#also why is wong fighting in a place like that?

[enrosadiraanisaaa]

Within Session .Part Three.

Hey there cuties, do not think I forgot about y'all! This fanfic consist of Yandere!Leon Kennedy. I intend for this fic to progressively become disturbing and fucked up with each chapter. While the first few chapters will be tamed, expect the following in this series:

~Stalking, Kidnapping, Forced Breeding, Degradation, NonCon, Gang Banging, Forced Pregnancy, Somnophilia, Blackmail, Manipulation, Abuse, Pet Names, Obsessive Behavior (Duh), Torture, Constraints, Mentions of Blood & Gore, Mental Degradation, Toxic Relationship, Sexual Abuse, Masturbation, Drugged & Drunk Sex, Loss of Virginity, Forced Penetration…

Also you will be retconned (Too bad 😏): Female Reader, 24 Years old and from Texas 💝

This story was purely written with RE 4 (Remake) Leon in mind. So no puppy dog Leon from RE2 or DILF Leon from later games & movies. The story takes place several months after the events of RE4. Yay, you’re in 2004!

I plan to make this series long and fleshed out, but I promise what you want will hit you like a train~🚂

This chapter does not contain any 🔞 material. This story will contain +18 content (NSFW) in the near future 🔞 If you’re a minor, please go read a real book or something, don’t cry to me when your mom finds your shit.  This story will eventually hit that point so don’t set yourself up.

Summary

As an on sight therapist for STRATCOM in Nebraska, you’re tasked with providing quality therapy for US military personnel and government agents. After working at the headquarters for 6 months, Hunnigan recommends you to a notable government agent, Leon Kennedy, who is in need of therapy. After a number of sessions with you, Leon notices a substantial stability in his sanity yet is threatened when you are offered a position back home, closer to your family and friends. Your choice doesn’t sit well with one particular client, who can’t fathom you out of your role as his therapist. Leon has found a means of keeping his precious therapist and realizes you are the key to his permanent solace. You were obviously destined to be his in some form. Why dream of him letting you go?

A\N: I was heavily inspired by Satoshi Kon’s Perfect Blue 💙, ExploreVenus’s Something Permanent and Guardian Angel by NexysWorld. This chapter was oddly hard to write, especially writing out a session on a serious topic. Once I was writing, I kept writing so you might find this chapter to be long! Expect the next chapter to be out in two weeks!

Hope y'all enjoy the third part! More to come 💝~ Anisssa أنيسة

Here is Part One and Part Two of Within Session

Cleared Mirror

When Leon finally mentioned to Hunnigan his need for help, he did not expect immediate validation to improve his mental health. After the Raccoon City incident in 1998, the horrifying experiences that had cost him a normal life had embedded as an inevitable trauma. The grueling military training that followed after he was captured by the US government and forced to become a government agent to protect Sherry. The underlying hazing that he endured in boot camp tested his abilities and mental state beyond his capabilities, yet it was a period of time that distracted him. Then the recent mission to Spain to save the president’s daughter and his fight against Las Plagas of Los Illuminados seemed to weigh in after losing Luis and confronting Ada Wong after a number of years.  His guilt was engulfing him at this point, so he looked forward to his first session with the referred therapist by Hunnigan.

        However, when he did arrive at the office for the scheduled session at 5PM, he did not expect a young woman to be assigned his therapist. He noticed she was preoccupied with paperwork on her desk before he knocked on the doorway door to notify her that he had arrived. Once her awareness of him occurred, she stood up from her chair to greet him. Leon instantly notices her red attire with black heels, reminding him of a certain woman.

     Without realizing it, Leon accidentally scrunches his face from the reminder. Even when you offer a seat on one of the chairs in front of your desk, a glare on his face remains for a moment. However, when Leon takes another glance at your face, he eases the features of his face, nearly dazed at the sight of your eyes and lips as you both sit across each other. For a moment he studies your facial features while you speak until a question from you returns him to reality. Leon blinks his eyes in realization and nods to the question, simply muttering,”Yes.”

          His heart nearly flutters when you provide a reassuring smile while nodding your head,”That’s okay, let’s get started, Leon,” He hears you tell him. 

      By leaning over the chair, you reach over with one hand to retrieve paperwork clipped to a clipboard from the top of your desk. Leon patiently sits in silence across from you, curious of the next course of actions. With a swift flip of the papers attached to the clipboard, you reaffirm all the necessary documents before leaning over in the chair to hand the clipboard to Leon. Once Leon had the clipboard in his possession, he curiously skimmed through the pages while you spoke,” Alright Leon, we’re going to take the first 15 minutes to get through all this annoying intake paperwork. Essentially review HIPAA concerns, consent forms, and ethical guidelines. Afterwards, I will ask more questions regarding your background, then begin discussing your reasons for therapy and goals so we can formulate a treatment plan along our sessions. How does that sound?” You question him, provided with a gentle smile.

       Leon follows with a head nod, content with the flow of the session.”Sounds good,” he immediately responds, eager to hear your voice more. Despite Leon never receiving treatment before, he was honestly impressed with your diligence.

     With the reassurance from Leon, you proceed on explaining the following paperwork.”Also, please feel welcomed to ask me any questions, I want to ensure you’re not leaving here confused and that my skills are what you’re looking for in a therapist,” You sincerely express, shifting in the chair to cross your legs.  

      There were several questions that instantly came to Leon’s thoughts: ‘How old are you?’ and ‘Are you single?’ 

“The first page contains a HIPAA authorization form, basically entailing how your medical information is disclosed and your rights regarding your medical information…''You explain, leaning over the side of the chair again to snatch a pen from your desk. With the pen in hand, you lean over the chair to hand it to Leon,”So just write today’s date, your full name, date of birth, social security, check the boxes, and provide your signature. Please let me know if you have questions,” You breathe out, observing him as Leon fills out the worksheet in silence, hearing the scribbling of the pen on paper.  

         After a moment, Leon glances back up to you, signaling he was finished with signing this section of paperwork. In this moment, you provide a smile in reassurance,”Sweet, now we can continue to the next section, which is simply covering ethical guidelines between therapist and client. If you flip over to the next page, it will clarify all the different points. When you’re done reading, just sign at the bottom,” You advise him, sinking back into the chair as Leon flips and reviews the next page of ethical guidelines.

      At this moment, several points mentioning friendship and gift exchange between client and therapist caught Leon’s attention. Therapists are legally required to maintain a professional relationship with their clients, thus can not accept gifts over a certain amount. Leon briefly glances at you, then instantly returns his sight to the paperwork on his lap. He would have to abide by these guidelines to receive treatment. With the pen in his hand, Leon inscribes his signature on the line at the bottom of the page along with writing the current date. 

    With all the paperwork finally reviewed and signed, this prompted you to clasp your hands together, instantly capturing Leon’s concentration from the paperwork on his lap up to you at the sudden noise,”Okay, we’re done with paperwork! You can set that on my desk, now we can finally get into why you’re here. I will ask a couple of questions, then you can tell me more about yourself, Leon,” You explain, your voice full of enthusiasm as you directly observe his blue orbs across the room. In response to your declaration, Leon nods his head. 

     By adjusting your throat, you then exhale before asking the first question: “Has your family or you have any history of substance abuse that is not limited to alcohol, illegal drugs, and abuse of medication?” 

From across the room, you notice Leon shakes his head,”I am not sure about my family, but not me…”

      To acknowledge him, you provide a subtle head nod to his response,”That’s okay if you don’t know. Another question: During your childhood, did you live any significant period of time with anyone other than your natural parents?” You question him, intently observing his expressions. Despite his file entailing he was an orphan, you needed more context.

      There was a momentary pause from Leon at this question, his gaze elsewhere but you as he ponders this question. He then returns his gaze to you, nodding,” Yes. I was in the foster care system until I became 18 years of age. There was an incident in my family that I don’t have much recollection on…” He tries to clarify. 

     ‘There was an incident?’ This thought comes to you, debating if this subject should be pressed on and explored. You veer your head to the clock on the wall, it was already 5:32PM. Session will be ending soon at 5:50PM and there is at least one important question left for Leon.

     With another head nod, your lips form a smile to Leon,”We can explore that at another time if you like… My last question is: What has brought you to therapy and what goals do you want to accomplish?” To some, this inquiry might seem ridiculous, but this direct question was for clients to explore their reasoning to receive therapy.

     An exasperated sigh escapes his mouth, tilting his head to the sides as it seemed he did not want to confess his sentiment. “Uh… I feel alone” He finally admits, his face expressionless.

     “At what point in your life do you feel alone?” You inquired, keeping your tone serious to Leon’s response.

      Over the span of his life, there were an absurd number of instances when he was abandoned by people. The initial example was during his childhood, when his family was massacred for unexplained reasons. He spent a considerate amount of years in the foster care system, unloved by blood. The girlfriend who broke off their relationship the night before he experienced the incident in Raccoon City. Hell, even when Claire Redfield deserted Sherry and him to search for her older brother after they barely survived that harrowing night together. Leon had to fend for Sherry when Claire had left them to the mercy of the US government. Then the infamous Ada Wong, who used him twice before vanishing without a trace. People were brief in his life, either from death or they left him.

     Despite these prominent circumstances, how would he express some of these details without explaining an incident that was covered up and immensely classified. His hands and tongue were tied, he would have to brush over this portion of his life. 

       With several blink of his eyes, Leon considers other reasons for his lonesomeness. There was an uneasy feeling that swept over him due to the unsettling silence in the room. You were attentive for his answer.

      “The nature of my job… I am too busy to involve myself in meaningful relationships,” Leon conjures, returning his gaze to those eyes that seemed too distant from him. 

     As Leon provides a response to your final question, you notice hesitation in his demeanor as if he is recollecting something traumatic. However, as a professional you can not dismiss his answer, but simply acknowledge him. 

    Since Leon was an agent of STRATCOM, no doubt that life threatening missions contributed to this sentiment. Similar among other agents and military personnel, coping with isolation and loneliness was common. 

      “Are there any particular aspects of your job that contribute to your feeling of loneliness?” You ask him in a sincere tone. With a quick glance at the clock on the wall, there were only a few minutes of session. Damm…

Leon noticed your glance to the clock on the wall, yet continued to speak,” People are temporary in my line of work…” He admits, noticing the hands of the clock were at 5:46pm.”Session is done already, huh?” Leon comments, returning his attention to you for confirmation. 

       A faint smile forms on your lips, nod slightly.”Unfortunately…but we can continue this subject next session..” You respond, standing from the chair to retrieve another clipboard from your desk, consisting of another signature page. “Before you leave, if I could get your signature. I did check your health insurance and it’s all good to go. They require a client signature to authorize that you received treatment today,” You inform him, offering the clipboard to him with both hands. 

     Leon stands from his seat, taking the clipboard with one hand while his other hand grasps the pen attached to the clipboard. After signing his signature at the bottom of the sheet, he returns the clipboard back into your possession with a faint smile on his lips.

     You reciprocate the same faint smile on your face,”Alright Leon, it was a pleasure to meet you today. I really recommend writing any thoughts or topics you want to speak about in a small notebook for our sessions, that way you don’t forget… but other than that. You are free to go. I look forward to seeing you on Friday at 5PM. If you need to reach me for any reason, definitely reach me by email or my work number.” You mention, leaning on your desk. 

       With a nod from Leon, offering a cheeky grin,”Yes ma'am. I will see you on Friday then, stay warm...” He comments, noticeably glancing at your body up and down, implying your poor choice in your red attire. At those words, Leon turns around to exit your office, leaving you alone in silence. 

     This was definitely an interesting client, there was no doubt in Leon’s charisma and intellect. 

[alexendria-rose]

My tears Ricochet~

Stephen Strange X Reader

“Get out.” Stephen he sat on his chair face in his hands as he couldn’t let the tears be shown. His tired red eyes lining his eyes. Wong huffed crossing his arms at the sorcerer.

“She wouldn’t want this Stephen.” Wong grumbled walking his way towards Stephen.

“Well she isn’t here is she!” Stephen snapped his head towards Wong. His tear stained face shown, the bags under his eyes, his hands shaking. “I couldn’t save her!” His heart was beating rapidly as the tears continue to fall. Wong didn’t know what to do as he’s never seen his friend like this, he loved her too, he wanted her back as well but he also knew she couldn’t want Stephen like this. Only if it didn’t end the way it did…

Stephen looked back at the fight hoping his plans were going exactly as he planned when he looked at how many outcomes would happen trying to defeat Thanos. That’s when he saw her- the love of his life knowing there last argument five years ago wasn’t what he wanted before sending off to space and her fighting along with the others. There she was fighting the aliens along side Thanos, using her powers looking beautiful as always. He so wish he would just stop what he was doing and hold her and apologize for everything he said. But his heart stopped when he saw her fighting Thanos instead. This wasn’t supposed to happen he made sure of it and that’s when it happened she took the stones instead.

“No!” Stephen roared as she made the snap. He stopped what he was doing immediately rushing to her side. Her body fell limp from the power rushing through her veins but she was still smiling knowing she saved everyone else around her. Stephen held her tight to his chest as he saw that the power of the stones fried her left side all the way to the side of her face, blood coating her precious mouth. Y/n looked at him with tears but a smile.

“Stephen.” She whispered her limp hand moving up to touch his face. Stephen was shaking holding her close.

“No stop, you’re getting out of here. You’re surviving this.” Stephen managed to gasp out. She just shook her head moving her hand to place on his cheek feeling the life of her slip away.

“I-I’m not.” She coughed out the blood her tears streaming down her pale face. “Surviving… I love you. I forgive you.” She whispered softly. Stephen shook his head holding her close to his chest knowing he was going to lose her soon.

“Y/n stop please no.” He sobbed. Tony came up behind him laying a hand on his shoulder trying to support Stephen as all the avengers watched her sacrifice her life for them to have another one.

“I love you Stephen strange.” She managed to gasp out before her eyes slowly shuttered closed as death overtook her.

“No!” He shouted. “You were supposed to stay! No please no!” He cradled her dead body against his chest not letting anyone near his love, his person, the light of his life. “I love you please.” He whispered his hands moving through her hair.

Stephen laid on their once shared bed holding tightly onto the pillow she laid her beautiful head on cradling it tightly just like he did before she left him. It smelt just like her, her face was all over the sanctum smiling and cheery, her scent overcame him cause it was everywhere. He was dreading going to the funeral knowing she wasn’t going to be there physically, he couldn’t hold her the same way, he couldn’t kiss her, and how badly he regretted their last time together.

It was the night before Bruce banner fell from the sky to tell them of the news of Thanos. Little did she know he was on his way to the avengers compound to apologize to her, to beg her back, because of his stupid mistake.

Y/n looked down at the broken watch that Stephen left behind wondering why he still had it in the first place. She held it up as they sat on their shared bed reading the familiar writing, she knew she shouldn’t have felt jealous of Christine but god it still hurt. That’s when Stephen walked in stopping in his tracks as he saw he touch the watch.

“What are you doing with that.” He mumbled, if looks could kill she would be dead. She traced her finger over the world’s glancing at him.

“Just wondering why you still had it.” She muttered. He walked over to her ripping the watch out of her hands scared of her to break it.

“It was a gift, you know that.” He put the watch back into his safe keeping, her abruptly standing up marching herself over to him.

“I know it was, but why is it so damn important to you.” She crossed her arms staring directly back at him. “Do you still love her?” Stephen looked at her and crossed his arms back irritated.

“I don’t know.” He mumbled. Her heart dropping her his tone.

“What do you mean you don’t know!” She shouted. “What the hell am I to you, am I just here because you arrogant ass was lonely?” She felt the tears prick her eyes, the fear she hope would never actually come true.

“I will always love her, she will always have a place in my heart you know that!” Stephen shouted back not knowing his words would hurt her.

“Fine if you love her so much, I’m leaving Stephen.” She muttered stomping away from him and out of the room. Stephen watched as she leaved too irritated to run after her, too mad but how much he would regret that moment would always haunt him.

Stephen looked down at her grave, the moment replaying in his head over and over again. Everyone had left by now to give Stephen some space. He dropped to his knees as he gazed at her headstone reading the words ‘earths mightiest hero’ oh she was, she was so strong, so happy except when she was with him. He made her miserable sad, but when she said those last words that she forgave him and still loved him hurt him even more. Even after all he did… she still loved him, still trusted him. He laid his head on the stone shutting his eyes close as the tears escape his eyes.

“I love you Y/n… more than anything. This wasn’t suppose to happen but god how much you surprise me. I’m going to miss you every single goddamn part of you. I never loved Christine the way I loved you and I’m so sorry that was the last words you heard before I disappeared for five years.” He whispered sobbed placing a hand on his tombstone. “I hope you can hear me I will always love you Y/n L/n, nobody will ever change that. You are mine love, always and forever I promise you that.”

[sjsmith56]

Faces of Bucky Barnes

Summary: One shot of an interaction with the multiverse that affects Bucky Barnes during a tough time in his life.

Length: 7.4 K

Characters: Bucky Barnes from 2024, Bucky Barnes from 1938, Jim Barnes (son of another AU Bucky from 1971), Bucky Barnes from 1998 (AU).

Warnings: some references to drug use, domestic abuse, alcohol abuse, and suicide but it’s not really a dark fic.

Author notes: Set at the same time as Spider-Man: No Way Home but only connected in a roundabout way. Also slightly connected to What If? Season 2, Episode 2, What If? ... Peter Quill Attacked Earth's Mightiest Heroes.   Images in the banner were created by the author using the Microsoft Copilot App in Designer mode.

🌃 🌉 🥡

It was Bucky's favourite place to go when he needed to get out of his head for a while. A rooftop on an empty warehouse that overlooked an approach to the Brooklyn Bridge was the perfect location to sit at night and see the bridge that he had grown up with all those years ago, before the war, before HYDRA, before the Avengers. Before everything became fucked up again.

This time, it was Alexander Ross who set in motion the latest attempt to rope Bucky into doing something he didn't want to do. The man just wouldn't take no for an answer.

"You served your country before, then you served HYDRA. I'm just asking you to serve your country again. Then we'll call it even."

Those were his exact words. As if Bucky's service in World War II wasn't enough, all by itself. As if fighting Thanos twice and containing the Flag Smashers also wasn't enough. Why couldn't Bucky just be left alone to do what he wanted? Why couldn't he tinker with old cars and motorcycles, keeping them in good repair for enthusiasts who still appreciated how things were made before. The sound of a siren on the bridge caught his attention and he focused on a police car in pursuit of someone. That part was still very much the same now as it had been then, even though the subway cars and vehicles crossing the bridge looked different. There were always going to be people who lived on the wrong side of the law and those who would hunt them down.

Why did Ross think it should be him doing the hunting? The man wouldn't even say who it was he wanted Bucky to hunt down but deep down the super soldier knew that Ross saw a lot of good people as enemies and that's what bothered him the most. For all he knew Ross wanted Bucky to go after Sam, or even Peter Parker, and that would never happen.

Peter Parker, that kid was facing problems just as bad as Bucky had it. He just couldn't seem to catch a break. Why couldn't they leave him alone as well? Let him go to college, marry his girlfriend, have a family. He was a good kid, and a smart one. But no, certain segments of society were out to pigeon-hole him as a threat.

"Stop," he said out loud. "Breathe. Peter will be okay. You can tell Ross no and you'll be okay. Life will go on."

A sound of a portal opening behind him made him shake his head. How did the sorcerers always find him? He turned around to see if it was Dr. Strange or Wong, but he didn't expect to see what he saw there and stood up, facing the young man, with his face, his much younger face, dressed in a brown suit.

"What just happened?" The younger version asked, his face a mask of surprise. "I'm in Brooklyn, cuz that's the Brooklyn Bridge so that must be Manhattan but it ain't nothin' like the New York I know. Who are you?"

His Brooklyn accent was strong, much stronger than Bucky's accent of 2024. He studied the current version carefully, lingering on his eyes, recognizing him. Approaching him where he stood near the edge, he looked up at him, puzzled that this older man with his face was taller.

"Are you me?"

Fuck it. The guy just walked through a portal from the 1930s based on that suit that Bucky remembered wearing then.

"James Buchanan Barnes, born March 10, 1917, is the day I was born, in Indiana," replied Bucky. "Moved here when I was a little kid. You?"

"Same," he replied. "You're older and taller than me and dressed different. What year is it?"

Older Bucky smiled a little. He read a lot of science and fantasy fiction when he was younger so the thought of it being a different year obviously came easily to his other self.

"2024, and before you say that makes me 107 years old, yes, I am that, technically. But there's a reason I'm still alive and I'm not sure I'm supposed to tell you. What I can do is phone someone to get you back home."

The younger Bucky smirked. "Hate to break it to you, pal, but there ain't a pay phone up here."

It was older Bucky's turn to smirk as he pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and dialled Dr. Strange. His smirk turned to a frown as the call went to voice mail.

"Hey, Strange, it's Bucky Barnes," he said into the phone. God, he hated voice mail. "I'm talking to a version of myself from ...." He looked at his younger self. "What year exactly are you from?"

"1938, was headed out for my 21st birthday party. Supposed to pick up Steve then meet Dot and a bunch of friends at a dance hall in Rockaway Beach."

Fuck, he was such a punk then. "The younger version of me says he's from 1938. Are you messing around with the multiverse again? Call me back, or better yet, get over here. I'll keep my phone on so you can locate it."

He hung up then noticed his younger self looking curiously at it.

"It's called a cell phone. There aren't many pay phones these days as nearly everyone has their own personal phone, even homeless people. It's used for more than that. You can pull up maps, watch movies, television shows, play games, even pay for things."

He shrugged. The younger man looked back at the Manhattan skyline, his eyes taking it all in.

"I can still see the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building," he said, "but look at the height on some of those others. People live in those?"

"Most are office buildings," replied older Bucky. He sighed. "Not sure what's going on as you shouldn't be here. The guy I phoned is a sorcerer acquaintance. He should be getting back to me."

"Sorcerer? Seriously? They're around in the future?"

"They were around in the past," said older Bucky, "but more hidden and secretive. The ones now have had to be more visible because of ... stuff."

The sound of another portal behind them had them both turning to the source. Young Bucky's face transformed into something incredulous as the telltale sparkle of light appeared and grew larger, except it wasn't a sorcerer who came through. It was another version of Bucky, definitely from the multiverse because he was young, but he looked like he came from the 1960s or 1970s, as he had long hair, a Fu Manchu moustache and wore bell bottom jeans and a jean jacket. He came through, watching the sparkling circle close then noticed the others standing there.

"Far out," he said, as the portal closed behind him. "That was some trip." He noticed the 1930s version of himself. "Cool threads, man. Got a 1930s vibe going there." He looked closer at the two of them. "Weird. You look like me, except you're older and you're younger. Dude, what's happening?"

"Did you understand that?" asked 1938 Bucky.

"Some of it," said original modern Bucky. "Not sure what's going on, but I think you two appeared here from your original universes. What year was it before you came through the portal?"

"1971," replied the long-haired version. "I smoked up a little while ago, thought maybe I was hallucinating. This is real? What year?"

"2024," answered 1938 Bucky as he glanced at original Bucky. "He smells of reefer."

"Reefer." The long-haired man laughed. "They haven't called it that since the 1940s. What do they call it now?"

"Weed, mostly or cannabis," said original Bucky, sighing. "Can't believe I'm having this conversation. It's legal now, at least in New York, so they refer to it by brand names as well."

"No shit!" The long-haired man laughed again. "Like, you can buy it in a store?"

"Yeah, pretty much."

Bucky dialled Dr. Strange again, getting another voice mail prompt which made him hang up. This was definitely a multiverse thing but the fact there was a version of him that was born after the war meant he wasn't just in his original time frame. He was in different ones as well. Unless ... this guy was his kid.

"What's your name, when were you born and who were your parents?" he asked. "Sorry, just trying to keep things straight."

"Jim Barnes, Jr., born in 1950," said the long hair version. "My dad was James Buchanan Barnes, Sr., and my mother was Dolores Barnes. They split up when I was about 10.

Fuck, this guy was his kid. 1938 Bucky glanced at him, obviously thinking the same thing, as he mouthed Dolores' nickname, Dot.

"Why did they split up?"

"My dad was never right after the war," said Jim. "Lost his best friend in 1945 when he fell off a train during a mission. Tried to drink himself to death but never seemed to get there. He could out drink anyone, so he just got angry and eventually it got too dangerous for us to be around him. Us three kids stayed with Mom." He shrugged. "Not sure I'll be seeing any of them any time soon. I decided to go to Canada when I got my draft notice. It's just a matter of when."

Modern Bucky felt his stomach do a flip. Steve must have fallen off the train in this man's timeline, an event that obviously affected him deeply. This son of his was 21, in 1971. It meant he likely was drafted into the Vietnam War and didn't want to go. He glanced at the 1938 version of himself, who was frowning at this revelation.

"It was because of a war in Southeast Asia," Bucky murmured. "By all accounts it wasn't supported too well by the population. Some burned their draft cards and went to Canada. Stayed there, too." He looked at Jim sympathetically. "Can I ask you something? Are you strong? Like really strong? Can you handle your alcohol well?"

"Yeah," said the younger man suspiciously. "Takes a lot to get me buzzed. Sometimes, it's not worth the trouble." He frowned. "I'm not a coward. I am strong but I don't want to fight anyone. It's a bogus war, man. Rich boys can get deferments or get into the Coast Guard or the National Guard and not have to go over but even they've been involved in some killings. The killing of those four students in Ohio last year was the last straw for me. I'm not firing against American citizens."

His dad obviously never told anyone about what HYDRA did to him and he passed on his abilities to his kids. No wonder he was trying to drink himself to death. The guilt over Steve's death ... wait, if Steve fell, did he become.... He shook his head, clearing that thought.

"Your dad, is he still alive?"

Jim swallowed, looked at the Brooklyn Bridge with obvious pain then back at Bucky.

"No, he put a bullet in his head a couple of years ago, after my older brother Steve came back from Vietnam missing an arm. That's another reason I'm not going. If anything happened to me, it would kill my mom and as fucked up as I am, I do love her. I love Steve and Rebecca as well."

Bucky placed his hand on Jim's shoulder, patting it sympathetically. The sound of another portal drew all of their attention as the circle formed. What stepped out shocked Bucky, as this version of him wore a uniform that was obviously his universe's version of Captain America, complete with a dull silver-coloured prosthetic arm. His hair, longer than Bucky's but shorter than Jim's was clean and somewhat styled. He looked startled at the 1938 version of Bucky, then puzzled at Jim Barnes. Finally, he noticed modern Bucky, specifically the metal hand and approached him.

"What year?" he asked, gesturing to the skyline.

"2024," replied modern Bucky. "I've been out of HYDRA for ten years. You?"

"1998. I was sent to be Russia's contribution to a threat to the world in 1988 and escaped but I ended up in a car accident a couple of years later. Went into a coma. When I woke up it was 1994 and my old arm was gone but Tony Stark made me a new one. Somehow the damage that put me into a coma neutralized the trigger words. Peggy Carter asked me to be Captain America for the Avengers. What else was I going to do?" He shook his head then looked at the two younger men as they stood gazing at the Manhattan skyline, so different from what they were used to. "I take it these two are other versions of ourselves."

"Not exactly," said Bucky, gesturing to the 1938 version. "He's an original. The other one is our son. In his universe, Steve fell off the train and we tried to drink ourselves to death, never telling anyone what we were or accepting it."

"Shit, does he have ...?"

Modern Bucky nodded. "We should tell him, as it appears he's self-medicating a lot, unsuccessfully. Mind you it's 1971 in his world and he's just made the decision to be a draft dodger." He hesitated for a moment. "My words are gone as well, courtesy of a brilliant scientist. She designed this arm for me. You should know that Steve is alive."

"What? They said he was lost in a plane crash in 1945."

"Frozen in the ice. In this universe, they find him in 2011 and thaw him out. The serum kept him alive. He stayed here until last year then went back in time to be with Peggy. Cap in this time is another guy, Sam Wilson. He has wings."

"They didn't ask you?"

Bucky shrugged, then looked over to the Brooklyn Bridge. "Too messed up in my own head. I killed a lot, including Howard and his wife, in my timeline. I remember them all."

"I'm sorry." Cap Bucky placed a hand on Bucky's shoulder. "You are a good man. I killed a lot for HYDRA as well, but Peggy never held that against me. Neither do the other Avengers. I guess Howard died of cancer when I was in a coma. What you do in the here and now is what should define you. Easier said, I know, but still true." He took a breath. "So, what are we going to do? Sit here and wait for a sorcerer to appear? I could use something to eat."

Bucky looked at the others. "You guys hungry? I don't live too far. We could pick up some takeout and beer. I left a message for Dr. Strange. Once he checks his messages he should come and help get you back to where you belong."

"Food is good," said 1930s Bucky. "What's takeout?"

The other three smiled the same lopsided smile and Bucky gestured to follow him down a fire escape. They stopped at a Korean place that was still open, with the proprietor waving to Bucky from the kitchen, as he was a regular customer. He ordered several servings of everything, knowing that three of the four of them could easily finish it, choosing Korean fried chicken, beef and pork bulgogi, green onion cakes, japchae, bibimbap with rice, and kimchi. Although the staff gave the other three some second and third looks, they didn't say anything.

"This universe has seen some strange things, including aliens, androids and sorcerers," explained modern Bucky. "Seeing three other versions of me doesn't even come close to weird."

After dividing the food bags between them they made one more stop at a 24-hour liquor store with Bucky getting a couple of six packs of beer and a bottle of bourbon. They crammed into the elevator of his building.

"I only have a one-bedroom place," said Bucky. "Not much furniture but I'm good on the floor if you others want to take a chair. I'm living on an army pension so it's what I could afford."

When he handed off the food and booze to the others to unlock the door, he opened it and stepped back to let them in first. They filed in, dropping everything off on the small kitchen island.

"This is nice," said 1930s Bucky. "Clean, small but if it's just you it's enough. Nicer than that slum Steve is living in."

Both modern Bucky and Cap Bucky nodded, remembering that tenement room their best friend insisted on living in. Taking his meagre assortment of glasses out, Bucky poured out some bourbon in each one, holding his glass in front of him.

"Here's mud in your eye," he said, draining it in one gulp. "They've been kind enough to provide us four servings of rice, just take what you want from each of the other containers and dig in."

For the next few minutes there was no sound as they all went after the food, transferring portions into their individual rice boxes. Modern Bucky sat on the floor, leaning against the wall as the other three took the armchair, and the two dining table chairs that were there. Cap Bucky eyed the bedding on the floor.

"Sleeping there?"

"Yeah, bed's too soft," replied modern Bucky. "I manage a few hours every night."

Jim swallowed his food and looked critically at the two artificial arms. "What's with the arms?"

"Not sure I can tell you, exactly," said Cap Bucky. "Let's just say this Bucky and I have a shared experience where we lost our flesh arms, went through some shit, then got a new life and new arms in the process."

"Were you born in 1917 as well?" asked 1930s Bucky. "He already told me."

"Yeah, I was. Don't know if you'll go through what we went through. Jim's dad didn't, at least not the way we did."

"He had both of his original arms," said Jim. "But he was one angry guy. Ma said before the war he was a lot of fun but after ... he was a different man. She still loved him, but he hurt her and us, more than once."

"I would never hit a woman," stated 1930s Bucky. "Not Dot, I loved her."

The other two Bucky's looked meaningfully at each other. On a hunch, modern Bucky signed to Cap Bucky, who sat back and watched, nodding his head. He signed back, as the other two realized what they were doing.

"What can it hurt?" asked modern Bucky, verbally. "They've already seen two different versions of us, and how New York looks in the 21st century. Maybe, this Bucky is this guy's dad. If he understands what might happen, he can deal with it better, and I'm sure Jim would like to understand more of what his dad went through that made him the way he is. It can help him with his own timeline and whether he should go to Canada."

The bright blue eyes of Cap Bucky seemed to harden for a moment then they softened.

"Alright, we tell them both everything," he said. "We can't change our past but maybe we can change their futures."

For the rest of that night, the two Bucky's with prosthetic arms told their stories, amazing each other with the synchronization of their journeys until Cap Bucky's took a turn when he listened to Howard Stark and didn't kill a boy who only wanted to get back home to Earth. Both 1930s Bucky and Jim Barnes questioned them about details, about the things that they wished they had done. By sunrise, the 1930s Bucky had loosened his shirt and tie and was lying on top of the double bed in the bedroom. Jim Barnes had taken his boots and jacket off and was lying next to him curled up with his hand hanging over the edge. Cap and Modern Bucky still sat in the living room, leaning against the open wall, while finishing the bourbon.

"So, where exactly is Steve in 1998?" asked Cap.

"Buried in a glacier in the Arctic," said Bucky, reaching for one of his notebooks and tearing a sheet out. "Here's the coordinates." He watched as Cap looked at it, folded it up and placed inside a hidden pocket. "They were on a display in the Smithsonian. He's alive and they should be able to resuscitate him. I don't know if your universe will go through with what mine did but if it does, aliens start to show up in 2011, then Tony tries to make Ultron in 2014 to protect the Earth. Instead, Ultron went a little crazy and decided to kill humans. Aliens start looking for the stones ... that blue Tesseract is one of them ... and Thanos comes calling in 2018. If he does, remember to go for the head. Don't let him snap his fingers or else half of all life, everywhere, is just gone."

"What about you?" There was sympathy and understanding in Cap Bucky's eyes. "What's going on with you?"

"A powerful man wants me to work for him." Bucky looked at his metal hand. "By work, I think he means for me to hunt other enhanced individuals and bring them together so that he can control them. I don't want to do it but he's in a position to make my life miserable if I don't." He looked around at his little flat. "This isn't what I ever envisioned for myself. I'm 107 years old, living on an army pension that barely pays the bills, while waiting on the army to give me my back pay for all the years I was basically a prisoner of war. Half of society thinks I should have been shot for what I did as the Winter Soldier, and the other half are indifferent to my existence."

"You have friends though, right?" Modern Bucky felt his face get warm. "You don't think you're worthy of friendship, do you?" Cap sipped his bourbon, thoughtfully. "Obviously, I didn't kill as many people as you did when HYDRA, then Russia had me in their control, but the body count was still up there. I became a kind of vigilante when I first got away from them. I could hear calls for help and would get to people who were being assaulted. I hid myself a lot. Then, I got hit by an armoured truck and knocked out. Stayed that way for four years. When I woke up, Peggy Carter was sitting next to my bed. Tony showed up within the hour. A few of the Howlies showed up, old men all of them, but they were so happy to see me. None of them ever forgot about me and Peggy apologized for not looking for me, even though she suspected who the Winter Soldier was years later. I could have been angry, but the fact was that I could have also escaped sooner than I did. I just convinced myself that I was too far gone and not worth saving. I was wrong. Don't give up on life, Buck. If you don't want to do what this guy wants you to do, then don't do it. Call in your friends, tell the newspapers, expose his plans to the daylight. Fight for your right to have a life, to be just another face in the crowd."

"You make it sound easy." Bucky sighed. "I'm just tired of it. You know what I really want to do? Fix motorcycles and cars from the 1930s and 40s, find an understanding woman who doesn't mind listening to the old music with me, maybe dinner out or dancing once in a while, having a couple of kids and playing catch with them in the back yard. Getting old ... God, how I want to grow old." He rubbed his face. "Sounds pathetic."

"No, not at all," smiled Cap Bucky. "Sounds pretty perfect to me."

A portal began forming in Bucky's living room and both men stood up. Dr. Strange strode through.

"I got your message," he said, taking in Cap Bucky. "How many?"

"Three, although one of them isn't me. He's, my son."

Strange frowned. "Your son ... interesting. Well, get them out here and I'll send them back."

Modern Bucky went into the bedroom while Cap Bucky stayed out in the living room with Dr. Strange.

"Can you do me a favour?" he asked. "Is there any way you can make him appear like another face in the crowd?"

"That's what got me into this mess," said Strange. "A similar request from another person. You mean, no one would know who he is?"

"I mean, I think he would want to keep his friends because he doesn't have many and he shouldn't have to start at the beginning to find new ones." A crease appeared in Cap's forehead between his eyes. "All he wants is to live in peace, fix old vehicles, find the right woman and grow old. Is that too much to ask?"

Strange looked carefully at this version of Bucky, noticing the uniform. He had obviously come to terms with his own past if he was Captain America in another universe. The Bucky from this universe came out of the bedroom followed by a younger version of him from what appeared to be the 1930s and another from the 1970s. They were both rubbing their eyes as if they had been asleep for a while. The younger Bucky's eyes grew large at the sight of Dr. Strange.

"Sorcerer?" Modern Bucky nodded making the 1930s version grin. "Far out."

Jim Barnes grinned at the use of his term by the older Bucky. "He doesn't look like Gandalf."

"None of us do," deadpanned Strange. "Alright, let's get you two back to where you belong. No talking about what you've seen or heard. Frankly, people in your times will think you've had a psychiatric episode if you do, so keep it quiet."

With a wave of his hand the first portal opened, and 1930s Bucky quickly shook hands with the others before stepping through. Once that portal closed, he opened another one for Jim Barnes who looked thoughtfully at the two Bucky's then waved when he stepped back into 1971. Cap Bucky extended his metal arm to modern Bucky and the two men with the shared HYDRA past grasped each other's arms before releasing them. After he stepped through the portal only Bucky and Dr. Strange were left.

"Busy night?"

"You don't know the half of it," said Strange. "Is everything alright, with you, I mean."

"Thaddeus Ross is pressuring me to join his "team," said Bucky. "I think he wants to use me to hunt down enhanced individuals. Even though the Sokovia Accords are toast he still wants control of us."

"What do you want?"

"To find my own way, one that doesn't involve hurting people, or having to justify why I should be allowed to live," said Bucky, frowning. "I just want the life I was supposed to have if HYDRA never get their claws into me, unless I ended up a serial killer anyways, because I don't want that."

"That's fair," said Strange. "Excuse me for a moment." Bucky watched as the sorcerer did his thing with the Time Stone. When he came out of his momentary review of time, he looked at Bucky and smiled. "I don't think you have to worry about Thaddeus Ross too much. As for the rest, I'm sure things will look better. How was it visiting with two versions of yourself and a version of your son?"

"Interesting," admitted Bucky. "I should try to get some sleep. Cap and I stayed up all night comparing our HYDRA experiences. I'm glad to see another version of me got away from them."

Dr. Strange said nothing, just smiled his grim smile, opened a portal and stepped through.

March 15, 1938

"So, there's no connection between having your birthday celebration now and the Ides of March?" asked Steve as the two friends headed to the train station. "I was surprised when you canceled out last weekend."

"Nope, unless you're all planning to stab me in the back," said Bucky, waving to Dot and her friend. "Now, Margie is shy like you, but she's into art. Dot says she's always drawing something."

"She looks nice." Steve blushed as his friend put his arm around his shoulder and drew up to the two young women. "Hi, Dot."

"Hey, Stevie," she said, after receiving a kiss on the cheek from Bucky. "This is my friend Margie. She's in the art program at Pratt."

"Yeah?" His face brightened. "I just had a year at Auburndale but couldn't afford another year."

"Auburndale's good," said Margie, liking Steve's blue eyes and ready smile. "I was lucky to get a scholarship to Pratt. What's your favourite medium?"

Steve offered her his arm as they went up the steps. Bucky took Dot's hand, pulling her towards him, and wrapping his arms around her.

"Thanks for waiting until this weekend and finding him a date. I didn't want Steve to feel like a third wheel."

She shrugged; her red hair vibrant under the streetlight. "I don't know why I didn't think of pairing them together before. They're alike in many ways. Steve's a good guy. He just needs to loosen up a bit."

Bucky grinned then his face grew serious as he gazed at her. "I love you; you know. Have for a long time."

Her face changed at his declaration, as she smiled then placed her hand on his cheek. "I love you, too, Bucky. Now let's go dancing."

With their arms around each other they followed the other couple up the stairs to the elevated train station, waiting for the one that would take them to the dance hall at Rockaway Beach, the second dance of the spring season.

April 7, 1971

Jim stepped off the train, placing his satchel over his shoulder as he walked towards the exit. When he stepped back into his time after being in the future, he wasn't sure what to expect. But ending up in the library at Brooklyn College wasn't it. Hopefully, he still lived in the same house with his mother, brother Steve and sister Rebecca. On the train ride to their neighbourhood, he thought over what happened to him. It had been an interesting experience, that was for sure. Perhaps, he could write about it in his journalism class. His stop came up and he made his way to the door, stepping out into the cool spring evening air. It was only a short walk from the station to the house.

"You got mail!" His mother called as he stepped inside.

How she always knew it was him coming in was interesting. He looked at the return address, Department of Defence. Shit, it was his draft notice. His last deferment didn't go through. Stopping dead in the hallway in front of the stairs he stared at the envelope wondering whether to open it.

"You better deal with it sooner rather than later," said a familiar voice that shocked him.

"Dad? I thought ...."

His dad put his finger up to his mouth. "It's me," he whispered. "It's been hard waiting for this day, waiting for this version of you to come home and know the truth. I remembered what you wore that night."

"I thought we couldn't change our past," said Jim, as his dad took him by the elbow into the living room.

"I changed my future and that changed yours, but you had to get back here to know it," said the older Barnes. "I didn't join the 107th. I became a pilot and Steve became a reporter, drawing comics of the various soldiers he met as he covered the war. Some other guy became Captain America. Some other guy became the Winter Soldier. It still worked out for them because they were different guys, and their futures were different than ours."

"But our Steve still lost his arm," said Jim.

"Yeah, but he didn't lose us because I didn't lose your mom and you kids. We got him through it, and we'll get you through whatever that letter says." He placed his calloused hand on his son's face. "I think that's why you were there so that I would know you, know what you went through as a kid because of how I dealt with the things that happened to me in your timeline. I've tried really hard to be a good man, Jim."

His eyes were glassy as he said it and the two men hugged. Then Jim opened the envelope and pulled out the letter, making a sigh of relief.

"Coast Guard," he said. "They've taken my ... when did I become an experienced sailor?"

"Since I started taking you kids out on sailboats when you were kids," smiled Bucky. "Don't worry, it should come to you, once you integrate into this timeline. Your brother, Steve, ended up on a patrol boat in the Vietnamese river system, lost his arm when he was shot from the shore. With the Coast Guard, you could end up working from home. You don't have to go to Canada, although you'll have to cut your hair and shave that monstrosity off your face."

His grin showed Jim that his dad was joking, and they hugged again. Both men thought back to that night when they went from their respective times into the future and met two other Bucky's who had gone through hell. Something drew them there, to fix both of them, and to fix what was wrong between them. It was meant to be.

May 17, 1998

Bucky was with the team when they located the Valkyrie just under the top layer of the glacier. It had shrunk from when the aircraft crash landed into it in 1945. Since then, the one wing tip was slowly exposed, to the point where it showed up on an aerial survey done by the Greenland parks service, close to the coordinates given to Bucky in 2024. Carefully they had used steam to thaw out the door into the large aircraft, finding it mostly undamaged inside, although a lot of ice had built up from all the water that seeped in from the glacier. Then a corporal called to them when he spied the shield and Bucky hurried over there, brushing the frost away from the body that lay encased in ice under the shield.

"Steve," he whispered, confirming his identity.

The extraction team came in, carefully unthawing the ice several inches underneath the frozen remains, then lifting the icy block onto a stretcher, then into a Chinook helicopter. Bucky sat near Steve's body, watching as the block of ice was wrapped in thermal blankets to slow down the rate of the ice melting so it was gradual and wouldn't put his body into shock. By the time the large helicopter landed in Thule, they had the special medical unit set up, with Peggy and Tony waiting as Steve's body was wheeled in. None of them slept well over that week as they did everything they could to keep the thawing process stable. When the decision was made to start warming the body they waited anxiously, hoping that the information given to Bucky was accurate. Ten days after he was transported there, Steve Rogers opened his eyes and saw himself in a hospital room, with tubes and IV lines coming in and out of his body. He shifted, setting up a bunch of alarms, which brought a number of people running. The person he noticed first was already there, with a head of dark hair, long in length, a several day-old beard, and the blue eyes of his best friend, Bucky.

"Hey punk," said that best friend, grinning at him. "I thought I told you not to do anything stupid until I got back."

"Buck." Steve tried to raise himself, but several hands came out to stop him. "You're alive. You fell."

"Yeah, I did." Bucky smiled sadly. "I'll tell you about it later. The important thing is that we found you. A lot has happened since you went into the ice, but now that you're here, I think things are going to look up."

The two friends looked at each other with affection. Catching up would have to wait, as a team of medical personnel arrived to document the momentous occasion when a frozen body was successfully reanimated after over 50 years encased in the ice. It was one for the history books.

May 31, 2024

It had been almost two weeks since that night when the three portals discharged the two Bucky's and Jim Barnes on the rooftop of the building. Bucky had kept a low profile since then, although he phoned Sam, telling him about Ross's ultimatum to him. Sam was angry about that and raised a very public stink, which made Ross back off, although Bucky still had the feeling someone was watching him from afar. More than likely, he was being paranoid. On this Friday morning, he got up, hearing about a particular motorcycle for sale in Bensonhurst. When he got off the train he began the short walk to the shop. Frowning at the Closed sign on it when he arrived, he peeked inside the window, then noticed a back door was open. Heading around to the back he saw a woman, sitting in a lawn chair, with her feet up on a crate, a coffee on another crate while she closed her eyes in the sun.

"Excuse me," he said, making her eyes open, frowning at him. "I called about the World War II motorcycle. The man said I could come this morning to look at it."

She ran her eyes over him, then sighed. "That was likely my deadbeat brother. He's taken the bike. Said he had a buyer for it in the Bronx. Personally, I think he took it to his loan shark, to pay off some of his debt. Sorry that you came all this way for nothing." She shook her head, seeming to fight off some tears. "Hell of a way to run a business but what do I know? My dad left it to both of us and he's running it into the ground, while I'm trying to make it a going concern."

"Well, I guess the price he quoted was too good to be true," said Bucky. "I'm sorry to bother you."

He turned to leave but she called out to him. "Hey mister? There's another classic motorcycle in there. Needs some work but whatever price you want to pay for it, I'm willing to let it go for that. Otherwise, the bank will just seize it when they foreclose."

"I don't want to take advantage of your situation," said Bucky.

She stood up, surprising him with her height as she was only a couple of inches shorter than him.

"Come in and have a look at it, you never know," she replied, walking towards the open door to the shop.

They stepped inside and right away, Bucky felt comfortable with all the motorcycles in various states of repair. He saw several from the 1940s as well as some 1950s models. She stopped beside a silver motorcycle that seemed to be complete, a 1958 Triumph Tiger 100. He kneeled down, looking carefully at the engine, then stood up and examined the finishings.

"She's beautiful," he said. "What's left to do?"

The woman shrugged. "Honestly? I'm not sure what I'm missing. She starts up fine, then about a mile into the ride she starts running rough and by the time I get her back here she gives up the ghost. I've put a lot of time into restoring her but I'm missing something."

"You're the mechanic?" He noticed her look of dismay at his comment. "I'm not being critical. I'm impressed." He stuck his hand out. "Bucky."

"Angel," she replied, shaking his hand, then noticing his smile. "Yeah, it's my real name. I guess my great grandpa took one look at me when he came to the hospital just after I was born and said I was an angel. He's the one who started this shop, after World War II. He was responsible for the motor pool for the Howling Commandos, Sergeant Bruno Moretti."

She pointed to a large, framed photograph on the wall. With a smile, Bucky went over to it, grinning at the picture of the Howling Commandos as he bent closer to it. That's when Angel saw him in the picture, then looked back and forth between the man standing beside her and the man on the old photograph.

"You're Bucky Barnes."

"Yeah," he replied, then straightened up. "You're Sarge's great granddaughter. Did you know him?"

"No, he died when I was about a year old. Grandpa told me his stories about the Howlies ... that's what you called yourselves, right?"

Bucky nodded his head, feeling nostalgic at the moment. "They were a good group of guys. Sarge always kept us supplied with working vehicles. Didn't even mind when I would tinker with the motorcycles. Showed me a few things as well. Sometimes, I'm amazed I still remember it."

"Well, you've been through a lot," replied Angel. "It must be hard at times, stuck in a future that is so different. Sometimes .... Never mind." She looked away, slightly embarrassed.

"No, it's okay," said Bucky. "What were you going to say?"

"Well, sometimes I feel like I'm out of my right time," she said. "I mean, I like the old music, and even though I'm a mechanic, I'm kind of a girlie girl when I'm not knuckle deep in a greasy engine. It must be worse for you sometimes. I imagine you missed out on a lot of things because of what happened to you." She looked away again. "Sorry, I'm babbling."

"I don't mind. You're honest without being cruel and that's a good quality."

They stood without talking for a moment, comfortable in the silence, then their peace and quiet was shattered by the arrival of Angel's brother, Tony. Right away, Bucky didn't care for the guy, wondering how he was such a jerk compared to his sister. Eventually, he found that he had to leave before he was tempted to punch Tony and headed out the back door. Before he got very far, he heard his voice being called and turned to see Angel walking towards him. She handed him her business card.

"Stay in touch," she smiled. "We can go for coffee or something. If you want."

"Yeah, I would like that." He looked at her again. "Do you have your phone with you?" She nodded. He phoned the number she gave him, making her phone ring. "Save my phone number. We can talk about the different things you can try to narrow down that problem with the Triumph. Or maybe you can talk your brother into selling his share in the business to someone else."

They were looking at more than each other's eyes when he said that. Then Angel smiled and saved Bucky's phone number to her contacts. They began to walk away from each other then both turned to look back at the same moment, making them chuckle. With a wave, Bucky headed towards the subway station, feeling pretty positive about his prospects.

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One Shots Masterlist

[disasterbijupiter]

Aaaaah, the new G Gundam story's first chapter is here!!

Although I am not fluent in Japanese, I can speak and read/write it a fair bit, and so I decided I really want to try my best to make an English translation! ... I'm not sure if I will be able to keep up with it, but I'm going to try for now starting with the beginning/prologue of the first chapter! ^_^

(For anyone who doesn't know, there's a new written "side story" being published on the official website in honor of the 30th anniversary, written by the original director! Here is the actual link.)

Anyways, I wasn't sure what to expect for this, but so far it already features:

The whole gang immediately getting drunk together. Amazing.

Wong drinking wine and being pathetic. Yes, fantastic.

Martial arts giving people ridiculously over-the-top, unexplained super powers. Check.

So... It is already better than I thought it was going to be. 😂

Here is my translation of Chapter 1's first section! (I will be breaking it down into scenes/parts to make it easier.) Also, if anyone, especially any Japanese native speakers or anyone who's fluent, has corrections or suggestions, feel free to lemme know!

Episode 1:

— Long ago in Guyana………

Master: “Is the Gundam Fight the right path………?”

The voice echoes in the dark, like a faint guiding light amid the blackness.

Master: “I would like to ask you, siblings, for the answer.”

Two disciples sit before their master.

Elder sister disciple: “………………”

Younger brother disciple: “………………”

However, there is no response from the two disciples.

Master: “Many Gundam Tournaments have taken place……… I would have liked to have been able to find the answer myself, but………”

Interrupting the master’s sad murmur, the elder sister disciple replies.

Elder sister disciple: “In that case, Master, why don’t I become your eyes and take a look at the Gundam Fight?”

Those words are filled with love and determination to work hard for her master.

Master: “You will go for me?”

Elder sister disciple: “Yes.”

Younger brother disciple: “Well then, I’ll come with you.”

Elder sister disciple: “No, you stay here to assist Master.”

The older sister speaks kindly to the younger brother disciple.

Younger brother disciple: “But………”

The master smiles happily at the words of these two who care about each other.

Master: “Yes, I would appreciate if you could do that for me.”

Younger brother disciple: “Yes………”

The younger brother disciple shyly agrees… wishing he had been the one to take on the mission first.

Master: “Now, let me give you this………”

The master places his own fist over the fist of the elder sister disciple.

Elder sister disciple: “……… This is………”

Master: “It might be a bit soon, but it’s good to have this in order to navigate the world…”

The elder sister disciple’s fist begins to glow, and the younger brother disciple gazes at both of their fists with admiration in his eyes.

Younger brother disciple: “Ah………”

On the elder sister disciple’s fist shines the “King of Hearts” emblem.

(continue to next part)

[ironstrange1991]

As Strange As It Seems (Part 3)

+18 smut

Pairing: Doctor!Strange x Fem!Reader x Defender Strange

Synopsis: The reader finally gives in to her desires. The rules are established and she has her first night with Defender.

Word Acount: 8k

Warnings: Poly relationship dinamics. Sexual content including oral sex with male and female receiving, masturbation with male receiving, p n v umprotected sex and creampie.

A/N: This is almost a series now, and I'm not going to apologize for that. I really love writing this foursome relationship. Anyway, this happens chronologically after part I. Also, part 4 with the first time with Supreme is coming.

SERIES MASTERLIST

"You can have me, baby. You can have us both."

Defender's words kept ringing in your head. You had barely slept and even at work you couldn't stop thinking about him. Not just him, but Stephen as well. You had a good life with Stephen and you were scared to death that you were going to lose it all for an adventure. But somehow, it didn't feel like it. It was so much more than that.

Defender had been living with you in the Sanctum for almost three months and you trusted him, you believed in his love for you and you were more than certain that you loved him too. Stephen had suggested it and you just had to say yes. It was what Defender had been waiting for last night. You knew very well that he expected your answer right away, but you couldn't get the words out of your mouth. You wanted him, you wanted them both, that's what you told him, but when he tried to kiss you, you couldn't let him. You still felt like you were cheating on Stephen and you could only go through with it if he was there, if the three of you were in the same room and all the rules were in place.

...

Defender was at the end of his last class of the day. It was an advanced class in combat, so he put them in pairs, asked each of them to create a weapon and watched them fight each other, interrupting here and there to make a few observations which the students readily complied with.

He liked to teach. It reminded him of his early years at Kamar Taj and the time he spent teaching in his own universe long before he became Sorcerer Supreme.

At first it was difficult to accept his situation there, going back to being subordinated to another was a blow to his already bruised ego, but at the same time he was relieved not to have to carry the weight of another universe on his shoulders.

He hated the guilty feeling that filled his mind every time he remembered what had happened to his own universe and even though he knew and everyone said it wasn't his fault, he couldn't change the way he felt and he couldn't shake off the feeling that maybe that was why he felt so insecure about everything and especially about Y/n. Because everyone knew he had failed, because she knew and maybe that was why she was hesitating to accept the proposal he had made. After all, why would she trust someone who allowed his own universe to be destroyed?

"Master Strange?" Defender was snapped out of his reverie and only then noticed that the students were looking at him, waiting for instructions.

"I'm sorry" He looked at his watch noticing that it was past time to end the class. "You did great today, I'm proud. We'll be back on Monday. You're dismissed."

The students nodded and left in pairs talking to each other. Stephen sighed, looking back at the clock. He was seriously considering spending the night at the Kamar Taj to try to clear his mind, but when he checked his cell phone there was a single message from Y/n.

WE NEED TO ESTABLISH RULES TO MAKE THIS WORK. I WOULD LIKE TO TALK, THE THREE OF US, TOGETHER. TONIGHT.

He felt his heart racing in his chest, a sudden anticipation taking over him. She had made a decision and that decision included him. He put his cell phone in his pocket and was ready to head back to the Sanctum when he heard footsteps approaching. He looked back and found Wong, hands behind his back as usual, walking towards him.

"Are you leaving yet?" Wong asked "I'd like to talk to you for a minute."

Stephen nodded.

"Your work with students has been spectacular, I've never seen them evolve so fast. The masters are as impressed as I am. Congratulations, Defender."

Stephen smiled shyly "It's the least I can do." He shook his head "They are great students, very young and yet extremely diligent. It fills me with joy to see them evolve so quickly."

Wong nodded "I want you to know that we are very happy to have you here with us."

Stephen smiled "It's a pleasure, Wong."

"I was wondering if you've made up your mind about coming to live here at Kamar Taj yet."

Defender looked away for a moment, thinking of how to explain that it would no longer be necessary to leave the Sanctum because Y/n had accepted his offer.

"I know why you want to get out of there." Wong said and Stephen felt his face blush and he looked away.

"You love Y/n."

"Is it that obvious?"

"From the first night I walked into that room I saw the way you looked at her."

Stephen wondered if he could be honest with Wong. He missed a friend. He actually missed his best friend who happened to be Wong from his universe. "I really appreciate the offer, but I've decided to stay at the Sanctum. It's what she wants." He sighed "She loves me too."

Wong smirked "Of course she does. She's been in love with Stephen Strange for years."

Defender chuckled nervously "It's not a very common situation, but we can make it work."

Wong thought for a moment "Nothing involving you is common, my friend, but I hope you manage to figure this out. You deserve to be happy." He patted Stephen on the shoulder and walked away muttering something to himself as usual.

Defender was silent watching him. Wong made it all look so simple, maybe things could be simple if they wanted them to be. He put on his Sling Ring and opened a portal to the Sanctum.

...

Stephen came home through the front door as he rarely did and found Y/n lying on the sofa in the living room, the TV on playing one of her Spotify playlists. Love is blindness was playing and she had her eyes closed, so focused on the music that she didn't even notice him approaching. Stephen dismissed Cloaky who went flying up the stairs.

"Someone's in love" He said touching her arm. She opened her eyes and grinned "With you. Always."

He bent down to kiss her lips and she sat up holding his hand as if afraid he was going to run away.

"Stay here with me. I was waiting for you to arrive, we need to talk."

Stephen knew exactly what she wanted to talk about, he was well prepared, he had plenty of time to think about it.

He sat up and she ran to snuggle into his arms, wrapping her arms around his waist, nuzzling her face in the crook of his neck and inhaling heavily as if she wanted to absorb his scent into her lungs.

"I missed you." She whispered.

Stephen smiled stroking her hair "It's only been three days, sweetheart."

She hummed negatively "I don't mind, I don't like being away from you. I don't like sleeping alone."

Stephen smiled to himself. So she had slept alone, even though he gave space to Defender, she had denied his advances. He knew it was just a formality, that Y/n would eventually give in because she was in love with Defender, but even so, he was glad to hear it.

Anyway, his response was completely different "Defender promised me he would take care of you."

She looked up at him in surprise, Stephen could see her face blushing and somehow it was cute to see how the idea of ​​being shared by two Stephens made her so shy. "What’s that, sweetheart? Isn't that what you wanted?"

She finally seemed to find her voice "It was your idea, not mine!"

He chuckled "A mere formality. Deep down you know it's what you've always wanted since he arrived."

She bit her bottom lip "Defender and I talked yesterday..."

"And?"

She shrugged "I know he wanted something to happen but I couldn't. I kept thinking about you and that I would be cheating on you. I don't know if I can do this Stephen."

Stephen cupped her face "Sweetheart, you have no idea how happy it makes me to see how faithful you are to me, but I gave you permission to stay with Defender, he wouldn't have tried anything yesterday if I hadn't talked to him before. I trust him."

Stephen remembered very well the conversation he'd had with Defender four days earlier. It wasn't easy saying what he needed to say, but he was surprised that he felt so much affection for his annoyingly perfect variant. It was more than clear that Defender was a noble and loyal man.

"But I think we have to have rules and I don't want to do anything before those rules are in place." She stated.

Stephen smiled caressing her face. "You're right. You should make the rules."

Y/n stared at him in surprise "But... I thought..."

"Sweetheart, it is you who will be shared by two men, you must feel comfortable and safe."

“I’ll text him then, asking him to come home so we can talk.”

Stephen nodded “Good idea.”

...

It was Saturday and you were late for work. You hated working on Saturdays, especially when Stephen was home and you could spend the morning with him in bed like you liked to do, but duty was calling.

You left him sleeping in bed, you didn't even bother to say goodbye because you didn't want to wake him up. You grabbed your purse and hurried downstairs ready to leave when you bumped into Defender at the bottom of the stairs.

"I was just going to call you for breakfast. I didn't know you were going to work today."

You smiled at him and then look at your watch. "No time to eat, but I'll have a cup of coffee."

He grinned and you follow him into the kitchen. There were scrambled eggs and crispy bacon on the table. He handed you the cup of coffee and without resisting you stole a slice of bacon.

"This is really good" You said with your mouth full and he smiled watching you closely.

"Y/n..." He seemed to weigh his words "I was thinking, after our conversation yesterday, that maybe... well, if you're not busy...” He sighed “Would you like to go out to dinner with me? Tonight?"

You smiled feeling your face heat up. It felt like you were in some kind of dream. You were reliving it all over again, the passion, the hesitation, the first date.

He watched you intently as if analizing your expressions. "I'll understand if you think it's too soon..."

"Yes." You replied holding his hand which seemed to be shaking more than usual.

He looked at you seemed surprised "Yes?"

You nodded "Yes, of course."

"At 7pm?"

"Perfect." You took one last sip of coffee and set the cup in the sink and were turning to leave when you thought for a second and then rose on tiptoe and kissed him. Just a peck, like you usually did when you said goodbye to your Stephen. So natural. "See you."

You didn't wait to see his reaction, you were already more than late, so you just turned and left.

...

Stephen was lying in bed propped up on a pile of pillows, his laptop propped on his stomach as he typed rapidly. He had just returned from one of the Avengers' weekly meetings and promised Stark that he would take a look at the files he sent about a possible threat. Stephen hadn't found any evidence of magic in the files, whatever it was had nothing to do with him and that's exactly what he was writing in an email addressed to Tony Stark. He could call, but he preferred to keep his distance sometimes.

He noticed when Y/n walked into the room after arriving from work, it was after 6pm and she seemed rushed like she was late for something.

"Hello to you too, sweetheart."

He said closing the laptop and getting up and following her into the bathroom. She were already in the shower washing her hair quickly.

"Would you mind working your magic to dry my hair?" She asked "I never ask, but I don't want to go out with wet hair. I ended up being late from work."

Stephen leaned against the doorframe "May I know where you're going?" He asked even though he already had an idea. He had seen Defender come home with a box that looked a lot like a new suit. Apparently, she had given in to his advances.

Y/n finished rinsing her hair and started to soap herself quickly then turned to him "Defender invited me to dinner. I accepted."

Stephen shook his head. He was still trying to understand how that made him feel. He wasn't mad, in fact he kind of liked knowing that Defender was taking things slow and not taking her for granted. He was jealous, of course, but it wasn't a bitter, resentful thing.

She got out of the shower and wrapped the towel around her body and walked over to him and only then Stephen noticed that he hadn't said any of that to her, he just stood there watching her completely lost in his thoughts.

She touched his face "You're not mad, are you? I only accepted because we already talked and we already established the rules and you seemed to agree..."

"I'm not mad, sweetheart. I'm just taking it all in slowly. No need to worry." He caressed her face with the back of his hand and then kissed her lightly and snapped his fingers. Her hair was dry a second later. "You are welcome."

She smiled openly pulling him in for a much deeper kiss. Her fingers threaded through his hair and his arms wrapped around her waist. It was her who pulled away, her face turning slightly pink.

"I'll be late."

He nodded, smiling "I'll let you get ready then."

Stephen went back to bed feeling the tiredness of the day bearing down on him. It had been a few nights since he'd been sleeping well and he wasn't surprised when he felt his eyes getting heavy. Perhaps he would take advantage of the silence to get some rest. Sleeping would definitely be better than lying awake and wondering what you were doing with his variant. Though he had his doubts that Defender would be so bold, he was getting ready to let her have her first night with him and it wasn't exactly the easiest thing he'd ever done in his life.

He opened his eyes when he heard the sound of her heels clicking on the polished wood floor. He was silent watching her and his heart sped up.

She were dressed in a black midi dress with thin straps that left her shoulders and neck quite exposed, the neckline was modest, but her breasts were full so it was enough to drive any man crazy. Her hair was loose in waves and a discreet makeup finished the look with elegance.

"So..." Y/n asked turning around so he could see from all angles.

He sat on the bed beckoning her to come over. She obeyed and took his hand.

"You look stunning, sweetheart."

He watched her cheeks turn pink.

"You don't think it's… too much?"

He denied "No, it's perfect. He'll be delighted."

She smiled and then seemed to think for a second. "Stephen… are you sure you're okay with this? I need you to be one hundred percent honest with me."

He nodded reassuringly and then kissed her hand. "I'm fine, don't worry. Enjoy your night. I'm sure he'll take good care of you."

She bent down to kiss his lips softly and then left.

...

Defender was waiting for you at the bottom of the stairs which ridiculously reminded you of that scene from Titanic and made you giggle which made him turn and look at you. A beautiful smile on his lips.

"You look beautiful, Y/n" He said taking your hand and bringing it to his lips to kiss it which made you giggle again.

"You're so charming, Stephen. And I don’t even need to say that you look handsome, right? You always do. But I loved the suit."

You watched in wonder as his cheeks turned slightly pink with the praise.

He took you to a nice Italian restaurant that you hadn't been to before. When you got there he informed that there was a reservation for a couple in the name of Stephen Strange. The attendant tried to hide it as much as he could, but he seemed to be intimidated.

The two of you sat down and Stephen asked for their wine catalogue, frowning as he looked at the names on it. "They are not the same I knew."

You smiled and he handed the card to you who opted for a red that you already knew well and that Stephen liked, you just hoped that the taste of both would be the same.

"Nice place, may I know how you chose it?"

He looked away for a moment and then admitted "Wong indicated."

You shook your head "Does he know about us?"

He shook his head "Does that displease you?"

You bit the inside of your cheek and waited for the waiter to set the bottle of wine you requested on the table. Defender opened the bottle and poured both glasses.

"I'm still trying to figure this all out, it would be nice if we could just keep it to ourselves for now."

He nodded "I didn't say much, he deduced most of it. Apparently, it was obvious from the first time we met."

You took a sip from the glass "It was kind of obvious. The way you looked at me, I mean."

He smirked "You have no idea what it was like for me to finally see you after so long just dreaming about you."

"I'm glad you're here. Even though the circumstances are bad, I'm glad I met you."

He took a sip of wine and then smiled "Me too." He pointed to his glass. "Good wine"

"It's Stephen's favorite so I thought..." You stopped, afraid of making him uncomfortable but he just smiled at you "You thought I would like it too because after all we are the same person."

You nodded a little sheepishly. "I'm sorry. I don't really know how to handle this, so I assume it's all the same, but I really don't have a clue."

"I don't really care. But to be honest it's hard to know what's the same and what's different. Maybe you'll have to help me figure it out."

You smiled shyly "I can do that."

You ordered your dishes and the conversation flowed easily. All your fears and shyness seemed to melt away under Defender Strange's charm.  You loved hearing him talk about his life in his universe and the things he was discovering that were different here. It was fascinating for you.

"So, imagine my surprise to discover that everyone drives on the left here and only in England do they drive on the right." He said laughing and finishing his glass of wine.

You rested your hand on your chin watching him. His laugh was a bit deeper, but it was the exact same laugh and your heart was racing at the sound.

"I'm sorry I just got carried away." He said and you shook your head reaching your hand across the table and he held it in his.

"I love hearing your stories. It's fascinating to me. And I like to see you laugh, you're always so serious."

He sighed "You promised me you'd tell me more about yourself, but you made me talk about myself all night."

You smirked "I'm sorry, like I said, I like to hear your stories. And I don't have much to say about me. You've been living with me long enough to know I'm a boring person. I work, I'm an accountant. The only thing that's interesting about me apparently is that I fell into the good graces of the great Stephen Strange. People seem to think it's amazing."

He disagreed "You're amazing to me. And now people can be doubly surprised because you've managed to make another Stephen Strange fall in love with you and that's not an ordinary thing."

You gave a small giggle "Not ordinary at all. But I feel like I didn't have to do much and neither did you. It's almost like we were destined to fall in love with each other."

Defender squeezed your hand in his "Do you really believe that?"

You smiled "Don't you?"

...

By the time the two of you made it back to the Sanctum, Defender felt the anticipation building in his chest. He tried to convince himself that he shouldn't expect anything more than a kiss of good night, but the night went so well and even though he hadn't done that in a while, he could swear he got all the signs right. You wanted him just as he wanted you and it made sense that you would sleep together. Not because he had any claim on you, but because it seemed to be what you both wanted.

"I really enjoyed our night together, Stephen." You said breaking the silence.

He smiled and you two stopped at the bottom of the stairs "I'm very happy to hear that." He held your hand in his "I was nervous, I still am, actually, but I just want you to know how happy going out with you tonight made me."

"It made me happy too." You said and then you approached him and he knew it was time. He cupped your face and pulled it to his lips. Your lips moved together slowly and then you wrapped your arms around his neck and let out an adorable little moan that seemed to beg him to deepen the kiss and that's exactly what he did. His tongue entered your mouth tentatively, exploring yours and letting you dominate him. It was you who broke the kiss to breathe, but when you stepped away, you were both panting.

You smiled shyly at him, your face slightly pink and then the two of you start to walk up the stairs in silence. He didn't want to leave you, he would be able to beg you not to let him sleep alone after a night like you had, but Defender knew that it was better to go easy on you so he stopped at his bedroom door ready to say goodbye, but to his surprise you hesitated for a second.

"I'm not sleepy. Is it okay if I stay with you a little longer?"

He smirked "Of course."

You thought for a moment and looked towards yours and Stephen’s shared room.

"I should put on some comfortable clothes, but I don't want to wake him up if he's sleeping..."

"I can lend you mine if you want to." He offered.

You smiled, a twinkle appearing in your eyes, "Thank you."

He shook his head, opening the bedroom door "Come in."

He closed the door behind you and watched as you suddenly seemed shy in his presence. That made him smile to himself. The idea that you had been together with your Stephen for almost three years but were shy about being alone with him in his room was a little odd to him, but he could understand.

He went to the wardrobe and got some sweatpants and a t-shirt and handed it to you and then he took you to the bathroom "Make yourself comfortable."

...

You closed the bathroom door and looked in the mirror noting that your face was completely red. You knew why you were there and it definitely wasn't because you didn't want to wake Stephen. Of course, you cared about his sleep, but you knew very well how to enter the room without waking him up, you always did that.

No, the truth was, you wanted Defender. You wanted to finally feel his lips on you, his touch on your skin, discover the similarities and differences between them. You've wanted this for a long time. And now it was a matter of making the deal official.

You took off your shoes and got rid of the dress and then you looked at the clothes on the counter and smirked to yourself putting the T-shirt on. You sighed deeply and then opened the door and walked out of the bathroom. Stephen was distracted picking up some clothes that were lying on top of the small divan.

"The pants don't fit me." You said.

He stared at you with his mouth slightly open in surprise to see you like that. His shirt covered your ass without difficulty, but you made sure to grab the hem of the shirt and lift it up subtly to show him more of your thighs. You bit your bottom lip mischievously  "It's more comfortable that way."

Defender threw the clothes he was holding back onto the divan and walked towards you and wrapped you in his arms, his lips seeking yours with overwhelming passion.

You held his face in your hands as he lifted you onto his lap, your legs wrapping around his waist and without holding back you grinded your hips towards his growing bulge eliciting a moan from his lips.

He broke the kiss and looked at you as if he wanted to confirm that you really wanted it, but before he could ask, you replied "I want this, I want you, Defender. I've always wanted you."

He carried you to his bed and sat you down on the mattress and then got rid of his suit jacket and began to unbutton his shirt too slowly for your liking. When he finally undid the last button you helped him out of his shirt and then you took a second to watch him.

It was different. His chest had a thin layer of hair, as well as his arms that you had already noticed in the rare times you saw him in a Tshirt. In addition, there were numerous scars on his chest, ribs and abdomen. Deep scars from wounds that you thought were extremely dangerous.

"Is it really that different?" He asked and you shook your head "I'm sorry I shouldn't..."

He touched your face "It's okay, I don't care. You can look at it all you want."

You smiled shyly "These scars..." You traced one of his scars with your fingers "What happened?"

He sighed "That's what you get when you fight alone against a horde of hell hounds."

You agreed, deciding you didn't want to talk about it. You hated the thought of monsters trying to kill your boyfriend, any one of them apparently. You lowered your hands to the waistband of his trousers "May I?"

He nodded and you unbuttoned it and he was quick to kick the shoes off and helped you get rid of his trousers, he took the opportunity to get rid of his socks too, just staying in his black boxers. You could see he was half hard already and you couldn't wait to find out if there were differences down there too. There was a fine layer of hair on his thighs as well. Not that you minded, even though you weren't a fan of body hair, you couldn't deny that that small amount made him even hotter.

He smirked "Can I see you now, baby?"

You smiled, melting with the pet name. It was so sweet and so intimate at the same time.

You shook your head and then got rid of the T-shirt. You weren't wearing a bra and his eyes seemed to darken with desire when he saw your bare breasts, your nipples hard in the cool night air.

He couldn't help himself, his hands touched your nipples gently and then he pinched them between his middle and index fingers "You're gorgeous baby. You have no idea how long I wished I could touch you."

You smiled "You can touch me now. I'm yours Stephen. Now I'm yours too."

He pulled you to his lips kissing you tenderly and you surrendered to the kiss lying down on the mattress and pulling him on top of your body, your legs opening for him to settle between them. Both moaned together as his bulge rubbed your core giving a glimpse of relief. He moved his hips against you a few times and you moaned louder feeling him getting harder and harder for you. At that point you were already totally wet for him.

"Stephen..."

He hummed, pulling his lips away from yours but moving them to your neck, biting on your skin lightly and smoothing it with the tip of his tongue.

"Please..." You whispered, feeling your body asking for more of him, but he wasn't in a hurry, it was like he wanted to taste every inch of your skin to make sure you were real, that you were really there within his reach .

He lowered his lips to your breasts, kissing one and then the other and finally taking a bud between his teeth and then circling his tongue over it. You groaned, your hands instinctively going to his hair, your fingers searching for the hair tie and removing it letting his hair fall free.

He looked at you smiling and you bit your lower lip. "You are so beautiful like that."

He kissed your lips again "Tell me I'm yours. Tell me I'm your Stephen, too." He asked and you grinned "You are." You replied and he went back down to your breasts, but now he didn't stop there, he continued placing kisses and nibbles on your belly and hips, making your skin prickle with the feel of his beard. He didn't let this go unnoticed, he took his hands to the waistband of your panties pulling slowly and rubbing his chin on the delicate skin purposefully to make you shiver.

"You're mine, Stephen. God… please, touch me."

He smiled confidently and pulled your panties down your feet and throwed them somewhere on the floor and didn’t wait even a second to dive between your legs, the feel of the contact making you gasp, but he just kissed your pussy and then looked at you as if asking for permission "You're sure about this, baby?"

You touched his face and nodded your head. He gave your slit a long lick making your whole body shiver. He did it again and again, making you wet with his saliva and then he directed his attention to your clit sucking it gently and then licking your slit again, lingering at your entrance where he licked and sucked.

Your moans got louder as his pace increased. You even tried to control them, but it was impossible. Defender was making you feel so good.

"Oh, you're doing it so good. It feels so good..."

He hummed satisfied with the praise and continued his work with an absurd devotion. It was as if he was enjoying every second to worship you, as if his only objective was to give you pleasure and you were sure that he was doing it very well. You could feel your entire body responding to him and the familiar feeling of an approaching orgasm, your legs started to shake.

"Fuck, Stephen, you're gonna make me cum..."

You were surprised. You loved oral sex and Stephen did it very well, but you always relied on penetration to cum, Stephen always used his fingers, but Defender didn't and you didn't feel like you needed them. Just the feel of him sucking on your clit interspersed with the licks at your entrance and the way he sucked up all your juices and spit them back out and went back to sucking was enough to make the tension rise and the knot deep in your belly break.

Your hands let go of the sheet you were gripping so tightly and gripped his hair, pulling hard and loving the feeling as your orgasm finally washed over you. Defender didn't stop eating you until all the shaking stopped and he was sure you were finished.

"Lord, I've never come so fast with oral. You do it so well." You admitted.

He smiled, rubbing his hand through his beard, cleaning himself of your fluids and you caressed his hair "I love your hair, you look so handsome with long hair."

You watched in delight as his face turned slightly pink. He placed a kiss on the inside of your thigh "You're a flatterer, you know that?"

Voce gave a small laugh "But it's true and I like to praise what's mine."

Defender smirked and crawled over to you pulling you to his lips. "You have no idea how much I wanted to taste you, I've thought about it for so long, the moment I would be between your legs, eating you."

You bit his bottom lip teasing "And?"

"The sweetest pussy I've ever tasted."

You giggled feeling so comfortable with him that all anticipation for the first time seemed to fade, suddenly it was like you'd already made love to him a hundred times.

"Must have been a lot because you, Defender Strange, you seem to have a PhD in pussy eating."

He chuckled nuzzling his face in yours "That good, uh?" You shook your head "I already told you. I've never come so fast."

He caressed your face "I could do that for the rest of my life, just stay between your legs, pleasuring you."

"Hm, who's the flatterer now?" You asked and then you kissed him again, his lips parting for you to deepen the kiss, your tongue exploring his mouth with passion and a low moan escaping his lips which made your skin prickle. Defender was so sweet. Your Stephen was affectionate, but Defender was soft. You didn't have words to describe how he made you feel.

You rested both hands on his chest "I want to see you" You said kissing his lips softly "I want to touch you now."

He pulled away and rolled to the side on the bed lying on the pillows and you wasted no time, you rolled over him, passing one leg over his hip and purposely positioning yourself on his hard shaft. He watched you intently waiting for you to act and you kissed him ardently and then lowered your lips to his neck, lightly nipping the area below his ear while your nails scratched his chest. You were loving it and next thing you know you were grinding yourself over his shaft to get some relief and eliciting shy moans from his lips. But when you took one of his nipples in your lips and pinched the other he couldn't help it, he moaned loudly and that was the sound you liked best in the world.

"Fuck, baby, you're such a tease.”

You grinned moving over his bulge. He was rock hard now and you couldn't contain yourself anymore, you wanted to see him, take him in your mouth and make him moan the way you did your Stephen moan.

"Feels like my teasing worked, you're so hard, Stephen."

He closed his eyes feeling you grinding yourself into him "Please, need you, love, touch me."

You kissed his lips softly and dismounted finally grabbing the waistband of his boxers. He lifted his hips for you to take them off, his dick finally showing. He had a lot of pubic hair in there, they were trimmed, but compared to your Stephen, it was a lot and your mind automatically imagined what it would feel like rubbing your clit.

You felt your mouth water with anticipation to have him, but you decided to take it slow. You took him in hand stroking him up and down slowly but firmly enough to make him moan, this time louder than before.

You brought your thumb up to his head, collecting a drop of precum and circling it lightly.

"Oh god, it feels so good." He praised softly.

"I haven't done much of anything yet, Stephen." You replied chuckling and then you held him in both hands and spat on him using the saliva to help you slide your hands up and down, stroking him now fast. A wet, obscene sound reached your ears and made you even wetter between your legs than you already were.

His cock throbbed in your hand and you bit your bottom lip, trying not to moan "You're so big, Stephen. You have such a nice cock. I love it. Can't wait to have it stretching me and making me feel so good."

Defender cupped your face, his voice was a mere whisper "Ride me, baby. I want to be inside you so badly."

You smiled openly "Of course, but I want to have a taste of you first. Can I put your cock in my mouth, please?"

"Yes" He replied almost immediately "Show me how you do it, baby."

You spit on his dick again and gave a couple of jerks and then put it in your mouth, just the head, working your tongue around it, flicking it on his frenulum and making him whimper. Your hand was firmly around his length , stroking him nice and steady, the other stroking his balls, ensuring no part was left unstimulated.

He brought one hand up to your hair holding it firmly away from your face so he could get a good view of you going down on him, the other hand was in the sheets, squeezing them so tightly his knuckles were white.

"Oh, just like that, baby. You do it so good. So good to me..." He cooed totally surrendered to the pleasure you gave him. The moans and groans were like music to your ears and little by little you started taking him deeper and deeper into your mouth, bobbing your head on his length and when you felt confident enough you swallowed him whole letting him go to the back of your throat. He groaned in surprise and you held him there for a few seconds feeling him throb violently.

"Oh my god, baby, you're gonna make me cum like that, I'm so fucking deep..."

You just hummed satisfied in response and then took it fully out of your mouth to breathe, spit ran down your chin and tears rolled down your cheeks, but you smiled proudly at him and then moved your lips down to his balls, sucking them slowly because they were so full and you knew they would be sensitive. Your hand continued to stroke him.

"Y/n, you're gonna make me cum. Is that what you want, baby?"

"Uh hum" You replied biting your lips "You'll have another round for me, won't you?"

He shook his head, unable to voice his response.

"Then give it to me, Stephen."

He moaned as you put it in your mouth again going all the way down and then taking it out completely and then repeating over and over again. "Fuck... can I cum in your mouth, baby?"

You hummed in response, stroking him and bobbing your head on his head while stroking his balls in a circular motion.

"That's it, love, take it." He came hard and a lot. His load seemed endless and he had the exact same taste as your Stephen. You swallowed some, but some trickled down your chin. He was panting when you finally took him out of your mouth.

"Oh, that was amazing, Y/n. You really know how to do it. Fuck, baby, that was the best blow job I ever had."

You ran your fingers across your chin and sucked on them with a popping sound making a show for him. He grinned.

"You taste really good, Steph."

He raised an eyebrow "Steph?"

You crawled on top of him wrapping your legs around his hips and directing him inside you. He stayed hard after cuming which was no surprise, your Stephen could take several rounds easily on a good day and stamina seemed to be equal in both.

"That's how I call my Stephen, and since you're mine too, I think I can call you that too, don't you agree?" You reached down letting him slide inside you easily, stretching you perfectly just the way you liked it.

"Yes, baby. You can call me whatever you want. I'm yours."

You started to move, rocking yourself on top of him, fucking him nice and hard keeping your pace fast and intense.

"Oh yes, just like that, baby, fuck me."

You smiled openly, realizing what you had already subtly noted. Defender was way more submissive than your Stephen and you loved that.

He brought both hands to your ass helping you keep your movements steady. You rested both hands on his chest, closing your eyes and leaning your head back, letting yourself be carried away by the wonderful pleasure you felt.

"You look so fucking beautiful riding me like this, baby. You feel so good."

You moaned loudly, his praises having a strong effect on you. "Yeah? You like the feeling of my pussy around your cock, baby? Tell me how good it feels."

Defender moved his arms to your hips and turned quickly and a second later you were under him. He guided his cock back inside you and leaned forward to kiss you. You wrapped your legs around his waist, trapping them behind his back and allowing him to enter you really deep.

"It feels this good" He replied thrusting against you and making you moan loudly "So good, your pussy feels so good, baby."

You cupped his face with both hands as he thrusted into you nice and hard, but at the same time slow and so intense. He was making love with you in slow motion and it was so different and so good, you were literally melting under him. You felt so hot, sweat making your skin stick to the sheets.

"Stephen... you're gonna make me cum. You feel so good, your cock feels so good, it’s so big and it’s so deep..."

Defender took your praises in a deep kiss. "You can cum, baby, I'm right after you."

You felt your body responding to his words, the familiar tremor deep in your belly building again, the knot threatening to break.

"Tell me you love me Steph, tell me how much you wanted me."

He buried his face in the crook of your neck thrusting harder against you "More than anything, baby. I love you more than anything. I wanted you so badly. You're making me so happy, so good to know you're mine too." His voice broke with his moans and the sound right in your ear made your whole body shiver and it was too much for you. You came, your walls clenching around him, your cum creaming him, your nails biting the skin on his back leaving angry marks.

"That's it, baby, give it to me. You're squeezing me so hard... fuck, baby, I wanna cum to. Can I cum inside you?"

You were still coming back from your high and the words seemed to have disappeared from your head, so you just nodded.

"Tell me I can cum. I need you to say it. Can you do that for me?"

You cupped his face looking straight into his oceanic eyes "Cum for me, Stephen. Cum inside me. I wanna feel you cuming inside me, please."

Stephen groaned aloud, but you pulled him to your lips and felt his hot load spurting inside you, painting your walls white. It felt so good, so right. He pulled away for air, he was panting, but there was a wide smile on his lips. He leaned his forehead against yours.

"I love you, Y/n. I Love you so, so much."

You kissed him tenderly "I love you too, Defender Strange."

He kissed your lips softly and rolled over and got up. "Just give me a minute, I'll clean you up."

You shook your head watching as he walked away towards the bathroom. You lay there staring at the ceiling, an open smile on your lips. You've fantasized about that moment so many times and it turned out to be better than any fantasy. He was perfect. Different from Stephen, but at the same time just as wonderful. You were delighted.

He came back with a towel in his hands and cleaned you gently as if he had already done it dozens of times. He went back to the bathroom to get rid of the dirty towel and when he got back to the bedroom he took the opportunity to get a pair of sweatpants from the wardrobe. He quickly put it on and then grabbed his shirt that he had lent you from the floor.

"Sit down, baby, let me get you dressed."

You obeyed by putting your arms up and he dressed you quickly. You went back to lay down and he came around the bed and lay down next to you holding out his arm for you to snuggle close to him.

"You are so sweet, Stephen." You said nuzzling your face in his, inhaling deeply to smell him. He squeezed you in his arms.

"So, we're really doing this." You said unable to be silent, too excited to sleep.

"Are you repented?" He asked, stroking your arm with his fingertips.

"What do you think?" You lifted your face to meet his eyes and before he could answer, you cupped his face and kissed him deeply.

He smiled "I think every second that passes I love you more. And I think there are important things we need to talk about."

You nodded "Like what?"

"Birth control. I imagine you and Stephen have it all figured out, but I need to know."

You bit your lips "You just came inside me and now you're asking?"

"I asked if I could do it first. Remember?"

You chuckled "Okay, well, I'm on pill. Stephen and I agreed we don't want a baby, so..."

"Good." He caressed your face with the back of his hand "There are other places where I'd like to cum next time."

You felt your face heat up.

"Don't tell me you're shy now."

"I'm not. It's just that... it was our first time, but for me it feels like we've done it so many times, but at the same time I still need to get used to it all."

"I know. I feel that way too."

You smoothed a lock of his hair and then gently tucked it behind his ear. He took your hand and brought it to his lips and kissed each finger slowly.

...

You opened your eyes the next morning and were greeted by blue eyes glancing at you intently and you had the impression that they had been looking at you for a very long time.

"Good morning" His voice sounded huskier than you were used to.

You gave him a lazy smile followed by a long yawn. "What are you doing?"

He grinned and then kissed your forehead lingeringly. "Trying to convince myself I'm not dreaming this time."

You pulled him to your lips kissing him softly. "And what conclusion did you come to?"

"That is much better than in my dreams."

"See, you are the flatterer, Defender Strange."

He caressed your face sighing "You know, I think only a certain amount of happiness is allowed to a man."

"What do you mean?"

"That to have you I had to lose everything else."

You stared at him confused, your hand cupping his face "It doesn't seem fair."

He turned his face to kiss her palm. "No, but I wouldn't change a thing."

Reblog please! Leave a comment if you liked it. Interact! I will love to read all of your comments and opinions. It inspires me to keep writing!

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[valkyrieandstrangeridingaragorn]

Something that bothers me so much in MoM is how nobady sat down to watch the first doctor strange movie and wandavision, like how Waldron and Raimi didn't worried to do so. Wanda is such a complex character and she was written so poorly, not her but Strange was also very out of character IMO. I honestly don't mind Wanda being the villain but like... make a villain backstory! Show how the Darkhold corrupted her, how that works, how it messed with her head, not simply mention it once during a two hours movie. The first concept of the movie was so much better, slowly introduce her as a villain than just throw it at the public - a public that mostly is not interested in understanding her character - without a single care

Waldron said he had seen DS1 several times before writing MoM and, if we're being merciful, we better call him a liar and assume he didn't because if he did... then he didn't understand a damn thing in that movie.

Stephen "holding the knife" is not something he enjoys, it's a huge sacrifice for him. Christine did love him, and she still does, and she understood him just fine so her words post-wedding are bullshit. He was over her in DS1 and he would have never linked his happiness to a girlfriend because his pain comes from losing Donna, not being single. His loneliness + insecurities + guilt they all originated in the same place, it's all far more complex.

With Wanda, the problem is neither Waldron nor Raimi watched WandaVision - they admitted as much publicly - so of course she was ooc. But even then, if they wanted to ignore WV they should have written a good villain! I can't really blame the audience for not caring about her, if her own writer/director don't give a damn, why should we?

In fact, an ooc Wanda could have gone well IF they had worked on the Darkhold and its lore + we as the audience were aware there was something off about her (because we know her) but Stephen and Wong didn't (because they don't) and the story followed that path: us watching them slowly figure out what's wrong with her then helping her. Except this requires showing her corruption on-screen and her fighting against it!

Stephen has a few good moments (his first scene with Wanda in the garden is chef's kiss) but I'm convinced those were thanks to Benedict. I don't know if I'd say he was ooc in the film but there are certain moments where I think he would have acted differently and he should have been allowed to talk back to the people defining him (especially Nic).

[dailycass-cain]

I do apologize for taking so long for this, but I had a rough second half last week and took time to recharge mentally.

That said here are my thoughts on Spirit World #5!

I think the only negatives I have for the issue is that well the next issue is the final one, and I want to know so much! So much more on Xanthe. Spirit World. Jade Court (though we get A LOT of info dump this issue). There's just SO much happening in this series.

Like I really don't want this series to end, and kind of want a sequel series to just be announced. Because writer Alyssa Wong just is giving us so much lore that I want them to continue on. Obviously, the stuff introduced this issue with Xanthe.

But to go deeper into Jade Court and Po Po. Like, they hook me this issue with the revelations of what Po Po is, and I want more. One more issue isn't enough for that.

Xanthe is a character and this series is really making me want to do a deep dive further in Chinese mythology and the like because the stuff Wong has introduced in the series got me craving to learn more and see what they incorporated into this series.

Plus I kind of want to see how Xanthe met John Constantine. More Xanthe interacting with Cass's world. Of course, Cass continued interaction with this side of Chinese mythology. It is all rather exciting for ALL of this.

Like I don't feel cheated at all if Wong doesn't answer the stuff they seeded earlier with Cass having been in this place but losing her memories. Not to mention the warped way she "died". Like I want DC to give Wong just even more glorious room to tell this ALL.

Give me that double dose of Wong with both Cass/Xanthe. Two mini-series by Wong. One being a sequel to this, and the other just letting Wong go to town on a solo Cass series (literally its the character's anniversary). They showed us the readers they write an EXCEPTIONAL Cass.

Cass while her role is mostly downplayed this issue (I don't mind it) with what she gets is still to be freed by Xanthe from the last issue's shenanigans. Do I wish there were more people "tethered" to Cass? Yes (Harper, Tim, Dick, and *ahem* Shiva).

But I'll take my Duke Thomas brotherly crumb THANK YOU VERY MUCH! Also, Babs being more prominent than Bruce too.

I feel like I have to stop gushing on Wong's writing to also give due to artist Haining. What they've done in this series and lead-up? The designs and visuals throughout this series? Like, the way he can switch from comedy to action to horror.

Just really exceptional stuff.

Not to mention the designs he's spitting out with all the members of the Jade Court? Like, given how unique and interesting the visuals set up each member is WHY I want to know more. Add to that the heavy introduced this issue too (I want Cass to fight him).

The same goes to the colors by Sebastian Cheng. They make the art by Haining pop even more and give a visceral feel to what Wong crafts with this world.

Spirit World continues to be this amazing series that should be talked out more. It's introducing a new character in Xanthe, and renewing an old concept for modern audiences. Besides giving us the goods on Cass/John.

I'm truly gonna be sad to see this series go next month. But MAN what a ride this has been! I can't wait to see how this all ends!

[psychopasss4]

Dir. Shiotani PPP interview

Q&A with the Director Shiotani on 6/15/2023.

For reference, I know y'all had read this couple of times as it has been distributed and discussed online 😁🤭

[Eng.Trans.]

1. What are your hobbies for the weapons that appear?→Is Assault Dominator a hobby of the director? There were three variations of the assault type before the final design. I'm looking forward to the completion of (Kaiser's Dominator).

2. Is there a window in the criminal division room?→It was originally there. It was hidden by holo wallpaper, but Akane cut it out to create a healthy and refreshing space.

3. Was General always in the north?→ Jack Daw and Vixon only appear in the second half. That's it.

4. What was the reaction of the first staff member to Dango Chika?→I thought about putting it in a movie, but decided against it. I like this hairstyle because it looks the cleanest.

5. The story of the three archangels (Michael, Raphael, Gabriel)→ Raphael is the high-altitude communication equipment, Michael is the mobile weapon, and Gabriel is the land weapon that was also in Aso, and it also appeared in SS3.

6. Doesn't the person who was shot feel pain?→It hurts. Kogami also hurts. But I'm used to it. It's not that it doesn't hurt.

7. Is the room before going to the holo room similar to the one in John Wick?→The place where Kai and Kogami fought is inside an attraction similar to the Great Kumamoto Exhibition.

8. Who are the Japanese other than Tonami from Peace Breaker?→It disappeared.

9. General's startup sound is good.→ Mr. Koyama did a really great job in the effects department.

10. What about the whiskey on the desk in Kogami's room?→ Offering a glass to Saiga.

11. The meaning of the broken mirror.→Search for "Russia" and "hand mirror".

12. The room in the last scene?→This is Vermilion's room. Let's all look at Akane crying (I vaguely remember).

13. About Bokamoso→ There was a clear intention in making his Bokamoso look like that (skin color, etc.). thus! I asked for that visual. Maybe you'll hate me? Same as Kai.

14. Why was the anechoic chamber room number 4?→ That's what it means.

15. Why did the doctor use Saiga as a bait?→PROVIDENCE series of unfortunate accidents. He thought he was safe because Saiga was in an isolation facility and couldn't go outside.

16. Did AI try to obtain a body before or after Sibyl?→The timing is about the same. I made it with great irony. Sarcasm towards humans.

17. Why does Kasei stare at Yabuki in the scene regarding the right to investigate the Grozlang?→Good, let's chew the dried squid (nuance).

18. It was evening when Akane entered Saiga's room, but the clock in the room said 23:41?→Confirm.

19. What is the sunflower pattern on the carpet in Saiga's room?→It has meaning. Please chew on the flower language of sunflowers.

20. Is it intentional that the setting sun shines through the hole in the cross in the Yabuki Room?→ That's right.

21. Why does Frederica admire Yabuki?→Yabuki was the one who picked up her and elevated her to that position. The person Frederica is talking to at the end of SS3 is Yabuki.

22. Doesn't Yabuki look like Superintendent Wong from Infernal Affairs?→It's similar. Because that's where I modeled it.

23. Whose crime coefficient ↑ 300 belongs to when Vermilion points Dominator at you on the rooftop?→Things of light.

24. What is the meaning of the expression that Takumi gives Atsushi?→ ``That was a tough mission,'' he said. Let's think.

25. Is there any meaning in Kai putting down his rifle or throwing his pistol?→It means that you are aware of it. It's a code that says they don't have the will to fight that hard.

26. (About the tumbler with vermilion illustrations)→I'm still drinking sweet tea. Please let Shu's head cool down. To the fullest. Kogami in the back? That's two sides of the same coin.I want a tumbler that changes Ginoza's hairstyle depending on the temperature.

27. I like the way Frederica's hair swings.→It's about the assault type. I am particular about it.

🥰👏🏻

[pomegranateboba]

ArTw OC

i finally got my lazy ass onto picrew to make my OC guys i hope yall are proud of me

This is my OC (read self-insert) guys her name is Nicole

In her early 20s

Birthday is 17 February

Half Korean and half British, but lives in Korea

Juggles all 6 boys like some sort of harem (she has given up on choosing one)

"Summoner please don't do that" *proceeds to do exactly that*

174cm tall (5'8.5)

very bisexual (wishes there were more women)

You have chosen to keep reading. I hope you like reading because I have never written a longer post before.

Relationships with the boys:

Arcturus:

"guys he a lil clementine i love him"

She can crochet, so she made a crochet orange for him once

Protects him from Sirius

"rawr arcky" "...thank you Summoner?"

Likes hanging around him, because he's very approachable

Sneaks him out of work whenever his clan mates drag him to work, whether he likes it or not

Takes care of plants with him

Spared from her constant roasting

Her heart explodes whether he speaks

Spica:

First interaction: "Are you Rapunzel?" "Excuse me?"

"guys he won't let me braid his hair :("

Respects Spica a lot, because he's responsible (unlike her)

For his birthday, she has given him a chameleon named Pascal

Pascal now sits on his shoulder

Getting Spica out of work using force doesn't work, so she resorts to guilt tripping (it always works)

Alpheratz:

Nods in approval every time he prioritizes sleeping.

Likes taking naps with him whenever possible

*pointing at Alpheratz asleep under a tree* "eepy."

Lets him lean on her

"guys he keeps calling me short." "But you are"

"Why does his grandpa keep shipping us wtf"

Crochets a whole fucking blanket for this man

Sometimes points Spica in the wrong direction when he asks where Alpheratz is

Watches them fight like it's a K-drama (has snacks on her)

"It's like that scene in Harry Potter guys, except Sirius and Remus are Spica and Alpheratz and I'm Snape."

Pollux:

First impression: very squishable

Current impression: still very squishable

Absolutely adores Pollux

Flexes that she is like 2cm taller than him

"Short." "i'n nOT THAT SHORT-" "Short."

Her, Poll and Arcky are almost always seen together, and if they're not (Summoner gone), something is wong

"Or maybe I'm just with someone else." "BUT YOU KEEP DISAPPEARING"

Let's Pollux drag her out (away from Sirius)

Keeps snacks on her so that she and Poll can share

Vega:

"Vega my beloved"

Thinks it is very fun to tease Vega, considering he gets flustered very easily

Though she has toned down the flirting by a lot when Vega actually passed out once (very canon)

Looks up at Vega like ":3" and he replies "...how do you say that out loud?"

"He's very cute" (canon)

*pap paps his head*

Knows he is very overprotective, and constantly assures Vega that she will be fine. He doesn't believe her.

Vega is also spared from her constant roasting

Very affectionate to Vega, solely because he's always so worried about her.

Sirius:

"Sirisus T-T"

"Summoner, I got you a new bottle of shampoo since your old one seems to be running out :)" "How did you get into my room"

Is unable to keep Sirius out of her room, no matter how many locks and charms she places on her doors and windows.

Lets Sirius take her out (in all 3 ways, simply because)

She very much enjoys watching him perform.

Joins in when he starts practicing his acting skills out of the blue.

Has figured out how to read Sirius (works 90% of the time). Sirius doesn't understand how she does it.

Despite being a deep sleeper, she knows whenever someone (Sirius) has found their way into her room (most of the time)

Thinks Sirius is extremely hot and that therefore cancels out half his sins (emphasis on half)

*after a few hours* "wait...how did he know I was running out of shampoo?"

Personal stuff:

"where are all the women at?" (cue Sirius transforming into a woman)

Downbadussy. (no i shall not explain)

"Alpheratz is sleeping under a tree again." "...I almost asked what a tree was." "Nicole what the fuck."

Has a whole 3 friends in Mid Earthium. They do k-pop dance covers together (I might talk more about them if yall want.)

Bullies little kids on Minecraft.

Has like 100 Minecraft axolotls

Enjoys drawing (both digital and traditional art)

Sucks at sugarcoating her words

"Oh my stars I'm so stupid." "For real."

Her closet at home is like something out of a Pinterest board

Is very strong mentally, which is good because the life of a Summoner is very traumatic.

Is eerily calm because of that. It makes even Sirius uncomfortable

Hyperfixation. She now knows things ranging from the evolution of frogs to various medieval torture methods.

Keeps a pen in her pocket for self defense

"It passes airport security." "...why are you like this."

Either sleeps for 25 hours a day or doesn't sleep at all.

Her staple foods are water and bubble tea.

Can withstand cold, but instantly dies when it becomes too hot.

"It's so hot here." "My apologies, Summoner." "...I hate you."

[covid-safer-hotties]

Airborne transmission: A hidden threat that must be addressed - Published Sept 12, 2024

By Lara Wong

The Covid-19 pandemic has laid bare the vulnerabilities in our healthcare system, but for those of us who have been fighting for the protection of Clinically Vulnerable people, this is nothing new.

Clinically Vulnerable Families (CVF), a grassroots group representing thousands of vulnerable individuals across the UK, have long warned of the dangers posed by airborne diseases like Covid-19.

Yesterday's expert testimony from Professor Clive Beggs to the Covid Inquiry, alongside the remarks made by Baroness Hallett, Chair of the inquiry, have further validated our concerns.

Professor Beggs' expert statement made clear what we have known for some time: Covid is an airborne virus, capable of lingering in the air for hours and posing a threat particularly to those who are Clinically Vulnerable.

Yet, the response from the former UK government was, at best, wholly inadequate. Instead of promoting close-fitting masks, such as FFP2 or FFP3s, which are proven to protect against airborne viruses, they pushed for ineffective 'face coverings'.

Worse still, many healthcare workers and patients in healthcare were given loose-fitting baggy blue masks that offered little protection.

This failure to provide clear, accurate information and appropriate protective measures has left the Clinically Vulnerable population exposed to unnecessary risks.

But it is not just about masks. The issue of poor ventilation standards in healthcare settings, which Professor Beggs highlighted, also extends to many other public spaces.

As Baroness Hallett rightly pointed out during the inquiry, "the more of them [air filters] you have about, even in normal times, the better ventilation you have, the better chances for patient and healthcare worker safety."

This is a simple yet crucial point that has been overlooked for far too long. We expect clean hands, clean sheets, and sterile equipment in hospitals — so why not clean air?

Inexpensive air filters can easily supplement existing ventilation systems, reducing sickness, saving lives, and alleviating pressure on our healthcare system.

Some hospitals have already started to introduce air filters in wards and high-risk settings since 2020. However, the broader failure to implement these measures continues to put people at unnecessary risk.

At CVF, we believe it is a false economy not to invest in clean air. With Covid infections now a year-round issue, air filters could pay for themselves quickly through the reduction in workplace absences alone.

We are calling on the new Labour government to take urgent action on this expert advice and ensure that the necessary measures are in place to improve health and protect lives across the UK.

We need a comprehensive approach to clean air in all public spaces. Only then can we truly protect the most vulnerable among us and build a safer, healthier future for everyone.

[doctorofmagic]

How much do we know about Wong? Do we have his birth place or any other little fun facts about him? (Working on a fic, trying to make him as accurate as I can)

We don't know much Wong, unfortunately 😭

He has always been sided in most DS stories, and most often his portrayal was kinda problematic. It's only changing now but there's still a long way for him.

What I DO know about him, though:

He's Tibetan and his father's name is Hamir, although in Strange #6 it's established that his ancestors were called Wong as well (makes sense cause Wong is actually a surname, so all good as far as I can tell).

He takes art classes and has his own tea blend.

He likes Banh Mi.

He knows a spell strong enough to kill the Sorcerer Supreme.

Pretty sure the tuna melt and the karaoke thing came from the MCU but well, it's also 616 canon now.

He's responsible for teaching Stephen how to fight martial arts.

I hate this background but he came from a line that serves the Sorcerer Supreme. He was promised a fiancée (Imei) and almost married her, but she was killed by Salomé. He was in love with Sara Wolfe before meeting Imei, but rejected her because he was promised to another (booooooooo).

He's a teacher at Strange Academy.

Overall, he's reserved, sarcastic and kind. Sensitive and sensible. Smart and strong. He really loves Stephen.

We need more stories starring Wong, for real. I'll be back (not sure when but still!!) with a thread on why Wong would make the perfect Iron Fist. Maybe, if he gets a promotion, Marvel will give him more depth!!

[possessionisamyth]

If you don't mind, could you elaborate on how Ada is inconsistent?

It's less about how she's inconsistent, and more about how various writers treat her role in the overall narrative of the series. For a non existent attempt at brevity, I will not be talking about how she's handled in the remakes or any of the alternate raccoon city focused games. 1998 RE2 only!

So in the original RE2, Ada is a woman who's looking for her boyfriend who is a researcher at Umbrella. She was actually dating the man to get information on/a sample of the G-Virus, and whether or not her concern was sincere for this man is debatable as she plays it up. It's a useful truth that functions as a genuine cover story. After finding out the dude's dead, she seduces Leon so he'll follow her around like a lost puppy. (He's super whiny puppy but that was entertaining to watch). Plus when she doesn't shoot to kill to get the G-Virus sample from Leon, it turns out her affection for him is real. Whether this is her working from the rebound after figuring out her current boyfriend is dead is also debatable. I can only speculate that she might have been. Ada isn't heartless. Fake dating someone for months meant there had to be some chemistry as she could've picked literally any umbrella scientist to date to get to the same result. When we look at the epilogue scene from RE3, we see she is changed by her experience.

She's not the same woman anymore. Or at least she doesn't think she is. She wasn't so much a femme fatale in the first RE2 as much as she was a mercenary/spy playing her cards right until the smoke cleared.

And then we get Resident Evil 4.

In RE4, they hammer that femme fatale persona in HARD. She's sexy. She's teasing. She's always in the right place at the right time. She doesn't get hurt and comes out on top. Ashley's existence delays the damsel role she would be tossed in so Leon can save her, but doesn't prevent it. The time she spent between 1998 and 2004 was her building this persona to put emotional walls and distance up so she can better do her job. Hell, due to the great reception the game got, this version of Ada is who gets left in the hands of every future writer who has/wants to handle her. Yet, Leon being there in RE4 puts a few splinters in this persona. Wesker's kill order for Leon absolutely cracks it. Leon may be experiencing his own personal hell, but so! is! Ada! Wong! She doesn't have to do shit. She doesn't have to save Leon. She doesn't have to kill him. She can honestly just do her job and get out, but she hasn't changed. She's just gotten really fucking good at lying to herself. So we once again see her putting everything on the line for Leon, and risking her own neck so he can get out. And this is great! And you want to see more.

And then we get RE:Damnation.

Why was she there? Look. Look at me. I love Ada. She's my wife. Why was she in the Eastern Slav Republic pretending to work for the BSAA? Oh, to collect a sample of las plagas! Wait. Wasn't she in the village where there was a fuck ton of them before this event? Why wouldn't Wesker have that already? Oh no, she needs the special plagas that let's people control lickers for a limited period of time before the parasite develops and the host become one of those twisty head zombies. Ah. A failed plagas then? She wants a failed plagas? Well, she would've had a much easier time just stealing that from the rebellion. It then would've made her running into Leon a more natural outcome. They started that movie putting Ashley in the proverbial trunk to eliminate that romantic venue and brought in Ada to go "hey! remember! leon likes her! nobody else! we promise!". They're not risking anything for each other. Ada isn't doing what she has been doing the last two stories, and it's off. The femme fatale stuff is happening, but you can cut her out and lose nothing from the movie other than a cat fight. You can't do the same thing in RE4. You can't do the same thing in RE2!

And then we get Resident Evil 6.

I enjoyed watching the Ada storyline in the game despite all the strange mechanic choices they made with the game's play style. Up until this point in the games, her and Leon keep risking their lives and/or job credibility for each other. That's what they do regardless if people view their relationship as platonic or romantic.

This game with Ada's story was a great opportunity to show how she's also wearing a mask she's built up over the years. The one that gets cracked in RE4 with Leon's mere appearance and a genuine concern for his safety. The thing is in RE6, she's kind of all over the place. We first see her doppleganger not knowing it's a different woman, and every fan is up in arms about how reasonably OOC the act is. And they're right. Next we see the real Ada, and she seems just as natural as she was in RE4. We just assume it's an outfit change until she starts investigating. Then she goes from mercenary/spy to playing superhero.

The one thing I like about the resident evil games, is that when 2 characters are supposed to be on equal ground, they'll often save each other the same amount of times. They meet in the middle, and there's something sweet about it. In RE6, Ada is constantly covering Leon's ass the closer we get to the end. Leon gets to save her with that final Simmon's confrontation. We are not counting Leon protecting fake Ada from Chris because it wasn't her. RE6 was trying so hard to make the real Ada likable by having her go out of her way to do good for everyone as a sharp contrast to doppleganger Ada's actions. However, they lost some of what makes Ada so complex with these narrative decisions.

It's nice we get to see her hurt and anger by taking out doppleganger Ada's final experiment before it hatches, but that's the end of the game! We don't get a little epilogue scene of what she's doing or how she feels like everyone else gets! They say "oh yeah, she's fine, she has more work now. Nothing's changed." When we get to see the result of hurt like we did in RE2, or the knowledge she'll gladly disobey orders for her own peace of mind in RE4.

This was a lot of words to say RE2 and RE4 remember Ada's more than just a femme fatale, whilst later appearances in the series forget this.

The remakes for now don't do that. In the remakes, we know from the get go she's looking out for herself first, and other people come second. Leon ranks a little higher on this list than everyone else, and I'm very eager to see the depiction expanded on if we get a remake Separate Ways DLC.

EDIT: Oop, just realized she was constantly covering Leon's ass in RE4 too based on the OG separate ways. Ignore that one segment, but the rest still stands!

[ironfey-42]

Kinda a Sense8 IronStrange Idea/Concept

Prompts: Sweets, Baths, Laughs

I guess sense8 au like it’s a thing around the whole universe. All the avengers and some other heroes are in a cluster. Also a canon divergence au after CW and like Tony Stark and Natasha Romanoff lives cuz booo so basically a Not Endgame compliant au.

Avengers Cluster:

Thor

Clint

Natasha

Steve

Bruce

Wanda

Tony

And whoever the 8th is, you decide

Stephen is in a cluster with Wong and Mordo and whoever but like let’s make it so that the three of them are only ones left in their 8 person cluster.

Just imagine still MCU/Marvel but with the Sense8 lore mixed in. Also, let’s make the avengers around the same age, early 30s. Anyways, they all get “reborn” after that fight in CW, and so what I’m going for, is all of them experiencing what they all went through. All they know through the haziness of being reborn is that one of them needs help to survive. 

(I had this idea in the back of my mind that in this version of the MCU/sense8 world, since they can basically visit each other and use their skills to help each other, why not use their powers, so like Thor being able to use his lightning skills when he’s visiting the other’s body. So they can access Steve’s healing powers to heal Tony.)

Like again it’s not automatic instant forgiveness just cuz they’re connected. Like Tony and Wanda are still learning about each other. In the show, there’s certain people who understand what the other is feeling or who has an idea/view that might look out of place but the other somehow understands, they get pulled into their space and they share their view. Like I know that Marvel had Steve connect with Wanda, but like there’s this potential of Tony and Wanda just learning about each other and the truth, and this is me lowkey wanting a bit of Wanda learning to truly redeem herself instead of just pushing it away in the back of her mind. 

Thanos is still on his snap half of the population of the universe thing and stuff, of course, they still stop him, but on a shorter timeline. Anyways there’s another bad guy like Whispers, so maybe Hydra or Hydra adjacent,  who’s after sensates, but ones who are enhanced or control a suit of armor to deal damage and stuff. He hunts after the clusters who have powers and (TW: death) sometimes people in the clusters who have powers or stuff once they happen to make eye contact with the Whispers in this verse, kill themselves in a way that causes great damage to their head so they aren’t taken advantage of in death by Hydra adjacent Whispers.

Stephen, whose cluster is down to 3, Mordo, Wong, and himself, makes direct eye contact with Hydra-adjacent Whispers. He and Tony fall in love and both clusters work together to stop Whispers from getting to Stephen and Tony’s cluster and any other clusters with enhanced people. 

Anyways what ideas I have for this au is that one scene in the Christmas episode of Sense8 where Riley and Will are in the bathtub just enjoying the vibes that Riley tried to create so that Will isn’t stuck in whatever vibe he’s in cuz of Whispers. 

Once the clusters stop Whispers, every sensate breathes a sigh of relief cuz they’re not being hunted down anymore for their sensate and powers. Stephen and Tony cuz the clusters also need time alone with their SOs, go do their thing of reconnecting with each other physically, emotionally, and sexually.  Stephen and Tony do their own thing with the bathtub scene, but this time more relaxed since there’s no more Whispers. They’re having fun sitting in the water and just basically kissing each other all over their faces. They’re having fun feeding each other sweets making up for the fact they haven’t had time to enjoy because the stress from Whispers was so strong. What they’re feeling is also amplified since the clusters are also reconnecting with their SOs and just a huge feels fest and also going all NSFW.

Anyways after the experience with Whispers, Tony and Stephen finally learn to take some time for themselves and just relax and have fun. Their “self-care” days end with the two of them in the bathtub just feeding each other sweets and giving each other bubble hairdos and beards. If they end up having bathtub sex then that’s no one’s business but theirs.

Crossposting to here from Twitter

[risingsouls]

//First part my samurai character's profile.

Nick Name: Dragon Lady (she has a birthmark in the shape of a dragon on the right side of her neck which is often mistaken for a tattoo by people)

Birth Name: Kaorus WONG

 Gender androgynous: (Partly male and partly female in physical appearance)

Age: She was 20 years of age when she became an immortal.

Actual age: A thousand.

Eye color: Hazel

Hair color: Auburn

Length: It comes down well past her shoulders. but she keeps it in a bun, with a jade phoenix hairpin.

Attire: Her attire consists of a black hanfu decorated with tiny gold flowers, an red obi belt worn around the waist, and a pair of red arm bands worn on the upper region of her arms.  

 Height:5 foot 9   

 Birthplace: Tokyo Japan.

Year of birth: 12 Century BC

Period: The Heian Period.

Species: Human (Formerly) Immortal (Currently) (she became immortal after drinking The Hourai Elixir, and unfortunately the effects of the elixir are permanent) 

Profession: She is the former Leader of The Red Dragon Clan. (she resigned and let someone else take her place as clan leader)

Status: Highest ranking member of the Qishan Wen Sect. (Wen Mao let her join because of her exceptional martial arts skills)  

Family: Her father (Huo Feng-Deceased) he was a well renown blacksmith, he crafted a variety of different weapons in addition to the dragon sword.

Her mother (Momo Feng-Deceased) she worked in a small tea house close to where they lived, although the pay was low, she enjoyed working there.

Spirit Animal: Phoenix (he is her spiritual protector) 

Preffered Weapons: Her father's dragon blade (he gave it to her as a gift for her tenth birthday) although she personally prefers using traditional crossbows and arrows. (they are more effective than swords)

Skills: She is well known for her martial arts skills and use of spiritual cultivation.

Ability: Regeneration (she can heal from wounds that would normally kill humans)

[Thank you! This is nice to know and somewhat helpful. I don't know if you saw the suggestion, but you could also just make a new blog to circumvent the shadowban, but this is at least a start.

So since you seem to want your OC to fight Vegeta, I'm going to focus on the relevant parts for that.

I'll begin by saying I'm not sure if there's anything else here that supports the idea you seemingly have that your samurai would be able to fight on part with Vegeta. Again, the key (heh) factor here for the DB world is the use of ki. Unless "spiritual cultivation" is meant to be an equivalent for that, it's still going to be a very unbalanced fight. Vegeta isn't one to hold back, especially when she insists on fighting him, but I still don't see her being able to do much.

Again. For the millionth time. This isn't me saying your OC is weak. In fact, as I've said, she probably is incredibly skilled as a fighter and strong when compared to the average DB Earthling for instance. Especially if I concede that, even though you reference real life eras for her that probably don't exist in the DB universe, she's ancient and has been training all THAT time. But we've seen characters like that in DB (like Spike the Devilman who is a literal, likely immortal demon who has probably also honed his skills throughout his life) that could be overpowered by Goku as a KID. Even if these characters continue to train and get better, I'm sure Goku would absolutely wipe the floor with them. Another good example would also be Roshi. He was Goku's master and trained the kid. Nowadays, even with how they portray him in the Tournament of Power suggesting that I guess he's been training still (though the point stands even in Goku's childhood because he was ancient THEN)? The old man doesn't have a prayer.

This is why, despite her immortality and super long lifetime of training, it still won't be enough to do much against Vegeta. The least she can hope for is that he would recognize she can fight and fight well, but that's where it ends. He's still going to see fighting her as a waste of time FOR HIM because she wouldn't offer him a challenge.]

[space-mermaid-writing]

The black cat with blue eyes [Part 2]

Summary: One day Peter drags a cat into the tower he found in the dumpsters and Tony finds himself adopting it, because – honestly – he can not say no to Peter. It turns out the cat has really strange opinions on food, belly scratches and movies. What else? Oh yes, Doctor Strange is missing. But those two events are clearly not related. Clearly…

Relationship: Tony Stark/Stephen Strange

Tags:Temporary Cat!Stephen, Hurt/Comfort, life is trauma, friendship is healing, supreme family (kind of), it starts with angst and ends in fluff, a lot of fun in between, I swear this is fun, cats are weird and we love it

Ko-fi | Read it on AO3 | Masterlist | Word count: 10k | Part 1

Author’s note: I kinda went overboard with 10k words but whatever. Cat!Stephen lives rent free in my head

This cat is Strange!...

Stephen hadn‘t planned this. None of it. It had been a short-circuit reaction.

After he came back from the blip, he thought he would settle in just fine. It had been mere seconds for him anyway between the fight on Titan and the great battle on Earth. Sure, he remembered being dusted, then this weird feeling of being there but also being not at all (it was a different feeling than death by Dormammu).

And they won. Everything went according to plan. He even managed to save Tony.

Stephen didn‘t know why he had kept searching for a future with the man alive, but the longer he watched – no, lived – possible scenarios of the fight, the stronger the urge became. In the end he couldn‘t imagine a world without Tony Stark.

He even helped Tony build a new arm, providing input on the medical aspects. Stark certainly knew enough other people he could have asked for it, but he had never questioned Stephen's presence.

There wasn‘t much Stephen could do beside that little project anyway. Wong was Sorcerer Supreme now. And somewhere in the last five years another sorcerer had become Master of the Sanctum Sanctorum. That was especially weird, because the Sanctum recognized Stephen being back, but the responsibility of being its master was one for a lifetime and technically Stephen had died. Now that he was back, there were two masters as if the building couldn’t decide between them. It was an inconvenience for everyone involved.

The gaps had been filled by other sorcerers in the past years and Stephen felt lost.

Still, he could have lived with that. It wasn't the first time he had lost everything and had to start over. After all, he still had his magic and could go on, throwing himself into his studies.

But then the memories started. Flashes of the futures he had lived.

At first it had been small things, like how long had it been since they won? A month? Two? A year?

Had Thanos killed Loki? No, the Asgardian was rebuilding a home for his people in Norway, together with his brother. Stephen had talked to them a few days ago. Or had it been just Thor, who still mourned his brother? Stephen was sure someone mentioned Loki, but he didn‘t remember the context.

Did Thanos take the mind stone from Vision? Or did he and Wanda live happily together in a small town?

One he saw Natasha in the compound‘s kitchen and was so very confused, because he had been sure she had died for the soul stone. It had to be the archer then who sacrificed himself. He murmured, „I‘m sorry for your loss.“ She looked at him funny and Stephen quickly fled the room, having long forgotten what he had wanted in the compound in the first place.

When Tony called him to ask him for help to install his new arm onto his body (he had finally healed enough for that with only scars left on his shoulder and his neck), Stephen almost burst into tears because he had been so happy about the sudden realization that the man was still alive.

It got to the point where Stephen sometimes wondered if he was still looking into futures. Maybe he just went too far ahead. He tried to activate the time stone, but the necklace sat empty on his chest. That triggered a short panic attack in him and the Cloak of Levitation wrapped itself around him like a protective cocoon.

Another time Stephen was sure: this was his personal hell. He, who had a perfect memory, could not remember what was real. Was this Dormammu's work? One of the demon’s many ways to torture him? Clever! It wasn't physical torture but one of the mind. Way more effective to break a human. But Stephen would not break. He would endure for all eternity if that kept Dormammu from devouring the earth.

Stephen only had to die to start a new cycle of the time loop.

That was the point at which it became too much for him. He didn't know why he was doing it or even what spell he used. He just didn't remember. But the next moment he was a cat running out of the Sanctum, to escape everything. The feline's instincts took over and finally he could stop thinking.

Hours passed. They turned into days, and days turned into weeks.

Why a cat? Well, his hands were still injured even in any other form, so bird wings were almost useless, or at least not reliable enough. A stray dog was too noticeable in the big city. And anything smaller than a cat was too easy a prey.

Surviving as a stray wasn’t easy. He stole food, slept hidden in the bushes of the large park. But if it helped him not remembering, it was worth it. He was content to just be a cat.

The little bit of magic he still used was anchored in his being. It happened passively, unconsciously; someone was looking in a different direction when he stole his next meal, animal control happened to take a different route, he was not discovered while he slept.

But as time went on, even the magic faded until it was almost gone. He was just a regular cat now. That was the danger of staying in a shape shift form too long.

Somehow he ended up in the tower that was surprisingly familiar to him. Stephen had once built magical wards around it even before the arm was completed (after Tony had told him how magic meddled with his mind). Those wards were still staying strong and the cat instinctively recognized it as a safe space.

He was still working on his instincts to survive when he added a small spell at the elevator, to be alerted when people entered or left. Potential treats. There were stairs, but the door to them was sealed, used only in emergencies.

Stephen didn‘t have to worry about finding food anymore, about rain or storms, about surviving. Now everything was taken care of. Now there was Peter, whom his brain told Stephen he had to protect. From what? Didn‘t matter. Stephen kept his eyes on him whenever the boy visited the tower.

And then of course there was Tony. Stephen only had his cat brain right now, but even after just a day he felt the trust he held towards the man. It was enough to have Stephen relaxed and interact with the two humans.

He wasn‘t in sole surviving mode anymore and he started to get picky about the food he ate. He chose to make his presence known to Tony and Peter instead of living in the shadows, in the corner of their eyes. He was looking out for them. (There were other humans visiting, but those felt less familiar and two humans were already enough responsibility in Stephen’s opinion).

It was a comfortable life. An easy life.

And it lasted – until Stephen was suddenly standing in front of Wong, who hadn‘t entered by elevator. Wong, who he hadn‘t sensed or even noticed until he was right in front of him. Wong, who was so deeply connected with the word MAGIC in his mind.

With Kamar-Taj.

The Sanctum.

Sorcerer Supreme.

The time stone.

Dormammu...

Stephen bolted. He fled right under the couch in the living room, and would have run even further if Wong‘s spell hadn‘t captured him. Trapped in a golden ball of mandalas, he floated through the air to the man.

„What the fuck?“ came from Tony, who had followed them. „What are you doing to my cat?!“

Wong turned around to him, gesturing to the pet. „Your cat? This is Stephen.“

Tony's eyes grew wide, then narrowed as he looked at the cat. "What the fuck?" he repeated with more emphasis. „Are you kidding me? How do you know? Why would he do this?“

„I recognize him.“ Wong said it in a voice as if it were blatantly obvious and he was wondering how Tony could not. The inventor didn‘t like the implication, also Wong had just answered one of his questions before he was shooting his own. „How did he get here?“

„Peter dragged him in. He found him in the dumpsters.“ Tony had his arms crossed, still demanding an explanation.

Wong eyed Stephen more closely now. „He seems more cat than human right now. I don‘t think he knew at which place he ended up. The fact that he doesn‘t use magic to the spell I trapped him in, is concerning.“

„Can you change him back?“

The other sorcerer tilted his head. „I could, but that‘s rather hurtful if it is involuntary and I‘m afraid it would do more harm than good in his current condition.“

Well, at least they found him. Even if under questionable circumstances. To think that he had been in New York the whole time… Maybe Tony had been a fool to worry, but on the other hand he couldn't help but feel relieved.

„I guess, you‘re taking him back with you?“ He didn't like the idea of the sorcerer taking the cat. The realization surprised Tony. The cat was Stephen. And Stephen's home was the Sanctum, he reminded himself. This possessive feeling of him was just a result of bonding with a pet. A pet that wasn‘t actually a pet.

Wong didn’t answer immediately, but weighed all the factors before admitting, „If I take him back to the Sanctum, he will probably run away again.“ Then they would be back at square one and the search would start at zero. Even if Wong tried to look after him, he couldn't lock Stephen up. "How long did you say he was here?" the sorcerer asked.

„A few weeks.“

„And he didn‘t try to leave once?“

„I don‘t think so.“ Friday would have told him if the cat had run into the elevator. Or flown out a window. Could Cat Stephen fly? He would not rule it out.

The cat had been surprisingly quiet during their conversation. His ears flattened, he sat huddled in the magic ball, not making a sound.

Wong turned his full attention to Tony. „I know this is unusual and now that you know this is Stephen you may have objections, but I think it would be best, if he stayed here until he is ready to change back.“

Tony blinked once, not sure he understood correctly. It was weird; five minutes ago he had been angry about the deception and now he was glad he got to keep the human turned feline a little longer? Well, in the list of strangest stuff that ever happened to him, it was only in the top 20. „Okay.“

Wong raised his eyebrows, surprised at the willing acceptance. But he didn't question it. "Good. Engage him in human conversation, activities… anything to remind him who he is. If a sorcerer stays too long in an animal shape he might forget how to change back.“

„That can happen?“ Tony asked, concerned. „How long of a time are we talking about?“

„It depends on the person and the circumstances.“

And they were quite worrisome, as Tony had already picked up on. „Alright. You‘ll be the first I‘ll call as soon as he gets his thumbs back.“

Wong nodded. „And I will think of ways to help him heal.“ Because that was what Stephen was doing. Coping with everything that happened in the last years, with everything he had done to keep the world safe. Their whole reality. It was one hell of a job and it came with a heavy toll.

Wong dissolved the spell and the cat landed on his feet. In a flash, he dashed out of the room. This time the other sorcerer didn’t follow him, but his tightly pressed lips showed his concern for his friend.

With a last nod to Tony Wong opened a portal and was finally gone. And Tony was left with a whole lot of information to take in. He wished Stephen had talked to him – before he became an animal. He had thought that their friendship, which had developed after the fight with the mad titan, was a strong one. Hell, Tony wouldn't mind if it was more than friendship.

But he couldn't blame Stephen. The sorcerer closed his feelings off even more than Tony did. And even Wong, who had known him much longer, hadn't known how bad things really were with his friend.

Tony was not one to dwell on the past, but he cursed Thanos' soul wherever it had gone after death.

„Fri, where‘s Stephen?“ he asked his AI.

„Under the drawer in the guest room.“

Tony went over and crouched in front of the drawer. Stephen looked at him with vulnerable blue eyes. Unsure, and afraid Tony would kick him out.

“If you knock another coffee pot off the table ever again, I will drag your magic ass to the next animal shelter. No matter what Wong says.“ He was petty like this.

The cat blinked once, slowly, and Tony took it as a sign that he understood and would behave.

“That being said, when you‘re done hiding under there, I could need your expertise in the lab.“ With that, he got up and left. It was all he had to say.

Back in his lab he worked on a model for a new Starkphone. Honestly, there wasn‘t much that could be improved, but customers were happy when they had options. So SI released a new model every year, slightly varying in size and style.

Friday projected a hologram of the blueprints and Tony took them virtually apart and put them back together.

Perhaps an hour or two passed before he heard the door open. Not many had access to his personal lab, and since Friday hadn't alerted him to any visitors, he knew it had to be Stephen. His suspicions were confirmed when the cat jumped onto a nearby chair and watched him in his work.

Now that he knew this was actually the sorcerer, it was kind of obvious. The mannerism was similar, they had the same eyes – Tony didn't dwell about how he knew what Stephen's eyes looked like – the cat even chose the same chair to sit in the lab.

Tony blamed it on ‘well, I didn't know this was an option' that he hadn't recognized him.

He raised a finger as a sign to wait. "Let me wrap this up real quick."

After he completed his updates, Tony forwarded the plans to the software team. Pepper might be CEO, but it was still Stark in where Stark was written on.

He then opened up another project. He had started it only recently and wanted Stephen's input on it anyway. Except that the man had since disappeared.

"I'm working on a way to make the technology from my arm available to everyone. It's also based on nanotech, but in a way that medical staff can easily handle it," he explained, enlarging holograms of various prosthetics.

The cat stared at them curiously. Maybe bored, it was hard to tell. His eyes were always equally intense in this non blinking way. At least he had Stephen's attention. Tony took advantage of that and talked him through everything he had so far.

He had never given a presentation to a cat before. The feline didn't make notes – he had no thumbs and couldn’t operate a pen – but at least he didn't ask stupid questions, so it could be worse. (He also didn't ask clever questions. He asked no questions, he was still a cat.)

Maybe it was imagination, because he knew now this was not a simple cat, but Tony had the impression that the feline was behaving differently than it had been before. It was as if it was more aware of everything going on.

Perhaps the encounter with Wong had triggered the rational part of Stephen's brain. Or the magic part.

During Tony‘s speech his black tail moved back and forth slowly. To any bystander, he looked like a regular cat who took their nine lives for granted and enjoyed long naps. But his blue eyes were wide and alert, focused on the hologram in the air.

After he finished his explanations, Tony trailed off and looked at Stephen. Silence spread. The cat’s tail had stopped swishing, then a second later he elegantly bounced off the chair and left the lab.

Perhaps Tony had been rash with his conclusion about the cat’s consciousness. He sighed and looked back at Holo, making a virtual side note to an idea he had just had.

Friday's voice chimed in. „It is time for dinner, Boss.“

„Is it already?“

„Doctor Strange sure thinks so.“

When Tony entered the kitchen, the cat was already sitting expectantly on the counter next to the refrigerator, yelling an impatient "Meow" at him.

"I'm pretty sure you can magic your own food on your plate. So you're just doing this to annoy me," Tony realized with amusement.

He reheated the Thai food from yesterday. Now that he knew Stephen wasn't a normal cat, he didn't have to worry about what he ate. As usual, Tony put two plates on the table – one for himself and one for the animal that followed him – and gave him a kiss on his furry head.

It had started as a joke, now it was a habit. Stephen made an unhappy sound and scowled at him. Oh, this was even more fun now.

They ate in silence. Stephen finished his smaller portion more quickly and licked his maw while he waited for Tony. (Waiting for Tony meant stealing food from his plate). He then followed the inventor back to the lab, where he jumped on the table and tried to access the hologram with his paw.

Tony handed him a Starkpad. "Here take this. It will work for your paws."

And so – to Tony's surprise – they started working together. At first, Stephen just read a lot. At least his eyes stared at the text on the screen. Every now and then he uttered a sound, but he seemed to be talking to himself rather than to Tony.

Tony just shook his head at this. As he did so, his eyes fell on a small device lying among various other tools on his table. He didn't have to think twice and grabbed it. A thumb pressed down and the small dot of a laser pointer appeared next to Stephen.

The cat froze, pupils blown. Tony moved the red dot to the floor, watching Stephen's head jerkily follow. The Starkpad was forgotten. Instead the feline wiggled his butt, lifting it up into the air while his chest pressed down onto the table. His hunting instincts were taking over.

Tony grinned broadly, waving the dot in small circles to lure the animal.

Stephen pounced and slid across the smooth floor. He scrambled, his claws extended, just missing the small red dot as it darted away.

Tony laughed as he watched him. The cat had no trouble keeping up but every time he reached his prey, it jumped places. And the feline followed. From the floor to the side of a drawer, back to the floor, up the wall. Stephen didn't hesitate and the next moment he was running on the ceiling.

Normally this was the point Tony would have called an exorcist, if he was still thinking that this was just an ordinary cat. He was in tears of laughter; it was just too funny to watch Stephen shooting after the point. He laughed so hard that his lungs hurt and the red dot disappeared.

The cat blinked and seemed to realize what he was doing there, what had just happened. He gave Tony a dirty look. Elegantly, he leaped down from the ceiling, rotating midair to land on his paws, and stalked back to his Starkpad.

For the rest of the day, the cat turned his back to Tony and ignored him.

_____________________________________

It was late at night when Tony went to bed. He could barely keep his eyes open and didn't realize until he was under his covers and no one was trying to climb on top of his blanket that Stephen had stopped at the door and was cautiously peeking at him.

"Get your fluffy ass in here. We have shared a bed before, so don't play coy now all of a sudden." Tony turned on his side and told Friday to turn off the light.

It wasn't long before he heard a noise by his feet as Stephen jumped up and curled up in a proper distance.

(When Tony woke up the next morning, the cat had ended up next to his face anyway.)

_____________________________________

Tony had made himself comfortable on the couch with his Starkpad and a bowl of popcorn, browsing for some light entertainment in the form of a series or movie.

Stephen was lying next to him on a pillow, his paws neatly tucked under his small body, and appeared to be asleep. Tony reached down and scratched behind the cat's ear. Stephen's eyes opened a crack, not looking at him directly. He tried to maintain a serious expression, but a small mew escaped him.

"Aw, look at you, all soft." Tony chuckled softly.

His hand moved to the other ear. Stephen stretched out to better appreciated the scratches, his eyes still barely open. He meowed again, not really caring about appearance anymore. But with his next move he lost balance and toppled off the pillow onto the couch. With Tony's laughter he sat up and flicked his tail in embarrassment, darting a glance at Tony.

„Don‘t look at me like that. I didn‘t push you.“ Smirking, Tony moved his Starkpad in front of Stephen's face. „Here, I even let you choose a movie.“

The cat used his paw to scroll through the selection, until he found something and told Tony by blinking at him. His choice surprised Tony more than it should have. „Doctor House? Really?“

„Meow.“

„Fine, but don‘t complain about incorrectly used medical terms.“

He placed the Starkpad so they could both see and pulled the popcorn onto his lap. Stephen didn't complain. In fact he curled up and went right back to sleep.

After two episodes, Tony decided to watch something else. As much as he liked Doctor House, it was not a series he would normally binge watch. But as soon as he paused the stream, Stephen‘s head perked up and looked at Tony with so much disapproval that he felt violently judged. So he continued the next episode.

And Stephen went back to sleep.

_____________________________________

Tony was not a morning person, never has been. Sure, he can get up if he has to, but he's not happy about it. And most of the time he runs on autopilot until his consciousness slowly kicks in. (Most of the time it was between the first and the third coffee).

Even back in the days when he had been CEO, he never scheduled meetings before 10 am and ever since he 'retired', that time had shifted even more backwards.

His body was just a subject to the first Newton's laws of motion. It liked the state it was in. If Tony was awake, he had no trouble working late into the night. And if he was sleeping, his body wanted to maintain that state too.

A body in motion remains in motion. A body at rest remains at rest, unless acted upon by force.

Such a force was usually a nightmare. But sometimes it was his alarm. When Friday woke him up with the soft voice of Evanescence and 'Wake me up. WAKE ME UP INSIDE'. She played the song in full length, even after he was already on his feet.

It was a very unappreciated joke. One Tony did absolutely not put into her code. (He was secretly very proud of her).

Tony was able to make his way to the coffee machine blindly.

He sipped his black elixir of life and placed a second, smaller cup on the table for Stephen. It was only at this point that he noticed the cat was nowhere near. That was unusual enough, because normally his furry roommate always greeted him and demanded his morning coffee. His absence didn't sit well with Tony.

Still too tired to form a clear thought, Tony stared at the empty spot on the table.

He could hear the rain pattering against the windows. It was as dreary a day as yesterday and reminded him of the time Peter the feline had brought home. Drenched, scrubby and generally sad looking.

Then a brief pang of panic rose in him. What if Stephen had left without letting him know? Did he no longer feel like being a feline? Or had the state of his mind worsened and the sorcerer had fled once again to be a stray. Or maybe an other animal? How would Tony know?

He had been under the impression that Stephen was doing better, had found more human traits in him; his scolding gaze, those huffs that he was sure were funny quips in replies to Tony‘s teasing.

Tony‘s thoughts were racing and he tried to pull himself out from spiraling down by speaking out loud. „Fri, have you seen Stephen?“ His voice was still raspy from sleep (and maybe concern).

There was a second of hesitation in the answer of the AI, while she was analyzing the data of her video footage. Normally she always knew where everyone was in the tower at all times, but Stephen had the advantages of both being magic and having magic. If he truly didn‘t want to be found or seen, Tony was sure he had his means to secure that.

For a moment he feared Stephen was truly gone.

Then Friday's voice spoke again and Tony hated how uncertain it sounded. "It appears that he never left the bed."

Tony returned to his bedroom and examined the chaos of blankets and pillows on his bed until he found black fur. Two blue orbs looked up at him briefly before the void curled up again and let out a small whimper.

"Hey, Blue Eye. You okay?" Tony asked softly. He got no response, not even another glance. He would think the animal was just as tired as Tony was earlier, but he noticed the way the feline held his front paws: cradled to his chest, paws shaking.

"Show me his scans from the medical, Fri." His voice was low, breathless. He grabbed the phone from his nightstand and zoomed in on the projected holo.

At the medical check Tony had done of the cat after Peter had dragged it in, an MRI had also been done. At the time, he hadn't paid any attention to the results because he just wanted to know if the cat had carried any diseases. But when he looked at it now, he saw his suspicions confirmed: Stephen's front paws were a mess. The small bones had so many fractures and poorly healed scars that he wondered how the cat could even walk with them.

Rain was still pelting on the windows.

It had to be one of those days.

„Your hands hurt, don‘t they?“

He heard the smallest of meows, more like squeak really. As a human, Stephen had barely talked about the aftermath of his accident, and when he did, it was in a rather nonchalant way. But Tony had his own scars and his own days when he could barely breathe, even though he'd had the arc reactor removed years ago.

"Does heat help reduce the pain?"

He got a small nod of agreement and knew what to do.

Tony left the room and got an electric blanket, which he placed on the couch in the living room and activated to preheat it. Then he built a nest on it out of the softest blankets and pillows he could find in the penthouse. When he lifted Stephen into his arms – like a baby on his back and making sure that no weight was on his front paws – the feline made a weak mewl. But as soon as he was put in his new nest and tucked in, he gave a contented sigh.

Tony smiled gently. "See? That's better."

He placed a bowl of water and Stephen's favorite yogurt near him so the cat wouldn't have to walk to his food.

"I have a meeting, but Friday will notify me of you need anything. I'll be back soon," he promised. He'd stay home if he could, but Pepper only gave him the most important meetings he needed to show up for anyway, and he didn't want to make her job any harder as it was. Not the way he had done it in the past.

They had a deal that Tony would attend any meeting she scheduled for him as long as there was no emergency like the end of the world.

Tony trusted Friday to keep an eye on Stephen.

_____________________________________

When Tony returned late in the afternoon, he noticed that Stephen had hardly eaten anything. But the man had taken precautions and had stopped by that French patisserie on the way home, from which Stephen always said he didn‘t like it because their stuff was too sweet (but Tony knew he secretly loved their chocolate croissants).

With the brown paper bag in his hands he sat on the couch next to Stephen’s nest. „Hey, sleeping beauty. Are you up for the amazing and very accurate Doctor House?“

„Mrew.“

Well, that wasn‘t a no. Tony sat more comfortably and told Friday to project the series onto the wall. He waited for Stephen to come to him on his own.

It wasn't long, however, before the cat poked his head out of his nest, lured by the rustling of the paper bag. He looked like a little black gremlin that had just woken up from a deep slumber and if Tony hadn't known that he had a bad day and his hands (or rather his paws) were hurting, he would have smiled about it.

Slowly, the cat moved to the water bowl and drank from it. Then he sniffed at the yogurt - a little too deeply, he got a blob on his nose, which he licked off. That was enough effort then, his front paws were shaking tremendously, and admitting defeat, he flopped back down.

Tony took this opportunity to pull him, blanket and all, into his lap. He grabbed one of the croissants and plucked off a piece, holding it in front of Stephen's nose.

The cat gave a surprised 'oh' and promptly snatched it from Tony's fingers.

"There you go. There's more where this came from."

Was it strange that he was feeding the sorcerer? Maybe. He saw it more as helping out a friend. Who was also a cat. A pretty adorable cat.

After Stephen had eaten the entire croissant (Tony maybe snuck a piece or two too), he snuggled contentedly into the human's lap. His paws still clutching to his chest so as not to strain them, he showed his belly. Tony gently stroked the soft fur and Stephen didn't even bat an eye, trusting him with this vulnerable side of him. And wasn't trust a funny thing?

Stephen purred softly and Tony suppressed the thought of what it would be like to pet human Stephen's belly and chest.

_____________________________________

When Wong stepped through a portal into his kitchen, Tony, who was sitting at lunch with Peter, had deja vu. But this time Wong was followed by the Cloak of Levitation.

„I know you have a phone and know how you use it, Wong. Hey, Levi, long time no se-…“ The cloak ignored him completely and rushed past him out of the kitchen instead. Tony sure felt appreciated by that piece of fabric.

He heard the cry of a cat and then a shatter as something fell to the floor and broke. It sounded like a vase or something similar.

The three humans looked at each other.

Tony was the first to speak. "So... you wanna join for pizza? Pepperoni and onions."

Wong eyed the pizza boxes. "Extra cheese?"

"I am deeply offended that you're even asking."

The sorcerer ignored that and grabbed a slice, humming appreciated as he bites into it.

Since they were sitting together anyway, Tony gave him an update on Strange (unchanged, he was still a cat, besides that he seemed to be doing okay).

Tony had already told Peter about the situation and the boy had apologized to Doctor Strange for every time he had carried him around, called him Mr. Fluffy, and for trying to teach him tricks by offering treats as rewards. He probably would have apologized for more things if Tony hadn't intervened. („If he chooses to look like a cat, he gets treated like a cat. It‘s his own fault.“)

The noises from the next room had stopped and now it was suspiciously quiet over there. Tony was just about to ask Friday if he had to get rid of a body, when the red fabric came flying back into the kitchen. It was wrapped tight into a bundle like a burrito, with a black cat head sticking out of it at one end. And that cat head was not happy about his current situation. Stephen fidgeted but wasn’t able to move and finally gave up with a huff.

Tony snapped a photo of him and even Wong couldn't quite stifle a grin.

_____________________________________

„Sometimes I wonder what you saw in those futures,“ Tony confessed when the two of them were alone. „I mean, I can imagine it wasn‘t anything good, hence you kept looking.

Stephen glanced at him from the table next to him in the lab. The cloak was wrapped as a red collar around his neck. It didn't seem to mind its new form and refused to leave Stephen's side.

„I told you about the witch that messed with my head, right?“ Tony had stopped working and starred at a point far away. „I‘m sure I did… she showed me a future where Thanos won. Everyone was dead but me…“ It was still hard for him to talk about it and he didn't know why he went on now – in the presence of Stephen of all people – and told him what he hadn't told anyone else. "You know, it wouldn't have mattered if I had died. If you hadn‘t been able to save my life after I snapped my fingers. As long as everybody else survived.“

The cat jumped into his lab, furiously. Meowing loudly in complaint, he climbed up Tony's shirt, to bumped his head into Tony‘s jaw.

When Tony looked down to him, he found Stephen’s blue eyes more human than ever before. Full of concern for the man, but also full of adoration.

Tony buried a hand in the soft fur and gave him a kiss between the ears, to calm him down.

„Yeah, of course. You‘re right. I‘m glad I‘m still alive… and I‘m also glad you are alive. No matter what you need to heal, we‘ll get you there, alright?“

Stephen blinked slowly and nudged Tony‘s cheek with his nose.

Tony took that as a yes.

_____________________________________

Stephen had settled in well as a cat in the tower. When Tony wasn't home, he used his magic to open the refrigerator or to operate the Starkpad. (One time he watched Doctor House without Tony. That traitor! Tony got invested during the second season). Friday helped him when he wanted to order food or informed him when Tony or Peter were on their way to the penthouse.

He still didn't want to meet anyone else and also only the closest friends of Tony knew about his presence: Rhodey and Pepper.

After Christine hadn’t been able to reach Stephen for weeks, she started sending texts to his phone, which was still at the Sanctum. To the point where Wong shoved the device in Stephen’s face in annoyance. "I don't want her coming into the Sanctum. So, fix this."

Stephen agreed to reply – he really had no choice – and explained to her that he was staying at the Avengers tower for some time.

Three days later, Christine showed up in the lobby with a case file under her arm she wanted to discuss with Stephen – as they had been doing from time to time.

Stephen was horrified when Friday told him his best friend wanted to visit him. He would have refused, but Tony was also present and intrigued to meet her. (Tony also knew how bad it was to hole up and that sometimes you had to force people to be happy). So he told his AI to give her clearance and greeted her personally in the spacious living room of his penthouse.

Out of the elevator stepped a good-looking woman, her hair knotted into a practical ponytail. She had circles under her eyes, which widened when she saw who she was meeting.

“Miss Palmer, it‘s nice to finally have a face to that name.“

“Tony Stark.“ She was clearly startled about his presence, but he had to give her credit for overplaying being starstruck quite well. She shook his offered hand just slightly too long and managed to tear her gaze away from him. Tony offered her the couch with a gesture.

"Where is Stephen?" She looked around searchingly, as if expecting her friend to pop out from behind a piece of furniture at any moment.

Tony ignored the question and asked one of his own instead. “What do you know about his current occupation?“

Because while the Avengers and many other heroes were pretty present in the media, Stephen and his magic order operated mostly in the shadows. They had signed the accords, but one of their conditions had been to stay out of the public eye. And since Stephen was currently a cat, Tony had not been able to ask him about the details of Christine's knowledge.

„You mean his magic cult?“ Christine asked, tilting her head, wondering about the cause for the question. „I‘m familiar with it. He told me after he showed up in a closet in the hospital, after having been missing for several months. Then he immediately died on me and his ghost told me to do CPR.“

She didn‘t mean to ramble and at this point she was clearly oversharing, but Tony hadthis kind of impact on people.

He laughed, hearing the story. „He does know how to make an entrance. First time I met him, he kidnapped me from a jog in the park before informing me that the end of the world was near.“ Christine chuckled and he totally saw that as a win. „But where are my manners? Do you want a drink?“

„I won‘t say no to a coffee.“

„Good choice.“ Tony got up and got a mug from the cupboard while Friday had already fired up the coffee maker. „Sorry, you didn‘t come here to trade stories,“ he said over his shoulder. „Although I‘m all for that another time.“ He leaned against the counter while he waited for the coffees to finish. „Stephen has been living here for a while now, because honestly – and I‘m only telling you this because I know he considers you a close friend – he is not in the best shape. Not physically, although you would be surprised if you saw him. Milk? Sugar?“

„Milk, please.“ Christine sobered up by his words. But she didn‘t say anything until she had the cup in front of her and took a sip from it. "Will he be alright?" She felt thrown back to the time after Stephen had his accident. He had run away then, and now apparently again, if the radio silence had been any clue. He had been too proud to ask for help, maybe too ashamed. She hoped his stay in the tower meant he was handling it better this time.

"He's doing better than when he arrived," Tony reassured her.

"Can I see him?"

Tony hesitated. He didn't want to offend her, but he didn't want to lie to her either. „He knows you are here… he just hardly wants to meet anyone these days.“

Christine bit her bottom lip. „He is not good at asking for things. Please don‘t let him push you or whoever is helping him away.“

„I won‘t,“ Tony promised with a small smile. Little did she know that Tony and Stephen were more alike in some ways than she thought. „If you want, you can leave your number and I will call you if something changes. Although I‘m sure Stephen will reach out to you on his own when he is ready.“

Christine looked at him over the rim of her cup and wondered why this man, who was always portrayed so eccentrically in the media, would have been this thoughtful. She also wondered about his relationship to Stephen.

„That would be appreciated. Thank you.“ Her eyes fell on the file she had placed next to her on the couch. „Tell him I‘ll put this in the cloud, if he wants to take a look at it before Nick does. In case he needs something to put his mind into.“

„I‘m sure he is too curious to let that pass,“ Tony replied.

After that Christine finished her drink and took her leave. Tony walked her to the elevator, which was really only a few steps away. As soon as the doors closed, he turned to the seemingly empty room. "You never told me she's the Pepper to your Tony."

"Meow," Stephen said, annoyed, emerging from the shadow between two shelves. But he couldn't disagree.

It made Tony laugh. „Well, you are lucky to have such a good friend. And you heard the lady, don‘t wait too long or that Nick guy will get all the credit.“

Stephen huffed. Under no circumstances he would let that happen.

_____________________________________

Friday turned the TV on. This was quite unusual, because without Tony or Peter home, she didn't operate without being asked. Especially since it appeared to be the news she wanted to show Stephen.

Stephen stared at the screen. He saw tall buildings, but not like Manhattan, more like New Jersey. There were several flying figures, one of them in a shining red and gold. The cat bristled his whiskers, making an unhappy hiss. Even more when he saw that one of those figures wasn‘t flying but swinging.

Then one of the enemies hit Peter and the boy got smashed right into a brick building. Shit, that wasn‘t good. Iron Man covered for him, but they were clearly outnumbered. They needed help.

He was startled when Friday suddenly spoke up. „Mr. Stark and Peter are approaching the tower. He requested medical help on stand-by.“

Stephen hurried to the elevator. He had never left the floor of the penthouse since Peter had brought him here, but right now he cared very little if anyone saw him in this form. He couldn't just sit here and wait.

The doors opened for him and no sooner than he entered the elevator it started moving on its own. Stephen trusted Friday to take him to the right floor.

The tower had a small sickbay from back when the Avengers had first worked together. It wasn't as big as the compound's, but it was quicker to get to from downtown.

Stephen had never been here before, but it wasn't particularly hard to find his way around. With his good cat hearing, he simply followed the sounds of the incoming Iron Man. The sickbay had an entrance via a small outside platform for flying patients, of which there were quite a few among the superheroes.

Iron Man carried Spider-Man in his arms. The nanosuit retreated into the house unit, showing the man’s grim face, when the nurses took the motionless boy from him.

Stephen watched as Peter was transferred to a bed. He could help, he was a doctor. One of the best. He just needed his human body back. He needed hands and feet.

Stephen called his magic. He stretched and turned, but he didn’t change. He was stuck in the body of a cat. Impatiently, he tiptoed between the nurses' feet. It was important that he used the right spell, but he couldn't quite remember which one it was. It was on the corner of his mind.

His small body had no muscle memory and at the moment he was still much more cat than human. Panic rose in him because it felt like he was losing control. And he had never liked losing control. Frustrated, he cried out, but it came out of his mouth only as the yell of a feline.

Surprised, a doctor looked down at him. "Get that cat out of here!"

Stephen got scooped up, squirming in the grip, until he heard a familiar voice. "It's alright, Stephen. Peter got hit in the head, but he will be alright." Tony wasn't sure if his words were meant to reassure the sorcerer or himself. With an 'oof' he dropped into a chair on the other side of the room.

The cat headbutted him until Tony stroked his fur. That always had a calming effect on the man.

"He will be fine." Tony's eyes stayed on Peter and the medics. Stephen remained sitting on his lap. He still felt uneasy because he didn't know why he couldn't change back. But Tony needed him and so he would stay

That was when he noticed it: the way Tony sat, his back not touching the chair, the faint metallic smell.

With a leap, Stephen stood on Tony's shoulder and looked down his back. And sure enough, the shirt the man was wearing was sliced up at various places, blood oozing.

"Meow!" Tony tried to grab him, but Stephen kicked his little legs. “Meeeeeow!” He yelled loudly and persistent. So much that it drew the attention of the nurses until one of them came over to them.

"Traitor," Tony hissed but with no bite. In return, he refused to let go of Stephen and the cat stayed, now purring soothingly, in the man’s arms while his wounds were treated.

_____________________________________

Both Tony and Peter were less badly hurt than it had first looked, and they were allowed to change floors to the penthouse that same day.

Peter had been awake only briefly and then had gone right back to sleep in the guest room. And Tony was also knocked out by the painkillers. (He was sleeping on his stomach because of the cuts and bruises on his back).

Stephen briefly checked in on Peter, examined the work of the medics, but couldn’t find anything wrong with it. The boy most likely had a concussion and a few bruises that would heal quickly thanks to his enhancement.

That brought him back to his current problem: he hadn't thought about shaping back for so long that he seemed to have forgotten how to do it. That was the danger of spending too long in the same animal body. Before today, he hadn't cared, he had just wanted to forget. But now… he didn't want to be useless when his friends (his family) were in danger. Stephen wanted to help. Stephen wanted to be human again.

He could use magic just fine and he still had his cloak. But he couldn't seem to change back.

Frustrated and tired, he curled up in his usual spot next to Tony. He was determined to find a solution, but first: sleep.

_____________________________________

When Tony awoke, his back still hurt; the painkillers had stopped working (he didn't like them much anyway). Tired, he rubbed his face, turned on his side, and found Stephen asleep next to him. Except Stephen wasn't a cat anymore.

He looked peaceful. His hair (which was the same color as the cat's fur plus the grey streaks on his temples) was tousled and the cloak of levitation draped over him like a blanket. At least over his lower half to give him some decency. But he was clearly naked underneath.

Well, he wasn‘t wearing any clothes as a cat.

Tony had seen him in his robes and even in casual clothes but he didn‘t know he hid these muscles under all these layers. Totally unfair. Tony blamed it on magic. (He wasn‘t ashamed to admit he was staring.)

Stephen woke up slowly and when he opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was Tony.

"Hey," he said.

„Hey,“ Tony replied, his lips curling in a smirk.

Then the sorcerer noticed his condition and blushed right up to the tips of his ears. He wasn't sure how to react. Even if Tony had known who the feline was, Stephen had been able to hide under the mask of a cat before. But now that was no longer possible. He wasn't sure if the other man would throw him out with his next words.

Tony, noticing his uncertainty, peeled himself out of bed. "I'm making breakfast. Full size coffee for a full sized human?"

Stephen nodded. His eyes followed Tony into his walk-in closet until he couldn't see him anymore. Sighing, he ran a hand through his hair. At least he was human again. Maybe the spell had just needed time. He should ask Wong about it.

Stephen was startled as clothes were thrown at him.

"Not that I mind a handsome, naked man in my house, but Peter is sleeping in the other room." With those words Tony left the bedroom and Stephen blushed some more.

He put on the shirt and pants. They were slightly too short and a strip of skin was visible between the shirt’s hem and the waistband.

Following Tony, he walked into the kitchen where the smell of fresh brewed coffee greeted him. Wordlessly, he sat down at the table while Tony cracked eggs into the pan. Friday played the latest upbeat pop song in the background.

Tony put the mug down in front of Stephen and gave him a kiss on his hair. At this point the sorcerer was a blushing mess. He mumbled something unintelligibly, while Tony turned back to the stove, grinning. "Don't think you'll be spared just because you change forms, Blue Eye."

Breakfast consisted of grilled bacon and scrambled eggs. Hesitantly Stephen reached for the fork, but he felt no real appetite. „I guess I should go back to the Sanctum.“

Tony tilted his head. „You don‘t have to, if you‘re not ready yet.“

„It‘s about time I am ready, isn‘t it?“ Stephen smiled warily.

„Well, if anyone knows about time, it‘s you. I‘m just saying you have a place here in the tower.“

„Thank you. For everything you did for me.“ Finally, Stephen took a bite. It tasted delicious, even with his dulled human taste buds. "After breakfast I'll change your bandage and then I'll check up on Peter," he changed the subject.

"Oh?" Tony cocked his eyebrow. "Since when are you my doctor?"

"Since I said so," Stephen announced with more confidence now. It was terrain he was familiar with. „No need to throw your nurses out of bed, when I‘m here anyway.“

_____________________________________

Tony sat on the armrest of the couch as Stephen removed the old bandage.

The sorcerer used magic for many things in his daily life, but not for medicine when he could help himself. So also now. He only stabilized his fingers while he examined the cut across Tony's back. It wasn't deep, thankfully, and had already begun to heal.

Stephen reached for a cream the medics had prescribed. He took a look at it and found it fine. "This may feel a bit cold," he warned Tony, who merely shrugged,

"Do your worst."

Stephen's touch was soft, and still a bit shaky, despite the magic. But it wasn’t unpleasant. He worked gently, but with practiced precision. Tony felt his warm breath on his skin as Stephen reached around him to apply the new bandage. He bit his lip to keep from making a sound.

Just as he reached for his shirt to put on, Peter stepped out of the guest room that was by now his unofficial bedroom here in the tower anyway.

"Good morning. Oh, hey, Doctor Strange." He didn't even bat an eye about the fact that the sorcerer was back human.

"Peter," Tony smiled, as he always did when he saw the boy. "Should you be out of bed yet?"

"Should you?"

"Don't get cocky with me, young man. Sit down. You're next for a check up."

Peter rolled his eyes and groaned – really, when did he stop being the nice little kid Tony picked up in Queens? - but sat down on the couch. Strange turned to him and examined him under Tony's watchful eye.

"Will you stay human?" Peter asked while his eyes followed Stephen's outstretched index finger.

„Peter,“ Tony said warningly.

„What? I liked having a pet.“

Stephen was rather amused than offended by the boy. „There are enough cats at the shelter waiting to be adopted."

Peter perked up and looked at Tony. "Can we...?"

"We will talk about it later." Tony gave the sorcerer a glance for putting ideas in the boy’s head. He was just Peter’s mentor, yet he felt like a parent anyway, when he sent Peter back to bed. (He promised to bring breakfast over soon).

"So, you're really leaving?" Tony asked again as Stephen followed him into the kitchen. "Do you need a lift?" Since the sorcerer hadn’t even been wearing clothes, Tony doubted he was carrying his portal ring.

"The cloak will be happy to be taken out for a flight." As if in confirmation, the red fabric fluttered.

"Sure."

Their eyes met and for a moment Tony felt unsure on where this would leave them standing. Sure, they had been friends before the sorcerer had disappeared and became a cat. But by now he felt much closer to him. Would they pick up where they left off before or try to figure out what other possibilities they had?

Stephen seemed to be fighting a similar battle inside himself. He was standing several feet away as if he still wasn't sure if he was wanted. As if Tony's behavior had been anything but welcome.

In the end, Stephen nodded one last time and turned to just leave.

And wasn't that exactly the kind of behavior that had gotten him into this situation? Rather than opening up and talking about his fears and insecurities, he was evading it.

It was hard to break out of familiar patterns of behavior. A fact Tony knew all too well. And Tony had never been one to give up easily.

"Stephen."

The sorcerer stopped and turned back to him, his eyes hopeful.

"I expect to see you at our next movie night. No excuses."

A smile broke onto Stephen's face and he nodded in agreement. With a motion of his hand his borrowed clothes turned into his blue robes (so that had been an option all along; good to know), before he was gone.

_____________________________________

„What did you see in those futures?“ Tony asked the sorcerer.

It hadn't taken long for Stephen to reappear through a portal in Tony’s penthouse, even before the movie night was scheduled. There had been no world ending reason for it, as had quickly become apparent. Stephen was just someone who missed the company to which he had become so accustomed over the last weeks.

Tony wasn't complaining. He felt the same way.

He had poured them both a drink and then bullied Stephen into changing his robes into something more casual because 'you said yourself this isn't a business meeting. My house, my rules'.

Now there were chilling on the couch. Tony had pulled his legs up and rested his head on his knee as he glanced curiously at the sorcerer. It was a question that had been bothering him for a while.

"Everyone died at one point." Stephen's voice was low. He tried to not think too hard about the other futures but to stay in the present. „Sometimes Thanos won in minutes, sometimes in days or weeks, even years. I could never see past my own death. I don’t mean the dusting, because that was a different kind of death. At least it felt different.“ And he knew only too well how it felt to die. Another memory he didn't like to dwell on. "So, I don't know what happened after I died. If you would have won anyway..."

He paused, in which Tony reached out to him, placing his hand on Stephen's thigh.

His next words the sorcerer whispered like a dark secret, "I also ruled out the futures where you or Peter died. I couldn’t have looked you in the eye with the certainty that he would not return."

Stephen closed his eyes, focused on the feeling of Tony squeezing his leg. He used it as an anchor point. "I once took an oath not to play god. But it was me who decided which of our friends and allies would die and who got to live. I deemed this future for the best and did everything to ensure it."

It felt like he was personally responsible for every single death during the fight against Thanos. How could he not? It had been his decision.

Tony's hand left his leg. He took Stephen's glass and set it aside before taking the sorcerer’s hands in his own. Another thing the sorcerer wouldn't have allowed so easily in the past.

"Hey, listen. It's not your fault, okay? Thanos tried to kill half of the universe. You did your best to bring it back."

Stephen opened his eyes and looked at him. There was so much devotion in those blue eyes.

"Why me though?" Tony heard himself ask. "We hardly knew each other back then. Why did you want me to live?"

"I knew you fourteen million times. I saw what you were willing to do, willing to sacrifice. You don't realize how important you are to this world." Stephen brought Tony's hand to his lips and pressed a kiss to his knuckles. "Whenever you were there, there was hope. Falling for you in those futures was inevitable."

Tony's eyes widened in awe before a smile sneaked into his face along with blush. He had not expected this. "I'm glad you chose a future in which we both are alive." He slid on his knees closer to the sorcerer who still held his hand. "Or else I couldn't do this..."

He cupped Stephen's face with his other hand and kissed him softly. Stephen's eyes shut instantly. How could he resist when this was exactly what he had hoped for but had not dared to dream.

The kiss was slow and sweet, they were in no hurry. And when they broke away it was only mere inches.

"You have a head start of fourteen million lifetimes. Please wait for me until I fully get there." Tony's breath hit him and their lips brushed again, just the slightest bit.

„I would wait for you until the end of time if it meant I can call you mine.“

_____________________________________

„Do you want to come to pizza and game night at May‘s place?“ Peter asked Stephen the other day. „Now that you're not a cat, she's not allergic to you anymore."

„That‘s right,“ Tony added. „No more excuses why you can‘t come.“

Stephen smiled. „Sure. I‘d love to.“

_____________________________________

Friday is the only witness when on some mornings (after the nightmares have been particularly bad) a black cat is lying on Tony’s chest, purring soothingly.

[rosewood-multifandom-writer]

I don’t like Alice from the live action Resident Evil movies) as much as I don’t like Geralt from the Witcher because they both share the same boring stoic character traits. Don’t get me wrong, stoic characters can be good when they are written well and are complex (like Batman and Ada Wong), but if their expressions only range from stoic to grumpy to angry, then it just makes me not care about them even more.

The reason why Batman works (when he isn’t written by people who clearly hate Batman or overhype him by having him somehow beat characters like Superman and put him in Batman vs Superman situations for like the millionth time) is because he is wearing a metaphorical mask. He pretends he’s this stoic, ruthless and protective powerful man with no powers but in actuality, he has never emotionally recovered fully from his losses. He also shows care towards characters like Baby Doll, showed Harley Quinn kindness and he adopted Dick Grayson because he put himself in his shoes when he witnessed Dick lose his parents to a criminal.

Which is why I hate the out-of-character Batman moments of him knocking up his oldest son’s girlfriend and that infamous comic book that had him say, “I am the goddamn Batman.” I’m not a comic book reader but I watched the movies and the cartoons that featured him.

The reason why Ada Wong works as a stoic character is because it’s obvious she’s playing a character, a fake version of herself or the sake of her shady jobs. She works as a mysterious character that best in the remake timeline we have so far because she is not tied to the typical and predictable Catwoman archetype Capcom attempted and failed to make Ada into to make the overly complicated Batman and Catwoman dynamic between Leon and Ada. Remake Ada has more interactions with Luis that show some more dimension to her character, such as her fulfilling Luis’s last wishes of saving Leon and Ashley and avoiding Wesker from blowing the whole island and forcing a helicopter pilot to fly in a different direction to keep the Amber away from Wesker.

I am hoping that if she appears in another title by HERSELF, not with Leon and not a single mention of Leon, we get to know her more as a person. And for RE6, I want Leon and Ada’s encounters to be different, not the whole “you love her, don’t you?,” and the flirting Leon and Ada do when Helena is being forced to fight her sister. Like, guys? Time and place?

So when I compare RE Alice to Ada Wong and even Jill Valentine, RE Alice is the weakest female character written (not talking about strength and skill wise, that’s not what I’m talking about). If I had to choose between Batman and the Witcher, I’d pick Batman every single time. I also picked the Witcher as another stoic character I don’t like so that I don’t get the, “oh god, you are SO misogynistic” comments. Both RE Alice and The Witcher are equally boring to me. Plus, RE Alice was good in the very first movie, every other movie was just bad to worse, to worse, to “okay, what are we doing now?”