#TRIGGERING. BELIEVE IT OR NOT. and yes i did suffer in silence a little bit because i thought i was coping a little better than i am and

[howldean]

who let the ipad baby watch supernatural

[thanksforthelaughs-inactive]

Your Mother Loved You (Chapter 6)

Summary:

After experimenting with the substance Legolas believed would allow him an audience with his late mother, he rises the following morning suffering from the side effects of such a concoction. A visit from his closest friend will cause the prince a greater sense of anxiety that he is not ready to suffer and he looks for relief in the form of that which he stole from his father.

CHAPTER 6

“Legolas?” a voice could be heard in the dream-like state.

Nothing.

“Legolas?” the voice called a bit louder, trying to rouse the prince if he was indeed still asleep at this late hour of the new day.

Silence.

“My Lord, have you not yet risen?” the strange voice called louder still between the knocks on the elven prince’s door to his chamber.

Legolas began stirring from the deep sleep he self-induced the night prior. Trying to open his heavy-lidded eyes to see his surroundings, he realised from the touch of his hands that he was on his bed, yet he did not remember how he got there. The last thing he remembered before falling into slumber was standing from his bed and then nothing. He slowly rose from his laying position, bringing his right palm up to his eyes and rubbing each one while using the other arm to balance beneath him. Legolas was nursing a nasty headache, a side effect of the medicinal tea he ingested the night before.

“My Lord, the morning hour is late, and I wish to know how you fare.” the worried voice Legolas recognised as his closest friend Erlan could be heard somewhat demanding a response.

“Yes, a moment, please!” Legolas shouted out at his friend with a little more bite than intended. Erlan relieved upon hearing the prince’s response waited outside the door for his friend.

Legolas looked around his room, desperately searching for water. The boiled water he had prepared the night before had gone stone-cold so he decided that would do. Moving from the safety of his bed, he placed his feet firmly on the ground with his eyes still shut so as not to trigger another agonizing pulse through his painful head. Squinting through his eyelids to limit the amount of sunlight that would meet his strong elven eyes, Legolas located the now cold pot of water and drank straight from the utensil. An action undignified for a royal elf, but Legolas cared not this day as he desperately searched for reprieve from the storm crashing in between his ears.

After managing a few big gulps, he wiped the excess water that had trickled down the corners of his mouth onto the sleeves of his tunic. Opening his eyes, he slowly turned to the door of his chamber where his friend was patiently waiting for him. Taking two big, deep breaths, he walked towards the door and cracked it open just enough so Erlan could glimpse his face.

“Erlan, what has you so worked up this morning that you would assault the door of my chambers so?” Legolas asked curtly.

“My Lord, apologies. I meant no offense and did not mean to intrude. It is just that it is close to the middle of the day and you missed training this morning. For the very first time, I believe. I worried for your well-being, that is all” Erlan responded with love and concern for the prince.

Upon hearing these words, Legolas looked up at his friend and then out his window to try and gauge the current time of day. The way the sun was shining through his room told the elf that his friend's words were accurate and that it was close to, if not already, midday. This meant that he had also missed breakfast with his father.

“Thank you for waking me, Erlan.” The prince said sincerely. “I suppose you shall also report this to my father at the next opportune moment.” Even though Legolas meant this slight jab as sarcasm, it struck a chord of guilt in Erlan’s heart.

“Actually, If you would allow it, that is what I have come to speak with you about.” Erlan said.

Legolas looked at his friend through the crack in the door. “There is nothing to speak about. It is well”.

Erlan noticed Legolas’ resistance to allowing him into his chambers, an action he had never experienced before as the prince had always been very open to this elf who had shared so much history with him. “Legolas, will you not let me in so we can speak as brothers?”

Brothers. Legolas internally scoffed at the word. That would mean that Erlan should also be motherless, almost an orphan as he was with his father engaging in Kingly duties as frequently and as long as he did. However, Erlan’s mother indeed still resided among the living. He could call upon her for her guidance and love as he needed and she would be there to provide him comfort. Comfort that Legolas was craving within every fiber of his being. No, brothers, they were not.

“My apologies, I am not decent enough to accept company in this moment.” The prince declared.

Trying to subtly look around the crack in the door, Erlan noticed that Legolas was still in his attire from last night's events. Being the prince’s oldest friend, he knew he was in a safer position than most to gently push the request further to test Legolas’ resistance.

“Legolas, please. I must insist. Let me in. We must speak” Erlan said with a hint of urgency.

Annoyed, nursing a headache and not up to thinking of another lie he could tell Erlan to dissuade him, Legolas let out a sigh and opened the door to allow his friend entrance. “Very well, please come in. But make it brief. I have matters to attend to.”

“Of course, my friend, and you have my gratitude.” Erlan expressed as he walked past the prince and over to the middle of the room. Glancing around, he felt something was off. A feeling deep in his very marrow was trying to connect with him. He took notice of the prince’s bed. It had been slept on last night but not in as the covers remained tucked into the sides and the undersheet was undisturbed. This observation alongside the fact that Legolas had not changed from last night’s clothing into appropriate sleeping attire immediately alerted the elf. Being mindful of ensuring his facial expressions remained neutral, he turned around to face his friend when the prince spoke.

“So, what about last night did you wish to discuss?” Legolas asked almost impatiently, wanting to get this conversation over with.

“I sensed that I may have gotten you into trouble with the King with my candour,” Erlan said regretfully.

Legolas took in a sharp breath, “Yes. You sensed correctly. I did not realise the minor details of my life around something as simple as a hunt warranted my father’s awareness.” Legolas responded with the right amount of sourness as intended. He decided to take a seat on top of his bed as standing for this amount of time was causing his headache to flair up again. Erlan matched the action, taking a seat on the armchair next to the cold fireplace. Sitting on the very edge and not getting too comfortable, yet still facing his friend.

“Peace, Legolas. It was intended as playful banter as I overheard the intriguing details you were relating to the King. Nothing more. Then upon stating your lateness, the change in your behaviour was not lost on me. I am here asking for your forgiveness if I indeed did overstep my boundary as your friend and servant of the royal family” Erlan asserted. “You know I would never intentionally seek to put you in the path of the King’s wrath.”

Legolas took a moment to take in his friend’s words. He knew in his heart that Erlan always had his best interests in mind and would not actively seek to get him in trouble with his father. Looking down at the ground with his elbows on his knees and his hands resting on his forehead, Legolas let out a deep sigh. “I know, my friend. Do not concern yourself. Once I explained my reasons for my tardiness, my father understood. It is well.”

Legolas waited for a response in the way of words or a simple noise to indicate Erlan had acknowledged the prince’s words. When neither of those responses occurred, he looked up to his friend to see what was staying his response. When he glanced upon Erlan, he realised the elf’s attention was directed toward the top of his bed. Legolas looked slightly over his left shoulder to try and see what had caught his friend’s attention. His sight fell upon the top of his bedside dresser, more specifically the bottle that contained the forbidden medicinal tea. Tea that was recognisable to most of the youth of the realm as the older elves made it clear that this substance was not to be touched by those still developing and on the journey to full maturity. Legolas’ heart rate increased dramatically and he found his chest closing in in a state of panic. He diverted his eyes back to Erlan’s face who was now staring at Legolas with a look of grave concern.

“Legolas… is that what I think it is?” Erlan asked in an almost whisper.

Grabbing the bottle and proceeding to toss it in the air and catch it, repeating the action as a playful distraction, Legolas quickly thought of yet another lie he could tell his friend. “This stuff? Absolutely not. The contents do resemble that of which you’re referring but I can assure you that you are wrong. It is simply light soil and earth from Imladris. A playful joke from one of the twins of Lord Elrond as they believe their earth is far superior to that of Mirkwood’s. Can you believe the nerve of it?!” Legolas playfully scoffed. “I am in the process of coming up with a witty reply.” He looked at his friend, gauging to see if the story had landed as intended.

Erlan, carefully watching his friend and weighing up all the evidence he was mentally gathering, decided that he would entertain the prince’s story to see where it would lead. The lie did not deter the vigilant elf who knew his friend much better than the prince realised.

“Those twins do enjoy stirring the pot, don’t they? Was it Elrohir or Eladan? Or both?” Erlan asked with a keen eye fixed upon Legolas.

“Probably both to be honest,” Legolas answered quickly, his confidence rising as he believed that Erlan considered his lie to be the truth.

“Yes, I suppose you’re right. They are as wicked as each other and are very rarely apart in their scheming. I do miss those elves. Perhaps we could ride out and visit them before the first snow arrives in a few months.” Erlan put to the prince to see how he would respond. “May I look upon their inferior soil so I may judge it for myself? Being a hunter, I have a way of seeing elements within it that are lost on untrained eyes.”

Legolas stopped tossing the bottle around when he heard his friend’s request. Holding onto it with a tight grip, not intending to let it go. “Another time, Erlan. The day is already late, and I have yet to begin it. I must ready myself for my princely duties.” Legolas turned around and quickly placed the bottle in the drawer of his dresser.

Erlan’s internal warning bells were going off with such severity that he found his palms beginning to sweat with nerves and his mind was reeling with thoughts. “I suppose you are correct, my prince. You should at least start by changing from last night’s dinner attire, don’t you think?” Legolas looked up from his dresser and stared directly at the wall behind it, not realising that he had not changed before the events that transpired in his chambers last night.

“I thank you for your company, my dear friend. This was needed. I can always trust you to steer me rightly.” Legolas walked over to Erlan and gave him a strong clap on the side of his left arm. “I shall find you later. Also, apologies for missing the training session today. Although, the trainer most likely noticed you for the first time as your skills were able to shine in the absence of my own.” The prince playfully stated, giving his friend a wink. Erlan gave a light-hearted chuckle.

“Oh please, we all know that I’m the best student in that class,” Erlan replied, matching his friend’s playfulness. He started for the door to take his leave when he stopped just shy of it, his hand on the doorknob. “Legolas,” the elf said without turning to face the prince, “Why did you miss training this morning?.” Erlan turned his head over his shoulder to look at Legolas.

“You know I occasionally have nights that are less than favourable, Erlan. It was just another evening for it.” Legolas tried to brush off the question fast.

“Those restless nights are happening more often it seems. I was under the impression you were sleeping better as time went on.” The young elf stated with certainty.

Legolas stood there, looking at his friend, and said nothing. He was lost for words as he realised he had underestimated Erlan’s observation skills. Although, being the best hunter for his age apart from the prince, he should not have been as surprised as he was.

Turning his body to face Legolas a bit more but with his hand remaining on the doorknob, Erlan spoke one last time before departing. “Legolas, you know I’m here for you, right? As I always have been and will always continue to be. You need only ask and I will help in any way I can. You are very dear to me and it would cause me tremendous pain if something were to happen to you and I did not speak up. You are so loved by your people, your father… by me. Please remember that.” Erlan looked into Legolas’ eyes from across the room and left the prince with a gentle smile. “I take my leave.” And with that, Erlan left the prince standing alone in his chambers, staring at the door and becoming distressed over his friend’s parting words.

Had Erlan been able to see right through him all this time? Surely not. The lies he spun were persuading enough. Legolas tried convincing himself that his stories were believable, but the more he thought about it, the more intense the feeling in the pit of his stomach felt with the terrible anxiety that was growing each day, consuming him along with his grief.

“Why did you have to stick your nose where it doesn’t belong, you stupid elf!” Legolas hissed towards the door where his friend had just departed. “You had to push, didn’t you? You just had to invade my privacy and now I cannot trust you.” He was pacing his room, his hands running through his hair and pulling at the roots as these wild thoughts raced through his head. His eyes stopped at the sight of the drawer containing the medicinal tea. His father’s stolen blend. “Yet, as it stands. You are not stupid at all. Far from it, for you were able to see through the lie. You didn't you believe me for a second, did you?”

Legolas reached down, opened the drawer, and retrieved the bottle. Staring at it, “Of course, you didn’t believe me. You just allowed me to think you did. Some friend you are. Or better, yet… brother. Your mother still draws breath while mine will never again know the feeling.” He clenched the bottle within his fist and brought it up to his forehead, tapping it against his head repeatedly with his eyes tightly closed. “I hate you. I hate the life you have, the family you share a home with. I hate her, the one who bore you. The one who can show you the love of a mother.” The prince opened his eyes as these words escaped his lips. He looked at the bottle again, a concerning smile appearing on his features. “Yet, I can also be shown the love of a mother. My mother. As she came to me last night.”

Sitting back down on his bed, Legolas gently closed his eyes and took deep breaths while he remembered the dream that had transpired around him. He lowered himself backward, so the top half of his body was lying flat on his mattress and his legs hung over the side. Gently tapping the bottle on top of his stomach, he allowed his mind to drift away to the memory of seeing her last night, of being in her presence. Legolas was consuming himself with the euphoric feelings he had experienced from being near his mother once more. He realised that it was the first time since her death that he felt true contentment and happiness. A feeling he realised he had only experienced when he had fallen into a deep sleep, in a death-like state. Comprehending this thought, Legolas looked down at the bottle he was still holding and gave a little smile. He would look upon her again for a second night and feel the love he had been missing for most of his life. This was his road to happiness.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/57273211/chapters/145959151

[mbbsgf]

MIGHT BE TRIGGERING FOR SOME !

okay, so this is a way more detailed version of the paragraph i just wrote (i'm probably gonna get emotional, i apologize in advance). 2023 was one tough year itself. i don't think i'll mention some of the things that happened because it's too personal bug i'll "try my best" i guess. i hate how life treated me this year. i'm so for real, it has been so mean to me. it just kept punching me in my weak spots. and it punched hard. really hard. i honestly don't know how i survived 2023, i guess i stayed strong for my future even though it gives me bad anxiety. i didn't wanna be a "failed teenager", i didn't wanna see my mom cry, i didn't wanna give up. well, i did but i decided not to. it's pointless to give up. you're in pain so you think ending your life will help but it doesn't. your pain is just temporary. you have your whole life ahead of you. it gets better. i know it's easy to say but i used to not believe it either but i'm getting better. i've been in this insufferable pain since 2021 and trust me, it wasn't easy at all and it wasn't easy at all to get better either but it took me 2 years to start getting better. you just have to wait, i promise you gets better. trust the process, stay healthy and hydrated and everything will be fine. you guys text me if you need to talk or anything else. i promise you i'll always be here. you're never alone. ever. there's always people that care and will listen to what we you have to say. i care and will listen to you. don't ever invalidate your feelings, babies. ever, it's such a disgusting thing to do to yourself. you deserve to share your feelings with someone trusted, if not me then one of your friends. just talk to someone if you ever feel like you're not okay. you should suffer in silence just because you think you're gonna annoy the person you're talking to or because you think it doesn't matter. it does matter. you matter. don't ever forget that you are loved and cared for. you deserve to speak up and to tell your stories. mental health isn't something that should be joked about. if you aren't okay, reach out for help but please don't joke it out or anything. i used (and still do tbh) to joke about my traumas as a coping mechanism. it's stupid, yes. i'm aware but i genuinely don't know how to communicate. i'm working on it but it's hard as someone who barely opens up. well, looks like this turned out to be more of a mental health late session talk, i really hope you guys are okay and if you're not that you'll reach out for help. you know, i'm only a dm away. i'll always answer except if i'm sleeping but tumblr is the first app i open in the morning so i will see your messages if you send some. you can dm me or even do anons to share your stories with other people and me. it can be anonymous or not. it depends on you. anyway, it's starting to get late. i hope i helped even if it's just a little bit. i love you guys so much and you matter. 🩷

-marie

[ofstarsandvibranium]

Rectify: Part 3

Fandom: Marvel

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x F!Reader

As requested by anonymous: It would be awesome if you could make a tfatws Bucky fic or series where the reader is on the list for his making amends because the winter soldier did something to her or someone she loves, and once he gets close to her in some way he ends up falling for her and it’s really angsty but a happy ending !!

A/N: FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER SPOILERS AHEAD!!! also, NO TAGLIST WILL BE AVAILBLE.

A/N2: this is a little hard. there's some violence, angst, and bucky has an anxiety attack.

Part 1 Part 2

"P-Please! We don't have them! We destroyed them!" the man suffering under the Soldier's hold rasped out. The man's own hands trying to rip the metal arm off his neck. The Soldier turned the man around, putting him in a chokehold. The man stared into the frightened, weeping wife. There was a snap and the man fell limp.

The woman across the room cried harder as the Soldier marched over to her. She looked up into his emotionless eyes, "Why are you doing? We don't have anything any more! Just tell them we don't have them!"

The Soldier pulled out his silencer and stared deep into the woman's eyes. He pointed the gun at her and spoke clearly, "Hail Hydra." he pulled the trigger and the women fell onto the floor, a splatter of blood smearing down the wall. He pocketed his gun and took another look at the woman, but her face changed.

It was you.

Bucky gasped as he shot up from his place on the floor. It was still dark, but the tv illuminated the room. Bucky was panting, a sheen of sweat covering his care torso.

He ran his vibranium arm through his cropped hair, trying to catch his breath. He swiped up his phone from the floor and mindlessly dialed your number. It rang a few seconds before you answered with a rasped voice, "Bucky?"

He mentally cursed, not even thinking about how you'd be asleep right now.

"Bucky? Is everything okay?"

He gulped and rasped out, "Yeah. Sorry I woke you."

"Was it a nightmare?"

It had been three months since you first met and started talking. Bucky had told you once that he still gets plagued with nightmares, recollections of his time...contracting. He told you that he goes to therapy, but he doesn't think it helps him that much.

"Do you wanna talk about it?" your voice a little bit more clear now.

Yes. "No, it's okay. I'll let you go back to sleep." I'm sorry. It's my fault. I killed your parents. It's my fault.

"Are you sure?"

No. "I'm sure. I'll talk to you later, Y/N."

"Okay, Bucky. Remember that I'm here for you and I care about you okay?"

You shouldn't. "Okay."

"Good night."

"Night." he ends the call and let's his hands fall from his hand and clatter onto the wooden floor.

Bucky started feeling this heaviness in his chest, it was starting to become hard to breath. His tears started to water and he let out a whimper.

He's messed up so much. In the past months he's gotten to know you, become your friend, it made it increasingly hard to tell you the truth. He couldn't stop himself from being drawn to you. You weren't just a name on a list. He couldn't believe he tried to resort you to something so simple when you were anything but. But because of that, he's now put into a difficult situation and no matter what, someone's going to end up getting hurt.

__________________________

Bucky's been distant and you're not sure why. For the past two weeks you've hardly seen him or heard from him. You're curious if something happen, but, because you're such a caring person, you left him messages letting him know that you hope he's doing okay and that you're there for him.

It's after two weeks of silence that you see him again.

He approaches you at the cemetery Sunday afternoon when you're seeing your parents.

He's wearing the black leather jacket that you see him wear often. He wears a hoodie underneath it, and the hood is drawn up. Despite the gorgeous weather out, he looks like he has his own personal rain cloud looming over him.

You shoot up and meet him halfway, arms wrapping around him in a tight hug, "Bucky! Oh my gosh! It's so good to see you! I was so worried!"

You pull back to look at him and he looks so solemn, "Bucky," you breath out his name, "What's wrong?"

"I'm sorry for disappearing like that. I've-I've just been having a rough few weeks."

"It's okay, Bucky. I understand. Given the things you've gone through, it's understandable that you might go through these things." you put your hand on his arm and squeeze, "But it's okay. You're here now." you then slip your hand into his and pull him towards your parents' plot, "C'mon. Sit with me."

You feel Bucky hesitate and you shoot him a warm smile, "It's okay."

Alarms are going off in Bucky's head as he follows you to your set up.

You should tell her now! You can't keep prolonging it! You just have to accept the consequences of your actions! His and yours!

But he doesn't listen.

No. Not today. I'll tell her. I promise. Just....let me have this with her. One last time.

So that's what he does. He doesn't talk much, letting you do all the talking. You update him on the things that he missed during his two week hiatus. He'd occasionally ask questions for clarity, but other than that he just sat there relishing in your presence and the joy you radiate.

He munches on the snacks you share with him, giving you nods of understanding and gratefulness. There's a moment, after you've both eaten all of the food that a silence washes over you two. It's not an awkward one. It's light and comfortable. For a moment, Bucky feels one hundred percent at peace. The sun is shining. The birds are chirping. There's a slight breeze that cancels out the heat the sun provides.

He's looking up at the sky and smiles.

He freezes when he feels warmth press to his cheek. It's not the sun, no. It's your lips. But is there a difference?

He gulps and looks at you when you pull away. You suddenly look really shy, looking down and avoiding his gaze, "Sorry. I don't-I shouldn't have done that."

Just let me have this moment....before I ruin it all.

"Y/N?" Bucky calls out your name and you look up. He suddenly leans over and cups your face with his hands and his lips are on yours. You're shocked for about a second, but then you fall into the kiss. You grip the lapels of Bucky's jacket and you pull him closer. You two end up falling, you backwards and him forwards.

"Oomf!" you say against his lips and he pulls away with a chuckle, "Sorry," he replies in a low murmur.

You softly smile up at him as his face hovers over yours, "It's okay." You two stay in the position, eyes wandering over each other's face, until you speak up again, "I really like you, Bucky."

Then the air changes.

His eyes harden and he climbs off of you and onto your feet, "I'm sorry."

You clamber into a stand, confusion written all over your face, "Wait, Bucky. I'm sor-"

"I have to go." he stuffs his hands into pockets and he's walking away, leaving you alone, too shocked to comprehend what exactly just happened.

[dreamywriterinthedark]

Recess sobs and bedtime resolutions

Pairing: fem!Reader x Spencer

Request: Ok so the reader is a psychologist and is married to spencer and they have a 5 year old daughter who gets in trouble for punching a kid because they picked on her because they didn't beleive her dad was in the fbi If that makes sense any who if you don't write this i get it I just want to see speancers reaction

Trigger warnings: bullying, physical violence. (let me know if i forgot something)

Category: fluff, slight angst.

A/N: thank you so much for this request! I hope you like it. The daughter sounds a bit older than 5, in my head she’s in the early stages of elementary school. Let me know what you think about it! I’d be glad to receive some feedback. (Btw I hurt my own feelings writing this, you can’t even imagine...)

You were in your office, a typical Tuesday afternoon until you heard your office phone ring once more. You held up your finger to make your client pause what they were saying, you picked up the phone only to hang up.

“I apologise for the inconvenience. Now where were we ?” you said trying to get your client comfortable again despite the ringing. As she was about to speak up again, your cellphone rang, Spencer’s name lit up your screen and that’s when you were starting to get concerned.

“I’m so sorry I have to get that.” You said exiting the office to take the call. You were happy to hear your significant other’s voice nonetheless you knew he wouldn’t normally call you during working hours.

“Hi darling, is everything okay ?”

“No, not really. The school called, there’s an emergency.” he responded wrapping his scarf around his neck as he was making his way to the elevator.

“What happened ?” you asked getting more and more worried.

“She punched a classmate in the face. Can you believe it ?!” he pressed the button 0 waving goodbye to his coworkers.

“What ? Our daughter? Jane ? Are you sure it’s not her evil twin ?”

“Eviler twin you mean ? No offense, Y/n, but if she had one, I’m pretty sure you would remember…”

“Alright, I’ll tell my secretary to cancel all my appointments for the day. I’ll meet you there.”

“Love you, bye.”

“Love you too.” You answered before hanging up. You made it a little bit of a rule to yourself to never say ‘goodbye’ to him because you thought that if you did it may increase the chances of you never seeing him again. You knew it was a bit silly but with all those times he was close to death, you’d believe in any superstition if that meant he would get home safe.

After taking care of your client and letting your secretary handle the rest, you hurried out of your office to drive to your daughter’s elementary school.

You pushed the interphone button, once you were allowed entrance you walked to the principal’s office. You softly knocked, when the door opened it showed Spencer sitting in a chair right across the desk, next to it was an empty chair meant for you.

“I’m sorry, I came as I soon as I could.” you apologized.

“Well, I assume you’re Jane’s mother. It’s nice to meet you. I’m Principal Walker.” he greeted shaking your hand. As you sat down, Spencer gave you his best polite white smile.

“Do you know what you’re here for ?” he inquired.

“You said our daughter was involved in a conflict with a student...” you answered.

“Your daughter punched a student in the face.” He said bluntly.

“Right…”

“Are you sure it’s Jane ?” Spencer asked still struggling to believe it.

“Wait until you see her knuckles...”

Spencer put his face in his hands in defeat, you rubbed his shoulder to bring him comfort.

“What happened exactly ?” you asked.

“Well, it was during the 10AM break. Jane went out to play with her classmates when a boy started arguing with her. Next thing we hear is a scream, the boy is on the floor crying.”

You and Spencer both looked at each other with an immense look of stupor.

“The boy, did he bully her ?” Spencer asked trying to find some innocence in the sweet child of his.

“Not that we know of.” answered the principal.

“Is he okay though ?” you questioned.

“Yes, just a minor injury. He went back home.”

You nodded, “So what happens next ?”

“We are giving her a warning but the next time something like this happens there will be harsher consequences than a simple punishment. Understood ?”

“Yes. we understand. Thank you for your time, sir.” you said as you rose up from your chair. Spencer and you both exited the room finding your daughter in the waiting lounge looking guilty as ever. You saw Spencer’s face look puzzled and hostile. To torture your daughter with even more guilt you told her to ride back home with her dad which she did not love but couldn’t protest.

Spencer hardly spoke to Jane the entire drive. He was dry, so much it looked like he ignored her. Jane was desperate to get him to talk to her.

“Please, dad. Don’t be mad at me!” she exclaimed.

“I’m not mad, I’m disappointed.” those words he pronounced cut like a knife. You knew that by seeing her dad’s reaction she would become aware of the gravity of her actions. And he actually wasn’t mad, at least not until he saw her pouting face. He loved her too much to be angry.

“Okay but can you just talk to me!” she whined.

“Oh we will, back home with your mom.”

That car ride lasted longer for Jane than usual. No music, no anecdotes nor laughs, just plain silence and introspection while gazing at the landscape.

Your house was in the suburbs near a forest, Spencer had all sorts of scientific arguments as to why living near nature was beneficial but you just loved the paysage before your eyes when taking your morning coffee. The location was perfect; in nature which means less pollution, noise and lower criminal rates yet a short car ride from the city which was full of cultural spots and with high quality education.

Jane tried to run up the stairs in hope to avoid her parents’ correction but was interrupted by your strict toned voice; “Not so fast, young lady.”

She shut her eyes stopping dead in her tracks, she lifted her stuffed animal and said to it “It was nice knowing you, fluffy.” She then turned around and sat on the couch.

Spencer was pacing around, “Why did you do it ?” He asked his daughter his voice slightly higher than before. She started melting in tears which truly pained him. You walked up to her, as you were sat on the couch next to her you started stroking her arm and drying her tears.

“It’s okay. We’re just trying to understand why you did that. There’s no way you would’ve done it without a reason.” you told her.

“Jeremy kept making fun of me…” she struggled to get out whimpering.

“How long has he been making fun of you ?” Spencer asked.

“Since Valentine’s day when everyone was exchanging cards but my box was empty.” You glanced at Spencer in shock of how long you hadn’t known your daughter was getting bullied, silently suffering.

“Honey, I’m so sorry you had to go through this.” you reassured her kissing her cheek and running your hands through her hair. “But what happened exactly that made you punch him ?”

“He made fun of dad, he wouldn’t believe he was in the FBI.” She answered tilting her head up. “I asked him to stop but he wouldn’t so I defended myself.” she affirmed seeming not so guilty anymore. You unwrapped your arms from her giving her a frown.

“That’s not how you deal with problems.” Spencer said sitting on the low table across the couch.

“Yeah, you could’ve talked to us first but you didn’t even try. You know you can tell us everything ?” You backed him up.

“I know but I thought I could deal with this problem on my own. You guys always seem so good at it. And I want to be just like you when I grow up.”

You glanced at Spencer both slightly smiling at each other.

“If there’s one thing I learned from my job at the FBI is that violence is never the answer. It’s only justifiable if it’s legitimate defence; when you life is in danger.”

“Dad, do you still love me ?” she asked watching her feet swinging on the edge of the couch.

“Of course, I love you. I always will, no matter what.” he responded taking hold of her hand. “Okay?” She nodded. She didn’t seem to understand that punching someone is wrong. You needed to have a talk with Spencer;

“Now go to your room and do your homework, we’ll talk punishment tomorrow morning.” You said.

“But-“ she protested.

“No buts, go to your room.” You ordered.

You joined Spencer on the couch, he looked completely defeated. “Hey, are you alright ?” You asked him while taking a seat next to him. “Yes.” He answered a bit too quickly. “I mean…No…Not really.” You knew exactly why he was feeling like this. “It’s not your fault, Spence.” you reassured him playing with his hair.

“This whole time…And I didn’t know she was struggling. What kind of father am I ?”

“I come home every night and I didn’t know about this. It’s not because of your job, it’s not because of us. I’m blaming the school, here. They’re the ones who are supposed to prevent bullying from happening.”

He rummaged his hair with his hands whilst his elbows rested on his knees.

“Plus it’s a good sign, she doesn’t get along with kids her age…” you said slightly smirking.

“How?!” Spencer asks slightly irritated due to his public middle school flashbacks.

“It’s a sign of high intellectual potential. Her emotional age is too advanced for kids her age to understand, they tend to be too insensitive for her. She believes animals and inanimate objects have emotions and that they are intelligent. She talks to her stuffed animal like it’s a pet. She took the pepperonis out of her pizza! Also she has an enormous amount of creativity and she’s highly sensitive to her surroundings. Have you seen how she profiled your every move and suddenly her emotions followed ? Just like you she’s protective of the ones she loves. She only punched that kid because he wasn’t exactly talking highly of you…”

“So you’re saying…”

“Our daughter could be a genius.”

“As mother as daughter.” he complimented with a smirk.

“Oh come on we know who’s the genius here!” you said slapping his shoulder playfully.

You both chuckled. You kept talking for at least half an hour to come up with a plan you both agreed to. It’s not good for a child to watch their parents disagree.

~slight time lapse~

An hour after dinner, you went up to your daughter’s bedroom as it was her bedtime. You leaned on the door frame admiring Spencer, sat next to Jane on her bed, reading a story to her about conflict to teach her what to do in the type of situations she got in. He learned that from you since you were a psychologist. He admired how resourceful and clever you were. He couldn’t be more proud to have you as his significant other and the mother of his child. Your foot made a cracking noise on the hard wood floor which caught Jane attention.

“Mommy! Come!” she exclaimed shaking her little hands.

“What’s up?” you ask sitting next to the bed.

“Me and dad were reading this book you got me and now i understand. I’m sorry for not coming to you first. I just didn’t like what they said about dad.”

“Honey, it doesn’t matter what people think of you. Seeking validation from people can be so unhealthy. If you keep bottling up your emotions you’re going to explode like a bomb and that’s no good.”

“Can you forgive me, mommy ?”

“Of course. You’re still growing, as long as you learn from your mistakes I’m confident you’re going to be alright.” You answered squeezing her hand. Spencer watched in awe, it reminded him how in love with you he is.

“Yes, please don’t ever do that again!” he said a bit too quickly with a high pitched voice that made you all burst in laughter.

“Alright, you should get some sleep.” you told her giving her a kiss on the cheek and tucking her in; “Good night, my love.”

Spencer kissed her temple and set aside the little book he was reading to her wishing her good night as well. You walked out switching the lights off. As you walked down the stairs you asked Spencer to stop in his tracks pointing your finger up; Jane was talking to her stuffed animal. You both had to muffle your laughs. The future looked bright.

[comfort-charrie-berry]

The Jade Woman, chapter 5 of ???

Soon after Bruno locked himself in the walls to protect his niece, he began having these odd visions of a strange woman.

Chapter 4

World count: 635

Trigger warnings: Mention of death, angst, small argument.

Years had passed. More gray streaks had begun to line Bruno’s hair and his joints started to ache a little more. 

He rubbed his eyes and pulled out a small notebook to scratch another mark into the thousands of marks that made up the days he’d spent in the walls. 

He didn’t bother counting anymore. He’d stopped after 1,503. 

It didn’t matter anyway. 

He sighed and put the book down to focus on the small hand painted theater he’d built for his rats to play on. 

He’d always loved watching shows as a kid, so he made it as a way to hopefully feel some sense of familiarity and home. 

The rats hopped onto his chair and traveled down to his shoulders and lap to sit. He cracked a small smile as a few ran up onto the tiny stage. 

“What do have planned for us today my darling Juan and Lorena?”

One climbed up onto the top of the theater and began scratching it’s head. 

He laughed. “Bravo! What a show!” 

“I was on the edge of my seat the whole time.” 

Bruno jumped and several rats went flying. He turned and blinked hard before realizing it was the vision woman leaning on the back of his chair on her forearms. 

“It’s you!” 

She smiled at him. “Hello Bruno.” 

He suddenly felt very awkward. “I…Um. It’s been…quite awhile since I’ve seen you.” 

She gestured to the little makeshift stage. 

“Have the star crossed lovers been able to fix the stars that have crossed?” 

He laughed and sat down again. “No. Not yet. I honestly don’t know if they…ever will.” 

She sat on the floor next to his chair and looked up at him. 

“Huh. Well that’s a little depressing.” 

He got a little lost in the sight of her and nodded. “Y-yeah. It is sad. They’re separated by something. And he can’t figure out what.” 

She met his gaze and they held it until he got shy and looked away. 

“Senorita? Do you know if…I’ll die in here? I don’t think things will ever change. Or if I should ever leave. The mountains around the Encanto are too tall for a man my age. And my familia-“ 

Her relaxed expression became sad and she slowly stood.

“Bruno, I know it’s hard to see, but your family loves you.” 

He stood too. 

“N-no. They don’t. They call me traitor. Refuse to say my name.” 

She put a hand on his shoulder.

“But if you just try to see things differently.” He started to feel hurt by the topic and he clenched his hands.

“No. They need to see things differently. At least…I think they do? I don’t know! All I know is that I’m the issue. I cursed this family. But maybe if I stay in here for the rest of my life, the universe will be satisfied with my suffering and leave them alone.” 

She bit her lip. 

“I’m sorry Bruno. I know it’s a difficult topic.” 

He took deep breath to calm himself down and looked away. 

“N-no. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to lose my temper.” 

There was silence around them as they stared in different directions to avoid the other’s gaze. 

He thought through what she said and began to question himself. Suddenly he felt her chin rest on his shoulder. 

“Bruno?” 

He moved his head a little to see her as best he could from the angle. “Yes?” 

“It will work out. I promise.” 

He wanted to believe her words. He really did. But he knew they were close to impossible. 

“A-and if it doesn’t? Miss Vision? Will you…will you always visit me?” 

He turned to face her. 

She leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek. 

“Always.”

-=-=-=- Chapter six

[slashingdisneypasta]

Human!Freddy Krueger x Fem!Reader || Oneshot

Title: What The Fuck Now, Freddy!?

Notes:

This is not inherently romantic, at all. Or sexual. Just... Freddy being a bastard, and you are caught in the crosshairs- and are forever linked with him because of it.

I've been listening to Lizzie, a lot lately- and this is inspired by 'What The Fuck Now, Lizzie!?'

Also- I'm thinking this will have a part 2. Due to the ending not being quite enough. Maybe a part for the court proceedings!

Plot: Many will know the story of that terrible day Krueger essentially snapped- killing his wife, Loretta Krueger. She saw the basement, they say, and he didn't like that. Their daughter saw the whole thing and suffered a traumatic response to seeing the sight of her mother, strangled to death, by her father- and forgot the whole thing.

But if she were to remember something, one day.

She may remember something no one knows about that day, aside from Freddy himself.

She may remember, that someone else was there.

She may remember you.

//

Alternatively- you're being blackmailed by Freddy who found out you, another supposedly Plain Jane in Loretta's 'mothers club', is cheating on your husband and calls you up to help deal with the mess he made. Because who else did he have?

Warnings: Okay lemme see, its basically a potluck of triggers. Hm. Murder, swearing, cheating (You, on your husband. Not with Freddy), getting rid of a body, a child gets traumatised (Obviously, Kathy/Maggie), Freddy himself, mention of the basement and all that entails, reader with a very questionable moral compass. Look, I think if you can watch Freddy's Dead, you're good here.

I'm just heading out the door, to go grocery shopping - or, at least, that's the story I tell my husband. When really I don't do the grocery shop until the day after tomorrow. He never notices... - when the phone rings. By very nearly tripping over my feet in my endeavour to catch it before the ringing stops, I manage pick up the phone with very little injury besides an achy, slightly twisted ankle. "Hi! Hi, sorry, I'm here. Hello?"

Pouting, I sit down at the kitchen table; Rubbing my poor ankle to sooth the pain, which would soon diminish anyway. Still- I'm sorry, ankle. I'll try to chill.

When the voice on the other end reveals who it is who's called the house, I lose all need to be pleasant. Damn. I really need to memorise this goddamn number... so I can not answer it. "Whatcha wearin'?"

"Thank god Harrison didn't answer this, you fuck." I deeply roll my eyes. Thank god Har's out. No, this is not my mister, not the man I was going to meet just now- but its bad, enough. In an entirely different way. Its stupid, blackmailing, son of a... hundred maniacs. "What do you want?"

"What a way to answer the phone, Y/N. Gee, seems like every time I we talk, I'm learning how you really aren't in the right place, are you? Cheating on your poor husband, swearing... These aren't really signs of the perfect suburban house wife, is it?" Gritting my teeth, I keep from lashing out. I've learned, if you stay real quiet, Freddy wont have anything to pull from and will get bored quick. "Why so silent, hm?"

"... " Oh, fuck me. I cant help it. "Wondering where you get off judging me on being 'suburban', actually."

"Anywhere I like, thanks."

Oh... oh. Gross?

He doesn't see the disgust tearing my face into two perfect halves right now, but my silence must be enough as he laughs. The sound is directly into the phone, and harsh on my poor eardrums. Ugh... "Oh for gods sake... What are we? Fourteen years old?? Come on- why'd you call?"

"Uhhhh... " Quickly, midway through that drawn out 'um' sound, Freddy's voice transitions, and gets a whole lot darker. Something deep in his chest dislodging, to make it so. Perhaps, his heart. "Well... you might wanna come and see for yourself."

"Uh, I don't think so. I have somewhere to be right now- "

"Oh well you don't, anymore." And its clear what he isn't saying- or else I'll tell Harrison about Carter and set your life on fire. "Tell your boy toy you're takin' a reign check for the day. I think you'll last. In fact... after you come over here, you might be out of the game for a couple a hours at least- maybe days."

Hold on, hold on Freddy what the fuck- "What!?"

"... Believe it or not, I didn't actually mean for that one."

Moron.

~

Nevertheless, no matter how just... off setting, Freddy is, I had to when he asked. I had to jump when he said so.

Because if not, then he would tear my life apart.

So here I am, about to knock on that big red door he lives behind, wondering what I'm walking into. Where's Loretta? Where's Kathy? How long will the visit be? I told Carter I'd be an hour or two late- any longer and I wont see him at all today. Which would absolutely suck.

Just after my knuckles come down on the wood the first time, a hand comes down on my shoulder and I immediately jump out of my skin... then slowly look around.

There's Freddy, a cheeky grin on his face. It does nothing to set my nerves at ease. "Ugh... Why are you out here?"

"We're going to the backyard. Lets go." Taking me by the shoulders, he marches me around the side of the house, instead of through it for some reason, and into the familiar backyard. I've been here numerous times, as Loretta likes to hold our club meetings here - Barbecue's, tea's... that sort of thing. Just to let the kids play together and so the adults can enjoy some adult conversation. Its a nice yard... but depending on what her horrid husband is about to show me, it may not be considered as such anymore... - , but I'm now starting to develop a sick feeling in my stomach.

Honestly- I don't know much about Freddy at all. Yes, I went to school with him, but that doesn't mean much when he was a freaky loner kid the whole time. I remember he killed the class hamster once- that's about the only splash he ever made in the news pool; But it definitely stuck.

Yes, Loretta cleaned up his image a fair bit since getting married, but now he's blackmailing me, and as far as I know I'm now alone with him.

Suspicious of him suddenly, I slip out of his grip with a dirty look flashed his way. Don't touch me.

He just rolls his eyes, leading me around some hedges.

And then everything stops.

Him, me, the air; The air around me, the breeze, the breath in my throat.

There lays Loretta, on the ground. If I was really really naïve, I could imagine she were sleeping... or passed out, at least, due to the way she's sprawled out. No one would lay down like that willingly.

But... her eyes are open.

For a moment I'm tempted to kneel down; Take a closer look. Find out how, myself. Is she bleeding anywhere that I cant see now? Are her lips turning blue? If I moved some short red hair out of the way- would their be marks on her neck yet?

But then I come to my senses...

And freak. The fuck. O u t.

"What, the fuck, did you do!?" I whip around, looking at Freddy now which entirely new eyes. I mean, before I sure wasn't fond- but now I'm filled with something new, looking at him. Something a lot worse, something that makes me want to run. Run, and hide, and stay there.

And all these, even though he hasn't really changed. He still wears a mischievous smirk, stony blue eyes eating up my reactions... like always. But this time its just so so much worse. "Made some dead weight- now you're gonna help me get rid of it. So!" Finally, though its been only a matter of seconds, he turns his gaze off of me and I'm glad. That gaze is far too heavy. "Ideas?"

Only for a moment am I lost for words, struggling to push anything out. "I... I'm sorry??"

His gaze returns to mine, but this time my eyes are hard as his are dark. "Help. Me. Get rid of her. Fucking. Body. Or do you want your dirty laundry aired for the whole community to hear?"

Before I can help myself, I let out a sharp laugh, only succeeding in making Freddy's scowl deeper. "Freddy- this secret's a lot bigger, then mine. Sure, I might get divorced- but you're going to prison!" Does he get that? He's g o i n g to j a i l. Crossing my arms, I try to avoid looking at my ex-friend's body. I cant. "I'm sure as hell not gonna be in there with you, for being an accomplice."

I really cant look at her... I can only focus on Freddy. And that takes a lot of energy- its taking everything in me, in fact. Everything I have. But I have to. If its him or her, there's no choice.

But... then a creepy smile spreads across his face- a vast polarity to the frustrated glower of before. It makes my blood run cold.

"Ohhhh..." He looks almost ferocious, even in his composed state. Like a monster. Like any moment a fanged, inhuman creature is going to burst out of him and I'm going to wake up, and this will have been a nightmare. A horrible nightmare. The kind where that creature haunts me for a long time, after its over. After this over.

He's going to haunt me.

"You must think this is my first time... " My heart turns to ice, mouth hanging a little open... what the fuck have I found myself a part of!? Suddenly all the children's disappearances on the news lately come to the forefront of my brain... "Sweetheart, give a man his dues. I'm a hard working kinda guy... " I watch his gaze flicker to a door - the back door? No... The basement door, - and when a filthy smirk pulls at his mouth, my heart flies up into my throat. God, it makes me feel sick. I want to be violently ill. "My first was my adoptive Dad... pretty sick, huh?"

The fact that he didn't say anything about the basement, makes my imagination go wild. I swallow it down, though.

I just need to get out of here, and never think about this again.

And to do that I need to help Freddy get rid of this goddamn body- and... probably... testify at court... As the panic starts to finally rise up in my, right up to fill my throat, I immediately take in a deep breath and slowly let it out. "Okay... " No time to freak out. Now's the time for action.

Gaze flickering to Loretta again, I try to acclimatise to the sight. I think its a lost cause, though. "How did you get rid of him? Your Dad?"

"No, that's not gonna work. He was a drunk dead beat, and I just had to tell the police some guy's he owed money to came over to the house." Freddy grins happily at the memory, but then just as quickly, scowls at his poor deceased wife's body- that certainly cant fight back. I just tack this onto the long list of reasons I hate him. "Lore's such a goddamn goody goody- we cant do the same thing. You don't think I woulda thought of that??"

"Hey." I snap, hands braced on my hips as I flash a glare his way. "This is not the time to get defensive!"

"Whatever... "

Then- suddenly, something occurs to me. Confused, I look around; A deeply horrified feeling disturbing my stomach. "Hold on... Where's your daughter?" Seeing no sign of her anywhere, I definitely start to panic again- especially when I look to Freddy and just see a pert look in his eyes as he looks back at me, a smile that strikes something horrid inside me. My eyes narrow. "You sick fuck- where the fuck is she!??"

"Under the bed."

"What the fuck does that mean!?" I exclaim, frustrated and freaking out. He did not- he did not! Killing your spouse is one thing, but the kid?? Your own kid??

I don't wait around for him to be cryptic some more, and rush right into the house to look for her. Under the bed, under the bed, under the fucking bed...? Which fucking bed!? Forcing ferocity out of my voice, I carefully call out to Kathy. Hoping to god she answers. I try to sound normal. Maybe a little bit cheerful; Excited.

But my voice wobbles.

"Kathy?? Sweetheart, its Y/N! Are you hiding? I have something for you... " ?? You have something for her, Y/N?? God... now you have to figure out some kind of treat.

You know what? Whatever. We'll figure that out later.

Lets just hope we aren't searching for a corpse. I'd definitely be sick, seeing a child... the way Loretta is...

Shaking my head and clenching my fists, I try to focus on Kathy.

I check under the bed in the guest room because it comes into view first and she isn't there, then her bedroom and she isn't there either... and get a sick feeling as soon as I enter the last bedroom. Freddy's and Loretta's.

God, I've never been in here before but its like a museum peace now. A horrible one. Like if you would walk into the Titanic... or the Borden house.

"Kathy? You in here?" Flicking on the light I kneel down on the ground, and check under the bed.

And something immediately crashes over me, as the sight of her covering her eyes down there. It isn't exactly relief, because this whole situation is still phenomenally fucked up for her, but I am selfishly glad to not have to see her body... crumpled, just like her mother.

"Hey sweetheart," My voice quivers slightly now, but I quickly swallow. No. No. Now, you must be strong Y/N. "Its just me. Your Daddy was looking for you, and couldn't find you! It got him worried!"

"I... I don't wanna see Daddy. He hurt Mommy." Kathy doesn't remove her hands from her face, and stays firmly by the wall- too far away for anyone to grab. My heart sinks.

Slowly straightening up again, I try to take that piece of information in. Turning to the doorway, I see Freddy there. he must have followed me. I didn't even notice. Slowly, and quietly ferociously, I say; "She saw?!"

He has the good sense to look embarrassed, even if it is just to make fun of me. "It was spur of the moment... " He shrugs. "I didn't have time to get a babysitter!"

What a fucking excuse. For gods sake.

I'm definitely dealing with a psycho- if that was even a question before now.

Swiftly, I look down under the bed again, because I'm afraid that if I continue to engage with him- I'll scream, and I'll lose my breath, and I'll scare Kathy even more. She's at the forefront of my mind; That's all I can think about.

But what to do with her after I get her out from under this bed, I don't know. I cant give her back to her father... but I cant hand her over to the police either because that would involve telling them about Loretta, and... Freddy will definitely kill me, for that.

This is a nightmare of a situation.

I'm just opening my mouth to say something - what, I don't know yet, - when she speaks, instead. "Is he there?"

"... Yes." I wont lie to her; That would be treating her with not nearly as much respect as she deserves.

When she takes a deep breath and rubs her eyes, as if just trying to keep herself together, my heart clenches. God... and to think I might not have picks up Freddy's call today. I would have been leaving her with this. For the first time today, I'm morbidly glad I came.

She speaks in that loud, hissy way that kids think is a whisper. "Can he... can you please make him go away?"

Immediately I straighten back up and look to Freddy again, my eyebrows raised halfway up my forehead. Like well? "Get out."

"I don't think you're in a position to make demands here, bi- "

"Do you want Kathy to live down there now!??" I snap, trying not to be scared. Not really feeling scared, actually. Just happy to have a reason to tell him to get the hell away from me.

A deep frown creases his mouth, deeply unhappy about the situation, but steps back. I only hear him step out of the way of the door, but its good enough. Quickly, I get up and close the door - fighting with myself not to slam it, - and lock it.

Then I return to the floor, and see this time Kathy has uncovered her eyes. She looks so small, smaller then she actually is, and she looks like she's shaking. Little red bows and piggy tails in her hair are messy from crawling under the bed. "He's gone, sweetheart. And I locked the door."

She just nods, so I take the silence as a chance to offer my hand to her. "Take my hand, sweetie? Come on out from under the bed. Its cold down there, and no one wants you getting sick." I need to upkeep the family friend bit, I need to sound caring and collected. I need her to trust me.

Her big eyes, not Loretta's colour or Freddy's, look nervous as hell. And she shakes her head.

Taking a deep breath, and I conjure all the sincerity as I can. And mean it. My eyes soften and I try really hard, to resent myself as someone trustworthy- which is hard, seeing as I've never really been that. I mean, I'm cheating on my husband. I told Carter today the same lie I told Harrison when i knew I was going to be late. The only person I think who knows the truth behind all my lies is Freddy. That says something about a person, that the only person who knows them is a psychopath.

But I want to, I need to, be good for this little girl. And there's no time for me turn my life around so it has to start with this. How fucked is that?

"... I promise, I'll take care of you. He wont hurt you."

After a few whole minutes, in which I stay silent because yes she's a child, but she's still thinking, she crawls over and takes my hand, letting me lead her out. Crawling into my lap as I cross my legs under her, she buries her face in my shirt- hiding. "You promise?"

Taking a deep breath, because I've really done it now, I offer my pinky for her to see if she turned her head. I know Freddy's listening to all of this through the wall, but I try not to freak out. "Pinky swear?"

"Pinky swear." She peaks out from my shirt, and curls her little finger around mine. Okay... "Y/N... I'm scared."

"Yeah... Me too, sweetie."

What am I going to do?

[therenlover]

Heartsick (A James Patrick March/Reader Oneshot)

Synopsis: When you fall ill, James is given a forceful awakening about how he’s been neglecting your needs and what he must do to prevent harm from befalling you again

Tags: Fluff, Sickfic, Cuddling, Marriage Proposal

Rating: 16+

Warnings: Language, Potentially Triggering Mentions of the Reader Being Ill for a Long Time/Almost Dying of an Unnamed Illness, Planning Your Own Death

Word Count: 3700~

This was crossposted to my AO3 under the same title!

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

James Patrick March considered himself a fairly patient man. He had to be, in his line of work. Some things didn’t deserve his patience, like lazy workers or angry hotel guests, but when it came to things that did matter, he was willing to go to extremes. Murder, for example, deserved his patience. Once upon a time, the Countess did too. Yes, patience was a rare virtue Mr. March had possessed all his life.

When it came to you, though, he found his patience running short.

You had been a revelation all your own when you first walked through the doors of the Hotel Cortez with not even a suitcase to your name, radiating purity with every shallow breath. James had been excited to find you in some dark corner of the hotel and rip the life from your body. That is until you found his little nook at the Blue Parrot Lounge and seduced him with your charming personality and sweet smile. From that moment on the Countess didn’t matter anymore. The whole world was just him, you, and all of the deliciously naughty ways he wanted to debauch you.

James had insisted on moving you into your own suite on the seventh floor that very night, just a few short hallways away from his own, and given every luxury he could offer. He was nothing if not a gentleman. It just wouldn’t be right to move the one he intended to court directly into his bedroom, especially while he was still married to his previous wide. Despite the distance, things between the two of you went swimmingly. Even the murder, which James initially worried could drive you apart, was now a delightful shared activity when you chose to grace him with your presence during a kill.

That’s where the problems started.

Mr. March was a man stuck in his own time. That’s why, after 5 splendid years with you at his side, you still weren’t moved into room 78. This also meant your suite was a place he wouldn’t enter unless he was invited. Sure, you had a healthy sex life, but the Countess still had the March family engagement ring tucked away somewhere. He wouldn’t move you into his quarters or impose himself on yours until the two of you were at the very least engaged. The plans for his and the Countess’ divorce were moving, albeit slowly, when you stopped opening the door for James.

The first day he thought perhaps you were simply elsewhere, but after a week of nothing, he began to get angry. It was one thing to deny him your company, but to ignore him while he made a fool of himself banging on your door? That was a punishable offense in the March family playbook. So, he decided if you wanted to play hard to get, he would too. In his mind, James could practically envision you rushing back into his arms once you got over whatever was souring your mood. It wouldn’t be long until the whole nasty affair was behind the both of you once and for all, right?

Wrong.

A month since he last dined with you, James sat at his table in the Blue Parrot lounge alone nursing the remains of his 4th glass of scotch.

Liz was slow to walk out from her place behind the bar. ��You want another?” she asked, holding out a crystal decanter, “or should I fish out the absinthe fountain a little early this year,”

“No, no I do believe I’ve had quite enough. Besides, it’s not as if I can actually get drunk anymore,” he huffed. Whether it was the drinks or his growing rage, Mr. March found his collar feeling a bit tighter. He reached up to pull at his cravat but paused when thinking about the ghastly wound it hid. In the end, he let his hand return to its place on his glass.

“Suit yourself,” Liz quickly returned the decanter to its place and began polishing glasses.

Somewhere in the distance, Iris picked up a phone and began to take an order for room service. James had an epiphany.

“Liz!” he shouted, getting her attention, “has Y/N been ordering much room service lately?”

Liz shrugged. “Only once a day for the past month. Why do you ask?”

“I find myself in a bit of a predicament. You see, Y/N began ignoring me about a month ago. I’ve been giving her a taste of her own medicine for quite some time now, and yet she has made no attempts to seek me out. Do you think, perhaps, there could be something wrong?”

The energy in the room began to still.

“Wait, Y/N hasn’t told you?”

“Told me what?”

The dirty glasses were abandoned as Liz let out a humorless laugh.

“Damn you, woman!” James rose with a shout, slamming his glass down on the table, “what is she hiding!?”

“She’s sick,”

James’ heart would have stopped if it were still beating. He sat down again, bewildered. “What?”

“She’s sick. Fever, puking, tremors; the whole shebang,” As she spoke, Liz came back to the table and sat down on the plush booth across from him.

“But it’s been a month! Influenza shouldn’t last that long…”

“Well, it’s definitely not the flu, I can tell you that. Last time I brought down her dinner she nearly choked on her toast. She was so weak that I had to sit there feeding her soup because she couldn’t lift up the spoon long enough to feed herself,”

It was as if James’ whole world had come collapsing down on him all at once. Mortified, he let his head drop into his hands. “Why didn’t she inform me? Am I that pathetic a lover that she would rather suffer in silence than tell me she was ill?”

“Well, to her credit, you don’t exactly look like the most comforting type. When did she move in again?”

“Almost five years ago, it’ll be the anniversary of her first entering the Cortez on the 20th,”

“And how many times in the past five years have you, I don’t know, cuddled with Y/N,”

“You insolent-”

Liz lifted her arms, offering up a white flag. “I’m just asking a question,”

James opened his mouth to offer up a rebuttal but found he had no way to defend himself.

It was true that his relationship with Y/N tended to fluctuate between chaste and lecherous at the drop of a hat. Once they had made love, it was the only habit for him to leave her in bed and return to whatever was keeping him busy at the moment. Post-coital intimacy was simply something he had never experienced or needed. Unfortunately, seeing that the only time he spent with Y/N outside of their trysts were formal meetings or dinners, there had been no time for gentility or softness between just the two of them. If ghosts could blanch, he would have.

Noticing his sudden shift in mood, Liz rose, backing off. “Now, usually I like to stay out of your business, but because your little relationship makes Y/N happy I’ll give you some advice. Go down to the kitchen, have Ms. Evers heat some broth, and give Y/N her dinner personally, maybe even give her some extra attention as a little treat. That should fix the bulk of your issues. Got it?”

He was never one to take orders, but surprisingly James nodded. He stood quickly, smoothing his suit. “Thank you for your advice, Ms. Taylor, but I must depart. My paramour needs me,”

She nodded. “Any time,” James began to hurry down the stairs, but suddenly Liz shouted. “Wait a second,”

James paused. “Yes?”

“Only the living get sick, Mr. March. Maybe, after five years, it’s time for Y/N to extend her stay at the Cortez... permanently. Just something to think about,”

He gave her a sharp nod before disappearing down the stairs to the kitchen. 15 minutes later he was waiting outside your door with a rolling cart in hard. He had already been stalling there for 5 minutes when he finally, with a deep, steadying breath, unlocked the door.

The room was dark and silent, almost like a tomb.

Your voice rang out like a bell as James pushed the cart forward. “Iris?” you called weakly, “is that you?”

“No, darling,” he responded, closing the door behind him. Slowly, he bent down at turned on a small lamp. “You won’t need Iris to bring you your dinner any longer,”

“James,” You whispered, half reverent and half shocked.

He was far too taken aback by the severity of your condition to form an immediate response.

You were curled up in bed, folded in on yourself as you wheezed for breath. As Liz had mentioned your body was weak and wracked with near-constant tremors while you tried your best to prop yourself up on the headboard. James had to abandon the cart with your dinner on it in favor of rushing over and helping you sit up. As he took in your gaunt face, his heart broke.

Your soft voice snapped him from his thoughts.

“Am I dead?”

James shook his head. “No my love, not yet,”

Tears began to spill from your eyes. “I thought you’d left me, James. I thought I was going to have to rot in this awful, dark room for eternity, that maybe ‘cause I died while I was sick my ghost was too damn weak to get up,” As you spoke, you tried to grip the back of his suit, but found you were far too weak to actually hold the fabric. Your inability to even do the simplest of tasks only made you cry harder.

Mr. March was quick to pull out his handkerchief and wipe your eyes. “Oh, my dearest, that couldn’t be farther from the truth, but none of that matters now. I cannot apologize enough for my abhorrent behavior as of late,”

“Will you stay?” your words were laced with desperation, “just for a little bit?”

“Of course, my dearest. I think you’ll find it very difficult to get rid of me from now on. Besides, I couldn’t leave my beloved paramour without doing what it is that I set out to do,”

“Which is?”

James stood and quickly returned with the room service cart. As he removed the silver tray-topper, you found he had brought you a bowl of soup, a small plate of crackers, and a tall glass of ice water.

“I intend to make sure you are well-fed and taken care of,”

“James, you don’t-” you tried to argue, but he cut you off.

“Nonsense! There is, unfortunately, no way to sugar coat this, but I will try my best,” he whispered as he sat on the edge of the bed beside you, “I have neglected you, darling, not just for the past month when I found my pride and ego keeping me away from you, but also for the past five years. I ignored your needs out of a false sense of propriety by bending to rules that are long dead and considered inconsequential. For that, I fear I may never forgive myself. Things will be different from now on, though. I hope to win back your heart properly now that I have realized the severity of my mistakes. Would you…” he paused, gulping, “would you be willing to humor me?”

You offered him a soft smile. “Oh, my beloved Mr. March, there’s no need. My heart has always been yours,”

Your words soothed him, and he offered you one of his debonair grins, the kind where his little mustache scrunched before his lips parted that never failed to sweep you off your feet.

“Now where were we!” he exclaimed.

“Dinner,” you responded.

“Ah, yes! Soup!” He was quick to get a spoonful of the warm broth and bring it to your lips. “You needn’t worry, my sweetling, I watched Ms. Evers prepare this herself. Nothing but the best for you,”

It was easy to accept the spoon into your mouth. Something inside of you knew that James would be taking care of you from now on.

The rest of dinner passed in relative silence, but you didn’t mind, far too tired to take part in any meaningful conversation. Instead, you simply enjoyed the attention. James had never been shy about his affection, but that affection always tended to come in the form of gifts or sex instead of close, intimate touch. It hadn’t bothered you enough to tell him. You always just assumed he didn’t enjoy that kind of love. Now that you’d had a taste, though, of his gentle yet constant affection, you knew you could never get enough.

Too soon the bowl was empty.

James stood, returning to the door with the cart as you relaxed and rolled onto your side. “When will you be back?”

He chuckled, opening the door. “Did you think you could be rid of me so soon, darling?” The cart was quickly pushed out into the hallway as James turned back towards you.

Your face flushed. “I just assumed…”

“Assumptions, assumptions,” he tutted, “It hurts that you have such little faith in me, but I admit I haven’t given you much reason to. As I said, things will be different now,” James perched himself on the edge of the bed with a smile as he untied his shoes and slipped them off.

“What are you doing?”

“Taking off my shoes, darling, so I can join you in bed,”

Your heart skipped a beat. You had been imagining the first time James would actually stay in your bed to cuddle since the beginning of your relationship, but it had been years since you had given any thought to that silly fantasy. Could it really be happening?

Apparently, your surprise was evident on your face because Mr. March paused once both his shoes were settled neatly on the floor. “Is something wrong, my dearest?”

“Nothing, darling, nothing at all,” you were quick to explain, “we’ve just never done this before,”

James smirked like a predator who had just found his prey. “Such an innocent gesture from such a naughty little minx. I don’t recall you being so… flustered the night we met when I took you up to my suite and-”

“James!”

“Alright! Alright, my love, no more vulgarity from me until you’re fully healed and back on your feet. Well, hypothetically on your feet,” he emphasized his words with a dirty wink. Then he crawled into bed beside you as if he belonged there, scootching over until he was resting pressed against your side. You slotted into place, with your face resting in his neck and your leg thrown haphazardly across his hips as if you were made to fit his body. Holding James was like coming home.

You let out a soft, pleased sound at just how good it felt to be held.

James took this as positive feedback. As he settled in, he began running his fingers through your bedhead, combing through the loosest of the knots. Sensing something strange, he paused to put his hand on your forehead. It was uncomfortably hot. “You’re still feverish. Do you need anything? A cold compress? A wet washcloth? Some water?”

It was funny to hear him fussing over you, but it also warmed the deepest parts of your heart.

You made a negative huff against his neck. “No! You’d better not move. Your skin feels too good. It’s nice… cold. The only thing I could possibly want right now is for you to dim the lights and take your damn shirt off so you can cool more of me off,”

“I would, darling, believe me, but there’s just the small issue of the wound on my neck,”

“James,” you glared up at him, “I have literally ripped a dying man’s dick off in front of you. We have dinner with Jeffery Dahmer on your birthday every year, where I have to eat my salad as he zombifies whatever poor sap wandered into Sally’s clutches across the table. Hell, just a few months ago we fucked in that bathtub filled with some businessman’s blood. Your neck is just another part of you, James, it doesn’t bother me. Shirt. Off.”

“Have I ever told you that I adore when you take charge?”

You grinned as he undid his cravat and the top few buttons of his dress shirt. “Once or twice,” The thrill only lasted a moment, though, because before he finished unbuttoning his shirt he pulled away from your arms and got off the bed. A high-pitched whine escaped from your lips. “I thought you said you were staying?”

“I may be a ghost, dear heart, but my clothes can’t just disappear,” Always one for the dramatics, he shed his shirt and suit jacket to the floor with gusto. The sight of his bare torso made your heart beat faster. You had to remind yourself that you were sick and it would probably kill you to go for even a gentle round with Mr. March. Ah, but what a way to die…

James dimmed the lamp before returning, undoing his pants, and stripping down to his boxers. “Is this better for you darling?”

You nodded and reached your trembling arms out to your lover. “Much. Now come back to bed. You have five years’ worth of cuddling to make up for Mr. March, and I don’t intend on letting you wheedle your way out of even a second of it,”

He gave you a gentle smile as he found his way beneath the covers again. “I wouldn’t dream of it,”

Your face quickly found its way back into the crook of James’ neck. It was inhumanly cool, easing the constant burn of your fever and soothing your sore skin. The slit across his throat truly didn’t bother you. As you said, it was just another part of him for you to love, nothing more than a cosmetic imperfection.

Nuzzling closer, you took a deep inhale of his intoxicating scent. Perhaps it was the cologne he wore at the time of his death or even just what he naturally smelled like, but his pulse point radiated notes of sage and bergamot. God, how you loved him.

The pair of you were quiet for a moment with only the sound of your ragged breathing breaking through the air, but something urged you to speak your mind.

“You know, James, when you walked into my room tonight I assumed you were here to kill me,”

He chuckled. “I can’t say I didn’t think about it, my pearl,”

“Of course you did…” you went silent for a moment, “I wouldn’t have minded. This sickness is hell. I’m wasting away by the day and the pain never stops. I don’t mind dying, not when it means I get to spend the rest of time here in the hotel with you, but I don’t want to go out like somebody normal. My death needs to be special… I want to be the crowning glory of your murders, the most fantastic piece of art you’ve ever created,”

Pressing a chaste kiss to the top of your hair, James sighed. “Perhaps it’s selfish of me, but the moment I thought of you, wasting away in the darkness and succumbing to some common germ, I knew I couldn’t kill you. Not yet. I refuse to have my bride accompany me through eternity bearing a constant reminder of my failure,”

Your breath hitched. “Bride?”

Slowly, his hand made its way to your throat. There was no threat in it, he wasn’t using even an ounce of pressure. It was more of a gentle reminder of his presence; a physical conduit of his passion.

“Yes, bride. I don’t mind if you can only become Mrs. March posthumously, though I would prefer to wed you alive and enjoy your last moments of warmth in the throes of carnal delight on our wedding bed, it all depends on where your illness takes you next. Until then I will be glued to your side. No more harm will come to you. I shall nurse you back to health with my own hand so that you glow with life long after your death. Yes, Y/N, your death will come, but not until I have done my best to atone for my mistakes in your life,”

“Was that a proposal?” You gazed up at James with wide, misty eyes.

He huffed out a laugh. “I suppose it was, and a poor one at that! To think I stalled for years in the hopes of finding the perfect moment to present you with my mother’s ring only to pop the question in bed with no ring in sight. I do hope you’ll say yes. I’d be rather crushed if you rejected me after all this time,”

You nodded, small tears escaping as you pressed your face into his soft skin. “Of course I’ll marry you, you idiot. I would’ve married you if you were the poorest man in the world and proposed with a ring-pop,”

“Then it’s settled. You shall be my wife as soon as you are well enough for me to fuck you again! I quite hate that Will Drake, but I believe he’s our best, quickest option if we wish to get you a dress commissioned. I have a few ideas drawn up already waiting in my office… perhaps I should call Ms. Evers and have her take them to him,”

“Shhhh,” you smiled into his neck, pressing a kiss to his collarbone, “we can figure out the details later. For right now, though, your fiancée is sick and she needs some TLC. What are you gonna do about it, Mr. March,”

He growled. “Well, I suppose ravishing you is off the table. Hmmm... what to do to my darling girl to make her feel better?” With a gentle nudge, he tilted your head up and pressed a sweet kiss to your lips.

“That’s a start,”

-------

a/n: I hope you liked it! I’m really leaning towards writing a second part of this where the reader actually dies, so let me know if you’re interested. Also, my requests are open if you want to see any of Evan’s other characters! 

Please don’t post my work to other sites, thank you <3

[animepopheart]

Wonder Egg Priority, Episode 7: The Scars to Prove It (or, Love for the Moms, the Cutters, and the Drunks)

Wonder Egg Priority (WEP) has felt like the successor to Puella Magi Madoka Magica in many ways throughout its run, but in episode seven, it almost went full Madomagi by driving the stakes to their utmost height—to the death of one of the main characters. But as has been consistent with WEP, what it did instead, after some moments of true worry, is to instead deliver hope in the face of pain, resolve against overwhelming circumstances, and strength in weakness.

The series returns to Rika Kawai’s story in this episode, which starts with her turning 14. And on her 14th birthday, after leaving her hungover mother halfway asleep at the bar she works at and which they call home, Rika opens up to the rest of the girls, explaining that she doesn’t know her father (it could be any of five possibilities, or even more) and her mom won’t reveal any further information about him. As she trashes her mom, Neiru and Momoe are incredulous, which only drives Rika away from them. And though Ai goes to comfort her, Rika is in a terrible state of mind as she enters her next fight.

This was a difficult episode to watch. They’ve all been somewhat hard since the series never shies away from brutal and violent situations impacting young people, but I found myself squirming especially here as Rika’s cutting takes center stage. At one point, she decides to cut herself and it seems certain she will, before her turtle-like partner, Mannen, prevents it from happening.

Challenging, also, is how strained Rika’s relationship is with her mother, who’s life revolves around drink—alcohol both pays the bills and helps her forget how miserable her existence is. And in the midst of all the bad behavior in this episode—the usual Rika talk, her mom’s alcoholism and neglect, and the selfishness all around, one begins to feel deeply sorrowful for the Kawai women. Yes, Rika is often obnoxious, but her family life is in shambles, and she still exhibits goodness, including a curiously gentle relationship with Mannen. And Rika’s mother is a tragic figure, used by men and quite on the road to an early death, it would seem, unable to lift herself out of the gutter as she tries, in her own sloppy way, to protect and reach out to her daughter.

It’s in this hopelessness that Rika turns again to cutting, and then finds herself tempted by something even more dangerous. Her foe this time is a religious leader who led the egg, a follower who continues to believe in him, to commit suicide as a way of “connecting” with the universe (Heaven’s Gate, anyone?). Rika decries the ghoul as a charlatan, but is confronted with her own weakness when the egg shows her own scarred arm to Rika, revealing that she can tell that the latter cuts just like she did. And then she explains that Rika can be released from this pain.

The scars, evidence of what Rika does to cope with her pain, now become the weakness that they truly are, revealing how hopeless she feels, and how powerless she is against the mechanizations of her family life. And defeated, she’s about to allow herself to be killed when a surprising savior comes along—a turtle. Mannen attacks the spiritual leader, to Rika’s surprise as well, until she remembers that he has imprinted on her. Rika is Mannen’s mom, and as he did when he prevented her from cutting, Mannen is again protecting his mother.

The conclusion that Rika reaches is unusual but inspiring. She understands, in this moment, the need to protect one’s mom, finally admitting to herself in a de facto way that maybe her mother is in need of love, too. It’s funny to consider the need that mothers have for love since culturally and socially, they’re always seen as the providers of it. But of course, they need it in return, especially when they falter. My own mother is sick right now, and I think of the support I need to give her and the lack of that I’ve provided through the years.

Warning: Screenshot involving cutting after the jump.

My mother was a good one, however. Rika’s, on the other hand, has struggled with the charge, which reminds me of a story from one of my favorite books, The Ragamuffin Gospel, about another bad parent—a far worse one, in fact, and a real one. I’ll quote part of the passage from chapter seven:

“‘Our daughter Debbie wanted a pair of earth shoes for her Christmas present. On the afternoon of December 24, my husband drove her downtown, gave her sixty dollars, and told her to buy the best pair of shoes in the store. That is exactly what she did. When she climbed back into the pickup truck her father was driving, she kissed him on the cheek and told him he was the best daddy in the whole world. Max was preening himself like a peacock and decided to celebrate on the way home. He stopped at the Cork ‘n’ Bottle–that’s a tavern a few miles from our house and told Debbie he would be right out. It was a clear and extremely cold day, about twelve degrees above zero, so Max left the motor running and locked both doors from the outside so no one could get in. It was a little after three in the afternoon and…’

Silence.

‘Yes?’

The sound of heavy breathing crossed the recreation room. Her voice grew faint. She was crying. ‘My husband met some old Army buddies in the tavern. Swept up in euphoria over the reunion, he lost track of time, purpose, and everything else. He came out of the Cork ‘n’ Bottle at midnight . He was drunk. The motor had stopped running and the car windows were frozen shut. Debbie was badly frostbitten on both ears and on her fingers. When we got her to the hospital, the doctors had to operate. They amputated the thumb and forefinger on her right hand. She will be deaf for the rest of her life.'”

Max—a real person, mind you—was a successful, well-liked man, but his drinking problem led to an unconscionable decision and profound failure as a parent. And yet, this book is about grace, an idea which to humans feels unjust, but  which has the power to change hearts and tear down walls, sometimes literally.

Could Max be given grace? Could Rika’s mother? If not directly, she’s done her own physical damage to her daughter in the form of those cutting scars (difficult and perhaps triggering images below). As mentioned earlier, the egg that she’s helping knows her pain and insists that letting go of everything, including life itself, is the way to peace. After all, to a young, suffering girl, what else could these scars mean?

But in the midst of giving up, in the moment that she actually capitulates (and this episode takes you 99% to the edge, both in the cutting scene and in the apparent death scene), Rika experiences something powerful. She experiences grace.

Have you ever been challenged to forgive someone when you don’t want to, when you feel completely in the right? Maybe it’s easy for you, but perhaps it isn’t. The girls surrounding Rika experience differing degrees of this with her sometimes maniacal and often hurtful behavior. Ai forgives easily. Momoe gets fired up and then equally seeks to make peace. And Neiru…well, Neiru holds onto “justice” more than love (setting up what I imagine will be the most powerful transformation in the series of all, in true Homura fashion). But in the moment that Rika is about to give her life, the girls yell out their love for her, even Neiru, and then more profoundly, without any hesitation, Mannen puts his own life on the line to stop the death from occurring. Rika has already given up, but this turtle hasn’t—not for his mother, whom he loves very much.

And experiencing that love from a different angle, Rika is changed just a bit. She begins to see her weakness as a “mother,” failing her turtle-child, and thinks of her own mom who is overwhelmed by hurt and a failure as well. And if just a little—for as the final scenes indicate, it is just a little—the path toward forgiveness begins.

But a little bit of grace is like a little bit of a flood—its power overwhelms, and it defeats the enemy, whether that means bitterness, a physical person (or manifestation of one), or the devil himself.

When Rika returns from the event, having killed the cult leader monster, it’s interesting to note that she isn’t a wholly different person. She’s changing little by little. And her scars remain. In fact, as she admits, she probably will cut herself again. But strangely enough, those scars now represent something different. They show someone trying—failing, yes, sometimes considerably and maybe very often—but trying, and only able to try because love was shown her, and through that, she is now able to show love as well.

You may have such scars in your life, physical or emotional, battered by the world and by people. I hope that you can develop relationships that help you heal as well, and that you’ll also remember that there are other scars which are meaningful to you, but which you cannot see on your person, scars that were borne out of a desire to heal you. Christ took the piercings, on his head, hands, feet, and side, so that while your heart and flesh may be cut, your soul need not be. And through his wounds, you may be healed.

The grace offered through Christ is one that, as he explains about everlasting water at the well to the Samaritan, for now and through eternity. The egg seeks peace forever by dying, but Jesus, unlike the cult leader, died for us so that we may not have to. He took the nails, the cross, and the spear so that we don’t have to inflict pain on ourselves and receive the punishment of our actions against him and others. He is our scar.

That’s grace. That’s the power that it has. And it can reach anyone—even a terrible dad, an alcoholic mom, a tempestuous child, and, and most significantly and personally—you.

If you’re suffering and in pain, maybe self-inflicted, we encourage you to explain such to a parent or trusted adult and ask for help. It’s a difficult first step, but one that will help you begin recovering. And we also advise that you turn to Christ for help—in prayer, community, and scripture. He provides people to us that will aid us in our times of need, as well as himself and the Holy Spirit if we are believers.

Additionally, there’s a scene in this episode where triumphant, Rika concludes that cutting is okay. That’s said in the context of her moving forward bit by bit and forgiving herself for her failures, even the upcoming ones. That’s an important lesson, though we must certainly be careful not to let it be a license to continue cutting with impunity.

Wonder Egg Priority can be streamed through Funimation. Read more of our articles by signing up for our weekly newsletter.

[littleoddwriter]

Soothing | Roman Sionis x Male!Reader

Another vent fic, sorry.

summary; You accidentally triggered yourself, Roman comforts you.

notes; TW / CW // Bleeding; Self-Harm (scratching); (mild) Dissociation. Daddy!Kink; Emotional Hurt/Comfort; Sitting in one’s lap; Soft Kisses. Reader suffers from BPD and has atopic dermatitis (only mentioning it, so as to explain why things happen the way they do, but it should still be general enough to be relatable to anyone, really).

All morning long, you’ve felt this buzzing excitement under your skin, which had you restless, but feeling happy for the time being. You wished it’d never stop, although you knew that was inevitable.

As if on cue, your mood crashed.

You had been watching videos about mental health, since it was often a pretty good resource to either learn more about yourself, or find new tips to help yourself. Still, some of the videos were quite triggering and you hadn’t noticed it until it had already been too late.

Now you just sat in the leather armchair, knees drawn up to your chest. Feelings of anger, anxiety, guilt and sadness overwhelmed you. They seemed to suffocate you. It was bad. The contrast to how you’ve felt only minutes ago struck you like lightning. Tears pricked your eyes, but you didn’t dare shed them.

The urge to hurt yourself overcame you; all kinds of ways to do it wormed themselves into your brain, dominating any other thought. You took deep breaths and held tightly onto your legs. You wouldn’t give in. You couldn’t.

But the feelings were just too much. You just wanted to get rid of them, fast. Make it hurt less. Physical pain was only temporary, but the emotional one – it felt as though it clawed at your insides and tore them apart. None of those wounds ever healed. The pain seemed to go on forever. So, yes, as bad as it was, a bit of physical pain was far more preferable then.

Your skin had already started to react to your distress, itching relentlessly. It felt as if those spots on your wrists, back of your hands and fingers were burning.

Wanting to rid yourself of that sensation as well, and taking it as the gateway to harming yourself, you started scratching. It relieved you for a second. Then the wounds started bleeding, oozing other fluids as well. It burned, still. But different in a way that it was almost bearable.

Then it stopped altogether. Your emotional pain stayed, though. You wished it had helped it more.

Before you could get up to do anything worse to yourself, though, Roman came into the room. He had been doing business in his office, prior to that.

Black Mask walked over to you and you averted your gaze. You knew that what you were feeling was written all over your face. It made you feel ashamed, weak, and small. You hated for him to see you like that. It only had you feel as though you were even more of a burden to him.

“What’s going on in that pretty little head of yours, my prince?” Roman asked gently, quietly, as he stood beside you now, one hand resting on the armchair’s backrest, the other on one of your knees.

“Nothing,” you mumbled, your eyes fixed on your knees then. It wasn’t a complete lie, either. Your mind felt like static.

Black Mask hummed pensively, “I fail to believe that. Don’t you want to tell Daddy what’s going on?”

He lifted his hand from your knee and gently took hold of your chin, tilting your head up to have you look at him. You wanted to avert your gaze, but couldn’t possibly. No matter what, he always mesmerised you, taking your breath away.

“I don’t know, sorry, Daddy. I just- I accidentally triggered myself. Now I’m- you know. In pain,” you explained after a few beats of silence. Your voice was strained with the effort of holding back tears and cries of anguish you wished you could let out, but it was all stuck inside of you.

“That’s not good, baby,” Roman stated the obvious and paused, his head tilting to get a look at your hands instead. He clicked his tongue. “Was that on purpose?” he asked then.

In favour of taking your hands in his gloved ones, he let go of your chin and the backrest. He held your hands in a gentle grip, looking them over. Your knuckles on your fingers were bleeding, and so were the backs of both of your hands, the insides of your wrists, your palms, and the spaces between your fingers. You felt embarrassed. You hadn’t even noticed just how much you had scratched open. It had all just been an itching, burning mess to you.

“I asked you a question, sweetheart,” Roman chided, not unkindly so.

“I’m sorry, Daddy. But– yes and no? It was itching – burning, really. So I just scratched. I didn’t know how bad it’d be.”

Nodding, Black Mask cautiously stroked his leather-clad thumbs over your wounded hands, careful not to inflict more pain onto you. It was soothing.

“Do you still want to hurt yourself?”

“I think want is the wrong word for it, but yeah, the urge is still there.”

“Right, my mistake.”

Roman took hold of your arms and tugged gently to make you get up, so you did. Then he sat down in the armchair and positioned you in his lap. Your back was leaning against his solid chest, his strong arms were wrapped around your middle, and your face was tucked into the crook of his leather-clad neck.

You didn’t exactly know why, but this was one of your favourite positions to sit in with him. It was as though his entire presence enveloped you, shielding you from the world. The pleasant, smoky scent of his cologne, mixed with the leather of his mask, was intoxicating to you, such as the warm feeling of said mask that had taken on his body heat by then, which is why you always loved to press your face into it. Not only did it blind you, effectively making reality disappear, but it was incredibly calming, too.

His left arm stayed around your middle, his hand resting on your stomach in form of a constant pressure and warmth. He lifted his other arm to gently stroke his fingers through your hair. No one else had ever been allowed to play with your hair in any way, since it usually caused you to freak out, but for some reason, it just felt right when he did it.

Shifting a little and lifting your head from his neck, you strained to look at him. “Thank you, Daddy,” you murmured and kissed his leather-clad cheek.

“Anything for you, my sweet prince,” he replied, and even though he couldn’t truly smile anymore, you could hear it in his voice.

Then he turned his head and nudged the zipped up mouth of his mask against your lips in a mock kiss. You loved it. Softly, you kissed him back, a slight smile on your face.

Almost suddenly, you felt so light.

“I love you,” you murmured against his zipper.

With the proximity between you two, you could hear the sharp but quiet intake of breath he did when you said it. It wasn’t the first time, but it hasn’t been all that long since. He still wasn’t entirely used to you saying it, it would seem.

“I adore you, too, my boy.”

A soft, bright smile stretched your lips and you kissed him again, more enthusiastically, but just as gentle and innocent as before. The hand that had previously been playing with your hair, still, was now cupping your cheek, his leather-clad thumb stroking it while you two kissed.

For the time being, you had been able to forget about what had even led you to this moment in the first place. It didn’t matter. Nothing mattered as long as you were in his arms, his presence, and only his.

[hayleygray08]

You are my home.

Introduction: this is my first writing on here. Bare with me.

Summary: you are a new member of the team after tony finds you in a hydra raid. You are shy, reserved, and not very talkative at first until you realize the team is not going to hurt you. Once comfortable you show them your powers and fall for a certain super soldier, again.

I used google translate for words in Russian, so if the words are wrong. I apologize.

In my writing, no one is dead.

Pairing: bucky x reader, everyone else is platonic.

Genre: fluff, anguish, mentions of torture, blood.

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

I am crouched in the conner,on the floor of my cell waiting for the guards to come get me. My daily training. More like torture.

They make me train as hard as I can and if they think I am slaking, I get a few thousand jolts of electricity shot through my body. Or even a few punches.

Yesterday was one of the worst days so far, that I can remember. I was getting random images flash inside my head, almost from a past life from what I saw, which made me loose focus quite a bit. In return the men who watch me train were heavy with the electricity jolts and even harder punches, anywhere they could land on my body. So, I was not looking forward to today's training.

I don't have a clock or windows in my cell but I knew every time they would come to get me. Like my body knew the exact moment every day. So when that time came and I was still in my cell I was growing a little worry. They are never late, sometimes early, but never late. Just then a siren rang out and the lights dimmed then went red. Was that the alarm for an intruder? How is that possible?

As a million thoughts ran through my head at what could possibly cause the alarm to go off. A very vivid picture or memory came to me and played on repeat. It looked to be the 40's, on a dock or a pier, I was laughing and looking out at the water. There were two guys with me. One was small, blonde hair, blue eyes, and had a small smile on his face. The second was bigger then the first, had brown hair, bright blue eyes, and laughing with me. Why do they look familiar? Why do I have two names on the tip of my tongue? Who are they? Just as I was about to say those names my cell door was blown off and there was a cloud of dust.

As the dust settles and I can properly see, there is a man in a red and gold suit of metal. He walks towards me as he says "Cap we got someone here. She looks no older then 24, covered in bruises, and looks terrified.""Yes, I'll make sure to get her out.""No, I can't tell if she is dangerous." He sighs and crouches down so he can look me in the eyes.

"Hi, I am Tony Stark, and I am going to take you away from here." Tony says and offers me a hand. I take it cautiously and follow him out the door and eventually outside.

Once we made it outside I take a deep breath. It felt so good to get clean air. I don't even remember the last time I was outside. Must have been years. I had to shield my eyes, it was so bright out. I didnt notice more people joining us. I was to busy looking at my hands and arms. Was I always this pale? I look up at the guy who took me away, Tony, and then darkness.

Tony catches me before I could hit the floor and runs into the jet. He lays be on a table and Bruce starts an examination. Nobody dared bother him. Nat hands Tony a flash drive and sits back down with the others.

While I was unconscious and now in the medbay at the compound, I was getting more images. Some are to fast to register what it was and some stayed a good while showing me a life I do not remember, but wish I did. Also things I did, hurting people, a chair, and training. It was all to much. To much pain, suffering, lose. I could feel myself have a panic attack. Which alerted everyone.

I jolted up into a sitting position clenching my chest and taking big gasps of air. My heart monitor going off like crazy. I looked around frantically, not recognizing where I was. I tried to rip out the Iv's but a pinching sensation in my shoulder makes me stop. I look up and see a women, before I am unconscious again.

Meanwhile in the common area Tony, Steve, Natasha, Wanda, Sam, Clint, Vision, Bucky, Bruce, Thor, Loki, Scott, and Peter all sat around looking at my file.

"Her name is y/n, y/ln. She was born in 1918, lived in Brooklyn, New York. Was taken by Hydra in 1946 while she was working on a S.H.I.E.L.D mission. Hasn't been seen since. Until about 2001 when she was spotted riding a motorcycle from a crime scene. Looked to be an assassination. Then again in 2003, 2005, 2007, 2012 and the last time in 2014. So the last time was 7 years ago. It shows she was trained like the winter soldier, but never met one another. But her powers got out of control and they have been training her to keep them in control since 2014. She has assassinated 6 men, 4 women, 2 children, and 1 hydra agent in a training gone wrong on that one." Tony reads outloud to everyone.

Steve and Bucky look at each other with a look in their eyes, as if they can't believe it. Then Tony brings up a picture of me for the group to see. Everyone gasps as a few photos show up. One is me, Steve, and Bucky at Coney Island. Then one of me and Bucky smiling at each other. Then there is one of me and Peggy Carter. Once all pictures are shown, all eyes are on Steve and Bucky.

"You know her?" Asked Natasha. Everyone silently asking the same thing.

"Yes, we know her. She was our friend. She grew up with us. She was our best friend. And a little more to Bucky." Steve answers quietly, looking at Bucky. It has been 78 years since he has seen her.

As they tell the others about me and what they remember, I am waking up again at the medbay. This time more calm. The nurses and doctors where asking me questions but I wouldn't answer them. They could tell they were not going to get anywhere with me, they called Tony and Bruce. I still would not talk to them.

How could I trust them? I don't even know them. For all I know they could be Hydra as well. With all these images popping up I don't even know what to believe anymore. Both men were throwing question after question at me. I didnt know how to answer. Or if I even should. Once they realized they were not going to get anywhere they left.

By the time I got the okay from the doctors, I was put inside a cell. Something I am all to familiar with. But this one was clean, had a comfortable bed, running water, and was warm. All the walls were glass and I could see people standing around watching me. Two I kinda recognized due to the images that I get. Each one would ask a question, each time I just stared ahead.

"We want to help you." A women with red and blonde hair spoke up after a few minutes of silence. I laughed.

"You want to help me? You don't even know me. How can you help me?" I responded quietly.

"Wanda has some powers and is able to look inside your head. Put the pieces together for you. Help you remember." The same women responded looking at another women with red hhai. I am guessing is Wanda.

"We read your file, y/n, let us help you remember the things they have taken from you." Tony says as he walks around. I don't respond, just look at everyone.

They gave up after 3 hours of silence from me and them asking questions. They leave me alone until a few days later. For those days they would bring me food, check to see if I am okay, then leave. It was Wanda, Tony, Bruce, and Steve that came a few days later. I watch them as they open the door to my cell and take a seat on a bench.

"If you are okay with this, we would like to try something. It does involve bringing back everything Hydra took from you. It might be painfull. But we think you should have the choice in remembering your life."Tony speaks up after a few minutes of silence.

Do I trust these people to try and help me? Do I even want the help? To remember all the pain I have caused and I life I will never get back.

I look at the four people in front of me and when I looked at the blonde man named Steve a memory came to me. It was just us two in a tent that looked to be on a base of some sort. He was the way he is now bigger then the other one I have seen. As if he grew or got on steroids. He was telling me about someone but it was fuzzy but I had this feeling of sadness.

I take a big breath in and look at them. "What do I have to lose? Not like I am going anywhere anytime soon." I tell them as I look at my hands.

I didnt see Tony nod at the door but did hear it open. I look up to see a young girl, with a different wardrobe then the others. She smiles kindly at me as she sits next to Wanda.

"Hi, my name is Shuri. I am from Wakanda and I can help you remember." I just stare at her.

"How long will this take?" I ask quietly.

"Depends on the damage they have caused for you to forget everything. Could be a few days, weeks, months. If you have trigger words. We will make.."

"Trigger words? What does that mean?" I interrupt her.

"Words that change you into a different person. Like they did witht he winter soldier. When we got the files from the base you were held in, shows you do have some." Tony says to me.

"Oh, so then I guess we should start this thing." I tell them. They did not expect me to say that.

They step out of my cell and start to say 6 words in Russian.

"девять- nine"

"машина-car"

"цветок-flower"

At this word I started to feel a crawling sensation run across my skin. I started to blink rapidly, my vision was getting foggy.

"слива-plum"

"банан-banana"

Now I'm rolling my shoulders, flexing my hands, shaking my head. That crawling sensation is getting thicker, heavier.

"рок-rock"

Once that last word was said I stand up, look at them with a blank expression, and cock my head to the side a little. "готов подчиниться- ready to comply."

They ready the words and I am me again. Well the shell of me that I know. I sit on the bed and take deep breaths. I did not like the feeling of having no control.

They watch me before they leave me alone for a little bit. I don't remember those words but it felt like my body did and it hurt badly.

As i sit and then pace and sit again for I don't know how long, everyone else is in the common area trying to figure out what to do next.

"Her words are different from Bucky's, why?" Same asks as they watch me in my cell.

"They made the words unique for that person. Hers are more girly because she is a girl and what she likes. They make it so only one person gets triggered and not all at once." Bucky says with a frown.

As they continue to talk and see the next step. I am going a little crazy in my cell. I started to throw everything that I could, I tried breaking the walls, the floor. I was screaming, crying, and bleeding. No one knew of my powers because it was not put in any files. So when I fall to my knees and scream everything shuts down and I pass out.

Once the lights were out, they were up and running to my cell. As people in the building were trying to get the power back on.

When they get to me I was laying on the floor and covered in some weird goo. That started right as I hit the floor. Bruce went to check if I was okay and when he tried to check my pulse he got shocked. He steps away and goes to the others.

"This is not in her file, didnt show if she had powers or not. Why would they do that?" Natasha says as the nurses come in hazmat suits.

"Because she is more dangerous then we thought." Steve says sadly.

*********

That is part 1. Possibly a part two.

[missvifdor]

Alright, I share a quick thought like this, but imagine Bucky having the DID (be careful, I want to make it clear that I'm not an expert and any mistakes on my part are unintentional and I'm sorry for being so stupid The DID is not a joke, it is a real trouble and I would never allow myself to laugh or joke about it).

So I was saying, Bucky having DID:

Thinking back to all the traumatic moments in his life, it would be easy enough to think that he could have had it. Imagine that at one point his brain and mind say "STOP" and no longer able to cope with all these events, decide that in order to survive, he must create a "shield" (I don't know if I am speaking correctly, sorry if that doesn't make sense).

Because if I'm not saying bullshit, that's what the host's DID is for, to protect it and that's where the Alters come in. The basis of the DID is that the host not supposed to know he has it.

But all the time, there will be signs: amnesia, dissociative disorder, depersonalization, derealization,. Imagine, one day, everything is going well, you get ready to go to sleep and then when you wake up, the date, the time have completely changed, you are now dressed and you have no memory of having lived this. that happened after you last remembered.

Now imagine Bucky going through the same thing, he'd be pretty scared I think.

Bucky would have these symptoms, but not just that. For example, he might feel like he has feelings, thoughts, moods, or anything else that is not ... his but belongs to someone else. Or he would hear voices talking to him (Wait, this has nothing to do with schizophrenia, the voices heard cannot be suppressed with medication and to the host this is really heard as a person's voice real voice or an interlocutor. These are real voices).

You know when we think and hear a voice but it is that of our subconscious, and well that is still different.

(I won't procrastinate any longer, but if you are interested, I advise you to inform yourself to find out more. For example, there is a youtube channel that talks about it because the designer has DID, she and other affected people talk about it here: https://youtu.be/ek7JK6pattE ).

Back to our Super Soldier:

Bucky, like anyone with DID will have both good and bad triggers.

The good ones would be: Music from the 40s, his favorite food, something that reminds him of his sister or mother, etc.

The bad ones: Something or someone who could bring back bad memories, maybe the language Russian, the pain linked to his metal arm, the situations where he cannot feel comfortable or very anxious, a dangerous mission that has gone off the rails a bit.

Let's talk about his Alters: The Winter Soldier will have taken a big place in his life and I think he probably never left him because he is part of him.

So I would lean towards the fact that Winter (let's call him that) has become one of his Alters. It would have become this:

Alter Trauma Holder and Persecutor: some of his tasks are to hold traumatic memories ... especially so that other Alters are not not disturbed by these memories and that the system works more or less. And often, well, trauma holders do not voluntarily choose this role, they are there because the brain did it like that and it can seem very unfair!

It is common that in addition to h: And, even when they do, sometimes they just aren't able to pass it on to the rest of the system and, unfortunately, to the outside either. This is one of the reasons why it is very difficult for a system to find and manage trauma or to talk to a therapist, for example. This is one of the reasons why it is very difficult for a system to find and manage trauma or to talk to a therapist, for example.

Trauma holders are also It called “Secret Keepers / Secret Holders”.

Her Part Persecutor: To put it mildly, the "Persecutor" is an alter who is hostile to the system or the outside world . Well, obviously, it’s nowhere near that simple.

In general, persecutors are alters who have internalized hatred or rejection, either towards themselves, towards other members of the system, or towards the outside world. It is a traumatic response that follows physical abuse, toxic relationships and assaults experienced by the system. Like the protectors, the persecutors seek to prevent further attacks, attack in defense or suffer for the rest of the system. But they ... don't always do it the right way.

There are different kinds of persecutors, some tend to reject any outside person, others may have internal words and feelings of worthlessness, still others may sabotage a possible therapy for fear of the medical profession, then of others can re-experience their traumas, injure themselves, etc… They are very often hyperviligant and easily activated.

They are sometimes very withdrawn and influenced by feelings causing for example a strong anxiety or suicidal thoughts. But they can also be authoritarian and seek to impose behavior on the rest of the system, considering that the others are incapable of protecting themselves and are responsible for the abuses suffered. Finally, some persecutors are a representation of aggressors and persecute the system like these. The persecutors are above all persecuted by trauma and in particular they need to be secure. It is very common that, once appeased, they become essential protectors of the system.

Here's another Alter, James: It would be quite similar to the Bucky of the 40s but different at the same time.

He would be an Alter Internal Self Helper: The "Internal Self Helper" is an alter that helps the system internally. It is not uncommon for ISHs to serve as some sort of mediator to the rest of the system, as if they were "the voice of reason."

They often have a good knowledge of Alters and how the system works (but this does not mean that they easily share this information). They are also often discreet, facing little or not at all or only side by side with another alter.

Internal self helpers are often associated with the creation and management of the innerworld, especially when it was conceived unconsciously.

ISH is a frequent supporting role among gatekeepers, protectors and sometimes among trauma holders.

And Bucky would be the host: Host "refers to the alter who fronts most of the time ... when all is well. And this nuance is important!

Indeed, the “Host” is a bit like the basic Alter, the one who is there when there is no need for any other Alter, no triggers, and no Alter is needed wanted to face. In principle, he manages the day-to-day life, so you would think that it is indeed the alter that uses the body most often, yes. But no.

A system is frequently affected by all the little things in life, whether or not it requires the presence of another Alter at the front. And, especially when it is not conscious, it can be common for another alter (social or protective, for example) to be more present than the host. It all depends on the environment of the system and the awareness of its multiplicity as well as the choices and possibilities of each of its members.

For this reason, there are systems without a host (or with a sleeping host) as well as systems with multiple hosts (which are then called co-hosts), which handle different aspects of the day-to-day. good. Of course, the hosts can also have another role, such as caretaker or alter social.e for example. It may also happen that a new host appears and the system changes hosts.

The host is a role that can be difficult to take in at times, as it is often the first alter to become consciously aware (yes, consciously aware) of his multiplicity. And it's already not easy to realize that we "are not alone in your head", but it is also difficult to realize that you have shared your whole life with "these others people in his head ”. It is very common for the host to doubt his legitimacy, to be afraid of lying, etc. They are often influenced by the feelings, thoughts and feelings of other Alters.

On the other hand, the host can usually be an alter who allows for better communication, as he or she serves as a bit of a mediator, conciliatory and benevolent towards the system and the outside world, while being held to it 'deviation from the consequences (emotional for example) of traumas. A stable host is an important basis for functional multiplicity.

Be careful, it must be said: the host is not the original! Many systems don't have an original, and while you might think the host is some kind of original, it isn't. Of course, if there is an original in the system, it can be a host. But, whether host and / or original, all Alters should be considered equally. (Really, for this to work, it's important to understand this)

Otherwise, a person with DID may have other Alters, the number can vary and they are all different!

Now, how would it be if Bucky had a Y / N ? Would other people in the system agree with that? Would Y / N manage and understand this situation? That is the whole question.

But let's imagine that in the best-case scenario, Winter and James are ok with this relationship and even have feelings for Y / N, it will still be a job all the time.

The best would be someone who can differentiate the three and act with the three as if they were three different individuals (Who they are and this is very important because each Alter deserves to be recognized).

Being in a relationship with Bucky is a bit like being with a big teddy bear who could easily shoot you in the head with near-deadly precision. And a gentleman under all circumstances, of course.

Being with Winter is complicated enough, but not impossible. You just have to know how to do it and above all succeed in interpreting his looks, his silences. The man is not the biggest talker but know that he would be ready to kill for you and protect you.

As for James his Fronts are very rare but when he will be there, believe me when I tell you that he will not leave you alone with his affections! He is surely the one who is the most sociable of the three and who will take the greatest pleasure in teasing you or improvising a dance with you in the middle of your living room.

Well I have finished! Do not hesitate to tell me what you think of it in the comments, or if you want a part two to find out more in general or to know more about the romantic relationship side + ... SNFW.

[quixotin]

Fam, no bc like there's just so much to the episode, let me unpack my sh!t

Ok so, YES, THE PARALLELS BETWEEN LUKA-ADRIEN AND THEIR HIDDEN TRUTHS ABOUT THEIR MOM/DAD GOT ME😭😭

Princess Justice 🤝 Truth (i also think Kagami's next akuma 'lie' will resemble chat blanc👀)

So all the girls knew about Lukanette?? Did Juleka know??

I think that the lil convo Luka and Marinette had was about Jagged, like, his albums/songs and just them fangirling in general, like??? Excuse me that is the cutest sh-

How Kagami and Adrien conviniently left before Luka got all the girls to confess Mari's feelings for Adrien💀💀

Marinette having to see Luka struggle to fight against akumatization.

Luka protecting her AGAIN, like, my boy's being protecting her since captain hardrock😭✋ (ej. Hiding her under his bed, protecting her from the wasps, "run Marinette")

Also, there's something about Marinette hesitating to fight Akumatized Luka... (in silencer AND truth) that hits right where it hurts😔✋

Is Jagged Juleka's dad too????

The kwamis comforting her is everything🥺

YES. LET’S UNPACK.

The parallels between Adrien and Luka’s missing parent? *chef’s kiss*

Parallels between Princess Justice and Truth, and Chat Blanc and ‘Lie’? GOURMET SHIT FAM. GOURMET.

Also, ‘Lie’ will totally mirror Chat Blanc, I’m sure. Even before the fandom had deduced that the white ball of doom was Kagami’s akuma, everyone kept saying ‘these are some good Chat Blanc vibes here mmm’ So, toooootally with you on that one. 

And about the convo between Lukanette, not sure if you’re referring to the convo at the movie theater or the bridge? At the movie theater, you’re probably right because it sounded like Luka told her he was going to dedicate Mari one of Jagged Stone’s songs on his next gig. The bridge one tho? that was unadultered angst

As for Luka’s suffering and the Lukanette angst..... I just. I’m destroyed. Blueberry bebe does not deserve this much pain and it REALLY EFFIN HURTS 😃 that poor Marinette feels like she can’t have a relationship because of her secrets. But as I was telling you in the replies of that one other post, I do believe we have not seen the last of Luka (and Kagami) yet. The Heart Is There For A Reason™️ and I do remember reading once that Kagami and Luka would be prominent throughout S4 and 5 (but take it with a grain of salt because I’m recalling from memory and the source was probably twitter from ages ago or something). All things considered though, we the fandom do tend to jump the trigger a little bit (I mean it IS only episode 1 haha), so I’m just happy to go with the flow, see what happens, and enjoy the show as it comes, delicious angst and all. 

About Juleka, it’s anyone’s guess. There seems to be some incongruences to their story like in how some trivia they say the Couffaine twins, but then in some other sources they say Luka is older. So. The baby daddy drama continues in the Couffaine household haha.

Finally, the Kwamis. I can just imagine Marinette carrying her whole Kwami daycare and Mme. Bustier or someone goes like ‘ummm what do you have there Marinette?’ 

‘what, this? Oh, it’s nothing. Just my emotional support flock of sentient plushies.’ 

[wackybuddiemewbs]

Random Buddie Fic Snippets - no title, just (bad) vibes

Here’s to another snippet of things that ghost through my Word files. This one’s particularly headache-inducing for me personally. For one, trigger warnings galore. And then I have *checks file* 41k (!!!) words worth of non-fic noted down, but it’s really just unassembled bits and pieces of mostly dialog. Grrrrrrr. 😖

Since such a fic would take a lot more planning... which is basically the antithesis of me for all intents and purposes... I pester you with snippets like they are pestering me. Said it before and can only reiterate: I make you suffer with me. *cackles*

Basically, the story plays on the idea that Eddie and Buck grew up together due to plot convenient purposes and meet again at the fire station after years apart. Anyway, here’s to more madness mingled with angst! Cheers!

Buck slings his duffel bag over his shoulder when his phone vibrates. Sighing, he shifts his weight to take it out of his pocket and take the call. A smile creeps up his lips when he sees the picture flare up on his screen.

“Hey, what’s up, Mads?”

“Hey, I just wanted to let you know that you were right about that little bakery downtown. It’s so worth the twenty minute trip,” she nearly groans. And Buck can relate. When he found that authentic Mexican bakery on a long run through the city, he may or may not have shed a few tears of happiness. And he may or may not have bought pastry worth a hundred bucks.

Totally worth it to run all those extra miles for the carbs, though.

“How many conchas did you have?” Buck asks, chuckling softly.

“I’m pleading the fifth.”

“Did you drive back to get more?” he questions, though Buck is fairly sure what the answer is already, which comes promptly, “Which is why I might be late for work.”

Buck laughs, leaning back against his car. “They are in the top 5 of conchas I ever had, which is saying something. So yeah, I get the feeling.”

And he should really know, he’s had the best in the world and no. 2 and 3 also. Though those are not up for sale.

“So, I need a bit of distraction to keep myself from digging through the remains of the bag before I make it to the car,” she tells him.

“Sure, what do you want to hear?”

“Howie told me that you’re getting someone new on the team today. Are you excited?”

“… Oh, ugh, sure.” Buck can feel his jaw cramping at that.

“You know you just sounded more excited about me being on a sugar high thanks to Mexican pastry than you are about your new teammate arriving.”

He’d hoped to avoid that conversation before he got over with it. Because that’s how he normally rolls with it. He gets over with it.

Works with band-aids and most situations that give you discomfort.

But Maddie has maybe not the sixth but seventh sense apparently big sisters seem to inherit by birth, so it appears that not even the most amazing conchas up for sale in all of Los Angeles will spare him having that conversation now. Which is the equivalent of tearing duct tape off, but slowly.

“I’m a huge concha fan, what can I say? And sure, it’s cool. It’d be nice to have a partner on the team, like, permanently, like Chim and Hen, more like.”

Buck rolls his eyes back as far as they will into his skull. It’s a small wonder that Maddie doesn’t buy his bullshit. He was fine just dodging the topic until now, it’s what normally works best for him. But yeah, Maddie just knows how to coax it out of him, and he loves and hates her for it.

“Talk to me, Buck.”

Buck looks up to the sky. “… I guess I’m just a bit nervous.”

“You are nervous? Don’t you think it’s up to the new teammate to be a bundle of nerves?”

“That’s kind of my thing, though,” Buck argues.

He has been ever since Bobby announced that they’d get a newbie, not a probie, but someone to be on the team with them. Dutifully, Buck laughed at the comments about how Bobby seemingly hired him a babysitter to make sure he doesn’t do reckless stuff all the time.

The nervous energy settled in when he got home that day and his leg wouldn’t stop bobbing well into lying in bed, trying to sleep. He only fell asleep halfway through reading the Wikipedia list of minor planets named after people.

“Then why do you feel nervous?”

“It’s nothing.”

“You know you can tell me,” she says softly.

Buck closes his eyes. He understood by now that yes, he can. But that doesn’t mean he wants to. Most of the time, Buck wished he didn’t have to tell anyone anything ever again and simply exist in the here and now. Because the here and now is sunny and tastes of pretty damn awesome conchas.

“I know it’s stupid, but…” His voice trails off.

And maybe she can read his mind, Buck wouldn’t be surprised if it turned out to be the case, because Maddie goes on to say, “You know he’s not taking your place, right?”

“What? Yeah, I mean…” Buck chews on his bottom lip. Whenever Maddie starts to talk like that, he feels like he’s sitting with a therapist. And suddenly, what he wants to believe are just his antics sounds like food for the shrinks.

“This is supposed to be your partner. Someone to have your back, not stab you in the back,” Maddie points out.

“Rationally, I know all that. It’s just…” He stretches out his legs.

“It’s just what?” she asks in a gentle tone of voice.

“What if he’s better than me?”

What if they realize that he’s expendable after all? What if someone comes along who can do things better than Buck without the attitude? What if he can’t prove his worth anymore because that guy can do it just as well, maybe even better?

“Then I will be glad because that means someone capable is watching out for my baby brother,” Maddie answers, pulling Buck back to the current conversation, not the fictional ones inside his head.

“What if we end up hating each other’s guts?” Buck continues. He had to restrain himself from actually typing a list of all those questions on his phone when his mind went spiraling upon receiving the news. Because that’s what’s been going on ever since Bobby announced. And Buck knows how stupid it is, but his brain didn’t get the memo. There are so many what ifs that it’s making him dizzy thinking about them.

“Then you talk about it like actual adults. And anyway, no one can hate you to your guts. You’re amazing.”

Buck has to fight hard not to blush. “Thanks, but you’re biased because you’re my sister.”

His heart still beats a little faster every time he says those words out loud. Something that comes so light and casual these days, though it isn’t. It is closer to what it should be. Because it should be casual, natural, given.

But apparently, the world didn’t get that memo yet. Seemingly a pattern.

“And as your sister, I’m also always right.”

“Are not.”

“Are too.”

He laughs. She chuckles back.

“Listen,” Maddie continues. “Just be yourself. You’re going to figure it out. This is exciting, Buck. More people to add to your family, okay?”

“Yeah, okay. Thanks,” he croaks.

“I’ll call you during lunch time, unless you’re out on a call. And then I want all the details on the newbie.”

“Alright. Pro tip: Put the bag of pastries in the trunk of your car. Only way to keep your paws off of them while driving.”

“I may actually crawl back, but yeah, it’d require a lot more effort.”

He smiles. “Drive save.”

“Will do.”

“Alright, I’m heading in,” Buck says, pushing away from his car. “Or else I will be running late, too.”

“Love you, little brother.”

“Love you, too. Talk to you later.”

“Bye.”

“Bye.”

Buck hangs up and stuffs his phone back into his pocket.

Maddie is right. There is nothing to be nervous about. He has a team now. No one is leaving. New people are arriving. That’s how it works. That’s normal. And he gets to pester the newbie. So he should really be excited, as Maddie said. Buck knows he should focus on that. On how great this could turn out to be. On having a partner. Someone to have his back. All the time.

He sucks in a deep breath as he comes to stand in front of the door leading inside the fire station.

“The door is not closed,” he mutters with closed eyes, grabbing the handle. Buck pushes inside. He is greeted by the familiar hum of the fire station coming to life. People are talking over coffee, some are still fastening the buttons on their shirts as they make up the stairs.

And there’s no place he’d rather be. Buck knew that the moment he first walked into the station for the first time, and that assessment hasn’t changed since.

Buck makes for the locker rooms to change, not wanting to run late like Maddie. Once changed into his uniform, Buck finds himself a little more at ease. Athena once pointed out that they wear those uniforms as a way of protecting themselves. You take them off after work and leave all the bad behind that you’ve witnessed on a call. For Buck, the other way is just as true, though.

When he puts on that uniform on, he can leave his anxious, knee-bobbing self behind and do something meaningful. Because that’s what he found here, beside the team that means so much to him. He found a purpose. A way of answering a calling that lies far back in a past he can’t and won’t remember. To save lives.

Buck looks at his reflection in the mirror, straightens out the collar, makes sure his hair sits perfectly. His glance lingers on the name tag a moment longer, brushes his fingers over the metal plate, the one thing he can’t fix or straighten out.

But that won’t make me flinch. Ever.

“Buckaroo! Time for coffee and talk! I need new material on that show Denny and you are watching and that you need to update me on, so I don’t have to watch it!”

Buck smiles as he closes the locker to see Hen standing there with two cups of coffee.

“Coming.”

But that fixes a whole lot already.

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

Hen sips her coffee in silence as Bobby goes on about who is doing what for the day. She is glad that she isn’t assigned truck cleaning duty. That’s one of the best things about newbies and probies coming in. They get to do the dirty work for a bit. She had to jump those hoops, too, like everyone did, so it only seems fair.

Chim nudges her in the side, pulling her out of her musings. “Have you seen the newbie yet?”

She nudges him back a bit harder to tell him wordlessly that he is supposed to stop doing that. “If I had, don’t you think I would’ve told you by now?”

“Just saying, being late on the first day is not a good sign.”

“Can I help you with something, Han, Wilson?” Bobby calls out. “Care to share with the rest of the team?”

Buck laughs beside them, earning himself a nudge from Hen. That kid is going places sometimes, but Hen learned to love him fiercely after he stopped being a punk.

Fine, he’s still a punk sometimes, but we got to see there’s a heart of gold underneath all the punk and muscle and hair gel.

He grew on her the way he managed to grow on anyone, even the Captain who doesn’t like to admit that more than anyone around the station. He fired the boy first week in, and it was well-deserved, but he proved capable and kind.

Hen knew she was done for this humanoid golden retriever when she fussed over not having a babysitter for Denny and Buck jumped in after he’d just done a double-shift. She and Karen were still working things out and he just made the room, even though the boy deserved bed more than anyone else. Still, he took Denny to the park, finished homework with him, and got him to go to bed even though the kid is not so much a negotiator as he is a small dictator when it comes to bedtime. Karen and she found Buck passed out, snoring like a lawnmower, a book still in his lap while sitting next to Denny’s bed.

“Nothing, Cap,” Chimney answers. “Just sharing excitement about the newbie.”

“You’ll meet him shortly. He had to pick up his gear first and talk to the higher-ups another time. Once he arrives, you can pester him with questions as I know you will.”

“On it, Cap.”

Bobby rolls his eyes, but then his mind goes back to the clipboard and the rest of the chores yet to be divided among the firefighters on shift. The rest of the morning routine goes without further incident, so the three are soon walking down the stairs to their designated task of checking their stocks on medical equipment.

“Okay. That is a beautiful man,” Chimney says, suddenly stopping in his tracks.

Hen trains her eyes on the dark-haired Latino, putting on a shirt. That should be the newbie, then.

“Where’s the lie? And I like girls.”

“Eddie…,” Buck breathes beside her.

Hen whips her head around at the sound.

“Wait, you know this guy?” Chim asks, but Buck doesn’t say anything. Instead, he starts to walk towards the new guy, or almost staggers, she should rather say. The newbie only takes notice of him when his head pops out from the shirt.

“Buck?”

To Hen, it feels like the two just go in slow motion while the rest of the fire station is crazy and busy as always. As though the whole world disappeared around them.

She can’t make out whatever words may be exchanged between them before the new guy covers the last few steps between them and pulls Buck against him in a tight hug. Shock is written all over his face, but also huge relief. Though Hen honestly wished they stood the other way around, because she would like to know just what expression is flitting across her little golden retriever’s face.

“What on earth is going on here?” Chimney mutters.

“I ain’t got no clue.”

The newbie pulls away, smiling over both ears, both hands deftly resting on Buck’s arms. Even though Hen still can’t see Buck’s face, it seems that the guy is doing all the talking for a change. Then he is hugging him all over again.

“I repeat, what on earth is going on here?”

“Only one way to find out.”

Before they can overcome their paralysis, Buck starts to move, gesturing behind himself. The new guy nods with the brightest of smiles, not once letting go of Buck’s arm as they start to walk towards them.

Her confusion is multiplied by the way Buck carries himself, eyes downcast, looking nothing but nervous.

Did someone exchange the 118’s golden retriever this morning, or what’s going on here?

“... can’t believe we meet again in this place of all places,” she can hear the new guy say as they approach.

“S, same.”

Buck is stuttering. To repeat the repeat: What on earth is going on here?

“We have so much catching up to do.”

“Yeah.”

“Buckaroo?” Hen calls out, or maybe demands. She no longer cares for the details here. She needs to get down to the bottom of this. Fast.

“Oh, sorry, I just… this is Eddie.”

“Hi.”

“Hi Eddie, it is a pleasure meeting you. We will greet you good and proper in only just a moment. Hold the line,” Hen says, before turning her attention back to Buck. “Now to you, Buckaroo. Spill the beans.”

“Yeah,” Chim agrees.

But Buck is not forthcoming. Boy looks like a fish out of the water, his mouth opening and closing without any sounds coming out. This makes the sirens ring inside Hen’s head, not the ones at the station. Because their Buckaroo never stops talking, even when he should sometimes, and even when he wants to stop talking, he will keep talking. So him not finding anything to say may or may not force Mother Hen to have to look after her punk chick here.

“We grew up together,” Eddie says after a pause, still all soft smiles and maybe even softer curls, by the looks of it. Hen will worry about that later, too. “I honestly had no clue he was working at this station, let alone that he was in L.A. Color me surprised. Abuela will not believe this.”

“Abuela?”

“My grandmother. She’s the one who fostered him before…,” Eddie continues, but then stops himself when he notices the look of sheer panic on Buck’s face. “They do not know this.”

Buck shakes his head.

“Dios.”

“Wait, you were in foster care?” Chimney almost cries out.

“In Texas?” Hen adds, her mind still short-circuiting thanks to that input.

“Yeah. I was adopted by the Moores after that.”

Chimney gapes at him. “You were adopted?”

“Yeah.”

“Wait, they don’t know about that either?” Eddie asks, now almost as frantic as they are.

Welcome to the club, hon.

“Now they do,” Buck mutters.

“But Maddie isn’t adopted. I should know.” Chimney lifts his index finger.

“Right,” Hen agrees.

Eddie makes a face. “Who’s Maddie?”

“My girlfriend, Buck’s sister.”

“You have a sister?” Eddie slaps his hand against Buck’s arm, shock taking the place of confusion.

“Wait, you grew up with him and don’t know his sister?”

“It’s a long story,” Buck sighs.

“Like how you’re Texan?” Hen scoffs.

Buck holds up his hands. “Okay, guys, can we stop spiraling for a second?”

Hen opens her mouth to give him a piece of mind, but she’s abruptly cut off by their captain standing at the top of the stairs. “Buck! I could use a hand up here!”

“On my way, Cap!” Buck yells back, the amount of relief to opt out of the conversation more than imminent. “Sorry, duty calls!”

“Hey no,” Chim hisses, but Buck isn’t having it. He pats Eddie on the shoulder. “We’ll talk later, okay?”

“Okay.”

With that, he starts to jog, or rather run, up the stairs. All watch him go, before their eyes fall back on the people standing right in front of them.

Well, if that’s not awkward.

“So, ugh. Hi again,” the new guy says, smiling sheepishly. “Eddie Diaz, your newbie.”

“Hi. Hen Wilson.”

“Howard Han, but you can call me Chimney or Chim. And why I’m called that is between me and God.”

“Okay. That may be only the second most confusing thing to happen on my first day.”

“We don’t normally act like this,” Hen tries to reassure him.

Chim makes a face. “We don’t?”

Hen nudges him in the side hard enough to make Chim gasp.

“Wilson, Han, you’re supposed to get on with the stocks!” someone calls out.

“You’re not our boss!” Chim shouts back at what turns out to be that jackass Lambert from B-roll no one likes because his attitude stinks about as much as his aftershave.

“But Cap is and he told me to tell you to move it!”

“I hate that guy,” Chim grumbles.

“I think I’ll like it here,” Eddie chuckles.

“They are so young and innocent when they join,” Chim snorts.

“Welcome to the 118,” Hen says, giving the younger man’s shoulder a gentle squeeze. “I suppose you should go up there as well and talk to the captain.”

“Alright, I’ll see you around.”

“Most certainly.”

“That was only mildly threatening,” Chim laughs, rolling his eyes well before Hen jabs him another time.

“Good to have you here,” he adds.

“Indeed.”

“Good to be here. See you later.”

“Later,” both say in unison.

Eddie smiles at them before climbing up the stairs.

“You try to get a hold of your boo, I’ll see what info I can squeeze out of Cap or Buck, whoever I get my hands on first.”

“Aren’t we supposed to get on with…”

Hen glowers at him.

“I said nothing.”

“Less talking to me, more talking to your girlfriend.”

Chimney makes a mock salute, before walking away while fiddling with his phone. Hen let’s her gaze wander up to the gallery with a grimace. Something is not right, but she is going to figure it out. Because Hen Wilson keeps all her little chicks on track, even more so now that they got a new one to take care of.

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

Eddie tosses the sponge into the water bucket. Getting some of the crappier chores for the day is something he fully expected to happen. What he didn't expect, not in a million years, was running into Buck. Eddie’s head is still reeling because of it. And for what it seems, the same is true for Buck.

Buck.

To say that he seemed shocked is an understatement. Eddie knows the way Buck expresses panic. He’s grown up making sure the kid breathed instead of keeling over when it hit him, so Eddie knows that this was not just surprise, this was fight-or-flight level panic. Eddie knows by now he was so panicked because his colleagues didn’t know about the fostering or adoption – and he could still kick himself for bringing it up unawares.

He jumped to the conclusion because Buck used to talk about it freely to anyone who asked, especially after he was adopted by the Moores. Because it was his way of signifying to the rest of the world that he’d made it from being abandoned to finding friends and family. So Eddie assumed that Buck wouldn’t act any different around his colleagues.

Far from it!

“Eddie, my friend.”

Eddie nearly jumps when Hen and Chimney materialize next to him.

Speaking of…

“Hi,” he greets them.

“How’re you liking it thus far?”

“The detergents smell not as bad as some others do,” Eddie snorts. “But I’m pretty sure that’s not what you came here to ask me about.”

“Just so that you know, you can tell us anything,” Hen says in that mild tone of voice, though Eddie is pretty sure she only says it this way not to scare him away.

“You are looking for bribing material on Buck, I take?”

“We always appreciate it, but we are more like… trying to get up to speed. Until you came to the station, we didn’t even know he’d been fostered,” Hen answers.

“Or adopted,” Chimney adds.

“In Texas.”

Eddie chews on the inside of his cheek. “Yeah, about that. So he actually found his sister?”

If seeing Buck nearly floored him, hearing about his sister was definitely not adding to Eddie’s calm.

“Yes, she’s my girlfriend. You’ll get to know her soon enough.”

There is a part in Eddie that’s very much relieved to hear that Buck found at least part of his family, but another part of him hurts at the news just as much. Because that means Buck likely learned some very uncomfortable truths about his past that won’t have added to the man’s confidence.

“Back in Texas, we knew nothing about where he came from, including whether he had siblings or not. There was an assumption, but no one could be sure.”

“How old were you by the time your grandmother fostered him?”

“I was eight years old.”

“Eight years old… Buck made it sound like he and Maddie were out of touch like, only by the time she got to know Doug.”

Eddie frowns. “Who’s Doug?”

“No one you want to know.” Chimney shakes his head.

Eddie shakes his head. All of this starts to make less and less sense. Why didn’t Buck tell them about any of this? Why didn’t he when he apparently found his sister? Why are they about as clueless as he is, even though they’ve been working side-by-side with him for how long now?

“We lost sight of each other when the Moores moved away from Texas. So they aren’t around anymore?”

Hen shrugs at that. “Let’s say we’ve never met them, never talked about them, or seen any pictures.”

“Kid arrived here with a travel bag and the will to become a firefighter,” Chimney adds.

Eddie can’t help but smile at that. “That sounds like him.”

“You sound pretty clueless actually, and not gonna lie, that is strangely reassuring,” Chimney snorts.

“I prepared for meeting many new people today. Not my best friend back from childhood.”

“Aw.” Hen clutches her hands in front of her chest.

“I just hope he’s not mad at me.” Eddie grimaces. There is something tugging at his heart, just thinking about it. A memory that goes way back in time. When he thought he’d messed it up with Buck forever and always, but he forgave quicker than Eddie could forgive himself.

“I don’t remember our Buckaroo being capable of keeping grudges for long.”

“Then that hasn’t changed at least,” Eddie sighs.

“I think you two should definitely get something to drink after work, reminiscence about the good old times. Catch up. Report back to us in the morning,” she says, her voice trailing off.

“You are aware that they are childhood friends.”

“But I can be far more intimidating.”

“I think getting something to drink and catch up is actually a good idea,” Eddie ponders. “So thanks.”

“You, I like.”

Eddie grins.

“You still missed a spot, though.”

Eddie chuckles, shaking his head. Buck made some good friends here, for what it seems. And he is more than glad for it. They can surely figure this all out.

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

Waking up this morning, Buck thought his biggest worry would be to sort himself out with regards to the newbie and his standing on the team as a result. While that remains true, he just didn't imagine for one hot second it may be Eddie of all people in the entire universe.

Eddie.

When Buck saw him at the station, he didn’t know how to breathe. Even though he hadn’t seen him in years, he knew instantly, only to know that he suddenly knew nothing anymore. Buck used to think he made his peace never seeing Eddie again after they moved away, but then Eddie was hugging him and all those things Buck made sure to bury deep in the ground started to crawl up through the dirt, scratching at a way too thin surface.

And now he is sitting at a bar, nursing his alcohol free beer – because he doesn’t drink when driving, he has to get people out of cars thanks to that behavior way too often, thank you very much. He is at a bar. With Eddie. His Eddie. Because Eddie invited him to get a beer after the shift, and Buck didn’t know how to say no.

Story of my life, isn’t it?

“… I don’t even know where to begin,” Buck admits after a while of awkward silence spreading between them, wherein both men just started peeling the label off of their bottles of beer.

“Same. I mean, you got a sister.”

“Yeah, ugh, I would have told you that, but Chim is still over the moon with her, so of course he mentioned her before I could. They are cute together, but at the disgusting kind of stage,” Buck ponders.

“I’m just so happy for you that you found your family, Buck.”

He manages a feeble smile. Because Buck knows that Eddie means it, understands it perhaps better than most. Because he had to deal with it growing up, had to deal with Buck dealing it growing up.

“I didn’t really find Maddie. We just… happened to meet again. Like us two did today.”

Eddie blinks at him. “Really?”

Buck nods his head. The universe always had the strangest kind of humor when it came to him.

“She’s a dispatcher now. We talked over dispatch for a while, not knowing who we are to each other. We decided to hang out. As friends. She didn’t know people in the city after she moved there only recently, so we also went to a pub and… we started to talk.”

Déjà-vu much, huh?

“Over time, I told her some stuff about my past and, well, Maddie realized that the timing seemed oddly familiar to the brother she thought had died,” Buck continues. “DNA test confirmed it.”

“I was wondering about that,” Eddie sighs, still trying to process that input for what it seems. “I mean, I really put my foot in it, just blurting out with this.”

Buck holds up his hands. “Eddie, no. You had any reason to believe I had told them. I suppose I’ve been blowing this up out of proportions anyway, so this is really just on me.”

“It’s your choice what you want to share with people about yourself, Buck.”

Buck blinks. Sometimes, he forgets how wise Eddie used to be already at a young age. He was also a dumbass a lot of times, but when it came to talking about Buck’s feelings instead of his own, the guy always knew how to make sense of the chaos and make Buck feel like his feelings weren’t just a tedious affair best ripped off like band-aids.

Eddie always understood Buck, even when he couldn’t understand himself. And Buck wants to think that the same was true the other way around, for as long as it lasted.

“Thanks.”

Eddie smiles at him, sipping from his beer.

“Speaking of, thanks to Maddie I now know my official name,” Buck continues, doing his best to sound jovial. “Evan Buckley.”

“Buck-ley. Well, that explains how you got the name,” Eddie ponders, before tilting his head to the side with a cocked eyebrow. “So do I call you Evan from now on?”

“If you want me to call you Edmundo?”

Eddie narrows his eyes at him. “You wouldn’t dare.”

Buck sniggers. “You should know better than to tempt me.”

“Evan.”

“Edmundo.”

“This sounds all kinds of wrong,” Eddie laughs, shaking his head. “For me, you can only ever be Buck.”

“Which is convenient, because I can only be Buck.”

There was a brief moment in time when Buck considered changing his name, taking on that identity, the one intended. In the end, he dropped the idea for what he hopes to be for good. He doesn’t know who this Evan Buckley was or what he’d be now. He knows what Buck was like growing up. He knows what the guy is up to these days. And while they have their qualms, he’s mostly at peace with Buck.

Even a name tag doesn't change a thing about it.

Because he’s Buck. And thankfully, Eddie sees it the same way. So maybe he’s not entirely crazy for holding on to that, however schizophrenic it may be in the end.

“Anyway, part of the reason why I managed not to let anyone in on this is that Maddie agreed to run with not mentioning it. We just stuck to the part where we lost sight of each other and found one another again when anyone asked. And until now, no one really questioned the timeline.”

“And no one ever made the connection between Buckley and Buck?” Eddie asks.

Buck shakes his head. “Maddie’s married name is Kendall. She considered changing it back to Buckley after she broke up with her scumbag husband. But when she found out what kind of scumbags our parents are, it was out the window. So no one had reason to question the difference in names and just assumed that Maddie’s birth name was Moore, too.”

“I take that there is no good explanation as to how you ended up in Texas, then,” Eddie sighs. Buck can tell that he’s trying to sound casual, soft, but the white-knuckled grip on the beer bottle is an entirely different story.

“No, not really. As far as we understand it, our parents moved across state borders under the pretense to get treatment for me. Then they just dropped me at a fire station and drove back. They told Maddie I died.”

“Why would they do that? Why would anyone’s parents…?” Eddie shakes his head, disbelief settling in. Buck knows the feeling oh too well. When he found out, it didn’t make sense to him at all. But as more details were added, the clearer the bigger picture became, though it turned none the brighter.

Buck looks around, just to be sure none of the 118 was sent here to spy on them. Once he is sure there is really just them, Buck hunches forward in his seat.

“Well, I was a big, fat disappointment, I guess. They had me to save their oldest son, Daniel. He had juvenile leukemia. I was… I was a savior baby. Just that… ugh, I didn’t save him. My guessing is that they never wanted me, so they gave me away after Daniel died. I was just there for spare parts anyway.”

Buck suddenly feels something cold in his neck, only to realize it’s Eddie’s hand gently squeezing it. Buck tenses for a moment, then eases to the familiarity of the touch, suppressing the urge to lean into it like he used to.

“I’m so sorry. I would’ve hoped for something else to come out of this.”

Buck manages a feeble smile. “It’s fine. I got a sister now I never expected to find. That’s great. Over the moon kinda great. And now I also ran back into you, too. So I’m one lucky bastard after all.”

Eddie’s hand lingers for a while, no words spoken and yet all is said between them. And how much Buck missed that. Not having to say things for them to be understood.

Eventually, Eddie’s hand falls on his shoulder, giving it a light pat before returning to his beer. “So we’re still friends after I spilled to your colleagues?”

“I didn’t stop being your friend after you got so mad for me saying that you couldn’t bake for shit, so you covered a balloon stuck to a cardboard box in frosting and told me you’d baked a cake and I cut the thing only for it to explode in my face.”

“To this day one of my proudest achievements when it comes to pranks,” Eddie snorts, breaking out laughing at the memory.

Buck can’t help but laugh along. Many of those memories got stuffed away alongside the ones he’d buried in the ground. He had no reason to unearth them because he chose not to tell anyone. But with Eddie, those things come back to light and they shimmer like gold, even after all those years of packing on dust.

“Laugh it up all you want, I got back at you eventually.”

“Don’t remind me,” Eddie groans. “I got grounded for a month because you led my parents to believe I’d be stupid enough to have a folder for porn on the family’s computer and made a message pop up every time that the folder was overloaded and created a system error.”

“Yeah. That was a masterpiece,” Buck sniggers. “But anyway. If that didn’t cancel our friendship, I think we’re fairly good with all this here.”

“Then I’m glad. When you fled the scene, I got kind of worried.”

Buck shrugs. “You know me. I’m a whirlwind of emotions, so I thought it’d be best if I took the time to cool down.”

“That was definitely not how you went about it before,” Eddie argues.

And Buck can’t argue with that. Back in the day, Buck just let the storms rage, never minding the consequences. On the job, that’s still how he rolls, but it was also how he talked, how he presented himself. After he got to meet the Diaz family, he stopped hiding a lot of things. He screamed when he felt like screaming and he cried when he was sad. He laughed when he was happy. And sometimes he even cried because he was that happy, but he learned that this was okay. Abuela always told him this and he took it to heart.

At least for as long as I could.

“Which is why I’m working on it. But anyway! Enough of me. Tell me about you. How long have you been in L.A.? What got you here?” Buck asks. Judging by the look on Eddie’s face, his transition of topics is not nearly as smooth as he’d want it to be, but Eddie rolls with it anyway.

“I moved here only shortly, for the job,” he says. “Before that, I was working some odd jobs. Before that, Afghanistan.”

Buck winces. “Shit.”

“Yeah, that’s one way of describing it. After I came back home injured, I couldn’t do this anymore. I had to set priorities differently, and somehow… I ended up in L.A.”

“Fresh start.” Buck nods his head. There is still so much to unravel in just those few sentences. Afghanistan. Injury. Priorities. Eddie tends to hide a lot more in his words, even more so when they are scarce. But for what it seems, he will now get the time to dig deeper. Because that is what Buck knows someone has to do in order to understand someone like Eddie Diaz.

“Yeah, exactly.”

“I get that feeling,” Buck says. “Los Angeles is great for that, worked out for Maddie and me, too.”

“We’ll have to drink a lot of beers to catch up on all those years we didn’t hear from each other to wind up having a fresh start in the same city.”

“Then it’s a date.”

Eddie wants to say something, but then his phone vibrates. “Sorry about that.”

Buck holds up his hands. “It’s fine.”

Eddie takes out his phone and checks his messages. Buck can see the instant shift in the other man’s demeanor. He knows that change like the back of his hand, even with years between where they parted ways and now crossed them again. Eddie’s shutting down.

“Hey, uhm, sorry, I gotta head out. It’s urgent,” he says, grabbing his wallet, clearly embarrassed and beat-up for having to leave so suddenly.

Some things don’t change, do they?

“Hey, it’s fine, man. We, ugh, we are stuck together now anyway, right? We’ll find enough time to catch up. It’s a date, after all,” Buck assures him. “Also, you’re not paying for the beer, unless you wanna pick a fight with me. Just go.”

Eddie smiles at him wryly. “Thanks. I’ll pay next round?”

“Sounds like a plan to me. Now off you go.”

“Sorry another time. I really gotta…”

“See you at work!”

“See ya!”

Buck manages to keep up the smile until the door shuts behind Eddie. His shoulders drop and he sucks in a deep breath. He pays for the beers and nearly flies out the door.

He makes for his car and climbs in. Buck realizes only now how badly his hands are shaking. Struggling for breath, he takes out his wallet again and fishes out that one crumpled piece of the past he carries with him whenever he’s not on the job, so to be sure it doesn’t get further damage.

Buck unfolds the faded photograph with shaky hands and presses it against his mouth, breathing hard against it. The tears keep coming, no matter how hard he tries to stop them. They are happy and sad. Desperate and relieved. Everything and nothing. And all that at the same time.

Eddie is back.

Eddie is back in his life, just like that, after the years it took him to accept he’d never see him again. That he’d moved on as he should have.

How do you rip off the band-aid or duct tape for that?

Or maybe that’s just the universe telling him that some things really can’t be fixed.

Because apparently, the universe is still mocking him.

[artzychic27]

Dark Quill

RIIIIIP!

Marc’s eyes widened as the Italian tore up his journal, page by page. He knew this girl was a liar, but he didn’t think she was just flat-out evil. He just asked her to stop lying about Marinette, and now this was happening!

“You made a mistake choosing to side against me!”

“I-I didn’t take sides.”, Marc managed to say despite still being in shock over his journal being destroyed, “What are you talking about?”

“Marinette, stupid!”, she hissed before tearing out another page, “You decided to side with her, you tried to defend her! I’m gonna show you why you made a horrible mistake.”, another page, RIP!

Marc was horrified. He never believed Lila’s lies and just thought she was just trying to impress her classmates, but he threw that idea out the window when he heard that Marinette was expelled for cheating, pushing Lila down the stairs, and stealing. Her. Marinette Dupain-Cheng, the sweetest girl in school. After Nathaniel told him that Lila was the one accusing her of doing such things, and that Marinette supposedly sent mean texts to Lila over the weekend when her phone was being repaired, Marc knew then and there that Lila Rossi was out to get the pigtailed girl.

Alix told him how she, Rose, Juleka, and Nathaniel tried to get everyone else to see the truth once they found out for themselves, but Lila would always turn on the waterworks and claim they were bullying her, making them look like the bad guys. They eventually stopped trying and decided to let everything crash and burn when Lila finally tells the wrong lie.

Marc wouldn’t give up so easily, though. She could lie about celebrities all she wanted, they’d eventually find out and sue for defamation. But it would be a cold day in hell before Marc let her lie about Marinette being a jealous bully…

Why did he have to confront her in an empty hallway with no witnesses?

“Since I’m so nice, I’ll give you ‘til the end of the day to choose the right side.”, she said with such malice, “But just a reminder- If you pick wrong, I will make your life hell. It’ll be too easy. They say keep an eye on the nice ones.”, she smiled evilly, “Just imagine Nathaniel’s face when he realizes that his innocent boyfriend is really a cruel, jealous bully.”

Hearing Nathaniel’s name come out of her evil mouth, Marc glared at the girl with so much hate that she took a step back, “Don’t even think about laying a finger on him!”, he felt tears about to pour out of his eyes any second, but he would not give her the satisfaction of seeing him cry

The Italian smirked, realizing that she found his trigger, “I never said anything about hurting him. A few choice words and I’ll make sure he’s disgusted at the mention of your name.”, tearing three more pages out the journal, Lila threw it to the floor, added insult to injury by stomping on it, then walked away

Once the evil Italian was out of sight, Marc dropped to his knees and cried as he picked up the remains of his journal. In his fifteen years of living, Marc’s dealt with many horrible people. Sure, they cheat and make fun of people, but there’s a reason behind it- They’re just petty, jealous, or insecure. But Lila Rossi is just evil. She gets a thrill out of hurting people; she lies to get whatever she wants. And she wants Marinette to suffer, and for Marc to be alone and hated by Nathaniel.

—

“Such a strong mix of emotions. Protective, devoted to his love, terrified of what may come, yearning for vengeance, a desire for justice. It’s almost too easy.” A pure white butterfly flew into the outstretched palm of Hawkmoth’s hand. Once covered with his under hand, the magic of the Miraculous transformed it into an Akuma, and it flew out the window, “Fly away my little Akuma. And evilize him!

—

Marc was too busy crying and picking up the pieces of his journal to hear the fluttering wings of the Akuma, and to notice it landing on his journal where it absorbed into it, turning it black. At that, Marc lifted his head up, revealing the red skin around his eyes and the dreaded Akuma symbol over his anger-present, tear-stained face

“What?”, he spat

Hawkmoth has never felt emotions this strong. It almost made him revoke the Akuma, worried of the destruction the boy may cause. No, he couldn’t let an opportunity like this go to waste. Marinette Dupain-Cheng evaded him many times, she was a ticking time bomb ready to bring about doomsday when Rossi pushed her over the edge. He’d just have to go for the next best thing…

“Dark Quill, I am Hawkmoth. With your powers, you can write your own story, create a new ending. One where this conniving villain parishes. And all when you put pen to paper.”

“… Fine. But I get to go after Rossi first.”, Hawkmoth sputtered a bit. Before he could speak and regain control, Marc continued, “You’ll get the Miraculous when I’m done. Got it?”

After a terrifying silence, Hawkmoth answered, “You may retrieve the Miraculous after you get your revenge. Do we have a deal?”, he asked, trying not to stammer, not wanting to show any fear

“Yes, Hawkmoth.”, Marc replied

At that, Marc was engulfed by a black and purple mist that bubbled up from the journal. When it dissipated Dark Quill stood in Marc’s place. The Akuma’s skin is a pale grey, he had no pupils or irises, just his white sclera. His hair became messier, and what appeared to be a hair ribbon was two red quills. A black mask covered his face, and his lips were painted black.

His outfit was a blood-red jumpsuit with a high collar, puff sleeves, and Renaissance pants. Along with the bodysuit was a black vest with blue accents, black fingerless elbow-length gloves, dark blue stud bracelets and a matching belt, and black knee-high platform boots. In his hand, he held a rolled-up scroll.

With a smirk, Dark Quill plucked one of the quills from his hair, unfurled the scroll, and began writing. “I’m coming for you, Liar Rossi.”, on the scroll, in black ink, was, ‘Those who saw the truth found their hatred for the Liar and her posse increased tenfold.’

--

Nathaniel has never wanted to punch someone so much in his life. He always thought Lila was annoying, but God! And not only her, but these idiots surrounding him.

There was Alya, who’s blog was becoming a tabloid, going on and on about Lila and her “accomplishments”.

Then Kim, who followed that girl around like a puppy. He obviously had a type- Petty and whiney when they don’t get what they want

They were all so stupid!... Well, except for Marinette, Alix, Juleka, Rose, and Adrien. Everyone else? Idiots who’ll believe the dribble that falls out of the Italian’s mouth. Nathaniel didn’t know where these thoughts were suddenly coming from. He always thought his classmates were kind of irritating from time to time, but now he just hated them… And from the dirty looks Alix and Marinette were giving their desk-mates, they felt the same way.

“Nath, did I ever tell you about my uncle? He’s a famous artist in Italy.”, Lila said, making Nathaniel roll his eyes at her obvious lie, “I could show him some of your work. He has connections with a few museums, and…”

‘Make it stop!’, he thought, rubbing hid temples to ease his headache, ‘The bell will ring soon. The bell will ring soon.’

“And who knows? Maybe he can find you a new writer for your comic!” Now that was the final straw, “No offense, but the writing seems a little subpar. I actually won a few writing contests, so I-“

“God! Will you shut up?!”, everyone in class gasped at the redhead’s outburst, “You are just so annoying! I have had put up sitting next to you and being forced to listen to your shit!”

“Nathaniel!”, Bustier scolded, “Don’t use language like that.”

Alix stood from her seat and slammed her hands down on the desk, “Cram it, Caline!”, she yelled, “That bitch just insulted Marc’s writing!”, she pointed out, casting a glare at Lila. All eyes were now on Lila. She started the waterworks and came up with a lie on the spot

“I-I didn’t mean to insult Marc.”, she stammered as she wiped her eyes, “I was just trying to help Nath get his art more recognition. B-but he yelled at me!”, she wailed, making students come to her aid, glare at Nathaniel and call him a bully. They were too mad to notice her sending a sneer the artist’s way

“Dumbasses.”, Marinette said with such malice in her voice. Everyone turned to the pigtailed girl with widened eyes. They’ve never heard her curse before.

“I’ve put up with a lot of your shit before, guys, but this? Come on. You honestly believe that thing”, she pointed a finger at Lila, “has connections? That she can get you whatever you need to succeed in life? She’s a damn fraud! Even a certified idiot can tell you that.”

The students who believed in Lila were stunned into silence. Why were they being so cruel to Lila and them? Lila didn’t lie, and they weren’t idiots.

“Yeah, and I can do without her constantly clinging to me, and touching me all the time!”, Adrien snapped

“B-but Adrien!”, Lila whined, “You said it was okay.”

“Why would I say that?”, he asked, “I despise you! You’re a liar, a thief, and just. A. Bitch.”, Nino cautiously approached him and put a hand on his shoulder

“Dude, what’s going on with you?”, he asked. At that, Adrien merely rolled his eyes and muttered what sounded like a curse word under his breath

Lila, becoming angry, ran down the stairs and tried to hold onto Adrien and remind him of his father’s threat, only for him to push her away and not reluctantly go through with it like he usually would, “Adrien, have they been manipulating you?”, she asked with a hand placed on her chest, “Did they threaten you?”

“Shut up, Rossi! We’re tired of your pathetic shit!”, Rose shouted. And once again, the students and teacher gasped as one of the sweetest girls in class cursed for them all to hear. Everything then turned to chaos. Marinette, Nathaniel, Alix, Rose, and Juleka pointed out everyone’s flaws and called out Lila’s many lies, (Not that anyone listened) while Adrien just glared at them with so much hate in his green eyes. Their classmates just looked at them, stunned. Not even Lila could do anything to stop them. They were supposed to stay silent and out of her way. When did they all grow spines?

Before they could tear into them some more, the bell rang for lunch, much to everyone’s relief. The art kids needed to take a few breaths, and the other students felt like crying or hiding in their rooms. And Lila wanted to set them straight and remind them who they were messing with.

“Finally.”, Nathaniel said, grabbing his messenger bag, “Let’s go before we lose anymore braincells.” At that, the arts kids and Adrien left the room

--

Mme. Bustier’s class walked out of the classroom minutes after comprehending what just happened and assuring Lila that it wasn’t her fault. While they were making their way to the cafeteria, all eyes were on them. None were friendly.

‘Ugh, it’s them.’

‘Lousy tabloid writer.’

‘Idiots.’

‘Is that actually her hair? I thought she had sausages taped to her face.’

‘What a liar.’

‘Jagged Stone had a cat? I thought they were supposed to be his fans.’

Alya whispered to Lila, “What’s going on? Why is everyone saying this stuff?”, she asked. Lila put on a meek demeanor and pouted

“I-I don’t know. I bet Marinette and the others are spreading lies about me.”, she wiped away a fake tear, “Now they’re turning the whole school against me!”, she whined, making Lila pull her into a hug

Watching from an empty classroom was Dark Quill. Once again, he plucked a quill and began writing, “Out of nowhere, a pencil case hit Lila on the side of her head.”

“I-I just-“, she let out a yelp as a red, black, and blue pencil case hit her on the head, “OW!”

Everyone looked for the culprit, but the other students looked just as confused, having no idea where that pencil case came from. Back in the classroom, Dark Quill continued writing, “The Akuma form of Dark Quill would soon reappear when the time was right.” A bright light engulfed Dark Quill. When it faded, Marc was in his place. The scroll and quill also changed, becoming a red pencil and a white journal

“What exactly is your plan?”, Hawkmoth asked as the Akuma symbol appeared on Marc’s face. He smirked and replied, “You’ll see.”, before he walked out of the classroom

--

“Have you guys seen Marc?”, Nathaniel asked as he sat down at a table with the other members of the art club. They all shook their heads, “I haven’t heard from him since this morning. I hope he’s okay.”

Alix grinned, “Aw, someone misses his boyfriend!”, Juleka smacked her on the shoulder

“Nath!”, the voice Nathaniel grew to hate called out, making him slam his head down on the table. They looked to see Lila and her posse walking in, only to be met with harsh glares from the other students. Nathaniel grabbed the plastic knife off of his tray and handed it to Alix before asking, “Will you be a good friend and kill me?”, but it was too late. Lila made her way over to the table and sat down between them

Marinette smiled, “Lila, I say this in the nicest possible way. Get the hell out of here before I rip those two sausages off your head.”, seeing the Italian’s astonished expression, she smirks

Lila ignores her and turns her attention back to Nathaniel, not caring about the annoyed look he was giving her, “I’m sorry about insulting Marc’s writing like that, it wasn’t my intention.”

Rose coughed into her elbow, ‘Bullshit.’

Ignoring her, Lila continued, “But I don’t think you should be hanging around him anymore. He may seem nice, but when you’re not around, he acts so mean!”, she wailed. Nathaniel rolled his eyes, “I saw him copying someone else’s story and claiming that it was his. A-and when I tried to talk him out of it, he threatened me.”, she forced a tear out of the corner of her eye

 Juleka chuckled, “Great story, Lila. One of your most pathetic.”, she spat. The whole table laughed, but Lila was fuming

“I’m serious! Marc really did threaten me!”, at that, the entire cafeteria laughed, except for the few students in Bustier’s class who believed her stories

Aurore approached her, “Rossi, you’re talking about the boy who cried when we had to dissect frogs in biology.”

“And when I killed a spider.”, a brunette boy, Ismael, pointed out, “The boy is a literal saint.”

“Aw, Ismael,”, Everyone turned to the source of the touched voice and saw Marc, standing at the doorway, “you do care about me.” Ismael crossed his arms over his chest, “Do not. I’m just wondering why lil miss Lie-la is spouting bullshit about you.”

Lilla, still trying to look like the victim, held onto Alya’s arm. The creole girl shouted, “Leave her alone! She’s just trying to warn Nath.”

“Uh, last time I checked, only people I like get to call me ‘Nath’.” Alya was taken aback. Nathaniel got up from his seat, walked over to Marc and planted a kiss on his cheek, which the disguised Akuma enjoyed, “And you honestly believe that my sweet Rainbow could threaten someone?”, Marinette and Rose giggled at the adorable nickname

Alya looked a little unsure but then she saw Lila crying. She sniffed, “S-so you think I’m lying?”

“Yep.”

“Pretty much.”

“That’s what I’ve been saying.”

“It’s pretty obvious.”

“Yeah.”

Kim frowned, “Why are you guys being so mean?”

“And why are you singling us out?”, Marinette asked, now fuming, “You don’t see how everyone here hates that girl’s guts?”, she pointed to Lila, who was now scowling, throwing away the whole ‘kicked puppy’ routine, “And you all know Marc. He would never threaten anyone. He doesn’t even talk to Lila.”

Noticing their eyes shifting around the room, Marinette rolled her eyes, “You guys honestly think there’s an Akuma making us act like this? Newsflash! We’re tired of you guys!”, she jabbed at Kim’s chest with her finger, prompting him to back away.

The Akuma Class was horrified. This had to be the work of an Akuma, they just knew it. Their friends didn’t really feel this way about them, they were just being controlled by an Akuma out to get Lila

“Dude, there’s gotta be an Akuma!”

“We know it!”

“You don’t really mean what you’re saying!

“THERE’S NO AKUMA!”

…

A voice cut through the silence, “No. There is.” Everyone, especially Nathaniel, gasped when they saw Marc being engulfed by the same bright light from earlier. They all backed away when the light faded to reveal Dark Quill

“… Huh. I guess there was an Akuma.”, Marinette said as she backed out of the cafeteria, everyone too busy staring at the new Akuma to notice as she ran off to transform into Paris’ hero

Lila pointed to the villain, “See?! There is an Akuma after me! He’s making everyone say all these horrible things!”

“Marc?”, Nathaniel whispered, “W-what happened?”, he asked as he slowly approached his Akumatized boyfriend

“Don’t listen to him! He’s an Akuma, of course he’s gonna lie!”, Lila exclaimed

“Well sweetie, if you must know, Lila threatened me, then tore apart my journal.”, he said as he cupped Nathaniel’s cheek, “… The rest you know.”

Nathaniel’s concern faded as he slowly turned his head toward the Italian. She actually backed away when she saw the fiery rage in his turquoise eyes, “You. Did. What?!”

“Lila wouldn’t threaten anyone!”, Ivan yelled

Mylene added, “She doesn’t lie either!”

Dark Quill frowned, “God, you’re all twits.” Plucking a quill, he began to write, “Doing what she should have done months ago, Alya checks her sources.”

Alya looked confused, wondering what he meant. Then suddenly, she reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone, “I-I’m not doing this!”, she starts typing something in the search bar while Lila desperately tries to snatch the phone out of her hands

“H-he can do whatever he wants with his powers!”, she said with desperation in her voice, “He probably got rid of all the websites that mention me!”

The class was sure that what their friend is saying was the truth. This Akuma could probably bend reality and do whatever he desired with his powers. He made every student at school hate them and Alya pull out her phone against her will. But a voice in the back of their heads told them otherwise. They often doubted Lila because of this voice, but she had no reason to lie, so they had no reason to distrust her… Right?

Alya scrolled through her phone, a look of confusion on her face, “There’s nothing here...”

“See? I told you!”, Lila yelled, “He erased every record of my accomplishments, so you all think I’m lying! He’s out to get me!”

He chuckled, “Now why would you think that?”, then wrote something else on the scroll. Five red darts materialized at his side, and the Akuma class suddenly flew across the room, leaving Lila exposed. Lila paled when she saw that the darts were aimed at her. “Rossi, all you have to do is tell the truth, and- Oh, what the hell? Let’s just get this over with!”

Lila tried to run away, but she found her feet glued to the floor. This Akuma clearly thought of everything. The darts hurdled at her and Lila closed her eyes, waiting for the darts to pierce right through her… Only for a red and black spotted yo-yo to wrap around her waist and pull her out of her shoes, leaving the darts to hit a wall. All heads turned to see Ladybug standing at the doorway, looking pissed

“Great. Once again, saving your sorry self.”, she spat, much to everyone’s shock

“I could’ve handled him myself, Ladybug! I didn’t need your help!”, Lila said in response

“Hey, idiot!”, Aurore yelled, “She saved your damn life! Show a little thanks!”

Dark Quill only grinned, “Well, it would seem Paris’s hero is aware of Miss Rossi’s lies. How convenient. Ladybug, I thought Lila was your dearest friend.”

The spotted heroine only gagged, “Please! I would rather be cataclysmed than be friends with her!”, she spun her yoyo, using it as a shield to block the darts heading for her while the class stared with their jaws hung open. ‘Lila wasn’t friends with Ladybug?’, they thought.

Then, as if summoned by the mention of his power, Chat Noir burst through the door. “Alright, let’s get this over with.” The Akuma class shuddered as the usually friendly superhero sent a glare their way. Alya even put down her phone, “Look, I get why you hate Lila. But we can’t let you hurt her.”

“Hurry up and take him down, now!”, Lila demanded

Dark Quill scowled as he wrote something down on his scroll, “Dark Blade appeared. His sword ready to cleave the liar in two!” At that, Dark Blade appeared next to him in a flash of red light. Lila’s eyes widened when she saw the armored Akuma running towards her with his sword raised. Ladybug readied her yoyo, but soon found herself being used as a human shield when Lila pushed her to the front and held her wrists so she couldn’t use her yoyo to defend herself

“What the hell?”, she screeched. Chat let out a snarl and extended his staff to duel with the knight. He then gasped, “NO!”

“Dark Blade immediately froze in place!”, Dark Quill narrated in a panicked voice as he quickly wrote on the scroll. The Akuma suddenly stopped on his tracks. Ladybug, still trying to get out of Lila’s hold, wondered why he called off the attack until she saw the familiar mess of red hair. Nathaniel stood in front of the knight; his eyes widened when he saw that the tip of the sword was only an inch away from his face, and he let out a relieved sigh.

Nathaniel backed away and locked eyes with Dark Quill. Fear was present on his grey face, and a single tear trailed down his cheek, “Marc… Rainbow, I’m fine. Really.”

Lila released Ladybug and made a run for the exit. But before she could reach the door, she fell. She looked and saw that a pair of metal shackles have formed around her ankles. Another pair, with a chain connected, appeared around her wrists. The Italian let out a yelp as she was pulled by the extra chain towards Dark Quill, who was livid

“You. Will PAY FOR THIS!”, he yelled as tears formed in his eyes

“I’m not the one who summoned the knight and almost put his stupid boyfriend in danger!”, she retorted, but then let out a scream as the shackles tightened around her wrists. “Everyone in Paris will know who you truly are!”, Dark Quill gave Nathaniel one last sad glance before writing on his scroll. He and Lila disappeared in a flash of blue light

“NO!”, Ladybug screamed

“Alya’s gone!”, Nino said frantically as he searched for his girlfriend

Chat scratched his head in confusion, “Did the Akuma take her, too?”

The Akuma class let what Lila had done sink in. They felt horrified, disgusted, and betrayed. Lila. Their supposed friend. The most honest person they know. Used Ladybug as a human shield. If she would do that, then it was clear she lied about her and Ladybug being best friends… And about everything else.

“Marinette was right…”, Mylene said what her classmates were thinking, tearfully, “Lila really is a liar.”

The scowls and sneers Alix, Rose, and Juleka have been giving their classmates earlier melted into guilty expressions. Same for the other students. They remembered all of the things they said and could barely look them in the eyes

“Nathaniel, are you alright?”, Ladybug asked him as she glanced over at the still frozen Dark Blade

“Yeah, I’m fine.”, he said, “Marc wouldn’t hurt me.”

The spotted hero smiled and let out a breath of relief, “Please don’t do that again.”

“Save Marc, and you’ve got yourself a deal.”

“Feel free to let Marc take care of Lila.”, Ivan grunted. Everyone turned to the usually pacifistic boy with astonishment. He shrugged, “You were all thinking it.”

“Where could they have gone?”, Marinette asked herself

“Well, Marc did say he would show Paris who Lila really is, and he did take Alya with him.”, Nino said, “Nadja Chamack has the most popular show in Paris, and the Ladyblog grabs everyone’s attention when there’s a livestream. They’re probably at the TVi Studio.”

“He’s going to reveal her on live tv and the Ladyblog!”, Chat Noir exclaimed

Ladybug nodded ad the capped boy, “Thanks, Nino. Let’s go Chat.”

And they were off. The tension in the cafeteria was thick as the Akuma class felt like idiots for believing Lila, and the others felt remorse for how they acted

Meanwhile, Ladybug and Chat Noir were sailing and vailing over the rooftops in the direction of the studio when their yoyo and staff suddenly beeped. They stopped on a roof and used the phone setting on their weapons; a live stream of the Ladyblog was playing

“Hello, viewers.”, Alya greeted, but not in her usual ‘live on the scene reporter’ tone. Her voice had a hint of ire, but she tried to mask it with a strained smile, “Alya here, and once again, I’ve been kidnapped by an Akuma. But don’t worry, I’m not going to be sacrificed like last time.”, she joked, then panned the phone around to show Lila, tied up on the couch next to a terrified Nadja “The Akuma is having me do a livestream so everyone will see Lila for who she really is!”, she snapped, “This girl used Ladybug as a damn shield!”

“Alya, you can throttle Miss Rossi later.”, the young reporter panned her phone over to Dark Quill, “Right now, let’s introduce our guests.”, using a quill plucked from his hair, he wrote on the scroll, “Bursting through the doors was Jagged Stone, Clara Nightingale, and Prince Ali.”

The cameras turned to the doors as Jagged, Clara, and the Prince made their way into the room. The celebrities and royal looked very confused, “Now how did we get here?”, Jagged asked

“What are we doing in this place?”, Clara asked before pointing to Lila, “And why does that girl look red in the face?”

Ali spoke, “Um, I was at a very important meeting. I shouldn’t be here right now.”

“Oh, this will only take a moment.”, Dark Quill said, and they backed away at the sight of the Akuma, “Have a seat.”

They nodded, not wanting to anger the Akuma, and made their way over to the couch. They casted a confused glance over to the tied-up girl, “Who’s she?”, Jagged asked, and Lila internally screamed

“Oh, Jagged, you don’t remember Lila? The girl you wrote a song about?”

Jagged sputtered, “Wrote a song?! About a teenage girl?!”, he stood up and faced the cameras, “That is just sick! I am in my bloody late thirties!”, he exclaimed

“Why, the girl tied up next to you, of course.”, Dark Quill, gestured to Lila with a taunting smile. Jagged gave the girl an incredulous look, “You were so grateful that she saved your poor kitten from being run over by an airplane, gaining a hearing loss in the process.”

“That is false!”, the Rockstar shouted, “I never owned a kitten in my life! I’m highly allergy to animal fur!”, he points to Lila, “Whatever this girl is saying about me is false!”

Clara gasped, “How could she say such falsehoods? They’ll only do worse than good.”, she rhymed

“So true Mme. Nightingale.”, Dark Quill nodded, “So I’m sure you absolutely abhor the lies she’s been telling about you, hm?”, off Clara’s stunned reactions, he continues, “According to Lila, she taught you some of your best dance movies, but you didn’t give her credit.”, he sent a sneer at the Liar, she returned the look

“SHE WHAT?!”, Clara yelled in anger, much to everyone’s shock, “All of my dance moves come from only me! Not from this… This LYING HUSSY!”, everyone in the studio went silent as soon as they heard the pop-star curse. Jagged stifled a laugh, Prince Ali covered his mouth in shock, Nadja hid her face with the papers in her hands, and Lila just glared at everyone in the room, “I apologize for such a harsh word, but it seemed appropriate for this wretched girl! I take my dancing seriously, and I hope miss Rossi gets punished harshly…”

The prince lets out a cough after a few seconds of silence, “H-has she said anything about…”, the Akuma quickly turned to him, making the prince sink into his seat, “…me?”

Dark Quill smiled, “Yes, your majesty. Whenever Lila wasn’t in school, she was spending time at the palace with you, helping your with your environmental charities, crying whenever you and some other prince would fight over here.”, he lets out a dark chuckle then grabs Lila’s face, “But what’s there to fight over, really?”

Lila thrashes in her chains, “I was just jealous of my friends, okay?! I just wanted them to like me!”, she wailed, ignoring the heat radiating off of the music artists and Prince

“Are you kidding me?”, Jagged asked as he rubbed his temples, “She’s kidding right?”

Alya groaned, “God, I feel stupid.”

Dark Quill summoned his scroll, and pulled out another quill, “Time for you to finally tell the truth, Lie-la.” On the scroll, he began writing, “Lila Rossi finally revealed every lie she’s to-“, before he could write the last two letters, Ladybug and Chat Noir burst into the room, “Oh, great.”

“GET ME OUT OF HERE!”, Lila screeched

Ladybug ignored her and approached the Akuma, “Dark Quill, you got your revenge. Just surrender now.”

Dark Quill scoffed, “Oh, I haven’t even started!”, he grabs Lila and hoists her up by the front of her shirt, “I want this she-demon to reveal everything! Then I’ll make sure Paris never has to deal with her ever again!”, he let go of the scroll, and it floated in front of him. He wiped his hand over the sentence he was writing before the heroes barged in, making the ink disappear. Dark Quill wrote, “The Akuma, the Liar, and the amateur reporter teleported out of the studio.”

A white light engulfed him, Lila, and Alya. Chat tried to grab Dark Quill, but he vanished out of the room, and Chat ended up on the floor, “M’lady, maybe it’s time to break out the Lucky Charm?”

“I think so too.”, she agreed, then yelled out, “LUCKY CHARM!”

A red feather floated down gently into her hands, “A feather?”

Chat shook his head, “I don’t think he’s ticklish.”

“That’s a rooster feather.”, Jagged said as she walked over to Ladybug. The spotted heroine handed him the Lucky Charm object, “Yeah, my old man bred a few when I was young. I’d recognize one of these anywhere.”

As Ladybug examined the feather, she realized what she was meant to do with it, “I got it! Thanks, Jagged!”, the rockstar beamed at the praised from the hero. Ladybug turned to Chat, “Go look for Dark Quill, call me when you find him.”

“I can have the news choppers look around if that’ll help.”, Nadja suggested

“It will!”, at that, the two heroes ran out of the station.

--

Ladybug ran into an alley, “Spots off.”

After the detransformation, Tikki floated in front of her, “What are you planning, Marinette?”

“When I was battling Kwamibuster, I remember seeing a rooster Kwami.”

Tikki perked up, “Orikki?”, Marinette nodded, “Who do you have in mind for the job?”

“The one person who can help Marc now.”

--

The drawers of the Miracle Box opened before her as Master Fu gave her the warning about the Miraculous getting into the wrong hand and choosing only people she could trust.

Marinette reached down to pick up the thumb ring. “I know just the person.”

--

In the Louvre, Alix was furiously skating around the gallery while Nathaniel, Juleka, and Rose watch, “GOD! She was exposed on live tv, and still tries to make herself look like the victim!”, she exclaimed, “Whatever Marc’s gonna do to her, she deserves it!”

Juleka furrowed her brow, “I hope it isn’t too bad.”

Alix stopped skating, “Huh?”

“Well, Marc said he make sure Paris never had to deal with her ever again.”, she reminded the pink-haired girl. Rose’s eyed widened, “… He wouldn’t.”

“No.”, Rose covered her mouth

Nathaniel shook his head, “N-no. Marc wouldn’t do that!”, he denied

“I don’t know Nath. He did summon Dark Blade to slice her open.”, Alix reminded him, horrified

“Nathaniel!”, the four of them turned to see Ladybug running into the room, “I need you!”

Nathaniel choked on his own spit, “E-excuse me?!”

“I need you to tell me. How much do you want Marc back?”

“I-I’d do anything! He’s still in there, I just…”, he wipes a tear forming at the corner of his eye. Ladybug rested a hand on his shoulder and smiled, “Well, you can help him.”

The four of them watched as Ladybug held a hexagonal box in front of the redhead

“Nathaniel Kurtzberg, here is the Miraculous of the Rooster, which grants the power of distraction. You will use it for the greater good. Once the job is done, you will return the Miraculous to me.”

Nathaniel was speechless, and just stared at the box resting in Ladybug’s hands. When ten seconds passed buy and Nathaniel didn’t say or do anything, Ladybug waved her hand in front of his face, “Nathaniel?

Alix snapped her fingers in front of his face, “Nath? Bud?... I don’t think- Oh! He’s falling!”, Juleka and Rose catch him before he can fall to the floor, and help him back up

Helping Ladybug save Marc was one thing but being a superhero?! Nathaniel couldn’t believe it. He wanted to scream and jump on his bed… But what if he failed? He’d disappoint Ladybug and… Marc.

“Nath, you gotta do it.”, Alix told him as he was brought back into reality, “Marc needs you.”

“I…”

Juleka gave him a reassuring smile, “You got this.”

“Do it, Nath!”, Rose screamed as she shook him by his shoulders

“Alright, I’ll do it.”

Ladybug placed the box in his hands. Nathaniel opened it, revealing a bronze thumb ring inside. It was two loops connected by a single chain and adorned with a feather decoration. There was a bright flash of light that spiraled around Nathaniel, and the art kids shielded their eyes for a moment before looking at the little Rooster-like creature floating in front of them

“Hi! Nice to meet you! I’m Orikko! You must be glad to meet me!” Nathaniel and Juleka just stared with their jaws hung open, Alix has already seen a Kwami, so she wasn’t too impressed, and Rose was trying not to squeal at how adorable the Kwami was, “Ooh! I love your hair!”, they gathered Nathaniel’s bangs in their hair and moved them to the side, “I am going to have so much fun styling it!”

“W-what are you, exactly?”, Nathaniel asked

“Why, I’m a Kwami! I give you powers, enhanced abilities. Just put the ring on you thumb and say the words: Orikki, sunrise!”

Nathaniel nodded and slipped it on his thumb, “Orikko! Sunrise!”

The Kwami flew into the Miraculous, turning it gold and adding a red enamel feather that connected the two rings. A yellow beak appeared over Nathaniel’s face and extended into a red mask that covered his face. His hair swept back into a faux hawk, and the tips were colored a red much darker than his hair. His outfit was similar to Rena Rouge’s, only the boots were yellow, the bodysuit was a burnt orange color, the underbelly was yellow, he had elbow-length dark red gloves, and the ends of the tail looked like feathers. In his hand, formed a formed a golden bow

Royt Hon was ready!

—

Meanwhile, Chat Noir was at the top of the Eiffel Tower, sword fighting with Riposte as news helicopters hovered around them and recorded the fight, along with Lila, tied up with rope and dangling over the railing of the fence. Dark Quill was plucking the rope and cackling as Lila screamed whenever she felt a vibration, thinking she was going to fall

“I’ll give you one last chance, Rossi!”, the scroll appeared next to him in a puff of smoke and unfurled, “Just tell Paris the truth, and make things easier!”

“I’M NOT LYING! LADYBUG WILL BE HERE ANY MINUTE!”, she screeched

Dark Quill sighed, “You just have to make things complicated.”, he plucked one of the red quills, and began writing, “Once the last lie has been told, Lila Rossi shall meet her demise!”

“Dark Quill, what are you doing? Don’t kill her! That is an order!”

“You want me to write a death scene for you?...”, he was met with silence, “Then zip it! Now tell all of Paris you’re lies, Rossi!”

”I… I hate Ladybug!”, Lila yelled, clearly against her own will, “I want her dead!”

Alya gasped, nearly dripping her phone, and judging by Dark Quill’s widened eyes, he was not expecting that. The citizens watching from below frowned and started yelling. Ladybug was their hero, so anyone who hated her was public enemy #3, before Hawkmoth and Mayura

“Why do you hate her?”, he asked

“That bitch ruined my chances with Adrien! He should be MINE! All I did was lie about being some damn fox hero! Who gives a shit?! Every time I get myself Akumatized, I try everything to get rid of that stupid bug!”

…

Alya and Chat were speechless. Dark Quill was horrified, as were the citizens below

“You… Get yourself Akumatized on purpose?”

“Yeah! That’s how much I hate those heroes! Every time there’s an Akuma attack, I just laugh whenever Ladybug is crushed, thrown into a wall, or worse!”

“And the celebrities you’ve met? The places you’ve visited?”, Dark Quill asked, getting over his shock

“They were telling the truth back at the studio!”, she admitted, “I don’t know any of them! Jagged Stone never even owned a cat!”

Before Dark Quill could ask another question, Alya called out, “What about Marinette?! Was everything she said about you true?”

“Duh! All that self-righteous pain in the ass had to do was fall in line like the rest of you idiots! But instead, she decided to go to was with me! So I tried to ruin her life! I framed her for everything! She didn’t push me down the stairs, I put my necklace in her locker, and I put the answer sheet in her backpack! And everyone was too stupid to check the security cameras!”

Back at Dupont, the students and teachers were watching the live stream with looks of rage and disgust. M. Damocles even ordered the custodian to check the security footage from when those incidents took place

“And why do you hate here?”

“Because she stole Adrien from me! His dad even gave me a modeling contract so I would keep them apart because I told him she was a bad influence!”

Chat Noir lost focus when he heard that, and Riposte used that moment to attack and overpower him. He was now pinned to the floor with Riposte’s sword just inches away from his face

“Anything else you’d like to admit?”, he sneered

“I tore up Marc Anciel’s stupid journal and threatened to make everyone hate him!”, she glared at the Akuma with all of the hate in the world, but he smirked.

“Well, if that’s all, you should be plummeting in three… two… one.”, and at that, the rope snapped, and Lila was falling to her death

“NO!”, Chat yelled

Alya covered her mouth in horror, “Oh my God!”

It seems as though luck was not on Lila’s side. The trampoline the firefighters used to catch people jumping out of burning buildings had a massive hole, so nothing was keeping her from becoming a stain on the ground. She was halfway from her doom when suddenly, a red and orange blur swooped in, and she found herself on the second floor of the tower. She looked up and scowled when she was met with a new hero

“Who are you?”, she spat, only to receive a hate-filled glare from the rooster-themed hero

“Just stay here, and don’t do anything stupid… Liar.”, and he leaped away

—

“Is that all you’ve got, Ladybug?!”, Dark Quill shouted as he swiftly dodged her yo-yo. Behind him, Chat Noir was still pinned to the floor by Riposte, his staff was out of his reach, “Just hand over your Miraculous!”, an arrow suddenly shot past his head, “What the…”

The arrow hit Riposte, and she disappeared into pieces of shredded paper. Chat Noir was back on his feet, and ready to join the fight. Royt Hon leaped onto the railing, holding the bow in his left hand, and a glowing arrow in his right. Alya held up her phone to film the new hero.

“Good to see you again, m’lady. I wasn’t eggspecting a new hero.”, he joked. Ladybug let out a groan, and Royt Hon chuckled a little

“The name’s Royt Hon.”, he answered before turning to Dark Quill with a soft look, “Marc, this cant be what you want. I know you’re not a violent person.”, he said calmly. Dark Quill was stunned for a moment before he scowled and his grip tightened on his quill as he wrote again

“YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT I’M LIKE!”, he screamed, then multiple heat-seeking missiles appeared at his side. He pointed to the heroes, and the missiles went after their targets. While they were preoccupied, Dark Quill jumped from down, ready to get rid of the liar once again

Ladybug used her yoyo to grab one missile and fling it into two, making them blow up. Chat smacked one into another, the same result. Royt Hon got his bow ready and pulled back the string. Five glowing arrows appeared, and when he released, they shot right through the remaining  missiles, and they blew up

“Nice shooting, Royt!”, Chat complimented as he patted him on the back, much to the Rooster hero’s gratitude

“We better go. He’s probably after Lila.”, Ladybug rolled her eyes at the mention of the liar’s name, then she turned to Alya, “You should go home.”

The journalist nodded, “I will. And I’ll be making a new post on a certain someone.”, she said with hatred in her voice before walking towards the elevator

—

“Lie-la!...”, he called out, “I’m not gonna drop you this time!... Maybe.”

The liar, still tied up, hid behind once of the beams and tried to keep her breathing quiet as this psychotic Akuma searched for her. How could Hawkmoth do this?! He should’ve akumatized her! Not some pathetic loser out to kill her!

“Found you.”

Lila paled as the Akuma threw her to the cold hard floor. She looked up and saw Dark Quill approaching her with a look that said, ‘I’m going to kill you.’, and as she prepared for her demise, she heard…

“SUNRISE!”

Lila and Dark Quill shielded their eyes as a being made of light approached them. Dark Quill tried to open his eyes and write something that would get rid of this blinding white light, but he couldn’t concentrate and shielded his eyes again.

“CATACLYSM!”

Dark Quill felt the scroll disintegrate in his hands, and heard the flap of a butterfly’s wings, followed by, “No more evil-doing for you little Akuma! Time to de-evilize! Gotcha! Bye-bye, little butterfly.”

Dark Quill uncovered his eyes and was relieved to find the bright light has finally dimmed. He saw Royt Hon, giving him a look of concern, and Chat Noir handing Ladybug a pair of ladybug-print sunglasses. She tossed them into the air and shouted,

“MIRACULOUS LADYBUG!”

The sunglasses exploded into millions of ladybugs that flew all around Paris, fixing the damage caused by the Akuma. Jagged and Clara returned to their hotel rooms, Ali was back at Achu, much to the relief of the castle staff. Dark Blade, still frozen in the cafeteria disappeared, and Lila was no longer tied up.

Dark Quill was engulfed in purple energy that vanished to reveal Marc, who blinked in confusion. “W-where am I? What happened?”, he felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to see Royt Hon giving him a sympathetic look, “What did I do?”, he asked fearfully

—

Hawkmoth sighed, “Maybe it was for the best. His emotions were too strong, I couldn’t even control his actions… Another time, perhaps. Now that Miss Rossi is out of the picture.”

—

“YOU TRIED TO KILL ME, YOU WORTHLESS NOBODY!”, Lila screeched. Royt Hon glared and wrapped his arms around Marc, making him blush. Before Lila could say more, Ladybug approached her, looking furious and her fists shaking, ready to punch her. Chat Noir even extended his staff and bared his claws. She backed away

“Like you would hurt me!”, she gloated

“Oh, I think she has every right.”, she turned her head and saw Alya, holding up her phone, still recording, “You just exposed yourself live in front of Paris. Admitting your hatred for the city’s beloved hero, framing Marinette, and working with a known terrorist!”

“I-I…”, she pointed to Marc, “He made me say those things! They were all lies! He’s jealous me, just like Marinette!”, she claimed, crocodile tears already forming

“Why would I be jealous of a lying bitch?”

Lila let out a gasp and cried harder, “See? He hates me!”

“Oh, I could think of much worse.”, Chat muttered before turning to Royt Hon, “Royt, get Marc out of here. We’ll deal with Rossi.

“I’ll get your Miraculous later.”, Ladybug added as she cracked her knuckles, and Chat cracked his neck. Royt sent the liar a smirk before gathering Marc in his arms bridal style and carrying him away. Alya stormed over to Lila, her fists ready

“I posted lies because of you! I called my best friend jealous!”, she shouted as Lila back into a corner to get away from the angry reporter, and the even angrier heroes

—

Royt landed outside the school and set Marc down, “Are you alright.”

“Yeah. Thanks.”, he smiled before worry took over, “Where’s Nath? Is he alright?!”

“Uh… Yeah!”, he answered, “I saw him and three girls by the Louvre, actually.”

Marc sighed with relief, “Oh, thank God. I gotta apologize. I almost hurt him, he must hate me-!”, Royt reacted and took his hand in his

“He knows you didn’t mean to. You weren’t in control, he understands that. You just didn’t want Lila to hurt you or Nathaniel…”

Marc smiles, “Thank you…”

Royt blushes, “No problem…”, he started leaning in, but suddenly felt Marc’s hand on his chest, stopping him. He gives the boy and confused look

“I-I have a boyfriend.”, Marc said, looking away in embarrassment

The Rooster hero remembered that he wasn’t Nathaniel right now and internally face palmed, “Heh. Sorry! Sorry about that…”, they suddenly heart a beeping sound. Royt looked and saw that the feather on his ring was flashing. ‘Thank you.’, he thought, “I should go. I’ll see you around.”, and he jumped up to the roof of the school and went from rooftop to rooftop

“Yeah…”

—

“You should have seen them!”, Orikko gushed as Ladybug giggled at the sight of Nathaniel’s red face, “It was so cute! I haven’t seen sparks fly like that since Captain Phoenix met Lady Lacro Iris on one of her expeditions!”

“Okay, okay, back in the box.”, the Kwami groaned, gave Nathaniel one last hug, then returned back to the ring. “Thanks, Nathaniel.”

“It was an honor working with you and Chat Noir!”, he admitted, his voice laced with joy before turning butter, “So, what happened to Lila?”

“Let’s just say that Karma finally caught up with her.”, she pulled out her yoyo and prepared to swing away, “And since the other heroes have been compromised, I’ll be sure to find you when the situation calls for Royt Hon.”, before Nathaniel could say anything, she swung away. He looked around to make sure he was alone, and squealed

“NATH!”, Alix yelled as she ran out of the Louvre and tackled him to the ground, “YOU WERE AWESOME!”

“We saw it all on the Ladyblog!”, Rose squealed

“You were a total badass.”, Juleka complimented

Alix got off of him and help him back in his feet, “So, how’s Marc?”

Before Nathaniel could answer, a voice called out, “Nath!” The redhead whirled around and saw Marc, a look of relief on his face. The two ran towards each other, and met with a loving embrace, “I’m so sorry.”

Nathaniel chuckled and ran his fingers through Marc’s hair, “It’s okay, Rainbow. It’s okay… Lila’s gone.”, seeing Marc’s smile, he kissed his soft pink lips as Rose and Juleka awed while Alix nodded with approval

“I don’t really care but… What happened to Lila?”, Alix asked

—

Ladybug and Chat Noir sat in the park, eating macarons and watching Lila being pushed into a police car as she kicked and scream while a woman, who had a similar appearance to her cried and cursed in Italian. Onlookers took pictures of the exposed liar, no doubt they were going to spread her name and turn her into a pariah

“I have been waiting for this for a long time.”, Ladybug said as she but into a macaron. Chat responded with a nod, and the two fist bumped

[the-moon-prince]

The Last Of us~Kurapika x Reader ~Chapter V

AN: Hi my lovely fellows!

This chapter contains a mention of sexual abuse. I understand how hurtful this topic may be to a lot of people (me included). Likewise, I'll mark it at the start and the end, so you don't have to read it if you prefer. I made sure for people to be able to read the chapter without reading forcefully that part. I added this as a form of venting. I feel like it's an avoided topic, and it's my form to show support to other trauma survivors. This was made with the only intention to comfort. If something is bad written or harmful, please tell me. I also ask for your understanding if you plan on commenting, thank you very much!

I wish you a pleasant read, and I hope you’ll enjoy the new chapter of my story.  (Chapter I) (Chapter II) (Chapter III) (Chapter IV ) (Chapter VI coming soon!)

Paring: Kurapika Kurta x GN! Reader

Word count: 2 888

TW: Mentions of sexual abuse / Mentions of abuse ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(Y/n) appeared more comfortable around Kurapika. Occasionally letting their ears escape while staying in the privacy of their houses.

But there was still something mysterious about (Y/n). Some of what they didn't say. Kurapika was filled with doubts and fears because of that. He pondered scenarios, each one worse than the other. Are they lying to me? Maybe they're in some kind of danger or distress. Creating a vicious and unhealthy cycle in Kurapika's spirit. 

The two were patient in the relationship, neither comprehending fully how to give or receive affection. But despite the time they had been together, (Y/n) seemed resistant to accept fondness. Particularly physical. They had never tried to hold hands. When Kurapika attempted it, they recoiled in alarm more than once. In the few hugs they had given each other, (Y/n) shivered. Loud noises made them shake and jump, and they hand a list of tics as sudden shaking chills or protectively shrugging shoulders. Kurapika could understand that, he had tics as well. But his partner seemed triggered by his touch. They continued to be protective of their eyes. It was normal they didn't meet his eyes often, however, they tried to hide her eyes whenever they looked more cat-like.

~

Suspicions of his beloved being at risk grew bigger. He didn't want to, he couldn't permit himself to lose someone else. What kind of cruel mockery of life would be that, when finally there was someone like him-Someone who understood and supported him-was erased from this plane. The idea that these funny tail and ears weren't going to survive grieved Kurapika. The plausibility of not seeing those (curly/wavy/messy/straight) (hair/color) strands nevermore haunted him. Undoubtedly, it didn't end there. Fury consumed him when he conceived the idea of someone injuring more further a being so humane, kind hearted, and compassionate as (Y/n). Hadn't both of them grieved enough? But what they were suffering, adding would be disastrous.

Yet, (Y/n) didn't utter a single word regarding the matter.

~

Kurapika entered a state of fright. At that limit, he needed at the very least to know what was going on. He showed up that night at (Y/n)'s residence, knowing that they had no guard at the hospital and that they would be there. He had a spare key and wasn't abnormal to simply arrive at the other's place. Either of them had the habit of picking phone calls or answering messages.

Except for the scene he arrived at was abnormal.

He saw (Y/n) from behind sitting on the floor, a thing they never did, and if anything was remarkable about them, it was how strict they were with their customs. They had their elbows leaning on the coffee table, looking down at something. They did not react upon his arrival. (Y/n) never missed a noise, even less the one of a door opening. Yet, they remain immobile as if the lives of the universe depended on them staying frozen in place. Kurapika approached them. To see that there was a call in progress on their phone resting upon the table. (Y/n) did not dare to see the phone directly. Their hands held their head by the forehead, their gaze hidden behind their (curls/waves/strands). Just as Kurapika opened his mouth to speak, a female voice came from the phone's speaker-"So you won't answer me?"-silence again-" My baby... I know you think I broke you..."-the voice was sweet and honeyed, full of compassion"-Who could that woman possibly be? Why did she address (Y/n) like that, what did she mean by "break". Kurapika craved to question (Y/N) what, for love for his clan, was happening. He was relucted from doing so, he could perhaps extract information from the person on the other end of the line, taking advantage of the fact that she believed that (Y/n) was alone.-"But that's not true! I didn't do anything, my love. You were born broken, your demoniac eyes are the proo-" (Y/n) abruptly cut the call before the sentence finished. They didn't turn to see Kurapika, despite knowing he was beside them. 

Kurapika had his breakpoint. "What's happening (Y/n)?! Who was that?! You can't keep things as such from me?! Do you understand that?!"-he started to scold, raising his voice. His eyes would look scarlet if it weren't for the contacts he was wearing at the moment. Someone else knew about (Y/n) identity. Who can say such atrocities? On top, with such a sound and sweet voice, it was twisted. She was talking about their eyes. Did she want them? Was she behind (Y/n)'s eyes? All these questions flooded incessantly in Kurapika's mind. (Y/n) hid upthrusting their shoulders and covering their face with their hands, their whole figure was shaking. They drew their ears back and adhered the tail to their body, probably changed on instinctual reaction.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry"-(Y/n) started to lament, voice quivering. Their breaths were heavy as if it were inhumanly tough to keep breathing. Whoever the other person was, were bad enough to provoke a position of panic on (Y/n).   Kurapika knew that and seeing that getting angry only seemed to affect the feeble trembling figure in front of him, he decided to calm down. He was greatly concerned that someone he esteemed as highly as (Y/n) was in that position. It was not wise to let his humor aggravate things. 

He lowered himself to their level and sat down next to them. He raised his hand to stroke their hair. As soon as the tips of his fingers touched the (curls/waves/bangs/strands) he heard a heavy "Don't!" and backed up his hand.-"It's alright. I'm not touching you. Still, I require you to explain to me what happens. Who was that woman?" Besides offering physical contact, Kurapika had no distinct idea how he could comfort (Y/n). He felt frustrated and powerless.

"My mum."-they whimpered, (Y/n) was distressed although not crying. Not a single tear came out during all that night. Kurapika no longer understood.

"Weren't your parents deceased?"- He felt that they had lied to him, and it sure bothered him that he kept that from him. But this was not the time to discuss that part.

"No, my family is dead..."-(Y/n) began to breathe more calmly. They readjusted, moving their hands away from their faces to hold their arms. "They did not raise me. My grandparents did. When my grandad got ill and died I left to study. They always lived far away." -(Y/n) didn't look at Kurapika at any time. They kept their gaze at a standstill. Nevertheless, he could notice that their pupils were very dilated, reminding him of the stare of a scared soaked cat.

"What did she mean by break you?"-he continued trying to maintain a moderate voice. He was somehow scared to hear the answer. It would hurt to know that someone hurt (Y/n).

"I wasn't the legal age. Someone had to take my guard when my grandfather died."-Their face stayed still in a sober expression.

"Did they hurt you?"- He felt progressively more scared and worse.

"It's not important. I don't believe it's something you desire to know." -Even with everything happening, (Y/n) refused to speak. How could they be so obstinate?

"(Y/n), this cannot continue. I require to know. You are not delusional, you know you have to tell me."-Kurapika got a heavy sigh.

"They never loved me, you know? I was never certain why. I tried my best. Maybe they were expecting a human... Maybe they blamed me for their separation...Perhaps they were disappointed to learn that I have a disability."- Kurapika didn't know that (Y/n) could have a difficulty, they never mentioned any medical condition. He would ask about that a little further. They were finally discussing if he interrupted now, possibly the opportunity will not present again.-"I spent most of my time in the university's boarding. Only I wasn't allowed to stay on vacation, so I would go home. Sometimes they put a muzzle on me so I wouldn't bite - although I never bit anyone. They put an electric collar on me once. I guess they were scared of me. "It's for your good because we love you, and you have to behave. Good kitties don't scratch and don't bite." my mother told me. They believed it to be true. They did many things to me under that pretext..."-They stopped there. Still having something to say, but not wanting to.

(WARNING: MENTION OF SEXUAL ABUSE AHEAD)

"Did they... something else to you?"-Kurapika asked again. At that point, he was not surprised (Y/n) never mentioned their parents and did not consider them family. His anger was replaced by compassion. Expecting the worst.

"Yes."- there was the resistance again.

"What did they do?"-(Y/n) made a little movement with their head still hesitant.

"My mother did. She told me she had to check I was okay. Because I was not like other children..."-They lowered their gaze. Kurapika felt a chill. Neither of them was foolish, they knew what was to come. (Y/n) shrugged even more and started to play with their (color) hair -"It happened more than once, I don't remember precisely how many, but more than once for sure. She ordered me to... take off my clothes and... to lay down. It was unpleasant. For a long... for a very long time, I... I denied it. I told myself that she was an adult... that she knew better. If I doubted a bit more... If I weren't so naive... I would have done things differently, you know?"

(END OF THE MENTION OF SEXUAL ABUSE)

Kurapika felt horrible. It felt awful seeing someone he loved so much like this, someone innocent who didn't deserve anything of what happened. For the first time, he didn't know what to say. He had no idea how to act. It was something he did not understand.-"And the rest of your family? You couldn't ask other Uniliums for help?" he probed, wanting to understand their circumstances. 

"I tried. I ran away twice. They discovered me at the first try. Two adults facing a 9-year-old child. They clearly gave me the beating of my life.

The following was 4 years after, more prepared. When I returned to our community, I found out that they got butchered not long ago."-(Y/n) lamented. It was probably what ached most of all. That they got that tiny hope and comfort taken away. -"I'm convinced if they had known, they would have helped and appealed to my favor. I concentrated on my studies in the faith to forget. It was also my opening to escape. I like my career, you know? Although my father told me during the 10 years it lasted that it was disappointing and worthless."-they added with a trembling smile. Those were the two details that provided them any comfort.

"Why didn't you tell me any of that?"- Kurapika asked once more. 

(Y/n) raised their shoulders.-"I don't know. I was scared and ashamed. I was afraid that you would hate me. Perhaps I imagined you would be disappointed in me."-They were conscious that it was not a rational fear. But it was stronger than them.

"How could I hate you? It wasn't your fault."-He comforted. Full of regret for what happened-"It was not your responsibility at any time."

"I know... Though, still, sometimes I wonder if it was. Even acknowledging that it is a lie." (Y/n) sniffled without shedding any tears.

"They won't do a single thing to you, ever again. I'm present now, and I'll make sure they don't put a finger on you. You are safe. Okay?"-The blonde man secured.

"Thank you."-They smiled again. Many would have said it was the same smile. But for Kurapika it was different. This time it was a touch more melancholic than usual, but there was a side of profuse relief. They relaxed and their ears were forward, symbolizing more relaxed humor. 

"It's impressive you succeed the Hunter exam possessing a physical disability." It was Kurapika's crafty way of questioning the subject.

"It was quite difficult. I was born with a respiratory condition, so I cannot develop many physical abilities. I am not physically powerful and I have restricted time to run. I depend greatly on my ability Nen and my wits. However, I won't allow that to stop me. Nobody tells me what I am capable of or not."-(Y/n) bragged. They could be proud. Even with that disadvantage, they had come a long way. That night Kurapika was aware of how strong his companion was. It didn't seem like it, at no time did any of the people who saw (Y/n) imagine all this side of them. After so much, they stayed strong-minded and sweet. They were truly brave. They were both survivors after all. They had both succeeded to get so far despite all the grief. And they both held pride in that. For Kurapika, the fact that (Y/n) had a more sensitive and altruistic side did not make them weak. Of course, they were qualities disapproved among several Hunters.

However, no other hunter held him during his afflicted moments. He could be vulnerable with (Y/n), and he was safe with them.

"Can you remain with me tonight, please?"

Kurapika didn't expect that request.

It was the first time one of them stayed overnight in the other's place. They had stayed really late together, but they didn't stay until the next morning. Plus, knowing how reserved (Y/n) could sometimes be, he assumed they would favor time alone following such an intense experience. Nevertheless, there was something so personal and vulnerable about that request. Kurapika felt the immense desire to stay and protect them.

"Of course."-He couldn't help but use a soft tone.

During all that conversation (Y/n), although exhibited fear, did not manifest weakness at any time. They stayed dignified without losing control.

"Can we lay down, please? I feel a bit tired."-they called after a moment of silence. Their voice resonated dull and tired.

"We can do whatever you desire."- Kurapika smiled at them, his only preoccupation at that instant was to ensure the well-being of the person he treasured, and their head started to bob. (Y/n) slowly nodded and got up. They silently asked him to follow them and padded to their chamber. 

It was the first time that Kurapika entered their bedroom as well. It was fairly more adorned. It had a relatively big bed, with light cloths and a  fluffy (color) colored bedspread. Without neglecting its childish side, it was full of stuffed animals of all kinds, colors, and sizes. Several shelves were overflowing with books. Shelving with toys and cute figures, alongside a record player and a cloth case with music records was also in the room. Next to the bed was a stool with a lamp and a framed photo. The apartments had their private bathroom, on which (Y/n) entered. Kurapika sat on the bed- or in the space left without stuffed animals- and waited. No longer than 15 minutes should have passed before (Y/n) came out with slightly wet hair, and a matching (color) pajama shorts and shirt. Kurapika didn't identify the exact scent at the time, but they smelled good, familiar. (Y/n) took the stuffed animals and arranged them as best they could on an individual loveseat.

"I apologize for this disorder."-they pointed to the bathroom door.-"There is the other toilet, so you can use it whenever you desire. I have each item, please serve yourself."-They laid on the left side of the bed and rested their head on the puffy pillow.

Kurapika merely laid down next to them, not too close. He was uncertain if it was correct to hug them or stay near. (Y/n) arranged the beddings covering the two. They smelled identical at them.

"Kurapika..."-an reluctant voice called his name.

"Yes?"-It felt strange, being in that place that, until then, seemed confidential. But it wasn't unpleasant at all.

"May I hug you?"-The request was bashful and quiet.

He thought of just opening his arms but preferred to give a vocal response as well.-"Of course you may."

(Y/n) approached him steadily. They proceed to timidly embrace him, after their arms were wrapped around him, they snuggled their face on him.-"You're warm... I feel ... comfortable ... with you. Which is bizarre. I don't feel secure with anyone since I was 6 years old."

Kurapika held them protectively. He felt profoundly touched by that strangely honest statement. He attempted to affectionately stroke their (curls/waves/locks). They allowed it.-"I love you (Y/n)."-He couldn't think about anything else he wanted them to know.

"I adore you, Kurapika." 

(Y/n) ultimately permitted themselves to be vulnerable with Kurapika too. It felt good. It was good for them to have someone so strong to have their backs and accompany them.

They could hold each other.