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adamsbackpack · 3 years ago

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Something that makes sense in dream logic...

But a continuation of this, maybe like somehow Bryde somehow finds Declan’s apartment where Jordan is as well and Declan finds a slightly unhinged Bryde carrying in an unconscious sickly looking Ronan and he’s slowly starting to turn into a tree, like the one he was trapped in during the dream? So he’s growing leaves and vines from his fingers, his skin is turning to wood

Idk the dream ley energy from the forests that Ronan dreamt are decaying and slowly releasing the ‘ dream energy’ back into him idk and slowly Ronan wakes up in Declan’s bed half conscious and out of it and slurring works and Ronan rasps that he’s sorry he was such a bad brother and made Declan hate him and obv Declan said he never hated him and Declan’s just a big mess of asshole Declan emotions cuz for all he knows his younger brother is dying in front of him and just a lot of Declan worrying about Ronan and yelling at bryde for what he’s done

And maybe they try the sweetmetal and when they put it next to Ronan he gains some color back slightly and Declan (and jordan) and watching over him In worry wondering what to do

So just can you make it longer if you can, than the last one? Mostly Declan’s POV with a little bit of Ronan’s, even though he’s unconscious/ dying/ turning into a magical dying tree?

Had it not been for the jarring silence in the room, Declan wouldn’t have heard the lumbering steps coming from the stairwell outside his door. Had it not been for the silence, he wouldn’t have had that sinking feeling he gets when he just knows that one of his brothers is fucked. He wouldn’t have cleared the mugs of coffee off of the marble counter of the island in his cramped kitchen. He wouldn’t have sent Jordan to the door to look through the peep hole, making sure there were no straggling moderators coming to slit their throats.

Thankfully, a heavy blanket of quiet had settled itself over the apartment, which allowed enough time for Declan to manage all of these things before Jordan opened the door to reveal his dying brother.

“Help me,” growled the tall, bird like man that had Ronan cradled in his arms. Ah, thought Declan. So this must be the infamous Bryde.

Jordan gripped Ronan’s ankles while Bryde struggled to haul the rest of him by his underarms. Had the situation not been so gruesome, Declan might have been laughing. Well, maybe he would have smirked (Declan really didn’t laugh all that often). But to watch his foolish little brother being dragged through his apartment door seemed like the perfect moment for those four glorious words that Ronan hated so much: I told you so.

But Declan wasn’t laughing. He wasn’t even smirking. Because the situation was gruesome.

Nightwash spilled from between his brother’s cracked lips, leaking from his nose and ear canals and soaking the living room carpet as Jordan and Bryde carried him into the kitchen, where they draped his body across the cleared marble countertop. Dark shadows clung to his eyes, looking more and more like bruises the longer Declan looked at them until he wasn’t even sure that they weren’t. His hair, which was normally buzzed to the scalp, had begun to grow out softly from Ronan’s days spent on the road, hopping from city to city with Hennessy and Bryde. Stubble grazed his jaw, and Declan was struck in that moment by just how much Ronan looked like Niall.

But Nightwash and exhaustion were the least of his worries.

From Ronan’s fingertips, branches were stretching out towards the kitchen windows. Thick leaves sprouted on stems that shot out from the startlingly green veins in his wrists, covering the smattering of scars from nightmares of the past. Tree bark crept up his throat, leaving Ronan’s neck stiff and confined. When he started choking, Jordan tugged on his bottom lip to find a soggy bunch of wildflowers crawling out from his windpipe.

“What the hell is going on here,” Declan demanded, gripping Bryde by the collar as Jordan helped Ronan to sit up as he vomited oily black clumps of moss. Bryde, looking a little worse for wear with black liquid strewn across the front of his shirt, snarled at Declan as he tore himself away from his grip.

“You think I would have come here if I knew?” The way in which the question was spat assured Declan that he knew the answer. “I think… I think it’s Lindenmere.”

“Okay,” Declan said dangerously, “then why don’t you tell me why the fuck Lindenmere is growing inside my brother?”

Bryde’s eyes glowed. “I’m sorry, did you miss the Ley Lines going down? Thanks to your girl-“ Bryde threw an accusatory finger at Jordan, who gave him her angriest finger in return, “-Lindenmere can’t exist. It’s returning to its dreamer because it has nowhere else to go. This is its way of falling asleep, just like the rest of his dreams.”

Declan swiped his hand over his face, silently praying that when he opened his eyes, all of this will have just been a stress-induced hallucination. No such luck.

“Declan,” Jordan said, “I don’t- what do we do?”

Declan contemplated this. They couldn’t exactly go to the hospital - what were regular doctors and nurses supposed to do against an illness such as this. Where would they even begin? And it’s not like Bryde could dream up a remedy with the Ley Lines down.

A sharp groan coming from the countertop brought Declan back to himself. Ronan’s body was convulsing with every movement of the branches engulfing his flesh. He tried to speak around the garden that had inhabited his mouth but to no avail. Declan placed his hand on Ronan’s forehead and rubbed his thumb softly against his temple the way Aurora used to do when they were sick. “Hey, Ronan,” Declan said softly, and was struck by the tightness in his throat and the stinging in his eyes. “You’ve really gotten yourself fucked this time, haven’t you?” Though his body still shook violently and the wildflowers muffled his voice, Declan swore he heard his brother attempt a laugh. Ronan’s hand shot up and squeezed Declan’s tightly, a pulsing grip in time with his body tremors. “It’s okay, Ronan. It’ll be okay, just try and breathe.” Declan watched as his brother’s chest shook with the effort to take in a measured breath.

Ronan let go of Declan’s hand, only to tap at his palm until it lay flat. He traced the letter ‘M’ on his skin. Matthew.

Was it better to tell Ronan he was fine, just to alleviate some of his stress? Should he tell him the truth of the matter, which was that the youngest Lynch brother was currently unconscious in his bedroom, as he had been for the past several days?

Declan settled on a half-truth.

“He went to sign himself up for high school in DC the other day. Isn’t that great? He had a meeting with the guidance councillor to register and select his courses. He was really excited about auto class, so he can help you fix the car with Adam the next time you crash it.” Declan rambled on, side-stepping the truth and instead offering the pleasantness of Matthew being happy. Ronan was too exhausted to demand a real answer, so he drank in his brother’s distractions eagerly. At the mention of Adam, though, Ronan tensed and glanced up at Jordan, who nodded in understanding and left to call him from Declan’s landline.

“He’s not getting better,” Bryde said impatiently. The young man had been so quiet up until that point that Declan almost forgot he was there. Almost. “I… I’m sorry. I don’t know what else to try.” Well, that wasn’t good. Bryde apologizing was decidedly not good.

A blood-curdling scream erupted from Ronan so suddenly that Declan had to take a moment for his heart to start beating at a normal pace again. Through Ronan’s t-shirt - which was now soaked with a mixture of blood and nightwash - burst forth five branches, flaking with rough bark and moss. Jordan rushed in from the living room, hand held over the speaker of the phone in a futile attempt to block Ronan’s cries from Adam’s ear. “Shit,” she breathed. “Adam, hun, let me call you back.” She silenced Adam’s muffled protests with one tap to the phone.

Declan gave a shake of his head before pointing to the cupboard beside the sink. “Get me towels, as many towels as you can,” he said sharply. Bryde and Jordan came back seconds later with armfuls of soft cotton dishtowels. Snatching them from their grasps, Declan began wrapping the towels around the base of the branches until most of the blood was sopped up. Just as he stepped back to observe his work, his cell phone began to tremble in his pocket. “Son of a bitch.” Unknown number. Maybe it’s Hennessy.

He answered it.

“What.” It came out more as a demand than a question.

“Listen to me carefully, Declan. I can help you,” said Niall Lynch.

***TBC***

#ronan lynch #declan lynch #bryde #jordan hennessy #jordan cdth #cdth #call down the hawk #mister impossible #mister impossible spoilers #post mister impossible #adam parrish #asks #ask me #drabble #drabble requests

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palettepainter · 3 years ago

Text

Angsty-fluff family moment

Warning: Mentions of injruy, angst

I may write a story about this but had this idea a while ago for Hono’s and Higari’s development

Higari and Hono had been very close as children, both being boys as kids the two naturally liked a lot of the same things, and thus ended up getting along very well (aside from the occasional bickering). When their dad Kaigo began to get sicker Hono looked to his older brother more for guidance, Higari was practically his best friend so looked to him when he was confused or scared during this time. After their father passed away naturally Hono and the rest of his siblings where hurting from the loss, their mother also who was still heavily pregnant with Suru at the time.

Kaigo passed away when Higari was 14 and Hono was nine, and two years later Higari left to stay up temporarily in the city with his Uncle to start his studies at UA. When Higari left Hono was 11, barely a teenager, and at the time he didn’t properly understand the situation. He didn’t understand why Higari didn’t come home after going to UA, you came home after school right, so why wasn’t Higari coming back? Both Higari and his family where still processing their fathers death, emotional wounds where not healed and thus communication between Higari and the rest of his family hardly every happened. Hono felt upset, scared, betrayed..why had Higari left them?? Did he not love them anymore? Had he done something?

Hono is confused, and the confusion turns to anger. He’d get into fights, he’d break things, he’d go looking for trouble. Looking back on it, Hono did all those things because he hoped that if he did, it would mean Higari would come back and deal with him - but all he ever got was his mum. Hono and his mother are stubborn, and thus they fight a lot. With his mother also having to care for Suru and the rest of her kids this lead to her not being able to properly care for her kids at times, Hono begins to view his mother as pathetic, and his outbursts get worse.

But one day he took it too far - he was using his quirk to blow up odd bits of scraps in the junk yard, he was always careful to not get caught in the blast, but one time he wasn’t quick enough. The explosion he set off was bigger then most, and caused the skin along his left arm to be badly burned, and damaged the hearing in his ear.

After his operation and his wounds are bandaged he becomes closed off..he didn’t need anyone’s pity . He didn’t need Taiho’s or Chikara’s worrying, he didn’t need his mothers coddling, and he definitely didn’t need his stupid brother Higari. In the end it was caring for his little sister Suru that helped Hono become a more happier kid, taking care of Suru gave him something to focus on, something to help out with. Hono vows to keep his family together, with or without Higari as a part of it

One day when Higari comes down to visit with Riley and Haiya he notices Hono’s burns along his left arm and upper neck. He’s shocked, he’d never noticed before because Hono had always been careful to cover up his upper arms. Hono notices him staring, and with a bored expression turns to Higari to ask what the hell he’s gawking at. When Higari doesn’t say anything Hono rolls his eyes and goes to walk away- but then turns around to slap Higari’s hand hard when he reached out and barely grazed his fingers over the scarred skin. The slap had caused everyone near to glance over, Ectoplasm even standing up from his chair...before Hono or Higari could say anything Hono storms out, body noticeably shaking a little

Hono had never told Higari about his scars, he didn’t tell Higari much of anything. Higari was quite for most of the visit after that, he couldn’t wrap his head around why Hono had gotten so worked up over him seeing the scar, Hono had gotten angry at him sure but..he’d never hit him being like that. Neither Chikara or Taiho are sure if they should explain to Higari the story behind Hono’s scar, and in the end, Suru was the one to tell him. It’s the first real moment where the two bond - with them having a large age gap as siblings ontop of Higari last seeing Suru when she was very young the two really don’t know that much about each other. After Suru finishes explaining Higari is so guilty over it he almost felt sick - he know understood why Hono was so closed off with him, why he was so hostile to other people

What Suru told him left him shocked all until he, Ecto, Haiya and Riley returned home to the city. A week later and it’s still on Higari’s mind, he can’t focus. He WANTS to go and explain himself, to say he’s sorry, but he doesn’t know how when Hono won’t listen. Ecto tries to talk to him, but he doesn’t pry, sensing it might be personal. During this time there’s a pretty bad villain attack in the city, where Powerloader is called out to assist with evacuation. He’s trying to remain focused, trying to not let what Suru told him weigh on his mind - not know, not when he needed to help people. As Higari helps the last few people evacuate fro a collapsing building he sees a civillian, a man a little younger then him with his arm clearly broken, blood gushing from an open wound. The breath caught in his throat, and his mind immideitly compares Hono’s scars to the injured man

Was that how Hono looked when he first got his scars?...He doesn’t have the reaction time to move or even think when the floor above collapses ontop of him, burying him under the ruble.

Ectoplasm was the first to see him as soon as he was given permission too, Higari’s family later got the call from him that Higari had been critically injured in a villain attack - his mother dropped her glass in shock, Hono went deathly quite when his mother demanded them all to get into the car, that Higari was in the hospital, injured badly. His mother doesn’t hessitate to comfort a teary Ecto shortly after they arrive, Higari.s siblings offering him the best support they could. Higari had lost a lot of blood, had several broken bones - including a broken arm, and a head injury. Higari’s family all stay in the city until they hear the news of Higari’s operation. He had come through surgery okay, but it would be a while before he could go back to work.

Hono feels...scared. And he hates it - he has nightmares about Higari not waking up, the last thing he did to Higari was hit him, and now he might be..Hono ends up spending most nights at the hospital by Higari, just..watching him gently breathing, listening to the heart monitor, he barely sleeps, but he doesn’t notice his own tiredness. It took four days for Higari to finally wake up, and when he does, he finds Hono asleep in a chair next to him. He freezes up, not believing what his eyes are seeing. He manages to sit up, and carefully, tries to reach over to stir Hono awake. Before his hand can even touch his arm Hono’s hand snaps up and catches Higari’s wrist, causing him to jump, as the two make eye contact

It’s the first time in over ten years where the two sit together, not saying a word, just...sitting. Higari asks how long he was out for, and Hono after a while replies for four days. Hono wants to be angry, he wants to hate Higari for getting himself hurt! For being stupid and getting himself in danger. He calls Higari an idiot for making their family worry, for making Haiya and Riley - his own damned kids worry! Higari feels so guilty, his hands gripping at his bed sheets and his eyes begin to water at the idea of how stressed Ectoplasm must have been, trying to teach and reassure Haiya and Riley he was going to be okay. Hono’s tone is a bit softer when he asks Higari what the tell got him so distracted he got hurt in the first place, and when Hono catches Higari looking towards his scarred arm.....he sighs

Hono ends up saying something along the lines of - ‘You can’t let yourself be distracted by us...cuz it’ll only be harder if either of your kids decide to put themselves in the same line of work...I got my scar through my own stupid fault, I was an idiot for not being careful, so I worked hard to be someone Ma and the others don’t have to worry over...You need to do the same. Don’t let yourself fucking slip up like this again, cuz you’ve got a family of your own to care for now! You got that?! I ain’t a kid anymore, and I don’t need your to pity me for stuff that happened in the past!’

Another moment of silence passes and Hono looks off into the distance to collect his thoughts, not making eye contact with Higari - ‘...I still hate you for leaving. You had no idea how fucking hard it was for all of us...You got to have you dream of being an engineer, someone who can help other people. WE had to give our dreams up to help the family! So the business could stay running! So I’ll be dammed if I let you throw it away because you where dumb enough to not focus when the time called for it!!’ - here does Hono turn to Higari, who looks shaken and surprised at Hono’s words as he stands from his chair - ‘..Don’t you fucking let it happen again, you got that? Don’t you dare leave that husband of yours and two kids behind, cuz they care for you...’

Hono stands to leave, not wanting to be seen crying - until Higari surges forward and grabs him into a hug. Hono flinches, not expecting him to reach out for him like that. He goes to shove him away, not ready to forgive, not ready to talk to him for any more then he has....but when he hears Higari sniffle, and feels his brothers body trembling....Hono says nothing, he just stands there and lets Higari cry into his shirt. He doesn’t pry him away, make a comment, or hug back...he does however put his hand on Hiargi’s shoulder, it’s the best he can manage at that moment.

A part of him is grateful Higari is too busy snotting and crying over his shirt, he can’t see himself crying silently that way

#MHA #Hono #Powerloader #Higari #powerloaders family #Ectoloader

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spideythot · 5 years ago

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Consider Hypnokink where Peter gets hypnotized by something (cursed necklace he puts on/some villain/something like that) and to save him, Tony finds a way to redirect the hypnosis so Peter listens to him instead of whatever was controlling him. He initially planned to snap Peter out of it once he had control, but ends up keeping him under after finding his obedience rather... enjoyable 👀

Mm, I love this idea - I’m such a slut for any hypnokink really - so consider a rewrite of Far From Home and Endgame (aka Tony’s still around... Beck gets his hands on EDITH, breaking in and stealing it while Tony recovers from his fight with Thanos. What’s worse though is that Peter goes after Mysterio alone to get back Mr. Stark’s glasses. He’s not sure what they do - just that they’re important. He finds Mysterio’s high tech hideout. And it’s eerily easy to break in. The glasses are set aside on a laboratory table next to a laptop. Peter hesitates - something feels off - but then he grabs the glasses and escapes. He manages to make it out undetected, slipping last an angry Mysterio and all his lab techs. Peter’s on the bus in plain clothes, riding back toward Mr. Stark and hiding from Beck, when curiosity strikes. He unfolds them carefully and puts them on.

((You know that scene where EDITH comes to life in FFH? When I first saw it, hypnosis was the first thing that came to mind - cuz I’m a perv))

So the screens come to life for Peter, swirling around his eyes and there’s a bit of a welcome screen. But the swirling doesn’t stop, it intensifies. Peter’s alarm bells go off again, but he ignores them. He can’t look away - doesn’t want to look away. And the tingle of danger fades. Words fade in and out on the screens. Peter’s getting off the bus suddenly and just wandering down the street. He stops in an empty alley, and just waits. Not long though. Beck pulls up in car with tinted windows and steps out.

The commands on the screen disappear and through the haze of the mesmerizing patterns. Peter can see Mr. Beck’s face. It’s all he can see, all he wants to look at... Beck takes his chin between two fingers and grins. “Well, well,” he says, “Who knew Spidey was so cute?”

Something feels off - Peter’s eyes close and he shakes his head free from Beck’s grip. “N-no...” he manages to say.

Beck tuts and grabs Peter’s face again. The swirling patterns return full force and Peter’s trapped again. “There,” Beck says as Peter stops his struggling, “That’s a good boy.” He takes Peter by the arm then and leads him the the vehicle waiting in the alley. Peter sits still as Beck straps him into the back seat. The man gets in next to him and orders his lackeys to drive. Peter turns his head toward Beck’s voice.

The man kisses him, and through the haze in his head he gets an explosion of pleasure. He wants so badly to have his eyes close, but EDITH’s program won’t let him. He moans and whimpers when Beck pulls away.

“You want more?” The man teases.

Peter nods and whispers, “Please...”

“Give me your name, little spider,” the villain commands.

The boy hesitates - something is telling him to keep his mouth shut - but he wants more. It felt so good. And he wants to be a good boy, right? He opens his mouth, and answers with a soft, shaking breath. “Peter.”

“Peter,” Beck repeats. He kisses the boy again, a reward. Peter leans into it, parts his lips to receive Beck’s tongue. But the man pulls back again.

“Surname,” he commands.

“P-Parker...” Peter obeys reluctantly.

Beck chuckles and rewards him again, slipping his tongue into Peter’s mouth this time. He gropes the boy, cupping the bulge in his pants and rubbing hard. Peter’s body arches into the touch the boy whining into Beck’s mouth. Beck finishes their kiss and moves his lips to Peter’s throat. He marks the helpless hero, biting his neck and sucking a deep hickey to it. He drags his tongue up to Peter’s earlobe and whispers. “Such a good little boy. I’m going to make you my personal slut. Won’t you like that?”

Peter moaned again, “Uh-huh,” he agreed. His hips bucked against Beck’s palm. He was so desperate already. Beck was going to have so much fun with him. “So sensitive, so horny,” Beck teased. He opened Peter’s jeans and shoved his in them. But he only stroked Peter through his underwear. “Such a slut.” Peter squirmed and keened. His head rolled to the side, leaning on Beck’s shoulder.

“Cum,” the man ordered.

Peter’s body shook and he moaned loudly as he obeyed the command instantly. Beck grinned at the damp briefs under his hand. He kissed Peter’s cheek as the boy came down from his high. “Now, sleep for me.” Peter sighed content and his head dropped, obeying Beck again.

——

It only took a week for Tony to get Peter back - which was remarkable considering the condition he was in. When he’d heard that Peter had disappeared with Beck and EDITH, nothing could stop him from getting out of his medical bed and back into the suit. He found Peter, tied to a chair in Beck’s new hideout, wearing the glasses. Two birds, one stone. It had been a hell of a fight to get to Peter, but Tony finally had him again. He took EDITH from the boy and put them in his pocket. Peter blinked a few times, his head shaking as if he’d been asleep.

“Mr. Stark?” He asked as Tony uncuffed him from the chair. “You’re better? What’s... happening? My head feels like, so heavy...”

Tony helped the boy to his feet, ignoring his lack of clothing (kid was only in his underwear) and chalking his dizziness up to whatever Beck had done to him. They’d figure it out later. “Yeah, I’m better kid, I’m here,” he replied. “Lets get you safe and rested. Then we can process everything else.”

Peter nodded slowly and agreed with a soft grunt. He wobbled on his legs as Tony escorted him out of the hideout to a waiting ambulance. Once they were in the Avengers’ secure medical compound, Peter fell asleep halfway through his physical exam. Tony had him moved up to his own room - Peter was probably fine. Sleeping was a way of healing after all. Tony would keep an eye on him while he worked out what had happened. He needed to see what Beck had done to EDITH - and Peter.

It took a couple days of tinkering with EDITH’s programming to unlock what Beck had done... and the program he installed for Peter. Some sort of mind control. The more Tony delved into the conditioning Peter was under, the more anger bubbled inside him. He’d strangle the man if he ever got the chance again.

Tony has to reverse whatever sick perversions Beck had forced on Peter. So he went to work on his own programming. Part of him hated that it he had to subject Peter to that sort of thing - reverse brainwashing? - again. But it was for the best. Who knows what kind of triggers Beck put inside Peter’s subconscious. Tony couldn’t let the boy be vulnerable like that in the world.

He kept Peter under supervision, giving some bullshit to his aunt to keep her happy. A few days later, he approached Peter with EDITH and the modified programming. Peter’s eyes dropped to the glasses immediately and he frowned. “I know,” Tony said before the boy could protest, “I fixed them. So, I just need you to wear them for maybe an hour.”

Peter’s eyes glanced up at Tony, concerned. “I don’t... I don’t know, Mr. Stark,” he said. Of course, Peter was hesitant. He’d been under Beck’s control for quite a while. Tony didn’t even know what the boy remembered from the whole ordeal.

“Just an hour?” Peter asked. Tony stepped closer and nodded.

“You’ll be able to take them off, if you need to,” Tony assured. He handed them over. Peter took them gently and went to the couch to sit comfortably. Tony followed but didn’t sit down. Peter just stared at the glasses in his hand. Then he looked up at Tony, he opened his mouth and closed it.

Then he opened it again, “Will you... put them on me?” Peter asked slowly.

“Alright,” The man agreed. He took the glasses from Peter again, who had closed his eyes, and gently put the on the boy’s face. EDITH activated when Peter’s eyes opened again. Tony had tuned the program to start as soon as Peter’s eyes had focused under the lenses.

Peter’s body went lax as he focused on the program Tony had developed. He shivered just a little before settling on the couch. Tony decided to sit with Peter. After about 10 minutes, the boy let out a shaky breath. Tony glanced at him when Peter shifted slightly against the couch. His knee knocked against Tony’s as his legs spread open. Tony didn’t bother to move away - he wasn’t sure what stage of the programming this was - he hadn’t watched it himself obviously. EDITH and FRIDAY we’re capable if correcting the problems with simple guidance.

Tony immersed himself in some work on his phone instead of worrying about the boy next to him. Until Peter moaned softly, and his hips rolled against the couch. That... was not supposed to happen. Tony frowned and turned toward Peter, who was still squirming on the couch. His mouth hung open, as he breathed in heavily.

Tony pulled the glasses off without hesitating - which, probably was a bad idea - but he had to stop what was happening. “Peter,” Tony said to him as EDITH was removed. “Wake up!”

Peter blinked and shook his head. “Mr. Stark?” He asked, rubbing his eyes a little, “Is it done?”

“Um, for now,” Tony replied. “I’ve got some tweaks to make, it seems.”

Peter hummed and nodded in understanding. He gazed at Tony, eyes a little glazed over, pupils dilated. “I feel better,” he said with a sigh.

Tony could tell - not just by the tent in the boy’s pants. “Yeah,” The man replied, “You should take care of that.”

Peter glanced down at himself and giggled. “Yeah,” he agreed. Peter shifted slightly and began to open his pants.

“Woah!” Tony said. “Woah, stop!”

Peter glanced back up at him, hurt and confusion on his face. “But you said...”

“I meant in your room, Pete,” Tony replied, “Take care of yourself in your room.”

“Oh,” Peter said. He smiled at Tony then, his mood switching again, “I’ll go to my room.” Peter got up off the couch and dropped his pants, much to Tony’s shock, and walked toward his private quarters down the hall. It was weird, but Tony shook it off. He picked Peter’s pants up off the floor and carried them to the boy’s room. He left them outside the boy’s door, hearing him moaning in the room. Then Tony retreated to his workshop to fix his program and shove the incident from his mind.

A few hours later, Peter was still acting a little strange. He’d come down to the lab after his little relief session all smiles and sat very close to Tony. Tony was still going over program files, listening to Peter hum a quiet tune. “Hey, kiddo,” Tony said, “Still doing alright?”

“I am, Mr. Stark,” Peter replied promptly. “I feel good.”

Tony glanced at the boy, studying him carefully. Peter’s eyes looked a little glossed over, his face flushed too... but other than that, he seemed fine. “I’m working out the bugs still,” Tony informed him.

“It didn’t seemed bugged to me,” Peter replied. “You said I’d feel good if I listened, and it did. It worked.”

Tony frowned. “When did I say that?” He asked.

Peter thought for a moment. “Well, I heard you say it before... I don’t know. I don’t remember.”

Tony figured it was something EDITH had suggested to Peter in her botched programming. But he had fixed that problem, hopefully. “Here,” Tony said. He held up the glasses again. “They should work correctly this time.”

Peter’s face flushed at the sight of the glasses. He looked a little worried, but mostly excited. “Y-Yeah?” He asked. “I’ll put them on again...”

“Yeah...” Tony said. He hesitated, pulling his hand back as Peter reached out for the glasses. Peter stepped in close again, his hand gripping the frames of the glasses, and brushing over Tony’s fingers.

“Wait,” Tony said, “I should make sure it’s really going to work.”

Peter’s face fell a little but he took his hand away. Tony quickly turned back to EDITH’s code and added in some new commands and actions for Peter. Then he handed the glasses to the boy. Peter stood there for a moment, face still flushed, just staring at them. Finally, he took them over to the lounge sofa Tony had in the workshop and put them on after flopping back against the cushions.

Tony watched him as the trance took over and then decided to give Peter some privacy. He’d need it after all. Tony put the workshop on lockdown and returned to his room for the evening. Peter would most likely be sleeping in the shop.

But Tony was woken shortly after slipping into bed by another body being pressed up against his. Peter wormed his way under the covers and fell asleep next to Tony. He was still wearing the glasses, so Tony took them off and let the boy sleep next to him. Though the distance between them on the bed didn’t last. Peter ended up clinging to Tony in the middle of the night.

In the morning, Peter rolled himself over and stretched. He yawned loudly and sat up next to Tony before he finally realized where he was. He saw Tony lying next to him, tapping away at something on his phone. “Mr. Stark!” He cried out, nearly toppling off the bed. “Oh my god!”

“Pete,” Tony said. He got up off the bed and walked around to where the boy was on the floor. “Relax, kiddo, you’re okay.”

Peter rubbed his head and stared up at Tony. “I must’ve... been sleep walking? I was dreaming so vividly,” Peter said.

“Yeah?”

Peter nodded. He took Tony’s outstretched hand and the man pulled him to his feet. “Yeah,” he said softly as his eyes met Tony’s. Then Peter blushed hard, his eyes darting away.

“Tell me about it,” Tony said. He crossed his arms over his chest and watched Peter carefully. Peter turned an even deeper shade of red and he babbled out a little bit of nonsense. He covered his mouth but it spilled out anyway.

“W- well, we were down in the lab,” Peter began, “And after you gave me the glasses again to fix me, you started making me feel so good. And telling me all kinds of... really hot things. How much you want to bend me over and make me beg on my hands and knees. You said I was your good boy and I... wanted to be. Yours. To let you do anything to me. You could own me... and I’d be okay with that. I-I was okay with it.

T-then... when we were done, I just wanted to be close to you. So I guess I came up to sleep with you... next to you.” Peter took a deep breath and stared at Tony. “I don’t know why I said all of that...” he whispered.

Tony grinned. He had control now. Because his program worked. He’d put Peter back to normal eventually - well he’d keep a few triggers, to have fun with Peter in the future too.

“Because you’re my good boy,” the man replied.

Peter’s eyes widened and then they glazed over. “I am your good boy...” he moaned softly.

Tony beckoned Peter closet and the boy moved in toward the man. He stared up at Tony, cheeks dusty pink. Tony leaned in and kissed Peter. Just a little fun with him, Tony thought to himself, then he’d let Peter’s mind go back to normal. They’d just play occasionally; Peter would enjoy himself either way - Tony would see to that.

#starker #peter x tony #requests #au #peter x mysterio #nff #hypnokink #mind control

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whateverisbeautiful · 6 years ago

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Reveling in Richonne

121: The Turn (8x14)

The thing about this show is that it can have a weak season but, even then, there will still be at least a few moments that really deliver. And to me, this conversation between Rick and Morgan in this episode really delivers.

It’s pretty moving and the fact that Lennie James and Andrew Lincoln are such phenomenal talents definitely has a lot to do with it. 💯

And in this conversation they have, there’s actually some Richonne connections to be made.

Plus, the events that occur in these following moments are particularly important since this is where we see a pivotal point for Rick. Imo it’s a large part of his turning point.

So after the beautifully acted moment between Rick and Michonne earlier, the next time we see Rick he’s sitting in a room with Judith. Rick clearly seems very distraught and then we see that he’s staring down at Carl’s hat, which is beyond heartbreaking, especially knowing that Carl was able to express what that hat meant to him in front of his dad. 😭

We’ve seen Rick have very brief moments of breaking and collecting himself post-Carl but I think this is the moment where the inner chaos that must be going on in his head is the most visible. Like this scene makes it clear how much all this is eating away at him. So he gets up and leaves cuz he can’t let himself sit in this pain.

And it’s interesting that Judith was included in this moment because I think it just further hits home that Rick is in such a gripping head space that neither his wife or his daughter (the two lights he has left in this world) can bring him fully out yet. They definitely have come close, but right now his wrathful side has taken over and is spurring him to keep “moving to move away from it.”

So the very next scene is Rick walking outside with that coat on, so you already know what’s bout to go down. Someone or someone(s) finna meet their end. 💯

Another significant thing about this jacket is that it’s the one he wore when he killed the Claimer trying to kill Carl in the season 4 finale, and it just reminds me that Rick would do everything in his power to protect Carl and keep him safe and yet his son still eventually didn’t make it. (Why TWD, why?) 😢😪

On a lighter note, I notice how when Rick walks out it low key feels like when kids sneak out knowing good and well they’re supposed to stay inside lol. Like I def think all that looking around he does as he walks has to do with Michonne, cuz he knows if he runs into her then he won’t be able to help but abide to her wish that he stay here and process like he’s supposed to.

(Side note: I wish Michonne would have got her own storyline this episode so we could know what she did while Rick was out and in finding out he left. It would have been nice to know what she was up to that day. And not just cuz I’m in the ministry of #GiveMichonneMoreScreenTime)

This whole moment of Rick leaving is an indicator that Rick’s not in the best spot cuz Homeboy never goes against Michonne’s guidance if he can avoid it. Last time something like that happened he went crazy in ASZ.

So Rick approaches Alden and we’re seeing some signature Rick Nothing-to-play-with Grimes which I’m a fan of lol. He’s using his cop knowledge to get intel out of Alden and to get an idea of where those escaped Saviors might be.

Before walking away, Alden asks Rick that if it’s possible, could he not kill anymore people than he has to and he lets him know that Rick could have the potential to show these people a better way.

It’s significant because it’s a very similar sentiment to what Carl expressed to him in his final moments.

And again, it just goes to show that no matter how far he runs, everywhere Rick goes there is going to be some reminder of Carl and the message Carl instilled upon him.

After Alden tells him that showing these Saviors some empathy is something he could do, Rick responds saying “Yeah I could.” It’s low key petty, but I love the delivery of that line lol. 😋

At the same time, it’s yet another way to show that Rick isn’t ready to come to terms with Carl and his message. He knows he could do that, but he’s not trying to let the more rational side of him be in control of his actions right now cuz again, his goal is to kill away his problems.

So Rick leaves and then he runs into Morgan. And y’all they’re both on edge and losing it a little so probably not the best company right now lol.

But I’m very happy these two got a storyline together cuz they started this series off and they’re some of the few characters that still have my heart on this show. Plus Lennie James and Andrew Lincoln are both seriously A1 actors. They are the best of the best in this cast, along with Danai and Melissa McBride imo. 👏🏽👏🏽(Which interestingly they play the four characters who lost children🏽)

When Morgan and Rick run into each other, Morgan’s in that murky headspace so Rick has to tell him “You know me”. And I love that it’s a “Clear” reference. It’s sweet that Rick knows how to proceed and talk Morgan down somewhat when he’s having an episode. It’s also sad cuz last time he told Morgan this, Carl was alive and well and forming the roots of his precious bond with Michonne. 😔

Rick also tells Morgan that he probably shouldn’t be out here which is true…for both of them lol.

But what’s funny is that when Rick realizes they are both out here to finish off those Saviors he’s like “We finish it. You and me” to which I was like bruh but you just said he shouldn’t be out here 🤔…Again, not exactly thinking straight rn.

(Side note: Hearing him say “you and me” made me wish Rick would stop and remember how in 7x12 he told Michonne he wanted it to be “you and me reordering things together.” Cuz what he’s doing right now ain’t that.)

It’s not long before Rick and Morgan find the place and are immediately captured. And seeing them tied up in that bar, I was just like Rick, friend…what is you doing. Cuz he’s supposed to be in his room reading a letter right now but instead he’s tied up in a bar with some Saviors. #wildin

Plus I felt Rick also has to remember that him being out here in potentially life-threatening predicaments like this is going to greatly affect Michonne and Judith cuz he still have a family that needs him, and it would be devastating if they lost him so soon after losing Carl. But right now Rick can’t quite think pass the present.

I like how Rick wakes up so casually and asks how long he was out like he’s waking up from a nap tho. 😂 Homeboy is unbothered lol. Probably cuz he knows what he and Morgan are capable of.

So these Saviors are trying to decide what their next move is and the sniveling one, Jared, is very eager to get back and turn Rick in. Rick then starts to recall Alden’s words and he presents an offer for the Saviors to come back to Hilltop and join them. He then gives his word and repeats what he said in 8x03 about how a man’s word “still gotta mean something”. Except this time there does seem to be less sincerity in his delivery.

Jared’s not buying it and so then, y’all, I knew about Petty Rick but he was practically out-pettied by Morgan and I am here for Petty Morgan. 👏🏽👏🏽 His bold but casual honesty was great as he tells the Saviors; nah I’m def here to do what I have to do and kill all y’all. (And it’s funny cuz as Morgan starts really going off you can kind of see Rick look like he’s thinking “alright this might be too wild even for me” 😂)

Rick and Morgan warned these guys about a herd closing in and sure enough a swarm of walkers show up. Rick says “Thing is, we already killed you.” and I don’t know why it’s said exactly but what I do know is that means he did kind of sort of warn them about what he’s about to do lol.

They convince the Saviors that they’re too weak to take on this herd alone so some of the guys untie them. So then they’re all fending off this herd and a walker almost gets to Rick but then the Savior (that low key resembles early day Shane), takes out the walker before it can bite Rick, which makes it seem like he might be a real one.

But then things take a turn and get

Cuz Rick has the Saviors go in front of him and all Rick and Morgan have to do is just give each other a look like…

And that’s enough for both these OG’s to know what time it is and they proceed to take out all the Saviors.

Which my first reaction was like…

(Side note: That coat is undefeated, y’all.)

Now…I know this whole moment was controversial. And I have some thoughts on it lol. Cuz y’all the very first time I watched this I def felt like this was super cold of Rick and I felt like this was Rick dabbling way too far on the side of villainy. And with Rick having given his word I was like don’t tell me this show is trying to discredit Rick’s word, especially in the same episode he’s going to tell Michonne those words we’ve been waiting to hear.

But then, like I have to do with many things, I stopped and addressed the error of my thinking. And I realized that this actually isn’t as heinous as it seems. Don’t get me wrong it was savage and revealing of how Rick’s in a very shaky spot, but in my opinion it was also sort of necessary and doesn’t make him a monster.

So while seeing Rick and Morgan at their most ruthless was tough to chew on initially, I eventually came to the conclusion that…

The way I see it, it’s like a kidnapping situation where oftentimes when someone is kidnapped and restrained from fighting back physically, they often use their words to help them escape by getting into their captors head. They will tell their captor anything to be let go, even if it’s a false promise like swearing they won’t say anything if they can go or that they’ll give them whatever they want, etc. These are all untrue but they’re used as an effective defense mechanism and escape strategy.

And if it works and they’re able to escape and then they immediately break the promises they made, we’d understand that they had to give their word and then break it to survive. That’s what Rick had to do imo.

Cuz, while yes the Saviors untied them and even were working together to take out these walkers, the truth is there’s still not much of a legit reason to believe they can be trusted long term.

Rick and Morgan were of use to the Saviors at the time, who knows what they’d do to them when the walker issue was done. They are after all on opposing sides of this war and technically have more loyalty to Negan than Rick. So Rick doesn’t have much reason to think they would genuinely side with him and it’s dangerous to risk finding out.

So Rick and Morgan’s lives were still on the line and Rick did what he had to do, which in this case was say what he had to say. His whole spiel about letting them go back to Hilltop was never his word, it was his defense mechanism to break out of there. It’s not that he meant it and went back on it, he never meant it.

What was his true word tho? That he was going to kill those Saviors and well…he def kept his word. 👀💯

And, yes, the vengeful aspect of this from Rick is not healthy and it’s definitely not Rick’s shining moment when he kills the guy that just saved his life but at least for me I don’t think this turn of events means Rick isn’t the guy we thought he was and especially most of all this does not mean he’s comparable to Negan in the slightest. Those comparisons just will never add up to me. 🤦🏽‍♀️

The most suspect aspect of this on Rick’s part is that it’s just so opposite of what Carl wanted for him, but in the end he’s not a horrible person for telling a lie to survive his captors.

Plus doing all this allowed him to make it back to Michonne so...

So as Rick and Morgan are taking everybody out, I’m also here for Petty Morgan mean mugging Jared as he holds him to the gate, and then finally listens to Jared’s plea to let him go only once it’s too late. I was like…

Rick goes up to the guy who saved him and it’s interesting how similar the lighting is to the chapel scene where Rick spent his last moments with Carl.

There’s that same sort of light ray shining through and it’s ironic in a way cuz Rick promised to make it real for Carl but instead he’s just done the opposite of make it real, in the very same light.

Admittedly, the most cruel feeling part of this whole thing is when Rick just bold face looks at this guy and cuts him off to tell him, “I lied.” But I think what we’re seeing right now is the very dark space Rick could go to if he doesn’t stop himself.

It’s deep to hear the Savior say he didn’t lie about wanting to make things work and it definitely sparks a contrast. Then, the Savior tells Rick they could’ve lived after and Lincoln does a great job of showcasing the suppressed emotion Rick feels at this moment.

The subtle smugness is quickly replaced with the struggle to pull the trigger cuz he knows he’s not right in the head and that he’s doing what his woman said “moving to move away from it.” But he can’t get away from it.

Everywhere he goes, something or someone is reminding Rick of Carl’s dying wish in some way. And I bet it hits Rick that Carl was laying on the ground talking about this very thing of after and living together in peace. And that triggers Rick so he pulls the trigger.

And this to me is the beginning of the turning point for him that actually starts to snap him out of this dark spot for a moment to become aware of what he’s becoming.

Cuz as he stands around the bodies there’s definitely a sense that he’s gotten a big wake up call about how far he has strayed from Carl’s vision.

He’s slowly starting to sense that violence and wrath doesn’t solve the deeper pain and it isn’t the way to move forward.

Morgan walks by and casually takes out a body about to turn, still in Petty Morgan beast mode I think. And what’s interesting is he says, “Everybody turns” and that line starts to carry a lot of weight.

It means so much more than just everybody turns into walkers. It means everybody can turn from their old ways. In this world, everybody turns from their initial values and moral code at some point (especially after the loss of a child as we see in the cases of Rick, Morgan, Michonne and Carol in different parts of their journey)

But the thing is, yes everybody turns from who they are or were but just like you can turn dark, you can turn light again. You can turn back. 👌🏽 And in this following scene there really is a turning point for Rick where his eye are opened to how he has to turn things around.

Rick has a choice to continue on this dark path or be better and get better, not just for him but for his family and his people. So it’s significant that next we see Rick take a step towards that by reaching out to Morgan for an answer. And he gets just the answer he needs to realize which side he should choose.

He starts by telling Morgan how he saved him and he would have died without him, maybe even right in front of Morgan’s house. I love that these two get to make reference to the episode that started it all, 8 seasons later. Cuz they really were the two who drew us into this world.

What’s so meaningful about Rick bringing this up is that in the pilot Rick was to Morgan, what Siddiq was to Carl.

Rick was just a stranger at the time, but Morgan helped him like Carl took in Siddiq. So I think Rick is asking Morgan this right now because he’s trying to better understand Carl’s own thinking of helping the traveler by understanding why Morgan did that for him.

This is important cuz it’s Rick wanting to understand Carl’s side of things. So that right there let’s you know he’s not embracing the monster within, or at least he’s trying to fight it.

He reaches out to Morgan in hopes that it’ll help him see something that’s super difficult for him to see right now which is how to give people a chance again. He wants to be different and he’s essentially trying to gauge how by seeing why Morgan was able to do it for him, a stranger, all that time ago.

As Rick asks this, Morgan doesn’t want to talk about it and he just wants to go. Rick goes on to mention “Your son was there” and that’s when Morgan really wants to shut the conversation down cuz he still feels he’s not at a place to talk about Duane.

And this moment between them is so emotional because we were introduced to these two characters as fathers who would do anything for their sons and now they’ve both lost the very people they fought and lived for in the beginning. 😔

Rick continues to urge Morgan to just tell him why he saved him because reflecting on who they were before could help them understand how to try and be that again.

And, while Morgan’s not at a place to just fully pour his heart out about this, he does manage to give Rick an answer that’s pretty profound.

He explains that the reason he did it was, “Because my son was there”. Y’all. 😭😭

This is such a great response. The writing on this show has been suffering for a minute but that right there was spot on and really hit home to me. 👌🏽

It means so much. It’s so true that Morgan’s son gave him his humanity and then when he lost him, he lost all that humanity for a long while. And Rick has the potential to be in a similar spot cuz Carl was that instrumental to him as well. And you can tell that when Rick hears this he knows it too.

He knows it’s his son who kept him going for so long, especially before their family expanded, and so there’s a certain added somberness to this response cuz the very thing that motivated him is no longer with him.

But unlike Morgan who no longer has Duane to guide him to good, Rick still does have one more opportunity for Carl specifically to guide him to good; the letter.

So I think this is where Rick knows it’s time to read the letter. He needs his son’s guidance if he’s going to maintain his humanity, a humanity we saw jeopardized in this savior massacre (although, again, when you’re captured by the opposing side sometimes you have to finesse a situation)

(Side note: Speaking of finessing, that whole Jadis and Negan storyline was just a mess imo. Negan getting access to the guns and photos had me really wondering if he was a looney tunes character. And the fact that Jadis freed him and let him finesse her on her own turf with a brief bit of his backstory really had me like...

And also how is Negan going to see a helicopter and just casually be like; hey maybe we can chat about that one day?)

But I think the other saving grace that proves hope isn’t lost, is that Rick still has someone who Carl absolutely lives on through. Michonne and Carl had such an impact on each other and she represents so much of the good of Carl so through her and through Carl’s final words in the letter Rick can find his way back to the light.

Rick is a good man and a lot of what kept him that way was the motivation of his son, and without him that good complex got a little skewed, but deep down Rick still is good and wants to be good. So he knows something has got to give.

But the main reason I see this moment as Richonne related is because a big reason Rick let Michonne in, way back in season 3 is because his son was there. 😭

Like of course there was also an innate connection that Rick and Michonne seemed to have from the jump, but Rick was so entranced at that first meeting at the fence that it wasn’t until Carl spoke about helping her that Rick ran and brought her in. His son was taking in that moment similar to Duane in the pilot.

And then in the more personal sense of letting her in, it was also because his son was there to tell him Michonne is one of them that helped Rick feel more free to let Michonne further into his heart. 😊

And that decision to let her in changed his whole life for the better. Like she really did make life 1000x better for him. So if anything, that’s a telling reason of why sometimes letting people in works out and he should follow his son’s guidance, cuz Carl has shown him the way before and he can show him the way now too.

They end the scene with Rick in the broken mirror cuz, a little heavy handedly, it’s the broken man in the mirror.

But it still speaks to something important because Rick’s been broken and it’s led him to go and act in the very way Carl didn’t want him to, so the mirror is this symbol of him having to face his issues head on and see more clearly that this isn’t the way.

So as Rick faces the man in the broken mirror he knows he’s at a crossroads with a crucial decision to make. Continue on as this cold blooded killer and lose his mind and have Carl’s death cripple him with insanity or turn to Carl through his letter to lead the way and make him a better man once more. 👌🏽

(Side note: I’m glad they didn’t have him look in the mirror cuz then I would have got some SNL “Californians” vibes lol 😂)

It’s really significant that 8x14 highlights the four characters who lost kids and that in this episode they each get to make reference to their kids and the way it changed them, because I think Carol, Michonne, and Morgan’s journeys after losing kids are meant to all represent paths Rick can choose to take having just recently joined this club.

He can be like Morgan and fall into a very fragile state of mind where he has unstable episodes and is never able to talk about it much.

Or he can be like Carol and, as she says later in her words, “become nothing for a long while” only to emerge a strong fighter who also pushes the people close away and convinces herself that she has to be isolated. (Which side note: I’m proud of Carol that she was able to make some breakthroughs this episode in letting people in again)

Or he can be like Michonne who went to a very dark space like he’s gone to and then worked to put all this “moving to move away from it” behind her to face her demons and get to a point of healing and opening her heart to the love that was there for her.

I think it’s clear which road he should take. And luckily the woman, who fought to overcome that shut down state she was once in, is willing and ready to walk this path of healing with him.😌

So this moment with Morgan is not only one of the best scenes of the season to me, but it is also the turning point for Rick. This is where he makes a decision on who he needs to be. 💯

Rick is not going to keep being this dark vengeful bloodthirsty guy, because he made a promise to Carl that he’s going to fight to keep. And he’s going to fight to keep this promise cuz, at his core, Rick is a man of his word. 👌🏽😌

And he has three very special words to say in this next moment. Amen. 😋🙌🏾😋🙌🏾😋🙌🏾😋🙌🏾🏾😋🙌

gif sources: michonnegrimes andy-clutterbuck likeafantasy dailytwd carlschandler

#richonne #richonne fandom #richonne family #michonne #rick grimes #morgan #s8 #8x14 #thanks for reading!#(and scrolling)

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ptw30 · 7 years ago

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Stunning art by xblackpaladin

Ficlet: Birth-Quintaint

Part of the Blade!Shiro series.

Prompt from NightWings on AO3:

Hmm what if the blade did something to celebrate Shiro or Keith's birthday? Since they probably never really had one since their parents left.

Warning: Fluff and Angst cuz...y’know, that’s what I write. (SFW)

Every quart-feeb, Shiro came to Kolivan with a simple request, “May I have a pod and the 23rd off?”

As if he needed permission from his boss or his father, and that first year, Kolivan refused to place himself in that role for the cubs. Instead, he demanded without looking up from his datapad, “Explain.”

“I want to take Keith out to the swap meet. I figure we’ll wander around, taste some of the goodies, maybe get him a new toy or something.”

“Why?”

A shrug. “He’s been here since you brought us with Ulaz. I think he needs some fresh air.”

Kolivan glanced up, just long enough to catch Shiro’s eyes and subject his soul to harsh scrutiny. “You may go, but take Antok with you.”

“But maybe just – ”

“Dismissed.”

“Just the two of us,” Shiro demanded the following year. “I found a planet in the Faraway Systems. No Galra. No lifeforms. Just ice and some snow. I figured we’d ice skate, have a snowball fight, maybe make ice pops.”

“What are…ice pops?” Kolivan asked, once he placed down his datapad on the Hilt’s console.

“They’re sugar water frozen into stick form.”

“And what would one do with it?”

Shiro blinked, head cocked to the side. “You…eat it. Well, lick it.”

Kolivan crossed his arms and waited for further explanation. After a moment, Shiro surrendered with an exasperated sigh. “Look, it’s a treat. It tastes sweet.”

“And you’re taking Keith for – ”

“For some fun. A quintaint off.”

“On the same quintaint you took off last year.”

“…yeeeesss…?” he asked, hunching his shoulders.

Kolivan simply stared for a long moment, waiting for Shiro to crack and give a longer, more thorough explanation, but when the young Blade simply crossed his arms and waited, too, Kolivan relented.

“Fine, you may go. But take Antok.”

“I said –

Kolivan picked up his datapad and began to type again, muttering absentmindedly, “You take Antok or I’ll put the pods on lockdown.”

“What is it with this quintaint?” Kolivan demanded the third year after Shiro came to him, the leader’s datapad long forgotten in his room. “You leave on this ‘October 23rd’ every year. You get what Antok describes to me as a ‘sugar rush,’ and you sing a song to Keith about a…a birthday? What’s so special about this specific quintaint, Takashi?”

They were pack now. Familial anger was the norm, as was Shiro’s sheepish smile. “It’s – It’s the quintaint he was born, Kolivan. On Earth. And our culture likes to celebrate the quintaints our family and friends entered the world – uh, universe. There’re presents and usually a cake and activities. But Galra don’t seem to celebrate any holi...quintaints? - let alone the quintaints they were born.” He paused for a moment before adding, “You are born, right? Or are Galra spawned?”

“Yes, we are born.” Kolivan hit Shiro up the back of his head as he passed, moving into his personal quarters just off the Hilt. “Perhaps it has been dark far too long in the headquarters. The endless string of battles and missions didn’t seem to give us reasons to celebrate, especially with causalities and injuries, but we cannot turn our back on a whole portion of our culture.”

“And maybe because of the casualties you need to celebrate,” Shiro offered, and when Kolivan turned to him, the cub shrugged. “No one’s going to live forever. We need to appreciate every quintaint, y’know?”

Kolivan stared at the young cub, barely two decafeebs old, who suffered through a terrible battle less than a week prior. The battle had been brutal, bloody, and deadly, leaving less than half the attacking squad alive. Shiro almost hadn’t come back, refusing to leave Antok behind and dragging the larger Galra to a ship with a handful of Blades.

And then he’d gone back to check for more survivors, only to find none.

Yet here he stood, bright and smiling and forging ahead because there was no option, because as he sobbed in Kolivan’s arms a week ago, the leader told him to honor those they’d lost by fighting to not lose another. To not let the Galra Empire win by crushing his spirit. There’d be more fights. There would always be more fights, and Kolivan needed Shiro by his side for strength and guidance and light.

Kolivan needed Shiro’s blinding brilliance and unconditional affection.

Always.

Kolivan drew Shiro to his side, laying his arm along the human’s shoulders, and hit on his datapad. “Yes, I believe you are right.”

Kolivan felt the usual tension in his chest unfurl when he watched the pod land and the back door open. Keith gasped and smiled from pointy ear to pointy ear when he spotted the rest of his pack, plus the presents – including dual speeders – the sign, and the cake (red velvet, of course).

They sang as per Shiro’s instructions, and then the cubs took laps, racing the speedsters through the desert terrain. According to Shiro, who scouted the planet, the warm, arid climate reminded him of Earth, his homeworld, and the years Keith barely remembered but cherished just the same.

The quintaint was the most relaxing Kolivan could remember enjoying in quite some time, and the Blades all took in stride, dressed informally for the first time in decafeebs. Black cargo pants and boots. Tight vests or jackets, fingerless gloves, light undershirts. Antok, too, took off his mask to enjoy the warm temperature.

They stayed the night, the shimmering stars above captivating and beautiful – as were the cubs tucked against Kolivan’s sides. They shared stories and food and laughter, and celebrated as a pack should.

After that quintaint, there were decorations and celebrations, smiles and feasts, and then on one mission, Kolivan watched as Shiro sighed and leaned his chin upon the front console, watching the planets pass without his usual fascination.

“Out with it,” Kolivan demanded.

Shiro bristled and shrugged. “I-It’s nothing.”

“I need your complete focus on this mission, Shiro. It’s going to one of the most dangerous we ever have endeavored, and I cannot have you distracted in any – ”

“Fine, fine.” Shiro threw up his hands. “It’s my birthday, okay? And every year since our parents left us, Keith has jumps on me to wake me up, and then he’ll sing and if he’s able to gather some dessert from the night before, we’ll devour it in one sitting. But he went with Thace yesterday somewhere. And – now we’re here. And I guess, I don’t know. I just thought…I just thought you’d put on a better poker face, Kolivan.”

Kolivan blinked and glanced over to find himself on the receiving end of a smug expression.

“Oh, come on, Kolivan. I’m not stupid. Where are you taking me?”

“To a Galra outpost,” he maintained.

Leaning back, Shiro hitched his legs onto the console and crossed them at the ankle. “You’re a great leader but a terrible liar.”

Kolivan didn’t quite roll his eyes but growled, “Could you at least act surprised? Ulaz and Keith have been communicating via coded messages for almost a feeb about this.”

“Absolutely. I wouldn’t want to get you in trouble.”

Oh, that kid needed his legs taken out, but instead, Kolivan’s hands shook upon the handles before he reached into his cloak. He pulled out a chain with a shimmering blue crystal and handed it to Shiro.

“What is this?” the cub wondered.

“It’s a piece of a Balmera, a petrified being that produces raw quintessence.”

“…pure life force? Seriously?”

“That crystal should have enough power to heal one mortal wound.” Kolivan swallowed hard and forced between his gritted teeth, “Let’s not have a repeat of your mission before Keith’s birthday.”

The varga it took the pod to return to base was the longest in Kolivan’s entire life.

In retrospect, Kolivan probably should have expected the crushing hug that threatened to choke even him – and he should have asked Shiro not to wear the crystal to the party. Keith and Ulaz refused to speak with him for almost a full feeb.

Although…the tender smile upon Shiro’s face had been worth it.