#and he just DIDN'T GET IT when we tried explain it to him

[mixispicklix]

I've always been a gym rat. Jake, my best friend since 5th grade, his dad owned the local gym. I always got to work out for free. By the time we hit high school, I had six pack abbs and bulging biceps. I started working part-time at the gym my junior year of high school. It didn't pay much, but I loved it. Jake didn't want any part of running his dad's gym. In my senior year of high school, Jake's dad sat me down and made me an offer. He would help me with college. My parents couldn't afford to send me. I would take business courses and learn what it takes to run a business. I would work for him learning how his business was run. After I graduate, I will work for him full-time. Three quarters of my pay would be in cash, and the remaining quarter would be paying him back for college and buying a stake in the gym. By the time he retires, I will have enough of a stake to take over ownership of the gym and pay him a monthly retirement salary. Just after graduating, I took over managing the gym. What I didn't count on was him getting hit by a drunk driver while jogging a block from his house. He was surprisingly wealthy. He left everything to his son Jake except the gym he left that solely to me. I thought Jake would be mad, but he told me he knew all about it. His dad had discussed it with him before he changed his will. We hugged, and I told him he had a free membership for life. I slowly started transforming the gym into a family oriented workout place. I still kept the weights and sparing arena for the hard-core gym rats. But I also added workout and yoga instructors and offered family oriented exercise classes. I put in a pool for water aerobics. Business was taking off like a rocket. I put an ad in the help wanted section of the paper for someone who could teach both fitness and yoga classes and manage the scheduling. A few days later, in come the McMannuss sisters. I tried to explain I only needed one person, but they said they were a package deal. Something in my gut told me to take a chance, so I hired them both. They both would teach classes, but I made cookie, yes that was her real name, the manager. Cookie and Macaroon were worth their weight in gold. They both hated their names, Cookie insisted on being called CK, and Macaroon insisted on being called Mac. Woe to the person who called them by their full names. One day, a fight broke out in the free weight section of the gym. I went over to break it up. One of the guys who were fighting came up behind me and hit me in the back of my head with a weight and knocked me out cold.

When the medic revived me with an ammonia stick, I saw CK and Mac standing over me practically crying. When I asked what happened, they said after the guy hit me, they called the police and they arrested the guy. When the cops ask to see the security tapes, CK and Mac got really nervous. When I saw the video, I was shocked. After the guy hit me, CK and Mac came running over, and I took out all five guys who were fighting. Mac had the guy who hit me by the neck with one hand and was shaking him like a rag doll screaming she was going to rip him apart with her bare hands. It took three people, including her sister, to make her let go. At the end of the day, two nervous women came into my office and wanted to talk to me. They were scared I was going to fire them. I got up and walked over to each of them, gave them each a hug and a kiss on the cheek, and thanked them for having my back. I asked about the crying when I came to. They both confessed to having a crush on me. I said I had been wanting to ask each of them out on a date but couldn't decide which one. They both stripped off their workout suits and said that wasn't a problem. They always shared everything. Then they got on either side of me and said. "The only question is, are you coming on your own, or do we pick you up and carry you to bed. Either way you are in for the night of your life."

[aangelinakii]

SECRET LOVER LOVER.

— an inquiry for mr drake.

summary : tim's family pay you a visit to find out what's got their brother so laidback at home, without knowing you're what's got him so smitten.

note : a very rare part two to this post !! i loved the idea for this second part so much i couldn't resist,, i wanted to stay with the taylor swift theme but couldn't find a song i felt fit this so i ditched it,,,, anyways here it is i hope you enjoy, it's a little cracky / jokey but i jope it's good anyway thanks for the request <33

when a knock came at your office door that afternoon, you hadn't expected it to open to reveal two men you'd never seen. at that, you hadn't expected their strange alikeness to your boss.

from the stark raven hair dusting their eyebrows to the light piercing eyes, although both of them were quite a lot larger in their build than his, of which you'd gotten to know quite well after the last few months.

if you didn't know any better, you might think you're about to get beat up in your own office.

"how may i help you?" you had asked them, peering up from your papers, pushing your voice in an effort to not sound too suspicious, or even afraid.

one was taller, almost built like a human juggernaut, with large muscles although it was evident he tried to hide them beneath a huge hoodie over his frame; the soot-black was broken at a section where flecks of white had seemed to grow in.

the other was more lean, more confident about his physique, allowing a polo shirt to define it; his skin was tan, glistening in what sunlight spilled in through the window behind you. he was the one to speak first, stepping past the threshold. "we have a question about tim— mr drake? he said anything we have to ask him we can come to you."

judging by the way the taller one lingered by the door, you were getting more and more sure that the mafia had come knocking on wayne enterprise doors.

"um, sure, what's your query?" you asked, sitting up straighter and plucking a pen from its holder to scribble something down on the edge of a paper to show tim later.

despite the smile the polo shirt one had pushed upon his lips, the heavy uncertainty in your chest had remained, gaining weight as he stepped up to your desk and perched himself down at the single chair on the other side of it. "just so you don't think you're about to be attacked, i think it'd be best if we introduced ourselves; i'm dick, and back there is jason, we grew up with tim." he glanced back at the one by the door. "we're his brothers."

"that explains it," you attempted to chuckle, the weight on your shoulders slowly evaporating.

"not by blood or anything," the tall cross-armed one huffed. "i think i'd rather die than have tim be my actual brother by blood."

your gaze silently travelled to him, and dick craned his head around to stare at him.

in return, jason shrugged his shoulders up to his ears, and his arms seemed to tighten their loop over his chest. "don't worry about it..."

when dick finally turned back to you, he owned a curious glint in his eye, that shone as a cloud passed the sun behind you, and another crossed over it in an instant. "you haven't noticed tim acting different lately, have you?"

he was leaning forward slightly, a soft crease in between his brows, eyes narrowed a little bit.

not that you could think of...

"well, not to speak ill of my boss or your brother, but he's been quite stressed with this start-up that keeps asking for funding," you explained. you knew quite well the extent of his stress, for you'd been the person to help him relieve it each night when every other computer screen was black, the only sounds throughout the building that you both shared.

but these two guys didn't need to know that.

a beat passed, you looking between the two of them. "why? is everything okay at home?"

this time when dick glanced back at jason, it wasn't out of judgement — it was a shared expression of knowing.

"we think he's met someone," jason was the first to speak now, glancing behind him and stepping further into the room, closing the door.

met someone?

well, assuming that someone was you, you had to decide how to respond.

should you explain that you've actually been seeing him, even though you'd agreed not to tell anybody in the office? these two weren't colleagues, maybe they didn't count. after a second longer's thought, you decided it would be better to keep things secret until you properly discussed it with tim.

if he wanted his brothers knowing, he would have told them, wouldn't he?

shaking your head softly, you gave a shrug. "i'm sorry, i haven't noticed anybody coming in or out of his office." not when you're the one doing it.

but just because you couldn't tell them what was going on with tim, didn't mean you couldn't find out.

"how has he been acting anyway?" you continued, earning the two boys to look back up at you from their silent brainstorming. "you know, just so i can keep an eye out on any weird behaviour."

dick's bottom lip jutted out and he took a few beats to recall. "i don't know, he's just been a lot happier lately. if someone — jason — tries to get a rise out of him, he'll just brush it off, act totally different to normal."

"yeah, he's getting boring now," jason piped up, which earned a smile from you.

"and he's been buying new cologne," dick added. "which we noticed, because he used to wear lynx but now he's wearing expensive stuff, i can tell."

expensive stuff, huh? you could certainly tell. sounds like a big jump from lynx just to impress a subordinate.

you were about to open your mouth to respond when the door creaked open once again, causing jason beside it to flinch.

this time, the person entering was a familiar face; that of tim drake himself, the man of the conversation.

"have you got those— oh."

he fell still, looking between his two brothers, one seated, one standing; both just as in shock-horror as the other.

"didn't i tell you to leave?" tim scowled, his knuckles paling on the doorknob as he gripped it.

mouth agape, you glanced around at the men. "didn't you say anything they wanted to know, bring them to me?"

tim's expression faltered for a moment, his jaw setting in place as he continued to stare down his brothers, gaze lingering on one for a few beats before turning to the other. "i did say that. before i told them to leave the building because they were beginning to piss me off."

now, dick was quick to stand. "and we'll leave right now!" he exclaimed. "just trying to get to the bottom of your smite."

he flashed tim a cheeky smile and began to move past him out the room, clapping a hand on his shoulder on the way. jason, on the other hand, sent you a pointed look before following.

as soon as jason's backside was out the door, tim was closing it on him with a sigh.

"never knew how to keep their noses out of people's business," he grumbled, stepping towards the chair dick had been sitting in and slumping down into it.

unable to contain a soft, sappy smile, you stood from your desk and stepped around it, perching along the edge of the wood, knees brushing against tim's thigh. a hand came up to run itself through his gelled hair, and you leaned carefully forward to press a small peck to the forehead exposed by the action.

"your cologne smells amazing," you sighed against his hair, just barely catching a whiff of it as you moved against him. "much nicer than lynx."

what had been him leaning into your touch, sighing quietly beneath his breath grew rigid and still.

"what did they tell you?" tim's voice came cold, but in a way it was difficult to hold in a laugh.

when you didn't respond, tim pulled away quickly and jumped to his feet, racing to the door. although he closed it behind him, you could hear a combination of boyish laughter and little brother whines that practically painted the picture for you, loud and clear — and you could imagine tim would have to run a board meeting to make sure none of what was heard was spoken of again.

[grandline-fics]

Hey, hey, hey. I'd love a love potion with katakuri if that inspires you and you have time for it 💕💕

DESCRIPTION: Love Potion- You were both only pretending to date. The feelings aren't real...right?

WARNINGS: none come to mind.

CHARACTERS: Katakuri

WORDS: 1,598

A/N: Thank you for this request @strawberry-000 this one got away with me and I hadn't intended it to get as long as it did. This is my second time writing Katakuri but I hope it was to your liking ♥️

*REQUESTS ARE OPEN*

DIRECTORY | PROMPT LIST | KO-FI | VALENTINES EVENT MASTERLIST

———————

The smell of baking filled the streets of Hakuriki Town. Intoxicating smells perfectly blending together to create the constantly sweet and indulgent atmosphere that kept all the residents in a warm and happy mood. Well maybe not all. Sadly you couldn't exactly join the others around you in their positivity and cheer when you were trying to keep yourself restrained and polite. All you wanted was to just work but instead you had to suffer the annoyance of a coworker standing a little too close and being far too persistent.

“So we both finish our shifts at the same time today.” He began while you glared down at the dough you were kneading expertly. Quickly you forced your expression into one of false calm. You were newer to this bakery and the one trying-and failing- to charm you was the Boss’ favourite. The last thing you wanted was to cause problems and make waves this early. “What do you say you and I go for a well-deserved drink?”

“Oh that'd be fun!” You said with false enthusiasm. You’d refused him so many times already by feigning tiredness or pretending to feel unwell that you needed to try something different. Today’s tactic: ignorance of his intentions. You turned to face him with as sweet a smile you could muster as you put the tray of dough into the oven. “I’ll let the others know and we can make a night out of it. I think we could all do with a work outing after how busy this week has been, don’t you?”

“It’d be kinda awkward bringing the others on a date though.” He laughed, completely sidestepping your plan with ease. “The last thing I'd want is to make them uncomfortable, y’know?” You held back the urge to punch the man in the face. He didn't want to make the rest of your coworkers uncomfortable but had no problem doing it to you if it meant you went on a date with him? Taking things up a gear you blinked at him in surprise. 

“Date?" you repeated innocently. “Oh…I thought you were only asking me out as a friend. I'm sorry but I'm not single.”

Oh you wished you could have fully savoured the bewildered and disappointed look on his face but you were too busy training your expression, appearing apologetic for the misunderstanding. You wished it hadn’t come to this; having to lie about your love life in order to get him to back off but if it meant he stopped asking you out it would be worth it. Then your eye twitched minutely to see your coworker’s confidence slip back into his features. Even that statement wouldn’t deter him from his pursuit. “You're seeing someone? Is it serious?”

“It’s still new but I’m very happy with them.” You explained while moving to grab ingredients to start work on the next batch of pastries. Your boss hadn’t spotted you and your coworker’s idle chatter but if they did, you’d be the only one to be lectured. Not giving them the chance you set about work while gnashing your teeth in frustration, feeling your coworker follow close behind you. You could feel the questions brewing on his tongue and tried to get ahead of it, in the hopes of finally killing the conversation you never wanted to be a part of in the first place. "So happy in fact I don't think he'd take kindly to hear someone else wants to date me.”

"Who is he? I think I could win a fight against him for your affections.” The bold declaration brought a sharp laugh from your lips before you could stop it. Everything already pointed to this guy thinking he was amazing at everything but you knew to look at him he was certainly not a fighter. Quickly you cleared your throat and decided you may as well commit to the lie fully. You needed to think of someone not even his ego would compete with while also being someone who he wouldn't directly have any involvement with. You couldn’t work out why it was the first name your mind conjured but it was out of your mouth before you could come up with anyone else. "It's Katakuri.”

For the rest of the day your coworker left you alone, creating as much distance between you both as possible. Your plan had worked too well. He didn’t question you at all because only someone with a death wish would falsely claim to be seeing a member of the Charlotte Family. When your shift ended you stepped out onto the street and let out a sigh of relief only to freeze at the sight of the Minister of Flour himself leaning against the wall of the building opposite your work. From the look in his eyes you saw that he knew. Was it some sort of sadism that he let you work for hours and finish your shift before ending your life? Somehow you felt enough strength return to your legs to carry you forward the last few steps until you were in front of Katakuri. “So…public execution or imprisonment?”

“Both seem like a harsh punishment.” Katakuri began as he stepped away from the wall and you couldn't help but grow still at how calm his deep, powerful voice was. You then became confused when his eyes slid from your face to look at something behind you. “All he did was ask you out but you set him straight.” Your eyes widened and you heard a panicked squeak behind you but you couldn’t bring yourself to look away from the man in front of you. “Had he touched you however, that would be a different conversation.”

You held back a gasp when Katakuri put his arm around you and pulled you into step to walk with him down the street. As light as the action was you could feel the immense power in his hand but you didn’t feel any fear. You felt reassured and protected but your mind was racing. Were you dreaming? What was happening? There was no point in asking how he knew about your lie because the Charlotte family ruled Totto Land, they were powerful enough to learn anything they wished. When you were far enough away from your work you managed to form enough thought to speak the one question you could ask. Nervously you glanced down at his hand still against your body. “Why did you play along?”

“It’s not really important is it?” Katakuri asked, you glanced up and saw that of what you could see of his face his expression was unreadable. “I could ask why you said my name but it wouldn’t really change things. The results are the same. Your coworker won’t bother you again.”

“That may be but that only works out in my benefit.” You stated with a small tilt of your head your curiosity only growing. “What could you possibly be getting out of this little charade?”

“Who knows?” Katakuri mused, watching your lips fall into a small scowl in dissatisfaction at the answer. “You work in a bakery right? Make me some doughnuts and we can say that’s my motivation to keep up your lie for as long as you need to.”

You blinked and let out a soft laugh. Katakuri had his own personal chefs and bakers that could make him anything he desired. Why he’d want your baking baffled you but if it meant he would continue to let you use him to get out of be asked out by people you had no interest in, it was a good trade. “Are you going to break up with me if they don’t taste as good as what you’re used to?”

“Only if they’re completely inedible.” Katakuri let out a small chuckle, amused that you felt so at ease around him to joke that way. He was already aware of how good a baker you were but he said nothing. The truth of the whole situation was that when he used Brûlée’s mirro-world to enjoy his merienda in peace, she kept the mirrors connected to Hakuriki activated so he could still ensure there were no dangers to the island he was in charge of. In that time one conversation caught his attention in particular because of how persistent and grating one voice sounded. He was subjected to hearing your get asked out again and again. Every time you patiently came up with something to end the conversation, your coworker pressed again and again to the point Katakuri became irritated on your behalf but that was just civilian problems. One of many minor grievances people had to deal with, hardly something that required his involvement. Then you conjured up his name as your boyfriend. He wasn’t going to lie, he had been impressed at that and to finally hear your coworker immediately shut his mouth Katakuri decided for that blessing you deserved a reward by legitimising your lie.

“This is me.” You spoke up, spotting your home come into view. “Stop by my work tomorrow and I’ll have your doughnuts ready for you.”

“I look forward to it.” Katakuri told you sincerely, watching you step out from his relaxed hold and walk towards your home to turn in for the evening. When you were inside, Katakuri couldn’t help but smirk underneath his scarf. He hadn’t fully known what to expect when he waited for you outside the bakery but now he was certainly interested in what was going to happen next.

——————————————-

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[dismalflo]

All this time

James potter x fem!reader who have been oblivious to each others feelings ✩ 1.2k words

cw; Idiots in love, mutual pining, fluff

an; first james fic!! my requests are open

If the mark of a smart man was knowing when he was defeated, then James Potter was the smartest man on earth. When it came to you he was utterly defeated, no matter how much he tried to deny it. 

‘Oi Prongs! Stop staring at the poor girl, you'll scare her off.’ Sirius teases stopping the trance James seemed to be in. He would like it noted he wasn’t staring, he was gazing. It sounds much more romantic that way he thought.

A rough, but familiar arm drapes over his shoulders as James turns to reply only to be met with Sirius’ knowing smirk, taunting him. He’s never been able to hide from or lie to Sirius. 

‘Oh god, I’m fucked.’ James moans, putting his head in his hands to avoid Sirius’ laugh.

‘You need to pull yourself together, mate. This is embarrassing even for you.’ A hard slap on the back and Sirius slinks away back to Remus’ lap. A part of him wishes it was Remus that caught him, at least he gives some advice before walking away laughing.

He glances over at the boys, only to be met with Remus’ encouraging nod towards you which he promptly ignores.

Before he was caught, James was observing you standing in the kitchen of Sirius and Remus’ flat talking to Lily and Marlene, you’d all sat down for the first time in forever to eat a good meal, have a drink and catch up with each other. He’s surrounded by all the people he loves, and yet when he thinks of who he wants the attention of his head just says; you, you, you. 

For a while James tried flirting with you, but you never reciprocated or seemed to take notice of it, so the only thing James can think is that you really don’t like him and that you might even find him bothersome. He's okay with fancying you from afar now, he's used to it.

He perks up again when he hears the sound of your laughter, looking up he sees Lily whispering something in your ear and the next thing he knows you’re looking directly at him. Oh shit. He's been caught and you’re going to think he's terribly creepy and never talk to him again. Oh fuck. 

He looks back down at the beer in his hand, as he tries to get the blush painting his cheeks under control. The next thing he knows there's a gentle hand tapping his shoulder, and looking up he sees the wonderful angel of a girl, you, who is surely here to let him down gently. You’re too kind to be mean about his obvious pining, he thinks.

‘Can we go have a chat?’ you say in the sweet tone you always seem to have.

He nods, trying to act casual, his heart clenching. This was it, he could already picture the awkward, pitying look in your eyes as you explained how sorry you were that you didn't return his feelings.

He stands up, forcing a smile, and follows you into the other room, not before sending a pleading glance at Sirius to be saved. You turn to face him, your expression unreadable. You seem fidgety, almost nervous?

‘So,’ you start, voice a little hesitant. ‘Lily said something earlier and I thought it was a joke, but she said I should ask you about it.’

‘Oh, what did she say?’ His voice was shaking with nerves.

You shift your weight on your feet, biting your lip. “It was about… you, actually. And me.”

"Oh." He nods, gaze pinned on the wall unwilling to meet your eyes. "Right. Okay." James is begging for you to get this over with, in his head.

You hesitate for a moment, and James looks up to find you watching him intently, your eyes searching his. ‘She said that you fancy me? And I wanted to know if it was true or if she’s just teasing me.’

‘Why would she be teasing you about that?’ James can't help but think this must be a joke at his expense and he definitely doesn't like this one.

‘Well… i think it's quite obvious that i've fancied you forever James.’ 

James feels like the floor drops out from under him. His brain stops processing, and for a few seconds, he’s sure he’s just imagining it. He opens his mouth to respond, but nothing comes out. He’s sure this is a joke, a cruel one at that. His brain catches up and he remembers that you wouldn't be so cruel, neither would any of his friends in the other room. 

‘You... you do?’ he finally manages, his voice barely above a whisper, as if saying it out loud might break whatever spell has been cast on the moment.

You nod, a soft awkward smile tugging at your lips, and he swears his heart is about to beat out of his chest. ‘Yeah... I don’t know, you’re just so kind and sweet and pretty.’ You sigh, running a hand through your hair, clearly frustrated with yourself.

James realises all at once that he has been so incredibly wrong, so blind, this is ridiculous. 

He can’t help the laugh that bursts out of him, but as soon as he sees the look on your face—your eyes wide, a little hurt, and confused—he immediately regrets it.

‘Wait, no, that’s not what I meant,’ he stammers, his hands instinctively reaching for your shoulders, his fingers brushing the soft fabric of your shirt. ‘I didn’t mean to laugh like that. I just... I can’t believe it, that’s all. I’ve been such an idiot. I like you too. A lot. You never seem to like it when I try to flirt with you.’

You bite your lip, nodding, but James can see the hesitation in your eyes. He feels a pang of guilt, wishing he could take back the stupid laugh.

‘I—I just thought you’d never notice me like that. I’m always so... all over the place, and I thought maybe you thought I was annoying or... I don’t know,’ his voice drops and he sounds unsure of himself now, so different to the James Potter you know.

‘James’ you whisper, your hand gently covering his, the warmth of your skin grounding him. ‘I never thought you were annoying. I thought you were... funny and smart and so kind. I just didn’t know how to—well, I thought you were just joking around with me. I didn’t want to make things weird if that's all it was.’

He takes a step closer, moving one hand from your shoulder to your cheek, his thumb gently brushing away the stray hair there. ‘I can’t believe this. You’ve liked me all this time?’ He repeats, still in disbelief.

You nod slowly, and it’s like the weight of everything you’ve both been avoiding comes crashing down on him. The relief that floods through his chest is almost overwhelming. He looks at you with all the adoration he's been trying to hide these past few months.

‘Can I kiss you?’ he whispers, those words only meant for your ears. Your gaze softens as you step closer to him, tilting your chin up, inviting.

‘Yes please.’

[aahsokaatano]

"I'll be honest, I wasn't ever expecting anything to come of it," I admitted - and maybe that wasn't the smartest thing to say to a god, but cut me some slack. Ten minutes before this, I had been just minding my own business on the sidewalk.

"Well, your - what is it they call it now?" Hades looked expectedly at Charon.

"Commitment to the bit," he supplied in a bored tone that I recognized from years of working retail.

"Yes, your commitment to the bit was so ardent that it went full circle to just... commitment." He gestured vaguely at me. "The rules have changed quite a bit over the millennia. But loyalty - even ironic loyalty - is still honored."

"So I... Pavolv'd myself into being, what, your high priest?"

"Mm, more like you constructed your own Schrodinger's box, where your daily dedications both were and were not serious, but it was enough to catch my attention regardless."

I thought over that for a long moment, feeling a rising headache. "So... what now? We shake hands and then you send me on my way?"

"Actually, I wanted to offer you a job." I immediately wanted to say no, based purely on the look of complete and total hell-is-a-job-here on Charon's face, but I held my tongue as Hades continued. "I try to take a new advisor every few hundred years to keep up with the happenings in the mortal world. Keeps things interesting."

"So, you... want me to like, explain TikTok dances to you?"

"Yes!" Hades smiled, a little too widely, but it seemed genuine enough for an otherworldly being of unfathomable power. "And other trends of the time. I like learning about the mortal world. You're all so innovative, there's always something new to learn."

"Huh." Well, in all honesty, it didn't sound like a bad way to spend some time. "Uh, sure. Okay. I'm in."

"Excellent!" Hades reached out a hand. He was icy cold to the touch, but I was more surprised when the shake turned into him helping me into the boat. "Now, first, could you explain what social media is? My last advisor tried his best, but he was from 1853, and just as baffled as me."

Charon pushed the boat off the shore with a loud sigh, getting us underway as I began trying to explain Instagram to the Lord of the Dead.

As a joke you had always said "I dedicate this to Hades" as you threw away food scraps from your cooking and cleaning your plates. When you die you find yourself in front of Charon's boat with Hades sitting in it, seemingly very excited to see his most devoted follower in recent times.

[differentalpacafestival]

You know, something I just realized is actually kinda funny.

The sole reason I even know what transgenderism is, is simply because I started seeing transphobia.

"This is so wrong, this is disgusting" etc made me wonder why they thought it was so wrong, so I pursued knowledge.

RuPaul's Drag Race was one of the first queer and LGBTQIA+ friendly media I ever consumed. I was not, and still am not the biggest fan of the drama because I just simply don't like drama, but I saw so many contestants coming out during that show. Grown "men" crying as they admit to feeling ostracized from their childhood communities, their family and friends, saying they've come to realize they're not actually a man, but a woman. I watched a handful of them becoming so vulnerable and stripping (emotionally) completely in front of someone they adored, but also a huge camera crew, and thus essentially the entire world. I thought "How is this wrong? What's so disgusting about this?"

I was 10 when I sat in the school bus after school and talked with some younger kids I was friends with about transgenderism. I don't remember the conversation, obviously, this is like 13 years ago, but I remember telling them it was actually possible for a boy to get a surgery to remove his penis. I remember feeling proud to be the one telling them this, but also appalled that their natural reactions were so strong, because mine never was, and both my parents and my older brother were vehemently against self expression like that.

When I was like 13, I identified as bisexual. I became obsessed with the flag's colours and tried to coordinate my outfits to have a similar vibe.

When I was 14, someone in my class told us after a visiting performance group that the lead singer *wanted* to be confusing, gender-wise. Someone had tried to make fun of the lead singer after their performance, and were quickly shut down when no one followed. My friend explained what being non-binary meant, and I felt so outed, but in a good way. My friend said the singer's long, messy hair was purposeful, that their big clothes were purposeful, and that they never introduced themselves by anything other than name, nor talked about it because they didn't need to; their self expression said everything for them. I remember going to the bathroom that same day and looking at my own long [straightened] hair and baggy clothes and wondered for the first time if I was on the same wavelength, just not the same wave.

When I was 16 I met my first ever trans friend. I quickly developed a crush on him, which, in hindsight wasn't actually a crush, but admiration, and I wanted to protect him at all costs. Whenever our elder teacher misgendered him or used his dead name, I, fairly aggressively, corrected her in front of the entire class to the point that I was yelled at for interrupting and that "she" [referring to my GUY friend] knows it's not on purpose. He never told me to stop, so I never did. We also didn't have that teacher for many classes, and I noticed she started to avoid using pronouns or even his name because I didn't back down.

That same year I found out that a friend I had, but had lost contact with, had also come out. She had socially changed her name when she started a new school, and her appearance had drastically changed from when we went to the same school just a year or so prior. I messaged her, asking if it was true and told her I was proud of her for being herself and that I was happy she had found who she truly was. The next time we met, I slipped with her pronouns, but that was also the only time I ever did. I apologized and we continued our lives as friends again. The next year, after I, too, had started my own self discovery journey, she dead named me, and I dropped her instantly. As a trans person, how do you have the guts to insult someone the same way you have been, even if they're not actively trans? (at the time, I only thought I was gay) Another in the same friend group followed suit after berating her, and after nearly 20 years of acquaintance, she dropped her as well. Apparently, they were never actually friends, they just happened to be the only two who were left out and decided to stick together. Had me and my two childhood friends from a different school not entered the picture, they wouldn't have maintained contact after their last year at the same school. I've also minimized contact with her since, after finding out she blames the entire trans community for everything that's wrong in the world after I came out as enby to her. She has always been protective of me, and has, on numerous occasions said she admires me, but when I learned that she wasn't just not a big fan of the, prior, only trans person in our group, but actually had fundamental issues with her as a trans person, my view of her changed. We had a short discussion about being trans and what it meant, and she argued with the same point you usually hear, like "You can never change your biological sex" and how we're just mentally unstable [which really felt like a personal attack because she knows I am].

About a year after I came out to my friends as enby, I came out to my mom after we had been drinking. I remember my thoughts being so loud when she started her usual transphobic tirade, and just as I was about to tell her, my nose started bleeding. I cleaned myself up and started by saying I knew why that happened, and came out to her on the spot. She stammered when she realized every bad thing and every criticism she has ever slung at the trans community, were also indirectly thrown at me. We've tried talking about it since, but she stands firm on non-binary not being real and how it doesn't matter if one is trans during life because "iN onE ThOusAnD yEaRs-"

My point is that in my peers' attempt at keeping everything strictly conservative, they helped me figure out that I'm a liberal.

My transphobic family's comments made me pursue my own conclusions because they were too emotional about it and never talked about trans people as other civils.

And I find that kinda funny.

[midnight1nk]

Y'know what would be the funniest and most fucked-up thing the Team could do? imagine this: as always, a new episode comes up and you see this

Well, we gotta watch the episode, don't we? ↓

It starts with the Crew (minus 4) doing their usual hijinks in the Castle lobby. Just another day. But then, out of curiosity, one of them asks "Hey, guys, what is behind that door anyway?"

No one has questioned it until now, they looked over the ominous door. A flashback from the "The New Castle" episode of 4 telling them "I'm not sure what's behind this door" and "We... don't talk about that room". For the Crew, some say that it's none of their business to know while others point out why go through the lengths to board the door up if 4's got nothing to hide. Well, if it was 4 anyway.

One peek wouldn't hurt. Besides, 4's out doing errands, this will be quick. So they try to peek through the cracks/keyhole. When that didn't work and only saw dark shadows, they tried to pry the boards off. Tried to karate chop the boards off. Tried using Meggy as a baseball bat. Tried using explosives.

During every attempt, each one tried to take a guess at what may be inside. At the start, the guesses were lighthearted like it was 4's huge stash of rizz soda cans or a secret collection of memes or something he was too embarrassed to share. Then, Mario tried BLJ and SOMEHOW THAT DID NOT WORK. This left the Crew spiraling, Mario's BLJ always worked without fail. What was behind that door?

We cut to 4 and Beeg4 on their way home to the Castle after finishing up some errands, the B plot of our episode. Obviously, 4 would be driving his forklift, trying to sing-along to a fnaf fansong. (no, trust me he would.) Then 4 remembers that he needed to get some groceries so he stops by the store. Beeg immediately wanted to ride in the cart basket.

Back to the A plot, most of the Crew is doing anything and everything they can to break the door open. Tari was put in charge of watching where 4 is by GPS until she got jumpscared by the same man calling her. He wanted to ask to check the fridge and pantry for him and she had to stall for time, pretty much telling 4 to take the store itself. She returned back to see the Crew trying and failing to make a hole in the wall. So they resorted to digging their way in with a tunnel through the floor. Of course, they kept guessing what was inside, the guesses this time meeting the strange vibes of the room. Maybe breaking the 4th wall a bit of fan theories (*points at self*).

The tunnel didn't work. Crashing a monster truck into the wall didn't work. 3's Meme Guardian powers didn't work. Breaking the 4th wall didn't work, "I swear it worked for SMG4 last time". What the fuck was behind that door?!

Meanwhile, 4 and Beeg4 were kicked out of the store with whatever bags they were able to hold on to. No, they weren't allowed to buy out the whole store, but they were lucky to have some food. So back to the road again. That was until Beeg4 spotted an ice cream truck driving ahead of them and proceeded to take the wheel. "Wait, BeegSMG4! You're not forklift certified AAAAAAAAAA—"

At this point, the Crew was starting to give up until someone from outside pointed out that there was a window. They all went outside and indeed, there was. "You got to be kidding me." They broke the glass and unlocked the window from the inside, only to be met with MORE wooden boards. Back to square one. "MAMA-FUCKER!" They check in with Tari on where 4 is.

Jumpcut to a grumpy 4 trying to fix the forklift up while Beeg enjoying his cone of ice cream, both stuck on the side of the road. "Y'know you could've asked for ice cream when we were at the store." Beeg lets out a pufferfish sound, arguing that it doesn't taste the same.

3 had enough and ran to his cafe for a moment before heading to the Meme Factory. The Crew's eyes followed him and wondered what was he planning. He came back with a giant bomb and a couple of memes in his arms, explaining that he was going to supercharge the bomb with meme energy. Sure, it'll be harder (and likely more dangerous) to do without 4 here but "desperate times call for desperate measures". While he focused on doing so, the rest were convincing him to stop, that he's gone insane over this.

But wouldn't you know it? It worked! Long at last, they all jumped into the hole that bomb made through the wood. The camera focused on their faces, their reaction to what was the whole fuss about. WHAT WAS INSIDE?

"It's.... It's..."

Cut to credits :)) that's it. that's the episode. but why of course, the episode was only a little bit over 15 minutes, we ran out of time.

And literally every episode after that, no one mentions about what they saw until the Team actually reveals it to the audience in a future episode (whether what was inside be mind-blowing or not). Not only that, but we also get to see the 2nd floor within the same episode so there's that.

I would honestly break my phone in half if this episode happened irl lmao. I should write this as an official concept 🤔

[slitheringghost]

Making Sense of Lily's Last Moments

Lily Evans is textually and in fandom lauded for her sacrifice, but if you stop and really think about it, Lily's last moments are extremely bizarre, and, to be frank, make her seem kind of incompetent rather than the battle hardened soldier she was:

1. She doesn't have her wand on her when Voldemort is hunting her family down and they could be in danger any moment, which is insanely careless (James does have his, even though he leaves it for just a couple moments just as Voldemort arrives)

2. She wastes precious time blocking the door with cardboard boxes when she knows Voldemort can just wave them away and then more precious time trying to reason with Lord fucking Voldemort despite having wandless magic abilities, begging Voldemort for mercy when the entire reason they've been in hiding for a year is because they all know that, y'know, Voldemort has no mercy (And Lily, the Muggleborn, who has lost the most to this war, knows this better than anyone)

As I explain in this post, we have similar scenarios in which the characters do fight - Amelia Bones "put up a real fight” against Voldemort. Bellatrix uses knives as backup when disarmed of her wand. Dobby saves Harry via wandless magic in the same book we see Lily’s death and her controlling wandless magic at 9. Harry avoids curses from Voldemort/Bellatrix/other Death Eaters by hiding behind stuff. Bellatrix initially escapes Dumbledore who's the better duelist over Voldemort, etc. So while escape is highly unlikely, isn't impossible either. And there's no way Lily wouldn't go down fighting if she had the option.

There's a lot of moments in the series where we as readers go "well why didn't the characters just do XYZ instead, it's such an obvious answer!" especially with how limitless magic in HP is. But I generally assume there's some in-universe reason that would make the characters' choices make sense rather than just accepting that they're stupid and incompetent.

I'm constantly on my soapbox about how fandom should adapt the interpretation that Lily had a plan and did dark magic to save Harry and to defeat Voldemort, which is my personal reading of the text However, if I haven't convinced you on that (...yet), here are some possible ways to fill in the gaps and make Lily's choices seem less strange. (Even if you don't think the canon version makes her look incompetent, these are just fun ideas to play with regardless!)

Why Lily didn't have her wand

Lily's wand broke at some point during a particular dangerous experiment. We have canon examples - Ron's wand in CoS, Harry's in DH (How did Voldemort's wand survive the blast if his body evaporated and end up with him in GoF then? Who knows...). Realistically, the Order would prioritize getting Lily a new wand ASAP because it's so obviously necessary, so maybe it happened close-ish to Halloween and they didn't have the time or opportunity. It could be an interesting parallel to Harry's own powerlessness in DH without his phoenix wand.

@keepmycandleburning's explanation in her fic I'm quicker includes a dark interpretation of James and Lily's marriage, where James took Lily's wand hostage as a method of abuse.

Why Lily didn't fight with wandless magic

Despair and depression can sap your magical power - examples include Merope, Tonks, dementors affecting the magical power of Azkaban prisoners', etc. Perhaps Lily had post-partum depression which sapped her wandless powers, or even just the general despair of fear for Harry's and her own and her loved ones' lives, being trapped in hiding, her family and other friends being dead, etc. Also interesting because until then Lily had a safety net compared to a lot of other Muggleborns - who were in constant fear of having their wands taken away and no wandless magic to fall back on - due to her magical power, but she ultimately ends up deprived of that too.

I still think Lily would've tried, like, anything else other than the cardboard box thing and begging Voldemort, but at least this makes her actions less weird and more like the brilliant witch we know she was.

[torukmaktoskxawng]

the song lives on

Summary: Aha'ri Lives AU!

Dedication to: @inolaphoenix for coming up with the idea and brainstorming with me!

Word Count: 1.9k+

Pairing: None (mainly focused on the Sarentu siblings)

Warnings: gn!reader, angst, PTSD, violence, children of neglect/abuse, mentions of brainwashing and residential school trauma, open-ended ending with the intent of writing more 😉

Taglist: @mooniequeen @anemonelovesfiction @avatar-lover @taronyuhunter @daisyyvoid

A/N: Happy Birthday, Inola 💙🥰

~~~~~~~~~

You hardly recognized your sister.

Aha'ri, so brave and fierce, whittled down into a small, scared child, just like you, only this time... it left her physically scarred.

Mercer's shot had left the young Na'vi girl in and out of consciousness, the medics barely able to keep her stable. It was bad enough the TAP personnel didn't appear to care about the children's needs, but their welfare? It was hardly even on the list. No one in the med bay was prepared to treat a Na'vi child with a bullet wound in her back. Sure, they had the means to treat a human, no problem, but a Na'vi? Who's body didn't react to the same medicine and treatment a human's would? You would think, that if TAP were going to house Na'vi children as Alma was teaching, they would be better prepared for it.  

There will be a time when, once you get older, you will come to accept that no one in TAP ever cared enough to learn or do better. But for now, you're scared, innocent, and confused. Why was no one bandaging Aha'ri right away? Why are they poking and prodding at her wound and wondering out loud about how a bullet affects the Na'vi body?

You hardly slept. Barely anyone did. Ri'nela managed to get Teylan to shut his eyes for a few hours, but the occasional twitch in his tail told everyone he never truly slept.

Aha'ri was in and out of surgeries for a week before she finally turned a corner. Alma informed you and the other children of this with a quiet voice, explaining that Aha'ri would have a scar, but she would live.

Alma's version of "living" was breathing and moving around. But to a Na'vi, the way Aha'ri looked when she returned to school, that wasn't living. From then on, she was simply surviving. 

She was a shell, her eyes almost always bearing a one-thousand-yard stare, empty of any warm emotions. She didn't sing or hum, and never mentioned your mother when you tried to prompt her in an attempt to see a small spark of life in her once more. Nothing. 

The scar was on her back. A round, small bullet-shaped wound that made her wince every time she moved her left arm while it was still healing. If any personnel dropped the temperature of the children's room, she would whine and softly cry to herself from how badly the muscles in her back and arm would spasm and ache. Now, whenever she sees someone with a gun, even if it were strapped to their hip, Aha'ri would flinch and curl in on herself.

Mercer had made his warning loud and clear. Next time, she would not be so lucky.

It took months for her to fully heal physically, but once she did... something subtly shifted in her eyes. A small, tiny spark of warmth returned, and you hardly had time to feel relieved to have a small part of your sister back, let alone question it. You were so relieved, in fact, you missed the small bit of determination that returned to Aha'ri's spirit. 

Neither you nor Teylan was prepared for the abrupt wakening in the middle of the night, months after Mercer had shot Aha'ri. 

"Come," Aha'ri spoke softly, even gracing you with a small, familiar smile, "We're leaving."

"What...?" You questioned while rubbing your eyes, your brain not entirely caught up with your surroundings.

"B-B-But we can't!" Teylan whimpers from his bed, where Ri'nela quietly soothes him. "I-I-If... if the same thing happens again-!"

"It won't," Ri'nela shushes with an encouraging smile, "There is another way out of here, Teylan."

"It is time to go home," Nor spoke sternly, more confident than ever. His own personality had shifted since Aha'ri's injury.

The three older Na'vi children led you and Teylan up into the TAP facility's vents, hands gripping pillowcases full of carefully collected supplies from the months they had spent planning a more thorough escape. Ri'nela had expressed patience over the months while Nor was anxious for Aha'ri to heal so they could get a move on. Ri'nela would take a little bit of food here and there during meal times, stowing that and any little bit of supplies up in the vent above her bed to preserve until the moment was right. If any human at the facility noticed they were missing a small bandage here and a compass there, they always chalked it up to misplacement, none the wiser.

Nor managed to distract his eagerness by keeping a close watch on the guards, something that Harding had unintentionally taught him between lessons where she'd force him to hold a gun. Timing their patrols and shifts, Nor eventually saw a small window of time when hardly anyone would be walking by the children's rooms at night, a small flaw that Harding would be furious to whoever designed the patrol schedule, which made Nor internally smug. He made sure the same window of time happened for a full week before sharing this small information with Ri'nela and Aha'ri, vowing to himself to be more thorough so the last escape attempt wouldn't repeat itself.  

As for Aha'ri, she dutifully played her role to perfection. Yes, her traumatic experience and her injury had changed her, but she exaggerated it a little more than she had originally felt. Sure, she would spend years later flinching at the sound of a gunshot, but her will to survive overpowered any fear she had gained after Mercer had shot her. She wanted him to believe he had won, so she kept her head down, her eyes drifting off to stare at the walls as if no one else was in the room. She had let Mercer believe he had broken her, despite his appalling actions further strengthening her.

The vents were large enough for the children to walk through, only having to bow their heads slightly to fit. There were some tight spots where they would have to carefully and quietly crouch down and crawl, hardly breathing if they passed over a vent and noticed humans walking beneath them. Otherwise, part of their natural Na'vi instincts kicked in, their tails keeping them balanced while their feet kept them quiet, sharp ears twitching at any unknown sound.

Finally, Nor stopped and held out a hand to the rest who traveled behind him, his voice barely above a whisper, "Teylan."

The youngest Na'vi child slowly crawled over to the other boy's side, peering down through a vent to follow Nor's gaze. Beneath them was a hallway, and attached to a wall was a control panel that was obviously meant for the double doors beside it. Upon observing the doors, Teylan recognized it to be the entrance to the mess hall.

"The next patrol meant to pass our rooms will come from there," Nor explained quietly, "Can you lock the doors to buy us some more time?"

Teylan lowered his ears, and his big eyes widened with fear. "I can't do that! We'll be caught!"

"Shh!" Nor hissed, small fangs bared, "We'll be caught if you do not keep your voice down. Can. You. Do. It."

"Y-Yes, I can do it, but not from up here."

"If you went down?"

"I-I-I-I can't go down there... they'll see me."

"I have watched these boring Sky People walk these exact same hallways for days. I promise they will not even be around to see you," Nor snarled, beginning to grow impatient, "Not unless you continue to delay."

"I will go with you, Teylan," Aha'ri's hand gently settles on Teylan's shoulders.

Nor's ears stick straight up in alarm, and his eyes fix on Aha'ri, crouched behind Teylan. "No. I will go with him. Keep a watch on us from above."

The boys cautiously, so very gingerly, remove the vent cover and pass it over to the girls before quietly jumping down, their feet meeting the cold floor of the hallway. Their ears move wildly in search of any sound in either direction as they sneak over to the control panel. Once at the screen, Teylan is quick at work, starting to relax once in his element, efficiently locking the doors to the mess hall before slinking back around until the open vent is just above his head. Nor is close behind him and helps lift Teylan back up into the vent before closely following suit with one big leap and Ri'nela swiftly closes the vent once more.

With one more obstacle out of the way, the kids begin to get a little eager, the taste of freedom just at the tip of their tongues. Pressing forward through the vents with less quiet steps, the Sarentu children can feel their hearts racing in their chests and hear them pounding in their ears. Even after buying themselves a little bit of time, they didn't want to take any chances in case Mercer got the drop on them once more.

There's a large, sealed-tight door within the vents, separating the oxygen within the facility from the carbon dioxide and other lethal elements in the outside world the children were told about in Alma's lessons. Teylan makes quick work of this door as well, and by this point, Nor shouts at everyone to break into a run in this final leg of their race. The exit, a large vent that leads out into the world of Pandora, is close at hand and looms over all of their heads. Once right at the foot of it, Nor eagerly takes a screwdriver out from Ri'nela's pillowcase and begins to unscrew all the corners of the large vent.

Aha'ri's grip on your hand momentarily slips. As she whips her head back around in a panic, she finds herself staring at wide, tear-filled eyes. You tug and pull on her hand desperately, stepping back down the way you came, "Wait! We forgot sa'nu's songcord!"

Your older sister relents for a moment, the horrible reminder that Mercer kept your mother's songcord as a trophy around his wrist still hung heavily in her heart. With as much sorrow as she could afford, she gently grasped both of your little shoulders in her hands, making you look her dead in the eyes, "We can not go back for it. We have to go."

"But we will forget her--"

"No, never," she said firmly, and with a determination you had not seen in her eyes in a very long time, "We never will forget, so long as we have the song she sang to us. We may not remember the words, but we can still sing the songs of our people."

"I got it!" Nor happily exclaims, disbelief in his words as the vent comes free and falls outside, the clatter it makes drowned out by the rush of noises that fills the children's ears. 

Bright light surrounds all of you, forcing you to put your hands in front of your eyes before they can adjust. Blinking, you lower your hand and you're met with a vast, enormous jungle, heavily encompassed in vegetation and wildlife. The colors... nothing like you have ever seen before, taking your breath away and distracting you even as Aha'ri takes hold of your hand once more. You finally tear your gaze away from what awaits you, meeting your sister's eyes as she smiles softly.

"Come. Our home is waiting for us."

Whatever you find in her gaze brings a newly found bravery in your chest. You take a deep breath and firmly nod with a small pout on your little face. Together, and with your friends, you and Aha'ri jump out of the vent and sprint as quickly as possible into the world of Pandora, the leaves and branches of the trees stretching out when the wind picks up as if the Great Mother was opening her arms out to you in relief that you are home once more.

~~~~~~~~~

A/N: Main Masterlist Here! If Inola and I brainstorm more on the potential of this story I may write more, so keep an eye out for that! Thank you for reading, and thank you Inola for always being a caring and supportive mutual. I'm so thankful that we've become friends 🥰 Happy Birthday!

[bookloover35]

Between Pages And Moments- Steve Harrington x fem reader.

You were in the library, as you always were when the school bell rang, pulling out a new book from the shelf and curling up in a quiet corner to lose yourself in a new world. The pages felt like home—each one a comfort, each word a friend. You liked it this way, alone in your bubble of books.

But that was before Steve Harrington came into your life.

It started innocently enough. You were reading in the school courtyard one afternoon when you heard a familiar voice.

"Hey, bookworm."

You looked up, surprised to find Steve Harrington standing above you. His signature smile was there, but it was different. Not the playful, cocky grin you were used to, but something softer, more genuine.

"Hi, Steve," you replied, shifting in your seat. "What's up?"

He scratched the back of his head, clearly uncomfortable. "Uh, I was wondering if you'd help me with something."

You raised an eyebrow. Steve Harrington, asking for help? Now that was new. "With what?"

"English," he muttered. "I know, it's embarrassing, but I've been slacking on the reading for this one book... and I heard you're like, the expert around here."

Your heart skipped a beat. Steve Harrington, the guy everyone talked about, asking you for help with books? You tried to hide your surprise, nodding slowly. "I can definitely help with that."

He grinned, and it was like the sun breaking through clouds. "Awesome. Thanks."

Over the next few weeks, Steve began meeting you during lunch breaks or after school. He would sit with you in the library, trying his best to get through the chapters. At first, it was awkward. He fumbled over words, and you patiently explained the context, the symbolism, the meaning behind things. You found yourself enjoying his company more than you'd thought possible. Steve was funny in his own way, and you loved how he genuinely tried to understand the stories, even if he was more of a "movie guy" than a bookworm like you.

One afternoon, as the sun set, casting a golden glow through the library windows, Steve glanced at you with a smile that made your heart flutter. He'd finally gotten through one of the books you'd recommended, and to your surprise, he seemed really invested in the story.

"You know," Steve said, leaning back in his chair, "I didn't get why people liked reading before. I mean, I got the whole 'escape into a new world' thing, but I didn't think it could be this... fun?"

You smiled, pushing your glasses up your nose as you looked at him. "Books can do that. They make you see the world in a different way. It's like—" You paused, thinking for a moment. "It's like you're living another life for a while."

Steve's eyes softened, and he leaned forward. "Yeah, I get it now."

You looked down at the book you were reading, a little embarrassed. "You know, I'm glad you're here. It's... it's nice having someone to talk to about it."

Steve chuckled, a light blush coloring his cheeks. "I didn't think I'd be the one talking to you about books, but here we are."

For a moment, the two of you sat in comfortable silence, the only sound the rustle of pages and the occasional creak of a chair. You hadn't realized how much you enjoyed his presence until then. It was easy, effortless—like something that should have always been there.

Finally, Steve spoke again, his tone quieter this time. "I'm glad I met you, you know? Not just for the books... but because you actually see me. Not the stupid jock or the 'king of Hawkins High.' You see the real me."

Your heart warmed, and you looked up at him, meeting his gaze. "I've always seen the real you, Steve."

He smiled, his hand reaching out to gently touch yours. It was a small, simple gesture, but it meant everything. You felt the connection deepen—something more than friendship, something that had been slowly building over time.

"I think," Steve started, his voice low, "that I might like to read more, if it means spending more time with you."

You grinned, your heart racing. "I'd be happy to teach you."

And so, between the pages of books and stolen moments in the library, a new chapter began—one filled with laughter, love, and stories that brought you both closer together.

[dragonpyre]

Love being proven right about someone with rancid vibes. Feels like winning the karma lottery

[ashton-ryder]

Despite how JP tried to make it sound like a good time that Sada was family, Ashton inherently disagreed. And therein lies the problem of why there was always a line drawn between. "Then she won't ever let me be a part of it." It wasn't an opinion up for discussion, it was a fact simply stated. Whether evident only now or later, Sada made it clear to him that they were all hers. He didn't belong in it. It's why no matter how much Charlie and Jeremiah says he's welcome up on the 10th floor, the air there was always unwelcoming to his presence, knowing she was right there, as if daring him to overstep his place and learn what the consequences were.

It didn't exactly comfort him the way JP said it, the word that raised immediate alarm bells, "yet." Ash appreciated the gesture but yet always held the ominous weight of it being true sooner or later. "So if you had the reasons, you would," the overthinker in him dissecting his words that Ash wished he kept to himself, just thank JP and move on, and hope he doesn't ever tell her. It was enough of an assurance, Ash should be thankful for that, yet because it was something so close to his heart, he wanted to stay guarded.

He let the silence mull over for a moment or two, the fact that JP never knew all this time, while Ashton had assumed he did. "I had a mission in New York, with a small team, there was a terrorist threat, we had to stop them at all costs," Ashton let his voice simmer down to rationality, explaining the thing that probably started it all, "one of those threats neutralized was one of Sada's main suppliers. Didn't even know till years later when I moved here." It disturbed him to know that Sada was able to get intel on the marine squad from that mission either way. But there's nothing else to it, that's all.

You're still one of us, don't ever doubt that again. Ashton gaze bore into the ground and space between them, trying to will those words to sink in well, because it was nice to hear, a comfort and reassurance of a constant between the fine lined cracks. "..okay," Ash murmured with a nod, corner of his lips twitched with a small smile. Watery blues only looked up then when JP apologized, a rare occurrence especially a completely sincere one. He wanted to brush it off, say it's fine, sweep it water under the bridge, but that seemed to belittle JP's sincerity, and the hurt Ash had felt. "And I'm sorry I never said anything before." He had a bad habit of internalizing, he knew, but it has always been the safest course of action.

He exhaled a breath that came out like a chuckle, "that's a pretty tall order of a promise," warning to give him an out. Though Ashton wouldn't blame him for breaking it. "And you know you have me, all of you." I'm not leaving. "We cleaned up the broken glass." Or at least a bulk of it and assumed Jeremiah cleaned the rest after asking him to leave.

The shared status of Ash and Sada being chosen to join in the ranks of the Rose family hadn't mattered to John-Paul before and it wouldn't now - regardless of how angry he was with her at the moment. There wasn't a choice between them. It was, and always would be, both. He would just need to learn how to navigate the thin, fragile line he toed by keeping his loyalty where it lay. "Yeah, well, how else do you think I know how to cut deep when I want to?" he asked rhetorically. "Family," he explained simply.

Bittersweet as it was, it was a victory that Ash hadn't once again dismissed John-Paul's mentioning of the two men being involved in any way deeper than friendship. What little spike of joy he'd felt over Ash finally admitting there as something there dissipated almost as soon as it came, Ash's panic almost visible in the dim light of the moon. "Haven't yet," he reminded him with a small shake of his head. "And I don't see a reason to start telling anyone," he added in assurance. He knew all too well what it felt like to want bits and pieces to remain hidden.

"I'm not trying to start up all the shit again, but I would think it's pretty fucking apparent no one tells me anything," he went on with a sigh, leaning against the railing. "So, no, she hasn't told me. Why do you think I had to ask?" he added rhetorically, though his self-disappointemtent was evident. He picked at his fingers, trying his best to focus his gaze as they blurred the longer he stared at them. He knew he was a lot of things, but he'd always be proud of his trustworthiness. It was a hard blow to find out it had all been an illusion.

"Look, I don't know what the fuck is going to happen after all this shit, but I know one thing and that's that your still one of us. I don't care whatever the fuck is going on between you and Sada, don't ever doubt that again. Alright," he told him, finally letting his gaze find Ash once more. " And.....I'm....sorry. I never meant to make you feel like you weren't. I promise you'll always have me, no matter what, okay?"

[quelsentiment]

.

[keeps-ache]

been telling my siblings 'you would NOT make it in vulcan academy' when they do smth goofy recently and nobody's been able to refute lol

[mishkakagehishka]

Me when i dream of lil Mika but it's another nightmare

[confusedshades]

Peter knew he was falling. Given the whole swinging around Queens he knew the sensation of falling as well as breathing. The problem was, he was dizzy and disoriented and couldn't figure out where he was. His brain wasn't cooperating at all.

He threw out a few webs hoping to catch onto something but just his luck either his aim was off or he was in the middle of nowhere.

Something caught him and Peter muffled a grunt. "Woah there dude. I caught you. You okay?" Peter heard the person but that's the last thing he remembered.

He came to slowly. Everything hurt, and there was an insistent beeping somewhere that was like an ice pick in his brain.

Peter whined as he tried to shift away from the noise.

"Hi. How are you feeling?"

Peter cracked open his eye to squint at whoever and slammed it close. "Too bright." He rasped. Some rattling noises later and Peter tried opening his eye again. The blinds had been drawn, and the overhead lights were dimmed. It was easier to make out the blurry multicoloured teen in front.

"Where am I?" Peter asked as he tried to lever himself up slowly, despite the screaming soreness of every muscle.

"Jump City."

"I don't think that's a real place." Peter mumbled. "Who are you?"

"Robin." The less blurry figure answered. "Who are you? And do you know why you fell through a portal?"

That woke Peter the rest of the way up. "Portal?"

"Yes. Cyborg ran an analysis on the energy residuals. It was a one way portal. I don't think you'll be able to go back. Who are you?"

Peter realised his mask was missing; given the cannula attached to him he understood the why they'd taken it off. He didn't like it though - his identity was all that protected his loved ones.

And then the statement struck him.

One way portal.

What.

"I'm sorry, what are you talking about? Humans don't have secondary genders." Peter stared at Robin as he was explaining things on Earth to him and the alien princess who'd apparently crashed on the same day as him. When Robin stared at him, Peter stared back.

"We ran a test when you were unconscious," he said slowly. "Needed to know what secondary gender you were to be able to administer medication. You registered as Omega."

Peter shook his head. "impossible. The test must be mistaken. Humans don't have secondary genders."

A lot of back and forth later, Peter locked himself in the bathroom and stripped. And stared at his body.

Wasn't it enough his body had changed against his will that had started the whole Spiderman thing?

Now it was changing again?

Peter wanted to scream.

An alarm going off had Peter jumping into action along with everyone else on the team. There were some looks thrown his way but Peter shrugged them off. He'd been doing the whole hero thing for a while.

On the ground though, it quickly became clear that the team's plan was going down the drain. So Peter did what Peter did best.

With a yell of "Over here big guy!" he swung feet first into their face. With the bad guy off balance, Peter grabbed one leg and swung them like a hammar throw before he let them crash into a wall.

When the team came together to look at the clearly unconscious bad guy, Peter shrugged at their baffled looks. "He's not the heaviest dude I've had to go up against."

Cyborg coughed. "Omegas don't usually fight."

When Peter just stared, Cyborg shrugged. "Just telling you the norm. Doesn't apply to everyone but just thought you'd want to know."

"Right. What's the protocol for bad guy arrested? You call the cops? Also, is there a shwarma place nearby? I'm feeling hungry."

Raven volunteered to go get food with Beast Boy and Cyborg dealt with the cops.

Peter noticed the smell of blood and focused on Robin who stood next to him. He noticed the slashed uniform and clicked his teeth. "How badly did he get you?"

When Robin frowned, Peter sighed. "I can smell the blood from the injury. Show me." (Unconscious use of Omega growl by Peter which he's later horrified by) Robin flipped the injured arm over and Peter after inspecting it, wrapped the injury.

Omega Spider

Yep. It is actually about Peter Parker Spider-Man. He was mutated by a a spider bite one thing I noticed about every version of the spider I have seen is that it always depicted with really round abdomen and no pedipalps. In other words a female spider.

So imagine Peter from a world that is not omegaverse and the spider bite mutation turns him into an omega. He has no idea he is an omega until he is sent to another universe where the dynamics are commonplace.

So for the omegaverse instincts and things. I don’t like the ones where they loose all sense of self control in heat and it wouldn’t work for Peter anyway. I think it really shouldn’t be worse then a period with a bit of a low fever. Though with him being part spider he has a slight urge to eat a mate but is able to brush it off as an intrusive thought.

As for his age when thrown into this other universe he is Still a teen. My favorite version of him is from the 2003 cartoon series Spectacular Spider-Man. That series ended while he was still 15. Basically have him young enough to be adoption bait. The portal is a one way trip and just to be more dramatic he will be devastated that he finds out he can't return.

Teen teams don’t get enough attention. So we will have him end up with the team titans. I riled some dice and here is what dynamic each titan got. Robin is an alpha. Starfire is an alien whose species doesn’t have dynamics and will be as confused as Peter. Cyborgs was an alpha but sort of lost his dynamic when most of his body was turned mechanical. Raven is a beta, and I swear the dice were rigged cause somehow Beast Boy is an alpha too. (Funny thing to add in. Beast boy absolutely would know how female and in Peter’s case omega spiders eat their mates. We can have him make a point to never turn into a spider around Peter.) as for dynamic social aspects I think we have it so that omegas are a bit more coddled but not outright oppressed in society. That way we have an internal conflict for Peter to get frustration with cause he would arguably be the heaviest or second heaviest hitter on the team. Something the team takes a few episodes/chapters/parts to work out and move past. Then later they have all gotten used to Spidey being tough and independent but the public criticizes the team for when someone finds out and blabs on TV.

Now then for team relationships. I still am a Robin Starfire shipper, and Raven x Beast boy I don’t get but am ok with. Terra is a dumpster fire that can be addressed way later. Cyborg I think is fine just being the reliable friend but a tumblr friend liked him shipped with Jinx. Though I think he has science nerd out fun with Peter. Though cyborg is more computer and machines nerd and Peter is more chemistry and biology nerd.

What about Peter taking the role of team medic? Since biology and chemistry are his strengths. Every team needs a healer (and I get to use the exasperated medic trope I love.) goodness because of the way he was raised and close to his aunt May Peter may end up being the designated “mom” friend. Since I can see him not letting things get too messy and he would miss the home cooked meals so much he would probably teach himself to cook. And he had the most stable childhood hood and probably the most sensible advice. Also he made his suit so it is cannon he can sew very well.

Would Peter have a ship? Cause there are a couple other teen heroes or villains. …. Wait! You know the theory that Dick was Red X the first time but that suit was stolen and it isn’t said who but a lot of fans think it was Jason…. What if we make Red X more of a recurring character, but in this AU Jason didn’t get adopted by Bruce and is more of a neutral rogue as Red X.

Anyway now that the world building basics are out of the way, Let’s start the story. We shall drop Spidey in right at the start of the titans cartoon when they all kind of meet because of Starfire’s escape pod landing on earth. And I mean literally drop him in. The portal opened up like 300 feet in the air above the city.