#THIS CLIFFHANGER THO LMAOOO

[oodlyenough]

arcane s2 act 2

so my main criticism of act 1 was that everything felt rushed. that has not gotten better lol

i knew going in that two seasons -- of nine episodes, and short 40 minute episodes at that -- was probably going to be too little. and it is. well. what can you do, i guess. i'm glad this isn't my number 1 fandom interest the way it was in 2022 because if it were i'd be much more bothered lol. many of the beats we're hitting are beats i like on paper but we are blitzing through them so fast they have no time to breathe or sink in before we're onto the next one.

also i respect the huge amount of effort that goes into creating an animated series that looks the way this looks, but these episodes are so short. the runtime is 40 minutes and five of that is credits and another five of that is our obligatory stylized music video. it's just too little time to dedicate to a large ensemble cast and a complex plot. it sucks to be watching the final season of a show and realize you haven't seen [Major Character] for entire episodes, or entire acts (!). outside of jinx and ambessa, it feels like everyone's fave is getting shortchanged on screentime, some more than others. with only three episodes left it's hard to imagine they'll manage to resolve everyone's arc and all the outstanding mysteries and bring everything to a satisfying conclusion. fans freaked out when they first accidentally let slip that after s2 they were moving away from these characters and fans were right. womp womp

more detailed spoiler stuff:

sevika. the hair. why :(

"jinx is a symbol of resistance" is one of those things that i didn't feel they entirely set up. sure, she has pushed back on piltover -- but every time she has, piltover has cracked down even harder on zaun. there's really no zaunites who resent her for that? hm

isha is a character i struggle with because i thought everything about her was too on the nose in act 1 and then we had open act 2 with jinx stating the thesis aloud to the camera. "gee you remind me of my old self powder. i wonder if this is how silco felt about me, powder." lol

i was DARING the show to have vi flashback to punching powder after she hit isha lmaooo. impressed they resisted

whatever tho i did enjoy the jinx-sevika-isha unit while it lasted

vander's werewolf self going back to the hideout he used to share with silco... their jackets hung together... bro...

i have to say i'm actually not sure i like the felicia stuff that much. i don't know. arcane isn't subtle ever and this felt like another sledgehammer. i think i also ... actually derive a bit less meaning from vander taking them in/silco raising jinx if actually vander and silco were besties with their mom and knew them growing up, too. not that it stopped silco from wanting to murk vi lmao so i guess it's no guarantee of his affection for jinx, but... yeah. idk. subtle as a brick: that's arcane

also was this telling me that vander saw felicia die during a rebellion they all incited, flipped out and blamed silco and tried to DROWN HIM ... like... jesus man that's pretty harsh lmao i'd start villain monologuing too

mel in the torture labyrinth was interesting, and i loved getting to meet a version of her sexy brother kino. as soon as [man's voice] appeared i was like omg is it her sexy brother... and it was! sort of! i'm assuming his look and personality and voice match real kino even if he was some kind of trick monster thing. i like the medarda family lore and i liked getting to see mel and kino interact, if briefly

on the other hand, mel being trapped in the torture labyrinth meaning that's her only 5 minutes of screentime for all of act 2 and the reveal is that she has magic powers which we already surmised from the s1 cliffhanger... i don't know... and an illegitimate baby plot? like... we have so many plots. please.

also she's totally pregnant and i hate that. lol.

i started this season ambessa's number 1 fan and i have enjoyed her but also there is a lot of her, when other major characters from s1 get little screentime. i had hoped seeing more ambessa would mean seeing more of ambessa and mel, bc their relationship with each other is very interesting, but... nope??? i mean, sure there's act 3, but we've had six episodes so far of little.

caitlyn's arc was such a disappointment to me. the end of act 1 with her was such a strong stark scene and by the time we pick up with her in act 2 we've already montaged past all her war crimes and into the part where she feels bad about them and is ready to turn a new leaf. like. come on man.

her reunion with vi was way too smooth. i would love vi to be angry with her for her bullshit. maybe they'll fight again next act, they fight all the time, but like... ugh. 2.1 was such a big falling out and then vi just shrugs it off and we're back to "cupcake". poor vi the writers dgaf about her

viktor's cult was not what i expected at all, i expected something more outwardly sinister lol. people on twitter are arguing back and forth about how obviously evil it was but i am not sure that's the case -- or like -- i mean i think as an audience member aware you're watching a tv show, it's easy to be like "this is clearly evil and will be revealed as such later", but just in terms of what the show is putting down in act 2 i think it's presented as this bastion of hope which is then destroyed. in act 3 we will find out why it was destroyed, i assume, and can retroactively decide if that was a good decision or not.

sky. sis. i wish they like. made you a person in s1. i have no frame of reference for if this feels like the real sky whose consciousness is now in the void (like viktor's seems to be?) or if she's like the hexcore's avatar for getting what it wants (which is what i feel act 1 implied), because they did not spend time in s1 to establish her

i joked in s1 a lot about salo getting a front row seat to jayce and viktor's weird gay thing over the years so it's nice he got to participate in their last conversation flkhghgl. but this was another scene where i felt the pacing was nerfing things -- i like the general exchange on paper, that there's been this time apart and viktor wants to show jayce what he's working on and jayce is all fucked up and bitter or whatever, but in real time their reunion, split, and then this scene happen in such a condensed time ... we haven't really seen either of them apart, we didn't see jayce's time growing bitter or whatever and even if we see it in act 3 it's belated?

i also thought it was odd how viktor was like "i was clouded by emotion" when honestly their breakup was the most emotionless he'd ever been to that point lol

it is very funny to think that jayce came out of s1 and the hell void and the lesson he learned was he should continue shooting first and asking questions never

i can think of several possible explanations for jayce's behaviour, ranging from "something i'd be super into" all the way to "i don't want to type it out in fear of invoking it into the universe". so i'm trying not to speculate all that much tbh, lest i grow attached to the former and get the latter

"peacock princes... an old family joke" and "you once told me every system has limits" are two great examples of stuff feeling rushed. these so clearly feel like they should be callbacks to scenes we actually *saw* but they just aren't. because we never got flashback kino, and viktor and sky never held a conversation until she died.

ekko and heimerdinger died on the way to their home planet...

this all sounds exceedingly negative listed out, when in reality i was mostly having a good time. it's just... the cracks are starting to show as the the show strains under the pressure of accomplishing all its goals in a measly 18 episodes. that crunch means any time someone's watching a scene about a plot or characters they like less they're going to start feeling impatient, any time a musical number doesn't hit (and i have to be honest, s2 is more misses than hits for me so far) they're going to feel impatient... i don't know. i find it difficult to see how they'll pull all of this off without leaving the audience thinking "jeeze that needed another season", or "why did they waste time on X when i wanted to see Y".

[reyreadersblog]

TGG SPOILERS (tiny review)

Also it's not proof read so there is like shit tons of mistakes but don't mind it😌

I loved the book, i loved the characters (and romance🤭) usually i wait for a few days to rate a book, so i'll probablu redo it and write a full review in 2-3 days...

I don't want to spoil much so this is going to be very short and overall.

What i liked:

I loved how unpredictable new characters were, at first you trust them and you're rooting for them and then second later they may seem suspesious. I loved all 3 pov characters: Lyra, Gigi and Rohan. Gigi is such a girlboss (exept for the end...don't get me started on the ending UGHHH) Lyra too, i loved how her character was different from others, like at the same time she kinda reminded me of Gray but i honestly think they're complete opossites (other than trauma bonding🤝🏻) i loved that players had to work their way out together, AND the fact that they all had conversation with each other. I LOVED HOW THERE WAS ONLY ONE MINOR MENTION OF EMI*Y AND NOTHING

THE CLIFFHANGER?? helloooooo

What i didn't like:

For me the book sometimes book felt paced, sometimes slow paced, i mean i liked how the game started really quickly, but...it felt so...forced... i think she could've finish the whole game in one book and the second book "glorious rivals" could've been about the same pov characters, just slightly different plot.

Don't kill me but i feel like the riddles and mysteries were overdone, i understand that the point of whole game was to solve riddlex to win the money tho there were TOO much, or mabye i'm just dumb and they made me feel even more dumb..

I was kicking my feet at Lyrason moments but i expected more idk😭😭 like i hated how the whole plot and romantic interactions were just solving riddles.

None of the secrets were answered which really pissed me off.

Now characters:

Brady- YOU FUCKING ASSHOLE I CAN'T BELIEVE I CALLED YOU HOT, YOU DICKHEAD.

Slater- glad i never trusted this idiot. The moment i read that he worked for Eve i was like...NAH.

Eve-.....REDEMPTION ARC MY ASS.

Savannah- gurl i'm srry but you really made me mad...idgaf if she was manipulated like YOUR TWIN WAS LITERALLY KIDNAPPED BCS OF YOUR STUPIDITY.

Odette- this woman is SO confusing and sus...i don't think i trust any word she says...

Gigi- i LOVED her, i loved her when i read tbh i love her even more now..and i'm scared that she is slowly starting to lose her "sunshine" side and this whole keeping THE SECRET and betrayal thing didn't do her justice either.... but istg if Eve does something to her....(i was in shock when i finished the book)

Lyra- i feel so bad for her, like this girl ONLY wants to know the truth and then to finally foget about her past but they kept SMASHING her trauma in her face💀💀😭😭 i loved her. Every moment we got of Lyra and Grayson i SCREAMED.

Rohan- this man is a shameless flirt "Savy"...EKKKKKKKKKKKEKEEEKEEE, i literally didn't pay attention to anything other than his flirting skills lmaooo

Grayson- oh..THIS MAN HAD ME SCREAMING...he was so hot in every moment, also is it just me who noticed that he was very much..."soft" in this book..compared to others..idk (mabye he just has a soft spot for Lyra)

Knox- ....nothing, literally nothing.

[diamondcitydarlin]

idk I guess it's an unpopular opinion (tho again maybe not because I feel like for as much as that was a TRAGIC cliffhanger we're all kinda like...into it, right? lmaooo) but I feel like the break-up was a long time coming and needed to happen in order for them to progress the relationship forward. Of course I love post season one fics where they're already a couple after failed armageddon and everything's perfect and fine and that's kind of what I just entertained until I knew more of the story was going to be told because IN THAT CASE!!

I guess it's been said already, but I've always felt like for as close as they were at the end of season one and for as much as it seems like they've carved out a niche for themselves that works, there's something about it that has always felt sort of tenuous for me, and I feel like it's manifested in times that I've written them in post season one, either solo or in RP with a friend. Sometimes it's heaven/hell not being done with them and only pretending to stand back while thinking of a way to get them, but often it's that plus their own sense of loyalty to themselves or outer entities, etc.

As season 2 establishes and as I always kind of suspected, Aziraphale has never really 'given up' on heaven, perhaps not aided by the fact that I don't think Crowley ever gave him specific details of what went on during his trial. The tribulations of the first act of the story don't really destroy Aziraphale's confidence in what he's always believed to be true, it just leads him to think the wrong people have been in charge, still leaving him with this sense of 'this = good' and 'this = bad' and, well...Crowley is still a demon.

Now, of course, Crowley usually falls into a rationalized category of 'Not Like Other Demons' for Aziraphale and most of the time that's fine, but when push comes to shove it turns into a bigger, more divisive issue than anything they can ignore because, ultimately, Az thinks everything will be fine once they're both on the same side of 'good'. Once Crowley is as he used to be. Because surely that's what he REALLY wants as well?? WHO WOULDN'T WANT TO BE AN ANGEL??

And in that way, Crowley has his own sense of loyalty that clashes with Aziraphale's, but I think it's really a loyalty to himself. I don't mean that in a derogatory way at all. I don't mean to imply that he really IS selfish and evil. I mean to say that Crowley has accepted who and what he is, that for as much as God's forsaking of him still haunts his sense of self, he accepts his fate with lurid enthusiasm. Unforgivable, that's what he is. Fine! Because if earning god or heaven's love means being other than what he really truly is and wants to be, then it means nothing and also fuck them.

In that way though, Aziraphale is also 'not like other angels' for Crowley, because there's this sort of understanding that he either doesn't care or accepts him anyway and honestly I think the reason Crowley avoids talking about that for so long is because he doesn't really want to know which it is. But then he finds out, because circumstances have forced them to. And I notice that while he is devastated, he doesn't seem surprised. Sort of like Crowley always knew they were going to have to face this crossroads eventually and knew what Aziraphale was going to choose.

I can't really fault either of them for making their respective choices. If anything, my admiration for Crowley's character has increased a hundred fold and I was already partial to him lmao. It's not easy to choose yourself and your own self-preservation and the truth of who you are over anything else, over the threat of really, truly being alone, but...he does, and I think there's a takeaway in that. And I get where Aziraphale is coming from too, even for how painful and seemingly selfish it is (but I don't think it is, not in intention anyway).

idk this became a ramble but I feel like it all makes sense and is crucial to really exploring what that love between them could truly be in the end.

[ofmermaidstories]

Hey mermie? Merms? Mermie? That’s tragic af and we were promised happy endings 😭

A v enticing idea tho and if it comes to be I’m sure I will thoroughly enjoy sobbing over it

i mean! it’ll be a happy ending for us lmao. but if we wanted to talk nitty gritty, the problem is that with any kind of narrative that uses grief as an background element, and a background element as potent as a dead wife, you kinda need to sacrifice someone likeable. 🥹🥺 widower romances are weird! you want someone who like, proves, almost, that they’re capable of Love: a literal ride or die! but you also don’t want to feel like… a consolation prize lmaooo. someone on twitter pointed out that romance, as a genre, is about not settling: that the Happily Ever After ending is about the leads getting what they want, whatever that is. and like… how do you do that with someone who thinks they already had that? lmao. like. how does that work??? but that’s where the fun in that question is, for me. 🥹🙏🏽

a really popular term in grief groups, specifically ones that specialise in spouse loss, is second chapter. “i started my second chapter today; mike and i finally got married.” “david’s parents were enthusiastic about me dating again! his mother had big feelings but ultimately thinks a second chapter is important.” “my friends don’t understand why i’ve started seeing people so soon but paul is my second chapter.” etc etc etc. personally i hate it LMAOOO. whoever thought of that term was not a reader, jfc. condensing a whole person, a whole love, into a single chapter??? absolutely NOT!!! however—that’s just me being pedantic. 😔 most people understand what the term second chapter means, just by context. 🥺 and this is the thing: life is so long, for so many of us. you can’t just reread the one chapter, once it ends. 🥹 sometimes you’re impatient, sometimes you don’t like cliffhangers, sometimes someone in your day to day ends up spoiling the second chapter for you a little by telling you good things about it that remind you why you started reading this particular book in the first place—however you wanna think about it, whatever terminology you use, the point stands: ochako’s part in her own story ends, unfairly, but bakugou’s goes on. a whole lifetime’s worth of it. it’s sad now, at that chapter’s end—but it still goes on! and if ours ends up being apart of it? if it ends up being the same story? then eventually it has to even out to some kind of happy ending, right? 🥹

[h5eavenly]

Book me an appointment with Y/n’s therapist ASAP 🤒

Nobody:

Y/n: 🥺🥺 (plzzz she’s so cute)

I HAD TO SCREAM LOUD AT THE CLIFFHANGER EXCUSE ME?!! It must be Woo😤. Once again it can’t be coincidence how every every time Y/n says something all of a sudden a post pops up!! Taking a shit no he’s a liarrrrrrr. I want to know how Felix figured it out djdjdudidj. I don’t know I just figured with the contact name having the little heart next to it...Yuna isn’t that close to the others as she has been with Y/n and Woo plus how flirty they have been?? And in Woo’s social pf the comment were Y/n says it stop taking pictures of her without telling her FORESHADING I THINK YES (im just talking atp💀). Why is woo specialty looking into people backgrounds like sus!! Part of me wants to believe that it’s Yeosang because he’s a creepy stalker boy, or that maybe him and Woo are working together But Yeo wouldn’t have Yuna’s name saved with a heart, considering they barely socialize. Plus that would be the more obvious answer. Knowing if it’s Woo someone we love and trust it would hurt way more 😭. BUT THEN AGAIN Yuna mentioned it was someone who tipped off the cops meaning they knew what her dad was doing no? Low-key if Woo and Yeji were in on it and Yeji found out the details from her mom or something, considering she’s the mistress omg. BUT JYP GOSSIP started when Yeji first got there sooo. I’m probably way off and embarrassing myself lmaooo. It can definitely work out in Felix’s favor since he had a crush on Yuna tho🥹 !

real i need yn's therapist as well

also this help maybe my guy woo really was taking a shit guys idk imagine you're minding your business on the toilet and suddenly you're jyp gossip? LMAO im loving all these theories tho you guys have really turned into detectives in my inbox its crazyyy

[shizzybarnaclee]

the summary is kinda scaring meeee 😭 (i still love it tho, excited to see what’s in store this time!)

nightmare sinister is even more unhinged 😭

is he the “foe” from the summary?? You did say a new villain in the notes though so i'm 100% wrong 😂.

mannn, nathaniel i hope you’re having the worst time ever wherever you are :/

I LOVE ALL OF THIS AND I LOVE ALL OF THEM 🥹💗.

dawwww look at wade being all sweet and stuff.

ooooh this is exciting~ 

LMAOOO + he has the right to be this confident honestly, cause i definitely wouldn’t. 😂😭

this makes me so happy 🫶🏼 however, i know said happiness will be ripped away once the villain shows up, but i'll just let myself live in the moment 😂.

he’s so real for that 😭.

loved the description! it was easy to visualize the place and feel like i was there.

OH SHIIIIT DUDE- apocalypse?!-!/ at least i got to live in the moment and enjoy the fluff. 

this is gonna be resolved in chapter 6, this is gonna be resolved in chapter 6 , this is gonna be-

;-; heart breaking, eyes leaking.

my girl never gets a break 😭.

oml wade 😂 the idea to ask that question is on brand LMAOOOO 😭 your characterization of him is so great. 

soooo does this mean we’ll get a jean to get this done?? i’m guessing we’ll get the one from our old world but idk how that’s going to work out.

OH MY GOSHHH IT’S PETER PARKERRRR!!1!-! I KNOW LOGAN’S BEEN TAKEN AND EVERYTHING, BUT THESE ARE SOME EXCITING REINFORCEMENTS SO IMMA FANGIRL 😭😭.

awwwww man that was short lived 😔 i get it though and at least he got some screen time lolol.

i know right? 👀😂

😭😭 this made me laugh way too hard.

the cameos are cameo-ing even more this time💃🏻.

yeahh it would make sense if she doesn’t help out, but i still think she might show up (probably not by choice).

I FREAKING KNEW IT OMLDNEBJEBE-

i feel like the other logan might’ve convinced her? for reasons unknown as of rn.

AGREED, WADE, such a good cliffhanger!

ok this chapter was incredible! it was nice balance between fluffy goodness and angst, which i love. you did a really good job with it. i still can’t get over apocalypse being the new villain andd the cliffhanger- omg the cliffhanger felt like something you’d see in a movie or TV show! it was really good 💗. this whole part of the series was done really well and i have to say, yet again, your writing is amazing! 💕 the series just kept getting better and better for me! 

i’ll be glad with anything you do with the series! whether that’s a sequel or not, i’m cool with it, sure i’d love one because i just can’t get enough of this ‘verse 😂 but in the end it’s your choice. so, you should do whatever you see fit and gives you a feeling of happiness when writing it! on another note, i saw your writing schedule post and i’m super excited for what you’ve planned! i’d like to be added to your logan tag list or if there’s just a main tag list for all of your fics, that would be even better! (if that’s possible).

thank you so much for this wonderful series 💗💗💗.

and that's why I fear it won't do [Logan/Reader]

Summary: Part 5 of my Home 'verse. You're on the slow climb to recovery after finally ridding yourself of Sinister. Wade gifts you with a generous birthday present, allowing you and Logan to get some time away from the city and spend time alone together. You've started to heal, happy with the knowledge that your family has your back in more ways than one. But you never realized just how fragile your newfound peace is until a familiar foe from your old universe shows up, threatening to destroy everything you've fought for since escaping from Sinister. Word Count: 11.1k Author's Note: This chapter may contain: Fluff, Angst, A New Villain!, Surprise Cameos, An Old Friend, Familiar Faces, Kidnapping, A Tiny Bit of Spice, Healing, Reader Whump, Birthday Presents, and Wade Being the Best. Home 'Verse Read on AO3

You knelt at Sinister's side, clutching his hand tight. His smile was edged in blood and he let out a laugh, wicked and devious. "It won't be the last time you see me, Y/N," he swore, his gaze never once leaving yours even as his grip slackened. "I'll always be with you." 

You shook your head, defiant and sure. "You're dead," you protested, the memory of driving your hand right through his skull coming to mind.  

"Didn't I tell you that you were mine? My experiment, my toy, my weapon," he hissed, his grip tightening, painful and constricting.  

Between one blink of your eyes and the next, he was standing, his regenerative ability kicking in except for the hole right through the middle of his forehead. A bit of his brain oozed out of the wound, but he didn't seem to care.  

You were still on the floor, but Sinister reached down, brushing his fingers almost lovingly along your jaw.  

"I'll break you after all," he promised, sure and resolute, as he pulled you up off the floor.  

"Y/N, get away from him! He's--" Logan started, suddenly appearing across the room, before Sinister turned towards him.  

"I've had enough of you," Sinister snarled before snapping his fingers. Logan was suddenly gone, a pile of adamantium bones and blood and viscera splattered across the floor. "I think I have someone more suited for you," Sinister continued, barely giving you a moment to grieve before another Logan appeared before you.  

You knew, without having to have it confirmed for you, that this was the wrong Logan. The other Logan. The one who had left you so desolate and broken that you ended up leaving your universe just to escape him.  

There was a disinterested look on his face as he reached out to touch you. You flinched away, backing up until you ran into someone else.  

Nathaniel's voice was in your ear as wrapped his arms around you, restraining you.  

"First we'll break you," he whispered into your ear. "And then we'll remake you. You'll be ours forever." He looked up at the other Logan, sharing a grin with him, before the other Logan stepped forward. His hand was outstretched and getting closer to you.  

Panic lodged itself high in your throat and you could feel a scream building. "Go away! Don't touch--" 

"--me!" You yelled as you sat up, breathing heavy and heart pounding furiously in your chest.  

"Y/N?" Logan called and you looked up to see he was standing several feet away from the bed. His hand was up, stopped short by the forcefield you had erected in your sleep. The nightstand was left in a broken heap of wood on the floor, and you wondered if your forcefield had shoved Logan off the bed this time.   

You dropped the forcefield, bringing your knees up to your chest and curling your arms around them. You were aware of Logan cautiously approaching the bed before he sat down on the edge of it.  

"Another bad one?" He tried when you didn't say anything, watching you from a distance.  

You shook your head, finally looking over at him. There were so many things you wanted to say.  

He was there again. 

He killed you. 

The other Logan was there.  

Will it ever stop? 

What you settled on was: "I need you."  

You suddenly desperately craved the touch and reassurance of your Logan. You wanted to be consumed by him. You wanted your thoughts to be a blanket of love, want, need, and Logan. Just Logan.  

Logan watched you for a moment before he nodded his head. He crossed the distance between the two of you, pressing himself to your side. "I'm right here," he assured you before pushing gently at your shoulder.  

Logan was being so careful, but you didn't want that. You needed to feel the pull of him, drawing you in until you had nothing else but him.  

"C'mon," you urged, tugging at his t-shirt. "C'mon already. I need you now." 

Logan seemed to get the hint, because he covered you with his body, letting you pull up his shirt while pushing down his pajama pants. He managed to get his shirt up over his head before he started kissing down your neck. You gave up on his pants, since they were already halfway down his thighs, and grabbed the hand that had been clutching your waist.  

You placed it on your stomach before encouraging it to dip below the waistband of your shorts. Logan hardly needed any more encouragement to press lower, his fingers ghosting over you, leaving you aching and wanting. His other hand traveled up until it was curled lightly around your throat. You usually loved just the slightest pressure, the reminder that Logan held you so completely in his hands, but there was a buzzing at the back of your mind that gave you a momentary pause.  

You pulled at his hair, prompting him to direct his kisses back towards your mouth, letting his tongue sink in and taste you. His hand was still at your throat, the touch firm, but still easy and unrestrictive. You were more aware of it than you usually were, and you tried to throw yourself into the kiss, wanting to ignore anything that might make you stop.  

It wasn't until his thumb swept over your pulse that you realized why it felt wrong.  

"Wait, wait, stop," you breathed as you turned your head to the side, breaking the kiss. You felt all twisted up inside, knowing that the moment you were sharing with Logan was meant to be full of the love you shared, but all you could think about was Nathaniel holding you, constantly analyzing you.  

"What's wrong?" Logan asked, immediately moving to sit back, taking his touch away.  

"When I was...away," you tried, knowing that Logan would understand, "he just, and I, I just can’t..." You offered Logan a helpless look, not sure how to convey what was on your mind.  

Logan knew you, though, which was why he gave a determined nod of his head and then suddenly you were on top. You felt a rush as you adjusted to the new position, a surprised laugh startled out of you.  

Logan smirked up at you, outright pleased with himself. "Do whatever you want to me," he proposed, arching an eyebrow at you. "I trust you." 

You shook your head, overwhelmed with how much you loved Logan.  

"Use me however you want," he added, his voice low and dangerous, making heat pool low in your belly. You felt yourself began to tremble as he grabbed one of your hands, placing it at his throat. "I'm yours." 

You let your fingers briefly dig in before you replaced them with your mouth. You ran your tongue along his flesh before following with your teeth, delighting in the way it made Logan moan. You gave him all your attention, making a path from his neck to his chest.  

When you started lower, he shook his head, bringing you back up towards his mouth.  

"Tonight's about you," he rumbled before pressing his thigh between yours. "You go first." 

You felt yourself flush before you nodded your head. You brought one of his hands up to grip your hip, steading you as you writhed on his thigh, chasing a release you had only started to pursue. His other hand came up, his nails scratching lightly along your back. There was pure adoration and worship in his gaze, and you didn't know how you had gotten so lucky. Logan gave up control to you like it was nothing, but you knew it was everything.  

He had spent time as a lab subject for Stryker. If anyone knew how you felt, then it was him. He knew exactly what you needed, and the fact that he was providing it for you only turned you on more.  

You were close, but you knew you wanted more. Logan didn't protest when you rose on your knees, but he shot you a bewildered look when you grabbed his hand and tapped his knuckles.  

"Rip them," you commanded, pulling his hand to rest at your waistband. You knew that you could just as easily get up and take off your shorts, but you were desperate. You wanted Logan now. Any second that passed between the two of you where you weren't sharing the same breath, space, body just wasn't worth it.  

Logan easily obeyed and it took you no time at all before you were finally seating yourself, sinking down to feel the full weight of him inside you. Logan's hands were gripping your hips. He didn't urge you to move, but you could feel the way he was practically shaking beneath you, pent up energy begging to be released, letting you know that he was just as gone as you were.  

You pressed yourself closer to him, enjoying the feeling that had started to build low in your stomach. It was warm, molten, and spreading through you, begging to be set free.  

Logan let you set the pace, his hands wandering from your hips to your thighs and then lower back. You could tell he was beginning to lose himself, his head was thrown back and he was panting up at the ceiling. His fingers were now clenched tight in the bedsheets and you could hear the fabric begin to rip.  

"C'mon, let go," you urged, chasing your own end. “I want to feel you.”  

Logan was stubborn, though, and refused to fall without you. He brought one of his hands up, drifting his fingers around your knee, before slipping between your thighs. You felt pleasure shoot right through your core and you could feel yourself ascending higher, faster, with each sweep of his fingers. You rocked your hips into his touch, and it only took one look at his face, the way he bit his lip as he watched you lose yourself on him, before you tipped over the edge.  

It was a freefall, dizzying and breathtaking, and as you grasped at Logan, you knew he was right there with you.  

Awareness teased you in little moments as Logan took you in his arms. He put you on your side, facing him, carefully slipping free. He trailed kisses along your jaw up to your lips, waiting for you to come back to him. When you responded in kind, you felt the pleased rumble in his chest and couldn't help but laugh into the kiss.  

"What's so funny?" He asked, barely pulling back to look at you, his breath ghosting across your lips.  

You reached up to tug at his hair, delighting in his growl of protest. Sometimes, the line between Logan and Wolverine was blurred, and you loved him all the more for the distinctions between the two. "Next time," you whispered, brushing your lips against his, "you should wear the cowl in bed." That thought wasn't what made you laugh, but just the idea of it had a little thrill shooting through you, and you pressed your thighs together, savoring the feeling.  

Logan let out a low chuckle before he wrapped an arm around your waist, encouraging you to move closer, as if you weren't already pressed together. You let your right leg come up, hooking around his calf, before you pressed a kiss to his shoulder.  

Silence drifted between you, and you were half-torn between staying in the moment for as long as you could or finally letting yourself drift back to sleep. 

"Do you want to talk about it?" Logan sounded cautious, unsure, and you knew he was worried about breaking the contentment between the two of you.  

"Not right now," you answered, shaking your head. "I don't want to think about him or any of them right now." 

Logan didn't press you for more details. He simply swept his hand up and down your back, doing his best to comfort you. When he stopped, his hand resting at the small of your back, you chanced a glance at him to see that he was asleep.  

You let your head rest on his shoulder before you stared at the wall opposite you, trying and failing to forget about Nathaniel and the fear he had instilled in you. 

It was going to be a long night.  

The next couple of months were spent with your family. You had never felt so indulgent with your time, and while you had stepped back from being a hero, you knew that day by day, you were healing. Sinister had nearly succeeded in unleashing a much darker part of yourself, and while you knew you couldn't simply sweep the feelings he had evoked away, you were going to have to learn how to assimilate them.  

You let yourself do anything and everything you never had the time for before. You took Laura to the movies and amusement parks and on picnics. More often than not, Logan and Wade joined you, along with random guests. Wade was slowly but surely making progress with Vanessa and had opted to bring her along when you went to an arcade. You noticed their flirting, but when they disappeared for half an hour, clothing rumpled and Vanessa's hair tousled upon their return, you knew that they were back together. You had offered Wade a high-five, laughing in delight when he pushed your hand to the side and barreled forward with a hug, practically lifting you off your feet.  

It had been easy to add Vanessa to your little family. Once you got to know her, you knew why Wade was so in love with her. Lovely wasn't enough to describe her. She was gorgeous, clever, generous, and a whole host of other attributes that summed her up.  

She quickly became one of your favorite people and you knew without a doubt that the nightmare reality Nathaniel had painted for you would never come true. Wade had been right, Vanessa accepted you and if you were ever in need, she would never let Wade turn you away.  

You also set about giving Laura as much of a childhood as you could give her within a few months. She had been forced to fight practically her whole life, and while she acted like the family outings were stupid half the time, from the little delighted smiles on her face or the way her eyes lit up when you dared her to go on rollercoaster after rollercoaster, you knew that she was having fun. You supposed, in a way, you were also reclaiming a part of your past you had never gotten to experience.  

You had manifested at a young age, and it wasn't long before Charles and Erik recruited you for the X-Men. You had felt like you had been poured right into the hero role from birth and missed a lot of milestones on the way. Now, facing another birthday, you were glad that you had taken time away from saving people. It had given you the time to realize that you were the one in need of saving and you had your own team of superheroes who were all willing to rescue you from your own mind.  

Logan had also decided to bench himself, no longer caving when Wade came to him with a new problem that needed his claws. With time, Wade seemed to even understand, even if he didn't think it was a good idea.  

"I get you want to take a break," Wade said, letting his shoulder bump against yours. "I think this needs to be higher," he grumbled before climbing back up the ladder, helping you adjust the banner he had made for your birthday party. It was pink and sparkled with glitter and you knew that Wade was proud of it. "Look, all I'm saying is I took six years off after I lost Vanessa, got her back, got rejected from the Avengers, and then lost Vanessa all over again. And I was fucking miserable, even though I convinced myself I was fine. I don't want that for you, baby bird," he continued before jumping down from the ladder, steadying himself by putting a hand to your shoulder. 

"It's not forever," you protested, knowing that even to you the denial sounded weak. "It's only been a few months." 

"And that'll turn into years," Wade pointed out, turning back towards the table to grab streamers. "I swear to God, if I see you so much as look at a job application for Drivemax, I'm going to throw you at the nearest villain and let you fight it out of your system. That really did wonders for me." When you didn't respond, Wade sighed before throwing an arm around your shoulders, the streamers slipping to the floor. "I know you're scared after what that fuckbag did to you, but he's not coming back. And I don't want to see you suffer because of him." 

"It's not that I'm scared," you started, unsure if that was even true. "I just don't trust myself." The confession lifted a bit of the weight on your shoulders, but you knew it wasn't everything you were holding back. "How do I know that what he did to me, what he convinced me I was capable of, won't show up the next time I'm trying to play the hero?" You were worried that you would flash back to that moment in Sinister's reality where you had been ready to strike down someone innocent. When you had been ready to kill a little piece of yourself because he had gotten so far into your head and convinced you it was okay.  

"Allow me to paraphrase the ever-wise words of Chumbawamba. You get knocked down, you get up again, and you'll never let them keep you down. That Sinister fuck might've knocked you down, but you've got to get back up again. And as long as I'm around, you're never going to get knocked back down. I'll run every motherfucker through with my sweet katanas if it means you don't fall back down again. And maybe you don't trust yourself right now, but you can trust me. Hell, trust the munchkin and angry bear too. We've got your back." 

You turned to consider Wade, knowing that he was right. All three of them had been incredibly attentive, barely letting you get a moment alone unless you asked for it. Even then, they were close by, ready to back you up if anyone decided to attack. You knew you had family, and you knew you weren't alone, but you were still waiting for the other shoe to drop. You still expected to see Nathaniel again, but you just weren't sure when he was going to hit again, despite the fact that you had literally been covered in his guts at one point.  

"Now," Wade said, clapping his hands together, "I know technically you're supposed to wait for the party before giving out presents, but this one is just too good to hold back. And it's only so long before all the other fuckers get here or the munchkin and angry bear show up with food, so I should do this now." 

"Wade, you didn't have to get me anything," you tried to protest, but Wade shushed you.  

"Here, baby bird," he said, reaching out to grab your hand before depositing a folded-up piece of paper in it.  

"Uh," you started, staring down at it in confusion. "What is it?" 

"Fuck's sake," Wade groaned before reaching for it and unfolding the paper. "Ta-da!" 

You read the words on the page before quirking an eyebrow at Wade. "How the hell did you even pay for this?" 

Wade waved a hand at you. "Details don't matter. Let's just say Gambit knew he owed you one and he put his thieving ways to work to steal 'ol Chuck's credit card." 

"Wade," you admonished, but you couldn't help the laugh that broke free. "A B&B in Vermont?" 

Wade shrugged his shoulders. "Sure, you and Logan can commune with nature, do some meditation, get the angry bear to give it to you real good without the munchkin overhearing, and I'll babysit so you don’t have to worry she’s run off into traffic. And when you get back, we'll be a team again, right?" 

You realized then that Wade might have had more than one motive for getting you back into hero shape again. "We're always a team, Wade," you assured him. "But thank you, this is sweet," you told him before leaning forward and placing a kiss on his cheek.  

Your lips were still on Wade’s cheek when the door opened, and Laura and Logan walked inside carrying bags of takeout from your favorite restaurant.  

Wade gasped, pretending to be shocked to see them. "You weren't supposed to see such a blatant display of our love affair," he groaned at Logan. "Now he knows about us," he hissed at you, grabbing your shoulders and putting you in front of him facing Logan. "If you're going to get claw happy, you're gonna have to go through Y/N to get to me." 

Logan rolled his eyes before setting the food down on the table. "Bub, if Y/N ever left me for you, then hell must've frozen over, because there's no fucking way that's ever happening." 

Wade acted hurt, bringing a hand up to clutch his chest. "Oh, that really stings." Wade suddenly turned you around, gripping your shoulders and making eye contact. "I'll have you know I'm a very generous lover and I give good cuddle. Just ask Vanessa," he continued, ignoring Logan's irritated growl.  

"Ask Vanessa what?" Vanessa questioned as she stepped inside the apartment. She had an envelope in her hand and didn't look concerned at all that her boyfriend was completely in your personal space.  

You shook Wade's hold off and turned towards her. "Does Wade give good cuddle?" You caught Logan's eye roll, but you couldn't help the grin on your face. It felt so good to have your family in one space, and knowing that there were even more people on the way, all to celebrate you, gave you a nearly giddy feeling of anticipation. You loved your little fucked up family and you couldn't believe that they were all yours.  

"Oh, he's fantastic," she answered, reaching out to give you the envelope. "You should give him a try some time." She stepped forward and pulled you into a hug. "Happy birthday, by the way," she told you.  

You shot Wade a devious smirk before pulling Vanessa into a tighter embrace. "You know what, I think I'll trade in Logan if you trade in Wade, and then we'll get together." 

Vanessa laughed, pressing a kiss to your cheek. "I think I'm onboard with that," she mused, turning a thoughtful look on Wade, pretending to consider the offer. 

Wade strode forward, hastily separating the two of you. "You get your own goddamn girlfriend," he uttered with a scowl, ignoring your amused laugh as he pointed a finger right at you.  

Wade pulled Vanessa away towards the food and Logan approached you. He stood at your back, winding his arms around your waist and tucking his chin over your shoulder. You brought a hand up to rest over Logan's arm, giving it an affectionate squeeze.  

"I like seeing you like this," he whispered, making sure his observation was just for the two of you.  

"Yeah?" You asked, turning a smile over your shoulder at him. "Well, you'll really like this," you told him, showing him Wade and Remy's birthday gift.  

Logan raised an eyebrow, a bemused look on his face. "Just the two of us?" 

You nodded your head, shivering when he brushed his lips against the back of your neck.  

"A little romantic getaway," you mused, bowing your head to give him better access.  

Logan placed a kiss just beneath your ear, following it up with another at your jaw. "Just the two of us," he repeated, sounding pleased.  

You couldn't help but chuckle. "Is that what you're so excited about?" 

"No Wade showing up at the worst fucking times just to talk our ears off about inane bullshit? No responsibility or worries or having to worry about anyone else but us for a couple days? Yeah, I'm fucking excited to get you all to myself," he rumbled low in your ear, his grip on you tightening.  

"Hey, I'm about ready to stab myself in the eyes," Laura called, disrupting the two of you. There was a look of near disgust on her face, and you knew it was only because she wasn't completely fond of seeing her pseudo-parents ready to make out. "Want to get over here and cut this cake, or what?" 

It was then that you noticed the rest of the guests had arrived. Most of them were talking and laughing while Vanessa lit the candles on the cake. Alex Summers had arrived with Piotr, Negasonic Teenage Warhead, and Yukio. You and Alex had managed to bond over how much Nathaniel had truly managed to fuck over your lives and you were glad that he was another person to add to your little family. Blind Al, Dopinder, and Shatterstar had also shown up, even though you didn't know them as well. Dopinder had handed you a pair of airpods with a wink, prompting Wade to swipe them, muttering something about banning gifts covered in stranger's earwax.  

They were an odd group, but so full of love and understanding, that you felt honored they had let you slip in so seamlessly, as if they had been leaving a place for you all along.  

"We've been summoned," you muttered to Logan, delighting in the soft huff of his laughter against your skin.  

"Then let's not keep them waiting," he said, pressing a hand to the small of your back to urge you towards the group. 

Later, as everyone stood around the table and sang, wishing you a happy birthday, you couldn't understand how you were so damn fortunate. You were surrounded by people who had all shown up for you. Even if most of them started out as Wade's friends, you knew that they were now your friends too. You felt so complete, so involved, that you didn't know how Nathaniel had ever managed to prey on your own insecurities.  

By the time you were going to bed that night, ready to embark on your getaway with Logan in the morning, you felt so wholly loved. Everyone had stayed well into the night, sharing laughter and stories and memories. Once everyone had trailed out and Laura went to bed, Logan had pulled you into his embrace.  

“Let’s go to bed,” he suggested, pressing a kiss to the crown of your head. “We’ll clean up the mess in the morning.” 

You readily agreed, leading him into your bedroom and shutting the door behind you. 

"I'm exhausted," Logan grumbled once he was lying down, throwing at arm over his eyes to block out the light.  

You reached out to turn off the lamp on your nightstand before crawling into bed. You rolled onto your side, throwing an arm over Logan's waist.  

"You're sure you're going to be ready to go in the morning?" You asked him, running your fingers lightly along his stomach.  

"I'll be ready," he assured you, stilling your hand with his only to lace your fingers together.  

"Good," you breathed, soaking up Logan's warmth. You felt your eyes slip closed, exhaustion creeping up on you. You wanted to tell Logan so many things like you were proud of him and you loved him and you couldn't have done any of this without him. Instead, you pressed a brief kiss to his chest, hoping he would get the message.  

From the way his fingers flexed around yours and the pleased sound he made, you knew he did.  

It was just before you were going to traverse the space between awake and asleep when another thought came to mind. "Logan?" 

"Hm?"  

"Make sure to pack the cowl," you told him, feeling a grin tug at your lips when he let out a surprised laugh. 

You didn't realize how much you truly craved having a couple of days carved out for just you and Logan. You arrived at the B&B feeling lighter than you had since everything that happened with Nathaniel. You were eager to check in and spend the next few days fully emersed in him.  

The B&B was beautiful and somehow Wade made sure that no one else would be there to bother you. The owner had left a key hidden in the mailbox for you and no other guests had rooms booked.  

The B&B was secluded, with trees backing the property and land spread out in every direction, unblemished by other buildings or people. A pond sat off to the side with a bridge that crossed the middle of it, before the grounds spread out into several walkways, encouraging guests to either take a nice stroll through pastures or trek through the woods. The air smelled clean, fresh, and you took in deep lungfuls of it once you stepped out of the car, disbelieving that you were getting the opportunity to have the run of the place with Logan for a weekend.  

There was only one winding road that approached the property, nearly a mile long and offering you something you never really got living in a big city.  

Privacy.  

One space that was only for you and Logan.  

You shuddered to think how much Charles had inadvertently spent on the getaway. 

You assumed you wouldn't even leave the bed the whole time you were there, but you ended up spending most of your time outside.  

You explored the woods with Logan and spent a night enjoying the sight of the night sky, content to simply lie on the ground and gaze at the stars. You watched as Logan took morning jogs around the property, sitting out on the porch in a rocking chair and grinning whenever he passed by.  

You even enjoyed a picnic by the pond with him as well. You made out with Logan on the grass, making a mess when you accidentally rolled over onto the pasta salad. You teased Logan, slowly pulling off your shirt before letting your pants follow, throwing them to the side. Logan tensed up before practically pouncing, sharing laughter and kisses before he grabbed you by the hips and trailed his mouth lower and lower until you were gasping and clutching desperately at his hair, using him as an anchor to keep you tethered as you fell apart.  

After, you pushed him into the pond, just to see him come up out of the water. His shirt was clinging to him, and his hair was a mess, and you had never been more in love with him. He growled, playful yet undeniably sexy, before chasing you back towards the B&B. You felt light, free, and you let Logan take you apart again and again, knowing that when you crashed back into your body with his touch guiding you, you would feel complete.   

You spent your last night at the B&B tangled up with Logan, so desperately enamored with him that you felt like you could hardly breathe with how much you felt for him. He had so wholly consumed your mind and your body and you didn't know what to do when he wasn't touching you, worshiping you with reverent kisses.  

In the morning, you knew that Wade had been right. You did need the time away with Logan, and thinking about going back and playing hero again didn't feel so terrifying anymore. You felt like you were ready to conquer anything as long as you had Logan at your side.  

The car was all packed up and Logan was waiting for you in the car. You locked the front door, before walking down the stairs towards the mailbox that was positioned just beside the porch railing. You left the key along with a thank you note inside before snapping it closed.  

You turned and took a step towards the car before you froze in your tracks.  

There was someone else watching you from just a few feet away.  

"Apocalypse," you breathed, terror climbing dizzyingly fast through you, sending your heart racing.  

Apocalypse merely regarded you with a cool expression, but you felt like you were about to lose it. Logan was already out of the car, but you didn't want him anywhere near Apocalypse. You instinctively raised a forcefield, cutting him off, keeping him safe.  

"I've been awakened years before my time," Apocalypse stated, studying you with interest. "My followers have informed me that Sinister has fallen and the world needs me now more than ever." 

You weren't sure how to process seeing Apocalypse again. You thought of the last time you had seen him, back in your old universe. He had left Scott crumpled on the ground, never to get up again, and Jean had unleased the full force of her Phoenix power, ending Apocalypse with Erik's help. Apocalypse had killed not only your universe by destroying its anchor being, but your old life as well. You knew the power he wielded, and you knew you weren’t nearly strong enough to combat it without a team.  

But now, it was just you against the one villain who had managed to take out the leader of the X-Men. He had killed countless others in your old universe and you would be damned if you let Logan become one of his casualties.  

"Why are you here?" You found yourself asking, knowing that Apocalypse must need something.  

It was when his gaze drifted towards Logan that you felt like your world was about to slide to a halt all over again.  

"I came here for my Horseman," Apocalypse claimed, not bothering to look at you, even as you shifted on your feet, readying yourself for a fight. "My Death," he continued, setting off a sinking feeling in your gut.  

"You can't have him," you snarled, beginning to form another forcefield. You were starting to panic, indecision weighing heavy on you, urging you to get Logan far away from Apocalypse. You let the forcefield begin to form around Apocalypse, intent on either collapsing it and hoping it left him a broken heap on the ground like he had done to Scott, or maybe using spikes to impale him.  

You didn't even get to figure out what you wanted to do, because suddenly you were on the ground. There was a forcefield surrounding you, pressing you into the walkway. You turned your head to the side, struggling to pull in a breath as it kept descending. You could feel it pressing into your ribs, feeling like they were going to crack at any moment.  

You cast a panicked glance over to see that both your forcefields were gone and Apocalypse held his hand out, obviously casting the one that was moments away from crushing you.  

"Stop!" Logan pleaded, rushing towards Apocalypse. Apocalypse easily threw Logan to the ground. Logan cast a fearful look at you before turning his attention back towards Apocalypse. "Let her go and I'll go with you." 

"No!" You cried out, but it came out weak and strained. You could hardly breathe, and you couldn't even move anymore. But you would rather die than let Apocalypse take Logan away from you.  

You felt one of your ribs give way and you didn't even have the breath to scream. You knew it wouldn't be long before the others followed suit, likely puncturing your lungs and killing you. You imagined your sternum cracking before piercing your heart, leaving you just as broken and lifeless as Scott had been.  

Logan was trying to get at Apocalypse, relentlessly attempting to attack him, but when he realized it wouldn't work, he rushed towards your side. He slashed and swiped at the forcefield with his claws, but it stayed intact.  

"Leave her alone!" He roared, panic in his eyes when he realized he couldn't save you. "I'll go with you. I'll be your Death. But you spare her!" He demanded, turning a wild look over at Apocalypse. "Let her live and you can have me." 

"No," you tried to deny, but it only came out as a wordless whimper. 

Logan stared down at you, terrified and heartbroken, and you couldn't believe how unfair life was being to the both of you. Logan was so willing to sacrifice himself just to see you live, but you didn't think you would live without him. You didn't think Logan would live without you either.  

"Very well," Apocalypse allowed before he dropped the forcefield.  

Logan was quick to try to scoop you up in his arms, but you hissed in a pained breath, every movement sending fire through your chest. He settled for letting his hands hover over your side and chest, as if he could simply will you to heal with only the power of his mind.  

"Don't go," you begged, attempting to sit up, even though it caused little black dots to dance across your vision. "Don't leave me," you reached out to grab his hand. "Please stay with me." 

Logan held on tight as Apocalypse reached out to put a hand on his shoulder.  

"I'll find my way back to you," he promised just as he shuddered. He threw his head back, gasping for breath, before he trembled. His head dropped back down and when he met your eyes, there was no recognition.  

His expression was blank, and you had never managed to realize that Logan always looked at you with longing, want, love in his eyes until it was gone.  

"Come with me," Apocalypse ordered, prompting Logan to stand.  

You reached out for him, your fingers only just brushing against his calf before he was gone.  

You stared at the spot where Logan disappeared, hoping he would somehow materialize again. But you remembered how Apocalypse operated. First, he found his Horsemen, and then he wreaked destruction on the world.  

You knew you were in shock, and you knew you needed to get up, but you couldn't move. Injuries aside, you couldn't believe that Logan was being ripped away from you again. You had just gotten back on track and now you had stumbled off again, directionless and getting farther away from where you wanted to be.  

A raindrop broke you out of your stupor and you turned your head to look at the sky. You didn't even notice the approaching storm, but even with the threat of rain, you couldn't bring yourself to get up.  

All you could think about was Logan. Logan, who now didn't remember you and was going on Apocalypse's crusade to rule the world. Logan, who had held you so lovingly in his arms just hours ago, telling you he loved you. Logan, who had promised to return, but with each second and minute that passed, you knew he wasn't coming back.  

By the time it was pouring and your clothes were soaked and you were in so much agony that you were shaking, you finally forced yourself to stand. You stumbled over towards the covered porch, a hand pressed to your side, and climbed the few steps that would take you to the rocking chair you had favored since arriving. You let yourself fall into it, sucking in an unsteady breath. You made yourself slip your phone out of your pocket, the screen cracked from Apocalypse's forcefield, but still working.  

Your fingers were numb and didn't want to cooperate, but you finally managed to scroll through your contacts and stop at 'Papa Deadpool.' Wade had been the one to enter his number in, but you never thought to change the name he had given himself.  

You listened to ring after ring, terrified that he wouldn't pick up. Your mind was spinning and you couldn't land on any sane thought that wasn't Logan or fear or heartbreak. But one thing was so ingrained in your brain by now that you were glad it had stuck despite the panic you were feeling.  

When your back was against the wall and you had nowhere else to go, you could always count on Wade.  

"Y/N, what the fuck are you doing calling me?" Wade asked, his voice playful and such a relief to you. "I thought I gave you explicit instructions to let Logan fuck you stupid, so this better be a butt dial. Although, if it is and you're doing what I think you're doing, then I don't want to know why your phone is anywhere near your ass. Unless it feels amazing, and you think I should try it on Vanessa. You know, I've always wondered, if you and Logan are fucking and you go invisible, then can Logan see--" 

"Wade," you whispered, heartbroken and desolate.  

Wade fell silent on the other line. "Y/N?" He tried, his tone now serious. "Where are you?" 

"At the B&B," you managed, wishing that you could stop shaking. You could feel your teeth begin to clack together, and you weren't even sure if it was because you were now freezing and soaked or the shock of losing Logan that was affecting you. "Logan, he's--" 

"He didn't hurt you, did he?" Wade asked, turning away from the phone to shout something at Piotr. He sounded cautious, a bit disbelieving, but you knew that if there was a world where Logan hurt you and you told Wade, he would have your back without a second thought.  

"No," you got out, having to choke back a sob. "He's gone, Wade. He was taken. And now I can hardly breathe, and I can't drive like this, and I just need your help. I have to find him." 

"Piotr," you heard Wade snap. "Put that down and get us wheels up in ten," he commanded, tone brooking no argument. "Because it's the baby bird and she needs wings," he barked, before turning his attention back to you. "Who took Logan? What happened?" 

You opened your mouth to reply, but nothing came out. Every pull of breath stung, and it felt like your chest was constricting, running out of air.  

"Y/N?" Wade tried again, his tone nearly pleading. "C'mon, baby bird, you're scaring me here. I'm gonna need to hear you talk." 

"Apocalypse," you breathed, feeling another swell of anxiety threaten to drown you. "Apocalypse took Logan. I couldn't stop him. He's too powerful. Last time I fought him, I had a team. I had...," you trailed off, not wanting to admit that it had taken Jean unleashing all her fury on Apocalypse to take him down. Erik had helped, but you knew Jean had dealt the brunt of the damage. She had been blinded with rage and kept at Apocalypse until he was nearly reduced to ashes. Erik had helped contain Apocalypse, but you were sure she would have been the one to deal the killing blow no matter what.  

"Shit," Wade groaned. "Alright, listen, I'm going to get Piotr to steal the X-Jet and we'll be there soon, baby bird. Hold on tight for me, okay?" 

You nodded your head, knowing Wade wouldn't be able to see the reaction, before hanging up.  

You weren't sure how long you sat there, watching the storm unfold before you. You tried to take steady, even breaths, ignoring the pull of pain and the way you were wheezing. You would need someone to help make sure your ribs could heal on their own and you would need to make sure more damage hadn't been done. Your thoughts were on Logan, so you didn't realize you weren't alone until Wade was kneeling in front of you, his hands on your knees. You realized he had been calling your name, trying to get your attention for a while.  

"Ah, fuck, what the hell happened to you?" He stood when he noticed you were finally looking at him and not through him. He reached out and grabbed your arm, pulling you to your feet.  

You cried out in pain, clutching your side. "Broken ribs," you gasped, letting yourself lean on Wade.  

"Let's get you out of here," Wade said, nodding at Piotr who was at the car. He was getting into the driver's seat, intent on driving it up the ramp that had descended from the back of the X-Jet. "And once we get you inside, you can tell me what happened." 

You let Wade lead you into the X-Jet. It wasn't until you were in a seat, Wade fussing over you, that you realized there was a stranger sitting in a seat on the opposite side of the plane.  

"Uh, Wade? Who's that?" You asked, pointing at the guy in a red and blue spandex suit with a black spider on the chest.  

"Huh? Oh! I picked up this kid in Queens. Thought we might need reinforcements," he claimed, glancing over at the guy.  

"Hey," the stranger said with a nearly bashful wave of his hand. "I'm Peter?" His voice sounded unsure, and unmistakably young, and you were starting to suspect he was a teenager.  

"Wade," you said, shooting him a disappointed look. "Did you kidnap him?" 

"What? Tony Stark did it in Civil War," Wade argued, gesturing at the kid. "We needed a team, right? So, I scooped up the little rugrat and brought him just in case we needed a little, y'know," he said before holding out his wrist, his middle and ring finger tucked under his thumb as he made a soft whistling noise.  

"Take him home," you demanded, shooting the kid an apologetic look. "He shouldn't be here." 

Wade groaned in frustration before nodding his head. "No, you're right. He's more sequel material, anyways." 

Once Peter was dropped off back in Queens, the kid even yelling out a ‘thank you’ with a wave of his hand, it wasn't long before Piotr was landing the X-Jet at the mansion. Wade helped you inside, and you were surprised to see Alex pacing in the foyer, obviously worried.  

"What's going on?" You wondered, knowing that it couldn't have anything to do with what happened to you. You had gotten closer to Alex, but you didn’t warrant nearly the level of concern he was showing.  

"Two of the X-Men were taken yesterday," Piotr explained, shooting Alex a wary glance.  

"Who?" You couldn't help but wonder, thinking it must have had something to do with Apocalypse. Had he already found his Horsemen? How long until you were all doomed? 

"My brother," Alex snapped, not bothering to stop pacing. "And his girlfriend." 

"Jean?" You had only seen this universe's Cyclops and Jean once and it had been enough for you. They were young, barely in their early twenties, their whole lives still ahead of them. They weren't nearly as powerful as the heroes you had known in your universe, but you hoped that they might have been able to help a little with the Apocalypse situation.  

"We have no idea where they are," Alex growled, visibly distraught. "The Prof has been trying to reach them, but he hasn't been able to yet." 

"Fuck," Wade moaned, glancing around the foyer as if he would find an answer to all of your problems somewhere. "We can't just catch one tiny break. It's like the author wants us to suffer." 

"Logan was just taken from me," you admitted with a wince. It was half from the pain and half from the thought that you would have to explain the situation to Laura. "Where's Laura?" You asked Wade, letting him start to lead you into the sitting room just off the foyer.  

"When I left her, the little munchkin was kicking Blind Al's ass at Mario Kart," Wade assured you, pressing a hand to your lower back, attempting to help you settle on the couch. "Do you guys have a medic or something? She's got some broken ribs that might need to get looked over. Make sure she doesn’t pop a lung or something." 

"I might be able to help with that," a voice volunteered.  

You froze at the voice, recognizing it as one of the last people you wanted to see at the moment.  

"Remy," you greeted, not even bothering to turn to look at him.  

He rounded the couch before sitting on the coffee table, ignoring Piotr's noise of protest. "Hello, chérie," he drawled, smirking at you.  

"What the fuck are you doing here?" You asked, glaring at him. "I thought you would've been long gone by now." 

Remy shrugged his shoulders, studying you. "Now that I'm free, I need a place to stay. Somewhere Sinister's friends won't bother looking for me." 

You scoffed, grimacing when pain shot through your side.  

"Let's get you fixed up, hm?" Remy asked, standing and reaching out to help you off the couch.  

Wade went with you, keeping an eye on Remy, as if he didn't trust him.  

"You know how to fix some broken ribs?" You checked, skeptical that Remy had any sort of medical training.  

"I've been injured enough times to know how to mend a few things, yes," Remy allowed with a grin. “It’s really not as bad as all that.” 

Wade helped you follow Remy, his arm gently wrapped around your waist, careful not to put any pressure on your ribs.  

"Why are you helping me now?" You couldn't help but wonder. Wade was your best friend and you knew that he was fiercely protective of anyone he considered part of his family. But Remy had kidnapped you and left you to become Sinister’s experiment. You couldn’t trust Remy just yet, but at least you could trust Wade to shoot him if Remy so much as looked at you funny.  

Remy shot you a glance over his shoulder, his eyes flaring red, before continuing to lead you downstairs. You knew he was heading for the infirmary, and you wondered just how long Remy had been staying at the X-Mansion. "Because of you, the Gambit works for no one but the Gambit now." 

You heard Wade snort. "Someone's still full of himself," he muttered, keeping his voice low.  

"Because of you," you snarled, wishing you weren't injured and worried about Logan, because you would have certainly been ready to fight Remy. "I can't get Nathaniel out of my fucking head. Because of you, I feel like he's always in there, ready to tear my mind apart all over again. Because of you--," you cut off with a whine of pain, agony flaring up from your side into your chest.  

"Easy now, chérie," Remy warned, stopping at the door to the infirmary. "You'll be of no use to your Logan if you hurt yourself even more." 

You wanted to argue and tell him that it was none of his damn business, but the fight had drained out of you. Now, you were exhausted and starting to ache from keeping yourself as still as you could, not wanting to aggravate your injury.  

So, you submitted to Remy's exam, aware that Wade refused to leave your side. When Remy lifted your shirt to get a better look at your ribs, Wade slapped his hand away, pointing an accusing finger at him.  

"You keep your damn hands to yourself, buddy. She's taken," he snapped, staring Remy down.  

Remy rolled his eyes before holding his hands up in surrender. "Do you want me to help her or not? I'm sure your friend would love that you let his girlfriend suffer." 

"Wade, it's fine," you sighed, inching your shirt up yourself. Your side was already bruised and even though the movement sent a blinding white light shooting across your vision, you were ready to let Remy help. The sooner you had a better range of movement, the sooner you could set about finding out how to get Logan back.   

Later, after Remy felt along your side, confirming that your injury was serious, but not fatal, he grabbed you an ice pack, advising you to press it to your side, and some pain medication. “You’ll need rest,” he warned you, “but seeing as your Logan is missing, I’m sure you’ll ignore that. Try, at least, yeah?” And then he was gone, leaving you to lean into Wade’s side.  

"Some help he was," Wade muttered, kicking his feet lightly before jumping off the exam table. "I could’ve figured that out by checking WebMD. Let's get you upstairs. Maybe we can figure out what the fuck we need to do to get angry bear back." 

When you got back upstairs, total chaos had descended on the mansion. Tensions were already high with two X-Men missing, but now there was yelling and Alex was cursing before something shattered.  

Wade led you into the sitting room from before and you froze just inside the doorway, staring at the five new people who were now there.  

"Cable?" Wade laughed before moving forward, clapping a hand to his shoulder. "Where the hell you been, loca?" 

Cable shrugged off Wade's hand, ignoring him.  

Your attention had been caught by the man lying on the couch. He was cradling a broken arm and littered in cuts and bruises. There was a deep gash along his side that was still bleeding onto the towel that had been placed under him.  

"Erik?" You called, cautiously approaching him.  

You had never seen him look so defeated.  

Charles was now situated near Erik's head, watching him with concern. There was also a boy and a girl, who looked like they were no older than twenty, sitting in armchairs by each other. The girl had red hair and the boy's hair was silver. The boy was angled in his chair, as if trying to shield the girl from the strangers in the room.  

Erik glanced up at you, frowning. "Who the fuck are you?" 

"I'm--," you started, before realizing it was useless. He wasn't your Erik and he wouldn't know you. "Never mind," you waved off the question. "What the hell is going on now?" You directed at Cable, growing weary of the questions piling up without receiving any answers.  

"En Sabah Nur," Cable answered, his voice gruff and irritated. "Or Apocalypse, as others might know him, has risen and taken a Horseman."  

"My daughter," Erik supplied, struggling to sit up, despite Charles' worried glance. "He took Lorna away from me, and when I tried to stop him, his beast did this. I needed to find somewhere safe for my other children," he added, nodding at the girl and boy. "I couldn't risk them either." 

"Apocalypse took Logan from me," you commiserated, "and broke my ribs in the process. He would've killed me, but Logan stopped him. He let Apocalypse take him in exchange for letting me live." You knew without a doubt that Logan had been the one to hurt Erik and you hated that Apocalypse was using him as his puppet.  

You felt your lips twist to the side, an instinctive reaction to the lump you felt forming in your throat. You wanted to cry and scream and throw a fit, because life was well and truly throwing you back towards rock bottom after you had worked so hard on clawing your way free. 

"Why is Apocalypse taking people?" The boy piped up, ignoring the girl's hiss of 'Pietro.' "He forming his own team or what?" 

"Something like that," Cable allowed with a nod of his head. "He finds his Horsemen and uses them to accomplish world domination. Apocalypse, if left unchecked, will rule well into the future. First, he'll take New York, and then he'll take the world. He'll set off an evolutionary pattern in which mutants are the ruling class and humans are merely subordinates. We have to stop that from happening." 

"How do you know so much about him, huh?" Pietro asked, tilting his chin up, defiant. "You two buddies or something?" 

Cable smirked, but he wasn't amused. "Apocalypse kidnapped me when I was a baby and infected me with a virus that was meant to kill me. In the future, he will slaughter millions, humans and mutants, just to ensure that he's holding the reigns. He's obsessed with the ideology of survival of the fittest and he'll do everything in his power to adhere to that, despite the body count he'll leave in his wake. So, no, we're not buddies." 

Pietro simply nodded his head, letting out a soft 'oh,' before going quiet again.  

"We know why Erik is here," you started, nodding at Magneto. "But why are you?"  

"He saved us," the red-haired girl chimed in. "Apocalypse was about to kill us all when Cable showed up and got us out of there." 

"And you knew somehow? That he was back?" You couldn't help but wonder, shooting Cable a questioning glance.  

"Yes," Cable answered. "Apocalypse wasn't set to wake for several more years. I wanted to find out what caused him to rise early."  

"When he took Logan, he mentioned that Sinister's death triggered it, because his followers woke him early. He wanted Logan for his Death, and now he's taken Lorna, so if he's using her as a Horseman, then he only needs two more. And if he's got Scott and Jean, then he might be ready for the next stage of his plan. It won't be long after that until he gets the power he's seeking. That's all he really cares about, right? Power and mutant supremacy. Once he has that, it'll be nearly impossible to stop him." 

Everyone was watching you with interest, including Wade, but it was Cable who spoke.  

"Apocalypse hasn't woken in over a century," Cable started, taking a step towards you. "How do you know so much about him?" 

"We faced him in my original universe," you confessed, resisting the urge to cross your arms over your chest, knowing it would only hurt. "He...," you trailed off, shooting Alex an apologetic look. "He killed Scott in my universe. And then that Jean Grey and Erik Lehnsherr killed Apocalypse." You shared a look with Remy, forgetting for just a moment that he was in the room. He would have known all about you and what happened in your universe with Apocalypse, since he stole your TVA file. "Apocalypse might not have succeeded, but he still destroyed my universe." 

"Fuck," Alex snarled, turning to hit the wall, his shoulders drawn tight with anger. "We have to get my brother back." 

"Well, how the fuck are we supposed to do that?" Wade wondered, gesturing towards Erik. "Jean's kidnapped, Magneto's useless, and Apocalypse, in case you haven't been paying attention, is powerful as fuck." 

You took a moment to consider Erik where he was on the couch. His face was twisted up in pain and Charles leaned over to murmur something to him. You could try to defeat Apocalypse with the team you had now, but you were terrified that it wouldn't be enough. This Erik wasn't in any shape to fight Apocalypse, but you hoped that you knew an Erik who could. If you missed the mark on this, then Logan might be lost to you forever.  

You couldn't let that happen.  

You turned to face Cable, knowing that you had already made up your mind. "I need a favor," you told him, knowing that if he refused, you would have nothing else. "I need you to contact someone from my universe. Magik," you added when Cable didn't reply, simply staring at you with an unnerving intensity. "Tell her that Y/N needs her. And to bring Erik, <i>my</i> Erik, with her. He stopped Apocalypse once, he can do it again." 

"And Jean?" Cable suggested, raising an eyebrow at you in question. “It sounds like she also had a hand in destroying Apocalypse.” 

"Leave her homewrecking ass at home," Wade scoffed, shaking his head. "We'll do this without her, right?" Wade asked, bumping his shoulder companionably into yours.  

You did your best to keep the wince off your face, both from Wade's words and the pain that shot through your side.  

"Tell Magik to bring anyone willing to help," you conceded, knowing there was no way in hell Jean would care enough to get herself mixed up with Apocalypse a second time. You never wanted to see her again and you were sure the feeling was mutual.  

With any luck, it would just be Illyana and Erik, and you hoped that was all you needed. Illyana was incredibly powerful in her own right, and you knew that if you got the chance, you would ask her to get Logan away from Apocalypse, since she could simply grab him and teleport him away. Multiversal travel, while potentially dangerous, might just be the answer you needed to save Logan.  

Cable finally dipped his head in a nod. "I hope you know what you're doing," he said before stepping back, giving himself enough space to consider the device strapped to his wrist. "Don't do anything stupid until I get back," he shot at Wade, ignoring Wade's indignant snort, before he disappeared.  

"Well, this just got anticlimactic," Wade muttered, nudging you towards the only free armchair. You shot him a grateful look as you dropped down into it, careful not to bend your torso too much.  

Wade left you with a pat on the shoulder, moving over towards Piotr. Erik and Charles were locked in a heated discussion and Remy seemed content to stand with his back to the wall, observing everyone as if he thought someone might attack at any moment. Alex had already stormed out of the room, but you knew he would come back. He wasn’t going to pass up any opportunity that might save his brother.  

"You mentioned Sinister," Erik's daughter pointed out, pulling you from your thoughts.  

You turned to look at her, seeing that she was already watching you with interest. "I did," you confirmed, wondering why she had latched onto that.  

"We knew him," she admitted, with a wry twist of her lips. "He experimented on my brother and me." She brought her hands up, palms facing each other, before slowly pulling them apart, a red glowing ball of energy appearing between them. She let it dance between her fingers for a moment before she waved it away. "Our father found us in a lab and took us away." 

"The Maximoff twins," you remembered, thinking of Nathaniel listing his greatest experiments when he had you strapped to a lab table.  

"Wanda," she introduced, gifting you a small smile. "I take it you were acquainted with him as well?" 

You couldn't help the laugh that escaped you. "You could say that. He was a fucking psycho." 

"And he's dead? Truly?" Wanda insisted, leaning over in her chair to consider you.  

"Killed him myself," you assured her, meeting her relieved grin with one of your own.  

"Good," Pietro piped up, sporting a pleased expression. "That fucker was sadistic." 

Your laugh was cut off by Cable reappearing in the room.  

You stood, disregarding the twinge of pain, as you faced him. "Well? Did you find her?" 

"He found me," a voice called from across the room. You turned to see Illyana standing there, her portal still open behind her. "And I brought company." 

Erik stepped through the portal next. His expression was grave, and you knew he had been clued in on Apocalypse's emergence in this universe. He spared a brief glance for Charles and the other Erik, who were both watching him in fascination and wariness respectively, before he approached you. He drew you into a hug, gentling his touch when you went stiff in his arms.  

"So, Apocalypse is back and your brute has been marked for Death," he murmured, leaning back to get a better look at you. "And you're injured. I don't know why I ever let you come back here." 

"Because I'm happier here," you reminded him, "most of the time. I just need to get Logan back," you added, knowing that you weren't going to be able to stop until you were dead, or Logan was by your side again.  

Erik frowned at that, and he grew tense. "Listen, I need to warn you--" 

Erik's words were cut off when the portal rippled and a woman walked into the room. She was wearing a yellow and green suit with a brown leather jacket. Her hands were covered with yellow gloves and there was a black 'X' emblazoned on the chest of her suit. But the most distinctive part of her appearance was the white strands of hair that framed her face, a shocking contrast from her natural brown hair color.  

"Rogue?" You wondered, shooting Erik a questioning look. "You had to warn me about Rogue? We weren't exactly friends, but it's not like I hated her either. She'll be a good addition to the team," you mused, already thinking of ways she might be useful in the upcoming fight with Apocalypse. 

"No, not Rogue," Erik allowed with a wince and you suddenly knew why he had tried to alert you about what was about to happen. "Cable said you were looking for volunteers and I don't know why, but they both were adamant about joining us." 

You wished Magik had closed the portal after Rogue, but you knew she was keeping it open for a reason. You had been stupid, naive, to think that it would be so easy. You had never once been fully granted a wish without multiple strings attached and as the air around the portal rippled, signaling another newcomer, you knew your plan was about to come crashing down around you.  

You felt your breath leave you all in a rush when Jean stepped through the portal. She was no longer pregnant, and she had her shoulders squared, as if ready for a fight. You hoped, prayed, that the portal would seal itself, but it allowed one more person through.  

The other Logan stepped into the room, coming to a halt at Jean's side. Magik closed the portal, sealing them off from their universe and effectively trapping them in yours. You felt yourself freeze, as if trying to evade a predator's sight, but both of their gazes unerringly found you. Jean looked nearly disinterested, but the other Logan's eyes flashed with something you didn't want to name.  

"Damn," Wade sighed before he whistled, shooting you a disbelieving look over his shoulder. "Now that's a cliffhanger."  Author's Note: So, there's a very real chance that this fic is going to end after this current arc. I'm not sure if that means the sixth one will be the last or if there will be an epilogue, but I'm sure this will have a sequel eventually, so I might nix the epilogue idea since it would be pretty final for this 'verse. That being said, I am working on mini fics based on the idea that the-gentle-spirit had with each Logan having their own Y/N. I'm hoping to post the first one (Old Man Logan) for my actual birthday later this month. I also have a Wade/Reader/Logan fic planned and I'm excited about that one. If you would like to be tagged in the sixth (most likely final chapter), let me know! If you want to be tagged in all my future Logan fics, let me know! I've got ideas, y'all, so this won't be the last time y'all see me posting about Logan. I think I just need a break from this 'verse since reader engagement has waned a lot since the first couple chapters. That being said, thank you to everyone who has shown this love and left me all types of amazing support and feedback. Y'all have really kept me going. Taglist: @wonderfrost @mrsyixingunicorn10 @blackbleedingrose @arrozyfrijoles23 @elianamarie-blog

@sarahskywalker-amidala @whiskytoast @shizzybarnaclee @zbeez-outlet @halepack2011

@facelessfionna @i-left-my-cat-on-the-stove @whyam1heree @serendippindots @janilovecookies

@4ria790 @lollipopsandstuff @jtthompson @id-rather-be-in-middle-earth @the-gentle-spirit

@hazel2928 @gothicknightz @mkay33 @bibblesdiscordkitten @albiofay

@songwizard // @kailera // @zeeader // @amandarobertsboyce // @shilohh28

@astudyoftimeywimeystuff // @whatthefawk-isthis // @loonalockley // @newromantics98 // @cherrypieyourface

@gigabitemyass // @yyhdl // @lunaticgurly // @starbuni // @quinnlyyy

@i-wear-wet-socks313 // @itsspiderluv // @slightlymediocree // (I just checked my tag list form, sorry y'all)

[valkyrayn]

MA‘AM EXCUSE ME THAT CLIFFHANGER IS A CRIME WHAT THE HELL HOLY SHIT THAT WAS SUCH A MIC DROP MOMENT I CANNOT HANDLE THIS

also hi how r u i hope ur work has gotten easier now and ur not as stressed out as before 🩷

BABES LMAOOO IM SORRY NOT SORRY I LOVE CLIFFHANGERS

unfortunately work has not gotten easier i am EXHAUSTED 😭 but what’s new lmao. hope you’re doing better tho bb!!

[weirdlyfitting]

I've seen ant man and the wasp quantumania anddddd I HAVE THOUGHTS EEEEEE

Conclusion : it's decent 💖✨️

Thoughts :

spoilers below obvi >:)

This movieeeee IS OKAY. Not as bad as multiverse of madness because for fucking finally NO CAMEOS OH MY GODDD! And yeah this an ant man movie not a kang movie, take notes multiverse of madness!!!

I was genuinely concerned with how the movie would turn out to be cause what the fuck is that rotten tomatoes rating bro 😭 but when i watched it, no??? This does not deserve THAT bad whatttt

Also little sharing here i'm almost late when the intro started rolling 😭😭 i was having uni class until 4 and the movie started at 4 goddamn pass 15 AND MY LOCAL CINEMA TOOK KILOMETERS PLUS IT STARTED RAINING 😭 I WAS TRULY IN A RUSH LMAOOO, once i got into the ground floor of my uni i still had to rush out to the basement USING THOSE STAIRS oh my god lmaoo

Aight back into it i was already prepared if scott or anybody's going to die ngl but i'm also genuinely shocked that NONE OF THEM DIED???? GODDAMN THESE FAMILY RULESSSS

Another surprise is that sidekick girl and the civilization?? (Idk/forgot what they called i'm sorry 😭) brooo i love them all!! When i saw the trailer promos i expect i'd get bored but holy crap these characters really are survivors and they're NOT BORING at all! Still missing luis and the bois tho :')

Ohhh another thing i noticed (for why it's good) is at least, AT LEAST it has a consistent theme, THIS IS A FRIGGIN HEIST MOVIE.

Time is kinda like another theme that sadly tho took the spotlight here, and suddenly i miss doctor strange so much lmao :( i really feel that quantimania should have these emotional moments AS EMOTIONAL in doctor strange, i mean it's also my favorite movie soooo 👉👈

Ugahgsgsgs i wished this kang learn those "we don't get to choose our time" scene from doctor strange, especially the quote "it's not about YOU", imagine how pissed off he'd be lmaooo 😩😩

Oh yea i forgor to talk abt modok, naw man because WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS 😭😭

I am.....

Absolutely horrified 😀

Also he's annoying as hell like leave scott and cassie alone bro what 😭 then he's like "idk what i'm going to be" like- okay bro that's really sad but...so random?? 😭😭 what's all that abt from the first movie huh 😔

Mmmm there's also janet which HOLY CRAP MOMMY?!?!? I thought that she USED to work together with kang as in she choose to do it that way but noooo, as she saw the chaos and monstrosity from kang she backed up and wasn't even hesitate to join in, like after all those times that's it right in front of her is a ticket to home, but she knew better and she's an icon frrrr 🥺💖💖

I think hank and hope could've had more character development but i'm okay with what i got, i think it's more of a support player?? I'm really glad to know that janet had both hope and hank because they both are what she needed and she is what they both needed.

And then we got scott and cassie ehehehe!! Ngl scott, he's the real daddy like when he's dissapointed yes he is but- my god he's just soooo kind??? His daughter went to jail and in the end still could ease the situation with playing his audiobook in the radio car 😭😭💖 i don't blame cassie tho cause ehh she's a teen and is a blip survivor those are a very tough times :(

Anddd oh yea that final battle...

Scott oh my fucking god somebody help him pleaseee😭😭😭😭😭 i'm genuinely so terrified like NO, NO GET UP, FUCKING GET UP SCOTT YOU GOT THIS 😭

I was expecting a cliffhanger ending but oh well family dinner lol, for a starting of phase 5 i'm pretty fine by the use of these lighter tones in some scenes like this, before the dinner scott was having some overthinking moments yet he decided to not think abt it too much lmao, that's just scott being scott jajajajjaa

Anddd lastly THE post credit scenes!!!!

I DID NOT EXPECT IT'D BE THIS GOOD HOLY SHITTT

ARE YOU FRIGGIN KIDDING ME ALL OF THESE KANGS WHAT THE FUUUUUUUCKKK

AND HOLY FRICKITY FUCK RAMA TUT??!??!?!?! DOES THIS MEANS MOON BOIS WILL BE BACK?!?!?!?! FUCK IT HELL YEAH THEY'LL BE BACK IDC IDC IDC GIVE ME MY MOON BOIS KEVIN OH MY GODDDD

I WAS GENUINELY SHOCKED I WANNA SCREAM SO BADLY 😭😭😭🤌🤌

This is so insane cause before i watched the movie me and my friend were indeed expecting a rama tut appearance but we didn't have high hopes for this to even happen 😭😭 HOLY FUCK THAT PRAYING CIRCLE WORKED-

ANYWAY FOR THE SECOND POST CREDIT SCENEEE

I literally jumped at my seat and said "HUH LOKI??!?!?!?" 😭😭😭 my cousin was so confused cause she hasn't watch loki lmaoo

I WAS SO HAPPY CAUSE HOLY SHIT A LOKI S2 CLIP PLAYED IN THEATER?!?!? THIS IS MOBIUS' THEATRICAL DEBUT HOLY SHIT YASSSSSS

Aight maybe that's it??? I'm really tired on writing these y'all i'm sorry bhahahah

[keeponquinning]

David Rose seems the apt representation of my feelings rn....

After you teased us SO BAD last chapter with that CLIFFHANGER...... ugh, this sparks SO MUCH JOY. The kiss?? It's so Ralph, like, it was good, but the fact that he kept leaning over and had to be GUIDED to like pull back was AH! chef's kiss. but i know it was good, I KNOW IT WAS AND READER DAMN WELL SHOULD HAVE GONE FOR ANOTHER, they both did. my babies. i love them. i never realized how much i love slow burn, i just have a time at writing it myself lmaooo but reading it? oof oof yes.

i overall love the friend dynamic in this story, and for them to adopt ralph and making him feel THAT LOVE with the teasing, but also praise and physical affection?? our boy deserves that and more! and ugh, yes, reader, pls give in to those feelings, i am BEGGING.

i would read a whole novel about ralph and his adventures in social media tbh.

the end tho.... the enddddddddd.

🫶

the universe is also like get those two together and i am HERE FOR IT. always forever, INDEED. i just love this story to bits. so much.

busy streets and busy lives • ralph penbury x reader

A strange day at work gets even stranger when you meet a man who claims he's from 1926. With no certainty as to when he can get back, you decide to take him in until that time arrives.

masterlist | prev. | next

Tags: Timewasters (series), modern!au, slow burn, mutual pining, idiots in love™, fluff, some angst, swearing and mentions of adult themes throughout, eventual adult content, alcohol content, drug content, penbury is a fanon surname

Word count: 6.4k

A/N: I literally had last chapter's cliffhanger planned before most of the fic pahahaha, thank you all for reacting exactly as I'd hoped. You're the best community of writers a gal (gn) could ask for. <333

The next five seconds seem to last nine whole days as you and Ralph stand in front of one another. 

You don’t seem to be running out the door, which Ralph is at least thankful for, but you’re not exactly looking certain about what’s about to happen. Surely, if it was your friends that told Ralph about this New Year’s tradition, you’d know full well about it, too. You won’t even look him in the eye, for crying out loud. Had you forgotten about this tradition, or something? Were you just approaching him to ask him something, not realising the time? You had been in the kitchen, after all, perhaps you’d lost track of time entirely.

Still, it’s the perfect moment for him. When else is he ever going to get a chance this good, to kiss you with no other consequence? Perhaps if this goes well, he can tell you all about the interaction he had with Pete- No, Ralph, we don’t talk about that weekend anymore. At least, not while that particular boundary is still very newly set. He’s still got to prove himself worthy of your forgiveness before he can toe that line again.

You manage to lock eyes with him as they flicker ever so slightly, as though he’s arguing with himself in his head. You wonder whether he feels obligated to kiss you, whether he even wants to. Had you predicted correctly, that he’d be far too flustered to kiss you under societal pressure, hence why he’d thrown that plastic mistletoe as if it burned him? And again, that circles back to whether it’s a matter of a lack of relationship between the two of you, or just a lack of attraction to you on his part.

Not to mention the fact that all of your friends are here. Sure, most of them will have their New Year’s kiss, too, but not all of them. Will you kissing Ralph be papped by one of them? Will it be the talking point of a whole other group chat? Will they assume more of what’s going on between the two of you? You once again contemplate the consequences of admitting to your friends that you’ve been lying about Ralph’s situation, about how well they’d take it versus how much they’d still trust you if they found out you’d had them hoodwinked for this long.

But there’s just about enough alcohol in you to convince you to say fuck it all, it’s New Year. Once Ralph’s eyes focus on you, you give him a silent, very subtle look, checking in on him. He swallows, and then nods gently.

Trying desperately to keep your smile of affirmation as small and soft, rather than the ear-to-ear grin that so badly wants to stretch along your face, you lean towards him. You expect Ralph to stay standing upright, so you’re surprised when, as your eyes close, you feel him sooner than you’d thought.

Just as the firework display broadcast on the TV starts to go off, your lips connect with Ralph’s for the very first time. The lips that press against yours envelope them - so plush and so soft, tasting ever so slightly of whiskey and lemonade - and his facial hair tickles all around your mouth as he keeps leaning. It’s just a peck, it’s not a real, deliberate kiss, but somewhere between the euphoria of finally getting this contact, the alcohol you’d already consumed so far tonight encouraging the butterflies in your stomach, the fireworks going off in your own imagination drowning out the ones on the television, and Ralph not quite knowing when to stop moving, you feel yourself become light-headed.

Your hand flies up to Ralph’s cheek to steady yourself, and he takes the hint by stopping himself, pulling himself back upright again. His ears resemble sun-dried tomatoes, and his blush has even reached his cheeks, just dusting along the top of his beard. He seems a little dazed himself. You try and gauge how he is by smiling at him, “Happy New Year, Ralphie.”

“Yes, rather!” he beams, still not apparently fully present. He nods to you as some movement catches in the corner of his eye, which he flickers over to notice, “Ah! Connor!” and head on over to his best friend. You start to go back to the kitchen, but take a detour into the bathroom to lock yourself in and just sit on the edge of Connor's bath for a bit.

You've kissed Ralph. You've kissed Ralph. And the universe didn't implode on itself, and he didn't seem to hate you for it. Your friends weren't all crowded around you, watching you like spectators at a zoo. It was… Just a kiss. A kiss that felt so good,  even if he did almost fall on top of you. You bring your face up to your cheeks, feeling as though you could turn Connor's heating off entirely and keep the house warm from your blush alone.

You splash some water from the sink onto your face and dab it dry a few times, in an attempt to cool your face off before making your way back into the main room.

Ralph feels as though he's walking on clouds as he recognises Connor. He can't even begin to process everything just yet. Connor, who had chosen to nurse his bottle of beer as his way to ring in the New Year, looks at Ralph and grins, "Happy New Year, mate. Did you end up near anyone?"

“I certainly did!" He beams, his head bobbing back and forth, before he stops and frowns. "But you didn't get to kiss anyone, now you'll have bad luck all year, will you not?"

Connor shrugs at him, scrunching his face up, "Eh, there's always 2024." Ralph looks puzzled as to why someone so insistent on a luck-based tradition would be so carefree about having bad karma for a whole year. Connor, seeing this, gets him back on track. "At least you got your midnight kiss in! How was it?"

Ralph’s eyes light up as he gestures wildly. "Oh, Connor, it's been quite the rush! I'd never had a New Year's kiss before now, why, I'd - the only time anyone's ever kissed me was my sister's friends, but I think those were dared to because they would run away in an instant and wipe their mouths to be rid of me, but my, what a rush kissing is when it’s not a practical joke! Why doesn't everyone do it all of the time?!" Ralph rambles until Connor puts a hand on his shoulder to calm him down.

"Easy, fella. Take a few deep breaths." Connor coaches him through a couple until he somewhat returns to a normal breathing pace. "Firstly, fuck them other girls for doing that to you. But I'm glad you enjoyed this one. Think it had anything to do with who you were kissing?" He waggles his eyebrows suggestively.

Ralph looks away momentarily, eyes unfocused and yet still staring intently at nothing at all as he escapes into his own thoughts. You kissed him. You kissed him! And he got to kiss you back and you didn't shove him away. You didn't run off to a chorus of "ew"s and "yuck"s. You were even smiling as you'd wished Ralph a happy new year.

Oh, drat. You'd said that of him and he hadn't even returned the gesture. What a terribly rude impression to leave, especially after having kissed you. What are people even supposed to do after they kiss? Was Ralph supposed to have stayed and kissed some more? The others certainly did, though they were very established with who they were kissing. Has he already locked shut the one open door that could have led him to a more fruitful relationship with you?

You’re ushered back into the room at the same time that Ralph is shaken out of his trance to make sure you both can take part in the singing of Auld Lang Syne. You end up between Scott’s partner and Ralph, linking hands with them both and singing away. Ralph doesn’t seem to really know the words, but he’s certainly having the time of his life bouncing his arms up and down and nodding along to everyone else’s singing. Scott, Anna and Grace take great delight in copying Ralph’s addition of swinging his hips from side to side as well.

When it stops, Ralph squeezes your hand. You turn to him, and he holds your hands up between the two of you. “Alright?” You ask with a laugh, unsure of what is happening.

“Happy New Year to you, too. Apologies for not remembering to say it back sooner,” he nods sincerely before dropping your hand and leaving you to simply watch him, in your confused state, go over and greet Scott for the new year, too.

From there, you all start to wind down with a few rounds of Jackbox, which has quickly become Ralph’s favourite game to play with everyone. Even when he doesn’t entirely understand the assignment at hand, he gives it his best shot, and unless there’s an outstanding answer amongst the group, Ralph’s always tend to get singled out and voted on unanimously, just for trying.

Grace and her boyfriend are the first to excuse themselves for the night, naturally. You glance over at Ralph, wondering what the vibe will be between the two of you once it’s just you two. No party atmosphere, no other people to distract yourselves with. Just you and him in the flat. He certainly didn’t seem too offended over the two of you kissing - him rushing over to Connor seemed more fuelled by the excitement of the night than out of a need to get as far away from you as possible, though he didn’t exactly stick around for more. Perhaps the whiskey you could taste on his breath had affected him already by that point - you wonder how much more affectionate-drunk Ralph you’re going to have to handle tonight.

The whiskey on his breath. You look over at him chatting away to Scott and his partner, stroking his jaw as he listens to them. His hand right where yours was just an hour ago, when his lips were pressing against yours, soft and sweet and eager. You’d overheard snippets of Ralph talking happily about his first New Year kiss, which explains his excitement over it. The rush of still experiencing new things must be exhilarating for him. It almost makes you feel bad for enjoying the kiss for other reasons.

Anna’s gentle touch of your arm startles you out of your trance completely. “Oh, god! I was miles away,” you giggle as you hug your friend goodbye.

“Staring, eh?” Anna smirks, and you panic, flustering as you try and think of an excuse.

“Just… Tired, is all. Wasn’t aware I was staring. Getting too old for all this staying up late nonsense, I think,” you chuckle under your breath, glancing over at her. “I think I was trying to see if Ralph was looking tired, too, and I crashed for a second.”

Anna nods slowly, a little too knowingly and disbelievingly, but the events of the night have you too mixed-up to notice that. “I’m sure he’s ready to go when you are.” Before you can say anything else, Anna’s shouting, “Ralph!” and extending her arms out for a hug.

Matching her energy, Ralph practically bounds over to her, wrapping her into an embrace so strong they both end up stepping side-to-side just to stay upright. “Happy New Year to you, Anna.”

“And to you, my little protégé,” she grins back at him, ruffling his hair before pulling away from him. “Are you staying for much longer, or are you getting sleepy?”

“Well, now that you’ve said that,” Ralph begins, the rest of his sentence lost in the yawn that follows. “Oh, goodness, excuse me for yawning like that in the presence of you both! How uncouth of me.”

“’S fine,” you say through your own yawn. “Anna’s being evil by making you want to,” you tease.

“Anna’s not evil!” Ralph defends with a frown, crossing his arms as his eyes dart back and forth between you and her.

Anna giggles, “Ralphie, are you just trying to get more head pats now?” The look he gives her says it all, as does the delight on his face when Anna reaches up to pet him again. “Who needs a puppy when you’ve got a Ralph, eh? Night, you two!”

You both chorus a goodnight before deciding between you to go around saying your goodbyes to the others, too.

You’re not certain exactly how you and Ralph came to be linking arms on your walk home - you didn’t offer yours out to him, he didn’t to you, and you would have felt it if Ralph had done it intentionally without asking you - though he’d never do that. But here you are, walking the streets of Croydon, the air still being littered with the occasional firework and thick with the sounds of celebration.

“So,” you break the silence between the two of you. “You’ve seen the year 2023 now. Mad.”

Ralph muses, “It’s not exactly the flying cars and automatic humans that I had imagined a hundred years ago!”

You laugh loudly, “I’m sorry to disappoint young Ralph there!”

Ralph shakes his head with a small smile, deliberately not looking at you as he says, “Oh nonsense, this life is far from disappointing.” He fears that if he looks you in the eye and tells you that directly, he won’t be able to stop himself from telling you how meeting you has been the best thing that’s ever happened to him, and that he never wants to be without you again, and that -

Just at the right time to cut off that train of thought, he looks up and watches a particularly large firework go off, his face illuminating red and green with it as his eyes fill with wonder. Yet another moment in which you find yourself feeling that if your inhibitions were just the slightest bit more compromised, you could kiss him again. Again. Instead, you try and commit that face to memory as best as you can as he carries on walking, arm still wrapped around yours.

When you’re back up at the flat again, you notice Ralph’s collar is upturned at the end and start to fix it for him. As you do, all of the highs of the night seem to come crashing back down on you, along with the crushing weight of reality. This will be the last year you get to spend with Ralph. Almost certainly. This time next year, you’ll be coming back to an empty flat, all by yourself, just like all the others have been - except not like the others, because next year you’ll know the loss of Ralph’s presence. Next year won’t be filled with old-timey slang to censor swear words. Next year won’t have the constant need to explain every slight pop culture reference. Next year won’t have mornings filled with sweet greetings, chocolate button eyes and swing dances around the flat to start your day.

Your hand lingers as your heart sinks, and you look up at him slowly. His big, warm eyes look down at you with an emotion you can’t quite read. You wonder whether you could get away with one more kiss. Just a goodnight one. 

Ralph contemplates the same, except it would be his kiss. Not just one he almost fell into, but he could take your face into his hands and he could pull you close to him and he could keep kissing you until you knew just how much he cares about you. But he couldn’t. That wouldn’t be fair to you, assuming that you’d just let him have his way with you. He’s not sure enough about that, yet, despite the tiny bit of whiskey-addled brain telling him to go for it, anyway. If he’d have had a drink or two more, perhaps he would throw more caution to the wind, but he couldn’t risk alcohol clouding his memory. Tonight is something Ralph wants to remember for the rest of his life. His first real, reciprocated kiss.

He leans back ever so slightly to remind himself of the social boundaries of the platonic friendship the two of you share, and you clear your throat, letting his collar slip between your finger and thumb. “Don’t even know why I thought to fix that now, bit late, innit?” you laugh, and Ralph chuckles, too. You look into his eyes, and ask him, “We’re gonna make this one the best one yet, aren’t we?”

“Most certainly,” he grins back, and you pull him close for a hug. Maybe you can’t kiss him again. Maybe you can’t tell him how much you care about him, and how heartbroken you’ll be to live your life without him. But perhaps if you hold him tightly enough, he’ll know. 

You bury your face into his shoulder, and he rests his head on yours as you both sway gently from side to side. Your arms wrap tight around Ralph, willing every ounce of your affection for him into the embrace. He does the same back, and for a fleeting moment you wonder if it’s for the same reasons.

Until you remember how quick Ralph was to reciprocate Anna’s excitement just from the tone of her voice. Of course. Ralph always gives as good as he gets. That doesn’t mean he feels the same way every time, he went from hyperactive puppy mode to sleepy in a second back at Connor’s. You’ll never know the truth from subtle exchanges like this, but you can keep your happy little delusion alive for one day more.

Thinking that thought makes you yawn again, and Ralph chuckles in your ear. “You should take the bed, tonight.”

“I’m getting deja vu here,” you giggle, and Ralph makes a noise of confusion. “This is almost exactly how your first night out with us ended, remember?”

“I’d rather not, I made quite a fool of myself,” he admits bashfully. “But I did make a lot of friends that night.”

“You always do,” you tell him with a smile, still holding onto him. “Wherever you go, you can make anyone like you. Don’t ever forget that, will you?”

Ralph understands what you’re talking about, now. You’re still assuming he’s going back to his own time soon. “I don’t think there should be any reason for me to any time soon,” he says softly into your hair. He allows himself the luxury of placing his face into it gently. Not to kiss your head, but his lips happen to make contact with it as he rests his face against you to keep hugging you.

“Well, we’ll just make the most out of you while we still can, eh? Like I said, best year yet.”

“Absolutely,” Ralph whispers into your hair. “Suppose I should get my things ready to sleep on the sofa tonight.”

“Or…” You curse yourself as soon as you say it, knowing you've doomed yourself. What, are you going to suggest that you suddenly start sharing the bed now? Besides, with all of this talk of him going back to his own time, it’d only be another thing to add to the pain of him not being around. No longer having him wish you a good morning every day is one thing, to get used to waking up to him every morning just for him to disappear from your bed forevermore would be heartbreaking. “Or… If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Just go to bed, Ralphie, I’ll be fine.”

He pulls away from the hug and frowns at you, but you raise your eyebrows at him and he sighs in defeat. “Very well. Goodnight to you. Pleasant dreams. And a Happy New Year.”

“Same to you. See you in the morning,” you smile softly, rubbing your eyes before heading into the bathroom to get ready for the night.

Ralph wakes up unusually later than you the next day. You even manage to shower without waking him. Once you’re dressed - in another set of pyjamas and the bathrobe that Grace had bought you for Christmas, you consider knocking at the bathroom door but, as if knowingly, he swings the door open himself.

“Ahh, he awakens!” You exclaim, before groaning, “Oh, god, I sound just like my dad!” You start to laugh, but Ralph looks white as a sheet. “You alright? You look as though you’ve seen a gho-”

“Please do not talk of ghosts or anything of that matter to me!” Ralph cries out, marching into the bathroom hurriedly.

You frown, calling after him, “Ralph? What’s wrong?”

After a few moments he reappears, still looking shaken. “Well, I… I couldn’t get to sleep last night, and so I thought, perhaps I will ask the people that talk to me on the Twitter would recommend some light reading to help me doze off. Next thing I know, somebody’s sent me one of those… Long sentences you click on, and it’s got the word pasta in it, so I thought, well, perhaps it’s a tale of an Italian chef of sorts, how interesting, but…” He looks off into the distance, horrified, and you realise what’s happened. 

Quickly video calling your one friend who knows the website you fear Ralph has been on better than anyone, Connor’s yeah? doesn’t get acknowledged as you focus on asking your flatmate, “Okay, but Ralph, did the link just say pasta or did it say creepypasta?”

“Ah, fuck,” Connor says over the phone. “Okay, I’m with you now, I’ll be down after work. What did he read?”

Ralph mutters, “There were… Many… I did ask them to stop sending me the creepy pasta stories, but that seemed to egg them on tenfold.”

“How many times have we told you, never tell Twitter not to do something,” you groan, pinching the bridge of your nose. Ralph sighs apologetically, and Connor hangs up, promising he’ll be as quick as he can. You look at him sympathetically, “Well, you know what this calls for?” He shakes his head, and you beam. “Perks of getting a shit ton of skincare stuff for Christmas means… Self-care day! Go put on your comfiest clothes, you can use my old bathrobe too, if you like, we can do it together!”

Ralph takes a deep breath out and nods, heading back into the bedroom. While he does, you take your phone out and tweet:

You collect a variety of face masks and other skincare products together, finding as many large tubs as you can and filling a couple with warm, soapy water. Ralph meets you, wearing the white tee/grey sweatpants combo from his first night with you beneath your old bathrobe, and sits on the couch with you. “So, what is all of this?”

“Well, we’ve got different kinds of face masks, would you rather have the kind you smear on your face, or a sheet one?” You ask, holding different packets up.

“Um, well… These look a lot less messy… Would they still be alright with my facial hair?” he asks, taking a sheet mask packet from you.

“Do I look like I’ve got experience with beards?” You ask with raised eyebrows, making the pair of you laugh. A quick Google search tells you that with the amount that Ralph has, it shouldn’t be too bad. He still runs to the bathroom and trims it as short as he can get it while still keeping it, which you silently appreciate.

As you take yours out and apply it, you hear an, “Am I doing this right? It rather feels as if I’m not.” Based on how muffled his voice is, it sounds the same way. Once yours is on properly, you look over and burst into laughter as you see Ralph with his sheet mask starting halfway down his forehead, his eyes barely visible through the holes and the rest of the sheet hanging off of his face entirely.

As you fix it for him, you try and explain through your laughter why you find it so funny, “I’m sorry, it just looks like you’re some kind of serial killer who’s wearing his victim’s face!”

You feel Ralph’s eyebrows knit together beneath your touch. “A rather specific example. Not exactly a humorous one, either.”

“Oh, cheer up, Dwight Schrute, you’re all fixed up, now,” you giggle as you finish placing the mask on him. “Now, we just bring over those tubs and -” you let out an exhaled gasp of relief as you put your feet in one of them to soak. “Sensational. Go on, Ralph, you too!”

Ralph dips his feet in, and a delighted ooh! bubbles out of him. “That feels wonderful! But… But I wash my feet every day and it doesn’t feel like this!”

“Yeah, soaking just your feet hits different. Especially with your new job, you’re on your feet all the while, it’s nice to just give them their own little break.”

Ralph giggles as he wiggles his toes amongst the bubbles, and you find something nice and wholesome that definitely won't scare him to watch on the TV while you both relax. 

You later show him what a pumice stone is and how he should use it, though you lead by your own example rather than demonstrating on Ralph himself, which proves a good idea as you quickly learn through him that Ralph has very ticklish feet. After a highly entertaining twenty minutes, he finally manages to properly exfoliate and moisturise his feet, and so you move onto his hands.

“I don’t want them painted,” he states plainly with a slight frown.

“Good job I wasn’t offering to, then,” you smirk, “but a manicure is more than just painted nails. Look.” Despite you showing him how to refresh his cuticles, and properly clean out under his nails to trim and buff and shape them, he looks far too puzzled over it, and so you take his hand in your own. Last night still very fresh in your mind, you focus entirely on the task, terrified of how you might react to the tenderness of holding Ralph's hand.

After a few more products, you grin at him, “Now go have a look at yourself,” as you gesture towards the bathroom door. 

Ralph hops up, disappearing into the other room, but you can tell the moment he’s seen himself in the mirror by his immediate, “Good heavens! I’m simply glowing! Look at me! This is remarkable!” You laugh as he runs back out, mouth wide open in a grin of pure joy as he holds his cheeks. “Why, I look incredible! I feel incredible! This is spectacular!”

“You should tell all of your Twitter friends that you’re feeling better,” you smile, and Ralph’s face falls.

“I’m not so sure I can trust them,” he states, shaking his head.

“Nah, give it a go, I’m sure there’s some far nicer replies to that one tweet by now. Just don’t click anything with the word Reddit in it.”

Ralph goes back to admire himself in the bathroom some more as your front door knocks. You head on over and let Connor in, debriefing him on what had actually happened with Ralph and the tweet he’d posted.

“Yeah, I should be able to filter his feed in case he ever ends up on Reddit again,” Connor nods.

Your conversation is interrupted as you hear a scream of anguish from the bathroom. As you and Connor both rush over to the other side of the flat, Ralph comes marching out of the bathroom to meet you, brandishing his phone in outrage. “My tube is broken as well, now!”

Connor pulls a face, “Dare I ask what tube you’re referring to?” but you wave him off, knowing exactly what Ralph means.

“We’ve been over this, Ralph, the app is called YouTube for everybody.” Ignoring Connor’s snorts of laughter, you prompt Ralph to explain himself.

“Well, I tapped on the first reply that you can click on that I saw on the Twitter, and it was a video of a song, which I thought a little strange, how is that supposed to help? And so I scrolled down to the next one, and lo and behold, the same man! Every one that I click! Who is this mystery redhead and why can’t I see any other videos and why are you two laughing so hard?!” Ralph asks exasperatedly as you and Connor fall against each other, holding each other up as you crease up laughing.

“Oh, mate, you are a legend,” Connor grins at him. “You lot wanna do dinner together, since I’m here?”

“Uh, yeah, but we’ve not really got much in the way of drinks anymore, we’ll have to pop over the road.” You slip some shoes on and look over at Ralph, gesturing at the door with your head. “Coming?”

Ralph looks puzzled at you. “Without getting dressed?!”

“It’s the shops, mate, it’s hardly New York Fashion Week. Why, is there someone you fancy working there?” It comes out before you can stop yourself. It’s the way you’d usually tease Connor, but it hurts more to say the same of Ralph. Connor’s head also snaps to look at him intently.

Ralph simply shakes his head. “Well, no, but who’s to say you need to impress others before keeping your own dignity intact?! Whatever will people say of the people walking around in dressing gowns?”

“There’ll be at least three other people there in the same clothes, I promise,” you nod, kicking Ralph’s shoes his way. “C’mon, I’m not giving you the choice now, you can come with us and I can prove it’s not a big deal.”

Ralph shuffles uncomfortably the whole way there, trudging along behind you and Connor as you find some drinks, but also a dessert you could all share, as well as something for dinner tomorrow… As you’re getting carried away, Connor notices something and grins wickedly. “Dare me to do something truly evil?”

“Do it,” you grin back, and Connor takes his phone out, types at the speed of sound, and pockets his phone again. 

“Wonder how long that’ll take,” he muses as you carry on.

A few short moments later, Connor hears something familiar over the speaker playing through the shop and points upwards at it, grinning as a radio presenter says, “And now, someone who wishes to remain anonymous has requested a special song for a special friend. You know who you are.”

You and Connor look at Ralph expectantly, who seems totally disinterested in everything except others’ potential perception of him, despite nobody actually looking at him. He has no idea what’s happening around him - until a now-very-familiar song starts playing throughout the store. That’s the kicker that activates the sleeper agent within Ralph, that brings him back to life.

Looking horrified at the two of you, he wails, “I didn’t even tap anything this time and I can still hear it!” He wrestles his phone out of the pocket of the bathrobe he’s wearing, throws it down into your hands and yells, “Burn it!” as he runs out of the store.

You and Connor hold yourselves against whatever’s closest to you to keep yourselves upright as you laugh harder than you have in a long time. “Oh, we really are menaces,” you eventually sigh.

“Nah, it’ll do him good, get him working all that post-creepypasta tension out,” Connor shakes his head.

You give Connor your key and tell him to go after Ralph, that you’ll pay for your shopping and meet them back at the flat to explain everything to him. While queuing, you catch the others in the group chat up on the day’s events and invite them over, as well. Despite Scott’s joke of “ugh, don’t I get a day off from you people?”, everyone agrees to meet at yours.

You get back to the flat to see that Ralph has been quick to forgive Connor, as your oldest friend is now teaching your flatmate how to play a new song on his ukulele. You tell them to go practice in the bedroom so that they can surprise everyone with their performance, which Ralph agrees to, suddenly excited at the thought of putting on a show for his friends.

After the six of you have all reconvened, eaten together and laughed about everything that’s happened today, Ralph claps his hands together, “Would you all like to see something that Connor and I have been practising today?”

“I was wondering why you two were in the bathroom together,” Anna waggles her eyebrows.

“Hardy har,” Connor smiles back sarcastically. “Ralph couldn’t handle me as a lover even if we were compatible,” he jokes, making Ralph’s ears blush. “C’mon then, mate, let’s show them!”

You clap and sing along with the two boys as Ralph strums the tune of The Beatles’ I Wanna Hold Your Hand. You burst into a full round of applause at the end of the song. “Ralph! You did so well!”

“Well, it was a rather easy song to pick up on,” he admits bashfully.

“And at least it’s not bloody Taylor Swift,” Connor comments, turning his nose up, causing a scoff and crossed arms from Anna.

“Oh, because The Beatles are less basic?!” All of you start laughing at that, even Ralph.

“You know, there’s something different about the way you all argue and tease each other,” he states. “And I felt it when you played that practical joke on me earlier. Once it was explained to me, I actually found it funny, too. Not like the ones that are usually played on me.”

“Well, yeah, because like I said last night, fuck those girls from before,” Connor pulls a face. “And, y’know, it’s why we as a group work so well. We tease each other to show we care, it’s what we do.”

Anna sidles up to Ralph to coo, “Yeah, we bully you ’cause we love you.”

Ralph’s eyes wobble with tears as he whispers, “Love?” She and Grace nod, shuffling over to wrap their arms around him. “Nobody’s ever really - I mean, especially not as friends, I - I rather don’t know what to say.”

Grace and Anna each kiss one of Ralph’s cheeks, causing his ears to darken, as they cuddle up to him. Connor also reaches over to squish his cheeks together. “Course we love you, mate.”

“Definitely,” you simper. You consider saying something along the same lines as everyone else, but anything you could say catches in your throat. The thought of telling Ralph that you love him is far more daunting than the others, though you certainly don’t think any lesser of him as you do them. As you watch Scott animatedly tell Ralph what his presence has meant to the group, you start to fearfully ponder how platonic the love you feel for Ralph really is.

Once your friends have left for the night, you stretch out and yawn. “Suppose we should hit the hay, too, we’ve both got work in the morning,” you tell Ralph, but he’s staring at the dark void that is the open doorway to your bedroom. “Ralph?” You ask, holding his arm.

“I, um, is it any lighter in here than it is in there at night?” Ralph asks. “Oh, it’d be pointless, of course it wouldn’t, and I can’t sleep in the light.”

“Are you that scared, still?” You ask quietly.

“I know I shouldn’t be, that it’s silly to, but I just can’t shake the things that I’d read,” he shakes his head.

You sigh in defeat. It’s almost as if the universe wants this to happen. “What if… You weren’t alone tonight?” Ralph’s head snaps around to look at you, perplexed. “Well, yeah, I mean, we’ve shared before, right? And that way, if anything scares you, I’ll be right there. Sound good?” Ralph nods, and you smile at him, squeezing your grip before going to the bedroom and turning the light on for him. Once he feels comfortable doing so, he follows you in. “Any side you prefer?” You ask him, gesturing to the bed, and he points towards the side furthest from the door. “Oh, that works out perfectly then, I used to sleep on this side anyway!”

The pair of you get into bed, Ralph still trying to keep a respectable distance away from you. You reach around under the covers - an extremely dangerous game - and find his hand to squeeze it. “I’m here for you, remember?” You ask softly, and suddenly, in a complete 180, Ralph rolls over to hug your arm, his head naturally nestling on your shoulder, just under your jaw.

“And you’ll stay?” He asks. “Even while I’m asleep?”

You laugh softly, “Course I will, silly sod, why would I willingly go back to the sofa?”

“Always?” He asks, his voice thick with sleepiness.

One more day of delusion, you’d told yourself. Of course, that was last night, but it had technically been past midnight which means today still counts, right? You rest your head on his, since your arm is now being held captive, and close your eyes as you breathily tell him, “Yeah, Ralph. Always.”

Contented, he mutters, “Goodnight to you. Pleasant dreams.”

Your plan was to let him cuddle up to you long enough until he fell asleep properly, when you could gently shove him back away from you so that you weren’t embracing each other all night. But the soft snuffles of him falling into a deep sleep, his chest rising and falling as it rests against your side, his curls tickling your cheek. One more day of delusion, you repeat to yourself as you very gently press your lips onto the top of his head, safely knowing he’s too far gone to notice you doing it.

You don’t get to see the sleepy smile that adorns his face as, while he dreams of being in your arms entirely, something about the way his version of you kissing his head feels especially real.

[painpro]

quick tfk update before vacation...

episode summaries 22+23

Episode 22: Ebb and Flow

The KC returns to King's Watch- but not after discovering a strange, ruined camp within the Friman Woods. Cezall finds black arrows and a large black feather, and they also find strange ice covered skeletons left behind. They are eerily similar to some skeletons they had encountered before, months ago, in the temple of Mephistopheles. But, after that, the group returns to their home city. Magic items are commissioned, friends are talked to, and Ezita, the fortune telling dragonborn, gets many visits. Cik finishes a couple gifts for Maedis and Bell, and Cezall tries unsuccessfully to make things right with Maedis. Then, they take their next contract: one about a missing daughter from the wealthy Bendeft family named Eloise. They find her diary, which mentions falling in love with a man and planning to run away with him. He is only referred to as "S", and its mentioned he says hes from Morvannon. Bell and Cik immediately get a bad feeling, but start to investigate further. They ask around at the Redtail Theater and Fortune Haberdashery- with not very helpful results. Along they way Karlina joins their search effort. The only real headway is made when Cik and Orna go to the docks. There they meet Harry, a salty old sailor who says he saw Eloise and a man charter a ship a while ago. He seemed to allude to the man using some kind of magic on the captain, and said they set a course for the Deadlands, the mysterious wasteland continent north of Imura. The KC quickly gathers their things and follows suit, taking the 12 day journey north. On the trip, Bell has bouts of seasickness, Cezall enjoys the breeze, and Cik tries his drugs. The ship stops about 2 miles off the shore of the Deadlands, and the KC is made to row to shore. There they hit the strange ashen lands, and find the remains of The Blessing, the ship that Eloise and her beau had chartered. It hit land, and the entire crew is dead and missing their heads. All feeling very uneasy, the KC and Karlina continue their journey forward, spotting a strange large, tall and dark structure in the far distance...

Episode 23: Dying Light

The KC and Karlina makes their way across the Deadlands, encountering horrible flying heads that attack and swarm them. After taking them down, Orna recalls they are called Varoguilles, and are quite possibly the cursed heads of the beheaded sailors they found on the Blessing. The party pushes forward, camping for one night after Cezall realized hours had passed. Nothing bothered them during the night (but Orna does take a dose of the drugs Cik offered her), but the next morning they found odd stone statues which Bell determined were of Mephistopheles. The castle they had been heading towards is seperated from the rest of the land by a deep chasm with only a rickety wooden rope bridge to cross. Selxi almost falls while crossing, but Orna saves her with a Fly spell. The rest cross without issue, until it gets to Cezall. The bridge breaks under the half-orcs weight, sending him cascading down the chasm- but Orna swoops down once again and saves him. Cezall develops a fear of heights. They take a short rest, sizing up the creepy castle while they do. After breaking, they enter through the unlocked front door and find a sprawling building. They go from room to room, slowing piecing together that the man who has kidnapped Eloise (and possibly several other women) is in fact Symon Devilles, the man who is courting Bell and Karlina's younger sister, Marie. They also find a strange dried out corpse of a woman that causes despair to Cik and Orna. After they round the corner they find jail cells- and Eloise Bendeft, the girl they have been looking for, inside. To their shock, she begs them to kill her, showing that she has been bitten. From this and from Karlina's knowledge, they determine that Symon is indeed a vampire. And one other thing Eloise tells them- Symon has a sister named Lorna. And she's much worse than him. Bell prays with Eloise while Cik beheads her. Karlina becomes full of rage, swearing to kill Symon. They move further into the castle, finding an empty ornate coffin, which Cik tells Clair to burn up. They continue looking around, eventually encountering what look like fledgling vampires- all women. Feral and bloodthirsty, a fight in a cramped space ensues- and the KC is victorious without many injuries. And then, the final room they enter. They see Symon and apparently Lorna standing there, looking neither threatened nor afraid. Symon informs them, very condescendingly, that Marie will miss them. When pushed as to why he's doing this by Karlina, he shrugs and grins, simply saying "It's fun." Bell says 'fuck you' for the first time, and everyone prepares to do battle...

[tenkoshira]

well ... thats sure was sumn ........

[tojikai]

i was taking a shit at uni when the recent chapter of pm dropped and istg i stayed on that toilet longer than i intended to 💀💀 i just CANT put my phone down. Reading fics when taking a shit is honestly a nice companion 😶😶

Anyways the recent chapter is SO FUCKING GOOD. THANK YOU KAI. YOUR WRITING IS AMAZING AS ALWAYS. i think i audibly gasped when nanami appeared shgjalle. THE CLIFFHANGER TOO 😥 im pissed bc ive reached this point where i just dont care about satoru anymore... LIKE HELLO??? GETO IS RIGHT THEREE 😔 gojo needs to leave yn alone bruh bc NO means NO. ONCE AGAIN THANK YOU KAI FOR THE AMAZING CHAPTER!!! 💖💖💖

hmmm im also curious to know if anything happened between geto and yn before that pool party bc....👁👁

the first paragraph LMAOOO nonnie😭but that's true tho😂and nanami, sexy office dude nanami JDLSDJLKS i love him pls. I'll never forget his jjk0 scene 😩💕and Satoru's really not giving yn up. he's in this mindset where he knows what he wants and he's dead set on acquiring that. he wants to earn yn's trust again, and of course, he wants her to be his again :')) as for your question, yes, something happened :>

[skipcount1]

Hii!! I loved the new medroom chapter goddamnnnn got me holding my breath the entire ride pffff

I’m not usually on tumblr but i hearrddd you are and i just want to come and say how amazing that series is and it’s like one of my favorite fics ever now.

(Also funny thing, i actually know medroom updated NOT from i checked my ao3 notifs, but from my twitter bc all my friends there were absolutely crazy over the new plot and Awesamponk hijinks hhshshs)

Ok when Ponk absolutely ROASTED, FLAMED Dagger from outside the room, it was so cool man. POP OFF BELOVED! GO YOUUUUUU!

CNNR IS CONNOR AND CLLHN IS CALLAHAN i legit didn’t know that until i read your most recent ask my mind is BLOWN the blue cape and cream clothing makes so much sense now.

The friendship between Lemon, Frost and Spirit is absolutely amazing btw I loved that they are by Lemon side when he fell down when he is unfreeze, and when he is panicking and stuff. It’s so pure I love it ( ofc, that friendship is also pure in the other chapters, like their little banter and carefreeness around each other it’s just amazing man)

AND ALSO AYYOOOO AWESAMPONK BONDING TIMEEE LMAOOO i didn’t know cnnr was such a shipper /j MANNN I can’t wait to find our what their mission is and whatnot (also how are you so good at ending chapters with an amazing cliffhanger? It made me laugh and got be at the edge of my seat at the same time goddamnn)

Mannn this ask has been too long, i might as well have just written you a letter instead hahah IM NOT DONE WITH MY RAMBLINGS THO THERE IS SO MUCH MORE I WANNA MENTION but I’ll cut it here for now :))) Sorry if it was too long tho 😭😭😭

Can’t wait for the next chapter! Thank you so much for writing a masterpiece! <33

hi yes i am holding you like a racoon with a cookie rn ive reread this like three times tysm!!! you cannot talk for too long i promise you you could ask me 3 billion things and i would answer them im just awkward lmao

i am SO happy people like the awesamponk hijinks dude they are. them. look at em go not a braincell to behold. and the friendship the only person ponks worse at lying to than other people is himself but it's FINE because it's CUTE and he deserves FIRENDS and they make my brain go BRRR

ALSO im so glad you liked the roasting i did not expect ponk to go that hard i don't know where that came from. i stg he reached through my screen and said "ill take it f3om here" and it was just like damn okay off you g - oh shit. um. youre medical personnel youre not supposed to do that. (so did dagger honestly idk why she sucked so bad she just decided that there were in fact main characters and that she was one of them and the eggpire was not)

also ty for reminding me to put the names in!!! i published that like two minutes before I went into class lmao. i forgor.

also my guy you do not need to worry about grammar bc a) i did not notice and b) i only take on a semblance of being writerly here half the time things i text people are so absolutely incomprehensible i have been asked to translate and made it so much worse

also I do not have a sketch but here is a cat

[taylorkellyreporting]

i can’t handle this episode and it just started

NOT HEN I CANT LOSE HER

bobby do not be a hero

this show is too much for me

oh my gosh does he get harry because they’re throwing a party??????

i love how much harry loves athena

harry charging the neighbors to enter their house good for him! good for him

HE SURVIVED?

love that athena is suspecting the lawyer i thought it would take some time

buck and that damn clipboard 😭

the way jee already has buck wrapped around her tiny finger iktr 🥺

is salad all this bitch knows how to make?

“so that was awkward.” - my mom after that eddieana scene

so we all know that eddie is totally going to break up with ana right?

buck’s ‘wtf’ face during that awkward eddieana scene tho lmao

i’ll be genuinely surprised if this season ends with ana moving in or her and eddie being engaged cos so far all these scenes are pointing towards a breakup

not the lawyer being dead omg?

damn athena has this all figured out i love one (1) smart woman

“maybe we don’t warn them at all.” why not?

buck being upset about the zoo animals pls 😭

“this is not about me and eddie bagging a turkey.” i forgot about that

lmaooo eddie and chim’s patronizing smiles

HALF HIS EAR IS MISSING

“you know a lot about alpacas.” “we were gonna get one.” ???? why 😭

they’re just gonna…leave them there?

NO NO NO NO NOT THIS LITTLE BOY

okay i love these neighbors so much

i’m crying

may is an amazing dispatcher

“are you sleeping or just pretending.” i wonder how many times he’s pretended to be asleep when buck would talk to him lmfao

oooh he’s so disappointed in eddie

“it’s maddie, she’ll be fine.” famous last words

OH MY GOD JEE-YUN

maddie’s gonna leave i just know it

oh gosh is harry being kidnapped going to be a cliffhanger because i cannot handle that man i can’t

those are MY parents

LOU

AAAAAHHHHHHHH

athena’s going to kill michael

how does michael not know what hudson looks like?

they’re really going to make this a cliffhanger I HATE THIS SHOW

hudson unplugged the generator i’m calling it now

well.

HARRY BABY IM COMING FOR YOU

THE PROMO???

i am unwell.

[bangtangalicious]

Hello I was the anon who asked about death valley light version If you are free then can you please write a short chapter about what happens like I don't want her to end up with yoongi such an ass but then what's the point of getting him out of jail if she wishes to kill him UK or maybe just ur thoughts it's like a cliffhanger for me lol don't even write a chapter just ur thoughts like what would happen and I love ur writing let's be friends LOVE❤️☺️🕊️

hi cutie, (warning—spoilers?)

so light version was made so that people can choose who she ends up with. she doesn’t necessarily take yoongi out of jail so that she can kill him, but that’s like the opportunity if any people want her to end up with yoongi they technically have a chance. light version also has good boy namjoon — in the actual version we find namjoon is not innocent but here it leaves them hope that they could end up together. technically even she could have any of the boys except hobi Bc he is dead.

in my interpretation of light version she will end up with jimin—so assuming that’s how i see this playing out, in the light version universe she would give yoongi to namjoon to kill, namjoon would take over the label, jin gets rehab, taehyung and koo work for her and she ends up in a relationship with jimin. she would run dv and jimin would have his career. mafia reader x rockstar jimin vibes yk

hope that brings closure! really it’s just an alt Bc the real ending involved yoongi dying and some nasty character developments (y’all really liked tae and joonie oops) so this was just a way out for people who (1) wanted oc and yoongi together (2) wanted everyone to be redeemed somewhat — bc personally there was not a situation in my honest ending that had yoongi actually getting with oc in the end. even tho the fic focuses on their relationship a lot. i needed to make yoongi seem a lot worse so that’s the dark version. i know it’s confusing (hell, I know Death Valley as a whole is confusing lmaooo) but hope that clears things up <3

[youve-doomed-us-all-jerk]

ok time for ep 2 and 3, spoils under the cut:

Mel lore :D

oh trauma, i mean everyone has it at this point but lmao

good character work aye for silco, still bassard but genuinely cares me thinks yeah

oh meeting the parents in law trope lmaooo

i do know mels brother is also a hero in lol, i think

oh gilf got her self a boy toy😳

heimerdonger time

heimerdonger: mentor ship with jayce had ended, ekko is my best student now

the flipping of stances on war and negotiation of the undercity, especially between jayce and mel lol 😵 surprised vi's on the war side too this is why jayce provides her the gloves aye haha

breakup scene in the rain lmao

😯

jayce is really like led around by literally everyone else lmao

finally showing us these hextech weapons, they r very sexc

oop kid death, lmao this man dont know what hes doin, tho now after actually thinking about it i get why they wrote him this way, all about how even with the best and simplest intentions can be warped by how complex politics and relationships are etc.

ladies is it gay to think about a woman who broke up with u in the rain while ur in the shower

ruh-oh raggy

cliffhanger😵😵😵 but i have to work 🥴

ok ep 3, finale time, got snacks n everything:

pink

oop fight time, kid n vi having red hair, symbolism, probably

oh no fight, jayce woulda lost tho lmao

lol parents line was foreshadowing, clever

good symbolism in front of mels painting

9 mins in and i dont think this show is  gonna end with everything tied up, so hopefully season 2

sevika a real one fr

ohh silco having to choose between jinx and zaun, nice, good writing

ekko time, let’s go

ofc she was there at the statue, anything for the drama lmaooo

when a hero gets a pep talk from their dead dads in their head>>>>

bureaucracy

 this is some jocker shit

poor dad silco

ohh shes sitting in the seat on the poster lmao

this is some zack snyder needledrop shit right here lmao

not them voting for peace as she fires the weapon🥴

not!this!fucking!cliffhanger!!!!!