#also the soldier bit is from a fanfic. can’t remember what it’s called will update when i do

[soul-gums]

ASK ME ABOUT MY SUBMISSIVE TENDENCIES

[kob131]

RWDE Story Comparison 1: Dudeblade Part 1

https://rwdestuffs.tumblr.com/post/181687313437/done-dirty-word-choice

I’d give you the middle finger Dudeblade but I cut it so I’ll just settle for verbally tearing you apart.

You assholes wanna talk to other writers? FIne, better make sure you don’t share the same blind spots.

Truer words have never been spoken.

Not entirely sure how to break this down.

Basically, the choice in words is important. In a non-comedic series like this one, fans, theorists, and critics are going to comb over pretty much every detail.

Except that in a different post, when someone (suspicious you never mention WHO considering this is before Monty’s death) you bitch at the writers for a joke. An even then, people combed over Red Vs.Blue when it is largely comedic so that doesn’t work here.

Why am I doing this? Cuz Dudeblade is gonna try to use comedy as a defense since I’m gonna be using his precious fanfic.

Easy example: The word choice on how Qrow describes his semblance (fun fact: I have this particular screenshot labeled “Qrow being a melodramatic piece of shit” on my laptop).

Now, with the phrase “It’s always there, whether I like it or not.” Heavily implies that it’s on 24/7. That he has no control over it whatsoever. However…

This clarification from the Reddit AMA then says that Qrow’s semblance isn’t at all how he worded it. Now, this could be because even Qrow doesn’t know his semblance that well, but given that these are the writers whose response to being given an out by a fan who theorized that the reason Zwei survived all that stuff in Volume 2 was because Tai unlocked his aura was “There’s this thing called ‘Anime.’” I doubt that they’ll use that reason.

Funny thing:

"Indeed." Ganon added, "Do you want an update on that curse that I cast?"

Lex hummed and nodded in response. "Well, it took hold of the one that the emotionally weakest. They should be turning into a being of near-insufferableness soon."

"I'm pretty sure that 'insuferableness' isn't a word." Lex mentioned.

"It does not matter." Ganon replied, "Soon, we shall be able to use one of their own against them."

"Why the one with the most glaring emotional weaknesses, though? Wouldn't a much more stable victim be more useful to our cause?"

"The curse works in mysterious ways, Luthor. We must first force them on our side. Then, we break the heroes from the inside." Ganon replied.

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11815703/104/Aftermath-The-DB-Chronicles

Why was the change so drastic? - Because time travel That's why.

https://www.deviantart.com/dudebladex/journal/Mewtwopoint-of-Future-Past-Alt-Timeline-battles-694649032

You’ve pulled that shit yourself.

So if it’s NOT okay when Miles does it, why did YOU do it?

Here’s another example:

Jaune knowing about Yang’s mom. Given Yang’s dialogue with Blake back in Volume 2, we can gather that it’s a very important secret to her. Given her reaction to Qrow knowing where Raven was but never telling her, we also know that for a fact. Given that Yang said that Ruby was a bit too young when she went on her “I want to find my mom” search to remember, we can gather that it’s likely that even Ruby doesn’t know. But, even if she did know, what reason does she have to tell RNJR?

Was she all “Hey guys! Let’s all share secrets with each other as a trust exercise! I’ll go first! Yang’s been searching for her biological mom for over ten years!”???

See, if it had been Ruby who had said Jaune’s line, we could gather that, yeah. Yang probably told her what happened. But we don’t get that. Instead, we get Jaune asking about it. Which either implies a betrayal of trust either on Qrow’s part, or on Ruby’s part. Either way, one of those two shared information that was very personal and important to Yang, and it was… brushed over.

IBurnBlonde: What, are you planning on dating me or something? IBurnBlonde: T? IBurnBlonde: Tifa? IBurnBlonde: Seriously. It's been ten minutes. What happened? IBurnBlonde: Forget it. I'm signing off. * * * [LockYourHeart has made a Private Chat With Buster Blader] LockYourHeart: Cloud! I need your help! Buster Blader: What is it? Did Yang confess her love to you? LockYourHeart: No, but she almost figured out that I have plans to date her! Buster Blader: smh… You didn't go on your tirade about how nobody deserves her, did you? LockYourHeart: … Buster Blader: You dug yourself in this, Tifa. I'm not digging you out. LockYourHeart: You are absolutely no help. Buster Blader: If you want help, as Link. Speaking of, I think he's in the main chat. LockYourHeart: Really? We might get to see how he chats with people? Buster Blader: Yep. Buster Blader: Tifa? Buster Blader: You did this to Yang, didn't you?

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11815703/103/Aftermath-The-DB-Chronicles

Why do I bring this up? This is a betrayal of Yang’s trust in Tifa except Tifa is doing it for far more selfish and creepy reasons.

Again, apparently it’s okay when DUdeblade does it.

And as for a third example, we have this:

If the narrative or writers wanted to paint Tai as a “Father who is trying to work through his loss to take care of his kids” then these lines of dialogue don’t help in the slightest. “

"What?" Jaune asked, "Are you seriously going to tell us that we need to go out there? - I already lost enough people in my life, thank you very much."

"Then you aren't cut out for the real world, kid." Frank said, "I lost my wife and children, and I still go out to keep the city clean of criminal scum every day. But you?" He gestured to the swordsman, "You only lost someone you barely paid attention to. That was your only personal loss. Everyone else here lost more than you, more than once, and we still go out there to fight." Jaune was at a loss for words. "So make your decision. Live and hide, or fight and die.

" "Your girlfriend chose the second option. But considering that you couldn't be bothered to even try to save one of your other friends after bemoaning losing everything earlier, I guess it's no surprise that you can't be bothered to try when it's the whole world at stake." Deadpool sneered.

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11815703/134/Aftermath-The-DB-Chronicles

"Klicks? What are those?" Jaune asked, "Can't we use a distance people actually know? Like Kilometers?"

"How did you get into a prestigious combat school without knowing this basic combat stuff again?" Chun-Li jeered.

"I uh…" Jaune stuttered. "He cheated." Tucker clarified, "He wasn't sent there to be used as a test dummy, he actually cheated."

"So, why doesn't he know the basics?" Chief asked in an annoyed tone. "I heard from Blake that he slept in class and spent most of his study time reading comics." Cheetara mentioned,

"That probably has something to do with it." Jaune sighed, "Can we just… drop it? Please?"

"This is going to escalate later." Mega Man realized, "I don't know how, but it will."

"Seriously, were you reading a comic book while we were doing the debriefing on the way here?"

"No!" "He actually wasn't." Tucker defended, "He was busy crying over a picture of his girlfriend that he has on his phone."

"There are other people who lost more than you." Master Chief pointed out, "Also, two Klicks to Joker and Skull's battleground."

"Guts definitely lost more than you." Doomguy pointed out, "How someone on the internet thought that you had the worse life than him is beyond me, but whatever."

"Guts has not had a 'worse life' than mine!" Jaune whined. "How so?" Chief asked, putting his binoculars away.

"His girlfriend's still alive." Jaune said, as if it proved his point.

Everyone else was silent. Even one Predator facepalmed at the statement.

"Starting to see why Guts said that nobody would miss you." Tucker sighed, "You make pain be all about yourself, and don't let anyone else mourn.”

"Please." Mega Man sighed, "Please tell me that you're making a joke that's in poor taste and that you don't actually believe that."

"Uh, it… kinda is…" Jaune trailed off.

"Oh my God." Tucker snarled, "You actually think that?"

"Well, I don't know his life!" Jaune defended.

"His girlfriend was violated!" Sonya screamed, "I swear, if you actually think that dying is a worse fate than that, then I'm throwing you out there to get killed!"

"See, this is why nobody likes you." Doomguy pointed out, "You don't care about anybody but yourself, and put more people in danger than you actually save."

"The only thing worse than baggage is baggage that whines and complains all the time." Master Chief replied, "Get your priorities straight kid. People might let failures slide if you actually try, but if you just look away from a friend about to be killed without trying to save them, then you aren't any better than the killer."

"How so?" Jaune asked, "All I hear is 'Jaune, you suck at this!' or 'Arc, you suck at that!' but I never hear any ideas of how to improve!"

"Did you ask?" Mega Man asked, deflecting some plasma blasts with his Mirror Buster. "Well uh, no… But-"

"No buts." The Blue Bomber replied, "It's not our job to 'open the door' for you and offer advice. You have to be willing to accept it, and acknowledge that you have things to improve on!"

"Yeah, I mean, I was willing to listen to Wash when he was offering some tips on how to be a better leader back on Chorus. But you just grunt and walk away." Tucker pointed out, taking his sword out of another Hydra soldier.

"You aren't complaining that it's hard to improve," Orchid growled, "You're complaining that it's not 'magically happening' automatically."

"Beat has the area covered. We can move on to the next sector." Mega Man reported.

"You can either stay here, or keep going." Tucker said to Jaune, who was visibly shaken up, "But we're not going to be playing babysitter. I get enough of that with Caboose. Except Caboose can actually fight."

Our HEROES ladies and gentlemen, showing even LESS empathy than Dudeblade’s delusions he calls Taiyang Xiao Long. For those of you who don’t know, Dudeblade hates Taiyang because he called Yag’s depression ‘moping.’ And yet here is his HEROES, the guys we’re suppose to be ROOTING FOR, mocking Jaune for the exact same thing, using arguments Dudeblade as decried as immoral and sociopath.

Once again, not okay for RWBY but a FAR FAR FAR worse version is okay for Dudeblade.

Overall, these lines and details don’t have a lot of thought put into them. They’re used to further develop characters, but the writers don’t realize the implications of who is saying it, what they are saying, and why the choice of words matter.

I could bring up in each instance how Dudeblade is fucking up, whether it be that Qrow doesn’t understand his Semblance, that Yang could have old JNPR like Blake told them about her race or the numerous arguments about Taiyang but you’ve heard it all before. Instead let me prove to you that RWDE has no fucking idea what it is doing, By showcasing that for every single bitch they deal out: they commit the same if not WORSE sin.

The issue from them isn’t the action: it’s just the person who did it they hate.

[notesofarichlycolorednight]

Hey, can you do 9. ‘We might die tomorrow’ kiss and 10. ‘You nearly died’ kiss for Luke/Tori please? (when you have time)

sorry this took so long fam. i actually had an idea a week ago, but i also had to go back to grad school. so i mean good news: i’ve been able to really think abt these prompts. bad news: it took a bit to get to them. but here they are! (i may post them later to ao3 and ff, so look out for this updated post with links!)

for those of you just tuning in :D tori is my oc, and i’ve written two stories abt her so far in the pjo-verse: it’s the perfect story & i need another story, just for some context

9 and 10 are both under the cut. it just looks like 9 rn bc of organizational stuff

ps: to the anon who sent in #20 for this meme with tori, i will get to that prompt next (but it may be another week before i post it, for that i apologize). also i got your other ask abt tori and the canon other universe and will also get to that soon

Kiss Meme Prompt #9: “We might die tomorrow” kiss

Luke and I kept each other’s gaze once Percy had given our cabins their assignment, only breaking away from each other once when Thalia and the Hunters of Artemis came and offered to hold the Lincoln Tunnel. Obviously, he’d want to greet his old friend. I wouldn’t say I was friends with Thalia, but we exchanged a brief glance, nod of the head, and a small smile. Which was fine by me.

Luke and I stayed quiet when Percy raised his sword and shouted, “FOR OLYMPUS!” which the kids around us echoed. Everyone started off in the direction on the place they’d been assigned to, but as I turned to follow my siblings, I felt a calloused hand grab my arm and pull me back.

“You’re not actually leaving without saying goodbye, are you?” Luke murmured in my ear. I rolled my eyes but smiled and turned to face him, Luke’s hand resting on my waist. Around us, the patter of footsteps leaving died down and I could feel eyes on my back. We were in the middle of the war, and they still found room for gossip. How human of us.

“Of course not,” I replied, resting the palms of my hands on his chest. Luke waited, when I didn’t move or say anything else he glared at me ruefully, a smile playing at his lips.

“Do I get a kiss? I could die you know,” he said.

“No, but I’ll do you one better,” I told him. Luke raised an eyebrow. “Don’t die. That’s not a request, it’s an order.”

“Is it now?” Luke asked, wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me flush against him. His eyes glinted with mischief and a challenge.

“Yeah, and you’d better follow that order,” I responded, wrapping my arms around his neck, pressing myself even closer to him. “Soldier.” I closed the distance between us, not caring that basically the entire camp, minus the Ares cabin, were watching our public display of affection.

The kiss started gentle and playful, but the joking soon evaporated, replaced by a desperation and overwhelming anxiety. Luke’s fingertips dug into the small of my back, riding my shirt up slightly. My arms tightened around his neck like a vice and I stood up on the tips of my toes—I couldn’t press myself close enough to him even though I could feel his heartbeat against mine.

When we pulled away, I was so breathless I couldn’t speak for at least 30 seconds. Luke looked like he didn’t want to let go of me. Even so, I stepped away, my eyes burning with a flood of tears.

“That’s an order, remember,” I managed, despite my closing throat, my unshed tears. I pressed hand against his chest, as if to punctuate my point. Luke smiled tenderly and took my hand on his chest, bringing it up to his lips and kissing my palm before resting it against his cheek.

“I love you,” he said, meeting my eyes with such a gentle look, my heart did a summersault, reminding me why I fell in love with him in the first place.

“I love you, too,” I managed, more tears flooding my eyes.

A second passed before I began to pull my hand away, but Luke kept his hand in mine until both our arms were completely outstretched, until just our fingers were touching, then our fingertips, and then—

I spun around, taking a deep breath, trying to blink away my tears as I passed my waiting siblings. I could feel Luke’s eyes on my back, but I knew if I turned around, I wouldn’t want to go to the Williamsburg Bridge.

what

a happy au, in my writing?

the idea of luke being part of the percy’s regime is based off of a fanfic of my fanfic called djinn dreams by lucifersfavoritechild over on ao3.

summary without spoiler: it’s kinda an au where tori convinces luke to go back to camp, but someone else becomes kronos’s host so things play out p similarly as they did in the pjo books, just with luke and tori on percy’s side

Kiss Meme Prompt #10: “You nearly died” kiss

so this is almost a direct continuation from the last ask

Travis met me at the elevator to the top floors of the Plaza.

“Where is he?” I asked stepping out of the elevator, my voice hoarse from crying and terse from worry.

“This way.” Travis’ voice was quiet. He turned without another word and started making his way through the floor. I started to follow, but paused and looked back at the rest of my siblings (Will and Kayla gone—called ahead to the Plaza), all eyes rimmed with red from crying.

I opened my mouth to say something, but nothing came out.

Austin tried for a small smile. “We’ll be okay. We’ve got work to do.” His voice broke and he looked away.

“We’ll be fine,” Cressida reaffirmed.

I nodded, not believing it, but promising to check up on them as soon as I was able. I turned and followed Travis, who’d waited for me. We weaved through the other campers and Hunters grabbing something eat or drink, resting, or bandaging wounds.

I smelled it before I got there—the smell of blood and something…rancid. I tried not to gag, but my eyes watered and I couldn’t help the involuntary cough that welled up in my chest and forced its way out of my throat. The rest of the Hermes cabin was there, but parted when Travis and I came into view. My heart dropped and I felt all the air expel from my lungs. My feet froze.

Kayla was kneeling next to—what were they called?—a fainting couch, where Luke lay. Both of them looked sickly, but Luke looked worse. Kayla was pale from healing, her forehead sweaty. Luke looked…ashen grey. His eyes were closed, and from where I stood, I couldn’t tell if he was even breathing.

If he was even breathing…

“Is he—” I gasped, my body finally unfreezing and went forward to the edge of the couch. My nose had gone numb from the smell that was coming from a trash can filled with a mix of blood and some weird, dark green slimy substance. Tears filled my eyes and it wasn’t from the stench. “Kayla,” I whimpered, my knees buckling.

“He’s still alive,” she whispered. “He needs more healing, but I’ve stabilized him for right now.” She paused. “Though it may not look it.”

I was about to ask her what’d happened, but my sister’s eyes fluttered and I just barely managed to catch her. I looked up to the Hermes cabin. “Can someone help her to a bed?”

Travis came forward and I helped stand her up so Travis could sling one of her arms over his shoulders.

“Thank you,” I told him. Travis nodded and started off, his siblings parting to make a path for him. I turned back to Luke, kneeling next to the couch again, taking Kayla’s place. More tears flooded my eyes and I reached up with a shaking hand to gently brush the bangs from his forehead. Now that I was closer, I could see he was still breathing, but it was shallow and thready.

I took one of his hands in mine, holding it to my forehead as some tears slipped from my eyes.

You can’t leave me, I thought. You promised.

“He took a poisoned arrow for me.” Travis’ voice startled me from my thoughts and I pulled back. Travis was the only one here now, standing on my left. He’d pulled up a chair. I looked up at him through watery eyes. His eyes flickered to his brother. “I don’t know how, but it found a chink in his armor, I guess.” Travis shook his head, frowning. “I should’ve been paying more attention.”

I stood up, letting go of Luke’s hand and pulled Travis into a hug. It was a bit awkward because there was a chair between us, but I guess I was feeling particularly sentimental.

“This is not your fault,” I told him firmly. I pulled away and, of all things, smiled, resting a hand on his shoulder. “Besides, he’ll be fine. He’s on strict orders not to die, remember?”

Travis rolled his tear-filled eyes, but smiled. “Thanks.”

I squeezed his shoulder and pulled away. “You should get some rest.”

Travis nodded, his shoulders slumping. “Oh, and I brought this chair over for you, by the way. And, one more thing, he might need to throw-up more of that…stuff, so just grab the trashcan if he lurches or jerks awake. His body is still purging the poison.”

I nodded, every word like daggers flung into my body. I may have joked about it just now, but I was deathly afraid of losing him, worried he might not last the next few hours. Just the very thought of life without made my heart squeeze painfully in my chest.

Travis shuffled off and I moved to the chair as close as possible to the edge of the couch before sitting down and taking Luke’s hand back into mine. I was exhausted, and as soon as I sat down, it hit me like a freight train. But I didn’t want to go to sleep, or close my eyes. I wanted to keep them on Luke, make sure he was still breathing.

None of the color had returned to his skin, and his breathing was still shallow and irregular. To be fair, it’s only been like 20 minutes, but I thought if Kayla had stabilized him, it’d show. Even a little bit.

Just as I was about to doze off into sleep, Luke’s jerked and coughed. My heart shot into my throat and I had to let go of his hand to grab the trashcan and hold it up to him just in time for Luke to roll onto his side and retch more of the poison. The stench hit my nose again, fresh and strong, but I swallowed hard, forcing back my gag reflex. I was slightly relieved to see that he was no longer vomiting blood with the poison, however.

Once he was done retching, Luke fell back against the couch, his breathing labored. His eyes fluttered closed and he was out again, his breathing slowing to its shallow and ragged pace again.

More tears flooded my eyes. My hands were shaking again as I took one of his hands into both of mine and kissed his knuckles.

That’s an order, remember, I thought, closing my eyes.

I don’t know when or how it happened, but at some point, I ended falling asleep half on Luke, and half in the chair. My head rested on his chest, while from my waist down rested in the seat of the chair. (I would be told this by my siblings later.)

A soothing sensation, like something was massaging my scalp, roused me from sleep. At first, I was confused because I was having trouble orienting myself because of where I was laying. When I realized where I was and remembered what’d happened, I shot up with a gasp. But because of the position I was in, I ended up sliding out of the chair and taking a tumble to the floor with a squeak.

I pushed myself into a sitting position just in time to see Luke start to sit up, what color had returned to his face, draining from the effort.

I glared at him. “Don’t you dare.” Swallowing hard, Luke laid back down. I was close enough to tell even that little movement had caused him to start wheezing. Worry shot through me like an arrow.

I carefully picked myself up off the floor and pushed the chair away so I could sit on the edge of the couch, facing Luke. I moved my hair from my face and over one shoulder.

“You undid my braid,” I complained. Luke smiled—and, oh, was it so good to see those blue eyes twinkle again—and reached up to run his fingers through my hair.

“Your hair is soft,” he murmured. “I like running my fingers through it.”

I frowned. “How long have you been awake?”

Luke shrugged, pulling his hand away from my hair, but cupping my cheek. “Just a few minutes.” I leaned into his caress, and closed my eyes for a moment. I brought my hand up to cover his and opened my eyes again, smiling. My heart did a little gymnastics routine at his returning smile.

Slowly, I leaned forward, bracing my left lower forearm against the couch, next to Luke’s head. I hovered over him for a long moment, allowing myself to get lost in his eyes, allowing myself a moment to breathe, to feel cautious relief that he was going to survive.

Then Luke cupped my face and brought my lips down to his. I giggled and returned his affections.

Impatient as ever.

I don’t know what happened. One moment it was a sweet, but still swallow-you-whole kind of kiss, the next I felt hot tears streaming uncontrollably down my cheeks. I could taste the salt on my tongue when they hit my lips.

Luke pulled away. “Tori.” He started to shift, to sit up most likely, but I stayed where I was.

“Don’t.” I kept close, close enough our lips brushed. I could feel sobs building in my chest, and my breathing started to stutter as more tears flooded my eyes and reality settled in. I could sense Luke’s restlessness, but there was no amount of comfort he could offer me right now that would make me feel any better.

Finally, when I felt I’d gotten my breathing and tears a little under control, I pulled back so I could look at him. His blue eyes glittered with worry, and he instantly reached up to wipe away the tears from my cheeks with his thumbs.

“I almost lost you,” I sobbed quietly, looking down at him, still pretty pale. But not ashen anymore.

“I’m right here,” Luke assured, trailing his fingertips down my left arm before taking my hand into his. His other hand stayed, caressing my face. “I’m not going anywhere. I promise.” His lips pulled into a crooked smile. “I’m under strict orders, remember.”

I snorted weakly, a small smile pulling at my lips, regardless.

“I love you.” Luke’s expression morphed into something I couldn’t quite read, but it was almost like…he was afraid I wouldn’t say it back. I wasn’t sure what had brought that on, but I quickly remedied it.

“I love you, too,” I replied, reaching up with my free hand to cover his that was still caressing my cheek before lacing my fingers through his.

Luke smiled, his blue eyes lighting up. I had to bit my lip on a silly, school-girl grin that was currently threatening to stretch across my face. My heart thumped strangely in my chest, blood flooding my cheeks, making me feel like a teen who’d just fallen in love all over again.

if you’ve read the books (i mean by this point, i hope you have…) this is right after the first night, and michael dying so that’s why all the red-rimmed eyes and somber mood. and i mean, luke was wounded p badly too so. also they are kinda in the middle of a war, so i mean there’s that too

this was so fun to write! thanks for sending them in ^_^ i know the second one is p long, but i wanted these to be as emotionally charged as they could be (bc i mean the prompts are p charged) but also subtle

i hope i accomplished that!

send me kisses

[ylc1]

Fanfic Master List (Johnlock)

I left this pairing for last since it’s the one I’ve written more fics about so... well. Here we are! Enjoy!

Burned hearts

Johnlock, complete, 7300 words.

Summary: A retell from the scene at the pool in TGG, in which John is never revealed to be Moriarty’s hostage. Believing himself fooled, Sherlock goes through a bit of a meltdown.

Some personal notes on it: this idea came to me when I first watched TGG. I think that I could have expanded it so much more and make it even more angsty but well… I still like it.

Additional notes: angst, lots of self doubt, Sherlock doesn’t cope well, Mycroft and Greg are very concerned.

Apples and Oranges

Johnlock, complete, 600 words.

Summary: Kid Sherlock is attempting to figure out why would people like kissing. John helps.

Some personal notes: this was a fill in for a tumblr prompt. Just some kidlock fluff.

Additional notes: AU, kidlock, fluff.

Long shot

Johnlock, complete, 44200 words.

Summary: Omega werewolf Sherlock is engaged to human Prince John, after having scared off his last suitor. It seems it might be working out for the best though- at least until the Dark and Immortal Wizard Moriarty rises again.

Some personal notes: when I write original fiction, I tend towards fantasy with a mix of romance. Indulging in my love for both genres was a joy. Also, this was my work with most kudos for a long while, so I guess it shows ;)

Additional notes: A/B/O dynamics, Mpreg, arranged marriage, angst, pining, misunderstandings, Jim being Jim (he’s the perfect fairytale villain, honestly)

Wildest dreams

Johnlock (although victorian), complete, 3800 words.

Summary: Watson puts an end to his relationship with Holmes, in order to marry Mary Morstan.

Some personal notes: have I told you how I love Taylor Swift’s songs? I had been trying to avoid writing this particular fic because I worried about my abilities to write something with such a strict historical setting, but I should probably have stopped listening to the song because it soon became too much :P

Additional notes: victorian (but a bit loosely I think), angst, pining, unhealthy coping mechanisms… HAPPY ENDING

Mistaken impressions

Johnlock, complete, 16300 words

Summary: John is convinced his neighbor’s boyfriend is a jerk. He sort of is, but he’s actually Sherlock’s brother.

Some personal notes: I liked this idea, but as I started writing… I lost my way a bit. So now I’m a bit stuck with is, since I have no idea where exactly I want to go with it, although I have what I think might be the last chapter half-written.

Additional notes: references to past abusive relationships, past drug addiction, unhealthy coping mechanisms, angst, drama, pining, MISUNDERSTANDINGS and some attempts of humor.

Hopeless

Johnlock, complete, 45800 words.

Summary: John’s a slave in Lord Magnussen’s household. When a new slave arrives and the Master takes a fancy on her (although it’s really him), John finds himself doing the best he can to protect him.

Some personal notes: this idea came to me in a dream. Which is why it’s far darker than my usual writings and also the reason for Trans Sherlock. I don’t like fighting my inspiration and well… I went with it, even if it added another layer of complications to this particular fic.

Additional notes: trans character, misgendering, implied/referenced noncon (although there’s nothing explicit), underage (it’s never explicitly stated, but Sherlock is 14 when the fic starts), slavery, sexual slavery, very dark, very angsty, mentions of violence, murder and abuse. It has a happy/hopeful ending, though!

Home for Christmas

Johnlock, complete, 8500 words.

Summary: When Mycroft Holmes informs his family he’s bringing along a friend for Christmas, the household is thrown into utter chaos: Mummy Holmes is delighted, of course and Mr. Holmes is just baffled. Sherlock, however, is determined to figure out what is his brother up to. Mycroft doesn’t do friendships, let alone relationships, so who is this mysterious Dr. John H. Watson and what’s his business with his brother?

Some personal notes: this is the actual summary on AO3, but I really don’t know a better way to describe it ;) I think my attempt of humor did work here, even if it endeded up including a bit of angst (but not much)

Additional notes: Alternate First Meeting, humor, Christmas fic, misunderstandings (of a sort), family.

Black magic

Johnlock, complete, 7400 words.

Summary: John ends up with a magic love potion (he was drunk, don’t judge him!) and in a fit of desperate longing, he gives it to Sherlock. He didn’t expect it to work since magic does not exist, so he’s a little baffled when Sherlock starts acting love-struck.

Some personal notes: this was the first fic I meant to write for the fandom. I never got around finishing until now, when I figured I might as well give it another try. I think it could have been longer, but I had no idea what else to write :P

Additional notes: attempt of humor, magic, a surprising amount of discussion of consent issues, not actually unrequited love.

All is fair (in love and war)

Johnlock, complete, 6300 words.

Summary: Eurus’ “game” forces John and Sherlock to confess long hidden feelings. It turns out as well as you’d expect.

Some personal notes: It started as a rewrite of the “I love you” scene in TFP, turned into a sort of fix it fic. I like it, even if I’m not completely sure the logic holds :P

Additional notes: angst, drama, hurt without comfort, but has a happy ending!

Priceless   

Johnlock, complete 22485 words.

Summary: Sherlock is a Prince with a Kingdom at war. He makes a deal with the all powerful wizard called “the Dark One”; the wizard will stop the war if Sherlock stays with him forever.

Some personal notes: this fic is result of the FandomTrumpsHate auction, for the lovely @sherlock-and-john-getting-it-on​. I was asked for a “Beauty and the Beast” inspired fic with John as the Beast. I asked for the chance to use the Once Upon a Time spin of the tale and this is the result.

Additional notes: magical AU, pining, misunderstandings (they’re both so silly it hurts!), includes my attempt of some proper smut, Jim wrote himself into it and in doing that provided me with an ending :P

Saving all my love for you

Johnlock, 

Summary: Unrequited love is no fun.

Some personal notes: I just wanted to write something angsty, heart tugging. There isn’t much plot, really, just a lot of pining and self reflection.

Additional notes: based on the song by the same title,angst, pining, sad, unilock.

The art of letting go

Johnlock, complete, 47400 words.

Summary: Sherlock convinces himself that if he can’t remember what happened on the stag night, then it didn’t happen at all. Until he finds out he’s pregnant and he can’t keep pretending, that is.

Some personal notes: Oh, I loved working on this. I have a thing for unplanned pregnancies (as you can probably tell) and while writing a character as trans always makes me nervous, I thought it worked well. The story is very angsty at points and it doesn’t get hopeful until the very end so… be warned!

Additional notes: Trans character, Mpreg, angst (a lot), jealousy, pining, Mary and John are married but she isn’t pregnant, pos TSoT, follows HLV more or less.

A fortunate encounter

Johnlock, complete, 4528 words.

Summary: While escaping a group of enemy soldiers, Sherlock ends up in a mysterious island.

Some personal notes: after watching the Wonder Woman movie I couldn’t contain myself and ended up writing this short thing ;)

Additional notes: Wonder Woman AU, love at first sight, spoilers for the movie (somewhat, but not really), romance.

Just friends

Johnlock, side mystrade, complete, 4400 words

Summary: Just friends don’t live together, have sex and generally enjoy a life of sweet domesticity.

Except John and Sherlock do, apparently.

Some personal notes: Cliche, I know, but cute. I became a little obsessed with the idea of friends with benefits due a song :P

Additional notes: alternate universe- college, a little angst, friends with benefits (except not), lack of communication.

The answer

Johnlock, very side Mystrade, complete, 16700 words.

Summary: Friendless and penniless, John agrees to participate on a study conducted by the renowned researcher, Sherlock Holmes, to find the answer to what’s probably the most important question in the world: what’s love?

Some personal notes: this is vaguely based on the book “The answers”, going in the direction I thought the author was going to go when I started reading it (I like my idea much better, I must say)

Additional notes: fake/pretend relationship, a little pining, Sherlock is bad at feelings (and so is John), pseudo science (don’t look too deep into it), lack of communication.

Don’t forget me (I won’t forget you)

Johnlock, complete, 2600 words.

Summary: Sherlock wakes up one day to find he’s the only person who can remember John Watson.

Some personal notes: this idea came to me one day and refused to leave until I wrote it down. It’s just the beginning of a tale, but I don’t have much a plot planned so it’s marked as finished.

Additional notes: Eurus has actual telepathic powers, a little angst, memory alteration, open ending.

And that’s it! They weren’t quite as many as a feared :P 

I hope you’ll enjoy them! Kudos & comments mean the world to me.

And if you can, maybe Buy Me a Coffee

My other lists are here: rare pairs, johnlock & mystrade, mystrade

Last updated 18.12.2018

[brothers-all]

Aru'e Tio'r (Enemy Within)

Whooooo guess who's still alive? ME! For now anyway. School is breathing down my neck, but I only have this next week left and then I AM FREE (assuming I passed all my tests that is) I am so sorry for the super late Update, especially since it feels kinda short for the wait, but I tried working on it as much as I could and I think it says a lot but not too much (which will be shown next time) SO yeah, I'm back! Hopefully, I'll be able to get my regular irregular updates up soon as well. And again, there's plenty of you lovely reviewers so I went from oldest to newest on my reply thingy.

Now, onwards to the thing you've all been waiting for! Hopefully there's still people left who read it. Also, this is where my own story for Rex's past comes into play, so if you haven't read it yet, feel free to do so - It's Aliit Ori'shya tal'din (Family is more than blood) but it's not really necessary to understand this story

[Ch.1] [Ch.2] [Ch.3] [Ch.4] [Ch.5] [Ch.6] [Ch.7] [Ch.8] [Ch.9] [Ch.10] [Ch.11] [FanFic] [AO3] [Master-list]

More about the 112th [Standard Headcannons] [Happy Version]

Chapter 12

Despite how tired they were; they knew this would likely be the last battle. So, they pressed on. With reinforcements here as well, it made it bearable and probably the only reason they were still alive.

“They’re retreating!” the voice came over all the com. links and everyone relaxed ever so slightly. The Umbarans were leaving and the Separatists were destroyed. They’ve won.

“Cody, any luck with reaching the surface?” Obi-Wan asked, steadily flying back to the Negotiator. They won this battle, finally, but the war isn’t over.

“No, only static. We can’t reach anyone,” the worry in the Commander’s voice couldn’t be missed. And the feeling he was getting through the Force didn’t bode any better.

“We should get these men back on the ships – they deserve rest,” Kenobi glanced around at the pilots and saw their tired but relieved smiles.

“Perhaps-” Cody started, cutting himself off. Just as the General was going to prompt him to continue, he spoke again. “Perhaps we could send a small party down, to check on things? Maybe going there with a fresh communicator could break this static?” He didn’t sound like his usual self, less confidant, but given what was happening, it was understandable.

“I second that,” Tiin’s voice cut through as he flew closer to Obi-Wan. “We need to organize with ground forces as soon as able.”

“It’s settled then,” Kenobi gave a small grin. “Cody, take a squad of your best men and see what’s happening down there. Report back as soon as you are able.”

“Waxer, Boil! Get the boys organized – we’re heading to the surface!” Cody called as he briskly walked through the ship. He needed experts – Umbara was no place for rookies. Trapper and Hunt are a must and he was hoping Nighteye was feeling better.

“Sir!” the duo quickly saluted and scurried off in a rush to tell the others. They’ve all been itching for a fight and some action, but they weren’t fools – they need to be ready for anything down there.

“Hang on brothers, we’re on our way.”

As Reeve stepped out the tent again, he let out a sad and trembling sigh. He hadn’t meant to do that - to tell them everything like that. He was supposed to be better than that. And yet… And yet he too was broken and looked to these men as heroes, as guides to something better and something more. And maybe, maybe he wanted them to understand, to see just how bad things were here. Maybe he wanted to let it all out, all the pain and suffering he’s felt since everything had gone to hell. After all, he was broken as well…

“Captain?” his eyes snapped up at the voices and he saw three brothers standing there, looking anxious and worried. Then again, when didn’t any of them look that way?

“Yes?” his voice was stuffy and weak so he cleared his voice and straightened his back. He remembers these three - they’re a bit younger than him, but older than most here. And there were five of them, back then… He remembers one of theirs was the first to take his own life rather than wait for Krell to do so. Many more followed.

“Is - is it true? That, they’re from the 501st?” their eyes were wide and hoping and he didn’t know why.

“Yes,” was his simple answer. He can’t blame them from hoping - who wouldn’t want to meet their hero? Someone they looked up to so much. “Go in if you want, just don’t overwhelm them, okay?”

“Thank you sir!” their lips formed weak smiles, but smiles nonetheless. When was the last time any of them had really been able to smile?

“Is this everyone?” Ahsoka asked, looking at the gathered soldiers. Many were tired and wounded, and those able, took watch over their small resting spot. They needed a camp and fast.

“Yes. About 50 made it, the rest either captured or dead,” Appo’s voice was cold and curt, but she sensed the anger and sadness from the Force around him.

“We need to find a defensible spot and soon - we got lucky no Umbaran’s attacked us so far,” Kano said, looking around at the men.

“I need to know,” Tano stared up at them, eyes hard, “what happened here.” It wasn’t a question.

“...We’ll explain everything as we move,” Appo seemed to promise, but the pain in his tone made her question it. Just how much would they really tell?

“Then we better get moving…”

“Hey… Hey! Heeeey!” he heard someone calling, but it was like he was underwater. What happened?

“Cut it out! Let him sleep,” a shove, a grunt and a snicker. He knew those voices.

“He’s usually the first one up…” a third one now, and they sounded closer.

“Rough week – it’s understandable,” a fourth one and he swallowed hard to keep his panic in control. This can’t be real.

“Hey, Rexy, can you hear us?” a hand on his shoulder and he managed to open his eyes.

“Welcome back to the living!” he was greeted by four brothers – one with long hair, a bald one, a bearded one and a tattooed one.

“…” he opened his mouth, but no words came out. No, no, this can’t be… It can’t.

“Why are you crying?” they looked in worry and concern, but they seemed real.

“…You died,” his voice was barely above a whisper and he could feel the tears running down his face.

Jezdec, or was it Fives, laughed as Bishop, why does he look like Jesse, shook his head. Pion, since when does Kix have long hair, gave a weak smile and Turm, is that Hardcase, seemed highly amused. Then, they each bent down, aiming to pick him up, when a bright light blinded him, hurting his eyes and he had to close them. But just before he could, he saw Echo again, or what they made him into.

“Good morning, Captain,” he heard and the voice boomed in his head, enhancing his headache. But he knew instantly who the speaker was, as if the way he said his rank wasn’t indication enough.

Rex quickly managed to turn his pain into hate as he glared at the Besalisk, who stood in front of him, grinning. It was then that he noticed he was trapped – his hands were raised above him and held there with a small containment field, encasing both his fists, as his feet barely touched the floor. The top of his armour has been stripped off, so at least he had more manoeuvrability. It did little to ease him though, as he tried to struggle against his bonds. And as he did, he felt something on his head - felt like a metal ring, with small boxes on his temples. What is it?

“None of that,” the activation of a lightsaber and it’s light next to his head gave the soldier pause as he glared at the Jedi. “You are making this needlessly harder for yourself.”

“…” the Captain remained silent and saw the glint of annoyance in Krell’s eyes. Good.

“So be it,” Pong hissed and raised one arm. As soon as he did, Rex felt his airway close and couldn’t breathe properly. He started choking, even closing his eyes, before suddenly being released and automatically gasped for air.

“Sir,” his vision was blurry, but he managed to see… an Umbaran? Why was he-

“What?” Krell snapped, turning back to the native.

“The clones are ready for the implants – you said you wished to remain updated?” the Umbaran’s voice was more mechanical than he remembers – must be using a translator.

“…Of course, I’ll be there momentarily,” Krell waved him off and turned back to the captured soldier. “Don’t go anywhere now,” the sadistic smirk on his face made Rex sick and he actually swallowed. The power coming off the bastard was… immense. With a fleeting glare Rex let out a deep breath and hung his head, feeling exhausted.

They sat in silence, their eyes focused on some random point in the tent as they tried to swallow and process what they’ve been told. To think their distant brothers had it so bad? It just… seemed too unreal to imagine. Their eyes met briefly, and they both saw the sadness and sorrow in the others, while their faces were unable to hide worry. What are they going to do?

Just then, they noticed the trio of brothers entering the tent, looking skittish but excited as they seem to whisper among each other about something.

“Can we help you?” Fives decided to ask, still sitting by his brother’s legs.

“Um…” the middle one, maybe a little bit taller than his companions, shifted his weight. “You’re the 501st men, right?” his voice was weak and his words quick as he avoided looking either of them in the eyes.

“Yeah,” Jesse spoke up, leaning on his elbows to get a proper view of the rookies.

The middle one craned his neck, whispering to his friends again as they seemed to get into a small argument. But their eyes always drifted back to the duo.

“Okay, okay!” the far left one, a bandage over his left shoulder, hissed more loudly and took a small step forward. “We were… um…” he mumbled, biting his lip.

“Captain!” the far right one, holding his bucket in his hands, added to his friend, almost in fear.

“R-Right… Um,” the bandaged one started again. “Your Captain… He’s still the same, right?”

“…There’s only been one captain in the 501st,” Fives clarified, but he looked confused. A look at Jesse, but the man only shrugged.

“So it’s still him…” the middle one whispered, eyes widening slightly. “We don’t… get much news out here.” At that, the ARC winced internally. That’s right. If anything did happen, these soldiers wouldn’t know about it.

“Why do you ask?” Jesse mange to speak and made the boys jump slightly.

“Well…”

“Dogma…” Tup whispered, looking up from where he was sitting. “What’s going on out there?” He was tired but dared not sleep. Ever since… since Krell captured them, they were brought to one of the Umbaran secret bunkers. Looked like a lab of some sorts. There were many others too – they were together with Kite, Jigsaw and Griff in the second one from the entrance as Umbarans kept milling about. When they were brought in here, strange collars were placed on their napes and so far, no one was sure what they did. Nothing good.

“…I don’t know…” Dogma’s quite voice sounded defeated as the man stood by the prison field-gate, trying to understand.

“There’s a lot of the others… Probably half of everyone who was at the base…” Kite’s eyes followed the movement outside and inside the cells.

“How many more do you think were killed?” Jigsaw didn’t mean to sound so angry, but the hopelessness of the situation put him in a dark mood.

“From what we heard, some are still left,” Griff spoke up for the first time in a while, voice low and weak. “The medics barricaded themselves and the wounded in one of the hangers.”

“Krell would’ve been able to open them without much problem…” Tup mumbled, resting his chin on his arms as he wrapped them around his knees.

“What?” Kite asked, turning his attention to the rookie. The others gave a similar confused expression, with Dogma clenching his fists.

“Krell betrayed us,” Tup didn’t raise his voice, but he felt sick as the words left his mouth.

“…” the silence in the cell was broken only by the Umbarans outside, as the others were too shocked to give a verbal answer.

“I knew he was a bastard but…” Griff didn’t even finish, shaking his head.

“How long? How long has he been working with them?” Jigsaw looked from one brother to the other, trying to keep his anger from growing.

“Who knows…? But think about what’s happened here? It’s all on him…” Dogma spoke up, but the sheer anger and hate beneath his words made his brothers pause. For someone who seems to always be in control, he was losing the battle against his feelings quickly.

Before anyone was able to say any more, the door opened and through it walked the Besalisk himself and a group of Umbarans. Suddenly, everyone’s attention was on the Jedi.

They landed carefully and as quietly as they could. The deadly silence around them as they disembarked put them all on high alert.

“Communications?” Cody asked, looking at Jetstream as he worked on the transmitter.

“Losing fast – there has to be something here blocking any outgoing or incoming transmission,” Jetstream explained, clearly annoyed.

“How much time till we’re compactly in the dark?” Boil glanced from one brother to the other.

“I’d give it half an hour, maybe less. The closer we’re going to get to this thing, the sooner it’ll all be gibberish.”

“Then we better work fast – are our group links still operational?” the Commander activated his and saw his brothers doing the same.

“Read you sir,” they chimed in. At least they had something.

“Good – spread out into three groups, but not too far away. This is enemy territory. We need to be able to take them out quickly and neatly, otherwise these woods will be swarmed with Umbaran patrols,” Cody saw the boys already moving into squads as he spoke.

“What’s our main objective?” Trapper asked as all eyes turned on their superior.

“Find the airbase and our brothers,” was the simple reply as Cody himself joined a squad.

“How are we supposed to do that?” Waxer tried to make it sound humours, but the Commander’s answer killed any of the joy.

“Follow the bodies.”

He was tired, in pain and couldn’t properly focus. So much happened so quickly… he could hardly wrap his mind around it. Echo was alive – if he could call it that. Krell’s been a traitor for who knows how long. Fives, Jesse and Hardcase – what happened to them? What happened to all his brothers in the hanger? When was the last time he dreamt of them…

But maybe more than anything, he wanted to know why he was here. Why was Krell keeping him locked up, but very much alive? What does he plan to gain, that he can’t get himself. It made Rex shiver where he hung, just thinking about it. Letting out a deep breath, he tried to focus, to remember what happened. He found Echo, Krell saw him and then…

He fired off his blaster, but the Jedi used one of his lightsabers to deflect the shots. He didn’t have much room to manoeuvre, so Krell easily crashed into him, sending him flying into the nearest wall and knocking the air out of his lungs. For a second, the world turned dark and in the next, blight lights almost blinded him. The weapons were inches from his neck on both sides – if he even tried to move up, he’d behead himself.

“How troublesome,” the Besalisk had said, frowning as he looked down on the clone. “This makes things… complicated.”

Just as he was about to open his mouth to ask something, he felt his head knocked back against the wall and everything was spinning and there were black dots in his vision. A second shove and his head hit the wall again, this time he could feel something dripping down his neck. A third, and he was knocked unconscious.

Another deep sigh and Rex frowned as he could hardly feel his arms any longer. Looking up, the field holding him was solid and seemed to be connected to a panel on the outside of his cell. So much for trying to break free. He was worried about everyone – especially since he had no idea how long he was unconscious. Just what madness has Krell done in that time?

“This seems like a good enough place,” Kano said quietly as what was gathered of the escapees arrived at a small clearing in the forest. They’ve ran into a scouting group of Umbarans, but managed to take them out while not losing anyone.

“…” Appo said nothing as he stared off in the distance, but he clenched his fists. The others were quietly whispering to themselves and Ahsoka glanced from group to group. Then, she followed the Sergeant’s gaze and felt the air in her throat choke.

“…What happened here?” her voice was a quiver, her eyes wide and a hand going up to cover her mouth. Tears, sudden and unbidden, started falling down her cheeks as she took in the white amour lying in the red and black fields of flora. Brothers. Vode. Dead. All of them.

“…War,” someone, she didn’t know who, said back quietly. Only then did she notice the destroyed shells of Umbaran walkers and tanks, as well as the dark suits of the natives. But the amount of white clad bodies she saw. Never before had she seen such a number of dead.

The emotions radiating off the others did little to help her ease her mind and control her emotions as she tried to stifle a sob.

“Commander…” a hand on her shoulder – probably Appo – but she didn’t react. She didn’t want to be commander. Not right now. She can’t be. She was Ahsoka, padawan learner and youngling.

A sudden noise near them put everyone on edge as they reached for their weapons, and Ahoka just barely had time to collect herself to yell a warning before the first shot was fired.

“Everything is ready,” an Umbaran said as he walked up to the Jedi, handing a datapad.

“Then prepare the first two volunteers,” a smirk came to the Besalisk’s face as he looked down and then looked at the imprisoned soldiers.

The Umbaran turned around, said something in their tongue, and the fifth cell was opened up. Instantly, the soldiers inside tried to fight it off, but the natives had long, electric staffs and shocked any brother who would fight.

The first two, being torn away from their group, were Lad and Himo – rookies. Yells and shouts of the older ones were heard as the two were dragged forward, forced on their knees with their backs bent. The electric shocks must have cramped up their muscles as they clearly had problems moving at all.

“Do it,” Krell said and two Umbarans, wearing black and yellow instead of the usual gear, walked over and behind the two rookies, holding blue boxes. Once there, they pressed a button on the collar and it opened up a small compartment. It was like a small cage only on the nape. And then… then they took something from those blue boxes. It looked like bugs – small and glowing blue, with long antennas and a tail with a sting at the end of it. The men only saw them for a second, before those things were placed in the collars – compartments more like – and it was closed. But not a second later, and the two rookies started screaming and thrashing, their bloody cries shaking many of their brothers to the core. Yet just as quickly as it started, it ended and the two calmed down, head hung and eyes void. The Umbarans released them and they collapsed forward, still unmoving.

“Well?” Krell was impatient as he asked, frowning down.

“…Dead,” an Umbaran checked their pulses and shook his head. “We need to fix it so it works properly.”

“Well, do it. You have all the lab rats you may need and I’ll be fetching those who thought they could hide soon. I want this working.”

“Understood.”

As Pong turned to leave, the still imprisoned soldiers couldn’t breathe or even really react. Some went to touch the collars on their napes, swallowing in fear. Others simply dropped down, unable to stand any longer. Few of the rookies turned away, trying to fight the emotions boiling inside. But they were all scared.

“Alright, you should be able to move now, but don’t go rock jumping yet,” a medic said as he did a final check on Jesse. “But…” he cut himself off, a weak sigh escaping.

“But?” Jesse asked as he slowly and carefully put his feet off the bed.

“You’ll never be able to move like you did before. Running should be fine, but any more complex movement and you risk injury again,” there was sadness and pity in his eyes as he spoke that.

“It can’t be that bad!” Jesse tried to protest, but as he stepped on his feet, he nearly lost his balance. Luckily, Fives caught him quickly enough. “I can hardly feel my legs…” the words left his mouth before he could stop them.

“That’s what I was talking about – they’re still damaged. I’m not… I’m not sure how long, if even ever, they will fully heal.”

“…” another silence in the tent as the two 501st boys let this sink in.

“Hey,” came a voice as someone entered the tent. It was the bandaged rookie from before. “They said he’s woken up – you can see him now.”

“Thank whoever,” Fives breathed out, a small smile of relief on his face. But still, one look at Jesse put him back into a sad mood.

“Let’s go… He’ll be lonely soon,” Jesse managed, but didn’t deny the support Fives gave him as they slowly walked towards the exit.

“Just follow me – the Captain is already there. He’ll probably have some more questions for all of you.”

Cut! Hehe, things are probably still confusing and all over the place, but I think we're getting somewhere! Hopefully, anyway. Jumped a lot all around again, so I hope it didn't make anyone space sick or anything - you can always ask me about something, and I'll do my best to try and clarify, without spoling the story ANYWAY! Thanks so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed it! Please, do review what you thought - I love hearing from you lovely people! Till next time~

[feyreofthewildfire]

Wasteland - Nessian Fanfic

Hey lovelies!!

This is not an update to We’ll Go Together (woah), but a response to this post by @modernbookfae that got my wheels turning. Personally, when it comes to writing WGT I get most excited about writing from Nesta or Cassian’s point of view, so a Nessian centric story was not far behind that realization. 

Disclaimer: this fic got WAY out of hand. I'm a cat laser kind of writer, in which I don’t plot (at least not extensively) and instead word vomit all over a Google Doc. I somehow managed to shove one of my own OCs in here as well. I apologize for what you’re about to read.

Please enjoy anyway aha.

(Inspired by the song Wasteland by Against the Current) 

Candy coated lips You’re the sweetest kiss But a bad trip

Nesta burns.

Not with strength and fervor as she once had, but with passion and some sort of affection towards that damned overgrown bat. Her hands clench into fists as her chin threatens to fall, the parasitic and festering feelings that have been settling within her since she’d met the commander now the cause of her fall from grace.

Her heart is a fortress and he’s decided to lay siege—or she thought he had. Perhaps it had all been a game to him. He’d barreled through her defenses and instead of finding and cherishing her as she had desperately, fruitlessly hoped he would, he’d walked straight through the other side and left her there—heart wide open like a gaping wound, a ravaged wasteland of broken bits and pieces hidden behind walls erected even stronger than the ones before, giving the perfect illusion of constructed poise and grace.

It’s been two weeks and they have yet to speak. She’s retreated into the library, burying herself in books and characters that don’t exist, if only to rid herself of the reality she so feverishly despises, if only so that she doesn’t run into the blonde Third.

Nesta is almost ashamed of the way she avoids Morrigan—of the way she avoids everyone. But her dreams—no, her every waking moment, is haunted with the corpse of her father, with the sound of metal crunching through bone as she severs a sovereign’s neck, with the emptiness inside her where power once rumbled, with the sound of Cassian’s screams as Hybern destroys his wings.

It seems that every part of her is haunted.

Nesta knows that she is not needed in Velaris, not essential to the happenings. It’s only been a week since their return and she has yet to do anything. Elain no longer needs her, having found contentment in the garden she begins to grow behind the House. Feyre has become the queen of an empire, needing no one and nothing but her mate.

She supposes it could’ve been argued that Cassian needed her not so long ago, but she knows it’s not true anymore. He has his brothers and Mor.

So when Vassa asks her to leave with her to Scythia as Emissary after her curse had been broken, she leaves with the queen immediately, only remembering to send a letter to Rhysand at the last moment.

For the first time in a very long time, Nesta feels free.

She takes residence on the same ship as Vassa on the way back to the continent, though she’s given a wide berth when she deigns to go above deck during the day. She is not afraid to put her hair up, to show off the delicate points of her ears and the immortal beauty she’d been cursed with.  

When she truly feels alive is when the night comes.

Maybe it’s some remnant of her time spent in her youngest sister’s home or just the fact that it’s the only time she can speak to Vassa thanks to the queen’s busy schedule. The sound of waves over the sea calms her, the slight breeze caressing her face. Were it not for the scrutinizing stares, were it not for the mask she’s forced to wear, she’s certain she’d go above deck during the day.

Then they dock in Scythia and her fantasy, her adventure is over.

Nesta barely speaks within the walls of the Palais, all too aware of the wandering eyes and ears that poison every corridor and room of every castle she’s ever been. The joy she’d secretly found in the open sea is stifled in the dinners she’s forced to attend and small talk she’s forced to make.

Still, when she does change an opinion of an important advisor, she can’t help but feel important—she can’t help but feel needed. She is an emissary, after all. Her work is truly done in the homes of royalty, far away from the place she supposes she calls home now, if for no other reason than her sisters are there.

The only thing anchoring her back to that place is her sisters and the reports she sends to Rhysand. Letters come in every so often from all three, most commonly from Elain. The tales her sister weaves of the happenings in the House never fail to make Nesta smile, even if it’s only the smallest uptick of her lips. Elain is happy and cared for—more than what Nesta could’ve wished for not even two years ago.

Then she meets General Fionn.

He’s young, born of nobility and ancient traces of Autumn Court blood that gives him the smallest power over flame, carefully hidden away in fear of losing his position. His smiles are pretty and his words are smooth. It’s easy to banter with him, given the fact that he only laughs at her insults and poisonous words. It’s easy to find some sort of ally within him.

When she wakes up from a nightmare of Elain being tortured by Hybern, she asks him to train her.

If he’s surprised, he doesn’t show it, simply nodding and agreeing. They have to run it by Vassa and Rhysand first, but the Queen and High Lord seem oddly nonchalant about the message their training sessions will broadcast to the world.

In three weeks she’s worked up into swordplay, her movements graceful and violent—strong and swift, laced with the High Fae elegance that had seeped into her veins from the Cauldron. Her immortal strength gives her the ability to knock Fionn over with nothing more than a shove, and she has to remind herself to hold back so that she doesn’t kill him on accident. While it would be interesting, it would be a shame to lose a friend and create a diplomatic disaster.

They move from swords to every weapon imaginable in the next two weeks and, occasionally, when they’re alone, she helps him with what little Autumn Court lingers in his blood. She’s by no means a qualified teacher, but he becomes surprisingly proficient at wielding the small bit of fire in his veins under her guiding hand.

When she pushes him against the wall in the armory and kisses him, she tells herself it’s because she feels something for him.

Their training sessions become more playful after that. Nesta has already learned how to use every weapon under the sun with decent proficiency, and they just spend hours sword fighting and sparring to pass the time.

She’s not sure when she begins to wear her hair down, or when her smiles become polite rather than serpentine, only that she’s convinced herself that she’s found home in a pair of human arms and distracting pet names.

When she pins him to the ground for the thousandth time, she doesn’t realize a smile’s bloomed on her face until Fionn’s eyes widen, a certain kind of reverence filling the blue orbs framed by thick lashes

So she kisses him again, unknowingly superimposing hazel over blue.

Then one of the other queens invades Scythia and he’s torn away to the western border.

He gifts her his favorite dagger and kisses her twice before leaving, bestowing upon her promises and promises of what they’ll do together once he gets back.

They send letters as fast as they can. Nesta has learned how to send letters through whatever magic allows such things to teleport long distances, though has to wait the three days it takes for his letters to get back to her through horseback. Scythia has the finest cavalry on the continent, and the messengers are well-trained and ride well, also giving them the fastest communications on the continent.

The gaping hole in her heart left by the commander across an ocean has begun to heal over, the wasteland behind the walls beginning to return to what it was once again. Every letter that arrives from Fionn and Elain gives her strength, gives her what she needs to rebuild herself and perhaps one day be able to look Cassian and Mor in the eye without wanting to hide away.

Perhaps she can find love outside of the small world she’s always found herself trapped within—her small world where love was nothing but a myth, a far-fetched tale told to the daughters that would be sold off like cattle one day.

Then the neighboring queen attacks the camp in the night and slaughters every soldier.

She doesn’t receive a condolence letter, she’s by no means his family or next of kin, but she thinks that perhaps receiving one would’ve helped with the grief, with the pain.

She doesn’t know if she was in love with Fionn or maybe just who he resembled, but the agony that ripples through her is enough to make her swear off soldiers, any man who walks into battle arms open and swords wielded, ready to greet Death as the old friend it is.

She shoves the training clothing to the back of her wardrobe and shoves the swords and daggers into a miscellaneous drawer, reverting back to braided updos and serpentine twists of her lips. It’s safer this way, she tells herself.

The walls around her heart reinforce once again.

Not a week later she’s convinced the last advisor to her side, gaining the support of the Queen’s entire court as she was sent to do. The next day Rhysand is standing in the courtyard, ready to winnow her back to the Night Court.

If he has something to say, she’s glad that he doesn’t say it. She’s wished all her farewells and her belongings have been packed up, ready to be sent back the moment she arrives in Velaris.

It’s only been three months, she knows this, and yet the place she’s supposed to call home is utterly unfamiliar.

Her heart has become a wasteland once again, torn to pieces by the man she’d chosen to give it to. Her words are more biting than before, her eyes more often narrowed then not. Every rise and fall of her chest reminds her of Fionn, of the merry laugh that always fell from his lips and the crisp apples he tasted of.

Then Cassian finds her.

He’d been off in Scythia helping with the incoming war, showing solidarity in the alliance formed between Prythian and a kingdom on the continent. He’d been her replacement after her job had been done, forcing neither of them to see the other.

She hadn’t even known he’d been arriving back, or she would’ve locked herself in her bedroom rather than sit in the exposed library.

“Hello, sweetheart.” The words drip with sarcasm, with an anger barely reined in. His place leaning against a bookshelf seems casual enough, though the crossing of his arms and clench of his jaw tells another story.

Her eyes flicker up towards him, finding that he looks exactly the same as she’d last seen him. His hair is pulled back and his Siphons gleam in the low light, a sword strapped to his back that makes her sick to her stomach.

“Commander.” Her voice is void of any emotion, the words monotone. Her hands clench around the book she’d been reading, the only sign of her distress.

He nods to the dagger strapped to her waist. “You know how to use that?”

She tenses, all the insults she wants to throw at him falling away. “It’s not mine.” She dismisses, standing from her place on the armchair and swiftly beginning to walk away, book clutched against her chest.

His eyes narrow, arm shooting out to block her path. The intricate sewing of the leathers nearly makes her sway where she stands. “Whose is it then?” He bites back, none of the careful, begrudged concern she’d come to expect in his eyes. There’s nothing but sheer will and fire in them.

She almost throws up at her own analogy.

“That is none of your concern.” Her voice raises for the first time. She will not fall apart in front of this good-for-nothing bastard. He had treated her as nothing, and she will do the same. She no longer owes him anything. She had been willing to die for him—willing to leave behind Elain. She’d laid her own body over his, looked Death in the eye and blinked.

He had made a proclamation about regrets, about having more time and yet when it had been given to him he hadn’t used it. He’d avoided her and fallen back into old habits as if the war hadn’t happened, as if she hadn’t been granted immortality and great power only to have the latter ripped away from her, as if he hadn’t had his wings shattered twice and expected death, gone running onto the battlefield arms wide open and a grin on his face.

“I heard some rumors about your time in Scythia,” He starts, unwilling to let her go, to leave her be. She doesn’t want to hear what he has to say. “I heard that you made friends with one of the generals there.”

Something inside her snaps.

“And why do you care?” The rise and fall of her chest quickens, “Why does it concern you? Why does my every move have to involve you, Cassian? I did my job. I followed every rule in the book and made a few of my own. Rhysand approved all my decisions. So why do you care?”

She’s not sure she’s ever said his name aloud, not without some insulting title following it. Her heel squeaks on the wooden flooring as she turns and struts away from him, careful to recollect the poise she’d lost in those moments.

A hand gently catches her wrist, the grip loose enough that she could rip herself away quite easily. But she doesn’t. She’s not sure why. A shaky breath falls from her lungs as she turns back to see Cassian once again, some sort of devastation laced in the strong planes of his face.

“I care about you, Nesta.” He answers her, an incredulity to his tone as if he can’t believe that she doesn’t already realize that little fact. “I care more about you than any of the shit that happens as a result of this war. I heard about what happened and I guess that was my shitty way of being concerned.”

She can only stare at him as if the answers to every question she’s ever asked lie in his features. There are so many things she wants to shout at him, so many things she wants to scream, and scream, and scream about. She wants to ask why he’d left her, why he’d avoided her and then sought her out once again like a child who’d had their forgotten toy taken away.

She’s so tired.

“I appreciate your concern, Commander.” The words are cold, formal, ones she’d spoken a million times in Scythia, usually followed by a contradicting retort.

But this is not a war room, and she does not owe the bastard anything. Not one single part of herself does she owe him.

When she walks away this time, he doesn’t stop her.

I Don’t Wanna Wake Up (Companion Fic)

[fuckyeahwintershock]

Author Spotlight: MarvelLitChick

We’re back, and we’re bigger than ever!

Our first new spotlight is on an author who doesn’t have a Tumblr, but who does write awesome stories for criminally few kudos and comments. This week, we’re turning the spotlight on MarvelLitChick.

As @foreverdrunkatheart, who recommended her says:

The series Life is just one big marathon (http://archiveofourown.org/series/409054) might start off with a nat/steve fic, which is why I think her stories are lacking in kudos and comments, but you do not have to read the first story in the series and can skip right ahead to the wintershock, if that is what’s stopping you from reading this!!. (I did, then I fell in love with the work and went back to read that too) 

the series has 253,478 words (and counting!) and the characters are amazingly portrayed, the plots are great and packed with actions, angst, smut, fluff, you name it! 

The series portrays their relationship in a wonderful way and is also packed with friendship!moments and Awkward!Dad!Tony (though not in blood, just in support and love) And the story starts out with Nt and Steve eloping on a mission (if you read the first part, and I encourage you to!) and then takes on Wintershock from a datenight-gone-wrong

“You know, at risk of sounding like a typical chick in an action movie trope, my boyfriend is so not gonna be happy with you when he tracks us down,” Darcy ventured.

One of the goons chuckled. “Good thing there are so many of us, then.”

She laughed. “Oh, Lord, you think that’ll save you? Your ass is grass.”

“Shut up,” the leader said. “You are nothing more than bait.”

“Also an action movie trope,” Darcy added. “You guys have really got this covered, eh?”

The big one gave her a shove. “I said, ‘shut up’. You talk too much, woman.”

She laughed again. “Yeah, he tells me that all the time, so it’s really not news to me.” Just the other night, in fact, the moon from outside making their shadows dance on his far wall. She’d commented that the cybernetic arm was sort of sexy and he’d told her to shut up—very affectionately, of course. She’d quickly acquiesced.

And it’s peppered with small rememberings and flashbacks of their relationship as they are on the run from HYDRA goons, letting us into their relationship and domesticality.

I love it whenever she updates bc I know I’m gonna be in for a great read, long chapters, well written characters and grammar good enough to make an english teacher cry (unlike me)  It goes on to talk about their relationship, how it evolves, how other sees it, their platonic relationships with others, as Big Things Happen. Like HYDRA kidnappings and amnesia breakthroughs and engagements. 

NOW  the reason why I wanna get out there how amazing this story is, s because her 111k story in the series has 12 chapters and just 200 kudos, which is a crime against good fanfics. If I have gotten more kudos on my stupid, silly drabbles then there is something wrong wth the universe!! This is one of the best Wintershock series I have read and it is criminally under-appreciated. 

As you can tell, she feels pretty strongly about this!

We asked MarvelLitChick a few questions and here’s what she had to say:

01. What about Wintershock as a pairing appeals to you?

I think it’s just the idea that they would be perfect for each other--if they ever actually met. Bucky is full of charm and snark. Darcy is full of charm and snark. They both act very careless but turn out to be the most loyal of the bunch. And that’s not to mention the fact that neither of them has really had the screentime or backstory opportunities needed to truly fill out a character. Bucky takes care of Steve, Darcy takes care of Jane. But what drives them both--really? And Bucky’s so damaged now, and we’ve seen Darcy as this warm caretaker type. So if they met, just imagine the snarky sparks, right?

02. How did you first encounter the pairing?

Hm. I must’ve been reading on FanFiction.net. Don’t ask me which story, I truly do not remember. My initial favorite pairing was Darcy with Loki, because again, they both act like they’re wearing armor, and you just know it’s soft and vulnerable underneath. Loki needs Darcy to lift him up a bit and maybe Darcy needs Loki to give her some levelling out and some perspective. Must’ve stumbled across her and Bucky by accident, loved them all, but thought…’Gosh, I want something with an established relationship--I know! I’ll write it myself!’

03. Do you have any specific Wintershock headcanons? Are there any particular fic tropes you like concerning the pairing?

Favorite tropes? Hm. It’s got to be the old bit where they’re maybe, playing with Nerf guns or something and everyone gets caught in the crossfire, you know? Haven’t done anything like that yet. Totally should. Headcanons? Another hm...in my head, they just do a lot of reading together. Bucky, after all that HYDRA crap, just likes peace and quiet, you know? And he wants to catch up, and he and Steve read some Lord of the Rings during the War, swapping paperbacks. And so he likes fantasy and he latches onto Harry Potter. But Darcy wants to join, because--it’s Harry Potter and she wants to re-read them. So he starts reading it out loud and they read the whole thing like that, like, every night, before they turn the light out. Or...every Friday is movie night. He’s got to catch up on that stuff too. And at first, it’s just the two of them, like a date. Then Tony shows up, maybe he’s up late in the shop and hears them laughing from out in the hall and just comes in. Then he just shows up after that on his own, with pizza or popcorn. And he mentions it to Clint. Then Natasha comes over and drags Steve along. And then Jane and Thor because Thor really, really wants to watch huge alien robots beating each other up. And it sort of becomes this giant pillow party. But Darce and Buck don’t mind--as long as everyone’s out by two so they can go to bed. ;)

04. Do you associate any particular songs with Wintershock? If so, which one?

In my head, they dance to “It’s Been A Long, Long Time” by Kitty Kallen a lot. I heard that in Winter Soldier and just HAD to use it. And it’s period appropriate! “Beautiful Disaster” by Kelly Clarkson is totally Bucky. “Wings” by Birdie is just so perfectly melancholy and wistful. The biggest one is “Stand By You” by Rachel Platten. First time I heard that I was driving home from work and my jaw just dropped open, it’s just ridiculously perfect for them. The car behind me at the light honked and then I realized it’d gone green. :)

05. What Wintershock fic by someone else would you recommend to others to read? What about this fic appeals to you?

Oh, gosh. That’s tough. Probably Learning to Breathe by MarvelousKatie. Great character development going on and such a juicy slow burn. I really hope she finishes that puppy. I haven’t seen updates in a while. Maybe my app is just messed up or maybe she’s only on AO3 now, I should check. But that thing is AWESOME.

06. What kind of Wintershock story would you love to read that hasn’t been written yet by you or others?

The one where Bucky meets her family--and it’s super awkward. I’m calling dibs on it though. Lol ;)

07. Out of the Wintershock stories you’ve written, which is your favourite, and why?

I could be really goofy and say the one I’m writing now. But I really can’t say that yet--it’s nowhere near finished. Probably Steeplechase. I was worried that my character development was just falling apart, but it ended up being one of those perfect little arcs that just naturally round off by the time you’ve reached the end, you know? Bucky thinks he’s weighing her down. Darcy doesn’t think she deserves any sort of happy domestic bliss. But in the end, they both are like, “...Whatever. I love you. Who cares?” And Tony’s found his stride as Father Figure. I like to call him ‘Daddy Tony’.

08. Quote a favourite extract from one of your stories. What is it that you like about it?

Well, if i quoted the whole thing, it would take up an entire page. But I just posted a scene--it’s a flashback--where Bucky corners Darcy in the lab to officially ask her out--you know, on a REAL DATE. And it’s cute and snarky. And Jane shows up and it’s the ‘hiding in the closet’ trope. And you know, Darcy is acting weird and high-strung as she tries to keep Jane from finding Bucky hiding behind the machine parts shelf. And the whole time she’s going on about being worried about Darcy and how Bucky isn’t safe and blah blah blah. And right as she’s about to notice him, Thor comes in, ready to save the day, totally clueless and all, perfect timing, and sweeps his scientist off the dinner. And just as he’s leaving to catch up to her, he’s all ‘Night, Darcy. James.’ And suddenly Thor knew all along, and he’s being all sneaky. Sometimes you just gotta go with the tropes, right? After all, they’re unoriginal because they’re easy to adapt and have fun with. They keep getting redone for a reason, right?

Thank you so much for this, you guys! It was seriously fun to fangirl out for a few minutes. And it’s just so cool that people are even reading my drabbles, I was sure no one really was. Whoever put my name forward, you are AWESOME. Here’s hoping Bucky gets more character development going forward (they’re taking their sweet time making him the Cap, right?) and that Darcy comes back for more fun.

Thanks to MarvelLitChick for answering these questions, and we hope this has given you an appetite to read her stories!

If you’d like to suggest an author for the spotlight, you can submit to us or to @latessitrice.

[brothers-all]

Aru'e Tio'r (Enemy Within)

Heyy everyone, sorry for the late update! Stuff is happening and these things are getting a tad hard to write (keeping it kinda mysterious, following my main idea, giving everyone enough screentime...) so the updates will be kinda slower, sorry... Hopefully it won't kill the mood for any of you! ^^

So, yeah, some more stuff happens here, some plot development and some insight into the 112th! Yey? Read, review and enjoy~

[Ch.1] [Ch.2] [Ch.3] [Ch.4] [Ch.5] [Ch.6] [Ch.7] [Ch.8] [Ch.9] [Ch.10] [FanFic] [AO3] [Master-list]

More about the 112th [Standard Headcannons] [Happy Version] 

Chapter 11

“Everyone! Group up!” Ahsoka called as she deflected enemy fire. But only a few of them actually gathered together – most kept their distance.

“They’re coming in from everywhere!” Appo managed to blast a few of them.

“How did they breach the base? Did we not set up security systems?” Krell growled lowly, using the force and pulled an Umbaran fighter from the air, crashing in into the Umbarans.

“Must have been a malfunction or something!” Boomer managed to say before he got hit in the shoulder, knocking him to the ground.

“We can’t hold them off – they’ve got a full assault squad here!” Kano spotted the incoming tanks and fighters raining death from above.

“We can’t leave – we’ve got too many wounded and missing!” Slasher yelled over the screams and explosions, checking on Boomer.

“Look, there!” Ash pointed at the edges of the base, where Umbaran soldiers were dragging clones away and into empty hangers or prison blocks. “They’re taking prisoners?”

“This is not good!” Ahsoka thought, eyes going from the fallen to the captured. She could also feel the ground shake as the spider tanks walked, eliminating waves of soldiers in one fell swoop.

“I’m going to go look for Rex! He has to have a plan! Maybe I’ll run into Fives as well!” she said, unable to see or read the horror and sadness coming off her brothers.

“Don’t bother. He’s dead,” Pong said emotionlessly, and her body turned numb.

“…W-What?” she barely managed to react to blaster fire coming her way, her head swimming. She forced herself to focus, to try and find that familiar flicker in the Force but there was none.

“He was patrolling near the tower – it was the first target. He is either dead or captured. We cannot waste time on a dead man,” the Besalisk continued, throwing one of his sabers and slicing apart an incoming wave of Umbarans.

“Commander, what are your orders?” Appo asked and Tano froze for a few seconds. The world seemed to move slowly, she could see the blinding lights as soldiers fell, hear their screams their pleas. She saw the fires and the smoke rising from the base and saw the abled helping the wounded. They can’t win.

“Everyone, this is Commander Tano! I’m ordering a retreat! Help anyone you can and move into the forest!” she said into her communicator, fingers shaking and voice stuffy.

“You’re running away?” Krell asked in disbelief, sounding angered even.

“Yes, we are! We can’t continue to fight like this – we’ll die!”

“Victory to death, youngling,” Pong gave her a hard look, before jumping in the air and landing further away from their small group.

“Master Krell!” she couldn’t believe it. Was he seriously going to continue fighting like this? Or was he buying them time?

“Commander!” Appo gently took her shoulder. “We need to leave!”

“Right, let’s go! I’ll cover you!” she swallowed as she turned her back to the tower, to her friends and brothers. She felt like she was betraying them all, but there was nothing she could do right now.

“We… we had a plan,” Fives started weakly, sitting down on the edge of the bed. “To destroy the supply ship.”

“And you succeeded,” Reeve said, giving a small nod. He had sat down on a nearby chair, sending away any onlookers and letting the medics work.

“At what price?” Jesse was clenching his fists, eyes hard. He almost moved again, but managed to stop himself before that.

“You’re all still alive, aren’t you?” there was a sadness in the Captain’s tone as he looked at them, his broken gaze casting them in silence.

“Things would have been better if Krell had just – just,” Jesse couldn’t even word it, but the 501st saw the tension rise around them. The medics stopped, staring at them with wide eyes and Reeve cursed under his breath.

“General… Krell? You were working with him?” one of them asked, his gaze slowly moving to the Captain. “…Did you know?”

“…” Reeve closed his eyes and refused to speak or look at anyone else.

“Did you know why he left?” another medic hissed and Fives and Jesse suddenly felt like they were intruding on a personal matter.

“I did,” the Captain said simply, looking at them with emotionless eyes. “What of it?”

“He got to manipulate, break and destroy others – and not just any other battalion. The 501st! The ones we look up to! How could you just-!”

“What was I to do?” Reeve’s anger suddenly flared as he stood up. “He left us here alone, for the first time since I can remember. I didn’t see it important as to why – and if I remember correctly, neither did anyone else!”

There was a tense silence in the tent now, as the medics shrunk into themselves and the Captain looked exhausted and guilty. His next words were a whisper and he turned his back to the newcomers.

“Better them than us.”

“C’mon Kix, work with us here…” Patch said quietly as he checked over his brother.

“…I’m fine,” Kix insisted, but didn’t struggle against the cold tools.

“Yelling and punching our Captain doesn’t really show that,” Scar sighed, looking over at the scans they did.

“He deserved it,” Kix winced as the words left his mouth, but didn’t try to deny them.

“You can’t blame him for what Fives, Jesse and Hardcase did. They knew what they were getting into,” Fixer gave him a steady glare.

“…”

There was silence for a few more minutes as they worked, before screams and yells got their attention. Seconds after, the sounds of fighters and tanks moving around made their hearts skip a few beats.

“Umbaran attack?” Scar asked, walking closer to the door and seeing a group of brothers getting blown to bits.

“We can’t fight them like this – there’s too many wounded!” Patch glanced behind himself and saw the hurt brothers either trying to show they can fight or looking in worry.

“Lock down the doors – we can’t let them in,” Fixer said as he saw one of the less injured soldiers working on the panel.

“What about the others?” Kix was looking between all of them in shock.

“We can’t risk it – I’m sorry,” Fixer said and set a hand on his shoulder.

“…I’m not going to sit here and let them all die!” Kix shrugged off the arm and made a mad dash for the closing doors. The yells and calls of his brothers were lost on him as the echoes of battle filled his limbs with adrenalin. He dropped down and slid across the floor under the door just in time, before it closed and he stood in horror at what he saw.

“I’m surrounded!”

“Can’t shake them off!”

“Anyone got a clear shot?”

“Hold on, I’m on my way!”

“There’s too many!”

Cody clenched his fists and glared at the battle before his eyes, biting his lip hard enough to draw blood. This was a massacre. And where were their reinforcements? If this goes on, the entire division could be lost.

“Everyone, converge on me – we’ll strike at the heart of this enemy,” Kenobi said as every pilot seemed to let out a breath of relief. But it didn’t last long as they had to continue the battle, already exhausted.

“Commander! We’ve got incoming fighters!” Algo called and Cody spun around, eyes wide. He was about to order evasive maneuvers and to help, when Log cut in.

“They’re our sir! Reinforcements have arrived!” the wave of relief washing all of them in the command room could almost be seen as the Commander turned back out.

“Everyone, backup has arrived!”

“Apologizes everyone, we got careless,” General Tiin said as he flew in overhead, blasting the nearest enemies.

“It’s quite alright – you’re here now,” Obi-Wan replied as he led a squadron. “Now, how about we take care of these Umbarans and see if we can provide some assistance on the surface?���

“Sounds like a plan to me.”

He was running just like everyone else, following the ones at the front into the forest. The Commander’s order had gathered them together and they were moving.

“Anyone seen Tup or Dogma? They were in a hanger near the tower!” an older brother called as he looked around.

“Haven’t seen them sir!” Ink answered, but there was a shake in his voice.

“Kriff! I’m staying here in case someone else comes around – you follow Lieutenant Luv to the rendezvous point!”

“Sir-!” Topaz tried to speak, but the veteran cut him off.

“That’s an order rookie! Now go, get out of here!”

And just like that, they were running and moving again. The planet was as inhospitable as before, but now things seemed more crazy. In his head, he tried to pretend it was all just a simulation from Kamino as he and his brothers ran. The battle at the airbase was getting further and further away, but he felt like a traitor. Leaving his brothers to die back there, even if he was just a rookie, felt wrong. But he wondered how many veterans have felt this way? Maybe it was part of becoming a soldier.

“Hey, Sunny, you okay?” Ink asked him and he shook his head to clear his mind.

“Y-Yeah, yeah, fine… Just,” Sunny hated his how voice trembled. “This is insane…”

“Yeah, true there,” Seal said and gave out a nervous laugh. “But hey, at least we’re still together, right?”

“Right.”

Seconds later, the ground shook and a turquoise light seemed to appear all around them. A spider tank walked in from the high trees and Sunny was frozen there, staring at the weapon of death. There were screams all around him as brothers tried to fight or flee, but as the tank charged its cannon, he fell to his knees, shaking. Death awaits, he thought and closed his eyes. A moment later, there was indescribable pain, before it all vanished and he felt nothing at all.

“Lieutenant Luv, come in! Where are you and your squad?” came a broken staticy voice in an abandoned helmet as bodies lay all around the small field.

“Lieutenant? Answer me! Lieutenant!”

“Lieutenant? Answer me! Lieutenant!” Ahsoka was nearly pleading into her com. link, before closing her eyes and putting a hand over her face.

“Commander… If,” Appo started, standing by her side. “If they couldn’t make it, we need to leave… There are others counting on us. Different rendezvous points we’ve set up.”

“What’s going on here?” she whispered, fear in her eyes as she looked at the Sergeant.

“…A lot has happened. But I think it’s best we discuss it when we’re someplace safe. Umbaran’s are likely scattered all over in these woods,” Appo let out an exhausted sigh. If Rex really was… dead or captured, then he’s the one who replaces his command.

“Let me just – just do a quick scan. To see how many are alive and where they’re gathered most. And to try and find Rex or Fives,” she kept the last bit to herself as she sat down, legs crossed and heard the boys moving around her in a protective circle.

“Focus…” she said to herself, exhaling and concentrating on the Force flowing around her. It was wild and rapid, biting and almost cutting, but she endured it and expanded her focus from the woods. She sensed the others, the older ones leading and directing, the younger ones scared and confused… The dead and the dying in the woods, multiple flickers vanishing in an instant. It made it hard to breath.

Taking a shuddered breath, she continued and tried to move closer to the airbase, but just when she cleared the fog around it, she hit a wall. It sent a shockwave through her body, making her yell and lean on her knees, panting.

“Commander?” Kano asked as the others looked around for any danger.

“I – I can’t… sense anything inside the base…” she said fearfully, eyes wide. “Not a single vode, not the Umbarans… not even Master Krell.”

“…” the boys shared a look as Kano helped her stand, since she was still in a bit of a shock from the sudden block she ran into.

“We should get moving… Do you know where the others are?” Appo stepped closer.

“Yeah, I can lead us there…” Ahsoka nodded weakly.

“Sir!” Reeve heard just as he left the tent, his expression more tired than before. He didn’t linger after the small outburst inside, and the medics returned to what they were doing, even if more silently. The two 501st soldier didn’t say anything either, but he could clearly see the pity and sadness in their expressions.

“Yes?” he saw a rookie medic rushing to him, looking out of breath.

“The – The third one! 9112 finally finished the surgery!” he explained, but his expression didn’t seem to mirror the good news.

“How is he?” the Captain swallowed a lump in his throat. He was there when they found this trio and he saw the damage on the third one – didn’t look good at all.

“Alive,” the kid said firstly, but his expression was still sorrowful. “But… Well,” he fumbled, scratching the back of his neck.

“What it is?” now Reeve was starting to worry as he glanced at the main medical tent.

“His head sustained the heaviest damage and… well, we had to work on the most critical parts first so…”

The kids next words seemed to shake the old Captain’s world as a chill went up his spine. Of all the things to happen… He closed his eyes after the news, shaking his head even, and needed a few seconds to fully accept it.

“…Should we tell his brothers?” the kid asked in fear, eyes going past his superior and to the tent behind him.

“I’ll tell them… It’s best if they’re prepared for it,” Reeve said with a small nod. “Tell 9112 to get some rest – he’s been on his feet for a few days now.”

“He looked ready to fall down actually, but will do sir!” the rookie saluted and ran off again.

Reeve let out a tired sigh as he watched him and couldn’t help the pity that came to his eyes. There were so many young brothers here… Krell always seemed to get them early. And none of them had names. Any they managed to get on Kamino were dismissed and discarded once they joined this battalion. Maybe it was easier for them than the older ones… They haven’t gotten a real chance to use the name, so it might have been easier to revert back to numbers. It doesn’t make it right or any less painful, but it makes it easier for the Captain to tell apart the new and the old. After all, it seems they all have that same broken and empty expression now…

“So we’re stuck here now?” Fives said more than asked, a sigh following.

“Seems like it…” Jesse mused, staring at the top of the tent. “At least we’re all together eh?” he tried to lighten the mood, even giving a weak smile.

“Haha, yeah, true enough,” the ARC let out a small chuckle, before reaching carefully with his hand to the burned spot on his head.

“Hey, Jess?” he said quietly, staring off. “Do… do you think we can be what the Jedi are?”

“…What do you mean?” Jesse blinked, looking at his brother. “Force Sensitive?”

“Y-Yeah…” Fives cleared his throat, scratching his neck. “I told Rex before but… I um…” he swallowed before looking down at the other man. “I’ve been having dreams. Like, weird dreams, but they seem like stuff Ahsoka used to talk about. Seeing the future and all that,” he explained, throat stiff and voice low.

“What kind of stuff do you see?” Jesse wanted to understand, but it was something he couldn’t really wrap his head around.

“Like… It’s happened twice now,” Fives started, biting his lip a bit and putting his hands together on his lap. “I saw – heard,” he closed his eyes, unable to really explain it. “…Echo. I – I heard him in those dreams and… And not just him. I – I think Rex was there too, as was Krell and… and someone I can’t name,” just thinking about it made his body cold and his throat felt stuffy again. If he closed his eyes, he could almost see the dream again.

“A lot was happening and I was confused as hell, but… I know it was Echo.” He opened his eyes and saw Jesse staring at him in disbelief.

“Second time it happened… was just before I woke here,” a nervous smile was on the ARC’s face as he looked away, feeling a stinging in his eyes. These memories… they weren’t present to remember.

“The airbase was being attacked… Rex and Krell got into a fight but I couldn’t see what happened after. It – it was dark and hard to see and ended so fast I couldn’t-!” he took a deep, shuddered breath before continuing: “And – and Ahsoka was there, but she – she,” his voice kept breaking and he had to swallow again. “She was fighting Krell.”

He paused, catching his breath and turning back to see Jesse still looking confused and unbelieving as his brow furrowed. Fives was shaking now, his body cold and he bit down on his lip to avoid his teeth chattering. Why was he so damn scared? Because of the Force? Is that it?

“Fives…” Jesse said with a sigh, rubbing his face with both his hands. “That’s-,”

“Crazy, I know, but-!”

“I was going to say weird, yeah, but… I don’t know, feels entirely possible? You saw what Krell is like – I wouldn’t put it past him to do some of this stuff.”

“…And what about Echo?”

“…I honestly don’t know… A recording maybe? Your memories?” there was a pause as they only looked at each other, puzzled and worried.

“Ahem!” Reeve cleared his throat and got the attention of the two 501st boys. They seemed shocked, and wondered how much of the conversation he actually heard.

“I got some news for you two,” the Captain said stepping closer and saw them tensing, likely knowing what the news would be about.

“Your friend-,”

“Hardcase,” the two said immediately, knowing he likely had no idea what the man’s name was. But given so few brothers here had names, they just had to make it clear.

“Hardcase,” Reeve gave an acknowledging bow of the head. “His surgery is finished, however, there are some… complications.”

“What kind of complications?” Jesse nearly got up again, but Fives put a hand on his chest to keep him steady.

“…His head took the brunt of the damage and since there were other, primary injuries to take care of, our medics didn’t – couldn’t work on it fast enough,” the Captain avoided looking at them.

“You’re ignoring the question!” Jesse was feeling his heartbeat rise and breathing was becoming harder. He can’t lose another brother. Not like this.

“…His memory won’t be intact. 9112 said Hardcase will have gaps and missing pieces. Amnesia. How much, he can’t tell. But your friend, your brother, likely won’t remember the last few weeks at least.”

The silence in the tent was deafening. Jesse was choking on air, unable to form words or even move as Fives started with wide eyes and an open mouth. Amnesia. Seriously? He’s alive, that’s fantastic, but if he can’t remember…

“I’m sorry,” Reeve said and it sounded like he’s said so many times, he doesn’t believe in its meaning anymore. “But at least his duty won’t be hindered. He’s still a fully functional soldier.”

“And is that all that matters?” Fives had no idea where his anger came from as he stood up. Maybe from all the carp he’s had to deal with from Krell, or all the things he wishes he could have said to Rex back then. But it was burning his insides and he had to let it out.

“It’s how this works – the system we’re in. We can’t escape it, he won’t get off easy because he can’t remember,” Reeve managed to keep calm, but his eyes narrowed.

“That may the system, but it’s wrong!” the ARC clenched his fists. “I’m not just another number! None of us are!”

Another silence as Fives seemed surprised at his own words, Jesse was still looking in horror and Reeve seemed taken back. It lasted a few seconds, before the 112th soldier lowered his gaze and spoke up.

“…I used to believe that,” the Captain said quietly, as if scared someone would hear him. “There used to be so many of us with names, even when Krell was our General… But he changed one day, and forced us to numbers.”

“Then why-!”

“Because you either did as he said or you got killed!” Reeve’s own anger sparked, but his eyes carried only sadness. “My former squad mate, Loto, was killed – neck twisted by the Force – because he dared to speak back to Krell. Young brothers were getting slaughtered in suicide missions and we didn’t even have names for them! And all the while, here I was, carrying a name so many wished they could have!” the Captain was torn between anger and sadness as he spoke.

“I wore it like a badge of honor for a long time, before I saw what it really was. A mark. His mark on me, one I am never going to escape. I don’t have my name because I earned or deserve it. I have it, because he allowed it! Since then, it’s been a chain of shame…” his voice dropped as he started at the floor.

“So, forgive me if I don’t share your view on our lives. Because here? In the 112th? You are just a number. I try my best to help the rookies, or ease the veterans, but in the end, I’m more broken than any of them. I’m the oldest one here,” a humorless laugh escaped him as the two finally saw tears in his eyes.

“I can’t even do what some others have… Take my own life, on my terms. Because that’d mean leaving everyone here behind. I can assure you, Krell is not going to be happy. Having a broken Captain like me by his side is easier than trying to find a new one…”

“Things are calming down,” Tup said quietly, leaning over the edge of the hiding place. He was nervous, but at least he wasn’t alone.

“This is crazy,” Dogma whispered back, gripping his blaster close to his chest. They hid as soon as they could and managed to remain so while the Umbarans attacked all around. They wanted to help, but the logical parts of them told them they’d only get killed or captured. So, they stayed away and watched to try and find a chance to escape.

“Is that… General Krell?” Dogma asked in shock as the Besalisk landed by the tower entrance. For a few seconds, he felt relief because a Jedi could handle these bastards easy. But a second after he landed, Pong deactivated his sabers and the Umbarans seemed to… greet him? They certainly weren’t attacking him.

“What the-?” Tup asked in fear as they saw the Jedi talking to an Umbaran who seemed to be the leader, given the additions on his armor.

“Shh!” Dogma hissed and pulled his friend back behind the wall just as some Umbarans turned towards their spot.

“Is – is he working with them?” the question seemed to echo in both their heads as they felt cold. So cold. And watched.

“W-We need to move!” Dogma was shaking, entering a near panic as his voice was hardly raised. But before either could really move, something big and menacing jumped behind them, lightsabers drawn and a smirk on the Besalisk’s face.

“What have we here?” Krell asked, voice sadistic as the two soldiers trembled under his sheer strength. It was like they were suffocating and couldn’t even aim their weapons.

“Take them to the lab – we have more volunteers,” the General said and suddenly Umbarans surrounded the two and cuffed them.

The two couldn’t even speak as they continued to stare the monster before them, bodies cold and almost numb as their minds tried to understand and process what the hell was going on. They just knew it wasn’t good.

Cut! Phew, we were jumping all over the places weren't we? Hopefully it wasn't confusing ^^" If any of you have questions, feel free to ask and I'll try my best to explain (without spoilering the story) Thanks a lot for reading! I hope you enjoyed and if you did, please review! I love hearing what you lovely mates think! =D Till next time~