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jamestrmtx · 4 years ago

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Fairytale Complex - [Undertale | Sans x Reader]

[Gender Neutral, Frisk's Parent Reader | Slow Burn]

Chapter Twelve | Danger Mystery (Part 2 of 2)

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To those who read the previous chapter part before I fixed an issue with it:

I forgot to change the title from Chapter Eleven | Premonition to Chapter Twelve | Danger Mystery (Part 1 of 2) when copy-pasting the header format, and didn't notice until an hour of posting.

Apologies for any confusion I might've caused with that!

• • •

"Cool braids," Jerry says, smiling at Frisk. "Did you make them yourself?"

The one questioned seems less than enthused by him, though there's no denying how their face lights up at the compliment. "Toriel made them for me," they sign, going back to their bored expression afterwards. Their attitude is distant and shows how they aren’t ready to confront the past yet. They stand up and look away from him, a frown etched deep in their expression all the while. "I have to finish my homework now."

"Bring it here." Jerry tries to be cheerful, but fails horribly, smile and tone both coming off forced and awkward as he tries to hype up the situation as best as he can. "I can help you!"

Though they try to hide it from everyone else in the room, Sans can see how Frisk rolls their eyes, pouts, and then mutters something under their breath. "It's fine. I don't need any help with what's left."

They almost mimic (Y/N) in character and tone, acting just as stern and cold, if not more with how hard it is for them to pretend the opposite.

"I'd still like to know how you're doing in school." Jerry's tone changes, paired up with his expression: eyebrows creased, eyes glaring, and smile gone. "You're... You're the only one left who can tell me how things are going lately, now that (Y/N) won't answer my messages anymore."

"Why don't you ask that guy, then? You're friends, as far as I know."

Their angry gaze points at Sans as they sign the words: "Why are you friends with him?" with the most annoyed gestures possible, and quick enough for Jerry not to notice what they're doing or saying. Then, they look at their father again, seemingly running thin and out of patience with the way they look at him, a look so frigid it could put an ice skating rink to shame. "You haven't answered my question yet."

"Believe me, Frisk." Jerry huffs. "I've tried, but he refuses to tell me anything -- says it's not in his place to tell me about you and all that stuff."

"Cool," is Frisk's only reaction as they spare a look at their surroundings. "It's better that way."

The child sighs and walks away, not once looking back -- and not even as their father calls out for them by their full name.

"Come back here," he demands, standing up and glaring at the hallway Frisk passes through. "Or I'll have to ask why you've got such awful manners today. What's (Y/N) been teaching you these days, huh? You've never been like this before!"

"People change," they snap, stopping for a second to look at him. "So…" Their voice trembles as they take a second to ball their hands and direct their angry look at the floor. "So stop blaming (mom/dad) for everything, if you really want to talk to me."

They're gone for good after that, giving Jerry no chance to talk or ask questions any longer.

He's left fuming, and when he catches Sans's gaze, his anger augments.

"What the hell have you taught Frisk since I was gone? They- They were never like this with me before!”

"Never?" Sans asks, facing up at Jerry when he joins his side. "Hadn't you seen them since last Christmas before today? Ten months are enough for someone to grow and change."

"That's still too big of a change." He scoffs. "Now tell me what you did -- I deserve that much, at least."

"Nothin'." He pauses, shrugging to ignore the glare Jerry continues to direct at him. "We've been here for only two months -- three, at most. You've been gone ten."

Appearing caught in a dead-end, he sees Jerry's eyes wander from Toriel preparing some documents and Papyrus helping her out, to the hallway Frisk had walked through, and -- finally -- to the kitchen, where the clinking of cutlery’s heard as (Y/N) sets up the dinner table, while Undyne keeps an eye out for the stove and Alphys holds out a fire extinguisher near the scene. Sans has a hunch as to what Jerry's planning simply by the dour look on his face alone, so he holds the man back by the arm, saying, "Don't bring 'em into this." He's faced with a sharper glare, though he doesn't brush his hand away. "The kid's mad at you by default. Nobody else's told 'em to treat you that way."

"And how would you know?" Jerry shoves him off. "You're just some guy with a crush on someone else's spouse!"

"Ex-spouse." Sans sneers. "They aren't tied to you anymore."

"But they still have a kid to be responsible for."

"So do you."

Jerry tries to say something back, yet he falls short and stutters before giving up. "I- I'm gonna go help them out, then."

He sees the man look back to the kitchen again, longing visible in his eyes.

"Knock yourself out, bud. Just don't go pressurin' 'em too much." The two spare a look at each other, a silent battle forming in Jerry's gaze while the monster remains stern but nonchalant. "You know what happened back at that bus. They need their time to rest."

A more empathic look softens up Jerry's visage as he nods, finally cracking a smile with it. "I know." He sighs. "But I have no clue how I didn't notice it was them you liked with how many damn comments there were about it on those videos."

"That's 'cuz we were barely gettin' to know each other back then." His confession's abrupt and appears to catch Jerry by surprise. "Wasn't until some time later that I realized what I was feelin' whenever they were around."

Jerry keeps quiet for what has to be a solid minute; it's a miracle based on how much he's wanted to communicate today, and in so short of a time. He sighs and his glare fades. A more serene look replaces his anger as he then relaxes his posture, completing a calmer self, much more refreshing to see in comparison to his previous attitude. "I promise I won't bother them too much today, but I still need to talk."

"Today only?" Sans remarks, quirking an eye socket. "So you're goin' back to zero after that?"

"Don't be stupid. I just mean I won't be as persistent today -- I know they need to rest."

The monster decides to let it go, aware he's going nowhere with how much more obstinate Jerry is.

He sees him enter the kitchen and immediately seek after their ex, an attitude that makes him appear similar to that of a rambunctious puppy still looking for attention even after being told to back off. Sans chuckles at that thought and shakes his head, surprising even himself with how much he's becoming concerned with matters that weren't exactly his own. It’s knowing (Y/N) was tied to the situation along with Frisk what makes him want to try and intervene a bit more, though he knows better than that, taking into account how strained his relationship with the both of them still is. It's a miracle he even managed to befriend Jerry with how obnoxious and insistent he could be at certain times -- even more than Sans was himself.

...Was that why (Y/N) hadn't outright rejected him yet?

Did he resemble Jerry in attitude, somewhat?

Sans brushes that thought aside and proceeds to walk off to the hallway; the faint sounds of someone crying are heard nearby, prompting him to search for who it is.

He passes by a bedroom, a mini office, then a bathroom, until reaching the middle of the hallway. The person's crying sounds louder when he reaches Toriel's bedroom, though based on how young the voice is and that Toriel's still working with some documents back in the living room, he discards her as a possibility. He hears a few sniffles before the crying controls itself a bit more, making it seem as if the one behind that door heard his footsteps and chose not to be found out. Still, they carry on crying after some time, sniffles changing into sobs and sobs changing into loud and shuddering hiccups.

"...Frisk?" he calls out, knocking on the door twice.

The crying stops almost abruptly.

"Who's there?" they ask.

Weren't this such a pressing situation, he wouldn't hesitate so much in responding as he usually did to that type of question. He sighs and rests a hand against the door, drumming his fingers until he replies with, "Sans."

"...Sans who?"

"Sans ta permission, je ne peux pas passer."

He can't avoid the chuckle that follows when he hears them huff -- dramatically so. Soft footsteps and a click are the two sounds that lead before the door opens, revealing a tired Frisk with puffy, red eyes and an equally reddish, runny nose. Their hair's a messy bob, and the hair ties and ribbons Toriel used to keep the braids in place are no longer being worn.

"What do you want?"

"I wanna talk."

"No."

They almost shut the door right on his face, though he backs away on time, and -- as if seeming to trigger an unlisted superpower in (Y/N) -- they appear behind him, nearly giving him a soul attack.

"What's wrong?" they ask, peering over his shoulder. It's an evident, purposeful act on their part to tease him further and pay back at him, as they're already aware of how far his crush on them's gone. Still, they know their personal space and step back after that, leading him to turn his back on the door and face them instead. "...Was that Frisk? Wh- Why are they crying? And why are their braids gone? I swear if Jerry did something I-"

"He didn't say anything about that," Sans intervenes, calming them down by pulling them along with him next to the door and lowering his voice for only them to hear. "He, uh... tried to talk with Frisk, but they're still angry at him -- understandably. But they still don't wanna talk about it."

"Let me try, then," they say, sighing. "I think it's about time they told me at least something about what's bothering them -- Not just hide away like this every chance they get."

"So they always do that?"

They nod. "Whenever I try to talk about Jerry, mostly.” A subtle scowl accompanies the frustration in their tone. “But when it's about them telling me what happened to them at the Underground, they ignore my question by doing pretty much anything else that doesn't have to do with that." A tremble shows in their body as they take a second to breathe. "But today needs to be a different story -- They can’t keep running from this."

"No!"

Sans sees (Y/N)'s patience fade from their eyes at that sound, somewhat muffled by the door, but still an evident shout from Frisk.

"Sans is friends with Jerry, and- And now you're talking with him like that means nothing to you!"

The human narrows their eyes at the door as they stand in front of it. "Sans and Jerry being friends has nothing to do with any of this." They huff. "Did you really think they would be enemies right from the start?"

"Yes! Just like how Prince Charmin Ultra Strong gets defeated by Shrenk!"

Surprisingly, they don't get any angrier and -- on the contrary -- smile at that comparison. They bite their lip to hold it back, though they still fail when they reply with, "Does that suggest Jerry's mom is gonna be a bigger villain later?"

Some silence passes. "I mean, yeah. Don't you remember how sad and angry she was when Jerry tried proposing again, but then you rejected him?"

At that, the monster's grin shows up and he finds himself blurting out, "He tried it again?"

"Yes." The moment they spare to answer his question ends as they look back at the door and say, "Of course, I remember, but you still shouldn't have those expectations, dear. This isn't a good versus evil situation -- There's a lot more to it than that." They bump their forehead against the door, seemingly giving up their strong and stern facade as they press their lips tight and try to suck up some sadness by sniffling and looking at the floor. "You- You must've realized that, too, right? Some of your new friends hurt you at one point, didn't they? And then you still try to defend me despite all the bad choices I've made in the past. I… I know Jerry screwed up-"

"-a lot," they interrupt, making (Y/N) sigh.

"-but that still doesn't mean you should compare like that."

"But what if he's a villain in my eyes, (mom/dad)?" they ask, though it's more of a statement than the former. "The only good thing he's done today is compliment my hair -- That's it! And I'm pretty sure you haven't even used any of that support money he gives you, so it's not like we really owe him anything, either."

"How do you know that?"

"I'm not dumb. That's the reason why you worked so much in the past, isn't it? You... You just sent that child support money back to him, and kept some only for emergencies."

"That-"

"You tell me not to see him as a bad guy, but you still do that by refusing any help and doing everything by yourself."

"That still doesn't mean you'll owe him any of those funds, dear. In the end, we chose to (have/adopt) you, so you'll never owe us any of that money we provide for raising you."

"So why did you reject his part of the responsibility, then?"

The kid could be a lawyer with how quickly that question corners (Y/N) in place. Their once firm, narrowed eyes turn wide and a guilty look makes their forehead wrinkle and mouth form a grimace. They don't say anything as they reach out for the doorknob and try to turn it around. "Open the door. We can't keep talking like this."

"Answer my question first," Frisk says, voice faltering midway. "Please?"

(Y/N) gives in with an exhale, chest shuddering in the process. "I…” They clench their hand and hesitate. “I didn't want to owe him anything." They rest their forehead against the door again, looking more defeated than before when they close their eyes and fight their frown away. "That's why."

Quiet remains after their response.

The door doesn't click or budge, signaling for the one waiting outside to give up for now. They walk back to the monster's side and sit on the floor; their gaze looks left and right, observing the hallway with a distinctive boredom only sadness can bring upon someone. They're almost a mirror of Frisk back when he caught the two of them dancing: knees pressed right to their chest as they hug themselves tight.

Though it takes him a while to do anything, Sans soon settles on the thought that doing something is much better than nothing right now, so he tries to accompany them by the floor. He sits next to them and offers a literal shoulder for them to lay on, the softness of his jacket helping numb the hardness of his bones. They rest their head there and close their eyes, breaths steadying the longer they stay that way. "You kinda smell like Old Spicy," they comment, chuckling. "Like my aunt's new boyfriend’s cologne." They sniff a few times and scooch a bit closer to his side. "...Sorry. That was weird."

He laughs. "Guess I'll have to try a different kind next ti-"

Click.

Followed by the door being unlocked is Frisk opening it and leaving the room. They then look at him and (Y/N) with the most appalled expression possible, similar to a scrungy cat. "You two are mushier than a bag of marshmallows left under the sun.”

Saying that, they turn around and take their leave, adding, “I’m gonna go talk with Jerry now,” before their other parent can say anything as an objection.

“Still not gonna call him dad?” they ask, though it comes off more teasing than demanding.

“Not until he earns it.” Frisk looks at the skeleton with sharp, judging eyes. “Because right now, even Skeletor’s brother is a better candidate for that.”

They’re gone in a flash after that comment, leaving Sans to process the heavy weight of those words and for the human next to him to stand up, gape, and look to where their child ran off to.

“W- Watch your words Frisk (L/N),” they shout at the empty hallway, voice masking their embarrassment by being loud. "You're on thin ice!"

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#sans x reader #undertale x reader #lgbt #lgbt themes #gender neutral reader #male reader #female reader #mother reader #father reader #parent reader #chubby reader #long fic #romcom #adventure #mystery #platonic relationships #slow burn

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what-is-your-plan-today · 4 years ago

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Stark Spangled Forever: I Don’t Like Bullies

Intro: Emmy encounters someone from her past, and is left shaken after they threaten her. Steve and Bucky decided to pay them a little visit…

Warnings: Some violence, a slightly dark Steve and Bucky…some bad language. SMUT (NSFW, No UNDER 18s!!!)

Pairing: Steve Rogers x OFC Katie Stark

A/N: Had this one in my head for a while, finally got round to penning it down. Hope you enjoy.

SSF Masterlist // WIYPT Masterlist

August 2024

“Again!” Jamie giggled, splashing his way over to Steve who laughed and waited for Jamie to reach him.

“Ok ,one…two…three…” hooking his hands under Jamie’s armpits he gently launched him into the air and the 4 year old laughed hysterically before he hit the water with a splash in the deeper end of the pool before emerging, from the surface.

“You’re gonna give me a heart attack…” Katie sighed from where she was sat on the steps to the pool, submerged to her shoulders. Rori was suspended in the little inflatable baby support, her legs kicking out behind her as Katie gently pushed her away then pulled her back, the baby smiling and thrashing with her arms.

“He’s fine ain’t you son?” Steve asked as Jamie doggie paddled over to him, grinning.

“It’s like flying Momma!”

“Hmmm.” she said, as Jamie jumped on his dad’s back and he pulled at Steve’s neck. Steve, playing along threw himself backwards taking them both under the surface before he stood up, shaking his head like a dog as Jamie’s laugh hit his ears.

“You’re getting strong pal.” he said, turning his head over his shoulder so he could look at Jamie. Jamie grinned.

“How’s my little water baby doing?” Steve asked as he carried Jamie on his back to where his wife and daughter were, Jamie scrabbling out of the pool and heading to the lounger for a drink.

“She’s fine.” Katie smiled, as Steve turned his attention to Aurora, a huge grin on his face as she looked at him and beamed, waving her legs and arms as fast as she could.

“Look at you princess!” he said as Katie pulled her back towards them. He dropped down so his shoulders were under the water and Rori was at eye level. “Think she’s enjoying it.”

Katie smiled as the two of them watched the baby for a moment before Katie looked up at Jamie who was sat now with Lucky between his legs, gently talking to the dog. “Do you know what time it is?”

Steve glanced at his watch “Almost 4.”

“I should really think about starting dinner.”

“Leave it….” he said, turning to her, pressing his lips to hers. “Come on, when was the last time we got an afternoon like this?”

She smiled, “Feels like a while that’s for sure…”

“So…we can chuck a frozen pizza in for Jamie and we can get a take-out…” he said, moving so he was behind her, his arms curling around her waist, pulling her back so she was perched on his bent legs, his chin resting on her shoulder “Eat by the pool…” he placed a kiss to the crook of her neck, “And then later when he’s in bed and she’s settled we can hit the hot-tub…” another kiss “maybe a bottle of wine…”

“You feeling amorous Soldier?” Katie grinned, tipping her head round to face him.

“Always when you’re concerned…” he winked, his lips again meeting hers, only this time the kiss slightly deeper until they broke apart after a loud splash, followed by a smaller splash drew their attention.

Jamie had launched himself back into the pool, followed by Lucky who had clearly decided he too needed to get in the action.

They stayed in the water for another 15 minutes or so until Rori started to get a bit grouchy, and Katie took her out, wrapping them both in a towel and sitting in the quiet for a while to feed her. Steve and Jamie followed her out a little while later, both drying themselves off before Steve took Jamie inside to get him a juice box and throw his pizza in the oven. Jamie then insisted he wouldn’t make it until his pizza was done as he as starving, so Steve got him quick snack of breadsticks and hummus and sent him back out onto the garden where he made his way over to the side of the pool, flopping down on the lounger next to his Momma.

Deciding that a snack was actually a pretty good idea really, Steve grabbed a few things from the fridge, namely olives, more breadsticks, dips, cheeses and was about to carry it down to the pool area when the security system sounded to tell him that Emmy had come home.

“It’s ok…you’re ok…” his ears picked up Brooke’s voice from the hall and instantly he frowned as he heard Emmy’s deep breathing too. He strode into the hallway just in time to see Emmy slide down to the floor, her back pressed to the door as she tugged her knees to her chest.

“Emmy?” Steve asked, quickly dropping down in front of her. “Hey…look at me…”

She looked up and he gently reached out, his hand smoothing back her hair “Use your numbers ok, like we used too, remember?”

She gripped his hand tight and her eyes screwed shut as she desperately tried to regulate her breathing and Steve, not once taking his eyes off his daughter issued Brooke with an instruction to go and get Katie. Less than 2 minutes later she was also on her knees next to Emmy having left Brooke to watch the younger two and it was a minute or so later before the 16 year old began to breathe normally, her eyes slowly blinking as they returned to their usual size instead of being blown wide open.

“You ok?” Katie asked gently, looking at Emmy. She nodded.

“Sorry…”

“Don’t…” Steve looked at her as she fell into his arms, pressing her face against his bare chest as he wrapped his arms around her, kissing her head “Don’t every apologise for that, we told you.” The amount of panic attacks their daughter had had when she first came to live with them meant they’d been fairly used to them, but she hadn’t had one in a VERY long time, not since the events of the Final battle with Thanos had hit her and she’d broken down about losing her Uncle Tony, Auntie Nat and then how close she had to losing her parents. Emmy was a strong, independent teenager who for the most part simply got on with things, letting a lot of stuff that would bother other people wash right over her head. But clearly something had triggered her today.

“You need a drink sweetheart?” Katie asked and Emmy nodded.

“Ok. Think you can stand?” Steve asked.

“You’re not carrying me.” Emmy looked at Steve and he raised an eyebrow.

“You used to love me doing that.” Steve quipped and she rolled her eyes.

“Yeah at the Parties at the Kids home.” she grumbled “I’m not 7 anymore.”

“Never too old for your Pa to carry you.” Steve teased, standing up and offering him her hand. She took it and he pulled her to her feet, and despite her protestations at her age she kept her fingers tightly wound around his as they headed to the kitchen.

“Emmy!” Jamie shot off his seat and threw himself at his older sister. She smiled and bent to give him a hug.

“Hey Jay…” she smiled, “You been swimming?”

“Daddy was throwing me.” he grinned. “I bet he could do it for you too.”

“Sure he could” Emmy smiled as she shakily took a seat, glancing at Rori who was in Brooke’s arms, her little hands tangling in the girl’s long, red hair.

“Jamie, why don’t you go in the den for a moment, watch some TV.” Katie looked at him, adjusting the crochet slip she had thrown on over her bathing suit “Momma and Daddy need to talk to Emmy for a second.”

“But I don’t wanna.” he frowned.

“Hey, why don’t you show me your legos?” Brooke said quickly. Steve could see the cogs in his son’s head whirring as he considered this for a second before he nodded.

“Ok.”

“Thanks Brooke.” Katie said to her as she handed Rori back over.

“No problem Mrs R.” she said, allowing Jamie to tug her by the hand out of the room.

Once they were gone Katie adjusted Rori in her arms so that her head was tucked against her shoulder, mouth resting on her collar bone and Steve took a seat next to Emmy after pouring her a glass of water.

“Wanna tell us what happened Em?” he asked gently.

“We’d just been in The Hub.” she said, “You know the Computer shop because Brooke needed a new charger for her tablet.” Emmy swallowed and took a sip of her drink “We were walking down towards the bus stop so we could head home and we’d just passed that bar on the corner, you know the Irish Pub place?”

“Mc Mahons, yeah we know it…” Steve nodded

“And then he came out.”

“Who?” Katie asked, her eyes not leaving her daughter.

“Him…my old foster father. The one that used to hit me.”

Steve took a deep breath and breathed out through his nose “Did he hurt you?”

“No, not really…he erm, he didn’t recognise me at first and I kept walking but Brook had stopped and when she shouted my name he realised it was me and he grabbed my arm and…”

“Ok…ok…” Katie said gently, as Steve gently laid a hand on their daughter’s shoulder.

“Did he do anything else?” he asked. Emmy shook her head.

“He just started shouting stuff, saying he knew that I’d landed on my feet and that I was nothing but a worthless brat and that he would come and pay you a visit one day, tell you all about what I used to do and how bad I was and then you’d throw me out and…”

“Em, he’s an ass hole.” Katie said gently “You were never a bad kid. You’d been treated appallingly, what that man did do you…” she shook her head “It was cruel and abusive and…”

Steve’s hand fell to Katie’s knee under the table as she looked away, blinking back the tears.

“Emmy, me and your mom love you.” Steve looked at her, “We love all you kids more than anything, and nothing this dick says or does will change the way we feel. You know that right?” “I know, I just didn’t like seeing him that’s all.” she said gently “I just had all these flashbacks to the basement he locked me in and the belt…”

She swallowed and looked down. Steve looked at Katie, the jaw in his nerve twitching with anger as he took a deep breath and ran his hand up Emmy’s back.

“Well I hope he makes good on his promise and does pay us a visit.” he said his eyes flashing “I’d be very happy to exchange a few words with him, maybe a few fists too.”

Emmy smiled softly as Katie shook her head.

“Pretty sure your Uncle Buck would have a something to say too. And between you and me, his Murder Strut is frightening.” “Murder Strut?” Emmy looked up, the corners of her mouth twitching. Katie nodded.

“Trust me, I saw it a few times. Scared the shit out of me.”

“Woah, you saying I’m not scary?” Steve scoffed, folding his arms.

“Bucky’s a Rottweiler, you’re more of an angry retriever.” Katie shrugged and at that point Emmy laughed, which was exactly what her parents had been hoping to achieve. Steve flashed a wink at his wife before he turned back to Emmy.

“You know he won’t ever hurt you again, not now you’re with us.”

“I know. I love you guys.” she smiled and Steve dropped a kiss to her cheek. She looked up, wiped her eyes and then glanced at her mom. “Can Brooke stay tonight?”

“Course she can, I'll call Jen”

“It's ok she can message…”

“I'll call her.” Katie said firmly, “Brooke was there today so Jen has a right to know what happened. Don’t worry, she won’t be mad at you.” “Kay…” Emmy nodded “What's for dinner?”

“Your dad threw a pizza in for Jamie, we're gonna get take out and hang by the pool.” Katie said.

“Anything you fancy?” Steve asked.

“Can we try the Greek place?”

“Sure.” Steve nodded “Hey, do they do Shwarma?”

“Gyros.” Katie said, “Same thing almost.”

“I’m in.” Steve said.

“I'm gonna go watch TV for a bit, that ok?”

“Course.” Katie smiled.

Emmy stood up and moved behind her dad, hugging him from behind, her arms round his shoulders. He tilted his head so she could kiss his cheek before she moved to do the same to her mom, giving Rori a peck.

“Love you both.” she smiled at them, before she left the room.

As soon as she was gone Steve stood up, his calm demeanour ebbing away as Katie looked up at him, shaking her head.

“I wanna kill him Steve.”

“You and me both doll.” he paced.

“Think we should call the police?” Katie asked, gently rocking Rori to and fro as she had started to grumble.

Steve contemplated what she had said before he paused, folded his arms and looked at the door, then back to Katie “I got a better idea.”

“What?”

“Do you trust me?” he asked.

“You know I do”

“Then leave it with me.” he said simply

“Steve...” she stated, instantly understanding what he was implying “You can’t.” “Why not?”

“Well, for starters we have no idea where he lives.”

Steve snorted "Sweetheart, you're forgetting who we know."

"Oh, no...you can't drag Sam into this." Katie shook her head "Ross is being an asshole with him as it is without you giving him ammo by getting Sammy into trouble."

"I'm not" Steve smiled, raising his eyebrow “I'm gonna drag Bucky into it instead."

****** Bucky sat at the bar, baseball cap tugged down over his eyes. He’d been reliably informed his target drank in this run-down back dive every Wednesday and Thursday evening. He liked the happy hour, apparently.

Aint gonna be happy for much longer, buddy.

Despite the fact that he was trying to live a normal life now (ok, maybe helping Sam out every now and then) when Steve had asked him to help him with this particular mission he’d immediately said yes. Not simply because Steve was his best friend, but because it involved Emmy. As far as Buck was concerned, the Rogers kids might as well be his own in that respect because he’d give his life to protect any of them.

And then there was Brooke. Bucky had been dating Brooke’s mom, Jennifer now for a few weeks after they’d hit it off at Steve’s birthday party. It was great, slow moving but that’s what he wanted, and when he’d heard that her daughter had been caught up in all this business as well, it was another reason for him to slip back into his old assassin mode.

Only this time his instructions were clear. Apprehend alive.

At first when Steve had told him this he had been about to tease him, wind him up, surely after all these years the Captain had finally found that trigger to flip him over to the dark side, but then he had seen something stir in his best pal’s eyes. He’d told him then about an incident in a HYDRA base, where he had killed on of Katie’s captors and Bucky knew, it was there alright, and he had a feeling he was going to see it whenever they caught this punk.

He ordered another drink, his eyes re-reading the paper he’d brought with him for the 15th time. To most people stake-out work like this would get them bored, antsy, but not Bucky. He’d waited much longer before and he knew that if you got like that you lost concentration which made things 100 times harder in the long run. His eyes scanned back to the entrance to the bar, flicking back round the pub, and he observed the people to make sure he hadn’t missed the man sneaking in, even though he knew that was basically impossible. Satisfied he hadn’t, he took the drink off the bar tender, paid him (another rule of spy work- never set up tabs, you run without paying and your face is recognised all over the damned scene). He took a sip of his beer before he heard the door open and he looked round, fighting the smirk on his face as finally his target walked in and straight to the bar to Bucky’s right.

The man ordered his drink, a straight black label whiskey and when it was served he paid with a bunch of crumpled ones and picked the glass up, heading to a table.

Bucky had to hand it to the guy, in the half an hour he spent in the bar he knocked back a good 5 helpings of scotch before he stood up, and rather unsteadily made his way to the door. Giving him enough time to get out of the door, Bucky then rose and followed him. He tailed him into another bar, then another, before after the 3rd the man headed home.

Bucky watched him unlock the door to the rundown apartment block, before he staggered inside. Quick as a flash Bucky shot over the road, sticking his foot in the door to stop it from shutting. Slipping inside he pressed himself up against the dark wall, just to the side of the post boxes, as the man turned around. After a second or so Bucky heard him heading up the stairs. He walked to the bottom of the steps, and keeping his footsteps light he headed after him and emerged onto the second landing, peering round the wall to watch as the man stopped outside a door, pulling out his keys.

Bucky waited until the door was closed before he headed back down to the ground floor, pulling out his phone.

“I got him.”

***** Steve climbed out of his car, looking up at the ramshackle building before he crossed the road. Bucky was waiting for him and opened the door to the apartment block from the inside.

“What you come dressed as?” Bucky arched an eyebrow, scanning Steve up and down. He was dressed in a pair of black jeans, a dark navy t-shirt and black boots, with a cap pulled down over his face.

“You.” Steve said simply, and Bucky snorted.

“He’s on the Second floor.” he said simply “Number 202. Still think you should just let me shoot him.”

“No.” Steve said “We’re not killing him…”

Bucky rolled his eyes “Why?”

“Because I want him as scared as he made Emmy.” Steve said simply. “He can spend the rest of his life looking over his shoulder.”

Bucky shrugged, “Your call…”

Steve headed to the stairs and started to climb them, stopping as he heard his foot crunch on something.

“Nice place…” he mumbled as he looked down to see he had stood on a cockroach.

“Don’t be a snob Stevie…” Bucky looked at him, and Steve rolled his eyes.

“Even my place in the 40s wasn’t this grim.” he turned to look at his friend before he continued up the flight of steps.

“It wasn’t the ritz either.” Bucky shrugged as they emerged onto the landing. They stopped outside the door and Steve took a breath before he looked at Bucky.

“Looks like we need a key….” he quipped. Bucky gave a smirk, before he drew his left hand back and punched straight through the door, grabbing the handle and turning it to undo the lock from the inside. He threw it open and strode inside, Steve casting a look around before he followed and pulled the door shut behind them. Hearing the noise the man flew out of the kitchen, a knife in his hand, stopping dead when he saw Bucky.

“Who the fuck are you?” he demanded.

Bucky simply raised his eyebrows.

“Look, if Mario sent you…I told him, he’ll get his money…”

“I don’t know any Mario…” Bucky shook his head, “Well, not unless you count the one that rides on the karts in that game my nephew enjoys kicking my ass at. Now put the knife down Jack before someone gets hurt.”

“How do you know my name?” Jack asked, his eyes not once leaving Bucky, missing the Captain who was stood in the darkness of the room behind him. “What the fuck do you want?”

“I don’t want anything…” Bucky said, shrugging, “But he does…”

At that point Steve stepped forwards, drawing up besides his friend, getting a good look at the man in front of him. He was quite tall, but lanky, with a pointed noise and sharp features, reminding Steve of an overgrown rat. Which fitted him perfectly, out and out vermin. Jack frowned and squinted slightly as he looked straight at Steve, suddenly paling even further. Whilst Steve looked a lot different from the once blue-eyed All American hero the world recognised him to be, there was no mistaking who he was, especially to the man in question. Steve stood stock still, his hands falling to the buckle which was round the waist of his black jeans, his chest flexing under his navy t-shirt as he glared at the man.

“Woah…look…I don’t want any trouble…” Jack began to press.

“You should have thought about that before you touched and threatened my daughter.” Steve’s voice was icy.

Jack’s hand clenched around the knife and Bucky rolled his eyes, before he whipped off the glove on his left hand, holding it up, the metal glinting in the dim light of the lamp that stood in the corner of the grubby apartment.

“This can do far more damage than that blade can.” he said simply, looking at his hand before he turned to Jack “Go ahead, I’ll even give you one free swing. But it better be fast.”

Steve expected the man to drop the knife, but instead he lunged forwards. Bucky sighed, and almost lazily dodged to the right before he knocked the knife out of the man’s hand with a single swipe and gripped him around the neck with his hand, slamming him hard into the wall.

“That was really fucking stupid.” he said, tightening his fingers around the man’s windpipe, lifting him off the floor. The man grabbed at Bucky’s arm, desperately trying to prise his fingers from around his neck.

“Buck…” Steve said, and Bucky let go, Jack slumping to the floor. Steve reached down, grabbed his shirt and hauled him to his feet slamming him against the wall.

“Now…” Steve said, his hands tightening. “I don’t like bullies. And that’s what you are. I know exactly what you did to Emmy, all the times you beat her, hurt her, whipped her with a belt until her back split and bled. Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t rip you in half right now.”

“Captain America…nah…you wouldn’t…” Jack stuttered, shaking his head “You’re a good guy…”

“Well, here’s the thing.” Bucky said, picking up the knife that Jack had dropped, leaning on the wall, lazily twirling the blade in his hand. “He’s not Captain America anymore. Just some guy whose daughter you threatened.”

“Which makes me a hundred times more dangerous…” Steve said.

“And I, well, I just don’t give a shit.” Bucky shrugged “Killed a lot of people one way or another…what’s one more piece of shit like you gonna mean?”

Jack looked at Steve, shaking his head “No, you wouldn’t…”

“I snapped the neck of the man who raped my wife.” Steve said, his gaze not once leaving the man’s in front of him “Trust me, you have no idea what I would do to keep my family safe.”

He paused for a second, letting it sink in as Jack swallowed.

“But I’m a fair man.” Steve said, letting go of Jack who dropped a few inches before he pulled himself back up full height. Steve smoothed down the man’s dirty t-shirt before he smiled at him. “So I’m gonna give you a chance to play ball. You got 48 hours to leave New York.” “By that we mean the state.” Bucky clarified.

“And if I ever get a sniff that you’re back in town…” Steve continued.

“And trust us, we’ll know…” Bucky mused, still looking at the knife before he grinned at Jack “We got friends in high places, eyes and ears everywhere…” “….then you’ll lose more than your teeth.” Steve concluded, matter of factly.

“My teeth? What do-“

CRACK.

Steve cut him off with a sharp jab straight into his mouth and Jack dropped to the floor howling in pain as the blood poured from between his fingers which clamped over the lower part of his face.

“Got the message?” Steve asked, standing over him as Jack rolled around, screaming. He mumbled something, his head nodding furiously.

“Can I shoot him now?” Bucky asked.

“No.” Steve shook his head.

“Just once in the knee?”

“No.” Steve snorted “Come on…let’s get out of here, the amount of noise he’s making someone’s bound to hear. He turned to go, and then heard another loud scream. Spinning around he saw that Jack’s hand was now pinned to the floor by the knife Bucky had been holding.

“What?” Bucky asked, shrugging as Steve shot him a look “You said I couldn’t shoot him, didn’t say anything about stabbing him.”

***** The two friends sat at a bar, not far from Steve’s house, each with a beer in hand.

“So, run that by me again…” Bucky said.

“I told Katie I was meeting you for a drink.” Steve shrugged, nodding at the bottle “Technically now I’m not lying.”

“You’re a punk.” Bucky snorted.

“She’ll know full well where I’ve been.” Steve shrugged “She ain’t stupid…”

“Good luck to you pal.” Bucky said, taking a drink “She’s scary when she’s angry.”

Steve snorted “Nah, she won’t be mad...she knew full well I was planning on giving him a warning so…”

“Then why not just tell her?” “Because she’d worry.” Steve said simply.

“Think he’ll heed it?” Bucky asked after a little pause and Steve pondered the question for a moment before he nodded.

“Like I said he’s a bully.” he took a swig of his beer before he looked at Bucky “You know as well as I do that the minute someone bigger stands up to them they back off.”

“Gotta hand it to you pal…” Bucky said, sitting back “You come a long way since you were defending yourself with a trash can lid behind the movie theatre down town…”

“So everyone says.” Steve shrugged “Still don’t feel any different.”

“Remember when Howard’s flying car was the strangest thing we had ever seen?” Bucky sighed “I almost miss those days.” “Would you go back?” Steve asked, “Given the chance?”

Bucky took a deep breath and wrinkled his nose “Nah, I’m too different…too much has happened you know. I don’t think I’d settle. Plus this would probably attract a little more attention than it does now.” he said, flexing his left hand.

Steve smiled “I know what you mean. If you’d asked me when I first came round…I’d have jumped at the chance but after Katie…” he took another drink before he let out a soft huff. “I crossed oceans of time to find her.”

Bucky raised an eyebrow. “Dracula…romantic.” he said and Steve let out a laugh.

“Speaking of romantic…” Steve looked at his friend “How’s it going with Jen?”

“Ok.”

“Just ok?”

“I’m taking it slow.” Bucky shrugged “We’ve been on a few dates and…yeah I like her Steve and she likes me so…”

“Well if you ever want any advice on modern day dating…”

“The day I ask you for dating advice is the day I quit.” Bucky snorted

“I did ok.” Steve grinned “Well, more than ok actually. I lucked out.”

“No, you got what you deserved.” Bucky shook his head “A woman that loves you for who you are, not what you are.” Steve felt his cheeks flush a little as he shrugged “Not quite sure what I did to deserve her but…”

“You’re a good man.” Bucky said “You always were and always have been. A pain in my ass like, but…” he drained his beer and shook his head “Anyway, enough sentimental crap. You want another?”

Steve contemplated that before he shrugged “Sure, why not?”

One more turned into 5 more, and it was a good 2 hours later and approaching midnight when the men left. It wasn’t the first time they’d been out for drinks since being re-united, but to Steve it was the first time that it felt like the old days. They’d talked about so many memories, he’d laughed until he had cried as they both recalled some of their antics, and he felt completely at peace when he walked into the hallway of his house.

Removing his cap he ran a hand through his hair before he hung it on the coat rack on the wall. Then he dropped his keys into that infernal golden pineapple bowl that Katie had bought him all those years ago and headed into the lounge where Katie was sat in her pyjamas, Rori clutched to her breast as she fed.

“Hey…” he smiled, crossing the floor and dropping a kiss to her lips before he turned his attention to his daughter, his finger gently running along her hardworking cheek.

“You have a good time?” she asked, giving a little yawn.

“Yeah.” Steve nodded. “It was nice. When did she wake up?”

“About half an hour ago.” Katie shrugged “With a bit of luck she’ll go down again soon and sleep for a couple of hours.”

“I’ll do the next feed.” Steve said “You can get some rest.”

“Ok.” Katie agreed, yawning again and as she did so Rori mimicked her, her eyes which were now carrying a slight greenish hue fluttering. Steve gestured for Katie to hand her over, and she did so as Steve held her up over her shoulder, hands that had hours ago been so violent were now ever so gentle, rubbing his daughter’s back to wind her as Katie adjusted her top. They sat there in silence for a little while before Katie finally spoke.

“So how badly did you hurt him?”

“What?”

“Jack?” She turned her head to Steve who looked at her “I know full well what you were up to.”

“I knew you would.” Steve huffed a laugh “And not too badly. Knocked a few of his teeth out…oh, and Bucky nailed his hand to the floor with a knife. He won’t be bothering Emmy again, or any of us for that matter.”

Katie looked at him for a moment before Rori gave a light burp and Steve gently turned his face, pressing his lips to the baby’s head.

“Here…” Katie said, and Steve handed her over “I’ll go put her down.”

She gathered the baby in her arms before she dropped a kiss to Steve’s mouth “Don’t be too long…”

He arched an eyebrow. “Yeah?”

“Well, you know what you getting all dark and protective does to me…” she grinned, looking down at Rori “That��s what made her in the first place.”

Steve’s eyes darkened at the memory of that particular day in the HYDRA base which he was recalling for the second time in the space of a few hours, albeit for very different reasons. “How could I forget?”

Standing up she walked to the door, Steve watching her go, before she shot him a coy look over her shoulder his pants became a lot tighter than they should have been. He gave a soft groan, before his head fell back against the cushion of the sofa. After a moment or two he stood up and turned off the lights, before heading up the stairs after his wife.

He stood in the doorway, watching as she placed Rori in the crib at the end of the bed before he strode over to her, his hands falling to her waist as he spun her round, his lips crashing to hers. She took the kiss eagerly, her tongue sliding against his as he backed her towards the bed, her hands fumbling with his belt as they went. Neither were wasting any time, and after a quick wrestle with their clothing they both collapsed onto the bed, Steve caging his wife underneath him with his arms and legs.

Their eyes locked for a second before he pressed his lips to hers and kissed her again, slow and hard, both his hands cupping her face, thumbs gently skating her cheeks as she let out a soft groan and he felt his cock twitch. His lips not once leaving hers his right hand gently slid down to her thigh, and his fingers gently gave her hip a squeeze causing her to sigh into his mouth again. Using his hand he hooked her leg round his waist, and ground his erection against her spot causing her to moan as she pulled away from the kiss, her head laying further back against the pillow, her eyes fluttering shut as his mouth dropped, swirling softly around her pebbled nipples, carefully lavishing affection on them in turn, and in moments she was quivering to his touch, her breathing ragged.

“Look at me…” he said, voice low, almost a growl and her eyes sprang open obediently, those sparkling emeralds glinting in the dim light as he held her gaze as he pushed into her, her breath catching in her throat. He stilled for a moment, enjoying her warmth as it gripped him before he moved his hips back, thrusting into her again. His pace was hard, deep and he continually dragged in and out of her, dropping his head to kiss and lick and suck all along her collar bone, knowing full well he would leave marks there for the morning but neither of them cared as their moans grew louder as his thrusts grew more desperate.

"Fuck." he groaned, both hands now on her hips as he continued his movements and Katie’s hands moved to brace herself against the headboard, her body moving with every slam he made into her. One hand moved to the back of her head and he used it to make her look up, her eyes locking onto his as he felt her body start to quiver.

“I love you…” he said, his pace not slowing in the slightest.

“Love you too Soldier…” her words stuttered as he thrust up hard, stilling slightly, grinding up against her, as she writhed underneath him, a desperate, filthy noise escaping her mouth as her back arched and her hands flew to his back, nails scratching at his skin. God he loved the feel of her doing that, the stinging pain mixed with the pleasure was a heady mix and he took in a sharp breath, dropping his mouth to capture hers as she moaned again, this moan broken as she bucked upwards and clutched at him desperately.

“Stevie…” she moaned and her walls tightened on him as she came, her entire body trembling underneath him and he pulled back so he could watch her, lips swollen from his desperate kisses, cheeks flushed, eyelids fluttering against her cheeks. He continued his pace, her eyes opening moments late to lock onto his as the spring that had been coiled so tightly suddenly released and he spilled himself insider her with a low, rough grunt of her name and he tipped forwards, his hips slowing to a stop as he buried his face in her neck.

The pair of them lay still, the only sounds in the bedroom now were the deep, ragged drawings of breath. Katie gently ran her hands through his hair, as she always did, Steve’s body on top of hers rising and falling through the movements of her deep breathing. Eventually he raised his head gently and pressed their foreheads together, his nose sliding up and down hers. She smiled at him, and pressed her lips to his in a soft kiss before he rolled over onto his back, and she snuggled into him, her head on his chest. He reached for her left hand which was laying flat against his abs and raised it to his mouth, pressing a kiss to her knuckles, just underneath where her wedding band sat.

“I love you, I love you all so much.” he said gently. She raised her head to look at him, smiling as she kissed him softly.

“I know, I love you. We all do.”

She was asleep before him, Steve lay awake for a little while longer contemplating everything that had gone down that evening. He’d crossed that line again, the darkness that had awoken all those years ago had bubbled inside of him and he wasn’t going to lie, it had been satisfying, and despite what he had said to Bucky, he would have happily killed the snivelling bastard with his bare hands and not even blinked twice about doing so. But something had stopped him short this time, and he knew now what it was.

His kids.

Back then they hadn’t been in the picture, and he wanted to be able to look them in the eye and tell them right from wrong without feeling like a hypocrite. Steve Rogers was a good man, a loyal husband, doting father, and he wanted to be worthy of the love that surrounded him on a daily basis.

He looked down at his sleeping wife before he shifted slightly, dropping a kiss to her head before he closed his eyes and fell into a trouble free sleep.

#stark spangled banner #steve rogers #steve rogers x original female character #steve rogers x oc #katie stark #bucky barnes #marvel fanfiction #mcu fanfiction #stark spangled forever

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deadanddeactivated · 5 years ago

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Other Friends

Fandom: Sanders Sides, Gem AU Pairing: Analogical Characters: Virgil, Patton Notes: Day 5 of the fluffuary event being hosted by @tsshipmonth2020 - Analogical. Summary: Here they are in the future and things are bright. Even if they aren't perfect. And then things aren't bright.

Prologue Comic AO3

One moment Logan is laying on the hill behind their house, staring up at the sky and thinking about how far they’ve come. He’s lost quite a lot, and gained quite a lot, and a thousand things have happened in between.

But Logan thinks that, perhaps, it’s finally over. They are all together, with no one hunting them down. There will always be a hole in his heart, but Logan thinks he can be content with that. He can live on.

The next moment they’re flung back as something slams into the earth.

“Boys, are you alright?” Patton asks, the human scrambling to his feet and to his sons. Certain they’ll be fine, Logan turns to the thing that made the carter.

In the dust cloud, he can just make out a humanoid figure. A gem?

“What is that?” He hears Remus asks from behind. Logan and Dante meet eyes, both equally confused. What gem would arrive in such a way? The dust starts to clear and Logan can only stare. He’s never seen this form before but the Lapis Lazuli is… almost familiar.

No, Logan admits to himself as storms gather above, the Lapis Lazuli is familiar. Only last Logan saw him the calf-length robe was not so old looking, not so patched. He’s never seen the clothes beneath the coat, turn up to reveal the gem on his chest. There were no dark shadows under his eyes, and his hair was not so dark.

But how can this be? The gem before his was shattered long ago.

Wasn’t he?

“Well, would you look a that.” The Lapis mocks, glaring at them. “The misfits themselves. Romulus’ brats, defective Logan, and Red Diamond's Pearl. Oh wait, it’s Dante now isn’t it? Finally go your very own made up name, isn’t that nice?

“That’s not possible.” Logan is thinking it but Dante says it, both still frozen to the spot as the purple Lapis Lazuli scowls at them.

“Oh but it is, no thanks to you.” He spits. “Like the new style? Though it was time for a change. Got a new toy too.” With a familiar purple light, an unfamiliar weapon appears in the gems hand. A double ended spear, cracked along the wood and tied with ribbon.

“Woo, wait up!” Roman calls, rushing in front of them despite the arms that reached to stop him. “I don’t know if you heard but I’ve established peace throughout the universe!”

“Uh, we established peace!” Remus adds, although Patton has to tight a grip on him for the boy to run up.

“Oh I’ve heard.” The Lapis huffs. “I’ve had you’re little message to the universe on loop.” Lightning flashes in the grey clouds above them. Logan and Dante share another look. The pearl summons his segmented whip but Logan can’t bring himself to follow suit. He doesn’t want to believe the Lapis is here for a fight.

The sky flashes again and rain begins to pour.

“I just love that part where Red Diamond spends the rest of his days on this nowhere planet. With his little groupies and stupid humans. It really sounds like a blast. Too bad I never got an invitation to the ball.” This time the lightning strikes the ground, just to the left of Patton and Remus. Patton shields his son from the dirt it sends flying but Remus is unbothered, cheering at the display of super-charged electricity.

Roman takes a step forward and Logan sees the Lapis brace himself. The dumortierite is barely in time, tackling Roman to the ground and out of the way.

A one half of the spear has already sliced through the place Roman was.

“What the hell are you doing?!” Dante demands.

“Being the bad guy.” The Lapis spits. His spear raises, catching Dante’s whip and pulling the pearl forward.

“You and Remus need to get out of here.” Logan orders Roman, scrambling to get them both up and towards Patton.

“What? No! I can help!” Roman argues, trying to free his wrist from Logan’s arm as he pulls his sword from his gem.

“This gem is far beyond your abilities.” Logan says, shaking his head. “He was made to keep up with your father.”

“He knew Dad?” Remus asks, frowning. “Lo, who is he?” Before Logan can answer, can try to explain, there's a rough noise from the battle behind them.

“What?” The Lapis mutters, a yellow Pearl resting in the grass beneath him.

“De.” Roman tries once more to pull out of Logan’s hand and run to the poofed gem but Logan doesn’t let him.

“Heh, they don’t even know who I am?” Lapis asks. There’s venom in his eyes, so much that Logan gulps. How is he meant to explain this?

“We thought you were gone.” Logan tries, even though he knows that’s not good enough. “Bubbled or shattered by the Diamonds.”

“Why?” Lapis snarls. “Because Red told you so?” He scoffs, kicking Dante’s pearl out of his way as he stalks forward. “Not much of a rebel are you?”

“Virgil, please, just stop for a moment.” Logan says, practically begs.

“Don’t call me that!” Lapis shouts. “Get out of my way or I’ll shatter you.” The gem threatens, weapon raised. Logan has no chance against him, he knows. Even if he did call his bow, Lapis is too fast and too strong.

“You don’t have to be the bad guy.” Logan says, tone and feet firm. “Whatever happened, we can talk about it. Just please, wait.”

“I am done taking orders.” The gem claims. “And I am done waiting.”

“Then at least listen to reason!” Logan tries as Lapis gets closer and closer. “They aren’t Red!”

The spear slicks through him like butter, Logan utterly unprepared to block the hit.

In a puff of dark blue, the gem is gone. No one stands between Lapis and what remains of Romulus. Of Red.

Except, apparently, the older human. He steps up, a gem weapon in his hand.

“Stand back!” He orders, voice shaking. Lapis scoffs. Pathetic, this guy is there last line of defence? He raises his spear but something stops him.

Humans aren’t like gems, he knows that. Something about this swing feels like it’ll be more permanent.

And for what?

They aren’t Red.

In the moment, the name of that monster had made Lapis see rage and rage alone. Now he saw the boys, standing behind their father, and…

And they weren’t Red.

Anger spiked through Lapis and the storm got denser, rain falling so heavy he could barely see. He’d come here for his revenge and now he couldn’t even take it. Stupid Logan. Even after so many years, the blue quartz still knows exactly how to get into his head.

He leaves the gems on the ground and the boys unharmed, disappearing with his storm.

“Great going Lapis.” The gem huffs to himself, curled up in what he thinks is a cave. “You can’t even be the bad guy right. No wonder he didn’t want you around.”

Despite the self-deprecation, Lapis can’t find it in himself to regret not hurting the boys. It just didn’t seem fair after what Logan said. They aren’t Red.

Logan.

Lapis sighs. That’s a whole other can of worms the gem isn’t sure he wants to unpack. Had Logan really not known he was alive? The gem had never been one for lying but, well, it has been 6000 years. Maybe that has changed.

What will he do when he reforms? Has he already reformed? It has been a few earth days.

A knock at the cave entrance startled Lapis out of his thinking. He jumped up, spear appearing in moments.

The smiling face of the human child meets him, the boy as unbothered by Lapis and his spear as he’d been with the lightning.

“Hi! I’m Remus!” He greets.

“How did you find me?!” Lapis demands. The boy seems just as unbothered by his tone and glare, shrugging and making himself right at home in the cave.

“I don’t know.” The boy says. “I just looked. Pa didn’t want me to, ‘cause he thinks you’re dangerous.”

“I am dangerous.” Lapis argues.

“Nah.” Remus brushes him off. “You didn’t hurt me last time.”

“I could hurt you now.” Lapis claims.

“Okay.” Remus said, finally looking at the spear Lapis had used to poof his friends. There’s still no fear in his eyes. “Your spear is really cool.” He says instead. “I’ve never seen a gem weapon like that before, it looks like it was broken.”

“It was.” Lapis huffs. He isn’t sure how, but he spends the next Earth-hour talking to the human child, answering silly little questions and listening to siller little stories.

“You know,” Remus starts and Lapis fully expects another silly story, “I didn’t meet Logan until I was five.”

“What do I care about that?” Lapis mutters, whole form tensing.

“Pa kept his gem on the bench, in this little blanket. And sometimes he’d put books or candles there, ‘cause he said Logan liked that stuff. He used to tell me that Logan got hurt and that he just hadn’t gotten better yet. I thought that meant he was dead.” Remus just goes on as if Lapis hadn’t said anything.

“Gems only die when we’re shattered.” Lapis scoffs.

“I didn’t know that then! I hadn’t met any gems, except Ro but that was just in dreams.” Remus argues. “But I found that aren’t, ‘cause one day we were having breakfast and the gem just started to glow, and then it was a man! It was so cool.” Remus grins.

“What is the point of telling me this?” Lapis huffs.

“Lo got poofed later too, after Roman and I ran away to Earth and the Diamonds sent gems after us. I was so scared he was going to take five years to come back. He didn’t, it only took a couple of days, and I was so glad, but I thought it was kind of weird so asked. Pa says I’m curious like that. And that I talk a lot.”

“I’ve noticed.” Lapis mumbles, rolling his eyes and trying not to think too much about what Remus is actually saying.

“Lo doesn’t mind. He likes answering questions.” Remus claims. “And he told me that when he got poofed when I was a baby, he didn’t think he was coming back to anything. ‘Cause the diamonds were there and dad was already gone. But when he got poofed the second time, he knew he was coming back to me so he wanted to come back.”

“I don’t get what you’re trying to tell me human.” Lapis finally snaps. “Why do I care if Logan got poofed? I don’t.”

“I think if Logan knew you were out there he’d have come back quicker.” Remus says.

“You didn’t even know who I was.” Lapis points out, sounding a lot more bitter than he meant too. He didn’t care, he shouldn’t have expected any different. It didn’t hurt.

“I just didn’t know what you looked like.” Remus explains. “But Logan’s talked about you sometimes. He got this far away look and a sad smile. Like when Pa talks about dad.”

“Yeah right.” Lapis rolls his eyes. He doesn't believe Remus. He doesn’t. How could Logan not have known? He didn’t even come to check!

But then, Lapis stood alone in a garden for thousands of years. All because he believed what Red said.

“Come back and see.” Remus says, standing up. “I bet Logan will reform quicker if you’re there.”

“I literally just attacked you all.” Lapis mutters.

“Eh, Uncle De did worse.” Remus shrugs. He offers his hand, this small, tiny creature. How is he meant to help Lapis do anything?

Lapis takes it.

Stepping into the house is awkward. Remus pulls him ahead, practically skipping. The older human is doing… something Lapis doesn’t recognize in a room with half walls while… while Red’s other child paces.

They both look as Remus and Lapis step in.

“I found him!” Remus calls, grinning wide like it’s a good thing. Lapis can only stand there, looking anywhere else as the human and diamond approach. Finally, when the older human clears his throat, Lapis forces himself to look over.

“You’re not going to hurt my boys?” The older human demands, eyes narrowed.

“Uh, no.” Lapis says, then sighs. He looks from Remus to… Roman. “I know they aren’t Red. They didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Okay good.” The older human says, nodding to himself and walking away.

“That’s it?” Lapis asks, shocked.

“I’m really more of a cooker, not a fighter.” The human claims, moving back to the room with the half-walls.

”Pa you’re terrible at cooking!” Remus teases, laughing.

“Okay, I’m more of a lover than a cooker.” The human corrects. As the father and son teased each other, the red gem stepped over to Lapis. Bracing for the worst, Lapis isn’t prepared for what he gets instead.

“What did Dad do to you?” He asks.

“He… left me alone for a really long time. And I guess he told Logan I was shattered.” Lapis answers.

“Why?” An ‘I don't know’ is right on the tip of Lapis’ lips but… but that wouldn’t be honest, would it? Lapis sighs.

“I don’t think he trusted me. He probably thought I’d run to the Diamonds that second he started doing something dangerous.” He answers.

“Would you?” The gem asks.

“No. Obviously not.” Lapis says quickly. Sure, he was meant to be the realism to Red’s fantasies but Red wasn’t as childish as the other Diamond’s thought. And Lapis had wanted him to be happy.

Apparently Red never knew that.

Or maybe he was just crueler than Lapis had ever noticed. He’s not sure which thought hurts more, but neither is feeling him with much rage anymore. Just an endless ache.

“Do you hate me because of what he did?” Roman continues the questions and Lapis sighs again. He wants to, he really, really wants to but…

“No.” He admits. “You didn’t leave me there. Apparently you didn’t even know about me.”

“Uncle De wasn’t allowed to tell me things.” Roman says. “The others wouldn’t let him. So you shouldn’t hate him either.”

“You know, you’re a lot like your brother.” Lapis says, noting the endless questions and quick defence.

“Good.” Roman grins. Then, after what seems to be a moment of hesitation, he wraps his arms around Lapis’ middle. “I’m sorry Dad did that to you.” He mumbles against Lapis’ chest. For a moment Lapis is too shocked to react. Then, carefully, he rests his arms around the diamond.

“It’s okay.” He says softly. “It wasn’t your fault.”

“It’s not okay.” Roman argues. Lapis is shocked to find some of the ache easing. Just, just a little. He hugs the boy a little tighter.

“Thanks.” He whispers.

Logan doesn’t magically reform on Lapis’ arrival. He and Pea- Dante are still in their gems, resting on blankets with opposite colours. Apparently Remus finds that amusing. Lapis tries not to focus on them, tries not to worry about what's going to happen when they reform.

The older human, Patton, helps. He pulls Lapis into ‘cooking’ and treats him like an old friend, not like someone that almost killed him a couple of days ago. It’s certainly odd although Lapis has to admit it’s… nice.

They’re sitting on the couch playing something called ‘head names’ that night when a blue light finally fills the room.

“Lo’s back!” Remus cheers, game instantly forgotten. Lapis can only gulp, watching the blue light go through several forms before settling on his latest one. His back is turned to them and he raises his hands, possibly fixing up the knot at his throat.

“Well… I see we are back in the house. What happened after I-” He cuts off as he turns to see them all. “Ah, well that was a quick turn about even for Remus and Roman.” He says.

“Huh?” Lapis frowns.

“We’ll give you two some space.” Patton says, leading his sons towards the front door.

“But paaaaa.” Both boys complain but Patton is having none of it, saying they’re going to go to Thomas’ new theatre.

“Um…” Lapis isn’t sure what to say once they’re alone. A problem Logan seems to share for only a few moments before the blue garnet clears his throat.

“I’m sorry.” He says.

“You’re sorry?” Lapis repeats, frowning. “I just puffed you.”

“Yes, well…” Logan trails off for a moment. “Romulus told me you were gone. That the other diamonds took you away when he was given the colony, because he needed to act like a real diamond.” He explains. “I am assuming that’s not what happened.”

“No.” Lapis mutters, the bitterness coming back. “He told me to wait in the garden until he came back. But he didn’t. I didn’t even… I didn’t even know he was gone until Roman sent out that universal message. I thought you’d forgotten about me.” He mumbles.

“No.” Logan says firmly, taking a step closer. “Never. I thought of you every day. I was thinking about you right before you arrived, in fact.”

“You were?” Lapis asks, tilting his head a little. Logan is standing right before him now, staring at him with determination.

“Yes.” Logan nods. “I was thinking how content I was with everything, but how there would always be a hole in my heart without you.” Lapis can’t help but smile a little at the words, a soft blush rising on his cheeks.

“That’s sappy Logan.” Lapis says, smiling.

“Yes well, I suppose the humans have rubbed off on me somewhat Vir- Lapis.” He says, quickly correcting himself.

“I think… I think Virgil’s alright.” The lapis decides. He leans in closer, pressing his forehand against Logan’s.

“Virgil.” Logan breathes, like a weights being lifted off his shoulders. Like a lovers come back to life.

“I missed you too Logan.” Virgil says. “So much.” Leaning into each other, they’re oblivious to the world around them. They don’t even notice the yellow glow until Dante speaks up.

“Geez, that was a quick turn around. Even for you lot.”

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sick-raven · 5 years ago

Text

Ghosts of the Present - Chapter 7

Chapter 1 + warnings

AO3

Previous chapter

Chapter 7

Jonathan Crane was his own prisoner. Until now he didn’t even think about the League and what it wanted. He focused on the work given to him and the reward he will gather after everything is done. Now the hard reality hit him since Khulan turned to him with all those questions.

“You have two choices, think about it,” she told him. “Where do I find this Banshee?”

And so, he chose.

“I won’t tell you shit, she is mine.”

Khulan with ugly smile took out a long needle. “Wrong choice.”

Now he sat in the lab, pain running through his body, angry. The flying monkey worked on formulas, Khulan left and Miranda will die, because pain is not his friend. He promised himself he will take revenge, but two sets of ninja eyes were following his every movement.

You only gave them address and name, Miranda can get away.

Why do you care? She is a traitor.

Miranda will be fine. You’ve seen it. They sent the woman. Clayface always was a horrible actor.

Jonathan stood up. He can’t do anything else now than wait, so it wasn’t necessary to be lost in thoughts. Back to work. Jervis in the corner watched him over teacup and he looked at the brink of crying. He couldn’t sit still, bounced on the chair like a March hare. Finally, he stumbled towards Jonathan.

“I’m sorry, friend. Can I offer you peace tea?”

Jonathan looked at him through vial. “You can stop sticking your long nose into my business, Hatter. If you learnt to keep your mouth shut, I wouldn’t be hurt right now.”

“Apology came too late?”

Jonathan set down the chemical and leaned over the small man. “You’ve killed Alice, Jervis. And you’ve made Bandersnatch angry.”

Jervis yelped like bitten by venomous snake. He hid his deformed face under the hat. Then, slowly he looked over the edge. “I will fix it. I will.”

“Will you?” Jonathan said darkly.

“I will!”

“Very well,” Jonathan smiled. He took a vial out of his costume and set it on the table. The liquid in it was clear, thicker than water. “Drink this.”

Jervis’ eyes rose wide and teary. “Don’t be mad, you don’t want to poison your good friend in a hat!”

Two flying monkeys didn’t move a muscle to stop him or to try to save Hatter. No fear of losing one of their specialists. We are expendable for the League, realized Jonathan. Easily gained work force, not easily replaceable, but unnecessary in the grand scheme.

“My anger will draw nigh, you better shriek in despair, it is useless to fly,” grumbled Jonathan towering over him. He showed his teeth frowning. “Drink!” he ordered.

Shaking Jervis took the vial and poured it into his teacup. The crockery dinged as he drew it near his mouth. “Friend…”

“Do it.”

Whimpering he drank the liquid, tears flowing on his face. Bravely he blew his nose. “Will my friend attend my funeral?”

“Don’t be dramatic, Jervis,” Jonathan scoffed and put on his mask. “When did I ever hurt you?”

“You spilled my tea once.”

“I spilled the tea once! Will I ever hear the end of it?” Jonathan opened a valve on the chemical set. Before the ninjas could react, room got filled with the gas. Jervis looked around and laughed amazed.

“Clear head!”

“Get them.”

Jervis jumped on the table. “Gather round, gather round, good soldiers!” he giggled. “Bandersnatch has a task for you!” The assassins stopped working on drugs and turned to Mad Hatter in unison. Like drones they followed his words and surrounded the table. From one control to other. Jonathan argued they would have much more fulfilling and interesting lives under Jervis’ rule.

“Has any of you know what’s happening here?” asked Jonathan. “Speak up.”

Soldiers looked at him baffled. One of them finally blinked.

“The heir. We are looking for the Demon’s head’s heir.”

“He will take his place.”

“The great detective.”

More pieces of puzzle snapped together.

“You cannot just convince Batman to lead organization of assassins. How?” continued Jonathan.

“One of us.”

“He will take the place.”

“Drug the soldiers, drug the people.”

“Make him kill. Make him kill. Make him kill.” The chanting got faster and louder. It took Jonathan’s breath away. Sheer fanatism broke even his drug.

“Jervis.”

“Sleep!” ordered Hatter.

The army fell on ground with loud thuds. Jonathan forced the puzzles together. “Fuck.”

“What matters your tongue so dearly?” asked Jervis.

“I am not sure,” Jonathan mumbled. The Arkham was drugged, under its foundations the League was building and looking for something. They needed enough gas to fill the entire Narrows. “I think they plan to make new League base here and they want Batman to lead it.”

Jervis frowned. “How did you figure such devious plan, Bandersnatch?”

“Listen – the took their masters here. Ra’s al Ghul is in the city, we all know he has weird competition with the Bat. They want to drug all these soldiers and make him kill them somehow. Then… Then I don’t know.”

“And we will help to madden their minds and break the Bat,” realized Jervis.

“Yeah.”

“Oh no, no, no,” frowned Jervis. “I don’t like that at all. Bat is ours to break. If the friend is right, we must hurry up and plan.”

“No worries, Jervis, I already have a plan.”

***

Miranda promised herself she won’t get angry.

Then she saw the face that tormented her for years.

She got horribly angry.

“A lost girl found the way home. Here I thought you died long ago, but you aren’t even clever enough to fake your death.”

“Fuck you, you old ugly bitch!” Miranda snapped.

Khulan stood there with mouth agape. Nobody has ever dared what Miranda just did. It felt great to tell that witch what she thinks. If she dies, she will die smiling just for this occasion.

“I would cut your tongue out, if the Demon’s head didn’t promise you fair fight.”

“Fight under your rules will hardly be fair,” Miranda scoffed. “You love fucking people over.”

Khulan couldn’t keep her cool. Miranda insulted her in front of her soldiers like it was nothing.

“Useless girl like you has only strong tongue and nothing else. You might have survived our curse, but you will die in this battle. You’ve insulted me enough.”

Set of soldiers escorted them to a fighting field. Hundreds of assassins were gathered here ready to watch the fight. One of them took Miranda’s weapons away. She looked at where he is going to put them but lost him in the crowd. She will miss her bells.

“You will serve as an example. This is what happens to defector,” Khulan announced.

“Do you ever get tired of your voice?”

Khulan smiled and threw a sword on the ground. “I am sure you remember this training.”

“Are you mocking me?” hissed Miranda.

“Fight me.”

Yes, Miranda remembered. She’s failed this task dozen times before. It’s so easy. Just pick up the sword and cut your opponent. If you can do it, you’ve won.

Dozen times. Maybe hundred. Every time she did something good, learnt something new, master came and threw the sword on the ground. To kick her low when she was high. Every happiness was followed by hard fall. Success and punishment.

Like when she fell from the roof and broke her ribs.

Like when she killed all those targets and they called her Banshee.

Like now when she survived their curse and Khulan plans to kick her down again.

Like when she was happy with Jonathan and…

Are you going to fight or what? Kick her sorry ass, Miranda. You can do this!

Thank you, reason, finally some useful advice.

Miranda breathed slowly. Going head on never worked. Some other way, different strategy to get through this witch. The rules were simple – you can hit your opponent only with the sword and she cannot attack you unless you attempt to take the blade. Miranda felt it necessary to follow these rules. To make a point. And also because master kicked her ass before when she tried to break them by attacking her head first. Even now Khulan waited with hands folded behind her back confident in her skill. Show-off.

“Years hasn’t been kind to you, master,” Miranda smirked. Nothing was written in the rules about insulting your foe. Khulan watched her silently. “Are you sure you are not going senile? Are you up for this?”

Just patient stare. Miranda cussed on the inside. How is she always so focused? Fucking masters deserving their shitty title! Meanwhile Miranda was overwhelmed, tired, scared, angry and in pain. Her patience couldn’t go any lower.

Miranda went head on. Tried to grab the sword.

Master kicked her hand away.

“Fuck,” Miranda hissed.

“You didn’t learn a thing, girl,” smirked Khulan.

“I have a name, you bitch!”

“Oh yes. Mi-ran-da,” master spat every syllable. “Makes you feel like a person, does it? Your boyfriend told us all.”

“He is next on the list.”

“Ah, I should have brought him here to watch you die then.”

Miranda went for a sword with her feet. Kick it up and grab it.

Khulan was faster. She stepped on the blade and roundhoused Miranda to the side. Miranda screamed. Burning intensified. Khulan added a small kick to her ankle.

Miranda fell on her knee. Croc’s cut started bleeding again. Fuck this!

She didn’t stay down. She went for it again and again. And over and over she got dominated. Khulan’s counter attacks grew stronger and more ruthless. Miranda heard her ribs crack again. She bit her lip and was bleeding. Her head pounded.

No closer to the victory.

“Fuck you,” Miranda grumbled.

“Insults. That’s all you have left, girl. You are weak, pathetic. Shame of the League. You shouldn’t have survived, it was pure luck. You don’t have any skill worth talking about. You are just Banshee. A clumsy killer. Anyone could be that.”

“Shut up!”

“Angry? Strike me down then. Show me I am wrong!”

Miranda clenched her fist. How? She can’t win this. She cannot beat Khulan in her own game. How the fuck…

She remembered the old fat fuck that loved torturing bad girls so much. He always laughed when she came to him. “Master sent me.”

“Pick a whip.”

First few times he didn’t say a word. On the tenth time he laughed in her face.

“You are afraid of pain, Banshee.”

“No shit.”

“You always pick the smallest one. Life without pain goes nowhere, you are a coward, kid.”

That fat fuck had a point in his own sick, twisted way. She avoided getting hurt too much and never moved out of place. That’s why she was afraid of death or being truthful. It could have brought more pain.

But she was someone else now. Miranda Bradbury survived fight with ghosts! She would kick the fat fuck to the balls and send him flying off cliff. Khulan the witch has nothing on her!

Sword. Go for it. Grab at it.

Khulan counters.

Dodge. Grab again.

Master expects it. She counters again. Misses.

Miranda grabbed the sword by the blade. Sharp iron cut into her fingers.

Khulan gasped surprised.

Yes! Miranda got the sword! She fucking got it!

Then Khulan lost her stance, used her arms. She grabbed the hilt and pulled.

Miranda screamed as blade slipped from her hand. She fell on her knee, blood flowing out of stomps her fingers used to be. She shouted louder, holding her palm to stop the bleeding.

“Clever,” commented Khulan. “And useless. This fight is over, girl.”

Miranda hyperventilated. No! No, no, no! She can’t die, not like this, no! Fuck!

Khulan stood in front of her, sword ready to strike. Miranda looked at her, trembling. No, no, I don’t want to die. No!

“Miranda!”

Jonathan stood there at the end of the room.

“Just in time. Any final words, girl?”

Miranda took her shirt off as slowly as pain allowed her. She rolled it around her hand as a bandage. It soaked the blood in and drenched almost immediately. Khulan looked at her with happy spark in her eyes.

“Yes,” Miranda said with scarred voice. “There is someone who wants to see you again.”

She ripped her charm off.

Deep in underground of the Arkham asylum started hell.

Next chapter

#batman #fanfiction #jonathan crane #jervis tetch #writeblr #ghosts of the present #sick raven writing #tbh my favourite scene is between Jonathan and Jervis #it's my most favourite from the whole fic

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blueplanettrash · 6 years ago

Note

Hey, I kove your fic that lance is shiro and alluras kid. But now that shallura is essentially dead and adashi is in. Do you think you could write Lance as the biological son as Shiro and Adam. Like surrogacy and from an alternate dimension.

It’s been a while since I’ve been able to post anything. I’ve been working on this for a while and to the person that sent me this, I’m sorry it took so long. I hope you like it! 💙

Lance P.O.V.

Losing my dad after the battle with Zarkon was almost as devastating as the moment I realized that I wasn’t home anymore. It was jarring, to say the least; Keith ran away the moment we left the Black Lion and the rest of the team left to do their own thing, whatever that was. So that’s what I did too.

I went back to my room and I cried.

It was like someone stabbed me through the stomach and twisted it. I knew in my head that this Shiro wasn’t my dad. He wasn’t the man who raised and loved me, but it didn’t mean that I didn’t care about him. He still had his face, he still had that kind smile and he still laughed the same and encouraged me the way my dad did.

I wanted nothing more at that moment than to feel my dad and pa’s arms around me. I couldn’t even imagine what they were feeling at that time though. I’d been gone for almost three years at that point and I still didn’t know when I’d be getting back.

Or if they were even looking for me.

I shook my head and slapped my cheeks at the thought, almost angry at myself for thinking like that. Despite the pit, it felt like I’d fallen into, I pulled myself out of bed and into the bathroom.

Oh God, I looked like a mess. My eyes were rimmed with red and my hair was more like a bird’s nest. I set to work tidying myself back up; yes I’d lost my dad or rather a version of my dad but to the rest of the team, I’d lost a teammate that I hadn’t known for very long. They were expecting sadness from me but not grief. Especially when none of them knew if Shiro was even dead or not.

To the bottom of my heart, I was hoping for MIA instead.

After a couple of minutes of fighting with my hair and many failed attempts at concealer, I decided that I’d take the night. Surely, no one was expecting anything from me tonight and everyone had to take their own few hours to process the battle and outcomes. That gave me time to plan.

When I finally was able to leave my room the next afternoon, it was exactly like I expected. Hunk was stressed and cooking it out, although he took a second every now and again to wipe at his eyes. Pidge was madly typing on her computer, frantically searching for any trace of Shiro or his potential whereabouts. Allura and Coran were stationed on the bridge, looking like they hadn’t moved for hours, which they probably haven’t; and Keith…

Keith was mad.

What about? I didn’t completely understand. I knew that he and Shiro were close, even in my universe they were. But he was already ranting and raving about how they need to be out there physically searching for Shiro although it had only been two days since the battle. We needed time to rest and recover and let any leads of their leader come trickling to them. If any of our allied planets found him, they would let us know immediately but Keith wasn’t giving the universe the time.

I could already tell that his behaviour was affecting the rest of the team. He was acting like he was the only one that was hurt because of Shiro’s disappearance.

“Shiro was the only one who never gave up on me, I’m not giving up on him,” he stated, eyes boring into Allura’s.

“We’re not giving up on him Keith,” I said standing up. Immediately Keith’s eyes were on me. “You’re not being very fair to us,”

“Fair? Who cares about fairness? Our leader is missing, our friend is missing and it seems like everyone but me is forgetting that!” He exclaimed, throwing his arms up in anger. “You won’t stop cooking! You won’t stop playing on your computer! You’re only focused on diplomacy!” He stated pointing at each of them, before turning to me with gritted teeth and a glare marring his face.

“IT’S LIKE YOU DON’T EVEN CARE!” Keith yelled. “You go on and on about the glory of Voltron or whatever, but Shiro’s gone and he makes up the head. You only care about the parades and parties, a-and the girls,” he whispered out, seemingly tired of his anger.

I just stared at him. I could not believe what he said to me. I was a member of his team, his friend but he couldn’t wrap his mind around the way I processed my grief. Grief that no one on the team understood. My hands were trembling and they mindlessly gripped at each other as I tried to control the lump in my throat. Was it worth it to keep a strong face? I wanted to be the strong person they could come to if they needed a shoulder to cry on. But was it worth the lockdown of my emotions?

No.

“You have no idea how I feel,” I barely got out before I was sobbing. He didn’t know how I felt, he didn’t know how any of us felt. He just decided to trample over our feelings to somehow make his hurt less. I collapsed right there on the floor, still in my armour from the mission with Hunk. There’s no other way to describe how I felt in that moment than ‘a lost child’. I was geared up in armour to fight an intergalactic war and I was only searching for a way to get home and suddenly it was just too much.

I didn’t just cry for the loss of Shiro. I cried for myself and what I’d gotten mixed up in. This wasn’t my war, in my reality, it was my parent’s war and they wanted to keep me far from it. Now I understood why.

War is scary. There’s no need to complicate it. We lived our lives on the edge, just waiting to see if we had to fight for our lives.

It took a little bit but I finally raised my head enough to see Keith. Some sick part in me liked that he looked shocked and somewhat ashamed of himself. I got to my feet, I was still shaking but I felt a lot better. Whoever said that sometimes you need to have a good cry was right.

“Think about your words next time,” was all I said to him before I left.

The Black Lion didn’t move at all since getting back from the battle. It was still lying in a crumpled pile in its hanger when we got there. As Hunk, Pidge, and Allura all went in, I got more and more anxious. When it was finally my turn, I realized that I was trembling and my stomach was tied up with knots.

I sat in the pilot’s chair. For some reason I thought that I’d feel something, anything really but there was nothing. I reached out and firmly grasped the controls and bowed my head.

“Please,” I whispered after a few minutes of silence. I don’t know why I wanted it so badly. Maybe because it was my dad’s role back home, maybe because I finally wanted a chance to prove myself.

“It’s useless, the Black Lion hates all of us!” I exclaimed as I plopped down in the hanger. Partly because I wanted to hide how much the rejection hurt. I glanced over to Keith out of the corner of my eye and saw that he was staring at the Black Lion with a little bit of fear in his eyes. Although it took a little convincing, Keith eventually went in and it wasn’t too long after that Black reactivated.

Somehow, I still thought it was a little unfair.

I’m working on the rest of the story right now so it’ll be done soon 💙

Future Lineage (if anyone’s interested in reading it):

Part 1/2

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reluctantwrites · 6 years ago

Text

Revelation

In which Darren returns to the barracks in bad shape, and Cyrus is the only one around to deal with it (approx 1800 words). Usual warnings for language + mentions of blood.

"I'm supposed to believe this was an accident?"

The barracks was quiet that night, the other members of the squad celebrating at the Herald’s Rest, not quite ready to let go of the day. Only two figures took up space in the low-lit room, one sitting on a cot, a hand pressed to his ribs, the other crouched in front, eyes narrowed into gleaming, dagger-sharp points.

Darren winced, shying away as Cyrus reached out to examine his face. “It was an accident. I just… I fell. That’s all.”

Scoffing, Cyrus considered insisting, but decided to leave Darren be for the moment. Folding his arms, he let his eyes roam over the boy’s injuries instead of his hands, giving him some space to breathe. “Don’t you pull that shit with me. A fall doesn’t leave you with a black eye and a split lip, and it sure as hell doesn’t punch you in the gut for good measure.”

“I landed wrong. Captain Lavellan keeps saying I need to learn to fall properly.”

Fed up, Cyrus reached forward and snagged Darren’s forearm, tugging it towards him so that the boy’s sleeve slipped down. A dark bruise mottled the skin of his wrist, the marks left by fingers unmistakable against his pale skin. “And did the fucking ground do this too?” Shaking his head, Cyrus released Darren, disgusted. “Why the fuck are you defending them? Tell me who did this.”

“Why?” Darren snatched his arm back, holding it close to his chest, as if that would somehow hide what Cyrus had already seen. His breathing had grown shallow over the course of the interrogation, hitching slightly at each peak. “Just leave it alone. It’s not worth it, okay?”

“The fuck do you mean it’s not—”

—“I tell you, then you go and… and do something stupid… and then what?” Darren was practically shouting now, uncaring of who might hear as they passed by the barracks. “Then what, Cyrus? You get thrown out? They send you away?” He shook his head, eyes glassy, a trickle of blood beading on his lip from where it was split. “No. I won’t tell you, so stop asking! This…” He sniffed, the anger melting away as tears he had spent the entire evening holding back finally spilled over. “T-This is my problem. So just stay out of it.”

Stunned into silence, all Cyrus could do was stare at the kid for a moment as Darren raised a hand to his eyes and bowed forward, shoulders shaking, his other hand pressed hard to his thigh. All that effort just to hide his face.

Did he think Cyrus couldn’t hear him crying?

Sighing, Cyrus got to his feet and walked away from Darren, something in his stomach twisting when an anguished sob broke past the boy’s defences. It had taken guts, for him to stand up for himself like that. If nothing else, Cyrus could respect how hard that would have been for the kid.

He just wished he’d do it to the people who actually wanted to hurt him.

Maybe Darren thought Cyrus was angry. Maybe, deep down, he was a bit. But some things were more important than anger, and Darren jolted in surprise when Cyrus returned, a damp cloth in hand.

“Your lip’s bleeding. Look up. Come on, before you get more blood on your shirt.”

Cheeks wet, nose running, Darren seemed reluctant to emerge from his hiding place behind his hand. But Cyrus just waited, and eventually the boy complied, hastily wiping his sleeve across his face, smearing a streak of red with the motion. Cyrus just shook his head and took to the task gently, cleaning off Darren’s cheek first, eventually moving to press the damp cloth to the boy’s lower lip. For a time, neither of them said anything, Darren focusing on getting his breathing under control, Cyrus trying for the life of him to think of a solution. Claiming it was Darren’s problem and washing his hands of it was just… not good enough.

Stranger still was how little that revelation surprised him.

It was Darren who extended the first olive branch. “I’m sorry, Cyrus. I didn’t mean to… you know…”

Huffing in amusement, Cyrus just rolled his eyes. “Seriously? You’ve just had your ass kicked.” He drew the cloth away, frowned as blood welled up once more, and pressed it back again. “My skin’s thick enough to take it, kid. Don’t worry about me.”

“I know. Just figured if I meant it, I should say it.” Darren tried to smile then winced, his lip no doubt stinging from the motion.

“Yeah, smiling’s going to be hard for you, so try not to do it for a while.” Cyrus guided Darren’s hand to hold the cloth so that he was free to examine the bruise darkening around his left eye. He prodded it gently, earning a whine from the boy, but no real indication of pain. “Alright. Doesn’t seem like anything’s fractured. We can still go see a healer if you—”

—“No,” Darren interjected, meeting Cyrus’ gaze. “No healers. I don’t want to.”

Willing to accept that at face value, Cyrus nodded. “Right. Sure.”

They lapsed, then, back into a kind of uneasy silence. They both knew what was coming, but neither wanted to voice it. However, someone had to, and Cyrus figured the kid had been through enough that night.

“You need to tell Hanin.”

He had expected a flinch, or some other sign of distress from Darren, but instead all he received was a tired sigh and a handful of words mumbled from behind a damp cloth. “I know. It’s just so…” Sniffing, Darren shifted stiffly, undoubtedly bruised beneath his shirt but not willing to admit it. “It’s embarrassing.”

Cyrus fixed him with a flat look. “You know what’s fucking embarrassing? A bunch of assholes targeting someone they know won’t fight back. Chicken-shit cowards, the lot of them.” He shook his head. “They’re fucking lucky you’re not the type to lose your temper.”

Darren’s gaze sank to the floor. “Maybe I should. Maybe they’d leave me alone if I did.” He gave a soft shrug. “I don’t know.”

It was an interesting concept, but Cyrus dismissed it the moment it left Darren’s lips. “Nah. Fuck ‘em. You don’t have to change who you are because some creeps are trying to drag you down to their level.” He reached out, hesitated, then ruffled Darren’s hair. The boy didn’t flinch away this time. “But we’re still telling Hanin. And before you argue, I know you don’t want me to know who did it. Fine. Whatever. But Hanin’s not going to be tossed out on his ass anytime soon. Let him sort it out.”

Meekly, Darren nodded, but there still seemed to be something bothering him. Before Cyrus had a chance to demand an answer, the kid spoke. “I just… it feels like all I do is run to him. Like he’s my pa and I got in a fight with some other kids.” He swallowed thickly. “I’m meant to be a soldier, Cyrus, and I can’t even fight my own battles. But I can’t fight them either, because if I do, I’ll get into trouble anyway.”

Cyrus could only sympathise with Darren’s frustrations. “Yeah. I feel that. Believe me.” When Darren fixed him with an inquisitive look, Cyrus just sighed. “You know how many times I’ve fallen over since we got to Skyhold? I thought it was just the way things are. When it was my word against someone else’s, no one was ever going to take my side.” He paused, then, a frown washing over his face as a new thought arrived, adding itself to the end of what Cyrus assumed was a complete equation. “But… I guess that’s not true. Not anymore. Look, we’ve finally got a Captain who actually gives a shit about us. So use him.”

The pity that had briefly overwhelmed Darren’s features shifted to a kind of reluctant acceptance. It was clear he still didn’t like the idea of running to someone else to solve his problems, but he also could see that Cyrus was right. Some battles weren’t meant to be fought by the grunts. Sometimes, the leaders had to step in and do their jobs. And it was their job, to oversee the training of the recruits. That meant dealing with things that stopped those recruits from reaching their potential.

Cyrus figured getting the shit kicked out of you qualified.

“Okay,” Darren said softly. The wind wove past the barracks, its low whistle filling the spaces between words. “I’ll tell him tomorrow. I promise.”

Satisfied, quite certain Darren wasn’t the kind to go back on a promise, Cyrus nodded. “Good.” He watched as Darren drew the cloth back and blanched at the blood that stained the fabric. So he reached out and took it, folding it over a clean side before handing it back. “It’ll bleed a lot, but it’s not too bad,” Cyrus assured him as Darren shakily pressed it back. “A bit like a head wound.”

“Oh. Good.” Darren snorted softly, trying hard not to smile. “Well, I mean, not good…”

Cyrus managed a half-smile as he stood, stretching his back with a soft groan. He paused mid-motion, something about the way Darren was looking off into the distance breathing life to another unasked question.

“Do you know why they did it?” Cyrus almost flinched at the way Darren’s face crumpled behind that damp cloth. The kid was just barely holding it together. But at the same time, the response told Cyrus something even more important.

The kid knew the answer.

“S-Said I needed to toughen up,” he managed after a moment, coughing and cringing, his hand pressing to his side. “Kept telling me to fight back and… but I just… I didn’t want to. I know I’m stupid, but… w-we’re meant to be on the same side. We’re supposed to be…”

Without bothering to stop and talk himself out of it, Cyrus took a few steps forward, turned, and sat down beside Darren on the cot. It creaked beneath their combined weight, but mercifully held as he reached out and wrapped an arm around the blond’s shoulders. “Easy. Breathe. You’ll never stop bleeding if you keep this shit up.”

Hiccupping into the cloth, Darren scrunched his face and nodded hastily, cheeks turning red from the effort of trying to rein in the urge to cry. Cyrus, not the most comforting person by nature, sat rigidly by Darren’s side, unsure of what else to do or say. He’d seen Ralon do that sort of shit with people who were upset. How the fuck did that damn Antivan make it look so natural?

But sitting there, Darren beneath his arm, the empty barracks as their witness, Cyrus had to admit something. Something he never thought he’d find himself admitting.

Awkward though it may be, he’d sit there all night if he had to.

If nothing else, that had to be worth something.

#dragon age fanfiction #the dawn squad #darren #cyrus #darren hurtcomfort #cyrus hurtcomfort #darren angst #cyrus angst #some people just can't handle that there is good in the world #and want to tear it down #Darren is that kind of good and Cyrus is having none of anyone trying to change him #<3

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