#Oh and Peter trying to explode at people slightly less and not being the most obnoxious judgmental motherfucker- (over-exaggeration)

[ask-cloverfield]

once Peter got engaged to MJ he stopped saying he’d kill himself at the slightest provocation and instead shifter to threatening to kill anyone in sight at the slightest provocation

growth heart emoji

[gammija]

The final Web!Martin evidence list

Now that canon is done, and we’ve got word of god confirmation that Web!Martin wasn’t complete nonsense, I decided to go back to my lil chronological evidence list and actually clean it up a bit, delete parts that in hindsight weren't all that indicative, and put everything in a slightly more readable format. (Obligatory disclaimer that i don’t and never did believe or advocate for some kind of evil web!martin, and that I'm not intending to connect a moral judgement to martin (or anyone else for that matter) having some of these traits)

So here: The (hopefully, please) final list with Web!Martin Evidence! Presented in order of importance, according to. me

The final (hopefully) Web!Martin evidence list

(In order from most to least obvious)

Spiders

I mean, it’s called the Web. TMA reiterates quite a few times that Martin liked spiders. Sometimes it IS that easy.

MAG022: Martin: "I like spiders. Big ones, at least. Y’know, y’know the ones you can see some fur on; I actually think they’re sort of cute -"

MAG038: | Sasha: "A spider?" Jon: "Yeah. I tried to kill it…" [...] Sasha: [Chuckles] "Well, I won’t tell Martin." Jon: "Oh, god. I don’t think I could stand another lecture on their importance to the ecosystem."

MAG059: Jon: "I have done my best to prevent Martin reading this statement in too much detail. I have no interest in having another argument about spiders."

MAG079: Jon: "Apparently, biologically, his account of the spiders doesn’t make any sense according to Martin."

MAG197: Martin: “What? Because I like spiders? Well, used to.”

Lies and subterfuge

Martin is able to use lying and subterfuge to achieve his goals, and is called manipulative a few times.

Lies:

MAG022: Martin: "[He] became slightly more co-operative after I lied to him and told him that one of the upstairs residents had buzzed me in."

MAG056: Martin: "I lied on my CV."

MAG158: Peter: “But you said –” Martin: “Honestly, I mostly just said what I thought you wanted to hear.”

MAG164: Jon: "You – I actually believed you!"

MAG189: Martin: “Sorry. Sorry, John. Not sure how much everything up there actually understood what was going on. But, y’know, I didn’t want to take any chances so it made sense to… um…” Jon: “Put on a show?” Martin: “Yeah, basically, more or less.”

MAG191: Martin: "That's not true." Arun: "Liar!"

Subterfuge:

The plan in 118, which revolved around convincing Elias that Martin was only “acting out”, to create a distraction for Melanie. (Also compare the way he evades giving a straight answer here with the way Annabelle talks in 196.)

Working with Peter in s4 under false pretenses, to distract him from Jon and eventually try to learn what Peter wanted.

Manipulation accusations:

These, I know, are somewhat contentious, since it’s mostly villains saying this to him. I’m still including them, since

1): From a media analysis standpoint, being mentioned 3 times is a sign to pay attention, even when it may not be the full truth.

2): I only see it as describing Martin’s behaviour in the previous points, not as a moral judgement; Especially since he almost always ‘manipulates’ people in positions of power over him.

Still, if it bothers anyone, feel free to ignore these.

MAG138: Martin: "That’s it? No, no monologue, no mind games? You love manipulating people!" Elias: "That makes two of us."

MAG186: Martin: “I can be a real manipulative prick, you know that?” Also Martin: “Oh yeah.”

MAG196: Annabelle: “Because you always managed to get what you wanted through smiles and shrugs and stammerings that weren’t nearly as awkward as they seemed.” [SMALL SOUND OF MARTIN’S CONCESSION TO THE POINT] Martin: “Point taken.”

The Lonely/the Web

The Lonely and the Web sometimes affect Martin to similar degrees.

In season 3, when Martin is getting used to reading statements for the first time, most of them leave him emotionally affected: MAG084, MAG088, MAG090,

MAG095: Martin: “S-S-Statement… done.” [HEAVY BREATHING & TREMBLING AS MARTIN STEADIES HIMSELF] “I don’t like recording these. There. I-I said it.”,

MAG098: Martin: [Panting] “End of statement.” [Deep breath] “I, um, I think I might need to sit down. Oh. Yeah, I am. Right. I don’t, uh, I’m not really sure if these are actually getting easier or harder. I mean I don’t feel –”

Only the last two statements he reads are remarkably easier. This might be a hint that Martin is just getting used to reading them, but the quote from MAG098 seems to contradict that. Either way, it’s likely not a coincidence that those last two happen to be the Lonely and the Web:

MAG108: Martin: “Statement ends.” (exhale) “That wasn’t so bad…”

MAG110: Martin: “Statement ends.” [...] “I mean, I think it sounds like a Jurgen Leitner book. About spiders. Hm. Good John didn’t have to read this one, anyway. I know he’s not a fan. Although, this one wasn’t too bad, actually! I – yeah. Anyway.”

In season 5, there are two powers’ Domains that actually affected Martin mentally, as opposed to only physically: the Lonely’s, in 170 (and arguably 186), and, depending on your interpretation, in 172, when Martin went exploring without knowing why he did so.

Proximity

Martin investigates a lot of the Web statements during season 1 to 3 (in other words, when the archive team still researches statements). The only ones he isn’t mentioned in during this period are MAG019 and MAG020, when he’s being harrassed by worms, and MAG081, which Jon records by himself outside of the institute.

Most notably, he’s the one who discovered the statement in MAG114, ‘Cracked Foundations’, which is the one statement in the entire show that sets up the interdimensional properties of HTR.

The Web!Lighter passed through Martin's hands first, before he gave it to Jon.

Similarly, Annabelle mostly spoke to Martin in season 5, despite most other Avatars usually focusing on Jon.

Aesthetics

Apart from the above obviously Web related areas, there are some other aesthetics which are mentioned in connection to both the Web and Martin, throughout canon.

These are describing the Web;

These are describing Martin.

Tapes:

Martin is the only character to treat the tape recorders as friends - any other character is either indifferent, or treats them as enemies.

MAG039: Martin: "I think the tapes have a sort of… low-fi charm."

MAG154 Martin: “Oh. Hi. Hello again.” … (small laugh) “Sorry pal, false alarm this time.”

MAG156 Martin: “Mm? Oh.” [HE LAUGHS, GENTLY.] “Yeah. (rustling paper) I was going to read one. Hate for you to miss it!” [SHORT, FORCED LAUGH, AS HE FLAPS THE STATEMENT AROUND.]

MAG170 Martin: “Oh. Oh, hello. What’s this? Wow, retro! What are you up to, little buddy; just – listening? That’s okay. It’s nice to have someone to talk to.”

MAG190 Jon: "[The tapes] seem to like [Martin]."

Retro:

MAG069: Statement: “I only saw Annabelle Cane once during this period. She wasn’t hard to pick out. She dressed like a vintage clothing store exploded on her, and her short bleach-blonde hair stood out sharply against dark skin.”

MAG160: Jon: “Anyways, don’t tell me the phonebox down there doesn’t appeal to your retro aesthetic.” Martin: “It – might. Maybe.”

MAG163: Annabelle/the Web callying Martin via an old payphone: [ A PHONE RINGS. IT’S NOT THE TINNY, ELECTRONIC SOUND OF A CELLPHONE – NO, THIS IS A TRUE, HEAVY, CLASSIC RING.] Martin: “Uh. John? Uh, J, John – the, uh, payphone that’s – here, for some reason – it’s ringing?”

Hatred of burns:

MAG067: Jack Barnabas’ statement: “I looked up and noticed within the corner of the room, where there had been a spider’s web this morning, there was just a faint wisp of smoke.” “Another held a bag that seemed to be full of candles, while a third had a clear plastic container filled with hundreds of tiny spiders.”

MAG139: Statement by member of Cult of the Lightless Flame: “The Mother of Puppets has always suffered at our hand; all the manipulation and subtle venom in the world means nothing against a pure and unrestrained force of destruction and ruin.” Agnes burned down Hilltop Road.

MAG145: The Web ties Gertrude to Agnes, stopping the Desolation’s ritual (the only Power whose ritual the Web is known to have prevented).

MAG167: Gertrude enlists Agnes’/the Desolation’s help in order to burn her assistant Emma, who was Web aligned.

MAG169: Martin: "Look, I just – don’t want to get burned, all right? It’s, it’s like my least favorite pain ever. [...] I, I legitimately hate burns, alright? They’re, they’re awful, and they scar horribly, and they just – it – it just makes me sick; I, I hate it. Hate it!"

Phrasing:

MAG039: Martin: "I’m trapped here. It’s like I can’t… move on and the more I struggle, the more I’m stuck. [...] It's just that whatever web these statements have caught you in, well, I’m there too. We all are, I think."

MAG079: Martin's poem: "The threads of people walking, living, lovi–"

MAG117: Martin: "This last couple of years, I’ve always been running, always hiding, caught in someone else’s trap, but, but now it’s my trap, and, well, I think it’ll work. I know, I know it’s not exactly intricate, but it felt good leaving my own little web. Oh, oh, Christ, I hope John doesn’t actually listen to these. “Good lord, is Martin becoming some sort of spider person?” No, John, it’s an expression, chill out! Besides, spiders are fine. I mean, yes, people are scared of them, obviously, but actual spiders, they just want to help you out with flies."

MAG167: Jon: “Methinks the Spider dost protest too much.” Martin: “Jon –” Jon: “Joking! Just joking.”

Personality:

How applicable these are depends heavily on how you interpret Martin's own personality, so your mileage may vary.

MAG008: Statement: “Nobody ever said a word against Raymond himself, though, who was by all accounts a kind and gentle soul [...]”

MAG123: Jon: "The Web does seem to have a preference for those who prefer not to assert themselves."

MAG147: Annabelles statement: "I discovered a deep and enduring talent inside myself for lying. [...] My manipulations were not intricate, but they were far beyond what was expected of a child my age, and I have always believed that the key to manipulating people is to ensure that they always under- or overestimate you. Never reveal your true abilities or plans."

Word of God and Annabelle

I kinda wanted to ‘prove’ that Web!Martin had quite a bit of evidence to back it up, hence this header being last. But of course, in this post-canon world, there are a few lines that most obviously confirm the theory:

MAG197: Martin is Web enough to be able to read the 'vibrations', like Annabelle, and see Jon and Basira (the latter being especially notable, as he hadn't known she was there beforehand): [CHITTERING, BUZZING AND HIGH-PITCHED SQUEALS CHANGE CADENCE] Martin: "Wait… Wait, hang on, is that him?" Annabelle: "Yes. I guess you’re better with the Web than we thought." Martin: "And – Wait, ha– No, uh… is that… Basira? He – He’s got Basira with him!" Annabelle: "Yes."

Season 5 Q&A part 2: Jonny: “Essentially, it was fascinating looking at the fandom and, like, the Web!Martin believers, because what they were doing was correctly picking up on hints dropped in the early seasons that were later, like, not exactly abandoned, but it was much more like, ‘Well, no, he does have like aspects of The Web to him, but he is moreover The Lonely.’ And that came about very… very organically, really. Because throughout Season 3 and going into Season 4, we had this conversation and we were like, ‘No, actually he's like-” Alex: “‘It can't be, it cannot be, it must be the other way round’ Yeah.”

(Note that they say “throughout season 3 and going into season 4,” which likely means that season 1, season 2, and at least part of season 3, aka half of the entire show, were written with Web!Martin as an intentional possibility.)

If you read all that, thanks so much! Obviously, Web!Martin never really came to fruition, so it's fine if you still don't like it. This is just a post explaining where it was coming from, at least for me and the other theorists I've spoken to.

[zafirosreverie]

a/n: Y/H/N stands for "Your hero name"

You rolled your eyes as you heard Peter trying to explain to Miles how to shoot webs properly. Seriously, this wasn’t the time! You were on a damn vent! But you tried to be patient with the young boy, after all, he just saw Spider Man dying and then met two other Spiders.

You were from this reality, you just weren’t as famous as Spider man, which was fine for you, less people trying to kill you meant that you had more time to study and do science, which has been your true passion all your life, and also the real reason you were helping the spiderman from another dimension. You were curious about how he got here.

“Can you two please shut up?!” you hissed, making Miles to look guilty as Peter just rolled his eyes.

“Don’t worry, we-”Peter said but you interrupted him

“Shhh...listen” you said when you heard a woman’s voice. You knew that voice, It was Olivia Octavius, one of the most important scientists of these times, and one of your idols. You peeked through the vent.

A collider. Alternate dimensions. Failure in the multiverses. Oh no.

You should probably been more worried about all the “evil plan”, and “universes colliding” stuff, but it was hard to concentrate when the woman under you was so fucking gorgeous. Sure, she wasn’t a magazine beauty, but she was your kind of beauty: glasses, lab coat, wild hair, pointed chin, little wrinkles around the eyes, a few years (maybe several, to be honest) older. She had it all! And she was Olivia frikin Octavius! What more could you ask for? But this was not the time to think about such things.

When the woman and the man that was with her left the room, you landed on the floor. Peter started to look for all he could about the collider, while Miles got stuck on the ceiling. You rolled your eyes and decided to look around. Alchemax was a renowned scientific company, and it had always been your dream to work there, but you never managed to get one of its scholarships or were a candidate for an internship. So it was your chance.

You took one last look at Peter and Miles. They looked like a time bomb about to explode, but you figured they could survive until you returned. You wouldn't go far anyway. Too bad you weren’t paying attention to the eyes on your back. 

___________

“Holy shit” you whispered for yourself as you walked through the labs. 

Each door you opened had something more interesting inside than the last. You felt like a child in a candy store.

"It's like Christmas, but better" you murmured.

Just as you were about to approach one of the tables, you heard the door open behind you and before you could react, something was holding you tightly around the waist, lifting you into the air.

You gasped when they turned you around.

"What do we have here?"

That voice. You focused your attention on the person in front of you, instead of the tentacle holding you. It was Doctor Octavius, but now she was wearing a special outfit. It was green with black and wrapped around her body in a rather sexy way. And the tentacles sticking out of her back only made you think of things that you definitely shouldn't be thinking at a time like this.

"It seems that the plague of spiders was more serious than I thought" she said

“Uhm...sorry?” you said, making her blink for a moment.

“Who are you?” she growled, pulling you closer to her. 

You gasped. She was wearing some strange glasses, but you still could see the green of her eyes and this close, you noticed how her nose wrinkled slightly as she looked at you curiously. 

OK, seriously Y/N this is not the time! Focus!! You scolded yourself.

“Cat ate your tongue?” She asked.

“Uhm...I’m Y/H/N” you said, trying to focus on the wall behind her to avoid being distracted by her.

“Hmm...That doesn’t help me much” she said and put a hand to your face, removing your mask.

You expected a mockery, an insult, some typical villain phrase. But no. She just scowled and the tentacle that enveloped you gently deposited you on the ground. To say that you were confused was an understatement.

"I know you" she said suddenly "You sent an internship application, didn't you?"

"Uh ... yeah" you blinked. You did not expect someone to remember you, not among all the requests that surely they received daily "But I was not accepted, evidently"

"Why?"

"I don't know" you shrugged "I guess the electromagnetic charges didn't get your attention"

"Wait, electromagnetic charges?" she asked "I got that report. It was a really fascinating essay and I'm sure the author was accepted."

You frowned at that. No, they hadn't accepted you. Has someone stolen your work?

"Are you Y/N  Y/L/N?" she asked

"Yes"

"I see...I think someone screwed up the reports," she said.

The way she approached you, so suddenly and with an almost predatory smile, set your pulse racing, but not for the reasons it should (fear, sense of self-preservation), but for all the reasons it definitely shouldn't (emotion, thoughts quite dirty).

One of her tentacles caressed your face.

"I'll tell you something, little spider" she whispered "Help me catch the other two, and I'll make sure to fix that misunderstanding" she promised

You looked into her eyes for a moment. You should push her, you should run away from her, you should have a better moral compass than hers. But honestly, you didn't care.

"Only if I can add a clause to that" you said.

"And that would be?" she arched her brow.

"... can you show me how you made these?" you said, stroking the tentacle that was still wrapped around your waist.

Liv smiled and pulled you even closer, her face inches from yours.

"It depends if you can keep up with me, spider" she caressed your cheek with her hand and that was all you needed.

"I'm in"

[journalofimprobablethings]

Word Count: 3157

Relationships: Martin Blackwood/Jonathan Sims

Characters: Martin Blackwood, Jonathan Sims

Tags: Hurt/Comfort, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Jonathan Sims Needs a Hug, Protective Martin Blackwood

Warnings: Attempted/referenced self-harm and self-mutilation (brief & non-graphic, and nothing non-canon), blood mention, discussion of low self-esteem/low self-worth, shouting and insults (from a place of love and frustration but still), and a light emotional breakdown.

Summary: 

Martin comes into Jon's office at exactly the wrong (or right) time, and catches him in the midst of his...extremely well-thought out plan to rescue Daisy. He is horrified to discover that Jon doesn't think anyone would care if he disappeared. Martin is quick to set him straight.

or,

What if Martin had been the one to find Jon trying to get his "anchor" for the coffin instead of Melanie?

Preview (full fic under the cut):

Martin never thought he would get to a place where he expected tape recorders to appear whenever they were wanted (and often when they weren't). But when Peter hands him a statement, he immediately looks to the corner of his desk, even though he knows he didn't bring a recorder up to his new office, and he is surprised to see it's empty. He looks in all the desk drawers to make sure there isn't one hiding in there, before he resigns himself to the fact that he will actually have to go downstairs and get one.

He's been avoiding going down to the Archives since he started working for Peter. No real need to go down there, since he doesn't work there anymore, and it's...it's easier this way. Easier to avoid running into anyone, and to--well, to keep himself from going to find Jon.

But there's nothing for it, now, and so he makes his way down the familiar path to the Archive entrance. He pauses at the door, listening, trying to gauge if any of the others are there. If he hears voices, he thinks, maybe he'll just try and come back later.

At first all is quiet, but then there's an odd noise from behind the door, like a faint whimper, abruptly cut off.

Martin's stomach clenches. It could be nothing, but--

He knocks, then opens the door slowly and pokes his head in. "Hello? Only me, I needed to borrow a--"

The noise comes again, but now that the door is open he can tell what it is: a stifled cry of pain.

Martin yanks the door open and fairly rushes into the room. The main office is empty, just untidy desks and chairs left askew. But Jon's door is cracked open at the other end of the room, and as Martin enters he hears a wet thunk, followed by another stifled cry, then a frustrated groan.

Martin is across the room before he can think, shoving Jon's door open.

Jon is sitting at his desk, one hand splayed across its surface, and the other holding--the other is holding a knife , and Martin isn't sure what Jon's already tried but there's blood all over the desk, and as Martin dives into the room Jon lines the knife up with the base of his pointer finger like he's about to--to--

Martin makes it to the desk in two strides, pulling the knife from Jon's hand before he can bring it down.

"What the hell are you doing?!"

Jon looks up, wide-eyed and panting.

"Martin?"

Martin focuses on Jon's face and tries not to look too closely at his hands, or at the blood on the desk. His own hands are shaking so hard that he has to grip the knife tight to keep from dropping it. He sets it carefully down on the desk.

"Jon, what the fucking hell?"

Jon is still staring at him as though he's materialized out of thin air.

"Martin, I--what are you doing down here?"

"What am I--what the hell are you doing?"

"I--this isn't what it looks like."

Martin can't believe him. He absolutely can't believe him. He can hear the register of his own voice rising but he is too angry to even try to control it. "Really? Because it looks like you were trying to cut your bloody finger off."

Jon has the grace to look slightly abashed--but only slightly. "I mean--well, yes, I was, but it's not--" He waves his hand for Martin to see. "It didn't work, anyway."

Martin is afraid to look at first, but as Jon holds out his hand, he is relieved to see that he's right--all five fingers still seem to be attached. There is definitely blood on the desk, but Jon's hands look...fine. Unscathed.

That--Martin has to set that aside for now. He will deal with that later. Instead he looks Jon in the eye and when he speaks his tone is low and flat.

"Jon. What the hell is going on."

"I tried to tell you before, and you said--"

"Yes, thank you. I know what I said. That was before I found you trying to cut your own finger off ." Martin looks down at Jon and says with as much control as he can manage, "What. Is. Going. On."

And Jon explains. About Breekon, and the coffin, and Daisy being trapped inside in the realm of the Buried in some kind of horrible, eternal stasis. And he explains, calmly, how he plans to go into the Buried to save her, with a bit of himself--a bit of his body --left out here as an anchor to help him find his way back.

And when he's done he looks at Martin as though he's given a completely reasonable explanation for his behavior.

Martin has to ball his hands into fists at his sides to keep himself from doing anything rash.

"Jon, you--you absolute idiot. You bloody imbecile."

"I'm sorry?"

"You are so stupid!"

"Martin, really."

Jon gives him such an offended look that Martin would burst out laughing, if he weren't so absolutely furious .

"You weren't going to tell anyone before you went in there?"

"Well, I--I was going to leave a note for--for Melanie and Basira, but--"

Martin snorts.

"There just didn't seem any point in waiting. Daisy's been in there for months--"

"So she can stand to wait a little bit longer."

Jon looks aghast. "Martin!"

But Martin is still too angry to feel badly for what he said, still too aghast himself at the idea of Jon climbing into that coffin alone. Why would he do something so stupid, why--?

"Why do you have to go?"

"I'm not risking anyone else." Jon says it as though it's the most obvious thing in the world. Then his shoulders slump. "And I--I'm tired of losing people, Martin. After Sasha, and...and Tim...if there's even a chance I can get her out of there, I have to take it."

"And what the hell do you think is going to happen if you don't come back?"

Jon looks startled. "Well, I--I mean, obviously I don't want to get trapped in the Buried, but would--for everyone out here, would it really be so bad?"

He says it so matter-of-factly.

All of Martin's anger drains out of him in a moment.

"What?"

Jon doesn't seem to register Martin's sudden stillness. He's looking into the middle distance, seemingly not seeing Martin at all.

"If I don't come back. Would it be a bad thing, for--for everyone else? One less monster in the world. Elias has that much less power, one less person to manipulate. I..." He trails off.

Martin just stares at Jon for a second. His whole body is numb and he can't seem to really breathe properly, right now.

Does Jon really--?

He really thinks--?

For a moment Martin is balanced perfectly between a deep, painful sorrow and incandescent anger, and he doesn't know if he is going to shout or just start crying.

Then Jon sighs.

"Who would it hurt, really?" he says, and he says it as though he already knows the answer.

The balance tips, and Martin just explodes.

"Who would it--? Me!" he shouts. "It would hurt me ! God, Jon, I don't--you think that no one cares if you hurt yourself or tear bits off or go off on--on bloody suicide missions, but I do! I care. You say you're tired of losing people like you're the only one--" Martin takes a breath. "You already died once and--if you went in there and didn't come back I--I--would--" He falters as he contemplates the horrible possibility of it. Of knowing that Jon was trapped in some underground hell with no hope of rescue. His legs tremble and his hands go numb at the thought. "It would hurt, Jon," he says finally. "I don't want to--I can't deal with that. Not again."

The silence that follows this speech is palpable. Martin can feel the blood pounding in his ears and he wonders if he said too much, went too far, because Jon is just staring at him, looking shocked and a little bit lost. When he finally speaks, his voice is more subdued than Martin has ever heard it.

"Oh."

"Yeah."

Jon looks down at his hands.

"I--Martin, I didn't--"

"You didn't think it would matter to me."

"No, I--Martin, I didn't think it would matter to anyone. I just--" Jon huffs a frustrated sigh. Then he slumps again. "I'm sorry."

And Martin's heart breaks.

He knows what it's like, to think that you don't matter. To think that if you were to disappear, no one would notice or care. He's gotten rather used to the feeling, to be honest.

But to see it now, in Jon--

Martin can't stand it--how despairing he looks, how lonely. He takes a step and kneels down by Jon's chair so that their faces are level.

"Jon, would--will you look at me?"

Jon reluctantly meets his eyes--and they're so beautiful, Jon's eyes, a dark, rich brown that Martin could drown in, but the uncertainty in them makes his heart twist in his chest. Before he can think better of it, he reaches out and takes both of Jon's hands in his.

"You're not expendable, Jon," he says. "Any part of you."

Jon's breath seems to hitch in his chest at that--and then, to Martin's absolute horror, his eyes start to fill with tears.

"Oh--oh, no, Jon, I didn't--"

Jon's face trembles as he tries to keep his composure, and without thinking--without taking a moment to consider anything other than a desperate need to comfort him--Martin reaches out and pulls him close.

And Jon doesn't resist. He falls into Martin and buries his face in his shoulder, his hands coming up and clutching at the back of Martin's shirt. His whole body is shaking with the effort of holding himself together, and his breath comes in tiny, sharp gasps. Martin wraps his arms around him and rubs his back, trying to shove aside the part of his mind that is panicking at the sight of Jon breaking down so completely.

"Shh, it's okay, Jon, it's all right. You can cry if you need to, it's really all right, please."

But Jon just continues to shake, his hands clutched tight into Martin's shirt. Occasionally a single sob pushes through, a terrible, raw sound that tears at Martin's chest and makes him hold Jon that much tighter. He rubs his back and whispers comfort in his ear and does all he can to hold himself together as Jon shakes himself apart.

Eventually the shakes subside, and Jon sits for a moment, his forehead still pressed into Martin's shoulder, before finally pulling away. He wipes his face clumsily with his sleeve.

"I'm--I'm sorry, that was--"

"No, no, don't--it's all right. Really." Martin looks Jon over. "Are you--are you all right?"

Jon gives a watery laugh. "No. But are any of us?"

Martin has to admit that he has a point.

"I really am sorry, Martin. For everything. I didn't mean..." Jon makes a face as the words he is looking for seem to escape him. "I'm sorry."

Jon looks so despondent that Martin feels a little bit terrible about how much he yelled, before.

"It's all right," he says. "I'm sorry I shouted."

Jon's mouth twists in a wry smile. "I may have deserved it."

"Oh, you absolutely did."

Jon laughs a little, and the knot of tension inside Martin eases. He looks at Jon's hands, lying in his lap, and he wants to reach out and take them again, but the moment seems to have passed, and he can't quite make himself do it.

So they just sit for a moment, Martin still on the floor at Jon's feet, in a silence that is not actually at all uncomfortable.

Just for a moment, they allow themselves to just be.

Jon is the one who finally breaks the silence.

"I still need to go get Daisy," he says.

Martin sighs. "Yeah. I know."

His gaze drifts back to the desk, to the knife and the smears of blood, now half-dried and sticky. He swallows down the bile in his throat.

"Well, if--if you're going to do this, you're going to need a better anchor."

Jon sighs. "Yes, I thought so, too." He laughs a little. "Too bad Jared Hopworth isn't around, I could get him to just pull something out of me--"

"What? No!"

Martin puts his head in his hands. He is going to absolutely kill this man. Jon's not going to make it into the Buried because Martin will have already killed him.

"No bits!" he says. "No pulling bits out of Jon! What is wrong with you? Why is that the only thing you can think of?"

"Well, what's your brilliant plan, then?" Jon says peevishly.

Up until this moment, Martin wasn't sure he really had one. But as soon as Jon asks the question, an idea appears in his mind, fully formed.

"What about the recorders?"

"The--oh!"

'You're always recording, and I thought--since they're part of your whole Archivist--" Martin waves his hand vaguely "--thing, that they might be a stronger anchor. You're going to have to use your powers to keep track of it anyway, right? Maybe you don't remember, but most humans can't still feel bits of themselves after they've cut them off."

Jon gives him a look, but it quickly fades as he starts to think through what Martin said. Martin can see the wheels turning behind his eyes.

"That's--that's a good point."

Then Jon smiles, and Martin would cross continents and raze cities for that smile, a real smile that transforms his whole face and makes it seem like it's lit from the inside.

"I think that would actually work," Jon says. "Well done, Martin."

"You don't have to sound so surprised," Martin says.

Jon's face falls. "Sorry. I--I didn't mean--"

"Jon, I wasn't--I was joking."

"Right."

There's a moment, then, when Martin thinks he should say something, do something, to bring Jon's smile back, to show in some way how that smile makes him feel.

But he doesn't quite know what to do, or how to do it--and the moment passes.

"So," Martin says. "How many recorders do you think we'll need?"

Jon shrugs. "As many as the Eye will give us, I expect."

--

Jon and Martin stand in front of the coffin where it sits on the floor of the main office, still wrapped in chains, with its message scratched deep into the lid: Do Not Open.

Martin wishes they could heed that warning.

They spent the last hour scouring the Institute for tape recorders--and finding them pretty much everywhere they looked, including places that they had no right to be: the water closets, the break room near Accounting, the stairwell. It's almost like the recorders knew what they wanted them for. As many as the Eye will give us , Jon had said. Martin is careful not to examine that thought too closely.

Now they're back, with a pile of tape recorders on the floor next to the coffin, each one loaded with a recorded statement. They also picked up several torches, and a blank tape for the recorder Jon holds in his hand, ready to bring with him.

Martin looks over at Jon.

"You really want to do this?"

Jon nods. His lips are pressed together and he looks a little pale, but determined. 'Yes."

"You know if you don't come back, I'm going to come in there after you."

Jon looks horrified. "Martin, don't you dare--"

Martin just smiles at him. "Better come back, then."

"That's not funny."

Martin has to choke down a laugh at how-- disgruntled Jon looks. Then he thinks about what they're about to do, and all the humor flows out of him.

"But really, I--" He takes a deep, shaky breath. "Just, please come back."

"I will. The recorders will work, Martin. I know it."

Martin nods. He has to trust Jon in this, and trust that he, at least a little bit, knows what he's doing.

Jon turns to face the coffin. There is an immediate change in the atmosphere of the room--like the pressure's dropped, or the composition of the air has suddenly changed. Martin can't explain it. Something hovers just outside his range of hearing--something rather like singing.

"No need for that," Jon says. "I'm willing."

Just as suddenly as it started, the singing stops, and the room returns to normal.

Somehow, that exchange is more unsettling than anything that has happened so far.

Jon leans down and undoes the chain around the coffin, letting it fall to the floor with a rattle. Then he takes a deep breath, and opens the lid.

The coffin's hinges make an awful creaking noise as it opens. The air that comes out of it is cold and smells of damp earth, and Martin can see the dusty stone steps inside it, leading down into the dark. A shiver runs down his spine, and he starts to wonder if this is really such a good idea.

Jon looks down into the coffin. "Right, then."

Before Jon can step forward, Martin reaches out and grabs his hand. Jon startles a little, looking up at Martin with a question in his eyes.

"I--"Martin stammers. Again there is a moment when he thinks he could do something more, but he's not sure what he wants to do, so he just gives Jon's hand a tight squeeze. "Good luck."

Jon smiles, and squeezes back. "Thank you."

Then he turns, and takes a deep breath, and makes his way down the steps into the dark.

Once Jon disappears, the coffin lid creaks slowly closed, all on its own.

Martin swallows.

He will be back , he assures himself. This will work .

He piles all the recorders they collected on top of the coffin, until they cover the entire surface. Then he settles himself in the chair at Jon's desk, to wait.

He wonders if Peter has noticed that he's gone yet.

He knows that he'll be angry--all their work, all of Peter's warnings about staying away from Jon in order to keep him safe, for nothing.

But Martin can't bring himself to care. He thinks of Jon's smile, his eyes, the firm grip of his hand --and he decides, right then and there, that he is done trying to stay away from him.

When Jon gets back, Martin will be right here. And he doesn't plan on going anywhere.

Peter Lukas can go to hell.

[bowieandqueen11]

Unselfish Love / Peter Quill Imagine

Request: Hi! Do you do male!reader imagines? I sorta want one with Peter Quill, with him struggling with his sexuality and the reader comforting him despite not knowing about his crush on the reader 

Of course I do love! I’m a very firm believer in everyone being able to find their representation in fandoms :)

Comments are much appreciated! <3

It’s funny how different perspectives can become.

Especially when you compare a person who has lived on a spaceship for twenty years, to mostly everyone else on Earth. Peter remembers being one of those people, one of the ones who wanted to escape, but never knew how. He had loved watching Star Wars and Star Trek with Meredith, wondering what could have been.

He never thought it would end with him killing his own father. Everything about him, at the moment, just felt so up in the air. And as he watches the galaxy from where he sits in his pilot chair, he realises that the thought of exploring makes him feel more tired than anything else at the moment. He tilts his head, gazing upwards, eyes more open than they can be in the fullness of day. He’s not looking at one star, yet somehow sees them all at once. He stands up, fingers dancing down to the cassette player that rests on his belt, allowing the play button to click as he stretches his arms. He closes his eyes, beginning to let his feet shuffle against the floor, taking a final peep to make sure Drax wasn’t standing still in the corner, before he lets himself dance.

If there’s one part of himself that he’s sure of, it’s that music will always flow through him.

‘Pretty blue lights along the way, help you right on by

And the blue lights shining with a heavenly grace, help you right on by-’

You watch him from the cockpit doorway, laughing as he kicks his legs, utter concentration on his face, crackling somewhat from the old cassette. Usually, unless he really wanted to annoy Rocket, that ancient music machine was his only audience, watching with those two rolling eyes and scruffed tape. As he turned, his eyes caught you standing there, being less adept at hiding in the shadows than Drax was. Or perhaps, evenly so. He dropped his eyes momentarily before looking, his head tilted to one side and a hopeful smile playing on his lips. But you could see the exhaustion that he hid behind his eyes.

‘Quill, do you ever go to sleep?’

‘Not while there’s dancing to be done, my friend. I could ask you the same question. Can’t resist, huh?’

You frown slightly, in fear of your real reasons for being up so late with Quill being found out. But instead he only runs over, tossing off his jacket onto the floor so he’s able to grab your shoulders, laughing wildly.

‘The stars, Y/n, the stars!’

‘Plus, who can resist these moves?’

He starts to sway again, biting his bottom lip with a look of mock determination, until you knock him on the shoulder and sit down on the floor. With a dramatic sigh, Quill sits down on the step next to you, his cotton shirt brushing against your shoulder.

The darkness outside illuminated him in a light, brushing off the soft curls that lay a mess against his forehead as he takes a deep breathe. His eyes were soft, silvery and emanated a divine aura of everlasting magic and hope as he turned to face you with a smile.

‘Well, are you going to tell me what’s wrong Quill? I know we’ve talked about your dad before...’ 

He bristled slightly at your words, and you decided it was best to just allow him to talk when he was ready. The stars coiled their glowing tendrils upon whatever part of his face it came across, dipping the man in a radiant, hypnotic glow. It showered down as sprinkles of allure and pearly hues.

He was just so beautiful, you thought with a sigh, not noticing his eyes deep in question at the noise. He was handsome from the depth of his eyes to the gentle expressions of his voice. You loved the way his voice quickened when he sparkled with a new idea, or was so enjoying one of mine that he lost himself for a moment and quite forgot the mask he wore for others. You knew the second you had met the Guardians, you had given him his heart to keep it safe, that's just the way it was. You didn’t mind if he could never give you his in return. Just being here, on the Milano, was enough.

‘Can I be honest with you, Y/n. I’m just- I’m just struggling at the moment. I miss my mom, sometimes I miss Earth, and I just... don’t know who I am anymore, I don’t really know who I’m supposed to be.’

‘Wow, that’s the most sensible thing I’ve ever heard you say.’

The left side of his pale lip tugged upwards, creating an amused smirk on his god-like face, (as if he would ever let any of the Guardians forget he was half-god, technically). He bumps his tense shoulder further against your own.

‘Oh, ha ha. You’ve been spending too much time around Gamora.’

You did not say anything- you just did not know what to say. He was peculiarly conscious of you sitting next to him, your arm near his. Your silence was somehow comforting, he thought, it was peaceful in a way where he could feel at home and know that no matter what was happening, he was safe. He hadn’t felt this way since Meredith had taken him out to lie under the sky, the two of them sharing a pair of headphones, cheeks touching. It was bliss.

The two of you just sat there for a while, sitting under the stars, which were like a beautiful, surreal blanket above your heads, nothing but the soft breaths of him by your side.

‘But seriously, I spend all my time wondering if this is who I am, you know? I have such this... unselfish, I think? This unselfish love for everyone, and sometimes, I wonder if that means more about me than I thought it did before.’

You blink at him slowly, trying to comprehend what he was telling you. He took the lack of reaction as a bad sign.

‘Sorry, didn’t mean to bore you.’

You only shake your head, offering a warm smile full of hidden devotion and awe in return.

‘You could never bore me, Peter. Watching you try and speak is far too entertaining for that. But I wouldn’t worry, everything will eventually just click into place, and everything will suddenly just make sense. Or you’ll constantly be evolving, changing, challenging yourself. Either way, you will always be perfect, Peter Quill, and you will always be you. So would you stop worrying, for once?’

Peter’s eyes were as immobile as the rest of his face, as if news like that was impossible to absorb any faster. He was frozen for maybe three whole seconds before the corners of his mouth resumed their usual softness and her eyes quit staring. As soon as the last syllable echoed its way around his head, you find yourself interlocked in a kiss. Your eyes widen and it takes approximately one point five seconds to realise Peter Quill, the man you love, is kissing you and a further two point eight seconds to realise that you’re kissing him back. Your eyes have fluttered shut and in the darkness you see light exploding. 

 All you can focus on is Peter. On the soft moan he just made, the way he tastes like caramel and midnights under turning galaxies. The way his hand rests over your heart as he pulls away.

‘I-I’m sorry-’

‘Don’t be, do it again.’

His cold lips brushed against yours as he tugged you closer. You pressed your hand against his sculpted chest, relishing the firm, hard muscle. Nestling closer, you felt for his heartbeat, allowing the two of you to melt as one into the night.

Buy me a Coffee?

[fromashescomephoenixes]

Cakes and Tickle Bugs

warnings: none. just jily fluff and cute moments.

word count: 1.5k+

summary: lily insists that harry must have a homemade birthday cake for his first birthday. the only issue is that james isn’t used to cooking without magic...

••••

“It is Harry’s first birthday and I am NOT buying some crappy supermarket cake!” Lily shouted while her green eyes flashed. Godric, why did she have to be so hot when she was angry. “James, are you even listening?” Lily groaned.

“You know I am darling,” James winked trying to diffuse the situation.

“This is no laughing matter,” Lily scolded as James suppressed a laugh.

“Of course I know that, Lily dear!” James hugged her from behind. “Our little Harry will have the best god damn birthday cake a kid has ever had,” Lily seemed pleased, and allowed herself to melt into James’s arms.

“And we’re not using magic,” she grinned as she left the room, catching James’s shocked expression from the corner of her eye.

••••

What Lily didn’t know when she said this is that James always used magic. The concept of measuring and stirring and preparing the ingredients himself, well, terrified him.

Perhaps if she knew this, Lily would have been a little more lenient, however she didn’t know. What she did know was that James would try and sneak a hint of magic here and there, if she hadn’t hidden their wands.

“I’m ready to bake!” James strolled into the kitchen wearing the pink apron with Lily flowers all over it. The sight of this sent Lily into a fit of giggles.

“You dork,” she breathed as she gave him a quick kiss.

“What? I like having Lily all over me,” James found his own joke quite amusing, and to be completely honest, Lily had to turn away to hide her smile.

“I’ll put you on dish duty if you keep up that cheek,” Lily waves her finger, but couldn’t help herself from blushing and grinning like a fool.

“Ma’am yes ma’am,” James laughed. Then he set to work unpacking all of the ingredients they had bought. While tedious, James did manage it without magic. Luckily, Lily has still let him buy wizarding sweets to decorate with.

Meanwhile, Lily has gotten out her own apron which happened to have stags printed all over it. She groaned at James’s Christmas present for her. Secretly she loved cooking in it though. She busied herself with setting out all of the bowls they would need.

Soon the kitchen was ready to begin baking! The sunlight was shining in the large windows, and it seemed like a perfect day to bake.

•••• 

Everything was going according to plan. That is, until the actual baking began.

“Alright, James can you handle the wet ingredients?” Lily’s eyes scanned through the recipe, and she busied herself with the dry ingredients. James opened his mouth to speak, but she turned and cut him off. “And I don’t want to hear a single joke about them being wet ingredients. Godric, you’re an adult now!” James simply grinned sheepishly and set to work.

As Lily began to tell James about a particularly difficult customer at her potion shop, James was puzzling over how exactly to crack the eggs without magic.

“And so I told her that she can’t buy such a specialty potion without a license, but she simply wouldn’t listen. Merlin some people are so-“ Splat! The egg was dripping all over their white kitchen counters, on to the emerald tile floor.

“So Lily,” James casually began. “ Let’s say I have a friend who isn’t sure how to crack an egg,” Deciding to play along, Lily pretended to think deeply.

“Let’s see, would this friend be Sirius, Remus, or Peter?” James puzzled for a moment.

“Sirius,” He responded. “He’s completely hopeless in the kitchen!”

“Well I’d get Remus to teach him! Godric knows he’s the only one Sirius will listen to when you’re trying to teach him something,” Lily giggled as she responded.

“No, no,” James shook his head. “It’s important I teach him, it’s a, er, surprise,” his tone lifted up at the end, as if asking a question.

“Well, I suppose you could show him like this,” Lily explained, while she pulled James’s arms around her torso, and clasped one of his hands on hers. She guided him through cracking three eggs. She stood on her tip toes for a soft kiss, but ducked back over to the other counter while James processed everything, and blushed. Really anyone would think they hadn’t been married for the past three years!

“Would it work if I don’t kiss him at the end though? I don’t want Remus getting jealous,” James teased. Lily rolled her eyes and responded.

“It might, but I’ve never left the kiss out though,” James glanced over. Lily certainly had only taught him this once. So who else had she instructed in baking? “I’m teasing, dork,” she giggled. Godric, he loved her laugh. “Most people know how to do such a simple thing as crack an egg!” To show his annoyance, James grabbed a handful of powdered sugar and tossed it onto her.

“That might help you be a little sweeter next time, love,” James jokes.

“Oh now it’s on!” Lily exclaimed as she picked up a handful of flour.

In the end it was a miracle that they had any ingredients for the cake. But with Lily there to guide James, they managed to craft a fairly decent looking batter.

Although, how James had managed to sneak in the magic Gryffindor food dye he bought was beyond Lily. All she knew was that the batter was now rapidly flashing between Crimson and Gold.

They began to clean up, thankful that there hadn’t been too many more incidents. However, they did have a rather messy snog due to the small food fight which was still evident on them both.

••••

Bang! James and Lily quickly tore apart staring at the room to their left. Snap! Lily knew what was happening first, remembering she had hidden their wands in her makeup bag (which James refused to believe was real, because such beauty as hers could only be natural.)

“Harry, he got into my make up bag,” she wanted to facepalm, but instead raced into the bathroom.

“Oh Merlin,” James groaned. With the sorts of mischief Harry got into, James was sure it was his karma for his trouble making days.

There, on the brightly coloured floor, sat Harry. He was covered in head to toe with various make up. Some were less natural shade than others, but James did have to say that the Gryffindor gold eyeshadow suited him rather well...

Everything seemed as right as rain, obviously excluding the make up covered baby, until James happened to glance up.

“Oh in the name of Merlin’s cracked knee cap,”

“Holy sh-“

“Lily! I don’t want my son knowing such poor words!” James cut her off. Sighing Lily corrected herself into a slightly more child appropriate exclamation of anger.

Their ceiling was currently host to, what appeared to be, a floating ocean. Complete with fish and seaweed. Even a few small jellyfish. And a sting ray (This was much to James’s horror, as they happened to be one of his greatest fears)

Truly, it was an impressive piece of magic. However, they wished he knew how to clean it up with out flooding their house. While cleaning Harry up in the bath tub, they worked on how exactly to get rid of this temporary aquarium.

“Perhaps a shield charm?” Lily mused.

“Yes, or we could try and summon it out into our yard.” James suggested.

They pondered for a little longer until Lily shrugged.

“We could leave it there,” she suggested. Their house was already filled with quite a collection of things that didn’t necessarily belong together. But in a way, they did belong together because they all made Lily and James happy with various memories. This aquarium would simply be another happy memory. And quite a story to tell to Harry’s future girlfriends.

“That sounds good too,” James nodded. They were just about ready to sit down and cuddle on the couch, while watching Harry play with his mini quidditch set, when Harry himself began to speak. He had been wandering back and forth between the kitchen and bathroom. He definitely had a curious nature.

“Dada,” Harry gurgled.

“Yes my little seeker,” James spoke.

“BOOM” Harry exclaimed excitedly with large force for such a young child.

“Do you need to go potty? I can-“ Lily let out a large groan as she stuck her head into the kitchen.

“Oh James! He means the cake!” This while cake business was turning into much more trouble than it was worth!

Stepping into the kitchen, they were greeted with the delicious smell of warm vanilla with a speck of cinnamon.

They were also greeted with an exploding mess leaking out of the oven. Some was burning, other parts were still raw. All of it was as messy as one could possibly imagine. Lily turned to glare at James.

“Just how much baking powder did you put in here?” She accused, holding back a small smile.

“What? I wanted our kid to have a big cake!” James explained as he scooped Harry into his arms.

“Merlin’s bloody nostril,” Lily exclaimed. “This is going to take ages to clean up,” Harry began to mimic the various groans that Lily and James were making which caused groans to change to laughter. James made sure Harry joined in this by tickling his toes.

“Dada!” Harry shrieked. “Tickle bug!!”

And that’s the story of how the Potter family ended up on their kitchen floor giggling and tickling each other, while burning cake batter dripped out of the oven.

And in that precious moment, none of them could imagine anything happier.

[iwantutobehapppier]

Birthday Boy

Pairing: Steve Rogers x Reader

Summary: Trying to make up for last years birthday celebrations you take Steve on a path down memory lane with some fun peppered in.

Warnings: SMUT. Unprotected Sex, fingering, oral, cock warming, choking, and cursing. 18 an older only, do not read if under the age of 18. This isn’t for everyone, if any of these situations bother you please read no further.

Word Count: 6,623

A/N: This is for Steve’s Birthday! Also to celebrate by participating in @sherrybaby14 Happy Birthday Steve Flash Challenge. Much longer than a drabble but meh. Unedited so I could post it in time. I’ll go back and edit it. Probably, maybe, we’ll see. Enjoy! Reblogs, comments and asks always welcomed!

Steve scratched the back of his head in confusion. Didn’t Sam tell him you would be here waiting for him? Looking around the deserted Avengers Lobby you were nowhere to be seen. It was the day before the 4th of July and most departments within the building had closed early for the day leaving a rather empty lobby this afternoon. A frown fell over his face, maybe Sam got it wrong and you were waiting in the garage?

Just as he start to head for the garage one of the exterior doors busted open to show a bike courier running in with a flushed face. He clearly had been rushing. Steve raised an eyebrow, placing his hands in his slack pockets as the courier stopped in front of him and bent over trying to catch his breath.

“For you Mr. Rogers- uh Captain Rogers,” the courier panted out holding a slim envelope up towards Steve remaining bent over. Steve eyed the envelope questionably before taking it from the young man’s hand.

“Do you need some water kid?” Steve offers watching him stand up straight face still red.

“Oh no, no” The young man barely a teenager by the looks of it waves his hands in front of himself.

“I’ve got too many more deliveries to make.” He took in a deep breath and looked at Steve with a growing admiration. “Can’t believe I get to deliver to you though! The Captain America!” Steve couldn’t help the smile that pulled at one side of his mouth at the courier’s excitement.

“Thank you for getting this to me so promptly kid,” The courier nodded his head vigorously.

“Oh of course! 30 Minutes Delivery isn’t just a company name it’s the motto!” Steve nodded his head seeing the same logo on envelope also on his shirt. “I gotta go! Have a great 4th!” The kid started walking off but came to a stop.

“Oh Geeze!” He turned back around to Steve. “Happy early Birthday Captain!” He waved enthusiastically and then turned to jog back to his bike.

Steve shook his head smirking, the kid reminded him of Peter with his level of zest. Looking back at the envelope he saw it was addressed from you to him. What on earth where you up to he wondered.

Ripping the envelope open glitter exploded out and Steve groaned. He should have known you’d do something like this. He shook his hands looking down to see his button up shirt covered in glitter, the creases of his pants littered here and there and the floor below covered with the craft product as well. He swore he could hear you giggling in his head. You were going to be in trouble for this, he swore it.

Looking in the envelope he saw a card and pulled it out, a simple ‘Happy Birthday’ greeting on the front, he opens it to see your hand writing instructing him to dress casual and meet you at Coney Island Luna Park by 6 for pre-birthday fun. He smiled at all the hearts you drew on the inside of the card and the cheesy way you put both of your initials with a plus sign in the biggest heart you drew.

Steve would be lying if he didn’t say he was relieved it was just an evening at Coney Island. Last year you and Tony had thrown him a huge birthday party he was not comfortable at the entire night until it dwindled down to the core Avenger group. Though tomorrow being his birthday you could always have more up your sleeve. He sighs shaking out his shirts and pants, feeling only slightly guilty at the glittery mess he was leaving on the lobby floor. You couldn’t text him or call him about meeting there no, you and Sam clearly plotted together on this one.

Looking at his watch he shook his head at the slight time crunch you had caused for him. He’d need to get to south Brooklyn from upper Manhattan not to mention he would need to change clothes entirely given the glitter and needing a more casual outfit at your request. Heading back upstairs he smiled wondering if he had enough time to fling some of the glitter left in the envelope on Sam.

-

You pulled your hair behind your ears as the wind picked up behind as you stand in front of the Luna Park entrance. You were sure Steve would like this much better than last year. Still disappointed in yourself for giving into Tony’s idea of throwing Steve a big birthday party.

Really, you knew better after being an Avenger for 4 years and with Steve nearly 2 of them, at this point you should have known it was a bad idea. Sometimes Tony was too damn convincing. When Steve had seen all the people there you could instantly tell he was uncomfortable but he played the part of happy birthday boy well and it broke your heart a little for him to have to fake anything on his birthday. This year you were determined to get it right!

This idea of a Coney Island date before his actual birthday came after he told you about how much he and Bucky would waste money at Coney Island. All the dames Bucky brought and or picked up while there leaving Steve the constant third wheel. Even with being a third wheel Steve never sounded upset about the time spent there. You had so much more planned for him but that was for you to reveal later.

An uncontrollable smile took over your face watching Steve stroll up the side walk in a pulled down cap, jeans and a tight black shirt. You licked your lips eyeing the outline of his chest underneath the shirt, he never knew how to wear a loose fitting shirt, not that you minded. Steve’s arms wrap around you once in his reach and pull you to him tightly, in kind your hand slip around his neck playing with his hair at the nap of his neck.

“Hey doll,” you smile into his chest at the nickname. “Hey birthday boy,” you muffle back into his chest. He kisses your forehead before pulling away to appreciate the light blue sun dress you wore with wedges giving you a few extra inches.

“You enjoy your card?” A sly smile pulls at your lips watching his brow furrow at your antics. “Everything but the glitter.” You giggled exactly how he imagined you would at the site of him covered in glitter.

“Captain America not a fan of a little bit of glitter?” He rolled his eyes at your sweet tone.

“That was more than a little bit of glitter and you know it. You’re going to pay for that.” His tone was gruff and your eye lids dropped half way looking at him.

“You promise?” You lick your lips at the possibilities. He stars down at you but was caught off guard when someone pushes past him, suddenly making him aware of your public location.

“Later,” He winks at your pout.

“Let’s start the Birthday fun!” You took his large hand in yours pulling him towards the entrance of the park. He remains at your side, intertwining his fingers with yours you look up at him continuing to walk.

“I’m not going on the cyclone.” You laughed at the grimace Steve gave. “I can’t believe it’s still here.”

“Are you jealous something almost as old as you still this sturdy?” You faced forward, leading the both of you towards the Coney games, knowing Steve for the most part was not a fan of rides.

“Are you saying I’m not sturdy?” He sounds almost hurt at the insinuation.

“Oh you and I both know you’re a sturdy ride.” You wink at him enjoying the faint blush blooming on his cheeks.

Steve handed you would be the tenth stuffed animal he had won for you. You had warned him to tone down his strength else he’d draw attention to him but he ignored your warning.

“I could never win these back in the day,” he confesses with a small frown as he hands you the giant stuffed bear in-between your already full hands. “I was too weak back then and I always wanted to be the guy with the gal who had all the prizes because her man could win them.”

“Oh Steve,” Your heart ached and warm all at once at his words. “I would love for you to get me all the prizes but I’m running out of room to hold them.”

Steve laughs titling his head back noticing your head almost covered by the prizes. Why did they all have to be giant stuff animals? As the two of you made your way to the next booths where he could win you something you started giving the current prizes to children passing by.

When Steve saw what you were doing he smiled until the corner of his eyes crinkled, overwhelmed at how generous you were being. It was one of his favorite things about you, never took more than you needed and sometimes even less than what you needed. The latter being something he would scold you for from time to time. You look up at him as the little girl you had just given the last prize to excitedly shows off the bear to her parents.

“Oh,” You seem suddenly unsure of your actions. “I’m sorry Steve I know you were winning those for me but it was just so much and I thought kids would probably enjoy–” He pulls you to him and kisses your lips gently, ceasing your rambling.

“It’s perfect,” he spoke pulling his lips from yours staring into your eyes. “Come on doll, I want to win you everything I can so you can give it away.” You sigh in relief following him to the next booth.

“Get me all of them Steve!” You cheered him on.

After winning you several more prizes that seemed to all be some type of stuffed toy you had given them all away except for one. Smiling down at the Captain America plush you couldn’t help but hug the toy to you as the two of you stood in line at a food truck.

“Hm, never thought I’d be jealous of myself,” Steve muttered dipping his head down towards the toy’s head pushed between your breasts. You pull the toy down but Steve caught your arm shaking his head.

“No no, I like it there.” He winked down at you before walking up to the truck window and began ordering for the both of you. Flabbergasted at his comment you stood behind him silently.

You couldn’t stop yourself as you dug into the truck food with vigor sitting on a picnic table across from Steve, smiling whenever your eyes would meet. Steve’s brow furrowed looking around the park noticing all the remaining attractions, a few booths, some machines, and attractions though definitely updated it all had a strange sense of nostalgia. The thoughts of Bucky and times long ago were prevalent, like a shadow around each corner as the sun began to set.

“Hey,” you recognized the bleak look falling over his face. “Come back to me.” You whispered, grasping his hand resting on the table across you. His head jerked to you, eyes clearing and a soft smile played at his lips.

“I’m here,” He smirked at the sauce dripping down your using his other hand he wipes the sauce away with his thumb and without missing a beat you turn to his thumb pulling it into your mouth. Sucking the mess from his thumb his eyes leveled with you, his lips curled up into a predatory smile as you graze your teeth along his retreating thumb.

“Naughty girl,” His voice a bit deeper than normal, with a sly smile you wink at him. “Maybe I didn’t want to waste of the delicious food?” He shifts in his seat and you could just imagine the hardening cock in his jeans. It was definitely time for your next part of the birthday celebration.

Without a further word you took both of your trash to dispose of it then grabbing you plush Captain America and the pulling the real one by the hand on to the next adventure. He called out your name inquiring where you were leading him but you didn’t respond the entire time. You finally stopped in front of an arch way displaying ‘Wonder Wheel’ in large letters with a giant Ferris wheel behind it.

“Another artifact like you,” your words held mirth as you stuck your tongue out the side of your mouth looking up at Steve. His eyes widen starring up at the Ferris wheel he rode growing up in Brooklyn.

“Wow,” He looked down when you pulled him further into the line. “Uh, I don’t know about this doll. It’s so old you know and it goes up real high.”

“I promise it’s just as sturdy as you,” Steve ran his tongue over his bottom teeth leaning back on his feet he looked down at you. “Not to mention who beautiful the night sky is going to be facing the ocean!”

“Doll,” his voice laced with growing anxiety.

“I’m pretty sure you’ve jumped out of planes without a parachute so what danger could there be in a Ferris wheel?”

“I have a shield to help with landing,” He looked less and less happy about the idea as the line shortened.

“You’ve got your shield!” You pulled on the shield sewed to the plush Captain America doll; Steve gave you a small smile and sighed in defeat. Happy at persuading him you lean up on your tip toes and wrap a hand around the back of his neck pulling him down towards you. Pushing your body flush against his you press your lips gently against the skin below his ear causing him to shudder and wrap an arm around your waist.

“I promise I will make it worth your while.” You whisper softly into his ear before nipping at his ear lobe and leaning back on your feet letting go of him. His arm loosens around you at the bite but tightens once more looking down at you in curiosity.

“Next.” You peel yourself from his grip and turn towards the Ferris wheel attendant who called for the two of you. Handing him tickets from your purse you had purchased before Steve had met you at the park.

Steve frowned adjusting his pants to make room for the arousal your behavior had caused. His brows lifted up watching you mutter something he couldn’t hear to the attendant and barely catching the sight of the $100 bill you slip into their hand.

Smiling brightly back at Steve you grip his hand pulling him to the large outer Ferris wheel carriage another attendant was opening for the both of you. Steve helped you into the box and following afterwards.

There were two bench one on each side of the Ferris Wheel, you sat on the one facing outward and patting for Steve to join you. He did but not without cringing the teetering of the box at weight change.

“What was that about back there?” He inquires pulling you to his side an arm draped over your shoulder. Shrug at him and let out a small ‘meep’ when the Ferris wheel started to move slowly. In reaction Steve pulls you closer to him your hand rested on his lap instead of being squeezed between the two of you.

Once you felt the two of you were at least half way up your hand began to wander towards his inner thigh, gently kneading him there, his eyes cut down to you but you smile at him innocently. He wasn’t fooled though. You began to lazily trail your hand up and down his thigh, purposely letting the tips of your fingers barely touch his growing erection.

“Doll,” his tone full of warning but you ignore him. Instead you pull your legs under you sitting on them the movement swaying the booth a little. You kiss him softy at first, trailing your hand up and down his thigh again.

Steve didn’t take kindly to you ignoring him; he threading his fingers in your hair and pulls your head back gently. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“Taking care of my birthday man?” You bite your bottom lip and Steve’s eyes narrow on your lips.

“No one can see, unless you want them to.” A deep red blush covers his cheeks as he mutters a “No.”

You curled your fingers around his clothed hard cock, he curses under his breath looking down at your hand then back at your face. He pushes your lips back to his he was rough though, nipping at your lower lip you gasp and his tongue invades your mouth. In response you unbutton and unzip his pants your hand slipping into the slit of his boxer briefs. He groaned against your mouth as you wrap your fingers around his warm cock tugging at it gently through the slit exposing him to the air.

You looked down at his cock and whimpered, it was so flushed and throbbing in your hand. You tighten your grip and Steve jerked your hair making you look at him.

“Taste it,” he encourages you, pushing your head down. You oblige leaning down your ass lifting in the air as you held his thigh with one hand, the other resting against his hard chest. You gently lick the tip and smile when his cock jerks at the touch.

Unable to resist any longer you wrap your lips around the head and began to swirl your tongue along the head. Steve threw his head back, a faint thud against the window, he lets out a groan.

“Just like that,” he mutters under his breath as you took him deeper.

His hand trails from your hair down your back and pulls your dress up revealing your lace underwear. Oh he was definitely going to rip those off later. He grips one of your exposed ass cheeks then gives it a heavy slap. The force of his slap causes you to take his cock further down your throat with a moan. Wiggling your butt he smirks at the show slapping the opposite cheek, in return you took the rest of him down your throat, feeling his soft blonde pubes.

“Shit,” he gasps out unable to stop the way his hips jerk up when you pull up stopping half way to go back down. Purposely swallowing around him, your tongue rolling around any part of him you could touch. Trailing your free hand up his thigh you cupped his balls still within his boxer briefs.

His breath falters. “Doll,” he whimpers when you pull your head up and went right back down in quick sessions. “Please,” he jerks his hips up shoving himself into your receding mouth. With his other hand he grips your head and holds you down. You moan around his cock, feeling liquid pool between your legs.

You loved it when he used your mouth, hell when he just used you.

He pulls you completely off his cock, pulling your head back to bend your back at an almost painful angle. His eyes were nearly all black when he pressed his mouth to yours, spittle glistening on your lips. His tongue trailed along your tongue groaning into you at the taste of himself. With his grip still in your hair he pulls your head back looking you in the eyes.

“Who’s mouth is this?” His voice gravel from his arousal. You whimper at his words shifting your hips together. He smacks your ass harder than before and you swore the sound echoes outside the Ferris wheel booth.

“Who’s” he pulls your head down, your mouth barely touching the bright red pulsing head of his cock, “is it?”

“Yours Captain,” he groans and shoving his cock all the way down your throat, gasping as you gagged on him at the sudden intrusion. He pulls your head up quickly and pushes back down just as quick.

“Yeah it’s mine” he mutters moving your head up and down on him gripping your ass with his other hand.

“It’s mine to use and abuse.” He grunted when your throat constricts around him causing him to hold you down at his base.

“You deserve to be used too,” He pulled you up just enough so you could catch your breath only to push you back down. “Getting me on this old Ferris wheel with such ill intent.”

Pulling your head back one more time he admired the drool trailing own your swollen lips, a groan pulled from his mouth when you licked your lips clean.

“Such a filthy thing,” He kissed you roughly before shoving you back down on his cock barely giving you a chance to breath as he started pushing himself up into your mouth. Tears started to pool at the corner of your eyes in response to the random gagging, but you wouldn’t let him stop, even if he could at this point.

“I’m gonna cum,” he groans out, his hips stilled as he started to move your head again on his cock. It was only a few moments later he held your mouth at his base; hips jerking you felt warm shots roll down your throat. Swallowing everything he had you slowly pull your head up when his grip releases.

He was still panting, coming down from the feelings you sent through his body. Smiling at him you wiped your mouth with the back of your hand. Reaching behind you pulled a handkerchief out of your purse; one he had given you so very 1930’s of him.

His whole body jerked when you began clean up his lap the sensation being too much, his eyes widen at your actions.

“Doll you shouldn’t be doing that–” He protests and went to still your arm but you swatted him away his post-orgasm euphoria letting him be bested.

“It’s your birthday,” You countered continuing with your task.

“Yeah but…” his voice trailed off as you finish and put the handkerchief in your purse and slip his softening cock back into his boxer briefs. Steve swatted your hands away to button and zip his pants up. You went to retort about you taking care of him but he stopped you before you could start.

“Hush we’re almost on the beach side,” At his words you turned around seeing the bright stars above the ocean. The city was way to light polluted to be able to see any stars but facing out towards the ocean you could actually see some.

Steve pulled you into his lap both of you staring at the night sky as the booth descended.

-

“Where are you taking me now?” Steve grumbles beside you, he was getting tired of walking around with so many people around and it was getting late. You pat his arm wrapped around you as you pull your cellphone out smiling brightly at the text you got.

“Who is that?” Steve felt a surge of envy of your attention being diverted from him.

“Remember me saying my friend that’s got a place in Brooklyn near where your mom’s was… Well she tends to be out of town around this time of year.”

“Yeah,” Steve trailed not sure he understood what this had to do with anything.

“Well she said we could crash at her place for the holiday weekend.” You smiled up at him.

“This way it can just be us, she’s got a nice 3 story walk-up across from Prospect Park.” Steve whistled at the location.

“Those aren’t cheap places doll,” You nudged him with your shoulder as he led the two of you out of the park. “Oh hush, it doesn’t matter. It’s ours for the night or weekend if we want!”

Steve nodded his head, staying in Brooklyn with his girl for his birthday sounded fantastic. No giant parties, no one knocking on their door interrupting their solitude. Just the two of them.

“She said the fridge has minimal essentials so if we want more food for the weekend we’ll need to get it.” Steve shrugged at your comment though slightly elated at the idea of doing something as domestic as grocery shopping with you.

“Well let’s head there. Figure we’d take my bike?” Steve question rhetorical, he knew you never drove. “Yeah just don’t go too fast.” Steve chuckled at your concern.

“I’d never let anything happen to you doll,” he kissed you before leading you to his bike.

The place wasn’t too far but far enough that Steve was able to admire sights of the Brooklyn he once knew merging with the 21st century. He pulled up to the walk-up and realized he could remember when they built these houses; he was barely 10 when they were finished. Shaking his head he trailed behind you as you entered a code into the deadlock keypad to the house.

Once the two of you shuffled inside he could make out familiar duffel bags on the couch in the living room. The both of you pulling your shoes off and setting them on a shoe rack next to the front door.

“Doll,” he dragged the l’s out inspecting the duffel bags closer.

You suddenly felt guilty for some reason, as if you had tricked him. “Yes Steve?” You tried to sound sweet as possible.

“What are our bags doing here?” You toed your foot into the hardwood floor pulling your arms behind your back.

“Tony may have helped a little in getting bags I had packed here so we could stay for however long we wanted.” Steve smiled at you pulling you into his embrace.

“And here I thought I’d just get to see you naked the whole time.” You pulled his ball cap off and threaded your fingers through his hair.

“I mean I could,” you gave him a licentious smile. He groans as if imagining you naked already.

“Yeah you should,” he leans down to kiss you but you slip out of his hands. His brow furrowed in confusion. You pointed to the bags which he quickly picked up and then crooked your finger at him. He followed you without a word as you made your way to the guest room.

Once he was in the room he sat the bags down and threw you on the bed only to pull his pants off before he pounced on you as you bounced on the mattress giggling.

“About that naked thing,” He wiggled his eye brows at you causing the giggles to continue. He silenced you gently kissing your lips then the corners of your mouth, trailing down your chin to your neck where he began to nibble on the skin.

You cooed, your hands wrapping around his waist pulling his shirt up so you could grip his muscular back. He grinned against your neck and sat up, wedging his hips between your spread legs. He quickly pulled his shirt up and over his head followed by your dress. He let out a pleased groan, his hands starting at your waist trailing up your stomach kneading your skin as he reached below your bra.

One hand slips underneath you unhooking the bra with finesse that took years to obtain, the other hand tossing the bra somewhere in the room.  You grip at the waist band of his underwear whimpering when you push your hips up against his hard cock, the friction setting your skin on fire. Steve groaned, his hands falling on the bed at your sides holding himself up as he bears down on you.  

You lean up nipping at his ear lobe and kissing your way up his chin to his lips. Gently pressing against him and you were met with his never ending intensity. Tongues fighting for dominance as his hands take yours from his waist and hold them at your side pushing you back down into the mattress with one hand.

Pulling your hands above your head he holds them with one hand bruising strength and began to rub his cloth covered cock against your slick pussy. The juices soaking into his boxer briefs, he groans putting his chin to his chest looking down at your soaked panties. He licks his lips looking back at your face; a soft whimper passes your lips at that predatory look.

“You gonna let me fill you huh?” You felt your lower abdomen quiver at his words thick with his Brooklyn accent when he lost himself in his lust.

“Yeah you want it,” he muttered letting go of your waist slipping into your underwear to rub your clit with his thumb. You arched your back up crying out hands jerking against his hold but when he applied pressure you stilled.

“Please,” You half gasped out at his attention, his pressure light and slow almost torturous.

“Please what?” He smirked down at you.

“I want to cum, please.”

“You’re gonna have to do better than that.” He began to increase the pressure of his thumb

“Please Captain make me cum,” you began to rotate your hips. “I want to cum, I want your cum.” Steve groaned and increased his pressure on your clit, letting go of your wrists to rip your underwear off with minimal effort and shoves two fingers into your slick heat pressing his palm against your clit.

You nearly screamed out, the sensation too much as he began a brutal pace. Your head began to toss back and forth on the bed his attentions sending rippling pleasure up and down your body.

“You want to cum?” He taunted, leaning over you. You nodded your head not able to say yes as you moaned louder, a tightening feeling spreading in your lower abdomen.

“Not yet,” he pulls his hands away from you and you sob out loud, your legs flailing in anger at his denial. Without another word he grips your throat and you still, your legs resting over his thighs.

“Such a good little slut,” he praised and you couldn’t help the feeling of pride that washed over you at his words.

“You’re gonna be good for me right?” You muttered a yes.

“Gonna take my cock, gonna let me fill you up? Be such a good doll for me right?” You felt your head fog with lust at his words.

“Yes Captain,” You whimper out pushing your pelvis down on his.

“I love it when you call me that.” He growled out.

Steve spurred into action; pulling down his boxer briefs until completely off. Pushing your thighs wide apart he gripped the base of his cock, trailing the head up and down your slit enjoying the way his precum and your juices made the head glisten. He shifted up to standing on his knees pulling your waist with him your lower half up in the air. The height different bending you at the neck.

“Tell me if it’s too much okay?” You nodded meekly as you whimper feeling the head of his cock press into you.

When he thrusts himself into you regardless of your arousal and preparation there was that delicious burn of stretching. You both cry out, your hands gripping at the air as he holds your hips still with both hands. “What’s wrong baby girl?” he taunted.

“So full,” you gasped out, trying to rotate your hips but his grip was too firm. He tutted your attempts as he slowly pulled himself out then slammed back in causing you to cry out again as your body went limp with pleasure. He chuckled at your cries and set a punishing pace.

“Who do you belong to?” He grunts out between closed teeth, his brow furrow.

“You,” Voice hoarse from the over use and bent neck.

“Who?” A hand lets go of your waist and two fingers begin to run circles around and gently pinch your clit. You feel the deliria of pleasure start to settle in, almost missing his question.

“I belong to you Steve,” he stilled “Captain” You all but gasp out, he leans over your prone body peppering kisses on any skin he can reach, continuing his assault on your over worked slick pussy.

He groans pulling you from him only to flip you onto your stomach as if you were light as air. He sat back on his heels pulling your waist over his lap. Your legs wrapped behind him on reflex, hands stretched out on the bed in front of you, his cock slowly pushing back into you.

“You drive me crazy,” he mutters out, a hand on your lower back guiding your ass back and forth on him. You faintly hear him growling his eyes entranced at the sight of his cock slipping in and out of your sopping wet pussy.

Your eyes shut tightly the sensation of his slow intrusion sending shocks up and down your body settling into the tightening of your lower abdomen. Steve hand snakes down below you, rubbing your clit quickly to offset his leisure pace. You arch your back down with a sob, the sensation too much you shutter around him losing yourself to the release of pleasure.

He grunts feeling you spasm around him setting his pace back up in tempo, pounding into you with strength that would certainly leave bruises. “Cum in me,” You coo, your body jerking against the bed at his thrusting. He nearly howls at the words his body seizing up, his pelvis flush to your ass cheeks filling you at your request.

It took a while before either of you caught your breaths enough to move. He pulls his semi hard cock out of you. You couldn’t control the way your hips push back, primal need to always feel him. He would have normally chuckled at your actions but he’s mesmerized by his cum leaking out of your bright red pussy.

“Oh no no,” his finger push the dripping cum back in, you releasing soft whimper from your lips at the feel of his fingers pushing on the overworked flesh.

He twisted his hand pushing his palm against your clit, his fingers still inside of you keeping his cum inside as he began to rub his palm against your clit causing your back to arch back down again a deep moan pulling from your lips. He placed his other hand on the back of your neck sending you down the path to orgasmic bliss once again.

-

Steve felt consciousness slowly start to filter in as the morning sun began to shine in the room; he reached over for you but frowned when he found nothing but crumpled sheets. Opening his eyes he slowly sat up, his senses returning after a late night of his favorite activity. Smelling bacon he licked his lips standing up with a stretch.

He spotted across the room that you had set out his favorite sweat pants on a reading chair. Deciding it was time to find you he worked towards getting pants on so he could hunt you and the bacon down.

You danced naked underneath the apron to a song stuck in your head. Your hair up in a messy bun as it was unsalvageable to be down anymore after last night. You felt your thighs clench at the thought of everything the two of you did. Returning you focus to cooking you flipped over the bacon wondering when the birthday boy would wake up.

Strong muscular arms looped around the front of your waist, the other cupped a breast gently pulling you back into warm uncovered chest.

“What are you wearing or rather aren’t wearing,” he rough scratch in his voice made you push your thighs together once more.

“You asked for naked the whole time.” You remind him, pushing the bacon with your spatula. He hummed in appreciation, rutting his morning erection against your back side.

“So I did,”The hand on you breast snaking in the valley between your breast to gently wrap around your throat pulling you head to the side he began to kiss along your  neck.

He pulls his sweat pants down enough to pull his cock out. He dips his hips low to be able to rub his cock between your ass cheeks chuckling as you wiggle against him.

“Steve…” A soft gasp escapes your lips while you throw a hand behind you reaching up to grip the nape of his neck. “The bacon.”

“You can still finish the bacon don’t worry.” His hands wrap around your waist lifting you up just enough to nudge the head of his cock between your wet lips. When your body betrayed you jerking at the slight pain on over used flesh, he pulls away but your feet hook around his calf anchoring yourself.

“No I want it,”

“Doll” His voice full of concern.

“I like it when it hurts,” Your confession earning a groan from Steve against the back of your neck, “You’re gonna be the death of me.” Sliding you down until you were at the root he gently bit your neck moving one arm to warp around your lower abdomen keeping you tight against him.

You are panting head thrown back as you try to focus on anything but the searing feeling of him so deeply inside you once again.

���Don’t forget about the bacon.” Steve murmurs against your neck before he starts to draw patterns on your skin with his tongue, you shake your head looking down at the close to burning bacon.

Quickly you take it out of the pan, leaning just slightly over to pull new bacon into the pan, a whimper pushing past your lips at the shift of him inside you at the movement. Steve flexes his hips panting against your neck. Your head feels fuzzy trying to focus almost impossible with him sitting so deep in you. The telling tightening and need for release growing with each second he stayed within you.

“Finish our breakfast doll,” His voice barely above a whisper giving away that this was driving him just as crazy.

Once the bacon was finished you turn the burner off and barely have a chance to put the last of the bacon on the plate before Steve turns the both you around pushing your chest down on the marble kitchen island. He swirls his pelvis groaning out between ragged breaths.

“It’s almost unbearable to be surrounded by your tight pussy and not do anything,” He smacks your ass causing you to clench around him with a soft cry. That is what sets him off. He rears his hips back nearly completely out of you and slams right back into you with so much force you’d certainly have a bruise later along your thighs from the island marble.

He began pounding away into you with abandon, groaning out your name intermittently like a mantra. The sensations were too much for your overworked body, crying out his name you spasm around him. Steve’s steady pace became jerky his fingers pressing tightly into your flesh as he filled you once more, his forehead dropping  to  your shoulder gently biting at your sweaty flesh riding out his orgasm.

Laying the side of your face on the cool marble you try to cool yourself down as hot puffs of air escaping your lips with Steve panting into your skin.

“Happy Birthday Steve.” You can feel his lips upturn against you neck. “Best one yet and the days not even over.” Barely a mumble against your skin.  

[maraudererasmut]

Experiment MJ001

TW: Drug and alcohol use. Mentions of drugs and alcohol use by minors. 

Marjiuana is legal in my country. It has been for a while.

I’ve always been very nervous about things in my life. Not anything in specific, just things in general. I had spend so long being repressed by my parents, I had cotten it in my head that drugs = bad and since marjiuana = drug, QED marjiuana = bad. 

Today, I decided to do something out of the ordinary and purchase a (legal) chocolate bar from the pot store and try it out!

So, I am currently high for the very first time in my life! (I’m in my late 20s)

I had an idea that I thought was brilliant at the time to write Wolfstar fan fiction about Remus getting high for the first time WHILE I was high and see what happened!

I also decided that I’m going to POST IT. Without editing it! (Pure, unadulterated chaos!!!) Now, for your viewing pleasure, the ramblings of a T on Pot. I have no idea if this is good or not. I haven’t read through it yet. I’ll probably wake up tomorrow, read this, regret it and delete it. But until then... enjoy!

((I’m sorry if it’s terrible!!!))

((I am also currently still high while typing this, so I apologize for any errors!!))

Remus had never consumed marjiuana before. Growing up, his parents had been very strict with what kinds of medication he was allowed to consume, particularly in regards to his lycanthropy. “You don’t know how it will affect the wolf, Remus.” “You don’t know what will happen…” “We can’t predict how the wolf will react…” 

Magic had always been the go-to remedies for colds or maladies; Muggle drugs were never to be trusted in the LUpin home.

So when Remus got drunk for the first time, he made sure that his friends were around to help him through the experience. 

Now, in his seventh year of school, Remus finally built up enough courage to ask his friends to, once-again, monitor Remus while he was testing the waters.

Remus sat with the three other Marauders, staring at the brownie in his hand.

“Are you sure this is safe?” he groaned, internally terrified of what may happen. The scent of the brownie wafted through the air, and Remus cursed his wolfish senses as his mind began convincing him that this might be worth it for the chocolate alone.

“”Yeah, I’m sure, Moons…” Sirius teased, licking his lips like a cartoon wolf sizing up a prized pig as he stared at his own brownie.

“Yeah, Pads and I have done this hundreds of times!” James chimed in, already  half way through his. “It’s fine!”

“You’re not werewolves,” Remus grumbled as he turned to Peter. “You’re the sensible one, Wormy. What do you think?”

Peter stared at Remus for a moment before breaking out into a smile. 

“I say fuck it!” he said, taking a bite out of his own brownie. “You only live once, Moons!”

Remus closed his eyes, took a bite from his brownie, chewed and swallowed. 

Nothing happened.

No big bang, no swirling in his brain, no sudden rush of feeling. 

“It’s… not working?” He said, turning to Sirius.

“Give it a bit, Moons! It takes time to work! It’s like alcohol!”

“Okay,” Remus said with a shrug, finishing the rest of his brownie. “So… what do I do until then?”

Sirius shrugged, but his smirk gave him away. He sat back onto the pillows and blankets that they had dragged to the ground, his head resting precariously close to Remus’ lap. He grinned up at Remus before reaching for his wand and giving a lazy flick into the air. 

Sirius’ record player began to spin, and All Along the Watchtower began playing, filling the entire room and seeping into Remus’ bones.

Remus laid back on the pillows, his head next to Sirius’. He closed his eyes and let Hendrix drift through his mind, trying not to let Sirius’ scent drive him crazy. 

Remus didn’t feel anything.

Not for a while.

He didn’t think it was even working.

The boys had spent the next hour talking, chatting, chilling, as they usually do on Saturday evenings. They talked about girls (James complaining about Lily), boys (Sirius’ trists with that Ravenclaw boy), and everything in between (Peter’s insistence that, yes, James, he is still Asexual. And no, James, he doesn’t need to double check.) 

Remus didn’t notice the time passing as he laid on the pillows next to his friends, for the first time in his life actually being able to participate fully. They normally spend evenings hanging out in the middle of the room. James and Sirius always got high. They had since they had discovered Muggle weed last year. Peter had partaken on occasion, but usually insisted that he preferred a couple of beers over weed. Remus, on the other hand, remained sober all night, watching his friends fall into various states of inebriation, testing their limits, seeing new sides of themselves. 

This was his first time.

Remus smiled to himself, thinking about how much fun it is to participate, even if he didn’t know what being high felt like yet. 

“What’re you smiling about?”

Sirius’ voice was practically a purr in Remus’ ear, and he felt his heartbeat quicken. 

“M’not… Not really. Just… happy to be here with you lads....”

“Mmm, same, Moons. Happy to be here… Today’s a good day to be alive…”

“That’s a weird thing to say…” Remus rolled over and looked at Sirius. 

Was Sirius always that handsome? Did his eyes always sparkle silver in their conjured lights? Did his hair always look that soft and touchable? What would happen if Remus touched it? Was his skin always so pale, so milky while, Remus had to resist leaning over and tasting it. Remus edged his arm over slightly, comparing his own freckle-dusted arm to Sirius’. One was slender and perfect and tattooed and lovely. One was broken and scarred and ugly. 

It was no wonder Sirius never noticed Remus.

“Whatya thinkin’ ‘bout?”

Sirius’ voice distracted Remus from his thoughts. 

“Mm? What’d’ya mean?” 

I can see for miles and miles and miles and miles and miles…

The Who was playing in the background and Remus watched as Sirius’ head bobbed up and down to the music, a wide grin spread across his perfect cheeks. 

“I mean you’re thinkin’ of stuff. We all are… I am… That’s what makes things so cool when you’re high… You think of stuff…”

Remus blinked. What was Sirius even saying? What had he been doing? Was he thinking? He seemed to be thinking…

His brain felt like the needle was skipping across the record. Or that more than one record was playing at a time. Everything that was said out loud was one record in one player, and a vision of him talking to Sirius from a bird’s eye view was another record. And the way the music blended into his brain was another record. 

Was this what being high was?

“I’m thinking of the music… I guess. And… Mrs. Robinson…”

“Ha ha! That’s that one Hufflepuff chick, ya?”

“What? No… it’s… coo coo ca choo?” Remus closed his eyes. His mind was feeling a bit foggy. 

Put it in your pantry with your cupcakes…

“Oh! Yeah! Jesus holds a place for those who pray…”

“Hey hey hey!” James’ voice came from miles away. Or across the room. To Remus, it felt like both at once.

“Yeah,” Remus said with a grin, rolling over onto his left side to face Sirius. “Coo coo choo, Mrs. Robinson….”

“BOYS!” Peter hollered from the other side of the room. “Hot Blooded! This is my jam!”

Remus grinned, listening as the sound of guitar filled the room. He tapped along to the song, watching Sirius watch the ceiling.

“What are you thinking about, Pads?”

Sirius tilted his head towards Remus and gave a wink. 

“That I’m hot blooded,” he said, his tongue resting on his fang. 

“Pfftt… You’re just a horny mutt…” Remus teased. He felt an immediate pang of regret as Remus realized that Sirius was likely horny for a certain Ravenclaw boy. 

“Mmm, bet you are too. Not that you’d ever date anyone… But I bet you’re real bad, Moons… “

Remus rolled his eyes, trying to keep his heart from exploding from his chest with terror. Why was Sirius talking about how horny Remus was? That wasn’t something Sirius ever talked about. 

“You know how it is… not allowed. The whole… furry little problem…”

Oooh, I’m picking up good vibrations, oooh she’s giving me excitations…

“I’ve told you, just date one of us…”

Remus chuckled, trying not to show how much he wished he could. 

“Oh yeah, James would totally ditch Lily for me,” Remus teased, listening to the Beach Boys suddenly start the quiet part of Good VIbrations. 

“I didn’t say date James…”

“Oh, Sorry… Peter then… Yup. That seems like a great idea…”

Good good good good vibrations!!

“Are those really your only choices?”

Sirius was on his side at this point, facing Remus head-on, giving a sly grin. 

Normally, Remus would laugh this off as a joke and change the subject. Perhaps talk about the fact that Sirius had American Woman on his magical mixed-record. 

Today was different though. Today, Remus was feeling a little bolder. A little dizzier. A little more capable of looking at the situation differently.

Most days, from the very beginning of his life, Remus had been taught to be small, demure, less than other people. He knew not to make waves or say what was on his mind, because he was not to draw attention to himself. Today, for the first time in his entire life, Remus was starting to understand what it felt like to be a normal person. Someone who wasn’t a werewolf. Someone who didn’t grow up being told that they had to hide themselves because of societal pressures. Today, he could suddenly just say whatever he thought and felt and there was absolutely nothing keeping him from saying it. 

“I can’t very well date you, Padfoot. What would that poor Ravenclaw boy do without you in his life?”

“Who, Spencer? Nah, we were never an item. Just fooling around…”

“Fine then,” Remus said with finality, trying to shrug while on his side. Whoooo are you? Who who, who who? “I suppose you’re the only person in all of Hogwarts who I can date.” 

Sirius grinned his wicked grin, inching closer to Remus, his eyes positively smouldering. 

“I suppose so. Guess we’re to call it, then. We’re dating now…”

Whooo are you? Who who? Who who?

Aaaawww, who the fuck are you?

“Hear that Prongs,” Remus said, playing along with the joke. “Sirius and I are dating now.”

“Well it’s about goddamn time,” James yelled back.

Remus chuckled to himself, but when he opened his eyes, Sirius was there. In front of him, their noses almost touching… There was a moment…

Whoooo are you? Who who? Who who?

Remus inched closer, rubbing his nose to Sirius’, just playing along, just being silly, just keeping up with the game.

Sirius closed the gap.

Remus sank into the kiss, feeling Sirius’ lips against his own, Sirius’ tongue tasting like chocolate and pot, Sirius’ hands suddenly around his waist. 

Then Remus pulled away.

Who are you? Who who? Who who?

“Who the fuck are you?”

Sirius laughed, pulling himself slightly away from Remus.

“I just wanted to see how far you’d be willing to play along! I didn’t realize you’d actually let me kiss you!”

“Fuck…” Remus swore, starting to feel angry at Sirius. “Shit... I thought maybe…”

“Maybe what?”

“Nothing…”

“Maybe what, Remus?”

“Nothing, Sirius.” Sirius’ lips were against Remus’ again, but the werewolf knew better this time. He pulled away, his eyes narrowing. “Stop dicking around.”

“I’m not dicking around…” Sirius whispered, his voice dropping low and rumbly. Remus felt a chill down his spine as House of the Rising Sun played in the background.  

“Don’t kiss me if you don’t mean it,” Remus grumbled, before he had a chance to think about his words and and regret saying him, Sirius was kissing him again. Remus tasted his tongue and lips and the thrill of kissing someone he had wanted to kiss for as long as he could remember. Sirius pulled away, his eyes gleaming and ravenous. 

“I mean it,” he cooed. “I—”

Before he could continue, Remus was pressed into Sirius, taking advantage of his inebriated state and lack of over-thinking. 

“Get a room, you prats!” James called across the room. Remus didn’t care. He didn’t care about anything except the feeling of Sirius’ body against his own, Sirius’ hands around his hips, Sirius’ tongue in his mouth, Sirius’ teeth nipping his lower lip. Everything was Sirius.

Remus closed his eyes and lost himself in his Padfoot. He silently prayed that things could stay this easy forever, but deep inside, he knew that would be a dangerous path to head down...

[dear-selena]

All I See (Peter Parker x Soulmate! Reader): Chapter 3

Peter x Reader Soulmate!AU

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Epilogue

Summary: You live in a world where women start to gain color when they meet their soulmate, but they cannot see all the colors at once until they’ve united with them. Peter Parker is your soulmate, but he has no idea. You want to tell him about the colors you see, but are afraid to. Sometimes, girls can be malicious with the soulmate troupe, and you don’t want Peter to think you’re doing the same. So you keep quiet, and experience one color at a time.

It isn’t until Liz Allan comes in the picture that all you see is green, and you hate it.

Warnings: Subtle mentions of blood and TONS OF ANGST

A/N: Hello everyone! I’m really happy to see the positive feedback so far. I really want to thank everyone for reading this lil ol’ fanfic of mine. I’ve really been enjoying writing again, so I’m hoping to keep this up before I go back to school. Please let me know if you’d like to be tagged for future updates!

Chapter Three: Past Colors

Words: 2116

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“Ah, shit!”

Peter hissed, biting his tongue in order not to yell and alert your parents of his presence. He had just come to your home, in the middle of the night, with a large open scrape across his right bicep. He had a pretty rough fight with some people trying to break into an apartment complex, and although he managed to stop them, he still came out of the fight with cuts and bruises. When he found himself in really bad shape, he’d web sling right to you for help.

The two of you currently sat on your bed, the top of his Spider-Man suit off to give you easier access to his injuries. You wipe the outside of his wound with soap and warm water, purple colors making his cut look darker than it probably was. Before you could wrap his arm in gauze and stop any further bleeding, you wanted clean his wound.

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry…” you mumble quietly as you try to continue cleaning the scrape. You wanted to stop after he hissed, as you hated the idea of hurting him. But you knew you needed to help patch up your soulmate. Despite your purple vision and your anxious heartbeat, you wanted to make sure Peter was okay.

After a couple minutes, his wound looked to be in a good place for you to cover it. Taking the gauze you always kept around for him, you securely wrap his bicep until you could not see any form of injury. You let out a sigh of relief you didn’t realize you were holding as your vision turns turquoise. You successfully helped patch up your soulmate once again.

You helped make sure your soulmate was safe once again.

Peter slowly moved his right arm, testing to see if it was still functional. After a moment, you suddenly felt strong arms wrap around you. Peter was embracing you with one of his hands in your hair, one on your back, and his head tucked into your neck.

Your vision immediately turns pink at his actions. You feel yourself blush as you quickly returned the hug, wrapping your arms around his back and leaning into his bare chest. You’ve hugged Peter plenty of times before, but the thought of him holding you in such an exposed state made you internally melt.

“God (Y/N), what would I do without you?” Peter asks into your neck.

“Probably bleed to death in your home.”

Peter chuckled as he lifted himself off you, his hands moving to hold yours as he smiles at you. “Seriously though, you’re a miracle worker. I’m so glad I can actually rely on you for help,” Peter practically gushes.

The tone Peter had made you frown in confusion. “What do you mean?”

Peter blinked, realizing that you caught on to what he was saying. “O-oh, it’s nothing too crazy… it’s something really stupid that happened before I met you.”

You had an idea of what he was talking about, and if you’re being honest, you wanted to hear him talk about it. “You can talk about it with me, it’s okay Pete.”

Peter looks at you and slightly smiles, squeezing your hands a little tighter and rubbing his thumbs on your knuckles. “So, this is going to sound absolutely ridiculous, but last year I started seeing a girl who claimed I was her soulmate.”

You knew where he was going with this story, but you couldn’t help the green that embraced your vision.

“Her name was Gwen, and I thought she was really sweet,” Peter continued. “She used to tell me how she could only see pink around me and blue when I was gone. I honestly believed her, and I dated her for about four months. I honestly really liked her, and I was so happy to have met my soulmate. But I didn't realize until later on that she was dating 4 other guys at school. She was basically using us for different things. I assume she was using me to pass her classes. She was failing calculus when we started dating,” Peter puts his right hand in his face and sighs angrily. “I was just- I was just so caught up in the idea of finding my soulmate that I didn’t see any of the red flags. I was trying to find ways to spend more time with her and tell her I’m Spider-Man. But every time, she would blow me off for God knows what. It really hurt when I caught her cheating on me, and it broke me when she said she didn’t want anything to do with me anymore.”

Peter’s story left you in utter shock. You knew this happened, but you didn’t know to what depths. What this girl did to your soulmate was just so awful, and you can feel your blood boiling inside of you. Your vision slowly started to turn red, a color that relates to anger and frustration. You’ve only seen this color when Peter did something to really bothered you, but this time you knew you saw red because of what Gwen did to him. How could someone lie to so many guys about the soulmate troupe? How could someone like Peter?

How could someone use your soulmate?

You take a deep breath, trying to calm yourself down before taking Peter’s hand again and bringing them closer to you in an attempt to comfort him. Peter looks up at you, eyes glistening with tears he was clearly fighting off. “Peter I’m so sorry she did that. Words cannot describe how angry it makes me to know people like her do this to others. The soulmate connection should be a special thing that comes naturally. She probably still sees in black and white for all we know.” You take another deep breath as the red calms back down to a pink. “I can assure you that no matter what, I’ll always be here for you, and I will never lie to you. I care about you too much.”

It’s true, you truly cared for Peter. Yes, these feelings came with the pleasure of being his soulmate, but despite that, he was a genuinely good guy. He cared about people and risked his life everyday for them. He took time out of his crazy schedule to see you, Ned, and MJ now that his responsibilities as a superhero are starting to play out better. He cares about his grades, future, and most importantly, his friends.

He was simply amazing, soulmate or not.

“Thanks (Y/N), that means so much,” Peter smiles at you. You pull him in for another hug and Peter tucks his head back into the crook of your neck. Absentmindedly, you start tracing random shapes on his back, fully engulfed in his embrace. Your vision dances in pink and yellow, as you feel multiple emotions inside of you. Eventually, your vision settles into a calm and beautiful pink that made your heart feel warm. Moments like this don’t happen often between the two of you. But when they do, you wished they lasted forever.

“Hey (Y/N)?” Peter mumbles into your neck. He pulls himself off of you to look at you better, much to your dismay. “Why haven’t you told your soulmate about you?”

You quickly look away from him. “Uh, uh- what?”

“You know how you mentioned you know your soulmate? Why haven’t you told them yet?”

You can feel a blush quickly cover your face, and you wish you could just explode on the spot. You never talk about your soulmate, much less to your soulmate himself. But this might be the segway to the conversation you ultimately need to have with him.

“Oh… uh… well…” You try to find the right words to say. “I don’t think my soulmate sees me in a romantic way. I want him to, you know, have feelings for me naturally. I don’t want him to think I’m burdening him or lying or anything like that.”

You glance at Peter to see him looking at you in disbelief. “(Y/N), c’mon. Don’t think like that. Your soulmate is going to love you!” He chuckles to himself. “Not gonna lie, when you told us at lunch that you can see colors a few weeks ago, I was pretty jealous.”

“Well that makes two of us,” you thought to yourself, remembering that his old crush moved back and you now mostly see green.

“I used to be so excited to meet my other half, and I hate the fact that there’s no way I’ll know who she is until she says something. I guess that’s why I believed Gwen at the time…” He looked down and shook his head, practically scolding himself. “But Aunt May and I always talk about how soulmates are ultimately destined to work out, so you should just be honest to whoever it is!”

Your heart starts accelerating at his words of encouragement, but before you can say anything to him, he continues.

“Just take me and Liz for example. Sure, she hasn’t mentioned any soulmate stuff to me yet, but I think Liz moving back must be some sort of sign. I never thought I’d see her again, but the soulmate thing has to be why the universe brought her back.”

Your eyes went wide as you felt your heart completely drop to your stomach. Was he really falling for Liz again? The pink instantly changed to green and you felt your fists clench and teeth grit. Constantly hearing about Liz made you want to burst, but you knew that would get you know. It just frustrates you to no end that after all the times you’ve spent together, Peter was falling for another girl.

You suddenly realize that you should have told Peter about your colors a long time ago. You should have told him that he was your soulmate the moment you felt comfortable around him. You’ve avoided it for so long out of fear, but he was right. It’s time to be honest to Peter. The more you wait to tell him the more he thought he belonged to someone else.

You’re tired of holding this information in. You’re ready to tell Peter.

You close your eyes and take a deep breath, ready to reveal yourself to your soulmate once and for all. Ready to explain why you held back and silently pray to God that he would understand. You open your eyes to see Peter staring at you curiously.

You were ready to see all the colors at once. You were ready to tell him the truth he’s so long deserved to know.

“Peter, I-“

Peter’s phone suddenly rings, blasting his ring tone throughout your room. Both you and Peter jump apart at the sudden noise. Peter quickly rummages around until he frantically picks up his phone off your night stand.

“Hello?... Aunt May what are you still doing up?... I’m sorry there was this really bad fight and (Y/N) was helping me-... I’m sorry… yes… yes I’ll come home now. I’m sorry,” Peter quickly hangs up the phone and slides the upper part of his suit back on his body.

“I’m really sorry (Y/N), Aunt May noticed I was gone and she’s really worried right now,” Peter got up and found his mask, slipping it back on his head. “Thank you again for your help, I’ll see you Monday?”

You nod your head, mentally cursing Aunt May for the interruption. “Yes, get home safe.”

After a quick hug and him telling you to get some sleep, Peter was out your window, web-slinging through the streets of Queens once again. You clean up the mess you made while performing first-aid on Peter, and tuck yourself into bed.

Right when Peter left, your vision instantly turned red again. You were frustrated, as you just lost your perfect opportunity to reveal yourself to your soulmate. Finding another perfect time to tell him will practically be impossible now. Peter just opened up to you in a way he’s never done so before, and telling him that you’re his soulmate now might make him suspicious. You hate that this isn’t easy for you. You hated that you hadn’t told him earlier. But most of all, you hated that he didn’t see you the way you saw him.

As you tried to fall asleep that night, there were two things you knew you needed to do. One, you’d need to calm yourself down by Monday to put your thoughts cleanly together, and two…

You needed to find a way to tell Peter that he was your soulmate.

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-Tagged List-

@peteerrpaarkerr // @littlemissporter // @the-soulless-spider // @fakindob // @stuckonpeterparker // @godhatestarynn // @itsjustahuman // @saxgirl21 // @freestarlight // @clara-licht // @cats-before-us // @horanxholland // @thenerdiverse // @roseryss // @ohbabycal // @superwholock36 // @famouslastlove // @azgucci // @invisiblelakes // @lost-in-translating // @peter-parker-tony-stank-trash // @jillanaholland

[touchingoldmagic]

Day 26 - Nightmare Fuel

Day 26 of the 30 Day Ghostbusters Challenge!

Author's Note: Somehow this turned into Peter/Ray fluff by the end. Oops.

Peter decided if he never had to dust off the ole' psychology skills during another bust, that would be just peachy. He wouldn't even complain (much) when there were a lot of stairs. He'd be perfectly happy if the ghosts just stayed easy and boring from now on. It was better than dealing with this.

"Hey buddy, why don't you take a breath--sorry, too soon? Whatever it is you do to calm down, then. You don't wanna do something you regret."

The ghost was mostly human-looking, but soft around the edges. Not insubstantial, but rather like its ectoplasmic skin was the consistency of putty and was starting to run. One eye drooped, giving its face an asymmetrical look, and its hair was plastered down on its head like it had been standing out in the rain. Its entire body gave off a phosphorescent blue glow.

So did the noose around Ray's neck.

The bust had gone bad from the start. The ghost's cat and mouse tactics were more calculated than their usual fare, seeming to take great delight in drawing them out to various rooms in the old bed and breakfast, only to disappear just when they thought they had it cornered. Eventually the four of them had split up to try to pin it down with streams coming from opposite directions, but even their usual pincer tactics weren't working.

They had reconvened in the lobby and Peter hadn't had a sinking feeling until he saw they were down a man. Before they could even radio to find out what was keeping Ray, the ghost announced its presence with a rattling screech of sound that was wordless yet still conveyed its aggravation with them.

The bed and breakfast was in the middle of renovations before opening to the public, but quite a bit of money had gone into the foyer already. It was a good twenty feet across, all nice carpeting, cheery oak desk and heavy drapes, with a stairwell on the left that led up to the second story hallway. A thin and delicately carved wooden railing was all that separated the second floor landing from a fall to the foyer below.

The screech came from the landing above them, the sudden proximity of the spook sending the PKE meter wailing. Their eyes were dragged upward to find the ghost hovering in the air. It had dragged Ray up onto the railing to balance precariously, holding the Ghostbuster's hands behind his back. That hold--and the noose--were the only things keeping Ray from taking a plunge over the side to the floor below.

Despite the fact that the tail end of the rope floated in the air behind Ray's head on its own like a demented kite, Ray's expression made it very clear how tight it was. His lips moved as he struggled to speak to them, but no sound emerged.

Peter pushed forward to address the aggravated spirit.

"All right. Let's all keep calm here. Look, I'm putting my thrower away." He slid it into its home over his shoulder, holding up his hands.

The ghost glared down at them. Despite being slightly smaller than Ray, its form didn't waver or budge as Ray struggled to pull free of its tight grip. Peter gave a brief hand gesture to tell him to stop moving around, though he wasn't sure how well he could see them from his forced vantage point above.

"So what's the big message, buddy?" Peter asked the spirit lightly. His tone was betrayed by the intensity on his face. "You got something you want to say? Cuz we're listening."

The ghost opened its mouth, but the only thing that emerged was a choking rattle, angry and sharp.

Peter frowned. "Well can't say I know that one. Maybe if you hum a few bars, I can fake it."

The ghost garbled a reply that sounded like a breathless shout and it shoved Ray forward, into open air. For a moment his arms flailed and reached for his neck, expression panicked, before he dropped like a stone.

"Dah!" Peter bolted forward. He was under the falling form in two steps, hands raised above his head, desperate to catch him before the noose snapped taut. He got his hands awkwardly under Ray's boots and pushed upward, taking the full brunt of the weight of his teammate and partner. Peter's knees almost buckled before he locked them, grunting with the effort, arms and shoulders shaking.

"Winston!" Egon barked urgently, taking aim at the spirit. "Trap the ghost. Quickly!"

"But--" Winston's gaze went to Peter and his struggling grip, instincts telling him to go help.

"NOW. It can't materialize extraneous manifestations in the trap."

Winston's eyes widened and he nodded, the plan now clear.

If the ghost resumed the tactics it had been applying all morning, it would have been able to evade two streams. But it was too set on watching its victim writhe like a worm on the end of a hook. A pair of streams shot out simultaneously and the two Ghostbusters were able to snare the specter while it was distracted.

It raged when it was caught, the mostly human features melting further into something more monstrous, with bulging eyes and an elongated chin. Winston held the bucking, snarling thing while Egon threw the trap, and the foyer lit up with a cone of white light.

As soon as the trap snapped shut there was a loud thump. Winston and Egon shot over to help the others, who were now in a pile on the carpeted floor.

Ray had landed on top of Peter, immediately exploding into a coughing fit and clutching at his throat. Peter had him in a death grip, but he released him when he saw Egon bend over to check on him. The physicist helped Ray roll off of Peter and sat him down on the carpet, examining him while Ray struggled to regain his breath.

"You okay, man?" Winston asked, helping Peter to his feet.

"Uh huh. Nice shooting," muttered Peter, but his eyes were on Ray.

Winston patted the psychologist's shoulder after he made sure he was steady on his feet. It was clear where Peter's attention was. "He's okay, guy's got a head harder than yours," Winston said, with a purely relieved grin.

--

That night Ray rolled over in bed, paused a moment, then carefully shifted to a different position, trying to get comfortable. He debated getting a bag of peas from the freezer but realized he'd probably doze off and wake up in a puddle of defrosted pea juice.

The bruising was pretty colorful. He hoped it would look a bit better by morning, otherwise he was going to be reduced to wearing turtlenecks for the next couple days. And he looked really bad in a turtleneck.

The phone rang. He sat up and reached for it on the nightstand, relieved to have something to do. The cord was permanently stretched out from him dragging it around the room each time he took a call; he was never good at sitting still during a conversation.

"Stantz," he said into the receiver, deciding offhand that his voice didn't sound too bad. Most people would probably think he was getting over a cold.

"Hey," a voice said shortly.

A smile grew on Ray's face. "Hey," he said in return, leaning back on his pillows and getting comfortable.

"That was pretty quick, I dunno if that was even one whole ring," Peter teased.

Ray didn't want to say he had been expecting Peter to call, though he had. He got cranky if he thought he was getting predictable. "Phone's right next to the bed," Ray said nonchalantly, instead.

"Uh huh. And you usually answer the phone at night when you can barely talk?"

"I'm fine. It sounds worse than it feels," he reassured his partner. "What're you still doing up?"

"Oh, you know, night time is when I do my best thinking."

"Yeah, I can't sleep either," Ray said, translating the Peter-speak out of habit.

Most people might avoid talking about a recent traumatic experience, but most people were not Ray Stantz. He launched into a detailed recount of how he had been attempting to draw the spirit into a conversation when he had been grabbed (though he had already gone over it with the team after the bust). His working theory was that the ghost was infuriated that it could no longer communicate as it did when it was alive, so talking to it only riled it up. Peter let Ray talk himself out, but noted that it took less time than normal.

"From now on you leave the negotiations to me. That's what I get paid for," he said sternly.

"Sure thing, Pete," Ray meekly agreed, knowing Peter blamed himself.

Peter sighed. He didn't believe him for a moment.

There was silence on the phone for a moment. Peter cleared his throat. "I was thinking maybe I could come over. It's late, but..." He made a sound that translated to a shrug. "If you could put up with seeing me, anyway."

The uncharacteristic uncertainty made Ray's smile widen. "You can come over whenever you want, Peter," he said honestly. "I always want to see you."

There was a strangled sound in the receiver and Ray almost laughed. Whenever he said something particularly sappy, Peter got an expression on his face that was equal parts exasperated and touched, and Ray knew he was making it now. "Right, see you soon." He hung up so quick in embarrassment that Ray didn't even get a chance to say goodbye.

[badmcuposts]

A New Favorite Thing

No warnings

Good ole irondad and spiderson as suggested by @dantedeletes

Set like, a week or two after Civil War this is very very very early in their relationship.

Tony wants to learn how this slightly annoying snot-nosed kid from queens manufactured webbing that a genius billionaire can’t replicate for the life of him. In the end, he learns the slightly-annoying-snot-nosed-kid-from-queens is actually a miniature version of himself, and decides to keep him.

-

All Tony wanted was to find out how the kid designed that stupid webbing.

He had spent five-no-six days holed up in the lab over this, and nothing. Pep was getting concerned, rightfully so, that he hadn’t just asked Peter to show him. But how was he supposed to do that? ‘Oh hey buddy can you teach me how to do the thing i have multiple phds in because you’re smarter than me at 12?’ The whole thing was god awful embarrassing.

Which would be exactly the reason as to why Tony was about to burn the whole tower down if she pulled something like this again. Inviting the kid herself like she owned the place. Well, she did, but that wasn’t the point of it all. He didn’t even know what to do with an annoying little kid!

It wasn’t that Tony didn’t trust Peter in his lab. He had seen the kid’s grades. It was more or less worrying about what he was supposed to do in the highly unlikely event that the kid wasn’t as trustworthy as he seemed. If they got in there and Peter couldn’t hold his own, he would be at a total loss to keep control in the lab. There were so many questions, so many worries in case something went wrong.

Was he even old enough for the energy drinks? What else was in the minifridge up in the lab? Bagels? Did he like bagels? What if Peter got scared up in the workshop? Would he fit into Tony’s spare safety goggles? What if he didn’t like the way the workshop was organized? What if Peter didn’t want to be around Tony after this and got himself hurt?

And this would be why Tony really hadn’t contacted Peter, huh? His own insecurity about how he was supposed to continue on with his relationship with a something-year-old child after no doubt traumatizing the poor thing in a battle and then embarrassing him via benching halfway through.

He’d read the countless articles in old newspapers, seen the police files involving the kid. The Parker boy was a ticking time bomb, no doubt about it. If Tony didn’t keep him in line and make sure not to hurt him any more, those special abilities might turn into weapons of mass destruction. And he really didn’t want to start planning for the kid to go to the dark side.

But, it was time to man up and face the music. Or, rather, the child standing three feet away with the most worn duffle bag to ever grace the eyes of someone with the Stark name. Tony gently smiled, raising his hand for a polite shake that Peter took with innocent eagerness and aptitude. God, this kid is definitely gonna break something up there.

“Peter, nice of you to join me. I’d love to talk a bit about that webbing we discussed before.”

Peter’s smile faltered a little, but returned within the second.

“Yeah, Miss Potts said to bring my stuff. Though, if you wanna do me a favor, let’s not break any of it. Technically, I’m borrowing it from the school labs.”

“You don’t have your own equipment?”

Tony was honestly shocked. Where had Peter been making all of this? He couldn’t have been using public school half-ass production level equipment this whole time, could he?

“No, sir. I just make the web fluid during chemistry when the teacher turns around.”

Well, that answers that question. How smart was this kid? A few years of straight As indicated intelligence but, at this rate, shouldn’t he have skipped a few grades?

“Well then, looks like it’s time to get down to business, isn’t it?”

Peter’s breathing managed to begin to replicate the tune of “I’ll Make a Man Out Of You”. This kid...

“Yessir.”

And as they reached the elevator, Friday automatically carrying the pair of nerds to floor 79, Tony finally said it.

“Stop calling me sir, you make me feel older every time you speak than most people do when they remind me that my father was young and spry in the smack dab middle of World War Two.”

“Only if you start referring to this stuff as “web fluid”, Mr. Stark. It’s very important to repect scientific nomenclature in the form given by the original scientist.” “How much of that was a the answer to a science class pretest?” “The whole thing.”

Fair enough, you little-

The elevator came to a halt (smoothly, of course. It’s stark tech) at the workshop. Luckily for Tony, he had plenty of extra space so Peter would feel comfortable. He pointed to a desk a few feet from his own and briefly stated “Set your gear up over there, tell me what chemicals you need.”

Peter, however, didn’t seem to willing to let his host take the lead.

“Oh no, sir, I brought my own stuff. Midtown is loaded with spare bottles. They won’t notice.”

Two could play at that game, couldn’t they? Well, there was always one way to find out.

“Yeah, and you’re gonna leave them in the bag and put them back tomorrow morning.”

“Tomorrow’s saturday.”

“Monday, whatever. My cabinet has a billion variations of every science-related doohickey known to man and it could use some more use. No point wasting all the money that school probably spends with the intent of it being used in class, huh? And what did I say about calling me sir?”

“Sorry, sir.”

The kid was smirking. What did Tony do to deserve such cruel treatment from the universe?

Peter tossed his bag onto the desk with enough force to make any non-enhanced teenager look like they were about to throw a tantrum. But, Peter merely glanced at his hands, sighed, and checked that none of the gear had gotten damaged.

Right, super kid. Not a normal intern. Not an intern at all, technically. Unless...

Nope. Later, Tones.

Tony quickly assisted in the set-up, hoping he could rush this and memorize the formula as quickly as inhumanly possible. And that’s when he noticed, Peter’s notes were in the back of his chemistry notebook. How in pointbreak’s name had nobody figured this kid out yet?

Pushing his lack of faith in humanity and all of its company, Tony unlocked the cabinet of infinite chemicals.

“Alright can you grab me some... uhhhhh.... Salicylic Acid, Touline, Methanol, Carbon Tetrachloride, H-Heptane, Potassium Carbonate, Ethyl Acetate, Hexate, BHA, Sodium Tetraborate, and why not just jump the gun and grab the Cactivator Activated Silica Gel now instead of waiting until later?”

Jesus christ this might as well be a liquid bomb with how little he trusts a child with any of these products. Especially silica gel. Don’t kids get high off of that stuff? No, no, Tony, be a good mentor-figure-thing. Now was the time to let the kid have a little room to make mistakes. Let him blow up the lab now instead of later. Sounds responsible.

“Gotcha, Wiz Kid.”

“First off, if I was a sim, my childhood aspiration would be Rambunctious Scamp.”

Tony deadpanned at Peter for another three minutes and twelve seconds before finally responding.

“I literally have no idea what you are talking about, ever.”

Well, ain’t that the truth. However, if Tony was being honest with himself, a little back and forth did wonders to calm his nerves. Maybe the kid wasn’t all too frightening. More like a kitten in the freezing rain.

“What’s next?”

Peter grabbed the worn notebook and examined the page closely.

“Uhhhh, now we add activator degas for 30 minutes, I think. Or is it 45? Wait a sec, I’ll find it somewhere in my notes.”

“You don’t have it memorized?”

“Well, usually I don’t have an audience.”

“Touché.”

Time continued on like that for the next half hour. Back and forth, quip after quip, each remark from the thir-fif-twe-si-fourteen year old “August 10th, 2001, the day the world wishes had never happened. No, it’s a joke Mr. Stark. More of a gen z kind of thing.” reminding Tony of himself. Perhaps, in another world, he could have been as amazing as Peter Parker was proving to be.

He even introduced Peter to the bots, who immediately decided they had a new brother to play with and went hog wild trying to play ball with the kid who was far more interested in marveling at their hotwiring. To Tony, their designs were juvenile and messy. However, to the teenaged dumpster diver next to him, they were beautiful.

And once time slowed, they finally went back to work.

“Now we need to heat it, slowly! Don’t hurt my baby, Mr. Stark!”

“Your baby?”

“You literally just called a little robot your baby but I’m the weird one, ok.”

“Dum-E has artificial feelings, your super glue wouldn’t care if you magically turned to ash.”

Ok, too far. But the kid took it as a joke, no doubt. He snorted the whole way through his laugh. Snorted.

“How slowly is this supposed to be anyway?”

“For the next 24 hours.”

“24 HOURS? What are we supposed to do until then?”

“I dunno. I can swing over tomorrow and we can finish it up then.”

“Yeah, yeah, sounds good.”

Tony helped Peter load his equipment back up, hoping the kid wouldn’t get caught stealing school property.

“Heck, maybe make it a tradition. Lab days until one of us explodes from too much science.”

And Tony smiled. The brightest, most genuine smile he had ever given in his lifetime.

“You got it, kiddo.”

Yeah, Lab days.

He could get behind that.

It might just be his new favorite thing.

[another-blog-bites-the-dust]

Full of surprises.

Summary: After meeting John outside a bar, you soon start to realise he is full of surprises- especially after your brother makes a remark that annoys him.

Warnings: Suggestive (mature-ish) themes, Brian gets verbally burnt, swearing, smoking, drinking.

A/N: Okay so I did a little more than two words because I found it much simpler to stretch out Brian's suffering for your request @vaidde 😂 sorry it took me a while but I hope it's what you wanted and I hope you enjoy! 💖

John's lips were pressing themselves to any bit of exposed skin he could see. You ran a hand through his hair and contently sighed, he was always so gentle and tender with you after unleashing his rough and wild love and lust induced passion. You were more than happy to endure his wrath.

"I love you," he hummed and traced little patterns over your side with the tip of his finger.

Each time he said that it felt like the first. You got the same thrill and buzz each time he told you that. "I love you too, John," you softly murmured and he leaned up just enough to press his lips to yours before returning to lie on your stomach. "Studio today?" You asked.

"Yeah, I don't have to leave for a little while though," he grinned. "I get to enjoy this view for a little longer..." he purred eyeing up you in his favourite top- the one that had Peter Pan on it- and his boxers that he kindly lent you since he ruined your underwear. They were now nothing but shredded remains on the floor of his bedroom. "And we get to avoid your brother for a little longer too..." That made you laugh, John's head bumped up and down on you while your body gently jolted.

Brian had explicitly warned you countless of times not to get with any members of the bands he had been in. You told him each time that you wouldn't- until you met John. At first you didn't know he had been chosen to play bass for Queen- Brian, Freddie and Roger had been complaining for months that they had been going through bass players quicker than Roger went through a pack of cigarettes. When the three met John and heard him play, he was instantly recruited. They thought he was incredibly talented and his persona and personality was a hit with everyone.

You met him outside the bar Queen were playing at. John was outside lighting a cigarette just as you walked up and pulled out one for yourself, fighting with the lighter when it wouldn't stay alight. "Here," John leaned forward and lit his, you placed the cigarette between your lips and let him light it for you. Your eyes flickered up from the flame to his eyes that were shining thanks to the orange glow from the flame. It was dark out and the light highlighted all his exquisite features.

"Thank you," you exhaled a cloud of smoke "I'm trying to quit," you lowly laughed. "My brothers friend got me hooked and I've been resenting him ever since." He chortled and you grinned "I'm Y/N, by the way."

"John Deacon, nice to meet you." He smiled and took a puff "Must be my lucky night..." he said.

You raised a curious brow "Why's that, John?"

He shrugged a shoulder "Joined a band that's going places and now I'm in the company of a beautiful woman." He charmingly smirked with a wink and your eyes widened slightly. "I'm a very lucky man for the latter part."

You bit down on your lip "Well if you aren't busy tomorrow you might get even luckier..." you suggestively replied.

John moved a little closer to you "Oh yeah?" He licked his lips- something that didn't go unnoticed by you. "Think I could get a taster of what's to come?" His eyes flickered back and forth from your eyes to your lips.

You grinned and leaned forward, just pressing enough pressure to his lips that made you both drop your cigarettes when the kiss felt much better than smoking them. You both slowly began moving your mouths, bolts of electricity made your lips tingle. Your hand found the back of John's neck and he quietly moaned against your lips. You pulled back, both of you had half hooded eyes and slightly swollen lips. You grinned and shyly bowed your head, releasing your hand that was still on the back of John's neck. "Sorry...I'm sorry if that was too forward." You whispered.

John shook his head "Don't be sorry," he grinned "It was a great start to my night!" He chucked "But I gotta get inside."

"I do too, let me get you a drink." You offered and John nodded.

"I'll join you at the bar, give me a few minutes." John sweetly smiled and you assumed that he was going to the bathroom or something. You got the drinks- you figured beer would be the safest bet for John and you got yourself the same. You found yourself giddily grinning, you had really taken a shine to him. He was sweet and funny and had the most irresistible eyes. You did assume that he'd be in the bathroom- it shocked and surprised you when you saw him on stage with three other people you knew well- one of them far too well since he was your brother.

You sighed and pinched the bridge of your nose "Oh shit."

You knew you were getting yourself into trouble but still went to meet John the next day. Brian didn't have a clue- he didn't even see the pair of you the night before hanging out after the show. You were walking passed borough market, just letting your feet follow roads- you and John didn't really care where you were going, you just wanted to be in each other's company. "So any brother's or sisters?" He asked, making general chit chat.

You cleared your throat and scratched the back of your neck "Uhh...yeah. A brother."

"What's he like?" John asked and you stopped. He raised a brow when you did.

"Um, well..." you sighed, he was going to find out sooner or later. "My brother- you know him." John's brow raised even further up his forehead. "It's Brian."

John's mouth gapped open a little in surprise. "Oh. Oh right..." he muttered.

You softly groaned "I've made this awkward, haven't I?" You rubbed your temples "I'm sorry."

John shook his head and held your arms with his hands. "No! You haven't!" He sent you a reassuring smile. "Just because Brian's your brother...doesn't mean I like you any less."

Your heart skipped a beat hearing his bashful confession. "You like me?" You asked.

John timidly nodded "I haven't stopped thinking about you for a second since last night." He wholehearted admitted. "You're really beautiful and I meant what I said about being a lucky man."

Without a second of hesitation, you kissed him, taking him aback a little at your swiftness and desperateness to feel his lips on yours again. "I like you too, John." He widely smiled with shut eyes after you pulled back. You continued walking together, this time arm in arm, through the market. He even managed to sneakily buy you a huge single sunflower from a florist stall when you weren't looking. He would remember the joyous, surprised look you had on your face forever.

But you soon learned that John was full of surprises.

Of course Brian eventually found out. He found out after catching the pair of you kissing backstage when they had just finished a show. Roger and Freddie had to hold him back to stop him from murdering John. Over time, Brian had slowly adjusted to the fact that the two of you were together. The main thing for Brian was that you were happy but John got a deadly warning of what would happen if he hurt you.

You knew John would do no such thing because John knew what you would do would be ten times worse than what Brian said he'd do.

"What are you thinking about?" John asked with a small grin tugging at his lips noticing you spaced out a little. You snapped back into the moment after reminiscing about the past.

"You." You replied, running a hand through his hair again with a tired smile on your face. "As always." John kissed you before getting up and getting himself organised. "I might come with you today." You spoke up and followed him into his bathroom. He nodded while brushing his teeth. "I'll take a short shower," you said and he looked over his shoulder. His toothbrush fell into the sink with a soft clank when he saw you slowly peel off his shirt and then wiggle out of his boxers on the spot. You were standing in front of him with nothing on. "Or a long one if you want to join me..." you sultry smirked and John practically threw himself into the shower- pulling you with him.

You both eventually made it to the studio, John made sure you were wrapped up in one of his jumpers because it was cold out and gave you another pair of his boxer shorts that would bide you over until you got home. Your jeans were still alright and you'd be able to wrangle another days wear out of them. "Brian's not been happy with this album," John spoke up just before you made it to the studio. "Don't think he's very happy with me and everything I've been doing on it."

Your heart grew heavy seeing the look on John's face and upon hearing what he had said. "Oh John," you hummed and cupped his face, gently pecking his lips. "Don't you worry about Bri, I'll deal with him and tell him to lay off you- tell him to back off a bit."

"Thanks," he let out a lungful of relieved air "I swear, Y/N, sometimes I feel like just exploding!"

You cheekily smirked "Save your exploding for when you're with me," you playfully tapped his bum with a wink and he went as red as the phone box outside the studio. You both headed in together and greeted Freddie and Roger before giving Brian a hug. "Hi, Bri!" You smiled.

"Great...the only time I see my sister is when she comes to the studio hanging off her boyfriends and my bandmates arm..." he complained.

"Wow," you blinked "Nice to see you too..." you sarcastically uttered.

Brian sighed and shut his eyes "No I- it's good to see you. Just one of those days I think."

"Yeah well you better not take it out on John..." you warned. "I'll grab you all some coffee, might boost you up a bit." You left the boys for twenty minutes with their orders wrote down on a slip of paper. When you returned, they were all standing in a circle competing as if to see who could yell with irritation the loudest.

"All I'm saying is that the backing of a guitar would be good in that part- you know since it would be the only bloody guitar bit in the fucking album!" Brian snapped and you knew he was mad because he hardly ever raised his voice and swore.

"I think John has a point, Bri," Roger spoke up. "A guitar doesn't merge with anything during the small break. Maybe Freddie could improvise with piano? Or even sing something?"

You looked over at John and you were about to say something but he noticed and raised a hand, shaking his head with slightly pursed lips. He didn't want you to be dragged into their argument. "Well, fine!" Brian slapped his hands against his thighs. "But I know it takes real skill to play six strings rather than four."

You eyes shot open at Brian's rude little dig at your boyfriend. "Brian!" You hissed.

Freddie blinked at John's lack of response. "You don't have anything to say to that, John?"

John was unusually relaxed and laid back...a little too laid back you thought as you took a sip of your tea. "No Freddie, its fine." He coolly spoke. "Besides, if Brian wants my comeback he's going to have to scrape it off Y/N's teeth."

You spat out your tea and violently choked on it while Freddie gasped, Roger burst out laughing and Brian's mouth was gaping open with shock. "John! Jesus Christ!" You coughed out, almost floored with surprise.

"Damn Deacon, you kiss your mother with that mouth of yours?" Roger snorted. Brian was bent over by this point trying to erase those words still ringing in his ears.

"No," John walked over to you, pulling you towards him by your waist and forcefully kissed you. You moaned and quickly melted into the kiss before he pulled back leaving you stunned and giddy. "But I kiss Brian's sister." He smugly replied and Brian loudly groaned in disgust and embarrassment, clutching onto Roger to keep him upright.

"For the love of God someone make him stop talking!" Brian begged.

John was trying his hardest not to laugh. He had already got Brian back but he was going to push it as far as he could just to make payback for his comment that little bit sweeter. "I can say something else...what do you want me to say?" John turned back to glance at the three boys and shrugged his shoulder. "That we have sex rougher than Roger's voice after he's had a smoke?"

Freddie's mouth had formed an 'o' shape but the very corners of his lips began to curl upwards. Roger let out a loud, hysterical laugh, clutching his stomach while walking over to John to give him a high five.

Without the support of Roger's body, Brian's knees gave way and he slowly fell to the ground. He lay down groaning with his head in his hands while facing the moss green coloured carpet floor. "Ugh make him STOP!"

"That's not what your sister says..." John quickly retorted and Roger was almost joining Brian on the floor he was laughing so much.

"Alright!" You yelped and pulled John towards you. "I think you should all call it a day and forget this ever happened."

"As funny as this is, I agree with you darling!" Freddie's voice was full of amusement.

You walked over to Brian and bent down then pat his back "That'll teach you not to piss off John." You stood back up and left the studio with your boyfriend.

Roger gently nudged Brian's shoulder with his foot when he hadn't moved after ten minutes "You alright mate?"

He was still groaning "Death would have been less painful than hearing all that."

•••

John's arm was wrapped around your waist as you walked home the long way, down through borough market on a pleasant detour. "Did I take it too far?" He asked.

You smirked and shook your head "I don't think so- it was actually quite funny. You can do some damage, Deacon." You bumped him a little with your hip.

He chuckled with a smug smile. "Thought you would have known that after what happened last week," he winked and you blushed in the middle of the street. Your legs were very tender the day after the night before with him. You leaned up and kissed his cheek, he turned at the last second and managed to catch your lips.

You passed the flower stall and the florist handed him a single sunflower- John had paid the man in advance each month so whenever you both passed the stall he'd always be able to pick one up for you as a surprise.

You took it from him with a toothy grin "John Deacon," you cupped his cheek. "From flirting outside a pub to fierce words and flowers..." you kissed him. "You're always full of surprises."

———————–————

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[sweetpea-skarsgard-blog]

You Are My Electric Girl // Peter Parker Imagine

(( Hi everyone. I hope that this tickles your fancy. I just thought about an OC of mine, and Peter, so naturally this had to happen. Feel free to follow me for more. Requests are also open <3 Leave comments, reblogs and likes! They’re always so nice to see, and are greatly appreciated!))

Being the adoptive daughter of Tony Stark, naturally there came a time where you felt the need to walk right out the front door of the Avengers facility and see the world for yourself- without your father sending Happy with you. Sure you loved the man to pieces, seeing as he had been there for you ever since Pepper and Tony took you into their care. But damn, sometimes a girl just needed some space, and a teenager needed to be a bit spontaneous.Even if that teenage girl could legally be considered a weapon. After all, you had a mission.

It had all started about six years ago, before the battle of New York, when you had lost everything, your family, your home, and your old life- only to gain something that you had never asked for. Sure, it was your typical superhero story. You and your family living on the poor side of town, in an apartment building- when an electrical plant had exploded and wreaked it’s havoc on all of the people within a block radius. Your parents hadn’t survived.. No one had, really. But you- sitting alone in the desolate area, only to be found by Tony Stark himself who was looking through the aftermath with the firemen and police. The young girl- sitting without so much as a scratch on her.

Being a mutant wasn't all that it was cracked up to be- seeing as you felt normal, but were rudely reminded that you were not everytime the lights flickered when you got angry. Some would think that the power to control electricity was a gift- but really… most of the time you just felt like an overcharged battery- riled up and ready to explode if things got too energetic. It was the reason that Tony kept you home most of the time- Jarvis and the others being the best friends you could remember from that tender age when he’d found you. Steve was like an uncle to you, always making you smile, even Wanda and the others that you’d been pit against when you were fourteen were closer to you now. The Avengers were your big dysfunctional family.. And you loved every moment that you were with them.. Until- well the Civil War started.

You felt like a child of divorce, Your father and Steve fighting out their war about whether or not it was warranted for the government to be on your backs about what happened in Sokovia. Your father agreed.. But Cap did not- your own opinions put to the side because of your age- until like a child of divorce everything fell apart at the seams.

You had acted out, wanting to rebel against your father when the time came- Cap was right- or was he? You had no idea.. But everything seemed for naught.. Until you met him. Peter Parker. The Spiderman. Your father had recruited him, seeing as you’d slipped him a few videos about the idea. He needed hold to get Cap back- since you knew that despite his pride that was what he wanted.

But meeting the male- he was much different than you’d expected.. Spiderman? Spiderboy was more like it. You snickered when he walked through the Avengers facility with your father, looking at everything as though it was the greatest thing in the world. You’d feel the same if it was your first time seeing the tech that your father worked to create… but in his eyes- you could tell that he was pure. He was worth being on your team- and you found yourself wanting to get closer, despite what your father had warned you not to do.

“Hmm.. Peter Parker.. Spiderman.. I’m Y/N.  Y/N Stark.” you told him, holding out a hand for him to take, before the man stuttered out a reply. “Oh-  hey umm. Peter- but you already knew that.” he blushed, before awkwardly shaking your hand. You couldn't help but giggle slightly at his awkwardness… he was so - cute.

But that was a year ago now, and seeing as the two of you were the youngest Avengers, you grew close quickly. Peter constantly blushing, and you teasing him at every turn. Of course, he’d found out all about your powers, teasing you about them, which made him receive a small shock in response. A funnier moment was when he’d decided to sneak into your living quarters in the Avengers facility, scaring the crap out of you so badly that you’d actually tased him with a single touch. Of course you apologized vigorously, but ..  Peter didn't blame you- only earning you the nickname ‘Sparky’ after all of that.

Now was different though- the closer you and Peter got, the more you found that your feelings towards him were growing- you’d loved him yeah.. He was your best friend. But there was just something a little less friendly about this kind of love. And it was hard to ignore.. Which was exactly why you’d snuck off  to Queens to go and see him in his own stomping grounds.

‘Parker, meet me at the old warehouse xx’ you sent the message, smiling to yourself… you were going to do it.. You were finally going to tell him just how you felt. So make your way, you did. All the way across the busy streets of New York, lights flickering and surging as you passed them , eager to portray your feelings for the boy in any way that you could. But when you saw him at your secret meeting place, your heart stopped.. Why were you so nervous?

“Y/N? What is this all about? I was gonna go over to see Mr. Stark tomorrow.. But - I guess you just missed me, huh?” Peter teased, his cheeks blushing slightly as he looked at you, still wearing his Spiderman costume, since he was probably on patrol when you’d texted him.

You blushed and then walked over to him, crossing your arms in front of yourself as you looked him over. How could a suit made entirely out of spandex, bright red and blue- make him look so… good? “I guess you could say that, Pete.” you chuckled, before shaking your head. “I umm. I just wanted to talk to you for a while. I mean- I wanted to do it in person- because I was going to tell you over the phone but- it didn't seem right.” you rambled, pushing your hair behind your ear as you looked down at your ground.

Peter arched an eyebrow and looked at you, walking over and touching your shoulder gently, before taking your chin in his gloved hand, and making you look at him. “Hey.. is something wrong? You can tell me.. Don’t worry.” he told you, seeing your clear hesitation. Your breath hitched as you looked into his caramel brown eyes, making you bite your lip as you looked at him. He was so sincere about everything- the way he cared for you, touched you so sweetly and- he was your best friend.

You loved him. That was all that you needed to tell him. He needed to know that- because .. then it would be off of your chest, and if he didnt feel it back- well you could work on getting yourself over that. Clearing your throat, your cheeks flushed red, and you gently took his hand off of your shoulder, not wanting to worry him. “Gosh, nobody died.. I just.. I love you Pete.. I have for a while. And- I know that this is sudden, and I’m taking a risk with our friendship. God knows that I don't have too many friends- but.. With you things feel right. You make my days a lot better, and if you don't feel the same that is fine.. I can manage but.. I love you..” you said,

Peter just gaped at you in shock, his eyes widened and his hand gripping yours gently as he looked over your features. Was this the truth? Did you actually feel these things for him? Sure you guys played pranks on each other- but he knew that you would never be cruel enough to try something so dirty. No- he had to believe you. And he knew that he felt the same way. “Y/N…”

You freaked out in that moment, letting go of his hand since to you, his voice seemed far off and confused. God, what had you done? “It’s fine.. I don't expect you to feel the same I just-” but then his lisp were on yours, kissing you with closed eyes and a racing heart as the lights surrounding the two of you could have burst with the electricity. People spoke about feeling fireworks when having their first kiss- but.. This was something new- especially since a bulb literally burst, making you jump a bit and pull back as you looked up at him.

Peter had a goofy smile as he looked at you, his thumb brushing against the skin of your cheek, even if you couldn't feel his skin against your own with that glove on his hand. His hair was also standing up slightly from the static radiating off of you, making you blush and reach up to smooth it down. “You need to learn to be quiet and give me some time to speak.. Because i was about to tell you that I feel the same. I mean.. I know that I like you- and .. I’ve been dying to ask you on a date.. But you always just seemed to love being friends above all else.. I didn't want to ruin it.” Peter admitted sheepishly, shaking his head before brushing his thumb over your bottom lip.

You needed a moment to process all of this.. Peter felt the same way? It was everything you’d ever hoped for.. But at the same time it felt too good to be true. Your cheeks blushed as you looked at him and nodded. “You should have bucked up then Pete.. I mean I did glitch out my dad’s tracking device on me just so that I could come here and say this..  And maybe I could have waited until tomorrow.. But- I’m glad I didn't.” You commented, resting your forehead against his, his curly hair brushing against your forehead, as you wrapped your arms around his waist.

“Then again- I guess it you would be the one to say it first.. Eh Sparky? Just like when we met.. “ he chuckled, moving down for another kiss, before the icon on his chest beeped, Karen’s voice sounding out. “Peter, there’s a problem on 22nd street. Carjacking.” Peter groaned slightly, and then moved back hesitantly. “Duty calls.. Heroes never take a break.. Right?” he pulled his mask on, and blinked to adjust for a moment, before he shot his web to the top of the old dilapidated warehouse, and jumped up. “See you tomorrow, Y/N.. I’ll see about planning a date or something- “ he called out, about to jump, before he saw the sirens and car passing by the warehouse. Hmm they were close enough- So he took a moment.

Peter jumped back down, holding the web with his feet, as you looked around, thinking he was gone, before his face popped up right in front of you.  He quickly pulled his mask up so that his mouth was exposed, and then pressed his lips against yours, pulling back after a split second and vaulting himself up.  “For good luck!” Gosh, what a goof ball.

[afaithy]

A crinkle of Fate; CH:7

Available in AO3:https://archiveofourown.org/works/16896918/chapters/39941508#workskin

Chapter 7: What you want, what you fearNotes:

"Most people are always doubtful as to whether they are happy or not, cheerful or not. This is the normal state of happiness, as doubt is a most natural thing." — Yukio Mishima

Tonks return was accompanied- as expected - by endless gossips and whispers that the girl, very maturely, had chosen to ignore. Boreas and his gang had tried to harassed her again, but their attempts were either stopped by a teacher or by Sirius and James’s mischieves and she was more than grateful for it. Even though she knew Boreas was a git and that she should know better than to hear what he had to say, it didn't make his remarks about her grandparents' death sting any less. The Hufflepuff girl started avoiding the Great Hall and her Common room as much as she could, so most of her free time was spent in the library with Lily or Snape who-surprisingly - had kindly offered to help her catch up with the potions lessons she had missed; or in the owlery with Lupin who would either help her study or distract her with some friendly chat. Sometimes they enjoyed of the occasional company of Sirius, James and Peter. As day went by, the girl noticed that the veil of grief was slowly lifting and little by little, Tonks returned to her old cheerful self and things went back to how they used to be. Well, at least most of them. Tonks seemed to have caused an impact on certain Hogwarts students after all. The first one was Snape. The Slytherin potions prodigy was as irritable as always, but Tonks constant insistence to befriend him seemed to be paying off. The boy was less bitter and slightly more talkative; and, in very rare occasions, he’d even smile. When it come to his rivalry with James and Sirius, the three boys seemed to have reached some sort of truce. After an impressive and a little scary scold from Tonks, James and Sirius had stopped picking on Snape and Snape had stopped being rude to them. Their friendship was complicated, but it was there and that seemed to satisfy Tonks. Peter wasn’t much of an active speaker and he limited himself to follow anything that James and Sirius decided to do. Among the four Gryffindors, the one who seemed to have the best accord with the Slytherin, was Lupin. Perhaps it was his good nature or the fact that Tonks influence had already biased his image of Snape, but in many occasions he found himself having very enriching conversations with the black haired boy. As their relationship with Snape improved, the second change came up with Lily. The girl was elated about Snape having more friends and as result her, usual cold treatment to James and Sirius, was lifted - much to Jame’s pleasure. After a few weeks, the picture of five Gryffindors, a Slytherin and a first year Hufflepuff hanging around Hogwarts during free periods became a common sight. The months passed and the season began to change as autumn reached it peak. There was a little secret that Lupin hadn’t revealed to any of his friends yet. Each full moon, his wolf counterpart would sit under the moon listening to a cheerful Hufflepuff girl relate the stories of her friends’ adventures. Lupin felt a little guilty about keeping it secret. Especially when there was his fear that one day the wolf would be in bad mood and would try to bite Tonks, but as one full moon passed after another, he realized something that’d left him speechless. His wolf counterpart liked Tonks. He couldn’t comprehend those animal’s feelings, but he could tell that the wolf saw Tonks in a particular way. It didn’t consider her a threat, in the contrary, it seemed to enjoy the girl’s company. It was sort of possessive and protective of her to the extreme in which the wolf was willing to kill anything or anyone that could impose a danger for her. It was something he’d never heard about, and even after digging into all the books about werewolves available in the library, he’d come out without answers. No one had ever seen a case in which a werewolf would feel the urge to attack. Werewolves obeyed instinct and their human mind was completely disconnected from their actions after the transformation. Then why did the wolf seemed to retain Lupin’s sympathy for the Hufflepuff girl? “Wotcher, Remus!” Lupin had been too lost in his thoughts to notice the girl’s arrival. He was sitting at the edge of the window in the owlery with a book open on his lap. Sirius and James had probably gotten themselves into detention after setting a up Boreas’s cauldron during potions causing it to explode and Peter had been sprayed all over with the cauldron’s content, so he had ended up in the hospital wing. Being the only one with free time, Lupin had caught into Tonks’s habit to sneak into the owlery for peace and quiet. Tonks was looking at him with a smile. She sat in front of him and for a second he feared that the girl would lose her grip and fall through the window, but surprisingly she sat down without troubles and threw a small silver package. “What’s…?” “Muggle chocolate…” she replied “Dad sent me a whole box yesterday. You’ve been up into werewolf reading recently, haven’t you?” “Eh...yeah. I was curious about something…” “About werewolves?” “Yes…” “Can I ask what?” Lupin snorted. How about why I don’t feel like I need to tear down your throat when I’m a wolf? He though. “It’s...complicated.” “Try me…” she said biting her chocolate. “Do you think a werewolf could...I don’t know recognize people or feel some sort of attachment to them?” Lupin knew it was a stupid question. Wizards that were well educated regarding werewolves had never addressed this possibility, why would an first year student in Hogwarts even think about it? “I reckon he could…” she said thoughtful. Her answer came out naturally and without doubts. It was the way she always said what she thought without fear that made him admire her. “But...werewolves are tagged as monsters, and books all say that they are unable to recognize friend or foe. They only instinct is to attack and to prey…” “Books also say Unicorns don’t exist…” Lupin chuckled. “No book would say that. We all know unicorn exists... What kind of book were you reading?” “A muggle book...” Tonks shrugged “But that’s the point. To muggles it doesn’t exist because they’d never seen one, but to us it exists because we have seen them. Do you see my point?” “I am afraid no…” “What’s written in books is what the writer has seen, but just because you haven’t seen doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. Werewolves aren’t too different from wolves, and wolves aren’t too different from dogs. So...if you ask me if I think that a werewolf could recognize people they like or dislike, and even feel attachment...I’d have to say I think they do…” “So… let’s put an hypothetical case…” “Aha…” Tonks replied eating another piece of chocolate. “Let’s say there’s a werewolf that hunts around the forest during full moon. One day he stumbles with a girl...an innocent and defenceless girl. His first intention is to attack, but the girl starts talking to him and his aggressive intent seems to die away. Next full moon it’s the same, and then the one after and so on. It continues like that and suddenly his human side realizes that the wolf….likes the girl.” Tonks seemed to replay Lupin’s tale in her mind and she smiles. “Don’t you have the answer already, then?” “What do you mean?” “That hypothetical case just serves to proof my point. Yeah, the werewolf was probably afraid at first...he wanted to attack, but when he saw she was harmless he let it go. It was like that for a while, and eventually, they’d become friends. It might sound wrong, but it’s like having a dog. The dog will idolize, not because you’re a human, but because you’re his master…” “But it is dangerous…” “Everything is dangerous, Remus. I’m probably more dangerous than a scared werewolf…” she chuckled “Don’t forget I almost broke your leg when I tripped over you on the stairs…” Lupin laughed at that. She had and Madam Pomfrey wasn’t too happy about it. “Even a werewolf deserves love…” Tonks whispered. “Even if it is a hideous and horrible monster?” Tonks looked at him with a faint smile. “Even the most hideous creature deserves a chance…” Lupin was speechless. Sometimes he wondered if Tonks was real at all. How could she be so...understanding? “Who said?” he asked her softly. “I did...and in a few years when I’m all famous and quoted around the world, you’ll have the honor of saying that you heard it one afternoon while you were sharing muggle chocolate in the owlery…” she laughed throwing small ball of wrapping paper at him. Lupin dodged the ball by using his book as a shield and let out a wave laughter. His concerns about the dangers that the wolf could represent to the girl were still there, but a new feeling had appeared with her words: hope. Hope that perhaps what Tonks believed was true and that he wasn’t the monster that he thought himself to be. “I don’t know how you do it…” he chuckled. “Do what?” “See things so...clearly.” “Ha..If only I did. I just have a funny way of seeing things I guess…” she smiled “Second looks aren’t as bad as people think, aren’t they? Lily said that you and Severus were practicing potions together yesterday…” Tonks rested her chin on her hand and blinked at him with dreamy smile. It was an expression that he had come to understand as her way of, nonverbally, saying: I was right, wasn’t I? “He was kind enough to help me out with a cleaning potions that was giving me troubles…” Lupin nodded “I was actually surprised that he agreed to help…” “Well, you earned his good favors. I heard you’ve been coaxing SIrius and James to leave him alone…” “I...have tried, but I doubt it was my influence that has persuaded those two…” Lupin chuckled “I’d think a certain Hufflepuff scold was the real reason…” “Oh….haha, never saw James and Sirius so scared, have you?” “Remind me never to make you angry…” “Remus...please. You’re the sweetest thing in the world how could you ever make me angry at you?” Lupin felt his cheeks blush at her unintended compliment, but Tonks had been busy petting her owl to notice. The boy rested his chin on his hand as his green eyes stared at the girl in front of him with a smile.

*** “She what…?” Sirius said coughing up the juice he’d been drinking. James jumped to his bed and bagan pattin his friend’s back amused. Lupin had just told his friends about his unintended meetings with Tonks during the full moons and the boys had taken the news better than he’d anticipated. “Easy there Pads...don’t drown yourself…” James laughed. “She petted you?” Sirius was astonished “What the bloody hell? WHat normal person goes and pets a random werewolf so freely?” “She thinks it is a wolf…” Lupin reasoned. “So what? Wolves can bite too. Merlin, that girl deserves my respect…” Sirius barked in a laugh “Here we are...breaking our necks trying to figure out all the animagus thing, and she goes in all her grace and has you eating from her palm like a pup…” Lupin glared at Sirius half heartedly. He’d hate to admit that perhaps Sirius was right. “I got to visit, Andromeda and ask her how she raised that girl...and then I’ll have to thank her…” “She’s...something else…” Lupin sighed sitting back on his bed. “Somebody who treats a werewolf as a dog and actually befriends Snivellus…” James smiled “Yeah, she has to be out this world.” “She’s wonderful...but it is dangerous. I can’t trust that the wolf won’t bite her…” “He hasn’t so far, has he…” “Werewolf can’t be trusted…” Lupin said shaking his head “I…” “So what are you going to do?” Peter asked “She’s ...well hard to control…” Hard to control wasn’t quite the word that Remus would have chosen, but if his fuzzy memories weren’t wrong, Tonks was definitely fond of the wolf and stubborn as she was, she wouldn’t let go that easily. Lupin couldn’t help, smile. Besides, how was he supposed to tell her that he knew about her night strolls under the moon?And there was also that conflicting part of him that didn’t want her to stop visiting him in the full moons. “Are you telling her the wolf is...you, mate?” James asked. “I...don’t know. I should...shouldn’t I?” “I’d say you wait for a bit…”Sirius said. “Yeah, no rush…” James agreed. Lupin sighed. He had never felt this conflicted in his short life. A part of him felt the usual horror that revealing his secret usually carried. The fear of rejection; but the other told him that with Tonks, it’d be alright. A tiny voice in his head keep assuring him that no matter what he was, Tonks would always be willing to accept him. “By the way. What about detention?” Lupin asked with a raised eyebrow. Sirius and James exchanged looks and broke into laughter. “You wouldn’t believe it…” Sirius said. “Snivellus saved our necks…” “Snape?” “Yeah, he persuaded Slughorn that the Cauldron incident was due to ...how did he say it?” “Boreas evident inability to follow proper instructions regarding the proper order of addition of ingredients and stirring…” James said solemnly “Slughorn totally bought it, so we were spared from detention…” “I think I might be going nuts, but maybe...maybe Snivellus is starting to grow on me…” “I hate to say it...but...I think I am too…” James said dramatically before breaking into a laugh. Lupin rolled his eyes and let out a chuckle. Tonks was probably totally clueless of the impact she’d had in their lives, but he was grateful about that.

*** Bellatrix bursted into the halls of Malfoy Manor ignoring the many glances from her fellow Death Eaters as she made her way into the inner chamber. She pushed the doors open with her wand and looked around with her dark eyes. A man with long silvery blond hair stood a few steps from her. His clear eyes judging and arrogant. The witch let out a snort as she recognized the man who had been courting her youngest sister the past few months. “Modest as usual, Bellatrix…” Lucius said with frown. Bellatrix glared at the man. If it wasn’t for Narcissa’s sake, she would have hexed the man right away. “Now, now...my dear Lucius. Let us not admonish, dear Bellatrix …” a voice said from one of the room’s largest seats. “My lord…” Bellatrix rushed to the feet of the of the chair and stares up at its occupant with adoration. Voldemort caressed her head in a way that resembled a father caressing his favorite child. Bellatrix picked one of his hands and brought it to her lips. “You’ve been busy, Bellatrix.” “My lord, I did as you commanded. I’ve sent a message to all those blood traitors out there…” “Oh, yes. I’ve seen…” Voldemort nodded in approvement “A clever way to send a message. You never disappoint me. It was a very careful pick, was it not?” Bellatrix smiled as she took pride on Voldemort’s words. She raised to her feet with a cruel smile. “It’s been a while since I sent a present to my dear sister. I thought I could use the occasion to send her my best regards…” “Ah...no doubt she received a surprise…”Voldemort said in a soft sizz as a large snake began climbing around his shoulders “Have you found what I instructed, Lucius?” “I am afraid not, my Lord…” Lucius said softly “The...creature is harder to find than we anticipated.” “I see…” “With all due respect, my lord. Why are you so interested in this….creature?” “Have you ever heard about Nyaphes, Lucius?” “I...I am afraid not, my Lord.” “Marvelous creatures. Elementals, as some wizards calls them. Powerful to the point of divinity. It is said that the apparition of a Nyaphes is an omen of change. They have the power to warp time, give and take lives…” “That...sounds intriguing, my lord.” “Intriguing? Ah yes….of course. Unfortunately, Nyaphes are scarce, very rare to find. They’re smart creatures, you see? But they’re powerful...very powerful. No one has seen one in centuries…” “My lord, if that’s the case...uh, is there really a chance for us to find one?” “Ah...always the questioner, Lucius…” Voldemort reply with a hoarse chuckle “There’s the case. A Nyaphes was seen here in England some years ago… eleven years to be more precise...” “Eleven years is a long time, my lord. How can we be sure that the creature is still here…” “Oh, it is...No doubt it is.” Voldemort said petting his snake’s head “I’ve spoken to the seers. Nyaphe’s only shows themselves when they bestow a blessing and they’re quite protective. They will remain close to the one who receives it…” “So...if we find the blessed, we should find the creature…” Bellatrix stated with a smile “Do you know who it is, my Lord? I’d be delighted to bring him or her to your presence.” “I’m afraid not, my dear Bellatrix. Not doubt the person with show up eventually, but if we find the Nyaphe’s first, it won’t matter.” “My lord, if may ask. What do you want this...creature for?” Lucius asked. “You dare question, our Lord’s plans?” Bellatrix snapped at him. “Of course not. Never...but I am curious of what could have caught our lords attention.” “Ah, Lucius. So young and ignorant. Nyaphes are powerful, with one under you control you can cause hurricanes and earthquakes, or maybe something more simple like changing events in history. Do you understand how a valuable tool it is? ”

Lucius said nothing. The power to change the events of history. Was that even possible? How powerful could those creatures be?

“I understand, my Lord. I shall intensify the search…” “I’ll leave it to you, Lucius. Do not disappoint me. Now Bellatrix...I have another task for you… “Your wish is my command, my lord.” Voldemort’s pale factions wrinkled in a cold smile. His plan was set and soon, nothing would be able to stop it.

*** Tonks woke up for a nightmare. Her room in the Hufflepuff tower was dark and chilly. She could hear the faint sound of breathing from her roomates as they slept tranquil and oblivious to night horrors; but Tonks isn’t. She cleans up the drops of sweat from her face and slipped in to her shoes and robes. It was a recurrent dream. She’d had it since she was young; at the time she’d sneak to her parents room where her mum hug her telling her it was just a dream and her father would made her some hot cocoa. Thousand times better than draught of peace. He would say and her dreams would vanish with the comfort of her parents. But here in Hogwarts, she was alone. It wasn’t exactly a nightmare, now that she thought of it, it was more like a unnerving dream. It had no sense or plot, only random images from people she felt familiar, but could not quite recognize. Then there was the wave of feelings the images carried: fear, pain, sadness. Sometimes it was just too much to take. Tonks slipped out from the tower and walked down to the lower levels. Perhaps a stroll in the night and some fresh air would make her feel better. Lost in her thoughts, she missed the last two steps from the stairs crashed loudly against something warm. “Merlin’s sake, Nymphadora. Watch where you’re going!” She recognized the annoyed voice. She raised her face and found Snape’s pale face staring at her in annoyance. He was sitting on the ground after she had dragged him in her fall, a bag lying a few steps from him. “Don’t call me Nymphadora…” she said annoyed “What are you doing up so late?” “I should be the one asking you that…” “I asked first…” Snape had long learned to not argue with the girl. Instead he pushed himself up and patted of the dust from his clothes. “I offered to help professor Slughorn gather ingredients for his next class. I was heading to meet him…” “At this hour?” “We are picking Moonbloom flowers...they…” “Bloom around midnight...right. That makes sense…” Snape frowned at her as he turned to walke away. “Hey...can I join?” “No…” “Well, I don’t think you can decide that. I’ll ask professor Slughorn.” “Honestly, are all Hufflepuff as stubborn as you are?” “Maybe? It is part of the house’s virtues after all...” “You’re not dressed for ingredient gathering…” “I’m perfectly dressed for adventure, Severus…” Much to Snape’s annoyance, Slughorn welcomes Tonks participation with open arms. Professor Slughorn was quite eccentric at times, he spent half of the way into the forest talking about how much of a wonderful student her mother was and about how gifted, for a muggleborn, her father was. Tonks had never entered the forest, she’d strolled around the edge of it during full moon nights. That’s how she’d come to meet Mr. Wolfie, but she had never stepped beyond the limit. Slughorn said that the Moonblooms were flowering in a small clearing not too deep into the forest, so it was safe and they shouldn’t worry; but as she stepped into the the shadows she began to feel uneasy. “You shouldn’t have come if you were going to be so scared…” Snape muttered to her and she replied by giving him a soft punch in his arm. “I’m not scared. Nervous and scared aren’t the same…” “We are with a teacher. Nothing is going to happen…” A lot of things could happen, she thought. True, they were with a teacher. A experienced wizard many times more powerful and skilled than them; that should give out some reassurance; but at the end, the teachers were human too, and no human is unbeatable. “Care to say what were you doing sneaking around so late at night, Nymphadora…” Snape’s voice was a mix of teasing, scolding and curiosity. Even though she was annoyed by his insistence to use her first name, which she knew was un purpose to work her up, she was pleased by the fact that the shy stoic boy was finally starting to see her as a friend. “Had bad dreams and couldn’t sleep. I thought I’d go for a stroll to clear my head. Do you always volunteer for this kind of...jobs?” she asked quickly before Snape could ask about her dreams. “Sometimes. I like potions and I learn a lot more during this kind of experiences than from classes and books alone…” “The potion brewing prodigy, aren’t you? I’m sure you’ll end up being Potions teacher in a future…” “As long as I don’t have to teach you…” “I’m not that bad in potions, you know?” she said elbowing him. “Yes, of course...like I haven’t noticed after all the tutoring I’ve given you.” “It’s practice for when you become a grumpy teacher…” “Very funny, Nymphadora…” “Can you stop calling me that?” “No” Tonks knew when a battle was lost and nothing she did would persuade Snape from using her first name as long as it annoyed her. The trio reached the clearing and Tonks almost lost her breath at the beautiful view. She’d never seen Moonblooms in real life; she had read about them and seen them in books, but she thought that the description in them didn’t give the flowers proper credit. The flowers were ghostly white and glittering like diamonds; even in the lack of light they seemed to glow with their own light. The corolla of the flowers were composed by numerous smaller petals surrounding a carpel with golden stamen. Their perfume was bewitching: sweet and fragrant, and Tonks couldn’t help but feel lucky to have stumbled with Snape. “Beautiful, isn’t it?” Slughorn said happily “Moonblooms are hard to come by. They’re awfully hard to grow and can only be harvested from the wild. Magical properties are only useful when they’re harvested in full bloom and that only last around two hours between 10 and midnight. A very tricky flower. Now, now...children. I’ll show you how to cut them and we can start…” Spending the late hours in the forbidden forest cutting flowers with a friendly potions professor and a cranky Snape wasn’t exactly a planned adventure, but Tonks found herself enjoying herself. Snape seemed particularly cheerful as he asked Slughorn about the flower’s properties and their application in potions, and she could swear she’d never seen the boy happier. She was listening, too, but not with as much devotion as he did. She picked up another pair of flowers and as she searches around the plants she comes face to face with some brilliant cobalt flowers. “Aconite…” Snape muttered behind her “Didn’t expect to find it here…” “What is it for?” “Many uses...but I wouldn’t touch it. Is way to poisonous…” “Wolfsbane…” she said softly. “What?” Snape asked with a frown. The word had come into her mind and she wasn’t fully aware why. It was important, but she couldn’t tell why. “Wolfsbane…” she repeated trying to understand what meaning the word held to her. “Ah...yes, that’s another name it receives.” Snape nodded “Anyway...let’s hurry. It’s almost midnight.” Tonks nodded. She stared at the flowers and once Snape had turned back to his own chores, she cut the aconite flowers into a small bouquet and pushed them into her bag. She wasn’t sure why, but she felt like she had to take them with her.

[scaredofrobots]

Twenty Four Days Of Christmas

Happy One Month Until Christmas Eve! Here is more Christmas universe garbage for @petalstofish  . Heading into theatre tech hell soon so posting while I’m less cray cray. Thanks to Squid Squad for betaing and being my cheerleaders. Love yall! on FFN

For normal people, the acceptable time to decorate for Christmas is December 1st. The inhabitants of 7C were anything but normal, thank you very much. In fact, for the other residents of in the Magnolia Crescent building, Christmas cheer had been creeping into their lives since November 1st when the inhabitants of 7C  had drug two Christmas trees up three flights of stairs and decorated their entire hallway with lights and tinsel.

They’d been skeptical when the group of young people moved in and even more suspicious when it was three young men with one lovely redheaded girl moving into the three bedroom apartment, but the elderly neighbors were happily surprised with how little noise came from the flat.

This was only the case because Lily Evans was the “motherfucking shit,” as Sirius would say, at charms. So 7C (which housed the four former Gryffindors) was sound-proof which is why the other  residents of Magnolia Crescent never heard anything.

And why they didn’t hear the shenanigans going on on December 1. James Potter had taken it upon himself to turn the extra bedroom into a “Happy 24 Days Until Christmas” winter wonderland. He was in the off season for Puddlemere United and had a lot of time on his hands and he was using his pent up energy for good.

His girlfriend of four years, Lily Evans, was working late, so he wanted to surprise her with the first night of JAMES POTTER’S TWENTY FIVE DAY CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN. It was their first Christmas living in the same flat and James had BIG PLANS.

Sirius, however, was skeptical. “You’re up to something else,” he remarked, as James added more tinsel to the mantle.  Rolling his eyes, James responded, “No, I’m not. I’m simply excited for our first Christmas together in the flat.”

Sirius narrowed his eyes, “Fine, don’t tell me, but when whatever this plan is totally fucks up - don’t come crawling to me for help.”

Whatever James’ response was going to be was interrupted by the sound of the front door opening. As she entered the flat Lily announced, “I hope you two are alright with curry - it’s been a shit day and I plan on sticking a straw into that bottle of gin.”

Scrambling to finish tinseling the mantle, James called, “Curry is fine! Come in here and you might feel like drinking the gin from the glass instead!”

Lily set down the take out bags in the kitchen and entered the spare room.

“HAPPY 25 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS LIL,” James exclaimed as she entered the winter wonderland.

He waited anxiously for her response. Lily stood stock still as she took in the decorations. There were paper snowflakes hung from the ceiling, glittery objects everywhere and a countdown banner that was counting down the hours and minutes until Christmas Day.

“Holy shit,” Lily exploded, “Did I finally infect you with the Christmas spirit? THIS IS BEAUTIFUL!!!”

James laughed delightedly as Lily rushed about the room examining every decoration and looking as excited as she did on actual Christmas morning. When she finally reached James she threw her arms around him and kissed him deeply. Sirius took this as his cue to exit and made himself useful by heading to the kitchen to make gin and tonics.

When they pulled away Lily said, “Thank you. It’s beautiful.” James smiled and shrugged, “I know this case has been tough on you. So, I figured I could up the festive this year. You deserve it.”

Lily only smiled and kissed him again. It was true. The law firm Lily had started working for after graduation had picked up the Riddle Case.  Tom Riddle, or Voldemort as his followers called him, had been running an underground blood supremacy group called The Death Eaters. The Levins Law Group was handling the prosecution, and Lily had been working as a paralegal since graduation. The case was complicated and the lawyers and membership of the organization, seemed to change daily. Every time someone was arrested, they would turn in three others for a plea deal. In fact, seven months prior, their very own Peter Pettigrew had been named as a member by Severus Snape.

It had been hardest on James- that someone he would lay his life down for could be taken in by such a terrible organization. When Peter had first been named as a member James was in firm denial. He planned to pay for Peter’s legal fees and bail until the arraignment. When the evidence again to pile up against Peter. James’ heart broke. They’d always joked that “Peter brings a lot to the group dynamic” but Peter was creative and intelligent. Somehow, this creativity had been harnessed into hate. When the original copy  Mudblood Manifesto had been revealed to be written in Peter’s handwriting James knew he could never forgive him. When the photo of Peter smiling next to a tortured muggle child James felt some crimes might be worth the dementor’s kiss.  The spare room they were standing in used to be Peter’s, and James was trying his hardest to heed Lily’s advice and make new happy memories in a place that had made him feel so bitter and angry as they packed up all their former mate’s things.

When they separated, Lily pulled away and pressed her nose against his and whispered, “I love you.”  James started, “Lily, I-”

As was his custom, Sirius Black interrupted this perfect moment with a, “OI! Knock it off you two. Remus isn’t back for another two weeks, and I can’t have you two trying to out-cute us when I can’t even compete”

Remus was in his second year teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts and lived on campus  during the term sessions.

“I still can’t believe Remus is a fucking teacher,” Lily said, before she took a gin and tonic from Sirius.

“I know? I mean bloke can’t even fold his socks right, it is a nightmare.” Sirius shrugged.

“I still can’t believe he made a kid cry,”  James stated as he sat down on a mound of fake snow.

“I can. Those bloody first years are needy. And you know how sarcastic Remus gets when he doesn’t have enough chocolate,” Sirius said fondly.

“Remus’ sarcasm could make even Minnie cry,” Lily confirmed as she plopped down next to James.

The rest of the evening passed by in a blur of drinking, laughing and fake snowball fights. It was the happiest James had seen Lily in months, and he was relieved to know that Christmas still held some magic. Later, when she was snuggled up against him in bed, she told him, “You know this is going to be tradition now right? A winter wonderland on Dec 1?”

James laughed before he kissed her and replied, “As you wish.”

Two weeks of JAMES POTTER’S TWENTY FIVE DAY CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN passed by almost completely without incident. James had recreated some of Lily’s favorite events from her famous 84 day failed advent calendar, and she was more excited for Christmas than she had been in her entire life.

Every evening when she would return home from work, she would rush in and demand to know what the “Christmas Countdown Activity” was.

Sirius, however, found the whole ordeal suspicious. James had always tolerated Lily’s Christmas Obsession at best, but now it seemed almost like he was trying to out-Christmas Lily Evans.

He confronted James about it when they were traveling to pick Remus up from Kings Cross on December 18. As they stood on the platform with their “Professor Remus Lupin” sign wearing their chauffeur uniforms, which had started as a joke but had quickly become tradition, Sirius broached the subject. “SO what are you up to with the Christmas Countdown, mate? You’re suspiciously festive- and I know a Potter scheme when I see it.”

James dropped the sign. Picking it up, he responded (in a slightly higher tone than normal), “I’m not up to anything! Just want to make our first Christmas in the flat special. Does Lily think I’m up to something?”

Sirius stared at him for a long moment. “No. Lily hasn’t mentioned anything to me. But as I said, you seem suspiciously festive and I get the distinct feeling you are up to something.”

His composure regained, James reiterated “I just want to make our first Christmas in the flat special. To show Lily how I am excited about her favorite holiday.”

As they stood there waiting, Sirius tried to piece together the clues.This year, James had gone absolutely bonkers over Christmas. He hadn’t complained once in November when they were putting up the Christmas decorations, whereas last year he refused to even look at Lily’s tree until December. He had even taken to wearing a different Christmas jumper every day just to make Lily smile, and he had a list of events for every day. It was like he was Lily Evans on a Christmas overdose. Which only meant one thing.

“So you’re trying to out Christmas her then? That is it? You’re in the off-season so your competitiveness is showing itself in some mad Christmas spirit contest that she doesn’t even know she is a part of?” Sirius exclaimed.

Laughing James said, “Alright alright- you figured out my big secret. Just don’t tell Lily”

They were interrupted by the arrival of Remus. “I really wish you two would stop with the damn sign and the damn uniforms. I’m not your child.”

“But Remus,” Sirius gasped holding a hand to his chest, “How else are we going to practice the multitude of ways we are going to embarrass our children when they go to Hogwarts.”

Remus simply grumbled, handed Sirius his suitcase, and said, “Lead the way then, oh brave chauffeurs.”

On the drive home, Remus updated them on the goings on at Hogwarts. As he was telling them the dramatic details of the most recent break up of a couple of sixth year Ravenclaws, Sirius exclaimed, “I always knew the professors were bloody gossips.”

“It’s free entertainment, mate. We aren’t paid enough, and most of the time I want to hit my head against the wall, so their dramatic lives are something to look forward to. And don’t act like you don’t live for the updates,” Remus countered.

They arrived at 7C Magnolia Crescent and were greeted with a very festively dressed Lily Evans who had spent her day off making a “WELCOME HOME REMUS” feast, which was strangely close to what a Christmas dinner would be like.

The next three days were full of “Mandatory Festive Fun, Remus you big stick in the mud,” James- not Lily- would say every morning. James had planned an obnoxious amount of Christmas activities and since Lily was off work and Remus was back, each day was packed with festive activities.

On the 19th, Remus’ first day home. James naturally had arranged for them to relive The Polar Express by riding a train to Hogwarts where he had somehow convinced Dumbledore to play the role of Santa and to give each one of them sleighbells. They took the Knight Bus home and enjoyed the hot chocolate except for Remus who was unamused by having to make the long train ride two days in a row.

The next day, they all went ice skating. This was when Remus finally perked up because James and Sirius were terrible.  Lily and Remus spent hours trying to get James and Sirius to make at least one loop around the ice but both of them would fall in a tangle of legs and arms every time. The four of them hadn’t laughed that hard since before Peter’s trial and the joy was welcome.

That evening was spent threading popcorn onto string, drinking copious amounts of wine and trying to get their television to work despite the magical interference.  When that failed, James and Lily watched as Remus and Sirius played Wizard’s Chess. When Lily fell asleep against James on the couch Sirius looked to James and told him, “I don’t think you’ll be able to top the past two days mate. And you’ve got 4 days of your countdown left.”

James smiled and told him, “Never doubt me, Sirius. I’m a man on a mission”

Sirius’ response was interrupted by his bishop being destroyed.

The next day was for baking and donating. The four of them spent hours baking, frosting and delivering cookies. Sirius only got in trouble for trying to eat the icing twice while Remus received a lifetime ban for sneaking all of the chocolate chips.

As Sirius watched James and Lily deliver the final cookies he swore he saw the Marauder twinkle in James’ eyes. He had to figure out what James was up too.

On December 22, Sirius had had finally had enough. He knew there was one person who could help him figure it out. Lily Evans (assisted by a chat and some Firewhiskey). James was off for some Puddlemere publicity shoot for the upcoming season, and had left Sirius in charge of the Countdown Activities for the day. Sirius, however saw this as the perfect opportunity to have a Chat With Evans about James’ recently developed Christmas cheer.

Remus had taken his grading to a nearby coffee shop- “I need some fucking quiet Sirius - you’re always so loud. Even your silence is distracting” -he had ranted as he left the flat. So Sirius and Lily were alone for the better part of the afternoon, and Sirius planned to find out if Lily knew what James was planning, or, at the very least, if she found the behavior odd.

He didn’t have to wait long. Halfway into their second bottle of Firewhiskey,  Lily looked at Sirius with a stern expression and asked, “Do you know why James is so suspiciously festive? Is he trying to out-Christmas me? Because I get the distinct feeling James is up to something. I’ve enjoyed every minute, but he is relentless! And he keeps telling me over and over again not to make plans for Christmas Eve, because he has a new tradition planned to end all traditions, and I’m trying to be appreciative but my competitive side is SCREAMING AT ME that is he trying to outdo me. And the whole…”

Lily continued her speculations, and Sirius was filled with relief that Lily, too, found the festive behavior suspicious. As she continued to rant, however- SIrius realized that James wasn’t trying to outdo Lily at all. Suddenly all the behavior he thought was suspicious started to make sense. He thought about the differences between James’ general mischief scheming and his make Lily swoon scheming. And suddenly what James had been scheming hit Sirius like a bolt of lightning. He also realized he hadn’t been listening to a word Lily was saying for at least two minutes. He tuned back in to hear her wondering, “I mean, what could he possibly have planned on Christmas Eve that is so great? I have half a mind to plan an alternative event and botch his plan.”

Panicking because he knew how horribly this all could go Sirius yelled, “NO!”

When Lily looked affronted and asked, “And why the FUCK not?”

“I mean, sure you need to take back your title. Or whatever. But not on Christmas Eve. James has always loved Christmas Eve the most. So just wait until Christmas Day for whatever idea you’re planning,” Sirius explained, rather lamely.

Lily huffed but exhaled “I suppose you’re right. It is Christmas after all. You have to help me though.”

Sirius draped an arm around her shoulders and said, “Of course, Evans, couldn’t leave my prank partner alone in her mischief.”

Lily snuggled closer to him and wrapped her arms around him, “You know I love you Sirius. You’re like the brother I never knew I wanted.”

Sirius kissed the crown of Lily’s head, “I know Evans. But it is far too early in our chat to be getting so weepy.”

Lily sat up on her knees and looked Sirius in the eye, “It isn’t too early in the evening. After Petunia, and Peter and this case- I just want you to know that I love you- you’re my family and I am not going anywhere. You’re stuck with me for forever.”

Sirius smiled and reached for her hand, “Evans, I knew I was stuck with you forever when you wrote a Christmas song about Hippogriffs. Now stop this sappy nonsense. Let’s go spread the Christmas cheer into your bedroom. See how James likes it.”

The rest of the their time was spent singing their old favorite:

God rest ye merry hippogriffs, Let nothing you dismay, For Lily and Sirius Will feed you Christmas Day, And save you all from Slytherins Who all are dirty gits O tidings of comfort and joy, Comfort and joy, Oh tidings of comfort and joy.

And James and Lily’s bedroom was transformed into a Winter Wonderland.

When Remus arrived at 6pm he found them skipping around the spare bedroom throwing fake snowballs.

“OI!” Remus interrupted, “Are you two quite finished? We’re supposed to meet James to go see the Nutcracker in 30 minutes.”

Miraculously, they made it to the theatre with time to spare. Remus and Sirius always forgot that drunk Lily was quick and nimble and, apparently, very very VERY excited to see the Nutcracker.

When they reached James outside the theatre, Lily’s momentum nearly knocked him to the ground when she hugged him.

“I’m on to you, James Potter,” she told him seriously. James immediately paled and looked to Sirius for explanation.

“Yes James, I was telling Lily all about how you’re trying to out Christmas her,” Sirius explained in his lawyer voice and tugged on his left ear which meant that he and James would be having a chat of their own.

Lily giggled and explained “But I am the queen of Christmas cheer and you will never take my crown. Just be prepared.”

Lily started to walk towards the entrance of the theatre and missed the glances exchanged between Sirius and James.

The ballet was wonderful. Sirius thoroughly enjoyed Act One. What he enjoyed even more was how watching how nervous James was acting. James was a bundle of nerves. He seemed like a man on death row.

At intermission, James seemed to have had enough. He told Lily, “Lil, Sirius and I will grab some wines. You and Remus should check out the Christmas Trees of the World display on the second floor lobby.”

Lily, still slightly buzzed, cooed and dragged Remus off.

Sirius crossed his arms and said “When?”

James, startled at his abruptness, answered, “Christmas Eve”

Raising his eyebrow, Sirius asked again, “Where?”

James stuttered, “The- the cottage”

Sirius bit back a smile, “Have you got the-“ as he gestured vaguely.

“What? Oh the- yeah, mum sent it to me ages ago,” James said blushing slightly.

“How?” Sirius interrogated further

“How? Oh well Remus-“ James tried

“REMUS KNOWS?!?!” Sirius erupted, and several patrons stopped to stare. Lowering his voice he continued “You told Remus, but not me- your best mate- your pal- your-“

“Stop. Stop,” James demanded, “I’m sure you’re about to go into a lovely and dramatic rant about how I have betrayed you. But for once in your life just listen.”

Offended, but resolved to be silent, Sirius nodded.

“Look- you know how Lily is. She says she loves surprises, but then she just has to know. She unwraps and rewraps all her presents and thinks none of us knows. She will smell something suspicious and have to know what it is. But this. THIS is the one thing I want to actually surprise her. And if you knew- you’d have one of your chats- which, by the way I know is just the two of you getting smashed and solving problems.”

Sirius interjected, “That is not what our chats are”

“Yes it is, Sirius. And I know all about the Longbottoms wedding, too. John Dawlish was assigned as my auror during Peter’s trial and was very confused when I mentioned I lived with you and Lily,” James smirked.

Sirius shrugged.

Continuing, James breathed out a sigh, “So I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want you or Lily to ruin this for her. I want it to be perfect. She deserves it. She deserves it all.”

Sirius studied him, “You’ll take care of her?”

James crossed his heart, “I solemnly swear.”

Sirius held out his hand and James shook it. Feeling that wasn’t enough, the two brothers embraced.

“I’m happy for you mate,” Sirius told him, “I’m right pissed at you, but happy”

James laughed, “Want to help me set up tomorrow?”

“I’d be delighted.” Sirius grinned

They worked their way through the crowd and found Lily and Remus near the Canada tree.

As they approached Remus asked, “No wine?”

Sirius winked and said “They only had white.”

Lily scoffed and said “Uncultured swine,” before looking at the returning boys;, she studied them a moment and remarked, “You two look happy.”

“Ah Evans, three days until Christmas you know. Bloke is bound to be happy,” Sirius chuckled and pulled her into his side.

On the morning of Christmas Eve, Sirius and Lily were eating their breakfast of bacon and toast as they did the daily crossword together. The day before Sirius had finally gotten all the finer details of James’ BIG PLANS and wanted to try and help him make the evening even more perfect.

As they tried to figure out what potion ingredient isn’t used very often and rhymes with jingle, Sirius took a deep breath (said a silent prayer that he wasn’t going to ruin anything) and asked, “So Evans what are you wearing tonight on your super secret festive activity James is dragging you on?”

Lily wrote “D-I-N-G-L-E B-E-R-R-Y” in the offending 13 Across as she answered, “My fucking Christmas Eve Christmas Jumper”

Sirius wrote “D-A-W-N” for 4 Down When are squids most docile?  and responded, “I was thinking we should go to lunch. You could wear your jumper then and dress up tonight?”

Lily looked up at this, “What the fuck are you on about Sirius?”

“I was thinking maybe your green jumper with that black skirt and those boots that drive James mad,” Sirius continues

“Alright, what the fuck Sirius? Fashion advice? What is James planning?” Lily asked

Imagining Lily was McGonagall, Sirius decided to tell a half truth,  “I’m not supposed to tell you- he wants to surprise you- but James is taking you to an old church for their Christmas pageant. It’s in an old village and the people are very old fashioned”

Lily gave a noise that sounded like a squeak and said “Oh, well I do look great in green. And lunch sounds great.”

Lily smiled like an idiot the rest of the day, and Sirius hoped she didn’t figure anything else out.

At 6pm, James and Lily (dressed in the suggested outfit) walked out of the flat and into the cold.

Grinning, James said, “Close your eyes. We’re going to do some apparating”.

Lily did as she was told and held tight to James’ hand.

With a POP they arrived at the small village. James kissed her and then told her, “ok you can open them.”

She opened her eyes and was happy to see the most beautiful village she had ever seen. It looked like every Christmas card she had ever seen and she whispered “Wow”.

“Welcome to Godric’s Hollow, Lily,” James said and kissed her again.

They spent the next half hour walking around and looking at the various shops.

“We’re going to be late,” James exclaimed and started to steer Lily toward the small church near the square.

As they took their seats, he said, “My parents used to bring me here every Christmas. We stopped my seventh year, but I’ve wanted to come back. So I wanted to bring you here to make some new traditions.”

Lily smiled at him and said, “Thank you for bringing me.”

The service began and it was beautiful. Lily was taken back to days when she would attend church with her parents. She remembered the times when she and Petunia were angels in the Pageant, the time Petunia was Mary and Lily was a donkey and most of all how singing “Silent Night” in a candlelit church really but her in the Christmas spirit.

At the gospel reading, they were happy to watch the children of the village perform a Christmas Pageant. Lily fell instantly in love with a set of twin boys who were playing sheep. They went straight up to the baby Jesus and had to be drug from the sanctuary at the end of the pageant.

Later, when the priest was breaking the bread for communion, the twin boys somehow were running down the aisle of the sanctuary and straight to baby Jesus. They remained there for the rest of the service.

As they were leaving,  one of the boys ran up to them and yelled “Happy Christmas!” Lily crouched to his eye level and told him, “Happy Christmas! You were my favorite sheep.”

The little boy grinned and said, “Did you see baby Jesus up there!”

Lily responded, “I did!”

They were interrupted by a very pretty, but tired-looking woman who was saying, “There you are Max! What’ve I told you about running off.”

Max’s mother had the other twin firmly by the hand. “Sorry Mummy,” he murmured and ran over to her.

“Your children are lovely,” Lily stated as she stood up.

The mother smiled and said, “Sometimes. I’m glad we weren’t struck by lightening when they interrupted the Eucharist, but thankfully Father Brown loves children and thinks they should be a part of the service. Are you two new to the village? It’s a great place for young families.”

James smiled and pulled Lily close, “Oh, no, we’re just here for Christmas Eve. My parents used to bring me.”

“Well, I hope to see you two again sometime, but I’ve got to get these little rascals to bed. Happy Christmas,” she said.

“Happy Christmas,” James and Lily chorused.

They left the church, and James requested they go for a stroll. As they relived the most excited points of the Christmas Pageant, James pulled Lily to a stop in front of a small cottage.

“James?” Lily asked and turned to him, “Why are we stopping?”

“Oh, well- another tradition we had when I was younger was that we opened one Christmas gift on Christmas Eve,” James started, “And I wanted to give you this gift here.”

Lily looked at him curiously, “Is there a gift that hasn’t been put under the tree yet?”

“Two actually,” James grinned mischievously.

Lily gasped and said, “You know I hate surprises!”

“I think you’ll like this one.” James grinned and pulled out a narrow rectangle box and handed it to her

Taking great care, Lily unwrapped the box and opened it.

“A key?” she asked “Where to?”

James simply inclined his head to the cottage.

“A house?!?! You’re giving me a house? A house in Godric’s Hollow,” Lily demanded, her voice wavering a little.

James cleared his throat, “Technically, my parents are giving us a house in Godric’s Hollow-let’s go inside, shall we?”

James offered his arm, and Lily took it and muttered, “I cannot believe you.” He chuckled and they walked to the front door. Lily struggled with the key and James told her, “You’ve gotta twist the handle a little- there you go.”

They entered the house and Lily gasped. There were Christmas decorations everywhere. Lights, candles and greenery filled the small entryway.

Eyes twinkling, James said, “Wait until you see the lounge…” He pulled her into the room that was full of four Christmas trees and a roaring fire. Her curious nature getting the better of her, Lily began to walk around the room in wonder. “James- why-” she started, but then stopped short when she saw him.

James Potter was down on one knee in the middle of a cottage in Godric’s Hollow. A cottage his parents had apparently given to him.

She stood staring until James said, “Will you come over here so I can do this properly?”

Lily took the steps towards him and was opening her mouth, but James stopped her. “No, Evans. You are going to let me get all of this out before you say anything or I lose my nerve.”

She nodded and James took this as his cue. Letting out a deep breathe her started, “Lily Evans, I hope you know how much I love you. I love your mad obsession with quidditch, I love how filthy your mouth is, and that you can drink any of us under table.” At this Lily laughed, “You’re so kind, but you don’t take any shit and I love that about you. You make me want to be a better man. You’ve made me a better man. I love every minute I’ve spent with you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want to embarrass our kids on the platform when we pick them up from Hogwarts with you and I want to spend every Christmas Eve until I die in this cottage with you. So, Evans, fancy trading in your last name for a new one?”

Raising an eyebrow Lily said, “Sirius gave you the last line then?”

Groaning, James said “Lily-”

“I don’t know- I might have to think about it- speak to my lawyer, Sirius-” she said trying to hide the smile that was threatening to come out.

“Lily…” James whined.

Laughing, she grabbed both James’ hands and pulled him to his feet, “Yes, you great prat. I’ll marry you.”

Their kiss was a mess of laughter and tears. When they pulled away they were both smiling and then James remembered, “Oh the ring!”

He pulled the box from his pocket and opened it quickly, “It’s Goblin made, an old family heirloom- do you like it?” Kissing him again she answered, “I love it- but you could tie a bit of string around my finger and I’d be happy.” James slid the ring onto her finger and kissed her again.

Moments later Sirius and Remus burst out of the kitchen yelling “Congratulations!” holding a bottle of champagne and four glasses.

James and Lily separated and accepted the champagne.

“Alright there, Evans?” Sirius asked her as they embraced.

“Perfect, Sirius. What more could a girl want?”

It was the first Christmas they spent as a family in Godric’s Hollow. But it certainly wasn’t the last.

[itsallavengers]

do you have any fluffy peter & tony headcanons or anything tbh because im having a horrible day and im so anxious i feel like im gonna explode

(Okay I told myself I was gonna take a break from writing today but u know what. U deserve Good Tony and Peter Writing so,,,,I’m gonna do my best with that. Hope u feel better soon my friend, and I hope this helps in some way x)

His hands were shaking against the prompt cards he held in an iron-clad grip.

It was stupid, really. Ridiculous. He’d battled monsters and stopped bombs and yet here he was, getting worked up over a damn science presentation.

And there wasn’t even any reason why. He was good at science. Brilliant, if he did say so himself. And the whole school was full of science nerds like him, so it wasn’t as if he was going to get laughed off stage, either.

So why the damn hell did he feel so…awful?

Pull yourself together, Spiderman, he told himself, shaking his head a little and peaking out from behind the wings to watch the speech that was currently being given by another of his classmates. It was a mandatory thing in order for everyone to get a grade. Each of them had to present an idea or a theory to the rest of their year and put points that were for and against it. At the end, other kids asked questions, drilled you, probably started giggling and whispering if you couldn’t answer one of their godawful comments-

Ugh. He felt vaguely sick.

He’d been on edge the whole day just thinking about it. There were, what, a hundred faces, maybe more, in the audience? Including Flash, who was sat at the back, just waiting for Peter to slip up so he could laugh loudly or boo or something.

He could barely even think straight. His mind was all fuzzy and his palms were too sweaty. It felt like his lungs weren’t working properly anymore.

This sucked.

“Hey kid,”

Peter jerked wildly as someone stepped up to his shoulder. God, he’d been so out of it he hadn’t even heard them, what the hell was wrong with him-

“I- uh, hi Mr-” he turned, looking over and expecting to see a teacher. 

“Tony?” he said incredulously, as his brain registered the tinted yellow glasses and carefully sculpted van dyke.

“The one and only,” Tony replied absently, as he peered out through the wings and looked at the boy onstage, “you next?” He asked.

“I…what-you-how?” Peter spluttered, “what are you doing here?”

Tony looked at him, before shrugging. If Peter wasn’t mistaken, he almost looked sheepish. “You mentioned this thing, uh, a few days ago in the labs? I didn’t have anything on, so I though I’d come, show a bit of moral support, you know the drill,” he muttered. “How you feeling? You ready? Nervous?”

Peter opened his mouth, but the assurance failed to come out. He was a notoriously bad liar, after all. Plus, his vocal cords didn’t really seem to be working very well right now. Which, considering what he was about to go up and do, was Very Very Bad.

Tony looked him up and down, noting the quivering hands, slightly green face and general expression of terror before sighing and pulling the sunglasses off his nose in order to place them on the bridge of Peter’s. “Okay, Peter, today you are not Peter. Today, you are me, and I am about to give a heart-raising, mind-blowing, showstopping speech on…” he peered down, reading the top of Peter’s card, “effective and innovative designs to contribute toward a greener society,” 

Peter just nodded, looking up at Tony through the yellow lenses.

“First thing,” Tony began, raising a hand and wandering backward, before gesturing around the place, “you gotta own the room, kid. Movement is important. Hands, feet, eyes- don’t just stand there like a lemon and read off the prompts. You wanna get a good grade? You engage the audience,” he stepped forward, pointing at Peter’s eye, and then his own, “eye contact. Always do the eye contact. Kinda terrifying, admittedly, but you only need to do it for a second. You’re not gonna stare em down like they’re trying to rob a bank here, okay, you’re just catching their eye. Showing them you’re focused, like you’re talking to them specifically. Keep moving around, look at everyone.”

He stopped. Grabbed Peter’s shoulder. “So, Mr Stark, how do you begin your speech?”

Peter stopped, caught off guard like a rabbit in the headlights. “Uhhhhh-”

“Okay, well for starters, I definitely don’t do that,” Tony shook his head, pushing the glasses a little further up Peter’s nose as they began to slip down. “You wanna begin with something simple. Casual. This isn’t a funeral service. You’re just putting an idea across. ‘hello everybody’ will suffice. I’d say open with a joke, but I don’t think you’re ready for that yet.”

Peter had to agree on that one. He took another look over to the side, and noticed the boy was beginning to wrap up. 

Oh, hell. He was next.

Tony noticed, too, and he let his other hand rest on Peter’s shoulder as well, so that he was gripping Peter between both hands. “Listen, kid. Stick to the basics. Eye contact. Movement. Keep it light, and don’t focus too hard on individuals. It’ll only freak you out. You’re gonna do great, kid. Honestly, you’re definitely the smartest one out there, you got nothing to worry about.”

“People are gonna laugh,” Peter muttered, looking down at his feet. God, Flash- Flash was gonna be a total ass, he could predict it perfectly. Peter would pause, just for a moment, and Flash would do something stupid like laugh or make a stupid noise and then it would throw Peter off-

“No-one’s gonna laugh, Kid,” Tony said, before his eyes narrowed. “Unless there’s someone who’s planning on ruining it for you. Is there?”

“I dunno, Flash said some stuff earlier, but… I dunno,” Peter mumbled, biting his lip. He wished he’d been ill today. Or HYDRA had decided to attack a Macy’s or something. At least that would have been a genuine excuse.

“Flash, huh?” Tony mused quietly, peering out into the audience, “greasy looking pussy at the back, right?”

Peter laughed nervously, nodding. “Uh, yeah, that’s the one.”

Tony pulled a face, and then nodded to himself. “Okay. Okay, cool. Well listen, I’ll make sure Flash isn’t a problem, alright? Don’t worry about him.”

A sudden wave of applause filled the auditorium, and signalled Peter’s turn up. 

“Big breath. Come on, you’ll kick ass. You’re Spiderman. Or you can be me, just for a few minutes, if that’ll make it easier,” Tony assured him, patting his cheek  and smiling.

“-And now, it is my great pleasure to present to you, Peter Parker!” The Principal announced, and another round of applause burst out.

Okay. Showtime.

“Wait, kid, sunglasses!” Tony caught him before he could move, sliding them back off his face with a grin, “they’re a tad too big for you. Don’t want them sliding off whilst you’re deep in the middle of solving the world’s energy crisis.”

Peter huffed out a nervous laugh, and then did as Tony said, taking a long, deep breath before turning away and walking slowly toward the main stage.

He could do this. Tony did it all the time. He could be Tony, just for five and a half minutes, right? Tony had said he could.

His hands were still shaking a little as he stepped in front of everyone, but he felt a little braver. A little prouder. Maybe even confident.

At the back of the hall, he watched Tony slip in through the doors, more inconspicuous than Peter had ever seen him as he wandered toward the back row and grabbed a chair, leaning over the back of it and whispering something into-

Peter sighed, unable to hold back the little grin of satisfaction as Flash’s head turned to look up at him, eyes widening in a hilarious fashion as he realised, yet again, he was being told off by Tony Stark.

It was even more amusing to watch the colour drain from his face as Tony continued to whisper in his ear. He watched as Flash nodded a little jerkily, and then Tony smiled, before stepping back and leaning against the back wall, right in the middle where Peter could see him.

He grinned up when Peter made eye contact, and Peter smiled back.

He could do this.

“You did it!” 

Peter turned, smile on his face as he watched Tony jog up toward him, hands raised in a thumbs-up as he grinned over. Luckily, the presentation had been at the last period, and so Peter was free to get the fuck out and finally relax for the first time that day.

“Yeah- I think it went...well,” Peter admitted happily.

 Tony pulled a face, letting his arm fall across Peter’s shoulders and squeeze. “Uhm, you did more than ‘well’, kid- you totally blew everyone else out of the water.”

“You didn’t even see everyone else, Tony.”

He felt the shrugging gesture Tony made beside him. “I’m gonna go ahead and assume here, kid. You were great. Very Tony Stark-ish. Except with less narcissism and more genuine-ness, y’know? Never would’ve guessed you were nervous.”

Peter grimaced. “I thought I was gonna throw up the entire time.”

“Well then, you are a remarkable actor, Mr Parker,” Tony told him, “hey, how about doing my speech for me this weekend at the charity gala I am being forcibly blackmailed into attending? I have a busy schedule of sleeping and eating and I don’t want it disturbed.”

Peter laughed, giving Tony a shove, “thanks, but if it’s all the same with you, I’m never going to give a speech ever again. That was crazy. Everyone stares at you. What the hell?”

“Yeah, when you’re the only person talking in a huge auditorium, people tend to do that,” Tony huffed, shaking his head, “so damn rude of them.”

“It really is,” Peter agreed, hiking his bag up a little further on to his shoulder before turning to tony, a grin beginning to form on his face. “Hey- what did you tell Flash, by the way?”

Tony tapped his nose secretively. “None of your business.”

“Aw, come on, I see him most, it’s more my business than yours.”

“Hey, maybe I just like him. Maybe I was having a catch up, Peter, huh? You’re not special, I might be secretly mentoring him, too.”

Peter rolled his eyes, shoving Tony playfully and then grabbing his arm before he went careering to the floor. “Whoops- superstrength.”

“That was a threat, wasn’t it? I feel threatened. Again. Physical threats, this time, too- it’s getting worse-”

“Tony,” Peter whined frustratedly, “please tell me.”

Tony stopped, hand half-way to reaching his car door before turning to look back at Peter. “I told him if he made a single sound, I’d hack the school system and turn all his A* into C’s,” he admitted, before adding “is that bad? I don’t know- I tend to threaten both adults and kids alike, what can I say, I’m all about equality,” 

Peter watched, smile on his face as Tony jumped into his car and pulled his shades back on. “You did good, kid. I’ll see you ‘round,” he said, shooting Peter another thumbs up before revving the engine and pulling out of the car park.

Peter watched, shaking his head fondly. He felt kinda exhausted- the day had been stressful as fuck, and it had taken it out of him. But hey- at least it was over. And at least it hadn’t turned into a full-blown panic attack, either. That would’ve just been embarrassing.

“Thanks, Tony,” Peter muttered, waving cheerily over at a still rather horrified looking Flash from across the road before beginning to make his way down the drive.

“Wait. You got a lift?”

Peter turned, watching as Tony reversed back to him and raised an eyebrow at him curiously from the open window.

“Sorry, I don’t get in cars with strangers,” Peter deadpanned, beginning to walk forward again, hiding a fond grin as Tony just rolled forward and followed him.

“Uhh,” Tony made a face, turning around and shuffling in his car for a second before pulling out something. It was a bag of kisses, a few of them already eaten, with the wrappers thrown back in the bag. “I got candy?”

Peter broke his deadpan stare a second later, in order to laugh. Tony was a fucking idiot, honestly. “Right, okay, I’ve been convinced,” he declared, before sliding over the bonnet and opening the door on the other side.

As soon as he’d fallen in, Tony flicked him on the ear. “Ow!” He yelped, looking betrayed.

“Don’t slide your dirty school jeans over my car, you heathen,” Tony scolded, before turning back to the road and stepping on accelerate. “And don’t touch my radio. We’re listening to my music, not yours.”

Peter groaned, “ugh, but your music taste is-”

“Unless you want to get forcibly removed from this vehicle, I suggest you quit running your mouth, boy,” 

Peter looked over to him. There was silence for a stretch, before Peter muttered, “Metallica sucks.”

“RIGHT,” Tony pulled his sunglasses off, chucking them at Peter’s chest and then moving his hand to the dash where all his modified features sat, “that’s it, you’re getting ejected, buh-bye demon child-”

“TONY NO I’M SORRY I DIDN’T M-”