#and always wanting to return to the city we met to meet again

[lexawritex]

—forevermore

"you were just a dream that i once knew" sophia x fem!reader part 2 of "perfect escape" (as requested) ★ what would you do if you met the person who's been appearing in your dreams? [a/n: you ask, i give <3]

you woke up drenched in sweat again, your breath ragged like you ran a marathon. the same dream haunted you again.

a shabby house, a waterfall, and a rusty bridge.

then a woman. faceless, with a voice of an angel. it felt both real and unreal, like a fragment of a blurry memory.

you sat up and padded to the bathroom, splashing cold water on your face. your eyes caught your reflection in the mirror.

faint scars traced your face, more visible ones marked your collarbone and arms.

it had been a year since that incident, and you’d been trying to move on. you relocated to a new city, under the watchful care of your siblings.

you closed your eyes, and the image of the faceless woman appeared again behind your lids.

you opened your eyes and whispered, "who are you?"

-

you walked into the building and reached the floor where your team worked. you greeted your coworkers, and manon, your assistant, quickly came to your side.

"the representative for the collab project is here. she’s waiting in your office," she said.

you nodded, muttering a quiet thanks before heading inside.

there, sitting with her back to you, was a woman with long black hair cascading over her shoulders. hearing the door open, she slowly turned her head.

your world seemed to stop. or maybe it was your breath.

you watched her stand and flash a polite smile. you had to pull yourself out of the trance before you stumbled.

you returned the smile and extended your hand, which she accepted gracefully.

"it’s an honor to be collaborating with you. i’m yn l/n, nice to meet you," you said.

"nice to meet you too, miss l/n. i’m sophia laforteza," she replied, her voice smooth and somehow oddly familiar.

you both sat down and dove into the project details. she was professional, thorough, and gave you everything you needed to get started.

when all was said and done, the meeting ended just before lunch. 

both of you stood up and bid your goodbyes. you walked sophia to the elevator, watching her until the doors slid shut, cutting off your view. you sighed, tearing your eyes away from the disappearing figure.

“how did the meeting go?”

you turned to see manon standing there, holding a big paper bag.

“it went well. we should be able to start tomorrow.” you said.

“that’s great.” she smiled softly, then gave the paper bag a gentle shake.

“i brought lunch. figured you’d prefer takeout over going out.”

you smiled, touched by the kindness, and muttered a quiet thank you before taking the bag.

“how about you? have you eaten?” you asked.

manon nodded. “yeah, i ate earlier.”

you hummed, “thanks, manz. i’ll just be in my office.”

she nodded, watching you turn and walk away. her eyes lingered on your back before a soft sigh escaped her lips.

-

you were working on a personal 3d model. the place that kept appearing in your dreams. you recreated the bridge, the river, waterfall and the shabby small house that you always dreamed off. 

as you were painting on the model, adding small bits of details, a memory flashed in your mind.

you were standing on the bridge with that mysterious woman and...you two kissed.

you shook your head, putting down the brush before leaning back on your seat.

you let out a sigh, "why do you keep appearing?" 

your thoughts were interrupted when a notification popped up. looking at your phone on the table, you read the message on the screen. 

manon: there'll be a site visit tomorrow. it's kind of far. want me to book a nearby hotel?

you picked your phone to reply.

me: yes, please. thank you, manz.

manon: no problem :)

-

the next day, you drove two hours to get to the area where the resort would be built. 

you spot sophia talking to a man who you presumed to be the security guard of the site.

you walked towards her. the woman spots you and patted the man on the shoulder before walking to you.

"miss l/n, good thing you came." she said

"please, just yn, since we'll working together on this project." you said, offering a smile.

she smiled and your eyes briefly fell on her glossy ones before going back to her eyes.

"alright, yn. so, would you like a tour?" she asked.

you nodded, "sure, that'd be great." 

you two walked past the metal sheets covering the site, stepping carefully around the area. as you strolled on the sand, the conversation flowed easily. sophia explaining the theme she envisioned for the resort, you offering occasional input on design details.

mid-sentence, sophia suddenly yelped and stumbled over a stray coconut lying in the sand. your hands moved instinctively, reaching out to catch her. she grasped your hand just in time, steadying herself.

"oh gosh..." she breathed, recovering from the near fall.

you both paused, and for a moment, you felt the warmth of her hands in yours. your heart skipped a beat. sophia quickly pulled her hand away and cleared her throat.

"well, someone’s gotta take care of that," she said, nodding toward the coconut.

you blinked and nodded. "yeah, it’s definitely going to cause accidents if it stays there."

after the eventful site visit, you walked back to your car, chatting casually with sophia.

"did you drive here? it’s kind of far from the city," she asked, watching you pull your keys out.

"yeah, i did. i also booked a room nearby," you answered.

"no way, i booked a room here too. i’m supposed to stay until tomorrow," sophia said, glancing at you.

you smiled and offered, "well, do you want a ride? since we have the same destination."

sophia flashed a shy smile. "if you don’t mind."

you shook your head, smiling back. "i don’t."

-

when you two arrived at the hotel, sophia thanked you softly before heading toward the elevator. you went to the reception and get your room keys.

as you got to your room, your eyes widened in surprise—sophia was just coming out of the door right beside yours.

her eyes met yours, equally wide, and a bright smile spread across her face.

"no way, neighbours?" she asked, disbelief and amusement in her voice.

you chuckled, feeling your heart flutter. "apparently."

she giggled, a sound like music to your ears. "if that ain’t fate, i don’t know what is."

you shook your head with a small smile. "see you around, sophia."

with that, you stepped inside your room and closed the door behind you.

as soon as the door clicked shut, you leaned against it and slid down to the floor, your heart pounding wildly. your mind replayed the image of her smile and the moment earlier on the beach.

"god..." you whispered, your voice trembling.

were you falling? maybe, maybe not. but one thing for sure, she's got quite an impact on you.

you left the next morning, saying goodbye to a pouting sophia. the image lingered—etched in your mind, maybe even in your heart, which fluttered every time she was near.

back at the office, manon practically glowed at your arrival, shuffling over to grab a coffee from the table and handing it to you with a bright smile.

“how did the site visit go? was the hotel room nice?” she asked, her curiosity bubbling over.

you laughed at her barrage of questions, murmuring a quiet thank you as you accepted the coffee.

“the visit was great—sophia gave an incredible tour, told me everything we needed to kick off the design. and yeah, the hotel was fine. thanks, manz.”

manon smiled, glancing away for a moment before nodding. “that’s good to hear.” she returned to her station, and you headed into your office, settling in to finalize some paperwork.

-

as your team worked on the model, some hunched over computers, others piecing together a 3d mini model for the upcoming showcase. you stepped into the workstation, your spirits lifting at the sight of everyone so focused and engaged. you spotted manon at the work table, carefully holding parts of the model while chatting with a coworker.

as her colleague walked away, you called her name. she looked up, her eyes brightening when she saw you.

“yes? did you need something?” she asked, watching as you approached and placed a cup of coffee on the table.

“for you,” you said, and she smiled, a little shy.

“thanks.” her gaze drifted to the two cups in your hands, and she raised an eyebrow.

“two coffees? that’s ambitious,” she teased, grinning.

you shook your head, laughing softly. “no, one’s for sophia.”

for a moment, her smile faltered, but she quickly recovered. “oh? she’s coming by?”

you nodded. “yeah, she’ll be checking in on our progress from time to time.”

manon nodded, her attention shifting back to the model, though her thoughts seemed elsewhere.

you decided to give manon some space, letting her get back to her work. moving on, you joined the others clustered around the computers, checking on their progress and offering small suggestions where you could.

just then, the elevator chimed. you glanced up and saw sophia stepping out, her presence immediately drawing your attention. a smile stretched across your lips as you walked over to greet her.

“wow, yn. it’s busy in here,” sophia remarked, eyes sweeping over the worktables crowded with mini models, scattered materials, and your team deep in concentration.

you grinned, pride coloring your voice. “well, that’s my team.”

sophia laughed, the sound light and familiar. you reached for the coffee you’d set aside and offered it to her.

“oh! thank you, yn. how sweet of you,” she said, accepting the cup. her fingers brushed yours, just a fleeting touch, but it sent a spark through you, and you couldn’t help but wonder if she felt it too.

as you and sophia wandered through the workspace, discussing the project, you pointed out details on the models and shared quiet laughs. across the room, manon watched, her brows knitting together, heart sinking a little with each easy smile you shared with sophia. she quickly looked away, trying to shut out the sound of your voices, forcing her attention back to the model in her hands. but her thoughts drifted elsewhere.

then—

“hey, manon, you glued it in the wrong place,” someone said, snapping her out.

she blinked, startled, and gasped softly, scrambling to fix her mistake.

-

when the little tour wrapped up, you walked sophia back to her car.

“well, i can’t help but feel excited seeing the progress,” sophia said, her eyes bright with genuine enthusiasm.

you both stood just beside her car, the soft glow of the parking lot lights casting a quiet warmth.

“me too. i’m really passionate about what i’m doing,” you replied, smiling.

sophia returned your smile, her glossy lips catching the light.

“i see that,” she agreed, her voice low and soft.

then, something inside you stirred. a question you’d probably replay in your mind a hundred times before asking.

“sophia?”

she hummed, curious.

“are you free for dinner tonight?”

her perfectly arched brow lifted, and a smile spread across her lips.

“are you…?” she began, playful.

you quickly added, “not as business partners, but as, you know… friends.”

the air between you shifted, charged with possibility. a hope that someday it won’t be just as friends or business partners between you two.

sophia looked at you, her eyes sparkling like they held the stars themselves.

“see you tonight, yn.” she finally said and winked, then slid into her car.

you stood frozen, bewildered, tense, and utterly speechless. tonight. you were having dinner with her. with sophia.

the roar of the engine pulled you from your trance. you watched her car glide toward the exit. then your heart pounded fast. you turned on your heels and skipped toward the elevator, a rush of happiness flooding through you.

the elevator doors slid open and you bounced toward your busy team, each step light and full of energy. they noticed right away. manon noticed. the glow of happiness radiating from you.

“you look happy. what happened?” a coworker asked, curiosity bright in their eyes.

you smiled, still riding the wave of excitement.

“shift ends in an hour. you can finish early. i have a date tonight,” you announced, and cheers erupted around you.

soon, teasing howls and whistles followed, some coworkers playfully shoving and nudging you.

manon frowned, but quickly masked it with a smile, trying to hide the heaviness in her heart.

-

later that night, you wore your best dress. you brushed your teeth hard, flossed a couple of times, and spritzed on your expensive perfume. you took your time getting dolled up before heading out, texting sophia to meet you at a high-end restaurant you booked earlier.

when you arrived, you sat at your table, waiting. you took a sip of water, then your eyes landed on sophia’s. you had to set the glass down, swallow hard, and stare at her, completely speechless.

she wore a black dress that hugged her curves perfectly. her hair fell in soft waves, bouncing with every step she took. you hadn’t even noticed her approach. you were stuck in a trance.

sophia giggled at your expression. “you look good too, yn.”

her voice pulled you from your stunned haze. you cleared your throat, feeling your cheeks flush with embarrassment.

“you look…godly..” sophia blushed at your comment.

“look at you, charmer.” she countered, the two of you giggling.

the night unfolded smoothly, the two of you effortlessly sharing common interests, favorite things, dislikes, and past experiences. conversation flowed naturally, weaving a connection that felt both familiar and exciting. laughter came easy, and the hours slipped by as you discovered more about each other beyond the surface.

the two of you had finished a bottle of expensive wine, giggles spilling from your lips nonstop. even at the most random things sophia said.

“i’m feeling hot,” she said, fanning herself playfully.

you giggled, “you are hot.”

sophia laughed, eyes sparkling. “you’re drunk, aren’t you, yn?”

you gasped, feigning offense. “do you see me as a lightweight?”

she laughed again, shaking her head. then glanced at her phone, pouting as the clock neared ten.

“why does time go so fast?” she complained, her lips forming a playful pout.

“well, they say time flies when you’re the happiest,” you replied softly.

sophia paused, looking at you. your eyes met, and hers curved into bright crescents as she beamed.

“i am indeed happy,” she said quietly.

then.

her hand reached out and rested atop yours. you felt it. not just the warmth of her skin, but an electric current surging through you, sending flutters racing through your stomach. your mind almost spiraled out of control, if not for her soft voice grounding you.

“i really look forward to our future,” she said, and you broke into the biggest smile.

later, as you walked her to her car, she paused mid-step and turned to face you. you smiled, and she returned it warmly. then—

smooch.

you froze, caught off guard by sophia’s lips brushing your cheek, her perfume flooding your senses. she pulled away gently.

“thank you for a wonderful night, yn.”

“likewise, sophia,” you managed to say, voice barely steady.

you watched her drive off, then walked to your own car, gripping it as your knees weakened.

“jesus…” you breathed out, heart pounding.

-

time flew by in a blur, and finally, the architectural design for the beach resort was complete and approved. your team erupted in celebration the moment you dropped the news. cheers filled the entire floor. you ordered food and drinks for everyone, and soon someone pulled out a microphone from the storage room, handing it to you. suddenly, you were on the spot for an impromptu speech.

as your team basked in the joy of the moment, pride and happiness swelled in your heart.

then, your phone vibrated in your back pocket. you pulled it out and saw sophia’s message at the top, instantly bringing a smile to your face.

across the room, manon was chatting and smiling with the others. she noticed you and seemed about to approach, but you had already turned and made your way to the elevator.

she was about to follow you, but a colleague suddenly dragged her off to karaoke.

you jogged to the parking lot and spotted sophia’s sleek black car. a smile spread across your face as you walked toward it. there, sophia leaned casually against the car, eyes on her phone.

hearing your footsteps, she looked up, a smile blossoming on her lips at the sight of you.

“congratulations, miss l/n,” she said warmly, and you pulled her into a hug.

she let out a surprised yelp before giggling softly.

“i’m so happy, sophia,” you confessed.

she hummed in response. as you pulled away, your eyes locked. happiness shining clearly in both your gazes.

“you did it,” she whispered.

“yeah, i... i did it. it’s just like any other project—but i don’t know—I just feel so happy,” you said, your voice full of quiet wonder.

sophia smiled, one that you grew to love. she then spoke.

“wanna escape? i have something to tell you.” she whispered.

you agreed.

you two drove to a secluded spot sophia knew, a quiet overlook with a breathtaking view of the city. the sky was sprinkled with stars, while the city lights below twinkled like scattered treasure beneath the moonlight. the air was cold and crisp, wrapping around you both.

“the moon is beautiful, isn’t it?” sophia said softly.

you turned to look at her, the phrase popular for its other, deeper meaning. she met your gaze, her eyes sparkling in the night.

“can i tell you something, yn?” she whispered.

gently, she raised her hand and took yours, placing it over her chest where her heart beat rapidly. the moment hung between you, charged and tender.

“only you could make it beat this fast.” she whispered, your heart pounding fast at her confession. “and i hope i’ll be the only one to make yours beat too.” 

the words rung in your ear. and then,

“i’ve never had someone like you in my life. ever. i almost believed i’d die a hopeless woman, but here you are—crashing into my life.”

“only you could make it beat this fast,” she whispered, “and i hope i’ll be the only one to make yours beat too.”

you were back on the bridge again with the mysterious faceless woman. her hands held yours and you look at her face that seemed to be a blur. 

but then, everything became clear.

her blurry features faded and soon you were looking at someone’s eyes. one you were so familiar with.

sophia.

“then will you let me own it?” 

“yn?”

“yn?”

you were snapped back to reality. sophia’s worried look was the first thing you saw. you were speechless. the one you had been dreaming of every night ever since the incident, was the very one standing before you.

“yn? are you ok? you were kind out.” she asked, looking at your with worry in her face.

“sophia.” you called.

“yes?”

“say it again,” you murmured.

sophia looked at you, confused. “what do you mean?”

you gently took her hand and placed it over your chest, letting her feel your heart pounding wildly. her eyes widened as she looked down, then met your gaze again.

“i was hoping i’d be the only one to make your heart beat this fast,” she whispered.

you smiled softly. “and you did.”

sophia’s face broke into a radiant smile. her eyes flickered down to your lips, then back up to your eyes, silently asking for permission. you returned her smile and leaned in, your lips meeting hers.

the familiar flutter stirred in your stomach. like fireworks bursting and your heart pounded loudly, like drums echoing in your chest.

your hands snaked around her shoulders as hers cradled your face, pushing deep against you. 

when oxygen felt like a problem, the two of you pulled back, foreheads resting against each others.

“i love you, yn.”

“i love you too, sophia.” 

thank god i met you again.

the end.

[brittle-doughie]

Can you do a Parfait Cookie x Reader thing where Y/N cookie is Parfait Cookie’s biggest fan?

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

△ “Aaaand done! Hope you had a great time at my concert! Paru-parfait! ☆”

The excited fan rushed off, excited to have received their signature from THE Parfait Cookie! She had her eyes amidst the crowd for one Cookie, however. Her biggest fan. Her first fan…

△ “Parfait Cookie!”

△ “Reader!”

Her heart skipped a beat when you had headed over to her on the call of your name! You two had to celebrate this meeting with a close hug, which adored the fans around you if not with some jealous remarks here and there…

△ “How I missed my biggest fan! Even if you do come to every one of my concerts!”

△ “You kidding? I’d never miss a single one for the world! Though, I think I made some Cookies here jealous by our hug just now.”

△ “They’re my fans too! They’ll understand if they see that you’re my first and biggest one~☆!”

△ “I hope you’re right…oh! I also went ahead and got a bunch of your merchandise too!”

Parfait gasps and placed a hand over her heart when she sees the bunch of merch that you got from the stands like a poster, plushie, little figurine, even some stickers!

△ “Oh! That’s a lot of stuff! But I expected none less from you of all my fans! I’m flattered~!”

△ “And I’d be even more so if you could sign them!”

△ “Anything for you…”

△ “What?”

△ “I-I mean yes! Why should I deny my biggest fan! Paru-parfait!”

You were so excited when she started to sign your stuff, drawing the envious gazes of some fans around you. Unknown to you though, she made sharp gazes at those fans in return. In that moment, fanaticism turned to fear as they felt her eyes pierce through their souls. They back off…

△ “Thanks so much, Parfait Cookie! You just made my day with this! Then again, you always do when I listen to your music, hehe!”

△ “No, thank YOU! For being my biggest supporter, even since the beginning. I’ll always remember the moment you first walked towards me during my street performance. So here’s hoping we meet again later! Paru-parfait~☆!”

It was tough for her to allow you to walk away, but she knew it was only a matter of time before you two met again. Whether it be in her next concert or even coming across each other in the city, she’s looking forward it…

For when she returned home, having removed her stage getup. She heads for her room, heading towards her closet as she mutters to herself.

△ “Oh, Reader…”

She opens it and reaches for something, she slightly sings to herself.

△ “♫There’s no me without you, I hope you see that tooooo…♫”

She finds it and spins around her room with it. Her own homemade plush of you…

△ “♫I don’t want to toss what we have in a can, for too am I your biggest fannnn…..♫”

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

[happypopcornprincess]

Chapter 1 || I Can See You

Pairings - Joaquin Torres X fem!Reader

Premise - At a glamorous gala, Y/N's life intertwines with Joaquin's. A pact ensues, while a dangerous mission looms.

Word Count - 4.5K

Warnings: SMUT, Angst, Mentions of blood, domestic violence

a/n - This story is based between the events of Endgame and Brave New World. In this AU, Tony Stark survived and the New characters of the MCU are on the way to be the new recruits of the Avengers. Hope you guys like this <3

Series Masterlist || Chapter 2 >>

Avengers Compound, Post Endgame

If it wasn’t for Pepper to quite literally threaten you to attend her Annual Charity Gala, you wouldn’t even be here. The atmosphere around you was straight out of some high society drama. The grey walls of the newly reconstructed avengers compound were covered in silver tones, a huge silver chandelier hanging in the middle of the hall, there was laughter in the air, and everyone was dressed to the nines. 

Just how a party was supposed to be… when the host was the one and only Pepper Potts. Tony was there too, even though his hand was still recovering from the snap, but he was cheery and loud as always.

You sipped your champagne in silence, standing far away from the dance floor. 

You were chosen by Sam from MIT to help the Avengers. You had trained with the new recruits, Kate, Peter… They were good kids. Training with them was… well, it was something. Sam was great, and helped you all adjust. Honestly, the Avengers? They were intimidating. superhuman intimidating. But you had your strengths. Sharpshooting was always your thing. And you threw yourself into the training, every single bit of it. They told you it was for intel missions, to keep you out of direct harm's way. But that wasn't enough. You wanted more. Because you were not aiming for 'safe.' 

You were aiming to be an Avenger.

Your job was to figure out how Kingpin just vanished into thin air after Christmas. The task has taken over your daily routine after you met Kate Bishop. It’s been months of interviewing eyewitnesses, going on the streets undercover, nights of no sleep with a shit ton of coffee, and just when you think you’re about to solve it… you meet a dead end.

“Trying to hide behind the curtains again are we y/n?” Bucky’s voice made you look to your right, and there he was. Standing next to you wearing a sharp three-piece black suit, his hair slicked back.

You finally understood what Steve meant when he would say girls back then would throw themselves at Bucky.

He turned to you in disgust, “Are you checking me out?”

“You wish, asshole.” You mutter in your glass.

You and Bucky had developed an unlikely friendship after the blip bought him back. He was pardoned, and moved into a quaint apartment complex deep in the city, unknown to the fact that you lived right next to his place.

On a stormy night after the nightmares won’t let you both sleep, sharing one bottle of whiskey between you was all it took for you to spill your life to him. You have turned into each other’s best friends and occasional love life advisor, although it was kind of a package deal.

Which is why you knew the reason he was so dressed up for the first time since you met.

“You see Sam anywhere?” he asks you nonchalantly.

You give him a sly smirk, “Why? Can’t wait to shove your tongue down his throat?”

Bucky gives you a sideward glance, and goes back to looking at the crowd.

He was still figuring out his feelings towards both men and women, especially towards one man.

Returning from the Flag Smashers situation, he would not shut up how ‘annoying’ and ‘frustratingly righteous’ Sam Wilson is, how his smirk makes him want to ‘strangle’ him.

You asked him one evening if he was having a ‘full-on-bi-panic’ and he threw a pillow at your face.

“y/n! there you are!” Sam bellows as he walks towards the two of you, wearing a crisp grey suit over a white button up, looking as dapper as always.

“Sam!” you laugh, giving him a tight hug. He was your mentor, someone you looked up to. And hopefully your bestie’s future boyfriend.

“You look absolutely gorgeous!” he threw you one of his classic smiles as he retreated.

You look down to the pastel pink knee length dress you were wearing.

Hustling the life of an avenger straight out of MIT, it was the only dress you owned. And after paying for it out of your own pocket you realize fancy dresses cost a hand and a leg, and you refuse to part from it.

“Thank you Sam I-” you were about to thank him but stopped once you noticed him absolutely gawking at Bucky.

“Hey Bucky.” He smiled.

“Hey Sam.” Bucky gave him a nod.

You almost roll your eyes at the exchange, wondering when they will move on from the weird talking phase.

“Hello.”

An angelic voice interrupted your train of thoughts. Looking away your eyes meet a pair of the warmest brown eyes. He was standing behind Sam. A tall, tan-skinned man, wearing a crisp black suit stood in front of you. His curls fell on his forehead, and his smile was intoxicating.

He looked like a high surf tide; calling out for you to test the waters.

You extend your right hand, smiling at him. “Hey, I’m y/n”

He held it with his right, it made your heart race when he brought your hand up to his lips and kissed your knuckles, his hands warm and his lips soft, sending a jolt through your body.

Oh, he’s mischief alright!

You were left speechless when he straightened, a smirk thrown out your way as Sam spoke up, “This is the guy I told y’all about! Lt. Joaquin Torres.” He slapped a hand on Joaquin’s back, smiling with pride.

“And this is y/n y/l/n, fresh transfer from MIT. She’s our tech genius, and a walking journal on film recommendations.”

Laughter followed as your eyes couldn’t help but stay trained on Joaquin. Thinking back on the time when Sam told the team about the new Falcon joining them after a while, you somehow manage to speak up at that moment, “Welcome to the circus.” You take a deliberately long sip of your float, never breaking eye contact.

He gulped nervously, eyes wide, clearly startled by you flirting. 

“You haven’t had a drink yet Lieutenant? Let’s get you something.” you smile involuntarily.

He stands back for you to lead the way, “Sure. And it’s just Joaquin, please.” he laughs just after, his honey laced voice paired with your tad bit hazy mind doing wonders to your imagination.

/-/-/-/-/-/-/--/-

“Wait a minute…” you smiled, “you cannot possibly think Love Actually is better than The Holiday?”

They keep watchful eyes on us

So it's best that we move fast and keep quiet

You won't believe half the things I see inside my head

Wait 'til you see half the things that haven’t happened yet

“It’s the perfect rom com!” Joaquin laughs, “it covered basically every rom com trope under the sun.”

“But, listen to me, but…” you say, your slightly tipsy self leaning on the wall behind you, as Joaquin stood in front of you, holding his own glass of whiskey, “Quantity never matters in front of quality. All characters in The Holiday are well written with meaningful backgrounds and great character redemption arcs. And it’s got Jude Law.”

Joaquin raises his hands, “Jude Law.”

“Jude Law.” you laugh, at how he was mocking a defeated pose.

“When Sam told me I can’t lose a movie debate with you, I couldn’t believe him.”

You try to curtsey, “thank you.”

“Wanna get out of here?” Joaquin blurted out abruptly.

It took you a while to gain your consciousness, and a laugh left your lips at what he just said. You saw his eyes traveling to your lips, and how his breath fastened as you took a deliberately long sip of your drink.

You smirked, “sure.”

—/—/—

You find yourself sneaking through the backdoor and upstairs towards the living quarters of the Avengers compound as you drag Joaquin by his coat as you slip into an unassigned room. The furniture was still uncovered, but there was a couch in a corner right next to the opened windows where moonlight pooled in.

Perfect.

The alcohol surging through your system gives you newfound courage, and seconds later Joaquin was being thrown on the couch by you. His pupils dilated, his gaze trained on you and his scent lingering in the air, you straddled him without hesitation.

 “Are you good?” His breathy voice went straight to your core, and without a word you crashed your lips on his.

He’s gonna be the death of me.

The taste of expensive champagne hit your mouth, Joaquin’s tongue slipping in your mouth sliding in with fervor. Your gasp is swallowed by his lips, his hands travelling south towards the zipper of your dress.

Your hands fumble with his coat, taking it off of him and raising his shirt just enough to slide your hands underneath. Warm, toned muscles met your hands, and the way he sucked your lips made you forget everything. You couldn’t breathe, but couldn’t move away from him either, entirely lost in taking him in.

Joaquin jerked back all of a sudden, making you whine.

“Wait, wait…” He breathed out, his breath cooling your skin.

“Just kiss me.” You exhaled, grabbing his tie to pull him in, but he leaned back.

Joaquin gently held your wrists, “y/n… hey, look at me,” he breathlessly said, “look at me for a second.”

You do, at his messy hair, puffy lips, and blown out pupils.

He holds out his hand, “how many fingers am I holding up.”

You scrunch your brows in confusion, eyes drifting to his fingers in front of your face. You get the tunnel vision every time you’ve had a bit too much whiskey, you see double.

Concentrating hard on your answer, you slur out, “four?”

Joaquin closes his eyes, looking up and huffing out a breath, “you’re very drunk.” You feel his hands on your waist, and he carefully sits you down on the couch next to him.

You whine at the loss of his touch as he gets up from the couch. He returns a minute later with a bottle of water, sitting next to you and making you drink the entire thing.

“Can we go back to the part where you kiss me until I forget my name?” you breathe out.

Joaquin laughs out, settling down next to you and leaning back on the couch. You straighten your dress, and sit with your shoulders touching. You steal a glance his way.

His coat was gone, his tie hung loose on his neck, his white button shirt straining on his arms…

Someone works out…

The faint moonlight hitting from behind him made the outline of the veins on his neck visible.

I want to lick it...

You scrunch your eyes as soon as you hear that inside your head.

Wow, he’s right, I am drunk.

“As much as I’d like to do that,” he looks your way, “I can’t. You’re very drunk.”

A smile itches on your face, and you ask, “so what should we do then?”

“Talk?” he suggests, turning to you, resting his head on the backrest and looking you right in your eyes. “I know nothing about you. You know nothing about me. Let’s talk.”

You laugh out loud, “okay,” the smile refusing to leave your face, “what do you want to know?”

“Anything.” he says with a warm smile on his face.

-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-

You wake up in an unfamiliar room and a blinding headache, on a mattress too soft for your liking, the sunlight hitting your face with full force.

Grunting, you sit up, rubbing your forehead.

Something slips off your body, and you look down and find someone has covered you with a black suit coat while you slept.

The man with the warm eyes and gentle touch.

You laugh, rubbing your head at the absurdity of the situation.

You wear it over your dress and walk out of the room, after last night’s party everybody would be sleeping in. You can sneak out unnoticed.

You swiftly call an uber, and shove your hands inside the pockets of Joaquin’s coat.

The feel of rough paper makes you stop in your tracks, you take it out of the pocket to see a torn piece of labeling paper inside, a note greeting you.

-/-/-/-/-/-

9546-555-6783

See you soon, I guess?

(Take care of my coat till then? It’s my favorite suit.)

-         Joaquin

Joaquin joined the team a week later. He chose to stay on the compound, and soon blended in with the new avengers. Peter and Kate grew especially fond of him. When Shang-Chi joined the ranks, he, too, was welcomed into your close-knit circle.

You brush past me in the hallway

And you don't think I, I, I can see ya, do ya?

I’ve been watchin' you for ages

And I spend my time tryin' not to feel it

You spared during training, made breakfast together, had constant debates on cinema and stories. He loved the classics, and you had a nick for science fiction. You should have cancelled out each other, but your differences only made your bond stronger. The differences weren't a barrier; they were a bridge. You shared tech skills learned during your time at  MIT, revealing the details of coding and circuits. In return, he shared practical knowledge from his air force background; survival techniques and tactical strategies.

Your apartment, though smaller than the compound's common areas, became the gathering spot for your group. Lazy weekends of your teams were spent at your place, you'd watch old movies, host game nights, and then collapse on any available surface.

Peter had a habit of entering your apartment through your window, and Kate never got used to it. Takeout was a foreign concept with your friends. Instead, Shang-Chi and Joaquin would take over the kitchen, making a mouth watering combination of asian food and mexican food, that could best possibly win them masterchef if they ever could.

These people, this band of young individuals navigating life… they became your chosen family. They were your support system, your confidantes, your partners in crime.

No one seemed to notice the stolen glances, the lingering touches, the quiet conversations that stretched late into the night. Or perhaps they did notice, and simply didn't care. 

-/-/-/-/-/-

Clouds grumbled above, as angry raindrops splattered on your apartment window. You were sitting on your couch with three devices settled in front of you: a laptop and two tablets running algorithms and analytics for locating kingpin. Kate had gathered intel that he still had someone in the states giving him updates and keeping him safe. But where?

But what would you do if I went to touch you now?

What would you do if they never found us out?

What would you do if we never made a sound?

That was a question you were determined to get answers to. Which is why you had made it your mission to get to the base of this.

Amidst the thunderous rain outside, you hear a knock on the door, and from the corner of your eye you witness Joaquin enter, carrying takeout containers.

“You’ll have to use the fork for the noodles, I just ran out of chopsticks!” you shout, without even looking at his direction.

“Y/n” Joaquin huffed out in frustration, “please tell me you didn’t ‘sense’ Thai food from me.”

“I did.” you laugh, looking at the bewildered Joaquin standing in your kitchen. He had jeans and a sleeveless gym shirt on. Involuntarily your eyes went to his toned arms, and you did a quick diversion of your thoughts to the TV.

”I come bearing sustenance. Chow Mein and Thai green curry, extra spicy, just how you like it.” he says, followed by the scrunching of the takeout container.

You sit up straighter with a smile itching on your lips, your favorite food just when you were low on inspiration. “You're a lifesaver, these logistics are killing me.”

Joaquin sets the containers on the coffee table. He sits next to you, close enough that your thighs brush. He huffs out, “Tell me about it. Sam's been drilling us on contingency plans all day. I swear, he's got a backup plan for the backup plan.”

You laugh, “That's Sam for you. Always prepared.”

You open the containers, the aroma of the curry filling the room, and digging into the food in comfortable silence for a few minutes.

“You got something on your…” Joaquin speaks, and you look at him with a particularly big bite in your mouth. 

“Hmm?” you mutter.”

He reaches out and gently wipes a bit of sauce from the corner of your mouth. The gesture is intimate, lingering a moment too long. If you don’t count your sparring training, this was the closest you had been since ‘that’ night at the charity gala. Your hands grab his arm on their own.

It feels… good. Too good. It's been so long since anyone touched you like this. Desired you. Like you mattered. Like you weren't just… a disappointment. You… you want this. You want him. 

But what if you mess it up? What if you push him away, like you did with… 

Your heart almost leapt out of your chest as he gently cupped your face in his hands, your gaze locked on his warm brown eyes. He leaned in towards your lips, a silent question in his expression. You paused, a flicker of hesitation crossing your face, and gently pulled back.

He too leaned back, respecting your space. The tension remained, but now it carried a hint of gentle inquiry.

Looking down, you fidgeted with your hands, "It's not that I don't… I just… we need to be sure about this." You huffed out in frustration, trying to articulate your tangled thoughts.

"I want you," he stated, his voice low and sincere. You looked up at him instantly, his pupils dilated, his chest rising and falling with deep breaths. "I want you in ways you can't imagine, y/n. And I will walk out of here right now if you don't want this. We can forget this ever happened."

Thunder roared in the skies above, and lightning illuminated his face through the window as he paused, his expression open and honest. "But," he gulped, his eyes searching yours, "if you do want this… then…"

He left the rest unsaid, giving you the space to make your own choice.

Your internal conflict finally tipped towards action.

Oh, fuck this… 

His words were lost as soon as you crashed your lips on his.

—/—/—

You stumbled into your room, Joaquin’s lips didn’t leave yours as he threw the two of you on the bed. Pulling you under him, his hands were everywhere. Your mind could only catch up with a few, as it was too busy taking in all of him.

Joaquin made you feel like your entire body was on fire. Your hands flew straight to his hair, a moan leaving his lips. You did quick work on his clothes, leaving him in his boxers as he got busy removing yours.

No words were exchanged as he moved low, kissing and sucking your skin in all the places that made your vision hazy. You could only whine and gasp as he grabbed your legs and rested them on his shoulders.

And then he stopped.

You look down to see a mischievous grin plastered on his face, his pupils blown wide.

“Joaquin…” you breathe out, “stop teasing me.”

His eyes darken as he let out a low murmur against your skin and without warning dived in, a loud moan leaving your lips as pleasure rushed through your body.

-/-/-/-/-/-/-

“So… what is this?” you ask, lying next to him covered in sweat, panting. You rolled away next to him, completely exhausted from your acts that lasted three blissful hours.

And I could see you being my addiction

You can see me as a secret mission

“You’re asking this now?” he mutters, eyes fixed at the ceiling. “I’m pretty sure fraternizing between teammates is not allowed here.” He groans.

You close your eyes, trying to think about if that rule existed among the Avengers. As far as you knew nobody was involved with each other here. “We can be friends.” You suggest.

“What!” you feel the mattress shift and open your eyes to him leaning over you.

 “No, just… think about it.” You shift to lean on the headboard, gathering the sheets to cover your chest, “you’re new to the team.”

Joaquin takes a pillow to cover himself and sits cross-legged in front of you, “okay.”

You stop for a second, staring at his abs.

Y/n stop it! Focus!

“We can’t just go ahead and announce that we’re sleeping together, or dating. They will never let us live this down. Especially Bucky. And Kate. Maybe Sam…” You state, matter of factly.

“Wait, wait! Stop!” he gestures, eyebrows scrunched, “You want to date me?”

“No! I don’t like you like that!” almost scream out, “do you wanna date me?”

“No, I don’t.”

“Then I don’t see a problem with… this!” You throw out your hands.

“What is this exactly?” Joaquin pointed between you two.

You groan, “ugh, you’re as thick as it gets!” You adjust the sheets around your body to free your hands, “what did you think of me the first time you saw me?”

“At the gala? Huh…” he thinks, “That you have the prettiest smile.” he shocks you with the last part, but then he adds on, “also you looked hot in that pink dress.”

There we go.

“Well, I thought you had a great voice, and your eyes were really pretty.” You truthfully admit, “also you looked like trouble… and I have a thing for bad boys.”

“I’m twenty-five.”

“Whatever.”

“You swear you don’t want anything other than sex with me?” he asks you.

You nod, “Yeah. You?”

“I don’t.”

“Okay.”

“Okay!”

Joaquin gets up from his place, picking up his boxers and putting them on, “So just to be clear… we’re friends.”

“Yep!” you catch your sweatshirt that he throws your way.

He puts on his shirt next, “With benefits.”

“Absolutely.” You say, debating whether you should get up the bed or not, exhaustion rolling over your senses.

“And you promise you won’t fall in love with me.” He points to you.

“Oh please, if anything you’ll be falling first.” You say through a yawn.

Joaquin laughs putting on his pants, “well, I’m gonna go get something to eat. You want something?”

“Do you mind if I take a nap? I’m tired.” You grimace.

He smiles at you, “Go ahead.”

You fall back on the bed, as you hear his footsteps going away… the sweet embrace of sleep following you next.

—/—/—

Few weeks later

Your place or mine?

Your screen lit up with the message from Joaquin. You smirked

Yours? In an hour? You press send, and let out a laugh as you see the blue tick instantly.

Done.

Before you could ask him the reason he got so worked up, you hear F.R.I.D.A.Y’s automated voice - Scan. Complete.

A low hum filled the operations center as you meticulously analyzed the fragmented data streams scanned by F.R.I.D.A.Y. Dozens of photographs presented infront of you but your eyes instantly locked in on one in particular. Your focus narrowed on a grainy image emerging from the static. 

Broad shoulders, crisply pressed suit, gold rings on the fingers… could it be…

“Y/n!” Kate and Peter shout in unison as you slapped a stack of files on the kitchen table. Sam, Bucky, Shang Chi, Joaquin, all who were just about to eat, whipped their heads towards the commotion.

“I think I've found him,” you announced, pointing to the figure.

Sam and Bucky shared a look, and rushed towards you as you opened up a holographic display on your tab. Joaquin and you share a look, he was amused, a small smile on his face letting you know he was excited for what you found out, you smirked and quickly look away trying to focus on the scene infront of you.

“All this time I was searching for him here… but…” Cross-referencing facial recognition, thermal readings, and satellite data, you enlarged a section of the display, revealing a stark desert landscape. “The terrain, the temperature… it all points to one place... Mexico.”

A collective sense of surprise filled the room. 

'Mexico?' Peter questioned, 'What's he doing down there?' 

You zoomed in on a satellite image, enhanced thermal readings revealing a network of hidden structures. 'I don’t know, but he's planning something,' you stated, a sense of urgency creeping into your voice. 'Something big.' The implications hung heavy in the air. 

“This changes everything.” You nodded, your gaze fixed on the display. 'We need to move fast.”

Series Masterlist || Chapter 2 >>

A/N - Thank you everyone for sticking with me till the end of this fic! if you liked it please let me know through the asks and the comments. Next Chapter will be up soon... Love y'all, Take Care!

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[peascrabbles]

Evermore Vows: Call Transcripts

Here are the transcripts for all the LI's phone calls for Evermore Vows. I love listening to their voices as much as the next person, this is more to serve as a quick reference for any art/fic/whatever purposes!

Spoilers for the calls beneath the cut.

Zayne

Hello. I'm at the restaurant where we saw each other again.

Today is an important day. I'm happy even as I wait for your answer.

Sitting in this familiar seat, I can sense familiar midsummer sunlight and the scent of plants, and I'll think of you.

After I started med school, I constantly moved between laboratories and operating rooms. And through every methodically planned day, whenever I confronted a problem, I would make a little snowman. It'd keep me company.

It also served as a reminder: if I just kept going, a chance for us to meet again would present itself.

What about you?

Did you also look forward to our reunion? (A little huff-laugh.)

You don't need to immediately answer that question. Take your time.

I'll see you in Linkon City later. I want to ask you an important question in person today.

I gave it a lot of thought. I can't wait to hear your answer.

I hope it'll be, "yes, I will."

Rafayel

(BG SFX: Ocean waves.) Do you hear that? It's the ocean, cutie. It's whispering its longing. Its fate.

Today will be a very important day. A joyous day, in fact.

I've been wondering if your answer will be the one I'm hoping for. I'm not even sure when it started.

Going to exhibits alone. Walking along the beach by myself. I'm not used to it for some reason.

Whenever I visit a new city, I find myself searching for interesting things to share with you.

Take this pretty trochus, for example. It must've floated across the ocean before it washed ashore. It glistened under the sun. I placed the sound of the tide and my longing for you inside this seashell.

When you travel to a faraway place, you can take it with you. It'll be like I'm right there with you. It doesn't matter where you go.

You're returning to Linkon City today, right?

I have an important question I want to ask, in person. But I'll keep it a secret for now.

I'm hoping you'll say: I do.

Xavier

(A soft chuckle.) Today is the most important, happiest day of my life. I visited the place where we first met while waiting for your answer.

At the time, I had just defeated a Wanderer and wanted to rest. I didn't think a kind-hearted Hunter would try to wake me up. Especially since she was passing by.

I wonder what would've happened if you didn't find me that day. Maybe we would've bumped into each other when I left the warehouse. Or while I was tracking down other Wanderers.

We wouldn't just be passing by. We would've found a way to connect.

It's possible I could never be content with being a passerby in your life. I would've been instinctively drawn to you.

Fate guided our timelines, and they converged. They'll never part again.

And right now, I miss you. Terribly so.

What about you?

You... always stood by my side.

Let's meet up in Linkon City today. I have a very important question, and I hope your answer is yes.

Caleb

Today is an important day for me, and... I haven't stopped thinking about you.

I was wondering if you've been eating properly. If you got hurt during your missions. But there's still so much more that I wanna learn about you.

People get greedier over time. They never know when enough is enough. When we're apart, I realise that being together is enough for me. Once the distance between us shrinks, I hope the chasm between our hearts will disappear as well.

It's like a drop of rain landing on the parched earth. The closer I am to you, the more I yearn for you.

I'm heading back now. (BG SFX: Clicking, tapping noises.) The red dot marking my destination is glowing on the dashboard, and the number on the distance counter is decreasing. The hyperspace jump will be completed in ten seconds. (BG SFX: Electronic beeping.) The signal's gonna be disconnected temporarily.

I don't have a lot of time to tell you how much I miss you, but that's okay. There's something more important I wanna ask you about in person.

I've been preparing for this for a long time. You can tell me then if you want it or not.

Let's meet up in Linkon, okay?

Sylus

I don't often assign a special meaning to a particular day, but today's an exception.

Its importance far exceeds any deal or negotiation I've done.

Mephisto has been unusually excited since this morning. He pecked several of my guns and now they're nothing more than scrap metal. (Mephisto: Caw! Caw!) It's because of you, so I'm holding you responsible. Of course.

Mephisto isn't the only one who misses you.

In this world, only one person knows the passcode to my armory. Visited each and every one of my safe houses. Can freely enter the N109 Zone. Loves to argue with Mephisto. Dares to go toe to toe with me. And even loses her temper with me.

Do I really need to spell out who this unique individual is?

Yes. I miss you.

I miss you... very much.

Is there a problem?

After we met, every separation has tested my patience. But because it's you and only you, I'm willing to wait.

I'll see you in Linkon tonight. I have... something very important to tell you in person.

I believe you'll like what I have to say. And I'm certain your answer will be, "of course."

[velaris-fic-repository]

What the Tide Brings In (Part 6)

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8

“This is a bad idea.”

“Oh please, what are they going to do? Kill me?”

Azriel made a noncommittal face, more of an upset feline expression than anything else.

“Come off it. I’ve already seen this gorgeous and peaceful city in the heart of the big, bad Night Court,” you comically emphasized the weight of the previous words before moving on.

“You’re supposed to be the scariest one. And lo and behold, you’re naught but a big softy.” You reached over during the moonlit walk the two of you were taking to boop your finger on the tip of his nose. A wise choice? No, but he didn’t retaliate or move away. Victory.

“I’m not a softy,” Azriel protested, lightly swatting at your hand leaning in for another assault upon his nose.

“Mhmm.”

“I’m not!” His voice got louder in emphasis as his wings extended momentarily, puffing himself up to look broader and more intimidating. Too bad you’ve already seen the heart of him. His childish response didn’t help either.

“Whatever you say, shadowsinger.” You surveyed him then said, more seriously, “Are you sure you’re alright introducing me? We don’t have to if you don’t want.”

You were incredibly interested to meet his family, the quartet you’ve heard so much yet so little about. It truthfully had nothing to do with their stations as leaders of the Night Court. These people were important to Azriel, and you wanted to meet them. But, if he wasn’t ready to share them with you, that was fine.

Unbeknownst to you, it had more to do with Azriel not wanting to share you with them.

He sighed in soft defeat. “No, no. They want to meet you too. Honestly, if we don’t do this now I’m sure they’ll find ways to orchestrate an accidental bumping into you.”

His shadows - who had slowly started seeping into the world until it felt like they’d always been there - shifted on his shoulders, reaching out towards you until one twined around your finger.

“You say that like it’s a bad thing,” you chuckled, playing with a shadow for a bit until it disappeared with the rest of its ilk.

“Busybodies, the lot of them.”

You snickered, “isn’t being a busybody, your entire job?”

Azriel looked at you, surprising you by snorting back, a small smile unsuccessfully suppressed. The laugh was undignified, boyish. His hazel eyes glittered in a way that twisted your heart.

“Unfortunately,” he sighed wistfully, “they’re going to love you.”

While your magic connected you to the wind and you lived by it on any ship you’ve ever sailed on, you have never been fully at the mercy of it. You always had the waves and current or the ground beneath you as a secondary element.

Sailing was in your blood. A free feeling that you had fought against your fear for and happily had returned to you. There was still a hollow, dread soaked feeling in your stomach when you spent too much time remembering the fateful expedition that brought you to Velaris, but you could step on a deck without fear and finally feel the sea breeze on your face again.

Flying was something else entirely, as you found out. Nothing but air currents whipping around you as you floated high above the glittering jewel that was Velaris.

A soft, “wow,” escaped you as you took it all in. Azriel’s low chuckle was right next to your ear, making it very hard for you to keep your reactions to yourself.

“I thought you would like it.”

“It’s amazing.”

“Better than sailing?” He teased as you felt his wingbeats and momentum start to slow down, the mountain House of Wind coming into view.

“You wish,” you teased back, earning you another laugh as the two of you landed.

You had another comment on the tip of your tongue, stalled by a male voice saying, “Finally, I thought you’d never get here! We’re starving!”

“Welcome,” Azriel quipped, shifting slightly into the quieter version of himself from when you met him. He was still at ease though, if not a little tense in the shoulders. Peaceful, just different, and maybe a touch nervous for this evening for obvious reasons.

You found yourself shocked to notice the little details, knowing exactly what each little piece meant. Then you remembered that golden little thread in your chest, still feeling nothing from the other side. He always seemed a little more relaxed when it was just the two of you.

You really had to stop looking at that. The bond would reveal itself to him in time, if he chose to accept it. His friendship was plenty, you thought. If you were deluding yourself, that was between you and The Cauldron. It’s not like you’ve lost sleep over it or anything. (Sure).

Introductions were easily made as dinner appeared before you all on the table. You had taken the seat next to Azriel, of course, but it was a humorous little race between Mor and Cassian for the other seat beside you. Ultimately, Mor won out, leaving Cassian to sit mildly uncomfortably next to Amren, Rhysand on her other side by Azriel.

“So this is the female we’ve heard so much about” Rhysand teased, a grumble elicited from Azriel.

You smiled though, “A pleasure to meet you all. You have a lovely home and city, if you don’t mind me saying, High Lord.”

“Rhys is fine,” he insisted, “and thank you. Your love of the harbor is very well known.”

“I meant the whole thing, but yes,” you chuckled, “the harbor is my favorite.”

Rhys grinned at you, violet eyes twinkling in that star like quality they seemed to have. “Azriel tells me you used to be a pirate?”

“Yup!” You said, “Hat and everything. Though I did lose the hat somewhere along the way.”

The conversation drifted by easily like this, you answering questions, offering questions of your own. Amren was curious about the finest thing your crew had ever stolen.

“We preferred to think of ourselves as privateers of the people. We didn’t really steal pretty things for ourselves, mostly food, clothes and money for fae who needed them more than those who hoarded them. That being said, we did have a few less than altruistic excursions.”

“Tell us more, please,” Mor said excitedly beside you.

“I think I’ll keep some of those stories to myself. Can’t give all my good ones away at the beginning, right?”

Azriel’s lips twitched up into a smirk, only causing your smile to grow brighter.

“You’re from Summer, you said?” Mor asked.

“Yes.”

“We have an interesting relationship with that court.”

“Please do elaborate,” you snickered.

Mor laughed with you, “Cassian got himself banned for life for knocking down a building in Adriata.”

You stilled, eyes flicking up to Cassian who shifted in his seat.

“That was you?” You asked, eyes still wide.

“…yeah.”

The whole table was silent, fearful, Azriel most of all. You’d never talked about that with him. He’d never thought to ask about it. What if you had people who had lived or worked out of that building. He’s sure it had been rebuilt but obviously it was a significant event if the ban had not been lifted. None of the Inner Circle was really sure what the extent of the damage was as Nostros had not given them a detailed reporting when it happened.

Azriel, not for the first time in knowing you but definitely the most serious case, had absolutely no idea how you would react to this information. All he could do was wait and hope he didn’t have to intervene in the next few heartbeats.

You raised a hand to your mouth, eyes still wide on Cassian and just sat there for a moment. Power thrummed throughout the room, every member present waiting to unleash something if the situation turned south.

But then, they heard a small snort. Followed immediately by a crescendo of laughter, louder and louder until your hand left your mouth and they all saw the blinding smile on your face.

Azriel was bewildered but found a smile on his own face in response to yours, as if your joy was his.

“You’re not… mad or something?” Cassian said tentatively.

“Are you kidding?” You asked between laughs, “That was one of the best weeks of our career!”

“Really?”

You finally tamed your laughter, smile still blinding like the Summer sun. “You have never seen a group of self-righteous nobles turn such a shade of purple! It was amazing!”

Rhys, happy to not have a brawl in his dining room, sent you an amused but authoritative expression. “It was an Inter-court incident.”

You leveled a roguish expression back at him, “No one got hurt! And I raise you, High Lord, as a Summer and Adriata native, those nobles were pricks preying on their people and they deserved whatever money and belongings they lost.”

Azriel snorted while Cassian joined you in your humorous hysterics, the whole table falling back into its easy rhythm from before.

Unsure what prompted it, Azriel reached over and grabbed your hand, squeezing it once. Oddly, he couldn’t bring himself to let go of it.

You pointed with your other hand at Cassian, “I think you and I are going to be friends.” He grinned, nodding.

“Do you ever miss Summer?” Cassian asked with a smirk, “and you don’t have to kiss our asses about it.”

“The scenery? Yeah. The people? No. I think I’d be hunted down if I went back, they hate me over there. Or at least those I’m charge do.” You paused, looking over at Azriel with a soft smile, “I’ve never felt more welcomed than I’ve been here.”

“Glad to hear our Spymaster has made a new resident feel at home,” Rhys said, clearly a brotherly barb tossed Azriel’s way. In answer, Azriel huffed, but said nothing, rubbing his thumb over your hand.

“Do you mind me asking about your family?” Mor asked. You smiled and shook your head.

“We weren’t really all that close. They didn’t approve of my swashbuckling, wild child behavior and then my chosen career path. So, we hadn’t been in contact for a while.” Mor and you shared a sympathetic look, your familial relationships not the same, but featuring echoes of some of what the other experienced.

You continued, “I suppose, like you guys, I found family other places.”

“In your crew?” Amren prompted.

“Yeah,” you answered and then stopped. For the first time since being here, you thought about them. Really stopped and thought about them. Maybe you had been mentally avoiding the topic to protect yourself, to keep the darkness at the edges of your mind at bay. There had been a lot of distractions to put between yourself and those names, those faces. No such distraction existed now, not when asked directly about them.

Sorley’s strong arms. Aviva’s smile. Auri’s boisterous laugh. Petra’s kind, wise eyes.

All of them battered and lost to the depths. Just you now. All alone.

What did you have that they didn’t? Why were you still here when they didn’t make it? Did you really deserve survival more than them?

Azriel watched your face fall, a darkness he had seen before settling back into you. He rubbed his thumb over your knuckles again to soothe you. He looked up, locking eyes with Rhys. There was a surprised and sorrowful look on his face as he looked between you and Azriel. It was all Azriel needed to know that his brother had seen inside your head. It didn’t appear like a fun place to be right now.

Azriel waited for Rhys to share mentally with him what he had seen. He wasn’t asking for the whole story, Az would never want to breach your privacy. But, he’d have been lying if he said he wouldn’t have at least liked a comment from Rhys, to give him an inkling of what you were dealing with. Rhys would never infringe on the privacy of a friend using his abilities, but if someone needed help… But he didn’t.

Rhys swallowed and cleared his throat, breaking you from the treacherous depths of your mind that he had seen. Someone would have to teach you about shielding but that would be a conversation for a different time. No one else could save you from the darkness of your own mind, but he could offer you a distraction at least while you figured it out or worked up the courage to ask for help. You were important to Azriel, that made you important to everyone else at that table.

“Your reputation around the ships really does precede you,” Rhys started.

“Thank you,” you said, returning to yourself.

“Our current Harbormaster is very old, even for us. He’s expressed interest in retiring from his duties. You seem more than qualified for the job, and you have the respect of everyone who’s stepped foot in the port. Not an insignificant feat for only being here a few months.”

You smirked, “What are you suggesting, Rhysand?”

A smile wormed onto Rhys’s face, “How would you feel about taking over as Harbormaster of Velaris.”

“I didn’t realize this was a business meeting,” you joked, “had I known I would have dressed better.”

Azriel, glad at least to see you smiling again, said with a fond eye roll, “no you wouldn’t have. You’re still a pirate in your bones.”

“Damn straight I am! But,” you said, bowing your head slightly in Rhys’s direction, “I promise everything I do will be above board should you put me in this position.”

Rhys smiled, looking down at your hand still held in Azriel’s, “I have no doubt. And if you need anything, please don’t hesitate to let us know.”

“Welcome to the family,” Cassian joked, “Azzie doesn’t make new friends often.”

“Guess I’m special,” you said, theatrically putting on airs to the humor of everyone assembled.

As laughter filtered back into the table, Azriel’s hand did not stray from yours, his attention almost solely on you all evening.

Special indeed, he mused.

I’ve had this done for a minute life just had me forgetting about it, hope you enjoyed! I think there are two or three of these left depending on how I split it up! Let me know what you think and as always if ya wanna join the taglist, just say so!

Series Taglist: @rcarbo1 @shylahstarzz @tele86 @bubybubsters @willowpains @breemitch15 @96jnie @polli05927 @starsidesigh @i-am-infinite @ashjade19 @lilah-asteria

[orcasoul]

The Lesser of Two Evils

Summary: Yours and Marcus' relationship reaches a new level of intimacy, a ghost from your past opens old wounds and secret schemes linger in the shadows.

Warnings: Swearing, violence, graphic descriptions of blood and gore, PTSD attack, angst, grief, fluff, protective Marcus Acacius, enimies to lovers, slow burn, age gap, OFC/reader.

Word Count: 5,731

Chapter 11 A Past That Haunts

The world around you feels different now, lighter somehow. The air, the sand, the water lapping at your feet, even yourself. If it weren't for the large warm hand encapsulating your own, you might just float away on a cloud of pure elation. A part of you still can't believe it's finally happened. One minute, you're longing for Marcus' touch, second guessing his feelings for you and the next you're walking hand in hand along the warm shoreline with the feeling of his lips still imprinted on your own, an invisible brand that will forever remain. Marcus regards you from the corner of his eye, one side of his mouth ticking up in amusement. You know you're staring, observing him with a dopey lovestruck smile plastered on your face, but you can't help it- nor do you want to.

"What...?" Marcus laughs softly, turning his head fully to look down at you beside him. His gaze, tender and soft sends your stomach into a series of somersaults, the intensity of it all making you dip your head a little to hide the blush colouring your cheeks. You smile and release a little puff, part relief, part joy, part disbelief. "I was just thinking... about how much has changed since we first met. When I first saw you - I won't lie - you were terrifying. I was taught to believe Romans were some demonic entity that would take, torture and kill until the world was barren." Marcus remained silent, absorbing every word. "But they were wrong," you squeezed his hand, smiling up into his face. "I was wrong. And I've never been so happy to be wrong in all my life." Marcus' eyes crinkled, his warm smile softening his rugged features even more.

"You've shown me there's more than just good and bad in this world. There's a lot more in between and even when all seems lost, the most unlikly alliances can change everything. I'm so glad I met you, Marcus. You've come to mean so much to me." Marcus stopped and turned to face you, still holding your hand. "And you've shown me there's more to life than just duty. You've given me a more meaningful purpose." He gently cups you jaw with the other hand, his thumb stroking your cheek. "You are my purpose." Marcus leans down, capturing your lips with his again. His touch is like electricity, igniting goosebumps all over your body. Sighing, you sink into Marcus' arms as they wrap around your body, his tongue sliding past your lips to tease your own. If you could suspend time, you'd stay in this moment forever.

*****

The evening stretched into night, the edges of the sky clinging onto the last of the suns' rays, while directly above, the navy canopy slowly began to twinkle. On a marble bench in the garden you sit, head resting on Marcus' shoulder, your fingers entwined with his on your lap. It feels so strange to have this new level of intimacy with Marcus but at the same time it feels so right, as if it should have always been this way. Since the life changing revelations at the beach this morning, unfortunately, you and Marcus haven't had much time to talk. Upon returning to the villa, Marcus was called to an important meeting with the Vigiles (city watchmen) and Praetorian Guards and after dinner the Medicus arrived for Marcus' therapy appointment.

The reluctance in Marcus' eyes at being summoned matched your own, both of you eager to explore this newfound closeness without interruption. Alas, duty called. But now, in the stilness of the night and with the servents dissmissed, it's finally just the two of you, and the moment you've been awaiting with both nerves and hope. The air around you is charged with expectation, your heart hammering against your ribcage at the prospect of revealing the innermost and most vaulnerable parts of your heart. But the desire for Marcus to know you on a deeper level and in return, for you to know him cannot be ignored any longer.

"Marcus..." you begin, watching your thumb rub softly over the back of his hand, "I never imagined I would ever meet someone like you. Someone who I can just be myself with, who makes me feel safe and seen. When I'm with you I feel like I'm home. Like... you're my home." The emotion in your voice surprised even yourself as the weight of your words, spoken aloud for the first time really hit you. A pang of anxiety thudded in your chest, making you sit up straight. Maybe that was too much too soon. After all, you'd both admitted your feelings only hours ago and you don't want Marcus to feel any kind of pressue. But what happened next laid all your worries to rest; Marcus' thumb and forefinger gently brushed against your chin, tilting your head up. His eyes, soft and deep and reflecting the firelight of the nearby braziers, slowly traced every inch of your face, his lips curving up into a wide smile.

Your breath catches in your chest as Marcus looks at you in pure adoration. "You are a remarkable woman, Alia. I never thought I'd feel this way for anyone again, especially at this point in my life," Marcus paused, his eyes now solely focused on yours. "And when I least expected it, you came along and saved me in every way a man can be saved. I thank the gods every day for bringing you into my life." Marcus' thumb swiped your cheek and it's then you realised a tear had fallen. His gaze dropped to your mouth and he leaned in slowly, until his lips met yours. Warmth pooled low in your belly at his touch, his scent. Your arms, once again found their way around his neck, while Marcus' hands trailed down to your hips, pulling you against himself. His tongue, his taste, the warmth of his body... it's too much and not enough at the same time!

Memories of that night flood your mind. The night you gave into your lustful longing and came apart on fingers you'd imagined were Marcus'. A slow throb pulses between your legs, dampness coating your underwear and it takes all of your self control to not straddle his lap right here. While you are fighting to control your arousal, Marcus is also battling his own animalistic instincts, the insatiable need to claim you as his own. With great restraint, he slowly pulls away, tucking a loose lock of hair behind your ear. "You're so beautiful," he cooes breathily. Even in the flickering fire light your cheeks show the unmistakable evidence of a deep blush as you bashfully evade his gaze. Your obvious discomfort and unfamiliarity regarding compliments tugs at Marcus' heartstrings. Well, you're just going to have to get used to him singing your praises from now on. It's about time someone did.

"Thank you," you whisper, coyly. Laying your head back on Marcus' shoulder, a comfortable silence stretches between you both as you observe the stars. However, there had been one niggling worry at the back of your mind all day, one you don't want to bring up but must be addressed. "Marcus, I have to ask..." you lift your head back up, facing Marcus' questioning expression. "Is this really what you want?" Marcus' brow furrows but you continue, "I mean us, what is happening between us. There are many women of higher standing who would welcome your favour and, giving your station..." your voice trails off, throat tightening. "Alia," Marcus begins but you just can't stop.

"I don't ever want to bring shame upon you. I'm afraid being associated with me like that would disgrace you in the eyes of high society and I'm already living under your roof. What would people think if-" "Alia, stop," Marcus said sternly but with no real bite, cupping your face in his hands. The sincerity in his eyes made your heart stutter for a moment, your remaining words freezing in your throat. "You could never bring me shame! So don't ever speak so lowly of yourself again. I don't think you realise how much I care for you, and if anyone doesn't approve they can go to hell!" And by the gods he means it. Marcus is no fool, he knows if he were to take a wife he'd be expected to wed a woman of status, but as the general of Rome he has influence and privilege in every aspect of his life.

The only people who stand above him are the emperors themselves, but even they don't have the respect and admiration that many people - from senators to plebeians - hold for him. Even though many would not approve, they'd never voice their thoughts out loud, for fear of causing offence. Maybe for the first time ever, he appreciates the power he wields. And if the emperors have any objections - well, he'll cross that bridge when he comes to it. Your instant relief settles the tention in Marcus' chest. He presses a tender kiss to your forehead before releasing your face. "But you are right about one thing," Marcus agreed. "Our living situation. If it's discovered we're courting while sharing a home, it would be... scandalous, and I don't want you subjected to gossip and ridicule." "I'm not worried about myself, Marcus," you stressed. "I'm concerned about your reputation, your honour." Marcus takes ahold of your hand, his voice dropping to a soothing murmur. "You need not worry about me. I can take care of myself."

"Maybe..." you shift in your seat, brow still wrinkled with concern, "...we could jut keep this to ourselves for now?" After a moment of deliberation, Marcus nodded, "Okay." Then quickly added, "But know this, I'm not ashamed of you, of us. I'm only agreeing because I don't want to create a scandal that would forever follow you." With that reassurance made, you and Marcus remained in the garden a while longer, watching the sky darken while getting to know more of each other on a deeper level, with conversations of fond childhood memories and topics of personal interests. It was only when you began yawning that Marcus insisted it was time to retire. He walked you to the door of your bed chamber, and taking both your hands in his, pressed feather-light kisses to the backs of them both and bade you goodnight.

That same night at the Flavian Palace...

Julia and Macrinus sat in secluded council, the dim torch light dancing ominously across the walls of the concealed chamber in the bowles of the palace. "So, what information have you gathered so far?" Julia asked Macrinus, taking a sip of her wine. Macrinus sighed, "Not much more than we already know. My sources have spoken to a few of the soldiers who escorted them from Germania, but there wasn't anything of significance." Julia slumped in her seat, huffing in irritation. "They were observed in the market recently..." Macrinus continued, "...and they seemed to make quite the impression on the locals, almost as if she's some kind of inspiration or heroine to them." Julia's nose wrinkled in disgust. "Simple minded people are like sheep; easily lead, easily dispersed. It won't last. She's just a novelty right now."

"Mhm..." Macrinus agreed, taking a mouthful of wine. "My sources also noticed that Acacius and Alia appeared quite...familiar with one another, more so than you would expect from acquaintances." Julia sat up straight, her face hardening. "This is exactly what I was worried about. If that whore spreads her legs for him it could ruin everything we've worked so hard for all this time." "I think your worry is unfounded, My Lady. Even if there was something between them, how could it affect our plans? It's not like he could marry the girl, she's nothing in society, just one station up from a slave." Julia set her goblet down on the table with a little too much force. "Over confidence could be our downfall, Macrinus," she warned. "I won't leave anything to chance. And I won't let my sons die because Acacius succumbed to the charms of a seductress!"

"My Lady, that won't happen-" "Damn right it won't happen!" Julia stood and began pacing, her shoulders taut. "Because we are going to take care of her." Macrinus leaned forward in his seat, his casual demeanour becoming more serious. "And how do we do that? She's always by Acacius' side." "We'll find a way. If assassins can get to emperors, we can certainly get to a peasant girl." Macrinus leaned back, rubbing his jaw. "A simple plan just became a lot more complicated because of one woman," he grumbled, more to himself. Julia whirled to face him, determination etched onto her face.

"Worry not, Macrinus. I won't let her become more of a complication than she already is. People are becoming more angry and restless by the day and it's only a matter of time before they revolt and look to their General for leadership." Julia lifted her chin high, certainty creeping into her tone. "And as the wife of the new Emperor, I will be able to keep my sons' heads from rotting on spikes and ensure my families' continued rule with a new heir. So she must be eliminated, sooner rather than later." Macrinus stood to face Julia, now as determined as she is. "I agree, but we have to be smart about this. If we fail, I stand to loose too much." "Then we must not fail" Julia said, resolutely. "Both of our futures depend on this."

The last day of the games has arrived and truthfully, you're a little thankful; watching people die for sport still leaves you somewhat squeamish. The atmosphere is palpable today. Confirmation of long adored Gladiators returning for the grand finale of the games has the crowd whipped up into a frenzy. The most anticipated return was Flamma, a Syrian Gladiator of fierce reputation. Swords clashed, men died screaming and the mob hailed and applauded. After much bloodshed, the final fight arrived, the spectators cheering wildly as Flamma entered the arena. His opponent, a man of almost equal height but smaller build and wearing a helmet stood next to him as they respectfully acknowledged the emperors and then the fight began.

It was more brutal than the other fights - or maybe it seemed that way as it lasted much longer than the other ones. While one man was big and tall, the other, being leaner could move quicker, both men using their strengths to their advantage. You have to admit, their stamina is impressive and the longer they lasted the more frenzied the mob became. Even Geta and Caracalla were getting over excited, both cheering for Flamma. Marcus sat beside you, watching the scene with interest while remaining silent. But every now and then you would both lock eyes discreetly, offering small but warm smiles; an acknowledgement of the new, yet secret intimacy between you both. The fight continued for several more minutes, until Flamma drove his gladius through his opponent's lower left abdomin, the man falling onto all fours, his helmet dropping to the ground and blood spilling from his mouth.

The crowd erupted in chants of "Kill! kill! Kill!" with most people holding their thumbs down. Geta stood, arm outstretched to deliver the verdict. Just that one thumb down and the man's fate was sealed. Flamma stood behind the man, still on his hands and knees and his head hanging low. With a brutal tug, he pulled the mans' head back and placed his gladius across his neck. And that's the moment the ground shifted beneath your feet and time seemed to still. Every muscle in your body froze and your heart dropped to your stomach. You no longer saw a Gladiator bleeding out before you. The instant you saw his face, he dissappeared, Faro now in his place. His eyes, his hair colour, even the shape of his face was almost identical to the man you once loved. Tears burned your eyes, your breath coming in short bursts as your fingers tightened around the armrests of your chair.

It sounds as if your name is being called, but it sounds distant behind the ringing in your ears. You try to scream, try to beg and plead but it's useless; your voice remains as frozen as your limbs. Only when the mans' throat splits open and he slumps to the ground in a pool of blood do you regain function of your body. Hands flying to your mouth, they do little to stifle the wail that rips from your throat and you jump to your feet. You can barely feel your legs as you run from the Cubiculum and into the corridors of the Colosseum. Faces become a blur as you dart past the people milling about. Bile scorches your throat, blackness coating the edges of your vision. You can hold it no longer!

Flinging yourself into an alcove, you lean behind the life sized statue placed there and violently empty your stomach, tears streaming down your face. Your back hits the wall and your legs give out causing you to slump to the floor. With your chest constricting, it's near impossible to breathe but that doesn't stop the relentless sobs as the pit of despair you've tried so long to manage opens up once again threatening to swallow you, a chorus of "I'm sorry. I- I'm s- sorry, I'm s- so sorry!" spilling from your lips. Then you feel warmth on both of your cheeks. It takes a few moments to realise the warmth isn't from your tears but from a pair of large but gentle hands, the sudden feeling of skin on skin bringing you slowly back. Eyes opening, you're met with warm earthen brown eyes looking deeply into your own, concern and tenderness swirling in them.

The ringing in your ears subsides, replaced by the soothing, deep hum of Marcus' voice. "Alia? Alia, look at me. Come on, focus on me. It's okay. You're okay, I'm here, you're safe!" "M- Marcus!" you cried, falling into his chest. His arms wrap around you, one cupping the back of your head, the other moving up and down your back in soothing strokes as you weep uncontrollably into his solid frame. "Shhh... Shhh..." Marcus cooes gently. "It's okay, it's over. I've got you... Don't you people have anything better to do!" Marcus snapped suddenly, voice clear and full of authority. The unexpected outburst startled you slightly and when you looked up, it's to a small gathering of confused faces and low murmurs. Most of them dispersed at Marcus' rebuke but a few remained, gawping at you both shamelessly.

Humiliation scorches your cheeks. They saw it. They saw everything! You've shamed yourself and worse, you've shamed Marcus. "Alia..?" Marcus' voice pulls you from your thoughts. "Can you stand?" You nod meekly in reply. Marcus stands slowly, gripping your forearms firmly to help you to your feet. Once standing, he wraps an arm around your shoulders, pulling you into his side protectively and holds your hand in his other one. "Let's get you home," he whispers softly into your ear. "Move!" he growls to the bystanders who immediately make way as he leads you to the carriage.

*****

Marcus is at a complete loss. He still doesn't know what the hell just happened? One moment you're sitting beside him, seemingly unbothered and the next you look like you've seen a ghost. When he found you shaking and crying his heart almost fell to pieces. In all the time he's known you and everything you've been through together, he's never seen you look so destroyed, so tormented. Your raw vulnerability ignited something primal in him; a surge of intent to protect you, and not just from what ghosts still haunt you but from prying eyes. He can still feel the remnants of his anger as he casts his mind back to how people looked at you in your anguish. Guilt eats away at him. I should have done more. He'd hoped that once you were alone you'd unburden yourself; what he didn't expect was for you to shut down completely and that scares him more than anything.

He's seen too many times, with his men, the devastating impact traumatic experiences can have on the mind and he'll be damned if he lets that happen to you. He'd tried his best during the carriage ride to get something, anything out of you but all he received was silence and a blank stare, as if he wasn't even there. You'd muttered something about being tired upon arrival at the villa and have been locked away in your room ever since. Over the hours any attempts to get you to come out were futile. By dinner time Marcus was at the end of his tether. The lunch he'd personally delivered to your door remained untouched, meaning you hadn't eaten since breakfast. Concern and frustration churn inside him until he can't take it anymore.

"Alia...?" Marcus taps lightly on your door, trying the doorhandle again. Still locked. "Will you unlock the door?" he hums through the wood. Silence, except for the odd sniffle. Marcus pinches the bridge of his nose, summoning his remaining patience. "You've been in here all day. You haven't touched the food I left for you... Please, I'm really worried." The silence is suffocating! Sighing, Marcus pulls a ring of keys from his pocket. "If you won't unlock the door, I will," he warns as he fumbles to find the spare key for your chambers. Before he can find it, the door clicks and opens halfway. The sight before him guts him. Red rimmed eyes, heavy and puffy from crying rise to meet his, nose and cheeks blotchy and shoulders pulled inward, making you look small and fragile. Marcus' fingers twitch by his sides as he fights the urge to reach out and take you into his arms, afraid you'd not welcome his comfort right now.

"Hi, can I come in...?" he asked tentatively. "I'm tired, Marcus," you sigh, beginning to close the door but Marcus quickly presses his palm to it, holding it open. "Talk to me," he implores. "Whatever it is, just tell me. Let me help." "There's nothing you can do," you mumble sadly. Marcus exhales loudly. "Then at least come to dinner. You haven't eaten all day," he points to the tray of untouched food by your door. "I'm sorry... I'm not hungry," you shake your head, trying again to close the door. Marcus pushes it further open. "It wasn't a request," he spoke firmly, all softness now absent from his voice. He now has the commanding tone of a general and a stern look to accompany it. "I'm not going to allow you to starve yourself." When you just stare back at him, he crosses his arms, putting his foot against the door. "I could just bring the food up here and stay in this room until you eat." You exhale tiredly, mumbling "Okay," and follow him to the Triclinium.

The room is silent, heaviness pressing in from all directions, or maybe the heaviness just shrouds you; at this point it's hard to tell. The only sounds are the clinking of cutlery on the plates and the chirp of Cicadas through the open windows. Sitting in perpetual numbness, eyes cast down, you subconciously push the food around your plate with your fork, appitite non existent. The few mouthfuls you'd managed felt like a monumental task. And the whole time you could feel Marcus' eyes burning into you, watching your every move. "You need to eat more," he pressed gently. You remain silent. How can you eat when your stomach is in knots? When the guilt and shame of that day has now returned with a vengance. As unbearable as it is though, you know you deserve this - maybe as a sort of justice? After all, you're the reason your dearest friend is dead.

"Alia..." your gaze lifts to Marcus, sitting across the table. "You know you can tell me anything, no matter how terrible it is. I can't bare to see you hurting like this." You shake your head, lowering your eyes to your plate. "I can't," you whisper. Marcus turns his attention to Cassia and Flavia, who are standing by the wall. "You two can go." "Yes, Dominus," they reply and bow before leaving. "It's just us now," Marcus soothed. "I promise there's nothing you could say or do that could make me see you any differently, if that's what you're worried about." "You say that but if you knew..." your words trail off, voice catching in your throat. "Then tell me. Help me to understand-" "Marcus, please!" your head rears up, fork clutched in your hand. Snapping at Marcus was unintentional and you instantly regret it.

Softening your voice, you continue, "I know you mean well but please just... stop." Marcus observed you for a moment, the intensity in his features easing. "Okay.." he replied placatingly. "...But if and when you're ready to talk, know I'm here for you." Nodding, you give him a weak smile and stand. "I have a headache. I'm going to go lay down." It's obvious Marcus wants to say more but is holding his tongue for your sake. As you walk past him, you stop and lay your hand on his shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Thank you," you smile appreciativly hoping Marcus knows how grateful you are for his support. Marcus takes you hand in his and brings it to his lips, placing a soft kiss on your palm. "If you need anything..." "I know," you nod. "Goodnight, Marcus." "Goodnight, Alia."

*****

"No, please! It's my fault, let him go!" you scream, desperately fighting to rise from your knees, but strong hands hold you in place, forcing you to watch. Faro is on his knees in front of you, swaying unsteadily, blood and bruises littering his handsome face. He gives you a weak smile, his eyes showing acceptance of what is about to happen to him. The entire village has gathered to bare witness. Adhelm, joined by Kuno and Bardulf stand beside Faro, addressing the whole community. "This is what becomes of those who do not heed the rules. As you all now well, the punishment for this offense is death!" Adhelm declared in an icy tone. "No, I beg you, spare him. Punish me. It's all my fault!" Tears stream down you cheeks, stinging the cuts on your face.

Adhelm sharply turns his gaze to you, fire burning in his eyes. "You will be punished, you little whore..." he spat in disgust, "but first you will witness the consequences of your sordid actions." Adhelm nods at Bardulf, who draws his seax (dagger) and comes to stand directly behind Faro. Gripping him by his blond hair, Bardulf roughly pulls Faro's head back, exposing his neck. "My son!" a frantic screech errupts from the crowd as Faro's mother bursts forward, only to be restarined by Adhelms guards. "Mercy, mercy please! Don't kill him, he's just a boy!" You'll never forget the sound of a mother's grief as it sices through your heart. This is all your fault. You brought this wrath upon both of you. "He violated our law. Let this be a lesson to you all..."

Adhelm waved his hand at Bardulf to continue. Bardulf pressed the saex to Faro's throat, keeping his eyes on you the whole time. "Stoooop!" Your body automatically lunges forward in a last ditch attempt to free yourself but you are violently pulled back. This can't be happening. Not him, not Faro! With a sickening grin, Bardulf slowly drags his blade across your only friends' throat, blood gushing down his front. "Nooo! Faro! Arrrrgh!" The guttural scream that left you almost tore your vocal chords apart, scratching the insides of your throat raw. The men holding you let go of your arms, allowing you to crash to the ground. Your breaths are ragged and it feels like your lungs will collapse in on themselves any moment. You want to die too, you want to go with him! The sudden feeling of hands shaking you leaves you momentarily confused. No one is holding you. A voice you'd recognise anywhere calls out to you like a beacon in all this hell. It seems far away but it's unmistakable.

"Alia, wake up, wake up! Open your eyes!" Your eyes snap open and you shoot upright, chest heaving and skin clammy. There's no village, no screaming, no blood. Just a dimly lit room and the quiet of the night. Marcus is beside you, hands still grasping your arms. "It was just a dream," he assured you, his voice a low murmur. "You're safe." A gut wrenching sob broke free and you buried your face in your hands as years of guilt and heartache overflowed with your tears. "Hey, it's okay... Oh my sweet girl, just let it out," Marcus whispered softly as he took your trembling body into his arms, your head cradled against his chest. He pressed a lingering kiss to the top of your head and gently rocked you back and forth as you completely fell apart, your hands now gripping his tunic and tears soaking his clothes.

It took all his strength to keep his own emotions in check. Never has he heard such visceral despair from anyone in all his life and it has shaken him to his core. If it was possible, he'd happily draw all the pain and sorrow from your body and absorb it into his own so you'd never have to suffer like this ever again. For the hundredth time today, Marcus finds himself wondering just what horrors lurk in your past to affect you this severely, and if there's anything he can do to ease the torment. You don't know how long you've been tucked into Marcus' embrace but right now it's the only thing keeping you from losing your damn mind. His warmth, the rhythm of his heartbeat, his deep voice vibrating in his chest, the strength in his arms as they hold you with such tender care; it all grounds you, strengthens you, serves as an anchor in stormy waters.

He makes you feel safe and it's that assurance of safety that enables you to finally speak of that day. "It's all my fault," you whimper, almost like a whisper. "What is?" Marcus asked. "All of it. He's dead because of me." "Who?" Marcus cautiously prods. "I heard you calling for someone. Faro...?" At the mention of his name another wave of grief crashes over you, tears spilling again. "Tell me," Marcus encouraged you gently. "H- he was my best friend, my only friend. Even when everyone else turned against me he never did. H- he was the only good thing left in my life..." Marcus sat in silence, stroking up and down your arm, giving you all the time you needed. "When we grew older out relationship... changed. Adhelm forbade any man from courting and marrying me because he was afraid that any children I bore would be like me, a "Seer," you scoffed at the last word.

"So, we kept it a secret. We planned to leave the village when we were old enough, try to find another community far from our village," you paused, sniffling. "We weren't as careful as we thought. Someone discovered our relationship and..." you sigh, closing your eyes. "It's okay, take your time," Marcus hummed soothingly. With a shuddering breath, you continue, "He was exectued in front of the whole village and I was forced to watch. The man you fought by the river, Bardulf, he grinned at me while he slit his throat!" Another torrent of tears began to fall. "God's above!" Marcus cursed, holding you tighter. "I- I loved him and I got him killed!" "No!" Marcus declared, cupping your cheek and forcing you to look up into his face, fury flashing in his eyes. "This is not your fault! You didn't get him killed. They did it. You're not responsible for their actions, do you hear me?"

"I was selfish," you lamented. "If I hadn't got involved with him like that he'd still be alive." "You're not selfish for loving somone. Dangerous or not he chose to be with you, which says a lot about how much you meant to him," Marcus pointed out, hoping his words can help ease your pain. "I'm so sorry this happened to you, neither of you deserved that," he pressed another kiss to your temple. "And you never should have had to carry this guilt around with you. How can I help you?" Marcus whispered. "Just you being here helps," you answer, burying your face in his neck, breathing in his scent. "Thank you." Marcus sighed, "You don't have to thank me, sweetheart. This is what I'm here for; to take care of you." Marcus felt your shoulders relaxing as your breathing calmed a little. "Could you... um... never mind," You sheepishly shake your head. "Could I what? What do you need?" Marcus coaxed you delicately.

Your gaze meets his again, your bottom lip worried between your teeth. "Could you... stay with me?" Marcus' brows raised in surprise. "Just until I fall asleep," you quickly clarify. "I... I don't want to be alone," your words left you in a whisper filled with exhaustion and defeat, the sounds a crushing weight in Marcus' chest. "Of course I will." He laid down on his back, opening his arms to you. You didn't hesitate to snuggle into his warm body. Marcus held you securely, peppering kisses to your forehead and whispering reassurances until your breathing shallowed and you finally fell asleep. He stayed for a time while you slept fitfully in his arms, occasionally stirig and whimpering and each time he sooted your troubled mind by holding you closer and gently whispering "Shhh". Damn these people. Damn all of them! he seethed inwardly. If there's any justice in this world the god's would strike them dead for what they've done to you. The only comfort now is knowing hundreds of miles seperate you from them and they'll never get to hurt you again.

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[misswynters]

Chance Meeting in Oldtown

Daeron Targaryen x reader

[WARNING: none

[word count: 561

[a/n: harry gilby fan casted as daeron since we have no daeron currently (pretend in the gif he has white hair)

[note | pls don’t just like, reblog & give me feedback. i don’t want to get shadowbanned

The bustling streets of oldtown were alive with the sounds and smells of the market. As the daughter of House Baratheon, you had visited many cities, but Oldtown's unique charm always drew you in. Today, you wandered through the maze of stalls, your curiosity piqued by the variety of goods and the stories behind them.

As you admired a delicate piece of jewelry at one of the stalls, you felt a presence beside you. Turning, you found yourself face-to-face with a young man of striking Targaryen features: silver hair, violet eyes, and an air of quiet confidence. He smiled, a warm and genuine expression that immediately put you at ease.

"Admiring the crafts of Oldtown?" he asked, his voice smooth and melodic.

You returned his smile, nodding. "Yes, they're quite beautiful. The artisans here are very talented."

He extended a hand in greeting. "I am Daeron Targaryen. It's a pleasure to meet you, my lady."

You took his hand, a bit surprised by the informal introduction. "I am ____ Baratheon. The pleasure is mine, Prince Daeron.”

Daeron's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "What brings a Baratheon to Oldtown? Seeking knowledge at the Citadel, or perhaps just enjoying the sights?"

"A bit of both, actually," you replied. "I find the history and culture here fascinating. And what about you, My prince? What brings you to the market today?"

He laughed softly, a sound that was both charming and disarming. "Sometimes, it's nice to escape the confines of the keep and see the world through the eyes of its people. Plus, I have a fondness for exploring new places."

You found yourself drawn into conversation with him, his easygoing nature and genuine interest making the time pass quickly. As you walked together through the market, you shared stories of your respective houses, your hopes for the future, and your thoughts on the state of the realm.

At one point, Daeron paused at a stall selling rare books. He picked up a worn, leather-bound volume and handed it to you. "Here, a gift. This book contains some of the oldest legends of Westeros. I think you might enjoy it."

You accepted the book, touched by the gesture. "Thank you, Daeron. I will treasure it."

As the afternoon sun began to set, casting a warm glow over the city, Daeron turned to you with a thoughtful expression. "It has been a pleasure spending the day with you, ____ . I hope we can meet again."

You smiled, feeling a connection with the Targaryen prince that you hadn't expected. "I would like that very much, Daeron."

He took your hand once more, this time pressing a gentle kiss to your knuckles. "Until we meet again, my lady."

As Daeron walked away, you couldn't help but watch him go, a sense of anticipation and curiosity filling your heart. The chance meeting in Oldtown had been brief, but it left you with the feeling that it was only the beginning of something significant.

࣪⠀⊹  ˑ  ִ  ֗  

Back in your chambers that evening, you opened the book Daeron had given you. As you turned the pages, you couldn't help but wonder what the future held for you and the enigmatic prince you had met in the heart of Oldtown.

© misswynters ‘24 - don’t modify or steal my writings

[deadbiwrites]

This is for the lovely @ekingston who yeeted me at her multi-fandom flash challenge!

I spun the magic wheels and got "Action + On a Flight + Scarred Knuckles + Second Chance Romance" as my guidelines, and I gave it a go with SuperCorp (because they still live utterly rent-free in my mind)- really hope y'all enjoy!

(It's called 'Flight')

It’s almost too late, by the time Superwoman arrives on the scene. 

She’d been all the way uptown, handing a Maaldorian their own ass on a platter with the assistance of Dreamer when she’d heard the yelp, then the scream.

And she knew that scream.

She rips up through the air, and she can already hear J’onn and Alex complaining about the cost of the broken windows the DEO will be footing the bill for as she nears supersonic speeds, and pushes, pushes herself to get there faster, faster, faster, and-

There. There she is.

Falling from a balcony. Again.

If she wasn’t scared nearly breathless, Kara would laugh.

She flips midair, shooting down under the falling woman, and gets her arms scooped under her knees and back before slowly decelerating the fall.

She can hear the snort as Lena realizes what’s just happened.

“Miss Luthor, we really must stop meeting like this,” Kara murmurs, fighting a smile.

“Oh, I don’t know,” Lena demures, heart still racing despite the wry smirk. “I think it keeps things exciting, Superwoman.”

“I could do with less excitement when it comes to you,” Kara says, landing them both safely on a nearby rooftop.

Lena huffs a laugh as she settles back onto her own two feet (one of which is conspicuously bare). Kara can tell that she’s badly rattled, with the way she half staggers to sit on the roof. Wordlessly, Kara sinks down beside her and extends a hand, and Lena latches onto it with a shuddering breath. “Thank you, Kara,”

Kara gives it a gentle, grounding squeeze. “Always.” They’re quiet for a few minutes as Lena’s heart rate returns to the realm of normal. “So what happened?”

Lena chuckles. “Would you believe that I slipped?”

“Slipped. Off of…?”

“The balcony.”

“Ah. And, how did you slip off of the balcony?”

“I really don’t want to tell you,” Lena chuckles. “You’ll never let me hear the end of it.”

“Probably so,” Kara agrees, flopping dramatically onto her side as Lena shoves her playfully. “Well now that you’ve assaulted me, I feel like I earned the right to know. C’mon, out with it.”

“God, you’re ridiculous,” Lena grumbles. Finally, she sighs. “My shoes are new, I hadn’t worn them before, and they’re… a bit uncomfortable. So I was leaning over to take them off, I thought that maybe the cool concrete would help, and-” She looks almost pained. “Well there’s been a bird with a nest, out on my balcony…”

Kara claps her free hand over her mouth to stifle a snort, keeping the other firmly interlocked with Lena’s even when she tries to shake her off. “Nooooo…”

Lena sighs, very put-upon. “The bird startled me, I jumped, then I stumbled and fell backwards over the wall.”

“Golly,” Kara giggles. “You really do have all the worst luck, Miss Luthor.”

Lena hums thoughtfully. “Oh, I don’t know. It did end with me in the arms of National City’s favorite hero. Holding her hand, even.” Her thumb swipes across Kara’s knuckles, more scarred than the last time their fingers were laced like this. “I wouldn’t say that that’s bad luck.”

If Kara could blush, she would. “Why Miss Luthor, what will people say?”

“What they always did, probably,” Lena muses. She peers over at Kara. “Why didn’t we ever do anything about that, Superwoman?”

“You know why,” Kara sighs. “It wasn’t safe, for either of us.”

Lena hums a low, contrary note. “Who said that?”

“The smartest person I’ve ever met,” Kara chuckles. “You.”

“I seem to recall you saying much the same,” Lena says, thumb still swiping patterns over the back of Kara’s hand. She stares into the distance, squinting against the fading light. 

“I did, because you were right. It’d be a big risk, all the time.”

“Yeah.”

“Yeah.”

They can leave it here, again. Kara knows that they can keep that distance that keeps them both just that much safer, just like they always have. They can continue weaving in and out of each other’s lives forever, keeping close enough while never going where they long to be.

“Although,” Lena says thoughtfully. “I don’t suspect that the bird today was a shapeshifting alien. Or a supervillain.”

Kara’s heart starts a steady uptick in rhythm. “Probably not an agent of a business rival, either. Or an assassin hired by either of our families.”

“Mother is creative, but typically reserves her post-mortem assassination attempts for special occasions, like bank holidays or my birthday.”

“And the one on April Fool’s Day- that one was especially good.”

“Oh, I found out that was Lex, actually.”

“Oh, that makes more sense. I couldn’t see your mom celebrating April Fool’s Day, even with a hitman dressed as a clown.”

Lena snorts at the memory. “I still don’t understand how he got past security. Though the baton disguised as a balloon animal was a nice touch.” She sobers a bit and looks intently over at Kara. “My point is, I could get killed by a stray bullet, or a car crash, or a hitman clown, or a fucking bird. Or… it could be because of who we are. But…”

“But?” Kara prompts softly, heart in her throat.

“But, with 10 long years of perspective, you- we- would be worth the risk,” Lena says, eyes locked with Kara’s. Her hand shakes slightly in Kara’s, but her grasp stays sure. “I don’t want to die. But I certainly don’t want to die regretting that I let myself miss out on you because we were afraid.”

Kara’s gaze darts between her eyes, and when she doesn’t see an ounce of anything but warmth and longing and love, she stops hesitating, leans forward, and meets Lena in the middle as she leans in too.

And after the years and years and years Kara Danvers has spent wondering what it’d be like to kiss Lena Luthor, even just one time, she finally finds out. 

And it’s like coming home.

[aphroditesradiance]

☆𝓐𝓮𝓶𝓸𝓷𝓭 𝓣𝓪𝓻𝓰𝓪𝓻𝔂𝓮𝓷 𝓧 𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭𝓮𝓻☆

The war tore through the skies like a cursed song—wings of fire, dragons shrieking above castles and fields, and blood staining the cobblestones of once-proud halls. It was not a war of strangers. It was a war of kin.

And in the very heart of it, she loved him.

Princess Y/n Velaryon, daughter of Rhaenyra Targaryen, named heir to the Iron Throne, dragonrider of Vhaelyx, a she-dragon with wings like shadowed moonlight—was bound to Aemond Targaryen by something older than thrones, older than war.

By love. By fate. By doom.

They met in secret, long before war turned brother against brother.

It had started with a stolen moment in the Red Keep, when both had been children—she visiting under the pretense of peace, and he nursing quiet rage behind his single violet eye. She had not feared him, not even then. In truth, she had found him… fascinating.

Their true meetings began years later, just before the war broke.

In Dragonstone’s skies and Driftmark’s shores, they crossed paths with wary curiosity. Aemond on Vhagar, monstrous and eternal. Y/n on Vhaelyx, sleek and agile. Their dragons circled each other in midair, a dance of challenge—and unspoken understanding.

“What is this, Princess?” he asked her once atop the cliffs of Blackwater Bay. “A threat? Or a courtship?”

She had tilted her head, eyes burning silver in the moonlight. “Would it matter if it were both?”

Aemond had smirked. “Then let us burn the world.”

But neither truly believed they would be forced to. Not then.

The first battle came swift and brutal.

Blood had been drawn—Lucerys was dead. Vhagar’s maw had swallowed him in a storm of lightning and grief, and Aemond… Aemond had changed.

When next Y/n saw him, it was across the battlefield.

Dragon to dragon. Brother to sister. Lover to lover.

He should have burned her from the sky. Instead, he held Vhagar back, pulling her away at the last moment as Vhaelyx shrieked defiance and scorched the trees below.

Their love had become treason. A curse. A crack in the foundation of the war itself.

They met again at Harrenhal.

Neutral ground. Broken ground.

Y/n came cloaked in shadows, Vhaelyx waiting in the woods beyond the towers. Aemond stood in the ruined hall with his sword unsheathed.

“I shouldn’t have come,” she said, her voice low.

“I prayed you would,” he answered.

There were no declarations, no vows. Just hands grasping at armor clasps, desperate lips bruising with longing, and soft gasps swallowed in the dead of night. They were fire and fury, guilt and desire. They were born for war and found peace only in each other’s arms.

“You’ll be the death of me,” he whispered into her hair.

“Then let it be gentle,” she murmured.

But there was no gentleness in war.

She returned to Dragonstone bearing more than secrets—she bore guilt.

Rhaenyra’s eyes searched hers, always too sharp, too knowing.

“You’ve seen him,” her mother said one night. “Aemond.”

Y/n didn’t deny it. “I would never betray you.”

“No. But you may break in the process.”

Her mother did not forbid her. That was worse. That meant Rhaenyra knew it could not be stopped.

The war escalated.

King’s Landing became the crown jewel both sides bled for. Smoke choked the skies. More dragons died—Seasmoke, Meleys, Tyraxes. The dragonpit was no longer sanctuary. It was a tomb.

And still they met.

On storm-lashed cliffs, in forgotten ruins, in the shadow of their dying world.

“Run with me,” he begged her once. “We could fly east. Beyond the Free Cities. Beyond all of this.”

“And leave them all to die?” she asked. “Would you abandon your mother?”

His silence was answer enough.

And yet, in her heart, she wanted it—freedom. Peace. A life without thrones or crowns.

But war did not grant mercy.

It was the Battle at Rook’s Rest that shattered everything.

Rhaenys fell. Her dragon, Meleys, was torn from the sky by Vhagar and Sunfyre. And when Y/n returned from the north with Vhaelyx, too late to aid them, she saw it—her kin, burning. Her people, dying.

Something broke inside her.

When she saw Aemond next, there was no embrace. Only silence.

“You let her die,” she said.

“I followed orders.”

“You followed Aegon.”

He didn’t deny it. “He is my king.”

“And I am your what, Aemond?” she demanded. “Your enemy? Your whore?”

“No,” he said. “You are my heart.”

But the words were ash on her tongue.

She left him there, in the snow, sword in hand. She didn’t look back.

Months passed. Death came to all—Daemon, Helaena, Rhaenyra’s other children. Even her mother was swallowed by betrayal and fire in King’s Landing.

And through it all, Y/n rose.

The last dragonrider of her house. The Queen in exile. The heir without a mother.

But she was not alone.

He came to her in secret, bleeding and broken after the fall of Aegon. The city was rubble. The crown lay in pieces. No victor. Only survivors.

“I have nothing left,” he said.

“You have me,” she answered.

And for the first time in years, they let themselves believe in something more.

Together, they flew.

Vhaelyx and Vhagar, scarred and weary, soared toward the Vale, where Y/n’s last supporters remained. Not as enemies. As a new order.

“I want no throne,” Aemond said.

“Then kneel beside me, not before me.”

He did.

And when they came to the gates of the Eyrie, hand in hand, dragonfire lighting the dawn behind them, the people knelt—not to a conqueror. But to a queen who had survived.

Epilogue — Two Years Later

Peace was fragile, but it held.

The war had burned itself out. The dragons—fewer now—still roamed the skies, but no longer at war with one another.

Queen Y/n Targaryen ruled from Dragonstone, not with fear, but with purpose. By her side, not as king, but as consort and protector, stood Aemond Targaryen.

He had changed.

The rage had quieted. The eye no longer burned with hatred, but with love, with loyalty, with something like hope.

Children played in the halls now—silver-haired and strong, chasing each other down the steps where once only shadows lingered.

Vhaelyx and Vhagar nested high in the cliffs, watchful, eternal.

And sometimes, when the moon was full and the stars danced over the sea, Y/n would stand with Aemond on the edge of the cliff and whisper, “We should’ve died in that war.”

And he would say, “We did. But we were reborn.”

Together.

Always.

Words- 4017

[justwosoimagines]

Silent Sidelines

Pairing: Kelley O'hara x F!Reader, Natasha Romanoff (Mother) x F!Reader (Daughter), Wanda x Natasha, Carol (brief) x F!Reader, Tony Stark (Father) x F!Reader (Daughter) Warnings: trauma, age gap (F!Reader is in her early 20's and her lovers in their late 20's and early 30's), angst. Wordcount: 3231. A/N: So, I'm trying to ease back into writing and this is my first try, my idea is to be a two or three chapter fic with something I thought of some years ago. Let me know what you think. Fic mastelist

Life is not as easy as it once was for me, but that doesn't mean I don’t enjoy what I have now.

To most people, you could say I’m living a dream — and actually, that’s true. I’m living the dream that a lot of little girls have while growing up in the US after the '99 Women’s World Cup. I’m a promising soccer star for the National Team, even though I’m still college-aged, and I have a gorgeous girlfriend who supports me and stands by my side every step of the way.

So why do I feel so... lost?

I don’t even know if lost is the right word to describe what I’m feeling, you know? I have a 3.8 GPA at Stanford University. I’m their top striker. I’m also a striker for the USWNT. By any measure, I have what people would call the perfect life.

The only problem is: I don’t really have it.

I’m living day by day, constantly waiting for the moment when everyone will find out that I’m a fraud. I’m terrified of losing everything I’ve built here — my future, my love, my life in California.

“I love watching the sunset with you,” Kelley O’Hara, my girlfriend, says, looking into my eyes. I smile and rest my head on her shoulder.

It’s the kind of moment that doesn’t need a reply.

Watching the sunset with her, while the waves break gently on the shore, is pure peace. I glance at her — she’s smiling softly, eyes nearly closed. I breathe in her scent, and in an instant, I’m wrapped in a bubble of love.

Meeting Kelley was one of the best things that happened to me last year. I met her on my first day at USWNT camp, and she was… something else. She brought peace into my chaos. When I’m with her and she cracks a joke, it’s like nothing else matters. She makes me feel safe.

Kelley has been my anchor since day one. I love how full of herself she is — in the best way. She’s confident. She knows her power and how to use it. She’s smart and kind. Sweet and attentive. She’s everything I ever dreamed of.

She hands me a cup of cinnamon coffee, and I breathe it in. That comforting smell means everything to me.

Coffee became our thing. We learned how to use different machines and savor different blends together. It was our silent “I love you.” Every time we brewed a cup, it felt like home.

“You’re so quiet today,” she says, drawing circles on my arm with her fingers.

“I’m thinking about ghosts from my past.”

Her breath catches. It’s rare for me to bring up my past — and I know it makes her a little sad. Not in a needy or obsessive way, but because she genuinely cares. She’s patient. She waits.

“This next camp… in New York… I’m not sure it’s a good idea for me to go. It’s been years since I left, and I don’t know if I’m ready to be back.”

“I know it can be hard to return to a place you once called home. I don’t think it’ll be easy, but I’ll be with you through it all.”

“Thanks, Kell.”

I wish I could tell her why I’m so afraid to go back to New York.

I wish I could explain why I don’t want to see my parents again — or the people they call family.

But I can’t.

I can’t tell her anything because it’s classified. That was my deal with Nick Fury. He promised to erase my existence if I never talked about my past.

And at the time, that felt like a pretty good deal for a broken young adult desperate to cut ties with the only life she’d ever known.

(…)

“You know, I’ve always loved New York,” Alex Morgan tells me. She found me on the hotel rooftop, staring out at the city lights. “I love how it’s so similar to California — full of possibilities and dreams — and yet so different at the same time.”

“Do you want to live here someday?”

“No, I don’t think it’s the kind of city where you settle down and build a family. My plan is to live with Serv in Florida. We’re building our home there, near a lake in Fort Lauderdale.”

She smiles, lost in thought, her eyes full of tenderness — the kind that makes me long to have something like that with Kelley someday.

“But you grew up here, right? What was it like?” Alex asks.

“Oh.” Her question pulls me back to a time when I still believed in a better world — a world where everything was possible, where anything could be made real. “It was... a lot.”

“A lot?” She leans on the parapet, giving me space but still waiting for more.

“Yeah. I mean… my parents — they were, they are — something else. They worked 24/7. Always fighting some internal or external battle. Sometimes, they were so consumed by fear that they forgot how to actually be parents. I grew up hearing all the things I wasn’t allowed to do... while watching them do those very same things.”

I stop looking at her and glance toward the street below. A mural catches my eye — street art of Black Widow and Iron Man painted on a nearby wall — and I let out a soft scoff.

“Sometimes, when everything got to be too much, I’d run away and go there.” I point toward the mural. "In my early teens, it was my place. A place to feel and create — to pour myself into art.”

“Wow. You don’t talk about your parents much,” she says, eyes still on the mural. “Are they coming to the game next week?”

“No. And yeah... I don’t really talk about them.”

I don’t answer the second part of her question because, truthfully, I don’t think they even know I’m in the city.

We haven’t spoken since the day I left — while they were off on yet another “work” trip I wasn’t allowed to go on.

The rooftop door swings open, and I smell her perfume before I see her. I smile.

“There you two are,” Kelley says, wrapping her arms around me. “The girls are waiting for us. Team bonding time.”

“Well, let’s go then,” Alex says, shooting me a look before walking ahead.

Kelley laces her fingers with mine and leans closer. “Everything okay?”

I just nod.

(…)

“So today we’re doing media day,” you hear your coach say, standing in front of the team.

The girls cheer — they love media day. You, on the other hand, are already thinking of ways to get out of it. But before your brain can come up with a good excuse, the coach keeps talking:

“This time, we’re doing things a little differently. As you probably know, the Avengers aren’t exactly enjoying the best public image right now, so they asked if we could help them out with some PR.”

And just like that, your stomach drops.

They know.

They know you’re in New York.

They know you’re with USWNT.

And now, after all these years, you’re going to have to face them again.

Because there’s no way out of media day if it involves the Avengers — not with the Federation watching.

“Oh my God!” Sonnett screams. “We’re meeting Earth’s Mightiest Heroes?! How’s this gonna work, coach?”

“Great question, Emily. So, they’ve got a soccer field at the compound — well, technically the Tower. They’ve invited us over to do a tour, play some soccer, show off some tricks... we’ll also be doing interviews.”

“WE’RE GOING TO THE AVENGERS TOWER!” Mal Pugh screams this time.

You let your head drop onto the table with a groan. Nobody thinks anything of it — you always get grumpy on media day.

“Alright girls,” the coach continues. “Wrap up coffee in ten minutes max, we’re heading out in thirty.”

You glance at Kelley. There’s sorrow in your eyes, and though she doesn’t fully understand it, she doesn’t ask questions either. She knows something’s wrong — and she trusts you’ll talk when you’re ready.

Just before you leave the dining area, you lean into her and whisper,

“I’m sorry for today.”

And she squeezes your hand.

(…)

On the bus ride to the Tower — your old home — the girls are hysterical, talking loudly about who will get to interview who. Emily is already making plans to join the Avengers. Even Becky jokes that she wants to try lifting Thor’s hammer.

You sit in silence, your eyes occasionally drifting to the window, to the road you’ve taken countless times — driving, running, flying. You know the way like the back of your hand, and yet, you feel like a stranger to it.

Kelley sits beside you and wraps you in her arms.

“What did you mean when you said you’re sorry, baby?”

“I don’t want you to find out with the others,” you say quietly. “I already know them. I lived there for a long time… before moving to California.”

“What?” Her surprise is clear.

“I’m sorry I never told you. It’s just… that part of my life is something I’ve tried to forget.”

“So… were you some kind of Avenger?” she asks playfully, a small smile forming as she tries to lift the weight from your chest. “Did you go on missions? Have a superpower or something?”

She laughs and tickles you, and you can’t help but laugh too.

“Stop it, Kel!”

You take a deep breath.

“I don’t want to talk about it right now. I just… if something goes wrong, or if they act like they used to — the way I remember — I don’t want you to be surprised along with everyone else. I don’t want you to feel like I betrayed you.”

“Y/n,” she says, cupping your cheek, her voice steady. “Even if you hadn’t told me a single thing, I still wouldn’t feel betrayed. I love you, no matter what. And if any of them make you uncomfortable — powers or not — I’ll kick their asses.”

Her voice is calm but fierce. She means it.

Your eyes shine with unshed tears, but instead of crying, you lean in and kiss her softly.

“I love you too, Kel.”

(…)

Arriving at the tower, you were met by none other than Pepper Potts at the entrance, flanked by two men and one woman in black suits. You found it funny that she was acting like a public relations officer now. The media staff from the team were the first to get off the bus, setting up cameras to record everyone’s arrival.

“You okay?” Kelley asked you before either of you had the chance to stand up and leave the bus.

“I’ll be okay, Kel. Try to enjoy this—I think you’ll like it,” you replied, preparing to step into your old home.

Everyone gathered in front of Pepper while you stayed back, trying to go unnoticed by the people you once knew. Behind Pepper stood Maria Hill, Deputy Director of SHIELD—and your mentor for a few years.

“Welcome to Avengers Tower, girls. Today we’ve prepared some fun activities for you, including a tour of the tower, a little soccer match, and a Q&A session with the Avengers. I’m Pepper Potts, CEO of Stark Industries, and as you all know, since Stark Industries is one of the primary funders of the tower, I’ll be guiding you through the tour alongside some of the Avengers.”

After Pepper explained the day’s schedule, everyone was led to the security area to be granted access to the tower. With a group of almost forty people, you managed to avoid drawing attention to yourself—although Maria Hill was glancing at you more often than you’d have liked.

Kelley stayed by your side as much as possible, like a bodyguard, and Alex, sensing something was off, joined you as well—mirroring her best friend. You were grateful for them. It looked good for the media, as if you were interacting with your teammates, and it helped your sanity too—so you didn’t have to speak to any of the Avengers or SHIELD staff.

“Now we’re entering the perimeter of the tower. From here on, we have triple surveillance to guarantee the safety of our weapons, technology, and personnel,” Pepper said with her usual polished tone. You knew she was downplaying things. The team didn’t, so they were understandably in awe of everything around them.

“Pepper, how many floors does the tower have?” Alyssa Naeher asked, curiosity in her voice.

“93 floors in the main tower,” Pepper answered. The girls all looked a bit shocked. “So, to really start our tour, we’ll be separating you into four groups so you can enjoy it more and ask questions. Anyone want to help me divide the groups?”

“Yes,” the coach said, stepping up. “Alright girls, the staff will be split into two groups, and the captains and keepers will go with them. As for the rest, the ten names I call will be in one group, and the others in a second group, okay? Kelley, Alex, Y/N, Emily, Lindsey, Mal, Christen, Tobin, Sam, and Rose—you’re one group.”

“Okay, let’s head to the conference room. Each group will start their tour from there with a guide,” Pepper said, beginning to walk into the building for real now. That made you catch your breath—because you knew a very gossipy, nosy AI was already watching.

(…)

You were overwhelmed, to say the least. On the walk to the conference room, you saw too much. For the girls, it was just a lot of new information and some crazy tech. But for you, it was your past life. The paintings on the walls, the tech you helped develop at some point, the corridors you used to wander when you felt pressured, when you felt trapped.

Kelley noticed you were starting to freak out—over-breathing, scanning every wall. She also noticed how your posture had shifted, more rigid, like that of a soldier. Very similar to the woman standing next to Pepper, whose identity they didn’t yet know. Being back in what you once called home was messing with you, and Kelley could feel it.

“Do you want to go to the bathroom or get out of here? I can say you’ve got a headache or something,” she whispered into your ear, wrapping one arm around your shoulder and pulling you close as you walked.

“It’s just a lot, Kel. I just need a minute to breathe,” you told her, catching Hill watching the interaction with interest. She quirked an eyebrow when she saw you notice.

“WOW,” Alex said as you entered the conference room.

The place looked like something out of a sci-fi movie—a futuristic hall filled with holograms, screens, and every kind of tech imaginable. A group of people stood around a table, chatting over some maps. You recognized them instantly. The people you once called family. The same people who shattered the person you once were.

The Avengers stopped talking as soon as the team entered the room. With a simple motion of his fingers, Tony made the maps disappear. Standing there were Tony Stark, Natasha Romanoff, Steve Rogers, Bruce Banner, Clint Barton, Wanda Maximoff, Thor, and Carol Danvers—the world’s most famous heroes, standing right in front of you all.

“Guys, meet the Avengers,” Pepper said, stepping forward to break the silence.

“I think they broke,” you heard Maria whisper to Natasha, who chuckled softly.

The girls were clearly trying not to scream, and you could see it. So could the Avengers. Being Tony, he decided to break the tension and steal the spotlight.

“Welcome to Avengers Tower. I hope Pepper’s treated you well. As you may know, I’m Tony Stark—or Iron Man, if you prefer.” And just like that, he called his suit and began suiting up right in front of everyone.

You rolled your eyes at him showing off.

“OMG!” Sonnett said, flabbergasted. “I wanna be just like him! Tony, can I try a suit?”

“Of course not, Emily,” Becky replied, amused.

“Yes, kid, unfortunately I can’t let any of you try one. After all, they’re weapons—dangerous ones. But I can let you try to lift Thor’s hammer before we start the tour,” Tony offered, and the girls went wild. Thor looked a bit uneasy about it but eventually called Mjolnir over.

“Okay, ladies, who’s trying first?” Thor asked, while the Avengers watched the chaos unfold, clearly amused.

“Me,” Alex said. She walked to the center of the room, where the hammer sat on a table, and tried to lift it. It didn’t move. Pinoe laughed and tried next—with the same result.

“Come on, I know I can lift it,” Becky said, but she couldn’t budge it either. After several minutes of laughing and failed attempts, the only one who hadn’t tried was you.

You weren’t going to. You tried to stay quiet. But Mal saw you, nudged Rose, who told Sam, who told Emily—and Emily never backed down from a challenge.

“Your turn, Y/N. I know you’re stronger than us, but can you lift it?” she said.

“Uh...” You lowered your eyes, trying to stay invisible to certain heroes. “I don’t think I’ll manage it either.”

“Now, now, Lady Y/N—you must try,” Thor said, and your heart clenched. You missed him. Thor wasn’t always around when you were growing up, caught up in Asgardian duties, but he was one of your anchors when you were drowning.

“I don’t know...” you said again, trying to deflect.

“Y/N! Y/N! Y/N!” The girls started chanting your name. Before it could escalate further, you stood up—finally peeling yourself away from the chair you’d nearly melted into. Kelley squeezed your hand as if to say, You’re okay. I’m here.

You knew things would get even weirder after this.

You walked to the front and stopped in front of Thor. Looking into his eyes, you tried to show how much you missed him. He pulled you into a hug, and the girls screamed—he hadn’t hugged anyone else. A tear threatened to fall, but you wiped it away on his shirt.

You spotted Carol—the only other Avenger you still trusted. She smirked, silently challenging you to lift the hammer. You knew she’d come close once. Steve tensed slightly; he knew you, and he feared what you were capable of.

You looked at the girls, then the Avengers. You placed your hand on the hammer, steadying it—and then, as if it weighed nothing, you lifted it. Effortlessly.

You grinned, flashing a victorious smile at Carol and Thor before walking over to Kelley with Mjolnir in hand.

“See, baby? I think I’m the new Asgardian Queen, huh?” you said playfully.

The other Avengers were visibly unsettled. The girls couldn’t believe what they were seeing. Kelley laughed with you.

“Only if I can be by your side, my queen,” she replied, giving you a quick kiss. The two of you took a selfie, Mjolnir included.

Thor approached you, pride glowing in his expression. He didn’t say much — he knew better. He simply said it was a rare thing and that you were worthy. You smiled but couldn’t bring yourself to look at Natasha or Tony — your so-called parents — who now looked completely out of place.

[kabsey]

Birds of a Feather

A little something for Bellara Week. Because she deserves it.

-------

When the team traveled to Treviso, Bellara always marveled at the way Rook flew across the rooftops, effortlessly leaping from balcony to balcony as if she had a pair of spectral wings of her own. And it's not that she was any less graceful in the forest. Her footsteps were just as silent on dirt paths as cobblestone streets, and she fought off Guardians just as easily as Antaam or Venatori. But there were some hazards of Arlathan that Rook was just not prepared for.

Which was how they wound up sitting in a sunny clearing while Bellara painstakingly worked the chunks of sap from Rook's long hair. Rook's ill-advised tree lean provided a nice excuse for a break. The weather was warm—almost too warm for trekking Arlathan's paths while dressed in armor. Bellara and Rook had stripped down to their shirts and trousers—Davrin had ditched his shirt along with his armor—and they were all enjoying the chance to feel the slight breeze against their skin.

"Is this what it's like growing up in a clan?" Rook asked, a grin in her voice. "Prancing around the woods with your friends half-naked?"

Bellara snorted. She cast an ice spell on a stubborn bit of sap with one hand as she chipped at it with the comb in the other.

"Well, I don't know about prancing. There's usually a lot of work to do. And sometimes the weather's lousy, but you have to be out in it anyway."

She looked over to the other side of the clearing, where Davrin and Assan were playing, and smiled.

"But sometimes it is like this. Those are the nice parts of clan life."

"It is nice," Rook agreed quietly. Then, never one to lapse into seriousness for too long, she cupped one hand to her mouth and called, "And not just because Davrin is topless!"

He glanced at them over his shoulder, then lifted his arms and flexed his biceps and back muscles. Rook applauded, and Bellara whistled. Assan took advantage of the distraction and launched himself at Davrin's chest. He fell to the ground with a startled "Oof!" and then laughed and praised the griffon to a chorus of happy chirps from Assan.

"You lived in a city even before being a Crow, right?" Bellara asked, as she tugged on a new tangle. "Does that mean you lived in an alienage?"

"Yep," Rook replied, drawing out the "p" until it popped.

"What was that like?"

Rook didn't answer right away. And as the quiet filled with the buzzing of insects and Davrin and Assan's roughhousing, Bellara winced. She'd known other elves from cities, of course; there were quite a few among the Veil Jumpers. But she so often worked alone that she hadn't gotten close enough to any of them to ask the thousand questions she'd always wanted to ask.

And when she'd met Rook, Rook had assured her that she didn't mind rambling, that she was a rambler herself. And it was true. The two of them could talk for hours that felt like minutes, jumping from topic to topic, and those conversations had eased the worst of Bellara's self-consciousness.

But Rook's uncharacteristic silence brought it roaring back. An apology sprang to Bellara's lips, but before it could escape, Rook turned her head to meet Bellara's gaze from the corner of her eye.

"Lonely," she admitted. A hint of her usual smirk returned. "For me at least. I was a weird kid."

It was an answer that wasn't an answer, but Bellara grabbed hold of it with relief.

"I was a weird kid too," she said. She smiled as she took Rook's head in her hands and turned her to face forward again. "Maybe we would have been friends."

"Of course we would have. You, me, and the boy who sang to halla," Rook said with a nod toward Davrin. "Maybe I'd even be a Veil Jumper now."

"You still could be," Bellara told her. "If you wanted to, I mean. Strike and Irelin would definitely let you."

Rook shook her head and yelped when the movement tugged the hair Bellara was combing. "I'd miss Treviso too much. I'm hoping I get to go back for good once this is all over. But I do like it here. I plan to keep visiting."

"You definitely should!" Bellara said. "You'll always be welcome in Arlathan, Rook."

Rook turned again to smile at her and reached up to squeeze her hand. But as soon as their skin made contact, she yelped again.

"Mierda, you're cold!"

Bellara laughed as she poked Rook in the temple. "And you're wiggly. You need to hold still so I can finish this."

Rook obediently faced forward with a teasingly contrite "Sorry, lethallan."

This time Bellara went quiet for a moment. It was the first time any of them had used the Dalish term of endearment among themselves. She didn't even know how Rook knew it. It reminded her of all the best days of her childhood, the warmth infused with the bittersweet pang of nostalgia for what was lost. She realized she had stopped combing when Rook glanced back at her again.

"Did I use it wrong?" Rook asked, her nose scrunched.

Bellara shook her head and then gave into the impulse to throw her arms around Rook's shoulders and hug her tightly. Rook laughed as she gripped Bellara's forearms in turn.

"Now who's wiggly?"

"We're a hummingbird and a Crow," Bellara declared, pressing her cheek against Rook's. "We're allowed to be wiggly."

[tzuyusluv]

☀︎ Return of Happiness

genre -> fluff

pairing -> enha’s niki x reader

warnings -> idol au, mentions of getting married, niki teases mc slightly

word count -> 0.6k

summary -> meeting niki after a long tour

This plane ride back to Korea was longer than the three month long tour. Maybe it’s because during the tour you were too distracted by seeing all your fans, the new places and being splashed with water by your other members to really think about being in a different country from your boyfriend and friends.

It felt like it had been three days since you boarded, but looking at the time on your phone showed it had only been an hour and a half. You still had around eleven more to go until you reached Seoul’s airport and most likely another hour until you could get out of there if you were lucky.

Looking at the time again, you sigh when you see that only a minute has passed. Your leader, who sat next to you, placed their hand on your shoulder gently and rubbed their hand against it, comforting you.

“I know you want to go see him. You will once we land. The company always gives a few weeks break after a tour.” They whispers softly. “You can go to sleep and dream of giving Riki your gifts from every city we visited. I’ll wake you up an hour before we land.”

Sleep sounded good. Especially as an idol who often didn’t get enough sleep. But yet, your mind just couldn’t stop thinking. You thought of every concert, the outfits the fans war that sometimes rivaled yours when you were on stage, your members who were littered throughout the plane. You thought of Riki the most though. How sweet he was, how his humor always landed with everyone he met, how he was so much taller than you and treated you so gently, like a porcelain doll.

You started to drift off at the thought of him. Eventually your eyes shut and you fell asleep. Dreaming of Riki.

You woke to your leader tapping your shoulder. “Hey, we’ve landed. I tried to wake you at the hour mark but you didn’t want to.” They explain gently. Stretching as best as you can in those small spaces, you look around as everyone started to stand up and grab their packages. “Manager says that there’s a surprise out there.” They say standing from their seat to count where the rest of your members are currently.

“A surprise?” You ask. “Manager never surprises us.” Your leader nods in agreement. Waiting for everyone to clear out, you move in the aisle. Your leader following and grabbing both of your guys luggage’s. When the rest of your group eventually groups back up, you exit the plane while expressing your thanks to the flight attendants.

“Ok I was told we have wait here for manager.” The leader stops the group. You lean on your luggage, still tired and oblivious to the grins that your members are giving you.

Jolting up when you feel hands on your waist, you turn around thinking it was one of your members seeking revenge for you pouring a water bottle over them. Instead you turn and meet Riki.

“Hey jagi.” He says smiling while you stand there dumbfounded. “Wow I’m so hurt. Not even a hug.” He fake pouts. You snap out of your trance before lunging on him, wrapping your arms around his neck and legs around his waist. “Missed me that much didn’t you?” He teases as he gently kisses your temple. Hiding your face in his neck, you nod your head as best as you can. “Well don’t worry. Your manager said that I can sleep over tonight as long as the door is open.” He says against your skin before kissing it again.

“Got gifts for you in every city.” You mumble against his neck. “Wow stealing my ideas now huh? First it was my heart, then my ideas. What’s next, my last name?” He teases you again. You just shake your head in disbelief at his words. “Don’t worry Jagi. I’ll make sure to get your managers blessings before.”

[criminaly-supernatural]

Bella Notte

Worst!Logan X Reader

Hello!!! I wrote this for @princessanglophile 22nd Birthday Writing Challenge!! I haven't written anything in about 6 years, so please be kind. I had so much fun writing this despite my nerves and it uas made me want to start writing again. So you might be seeing more works from me in the future. Anyways, let's get on with the fic, happy reading!!!

---------------------------

It had been almost 1 year since the events surrounding Wade's birthday, when he had dragged you along on an adventure through the Void. 1 year since you and Wade met Logan and saved the multiverse. After everything you'd gone through together during those couple of days, you'd returned home to Al and the apartment, and Logan had moved in with Wade. And i returned to my apartment next door, practically the 4th roommate of the bunch, only with the added respite of my own private space.

Once our lives had gone back to what was our new normal, things between Logan and I had grown. It began with subtle flirting and teasing jabs. Several weeks of cat and mouse and endless teasing from Wade had led to Logan finally asking me out. So here I was getting ready for our first date on a beautiful Friday night.

I had been in my room for the last 2 hours trying to decide what to wear. I'd tried on about a dozen different outfits at this point before I finally settled on something I thought looked cute but was also still comfortable for a night out.

Realizing it was close to the time when we had agreed to leave, I quickly finished getting ready. Putting on some cute shoes and some jewelry to pull the outfit together before heading next door to Wade's apartment to meet up with Logan for our night out.

----------------------------

Walking in, i was immediately met with teasing remarks from Wade.

"Oh my goodness, look at you! My little girl all grown up." Wade commented, coming towards me to take me i to his arms for a hug.

"Let me go tell the man of the hour that his beauty awaits." He said, giving me a sly smile and a wink before walking off to get Logan.

I shook my head at Wade's antics, waiting by the door nervously as I waited for Logan. Several moments later, I heard the two coming down the hallway."Treat her right, and don't forget the condoms." Were a couple of the comments I overheard coming from Wade's mouth as the two walked down the hallway, followed by logans swiftly grumbled rebuttal of, "Shut the fuck up"

I laughed at that catching Logans attention as he smiled at me. Ignoring Wade's further comments he approached me and guided me out the door.

-----------------------------

I hadn't really known what Logan had planned for us. I would have been happy if we'd ended up at a bar, eating greasy food and dancing to a jukebox in the corner. But i was pleasantly suprised when we had pulled up to an italian restaurant down the road from the apartment. It was a newer place I'd talked about wanting to try , nd it was sweet knowing he had listened.

We walked inside, Logan giving his name for the reservation. We followed the hostess over to a table by the window, looking out at the street. The night was beautiful, the city full of life. We sat talking idly before ordering our food. Jokes and conversation flowing easy as always between the two of us.

Logan ordered a steak, and i ordered spaghetti with meatballs, a classic. The food was good and the company was even better.

Once we'd both fi wished eating, Logan mentioned how the night wasn't over yet. Pulling me out of the restaurant, he interlocked outer hands as we headed down the street towards the park.

----------------------------

The night was beautiful, a gentle breeze blowing through the trees as we walked through the park. The street lamps glow warm along the path as we make our way towards a bench to rest on.

We sat side by side, our hands interlocked as i rested my head against his shoulder, staring up at the beautiful night sky with stars shining bright.

"It's so beautiful," I remarked

"It is," Logan replied. Although he wasn't looking at the sky like I was, he had his attention focused on me.

I looked over at him, a shy smile on my face and my cheeks heating up as I realized he had been talking about me.

He chuckled as he noticed the shy expression, a cocktail look on his face as he moved in a bit closer, connecting our lips in a sweet kiss.

It was short and sweet, but it meant everything. I giggled as I pulled away, bright smiles on both our faces.

It was the perfect end to a beautiful night.

The End.

---------------------------

Once again, thank you for reading, and i hope you guys enjoyed it. :3

[cristinacclearwater]

Robin Time Travel AU!!

A fic where Dick or Damian or Jason or all three time-traveled and stop Ethiopia from happening... Only they didn't anticipate the consequences.

With no Ethiopia happening, Jason never dies and neither does Bruce go off the rails... Thus never giving Tim a reason to join the Batfam...

Dick never saw nor tried to find out exactly how bad Bruce got after Jason... And was waiting for Tim to find him again... Even going to Harley's where they met... Keeping the entire schedule for the week very simple for Tiny Tim to easily follow... Only Tim never shows up...

Jason does not know the circumstances of Tim joining and is wondering when Bruce is bringing Timbo home...

While Damian convinced Talia that it is better for him to join his father in Gotham... By 'investigating' and 'arriving' at the 'conclusion' that his father is Batman... Thus he comes to Gotham early... Like months before Tim... Like he coincided with the week Jason would have died...

Again, he does not know the circumstances of Tim joining... Just knowing that this time when he has Robin, it will be on Tim's terms... He is looking forward to a good relationship with him because Dick said Tim always wanted a little brother and now Damian has the chance to be that little brother... No, he is not jealous of YJ or how close they are with Tim, or that bloody speedster... What are you saying!?!!!

Tim never comes.

Now, Tim on the other hand decided to explore Paris and gets caught in shenanigans... Meets Lady Shiva... Gets mentored by Lady Shiva... Unknowingly insults Snake... Gets challenged by Snake... Defeats Snake... Refuses Lady Shiva's offer... And comes back to Gotham... Only this trip was a year or 9-10 months long...

In Gotham, he takes up the cape... Works smaller crimes, nothing with rogues (like Spider-Man) and becomes beloved... Of course, Tim is still that little stalker at heart and keeps updating the Bat's info... he doesn't want to be burdensome to them, Thus, Tim makes sure Bats and him don't cross paths... After all, Batman might feel obligated to take him in as he did Batgirl, Spoiler, and Black Bat... They didn't have training. He does...

Meanwhile, Batfam is wondering where they went wrong and missed Tim... And slowly Dick starts remembering the context as to why Tim sought him out... Not to be Robin but to make him take Robin back up... And when Dick refused to... Then Tim took up the job of keeping Batman in line... Because Gotham needs Batman and Batman needs a Robin...

Dick tells Jason and Damian... They don't believe... Because of course, my info is not wrong... He was replacing me/was an interloper... It takes them that entire year to accept that Tim is not coming... Then scrambling to find him... Then they started hearing rumors... Of this little vigilante who helps with small crimes... And try to intercept him, maybe introduce themselves, to no avail... It was as if Gotham herself was against it, they always missed him...

Meanwhile, Tim's life continues pretty much same as in earlier comics... Batfam, out of the city, Metallo attacks Gotham... Tim calls Superboy... Thus, the first meeting of TimKon, same as comics. Only, instead of Tim, he travels as Alvin Draper, a child who was helped into his seat by his parents and will be picked up by his cousin Shanks at the airport... Actors he hires to help him... And "will you please watch him, we are so scared he will be traveling alone"... The story works for both going and then returning and Cousin Shanks helps Alvin back onto the plane when needed...

School trip for Bart and I do not believe much will change with Bart as he will know Tim's rep from the future, rather than the past, so Bart still believes Tim's awesome... And makes friends...

They still start Young Just Us... And still go on every mission they did in YJ98... Tim still develops a rapport with Batman... Only he is not his Robin or known as his prodigy... Compared to when Batman taught him everything and knew him well, lying to Batman was quite easy for Tim... Because Tim grew up in Gotham society and was his mother's son through and through...

Tim's parents are not bad in this either... Like can Janet put the fear of god in businessmen? YES... But when it came to family and especially Tim, she was soft... I see Tim's relationship with his parents same as Kudo Shinichi's from Detective Conan... Like they have wanderlust and Tim does not... But just because they are not in the same country or continent, does not mean they do not keep in contact... They know exactly what shenanigans Tim gets up to and know better than to stop him because otherwise, he will just hide them... They know all his friends, his interests, etc... Especially his mom, and hiding about Robin probably hurt their relationship a lot...

{I 100% believe the only reason Tim didn't tell Jack he was a vigilante was because he was Robin and thus was responsible for the entire Batfam identities... And that is why Jack believed Tim did not choose but rather was coerced into being Robin because otherwise they would already know...}

So, in this fic, Tim keeps his parents in the loop from the beginning and Janet makes sure a part of DI is dedicated to helping Tim, so he's never without help in Gotham... Also, they know life is dangerous so they get separate mobile/communicators for "just emergencies", like a "Need help! Will die if not given" button... So Tim knew the moment his parents were taken by Obama Man and rescued them with Young Just Us...

Because NO BATMAN RULES thus Tim was able to tell his parents and team his identity much earlier than in canon... He still makes contingencies for fellow heroes, especially Justice League, including the entire Batfam, including Alfred... Because Janet Drake's son is taught better by her mamma... And Tim does not know Wayne beyond being a fanboy and does not have an emotional connection to them...

Just a fic where Batfam lives happily and Tim is successful but they never have more than a coworker relationship... Like Tim is closer to Wally or Donna or Roy or Bisaro or Jon than Dick, Jason, and Damian because they have a familial connection to his team, while Batfam only has the connection of Gotham... Like Oracle has the most influence over Tim's actions in his vigilant life because she sometimes directs him to crime if no one else is available...

Tim is still friends with Stephanie but here Tim's self-respect and confidence are not broken again and again and again... So Stephanie does not get away with treating him like shit on or off the field and that's dangerous on the field, so they mutually decided to not team up unless with a mediator in between that could lead both...

Off-field they are good friends, friends who know their secret life so they can share any grievance, WITHOUT endangering any identities, etc... But they do not date... Tim dates Ariana, yes. And felt Stephanie might be a rebound and knew she deserved better than that. If Stephanie confesses, Tim makes it clear he is not in a position to date yet (don't know if the timeline is right, if not feel free to correct)...

{OK, one thing I make clear, No hate for the character of Stephanie Brown but I just hate how she treats Tim in Canon and everyone acts like it's OK because it's not. It's fucked up and a toxic relationship. Especially how Bruce used their relationship later and Stephanie agrees)...

Tim also seeks mental help for the school shooting and other civilian events, while Jack is looking for a trusted therapist for his son, Janet absolutely approves... When they have one, Tim gets a contract of confidentiality from John Constantine to sign for the therapist and drags his team, kicking and screaming with him...

With the team being introduced to the Drakes early, they spent a lot of time in Gotham, and adults (Janet) understand what is happening with Ross, Tana, etc. And helps Kon before telling him to stay with Tim, "because that boy absolutely cannot take care of himself, never mind he has done so for years, you stay with him, do you want to go to Gotham Academy or do you like your current one"... While Jack is ready to smack some sense into Flashes, with his golf stick... And becomes quite good friends with Max...

Just competent adults who understand they can't stop their wild child but can and will give him every tool to survive.

[mangooes]

Chapter 1 - All will eventually fall upon the earth

Chapter 2 - I weep for the departed

Chapter 3 - Ready for another dance, shadow monarch?

Chapter 4 - Interwined for now, perhaps forever?

Acheron had always wandered the endless corridors of the stars, guarding the path between life and death. As one of the mysterious followers of the Aeon of Nihility, she was familiar with the endless voids of space, the quiet pulse of dying stars, and the delicate line that separated existence from oblivion. However, the new world she found herself in was different from her original.

The world of Hunters was alive with power, with bustling cities, labyrinthine dungeons, and individuals who bore the weight of immense strength as if they were gods themselves. This world of impossibility has summoned her. 

When she woke up in the body of a child, she realized maybe the aeons above had finally given mercy on her. Alas as time progresses, she learns that this was not mercy, rather it seems the aeons would want to torment her further. This world is not much different than her old ones, people who have the strength, the power to do things still exist. But one thing she learned was that aeons do not exist in this world, rather monsters who wreck havoc in a form of dungeons and those who defend humanity are called hunters. It's not long before she met a certain boy around her age, it appears that a family consisting of a father, a mother, a brother and a sister has moved in right next to her. “Hello!” came a greeting from the boy and the girl. The boy introduce themselves as Sung Jinwoo, and the girl Sung Jinah. “What’s your name? we are the same age so i thought maybe we can be good neighbors..” the boy asked with enthusiasm. 

“My name..? "Acheron..." Merely a borrowed name. You know my nature, remember my deeds... Thus, I am Acheron. “

The boy and the girl turned to look at each other and smiled awkwardly, “Okay then it’s nice to meet you acheron!” That was their first ever meeting. After that, there comes frequent meetings, and soon from strangers, neighbors, to friends or even more. Acheron had witnessed Sung Jinwoo’s whole life and had been with him as he progressed, from being the weakest hunter to the strongest hunter in the world, even obtaining the power of the king of death, the shadow monarch. And in the midst of chaos against three monarchs and Jinwoo dying the second time, she bid her farewell as the light of the stage dims on her. 

In an empty space white and black color spreads across, only a black hole was seen in the middle of it making the land filled with nothing. There stood a confused now young man and a young woman with her features stained in white and red from her previous purple and black appearance. 

“I’ve trusted you for so long to not even notice this, I knew your strength is beyond a normal hunter’s capability,why are you keeping it a secret from me? from us? just who are you acheron…  the real you?” the young man with black hair and purple eyes that seems to glow in the dark asked with uncertainty. 

“I’m not your enemy, this place i’ve taken you in, has no relations to the world outside, to the chaos around, and to the time that runs fastly like a prey. I won't hurt you, your time is still long  Jinwoo.” the woman finally turns to the young man. 

“But why..? the young man asked with emotions flowing. 

“Perhaps by the time I spent here, I've grown quite fond of you, Jinwoo. Maybe if fate allows us to meet again. Then we shall, I shall tell you a tale.. as for my name ... .Raiden Bossenmori Mei…for that is the truth of my life.” the young woman said

“Raiden Bossenmori Mei… what a beautiful name..” the young boy repeats with a soft tone.

The young woman sighed and turned around looking away from the young man as she drew her sword. “Know this Jinwoo, our meeting, and everything, from the start to the end will return to Nihility. Everything will just be a dream that you won't remember. Don’t be too harsh on yourself, you have the whole world before you and the people who truly care about you.” the young woman paused before red electricity sparks uncontrollable around the empty space and the area. 

The young man stood stunned, before screaming desperately “What do you mean by this..? Why are you saying this?? Are you leaving me?? No you can’t possibly do this..!” The boy asked with frustration, seen with his now intensifying glowing purple eyes as the ominous aura around him seemed to grow within seconds. 

The young woman simply smiled, a genuine smile on her face as a drop of blood tear fell from her red blood eyes as she strikes her sword. “I wish you luck and farewell, Sung Jinwoo. May death be the end of your boundless dream….guiding you back to the waking world.”

hey guys! i haven't writen in a very long time sahdbsakad, so before i continue this short fic (or not) i wanted to say that my english is not that good and idk which tag i should put this story under tbh so i'll just put it under everything at this point. Cuz like i think an acheron in the world of solo levelling is interesting (she so hot ksajdn) anyways this story would prob be focused on the new world (like the resetted world yk) idk tho help

[arlana-likes-to-write]

Loved the 3 part of monet issue❤️. I thought about this. How about the doctor that experimented on reader became obsessed with us, infiltrated the compound as a new doctor and required that we go to observation, there she starts to do things again. I know it’s a little vague but that was what I could come with. See you and I hope you have a good day and take care of yourself.❤️❤️

-💣

My Beautiful Creation

Finally Part of the Monet Issues AU

Warnings: stalking, kidnapping, gun violence, swearing, forced experiment, death, killing, panic attacks, guilt, pregnancy, protective Avengers,

Word Count: 7.3k

New York City was known as the city that never slept. So many people (sometimes too many people, in your opinion) came from so many walks of life. Everyone came to this city to chase a dream. As you walked to a busy sidewalk, you were just another fish swimming upstream and weaving through people on the phone, listening to music, or performing on the street corner. There was always something to look at: massive skyscrapers, fights on the street, or trying to pick somewhere to eat because of the million and one options. So it was odd that you felt eyes on you. It made the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. However, when you turned around, no one was there. It had to be your nerves since you’ve only been back in the city for two months. It would take time for you to feel safe since HYDRA altered your life.

The first step to returning your life to normal was meeting with Taylor and a few other friends for lunch. Opening the door to the small hole in the wall, you welcomed the quiet and peaceful environment. It was a stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of the sidewalk. You saw Taylor in the corner, and you pointed to the table. The hostess nodded, and you walked over to them. “Look who finally is here to grace us with her presence,” your friend, Brooke, teased. She stood up and did a slight bow. “The princess has returned.” You punched her shoulder at her joke attempt, but it made you smile.

“Leave her alone, Brookie,” Emma said. “She’s been busy being an Avenger or something.”

“More like fucking one!” Brooke and Taylor high-fived across the table.

“Are we done?” You asked. “Because I will leave.” Emma grabbed your hand and forced you into the empty seat next to Taylor. You met Emma and Brooke through Taylor. While you went to college out of state, she went to Columbia. Brooke and Emma were her freshman-year roommates, and they were used to you staying over every weekend.

“We love you, Egghead,” Taylor kissed your cheek.

“And we missed you,” Emma added. You missed them, too. Lunch was spent picking on one another, catching up, and filling your stomach with cheap but good Italian food.

“So, are we going to be invited to the wedding?” Brooke asked, looking at you. You raised your eyebrows. “You and Natasha. Aren’t you guys like engaged?” You chuckled.

“Not even close,” you said. “We only have been dating for a few months officially. I doubt she would even want that,” Taylor scuffed, shaking her head.

“Have you talked about it?” Emma asked before you could question Taylor.

“Well, no,” you admitted. “There has been a lot going on.” Taylor chuckled. “Do you have something to say?�� Your best friend pinched your side, and you glared at her.

“Natasha looks at you like you’ve hung the moon and painted the stars in the sky,” you tried to hide your embarrassment by picking at the pasta in front of you. “She would 100% be down to marry you.”

When lunch was over, you paid for the meal at the front. As you waited for your card, you felt that eerie sensation that prickled at the back of your neck. Your gaze darted around the restaurant’s other patrons to find the source of your uneasiness, but you couldn’t figure it out.

“Hey,” you were pulled away by Taylor’s voice. She was holding your card and frowning. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” you smiled and took the card from her. “Let’s get out of here.” Was it a trick of your mind, or was someone watching your every step?

*

“Get off of me!” You gasped, trying to push Yelena off of you. Her body became dead weight. “You are so annoying,” you tickled her sides, and she quickly got off you. Her eyes were wide in fear.

“That was dirty,” she sat next to you while Kate and Peter joined you on the couch, hands filled with snacks and drinks. You rolled your eyes and stood up to help them.

“I thought you were supposed to help them,” the blonde shrugged and grabbed a beer from Kate. It was routine for you to find yourself with the trio when you were at the compound. You liked training with Wanda and Vision, eating dinner with Tony and Pepper, and cuddling up with your girlfriend. Since the ‘I love you’ confession, you both grew more confident in the relationship in front of the team. Movie nights were spent in each other’s arms. Natasha would grab you by the waist and kiss you, much to the disdain of Yelena and your father. The business was going well, your relationship with your father was better than ever, and life was good.

“You bitch!” You threw a piece of popcorn at Peter. “I can’t believe you stole my star.”

“I picked random!” He defended.

“Kate has four stars?! You stoke from me, and now I have zero.” You heard laughter from the kitchen and saw Tony. “I’ll be right back. Don’t start the mini-game without me,” you climbed over the back of the couch and walked over to him. He was in a meeting when you arrived at the compound.

“Hi, squirt,” he hugged you. “How are you?”

“I’m good,” you watched him fill a mug with the leftover coffee in the pot. “You should cut back on the caffeine.” He shook his head.

“You should like Pepper.”

“The woman in your life is usually right,” the CEO squeezed your shoulder as she walked past you. Accepting Pepper as your father’s girlfriend turned-wife was hard for you. You saw her as someone that was trying to replace your mom. Another person is stealing Tony’s attention. So you treated her as a business associate but ran in the same circle. It became impossible to ignore her, and soon, you began to look for her at every Gala or event, finding a strange sense of peace from the older woman. “Have you asked her yet?”

“No, I was busy getting yelled at by my questionable habits,” you and Pepper rolled your eyes. “Are you free to have dinner with us?”

“Of course,” you smiled.

“Mini game time,” Yelena yelled from the couch. “Get your ass over here.” You flipped the blonde off, told the couple you could see them later, and joined your friends back on the couch.

*

“You’re pregnant?!” You gasped, putting the glass of wine that Pepper paired with the dinner she made. It was just you, Tony, and Pepper in their section of the compound. “Have you told anyone?” Pepper shook her head.

“We wanted to tell you first,” your father took his wife’s hand.

“And you are okay with this?” You heard the worry in his voice. Why wouldn’t you be okay with this?

“I mean, the idea of you having unprotected sex kind of gives me,” you faked a gag. Tony glared at you, but Pepper covered her mouth as she laughed. “But I’m so happy for you! I can’t wait to be an older sister!” When dinner was finished, you helped Pepper clean the dishes while Tony took a phone call from Rhodey.

“He was worried,” she glanced at him to ensure he was still on the phone. “About how you would reach the news.

“Really?” You questioned, drying a few plates and putting them away. “Why?” She sighed.

“I think he was worried you would feel like he was replacing you,” you frowned. “I know it’s not ideal timing, especially since you still trying to build your relationship with him. But-”

“Pepper,” you placed a hand on her arm, promptly cutting her off. “I’m happy for you both. You are going to make a great mother, and I know from first-hand experience,” the CEO smiled, kissing your temple. Suddenly, you felt arms around your waist, and you were lifted off the ground.

“Are you trying to steal my wife?” Tony asked. You squeaked as he spun you around. “Don’t you already have a girl to call your own? Or are you trying to get all the women in the compound?”

“It’s the Stark charm,” you laughed, a little out of breath from his tickling assault. “It’s hard for a woman to resist it,” he let you go, and it took a moment to gather your bearings.

“Ain’t that the truth?” He whipped a fake tear. “I’m so proud of you,” you saw Pepper pick up the drying towel, twist it, and snap it at Tony’s back. He yelped and jumped around to face Pepper.

“You sabotaged my help,” she handed him the towel. “Dishes are your punishment.”

“Yes, ma’am,” you giggled as Pepper linked your arm with hers.

“Stark charm,” you said, looking over your shoulder. The pout on Tony’s face made you laugh. “Ladies can’t resist it.”

*

“There you are, malyshka (baby girl),” you looked up from your laptop and saw Natasha standing in the doorway. Her arms crossed against her chest, and her long-sleeved shirt came down to her thighs. “Where have you been?”

“Planning,” you said, closed your laptop, and put it on your nightstand. She raised a questioning eyebrow as she walked over. “I’m just trying to move some meetings around and delicate responsibilities.” Your girlfriend climbed onto the bed and swung her legs over to sit on your lap.

“Are you leaving the company?”

“I would never. I want to spend more time with you, my dad, and the team,” what you wanted was to be here at the early stages of her pregnancy. With the father being Iron Man, it was uncertain how often he would be around when the world called for him. You told Pepper you had no problem with being there. The CEO wasn’t ready to tell the team yet, so lying to your former spy girlfriend was challenging. You knew she wasn’t buying your story. “Everything is fine,” you squeezed her thighs. “I promise,” you leaned forward and nudged your nose against hers. “Can I kiss you?” You asked. The Black Widow chuckled.

“You never have to ask,” you kissed her, taking in the taste of Natasha. It was addicting. You felt her smile in the kiss and soon pulled away.

“Movie night. What do you want to watch?” You asked, moving your hands up and down her back.

“Moonraker,” you huffed. “Please, sweetheart,” she gave you her best puppy dog eyes that always seemed to melt you.

“Put it on,” She grabbed the remote and fell to your side. As the movie began to play, Natasha curled up into your side, and you wrapped your arms around her. “I love you,” you mumbled.

“I love you too.”

*

“Ooo,” you looked at Pepper as she rubbed her stomach. She was three months pregnant, and every sound of discomfort sent you and Tony into a fit of anxiety. “Come here,” she held out her hand, and you were quick to your feet. She took your hand and placed it on her stomach. “Just wait,” you waited and soon felt the small kicks.

“Holy shit,” you sat down next to her. “That is so weird.” Pepper chuckled.

“It’s even better when she wakes you up at 2 in the morning,” she sarcastically said.

“Can she hear us?” You looked at her.

“Doctors say once they are about 23 weeks, they’ll be able to make out voices outside the womb, but that hasn’t stopped your father,” she explained.

“Can I?” She nodded. “Hi, little one,” you spoke to Pepper’s stomach. It was a little strange, but a weird emotion bubbling in your chest. “I’m your big sister, and I’m so excited to meet you, spoil you, and fill you with all the sweets in the world,” you glanced up at Pepper as she laughed. Tears were forming in her eyes. “But,” you continued. “I’m going to protect and love you with every fiber of my being.” Pepper kissed your forehead and brought you into her arms.

“You are going to be a great sister.”

“I agree,” you looked at Tony. His facial expression was hard to read. “I need you to be part of this meeting, squirt,” you said. You looked at Pepper, and she had a reassuring smile.

“Okay,” you whispered. Why was there a knot in your stomach?

*

“She escaped,” was the only thing you could comprehend as you sat in the meeting room with the Avengers. There were a few here. Clint retired to Iowa with his family, Bruce and Thor were off-world, and Steve, Sam, and Vision were on a mission. Natasha held onto your hand. “I don’t understand. How did she escape?” Maria explained that the doctor responsible for your newfound ability escaped the prison. Unlike her boss, she wasn’t sent to the RAFT. The jury found her guilty but believed her actions weren’t entirely her doing and that HYDRA brainwashed her. Stockholm Syndrome was what they called it. So, she was sentenced to a medium-security prison.

“She got help from a guard that worked there. His name is Johnathan Anderson,” Maria brought up a picture of him. His black hair was closely chopped, and he had a beard. His blue eyes had a no-nonsense expression. Starring at this picture, you felt that eerie sensation on the back of your neck. Subconsciously, you grabbed the back of your neck. “When his supervisors searched his lockers, they found love letters between him and her.”

“Do we know what she wants?” Wanda asked.

“Me,” you whispered. Their heads snapped to look at you. “I-I was her only success. All the others died, so it makes sense that she would be after me,” Natasha squeezed your hand, and instead of looking at her, you placed your head on her shoulder.

“We won’t let that happen,” Tony firmly said. “We’ve been tracking Anderson’s movements. When he’s not at work, he frequently visits two locations. A home in Connecticut and a warehouse in PA. She has to be there,” you’ve never seen him this determined. “We find her and lock her in the RAFT like she should have been in the first fucking place.”

“Language,” Natasha gasped. Tony glared at your girlfriend, but a smile crept onto his face. She attempted to lighten the mood of the situation, but you knew the redhead better than anyone. She was scared, terrified of the prospect of losing you. You were terrified yourself.

*

“I can stay,” Natasha said for the 10th time. You were in the kitchen, busying your hands and making you and Pepper a small snack. “I’ll stay if you want me to,” you wanted her to stay and feel safe in her arms while the rest of the team went off to fight the bad guy. A clash of thunder caused you to look out the window. Even the weather seemed to know you were in a mood.

“You can’t,” you dropped the knife and cupped her cheeks with your hands. “The team is far too thin to search 2 locations, and Tony is making last-minute adjustments to FRIDAY to keep me and Pepper safe.” She turned to kiss each of your palms.

“I hate this,” she admitted.

“So do I, but you will stop both of them, and I’ll be safe again,” Natasha moved her arms around your waist and pulled you flush to her. You could feel her heartbeat, the organ rattling in her rib cage. Her warm breath caused goosebumps to cover your skin as she burrowed her face deeper into your neck.

“I love,” she mumbled. It was barely audible to your ears.

“I love you too,” you kissed her head. “Go get ready, baby,” you squeezed her. “I’ll make you a peanut butter sandwich,” she huffed, removed herself from your arms, and sighed when she was out of sight. Thunder shook the compound, and you wondered what Thor was up to that was causing this storm. You loved rain storms, listening to the rain hitting the roof and the lightning that brightened up the sky. Now, it filled you with dread, an omen for darker times ahead.

*

As soon as the team left, Pepper asked if you wanted to help her paint the nursery. You agreed right away, hoping to find a helpful distraction. Soft music was filling the comfortable silence. They chose a light lilac for the walls; well, you figured Pepper picked it, and Tony swiped his card. There were boxes of furniture that still needed to be put together and clothes that were ready to be folded. Oh, you could not wait to spoil her. “How are you?” Pepper asked. She was taking a short break, resting in the rocking chair that Clint made. Sighing, you placed the paintbrush on the tray and looked at the half-finished room.

“I’m okay,” you said. “I feel like I finally have my footing, you know?” You looked at the CEO. “I just don’t want to lose the momentum I have.”

“You won’t,” she stood up and made your way over to you. She is quick to pull you into a hug. You slumped against her, desperately missing your mother’s hugs. “You are so courageous and strong. Your father and Natasha won’t rest until you are safe.” You knew that, so you nodded against the CEO.

“Miss. Stark,” FRIDAY said. “I do apologize, but your presence is being requested in med bay. It is time for your monthly check-in.” You groaned, stomped slightly, and pulled away from the CEO. It was Tony’s doing. He wanted to make sure the powers given to you weren’t causing you any problems. Pepper chuckled.

“Do you want me to come with you?” You shook your head.

“It won’t be long. I’ll be back, and we can finish painting, maybe tackle some of these boxes.” Pepper smiled, kissing your forehead. It was rare that you used your powers outside of training. Sometimes, you could use it to warm your body temperature and cuddle up to your cold girlfriend. Or you could create a small fire for Yelena to cook smores. Fighting wasn’t your thing. When you were younger, you hated the Avengers. It was another thing that took Tony away from you. When your mind was busy, you forgot about the power you could wield, forgot what happened to you. Sighing, you stretched your arms and opened the door to one of the medical rooms.

“Doctor Cho-” your voice trailed off as you stared at the woman in front of you who was not Helen Cho. “Who are you?”

“Doctor Cho is busy with other matters,” that voice. A chill went down your spine. The doctor spun around to face you, tablet in hand. “I will be conducting your exam today.” Charlotte Williams is the woman responsible for your newfound ability. You turned to leave, but the doors slammed shut and locked. No amount of pulling on the handle made the door move.

“How did you get in here?” You asked, facing her.

“You silly girl,” she laughed. “I gave you the ability to manipulate fire. do you not think I can hack your daddy’s AI?” You could fight and defend yourself and Pepper. With a flick of your wrist, fire engulfed your hands. “Not so fast,” she clicked a few buttons on the tablet, and the fire went out. You fell to your knees; a pained groan barely left your lips.

“What did you do to me?” Her footsteps echoed in the quiet exam room, closing the distance. She stood in front of you.

“I like to call it a fail-safe. With powers like yours, they can be unpredictable; I had to ensure you are under my control,” she ran her hand over your hair. “But it’s smart to have collateral,” she turned the tablet to show you security footage of Pepper. Johnathan Anderson had a gun pointed at her. Your eyes flickered to her, then the screen.

“What do you want?” You whispered.

“My beautiful creation,” she softly spoke. “I have missed you so much.”

*

Charlotte had you chained down to the table, an IV in your arm, and a nasal cannula for oxygen. She moved the security footage of Pepper to a bigger screen, a reminder that she was in charge. “Can I ask what you are doing to me?” You questioned. She ignored you and focused on your vitals. You sighed and looked up at the ceiling. There had to be a way out of this, but she had you under her control with whatever she typed on her tablet. Your attempt to escape had to be a surprise, so you had to wait. Wait and have some patience. Charlotte placed a warm towel on your veins. Once satisfied, she removed the towel and gently messaged the area to draw out your veins. Doctors always had difficulty finding an excellent place to draw blood. She tied a tourniquet around your arm and cleaned the spot. There was no pain when she pricked you with the needle, and the syringe filled with your blood.

“Have you experienced any fatigue? Headaches? Fevers? Insomnia?” She asked, taking your blood over to a microscope. The fact she had your blood didn’t sit right with you. You tugged on the chains.

“No,” you answered her.

“Have you felt any pain when using your powers?” Her back was still facing you.

“No,” you spoke.

“Any extreme mood swings?” She faces you, hands behind her back. “Anger? Jealously? Depression?” You shook your head now that she was facing you. She brought over a chair and sat down. “Do you know why you were chosen for this?” She questioned.

“Because I’m a Stark,” you whispered. It was the only reason that made sense. You were a Stark, a connection to Iron Man and the rest of the Avengers. Charlotte scuffed, shaking her head.

“You are more than a ridiculous last name. You and I both know that” she trailed her fingertip up and down your veins—goosebumps formed under her touch. “So sensitive,” she giggled. “I wanted you because you are resilient. You overcame so much to get where you are. I am in awe of that raw strength,” you weren’t sure if you could take what she said as a compliment. You’ve heard those exact words from close friends and Natasha, who understood the truth behind your relationship with your father. It didn’t sound enjoyable coming from her. “My beautiful work of art,” your stomach dropped. Bile filled your throat at the name. “We are going to do amazing things for the world.

*

You were tired, even though you were laying in bed and watching her take more of your blood, took a hair sample, and swapped your mouth for your saliva. Whenever she took something from you, she turned her back and worked on whatever she tried to figure out. It wasn’t proving easy. There were subtle changes to her behavior. Shoulders were tense. There was mumbling under her breath. Her eyebrows were pinched together. She was growing frustrated.

Charlotte had a stethoscope around her neck. The cold metal made you jump. “What are you trying to figure out?” She ignored you. “You are running out of time,” she grabbed a needle and filled it with a liquid from a small bottle. You caught the name: Gadolinium. It was a chemical dye used in MRI scans to help improve and enhance the quality of the image. Why would she need that? Unless… You laughed.

“What’s so funny, Stark?” She asked, injecting the dye into your veins.

“You don’t know, do you?” You asked. “You may have selected me, wanted me for my raw strength, but you don’t know how I survived. If I were to guess you expected me to die in that chair,” her silence was all the answer you needed. “I bet your little trick earlier was nothing more than a placebo. You know nothing about what you created,” you focused your power on increasing your body temperature. The metal chains that once held you down melted on your skin. There was pain, but the adrenaline that was moving through your veins overpowered it. Charlotte grabbed a scalpel as you jumped out of the bed, ripping the IV out of your arm. You reached for the tablet she had, and she swiped at your hand, but you were fasted. Grabbing the tablet, you threw it to the ground. The last thing you wanted was for her to contact Anderson.

“I understand you completely,” she slashed again, but you jumped back. “You want approval,” she attacked again. “You want acceptance.” Again, you dogged her. “You want love, and I can give you all of that.” You understood how she was able to convince Anderson to help her. Her words were sickly sweet, and she knew what insecurities to target. There was a part of your brain that wanted to give in. To believe her. Your eyes glanced at the security footage. There were others you had to think about, such as Pepper, your unborn little sister, and your friends back in the city. You had Yelena, Kate, and Peter. Most importantly, you had Natasha and Tony. They gave you love. They accepted you. You would never need her.

Charlotte lunged for you again, and you grabbed her arm to disarm her. However, being without a weapon didn’t deter her. She threw her body at you, and you tumbled to the floor, both fighting for control over the small metal knife. In the end, you were strong. It was a gut instinct as you drove the blade into her stomach and twisted. You were above her and watched her eyes fill with panic and her mouth pool with blood.

“I’m sorry,” you whispered. “But I can’t allow you to hurt me and my family anymore. You understand that, right?” She nodded and shakily put her hand on your cheek. You allowed her to have her moment. “I hope you find love and acceptance in the next life.” Her hand fell from your cheek, and you watched her breathing stop. Biting back your tears, you closed her eyes. On shaky legs, you left the room. You couldn’t take your eyes off her body until the doors closed.

The hallway was spinning. Your chest was heaving. You pressed your palms to your eyes. “Stop, stop,” you mumbled on the verge of a panic attack. “Breath. Just fucking breath.” You heard a muffled scream from the hall closet, and it pulled you out of the panic attack. “Helen!” You called out and ran towards the noise. Another muffled yell and you open the closet. Helen was gagged and bonded with rope. “Helen,” you removed the towel from her mouth, and she took a gasp for air. “Are you okay?”

“I should be asking you that,” she said, and you began to undo the rope around her wrists and ankles. “Where is she?”

“She is,” you trailed off. “She’s been dealt with.” You killed her. Her blood stained your hands. “Look, Pepper is still in danger, and I need to get to her. Can you call my dad? And don’t use anything that has been connected to FRIDAY.” You weren’t sure how far her reach was. Once Helen was standing on her own two feet, and she reassured you that she was fine, you took off with one of the ropes in your hand. Pepper was on her and Tony’s section of the compound. If the feed was accurate, Anderson had her on the couch. There was a door behind him that you could use, and it was hidden by furniture and a wall if you were fast enough.

*

Quietly, you closed the door behind you and were covered by a bookshelf. You heard footsteps, pacing back and forth. “I don’t get it,” Pepper spoke. “Why are you helping her? You must know what she put my daughter through.” Your heart skipped at the term Pepper called you. You saw her as a mother figure these past few months, but hearing her call you her daughter made your stomach flip.

“She’s not your kid.”

“She might as well be. I didn’t give birth to her, but I love her as my own,” you let out a shaky breath and heard Anderson’s footsteps stop.

“Then you must understand why I’m helping her,” you moved closer, now covered by a small wall. You peeked your head out, and Pepper’s eyes darted to you. Her expression never changed. “I love her,” he kept talking, unaware of what was happening behind him. “And she loves me.”

“Are you sure?” Pepper questioned. “I sense some hesitation.” You let out a shaky breath and wrapped the rope around your hands to create a taut line. You could do this; using your powers was too risky with how close Pepper was.

“She loves me. She’s just busy. Once her experiment is done, she will be mine,” he was obsessed with her, and you weren’t sure if she felt the same.

“I get it,” Pepper whispered. “We do crazy things for the ones we love,” you slowly stood up. “Even putting our own lives at risk.” It was your cue, and you moved quickly to wrap the rope around Anderson’s neck. He struggled against you, but you kicked in his knees. His legs went dead, and he fell. You pulled tighter.

“Sweetheart,” it was a mistake to look at Pepper as Anderson took the pause and flipped you onto your back. The air was knocked out of your lungs. Pepper stood up, picked up the gun he dropped, and helped you up. The guard was coughing and rubbing his neck.

“Get somewhere safe,” you told her. “Tony should be on his way.”

“I’m not leaving you,” he was slowly standing up.

“Go! Now!” You punch him, making contact with his nose. A horrible crack filled the silence, and pain radiated through your fingers, but you refused to let up. You were tired of these people having control over your life. You were supposed to be safe here, and they went and ruined it. Why was this happening to you? Why? Why? WHY? You weren’t sure when you straddled Anderson; each punch you threw was more brutal than the next. His bloody face began to blur with tears that formed in your eyes. You were exhausted and drained, and the adrenaline was running its way out of your system, but a burning rage kept you going until solid arms wrapped around you. “No, no, no,” you struggled against the hold. Were there more? Did Charlotte have other people under her control? How did you miss that? You needed to find Pepper and fast. But they wouldn’t let go of you.

“Hey, malyshka (baby girl), it’s me,” Natasha held onto your face and forced you to look at her.

“Natty,” you whispered; your eyes must have given away your frantic state because her green eyes filled with concern.

“Yeah, it’s me. You’re safe. You’re so safe,” she repeated. You numbly nodded, burrowing your head in her neck. Your whole body shook as you looked over her shoulder and saw Tony checking on Pepper. His eyes locked on yours, and you had to close your own. There was a quilt filling his own. It was too much too much.

*

“You wanted to see me,” you stood in Tony’s lap. After you were treated with your wounds and a long shower, Wanda told you that Tony wanted to see you. You didn’t trust FRIDAY’s announcement. So you scrubbed and scrubbed your skin raw until you were happy with how clean you were. Until you no longer saw the blood on your hands. Tony looked up from his computer; there were bags underneath his eyes.

“Hey,” he smiled. “I wanted to see how you are doing,” you shrugged and walked over to him, arms crossed against your chest.

“Can I stay in here with you for a little bit?”

“Of course,” he went to put his hand on your shoulder but hesitated. When you nodded that it was okay, he hugged you. You felt him release a shaky breath, which told you how much you needed a hug from him. Your hands gripped him tighter, and the faint scent of coffee filled your nose. It made you feel safe. Finally, you ended the hug, whipped a tear that fell from your eye, and crawled into the bean bag he held in his lap. He watched you settle and turned his attention back to what he was working on. A hologram appeared before him, and he began moving different components. They were moving so fast you couldn’t make heads or tails of what he was trying to do. Soon, the items flashed red. He grabbed his coffee mug and threw it against the wall. It shattered on impact, leftover liquid staining the wall. You let out a squeak, surprised by his sudden outburst. “Shit, fuck, I’m sorry,” he began to pick up the porcelain pieces, but you saw his hands shake. Quickly, you stood up from the bean bag and grabbed some paper towels before walking over to him. You heard each hitch in his breath.

“Tony, it’s okay,” you spoke softly. “Let me take care of it.” He rapidly shook his head; breathing became shallow and erratic as he struggled to fill his lungs with air. “Dad,” he looked at you. “I’m going to hug you now, okay?” A simple nod was all you got as you sat up on your knees and brought him into a hug. His head slumped against your chest, and his body was tense with panic.

“I’m sorry,” he gasped.

“Sh,” you told him. “Just follow my breathing. Nice and slow.” You saw his hands release the shards of the cup. Red patches of blood appeared on his palm. The cuts weren’t life-threatening, so you could attend to them later. Soon, his body relaxed against yours, and his breathing was under control. “Good. Let’s move to the couch, maybe a little more comfortable.” He had no fight as he allowed you to stand and move him to the couch. He refused to look at you, not even when you cleaned up the mug or brought a first aid kit. You knelt in front of him, carefully cleaning the minor cuts. You were familiar with panic attacks, having many yourself, and helping your friends through them. “Are you with me?”

“Yeah,” he whispered, licking his lips. “Yeah, I’m here.” You sat beside him on the couch, knocking your leg against his.

“Do you want to talk about what caused the panic attack?” He sighed, opening and closing his hands.

“I was trying to figure out how she did it,” he gestured to the still flashing red items. “She beat me. She was better, and I can’t let that happen and risk you and Pepper’s life. But I can’t fucking figure it out,” he slumped back. “How can I protect her when I keep failing to protect you?” You stayed quiet, tapping your fingers against your thighs. You stared at the blinking hologram. “I am Iron Man,” he mumbled.

“Yes, you are,” you spoke. “You are Iron Man, a part of the Avengers, playboy, genius, billionaire, and philanthropist,” he chuckled. “But you are human, and we sometimes get it wrong. We make mistakes and can’t find the answers to everything. That’s life,” you said. You looked back at him, and he was already looking at you. “The human existence is so uncertain, but that is one thing I know. You will love and protect that little girl and aren’t doing it alone.”

“Morgan,” he said. You whispered it back to him. “It’s the name we decided. Pepper wanted to wait, but I wanted to tell you.”

“I like it,” he held out your hand, and Tony took it. “What happened to me and Pepper was not your fault. Sometimes things happen a little out of our control,” he pulled you into a hug, kissing your temple.

“I’ll never get over how lucky I am to call you my daughter,” you leaned into the hug more and felt your body warm up at the praise.

“I’m pretty lucky I get to call you my dad,” you said. “Do you want some help on that?” You gestured to the hologram. “Two eyes are better than one.”

“Yeah, I’ll take you up on that.”

*

You found Natasha in the training room past midnight, and she wasn’t slowing down anytime soon. Only wearing a sports bra and leggings, she punched and kicked at the sandbag in front of her. Her body was glistening with sweat. Any other time, you would spend the time ogling your very sexy girlfriend, but she was hurting. It was different from seeing Tony’s panic attack or how Pepper hugged you tighter. She was more subtle, but you knew Natasha well. “Hi baby,” you made your presence known, but she kept punching harder and harder. “Do you want to shower and go to bed?” Still no response. You sighed and walked over to her, keeping your footsteps slow but loud. You felt her gaze on you, analyzing your next move. Instead of stopping her, you stretched, crumbled up her shirt, and she took off and lay on the ground. The shirt wasn’t a great pillow.

“Go to bed,” she said.

“Not without you, and you are going to be here for a while, so I’m going to be right here,” you closed your eyes. The rhythmic sound of her punching almost rocked you to sleep, but the sudden quiet pulled you awake. Opening your eyes, Natasha was sitting in front of you. “It’s rude to stare, you know,” she smirked.

“I just like looking at my beautiful girlfriend.”

“Creep,” she laughed, and you knew it was the most beautiful sound in the world. “Are you alright, my love?” She scuffed.

“I feel like I should be asking you,” you said, sitting up and intertwining your legs with hers.

“It’s okay to not be okay with all this. I mean, someone broke into our home,” she looked down, and you forced her chin up to look at you. “Talk to me, beautiful.”

“Do you like living here?” You were stunned by her question. “Your home is here and the city, but do you like both places.”

“Where are you going with this, Natasha?” You asked.

“Sometimes I just want to walk away from this. I want to live where no one can find me and take you with me because I can’t stay somewhere you could be in danger.”

“What about the team? Yelena?”

“Fuck them,” you glared at her knowing she didn’t mean that. “I’ll miss them and this life, but they could come and visit. You are more important than any mission I fight,” she moved closer to you, carefully laying you down on your back. Her body covered yours. “Would you go with me? You could still work, and we would wait till Pepper gave birth. I’d leave this to start a family and keep you safe.” You ran your fingers through her red hair.

“This sounds like a marriage proposal without a ring,” you teased.

“Who said I don’t have a ring?” she kissed your cheek and lingered above your lips. “So what do you say?”

“Show me the ring, and I’ll say yes,” you forced her down, lips colliding into a messy kiss. She tasted mint and a hint of strawberry from her electrolyte drink, and both covered her natural taste. But you couldn’t care less. You kissed her as if your life were dependent on it because, at that moment, it was.

*

“Auntie Nat!” Your five-year-old sister’s side, rushing out of the car and sprinting up the stairs of your log cabin home. Morgan pushed past you and jumped into the arms of your wife. The ex-Avenger dramatically kissed the girl’s cheek, which caused her laughter to fill the quiet space.

“What am I, chopped liver?” You asked.

“She wouldn’t stop talking about spending time at Auntie Nat’s house and playing with Liho,” Tony laughed. You met him halfway to grab Morgan’s bags.

“Unbelievable,” you mumbled, hugging your father and Pepper. “Betrayed by my sister.”

“Thank you for watching her. We appreciate it.” They were leaving on a week-long, no-kid vacation to Europe. You loved watching Morgan, and it seemed only fair since they gifted you this property up in Maine as a wedding gift. Natasha stepped away from Avenging, and you delegated more responsibilities to your company. It was strange at first not having a meeting to attend or waiting by the phone when Natasha was away on a mission. You could relax. You found your sister in the living room, with her toys scattered on the ground, and captured Natasha’s attention in whatever game of make-believe she created.

“I see what you’ll be doing for a week.”

“Can I come to Italy with you and leave them to their devices?”

“Maybe next time,” Pepper laughed, squeezing your shoulder as she walked over to where Morgan was sitting. You placed her bags on the foot of the stairs.

“This looks good,” you hummed in question. “This life away from Avenging and the spotlight. It looks good on both of you,” you smiled as you watched Morgan rope her mother into whatever story she was spinning. “I was hesitant when you said you wanted to move,” you knew he was. “But I’m glad you did it, squirt.”

“Thanks, Dad.” Suddenly, you felt a little body run into your legs.

“Mommy said you were upset because I didn’t say hi,” you picked her up with a slight grunt.

“Hi, Princess Morgan,” you kissed her cheek.

“Hi, sissy,” she wrapped her arms around your neck. “You’re my favorite sister.” You looked at Tony; his mouth hung open slightly.

“Do you have more of us running around I don’t know about?” He shrugged. “Alright, say goodbye to your dad,” you weren’t sure how well she would take being away from her parents for so long. So you and Natasha planned a week filled with fun. Tony took his daughter from you and squeezed her tight.

“Gonna miss you, princess.”

“Miss you too, Daddy,” she whispered. “Are you going to bring me something back?” You chuckled and shook your head. She was a firecracker, always keeping you on your toes. Once more goodbyes were said, and you watched their car drive away, you looked at Morgan.

“Ice cream time?”

“Ice cream time,” she repeated and returned to the cabin. Before you could follow her, Natasha’s arms wrapped around your waist and pulled you close. Her hands rested on your stomach; they seemed to find their way there a lot.

“I love watching you with her,” she kissed your neck. “Makes me excited to meet our little one,” you giggled and turned to face her.

“Are you excited to tell Tony and Pepper when they return?”

“Hopefully, he doesn’t threaten me like when I asked for his blessing.”

“Auntie Nat! Sissy! You said ice cream time!” Morgan’s voice called out.

“Duty calls,” you stole a quick kiss from Natasha and ran into the house, where Morgan waited patiently in the kitchen.

You were married, expecting your first child, and your home was filled with laughter, happiness, and warmth because your life didn’t end when you were trapped in that chair. The doctor was right you were reborn into something beautiful but it wasn’t what she had in mind.