#also if i ever do anything with the time travel thing it’d have to be a collection of snippets rather than something with a full storyline

[thousand-sunnies]

Fic writer ask: 1, 2 and 4

i’ve answered 1 and 2 here, so here’s 4 - a story idea you haven’t written yet. i have a lot of ideas but some of them are more vaguely defined than others, and some i would probably just not write, because they’re more ambitious than i’m currently willing to commit to (i’m so bad at multi-chapter stuff).

i’m super fascinated by those time travel AUs i’ve seen for this fandom a few times, i’d love to do one like that at some point (have a few disconnected snippets in my notes for it, even), except luffy is not the one doing anything, and it’s actually all of his nakama who remember everything that went down in the future and set about fixing/altering it.

something i’m more likely to realistically write is a kuina lives zosan fic, where kuina is just around and is competing with zoro for the title of the greatest swordsman. she crosses path with the straw hats a few times and proceeds to hate sanji on sight, because the moment he starts his whole “i won’t fight a lady” shtick, she sees red. “what do you MEAN you’re on a crew with this guy zoro. he thinks i’m weak. yes you do, you blond asshole, don’t interrupt me, why else won’t you fight me-”

i also have so many different ideas for ace lives fics because. well i love ace and fix-its and sibling relationships in media so he's like catnip for me. one in particular i have in mind is where shanks's crew yoinks him off the marineford battlefield and fixes him (listen it's one piece, a hole punched through your chest can't be THAT deadly). and then on an unrelated note shanks has to contact the revolutionary army for some reason, and oh look the chief of staff's been having a moment here-

[ask list]

[ryker-writes]

Hi hi dragged out of the void because I’ve been obsessed again thanks to book seven. Had this idea late at night based off a thing I do to people I really like and appreciate! (If people want different characters lemme know)

Can be seen as romantic or platonic

Request rules and Masterlists

Giving them a rock (Diasomnia)

Malleus:

This might actually be some sort of fae proposal now that I think about it…

But that’s a story for another day (if people want)

Setting aside the fact that he might take it as you asking him for marriage, Malleus would love the gift!

He’d love just about any gift you give him, but a rock? Even if it’s just a simple rock he loves it like its the best gift he’s ever gotten

He may be a bit confused at first and ask if this is a human gifting ritual or symbol he doesn’t know about

He keeps it on him at all times

The rock and roaring drago are some of his most prized possessions

His dragon instinct and care for you makes him want to keep the rock with him at all costs

If anything were to happen to it, either someone takes it, jokes about it, or he loses it, there will be a massive storm with thunder and lightning

If it’s either of the first two with someone taking it or joking about it…they might get struck by the lightning (he’ll say it wasn’t intentional but have that smile on his face that tells you it was absolutely intentional)

He might even put a protection spell on it to keep it safe or prevent/curse whoever takes it from him

He might also give you a rock in return someday, but it’s probably the most expensive gem you’ll ever have

Because according to him, he wanted to find a gem that was befitting to someone as precious to him, and nothing less than the highest quality would suffice for you

He won’t even let Silver or Sebek hold it

Maybe Lilia, but he’s hovering the entire time to ensure nothing happens

To Malleus, the rock is a precious gift that symbolizes just how much you care for and trust him, and he would never let that trust be displaced

He also brags to people that you gave him a rock

Lilia:

He laughs

Not in a hostile way or anything, but hes very amused that out of all the things you could give him, it’s a rock

That being said, he does like and accept the gift!

Lilia has traveled the world and seen many things, but he’s not too familiar with the idea of gifting rocks to others in a context outside proposing with gems or jewelry

His room is cluttered and a mess, but he keeps the rock you gave him safe on his nightstand so he doesn’t lose it

Over the years, he’s collected many things and items that remind him of people he’s met, loved, and has seen pass, and he keeps these items safe and serve as mementos of them and the memories that he’s shared with them

To him, the rock is the same thing for you

Every time he sees the rock, he’s reminded of you and how much you mean to him

He’d be pretty understanding of the sentiment behind the rock, and would try to find something to express the same towards you!

You may end up with a rock yourself, a small trinket he thinks you’ll like, or an item from his personal belongings

His gifts won’t be as grand or expensive as Malleus’ gifts, but they’re more personally picked to suit what he thinks you may like

If he got you a rock, it’d be from a distant land and with some of your favorite colors

Lilia would flip his entire room upside down if he ever lost it

It would look like a tornado went through his room and knocked everything around. He’d even have Silver and Sebek help him in his search, telling them it’s a mission of dire importance

The group would search for hours and hours trying to find the rock

Only for him to realize he put it in his pocket for the day because he wanted to show Kalim and Cater…

Silver:

He’s a little confused, but pretty open and appreciative overall!

He might ask if you’re part crow fae or something

Regardless, he expresses his thanks, and keeps the rock with him

But he does worry about what might happen to it when he falls asleep, so he asks you or Lilia if you can help him put it on a necklace or bracelet of sorts

So he always has it on him

Sometimes as he’s falling asleep, his hand unconsciously moves up and holds onto the rock

You’ll find him peacefully sleeping, rock in hand, and a smile on his face as he dreams

Silver doesn’t feel like he needs to give you something in return, and hopes you’ll be able to know he cares the same way without the gift of a rock

That being said, if he happens to come across a rock that he thinks is pretty or reminds him of you, he’ll grab it as a gift for you later

People can comment on it or joke about a rock being a gift, and he won’t pay any mind to them whatsoever

He knows the rock is an expression of how your care, and he treasures it, so why should he care if others can’t see it?

He would try and explain to people what it means, but if they aren’t going to understand then it isn’t worth explaining to them

In a way, he thinks of it as a good luck charm, and keeps it on him even when training or doing club activities

He’d feel absolutely terrible if he ever lost it, and would spend a good amount of time searching the campus for where he might’ve put it

If he’s unable to find it, he’d come to you and apologize deeply, but in all reality, it probably fell off in one of his napping spots or in his room and he happened to miss seeing it

Sebek:

The height of fae confusion

At first, he isn’t sure if it’s some sort of insult or if he’s supposed to use the rock for something specific

After you explain the rock and why you gave it to him, he huffs and acts like it’s not a big deal

But then he proceeds to flaunt to literally everyone that he received a rock as a token from you

The first day you give it to him, any person he runs into that happens to notice he’s carrying a rock around with him will receive a long explanation of how the human gave him this rock as a token of care and it’s a valuable treasure that they can’t even comprehend

He wouldn’t dare bring it to training or club activities in fear of losing it, but he does protect it like it’s a precious treasure that belongs in a museum

No one can touch it but him, you, Malleus, and Lilia

Maybe Silver if he needs it to be kept safe while he does something

Sebek isn’t too big on giving gifts, so he might not give one back to you unless prompted by Lilia, Malleus, or Silver

If they do, he isn’t quite sure how to express the sentiment behind the rock, or find a good enough rock

He’s trying, but just about no rock lives up to the standards he has for a rock to give you

It’s gonna be a long long time before he’s able to find a rock he thinks is fitting enough…

[misstycloud]

Platonic vampire father x reader

• Vampire, who is greatly feared and treated as a legend among the townsfolk. He’s the one parents tell their children will come for them unless they start to behave. Living alone for hundreds of years was alright by him, vampires were mostly solitary creatures anyhow. He slept during the day to regain his strength, then fed by nightfall. Sometimes it was just one or two humans, other times he took the lives of entire families in one giant serving. It was all simply fine- until it wasn’t. For one who had lived so long in solitude it seemed humourous to feel lonely all of a sudden.

• The vampire had not meant to have a child. It occurred without plan. However cold he may be, something urged him to keep you; the tiny, defenseless(not by human standards), and certainly hungry child he’d created. It was a hoax, that vampires could not procreate in the traditional sense; made up by the few vampire parents who did care enough about their children to ensure no one should hunt for them. If humans knew there were multiple ways and how easy it was to make more of this damned race, then the search for these children would be endless. Plus, burning the children would surely be easier than to behead a fully fledged adult monster?

• Now that you were sleeping soundlessly within his grasp, how could he ever let you go? There was no way he could let you run around like a child needs to, should the two of you live close to any civilisation. So he fled, deep into the wilderness where no one ought to find you. Yet it wasn’t too far out so it’d be impossible to find prey- especially with the help of his knowledge and ability to travel far distances. Good luck his uncle had a large castle standing empty for your use. Further luck was it that vampire father had killed him long ago, otherwise there’d be an unpleasant battle for territory.

• You were hopelessly adorable when you latched onto his wrist, teeth bared and fangs ready. They were small, but vicious. There was no question you’d be ruthless when you grew up. During the first year after a vampires birth, they had to feed from their parents. It was similar to how human babies gain nutrients from their mother whilst in the womb, and later rely on her milk to survive the harsh conditions of the outside world. He’ll find the best humans to eat so you’d be getting the finest nutrients afterwards.

• He loves getting you cute dresses and styling your hair. You’re like a fine china doll. Playing is also fun. You’re so full of energy that even he- exceeding physical abilities and all- had to take a break every now and then. He cannot count how many times he has been forced to chase you high-speed around the castle in order to prevent you from knocking anything over. An ordinary human would never have vitality to care for a vampire child. Apart from the likelihood of being drained on the spot, vampire children are very high maintenance and would tire a human beyond compare in less than a week. His favourite activity with you is teaching you to hunt. It’s a fantastic way to bond. He’ll make sure to encourage you and give you good opportunities; the complete opposite of how his parents taught him. They were rough and did not care at all, which was not rare for vampires but still.

• No matter how wonderful you looked while tearing the coachman’s throat out, vampire father would be lying if he said he didn’t miss the old days when you were younger. You didn’t have to wristfeed anymore and could do nicely by yourself. As he rested within his coffin, he reassured himself he was still needed. You would not reach adulthood until you were 150 years old, and even then you would still be his child- you would need him yet.

• Vampire father has servants who work in the castle. Maids and butlers who clean(no chefs of course) and are human. Whenever you asked your father about where they came from, he responded with ‘I took them to work here for us’. You noticed three things about the servants: they were a lot weaker than you, constantly scared in your or your fathers presence if their erratic beating heart was anything to go by, and they were often replaced. It was one night, you were reading, and a maid walked in to sweep the floor. You’d recognised her as Zoe. She was one of the only few who’d managed to stay(alive) for more than four years. However, the Zoe in your memory was youthful with dark hair and bright eyes; this one in front of you was worn down and grey.

• This realisation opened up your mind for curiosity aimed towards humans. Previously, you hadn’t really noticed them or cared. You saw them as food and disposable, just like your father did. But now you began thinking about the differences between you as species. Clearly, vampires were the superior race, being faster, stronger, more durable and free of illness. Although the loneliness of a vampire could count as a disease itself, the only inevitable, natural suffering of a creature of the night. So if vampire were superior, how come you all live in shadows? Why, despite there being fewer of you, did you not rule as royalty? And how come weak beings such as humans were almost happier than a vampires ever been? You wished to know the simple joy humans knew. You wanted to understand how they could be so happy as they were. How did they chose what path to dedicate their lives to when they had such short ones? You desired answers to the question on wether one could really be fulfilled in a mere 100 years; a lot of humans didn’t even make it past that age.

• You were more intrigued than ever. You just had to learn more about humans and their strange perspectives. They were so different from you. Unfortunately, your vampire father did not like your newest interest. He had taken you into the forest to hide you from humans and now you actively sought them out? You would end up chased or burned in sunlight! He would never allow that to happen to you. He’s your father and he’s sworn to stand by you.

He’ll protect his little doll.

[dragonnarrative-writes]

Part 3 - Oakmoss

Autumn Embers Masterlist

CW: Omegaverse scent-heavy flirting, food related flirting, Brandon (derogatory)

It’s three weeks later that Sergeant Garrick catches you walking out of your building at the end of the day. You’re more distracted than usual - trying to decipher a text from Jack about his upcoming heat - so you’re almost on top of him before you realize. His smile is genuine when you jump back from nearly stepping on his boot.

“Sorry!”

“No harm done,” he assures you. His hand comes forward. “Sergent Kyle Garrick.”

“We’ve met,” you point out, allowing a short, comfortable handshake.

His grin goes a little bit sheepish when he takes his hand back. “Well, I had to introduce myself better than Soap, at least. That’s MacTavish.”

“Ah,” you say. “Well… good to meet you.”

“The team wanted to thank you, for the information,” he continues. “It was very helpful. That Lawrence guy would have had us runnin’ in circles. We also, uh,” he shuffles his feet a bit, and looks away. “We didn’t want to overstep. By offering a gift before clearing it with you.”

Oh, he thinks he’s clever. You arch an eyebrow, “You want me to give your pack permission to give me gifts, Sergent Garrick?”

“I told them you’d catch on too fast,” he laughs.

At least he has the decency not to deny it. Here you had been tying yourself into knots about being too emotional in a meeting, and now a pretty man is asking permission for his pack to court you. Part of you is relieved. The last thing you need is more alphas pissed off at you, prowling around the base looking for a pissing contest.

Another part of you is annoyed.

You carefully regulate your breathing. “Yeah, I’m pretty good at catching these kinds of things by now. But you don’t have to thank me for doing my job.” You sidestep him and start walking toward the car park.

Sergent Garrick falls into step beside you. “I’ve offended you.”

You sigh. Of course he’d be sensitive to the way your scent changes. You practically scent burned him in a closed room. You step to the side of the walkway and turn to face him. “I’m sure you and your pack are wonderful, sergeant, but I’ve had a long day.”

His smile is charming. “Anything we can do to help?”

“Not approaching me with a courting offer at my workplace would be a good start,” you say, blandly. You watch his face muscles twitch through confusion, shock, and a tinge of horror before continuing. “While I’m flattered that you would tell your pack about me, I prefer to keep things professional on base. And I’m sure your team would prefer that as well. Have a nice night.”

“Wait,” He reaches out, but has the good sense not to touch you. “Would it be better, then, to maybe approach you off-base?”

Why do alphas think I’ll find you elsewhere is ever a good thing to imply? “Like how Sergeant MacTavish approached me at the bar?” He doesn’t seem to have anything to say to that. You take a step back, his confusion tickling your nose. “I’m not really interested in being the subject of whatever competitive thing you have going. Have a good night, Sergeant.”

By the time you get back to your car, you’re not mad anymore. Just tired. You climb into the drivers seat and tip your head back with a sigh. Garrick and MacTavish aren’t the first alphas to want to try taming the Wildfire, and they won’t be the last. But it still stings. For once, it’d be nice if someone saw you and thought you were pretty and interesting instead of just a challenge to conquer.

You let yourself have a few more seconds of self-pity before you strap in and start the car. You’ll give Jack a call, make plans for his heat, and leave the sergeants to do their thing.

The next day, when you get to your office, there’s a travel cup of hot coffee from your favorite coffee shop on the edge of your desk, along with a gift card and a note. You don’t really think much of it - coffee from Sherry as a reward for a job well done isn’t unheard of - but the the gift card for 25 pounds is a bit excessive. The unfamiliar handwriting on the note catches your eye.

Please accept this apology for yesterday.

It’s signed by Captain John Price. That’s… interesting. Speaks well to the cohesion of the 141 that Sergeant Garrick would let him know that he made you uncomfortable. Hopefully this means that neither of the sergeants will be dogging your steps. On the other hand, an almost perfect coffee made it to your office somehow. You’re still dealing with a bit of overbearing alpha bullshit. But apology bullshit is better than the alternative, so you settle in for your day.

By lunch, you’ve pushed the note to the back of your mind. When Sherry walks in, you expect a conversation about taking on Jerry’s workload with his upcoming parental leave. You don’t expect her to place a paper bag from the very fancy sandwich shop across town onto your desk. You can smell warm bread and something else in there.

“Special delivery,” she says. Before you can pull the bag close to poke around, she holds out a folded piece of paper. “Ah, ah! I was told to give you this first.”

“What? Sherry, let me… eat.”

Please accept this offer as a formal request to discuss an intention of courtship. Captain Johnathan Price Lieutenant Simon Riley Sergeant Kyle Garrick Sergeant Johnathan MacTavish

Each of the signatures is different. You look from the note to Sherry’s curious face and back down. You’re glad you have so much practice locking down your scent, because your emotions are all over the place. You flash her a quick smile as you refold the note and stick it under the edge of your keyboard.

“Thanks, I’ll take care of it.”

She nods, with a nervous smile of her own. “Everything alright?”

“Yeah,” you lie, hoping she doesn’t pick up on the spike of your scent as your heart races. “The 141 had a successful mission after that awful meeting with Brandon and that CIA agent.”

“Oh! Well that’s good,” she says with a sharp nod. She knocks twice on the edge of your desk before she turns to leave. “You always do good work. Least those boys could do is buy you lunch.”

Once she’s gone, you wait a few seconds, then get up to quietly close your door. And then you eye the fancy paper bag on your desk like it’s a bomb. You circle back to pick up the note, read it, fold it, open it to read again.

You snap a picture and send it to the group chat. Then snap a picture of the gifts and note from this morning. You re-re-re-read the second note again.

When you phone rings, you pick up without looking. “What do I do?”

Jack wails into your ear. “Bitch, what do you MEAN what do you do?”

“Do I open it?”

“Open what?”

You snap a picture of the stamped bag sitting on the edge of your desk and send it to the chat. “They sent this with-”

Chrissy’s icy voice startles you. “If you don’t show me what’s in that bag right now I will scream.”

“What if opening it is accepting it?” When the phone chirps in your ear, you hiss, “I can’t do a video call, I’m in my office.”

“Quit stalling,” Chrissy snaps. “Open the bag.”

You pull it closer, then pause. “Should we wait for Mel?”

“NOW,” Jack bellows.

“I’m also at work,” Mel’s says, steady and unbothered. “So please stop yelling.”

The bag crinkles a bit when you pull it closer, silencing everyone. You’re not sure why you’re holding your breath, but it comes out in a little huff of disappointment when you look inside and the first thing you see is napkins.

“Okay,” you whisper, as you start pulling things out. The first food item you find is a roll. “We have… bread, still warm. A half of a sandwich - ooh! The goat cheese and pear one. A half salad,” you squint through the translucent lid. “It looks like it has berries. Oh, it looks like there’s a soup in here, too, nice. And the utensils. And…”

When you don’t say anything else, Jack prompts you. “And?”

“There’s a, uh,” you cover your eyes as your face flushes. “It’s a cake.”

The silence is deafening. You make yourself peek into the unassuming box, and the four-inch, round cake positively dripping with what smells like orange syrup, spices, and the faintest hint of alcohol. Your face gets even hotter when you connect the dots and realize the cardamom you’re smelling reminds you of Sergeant Garrick.

It’s Mel who breaks the silence, clearing their throat before asking, “Did they get you a custom cake from the Trinity Rose?”

You can’t make yourself say anything, so you take a picture of it for the group chat. Then a couple more at different angles, because the curl of orange and peel on top looks like something out of a movie. You hear when the photos load, each of your friends sucking in a quiet breath. Chrissy must mute her mic, because the background noise drops significantly.

“Someone please say something,” you whisper.

Jack says, “Holy shit.”

“What does it smell like?” Mel asks, cutting to the chase. “Is it good?”

“It smells so good,” you admit. “Like… ridiculously good.”

Chrissy comes back on the line, sounding a little breathless. “They apologized with coffee this morning?”

“Yeah-”

“So this wasn’t part of the apology,” she continues. “Guys, this is. This is a legit courtship thing.”

“The website says they offer courtship packages,” Mel confirms. “It’s pretty cute, a subscription service for lunch. But it doesn’t actually include a cake.”

“There’s gotta be at least a two week wait on something like this.” You say it as soon as you realize it. Embarrassment flashes hot and cold down your entire body and you have to cover your face. “Oh gods, this had to be planned in advance.”

Chrissy hisses, “The bakery at the Trinity Rose is award winning. Of course this was planned in advance.”

“Wait, are they all in a pack?” Jack yelps. “All four of them? And they’re all alphas? There has to be more to the pack than that, right?”

Mel makes a disagreeing sound. “If there were more, they’d have signed. This is a very formal pre-courtship gift. Well. Mostly formal.”

You have to resist chewing on your lip. “Should I eat it?”

“No reason to waste a perfectly nice lunch,” they point out. Jack and Chrissy make agreeing noises. “But I’d probably wait to eat the cake until you get home.”

“So I can think about it?”

“What? No. You’ve already decided to hear them out,” Mel dismisses. “I just wouldn’t eat a sex cake at work.”

That startles a squawking laugh out of you. “It’s not a sex cake!”

“Oh, so they got a custom syrup cake that matches your scent as a platonic gesture?” Chrissy challenges.

“…There’s a little bit of cardamom,” you admit. “That’s Sergeant Garrick’s scent.”

“It’s a sex cake,” Mel confirms over the train whistle noise Chrissy makes before she can mute herself again. “When Garrick shows up to escort you to your car this evening, maybe don’t chew his head off.”

“Oh no,” you groan. Your head thumps against your arm as you throw yourself down onto the desk. “He was trying to ask for permission to court me and I was a complete bitch to him.”

You deserve the laughter of your best friends for that. But eventually, you rally. If you’re actually going to enjoy your lunch, you have to start eating now or you’ll have to eat and work later. You start with the sandwich and mute your mic as you take a huge bite. By unspoken agreement, the conversation shifts to the weekend and Jack’s heat, then Chrissy’s client who insists on in person meetings three days before her heat. Mel lets you all ramble for a good twenty minutes before ushering everyone off the phone since Jack is the only one who doesn’t have deadlines and scheduled clients.

Which leaves you staring at the cake.

Your eyes dart to the still closed door of your office, then back. You’re too full of good food to eat a whole cake, but… a bite couldn’t hurt. And while the gift is definitely a little… suggestive… it’s not actually a sex cake. Just a bit... decadent. Sherry’s husband sends her flowers that match their pack’s scents. That’s basically the same thing.

Right?

Before you can second guess yourself, you scoop a bite into your mouth.

The taste that bursts over your tongue makes you moan out loud. You definitely should have waited until you got home. The cake is so rich, cut by the orange and whiskey in a way that almost demands a second bite. There’s something indescribable teasing the back of your palate, hidden by cardamom and the hint of something - raspberry? - but so distinctly there. When you try to focus on it, you keep coming back to a smokiness that can’t be anything but the alcohol.

Before you know it, you’ve eaten a quarter of the little cake. Your stomach feels warm, and you admit to yourself that it’s probably not a good idea to keep consuming alcohol at work. So you close the little box and lick the fork while you log back into your computer one handed. Your lips are sticky. Even after you use your thumb to help clean them off you’re so aware of them.

You catch yourself pursing and rolling your lips through the rest of your day. You can’t resist taking another bite every now and then. Every time, you remember Mel calling it a sex cake and wonder if Captain Price thought about this when placed the order. You remember the way Lieutenant Riley’s eyes had slid down your body. Had he known he wanted to send you this cake then? Did Sergeant MacTavish imagine you licking your fork when he signed the note? Was Sergeant Garrick thinking about this moment when he saw you yesterday?

When the day ends, you send a picture of the cake with more than a third missing to the group chat as you log out. I fucked up, it’s a sex cake.

Beta Daddy: Told you.

Best Bitch: WHAT DOES IT TASTE LIKE

Barbie: drinks at mel and jax tonite

You: :thumbsup:

You: genuinely no idea how to describe, i’ll try tonight

You’re nervous, closing up shop for the evening. Would Sergeant Garrick be waiting for you again? Or will your hyper-independence come back to bite you? You hope someone will be there to walk you, and the possibility of that not being the case cools you. And then you look back at the box of cake in your hands and flush hot. Maybe it’s better that you don’t run into anyone after an entire afternoon of rubbing your lips and thinking of the 141.

You’re shocked out of your musings just before you can exit the building by Brandon of all people calling your name. With a groan, you’re dropped back to reality. You at least let yourself step outside for some fresh air before he can reach you.

“Sherry said the 141 had a question for you. What was it?” Not even a hello. Typical. Thanks a lot, Sherry.

Luckily, you have a lie prepared. “Just another question about Cloudstone.”

“What question?” He steps closer, trying to use his height to intimidate. “I’m the point of contact, they should be speaking to me directly.”

“Hm. Maybe should’ve reached out to you,” Lieutenant Riley’s voice says from behind your right shoulder. “Got a lo’ of info on alpha enhancements, then?”

Brandon’s shocked, offended scent almost drowns out the Lieutenant’s. Almost. You tilt your head before you realize you’re doing it, and catch that hint of something that you’ve been chasing all afternoon, earthy and intriguing. Your mouth waters. You barely stop yourself from biting your lip and tune back into the conversation.

“I wasn’t able to give them an answer today,” you butt in, before Brandon can get too worked up. “I’ll CC you on the email when I have everything.”

“Fine,” Brandon says, glaring daggers at the Lieutenant.

And then the three of you just… stand there.

Behind you, Lieutenant Riley smells amused. “Dismissed.”

Brandon gapes at him. “I beg your pardon?”

“You’re dismissed. Unless you have more to add on the subject.”

Being caught between clashing alphas is not how you thought today would end. Out of the corner of your eye, you can see people look at Lieutenant Riley, then at Brandon, and then visibly decide to wait to exit the building. When you start to inch away, the lieutenant touches just beneath your left shoulder blade with the tips of his fingers. You freeze with a sharp inhale. Brandon looks between the two of you. Then his face settles into a sneer.

“Think hard about what you say next,” Lieutenant Riley ways with almost no inflection. Brandon’s face freezes and goes a little pale. You remember, suddenly, that the man at your back is also called the Ghost. “Because challenging me won’t go well for you. Walk away under your own power.”

The resonance of his voice combines with the way his scent teases your olfactory nerves and sends a shiver through you. You’re suddenly aware of the warmth that’s been building behind your bellybutton all afternoon. You don’t hear the next thing Brandon says. He’s too focused on his own offense to notice your distraction, thank the gods, but -

One of the fingers at your back taps you gently, once, twice. And then you feel the gentlest scrape of a fingernail against your shirt.

“I have to go,” you squeak, taking a step toward the parking lot. To Brandon, you say “I will make sure I email you first thing in the morning.”

You can see Brandon’s jaw working, but no matter how irritated he is, he’s outmatched and he knows it. After a moment, he answers. “See that you do.”

“’Ll walk you,” Lieutenant Riley intones. “Wanna make sure I understand the answer to the Captain’s question.” He turns his back to Brandon and gestures for you to continue walking.

A part of you wants to see what will happen if Brandon answers the obvious insult. It’s not hard to imagine the crunch of his body hitting the pavement, the way the Ghost might growl down and force him to yield. Another, loud part of you needs to not get this wet standing right outside of your office. So you hustle away and try to cool yourself down.

Of course, the Lieutenant is right beside you. You chance a glance up - he’s so tall! - at his face, covered today by a black surgical mask. His brown eyes catch yours and crinkle at the edges as he smiles, but he doesn’t say anything. Just keeps walking with you until you’re standing next to your car.

“Sorry,” he says, looking across the car park. “Weren’t my intention to cause trouble.”

“No,” you say, fidgeting with the edge of your jacket and looking at your keys in your hand. “It’s not your fault, I, um, I told my coworker that lunch was work-related. I guess she told Brandon.”

He nods. “Tha’s fair. Should I tell the Cap’n that lunch was work-related?”

When you look back up, he’s already gazing back at you. There’s just enough light to see his eyes darken as he tips his head up just a bit. He’s scenting you, his effect on you. You feel your face get hot as you look away from him again.

He gives an amused-sounding huff. “Need time to think about it?”

Do you? “No, I… I would be open to discussing an intention of courtship.”

Lieutenant Riley purrs. It’s deep and gravely, but unmistakable for anything else. The sound startles you into meeting his eyes. This time, he holds your gaze and takes a step forward, then another when you back up until you bump into your car. He doesn’t come any closer, but his eyes say that he wants to.

“Skipper wants to meet somewhere open,” he says. “The Spice Garden has a nice outdoor space, if you’re free Saturday.”

You almost say yes, but catch yourself. “I… have to help my friend through his heat this weekend.”

He nods his head, never breaking eye contact. “Next week, then.”

You do a quick calculation in your head. “I can be free tomorrow evening by… seven, as long as things aren’t too… formal.”

“Won’t be formal,” he assures you. “Cap insisted on a gift and formal invitation, but we don’t stand too much on ceremony. Bit unconventional, far as packs go.”

You nod, too fast. “Okay. I… does tomorrow work?”

“If you wanted us tonight, you could have us,” he answers, eyes crinkling again. He takes a step back, looking at the box in your hand, then back into your eyes. “Tomorrow then. Enjoy the cake.”

[bigfatbimbo]

I know you asked for something with Ford and i’ll request something for him once i brainstorm it up i promise T-T

BUT with the Sub masochist Bill, i can totally see where it’d go. I feel like Bill would be the type of person to never even think about touching himself, because the whole ‘trying to end the world thing’, and he was too busy with all of that and experimenting with pain in the human body it never even occurred to him that pleasure would be as awesome as it was till the [insert reader] showed him

Like literally after he figures it out he prolly wouldn’t even wanna stop. Man could go hours overstimulated and sex crazy because after a while of getting overstimmed it hurts insanely bad, but that’s lowkey more of a reason for him to keep going.

And whenever you’d tell him no to fucking or you’d be busy or something, it’d drive him literally nuts because ‘how dare you reject HIM.’ And he’d think it would just be casual questions of ‘Sooo you wanna have sex now, toots?’ but it’d get the point where he’d just be BEGGING you to touch him.

Speaking of touching himself, like i’d said before, he never really had till his first time with you, and whenever you’d reject his advances he just couldn’t help but touch himself while throwing a little hissy fit about the whole thing. You’d once walked in on him in one of these moments, on the bed, dick in hand while ruthlessly beating himself off. Sometimes he’d even slap himself and things of the sort and imagine it was you doing it and that usually through him over the edge.

ALSO FLUFF 🤩 So i don’t imagine him to be the most open about cuddling or anything but when he’s in the mood he’d get upset when you wouldn’t. Sometimes he just forgets you can’t read his mind. But honestly he seems clingy in the type of way that when he’s not horny out of his demonic mind, that he’d learn to just enjoy your general presence. Even when you guys aren’t having playful banter, he would bask in the silence knowing you’re there with him by his side. Don’t get me wrong, this man is a pest and would never admit any of this outloud, but he also feels as thought you know it so he doesn’t HAVE to tell you.

ONE MORE THING: Star gazing. now i really need you to here me out of this one.

So his dimension (or whatever it was) was destroyed, right? And even when he eventually came to earth, he must’ve been traveling in the stars for a while just tryna find a new home. So sometimes when he’s really feeling it, you guy’ll be on the roof to your place and he’d point out the general direction of where is dimension once was, or even go into detail about constellations he knows you don’t know about. Like i said this man is not a gooshy-ass person and can be a real dickhead to you more or less all the time, but i feel like there would definitely be those insanely rare moments where you could look at him and see a bit of human in that demonic entity (BYW ITS BEEN A WHILE SINCE IVE BEEN IN THIS FANDOM SO I MIGHTVE FORGOTTEN IMPORTANT LORE SO LEAVE ME ALONE 😭😭) Anywayss lemme think of some Ford shit to keep you sane pooks 😌🫡

-👻👽 Anon

I love asks like this because you guys literally do all my work for me. Much love Alien anon, much love. Also oh my god??? Everyone took my Bill fic and ran with it and I am LOVING IT, you people are so creative!

The fluff is actually really cute, by the way!! I don’t know how into cuddling Bill would be.. his human form is probably the most likely that situation would ever be. lol, imagine Bill experiencing the foreign need for human touch for the first time. i also like the point about him touching himself anyways-

[homestuckreplay]

How Does Dave See John?

TG: dont talk to john anymore hes an impressionable doofus (p.1657)

Ever since reading Davesprite’s conversation with gallowsCalibrator where he chastises her for getting John killed, I’ve struggled to get it off my mind. There’s a few passing references in early acts, but Act 4 is the first time we’ve seen Dave talk extensively about John, with John not around – and he paints an interesting picture.

GC: SO JOHN 4CTU4LLY D1D WH4T 1 S41D? TG: yeah TG: im telling you TG: huge pushover TG: he will do what you say TG: unless it happens to be for his own good TG: then all a sudden hes a tough nut to crack go figure (p.1657)

In this chatlog, Dave hasn’t spoken to John for four months – before that, they likely spoke every day for years. That’s a big hole in Dave’s life, so of course he’s furious with the person who caused that. It makes sense, as well, that Dave’s opinions of John are overshadowed by that important final interaction, not by their day to day mutual teasing and goofing off.

Here, Davesprite sees John as someone he has to defend, and as someone who’s easily manipulated and not really capable of making his own decisions. Whether or not that’s actually true, it makes sense coming from someone who’s spent four grueling months mastering time travel and personal independence under life or death conditions, and pre-sprite future Dave expresses something similar when talking to Rose.

TG: i go back and tell john not to be an idiot and get trolled like such a gullible stooge (p.1643)

It’d be a fair interpretation to say that Davesprite’s hero complex is about wanting to save the whole timeline, all of his friends and maybe even the future of humanity, and John just happens to be the specific person who needs saving to accomplish that. However, I personally think this is about Dave’s feelings towards John specifically, and I have three different angles I want to briefly discuss this from: Dave’s birthday note, gender, and fan interpretations.

Dave’s Note.

A few pages after GC and Davesprite’s conversation, we see the note Dave included with John’s birthday package – most likely written in early April of 2009, a week or so before the kids play Sburb. Here’s about 2/3 of the note quoted in full.

i would suggest you put it somewhere and display it ironically but i know youre dead serious about this ridiculous shit so youll probably sleep with the damn thing and nibble its ear and stuff but the weird thing is thats whats cool about you. youre this naive guy like pinocchio tumbled ass backwards off the turnip truck and started liking ghostbusters. then the fairy godmother kissed your nose or some shit and you turned out to be not made of wood and also pretty cool to talk to. one day your gooberish ways are gonna land you in a jam and i know im going to have to get you off the hook but its cool i got your back bro. then we'll meet and hug bump and get each others filthy wife beaters that much filthier so yeah (p.1662)

Here’s the key points I’m getting from this.

Dave defines John by the differences between them.

The way Dave sees John is almost infantilizing; he definitely thinks John is more innocent than he is and less capable of taking care of himself.

Dave loves John so, so much, and he can’t help but express that, even when it contradicts his usual persona.

Irony versus sincerity is a big theme in John and Dave’s conversations dating back to Act 1, as is their respective opinions on pieces of media – usually things John likes and Dave doesn’t, with GameBro Magazine as a notable exception (p.26). Another theme is Dave’s ‘expertise’, with him often positioning himself as knowing more than John and flaunting his superior knowledge, like with their conversations about John’s sylladex and strife specibus (p.35).

In truth, Dave probably has more life experience than John. Bro certainly isn’t trying to keep him sheltered from anything, and Dave is constantly in dangerous situations and surrounded by adult content. He lives in a city, gets into fights, has partly raised himself, and probably hangs out in some weird corners of the internet. John’s life is hard in different ways – he’s a lot more sheltered, and he’s been allowed to have a longer childhood. Even their shared gifts reflect this. John gives Dave a gift that hides his face, makes him look older, shields him from a tough world, and was worn by an adult in a movie. Dave gives John a gift that’s typically given to a young child (Casey is around seven in Con Air) and represents vulnerability, softness, and a need for comfort.

Even if he doesn’t admit it, Dave might wish he’d had a childhood more like John’s. He wants John to have what he couldn’t, which might be why he tries to hide the weirdest things Bro does (and his own discomfort with them) from John. And he wants to use the combat skills he’s learning from Bro to protect someone, instead of hurt them. The love between them is defining and specific, and I actually do think that Dave would go further to protect John than he would to protect Rose or Jade, even though he cares about them a lot too. It’s difficult to find hard evidence for this – it’s really more of a feeling - but the closest I’ve got is that he sends Jade a signed Sweet Bro and Hella Jeff poster for her birthday, which isn’t even in the same league as the Con Air bunny.

There are definitely examples of Dave being naive and oblivious to the world, like when he’s telling himself he loves puppets and is totally chill with Cal, and there are examples of John being smart and intuitive, like when he starts to realize WV is controlling him and fights back. Those things are true of them as individuals, and are even visible in a fair few of their conversations (see p.287 for a great example) but when Dave talks about John, he leans really hard into their experienced/naive dichotomy. I think it’d be so interesting if, when they meet in person one day, they’re forced to confront these other sides of each other and put into a situation where John gets to be the one to take care of Dave and demonstrate his own capabilities.

--

Gender.

ok so that was all based on the text, now let’s talk headcanons and wild speculation: I think these kids might be transgender.

John, in Act 1 and 2, is characterized by detachment from his life, discomfort in his relationship with his father, and a strict, by the numbers understanding of certain trappings of ‘normal’ life. Dad leaves a piece of paper taped behind his safe, addressing John as ‘son’ and focusing on John’s strength and manliness (p.546). Dad himself is extremely strong, able to lift anything Jack Noir uses to keep him contained and fight the strongest Derse agents, and these are clearly the qualities he prizes in his son too. John also thinks that a ‘proper gentleman’ needs a monocle (p.27) and that a father needs a pipe (p.74), both of which are pretty weird and outdated ideas about masculinity which definitely come from old movies, not from actual deeply held beliefs.

John is also 100% capable of repressing very obvious parts of himself for a very long time, like with the clown graffiti on his walls (p.1001). So, distancing himself from being a man combined with obliviousness towards parts of his own mind makes it possible that John is a trans woman, and hasn’t figured this out yet. Worth mentioning also that John is the only kid to change his Pesterchum handle within the timeline of the story, and John later changing his name would be a very cool resonance.

Dave is more complex, and in a vacuum I think it’s possible to read his gender a few different ways – but it’s most interesting to me if he’s a trans man who came out and socially transitioned when he was a young child. It explains why he spends so much time online (it’s the place he can guarantee being stealth) and why he works SO hard to consciously construct his ironic persona, and works even harder to make it look effortless. Dave has always struck me as this person who’s constantly working twice as hard to keep up with what comes easily and naturally to others, and still not always getting it right. That applies to coolness, which he fails at because wearing sunglasses indoors isn’t actually cool, it applies to fighting, which he fails at when Bro kicks his ass every time even after years of training, and it applies to masculinity, where he’s constantly fighting against hitting puberty and how others perceive him when other boys around him don’t have to deal with any of that. And because he’s working so hard to pass and be accepted, Dave has definitely internalized some gender roles which aren’t that great, and leans way too hard into the ‘asshole teenage boy’ stereotype – like in his first conversation with adiosToreador (p.1099). It’s shitty for sure, but he also doesn’t have someone like John’s dad to be a better example of masculinity.

So I think Dave actively and intentionally buys into masculinity infinitely more than John does, and part of that is leaning into the ‘protector’ role when it comes to his friends. In this read, I don’t think either John or Dave consciously suspect anything about the other’s gender or trans status – but a real-world phenomenon that I and a lot of my friends have experienced is making queer friends while young and feeling a strong connection to them, despite not knowing each other is queer. Consciously, John and Dave think of each other as ‘best bros’ but there’s also an unconscious understanding that they share something deeper. Dave’s protectiveness of John extends to being ready to support and even physically defend John if and when he starts exploring gender, and John’s clear respect for Dave is partly because beneath the irony, Dave is taking the risk of expressing a very authentic part of himself in ways that John is currently not ready to.

As mentioned above, although they tease each other, a lot of their interactions are roughly built on this perceived dichotomy between John’s earnestness and whimsy versus Dave’s irony and impatience. So I think it’s interesting if the difference between them extends to being different genders, and is subverted by John being the one who’s actually putting up a front and Dave being the one who’s actually being himself. And, of course, their close friendship represents a shared trans solidarity.

--

Fan Interpretations.

I really like my interpretations here, but I’m not the only person reading this comic. On April 10, 2010, which of course is today, lots of people feel very differently. A lot of first-year Homestuck fans were also Problem Sleuth fans (or read it after catching up on Homestuck), and Problem Sleuth, plus a good number of other webcomics, don’t invite much complex character analysis. I’ve seen people shocked by the tone shift following ‘[S] Dave: Accelerate’, because they’ve never seen a webcomic kill two of its main characters, send two others to a dark timeline, and take those ideas seriously.

I have no way of knowing what’s discussed on the MSPA forums, but across multiple other forums, most people one-dimensionally see Dave as ‘cool’ and as someone to emulate, and John as ‘stupid’ and as someone to enjoy reading about but to feel superior to. In this way, they’re specifically leaning into Dave’s perceptions of both himself and John. Dave describes John as ‘gooberish’ in his note – a word that has never appeared in Homestuck before, but has definitely come up in forum discussions.

In sitcoms, it’s pretty common for characters to feel like real people in season one, but by season five, their most extreme and comedic traits are exaggerated while their more nuanced and human traits are suppressed. I think a lot of this comes from how viewers respond to these characters, and what becomes their ‘iconic’ moments in early seasons. That’s the case even with a lot of distance between writers and audience – in Homestuck, Hussie engages so much with fans and reads the MSPA forums in real time, so it’s likely that fan interpretations could influence in-comic characterization. This feels especially true now the cast of characters is expanding so much, which makes it harder to keep track of the complexities of each one.

Overall, I really love John and Dave’s existing dynamic, and how all the beta kids have been characterized so far. In all cases, there’s great groundwork for future character arcs. It’d be a real shame to see any of them become caricatures of themselves. And while I don’t think this is happening in a serious way yet, there are slight shifts in how they’ve been written over time. That could be their changing responses to situations in universe, or could be Hussie’s changing understandings of the characters, and either way I think it’s something to pay attention to. So despite the risk of ending this post on a negative note, I’m going to finish by putting these two interactions side by side.

EB: i do things ironically sometimes. EB: what about what i sent you for your birthday? TG: no those are awesome EB: what? no, they're stupid, which was the joke. the IRONIC joke. get it? EB: wait... EB: you're actually wearing them, aren't you? TG: im wearing them ironically TG: because theyre awesome TG: the fact that theyre ironic makes them awesome TG: and vice versa (p.110)

EB: yeah, of course! EB: there was no way i wasn't trying out this sweet ride. TG: god dammit what do i have to do to make you believe me TG: fist bump my future self til i got bloody knuckles and write you an even sappier bday note in my own blood TG: on a back to the future poster EB: relax, i'm not going through the gate! EB: i am just flying around, and having a good time in the sky. (p.1667)

[keiiaq]

introducing my waiting room 𝄞⨾𓍢ִ໋

──── 𝄞⨾𓍢ִ໋🌍𓏲 ๋࣭ ࣪ ˖🫧🐠‧₊ ────

“take me, take me, take me on an ocean blue.” - aespa

welcome to my waiting room intro, feel free to be inspired by this post when scripting! 🫶🏻

───────────

welcome to my waiting room. this is where I come to take my mind off heavy things in my cr and stay to cope with many things.

the year is 2222 and everything that was promised now exists here! time may not be a thing in here, but day and night still is.

──── 𝄞⨾𓍢ִ໋🌍𓏲 ๋࣭ ࣪ ˖🫧🐠‧₊ ────

🌎┆ aesthetics-

my waiting room is inspired by the aesthetics of cybercore, and frutiger aero. it’s a hive-like place where you can spend your time scripting, or doing something fun during the day.

I also was additionally inspired by the bee movie because of the community hive in the film since it basically is made up of one place but if feels like it has basically every need (?) it’s hard to explain, you got houses, leisure activities, work, etc in just one singular place.

I also took inspiration of crisp blue water, aquariums, the colours; white, blue, and green. glass, and transparent things that have a smooth look to them.

when you first wake up, you wake up in a “grounding room”. it’s essentially a penthouse and you wake up alone at first so you can get used to everything before you proceed.

𖦹°‧ visuals:

my favourite and useful things I have scripted to help me script are as follows:

🌐 — I have all the apps and resources that help with shifting, scripting and drawing (lifa app, pinterest, notion, ibis paint, xiahongshu, etc)

🖥️ — I can access EVERY script I have made ever since starting my shifting journey and edit/add to it. even if I deleted it or it’s not accessible anymore in my CR. (I want to look back and cringe at them, but also see how far i’ve made it with scripting 🥹)

🌱 — I have a pinterest account in my waiting room once I shift and it actually has so much help for scripting! visuals, aesthetics, colour pallettes, outfit ideas, drawing inspo, anything you desire to have in your script.

───────────

🌎┆ places -

when you leave your penthouse, you enter the main hub which I like to call the hive-hub :) since I don’t want to be alone here, I scripted that all the people there are basically all my drselves I have created myself and versions of myself in other realities.

when it comes to travelling to your DR, it’s pretty straightforward. you just have to find the person your shifting as and tell them “can I come with you?” which essentially just means “can I shift as you?”

once they lead you to the exit of your WR - the place where you’re getting dropped off to. you just enter a bubble that takes you to your DR. since it’s just you in the bubble, you can simply think of whatever you’d like and it’d appear infront of you! unlike being in a plane, being in a personal bubble is basically peak comfort. once you get to your DR, everything becomes black and foggy and you wake up in your DR. I took the bubble idea from the future world in meet the robinsons, I loved that movie as a kid 🤭

𖦹°‧ visuals:

───────────

🌎┆ extras -

I didn’t know where to put the rest of my ideas so here they are. if you’re still reading here, thank you so much! it means so much to me.

🌱 — community leisure activities: swimming, shopping, food courts, spa retreats, aquariums, etc.

🌐 — theres background music in my DR, theres a link on the underlined quote at the top of this page so just click that :)

🖥️ — in terms of sleeping, you get the amount of sleep your need each day. beds are incredibly comfy and the pillows stay cold no matter how long you lay on them. when it comes to bubbles, it’s a whole different ball game as they’re basically peak comfort in my WR.

🫧 — The air of earth is very clean and easy to breathe no matter where you are in the world and is actively containing to be clean.

🪼 — The environment is every government's top priority and everything is packaged sustainably, recycling is common practice, and green roofs and solar panels are common practice.

𖦹°‧ visuals:

thank you so much for reading this and happy shifting! :)

──── 𝄞⨾𓍢ִ໋🌍𓏲 ๋࣭ ࣪ ˖🫧🐠‧₊ ────

───────────

[awkward-walking-potato]

I'm not really sure if this req is your kinda thing? Plz feel free to ignore if it's not! Established relationship with Remy, and then there's a multiverse event and f!Remy is also hanging around and good god she's hot and she starts flirting with you and gay panik?

Every Gambit Wants Me

In a world where the multiverse was becoming more and more unpredictable, you were used to seeing strange things. Hanging out with Remy LeBeau, had its perks, but it also came with its fair share of surprises—particularly when it came to multiverse travel.

It had been another one of those accidental jumps through realities, and you and Gambit landed in a world that felt familiar...but slightly off. The streets of New Orleans had the same smell of gumbo and smoke, the same jazz lingering in the air, but something was different. You glanced at Remy, his red eyes glowing slightly under the streetlights, and he flashed you one of those charming, roguish grins.

"Dis ain't home, chérie," he said in his smooth Cajun drawl. "But I reckon we gon' make the best of it, non?"

You laughed softly, used to his easy charm by now. "Yeah, well, let's just hope this version of New Orleans doesn't have anything too crazy in store."

Before Remy could respond, a figure approached from the shadows. Your eyes widened in surprise. She looked exactly like him—the same mischievous eyes, the same tousled brown hair falling in front of her face—but this version of Gambit...was a woman.

"Well, well, well," she said, her voice dripping with the same sultry accent as Gambit's. "What do we have here?"

The female Remy circled the two of you, her eyes lingering a little too long on you. "Ain't every day a girl gets to meet someone from a different universe... especially someone as lovely as you." She smirked, her gaze heated as she stopped in front of you. "Seems I got myself an upgrade from my usual company."

Gambit stiffened beside you but didn't interrupt. He was intrigued, just as much as you were. Female Gambit leaned in closer, her breath hot against your ear.

"You know," she whispered, "I could show you a real good time. Better than any man ever could. Ain't nobody knows you like me, sugar. You like what you see?"

You felt your cheeks heat up, her proximity setting your nerves on fire. She was undeniably attractive, and that confidence—that you recognized from your Gambit. But she had an extra layer of boldness, not held back by the same reservations. You opened your mouth to say something, but she kept going, brushing a hand across your arm.

"Let me guess. You’re with him, ain't ya?" she teased, gesturing toward your Gambit. "But I bet you’ve wondered what it’d be like...with someone who knows how you like it. Someone who's you, but different."

Your Gambit chuckled lowly behind you. "Careful, mon chérie. She might be prettier, but I ain't one to be outdone."

Female Remy shot him a smirk, leaning in even closer to you. "I dunno about that, sugar. You might like this version better."

Your heart was racing, torn between the two Gambits. There was something thrilling about this version of him—the flirtation, the danger, the electricity in the air.

"Don't worry," Gambit said, stepping up beside you with a grin that matched hers. "Ain't no jealousy here. I know what you like." His hand came up to gently tilt your chin toward him. "You could take her up on it...but even in dis multiverse, every Gambit’s got eyes for you. She’s just like me."

Female Remy laughed softly, her eyes dancing between you and your Gambit. "He's not wrong, you know. Every version of us is obsessed with you, sugar." She winked. "But if you ever wanna see just how different I can be, you know where to find me."

She gave one last flirtatious smile before walking off into the shadows, leaving you standing there, still caught between two versions of the same man. You turned to your Gambit, his expression a mix of amusement and satisfaction.

"Guess you really do have a type," you said, feeling the heat from the encounter still lingering.

Remy wrapped an arm around your waist, pulling you close. "Cherie, there's only one of me for you, no matter how many multiverses we end up in. But I can’t blame her for trying—every version of me knows a good thing when they see it."

You couldn’t help but smile. After all, no matter how many versions of Gambit there were, the one right in front of you was the one you’d choose, every time.

[crazyunsexycool]

I just got an idea for a story and have to share!! So reader and Bucky are high school sweethearts and married just before he's in the war and taken by hydra. She never finds out what happened to him and never remarries because he was the great love of her life... but just after he's taken she finds out she's pregnant.

Flash forward to the present and when Bucky is saved by the avengers he tries to find reader but finds out she died and also that he has a son. He goes to meet his son who tells Bucky all about reader from when he was growing up.

Somehow Bucky finds a way to bring reader back through teleporting her or something because he simply can't live without her.

80 years later.

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x reader

Warning: talks of death, angst, pregnancy, fluff.

A/N: the day I stop writing. About time travel send help because I love it. The TVA can kiss my ass. I also forgot I had written this and it was saved in my drafts for the longest time. I also thought it’d be funny if Bucky was a grandfather that looked younger than his grandkids.

Bucky stood in front of the red door and took a deep breath. He finally gets the courage to knock on the door, his hand trembling as he raked it through his long hair. When the door opens it feels like he’s been punched in the gut.

“Dad?” Surprise colors the voice of this familiar stranger.

“Hey kid.”

Bucky stood in front of an older looking version of himself. White hair and wrinkles around electric blue eyes. But the nose and the lips were all you.

James Grant Barnes, was the son you’d had right after Bucky had been shipped off to the Great War. The son Bucky would never know about because he’d fall off of a moving train and into the hands of hydra. For sixty five years you’d mourn the loss of your high school sweetheart, love of your life and husband. He’d asked for your hand in marriage as soon as you both graduated high school but only married right before he went off to boot camp. It was the happiest days of both your lives, a life you’d never get to share.

Both men stared at each other for a minute before a voice came up behind them.

“Who’s at the door pa?”

“Please come in.” Bucky gets ushered into the living room. “Make yourself at home.”

“Pa who was at the-“ a woman walks into the living room. Hair down to her shoulders, bright eyes and the spitting image of you.

“Rebecca, I'd like you to meet your grandfather.”

“You look just like her.” Bucky’s voice breaks as he speaks.

Rebecca smiles as she sits next to him and it makes Bucky’s heart ache even more. She takes his right hand in hers and squeezes it gently.

“I’m sorry you lost your time with grandma. I feel like I’ve known you all of my life, she talked about you all the time and she loved you so much.”

Bucky cried at that for two reasons. The first being because hydra stole his life away from him and second because he could barely remember you. He just always knew there was something or someone missing. He could only piece parts of your relationship by what Steve told him. The only thing Bucky had of yours was a picture and you looked a bit older then.

“Would you like to see pictures?” James asks his father. Bucky only nods.

Bucky and James spent hours together watching home movies and looking through albums you’d put together. James filled in the blanks for some pictures and family moments. The more he saw the more memories from your time together came back to Bucky.

“Grandma, what was grandpa like?” A very young Rebecca asked you.

You were both sitting in a garden having a picnic. James was currently recording the interaction. While Rebecca sat beside you, you held the newest addition to the family in your arms.

“Well he was a nerd.” You giggle along with Rebecca. “The cutest nerd at our school. He loved reading and dancing and anything to do with technology.”

“Did he ever take you dancing?”

“He sure did. We went dancing every Friday night and we would always drag Stevie with us. Even the night before he went off to war we went dancing.”

“Why didn’t he come back so he could dance with you again?” Rebecca asked innocently. She was still too young to understand what had happened.

The video cuts off there and James pauses the video before it goes any further.

“I wish I could have.” Bucky says after a while.

“She knew, Ma was never mad at you or anything. She just missed you. Even when she thought I wouldn’t notice I always knew when she’d be crying over you. Especially around your birthday or your anniversary. So once I was old enough to have a job I’d always take her out to celebrate.”

“She did a good job raising you. Did she ever-“

“She never remarried or dated anyone at all. Always said you were the love of her life and that there was no use in seeing anyone else because she would just compare them to you and it wouldn’t be fair to them.” James says sadly.

“She should have. She deserved to be happy.”

“Ma was happy with the family she had. She said it herself she wouldn’t change a thing.”

Bucky nods and stands up.

“It’s getting late, I should go. Thank you for not shutting the door on me and for showing me all of this.”

“I could never shut you out. This is your family too. I never thought I’d ever meet you,” James struggled to find the words to express how he felt. “I’m happy we got a chance to meet. You’re welcome back anytime.”

“Me too, I’ll come back soon.”

James stood and they hugged. The hold they had on each other was strong and neither of them wanted to let go. When they finally did they both had tears running down their cheeks but for different reasons. Bucky cried because he missed out on raising his son and James cried because he got a chance to meet his father.

Bucky left the house with a new sense of belonging. Although he never understood why you wouldn’t have written to him to tell me he would be a father. He knew he’d never get an answer so he tried to let it go. It was a complete shock when Steve told him about it.

From that day Bucky met with James frequently. They would mostly talk about the family and what growing up was like for James. His job and his kids. Bucky wanted to stay away from the topic of what happened to him with hydra or the missions he was going on with the Avengers. James didn’t seem to mind.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Today was a special occasion. It was Rebecca’s birthday and the family was going to have a party. Of course the first thing she did was invite her grandfather and anyone he wanted to bring. At first he politely declined, stating that he would probably ruin the party. But she insisted, with multiple calls. She was stubborn just like you.

Bucky showed up with Steve and Sam at his side. This would be the first time Bucky would meet the rest of the family and he was nervous.

“Grandpa, you made it!” Rebecca said in a joking tone. Bucky smiles and accepts the hug she’d offered.

“Wow, Buck was not joking when he said you looked like Y/N.”

Steve stood there stunned. While he had spoken with James on the phone he hadn’t met him or anyone else from the family in person. You had been one of the few people to see Steve for who he was and what he wanted to become. The two of you had been friends for as long as Bucky and Steve had been. He grieved your death when he woke up from the ice. Now he stood in a room full of people that had loved you, he took comfort in knowing you hadn’t been alone all those years.

“Hi, grandma talked about you just as she did gramps.” Rebecca smiles at Steve and opens her arm for a hug.

“James, this is Sam.”

“Pleasure to meet you.”

“No, the pleasure is all mine, James. Now tell me all about your mom. I bet she had the patience of a saint to put up with these two.”

“She did.” Both men chuckle as they move to the living room.

Not only did Bucky have a son and grandchildren, he also had great grandchildren as well as nieces and nephews. They had all gathered for Rebecca’s birthday in the hopes of meeting him. It was a surreal experience to have so much family. Bucky had thought that there would be no one left. That there wouldn’t be a place for him in this world but you’d managed to make sure he wasn’t alone. Even if you never got to know what you’d done.

After introductions were made the celebration really got started. There was music and conversations going on everywhere. Steve and Sam had been accepted quickly.

“Hey Steve,” Georgie, James’ son, called out. “You should try this.” He held out a plate for Steve to grab a cookie.

“Mmm,” Steve moaned out after he took the first bite. “These taste just like the ones Y/N used to make.”

“They are. When dad said you were coming Becs and I pulled out grandma’s recipe books. She had a little note next to this recipe saying they were your favorite. She was your friend too, thought you’d like having something she used to make.”

“Thanks,” Steve cleared his throat. “This is incredibly kind of you.”

“Don’t mention it. We made a few for you to take home. So don’t forget them before you leave.”

“Trust me I’m not leaving these behind.” Steve said with a chuckle as his phone began to ring. “Excuse me, I have to take this.”

Steve moved to a more private area as he answered Nat’s call and sighed as he hung up. He went through the house until he found Sam and Bucky out in the backyard.

“There’s an emergency, we have to go.” He announced grimly. “Buck, why don’t you stay? We’ll call you for backup if we need to.”

Bucky looked at Steve then at his son and some of the other people he had been talking with moments ago. If something bad was happening he had to go. He had to make sure to keep them safe however he could. So Bucky shook his head. “I’m going with you. I’ll be back before you know it, kid.” He told James with a wry smile.

James accompanied them to the front door where he exchanged a hug with Bucky. “Please come back safe.”

The request was a punch to the gut. You’d said those exact same words on the platform just before he got on the train.

“I’ll do what I can.” He knew better than to make a promise he couldn’t keep.

Days later Steve would come back and tell James that Bucky had disappeared in the snap.

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

Bucky stood in front of the same door he had five and a half years ago. He felt the same kind of fear he did last time. The door was opened this time by Rebecca who, upon seeing Bucky standing at the door, launched herself into his arms and cried. She pulled him into the living room and sat down on the couch.

“I’m so glad you’re back.” She said with a sad smile. It only served to make Bucky’s heart stop.

“Rebecca, where's James?”

Tears started to run down her cheeks again.

“He passed away two years ago. I’m so sorry.”

Bucky’s chest tightened. He’d never been there for his son in the moments that mattered and now his son had been taken away from him. He didn’t realize he’d started crying until Rebecca pulled him into her chest. Her arms around him and he sobbed. He grieved for his son, his wife and the life he’d lost.

“I thought Steve would have told you. He was with pa when he passed.”

“No, the minute I was able to come out here I did. We didn’t even get a chance to talk.”

After what felt like hours of them just sitting there and talking, Bucky excuses himself. He needed to get back before Steve went on his final mission.

~~~~~~~~~~

“Don’t do anything stupid until I get back.” Steve quipped.

“How can I? You’re taking all the stupid with you.” Bucky and Steve hugged. “I’ll miss ya buddy. If you see her tell her I’ll always love her.” Bucky whispered.

Steve nodded and patted Bucky on his shoulder before heading to the platform.

Bucky held his breath as Steve disappeared. It should have taken only seconds based on what Bruce had said but Bucky knew he wasn’t coming back. Sam and Bruce began to argue but Bucky just turned around and started to walk away.

Bucky found it odd that Sam and Bruce went completely quiet and his steps faltered. He turned to find Steve standing on the platform and headed back.

“Tell her yourself.” Steve said with a shit eating grin as he stepped to the side.

Bucky had barely processed that Steve was back or what he had said when his eyes landed on you. You stood there wide eyed as you looked at him and then you moved. Before he could even react your arms were around his shoulders and your face was buried in the crook of his neck. Bucky snapped out of it and wrapped his arms around your waist.

“Hi.” You said once you pulled back, letting out a teary laugh. Your hands cupped his cheeks. “You have no idea how much I’ve missed you.”

“I’m pretty sure I do because I’ve missed you just as much.”

For the first time in years Bucky kisses you. It’s slow and timid but perfect nonetheless. He rested his forehead against yours and breathed a sigh of relief at having you in his arms again.

“My love, there’s something I have to tell you.” You inform him.

“If it’s about James I already know.”

“How?”

“I met him. He was a full grown adult but I spent some time with him.” Bucky tells you.

“I hope you’re ready to spend more time with him.” You say as you turn to find Steve holding on to a five year old version of your son.

“Hi daddy.” James waved excitedly and Steve set him on the ground. He takes off running and jumps into Bucky’s arms, giggling at the feeling of Bucky’s scruff tickling his cheek.

“Hi kid.”

You stand back to watch father and son interact for the first time. Your heart feels like it’s going to burst at the sight. Steve stands next to you and wraps an arm around your shoulder to pull you in. You cry in his embrace, this time the tears are from happiness.

“Thank you so much Steve. I never thought I’d see him again.”

“The moment I knew we could travel through time, I knew I’d go back to get you. If anyone deserves to be happy it’s both of you.” He smiles down at you.

“What about you? You deserve happiness too.”

“And I have it.” Steve said just as the platform activated again and someone stood in the middle. The suit came off to reveal a very pretty redhead. “That’s Nat, she’s my girl.”

She walks down the steps and stands beside Steve as you pull away. Steve officially introduces you both before you move toward Bucky and James.

“I have heard so much about you it’s good to finally meet you, I’m Sam.” He said as he stretched his hand out for you to shake.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” You smile at him and then look up at Bucky. “Who is that?”

“That Bruce, he works with us.”

“Why is he green?” You whisper.

“We will explain as much as we can. Why don’t we go home?”

“Where is home?”

“I have a place in Brooklyn. You’ll stay with me while you get settled.” Steve spoke up.

“Is that ok with you?”

“Anywhere you are is ok with me.”

~~~~~~~~~~~

The red door didn’t feel as intimidating this time around. Bucky explained everything that had happened to you. From his time at hydra to being saved by Steve to the family you still had. The door opens and Rebecca’s face immediately lights up when she sees it’s Bucky.

“Hey gramps, how have you-“ the words die on her tongue when she sees you standing just behind Bucky. “Grandma?”

“So I’ve been told.” Your eyes soften as you see the tears in her eyes. When she steps out and cups your face you let her. She stares in disbelief for a moment and then you bring her in for a hug.

“How is this possible? I mean you’re so young again.”

“I’ll explain anything you want to know.”

“Let me have George come over first.”

****

“That’s amazing.” Rebecca said after Bucky explained everything. “You should keep the house.”

“What?”

“You should keep this house. Dad wanted it to stay in the family but we don’t need it. But you do, especially if you want to raise him somewhere safe and away from the Avenger business.”

“George we couldn’t do that, this was your father’s house.” You said although it felt a bit weird.

“But he was your son first. Dad loved taking care of you. If he were here now he’d offer you this home. It would just sit empty until someone finally decided to sell it. Let him take care of you one last time, please.” Rebecca adds.

You and Bucky looked at each other before he spoke up. “Ok, we’ll take it.”

“Wonderful. We’ll clean it out for you and you can keep whatever furniture you’d like. You can change whatever you want in it. And if you need anything all you have to do is let us know.”

You all stood and headed to the main door and exchanged hugs.

“You have no idea how great it is to see both of you together. You deserve to be happy.” Rebecca said.

“Even though you’re technically younger than us, you’re still our grandparents and we’ll be here for you for whatever you need.” George added.

“Thank you. It’s very kind of you to help us like this.”

“It’s the least we could do, you are, or rather were, the best grandmother a kid could have asked for.”

You hug Georgie again and then Rebecca.

“I can still be that if you’d like. We can have Sunday dinners together. How about that?”

“Just like the good old days.” Rebecca said. “We’d love to.”

“Once we’ve settled in then, I’ll call you and let you know so the whole family can come over.” You inform them.

“It’ll be good. Steve has been asking about seeing you guys again.”

“So it’s settled. We’ll see you soon.”

~~~~~~~~~~

A year and a half later.

Most of the nieces and nephews and great grandkids had all left already. James was asleep in his room. The only ones left were Georgie, Rebecca, Sam, Steve and Nat. You all sat at the dinner table still trading stories. Bucky takes your hand and intertwines his fingers with yours. You look over at him and give him a little nod and a smile which he returns.

“There’s something we’d like to tell you.” You say, getting everyone’s attention. “I’m pregnant.”

Everyone stares at you for a moment before they start congratulating you and Bucky. Sam and Steve take money out of their wallet and hand it over to Nat who is smiling smugly at them.

“What’s that about?” You ask her.

“I told them that you were acting differently. I said you were pregnant, they didn’t believe me so we bet on it.”

You laugh as you turn back to the others. Sam and Steve came up to hug you and promise to be the best uncles, but you knew that already with how they treated James. Next were Rebecca and Georgie who also promised to be there for you however they could.

****

You were exhausted by the time you laid down in bed. Bucky walked in a few minutes later after checking to make sure all the doors and windows were locked and the alarm was set on.

The bed dips behind you as Bucky lays down and immediately pulls you into his chest. His hands immediately rest on top of your very small baby bump and he kisses your shoulder.

“Today was good.” He murmurs.

“You say that every night.” He can hear the smile in your voice.

“Any day I get to hold you like this is a good day.”

“I love you Honey.”

“I love you sweetheart. And I love this little bean too.” He says as he smooths a hand over your belly.

“Little bean?”

“Yeah, we don’t know if it’s going to be a boy or a girl yet.”

“I think it’s going to be a boy.” You say confidently.

“Nope. It’s going to be a girl, I just know it.”

“You would be good with a little girl.”

“Can I ask you something, sweetheart?”

“Anything you know that.”

“Why didn’t you ever tell me you were pregnant? You sent all those letters but you never mentioned it.”

This time you turn so that you’re fully facing him. You can tell it’s been weighing on him, the not knowing.

“It’s going to sound stupid. I didn’t tell you because I was afraid that if you knew I was pregnant you wouldn’t be thinking clearly out there. I don’t know, maybe you’d be afraid of getting hurt and would make a mistake and then you’d never come home. Now with everything I know I feel guilty that you never knew about him back then.”

“Don’t, I probably would have been distracted. I mean even back then all I wanted was to get back home to you. That was my only reason to fight as hard as I did. I think I would have been more afraid to fight if I knew about James. It could have been worse, I could have actually died. But I’m home now, we’re together and that’s all that matters.”

“It only took about eighty years.” You smile before pulling Bucky down for a kiss.

This new life you had was strange. You didn’t really belong in the current time you were in but you did belong with Bucky. The city was different, the only people you knew were your family and the Avengers. There was no one left from your previous life but you’d trade all of those things at a chance to be with Bucky.

Because Bucky had always been it for you. Whether it was in the 40s or eighty years later.

Permanent taglist

@rebekahdawkins

@cjand10

@nalny5

@Sturchling

@angywritesstuff

@seitmai

@writing-for-marvel

@goldylions

@darkhairedmenrule

@almosttoopizza

@littleseasiren

@pono-pura-vida

@talesofadragon

[ma1dmer]

Crescent City - Ithan Holstrom NSFW

this is kind of old ,I am now wiser and actually want to top this man

A = Aftercare (What they’re like after sex): very very attentive, will ask you what you need, carry you to the bathroom to wash up even if you are literally fine, bring you water everything you need he'll prepare it

B = Body part (Their favourite body part of theirs and also their partner’s): i am a firm believer that he is an ass guy, he would never say it out loud ,but his eyes always travel down your body when you walk away from him

C = Cum (Anything to do with cum basically… I’m a disgusting person): he is a wolf shifter, some interest in breeding comes with the territory, he is still very stressed about kids and bringing one into the world, he is too young for that but he can't deny himself the appeal of watching him cum leak out of you when he pulls out

D = Dirty Secret (Pretty self explanatory, a dirty secret of theirs): its something he doesn't think he'd have the nerve to go through, because he is relatively possessive ,but he has thought of the possibility of a threesome with certain people, it gets him as angry and embarrassed as it gets him horny, he’d be hurt at first if you ever suggested it, but eventually his own curiosity would have him saying yes, it’d need to be someone you both know and are comfortable with though and he’d spend most of the time trying to prove himself to you, but eventually he’d relax and simply enjoy the experience

E = Experience (How experienced are they? Do they know what they’re doing?): very little experience, just didn't have enough time , with all that was going on in his life, plus the fact he is more of a relationship guy, rather than a one night stand guy

F = Favourite Position (This goes without saying. Will probably include a visual): the basics, they work just fine for him, he does also like reverse cowgirl 

G = Goofy (Are they more serious in the moment, or are they humorous, etc): he tends to get lost in his head a lot, so he is more serious, very focused on bringing you pleasure,  but he does love when you laugh during sex, it pulls him out of his head and into the moment ,watching you be this comfortable with him is enough to make his knees buckle

H = Hair (How well groomed are they, does the carpet match the drapes, etc.): tried to shave the first few times he knew he was going to see you, couldn't handle the itchiness and now just tries to keep things tame by trimming

I = Intimacy (How are they during the moment, romantic aspect…): he tries to do romance, but it doesn’t come naturally, he is very sweet, but his idea of romance is googling how to be romantic and doing everything a top 10 list says, its cute, but wine and roses just aren’t so much his thing

J = Jack Off (Masturbation headcanon): the amount of times he has jacked off to the thought of you is embarrassing , he wants to seem mature and responsible and not scare you off ,so he hates how much you affect him ,how everything, from your perfume ,to the clothes you wear ,to simply the idea of a date with you later during the day will get him excited, totally the type of keep a shirt of yours or something to hold onto while he strokes himself

K = Kink (One or more of their kinks): more on the vanilla side

L = Location (Favourite places to do the do): he needs his privacy, locks and double locks every door in his or your room

M = Motivation (What turns them on, gets them going): just about anything, accidentally catching a glimpse of your ass in some pants he likes, whispering in his ear seductively, wearing a perfume he likes ,he just can't help himself, his body is always ready for you 

N = NO (Something they wouldn’t do, turn offs): hurting you, he can't bring himself to actually hurt you, physically or verbally, even if you ask him for it, he just can't do it

O = Oral (Preference in giving or receiving, skill, etc): loves 69ing, isn't really good at it because he gets distracted with your mouth on him but gods ,the view and feel of your thighs around his head as well as the feeling of your mouth on him, its so overwhelming in the best way, give him some time to find his pace and he gets really good

P = Pace (Are they fast and rough? Slow and sensual? etc.): Fast and rough, he tries to hold himself back and its always a battle between letting himself go entirely and trying not to hurt you

Q = Quickie (Their opinions on quickies rather than proper sex, how often, etc.): he will never say no ,but honestly it just doesn't work for him, he needs the time after sex to cool down with you in his arms, he needs to take his time with you and enjoy your presence, also it just makes him want you more, you can't just pull him in the middle of the day to quickly try something and then go about your day expecting him to not be distracted

R = Risk (Are they game to experiment, do they take risks, etc.): he is kind of on the vanilla side , he sticks to whatever works right now, but with some good communication and a bit of , lets say, motivation he is game with trying out a lot of things

S = Stamina (How many rounds can they go for, how long do they last…): both as an ex athlete and a wolf, lets just say, his stamina is over the moon ,haha get it

T = Toy (Do they own toys? Do they use them? On a partner or themselves?): he would be a bit weird about it at first ,kind of getting it in his head that he isn't doing a good enough job thats why you need them, but the more he thinks about it, you in your room possibly thinking of him, using a toy on yourself, legs spread open ,biting your lip as you make those sweet sounds he loves, he warms up to them, might eventually get the guts to ask you to show him exactly how you use them

U = Unfair (how much they like to tease): not a tease this man can NOT deny you, if you said crawl he would without a second thought

V = Volume (How loud they are, what sounds they make): he tries to muffle himself but it doesn't really work, he groans and curses and swears against you, he really isn’t aware how loud he can get

W = Wild Card (Get a random headcanon for the character of your choice): big on phone sex, sexting or calling him in the middle of the night so he can listen to you get off, he could be dead asleep when you ring him, his voice still groggy and gruff from when he woke up, but the second you imply what you are doing he is scrambling to lock his bedroom door and get himself comfortable

X = X-Ray (Let’s see what’s going on in those pants, picture or words): a grower for sure, its very smooth and on the thicker side

Y = Yearning (How high is their sex drive?): Very very high, especially in the earlier stages of your situationship/relationship whatever you want to call it, he thought he was going insane with how much he was thinking of you, how much he wanted and needed you, it hasn't gotten any better but he is used to it now

Z = ZZZ (… how quickly they fall asleep afterwards): he sleeps like a dad, he is too young to be snoring that loudly, but when he is comfortable all wrapped up with you next to him ,its almost endearing, he also likes being a little spoon even if he'd be embarrassed to admit so

[maokomi]

ᥫ᭡ Reblogs are greatly appreciated !!

.ೃ࿔*:･ 「𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐬.」 gn reader, sweetheart boyfriend Childe, modern AU, gooey lovey-dovey feelings, established relationship

Inspired by, of all things, a hypothetical situation presented by my Philosophy professor. So thanks, sir Louise. 

You step out of the airport terminal, gaze fixed on your phone. Around you, people bustle past you and your luggage like a river around a stone. Some grumble and give you stink eyes for being too slow, but you pay them no mind, one string away from snapping.

“Damn it,” you grumble, fiddling with your phone and the taxi-booking app you’ve got open. There’s urgency and annoyance behind the force in which you jam your fingers against the screen, scowling down at the ‘Fully Booked! Please wait a moment’ that’s been flashing across your screen in garish red letters for the past five minutes. 

It’s too fucking early for this— the sun is barely over the horizon, and you can practically hear the entire community waking up with a groggy yawn. You’re tired from the flight, hungry, jet lagged and frankly you just want to meet your boyfriend at home and take a long, long nap and waste the morning away. But apparently the rest of these sleep-deprived travelers also have a similar goal— and they’ve even beaten you to the commute, too.

You don’t give up for another few minutes, frantically refreshing the app in hopes that your luck will turn around, but no dice. With a defeated sigh, you jam the phone back into your pocket, a hand reaching to your temple to soothe the incoming headache. All it takes is a few seconds for you to resign yourself to your fate of having to take the overcrowded bus back home. Hopefully the archons smile down on you and you get to sit beside someone decent. Not someone overly interested in getting your number. Or a person who spends the entire ride back on their phone, obnoxiously yelling into their device. You shudder. With the way your morning is going, it’d be just your luck that that’s exactly who you end up beside.

Not for the first time, you let yourself think about calling Childe to pick you up, but you quickly chase the thought away. 

It’s tempting. So, so tempting. 

He’s probably in bed right now, warm under the covers. He’d probably recognize your specific ringtone, would pick up in a heartbeat even if he’s half asleep. And you already know that he’d half-heartedly whine about it being so early in the morning, even if you both know that he’s already pulling on some going-out clothes and looking for his car keys.

Childe would drop everything and anything if you ask, which is exactly why you don’t want him picking you up. Because, if your past calls are anything to go by, he’s been having a rather rough week himself, and you’d rather brave a packed bus and motion sickness than willingly pull him away from some well deserved rest.

Thoughts of your boyfriend, happily enjoying his day off steel your resolve, and with a resolute nod to your head, you begin to turn to the airport bus stop.

Then a whistle cuts through the air and —like some fucking drama— it’s as if the crowd parts and Childe, all bed-headed and grinning, is leisurely jogging up to you.

All you can do at first is stare at him in surprise because what the fuck you must be more tired than you thought,  you’re actually full-on hallucinating now. 

But Childe easily comes over, one hand immediately going for the handle of your luggage, the other wrapping around your middle. He pulls you into a one-armed hug, pressing a soft, fond kiss to your forehead and wow there is no way this is a hallucination.

“Hey sweetheart.” Childe grins at you when you pull away to look at him, almost looking amused at how bewildered you are.

And you, ever so jet lagged and exhausted, can only managed to say: “You… you’re here. Uh. Hi.”

“Hey.” You can practically hear the grin in his voice. For good measure, he plants a kiss on your nose. “What, you really thought I wouldn’t be able to come pick you up? Didn’t know you think so little of me, babe.”

You splutter, not even able to form proper words aside from the occasional ‘Wh—‘ that you manage to get out.

“Your google account is still logged in on my phone,” Childe says to your unverbalized question. He shrugs apologetically as begins gently leading you in the direction he came, a hand guiding you at the small of your back. “Didn’t mean to snoop, I swear, but when the email with your flight details came in I saw the time and had a feeling you were planning to hoof it without telling anyone. Which, by the way—“

He pinches your side. Not enough to hurt, but you yelp at the surprise of it.  

“—not super smart when you have a very willing boyfriend with a car ready to pick you up at the drop of a hat.”

You sigh, jabbing him back with an elbow, but all he does is grin wider. “You said you were tired! I didn’t wanna drag you out of bed or anything.”

“Well then consider me very willingly leaving the bed of my own volition, then.”

You roll your eyes, about to voice another argument that is more just for petty, affectionate bickering than actual argument, when Childe pauses and pulls you close, silencing you with a kiss to the crown of your head. You can feel the fond grin he wears.

“Missed you, sweetheart. Let’s get you home, then we can both go back to bed, okay?”

[ohanny]

pitbabetober whump edition

day 3

SET UP FOR FAILURE

FINGERPRINTS I WRONGFULLY ARRESTED

“I WARNED YOU”

kenta / kim. pg13. 818 words.

during his captivity, kenta visits kim exactly once.

by then kim’s lost the track of time. he’s huddled in a corner like a kicked dog and very much feels like one with the way his entire body is one big, throbbing bruise. he doesn’t even know if it's day or night when kenta finally slinks in. the older man closes the door quietly and pauses, arms folded awkwardly in front of himself.        

“i’m –"

“i don’t want to hear it.”

kim is shocked to hear how raspy his voice is but guess that’s what stubbornly refusing to say a word and choking down your screams while getting beaten up by thugs does to your vocal chords. it also hasn’t put him in a particularly forgiving mood. he has half the mind to drag himself upright and try something stupid but it’d be a waste of time and energy. he knows he won't be allowed to leave and while kenta would probably let him get in a punch or two, he's way too weak to make it count. instead he tilts his head back and settles on a withering glare.                      

“i warned you,” kenta tells him. “i told you to back off.”

kim scoffs. sure, kenta had shut him down every time he asked questions - why me? what’s tony’s deal with the x-hunters? is babe being targeted? how did you get that bruise? - but there's a big difference between a more or less gentle “mind your own business” and a “hey, honey, i am involved in human trafficking and black-market organ trade, you're gonna get yourself killed.”

not that it would've made much of a difference. kim can admit he is really fucking stupid when it comes to certain things. he would've gone at it differently, though, with plenty of backup. and less feelings caught during secret midnight dates. probably. even now he can't quite bring himself to regret those nights.

“i tried to keep you safe,” the older man pleads.

 “and did you ever stop to consider i might have been trying to do the same? that i wanted to get you out?” kim hisses, finally looking kenta in the eye. “i saw all the scars. i knew you were in some kind of trouble and figured it must be your father pulling the strings.” he laughs humorlessly. “but instead you were right up there with him, weren’t you? giving the orders.”

kenta flinches but hurting him back isn’t as satisfying as kim would have thought. he knows the older man isn’t a monster because a monster wouldn’t be on the verge of tears right now. but kenta isn’t a very good person. he’s a spineless coward who was beaten into submission a long time ago and if violently kidnapping his lover to drag him to the wolves didn’t snap kenta out of it, kim isn’t sure anything ever will.

“i’ll get you out,” kenta tells him quietly. “i promise, kim. i won't let you die here.” 

he sounds like he actually believes it but for kim it rings hollow. he looks down and stares at his bruised hands. he busted his knuckles during the fight in his hotel room and henchman #1 broke two of his fingers when he made a go for the man’s gun in the elevator. his eyes travel down to his knee that is visibly swollen and certainly fucked up. he’s no expert but he's pretty sure if he doesn’t receive medical attention soon, the damage will be permanent, in which case he'd have to kiss his career as a top racer goodbye. kenta keeping him alive doesn’t really matter if he doesn’t have a life to return to. 

that zaps the fight out of kim. he lets his body tilt all the way to the right until he's laying on the floor, back to the wall, all curled up to keep himself warm and protected. it's exhausting, being this angry all the time. he figures he's allowed to take a small break to wallow in self-pity now so that he can keep fighting the good fight tomorrow. or later today. fuck, he really wishes he had a window.    

“please leave,” he whispers and closes his eyes.

kenta calls his name for the last time. it comes out so soft, like a prayer, and kim's mind flashes to kenta that night they first fell into bed together – wide-eyed and shy, inexperienced but oh so desperate to please. but that memory is tainted now by kenta standing his ground next to tony. he made his choice. he didn’t even blink when he handed over the knife that could easily have ended kim's life right then and there. he bites his lip and says nothing as kenta finally walks away.

the door to his cell closes and kim is left alone. he should be relieved but somehow it hurts more than all his injuries combined.                

[silverzoomies]

It's not really a question, but an idea popped into my head, I watched Days of Future Past recently, imagine a student from the future, for some reason (a power I don't know) manages to go back in time and become best friends with her favorite teacher when he was younger (Peter obviously!) I don't know if anything can come out of this, but in my head the idea was brilliant lol 😝

I’ve been meaning to respond to this ask !! I thought it was absolutely delightful !!

Days of Future Past is so cozy to me. There’s just something about the way the time period is presented - with all those lovable characters - that makes it feel so genuine and fun. I’m a goofball with a childlike imagination. Nothing is more comforting to me than imagining being there tbh. As silly as it sounds.

This concept absolutely warms my heart, since it fulfills that silly dream.

Anyway, I have some thoughts under the cut !!

Peter Maximoff headcanons - Student reader goes back in time and meets their favorite, speedster teacher in his teen years!

We know Peter eventually becomes a teacher in canon. I’m not really sure what he teaches, since they never really clarified. But there’s no doubt in my mind he’d be great at his job.

Mr. Maximoff is definitely a more laid back kinda teacher

I do imagine he’s the type to playfully mess with any students who act out of line. I’ve had teachers like that before in the past. The ones who take no shit and lightheartedly tease students. That’s absolutely on brand for Peter

I also get the vibe he’d be so “how do you do fellow kids” about everything

And the students would think he’s cool anyway. I mean, he’s fast. He loves cool music - and probably some really cool movies/shows/games too!

I imagine he’d deck out his classroom/office in all kinds of pop culture memorabilia. Very similar to the way he decorated his basement back when he lived at his mom's

Reader as a mutant student would be no different than the other kids. Y’all know you’d think he was the coolest teacher there ever was. Some of you might even look up to him! And maybe also develop a harmless crush. He is handsome, after all.

Imagine your surprise - after you’ve gone back in time for mission with some of the X-Men. It’s part of your training. You never thought you’d get the chance to time travel, of all things. Or, if we're following DoFP canon; maybe you went back in time with Logan? You're one of the last surviving mutants, and your mutation is useful somehow. It could go either way!

But Mr. Maximoff is there in the past. Only, he’s seventeen, acting on impulse, and being a playful nuisance.

He thinks you’re weird as hell. You totally bizarre, future kid. But you’re also pretty alright...since you think he's so cool 'n all. Most people just think he's a freak. And hey, you're a mutant like him! He doesn't know a lot of mutants yet!

And how the heck are you from the future - but you somehow know all the bands he likes, the movies he’s into, the shows he watches, even the games he plays??

Spoiler alert - it’s because Mr. Maximoff has a tendency to show off all his favorite things in class. Dude can’t go a single day without referencing Galaga, or Star Wars, or David Bowie, or whatever else

If you’re allowed to disclose any info about the future, you’ll probably tell him he gets a teaching job. Not only that, but the kids all love him

To which he responds with a - tsh, yeah. Right.

Why would he ever become a teacher?? He hates school! He can’t ever focus in class! His grades are the worst, and he bombs every test! C’mon…no way! What’re you tryin’ to pull his leg???

Y-You’re pulling his leg, right?

It’d be dope if you got the chance to hang out with him for a little bit. You could follow him around while he got into his usual, kleptomaniac shenanigans

Y’all would definitely cause enough trouble to get the cops called on you

Actually, when you find out the local cops know his name by heart - you can't help but do a double take

Mr. Maximoff? The coolest teacher in Westchester? The dude who’s always doggin’ on students for running in the halls? He used to be a lawless rulebreaker? Holy shit!! You almost couldn't wait to return to the future, just to poke fun at him for bein' such a troublemaker in his youth

Honestly, there’s a lot of really fun ideas one could pull from this, anon. I can’t even do it justice. I’d love if anyone else wanted to add their take. My brain has been so broken lately. But thank you for your ask!! I love you dearly!!

[wild-karrde]

In Command - Part 15

Master List | Previous Part | Next Part

A/N: As always, thank you to the wonderful @teletraan-meets-jarvis for beta-reading for me! You are TRULY THE BEST TJ!!

Chapter Rating: T

Warnings: canon-typical violence, graphic description of injury, language

Word Count: 6.2k words

The night breeze gently whispered in through the curtains in Senna’s office, seemingly peaceful despite the quiet chaos erupting inside. 

Senna had changed into clothes meant for travel and was currently working on backing up all of the data they’d gathered, transferring files from her holocomputer onto her datapad while simultaneously breaking down any and all hardware that she could. It had shattered her heart to disassemble the comm node she’d spent so much time on for the conference, but they were operating under the assumption that their dwelling would be searched, and the comm node would only serve as a clue as to what they’d been doing on Lothal. 

Exhaustion was starting to weigh her down, but the memory of Fisk’s triumphant smirk haunted her, driving her forward. 

He can’t win. I can’t let him. 

She was also still fuming at Rex. He’d been certain that waiting for leadership to send a pick-up was the correct move, seemingly fearful that if they ran, it’d confirm Fisk’s suspicions and give him a reason to pursue them. But every second that ticked by seemed to wind Senna more tightly. Between every breath, she could feel herself bracing for a detonator to go off outside or for a squad of stormtroopers to kick in the door. It felt as though she was in a trash compactor, and the walls were steadily closing in around them. 

In order to settle her mind, she started inventorying her go-bag yet again. The first week they were on Lothal, Rex had walked her through what to pack in it, just in case they ever needed to make a hasty escape. Back then, they’d still somewhat been at odds. He’d been annoyed, thinking she wasn’t taking it seriously enough. In reality, she had thought he was being a bit paranoid this early on in their posting, but more than anything, she was teasing him for sport. A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth as she tucked her favorite spanner wrench into the side of the bag. 

“You’re packing too many tools. A go-bag should only be essentials.” 

“A good wrench is essential, Captain. Do you have any idea how hard it is to find one that feels right in your hand? Plus this one has an extra joint that allows me to manipulate it in tight spaces and–”

“Fine. You can keep the spanner wrench. But then you can’t take your welder.” 

“I’m taking the welder. And you’re more than welcome to try and stop me. But in my experience, they can also be used as weapons. So, you know, at your own risk.” 

She could still hear Rex’s frustrated sigh echoing in that moment, and something in her chest clenched. 

Things were so different then.

Her fingers absently traced the patch over her blaster wound on her abdomen again. She wasn’t certain if it was because Fisk had pressed into it or just the knowledge that it was what had given them away, but it had been throbbing steadily ever since they’d returned home, reminding her it was there. It made concentrating on anything for too long difficult. 

Satisfied that she was as prepared as she could be, her eyes roamed over the room one more time. It looked closer to the way it had been prior to Empire Day, with parts and random hardware covering nearly every inch of the floor aside from a narrow trail she’d left clear to and from the door. Despite the night being unseasonably cool, she could feel sweat trickling down her back in between her shoulder blades, leaving an uncomfortably damp spot on the back of her shirt. She could hear Rex shuffling around downstairs, occasionally banging something closed or swearing under his breath. 

He’s just as nervous as I am. Even if he’s trying to pretend he’s not.

Flexing her fingers, Senna glanced over at the holocomputer’s display. It still had a few more minutes before the back-up was complete. She searched her mental checklist for anything else she could possibly do while she waited, anything to distract her from her fraying nerves. She’d been so busy worrying about everything else, she hadn’t had much time to even dwell on the fact that each second that ticked away was depleting the amount of time she had left with Rex. Senna violently shook her head. 

You can worry about that after you both get out of here alive and without being captured. 

She sighed forcefully, trying to dispel the sudden tightness in her chest.

There’ll be time to grieve what you lost later. 

Burying her face in her hands, Senna unleashed a shuddering breath. 

Nothing to do but wait. 

It had been a long time since she’d attempted to meditate, but as she continued to struggle to calm her mind, she tipped her head back and stared at the ceiling. 

It’s what Master Ti would recommend, even though she knew I hated it. 

That thought made the corner of her lips quirk slightly. She’d complained about meditation so much as a padawan, but her master had been patient. 

“I can hear you thinking, Senna.” 

She popped an eye open to sneak a glance at her master. The Togruta’s eyes were still closed, but her mouth was turned upwards in a knowing smile. Even sitting on the floor next to her padawan, Shaak Ti had an inexplicable grace about her, an elegance even in her simple Jedi robes that intimidated Senna and left her in awe. 

“What are you designing this time?” Shaak Ti asked.

“Not designing. Optimizing,” Senna mumbled.

Her master chuckled. “Do you think it will not still be there when we’re done?”

“No, but I’ll maybe have a solution then, so I can fix it right away.” 

Shaak Ti’s sharp, bright eyes had opened then, gazing at her padawan. “Meditation is meant to be when you commune with the Force, Senna. It’s when you connect to the living things around you.” 

Senna rubbed her face in frustration. “But to me, a ship is a living thing. So is all tech, droids especially. Things that come to life in the palm of my hand. All it takes is power. The electrical kind,” she clarified. 

Her master’s smile didn’t falter as she studied her padawan. “That may be, but the way you commune with those living things is very different from how we connect with the Force. Isn’t it?” 

The young padawan considered it for a moment before nodding slowly. “I guess that’s true.” 

“And would you also agree it’s important to connect with both forms of life if you wish to be a Jedi?”

Senna shrugged her shoulders. “I’m not as good at the other connections. With people.”

“I don’t think that’s true. You’re quite skilled at tapping into a living being’s mental state. Your gift first manifested as an extreme empathy, is that not so?”

“It is,” the young girl conceded. “But people are hard. Even if I can feel how they feel, I still don’t always understand them. I don’t always do the right things or respond the right way.” She picked at a fingernail. “Machines and tech make more sense.” 

Master Ti nodded. “You do excel with tech. There is no question of that. But while all of us excel at different things, does that mean that we should back away from the things that challenge us?” 

Senna huffed a sigh. “I guess not.” 

The Togruta Jedi master smiled. “And since when have you ever backed down from a challenge?” 

The padawan met her master’s gaze and returned her smile. 

Shaak Ti’s eyes crinkled as her smile deepened. 

“Now, let’s try again.” 

Back on Lothal, Senna hugged her arms around herself as she basked in the memory. She missed her master. Most former padawans were still able to access their masters throughout their life, seeking additional guidance or advice when it was needed. But that was a privilege Senna and every other Jedi had been robbed of with Order 66. She would never walk with her master in the temple gardens again, would never share a cup of tea with her. 

But what better way to honor her than to use what she was able to teach me? 

Senna reached for the carved wooden box on her desk, exhaling slowly as her fingers traced the patterns on the outside. 

It’s time. 

Before she could overthink it, she undid the latch, flipping the lid open. Her breath caught in her throat at the sight of her lightsaber. The memories of Kashyyyk felt as though they were looming, but she squeezed her eyes shut, banishing them to the back of her mind. 

No more. Not tonight. 

Her hand was trembling as she reached for the familiar hilt, and she clenched her fist to steady herself, exhaling sharply through her nose. 

Not tonight.

Her fingers wrapped around the lightsaber, and she lifted it out of the box. The weight felt right in her palm, as if she’d been born to hold this weapon. In a sense, she supposed that was true. Her finger found the switch, and she clicked it on. The blade fizzled to life, casting the entire room in a sheen of light blue. The hum was so familiar and comforting, it almost made Senna cry. She released a breath she hadn't realized she’d been holding as she rotated her wrist, slowly moving the blade in a slow curve. Already, she could feel the warmth of the Force reaching out towards her tentatively, tendrils hoping to embrace her if she’d only allow them to. Closing her eyes, she reached back. 

It still didn’t come easily. The static feeling was still present, and she furrowed her brows in concentration, reaching harder. 

Something’s still holding you back.

Senna powered down the blade, huffing in frustration. She blew a wisp of hair out of her eyes, staring down at the hilt in her hand. In the back of her mind, she could almost hear her master’s warm chuckle once more. She laughed softly to herself. 

Maybe it’s time to give some meditation a try. If nothing else, to amuse my master, wherever she is now. 

Clearing a space on the floor, she sat cross-legged and placed her lightsaber on the floor in front of her, closing her eyes and trying to calm her racing mind. Gradually, she slowed her breathing and reached out once more, searching for the last remnants of the wall she’d placed between herself and the Force to see if she could disassemble it. It had been arduous to put in place a year ago, but necessary. Now, she tried not to grow impatient and frustrated as she reached out blindly. 

It’s not a screw to be loosened or a panel to be removed. It’s not that simple. It wasn’t supposed to be. 

The Force surrounded her, but it felt as though every time she reached towards it, it danced just out of reach. 

What do you fear? 

The question popped into her mind unbidden, in her own voice. Her eyes snapped open. 

“Is it fear?” she asked herself softly.

Nothing in the room stirred. 

What is there to fear? 

It wasn’t hard to come up with a fairly extensive list with minimal thought. 

Not being able to connect anymore. Not in the way I did before. It opens me up to danger. It endangers Rex. 

There it is. 

Senna huffed, rubbing her hands over her face.  

But once we leave Lothal, you won’t have Rex. You’ll just have yourself. 

And that will have to be enough. 

She was tired of running from her past, tired of mourning a life she’d lost. 

It’s time. 

Closing her eyes again, Senna reached out once more. 

Let go.

She felt the life around her, the plants, Rex continuing to move about downstairs…

Wait.

And at least two dozen beings outside of the dwelling, heartbeats accelerating with every passing second. 

 No. 

She gasped and her eyes snapped open. Steadying her breathing, she reached out through the Force again. 

Kriff. 

Senna scrambled from her sitting position, creeping to the window and peeling back a sliver of curtain. Both of the Lothal moons were high in the sky, illuminating the street below. She scanned the courtyard and saw nothing out of place, but when her eyes landed beyond the outer wall of the compound, she caught the unmistakable glint of stormtrooper helmets, crouching just behind the wall, pulses hammering under plastoid. 

It’s only been a few hours. We should have had more time. 

She ducked back against the wall, carefully closing the window and allowing the curtain to fall back into place. Anger and frustration surged through her as she ground the heels of her palms into her eyes. 

Think. 

A soft chime caught her attention, and she saw that the back-up had finished on the computer. 

You’ve got to move. 

She disconnected her datapad with shaking hands before scrambling to snatch her commlink off of the desk. 

“Rex, you there?” she whispered frantically. 

“What is it?” Even through the commlink, his voice was tight. She couldn’t tell if it was annoyance or stress or something else, but right now, she didn’t have time to examine it.

Senna held the commlink to her lips as she tried to shove the datapad into her go-bag with one hand. 

“Keep your voice down. Imps are outside. We’ve got to go now.”

She could practically feel the shift in his voice, the captain re-emerging to command the situation. 

“How many?”

The datapad slipped from her grasp and clattered to the floor. She swore under her breath before finally managing to shove it into the main pocket of the bag, zipping it closed. 

“Roughly a dozen waiting just outside the perimeter wall. I’m not sure what they’re waiting on, but they’re going to be coming any second. Fisk must have more pull than we thought. I’m done backing up and breaking down except for the computer, but we’ve got to go.”

“You got your blaster up there with you?” he asked. 

She grabbed the weapon off of the floor where she’d kicked it earlier, slipping it into a holster on her hip before she swiped her lightsaber up and clipped it to her belt. 

Only as a last resort.

“I’m armed. Just need to grab my jacket and I’m good.” 

“Alright. Don’t forget to take the detonator when you go.”

They had rigged the house to blow in case they needed a diversion, and it had the added bonus of destroying the holocomputer Senna hadn’t had time to disassemble. It was intended to be another last resort, only drawing that much attention if there were no other options, but tonight, it felt as if any alternatives were quickly disappearing, and they’d need any advantage to get out unscathed. Senna strode over to the holocomputer, punching in a full-system wipe command. She knew she wouldn’t have time to wait and see if it completed.

Her comm crackled to life in her hand again as she carefully removed the detonator from its hiding place in her desk drawer and slipped it into her pocket. “I don’t know if they’ve got us surrounded all the way, but they’ve definitely got at least two squadrons. I see another group coming around the back corner of the house.” Rex’s voice was still steady, a comforting even tone.

“That’ll be the other dozen,” she muttered, her heart beginning to thud in her chest. “Great.” 

Slipping her jacket on, she pulled her bag over her shoulders and picked her way out of the room, glancing back one more time at the place that had been her workshop for the last several months. A pang of sadness settled into her chest, and she tapped the doorframe in farewell. 

Thanks for everything. 

Rex’s voice on the comm interrupted her sentiments. “Is the speeder bike working?” 

“Yeah, it should be good. Have they noticed it yet?” she whispered back into her comm.

“Doesn’t look like it. They’re bypassing the shed and heading straight for the back door.”

She thought for a moment. “They may not know it’s ours since it's detached. If you come up here, we should be able to climb out my bedroom window, and maybe sneak across the roof and drop down by the shed. The roof slants towards the street, so if we stay low enough, we might be able to get over there without being seen.”

He didn’t argue with her this time. “Alright, be right there.”

Senna made her way down the hall on tiptoe, patting her pockets and belt one last time to make sure she hadn’t forgotten anything. 

Blaster. Lightsaber. Datapad. 

A few seconds later, Rex materialized at her bedroom door, handing her his pack to hold while he pulled his cloak on. She searched his eyes and found the same urgency she felt reflected back at her, but there was also an assuredness that brought her comfort. Rex knew what he was doing, and he was going to execute everything as precisely as he could. It reassured her slightly. 

No wonder he got a command so fast.

Quickly and quietly, they snuck through her bedroom, trying their best to not even allow a floorboard to creak. Their breathing sounded incredibly loud, only drowned out by the sound of Senna’s blood pounding in her ears. Rex crouched by the window, peeking out carefully, and she quietly followed suit, bracing one hand on his back as she peered over his shoulder. He stiffened, but didn’t say anything. 

From their vantage point, they could see the second squad of stormtroopers sneaking into the back yard, blasters trained on the rear entrance of the dwelling. 

“No Fisk,” she whispered into Rex’s ear. 

“Did you see him out front?” 

“No.”

“Doesn’t mean he’s not here. Keep your head on a swivel.” 

Senna nodded, swallowing hard. Rex turned, and she flushed with embarrassment at the realization that he must have heard her nervous gulp, but he reached back, gripping her knee and giving it a squeeze. 

“We’re going to be fine,” he whispered. “Just keep your trigger finger tight and stay close.” He met her eyes and gave her a tight smile. Senna grabbed his hand, squeezing it back. 

“Will do.” 

He paused. “Also, you were right. I’m sorry.”

She stared at him for a moment before breaking into a stifled snicker. “I’ll be sure to gloat at a more appropriate time.”

He huffed. 

Senna patted his shoulder gently. “Even I didn’t think they’d get here this fast, Rex. We’d be in the same spot either way.” 

She wasn’t sure if her words comforted him at all, but he gave her a stiff nod. 

Carefully, Rex eased the window open that led onto the roof. The cool night air tickled Senna’s cheeks, and she shivered involuntarily. Neither squadron had entered the dwelling yet, and briefly, Senna wondered what they were waiting for. 

It doesn’t matter. Just get moving.

Rex pulled himself onto the roof, crouching low and reaching a hand back to Senna to help her out. The tiles were uneven and slippery, and it took another painstaking moment for Senna’s boot to find purchase. She reached back to close the window, but Rex gripped her arm, shaking his head. 

Leave it, he mouthed. 

She nodded, and the two of them flattened themselves against the roof. The tiles dug into Senna’s knees, hips, and elbows with a biting cold, but she ignored it, following Rex’s lead as he slowly began crawling forward towards the outer wall. Every clink of the tile or shuffle of their clothes sent adrenaline dumping into Senna’s system, making her even more certain they were about to be discovered. 

About halfway across the roof, they heard the blast of a detonator as the doors of their dwelling were breached. A few seconds later, the sound of shouting filled the house.

Rex pushed himself to his feet, reaching down to pull Senna up as well. “Better hurry,” he whispered. They ducked low, picking their way across the treacherous tiles as quickly as they could.

Suddenly, blaster fire erupted from the window behind them. A bolt whizzed close enough by Senna’s face that she could feel the heat from it. 

“There they are! Blast them!”

Rex swung around, pushing Senna behind him as he raised his blaster. She fumbled for the gun at her hip just as Rex’s foot slipped, and Senna heard him grunt as he lost his balance. She gripped his waist, trying to steady him, and his fingers locked around her forearm. He had just barely regained his footing when a stormtrooper ducked through the window and took aim at him. Time slowed down as Senna watched two bolts erupt from the muzzle of the E-11, one striking Rex in his right knee, and the other grazing his thigh. He shouted a curse and shuddered against her, his returning fire wildly peppering the wall of the house near the window as he fell, slipping out of her grasp. His forehead made contact with the hard tiles with a sickening crack. A scream caught in Senna’s throat as Rex slid towards the edge of the roof.

No.

Her heart felt like it stopped beating as she flung her hand out instinctively. 

Please no. 

The warmth rushed through her veins, just as it had when she’d confronted Fisk, just as it had for her entire life until a year ago. Time slowed as Rex clawed at the tiles, trying to find purchase. His eyes met hers as his waist slid over the edge.

“HANG ON!” 

Her blood sang, and she gasped, but she had him, she could feel it, could feel him. 

Another blaster bolt flew by her head, and she ducked enough for it to miss, leaving the smell of singed hair in its wake. She focused on keeping hold of Rex as she reholstered her blaster, instead pulling her lightsaber from her belt. Her thumb grazed the power button, and the saber hummed to life in her hand. 

“SHE’S THE JEDI!” 

Yes I fucking am. 

Senna wrenched her arm with all of her might, pulling Rex back up and onto the roof as much as she could. Her senses tingled, and she raised her lightsaber in time to block a blaster bolt aimed at her chest. She snarled at the stormtroopers as she threw the hand holding her lightsaber forward, pushing two of the troopers that had made it out the window off of the roof. Her arms shook as she kept her hold on Rex, pulling him closer in between deflecting blaster fire. Her fighting form was sloppy, and she knew it, but survival trumped technique in the moment. Senna’s saber hummed as she cut a wide arc, sending at least one bolt back through the window. She jerked Rex towards her again, and this time, she felt him land at her feet. 

Another blaster bolt erupted from near her ankles, and Senna allowed herself a quick glance down. Even in his current state, Rex had his blaster raised and was returning fire, blinking blood from the cut on his forehead out of his eyes. 

“Can you stand?” she shouted over the din.

“Maybe.” His teeth were clenched, and she could see a vein throbbing at his temple. She’d never seen Rex hurt before, and it made anger thrum through her. She banished the urge to embrace that rage, that hatred, instead reaching down towards him.“Grab my belt and haul yourself up! We’ve got to go!” she yelled. 

Rex clasped her hand, squeezing it lightly even now. He cursed loudly as he dragged himself to a standing position, wrapping one arm around her shoulders to support himself. Senna slid her free hand around his waist, slipping her fingers under his belt to hold him up.

“BACK UP.”

She began pushing him towards the edge of the roof, continuing to deflect blaster fire while Rex managed to pick off at least two assailants with his DL-44. The stormtroopers were pouring out into the yard now, having realized their targets were already outside. 

“How many did he fucking bring?” Senna muttered under her breath, sweat trickling from her brow as her muscles and joints screamed in protest under Rex’s weight and the strain of keeping her balance on the roof. 

“Dunno, but I can take out a few more,” Rex gritted out. Quickly, he reholstered his weapon and reached into a pouch at his side, grabbing a thermal detonator and flinging it down into the yard. The blast sent the half dozen stormtroopers that had gathered flying, their screams cutting through the night as smoke filled the air. 

Senna was gasping for breath as she held Rex up, trying to tread carefully on foot placement as they backed towards the edge of the roof. The smoke had obscured them from view from the troopers in the yard, but that didn’t stop them from firing wildly at where they thought their two fugitives might be. 

Just a little further. 

As they reached the edge of the roof, the narrow gap between the wall and the shed stretched out below them. Senna glanced down, trying not to think about how far the fall was. Rex’s eyes met hers. 

“Sorry about this,” she gasped.

Without giving herself another moment to think about it, she tipped backwards and pulled Rex off of the roof with her. She heard him inhale sharply, and briefly, she felt wild laughter bubbling up in her at his surprise. 

He’s going to kill me later. If there is a later.

Deactivating her lightsaber in the air, Senna tried as hard as she could to push away from the ground with the Force to cushion their landing. They still wound up in a heap, but at least not any more injured from what she could tell. Rex was groaning and swearing.

“Why don’t you ever just ask me to karking jump?” 

Clipping her saber back onto her belt, Senna ignored his muttering and grabbed him under his arms, roughly dragging him towards the entrance to the shed. The stormtroopers were already running into the alley, shouting at them to stop. 

Just keep surviving one more minute, Senna thought to herself. If you do that enough times, you might live to see another day. 

Once she and Rex were both inside the shed, Senna slammed the door shut behind them, locking it and busting the control panel with her fist to keep it sealed for a few moments. She helped Rex onto the speeder bike, settling herself in front of him to drive. He wrapped an arm around her waist, and she reached down, resting her hand against his forearm. They paused for a moment, the only sounds the two of them catching their breath in the deafening silence of the shed. 

“Got your blaster out?” Senna asked.

“Yup,” he grunted into her ear.

Stormtroopers pounded on the door they’d just come through, shouting commands that all blended together into an indecipherable cacophony.

“Alright, let’s see if we can get through this,” Senna whispered, trying to hide the tremor in her hands.

“Another tall order,” Rex said through clenched teeth.

“That’s unfortunately becoming a trend with us,” she muttered.

“This one’s the tallest.” 

She hummed in agreement, unsure of how else to respond. She could hear the sadness in Rex’s voice, and her chest clenched as she realized he was implying there was a chance these were their last moments together. They could already hear the stormtroopers lining up in front of the main door outside, ready to capture or kill them.

How silly all of this is, Senna thought. All of that pushback and wanting to keep him safe, and now here we are. About to die together. And I never–

“You’re surrounded! Come out with your hands in the air!” A smug voice rang out through the door, muffled but still painfully recognizable. Senna’s lip curled reflexively. 

Fisk.

The anger in her shifted to helpless disappointment.

He’s going to win. 

Her mind raced, but no better alternative to their current predicament presented itself. Senna felt her breath catch in her throat, and she fought the urge to scream in frustration.

This might be it. 

She turned around and looked at Rex. There was a pinch between his brows, and his eyes were sad. Even with the blood and dirt smeared across his face, his eyes still burned fiercely as they found hers in the dark. Her heart fluttered.

You never told him. 

But to tell him now that she loved him, to tell him all of the things she’d been withholding felt like a concession, like she’d accepted that they were going to be captured or killed. And that wasn’t something Senna was ready to do. Instead, she grabbed Rex by the back of the head and urgently pressed her lips to his. She felt him stiffen at first with surprise before relaxing into the kiss, reaching his fingers up to touch the side of her face with the same gentleness she’d come to know as inherently him. The same gentleness she’d fallen in love with. Her eyes burned as she stifled the sob welling up within her. 

She wanted to stay there forever, pretending it was just the two of them, but time was short. The odds were stacked against them in almost every way, but she was too stubborn to give up yet. 

“And since when have you ever backed down from a challenge?” her master’s voice echoed in her mind.

She pulled herself away from the kiss, resting her forehead against Rex’s for another heartbeat. 

“Just in case,” she whispered. 

“Sure,” he agreed, the corners of his mouth tugging into a smile. “But we’re going to talk about this later.”

She allowed herself a small smile before turning back around. 

“So, I assume you’ve got at least one bad idea,” he said quietly. “You always have one of those.”

“One bad idea is better than no ideas,” Senna countered. Reaching down, she started the bike. “Got any smoke grenades?” 

“Don’t I always?” he joked, grimacing as he reached into his supply pouch again and pulled two explosives back out.

“Alright, as soon as the door opens, toss them under. Maybe that’ll obscure us enough to get through the welcome committee waiting for us.”

“You want a distraction?” he asked. “Why not use the detonator?”

She’d almost completely forgotten about the small remote in her pocket, but adding it to her idea seemingly upgraded it to at least ‘half-baked plan’ status in her mind. 

“You’re absolutely right,” she laughed, pulling the detonator from her pocket. “Alright, big explosion, smoke bombs under the door, drive like a mynock out of hell, and shoot back when they shoot. Any questions?”

Rex chuckled quietly, and the rumble against her warmed her from the inside out. “None from me.”

She took one last deep breath. “Ready?”

“Ready.”

She armed the detonator and pressed the button. The entire shed shuddered and a bright flash briefly illuminated the inside of it as their entire dwelling exploded, completely destroying the place they’d called home for the last few months. Hearing shouts of confusion outside, Senna reached out with the Force to press the button that opened the shed’s main door. The door began sliding up with a groan, and Rex quickly tossed the grenades underneath as soon as the gap was large enough. 

Here we go.

The world around them erupted in blaster fire and smoke as the door slid up. Senna gunned the engine, and as soon as the door was high enough for them to duck under, they rocketed forward. A blaster bolt grazed her left shoulder as they shot out into the chaos, but she ignored it, grabbing her lightsaber and reigniting it again to deflect and blindly cut through as much as she could. There were shouts and screams as Rex’s blaster rang in her ear, the grip around her waist tightening as he whipped the weapon back and forth to cover a wide area with fire. 

Senna felt her heart pounding so hard she thought it would burst through her chest as they tore through the squadron of stormtroopers, running into one head-on with the bike. She heard the sickening thud and grunt as his body hit the front panel and dropped to the ground, leaving a scuff of white plastoid and blood on the bike’s paneling. 

Just survive another minute.

It felt like an eternity, but it was a fraction of a second before they burst out of the smoke, the blaster fire continuing to chase them as they sped away. She didn’t even have time to look over her shoulder at the smoldering wreckage that had once been their dwelling.

“Atta girl,” Rex shouted in her ear. 

Her heart soared. 

Senna tucked her lightsaber back onto her belt as she heard the whine of speeder bikes fire up behind them. Rex turned and shot backwards into the fray. 

“Are we being chased?” she shouted.

“Yup, got three bikes in pursuit,” he confirmed. 

Kriff.

“Alright, let’s see if we can make it out of town and lose them in the grasslands.” 

Senna wove in and out of the city’s streets, the bolts from their pursuers peppering the buildings and the ground around them. She felt the heat of one that got especially close to her shoulder as it winged by and slammed into a wall ahead of them. 

Kriffing transport-grade weaponry. Those pack a punch.

Suddenly, she turned left and saw the edge of the township, the streets and buildings giving way to unpaved grassland. The yellowing grass stood high enough in some places to where they would be able to be hidden from view.

If we can just make it that far. We’re so close.

She heard an explosion behind them and saw the buildings around them briefly illuminate as Rex whooped loudly. 

“Still got all three?” she yelled.

“No, I managed to hit one,” he replied with a tone that could only be described as cheerful. It made Senna smile. “Now we’re just down to the last–“

Rex gasped suddenly, and his body shuddered against her before she felt him go limp. His weapon flew from his hand and clattered against the pavement as they sped onwards.

“REX!” Senna screamed, feeling his grip around her waist loosen. She frantically grabbed his arm to hold him to her while she steered.

“REX PLEASE ANSWER ME!” 

Her pleas were met with silence. 

No. No. No. No. 

She inhaled sharply. 

Think. He needs you to think right now.

Rex had been their rear defense, but now the Imperials were free to shoot at them unhindered. He’d undoubtedly take another blast if she didn’t stop them, or they’d hit the bike, and everything would go to hell from there.

No. 

Senna swung the bike around so that it was facing their assailants, slamming on the brakes. As gently as she could, she eased Rex forward so that he was slumped over the handlebars, and then she leapt from the bike, igniting her lightsaber in the air. 

The first stormtrooper had no time to react as she came down on his speeder, cleanly slicing it and him in two. The second one was further back and had time to respond, firing at her as she charged forward. She deflected blast after blast with ease, her eyes burning and her saber humming in her hand. She felt the anger and hatred seep into her veins, the cold trickle in her blood that she’d felt on Empire Day, and in that moment, did not fight it. 

I’ve come this far. They’re not taking one more person from me. 

“COME ON!” she screamed at the approaching trooper. “COME AND GET ME!” 

She was running straight at the approaching bike now, her hair flying wildly behind her. If the trooper was concerned about a Jedi running full-speed at him, he didn’t show it, hunkering down further behind his handlebars. 

Senna seethed.

Fuck you.

Just as the bike was about to hit her, Senna dropped to her knees, sliding along the pavement. The cobblestones tore at her knees through the fabric of her leggings, leaving her with torn skin and bloodied bruises that she hardly registered. She held her lightsaber skyward, neatly slicing the bike in half along its length. The halves flew over her, searing her cheek as she turned her head and pressed herself against the ground. The bike’s pieces clattered loudly against the street, and the mangled body of the stormtrooper rolled away from her. For just one second, she allowed herself to sink against the pavement, trying to catch her breath before a voice in the back of her mind started screaming. 

RUN! 

Quickly, Senna stood, ignoring the stinging and warmth of her bloodied knees as she listened for more bikes. She could hear them in the distance, but she and Rex would be long gone by the time their pursuers reached this spot.

Senna ran back to her speeder bike. She wanted to check Rex fully, but there was no time. She pushed his body forward so that she would be able to steer, albeit clumsily, and hopped on behind him, caging him in with her arms to hold him in place. Gunning the engine, she reached out with the Force, searching for Rex in it. She breathed a sigh of relief as she felt him, still there.

But fading fast. 

“Please hang on, Rex,” she whispered as she turned the bike towards the grass and sped off into the night.

Tag List: @seriowan @partoftheeternalsoul @rosmariner @misogirl828 @ellichonkasaurusrex @zoeykallus @the-sith-in-the-sky-with-diamond @gjrain20-starwars @staycalmandhugaclone @redheadgirl @fordo-kixed-rex @wizardofrozz @ariadnes-red-thread @justanothersadperson93 @leftealeaf @kaminocasey @echos-girlfriend @lucyysthings @obihiddlenox @merkitty49 @littlemissmanga @clonecyaree @baba-fett @sleepingsun501 @rexxdjarin @samspenandsword @babygirlrex0504 @ladytano420 @fxlsealarm @runforrestr @djarrex @corrieguards @the-cantina @witchklng @wolffegirlsunite @fives-lover @rain-on-kamino @ladykatakuri @ladykagewaki @arctrooper69 @hidden-behind-the-fourth-wall

[calder]

"Some Tips for Exploring Skyline Valley"

Head to the lookout towers early! There's three of them in the region, and with the exception of one location (which I'll explain how to find in a moment), they'll reveal every map marker in Skyline Valley.

To find the one location the towers won't reveal, head to Hawksbill Weather Station and go straight through the facility to the other end. If you do this, there should be an undiscovered location marker that will eventually pop up, leading you to Three Ponds.

Nuke the region. The Storm and ICBMs don't mix, and firing a nuke at any point in the region will lead to the bomb detonating well above the ground. This will release no radiation, create no flux flora and destroy no players or CAMPs, but it will kick off the newest nuke boss in the event Neurological Warfare.

During Neurological Warfare, you're fighting three bosses at once and they gain resistances as they are defeated, alongside more dangerous fodder enemies. It's best to try and keep all three at the same level of health during the fight so you aren't dealing with the tankier versions for long. Also, Adeline’s (the assaultron camp ally) buff is immensely helpful for this event.

During Neurological Warfare and Dangerous Pastimes, don't try to camp on any sort of generator-type structures. Those will electrocute you and give a massive accuracy debuff and damage over time.

Dangerous Pastimes was providing improved repair kits during the entire PTS cycle on every clear of the event. This may have changed between the last PTS and the update, but I doubt it did, so the event is likely a fantastic source of repair kits.

Speak to Alyssa at Vault 63's door after you finish the Vault 63 main questline. You'll be taken to the door at the very start of the quest, but if you can't find it again afterwards, fast travel to the Slocum Joe's and head towards Sutton. Alyssa just has some fun dialogue after you finish the quest, but its worth seeing.

Boost your perception when you're working with Craig. Each part of his tasks asks you to find a trinket near a corpse, and having high perception (up to 12 with the last body) gives you a hint as to what to look for and where.

There's a Pioneer Scout scavenger hunt started at Camp Liberty. The note gives you some instructions on how to find it, but if you want to skip to the end by going to the north of the river's spring on the right side of the region and finding the rotted stump between three rocks , you absolutely can.

Within Skyline Valley, there are locations that will always spawn an Ogua and a Sheepsquatch (note that the sheepsquatch is non-legendary, unlike every other sheepsquatch in the game). I won't say where these two spots are to avoid spoiling it, but they do exist if you ever want to just kill these cryptids for sport.

Overgrown and fanatics are coming to daily ops, and bringing the aquarium and foundry with them alongside new rewards. Overgrown will not appear outside of the aquarium and fanatics cannot appear outside of the foundry; additionally, no Appalachia enemies will be found in these locations (thank you Gilpo!).

Ticket to Revenge saw a last minute nerf today without a PTS update. It’s now a furious, fire rate and weightless railway rifle that still has the doubled ammo capacity and custom mothman skin. It’s still fairly potent due to being a railway rifle, but the effects are far worse than the prior bloodied, vats accuracy and critical fill version (furious really hurts, but its okay for enemies that'll survive more than ten shots). The devs said that apparently the change was to ensure it’d be in a good place for ‘future systems coming to the game,’ so apparently they were thinking of game balance here. The thing definitely was brutally powerful before (might've even been overpowered), but it’s a shame this change happened at the eleventh hour.

Edit: 13. There's a small shed on the outskirts of Dark Hallow Manor that requires a key. The key in question is inside the security office of Vault 63.

[thequietmanno1]

Thelreads, MHA 299, Replies Part 2

1) “…aaaaaand apparently we already skipped to the part he got “recruited” to be the government’s hitman.

And unfortunately that thing is still here.”- Given that Keigo had single-handedly stopped a car collision without fatalities in a manner akin to a pro hero whilst still a kid, it’s not that much of a stretch to imagine they were combing the neighbourhood looking for leads on him already. It even seems to be the same underground area she was sitting at before, meaning she didn’t even go to the police herself, Keigo brought the authorities to meet her whilst she sat on her ass. 2) “Oh back to the real world already? That was quick, I thought we would suffer a bit more.

Also, nice mask there Hawks, good choice, corona is still on the loose after all.”- It seems to be part breathing support, to help stabilise his lungs scorched by Dabi’s fires, which is another neat “realistic” aspect to dealing with a fire-user. Even if you avoid a direct scorching, the ambient heat is arguably far more dangerous. 3) “I’d say he would be stuck flying between life and death but I think his wings already decided on which side of the veil they want to be at.”- They have. Like their master, they’re not outta the fight yet. 4) “WAIT YOU MEAN THAT WAS HIS ACTUAL BODY THAT HAWKS TOOK TO DABI???

AND NEITHER OF YOU THOUGHT OF THE POSSIBILITY MIGHT HAVE WANTED TO INCINERATE THE EVIDENCES OR SOMETHING???”- On the one hand, having proof around would help Dabi, by incriminating Hawks more. On the other, there was an element of risk involved (beyond even the ‘let’s kill you for x amount of hours then Frankenstein your heart back online” deal) but as a hero, if it was crucial to catching the league and their plans off-guard (and Jeanist certainly was) then it’d be worth the risk. 5) “Honestly Horikoshi, I call bullshit on this whole thing being planned. It seems like you actually wanted Hawks to be a morally grey good guy that had to do horrible things to save people and then pussyout’d of it because no good character may do anything bad ever”- I’m undecided either way. Hawks is already morally grey because of how he dealt with Twice in the heat of the moment, but on the other, Hawks did have prep time to try and find a workaround in Jeanist’s case, and it does kinda fit the Icarus allusion for him to be trying a sneaky trick to deceive the enemy (proving his capability, as it were) and have that blow up in his face.

Honestly, it’s more the fact he went with the audacity of actually killing Jeanist (somehow) then resurrecting his in-stasis body  back to normal that boggles my mind, especially since it’s never made clear how he either faked the “death” or the resurrection method. I agree that it does feel like a bit of a cop-out, but because I like Jeanist a lot, I’m willing to let it slide overall. 6) “I’m still unsure what to say about the denimobile. Like, what could I even say about it?

Is it a hybrid at least?”- Horikoshi’s getting some prep done for his next planned racing manga. 7) “Ah, right, with society starting to collapse, all sort of evil personalities jump out of the shadows to grab a slice of that pie.”- And there’s plenty of pie to go around, what with the heroes starting to feel the strain on top of all their recent losses. 8) “THAT IS THE DENIMOBILE, IT EVEN CAME EQUIPPED TO ALLOW JEANIST TO USE HIS QUIRK WITHOUT STEPPING OUT OF IT

WHAT THE HELL WHEN DID HE GOT IT HOW DID HE GOT IT DOES IT HAVE LEATHER SEATS?”- The “Two Heroes” movie showed that All Might used to have a sort of similar transport when he was in America, mainly as a form of allowing David Shield to keep up with his speed, so its not too hard to imagine that certain heroes have custom-made transport option to enable them to maximise their Quirk even if they’ve got guests traveling with them. Heck, even Endeavour’s valet dude had that car he was driving the trio around in during their internship under him. 9) “There’s no one out there anymore to keep people safe. That’s not a side effect, that is intended by the “liberation” that the villains aim to achieve.”- Freedom for everyone, to do whatever the hell they want. And in Hawks’ case, he actually isgenuinely liberated for the first time in his life by all these events, in a massive twist of irony, so of course he’s gonna put this chance to good use and finally start being a hero for himself at last.

10) “Not all of them as we can see by Jeanist here. 

And, you know, it would be interesting to have vigilantes stepping up to keep people safe, since a huge deal of the story was how the spirit of heroism is more important than a title, but you know, Koichi is on New York embarrassing himself on TV I’m afraid.”- See, if Koichi had stayed around by the end of his series, then this whole sequence could have acted as a sort of “final arc” for him, getting to showcase his heroics openly without oversight or concern from official retaliation for once, bat sadly, the series just ended before this point, and Koichi had to skip town, least he wind up on AFO’s target list.

(Vigilantes ch 29)

11) “Oh my, Koichi, that’s an interesting vision you have there, it’s almost similar to what those guys in BNHA whose name I can’t remember were up to. Although their intentions behind allowing people to use their powers freely were… quite different, to say the least…

Oh we’re gonna fall down that hole again?”- Honestly, with things as they are, Koichi’s experience in how to effectively work alongside pro heroes as a ‘civilian’ would be exactly what the average joe on the streets needs to learn in order to ‘hold the line’ until the pros turn up, rather than take action to engaged the enemy like the old man here, with disastrous consequences. It might have been partly to protect himself from lawful reprisals, and partly out of his indecision about fighting back on his own yet, but his passive, dodge-based methods of tying up the enemy until the pros arrived for the beat down kept the property damage to a minimum, and minimalised casualties or injuries.

12) “is that a prosthetic or a hero support item?”- Support item, likely mass-produced and made freely available by Denetrat prior to this upheaval. Without heroes easily reachable, now everybody’s got a motivation to try and defend themselves, indulging in the “liberation” of an excuse to do their own heroics, even with good intentions in mind.

13) “Not all are happy, but still, Jeanist alongside other heroes are not here to be praised, they are here to keep people safe, and they will fight and die to make sure that comes to pass.”- On the other hand, criticism is still criticism. It doesn’t matter how much you throw yourself into the work, if you’re rewarded worth nothing but angry, sceptical glares and unkind words, no matter how good a job you did, you might start to wonder what the point of it all even is, if nobody cares whether or not you succeeded. MHA is a series that tends to run high on positive emotion during epic moments, and if those moments are lacking the feeling of “you can do this” that others before it had, then even the most successful hero will get ground down beneath it all.

14) “…not anymore it seems. Also jesus fuck look at the size of that living room what a waste of space”- A house as empty as her heart inside, save a few furnishings, denoting the trace care she held for her son, once a long time ago…

15) “right on the money, but being fair to her, it was not her fault in this particular case.

And it’s not like there’s people that can protect her now, it would be safer for her to disappear so she does not get endangered.”- And this serves as proof positive that Dabi knew that hawks was a traitor to the league for a long time, knew he was versed in spying and infiltration to undermine their operations with the PLF, but still allowed him to roam about with a modicum of freedom, because the same situation enabled Dabi to manipulate Hawks into a position he could maximise the benefits to his personal crusade from. All those advantages with the PLF, the Nomu, the doctor, the strike plan they had in place…all undermined because Dabi wanted to put himself first before anyone else…and succeeded.

16) “Well it most certainly didn’t came from your dad, that’s for sure. I wonder how long ago she fled, because if it was before the fall of the government she would have tried to ask them for help.”- And as always, Hawks’ mom put her own well-being before anything else, because she knew that these goons had the information about Hawks, and would likely use that against him….but she stayed silent out of fear for her life, even whilst enjoying government protection still, rather than informing the handlers about the leak. Hawks’ whole mission was jeopardised a long time ago, but it wasn’t until the comfort and security she’d enjoyed came crashing down around her that Tomie fled…and without even having the courage to apologise to hawks directly about the personal damage she’d caused him to boot.

17) “SO SHE WAS THE ONE TO TAKE HIM OUT OF THE HOUSE, AND HE LIED TO PROTECT HER

GOD

FUCKIGN DAMMIT HORIKOSHI WHY YOU DO THIS TO ME”- Even as far back as a child, Hawks was putting another’s well-being before his own. 18) “OH MY FUCKING GOD THE ONLY REASON HE HAD THE ENDEAVOR DOLL WAS BECAUSE IT WAS CHEAPER ICAN’T WE REALLY NEED TO KEEP KICKING ENDEAVOR INTO A CURB”- Yet ironically, it was his number 2 position that made Endeavour the number one hero in Hawks’ heart, seeing how he genuinely tried again and again to surpass the impossible, even with the limits of his body baring down on him. 19) “What you are in the dark is an amazing writing trope, and I suppose we are approaching this situation, since there’s no one left to tell you what to do or to judge you for your actions”- Not just him, but anyone who aspires to help another in these dark times. Ironically, what Stain most desired, heroes who act for another without thought of fame and fortune, is now a possibility in reality, but in the worst possible manner for Stain’s vision to have taken place. 20) “Don’t worry about that Hawks. I mean, it was definitely your fault, but it wasn’t solely your fault. In a way, you both were tools being used by masters you wanted to please, clashing against each other, until one of you had to break.”- And yet, the tragedy in Twice’s case is that his “masters” were all genuine friends who’d have wanted him to put himself before their sakes…except Dabi, the only one who sought him out and was by his side at the end, explicitly to capture it on camera for his smear campaign and manipulating Twice’s memory for his own gain. The Hero Commission may have been OK with hawks dying for the mission, but that’s because he was an asset they’d raised and proved more than worth the “investment”. The league, in contrast, asked nothing so highly of Twice besides his friendship, yet he was the one betrayed the worst between them. 21) “Because the spirit of heroism does not discriminate one’s origin place. It knows what is in their heart, and how they will use it for good. Now it is time for Hawks to show why he has those wings.

Had.”-  Nope, still got em! Hope springs eternal, and so too does Hawk’s wings, even stunted from what they once were. 22) “THE WINGS

THEY ARE GROWING BACK?

HOLY SHIT I THOUGHT YOU WERE DONE FOR HAWKS”- Hawks: I got one more in me. 23) “Awful situation for baby Hawks. Bor in poverty, in an abusive, criminal family, and when he finally thinks he’s free from it all, it turns out he just got put into another cage, this time by the government. The comparison with Twice there was spot on, they were both so desperate to fit in they went down into the deep end doing horrible things because they wanted to be helpful to those they worked for.

And as shown, both by Dabi as well as the government, they are the most helpful when they are sacrificed in the name of the greater good.”- But, only one of them gets a “rebirth” and a second chance to try and help. In the end, Hawks was decisive about ending Twice’s threat, whereas Dabi wanted to twist the knife more before the kill, and so allowed Hawks a second chance to redeem himself…

pic by Doodlelotl

@thelreads