#LIKE ARE YOU ACCUSING ME OF BEING A CRIMINAL? FOR /WEARING A MASK/ ????? | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

bnhaobservation · 1 year ago

Note

What do you think the todofam will be like after the war?

It's something I've been wondering as well.

Let's start with a premise.

This story is aimed mainly to a Japanese audience which sees things according to their culture. Some things that for them are a given aren't for who's not Japanese and vice versa. So, it gets twice as difficult for us to follow the message Horikoshi wants to deliver.

Also... this is going to be long and actually should have been longer. I tried to keep it as short as I could but this might have caused to make it not perfectly clear so I apologize in advance.

Lastly, what follows are just my two cents, feel free to disagree.

Said so let's tackle the matter from a realistic perspective.

If BNHA were not a story but the real world, the Todoroki family is finished. Not because Enji abused his family, but because one of their members (Tōya) is a murderer.

A seinen manga "Theseus no fune" (テセウスの船) digs with what happens to a family of 5 after the father, Sano Bungo, was accused of murder.

The mother, who was at the time pregnant, was denied hospitalization to give birth to her child.

They had to hide their identity because each time it was discovered they were forced to move. People would also refuse to hire them if they were to know of it. The main character, the youngest child of the man, the one that was born AFTER his father was accused of murder, and who should have been named Seigi (justice) is named instead Shin (heart) because "there's no justice for the son of a murderer", has to take his mother's surname (along with the rest of the family), have to wear a mask to hide his face to work, so that he won't be recognized, had to give up on becoming a teacher and, although he managed to marry, his wife's relatives refused to accept the marriage. When the wife dies during childbirth, her parents attend tot he funeral but claim they couldn't tell anyone about it because otherwise people would know she married the son of a criminal. They also demand their grandchild to be handed to them because she can't grow up with the son of a murderer.

Note that said son of a murderer, never had any contact with his father as the man had been arrested before his birth, and therefore Shin clearly couldn't be responsible for his father's crime.

We see something similar happening in BNHA for people who're involved in minor crimes.

Tobita tried to help someone but failed and was accused of preventing a Hero from saving him.

He was expelled from school and his family was implied to be targeted with bullying (see the graffiti with insults on the gate?)

It got so bad even his family chased him away.

Jin goes through something similar. Due to being involved in an incedent he's fired and no one wants to hire him ever again so he ends up homeless.

It's implied the same happened with Himiko, though we don't know if she ended up on the run just after attacking Saito, knowing her parents wouldn't want her back, or after trying to go back home and being rejected.

While Himiko's house might have been further devasted AFTER she joined the league, we can see that the gate was already damaged when her parents still lived there just after she had attacked Saito.

Note that none of the three over mentioned characters had yet committed murder. Tobita wanted to help, and the man who he had been unable to save will recover in 6 months, Jin ended up running over a guy who ran in the street without warning but only broke his arm and, as far as we know, Saito didn't die due to Himiko's attack.

Yet, they're shunned by society and with them their families who turn their back to them.

Now picture how much worse this would be for someone who committed murder.

Tōya/Dabi himself touches upon how bad they should have it now.

'Hitotsu kikitēnda ga Shōto… omae ittai donna tsura shite? Obieru shimin to issho ni U.A. ni komotteiraretanda? ENDEAVOR no musuko Dabi no kyōdai yakusai no nikogori mite~e nate me ~e ga!!'

「一つ聞きてえんだが焦凍…　おまえ一体どんな面して怯える市民と一緒に雄英に籠っていられたんだ？　エンデヴァーの息子荼毘の兄弟　厄災の煮凝りみてぇなてめェが！！」

``I have to ask you one thing, Shōto... What the hell kind of face were you wearing? Were you able to stay holed up in U.A. with the frightened citizens? Endeavor's son, Dabi's brother, it's like a broth of calamity/disaster/misfortune! !”*

*okay, technically he says 'yakusai no nikogori' (厄災の煮凝り) which litterally is a "jellied broth of disaster/calamity", but the fact he chose the nikogori is also due to how the kanji used to write it are 'ni' (煮 "boil, cook") and 'gori' (凝 "freeze").

The people in U.A. should have wanted Shouto in it as much as they wanted Deku when he first showed up there, not even a bit, even though Deku did nothing wrong...

Something many fans often miss of this scene is that when Deku enters in U.A. all his classmates are there, except for Shōto, and that Heroes supporting Deku like Present Mic and Best Jeanist are there, but not Endeavor and Hawks.

Where are they? Just outside.

It will be Ectoplasm who will call them in when all is finished.

Why Shōto isn't with his classmates supporting Deku? Why Endeavor and Hawks remain outside?

It's not because they don't care but because they would make matters worse.

And Shōto, poor kid, is completely innocent, Enji might have responsibilities for what Tōya did but Shōto? Whatever he did wrong?

Yet, same Tamura Shin from "Theseus no fune", he's likely hold accountable for his brother and father's crimes as well as the rest of his family.

The story glosses it over, we see nothing being done against Shōto or the rest of his family, and his classmates act mostly supportive so he doesn't seem to have it bad, but the story likely doesn't show it because, for Japanese people, it's a given Shōto would have it bad, it's unnecessary to esplicitly show it and it would probably be too dark of a subject so Horikoshi skims on it, as in Japan it's public knowledge.

That's why Natsuo said all that awaits them is pure hell.

It was bad enough Tōya had killed people before but now he had attempted to nuke Japan and the Todorokis don't expect they will be 'forgiven' because they actually stopped him almost getting themselves killed in the process.

In a way Tōya has cornered them, their best option was actually to die with him.

So if we go for a realistic ending Enji will have to drop his job and the same goes for Fuyumi and Natsuo, Shōto should leave school, the family should live in hiding, being bullied and ostracized and this regardless of them having saved the day and of Tōya's fate (if he dies or lives, if he gets jailed, sentenced to death or spared due to his body condition being so disastrous he might end up needing permanently hospitalized... assuming they'll be willing to hospitalize him).

They would probably do better change name and country and attempt to start a new live under another identity and away from Japan... if the likely scarring burns they gained will allow them to live in hiding.

Now... this is a realistic fate for them.

BNHA however is a story, and it's a story which is also making a point of criticizing society. It doesn't hold just the Todorokis but also society as accountable for what Tōya did.

It's a story with a moral and if society doesn't get 'punished' or 'redeemed', or, more specifically 'atones', the moral ends up being that society can do any sort of thing to people and it will never be punished and if you retaliate you'll be squashed down. Not exactly an uplifting moral.

The League of Villains is born by society's sins. Generally for me the most meaningful thing is this scene.

Why? Because in my country if you are and adult and find on the streets an unsupervised kid of 5 and turn your eyes away, it's a crime even if he doesn't look in such a poor shape like Tenko.

All those people pretending not to see him would get in troubles. In Japan they aren't so strict but for me the scene looks particularly strong because it's basically a crime.

So I've really no sympathy for those people and, if the story wants to have an uplifting moral, society has to change, hold itself accountable for how it hurt Tenko and the others and atone toward them.

In the same vein society should reform and not mistreat the Todorokis the way it did with Tobita or Himeko's family but support them.

This however narratively presents some huge problems.

Society is a broad concept and BNHA didn't offer us one or more characters that could work as stand in for it.

The characters we get familiar with, often represent the best part of society.

For example we know there were corrupted Heroes, we know the HPSC had Lady Nagant kill corrupted Heroes but... did we ever met them? Nope.

Stain, who wanted to change society and erase corrupter Heroes who ended up attacking?

Some Hero who abused his power to commit crimes? Some Hero who actually was in league with criminals? Some Hero who actually was negligent in his work? Some Hero who, at least, throwed trash on the streets?

Nope. He attacks Īda's brother and Native... who overall seemed two decent guys.

This creates a clash of our perception in the story, the League attacked society but the characters we were presented with were usually great people.

The League undoubtedly perceives society as evil and worth being wiped out because they met the worse of it but... we didn't.

That's why many readers feel like the League should be jailed for terrorism but no one thinks the "Star Wars" rebels in the first trilogy should met the same fate for... the exact same crime.

In "Star Wars" first trilogy the empire is always represented as evil, all its soldiers are represented as evil and we've zero sympathy for them when they get wiped out.

But in BNHA society is not the empire, society is common people who've families and feel... innocent enough not to deserve what the League unleash on them, especially since BNHA had too few 'bad guys' among the good guys and, conveniently or not so conveniently, wiped out the HPSC before it could take the blame for many problems and we are instead way too often presented with 'good guys' characters.

So Horikoshi has to find a way to deliver the message that if said society ended up under attack, it was actually due to its shortcomings.

Tōya told Enji the past never dies and you reap what you sow...

...but this applied to society too.

In response later on Enji will realize he'll have to atone to him and apologize to him.

In theory society should do the same... so that the story could have an uplifting moral of society learning from its errors and never again repeating them so that people will be better and the League of Villain will never be reborn in the future... however... it's much easier for us to apply all this to Todoroki Enji than to the BNHA society.

It's very fairy tale to assume that society will say "hey but if we didn't mistreat those guys first, they wouldn't have done what they did, shouldn't we also make amends?"

I don't really know if Horikoshi will be able to pull this off in a convincing manner, or if he'll be allowed to do it because one of the problems in his story is he can't allow to come to pass the idea that what the League did was an acceptable response.

We see it in the attack at Central Hospital.

In theory the story should end with a similar situation.

Shōji acknowledged that the Heteromorphs were hurt and persecuted but turning to violence wasn't acceptable

...and then somehow the Heteromorphs changed their mind and stop fighting and the people said they heard their voices today and they're sorry for not realizing it sooner and everyone cries and all's well that ends well and many readers hate this arc (for which SO MUCH could be written) and label it poor writing and it's actually a very minor bit so...

I don't know if Horikoshi now has used the people's response to it to perfect his ending in a way that won't have backlash.

So back to your question, what about the Todorokis?

Hopefully since Horikoshi wants to go to a positive and uplifting ending, the Todorokis will be spared from a fate that will be hell.

After all they made a big deal of how things were being recorded on videos. Society might be impressed by how this family came together to save everyone and might feel bad for them as well as partially responsible.

If society will come together instead than ostracizing and mistreating people, the Todorokis might not be end up driven into a corner.

In the same vein the Todorokis will likely come together as a family.

That is because I'm assuming that the idea Horikoshi wants to come to pass is that you've to PREVENT people from going bad, not punish them once the deed is done and by coming together they prevent the situation from worsening.

So, I'm willing to bet the plan is that Natsuo is wrong and no, it won't be hell for them from now on, though it likely won't be easy.

I don't know if Tōya and the rest of the League will survive, because it would be damn convenient for Horikoshi to have them die, so that he won't have to face the whole punishment thing.

If they're dead they can't be punished nor society can be asked to atone to them for what they did to them, and so Horikoshi can focus on society coming together and supporting the people who're less 'cuplable' and reforming itself easily enough in such a way that would fit the kind of fairy tale nature of BNHA.

At the same time killing the league off is such a goddamn easy solution for the problem I really pray he won't go for it... but I recognize with the League he kept the bar really very high.

So I would love for Tōya to survive and heal and be given another chance and this time, with support from his family and society, become a better person, and the same goes for the rest of the League, but I don't know if Horikoshi can, is willing and will be allowed to pull this off.

We can only wait and see.

For now, I think it'll probably be safe enough to assume that at the end the Todoroki family will come together and they won't be in hell but Fuyumi will be allowed to continue to work as a teacher and Natsuo will be allowed to continue to study and will marry his girlfriend. I aslo think Shōto will be allowed to become a Hero. As for Enji he might retire. I know people would want to see him jailed for his family abuse but since no one in his family is willing to file charges against him I'm pretty sure this won't happen. Likely he also won't divorce from Rei.

Tōya's fate through remains a mystery.

I'd like for him to end up hospitalized and for his family to stay and support him, for Enji to atone to him and finally look at him but well, we can only wait and see for this.

As much as I hate the idea we were told Tōya (who shouldn't have managed to survive away from Garaki's support) survived till now due to his grudge to his family, if he were to let it go he might just die... albeith in that case he would probably die in peace because he would finally feel loved by his family. We'll see.

Thank you for your ask!

#boku no hero academia #Todoroki Enji #Todoroki Shouto #Todoroki Touya #bnha spoilers #Todoroki Rei #Todoroki Natsuo #Todoroki Fuyumi #Ask #Shigaraki Tomura #Toga Himiko #Bubaigawara Jin #Shouji Mezou

55 notes · View notes

leonawriter · 8 months ago

Text

Going back through the case for reasons, and again I'm struck by how callous Shinichi is or could be here?

There are multiple times that Kaito has helped Shinichi out in the past at great personal risk. Times when Shinichi could potentially have hurt Kaito far more than Kaito has ever hurt him (I'm not counting the taser, that's on Gosho deciding how much harm a taser does or doesn't do).

Shinichi has SEEN how Kaito will go out of his way to do the morally right thing - be it "return gem to its actual owner (Fairy's Lip)" or "save someone's life at risk of his own (Twilight Mansion, Three Instruments, technically Iron Tanuki)", or.... "a murder was committed at a heist and Kid is seen to have helped with the investigation (Four Masterpieces, technically Magic Lovers Murder Case).

It's SO easy to list even only the ones that Shinichi himself has been present for, and not even counting the movies, where they've worked together far more than they will on this case here, and so that just makes it kind of... jarring? When Shinichi says-

"Then they catch you, so what?"

Like... there's a big difference between Kaito becoming known as the true identity of Kaitou Kid via arrest, and Kaito being arrested as both Kid and as a murder suspect.

And Shinichi's answer to that? "It's retribution for all the crimes you've committed."

Sure, only two panels later Shinichi is agreeing to help, but - that's after eight panels of Shinichi being suspicious of him, and him freaking out. I mean, there is NO poker face during that early part. Just panic all the way up the wazoo.

Look at this boy. He currently has no chill whatsoever.

Whereas Shinichi? The first thing he does is accuse Kaito of murder. After that, his face is set at a constant resting bitch face. The most that a physically seven year old could have.

Then we get the scene I showed at the start. Still with Kaito imploring Conan to listen. Look at the way he's leaning forward in the second panel, where he says "Are you okay with that? Not solving the murder case?" - he's leaning forward, arms out.

Now, I love that line of Kaito's since it gets a callback at the end of the case, but look at his expression, his body language - we can only see his face and his neck/top of his chest, but we can see how he's still leaning over, the way he's speaking loudly or giving the impression of it.

Another point I'll make about Kaito from the first time we see him here is that he's wearing sweats and his top hat/monocle. And... just that, really. He's literally and symbolically stuck partway between his two personas; Kid's hat and monocle are hiding his face, but there's no mask there, and he isn't wearing the suit.

He's just a kid with a big hat and an eyepiece on right now. Lower case kid, not upper case Kid.

And then there's Shinichi, who's just... sure he's agreeing but he doesn't have to like it.

Part of me wants to say "this is because Shinichi knows that the optimal method of getting out of this intact for both of them is what they end up doing, as in, Kaito pretending to be him while Ran is there, and he resents that as well as giving his identity, even temporarily, to Kid, who is a criminal, and effectively become party to aiding and abetting said criminal."

However there's another part of me that's seen Shinichi kick a football at high power at Kid with the force to knock him out of the air, and aimed a sleeping dart at Kid when he could have fallen out of a helicopter (or, in one movie, near the top of a skyscraper), as well as various other terrifying things, and I just... sometimes, Shinichi makes me concerned.

With Kid at least, there seems to be a sense of "I don't know you, you're a criminal, you're infuriating, therefore whatever I do to you is justified."

It's a return of Kaito trusting Shinichi more than Shinichi trusting Kaito, which is why it feels rather like Kaito is treating it as if... if Shinichi really had just left him for a false arrest on murder charges he's innocent of, that'd be a betrayal, while Shinichi doesn't see it having the same weight.

But, like... bringing this back to point.

I'd also say that Shinichi's also distracted and only half paying attention to the panicking thief in the room because excuse you, he's doing his job, here. Every moment we see him beyond "Did you kill him?!" has him investigating something or other.

So in a sense, the way he's coming off as cold and callous is because he's already cataloguing everything he needs in order to prove Kid innocent.

That... still doesn't excuse the way he talks, though, because with most other people he'd say something to calm them down - while with Kid, he doesn't even bother just saying "Shut up and let me concentrate." He's almost cruel in how he responds, making Kaito panic more the longer it goes on - which I don't think he was doing intentionally, but it does have the side effect that when Shinichi sets his conditions, it does rather feel like Kaito's about ready to say "anything. I will do just about anything if you will help me out here."

The very next time we see either Shinichi or Kaito, they're in performance mode. Kaito is now Shinichi. He has a smile on (Poker Face, most likely). I can easily imagine that Shinichi just gave his condition and Kaito went "what, that's it?" in pure relief.

But... yeah.

I'm still stuck on those lines.

"Then they catch you, so what?

"It's retribution for all the crimes you've committed."

"I'm willing to ally with you... but there's a condition."

It's just... harsh, man. Real harsh. It can be hard going from Shinichi talking to Ran or something to being reminded that he can be like this with someone who hasn't deserved it.

Sometimes Shinichi will talk about how important it is to communicate clearly, and value your friends, and to not do the kinds of things that lead to the murders he solves. And then he'll turn around and- tbh? I'm morbidly curious what would happen if he had this sort of acerbic relationship with someone who wasn't Kaito, who didn't have a "will not kill/some moral lines don't get crossed" boundary.

Personally, I'd say that if it weren't for Kaito being a good person, Shinichi would have been in trouble ages ago.

#dcmk stuff #leona rereads dcmk #it counts ok #like. man. this got long sure but also. man.#:(

18 notes · View notes

yall-imhere · 4 months ago

Text

Batman - Study in the Scarlet Gallery (Batman/Bruce Wayne x Fem!OC) Part 3

The Climax of Batman - Study in the Scarlet Gallery! More stories featuring my OC, Sienna, to come :)

Alfred Pennyworth placed the freshly made pasta on the table. It was one of the dishes he would make whenever the youngest Fallbrook girl would visit Wayne Manor. Aglio e Olio. Bruce wasn’t a fan at first but then learned to like the pasta, but Sienna loved it. When she first came to Wayne Manor, Alfred went to study some recipes that the girl would like from their family’s personal chef and he taught himself how to make Aglio e Olio. When he served it the girl’s face lit up and she asked for seconds.

He knew it was too soon to prepare the dish and that he should be at the cave, but the thought of the young girl that would knock on the door after being driven from school or from their home, just to see his lonely young master, be subjected to the horrific tortures in Arkham and be this criminal… he hoped Batman would bring her back and the sight of the pasta would bring back a fragment of that cheerful girl.

It was too soon though.

As Alfred went back to the Batcave, after preparing the dish, he almost dropped his tea at the sight of the news on the screen.

“Dear God. No…” Alfred gasped.

Broadcasting on Channel 9 was the sight of six people sitting on a chair, four bound with three of them wearing animal masks of a shark, a parrot, and a fox, while the other two sat in fear side by side – Laura and Rebecca Fallbrook – as the masked-criminal, Vandal, came to view and said, “Gotham City. Tonight, you’ll find out the corrupt system that’s been protecting you. You’ll find out the truth. You can’t trust anyone in Gotham.”

~*~

“Sir, are you seeing this?” Alfred spoke through the comms.

“I am! I’m heading there now!” Batman called out as he kicked on the gas to speed through the roads trying to get to the location where the signal of the broadcast was being made. Fallbrook Manor. Sienna played them like a fool. She got him and GCPD away from that location – had Jim transport Laura and Rebecca Fallbrook, Warren Lawford only to be nabbed by the Riddler’s gang. Then in the hospital, Lyle Bolton, Armand Lydecker and Gunther Hardwicke were taken from their hospital beads, IVs ripped off by more of Riddler’s men. And all were brought to one place.

The place they evacuated in case Vandal would attack.

She got Batman to head to Bristol to be far away from Gotham’s central where Riddler would execute the plan.

Now she was making her final move to tell Gotham everything, and based on how the message she was making she wasn’t just going to destroy these people. She was going to ruin the people’s trust on the GCPD, the system, and goodwill that sincere companies like the Waynes, have been doing.

“People of Gotham,” Vandal began. “You don’t know me, but I know you. I’m also someone who grew up in Gotham. I’ll admit, I didn’t understand the hardships of actually living here since I only had the view of the city. But witnessing a tragedy and trying to fight to get justice, I was thrown into the dark pits of this city.”

Reaching behind her head, she pressed a button and let her mask fall. “My name is Sienna Fallbrook.”

Batman cursed as he saw the broadcast showing Sienna’s face. He pressed on further to his gas, but with Gotham’s labyrinth-like roads and alleys, no matter how fast the car is, it's the turns that would delay his arrival.

“You all know me as the daughter of Sheldon Fallbrook and Laura Fallbrook. The one who went insane for attacking her sister’s fiance and accusing him for murder,” the broadcast showed the tabloids that were made on the Fallbrook family, scandals and rumors. “Then they told you that I was sent to Spain to heal there with my mother’s family. I wish that was true. But the reality is this – sending to Gotham’s journalists now are my records of being forcefully sent to Arkham Asylum and then abandoned there by my own family.

“Along with the treatment I had – the abuse, the forced injected drugs, being a test subject for doctors… along with it is the truth about Sheldon Fallbrook’s death and the supposed “escaped murderers”.”

Then in play, the old video captured by the nanny cams in Sheldon’s office. How the three animal-mask wearing criminals broke in, opened the safe behind the family portrait, and started loading the cash there into their bag. Then Sheldon Fallbrook appeared. He tried reasoning with them at first, then when they wouldn't leave, he took the prop shotgun and pointed it at them. The video also captured when he spoke in Spanish to someone that was off camera. Then he was attacked by one of the mask-wearing men and then beaten by his golf clubs, hit at the head multiple times until blood spilled. And then…

“Holy shit!” The shark wearing thief said. “Warren, you just killed the guy…”

The fox-mask wearing man then removed his mask as he took a closer look, revealing to the world who he is. Warren Lawford, Rebecca Fallbrook’s husband.

Lawford looked like he was going to be sick but then turned away and started pushing his friends out of the window to escape, following their exit, sixteen-year-old Sienna came to her father’s body, telling him that the cops were on their way, she cried, but then her eyes went to the nanny cam and the last that was seen was her trying to get it from the shelf.

“Yeah, you can say it was a robbery gone wrong. But why the fuck would three of Gotham’s richest batchelors would rob a man?!” Sienna went to take off the masks of each of the three men there revealing the faces of Warren Lawford, Armand Lydecker and Gunther Hardwicke, all bound and gagged, near to tears in fear.

She first went to the side where she picked up a golf club. She wielded it like a pro – rather a baseball batting pro, and then –

WHAM!

She hit Lydecker in the stomach.

WHACK!

She did it again to Hardwicke’s leg, breaking it.

The two men were crying in pain with their fractured leg and ribs.

She turned to Warren Lawford and pointed the club at him. “I’m saving you for last,” then had some of the Riddler’s men take away the two whimpering men out of the screen. Then she dragged Bolton to the center where she revealed the atrocities the man did to all of the patients in Arkham. His brutality. The violence. The abuse of power. How he molested female patients that he knew couldn’t put up a fight.

“Thanks to good old Security Bolton, I learned how to be immune to this,” she got out a jumper cord and clipped it at the man’s nipples. The clip alone made him wince and then someone in the background started to turn on the car battery it was attached to and Bolton was crying in pain.

“SIENNA, PLEASE! MI HIJA, STOP THIS!” Laura sobbed as she begged her daughter.

“SHUT UP!” Sienna roared. “It’s not your turn yet!”

“Sienna, please!” Rebecca cried. “We’re sorry – we didn’t know!”

“YOU DIDN’T KNOW?! I TRIED TO TELL YOU BUT YOU WON’T LISTEN! I TRIED TO SHOW YOU BUT YOU REFUSED TO BELIEVE IT! I SHOWED IT TO YOU BUT YOU STILL MARRIED THAT MURDERER!”

Laura turned to her eldest and gasped. “You knew?”

“He threatened to kill me – to kill us if I told anyone – he said that he got the police in his pocket and he did!” Rebecca cried.

“You knew and you let your sister rot in Arkham…”

“I THOUGHT HE REALLY WAS PAYING FOR HER TREATMENT!”

Sienna grabbed Rebecca by her hair and pulled her up. “BUT I WASN’T SICK, WASN’T I?!”

“Sienna, please, I’m sorry – I’m so sorry! Please! Hate me all you want but please, not my baby!” Rebecca had her arm around her womb, protecting it from Sienna. “It’s not his, I swear!”

Sienna took a good look at her sister and then threw her back on the couch. Something snapped in her and the next she did had Laura clutching her eldest, protecting her, as Sienna hit Warren over and over with the golf club at the arm, his leg, and his chest. Then she wasn’t over, she turned to Bolton and hit him right at his balls, crushing them. The man howled in pain, and in so much pain he fainted.

“THOSE DOCUMENTS BETTER ME ON THE WEB NOW, GOTHAM PRESS! AND BATS, YOU BETTER GET HERE FAST! OR ELSE I DON’T KNOW WHAT I’M GOING TO DO!”

The broadcast ended and soon email notifications started to alarm, and the news outlets were broadcasting the files that were in the documents that Batman and Jim had. The corruption in the GCPD, the justice system, who was in whose pocket, the Fallbrook and Lawford foundations that were really just funding Warren Lawford’s pockets, the scam investments, the abuse in Arkham, Bolton’s records, the redacted files of Sienna Fallbrook, and the video of the murder. Everything was out in the open.

“Sir… I think it’s too late,” Alfred spoke through the comms.

“NO, IT’S NOT!” Batman roared. “She hasn’t killed anyone! And she doesn’t want to! She’s just scared, overwhelmed, and in so much pain. I’ll get to her before she really snaps and does something she can’t take back.”

~*~

If Sienna wasn’t ill before, she was now.

As Laura and Rebecca sat there, embracing each other, to find a bit of bravery in this nightmare, Sienna paced around the room trying to control herself. Her anger. She destroyed anything that she could destroy. The shelves, the photos, the collection. She hit the three friends who were behind her father’s murder, she beat the man who trapped her in that asylum, she tortured the man who violated her body and mind for all those years in Arkham.

But no matter what she does she can't do it. She can’t cut the cord.

What was she so afraid of?

You’re just one bad day away from being like us, the Riddler told her then when they had his group therapy.

Do that and you really just booked a no-return ticket here to Arkham, Ivy told her when she contemplated killing Bolton.

“One more bad day?” she whispered. “I had six years of bad days, this shouldn’t be…”

“Sienna, mi hija,” Laura tried to speak to her. “This is enough. You made your point. Everyone knows now. Please just stop this! We’ll do everything to make it up to you.”

Sienna turned to her mother, tears running down her eyes. “I want the room.”

The Riddler got off the director’s chair he made himself cozy at and called for his men to leave. “The room is yours, my dear! And if you ever want to go live, just hit that button,” he pointed to the laptop screen.

Alone with her captives, Sienna walked up to her mother and raised a hand –

No. She can’t… no matter how much she hated her now. She just can’t.

Sienna turned away from her mother and started pacing again.

“Why?” She began. “Why did you leave me there?”

“I didn’t know,” Laura cried. “And I couldn’t walk into Arkham and see you. It was hard for me –”

“I was alone there. I was scared. They…”

Laura sobbed as she remembered the photos Jim gave her. The ways they used her daughter for their medical research. How she was treated in Arkham like a rag doll. “I’m so sorry, mi hija. I’m so sorry! If you want to hurt someone, hurt me, not your sister because I should have known about this! I should have stopped it!

“Sienna, listen to me. Everyone knows the truth now. If you give yourself up now, we can appeal to court – we can get you the right help you need!”

Snap.

“I DON’T WANT ANYMORE HELP!” Sienna roared. “ALL THE HELP YOU GAVE TURNED ME TO THIS! YOU AND EVERYONE OF THESE ANIMALS TURNED ME TO THIS!”

Her mother cried and cried, begging for forgiveness.

Sienna looked away, unable to keep whatever was inside her – whatever she was feeling – to come out. She went back to the computer and pressed the button that Riddler told her and then grabbed Warren Lawford. She dragged him to face the camera and demanded: “why did you do it? Why did you kill Sheldon Fallbrook?”

Warren Lawford was wheezing in pain as he tried to speak. When he was silent, Sienna punched him across the face.

“TALK! WHY DID YOU DO IT?! I WANT TO KNOW! WHY?!”

She really did.

Oh, the question of why, why, why, WHY?! Was the only thing that ran in her head for six years. Why did Warren Lawford, a rich kid who had everything, would steal from and kill her father?

“TALK!” Sienna stopped punching him.

Warren spat out blood. He forced himself to talk through the pain of his broken jaw and the puncturing rib to whatever it was pressing on. “Because… we… can…” Warren spoke. “Because… we were… we were… bored… and it was fun… and we knew… we can… we can get away with it.”

Rebecca cried in their mother’s arms as she listened to her husband’s confession. She couldn’t believe it.

Sienna’s hold on his shirt loosened. “It’s people like you that’s been causing Gotham’s road to self-destruct… Maybe just one life can help change it,” Sienna reached to the back of her belt and pulled out a knife. “Just one and one of many of Gotham’s empires will fall.”

“No! No! Please! I’ll pay you! I’ll pay you whatever you want! Just please!” Warren begged.

Behind her, Laura and Rebecca pleaded for her to stop. To no resort to that.

Sienna gripped the knife in her hand. “Looks like you lost this one, Batman.”

She was about to drive the knife down but a batarang flew in and knocked it out of her hand, by stabbing her at the back of her hand with the bat-shaped throwing knife. Sienna dropped Warren Lawford and clutched her hand. Just as she was to look up to where it came from, the window crashed and entered the Batman who was swinging towards her and kicked her away from Lawford.

Sienna crashed to the bookshelf, a couple of books dropping on her.

Laura was about to go after her but Batman stopped her by saying, “GCPD IS ON THEIR WAY! UNPLUG BOLTON AND GET THOSE THREE OUT OF HERE!”

“But what about Riddler’s Gang?” Rebecca asked.

“ I already took care of it. GO, NOW!”

They did. The mother and daughter, though they hated the men who were badly beaten, untied, unhooked, and dragged them out of the room. While Sienna was still trying to get up, Batman destroyed the computer and the broadcasting equipment.

“Your show’s over now, Sienna. This needs to stop,” Batman said.

“This doesn’t end until I say so,” Sienna got up. Reaching to her belt, she got out two knuckle braces and then went to a fighting stance.

Bruce frowned. “You don’t want to do this.”

“Yeah, I don’t… but Lawford needs to pay.” Sienna jumped to attack him. Batman blocked her attack. Unlike before he anticipated her next move and blocked the next. Her punches and kicks more than the last time with the knuckle braces and – were those steel-toed shoes? But Batman didn’t let her beat him to a pulp, he retaliated, sending back the same amount of punches and kicks. Beating her up, and he will continue to do so until she stops and sees sense.

“Good, you’re not choosing who to punch,” Sienna mockingly smirked. “Little Bruce isn’t afraid to punch women anymore.”

Bruce frowned and then tackled her down. “STAY DOWN!”

With her free arm, she reached for the batarang that hit her hand, fell on the ground then stabbed Batman at the shoulder with it. Batman fell to the ground as she took advantage of his shock and pain to get up, and then kicked at the face. He’ll need a hospital after this. He doubted Leslie Thompson could help with this kind of injury.

“I told you, Batman, I’m finishing this,” Sienna got up, limping and using one of the broken lamp holders for their broadcasters as her cane.

“How? By being a killer?”

“Better than letting Lawford get away with this again and again.”

“Do this and there’s no going back. You’ll just be like him!”

“And do what? Chuck him into Black Gate and let him have his luxurious stay there because of the officers he has in his pocket?”

“That won’t happen, Sienna. You made sure of it. Right now, GCPD is cleaning out – removing those who were under Lawford, you already did it!”

“That’s not enough,” Sienna started to limp away and left Batman in the room, still trying to get his bearings back after that dizzying kick.

Reaching for his gauntlet, Batman called out to Jim: “She’s coming after them, Jim. Stop her. Do not shoot.”

~*~

Sienna saw them with GCPD. The cops had their guns at her but Sienna didn’t care. She just didn’t care anymore, she would burn everything if she could. And she could. To prove her point, she reached into her pocket and showed something to them. A detonator.

“There’s a shit-ton of C4 below us right now tied to the gas lines. Shoot and,” she pressed the detonator. “It’s bye bye to us.”

“YOU’RE INSANE!” Bollock called out to her in horror as she pressed the detonator.

“Wanna live? I’ll tell you where the C4s are and you can get them but I want Warren Lawford!”

Jim placed down his gun and stepped forward. “Sienna, I understand what you want – what you want to do, but I’m telling you now, it won’t do you any good.”

Sienna looked at Jim. “I want Lawford to pay.”

“And you think killing us all will be enough? You’ll be dead too!”

“Sienna Fallbrook died in Arkham Asylum a long time ago, Commissioner. There is nothing for me to live for – especially not after this…”

“THERE IS! WE CAN WORK SOMETHING OUT!”

“LAWFORD. NOW!”

“Alright! Alright!” Warren came forward himself, limping, offering himself to Sienna, as if he were some hero that will save them. It pissed her off. “Get over with it, just do it! Do it just like how I murdered the old man!”

Still holding the detonator, Sienna held up the broken, steel lamp-holder and –

“No. You’re not going to be hero – you’re not going to be some kind of martyr!” Tears fell from her eyes. Tears of frustration. “No… it’s not suppose to end like this! YOU’RE NOT GOING TO BE SOME HERO IN THIS! YOU’RE THE MONSTER! YOU – ALL OF YOU MADE ME INTO THIS!”

“NO!” Jim and the others gasped as they saw her release the detonator –

Sienna held up the sharp pole above Lawford’s head–

“RAAAAAAAHHH!” In a loud cry she thrusted down and –

No explosion.

Warren opened his eyes and found the pole just a few inches from his shoulder.

Heaving, Sienna held the pole but it stabbed the ground and not through Warren. She couldn’t do it. No matter how much she wanted to. She wanted so bad to skewer him with this but she couldn't.

The hand on her shoulder and Sienna turn, but she can’t look him in the eye. She released the steel rod and said, “Just take him away – take him and go – before I change my mind.”

Batman nodded. Glancing at Jim’s way, he nodded at him to take Warren away but asked for a moment with Sienna before they took her in. Alone at the grass lawn of the Fallbrook Manor, Sienna faced Batman and held out her hands to him. Let him be the one to capture her, not the GCPD. Let the only person who really knows justice. But Batman didn’t. Not yet. Instead, he brought her to an embrace and let her hide her face on his shoulder.

“You’ve been bound long enough,” he told her. “For a while, let it go.”

And she did. Clutching to his suit, Sienna let out a howling cry that she’s been hiding for so long. The frustration, the anger, the sadness, all coming out as she cried on Batman’s shoulder.

“I don’t want to go back,” she cried. “Please… just kill me now! I’d rather die than go back there!

Bruce frowned as she begged him to end her now, remembering how he too said the same thing to her when he suffered from depression when his parents died. How she caught him about to harm himself and she stopped him.

And like how she stopped him, he held her tight and said, “I’ll be here. And I’ll help you through this. One step at a time. I won’t leave you this time, and I’ll make sure you’re safe.”

~ A Year Later~

Bruce Wayne walked through Arkham Asylum’s security gates with a cautious eyes. He observed everything that was happening inside, ensuring everything was as it should be. After the guards inspected the basket he brought and cleared him to proceed, Bruce followed the officer, Officer Debronsky, through the rooms of the east wing. They didn’t go deep into Arkham Asylum, where criminals like Joker, Quinn, Croc, and the Riddler (they caught him again), were at, they were just at the surface of Arkham, ones that did not need maximum level of security.

They knocked on cell 017 before Officer Debronsky unlocked it, reminding Bruce of the time limit and the dos and don’ts, before letting him in. “Fallbrook, you got a visitor!”

“Busy!” Sienna called back.

“How are your classes going, Sienna?” Bruce spoke.

Rising from her desk, Sienna smiled as she saw Bruce at the door. She was far from how he first saw her a year ago. Her face lightened and didn’t cast a shadow, the look in her eye was more relaxed than it was before. Her injuries from their fight have healed, but she does have a cut on her cheek from his punches, he apologized for that (“we’re even, I heard you fractured your cheek,” she told him when he apologized for her beaten face). And her hair has grown and hid the scar at her temples.

After the Fallbrook and Lawford Scandal, Sienna was taken into custody by the GCPD. Her court hearings went fast and with Harvy Dent’s help, she was given a minimum sentence in Arkham Asylum where once her doctors have deemed her reinstated she will be released, and be on parole. While the idea of going back to Arkham scared her, and hearing it from the jury and the judge gave her a panic attack, Bruce was there to help her. He and the others reassured her that it won’t be how it was before. And Harvy Dent made sure of it as well.

Bruce never missed visiting hours every week to see Sienna, and every time he came he would bring her something from the outside to keep her updated with the world. At first it was music and some books, and food – she loved food – then a couple of months later she asked if she could finish her studies and now she was taking online classes at Gotham University.

“What’s the paper about?” Bruce asked as he sat across Sienna and looked at the laptop – which was being monitored by the GCPD and Arkham to ensure she was only using it for her school work.

“You wouldn’t understand,” Sienna scoffed.

“Try me.”

She grinned slyly. “It’s for my thesis.”

“Thesis already?”

“Yeah, turns out my little lectures with the Riddler have its perks.”

“I am worried that your foundation for Software Engineering and Cybersecurity Engineering is based on the Riddler’s expertise.”

“Well, you gotta hand it to Eddy, he is a genius.”

“Don’t worry, Bruce, I’m not doing anything to ruin my chance for an early release. Besides, I don’t really have anyone to talk to here aside from my doctor and group therapy.”

“Group therapy…’

“Don’t worry, it’s not Nygma running it.”

“By the way,” she took the basket from him and started taking out the containers that had food made by Alfred – no doubt – and then the plates and spoons. Good thing Alfred decided to make slides (“baby cheeseburgers!” Sienna gasped, “After twenty years you still call them that?” Bruce chuckled) since they weren’t allowed any utensils. “I’ve been taking business classes also.”

“I see you’re making good use of the free time here.”

“I gotta if I want to take back Fallbrook Conglomerate,” Sienna shrugged as she handed Bruce his plate.

“Sienna, about your family’s business…” he frowned.

“I know. We lost a lot thanks to Warren’s gambling and driving the business to bankruptcy, but I want to keep Fallbrook Tech Industries. Bruce, I already got the money from the settlement in court with Warren Fallbrook, and with the company’s worth now, I know I can buy it again.”

“I’ll see what I can do to help… besides, you’ll still have millions after you buy the company again with the money you got from the Lawfords, Lydeckers, and Hardwicks.” She basically bleeds them dry thanks to Harvy’s help. “I’ll keep an eye on Fallbrook Tech Industries, I heard they’re going to make it to a public company. You can buy the majority of its shares.”

“All of it. Just make sure it’s a clean process. Don’t want the word hostile anywhere near my name.”

“I’ll keep note of that. Anything I can help with your paper?”

Sienna raised a brow at him. “I got it. Don’t worry about my academic standing, worry more about my mental state.” She joked. He didn’t laugh. “Kidding. But I am fine, and all thanks to you.”

Bruce smiled.

“So, I heard the Batman’s now facing someone called Black Mask.”

“I’m sure he can handle it.”

“Well, if I were him, I’d check out the docks. I heard some of the cargo there isn't exactly what they seem to be.” Sienna shrugged.

“And what makes you think that?”

“I had some intel before I got locked up – I remember an old friend saying that the easiest way to transport products is at the docks. Easy bribes,” she shrugged as she ate her food.

“Well, I’m sure Batman can handle that,” Bruce smirked. “There’s more, as your sponsor, Jack Ryder has been trying to contact me about securing an interview with you. He wants to make a documentary about your story.”

“Really” Sienna scoffed. “What’s he calling it?”

“Driven to Insanity, Gotham’s Victor Frankenstein story.”

Sienna frowned. “No.”

“I know, but I thought it would be best to tell you about it first.” His smile fell as he remembered a message he got before coming for his visit. “Sienna.”

“Yeah?”

“Your mother’s wondering when she can visit you.”

As he expected a frown came to her face. “I don’t think I’m ready just yet.”

“I know… and no one’s forcing you to. I just want you to know that they do want to see you. Also, Rebecca asked me to give you these.” They were photos of Rebecca’s daughter. “She gave birth a few months ago, she named her Carmen Alegria. She and your mother decided to use Laura’s maiden name to start a new life… and they were wondering if you were too.”

Sienna sighed and looked up in thought. “I won’t lie, it did cross my mind but I don’t think I want to share the same one with them.”

“Understandable. Have you thought of a name yet?”

“Not really. But I’ll tell you when I do.”

“I’ll start on the paperwork when you do… You haven’t seen the gift in the basket, haven’t you?”

“Oh, there’s more?”

“Yeah.”

Opening the basket again, Sienna rummaged through the containers – Alfred made a lot of snacks for her – and a scroll.

“It’s not the original, I doubt they’d let me bring the real one and I don’t think it’ll fit the walls.”

Unscrolling it, Sienna came face to face with a poster of a printed painting of Judith Slaying Holofernes by Gentileschi. The painting that started it all. The one that helped her find a lifelong friend.

“I’ll find a way to buy that painting from you again, Wayne,” Sienna said.

“I’ll keep it in good condition while it waits… times up, I’ll be back next week. Who knows by then you might be taking another class this time? Art Management?”

Sienna shrugged. “Who knows… four more years, right?”

“Less with good behavior. I’ll see you outside, Sienna.”

“See you outside, Bruce.”“Also, if they were going to make a documentary about this, I think Gotham’s Judith and Holofernes would be a much more fitting documentary title.”

#batman #dc universe #dc comics #fanfic #batman fanfiction #batman x oc #dc fanfic

3 notes · View notes

ammg-old2 · 2 years ago

Text

I practically grew up in the Brooklyn Public Library. It served as an after-school center, an SAT training school, and a place to get help filling out my financial-aid forms for college. So when I was invited to give a talk at the conference, I immediately said yes. The night I arrived, I stopped in the hotel bar for a glass of wine before dinner. The place was already packed; the librarians, the bartender told me, knew how to party. He was anticipating a late night.

But at dinner, the conversation was subdued and serious. Reading about all the attacks on books, Angela Gonzalez, a librarian from Penn Yan, New York, told me, “you get nervous. You’re like, Oh my gosh, they’re coming for us.”

Nearly every tumultuous movement in American politics has coincided with a call to ban books. “This piece of it is nothing new to librarians,” Allison Grubbs, the director of the Broward County Libraries in Florida, told me. “What I think is new is some of the pathways that people are choosing to take.” Protests in and outside libraries and library board meetings have become more dramatic. Online, in Facebook groups such as “Informed Parents of California” and “Gays Against Grooming,” the language is more and more incendiary. And the librarians themselves are being personally attacked.

They told me about getting hate mail and harassing phone calls on their private lines, about being verbally attacked while on the job over things as seemingly banal as book displays. “You can’t do a pride display—forget about it,” Shirley Robinson, the executive director of the Texas Library Association, told me. “That’s not gonna work.”

“I’ve been called a pedophile. I’ve been called a groomer. I’ve been called a Communist pornographer,” Cindy Dudenhoffer, a former president of the Missouri Library Association, told me. “I’ve been called all kinds of things. And I know many of my colleagues have been as well. It’s very hurtful.”

Robinson recounted the story of a Texas library worker who had facilitated a children’s story hour while wearing rainbow-flag Pride socks; a patron filed a complaint to the city accusing the individual of grooming children. Grubbs said she had heard angry patrons in Florida call library staff pedophiles too.

Maybe Americans have gotten ruder, but it’s not only that. Online groups are coordinating protests of Drag Queen story hours, compiling lists of books to challenge, and strategizing ways to amend laws in order to censor books. “They might organize a protest and not even live in the state that that library serves,” Grubbs told me.

Moms for Liberty honed this playbook. The group was founded in 2021 to protest mask requirements for kids and later turned to keeping LGBTQ issues and critical race theory out of schools. Their efforts are part of a larger “parents’ rights” movement that includes many other groups. No Left Turn, for example, offers a list of “aberrant books” on its website, under the “Exposing Indoctrination” tab, just above a link exposing “Woke School Staff & Board” members.

It isn’t just that the attacks are getting more personal for librarians; the laws are as well. Missouri’s S.B. 775 holds librarians (along with teachers and school administrators) criminally liable for distribution of materials deemed inappropriate. A librarian found guilty can face up to a year in prison and up to $2,000 in fines, not including legal fees.

In Texas, Jonathan Mitchell, the attorney behind S.B. 8, the law enabling citizens to sue individuals who violate the state’s abortion ban, is now going after books. Last month, Axios reported that he was allegedly writing draft ordinances for local governments that would use the same strategy, allowing private individuals to sue librarians over the books they choose to stock or even for just expressing LGBTQ support. “There’s a lot of fear,” Robinson told me, “which is what these groups were after from the beginning.”

#current events #politics #american politics #libraries #books #censorship

0 notes

moonlightazriel · 2 years ago

Text

Traitor /// Azriel X F!Reader

Summary: "do you think that maybe you could do and azrielx reader where the reader is falsely accused of treason and azriel is super mad, but then realises that its not true and is like suuuuper sorry. I love your writing so much btw."

Warnings: Mentions of blood, angst, torture and etc..

Word Count: 3,5K

Notes: Does this request mean that she was accused of treason against her court or cheating on Azriel? I got kinda confused, if this is not what you meant by this request please let me know.

Main Masterlist

Azriel couldn’t believe his eyes, his heart shattering in his chest as he removed the hood covering her head, the face he loved to held between his hands, those eyes that would look at him with so much love, her hair was a mess and she had bruises all over her face, her eyebrow was split open, a black eye, and blood pouring out her nose. She didn't look at him in the eyes, she didn’t want to see the hurt in her lover’s eyes, it was too much to bear.

She had been delivered to him, with six other illyrians , the group was being accused of planning the murder of the high lord and lady, Azriel expected this from these males, but her? Conspiring against her own family, he felt sick, his heart dropping to his stomach, he looked away before he fainted, his mind tried to think about a motive, anything to justify this situation, and he had to hold his shadows on a leash so they wouldn’t rush to her, they yelled at him, about every wound covering her body.

“Why?” It was all he could say, his voice shaking with anxiety, even after everything he went through, this was the most painful of them all, he wanted to hold her, but even if he loved her with every fiber of his being, he was even more loyal to his brother and would never put him in danger, he knew better than that.

“Az.” She cried, the tears now streaming down her face and her voice creaking, he tried not to give in and grab her in his arms, he needed to wear the mask of the spymaster, the same he used to deal with traitors and criminals, she flinched as she saw his face changing, the dark expression covering his beautiful features, she was used with the harsh gaze but it was never directed to her, her heart started hammering against her rib cage, making it hard to breath. “It’s not what you think.”

“You have no idea of what i’m thinking.” He interrupted her, his voice cold and threatening, she breathed deeply, her head hurts and she tried to stop crying, she never thought that she would end up here, like this, her plan was easy, she didn’t expected that she would get caught before she finished it, she felt like an idiot. “So let me be clear, what i’m thinking is that my mate was conspiring against my brother, to kill him and his mate, for Mother knows what reason, and that she lied to my face pretending everything was okay.”

“I swear to you that i can explain everything, you just have to listen to me, it’s all i'm asking for.” He scoffed, he tried to hide his broken heart with anger, if he didn’t had closed his side of the bond, she would be able to feel the burning rage, confusion and especially the sadness he was feeling inside, he felt so hurt that he didn’t think he wanted to hear what she had to say, maybe he should ask Cassian or Rhys himself to take care of her. “If you will feel better, call Rhys over, so i can explain to him as well.” She knew him like the palm of her hand, and she would do everything to explain the situation and clean this mess.

He called his brother, he knew Rhys was just waiting somewhere in the Hewn City, he made sure to inform what was happening before getting to the interrogation. Rhysand stepped of the shadows, he's imponent figure faltering as he landed his eyes on Y/N, the same confused expression covered his face now, an eyebrow raised as he analyzed the scene.

“What’s wrong?” He asked, the whole thing was really odd and he had a bad feeling.

“She was caught among the traitors, she’s trying to give excuses.” Azriel stated and she looked at Rhys, silently pleading for his help.

“I’m not a traitor.” She breathed, her throat dry, she couldn’t remember the last time she had something to drink, sighing she closed her eyes.

“Let’s hear what she have to say then, by the end of it, i will be able to tell if she’s lying or not.” Rhysand spoke, his voice loud and powerful, he felt sorry for her, so he made sure that she was comfortable before starting her story.

2 weeks earlier

Rhys had sent her to a monthly checking in the illyrian camps that were far away in the northern parts of the Steppes, she just had one job, to make sure the females were training and the lord was following the rules, he thought that if the females saw a powerful illyrian, a true warrior like Y/N was, they would get the courage and be inspired to join the training, he knew she was more than capable to defend herself, she certainly was more skilled and stronger than any of them.

When Y/N got there, things were unusually normal, the females were training and even sparring with some of the males, something that she only learned later that it was a trick to distract her, she wasn’t able to find the camp’s lord, when she asked around no one had seen him, she felt immediately that something was wrong, she couldn’t point out what yet, but she would find out soon.

She decided to search for him in his house, the residence carved in the mountain, when she reached for the doorknob, the door swing open and suddenly the lord was in front of her, he was acting strange, trying to get her away from the house, she could only see a group reunited in the living room before the door closed and he dragged her away.

Darian, the lord of the camp, was being extra friendly with her, inviting her to their nightly feast and offering her a bed in the camp, she knew she should have been more careful and payed more attention, but she just accepted, the food was good and the wine tasted delicious, but as soon as she felt her limbs going numb and her eyelids heavy, begging to be closed she knew she was fucked.

When she woke up, her whole body hurt, her head was still spinning and she felt her stomach twisting, the urge to throw up too strong that she just had enough time to turn her head to the side before the food she ate saw the daylight again, she inspired heavy after she had finish, a sour taste in her mouth while she looked around, the cell she was locked on was nasty, she was laying on a dirty mattress, the cell smelled like rotten food and death, if she had anything in her stomach, she would have throw up again.

She waited a whole day for someone to show up, Darian’s footsteps were loud against the stone floor, he crouched in front of the cell door, a smirk on his lips while he looked at her.

“I’m sorry that you’re being held in a such disgusting place, but we need you, you will help us to kill the high lord.” Y/N laughed at him.

“You’re more insane than i thought if you think i would do such a thing.” She rolled her eyes at the pathetic male.

“It’s not like your going to have a choice darling, i don’t think you quite understood me.” He got up, walking to another cell on the other side of the room. “Wake up sweetie.” He said, slamming his hands on the iron bars, she noticed the two bodies laying on the floor, her heart almost stop completely as she recognized the two figures, her whole body went still as her sister Maze and Easton, her nephew looked at her, they had fading bruises, she wondered how many days they were being held hostage in this hole. “If you don’t kill Rhysand and his whore, i will kill your precious sister, you thought that you could keep her hidden? Poor you.” He laughed and walked away.

She cried as she apologized to her sister, her heart breaking at the scene, Maze tried to comfort her sister, she knew that it wasn’t Y/N’s fault, she couldn’t be blamed by the cruelty the Illyrian males seemed to have within them. She promised to Maze that she would do everything in her power to set her free and to punish those who dared to inflict pain on her family, she knew she had to dance with them if she wanted to keep her sister alive.

They set her free two days later, she was being sent back to gather information, anything she could do to help them, they wanted to know where the high lord would be, with who, doing what and when, they were preparing an ambush for him, she knew they had someone keeping an eye on her, to make sure she did her part, so she pretended that everything was okay, she pretended to gather information and made sure to have public conversations so they would know that she was collaborating.

She tried to tell Azriel, but every time he asked why she was acting strange, the terrified faces of her family crossed her mind while Darian’s word ringed in her head, promising that if she told anyone, he would kill her sister and would sent both of their hearts to her as a gift, so she just kept quiet, saying she was tired and he shouldn't worry about her, it broke her heart having to lie to him, but she was in a delicate situation, she had to filter everything that she sent down the bond to make sure he wouldn't notice her fear and desperation, it was the hardest part.

She got back to the camp, 1 week later, Darian was waiting for her with a wicked grin and his guards were behind him, she felt defeated, her heart was completely broken and her spirit was almost as damaged as her heart, she didn’t know for how long she could keep doing this before breaking entirely.

“You’ve been a really good girl.” He clapped and she felt the bile rising in her mouth, ready to throw up on this disgusting male. “But we just come up with a even better idea, I’m sure your going to love this one.” He said, his hands flickering in the air and his guards moved, she didn’t had the strength to fight anymore, this could cost her sister’s life, so she just let them hand cuff her, and walked with them silently, once she was locked in that cell again, he spoke. “Your fucking mate will be devastated if he saw that his precious slut is working against her family, so devastated that he won’t even seek revenge once his brother is gone. All the information you gave was helpful and now we don’t need you anymore.” He turned around ready to leave, his voice distant as he commanded. “Now let the party begin.”

They would go down there every day to beat her up, she closed her end of the bond so Azriel wouldn’t feel her pain and her hopes dying every day, at least they left her sister and nephew alone, ever since they started torturing her, they wouldn’t rise a finger against her sister and for that she was glad. Maze tried to reassure Y/N, telling her that they would get out of there soon, but as time went on she was starting to doubt her own words.

When they got her out of the cell, she felt weak, dehydrated and dizzy, she hadn’t anything to eat or drink in three days, she was fighting to stay awake while they dropped her on the ground, Darian was looking at her, she noticed the other six figures also laying on the ground with her.

“It’s the big day honey, time for you to shine.” She didn't understand what he meant, but as soon as the kicking and punching started, she knew that they would deliver her to Azriel as a traitor, all she could think was what this would do to her mate, she knew this would break him beyond the point of repair, she tried to fight, tried to escape for him but it was useless, when she woke up again, everything was black, she felt her body being moved and the sound of water, the smell was pungent and it reeked of sadness and regret, she knew exactly where she was. She was in the interrogation chambers underneath the Court of Nightmares, she was in her mate's hands.

Present

Rhys handed her the cup of water, which she sipped greedily, the liquid soothing her sore throat, she felt like she was going to black out but she couldn’t help as she kept pushing the water down. Azriel felt conflicted, he had his mate telling him that she was forced to do it but he also had letters from her, he would recognize her calligraphy anywhere, the sensitive information about Rhysand and Feyre, he didn’t know if they were true information, he felt his heart split in two, the wanting to believe her burning stronger in his chest than the doubts in his head. He waited for his brother, if all she said was true, Rhys would know, he didn’t dare to say a thing while he looked at the two, he knew that he was looking in her mind, his Daemati powers were a blessing in times like this.

The chains dissipated in thin air as she sobbed relieved, she let her mind open, inviting Rhys in, allowing him to see everything he pleased, she didn’t have anything to hide from him, and he felt her pain and her loneliness as she dealt with that alone, he walked over to her, helping her stand and hugged her, his hands gently holding her, afraid that she would break. It was in this moment that Azriel knew he fucked up, that he should’ve believed his mate, as she cried hard in another male’s arms, he didn’t know what to say or do to make up for her, the guilty starting to spread in his mind like poison.

He approached them shyly, his feet barely making any noise as he walked, his hand touching the high lord’s shoulder and he turned to face Azriel, he silently handed Y/N to him, Azriel wrapped his arms around her, and she buried her face even deeper in his chest, sobbing louder as her crying got more hysterical, she felt like she disappointed her mate, and that, was too much for her.

“Az, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to, I didn’t know what to do.” She cried, her voice strangled and weird, he grabbed her even close and felt his own tears gathering in his eyes at the sight of his broken mate, he didn’t noticed Rhysand disappearing behind him, the high lord was going to fix this while Azriel would try to fix his Y/N.

“You don’t have to apologize, you were just trying to protect you family, I’m the only that should be sorry, for doubting you.” He said, his voice a whisper while he tried to hold his own emotions, he needed to be strong for her. “Let’s get out of here, you should see a healer.” He then winnowed them both back to Velaris, he got her straight to the healers hall, so Madja could check on her. He stayed glued to her side as she slept, Madja administrating a sleeping potion to make her rest, she had two broken ribs and was severely dehydrated, he felt his mind getting a little calmer as he watched her peacefully sleeping, the bruising slowly starting to fade.

When Rhysand showed up again, he was holding a female and Cassian was behind him, with a child in his arms, Madja quickly made sure to take care of Maze and Easton, as Azriel dismissed his brothers, saying it was his fault and he should be to one to look after them, Rhys tried to argue, saying that it wasn’t his fault but his words fell on deaf ears.

The healers would come two times a day to make sure they were fine, Azriel had not left her side, only when Cassian dragged him home, to at least shower. He felt terrible leaving her there, his body claimed to be with her, wanting to be by her side when she woke up. He was heading to bed when he felt something pulling in his chest, he knew what that meant, he rushed to the opposite direction, flying off the balcony to get to the healers hall as fast as possible, his wings flapping faster and the wind whipping his face, he didn’t care about his state when he landed, rushing through the doors.

She was awake, her body felt numb and she felt slightly confused, her mind foggy as she tried to piece things together, when he brushed through the doors, everything came crashing down, every memory and dark feeling that made her chest heavy, she looked away, feeling ashamed to look him in the eyes, his heart broke a little more at her fragile state. . Her eyes landed on the sleeping bodies, her family safe once more, she tried to contain the silent tears but it was useless, she felt so tired and defeated, she felt him grabbing her hand, her head slowly turning to her mate. She didn’t find in herself any reason to blame him, she was acting suspicious for days, she knew he had the letters that she sent to them, why would he think differently from what was being shown to him? Azriel was about to open his mouth when she shut him.

“If your going to apologize, there’s no need. I understand that you were led to believe I was a traitor, they did the same to me, but I need you right now, I need my mate, and I know your going to blame yourself, so please don’t, if someone should be blamed, It’s Darian and his camp.” Azriel pondered her words, hearing them brought a weird relief to his heart, he knew that things wouldn’t be easily fixed right away, but she needed him and he wanted to be there for her.

“He’s being held on the same filthy cell he locked you, Rhysand is waiting for you to decide what you want to do with him.” She knew that this was coming, of course he would give the decision to her, and for that, she was grateful. She didn’t know if killing him would do anything for her, but she knew that would make her sister feel safe, and she would do everything in her power to make sure that her family was safe.

3 days later

When Rhysand got to the healers hall to visit Y/N, he offered to her sister to just erase this tragic moment from her life, she didn’t accept, she wanted to remember everything that she gone through but for Easton, she chose to make him forget, he was to young to have to deal with such a thing, he also offered her a new start, a life in the Dawn Court, she gladly accepted, needing a fresh start somewhere else, Maze made Y/N promise to her that she would forgive herself, it wasn’t fair that they just kept taking things from them, Y/N hugged Maze with all her strength, telling her how much she loved her and how she was proud of her big sister. She had told Maze about her decision against Darian, and all Maze did was nod her head and tell her to “Make him pay”.

Y/N got shivers all over her body when she and Azriel landed in the camp, she looked around, the field now empty, it was like a ghost town, tents everywhere but no one to live in them, Azriel held her close as he walked her to the cells block. She held her breath as she got there, the smell of blood even worse than she remembered, her hands shaking as she stopped in front of the same cell she was held hostage just a few days ago. Darian was severely injured but still alive, his eyes looked at her, the sarcastic gaze long gone while he started to plead for her to have mercy on him.

“You weren’t merciful when you tortured my sister or my nephew, a mere child, you weren’t merciful when you forced me to work against my family and lie to them, there’s no need for me to show you any mercy, you don’t deserve it.” She finished, extending her hand to Azriel, where he softly placed truth teller, the cold blade freezing in her hand, holding it tightly, in one move, a clean cut in his throat, his body collapsed on the ground, blood pouring out of him like water, cleaning the dagger, she handed it back to its owner and turned away. Ready to leave this nightmare behind, with her mate glued on her side.

#acotar #azriel #azriel x reader #azriel shadowsinger #azriel x y/n #shadowsinger #night court #velaris #sarahjmaas #angst #moonlightazriel #rhysand #cassian

396 notes · View notes

petertingle-yipyip · 3 years ago

Text

DEVIL ON MY SHOULDER - MATT MURDOCK

one - criminal

// tags: @ironprincessstranger //mad at god (s1)// two // masterlist

Pairing: Unofficial Matt Murdock x Livia (DD X Former Widow!OC)

Word Count: 8,810

Summary: With Wilson Fisk in the past, Exodus tries to move forward without Daredevil. But a strange meeting leads to potentially another threat… Or maybe an ally.

“How you feeling?” Karen asked as you plopped on your couch.

“Exhausted. It’s hot even at night.” You sighed and threw your mask to your coffee table. “And avoiding Daredevil is harder than I thought it would. He’s everywhere.”

“So stop avoiding him and talk it out.” She laughed. “After all, isn’t he your friend?”

“No.” You said firmly, crossing your arms. “Well, not anymore. I’m still mad at him. All he had to do was mind his damn business for one night. One night! But noooo… If he hadn’t gotten in my way, I could’ve-“ You groaned and rubbed a hand across your face. “I could’ve made sure that Fisk was done. For good. Мертвый и ушел.” (Dead and gone.)

“You’re mad at him but you still wear the suit he gave you?” She raised a brow in playful accusation.

“It's very light and breathable and the- the- the plates are really strong and-” You tried to defend but the look she gave you made you laugh. “Okay, shut up!” You complained with a grin as you unzipped the top and threw it on the table with a huff.

“Look, Fisk is locked up.” She reassured gently. “You did that. Isn’t that enough?”

“Yeah, but do you really think it’ll last? I’m sorry but I just can’t shake this looming feeling that he’ll be back…” You turned to face her. “With that kind of money and influence, he can buy the best lawyers in the state and get off scot-free.”

“You and the boys won’t work for him though.” She tried. “And you’re the best lawyers I know.”

“I’m not a lawyer… Not yet at least.”

“You thinking of going back to school?”

“No, I already finished school. And I took the Bar Exam. All my t’s are crossed and i’s are dotted. I’m just waiting for everything to be official and come in the mail.”

“Oh my god. Livia! That’s incredible! The guys don’t know?”

“No. I did my last few classes online while I was in London, picking up odd jobs with a friend. When I had to leave him, I came here and took my exam, finished the last few steps in the process… Should be coming in any day now, but I think I put the London address cause I didn’t plan on staying. I’ll have to call the guy I got the place from and have him send it over.”

“How could you not tell them?”

You raised your brows and gestured to your Widow suit, emphasizing your point by flicking the Red Room emblem.

“There’s a lot I don’t tell them, Karen.” You deadpanned.

“Okay, fair point.” She laughed. “But you have to tell them this!” She insisted with a wide smile.

“I know, I know. I probably will…”

“Probably? Y/N, they’d be so proud of you!”

“It’s just not a very pressing conversation topic lately.. Besides, they like to tease me about being half a lawyer… Which actually reminds me, I want a promotion.”

“Wait.” She chuckled slightly. “You want to downplay your success for the sake of your male friends’ egos? Since when!?”

“It’s not for their egos.” You laughed. “It’s just- I don’t know, easier? They’ll wanna make me a partner and put my name on the firm and I just- It kinda feels like one of those group projects where someone slaps their name on it so they don’t fail, even though they hardly contributed..”

“You deserve it, Livia. You should tell them.”

“When the fancy stuff gets here, I will. I’ll even let you guys throw me a party.” You nodded and you held up a hand with your pinky sticking out. “Pinky promise.”

She faked a gasp. “So serious. You can’t break these, yknow.” She joked and hooked her small finger around yours.

“I am aware, yes.” You giggled. “But for now, starting tomorrow, I’m a paralegal slash disabilities assistant. I know and do too much around there to not be a paralegal.”

“Sounds good to me.”

The next day at the office was full of small cases, civil suits that seemed a bit silly to you but Nelson and Murdock helped the little guy. You and Karen worked to get them organized and in some sort of a queue for when the boys arrived. You had just gotten everyone settled when you were able to take a breath and pull your hair up.

“Look what the cat dragged in.” You commented when they finally walked through the doors. “Let me guess. He-“ You gestured towards Matt “-fell in a hole and you-“ You gestured to Foggy. “-had to fish him out, leaving your office manager and your favorite paralegal to handle everything.”

“Good morning to you too, Livia.” Foggy nodded with a smile. “Morning, Karen.”

“Hey guys.” She answered absently as she sorted some files.

“Paralegal?” Matt asked, stopping his steps to his office. He turned to you with a lazy, amused smile.

“As of this morning.” You nodded with a smile.

“That can only mean that you’re back on the lawyer train.” Foggy said proudly. “Nelson, Murdock, and Yersova is back in action.”

“Stop it.” You pointed to Foggy, who put his hands up in surrender. “It doesn’t mean anything as of right now.”

“Means a lot.” Matt said gently, reaching out to give your elbow a gentle squeeze. “So, what have we got?”

“Little bit of everything.” You said with a chuckle. “Karen?”

“Mr. Marino’s dog was viciously beaten by his neighbor after the dog um- “ She began and cleared her throat awkwardly, to which you chuckled. “-defiled the neighbor’s statue of St. Francis.”

You covered your mouth to hide your giggles as Matt laughed through his response.

“Defiled?” His brows raised playfully.

“Humped repeatedly until completion.” She answered with the same awkwardness.

“To the patron saint of animals, no less.” You playfully scolded, making Matt chuckle.

“How dare he?” Matt said with a grin.

“That is a dog I want to defend.” Foggy nodded, offering Mr. Marino a thumbs up.

“And then Mr. Maxwell was attacked in a bar fight last night.” You continued, pointing to the slightly roughed up biker.

“He started it.” Maxwell defended.

“I already called Metro General and the guy’s gonna recover, but if we start to lean towards a trial, it’s gotta wait till his jaw is unwired.”

“Your girl’s a badass.” Maxwell said proudly, looking at Matt more than Foggy.

“You’re not wrong.” You laughed, rubbing the mark over your eyebrow.

The gashes from your mask jamming into you during your fight with Fisk were mostly healed, now just discolored scars that weren’t as long as they originally had been. Lucky for you, you could hide the cuts with makeup until they started to shrink and you could come up with an excuse. As far as the boys knew, one was caused by a broken zipper on your dress and the other was the dewclaw of a stray dog.

“And Miss Jacinto just got her third denial of working papers. Dad’s gone and factory work is all she has for her family… Karen pulled her DOE applications but I think we can do better.”

“Good, cause we will.” Matt nodded and stepped into his office, you and your friends following behind.

Foggy paused to acknowledge the small table of bananas and pie, giving an enthusiastic response after Karen explained it. You shut the door most of the way once everyone was in, knowing what conversation was coming next.

“So I had installed this free trial accounting software on my computer and um..” Karen began while you stepped around the group to sit on the edge of Matt’s desk. “We’re broke as in, our income can’t cover our bills.”

“We’ll manage.” Matt said optimistically with a shrug. “I don’t know how but I know we will.”

“Optimism isn’t enough, Matt.” You said simply. “I love what we do here but we can’t do it much longer if we go into debt.”

“I know but-“

“I can make a few calls.” You offered. “I know some people who can help. They’d probably love to.”

“No, we can figure it out on our own.” Matt answered.

“Matt, just let me-“

“It’ll be okay.” He cut in, a certain finality in his voice.

You simply sighed and offered a small nod, giving up on the argument. And that’s how disagreements had been going between you and Matt the past few times, creating a new pattern. You two would have opposite views and when the other tried to counter it, they were met with a short and almost final response. One that wasn’t open to continuing the topic. So the other person would drop it, but the lingering looks of concern from your friends and almost chokingly thick atmosphere of tension were hard for you to miss.

Everyone understood that there was a shift, in you and in Matt, which had changed the way you and Matt interacted with each other. There was more tension, more resignations. Neither of you would admit it, but you saw each other differently. Though neither of you understood what happened to the other to change their point of view, individually you both knew.

For Matt, though he would never tell anyone, it was thanks to Exodus. The way she left him on that rooftop, left covered in blood that was and wasn’t hers. The way her voice lingered in his head every night since, a voice without the Russian accent he had grown accustomed to hearing.

If you get in my way again, I won’t hesitate to kill you.

He didn’t doubt she would intend to, but he also believed that she wouldn’t. Maybe even couldn’t. They were partners, friends even. They worked together to take down Fisk and it was only a matter of time until they were on the same side again. He cared about her and the knowledge of her still combing the streets of Hell’s Kitchen at night without him, it hurt him more than he would ever admit. Especially on the night where he would find her, only for her to run the other way. But even so, the sound of her voice, it was too familiar to forget.

Like a voice he had been hearing for years, a voice he loved to hear. After that night, he started to wonder how he knew her…

You, on the other hand, were acting different because of Daredevil. The man who you had thought was warming up to you and your flaws had - from your perspective - turned his back on you. He ultimately chose to stand against you, rather than beside you. He chose to save Fisk, to put the monster in a cell rather than a coffin. And you hadn’t forgiven him for it. Maybe you never would.

Either way, it made you reevaluate the people you trusted. Karen had softened up towards you and was truly someone you could regard as a friend. You were beyond thankful for that, especially in those moments when you saw yours and Matt’s friendship cracking apart. Foggy had been never more oblivious to your nightly escapades so there was never a question there. But Matt…

He asked too many questions, held too many suspicions. And what made it worse was that he would ask the very specific questions.

What happened to your hands?

Your voice is scratchy. Are you sick?

You didn’t answer your phone last night. Where’d you go?

Are you sure there’s nothing going on I should know about?

What do you mean, you didn’t sleep? What kept you up?

There was a disconnect between you and Matt now because he was paying a bit too close of attention to you. And you tried mentioning it to Karen, that Matt was poking around a bit too much but she brushed off your concerns, saying that he just cared about you and was worried.

That night, Foggy convinced the entirety of your friend group to go out for drinks and it was the most normal thing you had done in weeks. You had almost forgotten how good it felt to leave the suit in its case and just breathe, to just live. You and Matt were making jokes while Karen and Foggy were shooting a game of pool. It almost felt like nothing had changed.

“You sure you’re not being hustled here?” Matt asked Foggy after Karen landed a great shot.

“That’s why I didn’t want to play against her.” Foggy pointed firmly to you, making you laugh and throw your hands up in surrender.

“I didn’t-“ You laughed. “What did I do?”

“I remember college.” He said firmly, squinting his eyes in suspicion that made you drop your forehead to Matt’s shoulder while you laughed.

“Oh no, I can’t shoot pool. Oh no, I’m terrible.” He mocked you and you began losing your breath and nearly collapsed as you laughed, remembering the night you fooled him. Matt’s free hand came up to your arm when he felt you wobble. “Then boom. Perfect break.” Foggy deadpanned.

“I-“ You tried, though the sound was more of a wheeze. You shook your head and waved your hands, signaling that you couldn’t answer.

“She got, what, twenty bucks out of you that night?” Matt laughed and pulled you a bit closer to him.

“Forty!“ Foggy exclaimed.

“That’s on you for betting that much.” Karen giggled, high-fiving you on her way around the table.

“Betrayal. All of you.” Foggy said simply. “Take over, buddy. Be right back.” He passed Matt the pool cue and ducked away.

“I’m a little offended he didn’t hand it to me.” You said, finally able to refill your lungs with air and stand on your own.

“Maybe he wanted to take it easy on me.” Karen said playfully.

“Cause you’ll go easy on Matt?” You raised a brow to which she offered a devious smile. “You’re going to hustle a blind man!” You laughed.

“You hustled his best friend.” She grinned in return.

“This place always brings out something special in Foggy.” Matt said fondly.

“Sure it’s not the alcohol?” Karen teased.

“It’s the company.” You smiled. “He loves when all of us are together.”

“Yeah, we’d be doing this the rest of our lives if it were up to him.” Matt continued.

“It’d be a good life.” You nodded in agreement.

“As long as you two aren’t fighting over something stupid.” Karen nodded.

“Low blow, Page.” You shook your head with a small scoff.

When it came time for Matt’s shot, Karen instructed him. You hung back, feeling their emotions spike when they got closer than usual or when their hands touched. It wasn’t quite love, but the longing and admiration were palpable. You smiled softly to yourself and twisted your wrist discreetly, mimicking turning up a dial. You upped both of their desires and watched as they both blushed and separated with nervous chuckles or coughs.

Karen would be good for Matt, you decided. As much as you adored him - probably even loved him - you knew your double life would be too much. And even if you told him, it was unlikely that things could ever be romantic after that. So friends you two would stay, and you knew over time, you’d be okay with it. But until then, you sighed as the sadness cooled your skin, admittedly a refreshing sensation compared to the recent heat.

“I thought you were gonna watch them.” Foggy scolded playfully when he came back to your side. “I was gone two minutes.”

“You didn’t tell me anything about babysitting.” You defended with a laugh as Karen headed over to the bar.

You turned to watch as she left while Foggy was talking but your attention caught on a shifty guy at the bar who ended up next to Karen.

He was staring at you three, nervousness radiated off him in waves. You could feel his apprehension but also there was a hard intent behind his stare. Though you tried to feel deeper into him, you couldn’t. Like there was nothing below those surface emotions. But the way he moved in his seat, the way his hand was tucked under his coat, you decided you had to get closer.

“I’m just gonna…” You trailed off as you headed to Karen’s side.

Gently, you put your hands on her arms and guided her to your opposite side to put yourself next to the man. She looked at you with furrowed brows but you simply shook your head. You discreetly jabbed your thumb towards the man, to which she nodded and was quick to bring the drinks back to the guys.

“You doing alright over there?” You asked casually once Karen was gone. You glanced over to make sure and saw she was talking to Foggy and Matt, who were both seemingly focused in your direction. “Seem a little tense.”

“It ain’t what you think.” He said tightly. “I got business here.”

“I don’t think you know what I think.” You chuckled in annoyance as you faced him. “Whatever business you have here, pack it up and find somewhere else to do it. I won’t tell you again.”

“Got business with Nelson and Murdock.” The man answered as he stood. You sidestepped to block his path as your hands tightened into fists at your side.

“What makes you think you can get to them?” You challenged with an upward tilt of your chin.

“Hey.” Matt said suddenly from your side, a hand landing on your lower back. His touch made your whole body tense but you were quick to relax, loosening your hands and crossing your arms over your chest. “What’s going on? Who’s this?”

“You must be the blind one.” The man answered. “Looking for Nelson and Murdock.”

Matt nodded and gestured for the man to come to the other side of the bar, your friend group joining him around one of the small tables. You put yourself between Matt and the other guy, Karen on Matt’s other side between him and Foggy. Matt had tried to get to that spot before you did, but you were quick to reach around and guide him to the seat next to you. He frowned at you and gently tried to pull you to switch but you refused to budge.

You tuned in and out of the man’s story. It seemed fabricated, dramatized to earn sympathy. But as you read his emotions, you didn’t find any hint of smugness or pride that normally comes with getting people to believe a story like that. There was remorse, fear almost, along with nerves.

“Burren Club, 47th and 10th. Can’t miss it.” He explained and you were quick to commit the address to memory.

Karen leaned around Matt to look at you and you offered a brow raise and an acknowledging tilt of your head. You saw her shoulders rise and fall with a quiet sigh before you turned back to the man from the bar.

“And your involvement in the organization is?” You asked simply.

“Who’s she?” He looked to Foggy and you scoffed.

“Answer the question.”

“Ran for Brannigan for a long time… Did some things I probably shouldn’t have… But the guys I work for, the guys that did this…” He let out a long sigh. “I’m telling you, I had nothing to do with that massacre.”

“Assuming you’re right and the Irish were hit by a powerful crime syndicate tonight…” Matt started. “If you’re the only one that survived-“

“Someone’s bound to come back and tie off this loose end.” You cut in, leaning your elbows against the table. “What do you expect us to do for you, Mr…?”

“Relax.” Matt said quietly, trying to discreetly pull you to sit back.

“Last time we took a case when we didn’t get a name, it was a shit case, right? You really trynna do that again?” You answered in the same hushed tone, to which he nodded reluctantly in response.

“Grotto.”

“Grotto what?” Matt pressed as if it was his idea to get a name.

“Just Grotto.” He answered, which made you roll your eyes as you sat back with arms folded.

“I just need you guys to get me the hell out of here before I permanently end up in the only place hotter than this.”

“Witness protection.” You nodded, knowing it wasn’t an impossible thing to ask. “Could be doable.”

“We’re a private law firm.” Matt began before Grotto cut in.

“Yeah, a trustworthy one… Got quite a reputation after you took out Wilson Fisk.”

The mention of that case made you grind your teeth, thinking of how it didn’t go down the way it should’ve.

“DA’s office is the only place that can make a deal.” Foggy explained.

“And I’m not walking to the DA without representation. I know and seen a lot. I’ll give the cops anything they want to get out of Hell’s Kitchen.” He said honestly, desperation practically spilling onto the table.

“We have a reputation of representing the good people of Hell’s Kitchen, not negotiating on behalf of career criminals.” Matt said and the words seemed to slice you more than they affected Grotto.

“And if that criminal wants to change careers?” You asked, staring at the table as you settled your riled up nerves. Karen cleared her throat and when you peaked up, you saw she was already staring at you in warning. “You’re gonna tell me you don’t believe in changes of heart? Second chances?”

“You’re actually on my side?” Grotto asked in disbelief.

“Wasn’t that your point?” You countered smoothly.

“You weren’t exactly warm and welcoming a few minutes ago.”

“And you haven’t taken that hand out from under your jacket since you walked in.” You pointed out, nodding your head towards his hidden hand. “So I really don’t think you should be challenging who is or isn’t on your side.”

“Livia…” Karen said gently, though you felt the warning in her words. “Tone it down a little…”

“I know I got nobody to vouch for me and I can barely cover your fee but… Word is that Nelson and Murdock put their faith in people and I- I could use a little bit of that right now.” Grotto was practically begging.

Your friends were huddled together and muttering about what to do about it but you hadn’t taken your eyes off Grotto. You watched as his eyes went wide as he shook his head, swaying in his seat. Matt began to ask a question but the man collapsed and fell to the ground. You had already begun to move and catch him so you were able to get your hand under his head before he hit the floor. You glanced towards your friends as you knelt by Grotto’s side but only saw Karen coming over.

“He’s bleeding.” Karen noted, carefully moving his jacket out of the way.

After having gotten an ambulance to come get Grotto, Matt and Foggy decided to turn in. Karen offered to go with Grotto and asked what you would do. You shrugged and said there was a club you had meaning to check out, knowing you didn’t have to full on say it for her to get it.

You hurried home, changed into your Exodus suit, and headed to the Burren Club. It was easy to see the lights on the cop cars from blocks away so you tapped your scar and tried to listen in on police chatter. There were random calls from their dispatchers but nothing about that incident so you turned it off. Instead, you snuck your way to the rooftop opposite of the club and used the new lenses of your mask to get a better look.

But the first thing you saw was Matt and Foggy. Your attention snagged on the boys while they talked to Brett, likely trying to get some intel and check out the validity of Grotto’s story. But you noticed Foggy was doing most of the talking while Matt was just listening.

“What are you listening for?” You murmured, leaning over the edge a bit more.

As if Matt heard you, he tilted his head up and turned towards your hiding spot. You didn’t flinch and didn’t hide, rather you held your position with the confidence that he couldn’t see you.

But it did make you wonder if he heard you…

Matt turned and said something to Brett that you couldn’t hear but could tell was something of interest if Brett grabbed a passing officer to scold him. Your brows furrowed as the three stepped further from the crowds and you started to wonder if you would sneak a mic onto Matt’s cane. Out of curiosity, you followed the trio and hopped down into the nearest alleyway.

You crept as close to the street as you could while still having shadows to hide in so you could eavesdrop on what Brett knew. You focused on key words that you knew would likely mean solving more later; the theory was paramilitary, they were capable of taking out half the city, and the DA had no leads. You heard one of the other officers mention the Dogs of Hell had been hit recently too, being that their members were currently taking residency at the morgue.

Though the conversation didn’t give you too many leads, you knew it was something to start. You had to get a hold of local underground arms dealers, see if they’re selling bigger things than pistols and pump action shotguns. You had to check the usual back alley haunts for someone - or multiple someones - who didn’t belong.

You figured starting with the Dogs of Hell would be the best bet. If anyone has seen what happened, maybe there’d be more of a starting point. A silhouette you could watch for or a vague description you could work down to something more specific. But as you were approaching the building, you saw a familiar pink shirt entering the building.

“Он сам себя убьет.” You complained and slammed a fist against the wall beside you. (He’s gonna get himself killed.)

You ran across the street and hurdled the trash building up in the alleyway until you reached the back door. There were two men posted out back, playing cards and smoking. They didn’t even notice you until you were right beside them.

“He has an ace tucked into his belt.” You commented, your usual Russian accent dancing in your voice.

They both turned on you and held their guns up.

“I have questions, maybe you boys can answer. You help me and I don’t crack your skulls on the pavement.” You tried, though they yelled for you to leave. “What happened to your men last week? What do you know?”

When you were greeted with nothing but shouts to leave, you shrugged. You made a move first, running at one and jamming a knee into his chest to slam him against the wall behind him. The other tried to grab you so you reached up and hooked your arm around his neck.

You used the first man as a foothold and flipped over, pulling the second man into a very uncomfortable bridge position. You dropped to a knee and brought him down with you, his spine slamming against your opposite upraised knee with a deep and echoing crack. You pushed him to the side before returning to the first man and grabbed him by his shirtfront, leaning several punches to his face until the skin split and the man fell unconscious.

Just in time for the door to open.

You hand shot to your belt as you ducked out of sight between a dumpster and the building. The huge man was towering over someone he had thrown in front of him, but even without seeing him, you recognized the voice. It was Foggy.

“Put it away.” You warned firmly when you saw the glint of a knife. Your Bite was now glowing as you lifted your bloodied hand and stepped into view, the biker now turning to face you. “Put it down or I will make you.”

“Holy shit.” Foggy breathed.

“This ain’t about you.” The biker warned, though there was a waiver in his voice. “So mind your business.”

“You just made it my business.” You said simply. “I won’t ask nicely again.”

“I helped a guy named Foster.” Foggy tried, though the biker ignored him. “Ricky Wex? … Pope?”

That name caught the man’s attention but he didn’t lower the knife. You moved around him to stand a few steps behind Foggy, lowering your hand but not letting it disarm.

“You helped Pope?” He asked and you realized that Pope meant something to that man. A spark of grief. “Get the hell out of here.”

The man turned his back and you reached for Foggy.

“What happened to Smitty?” Foggy exclaimed.

“Ты шутишь?” You groaned as the man came back with his knife raised. (Are you kidding me?)

You quickly put your forearm up to block his knife and used your other hand to catch it as it fell from his grip. You hooked your foot around his knee and yanked it to bring the man to his knees. You held his own knife to his throat and gestured for him to answer Foggy‘s question.

“Your men were massacred last week and the Irish were slaughtered tonight.” You explained. “Unless you want to join your pals in the morgue, I suggest you talk.”

“If I don’t get answers, a lot of innocent blood could be shed.” Foggy continued. “Please.”

“You got guts, Harvard.” He nodded to Foggy. You took a second to survey the man and found his hostility had come and went so you flipped his knife in your hand and offered it to him by the handle.

“Columbia, actually, and it’s just sheer adrenaline right now.” Foggy replied and you snorted a laugh as you took a few steps to the side. “I wouldn’t be here if doing this wasn’t important.”

“Smitty was on a run down I-90 with four other guys, got hit by an army and cut to pieces. They were left there like roadkill.”

“An army sounds extensive for a five man job.. Who did it?” You asked.

“Some new crew.” The biker shrugged. “But we’re gonna find them and you’re gonna wanna be far away from that action.”

The biker turned and left after that, leaving you and Foggy in the alley. You grabbed Foggy’s arm and began hauling him away, feeling him practically deflate in your grasp.

“Are you insane?” You scolded, taking careful intent to maintain your accent. “He could've killed you.”

“Why are you here?” He asked in counter. “Shouldn’t you be out with Daredevil?”

“Сорвиголова.” You scoffed. “No. I haven’t seen him since he got in my way with Fisk. We aren’t working together anymore.” (Daredevil.)

“What?”

“Listen to me because I will not say it again.” You said firmly, stopping your steps so you could face him. “This is going to get very messy, very fast. You need to keep you and your friends out of it, alright? If anything, work from a distance. Wait for this to come down a legitimate path rather than some back alley bullshit. Got it?”

“Okay..” Foggy said carefully. “Thanks.”

You nodded and took off, not really headed anywhere other than away from Foggy. You weren’t sure where to go from there. Going down I-90 wouldn’t make a difference because it was probably cleaned up and the officers long gone. Local cops had nothing, meaning the morgue had nothing, other than a label for homicide across a herd of bodies. You got yourself to a rooftop and sat on the ledge, wondering what to do next.

Your implant was ringing in your head with your usual cell phone chime. With a confused tilt of your head, you double tapped the scar.

“Yeah?” You answered quickly.

“Where are you?” Karen said in a panic and you could hear the skirting of tires in the background. You quickly jumped to your feet and tapped your mask, looking around as you tried to lock on her cell signal.

“I see you. On my way.” You answered as you broke into a sprint. “Tell me what’s going on.”

“Someone attacked the hospital!” She screamed and you heard the glass shatter. “He came for Grotto.”

“But you’re alright?”

“For now!”

“Okay. Did you see how many?”

“Yeah… One.”

One?

“Alright, I’ll take care of it. Get somewhere safe and call me back.”

You ended the call and heard the sounds of a fist fight as you neared the hospital roof. You stood on the ledge and checked the surrounding buildings, only barely able to catch a glimpse of the two men fighting. It was easy to recognize his fighting style, even in the dark.

You had just landed when you saw the spark of a gunfire and Daredevil went tumbling over the ledge. You screamed out and the sound drew the attention of his attacker. He scoffed and got to his feet, though now you were pissed.

“Вы заплатите за это.” You sneered. (You’ll pay for that.)

Your anger was collecting in your palms, burning through your skin. You ran at him without hesitation and ducked his shot. You kicked the small gun from his hand and blocked a heavy hit from him. You slammed your fists against his jaw, seeing red puffs of smoke escape each time time you made contact.

He grabbed you by your shirtfront and hoisted you up, his other hand wrapping around your belt as he moved to slam you to your back. You grabbed his wrist and as your fingers dug in, you noticed that where your skin met his was turning red, as if it were burning. Quickly you shook the thought and tucked your legs so you could kick out against his chest. The move sent you two in different directions and you used the gap to jump the ledge you saw Daredevil fall down.

It was easy to recognize that you couldn’t beat him on your own, not as distracted as you were. You had to bail and figure out an actual plan. But at least you gained something. You saw his face.

You turned back and saw the man glaring down at you, bloody faced and angry. You pulled one of your charge disks and offered a fake salute so the movement doubled as the flick. He groaned as the disk landed at the base of his throat and you chuckled before turning to find Daredevil.

He was face down and not moving, making your heart stop. You knelt beside him and carefully rolled him over and tucked your fingers under his cowl, looking for the pulse at his throat.

“C’mon…” You muttered and slid your fingers down. “Please, c’mon.” You repeated with a bit more urgency.

By then, the tears were fogging your mask so you aggressively pulled it to sit around your throat. Your breathing was shaky and you couldn’t even focus enough to get yourself under control. You didn’t even care if he saw what you looked like, if he remembered who you were from when what happened with the Russians. You didn’t care, just as long as he was alive.

Sure, you hadn’t been on the best of terms with Daredevil as of late, but that didn’t mean you wanted to see him die. Especially not by getting shot in the head right in front of you. By some no name, trigger happy bastard with a vendetta.

You let out a quivering breath of relief when you found his pulse and he moved, ever so slightly he had moved his arm almost like he was reaching for you. You slid over so your back was against the small structure that you couldn’t specify in the dark. You very carefully repositioned him in your lap as you leaned your head back and sighed towards the night sky as you slipped your hand into his.

You bit down on the finger of your other glove and pulled your hand free. You tucked the glove into your belt before placing your hand gently on his cheek. Your thumb traced his features idly as your mind raced, but the slow movement was enough to help you settle yourself and focus.

You couldn’t leave him there alone. You knew that much. But where would you take him? Metro General would raise too many questions. You couldn’t get him back to your apartment on your own and you had no idea where he lived. You thought about calling Claire but you didn’t even know if she was back in Hell’s Kitchen.

That would’ve been a good time to actually know each other’s names.

Instead, you decided to stay on that rooftop.

Next thing you knew, your implant was pinging loudly. Opening your eyes, you found it was morning. You wiped your eyes and realized your mask was still down. You were careful to reposition it without moving Daredevil as you answered the call.

“Hey.” You said, sleep hanging on to your voice.

“Thank God you’re alive.” She said quickly. “Are- are you alright?”

“I’m alright, yeah.” You answered.

“I tried calling last night but you didn’t answer.” Karen answered worriedly. “You can’t do that, Y/N. Not with this maniac running around.”

“I know. Yeah, I know. I’m sorry…I promise, I’m fine.” You nodded, looking down at Daredevil. “Someone else… Not so much.”

“What happened?”

“Whoever came after you and Grotto, Daredevil found him first. The guy shot him in the head.”

“Oh my god.” She sighed and you could feel her worry through the call.

“I’m just glad the guy had the protection in his new suit. The idiot’s alive, barely.” You slid your fingers to check his pulse again and while it was stronger than it was last night, it was still weak. “I’ve been on this roof with him all night. I didn’t know where to take him. I thought I didn't care and was done but seeing him like that, I wanted to tear that guy apart…”

“At least he wasn’t alone.” Karen tried and you nodded in agreement. “Well uh- I called Foggy and I told him. Grotto and I are at the precinct. The cops wanna ask him questions about everything.”

“Okay… Foggy say not to let anyone talk to him witho-“

“Without one of them here, yeah.” She cut in. “Yeah, he told me.”

“Good.. I’ll probably head over there when…” You trailed off, hearing footsteps across the roof. “I gotta go.”

You tapped the scar and flexed your hand, lighting up your Bite as the person came closer. You were more than surprised to see Foggy.

“Jesus.” You sighed, easily slipping back into your accent and disarming. “What are you doing here?”

“Looking for him.” Foggy answered, kneeling at Daredevil’s other side.

“You know him?” You didn’t bother to hide your shock.

“You don’t?”

“I wouldn’t have stayed on this roof if I did.” You shrugged. “Guess you can’t stay out of it even if you wanted to, can you?”

“Guess not.” Foggy chuckled without humor.

“At least you have a friend you know can protect you.”

“Not if he gets himself killed.” He muttered and you couldn’t help but agree.

“Take care of him for me, okay?” You asked as you helped Foggy get Daredevil to his feet.

“I thought you weren’t friends anymore.”

“When I saw that guy take the shot and he went tumbling, something inside me…” You shook your head, deciding you didn’t need to explain all of it. “I just didn’t like what I saw. I tried taking on the guy on my own but I.. I didn’t have a chance. Probably too distracted but.. Look, just take him home, please.”

“Yeah, thanks for looking out for him.” Foggy nodded and you returned the gesture before heading to your apartment.

You had to get into your building through the rooftop door rather than your usual window. You slipped to your floor using the old stairwell that no one seemed to use anymore and got inside your apartment with no fuss. You ditched your suit quickly and showered, noting the blossoming bruises and busted knuckles as you got ready for the day.

Meanwhile, Matt was just lucky to have survived.

“Y’know, Exodus was there when I found you.” Foggy explained as he handed Matt the Aspirin.

“Exodus?” Matt chuckled. “You met her?”

“She looked like she’d been crying all night.” Foggy pressed. “She saw you get shot. Do you realize that?”

“She probably just would’ve rather been the one who pulled the trigger.” Matt pushed himself up with a groan.

“You’re not listening.” Foggy complained. “She cares about you, Matt.”

“No, she doesn’t.” Matt countered easily. “She only cares about herself.”

Matt didn’t fully believe that though. He was glad that Exodus was there and that maybe she did still care, at least a little bit. But as far as what her actions showed, she wanted nothing to do with him anymore and he wouldn’t force her to fight with him if she wouldn’t even talk to him. He knew saying she only cared about herself was hardly any different than when Fisk said she had no loyalty. And in both cases, it just wasn’t true.

“That’s why she stayed on that roof all night with you?” Foggy shrugged. “She went after that guy once you went down.”

Matt groaned in annoyance. Not because of what Foggy said about her being there, but at the fact that she went after the shooter on her own. He knew she was reckless and brave, but he never knew her to be stupid.

“All I’m saying is that you should try to make amends before you end up dead. Whatever happened between you and her, whatever you did to piss her off, you need to figure it out beca-“

“She didn’t like that I didn’t let her kill Fisk that night.” Matt snapped. “She didn’t like that I- I- I knew she could be better. I didn’t let her go around and take lives when it wasn’t up to her.”

“You look like shit.” Foggy resigned, knowing the argument would go nowhere with Matt. In that moment, he understood why Y/N didn’t bother arguing with him anymore. “Stay here. Get some rest. I’ll have Livia come check on you later.”

“Foggy.” Matt sighed. Hiding it from Livia was the hardest part of the secret, and with all of that, he didn’t know what he would say when she got there.

“Just don’t.. You already know she’s gonna come anyway when you don’t show up to work today.” Foggy reasoned. “And I’ve covered for you enough as it is. Just… Just stay here.”

You got to the precinct just before Foggy did. Grotto was tense, aggressively on edge. Him and Karen were both terrified, the fear from them vibrating through your bones. It was so dense that you felt it as soon as you walked into the precinct, not even near the interrogation room. You had to take a deep breath when you stepped inside and used it to blow away the frazzled buzzing in the air.

“Where’s Murdock?” Grotto asked when Foggy was the only one to walk in.

“He took a sick day.” Foggy answered before he went around the table to talk to Grotto.

You turned to Karen, who was looking at you with the same quizzical expression you wore. You leaned in and spoke quietly.

“He’s hiding something.” You said simply. “Look how freaked he is.”

“You think it’s about Matt?” She asked in the same hushed tone.

“Or the fact that he knows Daredevil and ran into her this morning.” You shrugged a shoulder. “Either way, I’m guessing it’s another ‘hit by a car’ situation like that one time.”

“Wait. Back up. What?“

You shushed her once the door opened. You nodded to Brett and he gave you a slight wave. After a brief conversation between Brett and Grotto, your trio and Brett stepped out to let him change. You blew out a sigh as you followed Brett, listening to what Brett knew about the shooter.

“Vigilante type.” Brett explained, causing Karen to sneak a glance at you. You were focused on Brett but you saw her glance at your peripherals. “Targeting different crime families.”

“But not in a Daredevil-type way.” You added. “He kicks some ass and the city cheers like we won the goddamn World Series.”

“Not even in an Exodus-type way either.” Brett agreed and your brows raised. “She’s something else but even she doesn’t do this… Anyway, he makes a lot of people question the whole ‘hero’ idea.”

“And what do you think about it? I’m guessing not a whole lot of cops love Daredevil or Exodus.”

“Whole force is split, actually.” Brett shrugged. “Some cops want ‘em gone. Some say they make the job a whole lot easier.”

“But what do you think?”

“I think it’s only a matter of time before the wrong person gets caught in the crossfire.”

“You put it that way, I guess copycats were inevitable.” Foggy added.

“Not even the first, just the latest.” Brett said simply.

You nodded slightly in acknowledgment. You thought about the whole thing while Brett continued talking to Foggy about it. You figured your actions would inspire others to do the same. But you hadn’t thought of how wild it would be. Would that man really have claimed you and Daredevil as inspiration? Could you two really be responsible for a man who opened fire in a hospital?

It made you want to crawl out of your skin.

Targeting the crime families was one thing. It was something you had your fair share of experience with, considering your elimination of the Russians not that long ago. But to put innocent people at risk, just to get to one man? That didn’t sit right with you and it only made you want to find him and get answers.

You needed to take a walk.

“Hey.” You asked Foggy when Brett left. “Do you got this? I wanna go check on Matt. He was fine last night so it’s probably just food poisoning or something with the heat lately but y’know…” You shrugged at your lame excuse.

“Uh..” Foggy looked around and sighed. “Yeah, I got it. Go ahead.”

“You sure? Cause I can stay if you need me.”

“Yeah.” He offered a small smile. “DA’s assistant shouldn’t be too hard to handle.”

“You’ve got Karen, too.” You added and Karen agreed. “I just-“

“You worry about him.. I know.” Foggy nodded and offered a knowing smile.

“Thanks.” You smiled and hurried out.

The walk to Matt’s was quiet so you were able to think. It wasn’t so much that you wanted to stop this new guy. Granted, you didn’t appreciate him blowing holes in people all over town, but it’s not like he was killing good people. He did what you did, but messier. You thought about how you get to him again, get a time where you could get him to talk. Find out his motives, his goals. From there, you could decide if you wanted to fight with him or against him.

You tapped on Matt’s door with two quick knocks. You waited a minute to see if he would open it but he didn’t. You assumed he was asleep so you let yourself in. Coming into the living room, you found Matt around the corner.

Before you could say anything, he had knocked over the glass of water on the corner of the table. You yelped in surprise and jumped back, letting the glass shatter at your feet. You tossed your purse and blazer onto the couch and stepped around Matt to get a towel from the kitchen. You came back to the mess and knelt down, laying the towel over the entirety of the mess.

Your actions stopped when you heard Matt shout. Your head snapped up and your fists tightened, mind racing. You instantly thought something had happened. Someone followed you, the shooter from the hospital maybe. He saw you without your mask last night and was coming to kill you. But looking around, you quickly realized no one was there.

“Matt?” You tried gently as you crossed the room to kneel beside him, though he seemed to ignore you and screamed again. “Matt?”

You reached forward carefully and put a hand on his shoulder, one he quickly jumped away from. You furrowed your brows and reached out again, only this time Matt took a sloppy swing at you. You leaned away easy enough and caught his wrist, slipping your hand in his instead.

“Who…” He said quietly, nearly a whisper. You didn’t need your ability to know he was terrified.

“It’s me.” You answered in the same hushed tone as you guided his hand to your cheek. “You’re okay..”

His thumb traced your cheekbone before following the bridge of your nose to your lips. It reminded you of the first time he felt your face in college.

“Livvy.” He said, so desperately it was almost a whine.

He shifted to lean his shoulders against the wall instead of his back while the hand that was on your face went behind your neck. His other hand wrapped around your waist and he pulled you into his chest. You let out a small ‘oof’ as you fell into his lap but your arms went around him while he buried his face in the crook of your neck.

“I can’t… I can’t hear.” He mumbled against your skin. “I can’t hear.”

You closed your eyes and focused on him. His fear hadn’t changed but there was a relief mixed in. He was glad to not be alone but also terrified of losing another sense. You thought of how you could help him if he couldn’t hear you, so you took a chance and used your power.

You knew that emotions could relay messages and hold weight, depending on how individual people interpreted them. As you had been recently developing your powers to be more precise, you began learning that if you put enough intention behind what you did, you could essentially send a specific message.

So that’s what you did. Through the close grip he had on you, you let yourself absorb some of his fear and replace it with comfort, safety. You focused until those two emotions were nearly balanced and the physical tension in his body subsided. His hold on you tightened, practically begging for you not to leave him.

You’re gonna be okay. You’re not alone.

“Thank you.” He finally broke the silence after you didn’t know how long. He loosened his hold on you so you sat back to see him clearly. You kept hold of his hands loosely while he talked. “I’m glad you came by.”

“Something happened…” You said sadly, though you didn’t expect him to hear you. His head tilted but you kept going. “I know you won’t tell me but.. No one suddenly goes deaf unless something drastic happens… But, again, you won’t tell me so, I’m just glad you’re okay.”

“I don’t want to worry you.” He said honestly, giving your hands a squeeze.

“Then be more careful.” You scolded when you realized he heard you. “Cause if we lose you, I… I don’t have a lot left.”

“I’m sorry. Really, I am.” He offered a lopsided smile. “I’ll try, okay?”

“Promise me.”

“What?” He chuckled.

“Promise me.” You repeated firmly.

“Okay, okay.” He smiled, letting go of one of your hands to cross his heart. “I swear.”

“Thank you.” You nodded. “Now, I need to go.”

“Wait. Really?” Matt said quickly as you got to your feet.

“Yes, really. Foggy’s down at the precinct and the DA’s office is probably already there. We still have to figure out Grotto’s witpro. I can’t sit here on the floor with you all day.”

Even if you wanted to. Even if you wanted to remain in his embrace, listening to his heart beat. Feeling safe.

“Right.” Matt nodded, though his disappointment hit you in the chest like a brick.

“But call me if you need anything… Okay?” You said as you grabbed your stuff. “I’ll come as soon as I can.”

“Yeah, yeah, I will. Thanks, Livvy.”

“See ya later, Matty.”

You peaked at your phone on the way out and saw a text from Karen.

karen : DA office says it’s one guy.

karen: they almost have a complete profile

karen: “the Punisher”

298 notes · View notes

hauntedbythefanficsofmypast · 5 years ago

Text

Goodbye Paris

Marinette is 17 and the other 18 in this Au.

Marinette's parents fall under Lila's spell as well. She starts filling them with lies about Marinette and soon they start believing her.

Lila accuses Marinette of sneaking out and hanging out with the wrong people. Sabine and Tom start believing her, especially when they notice she wasn't there one night. She was out patrolling as Ladybug.

Soon Marinette is on lock down barely able to leave her house. She struggles to even get out as Ladybug.

Her parents become more and more distant, soon not even talking to Marinette. No goodbyes, hellos, I missed you, or I love you, just silence. Marinette tries to combat the lies but her parents won't listen. She slowly gives up focusing on Hawkmoth, school, and designing.

Halfway through the year she opts to graduate early forfeiting walking at graduation. She doesn't even mention it to her parents, just focuses on getting money together for her own place while applying to colleges overseas. After she stops attending Chloe reaches out to her apologizing for everything she had done and asking for a second chance. Chloe moved to America with her mother, their junior year unable to handle akuma anymore. Marinette tells her their relationship will be rockey and first but she agrees to a new start.

It's right before the end of the school year when Ladybug and Chat Noir defeat Hawkmoth and get the two missing Miraculouses back. Chat gets mad when Ladybug refuses to reveal her identity and attempts to make her. She stops him and takes his Miraculous back as well revealing Adrien.

"This is goodbye Chaton. If you had taken this more seriously. Perhaps you could know it, but you never did."

She leaves him there returning home and safely putting the peacock and butterfly miraculouses away. After his defeat she stops patrolling as Ladybug and instead plans her move, not wishing to be with her parents any longer.

Once she stops patrolling petty crime begins to pick up again. The city starts crying out for Ladybug to return but Marinette wont. She can't be there for everything, it's time the police start doing their job again. After a month the city is outraged that Ladybug is nowhere to be seen. They take to Adrien who admits to being Chat Noir, he apologizes to Paris saying that Ladybug took his Miraculous. He tells them that he wants to help but she won't help him any longer. After his display Paris begins a smear campaign against Ladybug. Tired of this Marinette transforms and heads to the Eiffel Tower broadcasting to all of Paris her goodbye.

Marinette- I have heard the out cry at my disappearance, and I find it deplorable. I have been fighting since I was thirteen. Did any of you think of that? You have had a child fighting your battles for you with another child that never took it seriously! Now, now you smear my character, saying I am a villain after I have taken down Hawkmoth. All because I stopped patrolling and taking down petty criminals. Instead of looking at me you should be looking at your police force. I am done, I thought of coming back after college but after all this, no. This is goodbye Paris, for good.

After her speech Chloe video calls her asking her if she is okay. Marinette plays everything off saying she is fine until Chloe tells her that she knows she is Ladybug. Marinette hesitates trying to think of a cover but just sighs asking how Chloe knew. Chloe smiles and tells her that she grew up with the girl only and the imbecile would not be able to tell that their 'Everyday Ladybug' was their actual Ladybug. Soon after the girls get a request for Luka to join. Once he is on the call he offers his own word of comfort causing Marinette to groan and Chloe to laugh. Luka simply tells her that her song is the same beautiful piece in and outside of the mask. Marinette grumbles teasingly about Metas being annoying, causing Luka to chuckle smiling at her. She tells them that she is leaving Paris for good now that Hawkmoth is gone. Chloe encourages her to move to America and go to Juliard while Luka simply hums strumming his guitar. When he opens his eyes he tells her to follow the path that calls to her, causing Chloe to groan. Snapping at him Half heartedly he simply smiles at the two girls before saying he needs to get to bed, the girls smile saying goodnight and wishing him good luck with his show the next day before they hang up.

She is really thankful that she changed her designer name shortly after Lila came to her school. Now known as MDC she has a thriving online website and even has a few designers that follow her designs down to every single stitch. While she also helps them get their own lines started. She even begins to employ models, Chloe begging her most popular. Her clientele extended even more and she had a lot of famous musicians commissioning her. She was even commissioned by Megan Markle before she and Prince Harry got married, and was even invited to the wedding she attended with Kaalki's help.

Marinette applies to a few different colleges all in America knowing that staying in Paris was no longer an option. She is accepted at Juilliard, Harvard, and Gotham University, she wants to go to Juliard but something calls her to Gotham. She can't stop going back to Gotham's acceptance letter and ends up researching Githam and talking it over with Chloe and Luka. She doesn't make a decision until Luka tells her once again to follow the call. So she confirms attendance, not telling her parents as she leases an apartment in a safer part of Gotham. She gets in contact with one of her employed designers, Taylor in America and requests her help.

Taylor is the in-between for Marinette and interior designers in Gotham. Helping both sides design the and decorate the penthouse so its move in ready.

Soon after the penthouse is finished Marinette packs everything in her room slowly shipping out boxes to Taylor. A couple nights later when Marinette has everything except necessities shipped her parents request she moves out saying they don't even know her anymore.

"Don't worry I already have an apartment and everything set up near my college. I leave in three days. And you don't know me huh? Well I guess that's because you two haven't really been parents in a while. Now if you'll excuse me."

Tom and Sabine are shocked especially since Lila told them Marinette had decided not to go to college at all. They confront Marinette telling her not to lie about it. She simply sighs sadly and pulls out all three acceptance letters, telling them she isn't telling them which one she decided to go with because they'll no longer be a part of her life.

The day she is set to leave Jagged and Penny are outside in a limo waiting for her. Marinette walks out of the bakery smiling brightly as Jagged gets out hugging her tightly. She thanks him for coming to America with her till she gets settled in. The driver takes her suitcase, putting it in the trunk before opening the door once again letting Jagged and Marinette in. Before getting in and driving to the airport to take Jagged's private jet to America.

They meet Chloe and Audrey at the Gotham airport, both women wanting to welcome Marinette to America. They follow the three to Marinette's penthouse. Chloe is in love with the place and practically begs Marinette to let her live with her. Marinette smiles laughing and tells her she was going to offer her a room after a month or two. Audrey agrees, telling Chloe to just make sure and call her, so she knows they're both safe.

Marinette's penthouse is big! It has two guest rooms, specially for Jagged, Penny, and her designers, when they come to visit. However now one has become Chloe's room. A kitchen her great uncle would be jealous of. A personal gym. A living room with a ping pong table and flat screen tv. 3 bathrooms. Marinette's own designing room, and the Master suite. The Master suite had a loft bed with stairs leading up to it, not a ladder. A large area set up for gaming consoles and a flat screen tv. Underneath the loft was Marinette's desk and desktop. One wall was a complete window showing Gotham from above, and against the other wall was a large luxury dollhouse decked out with hand made furniture. Something Marinette had requested was special for the Kwami to not have to remain in the box twenty four seven.

Marinette has the entire summer to herself and she doesn't have to deal with her birth parents ignoring her. She and Chloe can't wait to explore Gotham, and although Mari wishes she could patrol like she used to. She knows that this is Batman's city, and she doesn't want to get on his bad side. Instead she'll explore on the ground, and fly in her gym, which she had specially fitted with the ceiling covered in bars and ropes.

She even agrees to teach Chloe how to use the rope nest, with a net underneath them of course.

That next day Marinette, Chloe Jagged, and Penny ended up in the Gotham Gazette. Everyone wanted to know why Jagged was in Gotham and who Marinette was. Penny ended up scheduling a video meeting between Jagged and Gotham's main news station.

Jagged- I am not moving here, nor am I here for a show. You see my honorary niece. I have to say honorary because we arent actually related which is stupid! Anyway! She is my personal designer MDC, I only wear her clothing. She just graduated high school and got accepted at Gotham University. So she moved here, and Penny, Fang, and I wanted to spend the beginning of the summer with her! Mari! Come say hello!

Marinette- Uncle I swear if you want dinner you need to stop distracting me. Hello Madame, Monsieur, I'm Marinette more popularly known as MDC. Pleasure to meet you. I'm actually in college for my business degree!

Chloe- Don't forget me! Honestly you two can be ridiculous together utterly-

Jagged and Mari smiling mischievously at her- Ridiculous!

Chloe huffs before turning to the newscaster- Chloe Bourgeois, I am Marinette's main model and top female model. I moved here with Marinette as well, though I won't be going to college, you will see me around the city doing photoshoots.

Penny takes over after Marinette and Chlke give quick interviews. Once the food is done both say goodbye and get excited to eat. However before Jagged hangs up everyone watches Marinette picks up Fang like he is nothing and cuddles him to her chest. Jagged burst into laughter and the interviewer's shocked face.

For the next couple weeks Marinette eagerly explores the city with Chloe, meeting people and unknowingly creating a name for herself. Orphans know that they can come to her for food or clothes and never have to worry about her turning them in.

A few weeks into living there they get an invitation to Bruce Wayne's upcoming charity ball. Marinette quickly gets to work making their outfits in time for the ball. While making sure the Kwami can handle Fang and that Fang knows not to eat them.

The three make waves when they arrive. Penny and Jagged wear matching outfits however they are drawn back and more muted than usual, still capturing their rock n roll vibes. Jaggeds favorite part is the music notes hand stitched on the arms of his jacket and the train of Penny's dress. Meanwhile Marinette's outfit is made to resemble the night sky and when she moves in the light her dress twinkles in the light. Chloe's is made to resemble the sun. It's a layer with yellow and orange tulle.

Jagged and Penny talk to the people conversing while Marinette talks to a few people before being able to edge herself away. While Chloe immerses herself with the other model at the gala. Marinette makes a sizable donation, the money a combination of her own and her designers making sure their names are also on the donation before making her way to the food table and snagging a few cookies eating them slowly while observing the people around her.

Damian stumbles upon her when he finally finds an excuse to slip away. He doesn't speak to her at first just standing there sipping his champagne. They are both silent before Marinette snorts, placing her arm on his shoulder gently and leaning closer to whisper.

Marinette-look to our right the man in the terbile green suit is about to get slapped by his wife

Damian glances over and watches as Mr. Tennor gets slapped hard by his wife causing everyone to go silent as she berates him for thinking he could get away with bringing his Mistress to a charity event. Only for his Mistress to turn on him slapping him as well. Saying that he told her they were finishing their divorce. The Mistress huffs, turning to Mrs. Tennor and apologizes before storming out.

Damian turns away from the facing Marinette as he struggles not to laugh while the room is still silent. Once the talking picks back up Damian introduces himself and Marinette does the same. A little amused by the stars in Damian's eyes when he confirms she's MDC. He admits that her album covers are his favorites of Jagged's and that he has even attempted commissioning her but was unable to get in. Marinette apologizes telling him that recently she's been keeping the same clientele since she was planning on moving. She then pulls out her phone unlocking it and giving it to him.

Marinette-Put your number in and I'll contact you tomorrow about what you want to commission.

The two spend the rest of the night talking and pointing out things about those around them. Marinette's hand remains on his shoulder and soon she is leaning against him, her head resting on his shoulder and his arm around her waist as they whisper back and forth. Pointing out different things to each other and hiding the laughter as best they can.

At one point Damian notices his father starting to walk over and quickly asks her to dance. Marinette is surprised at first but she notices Mr. Wayne makes his way towards them and smirks before nodding. Damian takes her hand leading her to the dance floor. Marinette smiles at him and starts teasing him asking if he didn't want his father to see her with him. Damian quickly tells her that's not it before realizing that she was joking. He rolls his eyes huffing at her saying that his father would make a scene. This causes Marinette to snort before agreeing to help each other hide from him for the night, and they do so successfully. The only one to catch the two is Chloe who gives Damian a quick one over before deeming him good enough for her Marinette. At the end of the night Jagged and Penny find Marinette and return to her penthouse. Marinette says goodbye to Damian kissing his cheek softly before leaving with them.

When Bruce finally catches up to his youngest he huffs wrapping an arm around his shoulder declaring that they were going to have a long talk on the ride home.

The rest of the night his entire family won't stop teasing him about actually dancing with a girl and not getting her number. They keep bringing it up until he smirks holding up his phone.

Damian- That's because she got mine instead.

He leaves the room leaving his brother in slight shock while Alfred holds up a camera and asks if they want to see pictures of the two together.

A week later Marinette meets Robin for the first time when Marinette is cornered in an alley. When Robin drops down startling them Marinette jumps into action stomping on one guy's foot getting him to release her before flipping him over her shoulder. Then she attacks at the two closest to her she flips over one's shoulder dropping behind him and kicking his legs out from under him. Punching him hard in the face. After knocking him out she jumps back as the other guy attempts to hit her. She dodges and blocks his punch before flipping back and crouching launching herself forward and punching him in the gut hard. She steps back breathing hard as she watches Robin take out the last guys. Robin turns to her and looks her over making sure she isn't hurt. Marinette thanks him softly leaning against the wall trying to catch her breath. Once she is calmed down Robin escorts her home.

The next day Damian messages her asking her on a date. Marinette teasingly asks if he's just doing this to convince her to give him a discount and he just groans. Marinette laughs telling him to pick her up at 6.

Marinette and Damian spend the summer getting to know each other and going on dates. Meeting Damian's family was an adventure for her, she loved getting to know the boys, Stephanie, Barbara, and Cass. (Dick and Barbara are definitely married in this one.) She also found it extremely easy to figure out her Damian was Robin, who she always caught stopping by on the roof across from her building.

Chloe bonds phenomenally with Stephanie; the two girls are practically glued at the hip. They spend almost all their time together, and while they don't voice it, the majority of the family had a feeling they were dating.

Soon after Chloe discovers their secret as well. They both decided not to tell them they knew because both girls knew how important secret identities were. The only people that knew Marinette was a hero was Cass and Alfred, and that was because Cass had noticed Tikki and Alfred was Duusuu's holder a long time ago.

The three bond phenomenally well, so much so that Damian is worried Cass may steal his Marinette.

Soon the end of summer is on them and Damian finally asks Marinette to be his girlfriend and she agrees. They are now Gotham's power couple. Pictures and videos of them are everywhere on the news and Twitter.

There are even Tiktoks of them while they're out in public. Marinette's favorite is them dancing in the rain one day both laughing and smiling brightly as some kids join them.

Marinette is named Gotham's new Princess and is praised by Damian's old classmates for breaking through and making the 'Ice Prince' smile and laugh.

Soon after Chloe and Stephanie announce that they are dating as well. Both couples are all over the news and papers.

Halfway through their first year of college Lex Luthor is named President of the United States. This causes the heros to panic however they make no moves instead they begin building a case against him. This comes to a halt when the entire Batfamily is cut off from them. An earthquake wreaks Gotham killing millions and destroying the city and the bridges giving them access to the rest of the states. President Luthor locks down Gotham essentially giving up on the city and allowing no outside contact or help.

It's during this period of time that Marinette and Chloe reveal they know their identities by crashing a meeting in the Batcave.

Marinette- Yes, yes, we know and will explain later, but right now I have a plan on how to get Gotham back on its feet.

Marinette's plan relies heavily on her and Bruce's businesses. The Wayne family and Marinette are going to rebuild Gotham from the bottom up. She tells Bruce that publicly Batman is going to hand over the only way of communication outside of Gotham over to Bruce Wayne during a press conference. Then Bruce will announce their plans of using this resource to continue to bring money into the city through him and Marinette. The family is going to be hiring clean up crews, medical workers, and construction workers to rebuild their city. Marinette and Bruce focus mainly on bringing in money. Jason's focus is on helping orphans, street kids, and newly made orphans. Setting up better Orphanages with better staff and making sure no kid is a meal ticket. Dick's focus is on getting the police force back up with Gordon's help and weeding out as many corrupt cops. Tim focuses on hiring construction workers and clean up crews getting Gotham cleaned up and starting reconstruction. Cass is the one helping find more medical personnel and working with getting hospitals up and going. Damian personally spoke with Gothams bigger villains in Arkham explaining what happened and what Luthor is trying to do. Thanks to him Arkham is pretty much guaranteed no breakouts. In fact many were surprised to see henchmen from different villains joining in on the clean up. Kate also helps out working hard to get electricity back up and running with electricians while making sure no down wires are active. Stephanie and Chloe are praised for getting out and helping the clean up crews as well as the police with finding bodys of missing citizens.

It takes over a year but the Wayne family, Marinette, and Chloe get Gotham back on its feet better than ever. And they use Luthor's abandonment of Gotham to get him impeached. After they've finally reopened Gotham to the rest of the states, Bruce throws a city wide party. He even sends special catering to Arkham asylum as thanks to the villains for not just remaining there but sending their henchmen out to help.

Bruce gives a big thanks to everyone for all their help with rebuilding their beautiful city.

It's shortly after his speech Damian and Marinette are enjoying the small fair that Bruce paid for. They are walking through the game area sharing cotton candy when Damian gets lost in the moment and asks her to marry him. Marinette laughs pulling him into a deep kiss causing citizens around them to start cheering. She waits until they've quieted down before pulling back.

Marinette-Yes Damian, I'll marry you!

This causes citizens to burst into cheers again. All of them giving their cities power couple their congratulations. While Damian is embarrassed saying that he doesn't have a ring for her. Marinette just smiles and kisses him softly telling him not having a ring isn't a big deal because she would have said yes either way.

A few minutes later a soft spoken Hispanic woman exits her jewelry booth giving them two small rings.

The woman-This is for until he finally gets you one Miss. Free of charge, consider it a thanks for helping my city and a congratulations present.

She squeezes both their hands smiling softly at the two and congratulates them before leaving them.

After the city party, they finally address Marinette and Chloe knowing their identities. It happens at Marinette's rebuilt penthouse. Marinette smiles telling them that it was the Kwami that really pointed it out to her. While Chloe tells them she caught Stephanie in her outfit one night and just pretended she had been asleep the entire time. Everyone but Alfred is confused about the Kwami until Marinette asks them to come out. The Kwami fly in spreading around the room, Duusuu sits calmly on Alfred's shoulder, Pollen resting herself in Chloe's hair, while Tikki and Plagg float by Marinette's shoulders.

Marinette-Let me introduce you to Kwami. Gods and Goddesses that grant their chosens their powers. Tikki and Plagg are the two most powerful Destruction and Bad Luck, Creation and Good Luck. I'm Tikki's chosen, I am-

Tim-Ladybug...you're Paris's missing heros.

Marinette sighs softly nodding thinking about her last day as Ladybug

Chloe- I was Honeywell for a short while until I moved to america. Pollen and I were a great team.

Pollen petting her hair gently-We were the best my Queen.

Marinette-Paris started relying on me for everything. The police stopped doing their jobs and when I finally defeated the villain that was plaguing them, it wasn't enough. I loved being a hero but they expected me to do everything. You all know that it isn't possible to do everything.

Bruce asks why she never went out as Ladybug. Marinette smiles and tells him that while she misses it she knew that this was Batman's city and that metas weren't allowed.

Marinette-I know technically I'm not one, but Tikki gives me powers.

After that Marinette begins to train with Bruce so that she can hit the streets with them, without the Miraculous. Chloe while learning how to fight with Stephanie declines becoming a vigilante with them. Marinette loves every second of it, she loves actually having a mentor to teach her. And it felt nice to have a father figure in her life once again. Six months later she is joining the family for her first night of patrol as BlackBird.

Blackbird spends most of her time with Batwomem, on patrol and missions. Her first big villain was Riddler, however before he could even utter a riddle Blackbird tore into him for his terrible outfit. To the point that Riddler practically threw himself at Batman in tears crying and telling him his new protégé was mean.

Blackbird is a rising hero in Gotham and the hero community. Soon she begins attending Justice League meetings with the others considering joining. It is there she meets Wonder Women, and asks how her mother is doing. Diana realizes quickly that she is speaking with a Guardian and finds out later that Blackbird is the current Ladybug as well.

The family also begins planning Damian and Marinette's public wedding and their private wedding. Stephanie is the one that asks her if she wants to have the private wedding in Paris, everyone only a little surprised she straight out refuses.

Marinette-I said goodbye all that time ago, and I don't think I wish to return.

That night she asks Bruce to walk her down the aisle along with her grandfather. When asked about her own parents Marinette smiles sadly telling them that they no longer consider her their daughter, so they were not invited. Bruce smiles softly brushing Marinette's hair down gently with his hand before agreeing to walk her. She asks Chloe to be her Maid of Honor and Kate, Cass, and Stephanie to be her Bridesmaid

Three weeks later they are sending out invites to people for their private wedding in 6 months and the public one in a year.

Marinette asks Jagged and Luka to be the entertainment for both nights and they agree. Sabine and Tom are not invited; they find out when Gina shows up excited asking why they never told her Marinette had met someone in America. They are even more surprised to find out Rolland is closing up shop and going to the wedding as well. Gina is upset to find out they kicked Marinette out and tears into them. At this point Lila comes into the bakery and tries to sway Gina onto her side. Gina just scoffs and shakes her head, telling her she'd never believe another girl over her granddaughter.

Gina storms out of the bakery refusing to talk to her son or daughter-in-law. After she leaves they google their daughter trying to find out who she is engaged to, they find out everything about Marinette helping rebuild Gotham out of her own pocket with the help of Bruce Wayne, and her engagement to Damian Wayne.

They try every attempt to contact her even going through old friends only to find she changed her number. They don't hear anything more of her until a year later when their wedding is broadcast from Gotham. Tom cries when Marinette is escorted down the aisle by her Grandfather and Bruce Wayne. She stops hugging them both tightly before taking Damian's hands, their eyes unable to leave each other, as they say their vows.

Marinette- Before I even had colleges lined up one of my best friends told me to follow the call. A few weeks later three colleges accepted me, but only one kept calling me back, Gotham University. I couldn't stop researching the city, I couldn't get it out of my head. It was like something was waiting for me here, so I decided to accept Gotham University. I moved here with one of my friends expecting an adventure. I didn't think my adventure would lead me to the love of my life, but it did. I love you Damian, with all my heart. My next adventure is standing by your side till the end of time.

Damian- Marinette Wayne, no I did not mess up. Marinette, you have been a part of my family since the moment you placed your hand on my shoulder and pointed out Mr. Tennor was about to be slapped. Our entire first night together felt magical as cheesy as it sounds. Every day after was amazing, I couldn't believe I met someone as amazing as you. When the earthquake happened and you stepped up helping my family rebuild the city, I knew I wanted you by my side for the rest of my life. So much so that I proposed to you spur of the moment in the middle of the fair, I will forever be grateful that you agreed to marry me. My heart, body, and soul belong to you and solely you Marinette till the end of time.

When the priest pronounces them husband and wife and announces the kiss Marinette grabs his face gently pulling him down into a deep kiss.

The reception is also broadcast to the public with many famous people offering their congratulations to the happy couple to the camera before heading into the party. Marinette and Damian are the last to arrive and while they don't talk to the camera they stop posing together for the camera. Both unwilling to even leave the other side. Throughout the reception all the speeches are broadcasted. The final speech is from the newly married couple. Both of them thanking everyone that came to the wedding. Telling them that they wouldn't be where they were without their friends and family in the room. They share a sweet kiss in front of the crowd at the end of their speech.

Chloe moves into an apartment with Stephanie, while Damian moves into Marinette's penthouse. They are hardly seen separate from each other, pictures of them together are all over the internet and news.

Damian also leaves the title of Robin behind becoming Redbird becoming partners with Blackbird. The two partners are soon dubbed the new Dynamic Duo of Gotham.

They both graduate college together, Damian going into Wayne Enterprises taking over as Ceo with Tim when Bruce steps down. While Marinette built her own fashion empire soon rivaling Audrey's. Her fashion is known around the world, but out of all the cities the most of her sales come from Gotham. Gothamites still not forgetting the young adult that spent billions to help them rebuild.

Soon Marinette and Damian discover that Marinette is pregnant. The two are ecstatic to be parents, Marinette begs Bruce to hold a big family dinner with everyone, and he agrees. Halfway through dinner Bruce finally asks why Marinette called all of them together. Marinette smiles softly before announcing that she is pregnant.

The family burst into cheers, everyone extremely excited and talking with each other about what the baby's name would be.

A few months later they find out its twins. One boy and one girl. They agree on the names Thomas John Wayne and Mary Martha Wayne. This causes both Bruce and Dick to tear up when told.

When the twins are born they are all Gothamites can talk about. The new Wayne twins, everyone can't wait to watch them grow up.

In Paris their grandparents hold on to pictures they find online, knowing they'll never get to know them. That they'll never get to see their daughter again either.

#ml salt fic #ml x dc #lila salt #batfamily #batman #miraculous marinette #miraculous ladybug #miraculous fandom #miraculoustalesofladybugandcatnoir #ml ladybug #mlb x dc #dc comics #dc heroes #marinette dupen chang #maribat #damimari #daminette #damian wayne #damian al ghul

3K notes · View notes

themaribatpit · 4 years ago

Text

Saturday Challenge: Double Crossover

Written by: The Maribat Pit Prompt: Double Crossover Rated: M rating just to be safe (sexual references, mostly because of some very unsavory things Lila thinks and implies about Marinette.) Marinette x Jason Phantom of the Opera (specifically Hush Jason, from 2020′s Death in the Family).

A/N (Maribat fangirl): There is going to be a lot of class salt, Lila salt and some heavy duty character bashing. I’m going to be upfront, there’s characters being called harlots. A/N (DC fanboy): My S.O. and I pretty much did karaoke while writing this.

Paris, 1875. Marinette worked in her parents bakery, while she loved her family dearly, she was dissatisfied with her current lot in life. She wished to become a singer, and everyday as she walked in the streets of Paris to bring flour to the bakery, she would stop and stare at the Conservatoire de Paris. The enchanting music and singing could be heard even in the streets.

Listening to music always reminded her of her favourite fairy tale told by her father, the one about ‘Angel of Music’. She would sit on the street across the Conservatoire, close her eyes and listen to the beautiful music emanating from it. Once she tried to sing along, but passersby would be swift to yell at her to stop. They described her voice sounding like a rusty hinge.

Upon her 15th birthday, her parents presented to her a once in a lifetime opportunity. They had presented her with an approved application to the Conservatoire, they had saved enough money for tuition and would be sending her there to chase her dreams as an opera singer. Marinette held her parents tightly, thanking them constantly for the amazing opportunity.

That night, Marinette was unable to sleep, she was beaming with energy and excitement. She could not believe how her luck was changing, how she would be going to the musical academy of her dreams.

The next morning however she would be in a nervous panic for her first day of lessons. Running about the home, getting prepared, packing her bags. She even forgot to eat breakfast, she ran out the door with a croissant in her mouth, much to the chagrin of her parents.

However, her dream academy soon became a waking nightmare to her. She would be tormented daily by all her peers, especially one Lila Rossi, the prima donna of the academy. Every professor would sneer at her low birth, and did nothing when the others tried to sabotage her standing at the Academy. She tried to keep her head held high, even as everyone else looked down on her for being a baker’s daughter. Marinette ignored the comments and rumours about how she was able to attend the prestigious academy. Rumours that she dared not repeat, about how she and her parents must be criminals if they were able to afford to send her to the academy.

It wasn’t enough for her to be stuck in the chorus, Lila Rossi wanted to make sure her place as prima donna of the academy was ironclad. A couple of the teachers felt that she was growing more temperamental, more complacent, and their eyes began to wander for a dancer to take her place. The other dancers were unwilling to take her place, all except for Marinette, who saw it as a shining opportunity. For Lila, this simply would not stand.

The one time Marinette found a pair of scissors that had been used to cut the laces on her pointe shoes. The same scissors that were missing from her sewing box days earlier. She decided that the time had come to confront Lila once and for all.

Marinette confronted her just before rehearsals began, scissors in hand, in front of everyone. “Is it true?” she called, everyone turned to look at them.

“I don’t know what you mean.” Lila gasped. She looked down to see her wearing her worn out slippers, before looking back up at her face. “You do know you’re meant to be wearing your toe shoes now, right? The show is in a few days.” she reminded her.

“I do,” she breathed, “I also know it was you, you’re the one who cut the laces on my pointe shoes.”

Lila gasped and stepped back, everyone else was shocked by the accusation. She looked away for a moment, and squeezed her eyes shut. Marinette knew the trick well from their acting classes at the academy, she was getting ready to make it look like she was crying. “Why? Why would you accuse me of something like this?” she made sure her voice wavered as she spoke, “what reason do I have to sabotage a background dancer’s shoes?”

Marinette knew she had lost the battle before it had even begun, every dancer would move to protect Lila and her crocodile tears. Lila was the prima donna, the daughter of a diplomat, and she had the entire academy in the palm of her hand. “Perhaps there was some mistake,” she muttered, walking away from her classmates rushing to defend Lila’s fake tears. It was useless trying to explain that the scissors were stolen from her, and that this was an elaborate setup. It was her word against Lila’s, as the directors tried to command the dancer’s attention, Marinette ran.

Once again, she tried to keep her head held high, it wasn’t as if anyone would believe her when she told them about Lila’s machinations. She made a habit of keeping her costumes and pointe shoes hidden. On occasion bringing them home whenever she visited her parent’s bakery, somewhere that little saboteur would not even think to look for them.

Months later, tragedy struck again when she received a letter informing her that her parent’s bakery had been burned. Her parents, her hopes, her dreams all burned to ash in one night. It was made worse by the fact that one rehearsal, Lila snatched the letter out of her hands and read it aloud for the entire company of dancers and singers to hear. She assumed that it would be some kind of love note, probably preparing to spread rumours about Marinette sneaking off into the night with a mystery lover. Instead, Lila simply made a show of pitying Marinette, “poor thing, it’s worse than I thought. Unless you can find a patron to support you, your days at the academy are going to be numbered.”

Just as the theatre managers had arrived, Marinette fled, keeping her head down as tears were welling up in her eyes and blurring her vision. Since the day she arrived she had been mocked, humiliated, tormented simply so that one girl could have the adoration and sympathy of her fellow performers. Through all the salacious rumours and lies, she tried her best to ignore them and carry herself through it all. The loss of her parents, their bakery, and now Marinette’s hopes and dreams, it was all too much to bear.

Marinette ran to an empty music room to cry her heart out, she sat right against the wall, knees curled up to her chest and sobbed into her legs. In this state of absolute despair, she began to sing a song of her favourite fairy tale that her father would sing to her whenever she had a nightmare. She sang a soft, painful prayer for the Angel of Music and a farewell to her lost parents. “Think of me, think of me fondly, when we say goodbye…”, her singing was hoarse, off key, full of sorrow.

The more she sang, the harder she cried. Soon to the point that she could not complete the song. However, a disembodied voice sang the remaining verse for her. Marinette paused from her crying to look for the voice, it felt as if it came from everywhere and nowhere. It was hypnotising, elegant, enchanting. She walked out of the music room to try to find the source of the singing.

“Come to me, Angel of Music.” The voice sang, in a smooth tenor voice, luring Marinette as if she was a moth attracted to a flame. The voice led her to a musical hall, reserved only for the academy’s annual showcase. She turned the door knob, to her surprise, the door was unlocked. She peeked her head through the door to see a cloaked figure playing the organ, the source of the enchanting voice. “Insolent girl, this slave of fashion. Basking in your glory.” The figure angrily sang “Ignorant fool, this prima donna.”

“Angel of Music, is that you?” Marinette tentatively asked the figure. The figure stopped playing, and turned around to face her. Marinette was taken aback by the figure, he was a tall man, wearing a red mask on the left side of his face. Another distinctive feature other than his magnificent voice was the white streak of hair and piercing green eyes.

“You are unlike any of the fools in this academy. You did not join this academy for fame or fortune. No, you came here because of your love of music.” The figure told her. He took a deep breath and composed himself, straightening his jacket. Then he raised an arm, reaching out to Marinette. “I am your Angel of Music, come to me Angel of Music.” Marinette walks forward and accepts the Angel’s hand, thus beginning their first musical lesson together.

Marinette’s talent and ability in music skyrocketed with her extra-curricular lessons. Her mysterious patron was also the one continuing to fund her education at the academy. Meanwhile, no one else had the time to spread rumours about Marinette, not when there were rumours of a ghost haunting the Conservatoire.

Unbeknownst to Marinette, she was the key to establishing control over a very profitable endeavour for her mysterious patron. The managers were being extorted to the tune of 20,000 francs and requested that box five remain open. This money was nothing to them, especially when the sons and daughters of the wealthy and powerful were attending. Very few had seen Jason’s face, and if they did, they would draw back in fear. It was the result of a boyhood accident that left him changed and altered in more ways than one. Taking control of the Conservatoire was merely the first step in taking control of an entire city. This girl, Marinette, was the key to captivating their attention. She would hold their attention and adoration as the rising star of the academy, drawing their eyes away from his growing influence and power. Using talents and potential that they had cast aside, twisting their own hubris against them.

Months later, everyone in the academy worked towards its annual showcase for its patrons, the nobility and all family members of its students. Lila had grown bored of tormenting Marinette, and had moved on to other victims. She had her other dancers and singers wrapped around her little finger, and all eyes would be on her at the annual showcase.

At last the day of the annual showcase had arrived, Lila sat at her personal preparation room, after all she would be the star of the show. She walked over to her wardrobe and opened it, she then screamed in horror to see her dress tattered and in pieces.

In the days leading to the showcase the Director of Conservatoire de Paris had received threatening letters demanding 20,000 Francs, box 5 to remain vacant and worse of all to replace Lila Rossi with some baker’s daughter. Director Bourgeois scoffed at the threats, tossing the letter away.

The next day during the rehearsal for one of the ballet numbers, students and teachers paid no mind to the threats that were outlined in the letter. Until one of the dancers looked up and gasped in horror. The other dancers looked up to find the stagehand hanging from the rafters. The theatre soon bursts into screams of fear as they all see the dead body of the stagehand. Director Bourgeois ordered all faculty members and students present to remain silent of the murder. This prestigious institution could not afford such a scandal this close to such an important showcase. As the Director inspected the body, he found a letter titled to him attached to the corpse of a stagehand.

Director Bourgeois read the second letter with shaky hands, it read “Monsieur Bourgeois, good day to you. It seems you did not take my threat seriously. I present to you this corpse to show my sincerity. I see you have a young daughter, pray that no harm would befall her. I shall reiterate my demands, 20,000 francs, box five remain vacant and Mademoiselle Marinette shall replace the harlot Lila Rossi.”

Director Bourgeois collapsed into his chair, wiping his sweat. Until he heard a scream from outside his office. He ran out as fast as he could to see Lila Rossi confronting Marinette. Crocodile tears flowed from Lila’s eyes as she accused Marinette of sabotage, purposefully doing so in front of the Director's office.

“How could you Marinette?” Lila wailed, “Whatever your reasons, how could you do this to me? To the Conservatoire?”

Marinette merely said “Lila, don’t you stay in a private room with guards patrolling the hallway outside?” She shrugs, “I was in my dormitory last night. Besides, how could anyone sneak into your room at night, unless they were a phantom?”

Director Bourgeois goes pale at Marinette’s implication, he had to intervene quickly, before the situation got worse. He attempted to placate Lila, “Now now mademoiselles, I can’t punish anybody unless we have solid evidence. As the saying goes ‘the show must go on.’ Signora Rossi, as you are currently unable to perform, I’m afraid Mademoiselle Marinette will have to take your place.”

Marinette’s eyes widened at the offer given to her, she could not believe it. Director Bourgeois himself offered her the star role for this year’s showcase. It is all as her Angel of Music said would happen. She accepted the role wholeheartedly and thanked the director profusely, she skipped back to the musical hall to begin rehearsals, now as the main lead.

Lila’s jaw dropped to see the director siding against her, how he gave away her role to that peasant without any hesitation. She clenched her fists and gritted her teeth, she stomped her way back to her bedroom to begin scheming the ultimate humiliation for Marinette. She was so distracted with her rage, she had not noticed a shadowy figure following her.

Lila planned to show the entire Opera house just who Marinette was, little more than a filthy peasant who got lucky. She was supposed to have packed her bags and left months ago, after her parents and their pathetic little bakery burned down. “This Opera Phantom had a lot of nerve calling me a harlot, when Marinette is probably his little harlot.” she muttered harshly in the darkness. She searched the costume room for the lead actress’ dress, a long flowing gown that brushed against the floor. It was made with the finest fabrics that money could buy, it almost broke Lila’s heart to sabotage it. She would rather die than see it worn by some peasant girl, a pretender, a talentless sham of a performer. Before she can lay hand on the dress to destroy it, a gloved hand reaches out and grabs her by the wrist. A voice interrupts her, “What do you think you are doing with that?”

Lila slowly turns around to see a grotesque figure staring at her. In the candlelight, she was horrified by the person she saw. The left half of his face was severely burned, almost completely disfigured. His bright green eyes flared with a fury that genuinely terrified Lila as the figure glared at her. She immediately drops everything and screams, as she runs out the door as fast as her legs would carry her, wailing and screaming how the ghost is trying to kill her. “He’s there, the Phantom of the Opera!” she wails as he chases her down. The Phantom pursues his prey. Just as Lila runs around a corner, the ghost is there waiting for her. She gives another horrified scream, falling to the floor and trying to crawl in the opposite direction. “No no no, please don't kill me!” She begged as tears blurred her vision.

Her howls and pleas of mercy attract nearby students, teachers and guards. They all arrive to see Lila screaming like a maniac on the floor, alone and raving about some ghost hunting her down. “The ghost is real! He is real I tell you! He’s going to kill me!” she sobbed. As Lila was being escorted out of the academy, gossip spread like wildfire. Within hours everyone would be talking about how Lila had lost all of her sanity because of the ghost.

They had no other choice at that moment, the show had to go on. If they wanted the night to go smoothly, with no one noticing anything strange or peculiar, they had to meet the Phantom’s demands. Marinette stood there, centre stage, with all of Paris’ most influential in the audience. She began to sing her show stopping aria.

As she glided across the stage and looked out into the audience, her eyes searched for the man in the red mask. She liked to imagine her Angel of Music beaming at her with pride, without him, she would still be that sad little girl crying in the music room. She sang as loudly and as clearly as she could, hoping that her voice would pierce the heavens clearly enough for her mother and father to hear.

As she reached her crescendo, she peaked with an E6. Her voice echoed across the entire hall with the sharpness and perfection of a veteran soprano singer. The audience collective dropped their jaws at the spectacle. Marinette ended her aria with a bow, and the theatre erupted with a thunderous round of applause.

Jason watched from his seat in box five, with a self satisfied smile on his face. From that day forth, he would see to it that all eyes were on her.

#maribat lila salt #jasonettejuly2021 #jasonette #maribat #ml x dc #maribat class salt

110 notes · View notes

pandabunfics · 4 years ago

Text

I Followed the Plan

Disclaimer: This is FICTION, so everything written is a work of fiction and not real, everything in this does not reflect on him as a person in real life.

Sangyeon x Male Reader

Warnings: None

Word Count: 1,068

Requested by: @taehyungkim4

Life with Sangyeon has been an interesting one, working alongside him through a project was just the beginning, now the both of you have been in a steady relationship, a non platonic relationship, for almost 8 months. Naturally however, Korean society and Korean people generally don’t accept most homosexual relationships, not to mention with their idol, as much as I love Sangyeon, although I’m yet to tell him that out loud, it’s hard being very secretive, it’s not something I’m used to.

You stand in the kitchen doing the dishes, you always used doing the dishes as an opportunity to escape from the group that is Sangyeon and his members.

“BABE!” Sangyeon shouts from the kitchen doorway.

“Yeah...yeah what?”

“You weren’t answering me, something the matter?”

“Um, no nothing.”

“Are you sure?”

“No….we’ve been together for a while now, it’s dawning on me how hard it is to be so secretive about all this. It’s taking a slight toll on me.”

Sangyeon walks up behind you, turning you around by the waist, you lean back against the sink, “Is there anything I can do? Anything at all to make this better?” Sangyeon wraps his arms around your waist pulling you into a little hug, giving you a little pout to add.

“Being in an out in the open relationship isn’t an option, so maybe a date?”

“A date? Where were you thinking?”

“Busan? I’ve heard a few idols have gone there for dates.”

“Umm…Sure.” Sangyeon hesitates.

“You don’t have to if you don’t want to.”

“No, I want to, I want to be able to give you that kind of out in the open relationship, or at least as much as I can.”

“Thank you Sanggie.” Sangyeon leans closer giving you a quick kiss, after a moment he grabs a glass of water before returning to the living room with his members.

You return to doing the dishes and begin wondering, 'I hope this date is enough for me, maybe dating an idol is as hard as I was told, maybe I’m in over my head…..just maybe.'

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

Walking quickly alongside Sangyeon you both hurry through the train station, “Come on.” Sangyeon gestures towards his left, “This way.” Sangyeon says, you nod in response, following Sangyeon you both get on the train packed with people.

Throughout the train ride you look towards Sangyeon a few times, he’s completely bundled up, even wearing sunglasses and a mask, as are you, ‘I wonder if anyone will catch us, it feels like we’re criminals.’ You think to yourself.

Eventually you reach your stop, it’s almost 8pm, the amount of people about now is growing less as you walk through streets, “Where are we going?” You ask Sangyeon.

“Somewhere kind of private.”

“How private?”

“Very.”

“Okay.” Sangyeon stops walking almost as soon as you answered, you look up to see a restaurant sign, “Private.” You say to yourself.

“It was either this or a clearing I found, but I thought you’d take that the wrong way, so I chose this place instead.” Sangyeon grabs your hands pulling you into the restaurant, as you enter the realisation sets in, it’s almost empty and the few people who are here, seem to be all the same sex, might be coincidence.

“Table for two?” The waitress asks, “Yes.” Sangyeon replies.

The waitress gestures for us to follow, she shows us our table and we take a seat at the table as she walks away.

This place is cool but something seems wrong, like it seems almost too good to be true or, something bad is- something is just not right.

“You seem quiet, is something wrong?” Sangyeon pats your hand bringing your attention back to the room.

You try and shake off your feeling, “No, it’s all good, thank you for bringing me here, this place seems...nice.”

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

After eating and sitting at the table and talking for a little bit with a couple of drinks, Sangyeon begins getting a little touchy, “Sangyeon I think you’re a little tipsy.”

“I’m not tipsy, I just want to be affectionate with you.”

You smile to yourself and stand up from the table, “Let’s get home.”

“Oh alright.”

You grab Sangyeon’s hand and lead him to the entrance, you pay for the food and take his hand again as you walk out with him.

When you are on the street Sangyeon stays by your side, suddenly your get pulled into a small alcove by the restaurant, “Sangyeon what are you doing?”

“What? No one’s watching, it’s almost 9:30pm, there’s very few people out here and I want to give you your out in the open relationship.” He immediately finishes his sentence by kissing you, he puts his hand on the back of your neck, his other hand wrapped around your waist, you don’t put up a fight, you just allow yourself to melt into the kiss.

After some time, very suddenly, Sangyeon pulls back, “What? Sangyeon? What’s wrong?” You shake him a little hoping to get a response, “SANGYEON!”

“Yeah, yeah I heard you.” He’s keeps looking across the street at nothing.

“Did you see something?”

“No, I thought I did, but no.”

“Are you okay?”

“Of course I am, I have you, my protective little boyfriend.”

“Who you calling little?”

Sangyeon just laughs at you, he slips out of the alcove and holds out his hand waiting for you to take it.

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

You wake up to your blaring alarm, “AGH.” Sangyeon rolls over trying to ignore it, you pull yourself free from the tangle of limbs in the bed and tap your phone until your alarm turns off.

“It’s my day off, why is your alarm still on?”

“Just because it’s OUR day off, doesn’t mean we can spend it in bed all day.” You get up and stand beside the bed, much to the protests of Sangyeon.

“Why not?” Sangyeon whines.

“Because.” You pull the duvet off Sangyeon, leaving with only a pillow and his boxers covering him, “We need to do things today and you know that.”

“Ugh fiiiine.” Sangyeon sits up throwing a pillow at you and rushing past you to the bathroom locking it behind him, you just roll your eyes and get to making the bed and tidying up your apartment for the time being.

Sangyeon comes out of the bathroom half dressed in just tracksuit pants, “Put some clothes on.” You tell him averting your eyes from his body.

“Why are you acting like you have never seen me fully naked?”

“I don’t know.”

“Awwww, it’s so cute how you get so flustered over such small things.” Sangyeon pats your head as he walks past you to your bed, picking up his shirt off the floor from the night before, you just take a minute to admire his back muscles before you leave the room. Entering the kitchen you pick up your phone, sit at the table and begin to eat the breakfast you had just prepared for yourself.

Scrolling through twitter seeing people obsessing over something about Taemin as they do, you then see a title that makes your heart drop ‘THE BOYZ Sangyeon found kissing a man!?’

You just sit there wide eyed putting your phone down on the table, Sangyeon walks in cheery, not immediately noticing you hunched up on the seat, still in shock.

When he finally notices, “Hey, what’s up?” Sangyeon sits down opposite you, you look up at him and just slide your phone across the table saying, letting out a painful exhale in anticipation of him reading the news article, as he reads his expression goes through multiple changes, shock, horror, terror, fear, sadness, “I’m so sorry Y/N”

“What?”

“I thought we were safe last night. And look, now we’re- Oh my god, this is all my fault.” Sangyeon gets up and begins to pace around the kitchen thinking to himself, you try and compose yourself for a moment, “This is just as much my fault as it is yours.”

“But it wa-“

“It was my idea to go out and on top of that, I’m in this relationship too, so when something happens, it’s also my fault.” You walk over to Sangyeon, wrapping your arms around his ribs, hugging him.

Sangyeon grips on to you letting out a few tears, “Sangyeon? Oh my god, honey.” You grab Sangyeon’s face and just look in his eyes, he smiles at you as he always does.

“Why are you smiling?”

“Because I have you, even though this is the worst thing that could possibly happen to me, us, I still have you, and no one can take that away from me.”

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

“A fan posted this image on Wednesday at 9:36PM on multiple social media platforms, allowing it to be seen by as many people as possible.” The man in the chair turns around to face both you and Sangyeon sitting there.

He continues, “Do you understand how much of an effect this will have on your reputation as an idol, not to mention on us as a company? We cannot allow this kind of behaviour to go on, however….despite this, I am not removing you nor am I terminating you contract.”

Sangyeon, eyes wide looks up at the man, “Wait- what? I’m still in THE BOYZ, I’m still in the company?”

“That is correct however, YOU will be the one to deal with this mess, you will be the one to clear it all up, am I understood?”

“Yes sir.” Sangyeon slouches back in relief, he seems almost annoyed though, Sangyeon and you both get up and bow to the man before walking to the door, “I hope you understand that you will need to make a public comment about the false accusations of your sexuality and the full situation.”

“Yes Sir.”

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

“I can’t believe you got caught." Jacob says resting his hand on Sangyeon’s shoulder.

“I know. You two have always been pretty careful.” Kevin adds.

“What’s going to happen?” Eric says sitting beside you on the floor.

“I don’t know, I have to do a live and explain the whole thing.” Sangyeon says leaning back on the couch, clutching at his face, rubbing eyes.

Eric and Kevin look at each other quickly before Eric pipes up, “Y/N come with me, I need to talk to you.”

“Uh sure.” You follow Eric into the dorm’s kitchen, seeing the rest of his members in there, Eric closes the door behind, “Eric what’s going on?”

“We just want to ask you something about Sangyeon.”

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

Sangyeon sits in the seat behind the table and in front of the camera, looking pressured he takes a deep breath before nodding to one of the managers overlooking the live, you sit off to the side being able to watch him make the announcement.

The manager turns on the VLive, Sangyeon introduces himself as expected, “As some of you may have seen recently, some things, have been said- about me and...another person.” Sangyeon quickly looks at you, you give a reassuring smile, he smiles back, “As some of you have seen, some things were said about me, a picture of me and someone else has been circulating, and I wanted to just say…….that’s my boyfriend and I love him.” The managers eyes widen and all of them panic and try to end the live as fast as possible, Sangyeon stands up with an aura of pride around him.

“What’s wrong with you?!” The manager yells at Sangyeon, “I was told to explain the situation, I did just that.”

The manager stands there in complete confusion unable to pull together a response, Sangyeon grabs your hand pulling you out of the room and down the hall, “Sangyeon what the hell have you done?”

“I followed the plan.”

“What plan?”

“Kevin’s plan.”

“For me? You did all this for me? What about the other members? Their reputation, your reputation, your career-”

“Babe, who do you think told me to do it?”

“I love you.” You slap your hands over you mouth in immediate shock.

Sangyeon just smiles at you…..as he always does, “I love you too.”

Rules

Masterlist

164 notes · View notes

still-we-rise · 4 years ago

Note

hi !

i’m a relatively new f1 fan and was wondering if you could give a quick run down on problematic/stupid things the drivers have done or could direct me to somewhere i could find out? (i only rlly know about mazepin) it would be really useful :) thank u have a lovely day mwah <3

First off, hi! Welcome to the sport <3

Please note that I have a memory of a goldfish and I don't remember everything that happened. So feel free to add more, correct me, etc.

The rest is under the cut because it's quite long.

Starting with Lewis, there was a lot of controversy after he said to his nephew that boys shouldn't wear dresses, which many people saw as transphobic or at least inappropriate. He apologized for it and later he wore a skirt for GQ. There were also smaller controversies, such as him being investigated by New Zealand police after recording himself while driving a Harley (which, from what I understand, is a criminal offence), or was called out by PETA for playing with tamed tigers. He wasn't a saint, but he went though an amazing personal growth and now he's the biggest human and animal rights activist in F1.

The only fuss related to Checo I can remember is him being accused of severe sexism. When Susie Wolff was driving for Williams, he was asked if he'd like to have a female teammate, and his answer was that women should stay in the kitchen. After a wave of criticism, Sergio apologized and said the whole situation was just an unfortunate joke, and Susie herself laughed it off.

Lando Norris. sigh He's a streamer on Twitch, and during his streams he made many misogynistic comments objectifying women. As far as I'm aware, he didn't address accusations of his sexism. He also never missed an opportunity to belittle Hamilton's achievements and undermine his skills (generally he's known for speaking first and thinking later :/)

The biggest Leclerc controversy I can think of his his film from a zoo in Dubai. He was accused of approving animal cruelty and a reckless approach towards the pandemic (he wasn't wearing a mask in public and tested positive for covid later).

Daniel Ricciardo? He was running around LA without a mask during one of the biggest covid outbreaks. I don't know if there's more.

Valtteri Bottas shared an ig story containing a picture of a sign with a swastika on it and made a racist bat joke about Wuhan, after which Mercedes needed to release a formal apology.

A company owned by Sainz's father released a commercial containing blackface (unclear if his son himself has anything to do with it), and Carlos himself made a racist joke about Chinese restaurants.

The list of this year's non-kneelers: Leclerc, Raikkonen, Verstappen, Giovinazzi, Perez, Mazepin, Tsunoda, Ocon, Bottas, Sainz, Alonso.

Kimi Raikkonen is a really nice fella who put an iron cross on his custom merch, which was a neo-nazi Jesse James. Iron Cross is considered a hate symbol and adding my personal opinion, I think it was very insensitive (lightly worded) to show up in the paddock with a symbol used by Luftwaffe, knowing that one of your co-workers (Lance Stroll) is Jewish.

The last but not least, Max Verstappen said slurs on the radio. He refused to apologize for it, even after a formal complaint from the Mongolian government.

Also remember that the bigger the name, the bigger the controversy. So I'd be very careful with painting drivers who didn't have much as saints.

Have a lovely day as well, mwah right back at you! <3 And sorry for the quite late response :3

#ask

62 notes · View notes

silvercrystalwhump · 3 years ago

Text

The Death of a Tyrant

Vincent Shield belongs to @ashintheairlikesnow

TW: antagonising, bbu content warning, owen grant

The lights shine down across the stage, three cameras spin and whirl in the shadows beyond. Vincent can feel the eyes beyond the camera watching every hair on his head. He can almost feel the millions of eyes on the other side of the lens.

Today was a long day of interviews for the first television show that he’s ever been in and Ann’s, the young actress to his left, first-ever adult role.

Vincent can almost feel her anticipation through his skin. The poisoned nostalgia freezes the air in his already tense lungs. The interview boasts eyes of venom and they are poised directly at him.

This interview was supposed to be about the show.

It turned into a drama cast very quickly.

“So,” The interview leans back, eyes scouring across Vincent’s face. He can feel the resignation behind his eyes. Simmering coals eat under him. Vincent can feel the question before it leaves his lips, “How has the recent tape release affected you, Vincent. It must be rather hard to deal with the aftermath of being forced to come out.”

Vincent pierces his lips. Watching the lens on the camera pointed at him shift, Vincent draws up the mask, “While I would rather we keep this conversation on Iscariot and the Strings of Time, I will say that there has been many people who have been very helpful during a time that has been definitely stressful.”

The interview looks almost disappointed, eyes dropping into shadows before perking up as the focus returns to him. Vincent can really tell in these moments that this man sitting across from him and Ann was once an actor. Every movement in his face is planned and Vincent can see Ann’s gaze trying to avoid his.

She’s not used to this.

“Vincent, how do you feel about the Director’s new Box Babe, Kat?”

There it is.

Vincent sighs, “Han and I have had a conversation about this. He did not want his decision to get in the way of professionalism. He is aware that I will not hesitate to contact the Commission if I see any sign of abuse.”

The interviewer pauses, waiting for more words to come. They do not.

Then, Ann laughs, shifting in her seat, “It looks like he pulled an Owen Grant, Kat looks so much like his ex-wife to the point where it’s almost uncanny.”

The air stills for a second as the words settle into the floorboards. The sound of the lights quietly can be heard above. Those few heart-chilling seconds seem to eat at the very fabric of his turtleneck. It suddenly feels just a little too tight.

The interview picks up again, “Well, I believe that all of us can say that we are looking forward to seeing how you two work together in this new dynamic.”

Vincent draws a smile onto his face with an invisible sharpie. Ann scrambles to scoop up her own as the camera does doubt pans out to view them all.

“Are you allowed to reveal a date?” The interview leans in, the side of his face away from the camera twitching slightly.

Ann nods and nearly bounces out of her chair. Vincent remembers the excitement when he was younger that came with being the one to say the date. He used to itch for it when he was with his old studio. Something else I’ve lost.

“The first episode will be available on Netflix on November 1st!”

The interviewer sits up straight and clasps his hands together, “I cannot thank you enough for your time out here today, thank you everybody for tuning in and we all anticipate the debut of Strings of Time.”

Vincent watches as the cameras are shut off and pulled away. He holds himself in the chair until all of the cameras have been pulled away and the interviewer stands. In one movement he is off of the stage and talking with someone. Vincent brings his hands on the armrests and pulls himself to his feet.

Vincent floats for the door, plans to go home, and just passes out on the couch already bubbling across his vision. He hates the air conditioning here.

Why did he have to get brought up?

Vincent adjusts his blazer and steps out of the recording studio. Regretting wearing a turtleneck, he makes his way towards his dressing room. The sound of his shoes clicking against the tiled floor echoes around him. Air catches in his throat as the faint memory of a different set of oxfords walks down a hall only a wall away from him. The memory tastes like Coke.

Just grab your paperwork and go home.

A hand grabs his arm, “Excuse me, Vincent.”

Vincent spins around, panic, like an ivy spreading up his veins. Ann stands behind him, looking a bit flustered, “I need to apologies to you.”

“For what,” Vincent asks, forcing his muscles to relax.

Ann smooths out the edge of her blouse and forces her eyes, “Once the words came out of my mouth I realized how insensitive it was to just… nonchalantly mention the Owen ordeal as um.”

“Hey,” Vincent says, “I- You were nervous I could tell, I’m not offended.”

“Yeah, but especially since his mother just passed and he’s going to be working with us I- it feels wrong, I’m sorry.”

I’m sorry, what!

“I accept your apology, Ann. Don’t think too much of it. This is your first gig since moving into adult acting, right?”

Ann nods, leaning back on her heels. It is painfully obvious that she is very new to interviews that ask unscripted questions.

“It’s alright,” Vincent reassures, “Honestly Ann, don’t stress about accidentally stumbling over words. It happens.”

Ann relaxes just a little, “Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure.”

“Okay, thank you,” Ann smiles, letting gallons of air escape her tense lungs. She turns around and trots for her room a few halls down. As he watches her walk away the nostalgia hits him like a truck. The people-pleasing, the desire to be perfect, to be without controversy, makes him flash a piteous smile and shake his head.

He straightens his spine and turns around.

A very intense woman is standing behind him.

“Oh, hello,” Vincent nearly exits his skin as she draws her gaze up to him, “I didn’t realise you were there.”

“Vincent Shield, am I correct?”

Vincent nods, squirming under her very intense gaze, “Yes, you are.”

She holds out her hand, “Keira Harker.”

He takes her hand and shakes it, “Pleasure to meet you Ms. Harker. How can I be of service?”

“You’re known to be very active in the Pet Lib movement and you were basically responsible for the creation of the Commision correct?”

Where is this going? “I wouldn’t say that I’m responsible, there are many people who helped put in place the building blocks that would lead to the Commision.”

“I am aware,” she responds, holding her gaze firmer than Vincent does, “However you have a lot of knowledge about the underground and many of the safehouses.”

Vincent raises a hand, feeling himself freeze under the delicate mask, “Ma’am, everything I have done has been within the limits of the law. I can assure you all of my associates are also performing their actions under the law.”

Her face hardens and she takes a small step towards him, “I am not accusing you of breaking the law.”

I have just gotten out of multiple interviews and a press conference and in the press conference, I was called a felon at least four times. I wanna go home and eat Dmitri’s chicken and rice soup.

“All due respect Ms. Harker that is what this is beginning to sound like.”

Keira sighs and relaxes slightly, “I am asking for your help, if I were to accuse you of being a criminal that would not be very productive.”

Vincent lets his body de-tense but he is in no way relaxed, “My apologies Ms. Harker. I have been on the butt end of those accusations for a better part of today. Just on my toes.”

“I understand,” she responds, almost mimicking his behavior, “My brother was… voluntold to join the pet program. I tried everything in my power to find him and I found out that he was sold to the son of a very powerful senator.”

“He was sold to Owen Grant.” Kauri.

Keira nods, glancing over Vincent’s shoulder, “While I wish not to speak ill of the dead, now that she is deceased. I believe it will be easier to discover his whereabouts without WRU getting involved.”

The weight of her words start to weigh on him. If she is looking for her brother, how many others are now looking for their family?

“Well, I agree in that sentiment,” Vincent gestures forward, “If I can have a name, I might ask around to some more of my well versed colleagues.”

Keira reaches into her purse and pulls out a white card, “So, shall we keep in touch.”

“Of course,” Vincent takes the small card and glances down at the contact information, “We’ll be in touch.”

Vincent steps inside and can smell something good. He faintly hears Dmitri moving about his kitchen, making dinner. The aroma of fresh bread makes his house feel alive. Dropping his stuff at the door to his office, he floats over to the kitchen.

Dmitri stands in front of the stove, wearing a faded Kiss the Cook apron. Vincent finds a small smile blooming on his face as he steps up to him.

“Soup should be done in five minutes,” Dmitri asks as Vincent leans up onto the counter next to him, “How was the interview?”

“We cannot be doing that the night before an interview,” Vincent mutters and he fusses with the turtleneck. “I have been paranoid that someone has seen this all day.”

Dmitri smiles and chuckles, “Vincent you can barely see them, I highly doubt they would notice.”

“Dmitri, the media would go batshit if I had hickies in an interview!”

Dmitri swills the spoon around in the soup before turning towards Vincent, “You didn’t seem to mind last night.”

Last night, probably one of the first where he was both sober and relaxed. Dmitri had showered him in deep kisses. The two of them practically laughed themselves to sleep that night. They were so close yesterday.

Vincent had felt so. damned. cherished.

“Yeah,” Vincent pouts slightly while he leans into Dmitri, “I didn’t but I did this morning.”

Dmitri laughs, his chest rumbling against Vincent. His finger rests on Vincent’s hips and drums on his belt.

Vincent squints up at Dmitri, “If we get caught because of stuff like that I’m going to wring your neck.”

Dmitri leans down and places a soft kiss on his curls. His breath brushes across the strands and Vincent’s muscles relax. “I would love to see you try, cariño.”

The oven buzzes and interrupts their little moment.

“There’s the bread.”

Dmitri and Vincent sit out on his back porch, eating chicken and rice soup and just enjoying the crisp fall air.

“Can I ask you for advice?” Vincent says as he dips some of the bread into the broth.

Dmitri nods and leans in, “Always.”

Vincent rests his head back on the back of the seat, “Let’s say someone approached you and asked you to help them find someone. This someone has been missing for years but you’ve known their whereabouts for a while now. You want to reconnect them but you’re just not sure about what said ‘missing’ person would think? But you also don’t want to just completely cut of the person who asked for your help”

“Ask them,” Dmitri answers as he sips at his broth, “I’d just ask because they may not want to. They could have been trying to leave a difficult situation and don’t want to approach those who could have harmed them.”

Vincent sighs and tries to melt back into his porch cushions, “But what if he tells me not to talk to her at all, how am I supposed to explain that to her?”

“Improv,” Dmitri shrugs, “Lie.”

“Lie to someone who’s looking for her family?” Vincent blinks, “Isn’t that just cruel.”

“How do you know that she’s looking for them to be kind?”

Vincent pauses and lets his eyes wander upwards towards the dusk sky. The sky matches the color of the bottoms of the trees. The reds and oranges ripple above him and a sinking feeling eats in his gut.

“I don’t.”

Dmitri takes a final sip of his soup and gives Vincent a gentle smile, “Just ask them first, they might just wanna meet her and do it themselves. All else fails, just give them her contact information.”

I don’t think Kauri will. “Alright, okay.”

Vincent stands at the door to the safehouse. The sounds of the town around him drape the porch in waves of white noise, masking the sounds from within. Reluctantly, he raises his hand to knock on the wooden door frame. His knuckles barely tap it before two sets of locks are unlocked and Kauri opens the door.

They make eye contact and Vincent watches Kauri’s expression shift.

“Make this quick, I have stuff to do.”

Kauri lets Vincent step inside the safehouse. The air of the interior feels heavier than before, solidified by the sound of the deadbolt locking.

“I’m so-”

“If the words I’m sorry leave your mouth at anypoint, I’m gone,” Kauri says as he walks over to the kitchen, “Just get this over with.”

Vincent follows in his footsteps, glancing over at Jake who lays asleep on the pull-out couch. The makeshift IV step sits on the table next to him, out of use.

Remind me to send Nat money over to cover that.

Kauri places his hands on the counter behind him and shifts his weight into it. Crossing his arms out in front of his chest, he looks up over at AJke before returning his gaze to Vincent.

He looks exhausted.

“How has-”

Kauri raises his hand and presses his fingers together, making a “close your mouth” gesture, “Cut to the chase, I have errands to run today.”

“Alright then. A few days ago I was approached by a woman named Keira Harker who asked for my help in finding her brother, Liam Harker, who was taken by WRU. She said that she thinks the person he was sent to was Owen Grant and, now since Carlotta is no longer alive, she can try and find him without her getting in the way,” Vincent says, leaning his weight into the kitchen table, “She gave me her contact information and asked me to help her in finding-”

Kauri spins around and opens the cabinet behind him. Pulling out a white bottle, he sets it down on the counter and mutters, “So she’s looking for me?”

“Yes.”

“What else did you say?” Kauri asks as he pours himself a glass of water, “Did you tell her where the safehouse is? If you did I swear Vincent I’m-”

It’s Vincent’s turn to interrupt, “No, I didn’t say anything. All I said is that I would keep in touch.”

“Good,” Kauri says as he pours two pills out of the bottle and into his hand, “Cheers.” Kauri tosses the pills into his mouth and tilts the glass of water towards Vincent before drinking.

“What are you doing?” Vincent asks, tugging some at the sleeves of another turtleneck.”

“Migraine meds,” Kauri answers, pouring the rest into the sink, “I get them when I hear Liam Harker.” Just like clockwork, Kauri winces and rubs his temple, “Just something else to deal with.”

“I’m sor-”

“I will leave until Nat gets back.”

Vincent purses his lips and watches Kauri walk over to the fridge. The air stills around them in the way the air in a freezer is still. Something hangs over the room, could be the tension, could be the unease, could be the new presence in their lives, Vincent can’t tell.

“I have her contact information if you want it,” Vincent speaks, trying to shoo away the stillness, “On your time.”

Kauri pauses mid-reach. He rests his forehead against the fridge handle and says, “I- maybe later. I have far too much on my plate right now, running to the safehouse almost by myself. Nats with Jameson at her house, Jake is still recovering, the whole issue with Chris and Laken, the Oly- I just can’t take on something else right now.”

“I get it,” Vincent nods, shifting his weight onto his back foot, “I’ll keep it if you want it when all of this blows over. But, if she does try to press me for information-”

“Pretend you have no idea who me, Nat, and Jake are,” Kauri answers while pulling out a plastic pitcher of what smells like cold brew, “If I ever decide to contact her I’ll deal with it, okay? I’m just not ready or have the time right now.”

Vincent leans back on one foot to try and see the clock on the wall, “Um. what time is Nat supposed to get here, we have money stuff I have to talk to her about.”

“Around four,” Kauri answer while pouring himself coffee.

The sound of the deadbolt unclicking sounds softly crosses the room. Kauri barely glances over his shoulder.

“Is Nat back already?” Vincent asks as he tries to see the door.

“Nope,” Kauri says, popping the p. “Just Chris.”

“I- I’m back and I have Laken,” Chris beams as he dashes past with Laken in hand, “Oh hi Vince.”

Vincent gives Chris a small wave, “Hi Chris.”

“Wait- is that Vinc-”

But Chris has already whisked Laken away before they could get the last words out. Vincent follows them with his eyes for a moment before looking back at Kauri.

Kauri looks relieved. A tired smile adorns his face as he takes a sip of the cold brew.

Vincent doesn’t ask, he puts enough of the dots together to know something just fixed itself. Good for them.

“Anywho,” Kauri chuckles, looking back over at Vincent, “A turtleneck won’t hide your sins Vincy.”

“Shit, how obvious has it been?!” Vincent panics and readjusts the hem of his shirt.

“I was just joking...” Kauri’s smile deepens as the mischief returns to his face. He gives Vincent a look over and sing-songs, “...So, what’s Dmitri like?”

“We just kissed Kauri!”

“Sure, and I just kiss Jake.”

“Kauri!”

#forgotten to found #dmitri o'brian #vincent shield #interviews #box boy #owen grant should be castrated #kauri is my favorite little shit #kauri is also trying #guess who Vince is gonna have to deal with #:)

25 notes · View notes

scorpionyx9621 · 4 years ago

Text

I Hope Hopeless Changes Over Time: A Red Hood and Batman Fic

*Source of the image I found off of Pintrest. I tried to find the original artist but the link on Pintrest led to a dead Tumblr account. If anyone wants to find/point out the account to me so I can give proper credit to the artist please please do.*

I wanted to make a fic based on an ask I did from the lovely @dilfbatman about Jason and Bruce. I hope people enjoy this mini-fic that I've expanded upon.

TW: Blood, Physical Assault, Suicide Ideation, Swearing. Bruce being a shitty father but trying. Jason having demons

3.75K words.

Bruce was uneasy about Jason staying over at the Wayne Mansion. Even with other members of the family around. Jason has done so much wrong and has hurt so many people. However, at the end of the day, Jason still is his son. So when he gets a call from Jason in a hushed voice asking Bruce to stay the night. He hesitated for a second, but acquiesced, Jason was nothing if not independent, so to be asking Bruce outright to stay at the Wayne Manor meant something was wrong.

"Master Jason wouldn't reach out to any of us unless something was gravely wrong, Master Wayne." Alfred had reassured Bruce, who was staring absentmindedly at the glass case which housed Jason's old Robin costume. The costume that Jason had died in. Bruce always tried to repress the memory of holding his son's cold, lifeless body. The pain he felt from losing his parents burned in his heart as an everlasting stab wound. But the pain from losing Jason, his son, it was too much to bare.

"I'd be welcoming to Master Jason, but keep your distance. Master Damian is spending the night at Jon Kent's house, Master Richard is in Blüdhaven, and Master Timothy is with the Teen Titans tonight. I'll rest assured Jason doesn't try anything to harm you. But don't try to encourage a confrontation." Alfred explained. He always seemed to understand Jason to a tee after he came back to life.

"I don't know how you do it Alfred, you can read the boy like a book." Bruce had retorted. Cocking a half-smile to the man who raised him since his parents died.

"Master Wayne, Master Jason wears his heart on his sleeve. He always has. And one of the reasons why you two fight constantly is because, for as terrific as a detective you are, you are horrifically inept in reading the emotions of your children." Alfred had stated, those words bit Bruce. He wasn't expecting such sharp words from Alfred. "We failed Master Jason. And he's hurt, he's been hurt for years because of it. However he keeps choosing to come back and try and trust again. We needn't come at him with accusations of ulterior motives, but we should be supportive." Alfred stated.

"But cognizant of what Jason is capable of." Bruce added back. Jason may need help, but he's still dangerous. He has tried to kill Bruce and the rest of the Robins multiple times. He wants to trust Jason and warm up to him again. But the man who wears the Red Hood and stalks the streets of Gotham killing those he deems criminals is not his son anymore.

Alfred and Bruce greeted Jason as he walked in the large double doors of the Wayne Manor. The first thing Bruce noticed was the dark circles under Jason's eyes. It seemed as if the man hadn't slept in days. Jason was wearing sweatpants and a fitted black wife beater, accentuating his muscles. Jason would have looked more intimidating had his body language not suggested he was as disheveled as he was, physically and mentally.

"Thanks Alfred." Jason had said meekly towards the butler. He took one step into the mansion and looked at Bruce. Bruce noticed as soon as Jason's eyes met his, his tired irises contorted into anger. His lips pursed downwards but Jason chose not to say anything. Instead just walking past Bruce pretending not to acknowledge him.

"Master Jason, you will be staying in the guest suite on the main floor. I've already prepped everything for your arrival. Please make yourself at home." Alfred had said. Jason just shook is head as he headed towards the hallway leading the guest suite. Bruce didn't notice it immediately but the stench Jason had emitted stung in the air. It smelled like stale liqour and body oder. It seems Jason hadn't bathed in days. Bruce had wanted to say something but chose not to.

The evening went by quietly enough. Jason had taken a shower and changed into another fitted wife beater but still sported a tired energy about him. Alfred had put together a beef pot roast for dinner with red potatoes, carrots, onions, and celery over garlic mashed potatoes. A favorite dish of Jason's. The three of them ate quietly as Bruce continued to size up his son. He was conflicted. At one point he saw the man who blew up the head of a Gotham security force member with a torture decide he had created. On the other hand, he saw the boy who would beg for Bruce to buy him more books after he finished the maximum amount a library card would allow for a week in the span of 3 days. The son who told him being Robin gave him magic.

The dinner ended as it began. With awkward silence and the father-son duo eyeing each other. One with cautious trepidation and the other with abject hate. Bruce had decided not to go on patrol tonight as he felt he needed to be at the manor should anything happen while Jason was here. An uneasy sense of dread built over Bruce as he had said good night to Jason as the two passed by each other in the halls. Jason simply spat 'Bitch' at Bruce and walked into the bedroom. Bruce had been bad with other people's emotions, but something didn't sit right with the way Jason was carrying himself. He had decided to stay up tonight regardless. A sense came over him after being sworn at by Jason. A sense he hadn't felt in a long time. He felt as though his son needed help.

————————————————————

"You're a monster"

"Jason is a murderer"

"Stay away from Jason, he'll kill you."

"No one wants you around, Todd"

"You're just a good guy trying to be bad"

"This is the kid you had to replace me with as Robin? Bruce he's pathetic."

"I can't believe my daughter wasted the Lazarus Pit on a miserable failure like you."

"Maybe I'd be better off dead"

Jason tossed and turned. It's been days. He couldn't get the voices out of his head. Those whispery, moany voices that taunted and tormented him. He knew it was a result of the Lazarus Pit. Ever since Roy died and everyone left him the voices started taunting him again. He tried everything he could to get the voices to stop. He drank, he read, he worked out, he did everything he could. The only way the voices became quiet were when he was beating the ever-loving shit out of some criminals. This was not the mindset Jason had wanted. He wanted to go back to being supported by Bruce, the man who betrayed him. He knew that Bruce was weak. He couldn’t kill the Joker because of his weakness.

Jason got up and walked over to the connecting bathroom to the suite that he was staying in. He went to the sink and splashed some cold water on his face. Against his better judgement, Jason looked up to the figure he saw in the mirror. He took note of his jawline, his face, his green eyes, his muscles.. but one thing that caught his eye was the fucking skunk streak of hair at the top of his head. The physical reminder of his dip in the Lazarus Pit. He had just re-dyed the spot not two days ago and it already came back. He did everything he could to try to hide the streak. It’s what he hated most about his new body. The pit wiped away all of the scars he had on his body. And any new fresh scar or wound would just fade in a matter of moments due to the effects of the pit. The only thing that ever stayed was that damned streak.

Jason had nothing but disgust and contempt for the man he saw in the mirror, which, ironically, was himself.

“You’re just using the sarcasm to hide your hatred.”

“It’s your fault that everyone hates you.”

“Killing the sick of the masses to save those who are weak is your calling”

“Those reptiles deserve to die”

“I don’t want to kill unless I don’t have to.. I don’t want people to hate me..” Jason tried reassuring himself. The voices in his head kept getting louder and louder. “I want Bruce and everyone to love me again....” He continued to try to re-assure himself. It was a false sense of hope as always. His mind soon wandered to a moment where he was on top of Dick in a fight. Confronting his older sibling and reciting a quote he had heard from a Japanese philosopher and optimist as he had the barrel of a gun placed against his older brother’s temple.

“Do you know what the most convenient phrase in the world is, Dickie? It’s ‘I’m sorry.’ Anyone who hears that is obligated to forgive, no matter how hurt or angry they might be... There's no more disgusting phrase in all the world. It's used to displace your suffering unto others so you can escape your sins... The moment you employ it, your suffering becomes the other person's. A thing can be unforgivable, but oh, if they apologize... I say there's no reason to accept that suffering. You don't have to forgive them. Cast aside the mask of your conscience.“

“Stop this. Please stop this.” Jason had begged aimlessly into the air. He didn’t want to live like this anymore. He didn’t want to live, period. He just wanted all of this to end. He had caused so much pain and so much suffering to the people of Gotham all so he could attempt to hurt Bruce. But those words kept repeating in his head. He knew he had to stop this. He needed help, he wanted to go to Bruce and explain what was going on but Bruce would just have him institutionalized. His murderer of a son starts hearing voices in his head? A one way ticket to a padded room.

Jason suddenly stared back into the mirror and saw something he detested. The green eyes that stared into his soul. The one he hated more than anything else. Was himself. This thing was staring him in the face mocking him, and he wanted it gone.

“Do it Jason.” the voice had beckoned from the mirror. “Kill them all. Slit Damian’s throat and watch the fucker bleed. Bash Tim’s stupid face into the concrete until there’s nothing but mush. Rip Dick limb from fucking limb. Watch Bruce as you choke the last bit of life from his eyes. I promise all the pain will go away once all of this is done.” the voice sounded almost sweet as it promised to do all of this. Jason just retched as he saw the green eyed monster promising poison to him. He felt his vision fade to black.

------------------------------------------------------------------

STOP IT. SHUT. UP.

*CRASH*

Bruce had jumped up from the chair he was sitting on in the library, the voice came from the suite that Jason was staying in. Bruce didn’t have time to think. He just ran towards the noise. He threw the door to the suite open and ran to the bathroom. There he saw Jason in front of a heavily cracked mirror. Jason was hyperventilating and he saw blood oozing from Jason’s fist which was pressed against the mirror. Bruce saw from the reflection that Jason had split open the left side of his lip seemingly from a shard of glass. It wasn’t long before Jason glanced up at the imposing shadow in the mirror and noticed Bruce’s presence.

“YOU STAY THE FUCK AWAY FROM ME BRUCE.” Jason had shouted at his reflection. Jason was shaking. Bruce had wanted to assess the injury that Jason gave himself. But he knew he was cornering a scared animal if he pressed any farther forward. Bruce stood their frozen. Pondering between trying to press forward upon a killer, or to check up on his son.

“Jason, I just...” Bruce was cut off by another scream as Jason turned around.

“IF YOU COME ANY CLOSER I SWEAR TO GOD I WILL KILL YOU WHERE YOU FUCKING STAND YOU PIECE OF SHIT.” Bruce finally got the cue. The hitch in Jason’s voice. This is the same hitch his voice made when he was a kid and was angry at Bruce. Alfred was right. This is his son. And right now Bruce needed not to be the Batman approaching the Red Hood. He needed to be Bruce, to help his son.

Bruce walked forward to Jason, still shaking as blood oozed from the gashes of glass on his fist. Bruce decided against everything in his gut telling him to stop this criminal. This monster who killed for sport and to prove a point. He needed to help Jason, his son.

Bruce was knocked back by a fist to his chest. Glass imbedded itself into Bruce as he felt the sting of their shards. Jason was right, he was going to hurt Bruce if he approached. Oracle was right, Jason had been abusing venom. The quick gain in muscle mass was proof enough but the stinging pain in Bruce’s chest also proved that hypothesis. Jason barred his teeth as his eyes displayed a seething hatred. Bruce would have been frightened on any other day. Today, Bruce felt a feeling he hadn’t felt in a long time. Bruce collected himself and got up to approach Jason again.

“I TOLD YOU I’M GOING TO KILL YOU BRUCE. I FUCKING HATE YOUR GUTS. I WANT YOU TO DIE. I WANT ALL OF US TO JUST FUCKING DIE.” Jason screamed even louder this time. A hot stream of tears worked their way down Jason’s cheeks. Bruce no longer saw a rage-induced monster but the boy who took a tire iron to his gut on the streets of Gotham. The boy who would was thrilled at every opportunity he got to show Bruce the A’s on every test he got in school. This was his baby boy who needed his help.

“Jason Peter Todd that’s enough.” Bruce said firmly, but not harshly. Jason stared directly into his eyes. “Jason. I want you to listen to me.”

“Go to hell you motherfucker.” those words which escaped Jason were laced with poison. Bruce didn’t waver.

“You can punch me as much as you want Jason and I’ll deserve all of it.” Bruce came closer to Jason. Jason proceeded to physically make himself smaller. Like a scared animal. Bruce remember what he did to Jason after he had seemingly killed The Penguin. How he beat Jason to within an inch of his life. His heart plummeted to his stomach as he saw Jason cower like a scared dog over his approach.

“What are you going to do Bruce, beat me to a fucking pulp again? You hate me more than you hate the fucking Joker, don’t you?” Jason asked. Bruce truly saw the fear in those green eyes. He had to take a moment and realized just what he was doing. He unclenched his jaw and relaxed his shoulders as he approached Jason. This time he was back within striking range of his son.

“Jason. I failed you. I have been failing you for the past 10 years since your death. I have failed this city and this family in providing the protection it needs. I couldn’t kill The Joker because I’m weak.” Bruce sucked at emotions and emoting. But Bruce hadn’t felt this shaky and wavering since the day he lost Jason. His son needed to know the truth. He deserved to know the truth. “Jason I never hated you. I hated the actions you have taken against the people of this city. But I’ve come to realize that the hatred and contempt I’ve held is because you do what I can’t do.”

“Oh so now you’re coming over to apologize? I don’t owe you shit after what you’ve done to me.” Jason had stated. He may have been acting like a pinned animal. But his mouth will never not cut like knives.

“Jason, when we had fought in the abandoned apartment. And you had the Joker with you. You had tried to shoot me after I had turned away from you.” Bruce said. Inching ever closer to Jason while trying not to be imposing. “In that moment, I threw the batarang because I knew you were going to retaliate against me. But I need you to know in that moment I turned away. I turned away because I decided I wasn’t to be the one to decide the Joker’s fate. He had taken your life and it wasn’t up to me to decide. I want nothing more than for the Joker to pay for the countless lives hes taken and ruined.” Bruce swallowed hard as he felt tears beginning to well in his eyes. “I failed you because I couldn’t kill the Joker. But in that moment, I wanted nothing more than to have my baby boy back. I wanted you back in my life. I still want you back in my life.”

“Bullshit. Fucking BULLSHIT.” Jason spat at Bruce. The emotions were flooding out of his face. Anger, hatred, fear, but most of all sadness. Jason’s voice began wavering as he began to cry. “If you loved me why in the fuck have you never realized I’ve been trying to help the people of Gotham. Instead every time I take matters into my own hands all I meet are your fucking fists. I hate your guts Bruce. We’d all just be better off fucking dead. It’s all Hopeless. I’m hopeless.”

Bruce took a deep breath. He tried to find his resolve. He wanted nothing more than to be able to reach out to his son again. “You’re absolutely right Jason. I’ll bet Gotham would be a whole lot better without me. Without the pain I have caused. And no amount of apologies will fix the pain that I have caused you. No words will ever take back the transgressions I have taken against you.” Bruce was crying this time. “But know this. You always have been my son. And I love you so much. The day I lost my parents was agony. The day I lost you, I felt like I had lost myself I felt I had died a bit inside.” Bruce choked out. “We both have done so much we regret. If I could take back all the times I hit you I would do it in a heartbeat. But no amount of sorry will take back that pain. I shouldn’t be in the position to be asking this. But I just want my son back.” Bruce swallowed. “You have every right to hate me, but I will never stop loving you. You aren’t hopeless and you never have been. You never have been a burden. You are valued by so many people. I. I love you my son. I love you Jason."

Jason’s face relaxed from a position of contempt and hatred and soon was overcome with years of pent up tears. Jason let out a hearty scream as he proceeded to weep and sob. As if a dam had broke and was threatening to engulf a town in an apocalypse. Bruce went against everything he had known and was screaming from the inside of his body and wrapped Jason in a hug. He was almost as large as Bruce himself and barely fit around his arms. But Bruce held his son and hugged him tight. Jason was crying uncontrollably.

“I’m hearing these voices. They’re telling me I’m a monster and a killer and that I should kill all of you.” Jason shouted between sobs. “But I don’t want to. I’m so afraid Bruce. I don’t want to hurt anyone unless I have to.”

“Just breath Jason. I’m here. I’m not going anywhere. Let it all out.” Bruce had solidified his resolve and worked on being there for Jason. He couldn’t run away this time. His son needed him more than ever. And Gotham be damned. He’s not making this mistake twice. He’s staying here. For Jason.

It felt like hours before Jason had run out of tears and sobs. Jason was fading and seemed like he was about to fall asleep. The shards of glass that were imbedded in his hand seemingly prevented Jason from bleeding out. Bruce had saw Jason’s eyes glaze over as his breathing calmed.

“Jason, I’m going to pick you up and take you to bed.” Bruce had said, asking for permission from his second son. Jason simply nodded as he starred off. He was numb now. The pain seemingly gone for the moment. Bruce lifted Jason up and was taken aback by just how heavy his son was. He truly was 225lbs just like his records showed. This wasn’t the son who hid under the cabinets when Bruce first brought Jason home. But Bruce still saw the boy as his son nonetheless. As Bruce laid Jason on the bed Alfred had approached with a first aid kit. Proceeding to begin to clean up Jason’s hand. Jason was so exhausted he barely felt any of the picking and pulling or the iodine going into his wounds. He kept his eyes fast forward on Bruce.

“Bruce. I. I’m sorry.” Jason had said meekly.

“Don’t apologize Jason.” Bruce had stated. He ran his hand through Jason’s hair, giving a soft massage to his scalp. “You get some sleep now. I don’t think you’ve rested in days.”

Bruce had remembered the time he had read Jason to sleep. This time he had thought back to a poem that struck him from his phone. It was from a famous lyricist and singer. As Bruce pulled up his phone he had found the poem and recited it as Jason fell asleep. Things are far from perfect or even better. But tomorrow was going to be the first day of the rest of his and Jason’s lives.

“They told me once, ‘there's a place where love conquers all’

A city with the streets full of milk and honey

I haven't found it yet, but I'm still searching

All I know is a hopeless place that flows with the blood of my kin

Perhaps hopeless isn't a place

Nothing but a state of mind”

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

pHEW GOD THAT WAS LONG. I hope you all enjoyed the fic! This was my first published attempt at angst and whump and while I feel some parts are cringe. I am proud of what I made.

Big thanks again to @dilfbatman for inspiring this fic. The inspiration of the title is the song Hopeless: by Halsey. The quote about I’m Sorry is from the character Shadow Maya Amano from Persona 2: Innocent Sin. And the poem at the end is the first part of the lyrics to the song Good Mourning by Halsey.

#Jason Todd #Red Hood #Bruce Wayne #Batman #Whump #Angst #Hurt/comfort #Non-ship #Bruce being a good father #Jason trying his best #Jason getting the rest he deserves #The two have gone through so much but they can get help #TW Blood #TW Physical abuse #TW Swearing

60 notes · View notes

angelswithcigarettes · 4 years ago

Text

“To find a way to cope”

Summary: Morgan finds Spencer's notebooks filled with partly disturbing drawings and poems and learns once again how much of what Spencer feels he doesn't know how to express and how much happened in his childhood he never talks about.

AU: [This is an AU in which Morgan and Reid share a house (as friends). The parts can be read independently.]

Warnings: Past Sexual Abuse

Relevant Tags: Autistic Spencer Reid, Suicidal Thoughts

Word Count: 4626

First Chapter:

Notes: Since this series is the follow up serious to another one of mine "Green" (I will link it in the endnote) there can be some confusion if you haven't read it. But here is a short summary of it so you don't have to read it all and can still 'enjoy' this:

In the story "Green" Spencer gets together with Lola who abuses him following up this abuse he stays with Morgan who helps him recover as much as that is possible. Spencer doesn't want to go back to his apartment so Morgan decides that it is time for a change, they move in together in one of the houses Morgan renovated ones.

They each have their own privacy, their own floors including bathrooms and bedrooms and each of them has their own office but its not a secret to anyone that they also don't have much privacy because at some part after living together for so many years the embarrassment or shame for many things just faded.

However when Morgan picks up a box of books in the basement while looking for his old baseball equipment he feels bad when he looks inside of them.

They are notebooks, written in with black ink and he can tell that it's Spencer handwriting. There is a date on the corner, the note book is hardly a month old. He puts it away and grabs one from further down, revealing another date from eight years ago and he opens up a random page and starts reading.

"And if you look at me

Look at me for another moment

See me

If you really see me

Can you look at me the same again."

It's seems to be an attempt of poetry and Morgan opens another page finding a scetch of a person. Also in blank ink. Their hands scratching at their eyes, looking like they are screaming.

He reads another poem.

"Can you hear me screaming?

Did you hear me screaming for you? You hands burning my skin,you hands burning my innocence.

Can you hear me screaming?

In the latest night, can you hear me screaming?

Did you hear him burning my skin, his hands burning my innocence."

Morgan can feel an unsettling feeling spread through his body, these are too old to be from the time with Lola, judging by the date he must have been in his early twenties.

He looks into another notebook finding a lot of sketches and a few of them look similar to people Morgan had seen before, he figures they are unsubs and then he opens another scatch and it looks like a women, warning a gun holster and having a glass in her hand, her hair shoulder long and judging by the date this is Elle.

Morgan picks up another one, it is dated for approximately a year ago. The drawing shows their house but the windows are barricaded with wood and nails, only a light shining out of Morgan's room and a kitten is sitting in front of their doorstep, skinny and looking up to the doorbell handing in front of the door that is also barricaded.

The next one is a drawing from their kitchen and it shows Morgan, at least he thinks so, sitting at the table with his hand on his head the other around a coffee cup and on the kitchen counter are files stacked and the kitchen table is filled with overflowing cups.

There is a third, showing their bathroom and there is a liquid on the floor,again every drawing is held black ink but he guesses its blood and a handprint on the mirror and in front of the puddle and then there is a hand sticking out from behind the curtain from which the liquid drops down.

The fourth is what makes Morgan want take the notebook with him, it's a man standing in the door and by the tattoos he can make out that it is supposed to be him but he is wearing a mask and he is holding Spencer's stuff animal in his hand while wearing only Jean's and boots no shirt. Morgan can make out that this is supposed to be Spencer's room.

The worst he finds in that notebook is one of a women, sitting on a chair, her head leaned back and her arms sliced open, blood dripping down on the floor and by the necklace, the gun at her hip and the long slightly curly hair Morgan dares to assume that this is supposed to be JJ.

He puts the notebook aside and pulls out one from the time when he started at the BAU and the first drawing is of a little boy with glasses standing in the bullpen that is crowded with files. The second is a room filled with bees at the wall and an empty chair in the middle.

Morgan knew Spencer can draw he didn't know how well he does.

There are a few sketches of Morgan and Gideon and a lot of JJ. And many butterflies and with the ripped out pages in between he guessed that he draw them for her.

He quickly puts everything away when he hears Spencer walking down the stairs but goes back down to grab the one with the poem about the 'burning hands' the one with the sketch from Elle and the one with the drawings from the house and the women on the chair and for weeks he hides them in his office and eventually started profiling a few of them but quickly stopped that, feeling uncomfortable.

"What are you drawing?" He asks stepping into Spencer's office and the man shuts the notebook again.

"I don't draw."

"You don't?"

"No, I haven't in years."

"You haven't?"

"No, I am horrible at that." Morgan steps closer and it fits what he had found downstairs. The little pencil case open, only black pens inside and a pencil with a rubber. "What did you want?"

"Nothing just wanted to check in on you." Looking over he sees another stack of papers, and in a box next to his desk watercolours. "Its getting pretty stuffed in here."

"I like it. And I would like for you to leave now."

"I will." Apologetic Morgan takes his hands up and leaves the room.

There is a high chance that Spencer knows himself that his drawings are concerning and that that is the reason he is so defensive over people knowing he draws.

He keeps his findings a secret for a few more days until he gets to concerned and tries again talking to him about it but the moment he takes the word drawings in his mouth Spencer denies having drawn in the last years and accuses him of having sniffed around his office for things he draw as a teenager.

So he takes the notebooks and in a quiet moment walks up to Hotch's office who is similar concerned by them. For him the worst is one of Spencer himself, someone pressing a hand over his mouth and him into a pillow next to a poem about the lyrical I suffocating.

"There are more that hint at sexual abuse."

"He has a history we know that."

"Some are older than what happened with Lola."

"Did you try talking to him about these?"

"He claims he hasn't drawn in years." Hotch looks further through it finding more and more thinks he finds concerning.

"There are quite a lot of you."

"That's why I am here. I was hoping he maybe would rather talk to you about it. I can't explain why the drawings are portraying me like that." Hotch looks down on the page of a drawing of Morgan laying on the couch, the TV running but he is sleeping. On the table a ashtray with smoke coming from it on the floor next to the couch, multiple books that block his way and lianas hanging from the ceiling one close to curling itself completely around his neck.

"You have a theory?"

"My first guess was that something in the house made him feel captured, or even me but I am not sure."

"I would actually say that it's the opposite. That he feels like he captures you."

"Me?"

"This doesn't look like he is the one captured." He points at another painting showing Morgan standing in the kitchen, one half of his body having spiders all over it his other side being completely normal beside the fingers that in the end turn into bees and more bees flying away from it. "Are you okay?"

"You see this drawings and you ask if I am okay?"

"Besides that these drawing are definitely not something that leave you unaffected there are a few that a showing you in a vulnerable state he probably saw this before drawing it in his own interpretation."

"I am fine, I don't know why he draws me like that."

"Alright I will talk to him about it." Morgan initially wanted to go to JJ with this but she really doesn't need to see the drawings of herself being death by suicide. There is the one on the chair but also one hanging out of a tree with wings on her back.

For Hotch the most disturbing once are the two from a child, being beaten and in the other drawing having wings sitting on top of a clip, stars around them.

Morgan brings him the other notebooks too and in the earlier once its clear that he draws what he sees on cases and around himself. The poems not so much.

But the younger the note books the more it concerns his friends and random children.

Hotch doesn't find many of himself, but there is a notebook around the time Emily died that breaks his heart and when she came back the drawings change to something with more anger and eventually one that shows Spencer and him sitting in his office, Spencer looking at Hotch, Hotch doing the same but behind Hotch stands Emily or JJ he can't tell having a hand on his shoulder and covering his mouth while Spencer has a ghost behind him, covering his eyes.

He thinks long about if he wants to talk to him about the notebooks because Spencer seems to use this to cope and that is a good thing no matter how violent they look but on the other hand it seems like something is really bothering him so after weeks of debating he hands Morgan the box back saying that it feels wrong for him to interfere and Morgan first gets angry but then agrees that it is better if he first talks to him and then can offers Spencer to talk to Hotch if he rather wants that.

So eventually Morgan breaks the ice at a dinner picking up the box and placing it on the table. "You know what this is?"

"A box"

"You know what's in it?" He asks and Spencer nods with worry in his eyes. "I found it in the basement while cleaning it out."

"Did you-" Nervous he bites on the inside of his lip.

"I did"

"They are mine" He tells him, the fear clearly audible in his voice.

"I know, I am just a little bit worried about you, there is some pretty dark stuff in there."

"You weren't supposed to see."

"But I did and I just want to make sure that everything is alright."

"Yes they are just drawings."

"They are not just drawings."

"And poems."

"Not what I mean kid" Morgan grabs the notebook on top and sits down in front of him opening the page with the drawing of their house. "Is this our house?"

"Yes"

"Can you tell me why you draw this?" Spencer shrugs ones, tears in his eyes. "These are yours and I am not judging you or am mad I just think that some of these, because this notebook was finished a few weeks ago, need talking about. And I am just trying to help you."

"I don't know why I draw this."

"What about the cat? Is that Garfield?" Garfield is an old cat they adapted years ago and died.

"Yes"

"You still miss him?"

"Sometimes I wish he comes home again but then nothing is open here anymore."

"Garfield is dead and even if he wasn't dead when we got the call he would be by now." Morgan tells him in a gentle voice. "So this is about Garfield not coming back in,not you feeling captured in here?"

A nod.

"See that's why I think talking about this is good because I completely miss interpreted this."

"Did you see all of them?"

"Yes"

"All of them?"

"Yeah, I looked through them." He nods and then a tears rolls down his face. "Come on we go over to the couch for this, we cuddle up with your stuff lion and we talk about these, you can lean against me no need to look me in the eyes or for me to see your face." Morgan over the years found out that that is what makes him feel the most comfortable while talking. Either on car rides when Morgan can't tear his eyes from the road or while walking somewhere or placed so that Morgan isn't looking into his face.

Spencer ignores the offer to get his stuff animal from upstairs but he takes the thick blanket while Morgan pulls out the cautions from underneath making the couch bigger and then leans against him and Morgan opens the next page.

It's the drawing from Morgan in the kitchen, the files everywhere and the cups on the table. "What's with the Cubs?"

"I don't remember."

"Mr I have an eidetic memory that's very hard to believe."

"Sometimes everything gets dirty in our kitchen."

"And that bothers you?"

"I try cleaning it but it seems like it doesn't get better even when everything is properly stored."

"And the files?"

"It always happens when we have many cases after another and then it isn't fun coming home anymore."

"Because its dirty?"

"Because it's all tight" He tries to explain how the house feels to him. "We can't move in here."

"Is that the same thing you wanted to express with this?" Morgan asks opening the page of him laying on the couch with the lianas from the ceiling.

"Yes and- and that I- that I take your energy away."

"Okay one point after the other, what is it with the house being to tight? We have a lot of space and a lot of garden and everything, what makes it tight?"

"I don't know sometimes it just is." He tells him moving his head back on Morgan's arm shutting his eyes for a moment and then breathing in deeply.

"We don't have to do this all now if its to much for you" He tells him worried about how this affects Reid. "You just explain it the best way you think I will see about the rest."

"You won't get me."

"I do, it's tight in here sometimes, like you can't move."

"Yes"

"And cleaning doesn't help"

"Yes"

"See not that bad"

"It makes me feel bad." He continues and then hits his thigh ones. "Like I need to run."

"Like you need to run?"

"Yes. Like I have to move. Like my legs haven't moved enough."

"Because it's to tight in here?"

"Yes."

"What about you taking my energy away? What do you mean by that?" Spencer turns his head away not looking at the page but then eventually speaks.

"I am really not an easy friend."

"For me you are."

"No I am not."

"You are not taking my energy away."

"You could do a lot more thinks if it wasn't for me." Spencer justifies his statement.

"Like what?" But he just shakes his head still facing away from him and Morgan tries encouraging him to talk to Hotch but Spencer denies the offer so Morgan moves his hand down around his waist and pulls him closer again. "C'mon you did so good with the first drawings and we won't have to talk about this one any more we can just move on to another.”

Rest on Ao3 (I can’t post more words in here I’m sorry):

#criminal minds #spencer reid #derek morgan #ao3 author #aaron hotchner #criminal minds fanfiction #autistic spencer reid #jennifer jareau

23 notes · View notes