#Steven is very paranoid about everything | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

drifloonz · 2 years ago

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Steven with a s/o that is agoraphobic and selectively mute and only really kinda talks to him. They also get paranoid about being watched.

FINALLY MORE STEVEN APPRECIATION ... i love glitchy but steven is always my favorite ( <- is biased and has way more thoughts ab steven... )

anyways okay!! ( also sorry for being picky and choosy with asks i just like to write things where i know i can finish them easier first when im in a Writing Slump like i am rn ). hopefully this is good anon :3c

steven with an agoraphobic and selectively mute s/o!

♡ i wouldn't say steven is also selectively mute per se, but he doesn't talk often unless emotional* or with someone he's comfy with, probably. very stoic and straightforward. due to this, he definitely doesn't mind that you don't talk much - you two probably just bask in eachothers presence wordlessly a lot... but when he hears your voice for the first time, it's a pleasant surprise regardless.

*( RE: strangled... and doors open lol. although those are probably bad examples since its a lot of him going like "MIKI!!!! MIKI!!! GRAAAHHHHHH I HATE PEOPLE GRR WHERES MY MIKI!!!" and also him saying numbers for some reason. which i feel is attributed to bad/stereotypical 'pasta writing so i usually don't consider that part of him, at least for the default current-time steven i write ( which is after all of his pastas and where hes essentially just very tired and depressed and antisocial and doesn't hurt people unless threatened or feeling a need to. my interp of steven was probably more manic in his younger years, which is the implication anyways ). he had an emo phase where he wanted to kill everyone then got over it partially its fine. i put this in an asterisk because i didnt wanna clog the headcanon LMAO )

♡ he's also... somewhat agoraphobic i'd say? but more in the "I fucking hate doing this" rather than the "I am so scared of doing this" way. obviously due to his reputation as Pallet Town cryptid, even if it's been so long that people've probably moved or forgotten him he'll never let his guard down in public. due to this, he's majorly inconvenienced by having to go outside ever which is the reason why he usually stays put in his weirdly large home in the abandoned side of pallet. he also doesn't see reason for going other places much, so you won't have much trouble with him dragging you to places or anything. the comfort of his admittedly worn-down home is enough for him.

♡ also if for some reason you don't like pokemon, or at least wild pokemon, take him with you in the tall grass. it's like having a living repel. realistically, they'd probably just avoid steven and pay attention to you, but it's funnier if he was just like. an anti-pokemon forcefield.

♡ nowadays he also has a low social battery in general, is very moodswingy as seen in literally everything he's in, and is also socially awkward and doesn't like to talk with strangers as much as he used to - which even in his prime, was more of strangers talking at him while he nodded. he's more of a listener. due to this he'll happily listen to you if you feel comfortable talking to him, and he'll nod or hum or make little noises to indicate he's still listening.

♡ the fact that you don't like people watching you is a little troubling to him, because steven, intentionally or not tends to sort of stalk and stare at you from afar. no matter where you go in his home, you usually feel like you are being watched... at least, that's what the barely remaining rumors of him say. he's overprotective over his loved ones, which is an obvious sign of that ( which worsened after the two... incidents ), but he'll try to get better about it around you. mostly, by announcing his presence or trying to make it obvious instead of wordlessly staring at you after silently opening a door or something.

♡ alternatively, if someone is watching you, or even just making eyecontact, steven will basically tell them to fuck off, usually nonverbally ( aka: glaring at people who look at you the wrong way or who look at you too long in general ). this might be More anxiety-inducing for his partner because you probably don't want him to cause trouble or anything, but he's overprotective and also sort of hates being out in the open nowadays too so its a natural defense mechanism along with his overprotectiveness towards you mixing. if you talk to him about it and have a problem w/ it though he'll get a little huffy but will ultimately try to focus on making you comfortable instead of making people who make you uncomfortable feel threatened.

♡ his general aura is still sort of brooding and sometimes threatening though and he's also tall as fuck so he doesn't even have to really put effort into scaring people to leave the two of you alone. they just mostly don't talk to you if stevens around you because he's just... threatening. he has an Aura to him im telling u.

♡ he'll usually hold your hand tight to sort of try and ground/comfort you if you two have to go anywhere publically. he'll try to get over his general dislike of going anywhere publically just to help you whenever you have to go places, if you do. ( he's usually also trying to wear a "disguise" which just means like... a black hoodie w the hood up barely disguising anything. he doesn't have much else lmao ). he'll also literally go out to places himself if you really don't want to. don't wanna go grocery shopping but need to but you are deathly afraid of going at that moment? he'll just throw on his ""disguise"" and go to the nearest pokemart or mall or something. begrudgingly, sure, but it's always worth it for you. just... just make sure to tell him what to get ( or do ) otherwise he'll return with way too little or way too much.

♡ otherwise, if you don't have any reason to go outside and are also afraid of open or crowded spaces, steven is happy to just stay home with you constantly. it may be a little depressing but he's been staying home for years and years at this point. plus, it's less lonely with you around now. you make him feel comfortable, and so he'll do everything to make you feel similar in return.

♡ i like to think the both of you get better with talking, but mostly just with each other. steven doesn't talk a lot so his voice is a little raspy, hoarse ( almost all of the time when he talked a lot is when he's like angry or screaming or crying in the pokepastas lmao ), and sorta quiet, but he gets better the more he talks to you. the two of you probably don't talk often though, being able to communicate well enough with gestures, expressions, that sort of thing. he does enjoy your conversations when you do talk to him though.

♡ he'll also compliment your voice and say that you sound nice and things like that. not to intentionally try to make you talk more, since he's all for your comfort, its just always a pleasant surprise to hear your voice to him, genuinely.

♡ i'm going to project onto reader bc im also selectively mute (??? i think thats what you'd call it) where i barely talk in public unless i literally have to or w/e. so, steven and you not talking much to strangers causes a bit of an issue if anyone asks you a question or tries to talk to you. steven will try to respond for you if it seems you aren't up for it but obviously, he's not a mindreader. he'll usually just shoo whoevers trying to talk to you two off, if neither of you know them. he'll always look at you a bit first to give you time to respond if you want to, and if you don't he'll try to do it for you based on just like. a guess. of course this means a lot of possible miscommunication esp since steven prefers to tell people he doesn't care about ( most people ) to go away, but it works out well enough.

♡ he also does sort of like surprising or scaring people, but he lets up on it for you when he realizes that you probably react badly to that sorta thing. he'll always make his presence known before he hugs you or kisses you or anything, and will also ask consent a lot more. mostly by opening his arms out or just pointing at his lips and tilting his head, cuz he doesn't want to talk much. he's really trying to be thoughtful and caring around you and it shows! he's trying rlly hard <3

♡ ... he probably is concerned of how you'd react to miki, so he tries to not keep her out around you. he'll usually take her outside if he needs to tend to her or anything. a part of him says you deserve to die if you didn't like miki ( his intrusive thoughts / s!3v3n / missingno / whatever you wanna call it rearing its head ), but he's lived long enough to probably go "yk what its sort of fair for people to be afraid of my fucked up dead pet." Only slightly though, he'll still get angry at you if you're like mean or rude to miki if you ever saw her.

♡ if you r fine with her though he'll be surprised but that'll make things a hell of a lot more convenient, since a lot of his day-to-day modern life is just 50% lazing around and barely taking care of himself or doing things arnd his house and 50% taking care of and tending to miki.

♡ miki as said in other hcs is like a pet that is rlly curious and constantly follows you so . Hopefully you aren't scared by her if steven lets her out. if you are she'll feel bad abt it and will whine </3

♡ i think he'd like to try and help you with your issues slightly by like... taking a lot of strolls during the nighttime. it's what he prefers since he's less visible and less people are there to possibly recognize him, and what you'd probably prefer since less people are out. he'll take routes with less people on it intentionally and just look up at the stars and the moon as he walks with your hand in his. it felt right. plus, nobody - pokemon or person - usually bothered you two anyways due to steven's presence, so you two just get to have some nice nighttime strolls. writing this made me think of the latios/latias soar nighttime version in the oras ost aurghghgh.. the soundtrack of u two having romantic casual nightstrolls <3

♡ lots of your lazy days in will be spent cuddling on his couch in the living room or his bed. it's nice! plus he has rlly good hugs, at least after you tell him to stop gripping you so tight.

♡ congratulations your boyfriend will do anything for you. Do with this what you will <3

#wispy writes #strangled red x reader #steven strangled red #steven strangled red x reader #pokepasta #<- gotta be more consistent w this tag lol

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nutteu · 1 year ago

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tomorrow is the fleeting smile on your bleeding lips [Chapter I]

[AO3 Chapter I] [AO3 Chapter II] [AO3 Chapter III] [moonsea series]

Steven’s mechanic was unfairly, unfathomably, absolutely, devastatingly hot. He was going to die from a severe case of embarrassment before the car was even fixed, if the mechanic didn’t stop grinning at him as if he wanted to devour Steven whole. [Jake/Steven; au; published 2022-06-29; total word count: 24,806]

Marc was going to chewed his ears off—no, he was going to kill Steven if he found out. His brother might be babying him to a fault, but this was the fourth time this month that Steven barreled into a problem with the car, which Marc owned, and bought after saving up for so long, and which he loved so much, and which he only lent to Steven because he was paranoid as fuck and thought that Steven would fall asleep in the bus, or get mugged, or worse, get harassed.

See, Steven was more than happy to drive the car around. It cut down the time he usually spent waiting for the bus, and he didn’t need to worry about his bus leaving before he could get on it. Also, he could bring a lot of things, and it was faster altogether—a more practical experience. But the catch was, Steven didn’t know shit about cars. Ask him about the complete history of Trojan War and he’d answer in less than a heartbeat. Ask him about how to change a tire, and he’d just stay silent until he inevitably squirmed in discomfort.

He just didn’t know, okay?

Which was probably not the best thing to say to Marc. Especially now that his brother was away in Cairo for a few weeks. Also, not the best thing to inform that the car just suddenly broke down and wouldn’t start, and Steven was slowly panicking. He had taken the car to repair shops, but they evidently didn’t do a good enough job if it was still not working right. He couldn’t tell the difference, honestly. He just knew that there was nothing he could do but to resign another portion of his paycheck to fix the car, more than usual this time because it never broke down like this before.

He sighed, and pulled out his phone. It was brand new, and he didn’t quite understand how to use it yet. Marc insisted that he had it, because he complained that Steven’s voice sounded so shitty when he used his Neanderthal era phone, which was a big insult, because that phone served him for years just fine. But his brother was hardheaded, and Steven was so used to accepting everything Marc had given to him, to follow where his brother went.

It was definitely useful now, even if he fumbled a bit with it. He looked up the nearest auto repair shop, and called the number. A gruff voice answered his call, and he stuttered a bit before he relayed the condition. The person, a man named Khonshu—which was hilarious as fuck because the last Steven checked, it was the Egyptian god of moon—sounded so displeased. He understood; it was night, and the shop must have been closing soon. But he was a bit desperate, and still very much panicking. In the end, Khonshu told him to wait on his location, said someone would pick him up.

He let out a relieved sigh as soon as the call ended. Khonshu was not pleasant to talk to. He bit his lip, and stretched a bit on the driver seat. He supposed he should just go out, since the AC was dead, and he could miss the person picking him up if he spent his time holing up inside. So, he stepped out, and waited on the side of the road; walking around, and swinging on the tip of his toes. He should have brought a book. He usually did, but he forgot this morning because he was in a hurry; he was almost late for a tour from a uni. He could just read on the phone, like Marc had taught him, but it hurt his eyes, and he didn’t understand how to control the functions of the app.

Waiting like an idiot it was.

He watched cars and bike pass by, smiling awkwardly at passersby stealing glances at him. He was a bit wary when people walked closer, or when they stared at him for too long. He was sure he looked neat enough today, he had wanted to impress the entourage after all. But, perhaps, it was his hair? He surreptitiously looked at the tinted window to check if his curls were in place. They were a bit messy, but acceptable nonetheless. Was it his clothes? Nah, no way, this shirt looked cool, for his taste anyway, and he didn’t button it wrong. Was it because he looked painfully, obviously uncomfortable and restless? Yeah, maybe; he felt that way, definitely.

He tried his best to ignore them, thinking back to Marc’s tireless lecture of stranger danger. Honestly, Steven was thirty-six, and though he was a complete garbage at having good sleeping schedule, he thought that he managed his life pretty good. Marc was just overprotective. But the clock was ticking by, and the road was slowly deserted, and Steven couldn’t help but press his back closer to the side of his car. There was a man who had been standing against the wall of a nearby building, and Steven caught him staring several times. He didn’t try to approach, but yeah, Marc was right. Stranger danger.

Just when he was about to call Khonshu again, be damned with him grumbling in his ears, just to make sure that he was indeed getting picked up, a car parked in front of his, and the driver climbed out. Steven paused for a moment. It might be someone who lived here, but then the man walked towards him, and he had to rub at his eyes for a moment.

The man, whom Steven was now sure the person that Khonshu had sent because he was still wearing a mechanic jumpsuit, looked exactly like him and his brother. There were a few key differences, like the deceptively relaxed set of his brows and shoulders, the hooded stare, the perpetual smirk on his lips, the gait in his steps. But aside from that, he could pass as their brother. Steven was pretty sure that he and Marc were born as twins, not triplet. But here the man was, stopping to stand in front of Steven, with his smirk and the stench of tobacco clinging to him. It was like seeing Marc, just more relaxed and devious, and Steven almost thought that, perhaps, for some magical reason, Marc had sensed that his baby brother was in trouble, again, and flew over from Cairo to save his pathetic ass.

“Steven Grant?” he asked, and Steven swallowed. His voice was rough around the edges, husky and low. There was a noticeable accent in his syllables, and it only made him all the more—what was the word? Steven didn’t want to say seductive; he didn’t think he could handle the mortification of his own thought. Yeah, nope, this one was definitely not Marc.

“Y-yeah,” he stuttered out, aware that he was staring like a creep. “You’re from the Iah Auto Repair Shop?”

“Jake Lockley,” the man introduced himself, and nodded. “Khonshu sent me, said something about your car breaking down.”

He smiled in dismay, and gestured to the poor, abused thing. “Yeah,” he said. “Brought it to the repair shops before this, but either they didn’t fix it properly, or I’m just a disaster with a car. I’m leaning more towards the latter.”

The man’s smirk widened a fraction, almost a grin. There was mirth in his eyes as he placed a warm palm on Steven’s shoulders. He didn’t want to admit that he was holding back a gasp. He could feel the warmth of Jake’s hand through the shirt, and he was suddenly torn between feeling grateful that he left the jacket inside the car, or panicking all over again because even a small contact could make him so flustered.

He couldn’t quite hide the flush on his cheeks when Jake leaned forward. He was about to push the man away—Marc’s training was rigorous and it had been ingrained into Steven’s head—but then Jake said, “I’ll handle the towing, and you get inside my car. That gentleman over there hasn’t moved an inch, and you’ve been fidgeting quite a lot. Let’s not find out what he wants to do to you, yeah?”

He found it hard to voice out an answer, so he just nodded his head, cheeks aflame because Jake’s warm breath hit his skin when he spoke, from how close they were. He followed behind the man as they walked to the side of his car. He opened the door for Steven, throwing him a last grin before he closed the door behind. Steven let out the breath he had been holding.

That was the most intense, well-intentioned warning he had gotten in his life. He unconsciously lifted his hand to his shoulders, where Jake had touched him. It was still a little bit warm. He scrunched his nose and quickly put his hand down. What the hell was he doing? It was just a friendly gesture, for fuck’s sake. No need to be so self-conscious about it. Or bothered. Or- or wanting it to happen again.

Jesus fuck he was going insane.

He decided to ignore his embarrassment, and looked up. The man who had been watching him was scowling at something, and Steven turned around slightly to see that Jake was throwing a grin at him. The grin was different than the one he gave to Steven. This one made him shiver and curl a little in his seat. Jake, for all that he looked like a hot, unruly man, now seemed so dangerous.

The man then pushed off of the wall, and started to walk away. Steven stared. It truly was fortunate that Jake arrived just in time. He glanced at Jake again, but the man was already gone, presumably inside Steven’s car to set the gear to neutral. He looked up ahead again, and fiddled with his fingers. He really should have brought a book.

It took Jake some time before he opened the door and slid into the driver’s seat. “All done, Stevie,” he said, the name rolling on his tongue like a tease. “Put on your seatbelt.”

“It’s Steven,” he corrected as he clicked the belt in place. “With a ‘v’.”

“Not so catchy,” Jake replied easily. “Stevie is better, don’t you think?”

“Nope, don’t think so. I like my name as it is,” he said, leaning against the seat as the car was started. It purred instead of rumbling, like Marc’s car. Which was all Steven’s fault in the first place. He promised himself he’d treat Marc once his brother was back. If he didn’t plan on telling what was the reason other than welcoming Marc back, then, well, what was a little white lie, right?

“I can suggest a lot more interesting names,” Jake said without looking away from the road. They turned left on the junction, before he continued. “How does sweetheart sound?”

Steven honest to God choked on his spit. He stuttered out an intelligible reply, but Jake was laughing already. He glanced at Steven, the same smirk on his lips. There was a glint in his eyes that Steven didn’t dare to look at for too long, in fear that he’d do something stupid. Like saying that he didn’t mind Jake calling him sweetheart. My God, it was less then an hour and he was already being so needy.

“You’re so easy,” Jake said, looking at the road again.

“Uh, I’m sorry?” he said, not sure how to respond to that. He should have been annoyed, he supposed. But Jake said it so softly that all Steven’s heart did was beat faster than it should.

Jake’s lips quirked a bit, but he didn’t say anything. Steven wanted to ask what exactly that grin meant, but then again, he was too busy trying to breathe right. Maybe phoning this particular repair shop wasn’t the best decision he’d taken today. Not because he met Jake, but because of how much he was turning into a desperate man in the presence of this cheeky mechanic.

Could this be considered as narcissism? They looked unnervingly similar to each other. And yet, they couldn’t be more different. Sure, Marc had called him a cheeky little shit on at least a thousand different occasions, but it wasn’t the point. They had no similarities between except for their appearance, and even that stopped at several points. Steven didn’t think that he could ever dream of being as suave as Jake.

He tried to surreptitiously glance at Jake, and found that the man was looking straight ahead. He noted that Jake’s nose was taller than his, and with his face set on a neutral expression, he looked like Marc—which, way to go really, bringing his own brother into his. Really killed the mood. Even if Steven didn’t know what mood, exactly, he was talking about.

“If you want to stare at me, all you have to do is ask, little dove,” Jake said suddenly, and let out an amused huff when Steven squeaked.

“Sorry, mate, didn’t mean to be rude,” he said, scratching his neck. “You just look a lot like me and my brother.”

“You have a brother?” Jake asked, an eyebrow raised, eyes still focused on the road.

“Yeah, a twin, older than me, just by twelve minutes, honestly; probably won’t let me go out of the house if he has any say to it,” he said, pursing his lips a little. Sure, Marc was thoroughly traumatized that he let his guard down one second and Steven almost drowned. Or that one time Steven almost got kidnapped. Or that one time he fell off of his friend’s bike. Or that one time Steven sleep-walked to the streets. Or—yeah, he got the idea: Marc was worried because his little brother seemed to be a huge magnet for troubles and disasters. Which, probably, explained why fate decided that he was to meet Jake Lockley. If Steven had to describe that man with a word, trouble was definitely the first thing that came to mind.

But he couldn’t look away, and he was aware that his cheeks was still heated. Oh, God, he was doomed and Marc was going to be so, so disappointed at him.

“Your brother has a complex,” Jake told him bluntly.

Steven laughed a little. “He does, doesn’t he?” he said with a slight shake of his head. “Not without reason, though. I’m a walking disaster.”

“A cute walking disaster, at least,” came the reply, and Steven was speechless for God knew how many times tonight. He was afraid that it wouldn’t stop anytime soon.

He bit his lip and looked down, suddenly hyper aware of how he must have looked like a garbage next to Jake’s confidence. He unconsciously tried to fix the curls falling into his eyes, hoping that Jake wouldn’t notice, would only see it as a nervous gesture.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, the car halted in front of the repair shop. Jake unlocked the car, and went ahead to take care of Steven’s car. He went out, too, and saw that some people were still there. They got his car inside the large space of the garage, and started to prepare their tools. Steven watched him, fascinated. They worked so quickly and efficiently, almost without a thought in their practiced movements. He saw that Jake was talking to another mechanic, and an unbelievably tall man dressed in white, face adorned with neatly trimmed mustache and beard. There was a scowl on the man’s face, but he was listening intently nonetheless. This must have been Khonshu.

Steven waited near Jake’s car, unsure what to do. He fiddled with his sleeves, and suddenly longed for his jacket just to have something to touch. He liked the texture of the seams, the feel of worn fabric under his fingertips. There was just something soothing in tracing the neat line of the threads, as if his fingers were running above the cables of the utility pole; long, smooth lines that seemed to follow when he passed them by.

Jake went back to him after some time. He pointed a thumb to the car, and said, “We gotta make sure what’s broken before we can fix it. Upfront payment after the diagnosis. Can you come here tomorrow?”

“I can,” he nodded. “But I’m going to be a bit late, is that okay? I get off work at six, and I gotta take the bus to go here, and a taxi probably since there’s no route for the bus here.”

“No need,” Jake said. “I can pick you up. Where’s your workplace?”

Steven was stunned for a moment. That offer just came out of nowhere. Well, not that out of nowhere, given the situation. But he was pretty sure that mechanics didn’t just offer to pick up their clients off of work just because their car was out of commission. Besides, Jake had just met him, and he honestly didn’t want to impose on the other man. But Steven didn’t want to refuse the offer either. For one, it’d be easier. Also, because he got to be picked up by Jake.

Oh, dear Lord, he was turning into a fifteen-year-old in puberty.

“Uh, Petrie Museum,” he said, unsure for a moment.

“I’ll pick you up at six,” Jake nodded, then shouted something at someone in the garage. It was in a language that Steven didn’t recognize. He just watched as Jake nodded at the answering reply, before he turned back to him. “Do you need a ride home?”

Alright. No matter how much Steven’s heart was kicking, screaming and giggling at Jake’s presence, this was way too fast. Or maybe he was reading into it too much. It was just a harmless, kind offer, and Jake was just being polite. But, God, did he want to.

“If you don’t mind?” he asked, hesitant.

“Wouldn’t offer you otherwise, little dove,” Jake said, again with the pet name. “Come on, I’ve told them I’m clocking off.”

Steven nodded dumbly, following Jake to once again get into the car, not really believing what was happening, couldn’t really wrap his head around it. The car broke down, he was worried sick because he didn’t want to make Marc mad, he was anxiously waiting to get picked up while trying to ignore the stare of that stranger burning on the side of his face, met Jake Lockley, realized that he was fucked and doomed, and now Jake was driving him home and Steven was about to scream out his confusion. That sounded about right.

He fastened the seatbelt as the car was turned on. Jake looked around for incoming vehicles that might pass, before he drove to the main road. “Where are we going, Stevie?”

He ignored the obvious mockery of his name, and rattled off the address. It was forty-minutes’ drive from here, and he didn’t know what to do in the meantime. Here he was, in the same space with the person he had admitted was attractive enough to make him fumble and stutter, and he didn’t know how to appear less like he was a weirdo and more of a respectable customer, whatever that meant.

Jake turned on the tape, and they listened to some music Steven didn’t recognize in low volume. The drive was spent in silence, and Steven was getting antsy. Had he made the wrong decision? Maybe Jake was hoping he’d refuse the offer, but Steven was too dumb to read the clue. He pressed himself closer against the door of the car, mulling in his thoughts.

“You were more talkative before,” Jake then remarked, surprising Steven. “Why, you afraid I’m gonna do something to you?”

“No!” Steven exclaimed, then recoiled when he said it louder than he intended. “No,” he repeated, at reasonable volume this time. “I’m just—not used to being driven by someone else than my brother, I guess. A stranger at that, no less.”

“We won’t be stranger soon, Steven with a ‘v’,” Jake said, the trademark smirk reappearing. “Was that your brother’s car?”

“Yeah,” he said weakly, remembering about his carelessness. “He lent me to it a few months ago because he’s been going on business trips constantly these days. He’s the one who usually drives me around when he’s in town. Which he won’t be, for a few weeks at least.” He didn’t know why he felt the need to tack on the last bit.

“And you broke it,” Jake said.

“Oi, no need to rub the salt on the wound, mate,” Steven huffed out, crossing his arms in front of his chest, face flushing. He was talking to a mechanic, who understood cars’ technicalities more than Steven could ever hope to do. He was embarrassing himself enough.

Jake chuckled lightly. It sounded so pleasant to the ears, for some reason. They were halfway to the apartment building, and Steven started to see familiar shops and streets around the area. The low hum of the tape blended in with the faint bustling of the people and vehicles left on the streets. It was later than the time he usually went home at. He had thought of getting himself some dinner at the restaurant he frequented, because he felt lethargic after two tours with huge groups and didn’t want to cook himself. He supposed it was fortunate enough that the car broke down when it did, he wouldn’t happen to stumble on Iah Repair Shop otherwise. Wouldn’t meet Jake.

And there he went, sounding like a teenager with a gigantic crush again. He met a stranger wearing his face one time, and bam, he was flailing and helpless. This felt like that one time he ate a steak, and then went bonkers and thought that he was hallucinating Gus having two fins, when in reality, Marc had forgotten to feed the poor fish and tried to replace it with a new one. He was mad at Marc for two days, because Gus was his little one-finned wonder, alright.

“Been working at the museum for long, Stevie?” Jake then asked.

Steven looked away from the bright neon lights of a barber shop and shrugged. “Depends on how you see it,” he said. “I worked as the clerk before, selling sweets and souvenirs from the museum. I only got the job as the tour guide recently. About… six months now? It’s been a huge improvement, nonetheless, even if my boss is still an annoying hag.”

Jake grinned. “Mine too.”

“Khonshu?” he asked, then laughed when Jake nodded. “Yeah, a bit of a prick, isn’t he? I thought he was going to strangle me, with how annoyed he sounded like on the phone.”

“We were about to close,” Jake told him. “We usually close at seven, but we close later than usual on Saturday and Sunday.”

“Ah, that explains it, then,” Steven said, nodding along with the explanation. “Sorry for heaping up more troubles on you.”

“It’s good for the business anyway,” Jake said, and turned left at the three-way junction. Steven could already see the apartment building from here. “And I get to drive you home. Not a bad deal for me, be damned with Khonshu.”

Steven chewed at his lower lip, fidgeting slightly. He was trying so hard not to outright blush at the implication of Jake’s words. But it was so hard to fight his natural bodily reaction. He could feel the back of his neck warming up. “Yeah, thanks for offering. The taxi fare would be a nightmare for my bank account.”

They halted in front of the apartment building, and Jake turned to look at him. There was that same glint again in his eyes when he practically purred, “Oh, trust me, the pleasure’s all mine, little dove.”

Good God, what was it with this man? Steven felt all at once like he wanted to ask Jake if he fancied a drink, and to whimper and curl into himself because never in his life that he felt this flustered. In the end he just bit his lip harder, and tried not to fiddle with his fingers again.

A hand reached out towards him, and Steven was still a little dazed to react properly. There was a thumb pulling insistently on his lower lip, so he released it from his teeth. The thumb stayed there, rubbing at the reddened flesh, small indents from how often Steven had bitten his lip in the span of less than two hours alone. It was a bold gesture, and one that he was sure that not everyone would do to a stranger they just met.

A part of him, that sounded annoyingly like Marc, was screaming about stranger danger again, urging him to get the hell out of the car, to push away Jake’s hand because it shouldn’t be there. But a bigger part of him was promptly short-circuiting when Jake continued swiping the thumb on his lip. Steven’s mouth was parted a little, afraid that he’d accidentally lick Jake’s finger if he closed it. He was sure that his whole face was obviously red enough to rival the ketchup that Marc hated so much.

“You’ll bleed if you bite it any harder,” Jake told him, voice soft for once, yet heavy with something Steven couldn’t decipher. His eyes flicked towards Steven’s lips for a moment, his thumb stopping, and the air in the car seemed to be stagnant, as if waiting for something.

Steven, too, felt like he was waiting, though he didn’t know what that was that he waited for. But he stayed there, breath bated in his lungs, clenching the seams of his shirt tight. He watched Jake lick his own lips, and something in him ached at the sight. He wanted—he wanted to—

Jake pulled his hand away, and straightened himself. His usual grin came back as he said, “I’ll see you tomorrow, then, Stevie.”

“It’s Steven,” he reminded, voice embarrassingly hoarse. He tried not to bite his lip again, and instead opened the door. He was equal part relieved and frustrated that nothing happened in the end. It was a bit foolish, and forward, to think that Jake would be interested in having anything to do with lame, old Steven. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Jake.”

He got out of the car with shaky legs, and waved as the car drove away. He was still a bit out of it when he got into the elevator, and pressed the button for his floor. It was only when he was inside his apartment that he realized that he had forgotten to take his bag and jacket from the backseat of his car; his phone, wallet, and apartment key safely tucked inside the pockets of his pants. He hadn’t even realized that, only noticing when he went to deposit his bag at its usual place, and found nothing to put down.

All because of Jake Lockley and his goddamned smirk and pet names.

Yeah, Marc was definitely going to scold him for a thousand years after this.

“Do you think I’m going crazy?” he asked to Gus 2.0 as he fed the fish.

He couldn’t sleep until it was pretty late. He tried to read books, solve the Rubik cube, do some light exercises. But each time he closed his eyes, Jake’s smirk was there, and Steven would wake up faster than he could ever do; skin heated and a whisper of need crawling on his back. It wasn’t that he had never had a fleeting infatuation, or plain physical attraction towards someone else. It was just that it had never been this bad before. Not to mention that Marc wasn’t there to hold him down in sleep, and thus he had to resign himself to chaining his ankle again and pouring sands around the bed.

He pointedly ignored how he tried to sleep with restlessness and a certain need down in his pelvis. He didn’t think he could face Jake if he were to jerk off to the thought of him; of his face, of the danger in the glint of his eyes, of his touch on Steven’s skin, of his smirk, of his low voice calling Steven with all sorts of endearment. Nope, no Siree, not in this household. Definitely.

“Yeah, I think so, too,” he said to the gurgle of bubbles Gus 2.0 let out. He sighed, and pressed his forehead against the cool glass of the tank. It felt pleasant, so he stayed for a moment. “Marc won’t be pleased. But then again, he’s not pleased with anyone I go out with. Weird chap, that guy, really. Good thing I love him.” And good thing that Marc loved him too much to ever strangle Steven for all the troubles he found himself in over the span of their lives.

He went out of the apartment, a bit weirded out that he had to go back to the usual routine of waiting for the bus, standing amongst the crowded of people minding their own business. Fortunately, he didn’t fell asleep on someone’s back like that one time. He couldn’t help it; he was dead at his feet, and Marc hadn’t come home for a week because he had something to do. He carefully didn’t tell his brother about it.

The museum was bustling about today, since it was Sunday. Little kids with their parents, teenagers pointing to artefacts and making funny faces to imitate them; just people walking around the museum, and Steven occasionally greeted them to ask if they needed any assistance, explaining the history whenever someone asked.

He liked his job, had been dreaming of it since he worked in the museum for the first time. There was just something fascinating about recounting the old stories of how a certain outcome in history came to be, in speculating about the factuality of it all, in mulling about the superstitious reasonings of some customs. It was certainly better than selling jellies and plushies at the counter, though he did like the Taweret plushies, had two back at home.

He was distracted enough with work throughout the day, but when it was his time to clock off, he was feeling a bit jittery. He supposed it showed on his face, because he was never as good as Marc in concealing his emotions. J.B even asked him what got his panties so twisted, which Steven reprimanded for his crude language—there were children around them still!—but he kept his mouth shut. He had enough teasing from Jake alone, he didn’t any more to make himself even more anxious.

He didn’t even know what he’s worried about. It was just Jake picking him up from work, so they could go to the repair shop and Steven could reluctantly let go of his money to fix the car. It was pure business, with a dash of kindness. He was just getting worked up for no good reason. Still, he couldn’t help it.

When it was time for him to go out, he was nearly vibrating with restlessness. He waited nervously on the side of the road, eyes roving over the street to spot Jake’s car. He didn’t remember the plate number, but he remembered the shape, the color, and the brand. Should be easy enough.

Except, Jake didn’t come with that car. Or even a car at all.

A bike slowed down in front of Steven; the roaring machine petered out as the gas was let go carefully. Steven stared for a moment, uncomprehending. There was a small chuckle, muffled by the helmet, from the rider. When the helmet was opened, Steven had to hold himself back from reeling. Because it was Jake Lockley, on a bike, wearing leather jacket, and—oh, Lord have mercy on him—leather gloves as well. He looked comfortable and so, so unfairly hot like that. His curls were mussed from the helmet, an easy smile on his lips, the familiar stench of tobacco around him. Steven swallowed hard, and took a trembling step forward to greet the other man.

“Hullo,” he said, berating himself inwardly when his voice came out small and unsure.

“Been waiting long?” Jake asked, unclasping the second helmet on the back and handed it to Steven.

“No, not really,” he said. He put on the helmet, made sure the clasp was secured, before he cautiously got on the bike. “Didn’t know you ride a bike.”

“The car isn’t mine, it’s for all of us to use,” Jake explained, putting his helmet back on, and gripped the handles. “Never been on one of these babies before?” the man asked, peering at Steven from the side rearview mirror.

Steven shook his head. “Never been brave enough to try, to be exact,” he said. “Seems kinda dangerous, and I have enough bad luck as it is.”

Jake chuckled again, and prepared to go ahead, before he paused. “What are you doing?”

“What?” Steven said dumbly.

“What are you holding on?” Jake patiently elaborated.

“Oh,” he breathed out, and let go of the clutch he had on the seams of Jake’s jacket. “Sorry, didn’t know where to hold. Should I grab the bar?”

Jake shook his head, and much to Steven’s surprise and the imminent danger of his heart exploding, yanked Steven’s forearms to put it around the man’s waist. “You said it yourself; it’s dangerous. And it will be if you don’t hold on properly.”

Steven flailed a little, before he gingerly clasped his fingers together to hug Jake’s middle. It brought him closer to the man, right cheek pressed against a broad back. He could smell the leather and something that he guessed was Jake’s cologne, along with hints of sweat and musk. He barely restrained himself from burying his face on the man’s back completely, just to chase a little bit more of the heady scent.

“Hang on tight, princess,” Jake said, before they went off.

Steven didn’t want to admit that he squeaked in surprise. The bike was much faster than a car, and he wasn’t used to the maneuvering needed. He tightened his hold on Jake, closing his eyes as they went pass the streets in a blur. He was pretty sure they exceeded speed limit or something, but maybe it was just because he wasn’t used to the feeling of riding a bike.

It felt pleasant, to be honest, aside from the surprise and unfamiliarity. He could feel the wind on his face, the whizzing of every vehicle passing by, the flex of Jake’s torso each time they turned, the rumble of the machine, the way Jake’s shoulders looked so strong, felt that way, from the back. He might just enjoy this experience yet. Even if he knew that a big part of it was because it was Jake Lockley, and he got to wrap his arms around the man without making it awkward. If he pressed even closer until his front was plastered to Jake’s back—well, then, he was just unused to this, okay? No ulterior motive at all.

The ride went by faster than he’d like to admit. Before long, the bike slowed down as they entered the parking space of the repair shop. The mechanics didn’t spare them a glance, absorbed in their work. Khonshu was nowhere to be seen, but two men approached the bike, and started telling Jake about something Steven couldn’t pretend to understand.

“As much as I enjoy you clinging tight to me, we still have something to do,” Jake then said, and Steven felt his cheeks burn from embarrassment when he realized that he hadn’t let go. He had just clung to Jake in front of all these people. Great.

He let go hastily, almost stumbling as he got off the bike. Jake only laughed lightly and followed at a more sedate pace. He put the helmet on the seat, and went to unclasp Steven’s without prompting. He was probably used to how slow Steven was at everything, particularly when he was around Jake. Steven held his breath when Jake was once again within his personal space, his knuckles brushing the underside of his chin.

“Come on, little dove,” Jake said, walking towards Steven’s car.

He followed and watched with clenched fists as Jake easily divested his jacket, the muscles on his shoulders apparent through the thin black shirt. He hung it on the back of a chair, along with the gloves, which he bit down to pull off and nearly gave Steven a heart attack from doing so. He signaled to Steven to wait as he went to towards a door that must have led to the back room. Steven smiled at the mechanics around him, and some of them grinned at him; eyeing him and then glancing to where Jake had disappeared. He didn’t know, and didn’t think he wanted to know the silent conversation going between them as they exchanged loaded look with each other.

Jake came back with his jumpsuit ready, only this time, the upper part was tied around his waist, and Steven sucked in a deep breath because Jake’s shirt was tight and it clung to his defined chest. He was defined everywhere, it seemed. From his shoulders to his chest, the thick biceps and lean torso. Probably from all the heavy lifting he had to do in his job. Steven was a little bit envious; Marc was built almost similarly to Jake, and little old Steven was soft on the stomach because he didn’t exercise that much and he went through a box of chocolate whenever he tried to calm himself down from watching sad movies.

“We’ve taken a look at your car this morning,” Jake started, hands braced against the opened hood of the car. “It’s total wasteland in here.”

Steven shuffled his feet guiltily. “Yeah, sorry about that.”

Jake hummed and pursed his lips a little. “There are problems on the battery, spark plugs, clutch cables, as well as dried oil. It’s a wonder you could drive as far as you could. You can go ahead and pay at the counter for the total, and they’ll give you the details of payment, things we need to change entirely or to simply repair.”

He then pointed to the cashier, and Steven ambled there. He listened without really understanding as the young woman who manned the cashier listed all the thing he should pay. He just gave her his credit card, and said his gratitude once she was done. Jake and the other mechanics were already in the process of tinkering with the machine when he came back.

“Your bag is on the bench,” Jake said without looking up.

Steven nodded and went to take his belongings. Everything was there, thankfully, nothing was missing. He went back to Jake, and clutched at the strap of his bag. “Um, how long does it take to fix it?”

“Give or take twelve days. Could be faster, could take longer; it depends,” Jake explained. “We’re a bit swamped, so I’m leaning towards around two weeks. We’ll notify you once it’s done.”

“Okay,” he nodded. “Thank you for informing me. I guess I’ll take my leave?” He didn’t know why he even phrased it as a question. There was nothing else he could do here, anyway. He should let Jake work instead of bothering him.

“You got someone to drive you home tonight?”

“The taxi driver will, I’m sure,” he said with a light grin.

Jake laughed, and stepped away from the car, leaving two of his friends to continue fixing it. “Can you wait a bit? Just around,” he checked on the clock at the wall, and looked back to Steven, “twenty minutes. We’re closing soon anyway.”

“Oh,” Steven said, blinking a few times in surprise. He had thought that the offer was one-time. He didn’t expect to have Jake driving him home again. With his bike. And his leather jacket. And gloves. Oh, fuck. “Uh, I can? I mean, yes, I can. Definitely. Twenty minutes, no problem.”

Jake looked at him with a strange expression, as if he wasn’t sure whether he wanted to laugh or be exasperated. Probably both. In the end, however, he just led Steven to the bench, and went over to get his jacket and gloves. “Here, keep them safe for me. There’s a vending machine there if you want to drink something.”

Steven nodded and clutched the jacket closer. He put the gloves in his bag so he wouldn’t lose them. He’d keep them safe. They were worn, he realized, both the jacket and gloves, now that he had the chance to properly run his hand through the fabric. Some part of the leather on the shoulders was already flaking off, a sign of use and time. This was a well-beloved and taken care of item. Steven bit his lip, and tried not to be too conspicuous as he hugged the jacket closer to his chest. It was still warm from Jake’s body heat, and the previous scent wafted to his nose. He inhaled deep and clutched it tighter.

He watched as Jake talked with the other mechanics, laughing at something, before he went back to work on another car. He sounded so relaxed and comfortable, here in his elements, surrounded by the people he must have known for a long time. Instead of a young man who was seemingly cocky and devious, he was more open and playful. Boyish, was the right word. They ruffled his hair and he complained about their dirty hands; punching someone’s arm with a grin; muttering to himself as he bent over the hood of the car. He looked like he was enjoying himself.

Steven smiled to himself softly. It felt nice, to see a side of Jake that didn’t make him constantly flustered and losing his mind. He felt more real, somehow. Like someone Steven could care about instead of one he wanted to taste on his lips. Well, that too, but not only. This was worse than he had thought. Two days and he was thinking about such foolish things. Marc was right when he said that Steven gave his heart to easily for the world; falling too fast, shattering on the impact.

He hoped this was just a fleeting fancy, nothing more serious. Jake was charming and nice to be around. Steven shouldn’t use his kindness for his own benefit in feeding his fantasies. He knew that Marc never really approved Steven being in a relationship because not many people could understand him, could accept him as he was without demanding for some changes.

Changes weren’t always bad, as long as it means to improve, but most of the time, it was a critic of Steven’s personality and habit. It was hard not to be self-conscious of himself, after so long being the odd man out amongst his peers, to follow and bend over people’s will because he thought that they loved him, but Marc had picked up the pieces of his heart far too often. He didn’t want his brother to worry about him like that. It pained him to see Marc looking so sad and resigned.

But it was alright, this time. Jake was just naturally playful and flirty, it seemed. And Steven wouldn’t disappoint Marc again by nurturing his feelings. He felt guilty enough for desiring Jake physically. He didn’t need to take it further and put his emotions into play. Besides, people weren’t really interested in having a proper relationship with Steven once they got past the curiosity and the sweetness. They probably thought that he was too much of a dork, or too dependent on his brother, or just too weird in general because of his interests, behavior, and his internal problems, including the sleep-walking and the whole ankle restraint fiasco. Someone laughed at it once, and Marc broke their nose.

The idea that Jake would be interested in all of that mess was laughable enough.

He didn’t know how long time had passed, too engrossed in his own thought. But then Jake stood in front of him, already out of his jumpsuit, and sporting a smear of oil on his cheek. Steven stood up and reached out to wipe it with the sleeve of his shirt. It was more of a habit than anything else. Marc had done it to him countless times, as he did to Marc.

“There you go,” he said softly, smiling at Jake. “All clean.”

Jake didn’t say anything, and Steven suddenly realized that he might stepping on some landmine he wasn’t aware of. It was bold of him to touch Jake like that, despite the man having done the same yesterday. The thing was, Steven didn’t mind being touched, if he had to be honest. He didn’t get it much from anyone but Marc, but Marc was the only one he had in nearly everything. He supposed he was just lonely, or touch-starved, especially when Marc left for a while to enlist in the military, and when he started going out of country often for his job.

But he also knew that not everyone shared the same thought. He looked down and shuffled with his feet again. “I’m sorry,” he said.

There was a lone finger lifting up his chin, Jake’s dark eyes burning into his. “What for?” he asked, voice low enough that Steven had to strain to catch it. “You didn’t do anything wrong, little dove.”

Steven bit his lip, and nodded, feeling relieved and dizzy at the same time. If there was one thing he immediately noticed from Jake, aside from how unbelievably hot he was, it was his apparent lack of understanding of personal space. He had crowded into Steven a lot in the span of two days, never looking bothered with what he did. Not that Steven minded either.

Jake let his finger linger a little bit more, before he pulled his hand back. Steven unconsciously followed the warmth, and gritted his teeth when he realized too late what he was doing. “Are you- are you done for the night?” he then asked, just to alleviate the sheer mortification running through his veins. He kept forgetting that he shouldn’t do that. Marc might understand, but just because Jake had been touchy, didn’t mean that Steven should just let go of his inhibition.

“All done,” Jake nodded. Thankfully, he didn’t comment on Steven’s slip. “We can go now.”

Steven took the gloves out of his bag and gave it to Jake as the man put on his jacket. He waved a little at the other mechanics, while Jake just nodded at them and started walking towards the bike. This time, Steven was only less hesitant to put his arms around Jake. There was a pleased hum, an approval, coming from Jake at his decision. Steven didn’t know why it made his heart flutter so much. Perhaps, he was just that much of a people-pleaser.

They rode through the night, whizzing past buildings and streets. Steven felt more comfortable than the first time, and he could enjoy the sceneries as well as the feel of Jake in his arms better. They were more or less of the same height and build, though with considerable difference in muscle mass. Hugging Jake felt a lot like hugging Marc, and it brought a sort of familiar comfort in Steven. The warmth, the weight, the width, they all were nearly similar. He missed his brother more than he had thought, apparently.

He closed his eyes and tightened his hold on Jake, just enjoying the breeze hitting his face and bare hands that weren’t covered by the sleeves of his own jacket. It just felt nice to have someone to touch.

The bike then slowed, and Steven lifted his head to see that they had arrived. He climbed off the bike with some reluctance. His bum was sore, but he liked the experience enough. He gave the helmet back to Jake and smiled awkwardly at him. He didn’t know what to say, out of all thing to lose words at. He usually talked so much that oftentimes people just sighed and walked away, or in Marc’s case, very rare and only when he was in a particularly severe bad mood, just closed his palm over Steven’s lips and dragged him to the bed so they could sleep instead.

Jake reached out suddenly, and closed his hand over Steven’s. He didn’t realize he was squeezing his fists so tight from nervousness. “What is it?” he asked, gently this time, keeping his gloved hand wrapped around Steven’s wrist.

“I just—I don’t know,” he admitted with a sigh. “Thank you, I guess? For doing this for me. I know that you don’t have to pick me up and drive me home. I don’t even know where you live, whether it’s far from here. So, thank you, and sorry for being a burden.”

“You really think so lowly of yourself, don’t you?” Jake said, and tugged at Steven’s wrist, bringing him just a tad closer. “I was the one who offered. Don’t think too much and accept it as it is. I’m not one to do something I don’t want to.”

“Okay,” Steven nodded, chewing on his lower lip for a moment before he cautiously continued, “I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“In the morning,” Jake then said. “I’ll pick you up early. We can get some breakfast before work.”

“Oh, you don’t have to—” Steven paused; Jake had tightened his hold around his wrist in a warning. He stuttered and nodded at last. “Okay, then. Breakfast tomorrow.”

Jake pulled his hand away, and nodded at Steven before he drove off. Steven watched his back going further and further away, before he walked into the apartment, not sure about how he should feel. He was happy, that was for sure. But also confused and kind of scared. Jake Lockley had the capability of wrecking him in merely two days, in only several hours. He didn’t know just how much he was going to embarrass himself if he spent more time in Jake’s presence.

But, hey, this wouldn’t last forever, and this could be the only time Steven could enjoy his company. Two weeks, Jake had said. Steven didn’t know how it’d end, but he could… perhaps he could just let himself have this for the short amount of time. It was harmless anyway, right? Just someone to talk to, have breakfast together, and a companion he saw before and after he worked.

It should be alright, he was sure.

#moon knight #shiki writes #from ao3 #jakesteven #marcsteven #steven grant #jake lockley #marc spector #alternate universe #mechanic jake #moonsea

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jeffchats · 4 months ago

Note

Jeff posted an almost six minute vlog for YouTube members yesterday. It’s the only we’ve had on there in a little while. All it was was them going to film Steven’s pod and Jeff seemed like it was very much a chore going there. He titled it something about volunteering at a non profit which I knew was clickbait because when would he ever do something like that? There was a part where he became weirdly paranoid that Steven had someone there to fight Jeff. The new crew member said he used to work on Steven’s pod and Steven mentioned a long time ago that they should get someone there to fight Jeff so Kyle was teasing Jeff with that all day. Jeff was so freaked out and paranoid that someone would fight him. Isn’t his whole thing him acting like he’s so tough and could beat anyone in a fight? It was weird how scared he seemed.

Jeff puts on a persona but I’m sure he would actually run away not towards any fight. I have noticed that Jeff in the past few years has treated everything as a chore but he knows he can’t do anything else to make money.

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amessageonthewind · 1 year ago

Text

September Selfship Prompts Challenge

8. Museum date

Pairing: Zinnia/Rachel at the end of Delta Emerald (potential mild spoiler warning for the rest of the fic)

Author’s note: Clue is an OC that belongs to my buddy @kammyclues and this is a direct continuation of the dancing together prompt.

Just as she planned, Rachel managed to sneak out of the Cave of Origin celebration, texting Clue to let him know where she’d gone, asking him to keep an eye on Cedric and Aster just so that she wasn’t missed and they weren’t wondering where she was. On the first chance she took once they were out of earshot of anyone, Rachel summoned Simon, her Flygon, and Zinnia summoned Eclipse.

Astride their dragons, Rachel led the way to Fallarbor Town. It wasn’t a difficult town to find, just at the bottom of Mt. Chimney across from the desert on Route 112. She had grown quite familiar with it, after spending a lot of her time with Zinnia.

Anytime they flew together, they made it a game to show off how well they could fly with their Pokémon. Rachel wouldn’t call herself competitive, but she was certainly playful, and she felt it so much more when she was with Zinnia than anyone else. No one brought out her playful side as much as her Pokémon did like Zinnia did.

She made her smile, she made her laugh, and she made her look forward to life and being alive. She made her happy to be alive, to experience joy itself.

And Rachel saw it clearly when they were together. Zinnia had a wonderful smile, and the more and more she saw it now that her quiet feelings were spoken aloud, the more she felt about Zinnia. It was like everything she had already thought had increased in intensity by tenfold.

Once they reached Fallarbor Town, Zinnia’s eyes widened at the building that had been erected close to Meteor Falls. “What is that? That wasn’t there, before.” She commented, and Rachel could hear the concern in her voice.

She could understand Zinnia being wary of anything like that being built on where her people’s territory once occupied, but Rachel hoped she would understand once it was explained to her and once she saw it. “No, it wasn’t. It’s brand new.” Rachel said, flying close by her astride Simon. “Technically, the grand opening isn’t until tomorrow, but back there I thought ‘hey, maybe I should actually show Zinnia before then.’”

The Draconid woman’s eyes widened when they approached the building. “Wait, you’re saying…this is for me?”

Nodding, Rachel lighted down in front of the building, waiting for Zinnia to join her before summoning Simon back to his Pokéball. “It was supposed to be a surprise but I couldn’t wait any longer to show it to you. And…I figured you’d prefer to experience it for yourself without a bunch of other people here to ruin it.”

The woman wasn’t sure what to think of it. She wasn’t even sure what this even was, but the fact that Rachel went to the effort to erect a whole building for her…well, there was no way it didn’t mean something important. “What…why?”

Fishing for the keys to the museum from her bag, Rachel ducked under the red ribbon and unlocked the front doors for the two of them. “You’ll see.” Was all she said as she opened the door and allowed Zinnia to walk in first.

Not knowing what to expect, she entered the expansive building and Rachel closed the door behind her. It was a very spacious building with high ceilings and large windows to allow in the bright moonlight. It was strangely ethereal to see it all like this, but she couldn’t parse out all the silhouettes in the dark. Exhibits, most likely. “Hang on, let me turn on some lights.” She had inspected this place herself so fervently that Clue and Steven both thought she was being paranoid, so she knew where the breakers were.

Waiting there, Zinnia felt oddly vulnerable without Aster there beside her. She had her Pokémon and Rachel, of course, but it felt…wrong without the Whismur. She had been there for her since she was a child, and despite growing up together, the Pokémon was more like a daughter to Zinnia than anything else.

All at once, spotlights began to shine on the various exhibits in the museum and Zinnia couldn’t believe her eyes. Every single thing in this museum were all things that were familiar to her, things that were all pieces of her people’s culture. Things that once belonged to the Draconids, even before most of them were wiped out.

Once Rachel was beside her, she extended an arm to finally introduce the building formally. “Welcome to the Draconid Cultural Museum!” She said, pride in her voice as it echoed throughout the empty halls. There was something incredible about this feeling with just the two of them in the evening, when the last light dipped past the horizon and the pale blues were still fading away.

Patiently, she waited for Zinnia’s reaction to everything, watching her as the woman who belonged to this ancient and rich culture approached one of the exhibits showing off cultural and every day clothing for men, women, and children, as well as the major cultural and religious figures of her people. For a moment, her eyebrows knitted together in a scowl as she turned around at Rachel. Accusation burned in her eyes. “Did you take these?”

Though wounded, she couldn’t blame Zinnia for reacting that way at first. This was an incredibly bold thing for Rachel to do to begin with, but at every step of the way, she wanted to make everything the right way. “No no, nothing was taken. I promise.” She assured the Draconid woman. “Nothing in this museum was taken from the land nor previous settlement. Everything in here is a replica, verified for their authenticity by your grandmother. She was a huge help in all of this.” She smiled, remembering how ecstatic Clue was to be given the task. “Clue actually made all of these himself alongside his Bug Pokémon. They worked really hard on all of these.”

Her suspicion very quickly turned into utter astonishment. She couldn’t believe her eyes and ears. She examined the Lorekeeper’s robes closely, and she couldn’t help but laugh. “I can’t believe he made these.” She commented, squinting a bit at the robe. “He even got the cross-stitching right.”

“Like I said, your grandmother double and triple-checked everything.” Rachel said, taking Zinnia by the arm as she led her through the museum. Everything she had accomplished, the amount of times she had protected the world from powerful forces and her accomplishments as Hoenn’s Champion, none of it compared to how proud she was of this. “Every part of the Draconid culture that still lives is here. Everything from replicas of clothing, tents, practices and ceremonies, even cultural staple foods! Everything that we could compile and document and recreate is here for anyone and everyone to learn about!”

Wide-eyed, Zinnia looked at the plaques describing each exhibit and its purposes and history. It was written in multiple languages, even in Braille, like they saw in the caves that housed the strange golem Pokémon within them.

But what shocked her most was that each blurb was even written in Draconic, her people’s language. She read it and she was amazed that it translated perfectly. “You even got our language, here…” She murmured.

Rachel nodded, putting an arm around Zinnia’s shoulders. “You have no idea how much Clue was excited about that. He spent hours with your grandmother translating everything, even putting together a language book so that people could learn the language themselves.” The Draconid had no idea what to think about any of this. She couldn’t describe how overwhelmed she was by everything on display here. “I know it won’t be perfect, but this way the language will never die or be forgotten. And maybe…more people will speak it and it will continue to live on through that. We’ve had a few copies made that people can rent and we’re hoping to make more that we can sell. That way, the museum can stay open along with entrance fees and more attention can be drawn to it globally.”

There were detailed artist renditions of periods of her people’s history as backdrops for the exhibits, and the blurbs she read were shockingly accurate. Clue really didn’t spare a single detail, not even leaving out the Devon Corp’s role in the destruction of her people and their land.

Zinnia couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m surprised that this was allowed at all. You really didn’t sugar coat anything when it came to the Devon Corp.”

Rachel shook her head, leaning against Zinnia when she paused at an exhibit that displayed a rendition of the event that led to the loss of the previous Lorekeeper. Though Zinnia’s tone of voice was light, the Champion could feel the weight of all of this on her shoulders as they sagged against her. She could imagine that walking through this museum was like seeing ghosts. “Would you believe me if I told you Steven’s the reason we could afford to do this?”

Whipping her head around at Rachel, Zinnia couldn’t believe her ears. Pretty rich boy did this? “You’re kidding.”

“I’m not.” Rachel said solemnly, finding a bench that they could sit at for a moment. “After you told me what happened to your people…and his father’s company’s role in it, I confronted him. And believe me, I grilled him for what his father’s company did. And he admitted that it was one of the reasons he didn’t want to inherit the company. So, I told him straight-up that even if he doesn’t want to inherit his father’s company, he still has a responsibility to try to make amends and fix what’s been done wrong with the time left. And…he agreed. So, we came up with this. He gave us the resources necessary to build and run this museum, Clue and your grandmother and everyone else Steven hired for other things, like translators and artists, worked on the actual museum.”

It felt so surreal to hear that, especially reading how scathing the plaques were regarding Mr. Stone’s corporation. “And he signed off on this?”

“He did.” Rachel said, nodding as she reached to take Zinnia’s hand. “He had no revisions he wanted to make. He trusted us to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so he double-checked and approved everything when it was presented to him. I gave him shit, but…he kept true to his word. He did everything he could to try to set things right.” Though, she could understand if it still rang hollow for Zinnia. It wasn’t Rachel’s place to decide how she should feel. After all, it was her people that were affected most by this. “I know it doesn’t change what happened and no amount of sorry and reparation can…bring back what was lost. But this way, it can never be forgotten. It won’t just be a footnote in history.”

It was hard to believe, but damn it, he did to it. “Guess that rich boy finally managed to do it.”

Rachel raised a curious thick eyebrow at Zinnia. “Finally managed to do what?”

The Draconid turned to Rachel and smiled, squeezing her hand. “Be better than his father.”

Zinnia had very quickly learned that Rachel was a very sentimental person. She wasn’t one for big grand gestures of extravagance, but she knew how to cut right to the heart of a person to provide them with what they really wanted inside.

This…may as well be a confession of deep profound love in her language.

Looking down the next hall, Zinnia was floored by the murals she recognized. They were artist renditions of the murals in Granite Cave, Meteor Falls, and Sky Tower painted on large canvases. The attention to details and accuracy was incredibly remarkable to Zinnia. She couldn’t believe that all of this effort was put into her culture and making sure that it would be passed on indefinitely.

She felt…happy. Happier than she had ever felt in the twenty years she’d been alive. But at the same time, some part of her felt that something was almost…stolen from her in a way. Nothing was stolen from her – there was immense effort put in to ensure that that didn’t happen – and Zinnia passed on her role as Lorekeeper and her people’s stories onto Rachel because she thought she would ride upon Rayquaza to destroy the meteor.

But that didn’t happen. Instead, it was Rachel that took that role from her and accomplished that where Zinnia couldn’t.

Perhaps it was a feeling that she had no purpose, anymore. All of her people’s culture and stories and even language was all here. For anyone and everyone to learn, to read, to live. Rachel had effectively done the impossible.

She made the Draconids immortal. At least as immortal as humans could be.

At the end of the hallway was a familiar-looking meteor displayed as an exhibit. Though, Zinnia could tell that it, too, was a replica. It was good foresight on Rachel’s part to not put the meteor that housed Jirachi here in the museum for anyone to misuse and figure out should anyone get any wrong ideas like Aarman did.

This was the meteor her people wished upon in order to summon Rayquaza twice to save them. What they mistook for a Mega Stone was really Jirachi all along. Zinnia couldn’t believe that this part of her people’s history had escaped her, though perhaps a previous Lorekeeper had decided that that information could be easily misused if placed in the wrong hands, and so willfully omitted it from history.

Sighing, Zinnia turned to Rachel. “Why did you do this for me…?” She asked solemnly. It was bittersweet being here. The devotion Rachel had shown to her people and her culture could not be understated and Zinnia was happy to see all of her people’s history documented and shown. That they would not be forgotten.

But she worried that now that her people were effectively immortalized, she herself would be forgotten. She no longer had a reason or a purpose. That was lifted from her.

Rachel didn’t see it that way. “You made me Lorekeeper when you passed on your people’s stories to me at the Sky Tower.” She said, reaching forward to take Zinnia’s hands in hers. “This is my way of showing you how seriously I take that. How much your culture and people mean to me even outside of the role that you placed on me. I just…I wanted to show you how much I care about you and the things you care about. And I didn’t want your culture to just be…wiped away and forgotten.

“But the other reason is…I wanted to give you a choice in your future.” Zinnia widened her eyes at that, taken aback by the conviction in Rachel’s tone of voice. Her hands trembled despite the resolve in her voice as she held her there, resolving herself to admit to her confession. “It’s not fair that you’re the last of your people. It’s not fair that the burden of preserving your history and culture had to fall on you. It’s an injustice that anyone else who could have shouldered that burden is long gone. That…shouldn’t fall solely on you. It’s not fair for you to have so much on your shoulders alone, so…I wanted to give you the chance to decide what your future looked like.

“I wanted you to not be held back by your responsibilities.” Her voice shook as she spoke, Rachel trying to say her deepest feelings to Zinnia, here. “I know you didn’t really plan this far ahead, not seeing further than Rayquaza…but I wanted to show you that you have a path forward that you can decide for yourself. That you can decide what you want, independent of cultural expectations or roles assigned to you. I know your duty was important to you, and it always will be. The duty you granted me is important to me, so…this is how I decided to honour it. By giving you the freedom of choice. So that you can make a future for yourself determined by what you want for yourself.”

If it was possible for a person’s heart to burst from inside their chest, both women’s hearts would have made messes of their ribcages by now. Rachel’s powered by the trepidation of her confession and Zinnia’s powered by the magnitude of this gesture done for her on so many fronts and so many levels. But all of Rachel’s insistence on what Zinnia wanted only served to beg a single question. “And what do you want?”

There was only one way Rachel could answer that. “You.” The simple confession struck Zinnia utterly speechless, but Hoenn’s Champion continued, tightening her grip on the Draconid woman’s hands. “I know you’re scared to matter to someone and you’re scared to mean something to someone and you’re scared of someone meaning something to you…because it means you have something to lose and that scares you. I know. But…I can’t help it.”

She fought to blink away the tears in her eyes. She couldn’t lose her composure, not now. Not right now. “I really like you. I’ve grown to really enjoy spending time with you, it doesn’t matter what we do or if we’re doing anything at all. There’s no one who understands me like you, and no one I’ve grown to trust more than you. It makes me happy when you smile, when you laugh, when you live. You being alive and being joyful makes me happier than I even have the words to say, and it makes me want to make you that happy for…for as long as I have breath.

“I know it’s a lot, but I can’t pretend I don’t feel something when I’m with you. I can’t ignore what I feel, anymore. I want you around. And I want you with me. I want you.” Zinnia couldn’t find any words to respond. There weren’t any words that could describe the storm of emotions that swirled in her chest. Elation, uncertainty, fear, euphoria, desire, trepidation, hesitance, all of it. Every chaotic maelstrom made gales in her chest as Rachel spoke. “I’m…wanting to visit Kalos. Clue’s been talking about it and I want to research the history there because I want to know how it connects to Hoenn’s history. And…I was hoping you’d want to come with me. I’ve even been thinking of taking the first boat tonight after I tell Steven I’m relinquishing the Champion title.”

That completely took the Draconid by surprise. Rachel was relinquishing her title as Champion? Why? “I realized that I want to be able to decide my own future, too. And…I want you in it…if you want to be.”

Zinnia’s tongue was tied in knots, any words she could have had died in her throat as quickly as she thought them. How could she express her fears about this? How could she express how she shared in the joys Rachel had in their relationship? It seemed nigh impossible to speak the words that Zinnia felt in her heart about Rachel and the relationship.

She knew what she felt for the woman for a long time, but only now did she dare give it a name. Only now, did she dare give that feeling a voice.

Except it wouldn’t come out, no matter how much she willed it.

But Rachel, patient as ever, didn’t fault her or try to force her. “Look, you don’t have to answer right away. I just…want you to think about it.” She said to Zinnia, letting their hands fall away. “More than anything, this is your choice. I only want this if you do. So, if you feel the same way…and you want to come with me…and…be with me…meet me at the dock tonight? Or find me in Kalos later?

“Just…” She ran out of words, realizing she was beginning to sound like a fool. “We should go. I showed you everything I wanted you to see and the grand opening is tomorrow. And if I’m leaving, I should start getting ready…”

Once again, Zinnia couldn’t make the words she wanted to say come out, but let Rachel lead the way out of the museum, turning the lights off and locking the front doors to prevent anyone else from getting in. With one last glance at the Draconid woman she had come to love so much that she did all of this for her, Rachel lighted into the sky atop Simon to meet back up with everyone at the Cave of Origin and let them know her plans.

Meanwhile, Zinnia was left behind in front of the museum to ponder what her next course of action should be. Though she couldn’t say it, she did return Rachel’s feelings. There was no doubt about that, but her hesitance was not a matter of whether she returned the woman’s feelings.

It was a matter of whether or not she should act on them. She was so uncertain about her future, and even though Rachel gave her a freedom to decide, freedom was just as daunting as it was…well, freeing. She had no idea where her path was meant to lead, and Zinnia wouldn’t know that any better just standing here.

There was only one person who might be able to set her on the right path, and it was thanks to her that any of this was possible.

With hardened resolve, Zinnia allowed her footsteps to carry her to Meteor Falls to meet with her grandmother. If there was anyone who could show her what the right path for her was, it was her.

If there was anyone who could show her the future, it was her.

#SafeshipSeptember #୨⎯ A Message On The Wind ⎯୧ #୨⎯ You Matter To Me ⎯୧ #୨⎯ Pokémon Trainer Rachel ⎯୧ #୨⎯ The Last Lorekeeper ⎯୧

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ocean-anchored · 2 years ago

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Continued... July 6, 2023

He had had a really bad day at work and got paranoid with things, I hadn't known this since we didn't talk much during the day, I was tired already and mentally in a different place with this meliss thing - for another note. But he expressed his anger and I just tried to help him navigate through it. We got food and then from then it went sideways. We got back and didn't really talk, I semi fell asleep on the couch so he said we should go to bed. I had asked him in the car if he was going to be ok and then when we went to bed I asked again and he said his mental health was in a very bad state and didnt want to talk. I got triggered because we were so distant. I couldn't sleep for hours, It was maybe almost midnight when I was about to get up and write because I was spiraling, making up assumptions etc. He had rolled over for a moment and had held onto me for a few minutes, literally the same moment I was about to get up. I know he had no idea, he was tired and I prayed so much for him that night, I knew he was passed out and exhausted. He was sweet this morning but I was just in a slump, in a mood. We finally talked around 2pm today and expressed what happened. Talked about how and what we should do in that senario. I get working 17 hours and driving puts you in a whole other mindset and exhaustion, and I understand that hes not the best at dealing with anger, he's said it many times, I'm well aware as he is, I just didn't know what to do or how to have helped. We talked about physical touch and it being important. How we both sat on the couch after getting food both thinking the other person didn't want to be around us and didn't want us to touch them. It's wild how we always seem to think the same things about each other. We talked about how we need to be able to communicate that better, how I need to initiate and he needs to cool off after work and in those angry days or moments that its better to not talk about it until he's calmed down or he really should have just went to bed. It was good to talk about. As much as I feel like I know him so darn well and he knows so much about me, there's still a lot of things that until we get into situations we need to learn the other person. I explained how I take time to respond, I've never really been able to have a voice. Growing up, I never had a voice in my family, I just learned to keep quiet. With trav, I learned that everything would be used against me. That if I said something wrong or didn't mean something that it would be held, word for word against me. That helped Zack understand a lot better on why I'm quiet, its just a coping mechanism. He once again took full responsibility. He started the call off by apologizing and he did many times. He really does take accountability and man is that ever refreshing. I do feel that every time we have those talks that we come back stronger, better understanding of each other. I still think sometimes that we both don't fully believe that the other is this in love with the other, we question because we're slightly insecure and have been hurt in the past. We both want the same things, we have the same goals, values etc. He's a good mana with a real good heart. The world has burned him a lot but he's so aware and always pushing to grow and learn and boy does that make me love him so much more.

I’m too tired to write about Meliss right now, I don’t have the headspace for it yet. Brad my cousin came to town and I got to visit with him, Aunt Sis/Al, Steven & Amanda and Brad’s son Aiden which was really great to see him again. It’s been about 16 years since i’ve seen him. It would be really cool to go and visit him in Singapore one day.

#ZP #dear future self #dearfutureself #monthly update #life update #personal

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terry-perry · 3 years ago

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Reckless

Pairing: Steven Grant x Reader (mentioned), Marc Spector x Reader (in a way)

Warning: Unplanned pregnancy, possible spoilers

A/N: This is my very first attempt at writing for this character. It might be a little weird and not 100% how these personas would interact. Hope you enjoy, regardless!

"You want to explain something to me?"

That all-too familiar voice caught him off guard. Steven peered up from the bathroom sink and looked into the mirror. It wasn't his exact reflection looking back at him, however.

"Marc, what are you doing here?"

It had been several months -- almost a year -- since Steven and Marc had their deal. Marc had relinquished all control to Steven after they met and fell for you. He felt like Steven needed a win after everything they've been through with Khonshu, and so far he felt no regret doing what he did. He had been content watching from afar as the two of you lived your lives together. You made Steven happy, and things seemed to be going well.

That was until Marc saw you leave so abruptly in the morning without even a goodbye. It got him investigating while Steven was still fast asleep. He did not like what he found.

"I'm asking the questions here," he went on, his eyes narrowed in an icy glare. "Aren't you wondering why Y/N isn't here?"

"She sometimes oversleeps. She was probably in a rush to go to work."

"Oh yeah? Why don't you check your waste basket?"

Still confused, Steven decided to do just that. Bending over, he saw what looked to be a long, white stick.

Oh no.

His hands grew unsteady as he picked the test up. His breath was also starting to tremble, especially once he saw the little plus sign on it. As soon as he saw it, he had to do everything he could to keep himself on his feet. He then used that strength to look back at the still glaring man in the mirror.

"She's--?" He started to say before Marc finally lashed out at him.

"How could you do this, Steven?! I told you that I would let you be in control of everything as long as you didn't do anything reckless. This is a prime example of recklessness."

Steven couldn't believe this himself. How did this happen? Was it that night you two came home from the bar? You were both more drunk than you realized and did do some fumbling around that led to the bedroom. Neither of you were exactly in the right state to think of protection.

And now there might be a baby!

"What the hell are you smiling for?"

Steven didn't realize he was smiling. Perhaps a part of him was a little happy that this was happening. You guys never talked about having kids, but he really did love you. Things had been going so well for months. You helped him organize his apartment, he was able to find a better job than the one he had at the museum gift shop, he didn't need the ankle restraint anymore. Things were good!

"Marc, listen," Steven began to voice out these thoughts. "It ain't conventional, right, but it wouldn't be the worst thing, would it? Khonshu has been handled, and this year has been a great one because of her. This only adds more good in our lives. Didn't you always want kids?"

"That doesn't mean anything," Marc argued. "Kids are not something we can deal with. Khonshu might be taken care of, but we still have things in our lives that can be a problem. It's what happens when you're a mercenary. We have enemies that can come by at any time. A year of happiness means nothing."

"You're being a bit paranoid, mate,"

"Am I?"

He really felt like he wasn't. They couldn't be a father, especially in their situation. Who knows how many others like Arthur were around? Other avatars.

Of course he's thought about having kids. First time, it was with Layla, and now with you. He's seen the little ones when all three of you would walk around London and on the bus. That sweet face you pointed out to Steven that was looking at you on the bus the other day was definitely adorable. In a perfect world, this would be great.

But it's just too unexpected. Marc would not relent. In his eyes, this was coming at the most inconvenient time. They might not always be on the run like they used to be or going on missions around the world, but things weren't completely settled.

Steven meanwhile could not stop thinking about this future being that could come into your lives. He wondered if they would look more like you or him. He at least hope they'd have your nose. Just the mere thought of a baby in the apartment kept the smile on his face. Until Marc snapped him out of his daze again to get him back to reality.

"Steven, this is too much for us. I think it might be time for us to leave."

Now this was something to pay attention to. Steven straightened up completely with full disbelief. Surely, he didn't mean--

"Leave Y/N?"

"That's right. Look, we'll hide the test back in the waste basket and act like we never saw it. But, we need to break up with her as soon as she gets home. We'll come up with something. Or do you think it's best if we just leave?"

"I don't want to leave!" Steven said, looking at him with eyes that started to tear up.

"Then what do you suggest we do?!"

"I don't know!"

He really didn't. He didn’t think he’d ever have kids with their condition, but he can see you being such a good mom. He could learn to be a good dad. Marc could even be a part of it all since he knew he liked kids too. He wanted this with you.

But now he was starting to wonder if Marc had a point. Was the timing bad?

He gave out a sigh and walked over to the closed toilet to sit down “We’ll figure it out," he said. "But with Y/N."

He stared back down at the big plus sign staring back up at him.

"If you don't," Marc uttered, still in the mirror. "I will."

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izbelross · 3 years ago

Text

THE SIGHTER

I'm nervous, this here is a, well is something I have been working on and very afraid to post.

It's my first time writing a ff and actually posting it. And what better starting than a Moonknight fanfic. Relying on my actual hyper-fixation. This is planned to be short and starting with Moonknight series so... be careful if you haven't watched it.

I really like writing, is a personal therapy of mine and after almost a year of learning about my fears I decided to front one... posting.

I would actually love to read what this made you think or feel or... just anything, it would be lovely.

English is not my first language, if I have typos, am sorry, tried to make reader gender neutral, if I missed again, I apologise :D

Words: 3.9 K –I really love writing jejeje–

Pairings: Steven Grant x GN!reader, Marc Spector x GN!reader, Jake Lockley x GN!reader, Arthur Harrow x Platonic!GN!reader, Khonshu x Platonic!GN!reader

Warnings: Spoilers for Moonknight series, angst, mention to mental illness, drama idk, some sparkle of fluff, mentions of death. Khonshu being my little shit of a pigeon.

You have always wondered if you weren't just some crazy ass. If your life wasn't really just an entire hallucination of what was supposed to be a normal person. You had family that loved you but never really understood the way you will look to an specific area because "Mommy, there is a creepy looking dog over there" or "Yesterday a flying snake told me that I'll have a pigeon" or that one that made them definitely scared "Ma fren said that when I die I'll be like him".

You had a very different way of seeing life. It wasn't the usual bland experience but a majestic and incredible surprise. You used to talk to your grandma, even when she had already passed, and she told you to not tell your parents, for they weren't very knowing of this kind of stuff. All your childhood you were surrounded with the colours of peoples feelings in the tip of your tongue. You bonded with animals that often than not had to be kept in the garden meanwhile your parents wondered why they were so attracted to this area. It was as if life was a rainbow which you could experience all on your own with the guidance of your deceased grandma.

But not everything was good. There were shadows as well, shadows that clouded your nights taking away the joy of the day and making you scream until the birds sleeping on the edge of your window started to fly around your house and the wolfs in the distance cried along side you.

Night terrors was what the doctors told your parents. And it was "common" in children. The problem started when you where no longer a child. Every night you had to endure the visits of ghostly shadows without faces that grabbed your arms leaving you thrashing against them with bruises covering your skin in the mornings.

Which brought another problem. Your parents believed that you were hurting yourself. Hallucinating, paranoid. They medicated you, which left you tired and sleepy all the time. They gave you pills after pills, each one with a higher rank until you had to pretend that you couldn't see them anymore, that you couldn't hear them. Only then would they stop giving you such strong pills that left you in a trance of numbness and heart hammering.

You didn't have many friends for those years. Many of them believed you were a freak and the ones that really wanted to hangout with you were never the kind of friendship that last a lifetime. As with your parents...

You preferred to relay in yourself and the counsel of your grandma.

She taught you about the mysticism of people like you both. The Sighters. You had an astral bond with the universe. And even if they didn't seem like magnificent powers like the ones that could cause destruction, it allowed you to help those who needed it. Like the lost souls that sometimes would roam the streets searching for closure from this world. Or for people that had ghosts lurking their backs, trying to have free access to this realm of the living but weren't allowed anymore.

It was all good until your grandmother had to pass to the "Other side" as well. You were wrenched between being selfish by keeping the only one that understood who exactly you were and giving her the peace you knew she deserved. The latter choice was the one that attracted the sight of certain someone to your life.

When you met Arthur Harrow, things in your life were complicated.

You were tired of having to pretend be someone else. After all, you were a Sighter and your power was consuming you every time a denial came out of your mouth for fear of what your friends would think of you, what your parents would make you take this time or how many days will you spend in a hospital now?

You had just escaped your home with nothing more but the hope of finding a new place you could live and be at peace. The bag at your back had only the essentials, money you kept, ID, few coupons for fast food and two sets of clothing.

Totally a mistake of you for having got out at night, the streets as lonely as they could be only echoed your footsteps and even with the narrow light of the lamp posts the dread of being alone started to climb deep in your bones. The heavy clouds announced the coming of rain and stoped the moon light to seep to the street.

When people was behind you their auras used to approach you, hugging your own and acknowledging each other for what you were. Humans. It was a weird sensation that helped you ground yourself on moments of panic, to remind you that after all, you were normal, in a sense, just with a little extra in you.

But these sensation, the coldness and unnatural stillness of it reaching out to you and claim you against your will was the peak of every nightmare.

And it reached out with those anti-natural fingers pressing tight against your leg until it bled. Your scream was agonising and it flew among the shadows of night until it reached Harrow –clothed in his avatar armour– and even Khonshu stoped bickering when the full force of your soul searching refuge reached his undying one.

"ARTHUR, REACH TO THEM. NOW!" He didn't understand the deep uncomfortable feeling that overcame him, memories flooding his mind of old times when priest, priestess searched for his aid and as only payment: unconditional devotion.

When the Ennead stoped caring, the humans were left alone asking them selfs and each other "Where were our gods? Why haven't they answered? Why have they left us?" He can still remember how his devoted were hunted and punished for praying, for waiting for them. For him.

And seeing a Sighter, seeing you without protection, without a guide.

With full speed his avatar jumped over the buildings until your silhouette came into view. The god could not hide the terror on his skin, for there was you, a Sighter, one of the rare who were born under the protection of a god. And your soul was being ripped away by a shadow clad in animal skin. "HURRY!"

You were fighting with all your will to suppress the darkness trying to creep into your eye sockets, your mouth, your nose. The power of fear overcame you and you begged for anyone, anything to help you.

You prayed to anyone who shall listen for help.

And then it happened. No one came to aid: no person, no spirit, no god.

Your power was ripped and your soul split in half.

You realised two things then and there. One, your grandma was right, the power you had was unaltered, raw, savage. It could flow without limit and burn everything on his way. Two, it could drain you to the point of dead.

Golden light enveloped you and the darkness gripping you was not fighting anymore to eat from you but to get away. His touch was cold but you were a constant fountain of warmth.

You carbonised the cutting ice clawing at you from the inside, your screams weren't of terror now but of fury and the air around you burned even when Harrow tried to coax you to stop.

Khonshu marvelled at the sight. As a god of the moon, coldness was his, it enveloped him, nurtured him. And he found himself craving the blinding warmth that for a few seconds surrounded the world.

Your breath became even, the claws not anymore near you, not even existing, and standing there, an astonished Arthur finding in your eyes the same look he once had when Khonshu found him. Horror, pain, confusion.

"SIGHTER." Looking up the god Khonshu was coming your way, empty sockets looking without eyes. He put one knee on the ground and carefully to not spook you anymore, a hand cladded in old wrappings touched your skin. "HELLO LITTLE SIGHTER. DO NOT FRET" His hand was cold and it covered then the top of your head, patting it like one would do a puppy. "WHAT IS YOUR NAME, SIGHTER?" You gave your name and behind him Arthur walked to you, finally showing his face.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, I'm Arthur Harrow." The blue eyes looked at you like you held the answers to the most impossible questions, and the firm shake he gave to your hand was accompanied by a soft smile. You were a shaking mess. "Come with me"

Not even questioning him you followed this man and his god, you didn't have anywhere else to go, no one else who to trust but the aura surrounding him, a beautiful almost imperceptible melon colour told you that he was in pain, he was grieving but the more outstanding shade of mustard yellow gave away the gentleness and caring and safety.

~~🌙~~

Khonshu was watching both of you, still holding hands like your life was depending on it. He followed to Harrow's apartment, he stood alongside you while you ate so fast you almost chocked on the chicken and Arthur had to pour more water on your glass after you drank in two gulps. "You will be safe here"

"Are you- are you like me?" You both were still sitting at the dinner table, heart rate was finally normal, your stomach full and after he talked about mundane things –like how interested he was on science and that he had being learning german for 5 years– you were able to almost feel safe. He was easy to talk to. "You can see Khonshu and you could see the shadow from before."

"It's different for me," you poured a little more coffee on your cup and offered more to Arthur who nodded, grateful. "I'm the avatar of Khonshu, which gives me certain abilities: strength, velocity, awareness, the Sight. You were born with these gifts, for what I see."

"My grandma used to be my guide, she passed away and even then I learned from her." Arthur got up inviting you to the large sofa, he gave you a blanket and sat next to you, hearing everything you wanted to share. "She used to tell me that I could have explosions of temper, powerful but draining,"

"Powerful indeed, it felt like I was touching the sun for a moment." You both let out a lazy laugh. "My condolences. I know how it feels to- to lose someone you love." There was a pause where both of you lingered in the memories of it. "I think your grandma would've been proud of what you did tonight."

A tiny smile was your answer and Arthur chuckled. "Thank you. For- for letting me stay here as well, I know Khonshu is making you and- and I'm really sorry for invading your space-"

"Hey, hey. Stop, please. It's not only him that wants you to stay here. I prefer that you don't go around looking for a place on a doubtful motel. If you need to stay for a while I wouldn't mind and if you wish to go, the door is open. Just- " he laughed lightly when a soft breeze passed by and you looked over to where Khonshu was suddenly perched, you couldn't see his expression but the stillness told you he didn't agree on the options Arthur gave you. "Just be sure to let us now. You can take the spare room, and, yeah... that's it. I should get ready, you go take a nap, it's gonna be daylight soon."

"Thank you again Arthur." You smiled at each other and parted ways.

The room was small and cozy, with a large window illuminated in moonlight. You didn't dare turn on the lights and for the appreciative hum behind you, Khonshu agreed.

"I WILL KEEP YOU SAFE, SIGHTER. THERE'S STILL SO MUCH FOR YOU TO LEARN ABOUT YOURSELF." The god sat in front of the large crystal panels, crosslegged, and the room seemed smaller at his presence, even from his place at the floor.

You were curious– tired but curious. There looking at the way his beak tilt to the side while you carried the sheets from the bed to the floor alongside him, searching comfort from a being so cold, so different from the burn that was still in your chest, you realised that you felt more at ease with this two strangers for the few hours you met them than all the long years with your family.

"I have a lot of questions, but I feel- I can't really- everything is just, this... and-" you sighed.

"THE ANSWERS WILL COME, SIGHTER. WITH TIME, WITH PATIENCE I SHALL ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS." Khonshu watched as you laid under the comforter and gazed right to the moon. Your tired eyes shined with white light, resembling the way Arthur's would when he summoned the suit.

"I should be panicking," this need to talk overcame you, the need to say it, you were distracted by the chat with Arthur, it helped you get your head back in time, it stopped you from spiralling into an anxiety attack, but you still wanted to, you still needed to talk about it, to know you were not- you weren't- "I should be feeling scared or at least crying. It was the first time I was able to do, well, that I did back there. But I feel..." the tears stung, your throat was closing in a painful knot. "I feel numb, I don't feel my body, is like I am here but I am not here. I can see you, I could see Arthur and I am- I have so-" a sob wracked you body, curling into yourself.

In one night you got away from home, after years of feeling like a monster, of feeling the looks they gave you.

You were attacked and you were terrified. You unlocked an unknown power and saved yourself. You met Arthur, an avatar, with eyes that hide torturous emotions like your own. You met his god Khonshu– that proclaimed his protection over you. You got a place to sleep, you got to eat, to laugh with this man. And you had so much in you, inside, that the tears cascading with no end and the headache pulsing relentless weren't enough to make you feel.

"YOU DON'T HAVE TO OBLIGE YOURSELF TO FEEL EVERYTHING ALL AT ONCE. YOU HAVE LITTLE CAPACITY AS A HUMAN. YOUR BODY IS STILL CATCHING UP TO YOUR BRAIN AND YOUR BRAIN IS IN A RACE TO GET TO THE PRESENT FROM WHAT HAPPENED."

Now, Khonshu wasn't human, he didn't understand the reactions of his own avatar and he couldn't even comprehend for the life of him what was that deep ache that –if he needed air to live– would have constricted his lungs. But weirdly, his cold reasoning and truth tone at talking made wail with more force and without guilt, without telling yourself you shouldn't feel sorry because you already had a roof.

Crying helped you clean your mind, your body was lest stiffen after long minutes of gasping for hair between wrecking sobs and the added weight of Khonshu's hand patting your head while you slipped into unconsciousness took some of the anxiety that got you every night.

~~🌙~~

That first morning you woke up to the smell of bacon and coffee. To the sound of relaxing ambient music and chirping birds. Your soul was sad, still crying without the need to shred tears but by finding yourself on floor with the memories of last night, free of a broken family you smiled.

It was a little smile and more started to come when you found a message from Arthur on the fridge, wishing you good morning, "Guten apetit" and the first gift of many from Khonshu, a moon shaped stone, held in a little crystal ball that hang from a black leader necklace. A protection, for his Sighter.

Soon your live changed, quite literally from night to morning, and you couldn't be more grateful for that fate.

Khonshu helped you with the soul call of the universe, the shadows lurking your way, the night terrors. For five years he taught you the way of the Sighters, to protect, to defend, to attack. And Arthur, your new found friend, showed you how to fight without your Sight.

For five years you had Khonshu, an asshole that protected you and taught you how to protect. And you had Arthur, your confident, your friend, your family who taught you how to defend yourself without magic, without immortality, with the fear of dying that kept every human alive on impossible situations. You learned how to science as well.

Maybe that's why it hurt so much when Arthur betrayed Khonshu and by consequence, betrayed you.

You had everything you never had, for those five years you learned what having a family felt like, and you learned that even the most perfect ones could be the more hurting ones.

~~🌙~~

The pain of that betrayal didn't waver, it didn't only affect Arthur and Khonshu's relationship, but yours and Khonshu's as well.

You believed that something had happened, something that made him get a so radical change of mind.

"You have to help him Khonshu! He isn't himself, I know it!" By this time, you were sure Arthur's neighbours were wondering calling or not to the police. You couldn't care less anyways.

"HE HAS CHOSEN A PATH, HE MADE THAT CHOICE SO HE WILL SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES. AND YOU HAVE TO MAKE UP YOUR MIND WITH IT. I WILL NOT WASTE MY TIME ON HIM MY LITTLE SIGHTER, AND YOU SHALL NOT EITHER."

It had been like these since Arthur had gone out of that palace. It was so sudden, the way he talked, the way he walked. The simple job of justice was perfectly performed by him, as always and Khonshu was satisfied, or the most satisfied he could get. You were waiting at hotel room, after having done your own work. Helping the lost souls to find the path, helping the living ones to understand that same path. A group of extremists had got to you though, you had a few bruises and sore arm muscles but out of it, nothing a bubble bath and pain killers didn't heal.

At the hotel room he had a dry humour and the worst happened in the morning. Khonshu went away, he often left you both for short in the mornings and came back in middle afternoon, and so, Arthur got his chance. Started telling you about the justice, so passionately that his eyes looked maddening and when you started to joke he snapped.

One minute, breakfast in the balcony with a man you trusted, friend of years, the next you were in front of a stranger that held a cane from an old goddess, one that you recall, was the devourer of hearts. A chill swept your back when he asked for your hands, when you didn't give them willingly he took them with a harsh grip, forcing the cane on your wrists. To say that you kicked him, he kicked back and the fight finished with you running on a frenzy to the airport and him screaming your name on the crowded Egyptian streets.

"If you don't help him then I fucking will!" The desperation clouded your senses, you'll do anything for not letting go, you couldn't, why would someone give up something so beautiful? "He is my family, he needs me Khonshu and I'm not giving up on him," your voice was strained, between screaming and crying your vocal chords were suffering a great deal.

"HE IS NOT YOUR FAMILY." You stoped mid track packing your clothes. "YOUR FAMILY ABANDONED YOU, HE IS NOT BUT MY AVATAR AND YOU SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT." Honestly, if he had just stabbed you with his centre the pain would have been less. Your heart clenched so painfully that the little mental awareness left in you wasn't enough to understand his next words. "YOU WILL NOT SEARCH FOR HIM, NOT IF I CAN HELP IT."

Yes, it hurt. Like a limb being sliced from you, suddenly the ground beneath you, your own gravity centre changed, your power changed. The utopia of a bubble of familial love fade away with the memory of Arthur Harrow at the same time that Khonshu prayed the god Dolos and put you to sleep.

~~🌙~~

"Ah, yes, Annubis, god of the embalming and the death, a very important and praised god until, well- heh, Osiris. Quite a family, 'innit?" You looked at the man that appeared out of nowhere, startling you a little. Now, you had the fucking Sight, but not even that was able to distract you from the soft, nervous smile under big brown eyes.

You might have seem like a fish out of water but who could blame you, this man just talked and it was like the lights around were brighter than ever, like the holes in your incomplete memories weren't important anymore. "I- yeah, yes. They should probably take a few holidays, can't imagine what thousands of years can do to someone relationships." He chuckled with your answer, his hand playing with the zipper of his jacket. Holy shit, he's cute.

"Although it was almost endearing, how he accepted his new position, Anubis, I mean... " you stared at him meanwhile he talked about the entire myth of Isis and Osiris love, Anubis and his supposed brother Horus and the why yes he might be, no, that might not be, but... a soothing voice he had, with a so heavy accent that had you wondering how could you have lived without it? "... which is a little funny 'cause he ended up embalming Osiris himself, don't ya think? Oh, I- I'm sorry I- I tend to ramble a lot, I- didn't-"

"Well thanks to the very renew Osiris and Horus, even Set myths now we have Anubis to take care of the embalming and those who are transitioning. Pretty funny as you say but in a way, like any belief, unstoppable."His mouth hanged open at your answer. You were listening, of course you were. You used to serve Khonshu, you used to... pray to him. And Egyptology was one of the most interesting subjects you could ever stood by, even before being catalog a former Sighter. And hearing someone like him, a pretty yet handsome man that was passionate about Egypt, that looked at you like you were a wonder and a full smile making his eyes shine Oh so bright, so fucking pretty.

You introduced yourself, shaking his clammy hand and with a smile as big as his. It was almost impossible to your heart not to flutter with his nervous chuckle.

"I'm Steven Grant, it's a really- real pleasure to meet you." By now you were only holding hands and you couldn't care less if it was awkward. His smile impossible to fade, your cheeks hurting of the same problem.

"Oh no, believe me, the pleasure is all mine."

If you were being honest, this was by far the best moment of your day. And you didn't know but, Steven with tired eyes and a hopeful gaze still in you couldn't agree more.

Again, I'm sorry for any mistakes 😅

I really liked writing this and finally making a move around my new Moonknight obsession 🌙✨🥰

#steven grant x reader #jake lockley x reader #marc spector x reader #moon knight #moonknight fic #arthur harrow #khonshu #khonshu x reader

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holy-disaster · 3 years ago

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♡Let me take care of you♡

Genre: ♡fluff♡

Summary: Marc was the type to always get hurt. Luckily he has you to take care of him.

Matchup: Marc Spector x reader (mentions of Steven Grant/Jake Lockley x reader)

Marc always gets hurt.

Mostly physically, but also emotionally. Everything seems so dull in his life, or like it's trying to kill him. It tires him out, makes him paranoid, and messes with him in so many ways.

At least there's you.

His best friend, his wife, and most importantly his one and only.

He could never get enough of you, always so kinda and forgiving. You never left his side unless needed to, but that was rare. You were always his little helper. He would even take you on less risky missions when you were okay with it.

He always loves the way you act around him. It was like you never judged him, because to you he was perfect. His personality, his boldness, his alters, but those eyes- you could never get enough of them. You could get lost in the dark chocolate and brown swirls. Even a hint of gold in them.

The way he looked at you, with those warm doughy eyes. Or Steven's puppy eyes, even Jake's lustful eyes. But Marc he was the first, he fell in love with you first, met you first, and befriended you first. He was your first everything from the very beginning.

Yes, he did have a marriage before you but this was different. You know almost everything about him, sense you were childhood friends.

It does seem silly, a little fantasy. Started out as best friend nothing more then that. As a kid, you thought dating Marc was a nightmare itself. So did he. But slowly growing together and being there for one another changed everything. Layla was his first love of course, and that was okay. Because after the divorce and some time alone as Moonknight and talking it out with Steven and Jake it made sense.

He didnt move on right away but aloud time to pass on before he made sure he was okay with it, if he was prepared to love again or to have the feeling of love pushed to him.

But he saw a small problem.

It was hard to set dates and plans together at the beginning.

His work that he did for Khonshu was hard, and it took a large toll on his body. He would come back home bruised up, bandaged, or even in a frantic state. So late at night that you lost sleep. You did let that get in the way of your relationship, so you took the job to look after him, his personal nurse is what he calls it.

"Sweetheart, I'm fine" is what he always says whenever you try to help him in his painful state. "I find it sort of humiliating that I cant even take care of myself" he gives off a nervous stare.

"Marc, let me take care of you. I love you so much and I hate seeing you in this state. Do you ever think before getting into a dangerous situation?"

This made him chuckle and give you a kiss on the cheek. "This is why I love you so much. You always take so good care of me, like seriously how did I get so lucky, I even have my own personal nurse! How cool is that"

You could hear a bit of Steven and Marc mixed into that.

"Hold still okay? I'm ganna clean these wounds. And I promise you it will sting" he nodded his head and gave a small smile. He didnt mind. He likes pain anyways.

He loved how you cared for him like this.

He also loved how you didnt just leave him alone whenever he gets angry, sad, or annoyed. Whenever he would go on about his past over and over again, and everytime you stayed and listened. Every time he would blame himself for the things that had happened in his life. The things he could never accomplish or be able to give to you. A better life, were you dont worry about when you husband will come home. If he will be alive or dead the next time you see him.

That sounds like a horrible life. He was surprised you even stayed this long.

He always says you could "do better" but everything you have ever wanted was Marc. The person you hold dearest in your heart.

You never leave him when hes angry at himself. And whenever talking or reassurance doesn't work you wouldn't give up. Instead you would sit there or lay there on him or close to him. Wait for him to calm down and try to small talk. It never bothered you, because you knew deep down Marc was troubled.

A kid that needed saving from his past and you would give up everything for him and his alters. You loved them all.

He found it humiliating sometimes. When he would come home and needed comfort. Not in a bad way though. It was humiliating because he knew if he cant take care of himself, how will he ever take care of you?

That didnt stop you from loving him. That didnt stop him from loving you, and his alters also had a thing for you.

But every once in a while. He would reject the suits healing powers. Just so he could have you to take care of him. You delicate hands being careful not to hurt him. Your concentration. And most of all you small praises whenever he would sit still.

You are his everything. And he would do anything to make you happy

-----------------

Hiiiiii, disaster here. I'm really getting into writing now! Maybe I'll do more in the future. I'll be more then happy to do request too! I also hope that my writing skill get better and that I can write longer stories to keep you peepz entertained. I'll try to upload new thing every other day or every 2 days. If you haven't read much first story please do!!!

Anyways thanks for reading and please show your support! Bye bye~♡

#romance tropes #marc spector angst #moonknight angst #marc spector x reader #marc spector x you #marc spector #moon knight #steven grant x reader #jake lockley x reader #steven grant #steven x reader #steven grant angst #steven with a v #moon knight fanfiction #jake lockely x you #jake lockely x reader #jake lockley

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hypernixation · 2 years ago

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a foolish decision /j

first of all i need everyone to know they were roommates right after the collapse . this a crucial development

second of all this outfit is fruity as hell and it's driving me crazy . the black leather jacket . the little buckled shoes . the scarf that we saw in the flashback in the chain reaction chapter ( all the way back in bbb !! makes me wonder how long nightow has been planning this ) . it's everything

i do have serious comments about this panel though . the look in his eyes and the fact that his first instinct was to attack the two people in front of him and the fact that he was so on edge and almost paranoid about everyone he met from the moment he set foot in hl are all driving me crazy . my brain is still scrambling to figure out what happened in the three years between this chapter and the present day because this is nothing like the zapp we know . while it could be assumed that he just got used to hl's weirdness after a while and naturally became more laid-back , i like to think that the real reason he acts so casual and careless in the present day is because the people he surrounded himself with ( whether by choice or not ) brought him enough comfort to ease the on-edge , ready-to-strike instincts that raju had taught him .

SPEAKING OF RAJU . that bitch . that fucker . the letter he left makes me wanna go apeshit and it explains so . much . again , it feels like nightow has had this planned since the very beginning , because the knowledge that while he was training under raju zapp was viewed and treated as less than human makes his reactions to leo's appreciation and zed's gratitude make so much sense . even later he still isn't used to being treated like a human being with inherent worth and value , even three years after he stopped training with raju , and that's why he still can't take genuine praise !! there are so many things wrong with him . i am rotating him in my mind

and look at this . LOOK at this . you just KNOW zapp was repeating that " talented young man " comment in his head for hours after this . not to mention the way he's so tsundere about joining ... although that may be because of the internal struggle of wanting to run away and finally be free of the life he was essentially thrown into when he started learning the big dipper style . i could pick apart every single line in the chapter if i had the time and the attention span

on a slightly lighter note ; the way he acts and speaks in this chapter is even more rash and reckless than in the present day . he voices every thought he has without regard to how the human and monster that he's talking about might react and doesn't consider the consequences of bringing up the possibility of an interdimensional war to strangers . it makes you wonder where he learned the restraint and social skills needed to be able to sway drug lords to his side like it's second nature , and with enough consistent skill that steven trusts him to bust illegal drug rings multiple times . ( it's steven . he learned it from steven . i know this in my soul just trust me )

final comment : i really hope the king of deceit appears in the present plot soon because the potential ramifications of zapp having met one of the thirteen kings are spinning around in my mind

( final final comment : gay marriage )

are any kkss mutuals who haven't witnessed my rants in the discord server interested in hearing my thoughts on the latest chapter

#what i'm saying here is that zapp is autistic #and the reason he's so smooth with everyone but his actual friends is because he mimicks steven's behavior during tense situations #so steven indirectly taught zapp how to socialize and also possibly flirt . does that make sense #i am barely lucid right now .#srb

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moonknight-s-cumdump · 3 years ago

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In the night

A/N: for the sake of this making sense steven is from london but is now living in ny. everything else is the same. more or less. i'd appreciate some ideas regarding how to continue the story.

Warnings: canon typical violence. not edited

frank castle x moonknight x reader

You meet Steven in the gift shop. You were asking him about some mug that you thought Frank might like. It would annoy him, at least. That was always fun for you. Even though you intended to just steal the overpriced keepsake, you ended up buying it, just cuz you found the way the vendor went on a tangent about the egyptian gods cute.

The man had a charm about him; big brown eyes and a nervous approach that was strangely endearing. And so, you flirted with him a bit. Just for fun. Some smiles and blinking up at him just to see how easy it was to make him blush.

“Do you always work at the giftshop or are you covering for someone?”

“No, this is my always job, not very fun innit?” He suddenly seems… Sad. You frown a bit at that. Did I make him upset? You´re quick to try and fix it. “No, no, I was just asking cause you seem to be a better fit for a guide… You know, all that knowledge and all” you let out a little chuckle, if only to relieve the tension.

He lets out a little smile at that, his cheeks flushed. You pay for the stupid mug, say your goodbyes and thank him, before making your way to the door. You really need to get back to Frank. He's been on one of his crusades lately, paranoid when he can´t find you.

A few feet before you reach the exit, you feel a gentle grip on your arm. You turn around to find the employee from earlier. A genuine smile graces your face at the sight of him. He's the first to speak, although he seems a bit anxious.

“Hi- I´m sorry if I startled you, miss, but if you don´t mind, I would like to know your name– Wait, Im sorry, I'm so sorry, that was so weird- I-”

God, he's adorable. You interrupt him and tell him your name with a smile and a light hearted touch to his chest. He seems to go into overdrive, at that.

—------

You visit the gift shop once or twice a week, after that. You learn that his name is Steven, with a V. Steven Grant. It fits him. You also get to know a bit more about him; he has a one-finned fish as a pet, Gus. And he can speak french. Sometimes, when you go over to his house for some tea and a movie, or for him to show you the latest book about egyptian history he acquired, he reads you some of his favorite poems. You don´t understand them, but you enjoy his voice, so you let him.

You also learn that you like his hands, and how his hair falls over his eyes in the form of messy curls.

Eventually, he tells you about his trouble sleeping, the way he seems to forget days entirely. Then he starts to disappear for days at a time. It worries you, but you´ve grown to expect it. The first time it happened, you were so desperate you could hardly even eat. After the first three days, you went to Frank, eyebags prominent and tears barely at bay, begging him to look for your friend. Frank cares about you, even with all your teasing. He tries to dig up everything he can, but there's barely any information about this guy, much less his whereabouts. Frank gets suspicious, then. What if this guy is somehow connected to his past and is after you to get to him? He tells you as much. You don't take it well. You stay at Matt´s that night.

—--

Frank´s on some rooftop facing a ridiculously big condo now. It´d give him whiplash that a goddamn gift shop vendor can afford such living arrangements, if it weren't for the fact that he already knows something is wrong.

He´s 4 hours into his stakeout when he finally gets something useful. The man gets up with an entirely different demeanor than before, all straight shoulders and hard-set jaw. He unties the ankle restraint connecting him to the bed and takes a knife, a gun and 2 boxes of ammo from a box hidden in some loose wood in the wall. Yeah, Frank knew he was right.

He picks his stuff up, follows him to some sketchy storage room. The man stops in front of him, white bandages wrapping around him as he slowly turns his head, just in time for the white fabric to reach his head in the form of a loose hood that almost hides his entire face.

Frank is quick to take his gun out. A man with a magic suit? Yeah well, New York has seen worse.

The man dodges the bullets, but one catches him in the arm. Frank doesn't miss how it heals almost immediately. What the fuck.

It's not long before he reaches him and wrenches the gun from his hands. Frank reciprocates this with a kick to the ribs and, a split second later, a headbut to that stupid mask. The man is quick to recover, as he throws a punch that his opponent fails to avoid.

They keep fighting until Marc temporarily gains the upper hand. He starts… Talking to himself? Arguing with himself, more like. The man's eyes shine a bright blue before his suit changes to, well, an actual suit.

“Marc you violent shit wad” What the fuck is up with the accent?

Frank takes the opening and flips him over, punching his face before taking a gun out of his boot and pointing it to the man´s throat. He spits a glob of blood “Who are you? Why are you after me?”

“After you? Mate, you´re the one who attacked us out of nowhere, yeah? Just please calm down for a moment, will ya?”

Frank shakes him with the hand still fisting his collar. “The fuck you mean “us”?”

hope yall liked it! comments and reblogs appreciated, plus they encourage me to make more parts quicker <33

#moon knight x reader x frank castle #steven grant x reader #marc spector x reader #frank castle x reader #the punisher #moon knight #moonknight

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beckface · 3 years ago

Note

What would your ideal DTB turning back into Steven fic be like?

I wrote some stuff already about this here but why not I wanna add more

-At first Becky doesn’t know if Reformed!Steven remembers her secret identity (in this case previous Steven did already know)

-He does remember but he lies about knowing, assuming that she wouldn’t want him to know anymore

-While it’s still early after changing back he’s not himself, and it takes him sometimes to heal and become confident in his identity again

-He’s never quite previous Steven OR Twobrains again, but he keeps his core personality

-As she gets older Becky deals with more identity issues and Steven is really the only one who understands

-Scoops interviews him but Steven’s weird and paranoid the whole time and keeps making quips every time Scoops tries to talk

-Violet hates him, like hates him at first because she’s protective of Becky and, from her pov, he’s been fucking with Becky’s head since day 1. Becky tries to reason with Violet but she’s nothing if not stubborn in her beliefs.

-Becky keeps trying to get everyone to accept Steven back though (harder than he’s trying honestly) and Violet just explodes at him one day. After that he’s open and honest about how he regrets hurting his friend, but what’s done is done, and he’s doing everything he can now to fix it. They come to a sort of understanding

-At some point Violet’s mom starts teaching Steven yoga and enforces a healthier lifestyle on him

-I really like Botsford family angst because we can’t have nice things in this house, and I specifically like the idea that Steven just gets a lot of parts of Becky that her family doesn’t, between having known her as the authentic Wordgirl, having known her without any hidden identities, being similar to her in a lot of academic ways and even humor, and having been her teacher and estranged mentor figure, he knows how to talk to her in a very particular way that connects with her, and it causes some insecurities for her parents.

-After revealing her secret identity as WG to her family (just judging based on how they reacted in Twobrains Forgets) I feel like her parents will just start letting her get away with more and won’t exactly parent her as much, and maybe even start treating her like a spectacle instead of their child unconsciously. The Botsfords get excited easily and don’t always consider the implications of their actions.

-This would absolutely make Becky anxious and overthink, and maybe she even tries to act out to get them to treat her normal again

-What if her family is even a little scared of her now

-Imagining a scene where WG is having a kid moment, just kindof being a bit of a brat, and Steven who’s over for dinner or something is the one that scolds her in that sarcastic deadpan “you know what you’re doing” tone he uses in the show when he’s all fed up, while her parents, who have just been not giving her any structure because they assume that since she’s an alien superhero she didn’t really need it, consider that maybe they need to reconnect with their daughter and learn who she is in her entirety, and not just see her as either Becky or Wordgirl.

-I went on a bit of a tangent but okay moving on

-Give. Steven. An ex. Husband. Do it. Don’t be a coward. You know you want to. (this is gonna be it’s own section of backstory and meeting wg feel free to skip if you’re not interested)

•

-And now MAKE that ex husband’s story be that og!Steven was always doing dangerous experiments that kept ALMOST hurting him and the people around him

-The ex husband upset at og!Steven for this and it causes issues in their relationship, but he doesn’t bring it up until the couple were thinking of adopting a baby.

-The ex is like “you need to stop, I want to have a family with you! I want us to have a LIFE together!”

-og!Steven can’t bring himself to stop though, and thinks he’ll be able to start doing safer experiments, or Once he just finishes this one project he’ll stop for sure!

-The couple get really excited and imagine a life together with their possible new child

-og!Steven has the best intentions, but one of his experiments happens to blow up during the house inspection. The adoption falls though. The couple “take a break” from eachother, both heartbroken

-Steven moves to the next city over for a fresh start, Fair City, to try and make something of himself, to prove that he didn’t lose the love of his life and their future family in vain

-He gets a job as a part-time college professor to pay the rent, and buys a little lab for himself that he stays in. He does his best to stay positive though and throws himself into his work, excitedly deciding his next big project (he keeps getting distracted by new ideas though and can’t pick just one thing)

-while mourning over the loss of his hypothetical child guess who he meets :D thats right I can’t stay away from dadbrains for five seconds

-Little five-year old superhero girl crashes through his office, quickly followed by a monkey. Some old lady in a jetpack flys away cackling with a sack of money, and he expects the girl to leave (he’s met a few superheros in his time and they’re pretty indifferent about property destruction)

-She lets the old lady get away though, and apologizes all embarrassed about his lab, she even calls him “sir” all respectfully, and superspeed helps him clean up best she can. It’s messy clean up though, like how a normal little kid would clean their room. He is immediately smitten

-Wordgirl explains that this villain, Granny May, just got a new jetpack that allows her to fly and makes her extra physically tough. Steven helps her think of a way to dismantle the jetpack, and they work together to build a device to defeat her. Steven is having a lot of fun having a lab buddy while inventing, and the kid seems to be enjoying the mental exercise too.

-He finishes it faster then he usually finishes projects, because she helps him stay focused on the task

-Wg looks at him after the defeat and says they make a pretty good team with pure joy in her eyes. Steven feels like she’s his second chance.

-They agree to keep working together and a brand new friendship is born! How wholesome! Nothing bad will ever happen to it I bet!

-After she goes home, Steven goes back to planning his next big project. He thinks about the monkey guy, Wordgirl’s sidekick. It was mildly irritating that she kept having to translate Huggy’s words for Steven, if only there was a device that let humans and animals communicate without her help…

—-

-Okay on the ex-husband note after he changes to Twobrains the guy comes back and is like “Steven… what have you become” and they divorce for good. Steven hasn’t seen him since.

-Maybe they can make up, maybe they can not, but what’s important is that while visiting his family, Steven takes Becky out on a shopping trip to go get food and runs into him

-The guy sees Steven, and sees that he got rid of the mousebrain, and sees that he looks highkey like a mess, and is just like “…you’re back.” THEN he notices that Becky’s holding his hand because she’s 12 and I can do what I want, and thinks that he adopted her, even after all of what the couple went through with the previous adoption falling, and assumes that Becky’s in some kind of danger because of Steven’s experiments

-This leads to some passive aggressive quips which leads to a screaming match in the store

“You ruined our chance at a life together!”

“You left me when I needed you the most!”

-Everyones just awkwardly staring until Becky steps in to 1) correct the guy that she’s not Steven’s daughter, and 2) defend Steven and explain the situation better

-Healing!! More healing!!! Yayyyy healing!! Becky invites the ex husband over for dinner after she calms down the fight, even though it’s not her house or her family, because she has ALL the audacity (love her) and it’s awkward and passive aggressive at first but they eventually talk about their lives together and hug and cry and apologize

-They CAN get back together if you want but for me they’re just going to form a somewhat confusing and rocky friendship and move on to be with other people :D (too many good TB ships for him to end up with what i’m now realizing is just an unnamed oc created purely for character development) The ex does get close to Becky and him and Steven have a weird little platonic parenting relationship around her. He also stayed close with Steven’s family and they all kinda supported eachother when Steven went mouse

•

-Wow that went on wayyy too long but anyways summary; Steven has ex husband drama because I need to make either him or Becky sad or I will EXPLODE

-Moving on to the “Steven needs therapy” section

-Steven keeps Squeaky’s skull around. You know. For shits n giggles. Sometimes he stares at it like it’s talking to him. Something is very very wrong with this man.

-Steven takes up art with encouragement from Violet’s mom. We’ve seen he’s a generally good cartoonist, so I can imagine he’s all around decent at art. Half the time he makes these cute little portraits of people he cares about, and half the time he makes these like, You know those pictures that are captioned with “this was painted by someone with (insert mental illness)”? Yeah those, except they’re creepy mouse themed.

-I just enjoy imagining Squeaky depicted like the nowhere king from centaurworld if anyone knows what i’m on about

-He has a personal vendetta against Mickey Mouse and everyone BEGS him to chill the fuck out about it. Mr. Big is annoyed because he can’t invest stock in Disney anymore or else Steven will hunt him down

-One time Becky came over and could have SWORN she saw Steven eating something that looked like a rat and she just agreed with herself to forget that ever happened

-Steven is weird around cats and cats are weird around Steven it’s like a mutual agreement to avoid each other between this one guy and every single cat in the world

-Steven has phantom migraines a lot, the only thing that really helps is just taking his mind off of it

-he wont even TOUCH any animal-based experiment ideas anymore

-He and Becky like to exchange theories about Lexicon, especially after interactions with both Miss Power and Kid Math

-Kid Math tells steven everything he knows about Hexagon and Lexicon, Steven starts a new book about Hexagon and gets new pages for his Lexicon journel

-He gives Becky back a really old unicorn plushie that she left at his lab YEARRRRS ago, BEFORE twobrains, that he never managed to give back to her before as some sort of preservation of their previous relationship

-Becky finds this sweet and tears up, before saying it’s kind of funny because thats exactly why she reread “Superheroes and You” all the time

-She makes him watch Pretty Princess. He pretends to not get into it. His favorite character is the Pony (Miss Power episode revealed how dead inside that goddamn pony is Steven/Twobrains would ABSOLUTELY love him)

-Despite all the mental turmoil he’s dealing with, everything is okay.

#wordgirl #dr two brains #becky botsford #ask #hc/au #Violet Heaslip #doctor two brains #steven boxleitner #Boxleitner’s Return

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