#and I kept being like. and I could use my grappling hook there . and that door would go to a will seed. and

[welcome-to-the-shit-library]

girl who has thought about nothing but persona 5 for the last 2 weeks, in any building: getting a lot of persona 5 palace vibes from this

[indulgentdaydream]

Bliss and Misery - Pt. 2

Ex!Jason Todd x Fem!Ex!Reader || Angst; Hurt/Comfort; || Word Count: 3,447

Warnings: Accidental Injury Acquired by Romantic Partner, if you have a history of being a victim of domestic abuse, this may not be the fic for you. If you don't mind being spoiled, dm me and I'll explain what happens so you can make that decision for yourself. Not Proofread.

NEVER thought i would make a part 2 to this fic LITERALLY A YEAR AND A COUPLE DAYS LATERRR. But I received a vision and also spring is coming and I'm out of my depression and have been blasted with a ultra sonic ray of creativity.

ANYWAYS this may be slightly controversial

The night of Gotham was curling its fingers, slowly finding its way centimetre by centimetre in order to reach into the crevices of Jason's mind as he stood on a rooftop. There was a crack in his helmet from a fall earlier that night, letting a draft of cold air consistently hit his cheek, keeping him in the moment.

He couldn't get that dream out of his head. It had been days. He never remembered dreams for this long, never this clearly or vivid. Rarely ever dreams. He missed you. Missed you so damn bad that after patrol every night he would go straight to sleep to try and have that dream again. To see you. To see the life you two could've had.

The image of your last encounter entered his mind and he physically flinched. The panic in his heart and head. The hurt in your expression as you turned away with a hand over your face. The pain in his hip when he had done nothing but scramble away from you, not realizing he'd hit the edge of the bed even as he fell backwards.

Yet you had still reached for him. Called his name as he stood on shaky legs, heart pounding. He grabbed his duffle bag of gear by the foot of the bed and left. Practically ran, just like the coward he truly was. He hadn't even been fully dressed, pulling on a shirt halfway down the stairwell because the elevator would've taken too long and you might have caught up. Hadn't taken all of his things, either. Jason had had to come back the next day. Went at a time that he knew you wouldn't be home in order to grab the rest and a few other things he kept there. Then, he left the key you'd given him on the kitchen counter. He didn't even leave a note.

What could he have said? He'd written you poems before. A dozen love letters, most of which never left his desk drawer. Though, he wasn't sure how to encapsulate the surmounting shame of his actions alongside his undying love for you.

Jason shook his head. He stepped off, aiming his grappling hook and moving on. He couldn't go back to you. He kept himself from even seeing a glimpse of you.

This was keeping you safe.

That was a week ago. His dream was three days ago.

He'd move on. He'd done it from every other kind of relationship he had in his life. So what you were the best one? The best thing, period. There had been a best before you and that had gotten him dead.

----

Red Hood was fighting in an apartment. Some deadbeat who was using his apartment as a coke lab. It was minuscule, but it was a punching bag.

The man was tied up on the floor now, unconscious. Jason wiped his hands together and briefly sent notice to Oracle. He was stepping out the window and onto the fire escape that led out to a short alleyway that led straight to the street ahead of him. His motorcycle was off to the left, left between two dumpsters. He stood there for a moment, reloading his guns, listening to the various cars going by.

Then there was footsteps below, in the alley. He was only a few floors up, close enough to see everything clearly from his shadowed corner.

Two figures just below him, both male, skinny but strong-looking, walking out towards the alley entrance. Their back were to him, focused on...

You.

He recognized that pale, aged yellow diner waitress uniform before anything else. He froze, taking too long to be sure of what to do. Too focused on just the sight of you to even realize what was happening.

You'd been walking into the alley. There was no logical reason for you to do so. He knew that street was your route home from after work. But you shouldn't have been walking home anyways. You rarely worked this late. He'd always pick you up before patrol when your shift ended in the early afternoon–

Right. You wouldn't have had a ride.

You were already stepping back, hands clutching the strap of your purse across your chest, ready to go back into the open.

One man grabbed you by the arm and tugged you back. The glint of a switchblade caught the streetlamp across the road. Jason aimed and the gunshot echoed off the brick walls of each building on either side. That man fell limp to the ground beside you.

Jason saw the way your head snapped to the rooftops, looking around. Apparently, to you, that took precedence over the dead body and the puddle of blood that was about to stain your shoes.

The other man seemed to get the message. He turned on his heel, running back from where he came. Red Hood jumped down in front of him. His fist connected with the guy's face, sending him flying back, knocked out and splayed on the concrete.

"Jason?"

His head snapped up at the sound of your voice. You were a distance away.

He wanted to cry.

Your stance was timid, eyes fixed on him like he was a deer about to bolt.

He was about to bolt.

You couldn't see his expression or eyes. Couldn't see the way they fixated on your left eye, a dark, inflamed purple. He could tell from where he stood that it wasn't swollen shut, but it had been. The bruising faded up and around your nose bridge. He knew the signs. Anyone who knew them could tell it was a week old.

He tensed. He shouldn't speak to you. He wanted to hold you.

"What the hell are you doing in an alley at this time of night?" He said, his modulator adding onto the rough and harsh tone.

You blinked, taken aback by it, "I... I saw your bike." Jason looked back over his shoulder. The nose was peaking out.

He couldn't look at you. He fixated on the man he'd knocked out beside him. He bent down and grabbed him ankle. Jason turned his back to you and began to drag him away.

You spoke up again, a little more desperate, "I saw it and– and–" You huffed. "Can't we just talk? Jason!"

"I need to deal with this guy," He said, voice levelled, controlled. "This could be trafficking."

"I'm bleeding."

His whipped back so fast it made him dizzy. He dropped the guy's leg and was in front of you in three strides.

His hand went to your right elbow, where you were trying to twist to look at the back of your bicep. There was a cut from the first man's blade. Jason inspected it closely. The blood was dripping down your arm, staining the white sleeve of your waitress dress.

You tilted your face to his, hidden by his helmet, as if you were trying to see through it. He kept his head lowered, focused his eyes on your arm as if you'd be able to see if his eyes flickered to yours.

He realized his thumb was gently stroking the side of your elbow, a habit he'd always had as an attempt to soothe you. His chanced a look at your face and felt his stomach churn.

The bruise looked worst than he'd initially thought. The edges that had begun to heal were a sickly yellow. The blood vessels in your eyes had burst, causing your sclera to now be an slightly opaque pink. The swelling was still quite a bit, and it looked painful. He knew it was painful. He'd had plenty of black eyes in his time.

He took his hand away and took a few steps back, avoiding your gaze again. He shouldn't be touching you. He shouldn't be anywhere near you.

"You know how to treat it," He was already half turned away. "Go straight home, stay on the main streets."

You stepped towards him again, "I can't reach it. I'll need help."

His back was to you, "Go to a walk-in then."

"Do you trust anyone else to take care of me other than yourself?"

He paused, head turned to side-eye over his shoulder. "You."

He didn't trust himself anymore.

You didn't move. Neither did he.

He looked at your face. Eyes trailing over that horrid bruise, the pinch of your eyebrows and the downwards pull of your lips.

How different you'd looked in that dream; so peaceful. So cozy. So beautiful. Not that you weren't in this moment. But there, you'd been at peace. You'd been safe.

It was what could have been and he'd gone and fucked it all up. He'd never even apologized.

He let out a sigh and hung his head.

"Go home. I'll..." He faltered and clenched his fists. You had a way of convincing him that never needed words. A way to melt his resolve with not heat. "I'll be there soon–"

You shot back with a tone of anger that hadn't been present until now, "Will you?".

Jason flinched, "Yes. I–" He shook in head in frustration. He shouldn't be doing this. Shouldn't be talking to you. But that cut was deep. You could need stitches. "Let me deal with these guys first."

You were glaring. This is how he'd originally thought their encounter would go. "If you don't come–"

"I'll be there." He said. "Go."

----

You trekked your way back to your apartment. Jason had handed you a clean cloth from his jacket for you to tie around your wound before sending you off.

It was difficult. You hadn't seen him in an entire week. Gone one night and then along with the rest of his things the next day when you'd come home. Who could blame you for wandering into an alley at the first sight of his bike? At the first hope of seeing your boyfriend after what had happened. You're fairly certain he had blocked your number.

By the time you made it to your apartment, you were shocked to see Jason already inside. He stood in your kitchen, first aid kit on the counter with everything laid out that he would need. He was readying a needle and thread.

You stood in the doorway for a moment, mostly revelling at his presence in your home again.

His helmet was gone along with his leather jacket and gloves. His hair was messy, dirty. From this angle you could tell he hadn't shaven in a few days, scraggly hairs poking out from his cheeks and jaw and awkward places.

A moment passed before he actually looked to you. He didn't meet your gaze, opting to look at the ground in front of you instead. There were bags under his eyes and his lips were dry and overly red and worried.

He looked rough.

"Jason?" You said softly. You wanted him to look at you.

He nodded to your right and looked back to the suturing thread, "Sit on the counter." There was a spot next to you that he had seemingly cleared off.

You did as he asked. He still looked ready to bolt. You couldn't take any chances.

He stepped in front of you, holding an antiseptic wipe. You let him push up your sleeve and clean off your bloody bicep. You welcomed the sting, knowing it was the price to be able to feel his gentle touch holding you again.

You were expecting him to speak first. But, with the way he purposely stayed further away than normal, the way every muscle in his body was so tense, the way he wouldn't meet your eye, and the way his lips were pulled tight that let you know he was uncomfortable, you began to lose hope.

He stepped away again, tossing the bloody wipes into your sink. He picked up the needle and walked back. His movements were mechanic.

He reached for your arm and you moved it back.

He still wouldn't look at your face. All his words were mostly mumbled, "Lemme see your arm."

You turned to hide it more, leaning closer to him, "I wanna talk first."

He leaned away, speaking a little louder "Lemme see your arm."

"I wanna talk about this, Jason."

He closed his eyes. He looked like he was in pain. He muttered your name quietly. A warning.

"It wasn't your fault!"

He spoke forcefully, "Yes. It was."

You gripped the edge of the counter as you leaned closer. "It was a nightmare! An accident!"

"I fucking punched you!"

Jason was looking at you now. But... he wasn't meeting your gaze. His eyes were only fixed on your bruise. You could tell by the way his gaze wavered, by the pain and shame that made its way to his features.

"I–" He let out a breath. The needle and thread shook in his hands. His voice was a whisper now, "I hurt you. Look at what I did to you."

"You had a nightmare," You spoke carefully now. You didn't want him running out again. You'd waited to seem him again for a week. You had thought you would have to wait longer. "You were scared–"

"Scared doesn't make that okay!" He stepped back. He seemed scared all over again. Worked up. Anxious. He hit the counter opposite you and behind him. He dropped the needle and gripped the edge of it. "I– I didn't know where I was–"

You'd gone over it so many times in your head that you'd already figured that.

You remember waking up to Jason talking in his sleep, shifting restlessly. You'd never witnessed him having a nightmare before. You didn't know what to do. You could barely even see him, your room was so dark on his side. The only light coming from your side being a soft green from the small light on your extension cord, under your desk.

He had sat up so suddenly that you had gasped a bit, but his own half-yell had swallowed it. He was leaning forward. You were sitting a bit behind him. He was scanning the room in front of him. His head was turning in an almost frantic way.

You hadn't wanted to spook him. Didn't want to make any noise as to startle him. You realized afterwards that that groggy decision may not have been the best choice.

Reaching out, you had meant to gently touch his arm. Meant to simply let him know you were there. But he had shifted to lay back down as you had done so. Your hand reaching directly for his face out of his peripheral.

He'd only acted on instinct. You know that. With the light coming from behind you, he wouldn't have been able to see your features. A shadow figure. He would have seen only after the impact. Only as your head had flown back and your face had entered the light.

Right away, you knew it wasn't on purpose. You had seen the fear on his face when he turned, fist raised. You'd seen the flurry of emotions that had come over him in his realization from between your fingers and tears that blurred your vision.

Jason stood in front of you now, on the verge of tears.

"Look at you," He repeated. "Look at what I did to you."

You wouldn't let him run away again, "I forgive you."

"Why?" He cried. "You shouldn't forgive me! I could've knocked you out! I–" His voice cracked. "I didn't know I hit you that hard."

He lowered his head to hide his tears. You slipped off the counter, but didn't move towards him. "We both made mistakes that night, Jason. I shouldn't have reached for you like that."

He shook his head, still slumped back against the counter, staring down at his feet. He sniffled and ran his palm down his face. He looked to the side, shaking his head.

You took a tentative step forward.

"You're not even safe with me..." His voice was wavering. "I can't be with you again. You shouldn't be near me ever again. I broke up with you too late. I should've done it a long time ago so this would never have happened–"

Your shoulders dropped, "We're broken up?"

Jason looked back to you, eyes filled with tears. He shrugged his shoulders, throwing a hand in the air briefly, "The note. I... I was going to leave a note with the key." He shook his head again, pressing his lips together. "I never did."

There was a moment of silence between you two. It was an understanding. He didn't truly want to let you go, but he felt like it was an obligation, now.

You take a few small steps forward until you're in front of him.

His eyes fluttered over your face. They lingered on your bruise, his lips pulling into a deep frown as he tried to hold back his tears. He lifted his hand as if to cup your face, but held it a few centimetres from your skin, holding himself back.

Your heart hurt for him, watching his inner turmoil.

"Look at what I did to you," He whispered again. "I can't even protect you from myself, baby."

"Where did you think you were?" You were curious.

He shrugged and shook his head, "I don't know."

Silence again. He dropped his hand.

"I had a dream," Jason said.

You listened intently.

"Few days ago," He sniffled, trying to collect himself. "We had a baby."

You paused, "Boy or girl?"

He shrugged, "Dunno. Had my hair. Eyes kept changing."

You nodded in understanding. You just wanted to know what was going on in his mind.

He shook his head again. Wiped a hand over his face. "They came waddling into our bedroom and you were asleep beside me and it was just... it felt good. Peaceful." He shook his head. He looked like he was going to run again. "I can't give you that life. Not if I'm going to go around swinging fists because I can't recognize you."

"It was dark."

"I knew I was in your room." He said and sighed. "Not at first. But at that point I did. I was about to reach for you, too. I didn't know you were awake."

"Exactly, Jay. You were still scared–"

"It's an excuse!" He bit back, voice cracking with emotion. "It's all excuses. I didn't even fucking write you a note, baby. Fuck–" The tears welled up again. He lowered his head and put a hand over his eyes. A silent sob wracked his body. "I told you I break everything I touch. I ruin everything I love."

Your own tears started to fill up. You gently reached up and took his wrist, pulling it away from his face.

He wouldn't look at you, fat tears rolling down his face, "Why even try and look for me? Why would you even want to?"

You swallowed, "Because I love you. And I forgive you."

A sob wracked his body. He shook his head before looking up at you. "You're crazy." He swallowed thickly. "...I love you."

He lifted his hand to your bruise again. He hesitated, but you gently took his hand and turned your face into his palm, letting him cup your cheek.

His tears fell faster, his voice raw, "I don't even know how to fix this."

"We'll work on it," You whispered. "Together."

He sobbed, "I just wanna keep you safe."

You pressed a kiss to his palm, eyelashes shiny with tears. "I know," You whisper. "But I wanna keep you safe, too. I can tell you haven't been taking care of yourself."

He shook his head, gesturing to your arm, "Can't even sew you up properly without breaking down–"

"Hey," You say softly, "It's fine. We both know it doesn't really need stitches."

Jason huffed, still worked up. "Don't deserve you."

"None of that," You meet his gaze again. "We can start slow. Maybe with going back to your therapist first? And we can get night lights."

"I feel like a child." He whispered.

"Not a child," Your thumb caressed his hand. "Just in need of a little help."

He stared at you for a moment. Then, slowly, tentatively, he tilted his head forward. He lifted his chin and placed a feather light kiss to the edge of your black eye. Then he pressed one a little firmer, letting in linger.

"I promise you I'm gonna spend the rest of my life making this up to you." He muttered.

You smiled, "We can start there, too."

This is why we don't ask Missy to make things better because she'll only make them extremely worse and then only slightly better

this was heavy. go get yourselves a treat.

[tiredfox64]

NEED MAVADO AND MALE/GN READER PLEEK

maybe reader is like shang tsung’s prisoner and mavado accidentally found reader after ambushing shang tsung (kinda inspired by the smol reader fic 😭)

Caged Bird

Yip notes: Please...pleek...pleek

Pairing: Mavado x Gn reader

Warning‼️: The only red flag I see is that man but if I take my glasses off I don't see anything

Making a deal with a sad Satan would be easier than making a deal with Shang Tsung. That never stopped Mavado’s drive to capture Kano. The Red Dragons need to get their hands on that filth of a man. They want all Black Dragons to be exterminated.

Mavado kept up his end of the deal. He fought tooth and nail to capture Kenshi and bring him to the sorcerer. In return, he received Kano. He took care of him by torturing him endlessly. It was a treat after all the shit he had to go through. But there is still one mess he needs to clean up. That mess would be Shang Tsung.

He’s no fool. Mavado knew of Shang Tsung’s deceptions and trickery. As if he would walk into a deal without thinking ahead. As soon as he was done with Kano he sent Hsu Hao to take care of his unfinished business. Shame on him for trusting Hsu Hao, he never got a response back. Never trust a jobber to do your job. Mavado had to close this alliance now before things went to hell. Unbeknownst to him, this last interaction with the sorcerer will give him something else.

══💤══╡°˖✧🦊✧˖°╞══💤══

Cowards! That’s all Shang Tsung and Quan Chi were. They’re cowards who can’t handle Mavado and his hookswords. One man was outdoing them. He had amazing control over the swords and he used his grappling hooks to avoid their attacks. They need to stop underestimating their opponents if they ever want to succeed.

Shang Tsung nearly met his end when Mavado swung his hookswords near his throat. This was too risky even for a 2 v 1. Quan Chi helped Shang Tsung by casting a spell. Mavado was hit in the face with this cloud made of green smoke and skulls. He blocked his face and slashed at the cloud. Only when it cleared did Mavado realize that they were running away. He can’t let them leave.

He ran after them, bolting down corridors as he kept his eyes on the sorcerers. Twists and turns slowed him down until he was completely lost. The halls echoed the sounds of their footsteps too much. It was difficult to figure out where they were running to. As much as he hated to admit it, he was lost. He kept his cool but he couldn’t help but huff in frustration. Giving up is not an option. He should at least try to find them and end this unwanted escapade.

He wandered around the place to track down his targets. He only managed to stumble into what could only be described as horrific. Abominations made from god’s creations and altered without his permission. Chains swayed in the ceiling, rattling every time a disfigured body tried to free itself. Tanks full of mysterious liquid held the remains of people. The cages held many horrors. Mavado recognized that the creatures inside of them were tarkatans except they were mutated. Their skins were more reddish and had more spikes coming out of their bodies. The foulest ones were bulky like they were pumped full of steroids. He’ll pass on that. The last cage must hold the worst of them all. A being with no light left in their eyes, one who would relinquish any speck of humanity from themselves, one who would—oh, wait, it’s not bad at all.

In the last cage, your body laid on a filthy mattress. The metal frame of the bed looked as rusted as the metal chains that kept you in place. You had your back turned to the bars so you never saw Mavado staring at you.

He was staring for a minute or two. Out of everything he had seen in that room, you were a sight for sore eyes, at least from what he could see. He could only see your back but there didn’t seem to be any spikes coming out of you or discoloration in your skin. He wondered why someone so normal was in this cursed place. Curiosity drives people and it drove Mavado to knock lightly against the bars. They rang out and alerted you that someone was there.

“I thought you said no experiments for today since you had a supposed guest.” You replied in a tired and blunt tone.

You mistook Mavado for Shang Tsung. It did surprise him that you were being experimented on. You don’t have any signs on your body to show you were altered. Not even a blood stain on you.

“You are mistaken.” He put it simply.

You flinched when you heard a mysterious voice. You turned around slowly, suspicious of who was behind you. You worried that this was another one of Shang Tsung’s tricks and he was disguising himself as someone else. The man you turned to was unfamiliar. You took in every detail you could such as his clothes, the tattoo on his arm, his hookswords, and his face. As you did that, he did the same to you.

Mavado examined the way you looked at him. You showed no fear in your eyes not even when you looked at his swords. You looked confused but curious at the same time. Now that he had a better look at you he can confirm you were not mutated or altered. You looked as regular as him. Though he did find you to be quite stunning. He might be thinking that because out of everything he has seen you are the one who doesn’t hurt his eyes.

“By any chance, did your jailer come running by here?” He asked.

You nodded your head no before speaking, “I never heard his footsteps. You were pretty quiet coming in here.”

“That’s because I wanted to take my time…” He looked around the place to emphasize his next point, “Observing Shang Tsung’s creations.”

“Mhm, yes, quite the scientist. Sooner or later I’ll look like one of these freaks.” Your nonchalant attitude soon became somber. You were clearly unhappy with your predicament.

Look, Mavado isn’t a saint. He’s part of a criminal organization but you don’t know that. But if he were in your shoes he wouldn’t want to be turned into a tarkatan. Their lives are full of pain. It’d be a shame if a gorgeous person like you were to be turned into something so wretched. It’d really piss off Shang Tsung if one of his experiments were set free or even stolen. You know what, Mavado has a good set of reasons to let you out. It’s not like you’re gonna argue with him about setting you free.

“Well, you could always leave.”

“Do you not see the chains and bars? I can’t leave.” You looked at him like he was crazy.

“Not without my help.”

You tilted your head in confusion. You were unsure of what he was hinting at. It’s not like he had a key with him.

“I’ll make a deal with you. I help you get out of here, and you come with me. The Red Dragon clan could always use another set of hands.”

He made you curious. You never heard of the Red Dragon clan. You have a bunch of questions as to how this clan is associated with Shang Tsung. You don’t even know the man in front of you. Will that stop you from getting your possible freedom? You have nothing else to lose it’s either this or growing teeth that resemble a piranha.

“Humor me. I’d like to see you try when you don’t have the key with you.”

Watch and learn.

Mavado took his time observing the bars of your cage. They were rusted and they shifted from a light push. They aren’t up to date. A few kicks should do the job but that would be too loud and alert the sorcerers. He better give it one hell of a kick to break it.

He stored his hookswords behind his back before pulling out his grappling hooks. He threw them down, the hook sinking into the hard ground. He gave a test yank to make sure they would stay put. Yup, they ain’t moving. He turned to look at you and he gave a face that made you feel some hope. Mavado had a smug look that said “Are you ready for this, I don’t think you are ready for this”.

“Cover your ears. This is going to be loud.” He warned.

He took steps back and stretched his grappling hooks. The band grew thinner the farther he went back. You stared blankly at the spectacle before you. You covered your ears as he instructed and waited for the solution to come flinging.

Mavado couldn’t back up any further and found that this would be enough. He jumped up and he was flung at the bars at high speeds. They never stood a chance. A loud clashing of metal echoed as the bars fell to the ground hard. It cracked the stones beneath it. There, Mavado stood before you, dusting himself off like what he did was casual. Your mouth fell open.

He retracted his grappling hooks and took out his hookswords to help with your chains. He slashed both of them at the same time. It was so quick and effortless that you didn’t realize he did it until your arms fell to your sides. You looked at your wrist to see the shackles still on you with a small length of chain still attached.

You felt like you could breathe for the first time in a while. That bland attitude you had changed. You were lively instead of acting like a corpse ready for examination. You took a step off of your rancid bed but almost fell. Mavado was quick to catch you and help you stand. He had you move your arm so it could wrap around his neck. His arm wrapped around your waist to keep you balanced.

“Don’t push yourself. Shang Tsung had probably weakened you too much to walk.” He advised you as you two slowly walked out of your cage.

You didn’t care that you were weak. You were just happy to be out and moving. Though it may be cut short with Mavado bringing you to his clan, you will at least bask in this moment.

All that ruckus would of course alert Shang Tsung. He ignored Quan Chi’s advice to not investigate and ran to find that one of his experiments was missing. Mavado was pushing all of his buttons.

As Mavado tried to find an exit he heard rapid footsteps coming from behind. When he peaked over his shoulders, he saw Shang Tsung coming for you both. He was so angry he used his magic to shoot flaming skulls at you two. You would have been hit if Mavado didn’t pull you away in time. Oh NOW he wants to fight.

“Wrap your arms around my neck tightly.” He instructed in a serious tone.

“Why?”

“Because it’s going to be rough for you.”

You had no idea what he meant but you did as he said. You stared at Shang Tsung in horror as he came closer. You didn’t watch Mavado as he used his grappling hooks once more. You heard a snap and after that the only noise left was you screaming as you both were flung into the air.

Good riddance, Shang Tsung.

══💤══╡°˖✧🦊✧˖°╞══💤══

“Mavado, why do you always bring random people back to the stronghold?” Daegon asked as he rubbed his forehead in frustration.

“I don’t see any downsides to adding more warriors to our clans.”

“They are not a warrior, they are an experiment.” Daegon corrected Mavado.

“They were an experiment before I recused them. They could easily become a warrior if you let them stay.” Mavado had that same smug look on his face because he knew Daegon wouldn’t deny having more people in his clan.

The demigod sighed before saying, “Fine, but they are your responsibility. If Shang Tsung comes looking for them you take care of that yourself.” Daegon walked off after giving Mavado the go-ahead to let you join.

Hsu Hao just finished getting your shackles off when Mavado came back. He told Hsu Hao to get more supplies to clean you up. He then took your wrist to check for any wounds since the skin seemed damaged.

“So, your name is Mavado?” You asked.

“Yes. I forgot to introduce myself officially. But now you know.” He sat down next to you and began to clean your wrist with an alcohol wipe.

“What should I expect to happen now?”

“For one, you won’t be put into a cage. I don’t think someone like you should be trapped away and left to rot. Second, you’re with us now. And if you don’t want that then too bad, you know too much now.” His tone was joking but he was full-on serious.

You cracked a small smile and rolled your eyes, “Don’t worry, I don’t think I can leave with how weak I am. Plus, I need to repay you back for getting me out.”

“You’re starting to get it now. Soon you will be in good shape and I will make you into a warrior. Maybe then you and I can exact our revenge on Shang Tsung.”

“I’d like that actually.”

Maybe your time with the Red Dragons won’t be so bad. You already have a liking to Mavado, it can’t be hard to like everyone else. Plus, he is quite the looker. Better looking than those tarkatans you were surrounded by that’s for sure.

Yap notes: I will forever see him as Guatemalan and Dominican. Y'all can say he is Puerto Rican or Spanish (From Spain I mean) but imma stay in my silly little word and believe he is like me fr fr. Now If you don't mind imma bite the back of his neck and drag him away like a mother cat would. Adiós!

[xmalereader]

Miguel O’Hara x Black Cat! Male reader || 3 ||

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|| Masterlist ||

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Authors note: This one has a bit more angst into the story also these are not accurate to the film! I made my own changes in order to keep the whole found family together also thank you for 7K! 😫 damn just a week ago I had 6.8k and quickly got to 7K! Thank you everyone and enjoy this next part!

Summary: Miles has been MIA and Noir has grown worried over the disappearance of his own little spider.

Warnings: Slight ATSV Spoilers, fluff, angst, mentions of spider bite, universe, fate, found family au, miguel is trying his best, black cats fate changes, reveals, humor, co parenting, language.

Word Count: 2.1K

— || Part One || Part Two ||

—

“You weren’t suppose to be Spider-Man.”

Miles had been MIA ever since he got back from his last mission in capturing Spot. He was hard man to catch but after some time and working as a team they were able to capture him and put him on lock down, making sure that he was no where near anything that could help him escape.

It was Noir who noticed the teens absences after a day. The kid was usually attached to his hip and never left his side, other times he would come see him and rant about things that happened in school or the times that he saved people and the stories he would tell, but not today.

Miguels lab was too quiet.

It irritated him.

Even though Miguel and him have started to fix up their marriage again, he was still under house arrest until further notice from his own husband, not being allowed to leave without permission, but the cat was getting anxious. A small voice inside his head was telling him to search for the kid, to check up on him and see how he’s doing. The parent inside of him wanted to crawl out and do what a parent would do when their kid was suddenly missing.

So, without Miguel’s knowledge he leaves base.

He makes sure to block Lyla from tracking him in case Miguel finds out that he’s gone. As much as he cares for his husband he didn’t want to deal with his anger if he were to find out that he left without giving him a reason. When arriving to Miles universe he makes sure to appear on the rooftop of his parents apartment, knowing that it was the weekend and that the kid usually spent his time at his parents house, being with them and catching up.

With slow movements he looks over the roof to where Miles bedroom was, getting ready to climb down and slide the window frame open only to freeze when he sees Miles dad leaving the apartment with a deep sigh, following after him is his wife. “Don’t worry. I’m sure he will come back and help.” Said Rio as her husband shrugs his shoulders. “Spider-Man hasn’t showing up in nearly two weeks. Who knows if he’s coming back.”

His words catch Noir by surprise, eyebrows furrowed as he stays hidden on the rooftop and watches the couple interact with each other before he quietly slips inside Miles room to find it empty. He takes in the teens room, never had he entered the kids room without permission until now, taking in the interior and the way the kid kept it organized and messy at the same time.

He found Mile’s sketch book lying open on his bed finding the open pages to a sketch of both him and his uncle, simple drawings that the kid liked. He reached down to pick up the sketch book, only staying on those pages before closing the sketch book and setting it down. The rest of kids room is messy and clothes was scattered everywhere, in the pile of clothes he finds his spider suit and frowns.

The kid never left without it as he gets down on one knee to pick it up, holding it in his gloved hands before hiding it under Miles bed and looking out the window, getting an idea of where the kid could possibly be as he jumps out the window, using his grappling hook to swing across the city as he searched for the kid.

The sound of traffic can be heard below him as he swings across the city, focused on finding the kid that he doesn’t notice the familiar red and blue following after him.

It only takes him a few minutes to reach the clock tower, landing on top to find the teen sitting on the edge, wearing a hoodie as he stares at the city view.

“Figured I’d find you here.”

His voice startles the poor teen, jumping in surprise as Miles sighs in relief. “You scared the hell out of me!”

Y/n chuckled as he sits down next to the teen. The two sitting in silence as they take in the city’s view and sunset. “You’ve been distant.” Y/n finally speaks up, glancing at the kid who lowers his head with a small shrug. “Sorry, just been…going through something.”

The thief wants to roll his eyes at the kids excuse, knowing that it was something more as he moves closer to the kid. “Sure its not something else? I mean, I’ve seen you upset and you still do your job as the cities hero but—‘spider has been missing for 2 weeks?’ Doesn’t sound like you.”

“What are you, my mom?”

“Technically, I’m still your guardian whenever you are a hero.” Y/n shot back, nudging the kid on the shoulder playfully, earning a slight laugh from him.

It wasn’t until he fell silent again, giving Miles the time to finally get the courage to speak. “Remember the mission I had with the others on capturing Spot?” Y/n nods at his words. “Well, he showed me something that I wished I didn’t know.” Miles sighs deeply, nervously playing with the strings of his hoodie, eyes focused on the material.

“What did he show you?” Y/n asks.

Miles hesitates before speaking up. “That I wasn’t suppose to be Spider-Man.”

Y/n froze at the comment, eyes widening under his goggles as he glared at nothing, blood boiling.

“He said that the spider that bit me actually belonged in another universe and that someone else was suppose to be bitten.” Miles continues. “I wasn’t suppose to be Spider-Man in the first place.”

“Miles—“

“That makes me an anomaly doesn’t it?” Miles turns to Y/n with sad eyes, realizing the mistake that’s happened in his own universe the realization that this whole time he thought he had a purpose only to find out that it was all a mistake. “Think Miguel will be upset?” Miles next words cause Y/n to blurt out. “I don’t give a damn what he thinks.”

Not knowing the Miguel was hiding behind the pillars, listening into the two.

“But, I’m an anomaly. I could destroy my own universe!”

“Or you can change it.” Y/n’s words catch him by surprise while the adult sighs deeply. “Not everything has to go according to plan and not everything can go the way it needs to be.”

“But, there’s a universe out there without a Spider-Man—!”

“They don’t need to be bitten by a spider to be Spider-Man.” Y/n’s voice grows stern with the kid. “Yes, that universe is in need of a hero but it doesn’t have to be a spider. Before Spider-Man they were once a smart kid and the universe will always find a way to fix things on its own. They may not have super strength or webs, but they damn sure know how to create something new.” He reached up to lift his goggles and mask, slipping it over his head as he smiles faintly at the kid.

“I’m still an anomaly…” Miles mutters.

“Then so am I.”

Miles stares at him confused. “What do you mean?”

Y/n’s fingers tracing over the tinted goggles, sighing deeply. “Ever Black cat is the same. They betray people, use them, greedy, a good thief.” He laughs. “But most importantly they always use Spider-Man in their own little mind games.”

Miguel shifts in place, leaning his head back against the pillar.

“I’m nowhere near that.” Y/n shakes his head. “I became a thief because I was struggling, later I found Miguel and his daughter and put my second life on hold to focus on my relationship only to get married and have a family I always wanted. A happy family.”

Miles listens intently.

“Even after I lost my daughter…and then Miguel I still remained loyal to both him and Spider-Man. Yeah, we have our quarrels here and there, but I never stopped loving him. Never used him like others would, never moved on because of how wrong it felt and whenever I got to close to him again I wanted to run away, to stop our future from getting bad again. I grew afraid until now.” He explains to Miles, eyes focused on his gloved hands. “I changed my own fate and so far it’s been going well.”

Miles sighs softly after listening to Y/n’s explanation knowing that everyone’s fates changes, weather its good or bad the universe always finds a way to fix it. “You think my universe will be fine?”

“Your universe will be fine, Miles.”

Both Y/n and Miles whip their head over their shoulder to see Miguel standing before the two, hands on his hips, wearing his spider suit as his mask dissolves away, showing his face to the two. “Your universe won’t suffer.” Said Miguel again, giving Y/n a soft kick on the thigh, indicating for him to move while Y/n glared at him playfully and moves aside, giving him space to sit between the two. Clearly the cat already knew that he would get caught by his husband but didn’t think that he would react in such a calm manner.

Miguel grunts, siting down between the two and sighing deeply. “Y/n’s is right, not everyone’s universe is perfect. Yes, you are an anomaly, but that doesn’t mean that your fate can change and their isn’t anything I can do to fix it. So, all we can do is sit back and watch as the universe decides for you.”

Miles nervously picks on his sweatpants, picking on a small lose string as he pulls on it gently a nervous tactic that he picked up along the way. “I guess my universe wanted you both to be in it, right?”

Both Miguel and Y/n look at Miles with content smiles while Y/n looked at Miles proudly. The kid had gone through a lot as his first few days as the cities hero, losing his uncle along the way as the poor kid suffered on his own, unable to tell anyone that he was their when his uncle died without revealing too much of his true identity until he met Y/n the talent thief that was also Miguels husband. The thief couldn’t have been happier to have met Miles, cherishing the kid and taking him under his wing and treating him like his own son too.

“Guess they really did.” Y/n is the first to speak up, standing up from his spot and rounding Miguel to tussle Miles hair before standing near the edge of the clock tower. “Now, I think its time for Spiderman to make an appearance, don’t you think?” He questions as he slips his goggles on, giving them a knowing smirk as he held out his grappling hook.

“Meet you both at the bank!” He shouts, jumping off the building with a laugh as Miles watched Y/n swing away, turning to Miguel with a confused look on his face while the other sighs deeply. “He’s just giving you a reason to make a good entrance.”

To show the city that their hero has returned while Miles slowly smiles at the idea of Y/n using himself as bait in order to “lure” Spider-Man out, knowing damn well that he was speaking to him not too long ago. “Want to help me?” Miles asks Miguel as the older hero raises a brow in surprise before his lips twitch into a grin. “He won’t go easy on us.”

“How about a bet?” Miles stands from his spot. “Whoever catches him first gets my moms special empanadas.”

“Your mothers empanadas are good, better than Y/n’s.”

Miles laughs. “Don’t let him know that you said that or he will kill you!” He shouted as he too jumps off the clock tower, using his hoodie to hide his face as he swung back home to pick up his spider suit that he left lying in his bedroom, stepping inside the room as he quickly changed into the suit with Miguel waiting outside for him.

“Come on kid, we don’t have much time if we wish to catch Noir.” Said Miguel, sticking his head in the window with his mask still off while waiting for Miles who struggled with putting his suit on. “Yeah just give me a second!” He grunts while trying to slip on his suit while Miguel watched the teen struggle with putting it on, reminding him why he changed his own suit design to nanotechnology, making it easier to use.

“Miles—“

“Done!”

“What the fuck?!”

Both Miles and Miguels eyes widen as they turn towards Miles bedroom door that was thrown open. “Hello, Mrs. Morales.”

[entityarts]

The Tour Logs: Harley’s POV: ?̴̨̡̜̰͚͕͓̤̟͖̽̂̆͜ͅ?̶̡̲͙̼͇̠̱͈̅̾̈́͂̿̚̚ͅ?̸̻̥̻̻̠̹̹̹͆̽̂́́̈̈́

@rtv-puzzlevision-studios

Entering through the realm I couldn’t shake this feeling of paranoia. Puzzles stood his ground angrily. His stance was like an angry father. Not that I would know what having an angry father was like. Dad was a pretty shy fellow. It’s hard to imagine how he would be if he was mad. What I knew for sure is that if he were to be mad he would be nothing like how Puzzles’ was. The stare he gave others with his one visible eye. I could’ve sworn he took a glance at me with disgust, but again probably my paranoia playing with me. I kept having second thoughts about actually saving my plushie and I wouldn’t feel such a way but on the other hand I’d be filling up my worries to a stuffed toy of the biggest liar alive. I look to see some girl, possibly a demon of some sorts starting to attack Puzzles. She was visibly upset and angered by the death of the metal being. Puzzles didn’t take that attitude and threw her across the realm. Understandably, I was shocked. That action was not human like. Sure, Puzzles isn’t a human himself but I doubt with his stature and physical appearance could be able to do that. The girl was gonna go in for another strike but was stopped by Rayas. She held her umbrella close to the girl. She calmed as Rayas comforted her. I don’t know what came through my senses but I just started to run. At least I thought I was running. After a few moments I realized I was running in place. Was there… no ground? I look around everyone seemed to be floating. It was like there was no gravity at all, just like how humans described what it’s like being in space.

I began to flail my arms around quickly. I made some movement. Knowing this I start to flail my arms towards Rayas. I must’ve floated through too quickly that I crashed into someone. Rubbing my head I looked up at who it was. It was Rayas. I didn’t question how I reached them so quickly. I just hugged onto her. “Oh Rayas! Rayas!” I sobbed out holding her tightly. “Oh my! Harley, What happened to you? Where’s your plushie?” she asked like a concerned mother. Sniffling and feeling less paranoid in her presence I responded. “I-It’s gone… I dropped it… but I’m glad… I don’t want something hideous and cruel to bring me comfort…” I cried to her. I felt a flame spark inside me. A flaming wanting to get revenge on Puzzles. Revenge on him for tricking me, hurting Nicknack, hurting others. Grabbing my grappling hook I began to aim at him. “I think… I think I can get him from here… I won’t let everyone suffer anymore.” I said sounding determined. Rayas though seemed to have thought differently. She gently pushed my arm that held the grappling hook close to my chest. She didn’t speak. She just gave me a gentle look of concern. I look back at Puzzles seeing his angry expression again. I began to second guess myself. I look back at Rayas and nod. I couldn’t attack. Not yet at least. Rayas held me close as she floated us to a different spot. Looking forward I see another Rayas comforting the girl. The four of us all huddled together, crying softly, can’t believe this stupid tour turned to this. I look forward to see Puzzles approaching us. Anger in my eyes with fierce embers in my heart I would do anything to see him be fried like what happened to my plushie of him. He started inspecting the two Rayas. He inspected too long for my liking. He turned his back floating away from us. Suddenly people began to attack at him. It all happened so quickly. I’d join along but I still remembered Rayas’ face from before. The chaos that ensued made me lose sight of the 3 I was huddled with. I floated across trying to find anyone I knew but with how massive the chaos was it was impossible. I was only floating aimlessly with the desire to go home. The universe had other plans though. I overheard Puzzles yelling at two people. I turn to see that he was yelling at the two Rayas. He scooped the two up like ants. Seeing this I floated as fast as I could but was stopped by a tight grip. Looking back was someone who looked similar to Puzzles. Dammit. He had clones of himself and I completely missed it. I yelled and tried kicking the clone. I overheard what he said to them. I heard how he spoke to them. Not even considerate to speak to them softly. Damn monster. Fowl Beast. He gripped them tightly making me scream more to let them go, but suddenly one of the Rayas’ grew larger. The crowd paused while witnessing this, including Puzzles’ clones. That helped a lot. I threw my head forward and back at the clone head butting it. Out of its grasp, I start to float towards Rayas. I was bumped away from where I was floating to being launched up to see who it was. It was one of the clones that gripped me. I saw more clones come together. They were all targeting Rayas and her clone. I tried floating my way faster to get towards the two when BANG!

One of the Rayas’ stepped in front of the other to shield them from getting shot. I watched in shock. Petrified seeing the blood of someone who cared about me float above. My hands were shaking as I slowly reached out to hold some of the blood that spilled. I held it gently in the palms of my hands. I couldn’t contain my tears again. I sobbed out. The droplets of tears that came out of my eyes float above. The speck of blood I held in my hands joined along with them. I stare back down to see one of the Rayas hold the dead one. It was surreal to say the least. I rubbed my eyes making sure I wasn’t hallucinating. I couldn’t wrap the idea around my head that my friend carried her own corpse. Rayas spoke about her clone. Her intentions were not at all to hurt anyone. She just wanted to enjoy a tour. Despite it all, despite the cruel and undeserved death, Rayas would’ve still forgiven Puzzles. Puzzles still had the nerve to still not care. He yelled at us questioning if we think we can beat him and then pointed to Rayas’ corpse as a warning. He was starting to become more and more sinister the second. Snapping his finger and blue electricity flowing and pulsing through his fingers, he starts to aim it like a gun. Groups started to form again and I followed the one Rayas was in. It was my only option I had right now. Besides, this situation was too stressful enough to be away from the people I know.

Following from behind the group we ran through another portal. In the ground, dazed and stressed I look up to the sky. Although… the sky was unusual it looked more like a painting that you can see on a screen and the sun looked terrible from far away. Getting up I saw the people who I was with. Thank goodness I saw Rayas and Nicknack. I wasn’t completely alone. Someone yelled out about some hideous creatures. Looking to who yelled that was a man wearing all purple with some odd white hair and a big nose. No offense, but hideous creatures should be the least of his worries when he looks like one himself. Thankfully I kept my antennas hidden on time but it didn’t stop the royal guards from coming up to us. Now being the smallest has its perks. I easily slid past under the legs of one guard, tackling down another in surprise and running past the man in purple giving him a quick kick behind his leg before running away. Other’s followed behind meanwhile some were unfortunate and were captured. I and the rest who escaped ended up at the town. This town was a lot more brighter than the one outside of the Puzzlevision building. So with the remainder of us free from being captured, we obviously had to kill some time. The smell of freshly baked goods filled our nose. Following it lead us up to a kitchen. I went through the different goods that was baked, stuffing the ones I liked inside my outfit. It was hot. Obviously. Hiding it under my outfit with the rest of my stuff was probably a big mistake. It was worth it nonetheless. We make it back outside eating the goods we got. I took out a piece of bread and one of the soda cans they had in the film department. I drank the soda letting the sugary substance into my system. I completely forgot how good this stuff was. Looking next to me was the girl I was huddled with along with the two Rayas’ in the TV dimension. She seemed to be eating some food as well. Wanting to be nice I took out another one of my soda cans and held it up to her. She looked at me for a second and then at the can. She reached out for it, gave a small smile, and drinks it. “You know I actually don’t like soda.” She said while still drinking it. She gags afterwards when she finished the can. “But it’s the thought that counts. Thank you!” She said. I mean, I wouldn’t have mind if she gave me the rest of the can if she didn’t like it but she appreciated the gesture nonetheless. That leaves me with one more soda can. I had to make sure this can was used wisely in the future.

The people who were captured arrived back to us. They spoke about some portal that was nearby and next thing you know we make haste and walk on. The portal we walked close to was static like usual. Not even surprised at this point. We stepped through and the entire atmosphere changed. We were in a dark environment and the other half of the group was standing in another hallway. We became one and walked through. The scenery of this hallway felt off. The end felt close but it felt like the closer we walked to it the more it backed away from us. It felt like an eternity to reach the end. We reached the door. Opening the door was a room. A room filled with kid like furniture. In front of us was a tv filled with static. Another portal. Puzzles must love having portals around. Going through it we end up in a similar hallway as before. Only difference is that we started to hear muffled voices. They were of two people. It sounded like they were fighting. The door at the end was a living room. Another tv with static was in front of us. Another damn portal. We kept going and going. The walk was endless yet the signs we noticed were undeniably clear this was Puzzles’ past. Doors were slammed. More muffled yells. I kept peering behind my shoulder getting the creepy feeling of someone walking behind me just to see no one was there. We went through portals several times. It seemed like this was our seventh time. Only this time the ground had a trail of static leading to another end at the hallway. The door is opened slowly and inside was nothing more than a gruesome sight. The trail of static ended up being near a kid probably about my age, sitting limp on the floor. His head was a tv where the static leaked out. It finally clicked that this was supposed to be Puzzles’ past self. I was about to be sick. Was this fate foreshadowing my doom or a taunt from Puzzles? I didn’t want to think the was dead. Not another one dying. I along with another participant approached the kid. I crouched in front of him. Facing his screen. I cautiously gave him a few taps on the screen and shook his body. I felt a slight movement from him making me stumble back. He’s alive. Thank goodness. He was approached by the stranger that shot Puzzles. I completely forgot he was with us. He seemed to be acquainted with the kid and asked him to guide us to a place called “Channel 999”. The kid nods and leads us down to an eerie basement. The portal he brought us up to had a saw next to it. The saw had static that bled through and stained the floor. Putting two pieces together made me even more shocked. Puzzles seriously used that saw for his head.

Exiting the portal the atmosphere was now just a rocky terrain. Glitchy and dark but not as creepy as the hallway. In front of us was Puzzles. He stood with that stupid malicious grin of his. “It took you a while, maybe even LONGER than the crew.” I grumbled. Closely keeping an eye on him. He seemed to shift his focus on his past self. He laughed. A very enthusiastic laugh. Way too enthusiastic. A laugh that made me believe he was on the brink of insanity. “Ah and OF COURSE you once again couldn’t help to stay away from things that don’t CONCERN you.” He spoke back. His colorful smile blinding me for a moment. “So…who’s ready for the FINALE?”

I pulled out my grappling hook preparing to shoot at him. I was preparing to shoot when I start to look around for a moment. My eyes laid on Puzzles’ younger self. He was behind another participant who was prepared to fight Puzzles. Where he stood was way too risky. Sure he was behind someone strong but once they’re gone shielding him, he’ll be open to attacks or being taken by Puzzles. I couldn’t help but see part of me in him. He alongside I were the only kids here. His body language showed he was scared and didn’t want to be here. I was like him for a moment of this tour. I had the urge to do something. An urge to let him know he isn’t alone. I yelled out to him. “Hey Kid!” He jumped and looked back shaking. “It’s not safe out there! Come over here!” I yelled back. He scooted away slowly shaking his head. I can’t blame him. I’d probably do the same. An idea came up. I unraveled my grappling hook and gently tossed it near him. “Hey! It’s okay. You don’t have to approach if you don’t want to! Take the hook! It’ll let me know you’re still near even by a long distance!” I yelled back. He slowly reaches for the hook and holds it. He looks back up at me and I gave him a thumbs up. He started slow but it was progress. I just stood watching the others fight Puzzles and took moments to glance at his younger self. I must’ve looked at the fighting for too long because I felt a tap on my shoulder. I look back to see it was Puzzles’ younger self. He had rolled up the rope from my grappling hook and was handing it back to me. I gave a proud smile to him. “Ah! Thank you! You’re quite helpful! You wouldn’t mind if I called you Little Puzzles, do you?” I asked being as kind as I could despite the current situation. He only nodded slowly seeming upset or ashamed. Taking a moment to realize that he might not like the name all too much. It made me recall of a time back when I was home and had a phase where I didn’t like my name. It sounded too long and was pronounced wrong a couple of times. I just got tired of this. Dad knew so respecting younger me’s my internal conflict, he referred to me as “Old Sport”. It was an odd name. I didn’t know where it came from but every moment that it comes to mind didn’t make me not miss him. Looking back at the kid I spoke to him softly giving him my old nickname. “Listen Old Sport, I know I’m very limited to understanding you but I won’t give up on making sure you’re comfortable…” He seemed less tense now but still a little nervous. “You need anything? Food?” I asked pulling out a piece of bread from before. He shook his head. “A drink?” I said pulling out my last soda can. He shook his head again. I tilt my head with confusion wondering what he wants. I noticed him fidgeting his hands together. He grasped them tightly as he shook. He may have believed he was all alone on this. No one to be close to. With this realization I asked him. “A Friend?” I asked gently. His head jolted up and he looked right at me. His whole stature didn’t seem nervous. He almost seemed to be in disbelief. I quickly nodded and gave a warm smile. “You need a friend? Yeah! I’ll be your friend! Better yet, I’ll be your best friend!” I replied. I felt almost overjoyed. “Haha! Wanna see something, best friend?” He looked at me and waited. I reveal my antennas. The same ones I’ve been self conscious to reveal to anyone. I made them wiggle around. I heard sparks of static making me believe he was laughing. I joined along laughing with him as well. Afterwards I held out my hands to him, offering him to take my hands I spoke out. “I know this right now is a little scary. I’ll let you on a little secret. I’m scared too… but knowing I have a best friend like you with me, it makes me feel less scared. I hope that’s how it makes you feel too…” Slowly inching my arms toward him he reaches out to me with his arms. Not to my hands but above my shoulders. Both of his arms wrapped around me. He hugged onto me. It was unexpected but I gave into his hug, wrapping both of my arms around him. It made me realize how much he seemed to rely on me.

Maybe that was enough motivation to help me carry on with this fight. I seemed to have barely any options besides to attack Puzzles. Thinking of all of the fighting options I had, I could use my grappling hook’s rope to wrap around Puzzles’, my alien antennas to shock him if I’m close, or my final soda can to throw or spray on him. The attack plan seemed perfect but I only had one problem. Who would be there for my friend? I looked to find if anyone I knew was busy in which, yeah, they were busy. Busy fighting the narcissist. I looked back at my friend fearfully knowing I may have to separate from him to fight Puzzles. I gave him a tough look to make him less worried and spoke sternly. “Look, I’m going off to fight him. I need you to find a place to hide until I come back. Understand?” He gave a hesitant nod and shook again. He was about to turn away but the thought of me losing him or vice versa crossed my mind and I grew scared. “Wait!” I yelled back to him. He turns to me and sees my scared look. I took a deep breath before speaking. “One last thing. If anything happens, you will always be my best friend. Just this little moment we had together felt like an eternity of joy. I’m forever grateful we got to be best friends.” He shook slighting as some static dropped. He may have started crying. I began to start too. I took off the shoes I wore. Sounds weird but trust me, it will be important. “Here. Take my shoes. That way a little bit of me can still be with you.” I replied as my voice got shaky and handed him my shoes. He took it and held it close to him tightly. “Now go! Go hide!” I said to him with a shaky breath. He complied and ran. I wiped my tears and looked forward to Puzzles. He still had that same stupid smile on him. I noticed how his right arm barely moved at all. With that in mind, maybe aiming at his working arm will make it harder for him to escape the grip of my grappling hook’s rope. I held my grappling hook up to his working arm. He was moving it rapidly to hit and attack others which made it difficult for me to aim at his arm. I took a deep breath and focused on myself, closing my eyes to calm down better. Flashbacks of Rayas’ face of concern came back to me but why did it matter now? A clone of them was gone and it was because of Him. I couldn’t stand back and watch the other participants get hurt. I had to fight. It’s now or never. Opening my eyes again I shot my grappling hook at his arm. It wrapped around his arm perfectly. Immediately I start to run to the right. The socks I wore over my shoes helped me glide on the floor making me move faster than my usual running speed. I reached out for my final soda can and began to shake it rapidly. I was really doing this. I was starting to finally step up. Not step up for myself but for my allies. I’m doing this for a reason. For Rayas, for Nicknack, for my best friend, for everyone’s freedom. Puzzles may not care about this right now, but I’ll find out somehow and give him a a reason to care.

Don’t mind this. It’s Harley’s fight song.

Holy shit this was long!

I can rest peacefully knowing I got this done ;w;

Shoutout to @grinnames for allowing me to let Harley interact with them for a bit

Characters mentioned: NickNack ( @runrabitrunrunrun ) Rayas ( @lrayasostripes )

[jasntodds]

Penance [2]

Pairing: Jason Todd x Fem!Powered!Reader

Words: 8,134

Chapter Warnings: Swearing, a little bit of angst, some fluff, mentions of death, mentions of injuries, some canon violence

Summary: ❝Thesus: Stop. Give me your hand. I am your friend. Herakles: I fear to stain your clothes with blood. Thesus: Stain them. I don’t care.❞

It’s been a month and a half since Crane’s reign of terror was stopped, leaving Gotham to finally return to normal. But, what is normal? After everything Jason and you have been through, it seems normal might be some unobtainable dream state. But that’s not going to stop either of you from trying and maybe, you’ll get lucky in the end. At the end of it, the two of you have suffered enough, right?

Right?

A/N: I hope you guys like this chapter!! It's just the beginning of what's to come!! lol You can add yourself to the tag list below, ask me to be tagged, or you can follow my library blog @jasntoddslibrary  and turn on notifications if you prefer that!! I love feedback, I swear it keeps me posting on a weekly basis 😭

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By the time the next day rolls around, Jason still doesn’t know Dick has asked you to help out. He thinks it’s just him which does have him wondering why Dick didn't ask you. It seems a bit odd given your whole friendship with Tim anyway but he chalks it up to maybe you being busy. Molly mentioned you were working on a case that kept you pretty busy. Maybe you've just been preoccupied with that to actually help. Jason isn’t sure and he isn’t entirely sure why it matters. It doesn’t. It shouldn't.

Jason gets ready to go find Tim. Dick sent him the time Tim should be arriving in Gotham with the specific instructions Dick gave Tim. Jason thinks about how if only Tim knew how lucky he was that Jason is going to be there. Tim has almost no training at all and Dick has basically thrown him to the wolves, or so Tim will think. And Jason can’t help but even feel a little excited over this whole thing. The last time he saw Tim, he was lying on the ground dying. Because of him. This is how he can start to repay Tim for the damage he caused him and his family. It is the least he could possibly do. Tim might not like him after, but he will be prepared and he will be a good Robin. Jason will make sure of it.

Jason heads out to find Tim, daunting his Red Hood gear and helmet. The drive isn’t too far from his safe house but it is raining tonight, on and off. Yesterday was nice, warm and no rain. It’s a bit of a depressing contrast between the two days. The street lights reflect off the wet pavement and Jason isn’t entirely sure what he’s going to do when he gets there. All he knows is Tim will probably need help and he’ll just take it from there. It’s not exactly how he wants to approach any situation but he’s not sure what Tim will even be doing.

Jason pulls up to a building across the street from an alley where some, surely, illegal deal of sorts is going down. Apparently, Tim is supposed to be here eventually so Jason parks the bike in the dark of his alley before he uses a grappling hook to get to the roof of the building just so he can see better. And then he waits.

Meanwhile, you’ve made your place on the roof overlooking the alley with the van, knowing this is where Tim will be. And you can’t help but feel excited to see him. You miss him a lot even if it is a little hard to be happy it’s under the circumstances of Robin. There’s also the bit of dread and excitement over seeing Jason, working with Jason.

Seeing him means there’s going to have to be some sort of conversation over the two of you being unable to pick up a phone and call each other. There’s going to be some sort of conversation about everything that happened. It’s going to bring back all of the pain all over again. Will you even be able to pick up where you left off? Or will you fall into an awkward dance where you both just fumble over each other until Tim leaves? Or will it be worse? But, seeing him, being around him, always felt the most like home and you really hope he’s okay and happy. You’re excited just to see how he’s doing.

You’re laying on your stomach to take cover while you watch over the ledge but your fingers tap wildly against the pavement at the thought. It’s the hope this goes okay, that he doesn’t hate you. That Tim is happy to see you both. That Tim doesn’t get killed in the first five minutes of being Robin. Excitement, dread, and anxiety flood your system. Why did you agree to this?

Commotion starts from below you and you see Tim on the top of a car while the goons are loading their van. Even in the low light, you can tell the suit is a little different than Jason’s and Dick’s. The cape definitely is with its jagged edges and it’s longer. It fits him actually. You stand on the edge of the roof, grappling hook in hand and knife in the other, ready to slide down the second things get out of hand. 

Tim handles himself okay at first but then they outnumber him and they’re faster than he is and better. You know Tim has had a few training sessions but by the looks of it, they could not have been very long or helpful. Things start looking pretty bad for him so you use the grappling hook to lower yourself down but before your feet even hit solid ground, shots ring through the alley, taking out one of the men and then the other. Just as your feet hit the ground, you nail the last one with a knife, turning to face down the alley with your arms crossed. And there he is, walking confidently with a gun in hand.

Of course, he beat you to it.

Jason’s eyes widen behind his helmet. He did not expect to see you tonight. Kind of like last night, seeing you throws him off. It’s a bit jarring somehow. Gotham might be a big city but you travel in the same circles, it was bound to happen. Just…two nights in a row seems…odd.

“I had that covered.” You state through your mask.

Jason can taste his heartbeat in his throat as he keeps closing the distance between you. Your mask always muffled your voice a little but it’s still his favorite sound. He can feel his cheeks burning and a smile desperate to cross his lips. Jason bites it back, trying to keep his composure.

“Where the fuck did you even come from?” Jason quips back.

He is eternally grateful for the helmet. You wre always best at reading him. You could read every expression that ever washed over his face no matter how subtle it was. It was as if you could read each other's minds half the time and he is so glad you can't see him. His eyes are scanning you over, noticing nothing too new in the suit. It still fits you just as it always did, perfectly fitted in the all right places. His eyes go back up to your face, the hood is pulled onto your head. He catches the yellowing around one of your eyes and he almost asks what happened before he swallows it down. It's not entirely his place to ask at the moment but he thinks you're still just as beautiful today as you were the first time he saw you and the last time he saw you.

You point to the roof. “Clearly. And you?” You question, keeping your voice flat and curious, trying to conceal your own nerves.

Jason points a thumb over his shoulder. “Clearly.” He echoes as he stands next to you.

It all clicks then, this was definitely a setup by Dick. Of all fucking people, Dick Grayson is doing this shit? Jason swears up and down this is getting ridiculous. Bruce, Molly, Gar, Dick? They are all trying to get you two to communicate and…maybe they have a point even if Jason never wants to admit it. Not when two of those people are Bruce and Dick. But, he can’t focus on that or how this is sending his head into a tailspin.

He needs to help Tim which means he can’t let his feelings for you get in the way even if ignoring them is one of the hardest things he’s ever done. He has to act normal and like being next to you doesn’t make him want to explode. He needs to keep his cool, keep the smile from ripping apart his lips because even if this is a setup and he should be mad, he misses you so fucking much it physically pains him. He can’t find himself to be mad because you’ll never abandon Tim so even if you don’t speak to Jason while you help him, at least he gets to see you as you. Like old times even if it doesn’t last and for that, Jason is happy.

Jason reaches behind his head, releasing the helmet before he takes it off and you swear you swallowed your heart. He looks so good. “Who the fuck are you supposed to be?” Jason calls, eyes locked on Tim and you think you’ve melted at the sound of his voice.

His voice is somehow better than you remember it. A little calloused, a little rough, but not too deep. It always fit him so well and you’ve never been so thankful to have a mask that covers the lower half of your mouth because your lips are curling into the most uncontrollable smile. Every piece of reservation you had about seeing him completely flies out of the window.

Jason Todd has always had his type of gravitation pull like a planet lost in the universe and you’ve just been sucked right back into it.

You miss him so fucking much.

Tim looks down to his chest, right at the R symbol before he looks back to Jason. “I’m Robin.” Tim states as if Jason should have known.

The subtle hint of a smile comes over Jason’s lips seeing someone else in the Robin suit. It’s weird because it almost feels…hurtful. It hurts a little seeing someone else in a position where he was, not in a jealous way but in a way that he is reminded that was him. He was Robin and he fucked up and now he’s not. It hurts in the way he’s reminded of it being ripped away from his bloody hands. The suit is different, Jason clocks almost every difference in the first few seconds but it is similar. Jason was beaten to death in something similar with the same mantle. There’s almost this part of him that even worries about it. Robin didn’t work for Dick. He didn’t die as Robin but it didn’t work for him. Jason was killed. Where’s that going to leave Tim?

On the other hand though, there is something about someone else taking up Robin that feels good. Jason died but Robin didn’t. Robin never had to die with Jason and he shouldn’t. The people need a Robin and he doesn’t really know Tim but you do and Gar does. He trusts you both and Tim looks thrilled to be here. It’s a mix but there is something kind of nice seeing the resurrection of Robin.

“Hey.” You chime as you walk closer to him.

Tim’s smile splits his face. “Hey, how’d you know I’d be here?”

“Molly tracked you the second a Robin showed up. Knew it was you.” You laugh softly before you pull him into a gentle hug. “You should have told me.” You say as you pull away, your hands coming to his shoulders as you look over the suit, noticing all the difference between this one and Jason’s.

“Yeah, I thought I could handle this.” Tim chuckles sheepishly, realizing he was a little in over his head tonight but not lacking in any of his confidence to do this job. 

“Clearly, you were wrong.” Jason closes the distance between you. “You’re lucky we showed up when we did.” Jason stands right beside you as you drop your hands from his shoulders, maybe you looking over the suit makes Jason want to chew his tongue out of his mouth.

“Yeah, I got that.” Tim nods his head. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.” The smile reaches your eyes as you beam back at Tim.

Jason’s eyes narrow at you slightly. You seem awfully happy. He knows Tim is your friend but you just seem overly happy or maybe he’s in his own head about it. He just remembers that day picking you up from Titans Tower and it was…similar. It’s like he’s getting stabbed in the chest and the base of his throat knowing you were not happy to see him tonight. The very thought of your feelings disappearing makes him feel like his rib cage might collapse on itself. So, he pushes it away as far as he possibly can and bites back his own words, trying to just be relieved you look happy instead of pissed off Dick set you up. He’s just thankful you haven’t run away. Yet.

“What’re you doing here anyways?” Jason asks with the nod of his head at Tim.

“Dick sent me.” Tim starts before explaining this whole fake plan thing Dick sent him on while you and Jason pretend to act as if you have no clue what he’s talking about.

Jason nods his head. “Well, it's getting pretty late. I got a place. Come on.” Jason jerks his head down the alley before he starts walking, not even waiting for a response.

“Wait, really?” Tim asks with hope.

“Before I change my mind.” Jason states, his back fully towards you and Tim before he puts the helmet on.

Tim’s eyes are wide with excitement. He gets to work the Red Hood?! He knows it’s Jason but he was the second Robin and he doesn’t even know much about him. Gar and you talk about him and he met him a few times but this is totally different. Red Hood is going to help him with this?

“You can ride me with. I’ve got an extra helmet. I figured you’d need a ride.” You put a hand on his shoulder before nodding towards Jason. “My bike’s not far.”

The three of you make your way to Jason’s bike that’s closer and then to yours before you and Tim follow Jason to his safe house. It’s the one you took him to when Crane kidnapped him. You stare up at the building for a few seconds, feeling something a bit bitter in the back of your throat over it. Jason can move on, you hope with everything in you that he is, but as someone who cares about him, it's your job to be bitter and pissed about everything Crane did to him forever.

Tim and you follow Jason into the building, now the three of you in your street clothes after taking a detour to change. You've almost had your eyes practically glued to Jason ever since. And it’s taking everything in Jason to focus on the task at hand and not stare at you with a million questions.

The hallway is messy. There’s stuff on the floor everywhere and even though Jason is walking ahead of you, you can’t help but narrow your eyes at him. Surely, he has time to pick up the floor instead of kicking things to the side as he walks by. Jason is always so meticulous with things he likes but he just can’t help the mess in a hallway or his room for some reason.

“Venta?” Jason asks, keeping his steady pace ahead of you and Tim.

“Yeah.” Tim starts. “He lives down on Harbor.”

“Never heard of ‘em.” Jason states, walking through the hallway where he has a laptop set up before he starts typing away at something.

“Dick says he’s got information on the Organization.” Tim explains as he stands beside Jason, resting his arm on the open counter space.

“He sent you to get intel on the Organization?” You ask.

“Yeah.” Tim says casually, but almost like he wants to be offended you'd question it but then he looks between you and Jason. “Maybe we could team on this.” Tim suggests. “The three of us.”

Jason looks to him, struggling not to glance at you before he turns around and starts walking away swiftly. “I don’t team anymore.” Jason says as the laptop makes a noise, you peaking over at it as Tim trails after Jason.

Security system, and a nice one, too. It looks at least similar to the one used at Wayne Manor and in the Batcave. There seems to be some sort of cloaking system to shield his location from anyone who might be looking for him. You've heard he’s made several big-name enemies in Gotham already which is not surprising. Gotham’s newest crime lord is going to take some heat. Of course, he's protecting himself. You're actually relieved by the system. Maybe the security system lets Jason get some sort of sleep.

“Security activated.” The computer sounds through the speakers above the three of you.

“You don’t understand.” Tim defends while you move to catch up with them. “Brother Blood put my boyfriend in a coma.” Tim watches as Jason climbs the stairs before he quickly follows suit, you right behind him.

Jason knows he has to play this off, even if Tim is going to nag him all night. If Jason immediately jumps to help him, Tim won't learn a damn thing and he'll probably figure it out. Jason has heard all about Tim's intelligence and detective skills. If Tim is going to be Robin, Jason's not going to make it easy.

“How long you been doing this Robin thing?” Jason asks.

“Um…” Tim stutters as him and you enter one of the rooms with Jason, Jason still several feet ahead of you. There’s workout equipment, monitors, a fridge. It looks like this is where he trains and keeps his eyes on Gotham. “Not long.” Tim says.

“A couple weeks?” Jason asks as he looks over his monitors on the far end of the room.

“Not quite.” Tim states, looking around the room.

“A week?” Jason asks.

“Last night was my first night.” Tim admits, almost sounding defeated.

You nearly cackle. “Sorry, what?” You spit back as Jason turns around. The two of you exchange a look of surprise and confusion. Dick did not say Tim had no training.

"Yeah..." Tim looks between you and Jason, unsure where you're going to take this conversation. He hopes it'll get you both on his side. He could use the help.

“Oh, the suit did look fresh off the rack.” Jason states. This is going to take a lot of time and effort. “If I were you, I’d get out of Gotham. Take some reps in like Tucson or some shit.” Jason states as he leans his lower back against the table with the monitors, his hands holding the edge of the table.

“Shit’s been quite a bit messy lately and the Bat’s outa town.” You explain as you cross your arms over your chest.

“Dick sent me here to find Venta.” Tim nearly cuts you both off.

“Your funeral.” Jason shakes his head. “You can crash here if you don’t have plans.” Jason gestures a hand out, offering his place for Tim. “I mean, there’s eggs, beer, cheese.” Jason gestures quickly to the fridge sitting on the wall facing Jason on the opposite side of the room.

“That is a lovely diet, Jason.” You mutter back, earning you a bit of a glare from Jason.

It's not exactly like Jason to not have some sort of variety. Generally, he eats pretty healthy in order to maintain the muscle and physical fitness to do this whole thing but eggs and cheese aren't exactly the healthiest thing, especially with the addition of beer. You know he's been busy with Red Hood, helping Barbara. But, you wonder if this is one of those things Molly and Gar are worried about. You make a mental note of it to ask later.

“Been busy.” Jason quips back, almost gauging how you’ll respond.

“I can see that.” Your eyes widen as your hands gesture around.

“Thanks.” Tim interrupts you, unsure if this will be an argument or some weird banter thing you two do. Tim sets the case with the suit against the wall and that’s when he sees a clear board with a cipher on it that looks like Jason’s been trying to crack. “You working on something?” Tim gestures towards it as he starts walking towards it.

“No. I’m paying the fucking cable bills.” Jason quips back.

“Need some help?” Tim asks, his hands in his pockets as he looks over the cipher.

“Since you’re being nosy,” Jason starts before he walks over to Tim, you joining on the opposite side. “Shimmer’s been pulling off high-end heists all over Gotham.” Jason explains. “Sending ciphers as clues.”

Tim looks over the cipher a bit more and he’s got it. He reaches over for the eraser next to the board and starts erasing some of the code Jason has cracked.

“What the fuck are you doing?” Jason questions.

“You got your A right but your coding’s off.” Tim explains making you stifle a laugh.

“Fuck you.” Jason defends as he watches Tim.

“It’s a Fibonacci Sequence.” Tim states. “Each number is the sum of two numbers that precedes it.” Tim explains. Jason and you take a step back to watch Tim work. “K-L-E-I-D-S-C-O-P-E.” Tim spells it out, writing each letter. Tim takes a step back, a proud smile on his face while the three of you look over the word.

“Kaleidoscope.” Jason states. “Oh, shit.” Jason starts, rushing over to this phone sitting not the table beside the board.

“I just had fresh eyes.” Tim states, still looking at the board.

“Right, nothing to do with being a genius or anything.” You quip back.

“Hey, Babs.” Jason says with the phone now pressed to his ear. “Uh, Kaleidoscope Auction House. That’s the target for Shimmer’s next hit.” Jason explains before he pauses, looking back at Tim for just a second. “And I’ll take my usual percentage.” Jason says before he hangs up the phone. “So, you are really smart.” Jason states.

“Told you.” You mutter.

“It’s nothing, really.” Tim brushes it off.

“Right.” Jason nods his head. “So, what’s your plan anyways? Stick around Gotham until you find this guy?” Jason asks before he walks over to the fridge, you pull up a seat by the monitors.

“Uh, yeah, I guess.” Tim shrugs. “I asked around tonight but no one seems to know what I’m talking about.”

Jason nods his head, beer now in hand before he opens it. “Want one?” Jason asks. "Water, Gatorade?" Jason offers before his eyes go back to you. "I have other shit."

You roll your eyes, pathetically putting your hands up in defense, keeping your mouth shut this time. For once, you can't quite tell if your subtle jabs are actual jabs or if it's what you usually do. At this point, you're too afraid to ask because either answer sounds a bit too much.

“No, thanks.” Tim states.

Jason pulls a blue Gatorade from the fridge before crossing the room and offering it to you. It wasn't even a thought Jason had because you've always been someone who will not accept an offer of a drink and then drink his. It was more of a reflex to grab the Gatorade for you. A gentle smile pulls at your lips as you take it softly from him, careful not to let your hand brush his.

“Asking the wrong people probably.” Jason answers as he leans against the table in the space right beside you. “Or they don’t you seriously.” Jason uncaps his beer with the remark.

“Second one.” You state as you uncap your bottle.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Tim looks back at the both of you.

“You got your ass kicked tonight.” You state. “I got a feeling you aren’t very good at being intimidating.” You shrug your shoulder casually before you take a drink.

“Hey,” Tim gestures toward you. “I figured out all of you guys and got you to cave about it. I’m pretty good, I think.”

“You’re my friend and I felt bad for lying.” You chortle before you take a sip. "I was at no point ever intimated by you."

“If she didn’t want you to know, she never would have led you to believe otherwise.” Jason takes his own drink knowing damn well you could have, at the very least, hid your own identity from Tim if you really wanted to.

“Still, one of them would have told me! I’m Robin.” Tim tries to defend himself, his voice almost defensive until it finally hits enthusiastic with the mention of 'Robin'.

The way he says it makes you burst out laughing. The amount of times you've heard the words 'I'm Robin' with so much pride and enthusiasm makes it funny. It’s the innocence and confidence Robin brings. Tim isn’t as…cheerful, enthusiastic about it as Jason was. Tim has seen the horrors already but…there is something familiar about it that makes you laugh. You hope he's able to keep that.

Jason thinks he’s melted into the ground with your laugh. The hard part of this whole thing is not going to be training Tim. That’ll be easy. The hardest part is going to pretend like it isn’t killing him to act like this is all fine with him and you. It is killing him not to poke fun at you or ask about everything. This is going to be torture.

“That what I sounded like?” Jason asks quietly.

“Kind of.” You nod your head at him, a soft and beaming smile directed right at him.

“What?” Tim questions.

“Nothing.” You brush it off. “Okay, look, why don’t you stay here with Jason for tonight and I’ll come by tomorrow. We’ll go look together.”

“You do teams?” Tim quips.

“No.” You shake your head, knowing that is a bald-faced lie. “But you’re my friend and I help my friends.”

“Okay, yeah, cool.” Tim smiles widely. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.” You nod softly before clearing your throat. “I’m gonna head out then. Uh…” You pause for a second before you get to your feet. “Molly is probably waiting for me so I’ll just text you what time to be ready.” You offer Jason a nervous nod and closed-mouth smile.

You make your way to Tim, giving him a quick hug before you head for the door. Jason almost lets you. But, seeing you and feeling this way? It’s not what he wants. He doesn’t want you to be here just because Dick asked you. He doesn’t want you to be here just for Tim. He can’t just pretend this is all fine.

“I’ll, uh, walk you out.” Jason pushes off the table, earning you to turn around, raising a brow at him.

“Uh...yeah, yeah, okay.” You nod slowly. “Thanks.”

“Don’t touch anything.” Jason warns Tim before catching up to you.

You and Jason walk side-by-side out of the room and your stomach is swirling, turning into a goo. You're nearly vibrating from nervousness being around him again. And he looks so good. He looks healthy. The last time you saw him, he was covered in scrapes and bruises but there aren’t any on his face. You know there have to be some under his clothes but his face looks good and his cheeks aren’t as hollowed as they were before. His hair is fluffy just as it always was. He looks good.

Jason glances at you and Jason Todd is not one to get nervous but he is so nervous right now he’s stuffing his hands in his pockets just because his hands are sweating too much. It’s you and he has no reason to be nervous but his heart is thundering in his chest and he wants to smile ear-to-ear. Everything is different but it almost doesn’t feel that way. His heart is beating for you right now just as it did from day one to day 100. It only ever beats for you.

The two of you reach the door, standing and facing each other. There should be sort of 'see you later' exchange that happens but neither of you entirely know how to do that. Not with each other. You were friends, then friends with benefits, then together, and now you're exes. A handshake still feels far too professional given the intimacy that stands between you and the horrors you've endured together. A wave feels fucking pathetic. And a hug seems a bit out of the question.

It's not even like either of you want to do this whole 'see you later' thing. You both have endless questions and if tonight ends, tomorrow will begin and it might be different again. Jason doesn't want to risk anything in this. So, instead of fumbling his way through a goodbye that would haunt him in his sleep for the next ten years, he starts conversation just to stall you a little.

“What’d you do?” Jason jerks his head, pointing towards the bruise on your eye and he almost touches it. He has to force his hands to stay in his pockets.

“Oh, uh,” You smile softly, touching the yellow with your fingertips. “Molly, actually.”

“No fucking way.” Jason chuckles.

“Yeah, uh, been training her a bit.” Your brows furrow just for a second before you lick your lips. “She asked just to be prepared walking home or some shit. Um…and uh, obviously, you taught her a thing or two. But, she actually fell and I got an elbow to the face.”

Jason lets out a booming laugh and you forget how to breathe. It sounds just as lovely as it did before. Booming and loud, thunder shaking your rib cage free of all its pain.

“It was an accident?”

“Yeah.” You nod quickly. “Fucking painful one. This shit is two weeks out. My eye was swollen shut for like two days!”

Jason keeps laughing and his nose scrunches. You swear he’s still the cutest person to ever walk the earth. How could anyone not be in love with him?

“Sorry, you alright?” Jason asks, but the smile is still ripping across his face as he licks his lips.

“I am fine, thank you.” You nod your head, a soft smile on display. “You, uh, you look good, Jay.”

The nickname sends his head into a spiral. He can’t believe after everything you’ve done to each other and the time that’s passed, you can still make him feel this way. You make him feel like everything is gonna be alright somehow. And he makes you so happy. Something so simple and it’s just joy.

“Thanks.” Jason nods his head. “So do you.” His eyes soften with the ease of his words.

“Thank you.” You pull in a breath.

There’s a silence that falls over you and something hits you both. This is a request from Dick. It wasn’t supposed to be a reunion for you. It just happened to work out that way. Jason still did all of that and you still hurt him and betrayed him. Neither one of you had the courage to call the other. It took Tim coming here needing help. Something about that really hurts. Your minds take over even as happy as you are to see each other, to feel the love blossom through your chests. But, you look at each other and wonder how you could ever ask for forgiveness, especially with each other looking so good. So, you don’t. You punish yourselves.

“Molly’s helping me, by the way.” You blurt out on purpose, knowing it’ll piss him off.

You aren't trying to hurt him, you're just pissing him off. Jason will snap and fire back and you think you'll deserve it. Jason Todd has been very good at pushing everyone away and you've been very good at running. But, you know Jason expects you to run. If he ever wanted to forgive you for some reason, he'll know exactly what to do. So, you take a page out of his book and push. It'll catch him off guard, piss him off, and it'll be what you deserve anyway. You push.

Jason shakes his head, eyes widening. “What the fuck does that mean?” He snaps, searching your face for any indication this is some sort of joke.

“She helps me as Bluejay.” You shrug your shoulders.

“Why the fuck would you let her do that?!” Jason nearly demands as he crosses his arms.

Molly is his friend, too. He knew something was going on but he didn’t think Molly was actually helping. At this point, he's pretty sure the two of you have lost your damn minds. Molly didn't even agree with Batman and Robin and now she's helping? All people do in this path is get hurt or worse. Jason isn't going to give it up and he'd never ask anyone to. But, why the fuck would you let Molly help you? If he knows you at all, he knows you shouldn't be happy about it.

“She asked.” You keep your voice nonchalant, knowing that'll irritate him even more.

“Oh, so fuck it, right? She asked and you’re just gonna let her? And what the fuck are you gonna do when someone figures it out, huh?” Jason seethes as he tosses his right arm to the side.

“Oh, but it’s fine for Tim, right?” You question back as you blink at Jason. He doesn't seem to have a single issue with Tim, just Molly which is some of the ammo you were looking to get out of this.

“He wouldn’t leave any of you guys alone!” Jason defends, his hands shooting out to his sides. Molly and Gar have said they're worried bout you and while he's getting pissed off, he's also growing worried. Starting an argument with him is very uncharacteristic. “Molly isn’t a fighter! You’re putting her in harm’s way!” Jason shakes his head before clocking the Tim remark entirely. “I don’t have a fucking say on if Tim’s Robin, by the way. He’s your fucking friend, too! The fuck are you mad at me for?”

“But you were the previous Robin!” You snap back and you aren’t even sure why you do it. You don't want Robin to be the topic of the argument because that isn't fair. You just can't help it, your mouth is moving faster than your guilt and reason. “You’re not bothered by it at all but I have Molly working on a computer and that’s not fine?” You spit back.

Ow.

If there's anything Jason knows about punishing himself, it's what pushing looks like. He's not entirely sure what is setting you off but there's something. You're hitting a low blow bringing Robin into it and while he doesn't want to fight, it hits an exposed nerve. Jason Todd has always hated feeling exposed.

Jason shakes his head with a bitter laugh. “You haven’t fucking talked to me in over a month but now you think you know how I fucking feel about a Robin?” Jason lets out a scoff. “And yeah because Molly doesn’t need to be in the fucking middle of some bullshit you won’t be able to handle. You’ll get hurt or some bullshit, go to her, and you’ll be tracked. You don’t have a security system, bet your locks are shit, what’re you gonna do, huh?”

“Yeah, well, phones work both ways, Jason.” You spit back, choosing to ignore the second half of the argument. He isn't wrong and you know it. “Molly wouldn’t leave me alone about it and ya know, in my experience, the more we let people not help when they are adamant, they do it anyway and then they die or get hurt.” You scoff back. “Seemed better this way.” Sam nearly mutters it bitterly.

Jason can feel his heart breaking again because this isn't about Molly. He knew it wasn't but it's still about him. He's thinking you're not over the fact that he died which you should not be. But, it almost feels like you're choosing to blame him for his own death and that's something he never thought you would do.

“The fuck is that supposed mean?” Jason asks, his voice rough and angered but he’s not yelling. That’s always the most hurtful form of Jason Todd.

Too far. Too far. Too far.

You never intended to hurt him. It's just...maybe there's a lot of unsaid things from both of you because you both were always so worried about fucking it up. What's left to fuck up now?

You backpedal anyway because it is not fair. It's not his fault. “Nothing.” You shake your head.

“No, tell me what you really mean.” Jason keeps his stance, his voice unwavering.

Jason sees it as you blaming him but that's not true. The way you see it, if people want to help, maybe they're better off to help. Jason and you were held captive and dropped from a Skyscraper because you wanted to help and Dick said no. Jason wanted to be Robin and help and Bruce ripped it away. Tim wanted to help but everyone said no. Anytime someone really wants to help, they do and then they get hurt or worse. Molly was going to try and help one way or another. This way, you can keep an eye on her. Though, you can't quite bring yourself to explain it all.

“You. Me. Tim. Dick. Gar. Rachel.” You explain. “All of us.”

“And we were fucking thrown into this shit. All of us.” Jason argues his side. “I sure as shit didn’t pick it--”

“But you would have!” You scream back because it all just hurts again. He's lying to himself if he doesn't think he wouldn't have picked Robin if it were a choice. “Don’t pretend like Robin was some burden thrown onto you because he wasn’t! You loved it. You still do. Bruce may have weaponized you but he offered it to you and you took it.”

He knows you're right. Of course, he would have picked it. It was the coolest and greatest thing to happen to him at the time. He was useful and he was enough. He was finally fucking good at something and he was finally good for something. It made him feel like he belonged somewhere even if it didn't last. Of course, he'd do it again. As hard as it is, as tortuous as the last few months have been, he doesn't think he'd do anything differently.

“Fine, what about you?” Jason quips back. “Dick gave you a fucking choice. I remember that.” Jason scoffs. “You’d take it all back? If you knew how this ended.”

“Of fucking course I would, Jason!” Your voice finally cracks. “Yeah, I’d never fucking ask you to help me and I never would have went after Deathstroke with you or Jerry or any of this shit. If I could go back, I’d undo it.” You pull in a shaky breath and lower your voice. “It hurts all the time. I’d undo it.” You give him a sad and defeated shrug.

It hurts to say it but a part of you, really thinks you'd undo it if given the chance. Maybe you would just tell Dick no. Maybe it wouldn't be like this today. But, there is a larger part of you thinking you wouldn't be able to undo it. A lot of good came out of you being a Titan. You found this family and maybe had you just said no, it wouldn't be like this. You've been able to save a lot of people since being back on Gotham and doesn't that make it all worth it? The greater good should win.

You're looking at Jason and you wouldn't undo that. A lot of good came out of you being a Titan. Finding a family and new friends, Molly, learning how to properly fend for yourself and knowing you don't have to. It's all good. And Jason. A lot of good came out of being a Titan and Jason is so intertwined in that, you'd never be able to undo it without undoing you two.

You would never be able to.

You don't want to and this whole argument was just so stupid.

Jason looks to the ground and he knows what you mean but so much of you is intertwined in doing this that undoing that, almost feels like undoing you two. He knows that's not what you mean and you're angry over something Jason isn't sure what. You've talked about it. It's just harder today. It doesn't stop it from hurting though.

“Why put that on Molly then?” Jason brings his voice back down.

“Because you’d do it all over again.” You say softly. “Because Dick would do it over again. And Bruce and Tim and Kory and…all of them without even thinking twice about it. I think even Gar would. Molly won’t regret it and you know that.” You strengthen your voice.

This is stupid. He’s supposed to be doing better here but he fights you anyway. The punishment to himself and you started it. But…it doesn’t feel good to be here again. He doesn’t want to be here. He has fought tooth and nail to be alone and now that he is, he doesn’t like it too much. It hurts to be here alone. It hurts to be here without you. Jason promised you he’d make it up to you one day and yeah maybe he could have called and you could have called. But, neither of you did. Jason tells the voices in his head to shut the fuck up and he bites back at them.

“Just…make sure she’s safe.” Jason swallows thickly, catching you off guard. Jason never backs down. “You’re probably right. Molly can be pretty persistent.” He backs down for himself and for you. He won't let you punish yourself this way. You never let him.

“Yeah…” You trail off, tugging the sleeves of your hoodie over your hands as guilt eats away at your bones. “I didn’t want her help.” You whisper, caving, too. It doesn’t matter what you think you deserve and don’t deserve. Jason doesn’t deserve someone to push him away if he’s trying. That’s not fair. “But…it doesn’t work telling people no so…I make sure she’s okay.” You nod your head. “She is only my eyes in the sky. No one even knows I have someone on the inside.”

“Good.” Jason nods his head. “Yeah…” Jason trails off, his stare going to the floor, the white streak hanging loosely over his forehead.

One of you has to bring it up. One of you has to bring up the time you’ve spent apart. One of you has to say something besides the unsaid words that are nearly strangling you both. It will always feel giddy with a sense of dread and awkwardness unless you do. You always apologize.

“I’m sorry for not calling.” Jason states, catching you off guard and it’s like he’s just stacked twenty more pounds of guilt onto your pile. A lump grows in your throat and not once did you ever actually blame him for not calling you. You think he shouldn’t in order to protect himself. “I just…got busy and I don’t know.” Jason shrugs his right shoulder. “Should have.”

“I-I’m sorry, too.” You nod your head. “I, uh…yeah, busy.” You nod your head, swallowing the lump in your throat and biting back tears.

He has nothing to be sorry for.

Jason’s heart sinks because there’s something wrong. There is always something in the way you stutter around him that gives it away. It got to the point where you almost never did. You almost never tugged your sleeves down. It’s more of a nervous tick than anything and now you're doing it again. You're too exposed around him again and Jason can’t help but feel it’s all his fault and it’s too late. The thing you had, that strength that ruins mountains, has just wilted away. He thinks it might be his biggest regret.

“I’m really sorry.” You say more clearly this time. "For, uh, f-for not calling and uh, arguing with you just now. I, uh...I-I don't know." You tug the collar of your hoodie down just a bit, feeling suffocated by the fabric but then Jason sees the silver of a necklace around your neck.

You still wear it?

You open your mouth to talk but Jason cuts you off.

“Is that the necklace I gave you?” He blurts out before he can even process it.

He needs to know.

You look down, seeing the chain stare back a you before you pull the pendant from your hoodie and Jason wants to combust.

“Yeah.” You state, the infinity charm staring back a you. “Uh…” A smile pulls at your lips. You never take it off even when it all feels hopeless because maybe, just maybe, it's not just the cliche of infinity of you but some sort of symbol of hope that you'll find your way back to each other one day. “I know we haven’t talked and this shit feels awkward and shit but uh, I don’t know.” You lick your lips. “Figured Molly would call if you something happened and then…you’d know.”

You're realizing how dumb this whole thing. Maybe you can’t have what you really want. Maybe that’s not how this is meant to be. But you know he checks up on you and you know he knows you do the exact same. It’s silly and ridiculous for you to tiptoe over each other as if you haven’t witnessed each other at your best and worst. You held his lifeless body in your hands. Jason saves your life. Being a part from each other…not worth it.

A smile pulls at his lips before it turns into a smirk. “Someone’s gotta be prepared with your habit of being kidnapped.” Maybe it gives him hope, too.

“Shut the fuck up.” You groan. “It’s been months.” You can't help the smile that crosses your lips.

“You’re due.” Jason quips back.

You let out a laugh, sending a chill down Jason's spine. “I am good on that thanks.”

Jason tilts his back, feeling the same as you. This whole thing is fucking stupid. He needs to swallow his pride and he just doesn’t want you to leave. Despite his habit of spiraling into self-deprecating thoughts, he knows there has to be something left between you. Since the very first day, there has been something there. So, maybe you try this friend thing again. Maybe it'll work out.

“This is fucking stupid, right?” Jason laughs. “Not talking and shit.” He clarifies.

“Yeah.” You nod with a laugh. “Molly and Gar and Tim and Dick have been telling me that.”

“Molly, Gar, and Dick.” Jason groans. “Fuck, even Bruce.”

You let out a laugh. “Okay, you know it’s bad when Bruce is over here giving you advice on this shit.”

“Right?” Jason lets out a scoff. “We good?” Jason asks with hopeful eyes.

“Always were, Jay.” You smile softly at him and in that moment, you make a silent promise to yourself that you don’t care about your heart but you will guard his with every knife you have. “Friends who actually talk and act like it this time?” You question.

“Yeah, need someone to nag me.” Jason sticks his hand out.

“Oh, well, if you insist. Clean this fucking place, it’s a mess!” You take his hand in yours, shaking it softly.

“Since we’re friends, you could help.” Jason quips back, looking at the hallway that resembles the aftermath of a tornado.

You take your hand back. “You could go fuck yourself.”

“Where’s the fun in that?” Jason grins back at you with furrowed brows.

Your brows raise with a splitting smile. “Ask your hand.”

Jason let out a chortle. “Fair.”

“Okay, seriously, I gotta get back. Molly will have too many questions if I stay any longer.” You nod your head, already mentally preparing for the amount of questions Molly will have and knowing none of them will actually pertain to Tim. “I’ll be back tomorrow, you gonna come?”

“Nah.” Jason shakes his head, figuring he'll let the two of you catch up by you showing him the ropes alone for a bit. “You guys go. Dick call you?”

“Mhm, you?” You pretend like you don’t know, mostly to keep the peace between the batboys.

“Yep.” Jason nods his head. “Setup?”

“Absolutely.” You laugh. "Dude still hasn't told Kory but he's setting us up."

"We have to repay the favor then, I guess." Jason offers you a wild and menacing grin.

"Oh, definitely." You nod quickly.

Jason shakes his head with a laugh. "Just gotta get Tim into shape first."

“We’ll get him ready in no time.” You beam back at him with the scrunch of your nose.

“We’ll start training when you guys get back tomorrow but follow my lead.” Jason offers, already ten steps ahead with a plan.

“Because Tim can’t know.” You finish.

“I got an idea.” Jason nods.

“You always have a plan.”

“Always.” The word babe almost slips from his lips.

“Okay, Jay.” Your cheeks burn, sensing it, too. “I will see you tomorrow.” You nod once before you turn on your heels and exit the building.

Jason watches you and his thinks he’s breathless. There’s something reminiscent of the first day he met you. Not entirely knowing much about you. He knows about you today but there’s a gap of time he’s missing. There are two actually because he doesn't know all of the details in the time he died. There are voids he’s missing and what’s changed about you because of them? It almost feels like that first day because his bones are vibrating with excitement and he can’t wait to see you again. It feels like it did then and he would love to keep chasing that feeling.

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[6rookie-writer0110]

A childhood friend asked for a favor

Kate Kane x Male Reader (platonic)

Request - How are you doing? Could you write a Kate Kane x male reader (platonic) where they were childhood friends but have not seen each other in years. They meet again after Batwoman saves the reader, and he recognized her.

You arrived in Gotham and everything is different. You used to live in Gotham but you moved away with your family. You recognize some places in Gotham that are still open for business. You arrive at a charity party and you start to look around, to see if you recognize anyone and so far you don't. You went to get something to drink at the bar.

“Y/n, it has been a long time,” Kate said.

You turned around it was your childhood best friend.

“Kate Kane, you have changed,” You said.

“New haircut” Kate smiled.

“I was going to say, you have better taste in clothes now,” You said.

She gave you a hug and she was happy to see you. You and Kate were friends from the ages of 6 to 13. You and Kate were always together hanging out.

“Are you moving back to Gotham?” Kate asked.

“Yeah, I just moved back almost a month ago. Wow, it really has been a long time” You said.

“It has been. I'm glad you are back, Y/n. Let me buy you a drink” Kate said.

“I’m not going to say no to a free drink” You smiled.

Kate laughed then she ordered the drinks. You and Kate started to talk about everything and made each other laugh. You were the first to know that Kate liked girls, but you never stopped being her friend. When you moved away, Kate got depressed and you two lost touch for a long time.

“Are you dating anyone or breaking girl’s hearts?” You asked.

“I’m not a player, Y/n. But if we went out I would get more girls than you” Kate said.

“Wow, already day one and you want competition” You laughed.

“You started it and I'm going to end it” Kate laughed.

You and Kate kept talking then she gave you her phone number.

——-

You and Kate are starting to hang out more. You and Kate made a bet on who can get the most girls. Kate won the bet and she won't let you forget it. But Kate never told you that she is Batwoman. There were times she had to disappear and make up fake lies about why she had to leave.

Before Kate left her apartment, she saw the news there was trouble. At Wayne’s business office, there are hostages on the 27th floor. There is a helicopter around the building, and the criminals threaten to throw people out the window if they don't get the money. She rushed out of her apartment and headed to the bat cave. Then Kate rushes to the building and Luke tells her what to do. She jumps through the window and lands in her superhero pose.

“It’s Batwoman!” He yelled.

“Make one move and I will throw him,” Alice said.

Your wrists are tied with zip ties and she is holding your shirt.

“Let everyone go now,” Kate said.

“That won't be fun, letting them go,” Alice said.

“I mean it, let them go,” Kate said.

Kate is stalling time while the Crows reach the 27th floor.

“Okay, I will let him go” Alice smiled.

She pushed you out the window before she went after you she threw Batarangs at Alice. The Batarang hit Alice’s arm then she started to run but the Crows busted the door open. Kate jumped out the window and used the grapple hook, she caught you just in time. You are still screaming then she goes toward the roof, then she lays you down.

“You can stop screaming now,” Kate said.

“Can you just leave me here forever?” You said.

She laughed and you recognized the laughter and the scent of the perfume. Kate cut the zip tie and you slowly stand up.

“Are you okay, Y/N?” Kate asked.

“You should have told me that you are Batwoman, Kate Kane,” You said.

“What? I'm not Kate” Kate said.

“I know your laughter and the smell of your perfume. I won't tell anyone and I think it's cool, that you are Batwoman” You said.

Kate starts to stutter and she admits the truth.

“Fine, I'm Batwoman” Kate said.

“I’m a fan” You smiled.

“Shut up” Kate smiled.

“Thanks for saving my life. I will buy you a drink next time” You said.

“Funny. I will see you later, I have to make sure the others are okay” Kate said.

“Sure,” You said.

You watched Kate jump off the roof and you headed to the stairs.

✬ ✯ ✬ ✫

Kate is happy that she doesn't have to lie to you. But she did take you to the bat cave and you are freaking out. You are asking so many questions and she thinks it's funny.

“Being in the Bat cave is so cool!” You smiled.

“Relax, Y/n,” Kate said.

“Kate, this is a once-in-a-lifetime to be in the bat cave,” You said.

“We could have a sleepover and I will order pizza,” Kate said.

“Are you serious!?” You asked.

“It was sarcasm, Y/n,” Kate said.

“Not funny,” You said.

She let you sit in the Batmobile, you were like a kid. You begged her to let you drive it and she said no many times.

[katyspersonal]

Today's Nightreign adventures!

1) I've decided to go back and just keep trying to beat as much as the first round of the first expedition.. despite fully knowing that it is impossible due to both me being comically bad at Soulsbornes and literally everyone else saying solo expeditions are so hard they will patch them. 💀 But for some reason I just kept trying... over and over and over and over... again and again for hours...

The good part is that I did start to somewhat get used to controls, objectives and landmarks x)

2) I was also trying different characters! Executor turned out to have stupid big bleed buildup, but I still didn't get used to him normally. The good thing is, as soon as I've failed as him, amongst the common drop from expedition was a pendant that could be put together with rite materials!

But without even my intention, just because I compulsively double-check the dialogues, I found out that Duchess wanted this pendant!

So I unlockedd her yaaayyy!!

3) My first reflex was, of course, to try an expedition with her and try out new skills! It turned out to be very hard, I can't for the love of me comprehend any type of dexterity builds gfjughh Her skill where you basically double the attacks you've just made is.. nice? It failed me half of the times, other half it worked well? But yeah, her playstyle is just not for me!

4) With how I just randomly unlocked her by just playing and another journal entry added after her first expedition, I've felt motivated to keep trying more characters to at least unlock more stuff! Tried Wylder, which unlocked new journal entry for him, and then tried Raider!

Tbh not only Raider was enjoyable to play and very useful too, but I've also noticed that so far he is the only character I feel genuinely comfortable playing as? Like I just feel right in his skin xD Not what I expected from a character with a bit of tired archetype at all gghugg I guess part of me just likes feeling big. 💀

5) I was about to try out Ironeye which I avoided because I dread archer class as much as thief class, when suddenly I've noticed an interesting change on the Roundtable map.. 👀

I did NOT expect to just randomly meet Revenant like this?? I just KNEW it was her, but I expected her to like, what? Appear after AT LEAST cleaning the first expedition? But no!

She was just standing there (menacingly), staring intensely at the painting of Radagon (bitch me too gfhfhhgff)

6) Interacting with her phantom would bring the player into a sort of hammerspace (think Evergaols) with only one logical way to go into the ruins! Player also appeared near another painting of Radagon there!

7) I expected some talk and exposition, but I GOT A BOSS BATTLE JUMPSCARE INSTEAD UUUGGGGHHHH

It is already intriguing for me though that she uses the light disks incantations (collab creations of Miquella and Radagon) AND she was near Radagon's picture.. 🤔 I wonder what is up here

8) Yaaaayyyy new screenshot in my collection of painful screenshots! :D

(My two collections: screenshots with impaling attacks where they toss the player in the air and catch them with their long sword/spear and screenshots where I die and boss has like 1 HP left hfhygghk)

9) I can't even BEGIN to describe how HAARD this fight was. -_-" I actually started shaking a little bit from frustration (or is it a lack of sleep? XD).. I tried for like, what? Thirty times...?

I've figured to use Wylder and keep shooting her from the distance with his goated grappling hook attack that also recharged fast enough! And I would have gotten away with this too, if it weren't for you meddling phantoms, and that.... skeleton. -_- No, seriously, mfer just kept ruining everything with his stupid un-dodgeable eye laser attack 😒

9.1) You might be thinking: "but kaaaaat, obviously, just get rid of the ghosts first!" .... you sure? :) You SUUUUURE? :)

..... :) So, basically, when all ghosts are dead, she becomes surprisingly aggressive and devastating. You barely manage to dodge from her, let alone land a hit!

9.2) So, new plan it was. Kill just the annoying skeleton, and ignore the other two! So her aggro is balanced and you can just keep the distance, right? ....riiiight? :)

......well, since killing skeleton is already devastating with so much going on and I was guaranteed to spend 2 flasks out of 3 on it alone, the page started to give me a lot of trouble now. 🤦‍♂️ So, NEW new plan it was: kill the page, then the big skeleton, and keep the last phantom to keep her at bay. Easier said than done....

10)

11) htythyh I could not stop looking at her, she is so detailed yet elegant!!! Interestingly enough, her journal entry didn't appear, but also it does make sense!

12) Marionette, however, had the unique dialogue for her too!

The next line is, "As a kindred being, I take such matters very seriously"!

I don't know what else I expected. xD Damn though, so she really is a doll? The second type of this kind, after the doll of Snowy Crone that Ranni's spirit inhabits now 🤔 So, the Elden Ring's burial dolls! I can't wait to know what this is all about.

I am starting to question whether similarities are not just the preferences and self-references but are intentional, and Revenant IS connected with Ranni somehow. Something super complicated, like, say, Ranni's ghost "second face" having its own life in this AU! She is Ranni, but also isn't?

13) I figured I didn't actually check any descriptions, even though they also have lore, so I read on Duchess' watch:

She is orphaned because her mother traded her life to have her ;-; But also the circumstances of her birth apparently explain her special position amongst other Nightfarers (as also a Priestess)

14) I can safely conclude that only Raider and Wylder are bearable to play in solo (and also that I am NOT seeing any actual progress unless I find people to play this game online with т.т PS players here? 👀)

[nautiscarader]

Cuddly Falls chapter 6

(ao3)

In which our heroes succeed!

"We've got to catch up to it!", Kim said, the rest nodding in agreement.

She reached for her grappling hook, shot high and let it propel herself up amongst the trees, once it lodged itself.

But Kim was in for quite a surprise when she's noticed she wasn't the only one soaring through the treetops, seeing a colorful character fly right next to her.

Her eyes met with Mabel Pines', who was equally surprised to not be the only one using that method of transportation.

They have both landed on the opposite branches of a mighty tree, their mouths still open.

"YOU'VE GOT GRAPPLING HOOK TOO?", they both exclaimed, "THAT'S AWESOME!"

"I know!"

"It's so versatile!"

"Right? You are now even cooler!", Mabel eagerly jumped in place.

"Oh, stop it", Kim shrugged, "You are pretty amazing yourself. You know, maybe you and Joss…."

"Hey, slowpokes, I thought we were catching that thing!"

A third voice interrupted them, when Wendy Corduroy casually jumped onto the tree, digging her picks into its thick bark.

"We can have chit-chats later!"

She secured her position and effortlessly leapt to the nearest tree, using her tools, as well as her bare hands.

"Wow. Looks like being cool does grow on trees here!", Kim blinked, seeing as Wendy became a red-green blur, jumping ahead.

And the chase was on, with Wendy, Kim and Mabel leaping from branch to branch, overtaking each other, as they got closer and closer to the monstrous platypanda.

Meanwhile, on the ground, a different chase has been taking place - one involving much more panting.

"Is… is it like that for… for you too?", Dipper asked, leaning against the nearby tree to catch breath

"Pretty much", Ron answered, having a bit more energy to spare, but only just. "At this point we'd usually get lucky to get a lift from Kim's hundreds of acquaintances.

No sooner he said that, a honking sound reached their ears, and when they turned back, they saw Grunkle Stan, Ford and Amy in a golf cart, speeding towards them - at least as much they could, given Stan's choice of transportation.

"All right, boys, hop in if you ever want to catch up with the ladies!"

A moment later, an even more overburden cart dashed through the forest, pushing its engine and the definition of 'dashing' to the limits.

"For the record, Stanley, I have told the kids what we've promised their parents.", Ford added, his head held high, as he followed the multicolored dot that was his niece, jumping between the trees.

"And you thought it would stop them? Ha! You really have travelled through half the universe and learned nothing!"

"Er…. That was metaphorical, right?", Ron asked, unsure of the answer he'd receive.

"Yeah, sure", Stan countered, "Whatever that means".

"Miss Hall, how did you exactly make that plushie come to life? And how come it grew so huge?"

Ford changed the topic, addressing Amy, who, somewhat cautiously, reached into her pocket and produced a small bottle filled with purple liquid she handed to him.

"It is my special serum! I just couldn't wait to try it on such rare Cuddle Buddy!". Her beaming smile suddenly faded away. "Bu-But this time, something went wrong… The platypanda suddenly grew and ran away from me! Me, the one, who brought it to life!", she crossed her arms, her sadness and confusion replaced by frustration.

While she kept explaining, Ford wasted no time.

"May I?"

He opened his briefcase, and only now it became clear how versatile it was. Dipper and Ron watched in awe as what they've thought to be brass stands became small arms and linkages, transferring the serum between flasks, shaking them, separating the liquid, and adding reagents, while the printer produced detailed summaries of each automated action.

But neither of them was as impressed as Amy, who gazed at the marvel of mechanical miniaturization, her mouth agape.

"Hmm… I see…", Ford muttered, examining the printouts, unaware of his new admirer.

Meanwhile, Dipper was more concerned by the speed with which the platypanda, and more importantly, Wendy, Mabel and Kim were getting away.

"We're never gonna catch up!"

"Ehh…", Ron sighed, "I was hoping I wouldn't have to use this."

"Why? And use what exactly?", Dipper asked, perplexed by Ron's cryptic statement.

"My grappling hook! And it's because these pants are brand new!"

Dipper did a double take, refusing to believe what he's just heard.

"Gra-WHAT? A grappling hook?!", he stuttered, spreading his arms in act of utter annoyance. "Am I the only one witho-OOOUUUU-"

Dipper yelled, as Ron suddenly grabbed him and propelled them upwards, trading traveling in a horizontal manner for vertical one.

"Hey, Wendy, boyfriend delivery, catch!"

Dipper had only a split second to understand Ron's intentions and he was flying, this time across the treetops, until he found himself safe and secure in familiar arms.

"Hey, dude", Wendy smiled, "Hold tight, we're gonna climb!"

"And hey, my pants are fine for once!", Ron exclaimed, having safely landed on a branch of an opposite tree. But no sooner he's said that, a woodpecker flew right past him, taking his belt for a particularly fat worm.

"Oh, man…", Ron sighed as he became pantless once again.

And then he was falling, faster than he could imagine, when he slipped on a leaf. But just as he thought he'd be staring death in its face, he met Kim's smile instead.

"Hey there, Ronald", she chuckled, swinging her rope, landing safely next to Wendy and Dipper.

"T-thanks…", he muttered, catching breath.

"No big. And don't worry, I've got spare ones."

And while Kim took spare pants out of her backpack, Mabel has joined them, slightly surprised by the presence of the boys and confused quite a bit by the incomplete clothes of one of them

"How are we going to stop it? Guys, we need a plan!"

"Well…", Dipper replied at once. "Have you guys read this really old book called 'Gulliver's travels'?"

The rest exchanged puzzled, uneasy looks.

"No", Mabel replied straight away.

"You know, we've kinda graduated a while ago…", Ron scratched his head.

"And we might have been busy saving the world on the day we've had to discuss that book…", Kim added, visibly ashamed.

"And I've never been a bookish type. Sorry, Dip.", Wendy shrugged.

"Oh…kay…" Dipper closed his eyes and took a deep breath, "But you must have seen that still-relatively new superhero team-up movie which, in turn, referenced this, yes, technically old, but very well known and culturally relevant sci-fi movie called…"

"OOOH.", the rest have exclaimed in shared understanding, "NOW YOU'RE TALKING!"

"Well, that is pretty much what Lilliputs did to Gulliver. Come on!"

The five youngsters leapt from the branch and into action. Kim, Ron and Mabel rushed to catch up with and surround the beast, while Wendy and Dipper slid down to the ground once they overtook the platypanda to prepare the rest of the trap. Dipper watched in awe as the other three put his (or rather Lilliputs') plan into life. They flew from branch to branch, passing each other in seemingly chaotic ways, as the true nature of their dance in the air could only be seen from down below.

An enormous, spiderweb-like net hanged between trees, ready for the Cuddle Buddy to fall in it and fall down, where Wendy was ready with dozens of freshly chopped wooden pegs to secure it.

And a moment later that very thing happened: the platypanda's thick, short legs got entangled in the combined ropes, it lost balance, desperately tried to regain it by clumsily waving its stubby arms, but it was no use. The monster fell to the ground, the tremor muffled slightly by its thick fur and plush body.

Wendy and Dipper cheered and high-fived each other, soon joined in celebrations by Mabel, Kim and Ron.

"Alright, guys, awesome work, go and fetch Ford and the company", Dipper said, as Wendy hammerred the last of the pegs with the other end of her axe.

The rest were about to do so, but they were interrupted by a sudden yelp, roar, and ominous cracking sounds. When they turned around, they saw, to their horror, the monster's paw closed around Wendy. But what was worse, it was now rising, snapping the ropes and pulling the pegs from the ground with newly found strength.

[arcticwolfpaws]

Chapter 21:The fire bird

Dick’s P.O.V

I sighed running a hand through my hair, I had thought that he might join the family business but I had really, really hoped that I had been wrong, but I’d looked and dug and as far as I’d found he was the only albino in all of Gotham and yet B is still trying to deny it. Then again given how some of the Gotham villans are I wouldn’t say they’d never wear a white wig. I landed on another roof top only to hear a familiar voice.

“That’s an awfully grim look, and here I thought all you ever did was crack jokes.” I looked over and smiled softly seeing her, the thief might have kept a hood on and mask but that didn’t stop me from seeing the bright red hair or her tan skin.

“Just some family trouble, you however almost never come looking for me unless you found something you don’t like.” I pointed out and heard her huff at me not liking that I had turned this around on her, we were both playing that game trying to figure out who the other was, I was sure she was someone from the robotics or engineering courses in the local collage but if I was being honest I was taking my sweet time figuring out who she was as I liked this little game of ours. Gently dancing around one another to get just enough information to find out who the other was fair and square.

“Down on frankfurt that old apartment building.” I perked at that, the place was old and needed some serious renovations, last time I’d been in there the floor nearly gave way under my feet so the fact that she had been there much less that she was bringing it up… “Some one is selling drugs out of it.” She stated and I raised a brow at that about to ask why she gave a damn but she beat me to it. “They’re selling to high schoolers.” Okay yeah that would do it, I stepped closer to her frowning.

“And you’re sure about that?” I questioned and I was sure she had rolled her eyes at me, especially when her leather gloved hand caught and held my chin.

“Have I ever lied to you.” I smirked at her question.

“Every day fire bug.” She rolled her eyes at my nickname but I stepped aside about to leave when she spoke her voice softer then it had been before.

“If you need to talk you know how to get my attention.” I smiled at that, she was right… but we both knew that we didn’t tend to get a lot of talking done when I did that and I chuckled.

“Sorry fire bug not this week I got my baby brother and I can’t go around being a bad example.” I told her right before I left, I really did need her to keep her distance this week Faraj might spoil our game, I chuckled to myself as I flipped letting my grapple catch a building and swinging me along. Right now I needed to think on how to get him a good suite one that would protect him… maybe something that could keep him from getting another cut on his face.

I stopped outside the old apartment buildings before shooting my grappling hook to the roof, I took a deep breath and reminded myself to stay light on my feet if I could. I crept around the rooms were mostly just dark and foreboding, but I stayed focused after all I had to get back to my baby brother… I paused hearing voices below me.

“How many?” once voice asked it was male rough likely a smoker,

“Three this time, some one will probably notice by dawn but we have some time.” I frowned three what? I wondered this voice was younger naive almost compared to the older one… maybe a teen himself I contemplated as I kept moving quietly as I did I slipped part way down the stairs and seeing the coast clear I kept moving keeping my ears open.

“That’s about what? 2,000 for the boys and nearly five for the girl?” asked the younger voice,

“ah think 40,000 or better for the boys and around 100,000 for the girl likely more if she’s pure.” I cringed and shuttered, had Fire bird known? I knew fully well she couldn’t intervene as she acted as an informant and neither of us wanted her to blow that.

“Th-that’ll pay for collage.” The younger one sounded dazed, and the older man chuckled,

“It’ll do a lot more then that.” the older one stated I peaked around a door way and saw them a red light glowing in the room three teens laid there bound gagged and unconscious, I shifted pulling out my escrima I readied myself to handle them. I moved quickly knocking the older man out only to turn and find the younger one had a gun,

“You don’t want to do that.” I told him stepping closer as I did, “you do that and you’ll be in jail for a very long time.” I warned he hesitated before leveling the gun at me I stepped closer then I spotted it a flash of scarlet and a moment later the man was on the floor Fire bird standing there with out her metallic wing pack. It was strange but the reflective pack would have given her away.

“Thanks for the assist but Isn’t that a bit risky?” I questioned, her and she huffed before shaking her head.

“Maybe...probably, but doesn't mater if he’s on the floor right?” She asked and I shook my head, I sighed softly as I shook my head, she moved to the kids and checked for a pulse. “Good they’re still alive,” She stated standing up her gaze shifted to me and she moved over gently tracing a hand over my arm.

“I’m fine.” I whispered to her softly and she sighed softly before shaking her head,

“I shouldn’t be surprised you’re good at staying out of sight.” She said then ran a hand through my hair stopping at my cheek, she might have acted cold and we might play a game of cat and mouse but this this was closer to who she was, I leaned in close then heard a door open I grabbed her slapping a hand over her mouth as I pulled her down behind one of the tables holding her close to me as a soft voice grunted before moving on.

“You should get out of here…” I paused for a long moment “Take the teens to, nearest hospital if you can,” I told her she shot me a look.

“I’m not you, carrying people’s a pain.” She grumbled as she walked up and tried to pick the three of them up, I moved out of the room letting her grumble to herself. I found the other man knocking him out before tying him up in the room they’d been making the drugs with that I made sure Fire bird and the kids were gone before I called the cops.

I didn’t see her again that night and instead I headed back to my apartment, only to find… Selina on my couch, I froze and glanced to the room my baby brother was in and she waved me off.

“He’s still asleep.” she told me, then glanced at the room herself, “Has he had a chance to-” I cut her off,

“Yeah… I know, he said you helped him… thank you for that by the way.” she nodded a small frown on her face,

“Do you know anything about what happened with Waylon?” I asked and that frown deepened,

“Nothing good he’s far far more aggressive then he’s ever been.” She stated and I frowned that hardly sounded good I was about to ask more but she was a head of me. “And the man that looks like Bruce seems like he got surgery to do it, but neither me or your father have been able to find anything yet.” She stated and I nodded slowly an paused.

“Does…” I started and she shook her head no,

“No, He’s still convinced a kid got a wig.” she stated and shifted, “I have someone willing to make him a suite however I need to barrow him.. well not tonight, he needs his sleep.” She stated and I nodded she then got a gleam in her eyes as she leaned forward. “Who was the girl?” She asked and I realized she’d likely been watching me for most the night.

“My informant” I told her trying to play it off as that being all it was, even if it wasn’t uncommon for us to have a fling here and there. She gave me a knowing look but just nodded,

“If you say so.” She teased and I sighed shaking my head softly.

“have… have you seen Speedy?” I asked and she frowned, this hole thing had reminded me about what Faraj had said, Throwing glass? At someone? What the hell had he been thinking.

“I no, I haven’t was he supposed to be in Gotham?” She asked.

“No, No I just… heard something wanted to talk to him thought you might have seen him.” She gave me a what the hell look before shaking her head.

“About borrowing him… say Tuesday?” she asked and I paused he didn’t have school this week, I slowly nodded,

“Alright… send me the bill when it’s made.” I paused I didn’t think I needed to say this but. I’d rather be safe then sorry. “Make sure they use top tear stuff… I might be able to get them some of what Bruce uses if necessary.” I told her and she smiled softly nodding,

“Of course,” she stood up brushing herself off, “I’m not risking a kid, and I’ve already started making plans in case he gets in over his head.” She sighed and huffed, “Bruce is rubbing off on me you know.” I smiled softly.

“Well, that’s good because if dad’s not going to have his back we have to.” I told her and she shifted crossing her legs as she thought.

“You aren’t going to tell him?” She questioned and I raised a brow,

“You could do it yourself so what’s your reason?” I asked and she looked back to his room again dropping her voice lower.

“I know his mother and father, and neither of them stay still or relax and as much as I know how Bruce wants to keep him safe and we both know he’d go out of his way to do it. And we both know all that would do is make Faraj both more cleaver and secretive.” I nodded in agreement. That thought made me worry after all he’d already kept so much from us… and managed to keep so much more from Bruce I wondered how much he still hadn’t told me, I sighed softly.

“I’m worried about him,” I told her softly as I finally sat across from her.

“You and Bruce both,” she stated I could tell she had more to say but it took her a moment to continue. “If you weren’t worried I don’t think you’d be human, he’s a child and you’re his adopted older brother, and he’s doing something dangerous and a little stupid let’s just hope he’s not as hard headed as his parents.” I had to agree with that both Talia and Bruce didn’t know when to let sleeping dogs lay. I started biting my nail as I thought about it that would be bad… very bad…. Bruce would stay awake for days on end and hell even I had back when I was his and Jason’s age.

“I-” Selina cut me off. “You have the ability to guide him, you know the mistakes that Bruce made you can show him what to do.” She pointed out and I slowly nodded she had a good point there, she got up and walked over putting a hand on my shoulder, “And he’ll need your guidance.” She said before walking off. “I need to head back to Gotham. Now, call me if you need me and don’t stress to much that red head might have an issue with it if you do.” she teased and I groaned, I wasn’t going to live that down, I had been trying to hid that from anyone back in Gotham.

🦇 🦇 🦇 🦇 🦇

Wing files

Fire bird

Name: unknown

Appearance: Red hair, green eyes. Tanned skin likely Italian or Greek decent.

Known info: She’s a student at the local collage I’m thinking she’s in the engineering course but I haven’t yet found anyone matching her description, odd… I’ve made a list of all the red heads in the school and the few that have green eyes are to short again strange. I started looking in to who is buying colored contacts but most of those are for odd colors and blue not green eyes.

Today I started looking less at hair and eye color and more at height there are roughly 15 women who fit, interestingly only one is a red head, Kalea Akamai but the likely hood of Her being fire bird is low she’s a cooking student and looks to be a native islander still she’s got my interest.

[zennihilation]

Could Have Been Worse

Characters: Hiro 'Rook' Laidir (aka Arun of Dairsmund); Varric Tethras Words: 591 Summary: (Pre-Veilguard) Hiro deals with the aftermath of a wildly destructive decision, but it's less of a death sentence than he expected. Notes: Finally got Rook!Hiro's backstory down (I say finally like he existed before two days ago). Written for @flashfictionfridayofficial

On the backswing the shield was let loose, ricocheting off the walls until it struck the idol mid-air, shattering it on impact. What Rook should have expected was the following explosion and structural weakness causing the ruin to crumble around them. “Oh… Dammit.”

Rook was sitting on the edge of his bedroll, legs folded. He read and re-read the letter in his hands as if something would change. And yet, the words stubbornly remained, ‘Until the heat dies down.’ He smiled weakly at an approaching older dwarf. “Looks like you’re stuck with me a while longer.”

---

“Get behind me!” Rook barked, steel targe raised as another barrage of heat and fire came for him and two dwarves who immediately dove for cover. They might have looked small but their shield never failed them. Even with the constant attack, they were able to push forward, closing the distance to the cursed idol that lay on the stones between him and their blood mage attackers. Behind them stood their traitor, a Rivaini noble who used their expedition to gain access to their illicit trophy. 

Rook should have known, but nobles were always hiring the Lords of Fortune to retrieve some artifact or another then immediately beg onto the trip to taste adventure in Rivain’s famous ruins. How were they to know that this one had any ulterior motives? Thankfully, he didn’t have any hidden skills, trusting the Venatori mages he brought with him to take care of the dirty work. 

As the attacks reached a lull while the mages recharged, Rook had already removed their grappling hook from their waist. A flick of his wrist and it went flying, catching the idol on the first throw. A quick yank and the artifact pulsing with a disturbing energy was theirs. 

“You little brat!” the Noble cursed before ordering the mages forward.

“You want it so bad?!” Rook yelled back, sweeping the idol off the floor. “Take it!” 

“What?!” one of the dwarves behind shrieked as Rook hurled the idol at the mages with full force. 

On the backswing the shield was let loose, ricocheting off the walls until it struck the idol mid-air, shattering it on impact. What Rook should have expected was the following explosion and structural weakness causing the ruin to crumble around them.

“Oh… Dammit.” 

---

“That’s alright, Kid.” The older dwarf had taken a seat next to him, trying to be consoling. “Hey, could have been worse. We might not have been able to dig that shield of yours out of the rubble.” 

“I appreciate it, truly.” Rook kept a soft smile. They had spent so much energy trying to get on this expedition. Varric was one of Isabela’s best friends, and Rook idolized her. And Varric had stories for days. So did Harding, the other younger dwarf who was always at his side. “I’m not even worried about that. I want to be here. I begged for it! To actually travel and explore, I’m having a great time.”

“Then why the face?”

“Oh. I’m not worried about me. I’m not even worried in general. But, it’s Nanay. My mother.”

“Right, the noble. I’m sure Isabela will have someone watching your parents while you’re away.”

Rook waved a hand dismissively. “No, I have friends for that. Trust me, no one’s getting near them.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

“She’s going to be pissed.”

He chuckled. “Why?”

“Oh, getting the attention of the Queen would have made her lifetime. Or any royal, really. She’s like that. And, now she does! Except it’s because her son’s Rivain’s most wanted.”

“It can’t be that bad!” The laugh was as light as it was coarse.

He shuddered. “You’ve never met a Rivaini mother. Trust me, being here is as safe as I’m going to be.” 

[flwoie]

LOVE IN DISGUISE — P. SH.

two : the haters be hating

contains : profanities, i dont know how dismantling a bomb works so spare me this is from watching spy movies

word count : 397

‘MISSION #1: DISMANTLE A BOMB (with Y/N ugh)’ was what Sunghoon wrote in his journal on his way to the city courthouse. Ever since he became a spy, he bought a journal and wrote everything he’d learnt. He hopes that he will have to buy a second one in the future, as his first and current one would be filled with missions he would do.

“What are you writing?” You ask as you drive the van, focusing on the road, thirty seconds away from your destination

“My first mission,” he replies, subtly stuttering.

“First mission is always the most important mission of a spy,” you state, parking the car behind the courthouse, “we’re here. You stay outside and I’ll get the equipment.” You got out of the car and opened the trunk, pulling out the items you two needed. You handed Sunghoon a pair of scissors and went to a wall of the courthouse.

You threw the grappling hook at the rain gutter and backed up to let Sunghoon climb first. He was quick to climb so it took you less than a minute to catch up. You two were standing on the roof, no sign of the bomb lying anywhere.

“The bomb could be tinier than we think, so we have to look carefully,” you informed, walking around. Sunghoon walks over to the chimney and pulls out a pipe bomb, showing it to you. “Or it could be a pipe bomb,” you deadpan.

“We have thirty seconds left until this thing blows up—twenty-nine now,” he mentions, looking at the timer ticking. He pulls out a pair of scissors and busts open the back of the bomb, revealing many colourful wires. “Um,” he says as he scratches his head.

“You’ve got to be kidding me. Beomgyu just taught you this!”

“He did! There was only red and black on the test. This shit has the whole rainbow!”

The bomb beeped faster and faster. You two only had twenty-four seconds left. “It’s the wire connected to the detonator, it’s on the right,” you say. Sunghoon looks at you with confusion. “The blue one! Cut the blue one, you idiot!” You yell. He cuts the blue wire and the timer turns off. You both sigh in relief and eventually glare at Sunghoon with threatening eyes. “I’ll let Gyu know to never pair us together for a mission.”

“Hater.”

mlist — prev ; next

🗯️ hi guys i think i need to start queuing chapters

Secrets are meant to be kept. Sunghoon never keeps secrets though, well except one—his friends being members of a super secret spy team. He finds out on the night he gets kidnapped and is rescued by them. That night, his friend offers him to be a part of the team to stop an organization, SPY-DER LILLIES, from destroying their campus and agency, I.R.I.S (International Resource for Intellectual Spies). And like the goofy goober he is, he joins for a jetpack and to impress his longtime friend and crush, the black cat agent, in order to win her heart before the spiders come crawling up his back. 

spy! sunghoon x spy! f! reader

taglist is open ; send an ask or comment under main mlist

[ 🏷️ ] @hanniluvi @odxrilove @astrae4 @dimplewonie @asteriaskingdom @sakanelli-afc @en-kays @kaykay11sworld @haknom @isoobie @enhaz1

[nyaskitten]

I know this probably won't happen, but here's my idea for an Akita and Lloyd reunion in Dragons Rising (this is... kind of long mb) (any feedback would be appreciated tho I'm not v good at writing):

The wind harshly howled, the cold felt like tiny daggers piercing Lloyd's face cruelly and mercilessly, and the snow seemed as eternal as the Endless Sea. And if he had it bad, his students, even in their thick and puffy color-coded jackets, sleeves and hoods lined with bushy fur and wonderfully sturdy snow boots, still couldn't fight the effects of the bizarre frost in this area.

"S-s-s-o c-c-c-cold," Sora struggled to say, her breath as visible as smoke from an open flame before her eyes.

Riyu whimpered in agreement, his tiny dragon jacket clearly not enough for him.

For what felt like an eternity, the four of them trudged through the endless storm, shivering and trying to forge some form of warmth through Lloyd's powers, yet to no avail, so they simply kept journeying, their only sources of slight warmth being the lamps they all held.

I should've taken the bounty. This is the worst training I've ever thought of. Lloyd thought to himself, bitter and annoyed at what he believed would be a wooooooonderful way to teach his pupils that soooooometimes, you haaaaave to adapt to the area around you.

As the storm worsened and the trio began to slow in their movements, a low growl echoed through the surrounding area, the perpetrator of said growl masked in the shadows of night.

"L-Lloyd? W-what was that?" Sora asked, the freezing cold almost seeming non-existent to her in the face of the fear of this unknown sound.

"I don't know. Stay close, and be prepared for anything..." Lloyd instructed cautiously as he unsheathed his blade, while Sora stood in a fighting stance and Arin grabbed his grappling hook from his hip.

As the four stood there in fear and anticipation, they heard what sounded like a set of soft and light feet grazing the snow behind them, to which Arin turned around in fear, watching carefully. More light footsteps could be heard from the shadows, as though there were numerous of these mysterious things, circling the nervous trio.

As the sounds of crunching snow became louder and louder, the heartbeats of the ninja became faster and faster, until they heard a howl echo from the shadows, and several wolves began to slowly emerge.

"This is bad... Like, really, really bad..." Arin said, fearfully clutching his grappling hook.

"Don't make any sudden moves," Lloyd cautioned. "We don't want to hurt them, and we don't want them hurting us, got it?"

"I don't think they got that memo..." Sora whimpered as the group of wolves, around 8-9, really hard to tell in the darkness, began closing in on them.

The supposed alpha of the wolves howled loudly and then leaped to the ninja, causing Lloyd to hurriedly cast his lantern aside and fire a blast of energy at the wolf. The other wolves followed suit, to which Lloyd formed a Spinjitsu tornado to toss the wolves around, and Arin used his grappling hook to latch onto a tree and Spinjitsu his way around as well.

While Lloyd was tossing wolves with tornados and energy blasts, Arin was soaring through the treetops Spinjitsuing wolves like no tomorrow, no, like no next hour, even!

Riyu tried helping, but he, being a baby dragon, couldn't really do much other than growl and bite and get tossed and shaken about.

Meanwhile, Sora tripped and almost got bitten by a wolf, so naturally, she kicked the wolf, which was a terrible idea but Riyu thought it was hilarious so, not a very tough crowd there.

The wolf whimpered a bit then snarled and growled very clearly enraged, a hatred burning like a forest may, causing Sora to back up fearfully and grab a large stick to wack the wolf with, but the stick broke so that idea was out of the picture really quickly. Sora also grabbed stones and the wolf was like, mildly bothered by that at BEST!

The wolf lept at Sora but luckily Arin was still Spinjitsuing through the trees like Tarzan swings through the jungle, and he managed to kick the wolf away fairly easily.

Arin tried to manage a landing this time as he finished spinning, but he flew into a very soft bed of snow instead.

"Arin! Are you okay?" Sora asked as she rushed to his side to help him up.

"Mildly scratched here and there but, I'll manage," Arin nonchalantly said as he got up, seeming very unhurt. "C'mon, let's go help Lloyd!"

The pair, alongside Riyu, ran to Lloyd to help him in punching and kicking the wolves away, but it seemed like these guys just wouldn't stay down no matter what.

"Jeez, do these guys ever know when to quit?" Sora asked as she hit a wolf with a nasty uppercut kick.

"I guess that makes wolves and ninja really close," Lloyd quipped while blasting a wolf away, prompting Sora to mutter something about quitting, ninja, and shutting up under her breath.

The fight felt like it was continuing for an eternity as more wolves began to emerge from the shadows to make their move. The ninja were getting very tired, and kind of sweaty, which did NOT mesh well with the blizzard.

Soon they all felt the endless cold creep back onto them and started to feel the pitiful nature of their situation once more.

"We can't fight like this! It's t-t-too cold!" Lloyd yelled out, trying not to freeze to death.

As the wolves once again started slowly approaching, with malice and rage in their beady little eyes, another howl was heard from the shadows, and so too was the unmistakable growling of a bear... oh crap this can't be good...

The wolves looked to the shadows as the odd wolf and bear approached.

"Lloyd, what do we do now?" Sora asked, shaking both from fear and the cold. Lloyd gave no response, instead, he stared focused upon the wolf and bear, trying to get a better look at them through the dim moonlight and the light of their sidelined lamps.

"Is that... No way..." Lloyd muttered to himself.

"What, what is it?" Arin asked, puzzled by Lloyd's fascination.

"I-I recognize those two! I think they might be old friends of mine!" Lloyd said with a bit of joy in his cold, hardened face.

The wild wolves growled and snarled at this duo, who gave the same response. The duo were hype-focused on this pack, as the ninja team were mostly obscured by darkness and hard to make out.

The bear was the first to attack, leaving his wolf companion baffled. The bear slapped several wolves away, and stomped on one of their tails, while his companion leaped onto another wolf and bit the wolf, which was, very tragically, the same wolf Sora kicked... poor guy...

"Akita? Is that you?" Lloyd yells out to the wolf, causing her to look up from the wolf she was fighting in confusion and shock. Said wolf then kicked her off it, and sent her flying back.

The frustrated wolf growled at the other, only to be jumped by two other wolves. This prompted Lloyd to run to the wolf and help her with the wolves, tossing them off. The wolf then looked up at Lloyd in amazement and a look of happiness, panting like a little dog with her tongue out.

"It is you!" Lloyd yelled out, pulling the wolf in for a hug, which Akita happily returned.

Lloyd helped Akita up and the two got ready for a rematch, only to see the bear having sent all the wolves scurrying, and having left one or two unconscious. Akita disappointedly transformed into her human form, wearing a thick coat and odd new robes underneath.

"Kataru, you know the point of this whole thing was to drive them away, right? NOT bash them around, right?"

The bear transformed into his human form, wearing a coat similar to Akita's and a smile on his face.

"Sister, you know they were asking for it. Besides, we did still run them out, did we not?" Kataru said, his grin only extending wider.

Akita sighed annoyedly and then looked over to Arin and Sora, then to Lloyd. "Are these... your children?" She asked, genuine confusion in her voice.

"W-what? N-no no no, these are my students, Arin and Sora! Arin, Sora, meet Kataru and Akita. Akita, Kataru, meet Arin and Sora!"

"It's nice to meet you!" Arin says as he enthusiastically shakes both of their hands.

"So, are you like, close or something?" Sora asks Akita in reference to her and Lloyd.

"Something like that. Lloyd helped to liberate our realm from an evil tyrant and his advisor... although the tyrant did turn out to be one of his friends, we worked it out. Kind of." Akita said, as though fond of the past adventures she and Lloyd shared.

"Huh... That sure is something I guess" Sora says scratching her head.

"So, what brings you all out here in the freezing cold?" Akita asks.

"Well, we came here looking for a cursed sword. It landed somewhere in the Never-Land's, and I... uh... thought it'd be a good training exercise, y'know, to test their resolve and all..."

"That is a terrible idea. It's FREEZING here. The fact that you have survived this long is a miracle honestly."

"Yeah... we figured."

Akita let out a sigh. "Come with us, we will get you warmed up and fed, our village is not very far from here anyways".

As the group walked away, the snow glowed and glistened brightly, their footprints, and any traces of their scuffle, soon to be eradicated by the snow.

[niloerua-writing]

Another Tuesday Night

Pairing: Miguel x Black Cat!Fem!Reader

Summary: She got caught. Again. As per usual.

Warnings: Suggestive.

WC: 640

A/n: can you tell that I really like this dynamic lol? making black cat and miguel content is like cooking up a thanksgiving dinner may or may not be associated with Vagabond for reference uses

Anything that sparkled, she’d most likely take. So when it was reported that an important stone was missing in one of the highly secured labs, Miguel knew exactly who it was that took it. Needless to say, she wouldn’t even deny it either.

“I know you have it, gatita.”

Black Cat wasn’t speaking for some reason, her eyes only looking up at Miguel’s red glower as she dangled from her webbed restraints. The webs were wrapped tightly around her arms and torso, her feet barely reaching the concrete floor. Miguel’s eyes glowed with intensity as they narrowed. This isn’t normal for her in comparison to the other times he’d caught her stealing. She would whine about how pretty it looked, how it called for her, how she deserved it. Then, when reinforced that stealing is wrong, she’d grin. Miguel’s anger didn’t seem to phase her at all, it actually emboldened her. There were several instances where he got clawed when he got too close.

“So you’re not going to say anything to me now?” She caught sight of his fangs when he growled- the anger was simmering.

Miguel shifted his attention from her eyes to her glossy lips; the shade would usually change for almost every encounter. He would recall how she’d smirk or stick her tongue out whenever he had failed to catch her or when she would run off into the shadows. Miguel stepped closer, the gap between them nearly closing in. It was impressive how she kept a calm face.

“(Y/n). I’m not going to ask again.” His voice lowered, and up close, he could see her brows furrow. Her lips began to purse inward, the corners of which began to quiver. Miguel could tell she was tensing up: her shoulders stiffened, her chest heaving, and her legs being squeezed together.

“Open your mouth.” He demanded. Her face paled, and Miguel knew from her widened eyes that she got caught. And of course, it would take more than a command to get her to do as he says.

Miguel placed his hand on her jaw, his fingers pressing into her soft, flushing cheeks. He began to slowly add pressure, and after a moment of her whimpering, her mouth was open. A crystalline prism was snug on her tongue, and her breaths were becoming noticeably jagged the more Miguel stared at her pathetic expression. He was almost enjoying this.

As soon as he realized what it was he really came for, he carefully picked up the gem in her mouth, stepping away from the Black Cat.

“What am I ever going to do with you?” He turned his back on her, sighing as he shook his head. The sound of a snap and a heel click prompted the man to turn around again, only to see her standing freely atop his torn webbing, large steel claws retracting back to their normal size.

“I don’t know,” Black Cat gave a stretch, the flex accentuating her curves under the fringe decorated catsuit. “Maybe take me to dinner first and give me a gift before cutting right into the chase for once? I’ll be nicer that way.”

Miguel frowned.

“You’re the worst date I’ve had since I’ve met you.” She sashayed right past Miguel, her arm brushing against his. There was an animalistic urge beginning to wake within him.

Black Cat smirked, her grappling hook whirring out of her gauntlet and gripping onto one of the pipes overhead. Before Miguel could reach for her, she was pulled away, landing atop a window ledge.

“Don’t worry, I’ll come back.” She beckoned her claws at him and giggled. “Spiders are my favorite things to play with anyway.”

As soon as she dove out of the window, Miguel looked at the gem he picked out from her tiny mouth. His fingers had traces of the lipstick she wore.

He won’t let her go that easy next time.

[ggsworldstory]

Chapter 3 Act 3: Unnamed K.Lown Act

The journey to Las Pay-gas would be incredibly long but the delinquent duo continued trudging along regardless, one step at a time across the landscape, naturally giving plenty of time for them, and particularly GG, to think about some things

And think, GG did, he thought of questions, mostly one question, and most of all, one word,

“Why? Why?! WHY!?!? Why did Jess attack me? Why did she treat me like she didn’t know me? Why did she have that mask?”

His mind twisted and tangled itself in its own trance of terrifying thoughts, GG only being able to keep his sanity intact by reminding himself “It’ll make sense when we get to that casino…”

It kept him from completely losing it, but he was itching for answers nevertheless as he and Terry pushed onwards, noticing his friend’s silent expression of panic on his face, Terry felt the need to assure GG, “hey, the next town should be just a bit ahead, we can stop and rest there for the day, seems like you really need it”

Hearing this, the Toppat snapped out of his swirling worries with a sigh, “Yeah, I probably do, all this stuff has taken a toll on me, best I take a break from worrying for a bit”

The duo kept on going, they could faintly see the buildings of the upcoming town in sight, GG’s worries going just a little out of mind with them

But just as he began to calm his nerves, GG heard something strange to the side, it sounded almost like… whistling?

“Do you hear that?” GG asked

Terry took a moment before he too, realized what GG was hearing, “Yeah, it’s coming from over there…”

With that, the two strayed from the path and followed the strange noise, if something or someone could be out there and could be a danger, they’d want to take care of it now before it came out for them later

They snuck through the foliage, trying their bests to not make a sound until they looked past the last set of trees and saw him fishing by the river

“I’m a little jester without a care in my way!

K. Lown’s my name, taxes I don’t have to pay!

I don’t have to worry and that is that!

I’m all safe and sound from that mean ol’ Toppat!”

Immediately after seeing this sight, the duo ducked beneath the leaves, to avoid potentially being seen 

“What’s he doing here?” GG asked, exasperated

“No doubt he’s after us again, lucky he doesn’t know we’re here yet” Terry answered before subtly beginning to aim his revolver “I say we just take care of this right now…”

“Wait wait, hold on!”

“Don’t worry, if I’m quick, he won’t be able to notice like last time”

“But what if he knows something about what happened to Jess?”

“Wha- What are you talking about?!”

“Well we know he works for that casino”

“He’s been nothing but a menace to us every time we’ve seen him! And you think you can just waltz up to him and casually ask him about anything, are you insane!?”

“No, I am!” K.Lown suddenly intervened, making the duo instantly recoil in panic

“What the hell are you doing here!?” Terry barked as he shakily aimed his gun

“What am I doing? You two stalk me on my day off for who knows how long and you’re the ones owed an explanation?!”

Before either could respond to that, the Jester cut them off, “ah-bup-bup, Look, I get it, you’re obsessed with me, and who could blame ya! But I got a life outside my job, and if it really bothers ya that much, I’ll just find another fishing spot, see ya!” and with that, he vigorously cast a line from his fishing pole and swung across the trees from it like a grappling hook

The duo stood there, befuddled for a moment until Terry spoke, “I don’t buy it, think we should book it to the next town over” he said as he prepared to rev up his jetpack, only to stop after noticing GG, still just standing there, staring off into the direction the deranged Jester jettisoned

“...GG?”

“...look, it’ll just take a second-” 

“YOU CAN’T BE SERIOUS”

“I’ve faced him before, I can do it again!”

“And were either of those times by choice?!”

“...Look, I'm desperate, ok?!” GG wailed, as his expression distorted in anguish

Terry paused for a second before he replied with a sigh, “look, you've been stressed a lot lately and you're not thinking straight, let's just get you a place to rest and some time to calm down,and you'll snap out of it in no time”

GG paused and took a deep breath…

Before promptly dashing off in an instant

The disappointment and annoyance Terry felt was palpable, but he had to quickly push it aside as he flew after him

Meanwhile GG ran, ran, ran, as fast as he could, yet he barely caught up with the swinging Jester man “Hey! Wait!” GG huffed between breaths , Much to the clown’s contempt, “Yeesh, I knew you were obsessed but this is just pathetic!” he scowled, reaching into his pocket, “Just to cover all my bases, Some cash to buy candy or illicit substances with, a toy you’ll probably get bored of in 6 minutes, and my signature you can forge for a restraining order” K.Lown said, chucking the respective items at GG, who simply swerved or swatted them out of the way as he proceeded with his pursuit, “I just want to talk!”

“Well, what were you thinking? Ya want my advice for getting into showbiz?”

“No, I just-”

“Ya need me to predict your future?”

“No! I-”

“There someone you have a soft spot for?”

“No- uh, well yes actually-”

“Oh! Why didn’t ya say so?” K.Lown exclaimed with one final swing that landed him in a perfect sitting position on a nearby rock, with GG stopping in his tracks at the same time, “wait, you’re really gonna listen?”

“C’mon, you really think I’m above the bro-code? You’d do the same for me without a doubt!”

GG was confused for a moment but grateful nevertheless as he took a seat in front of the Jester and began to explain “So, there’s this girl.. You might know her actually, orange hair, blue bandana”

“Hmmmm… say, that sounds like our newest hire at the Casino!”

“Yes, that’s her!”

“She’s quite the corporate climber, recently got assigned to go track down that pesky Toppat thief! Ya want me to be honest, kiddo? She's outta your league”

GG grumbled at that remark for a second before moving on “Well do you know why she’s doing that?”

“If ya really wanna know why she took the job, I’ll admit I don’t got much on that, she doesn’t talk much outside of the occasional mutterings under her breath ‘He’ll pay’ this ‘won’t get away next time’ that”

“She really thinks that about me…? But I didn’t abandon her! Did I…?”

“Eh, maybe ya did, maybe ya didn’t maybe it was this time or another time ya don’t remember”

“Hmm, I don’t know… I just- Hey wait a minute! Cut the crap already! I know something happened to her at that casino, and I know that YOU know what that is!” The Toppat boy snapped in anger as he clenched his hand into a fist and set it aflame

The Jester simply let out a chuckle at this display of grandstanding aggression, as he stood from his seat “Are you seriously trying to threaten me right now? Well ya can poke and prod at me all ya want, you’re never gonna get the truth outta me and y’know why?” He taunted, as he walked in a circle about GG, making him grit his teeth and stand his ground even more, despite how much he shook in his boots

His fear reached its peak as he watched K.Lown reach into his pocket and pull out something, he braced himself for whatever it may be

Only for the jester to unfurl a tidy piece of paper

“I signed an NDA!” he remarked with a cheeky grin that only reignited the flames of wrath in GG as he charged forth with a tackle

After a brief scuffle, K.Lown reeled his legs back before unleashing a mighty kick that simultaneously Sent GG flying off him, as well as propelling himself back to a standing position, giving him ample time to grab his fishing rod and take a swing at him

“Is that barbed wire?!” GG yelped as he ducked and jumped to and fro, trying to avoid getting maced by the slinging spiked string like a lethal twirling ribbon, the wire swerved and swung with GG moving as fast as he could to barely dodge by the skin of his teeth

This went on for some time until both combatants were left tired, standing across from one another, as they each caught their breath

It was at this moment, K.Lown’s Cocksure grin crept back onto his face

GG was confused at first, until he felt a tug at his boot, he could only let our a brief whimper of dread as he saw the barbed wire tangled on the toe box before promptly being whisked by the Jester’s swift yank

Bam! Bam! He was tossed and slammed on the ground mercilessly, over and over, just before he felt like throwing up, GG tried lighting a flame at his fingertips and reaching for the wire, it melted and snapped just as GG was at the peak of his upswing, sending him flying high up in the sky

As GG began to free fall back to the ground, he extended his leg, intending to deliver a devastating dive kick to the Clown

But just when it seemed he was about to collide, GG was shocked to find his leg had been grabbed, the boy subsequently being tossed to the side

GG at this point was battered, beaten, and exhausted, knocked on the ground with hardly the energy to do anything but try to back up as the Clown casually crept closer and closer, his twisted, malicious smile stretching wider and wider

“Lemme ask you again” he said, as he brandished a simple, yet very effective fish hook, “are you seriously trying to threaten me?” he said with a dramatic raise of his hand, was this it?

But just in the nick of time, K.Lown was struck in the shoulder! Forced to recoil back as he held onto his wound, he looked up to the sky and saw the Jetpack cowboy with the smoking gun, Terry Tumbleweed, as he descended down to the Toppat’s aide

“Get the hell outta here before I make your other shoulder match” He bellowed bluntly

“Hehe, well I’m certainly in no position to make threats now, and the NDA didn’t say anything about bullets in the shoulder, alright, ya really wanna know what happened to her?” K.Lown called with a cough, prompting GG to listen closely

“She’s gone.” Two simple words that shot into GG’s mind and left him utterly speechless 

“Roller doesn’t usually like to do it, but after you managed to escape his clutches, he figured he’d make an exception, put an end to her torture if it meant making yours a thousand times worse, and the identical bounty hunter to come after you? That was actually my idea! Little swipe of the DNA for Just a perfect little cherry on top…”

GG could only sit there, desperately trying to process what he’d just heard as tears began to stream from his face “Is… Is it true?” he could barely bring himself to even whisper in disbelief

“Nah” The jester immediately turned heel, “I just like to mess with ya!” he yelled before throwing himself on the ground and rolling with an inhuman level of laughter

As GG saw this, the tears on his face were quickly evaporated by the flames of unbridled rage as he ran to the Jester and let out an unending flurry of punches, one after the other, after the other, after the other! Refusing to stop until the dreadful cackle was silenced and his fists were bathed in… oil?

“A robot?” Terry questioned before GG saw something at the center of the pile of scrap metal he made, a note, “Dear pesky Toppat, I figured ya wouldn’t take ‘no’ for an answer so I pulled the ol switch-a-roo with one of my christmas gifts These things are great, I tell ya! Cya! -K”

At this moment, GG was too exhausted to be angry, laying on his back as he slowly came back to his senses and let out a sigh, “You were right, Terry, man, I dunno how I thought anything coherent would come outta that clown”

“Well, no sense in dwelling on it now, just be a bit more careful, alright?”

GG could only give a strained breath in response

“Alright, let’s get you some rest, you really do need it now” Terry said, as he helped the Toppat back on his feet, the duo making their way back on the path to town, GG was no closer to the answers he seeked, and the shame he felt for his recklessness weighed heavy on his mind, but he knew that sooner or later he had to pick himself and go forth with his head held high, he’d do it for her

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~[End of Act 3]~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

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[entityarts]

The Tour Logs. Harley’s POV: The Art Department.

@rtv-puzzlevision-studios

The crowd stood chatting and waiting for a moment. I take a glance up at the big star at the top of the stairs. He didn’t stare at me which was a relief because I kept thinking to myself I was staring at him for way too long for him to be comfortable for. He was smiling down at us below like he was the universe looking down at its creation. Except this time it was an overnight icon smiling at his “adoring” fans. I at least think most liked him. I’m not sure if I would consider myself a fan. It’s not like I hate the man or like him. I barely even know him. Maybe it was the overly long staring at him that made me think this but the smile on him seemed forced. It’s a stupid assumption especially cause he’s literally just a screen with the will to make whatever expression he wants. The more I looked the more I wanted to know about how he really felt. That goal itself already feels like an Impossible Dream.

When we heard it was time to head to the Art Department we all in a massive and crowded line went up the stairs. I was tempted to again use my grappling hook to avoid the large crowd but I was in enough trouble already. Plus I would rather be seen as just a visitor and not the black sheep of the tour. So I waited for the majority of the crowd to pass through and I went last in the line. Walking up the steps felt made me feel like I was either stretching my legs over the limit they could stretch up to or almost tripping on a stuck pebble. While walking our way there a few people started to speak to Mr Puzzles himself. I would’ve said something if I could find a way to dumb it down for the other guest and Mr Puzzles to understand. Aliens just happen to have a way with words but are pretty useless when no one of your species can understand it.

We arrive at the Art Department and are met with another unique individual. I could see why Mr Puzzles would make her head of the Art Department. She was a whole array of colors (Literally), an interesting creature at that for her tail was the form of a paintbrush, and one that spoke very passionately about her position. Although we may have startled her when we arrived because she fumbled on her words when she asked to introduce herself. Mr Puzzles introduced her as Colores and interestingly enough was the sister of Lucian. That was the neon sign guy I saw before. He waved at his sister but she didn’t wave back. Man. That’s cold. Entering in I look around the studio. Gosh there was art of Mr Puzzles surrounded everywhere and I mean EVERYWHERE. Colores really captured Mr Puzzles well. She began to discuss her job in the art department with works such as merchandise and ads. I was more focused on the art on the wall and staring at how amazing it looks. My attention was caught when I heard the word “fan mail” Colores started to talk about the interesting things fans wrote. Then she spoke about fan interactions, Valentine’s Day gifts, and fanfic-Okay I think forcing a smile is valid at this point. Being able to keep yourself a high reputation while also being bombarded with fans who would probably kill for you is absolutely crazy. Crazy is probably an understatement to describe those fans. If I were in Puzzles’ shoes I don’t think I could even last a day if it meant people infiltrating the build to propose to me. Looking at the box of fan mail I was really curious about the said fanfiction but Mr Puzzles got closer to guard it and he guarded it like a hawk. I guess it’s only up to me and my imagination to assume what it could be (Actually scratch that. That sounds like a horrible idea).

Colores then laid out a variety of plushies for us to collect. A lot were people I didn’t know about. The only one I recognized was Mr Puzzles so I just went for it and took one myself. It surely did capture his charisma that the people in the public say he has. I’m going to have to hide this plush from the public because they would sure want their cold obsessed hands on the guy that rarely shows his face out for them. My attention was caught again as Colores spoke about the employees. While I wasn’t familiar with anyone else’s name one name was enough to get my full attention. She mentioned someone named Mario and how no plushies were made of him because of his state. Could this be the same Mario as the main character of Smash Bros? Was he actually working for Puzzles? What was the “state” he was in right now? Was this a good sign for me and my Smash Champion dreams or was it something bad, something that had closed doors to for the whole world? I must be overthinking again. I’ve always been an expert in doing that.

I wrapped the Mr Puzzles’ plushie with both my arms, I swayed myself back and forth, and zoned out letting time pass by until we received news of where we’re traveling next.

Small doodle of this teehee :P