (Oobleck)

Sorcery (Glynda)

Flower patch (Clover)

Magic dual (Weiss)

Red curls (Penny)

Meditation (Ren)

Gavin Pravus Wolfe (Beast Faunus) (Pansexual) (24-25) (PTSD)

Brazen (Ironwood)

Law and order (Glynda)

Overlucky (Clover)

Omen (Raven)

White Beast (Winter)

Trust (Robyn)

MMA (Ren)