#and regarding change in power as my dad always says until we start hanging them upside down nothing will change.

[caramelcoconutswirl]

I hate men and i hate my job and i hate greed and i hate the blatant disrespect and i hate myself for keeping my mouth shut and my head down.

I don't get to bitch and whine if i'm not doing anything to change my situation and reader, no i am not. If i don't quit this job when the season ends i officially give every person on the planet permission to do whatever the fuck they want to me as i'm obviously that cheap to buy.

[vintagedolan]

mixtape | track seven

| masterlist | faceclaims | playlist |

*contains smut*

When Nicole died, Indiana convinced herself that someone was holding down a fast forward button on her life. Some greater power with a universal remote, carelessly keeping a finger shoved down on the little button with the double arrows, with no regard to the fleeting few days she had left with her most important person.

History seemed to be repeating itself, with the best physical representation being the very quickly evolving tiny homes.

The first thing on Grayson’s agenda when they’d made it back to NYC was to decorate the property for Halloween. It hadn’t seemed like the most sound plan to Indy, considering last time they were out in the field it was just raw building materials, a platform and lots of grass. But when she climbed off the back of the quad, away from Grayson’s warmth and into the chilly air, she was standing in front of a house, or at least the bones of one, with the beginnings of the loft and stairs formed inside. It wasn’t polished yet - in fact, there wasn’t even a front door to hang the spider wreath that he had bought at Home Depot. But there was a house, and it stood as a reminder that time was passing quickly.

Despite how over the top the Dolan’s were about it, Halloween was a blink. Ethan was still in California, spending a few more days with Eden, but they facetimed in their costumes anyways - Indy had been convinced into dressing up at the last minute, which resulted in a witch costume that consisted of black leggings and a black bodysuit, which got covered up by a spare hoodie of Grayson’s early in the evening, brought on by the ever-dropping Jersey temperatures. But they celebrated with Lisa, and with E squared across the miles with a bonfire and too many pieces of candy, and Indy realized at the end of the night that it was the first holiday she’d had with family in years. It filled a vacant room in a back hallway of her heart that she didn’t realize had been abandoned, and as soon as the calendar turned to November, she was determined.

“Thanksgiving. Me, you, Lisa, Ethan, Eden, Cam, Charlie and Devin. Thoughts, opinions?”

Grayson quirked an eyebrow from the other side of the couch, face lit by his laptop screen.

“Vegan thanksgiving?”

She nudged him in the side with her foot, getting the perfect angle from where she was laying to tickle him. “Nah, we’re gonna cook a whole meal that 25% of the participants can’t eat. Sounds like the holiday of dreams.”

He poked her with a toe. “Yeah, that sounds good to me. Might have to find an extra table at Ma’s though.”

“I can plan out a menu, make sure everyone brings something. Charlie can bring plates, for all our sakes.”

“Then Ethan can bring cups, cause god knows he doesn’t know what the fuck to do in a kitchen. And I can do the menu, you’ve got enough on your plate.”

“It’s not that bad this week,” she countered, but before she could say anything else he’d picked up her planner, looking at all the little color coordinated blocks that she’d drawn out. Grayson had never had a planner before, much less an hourly one, and it stressed him out a bit just to see how little time she didn’t have allotted to something. His finger moved over a little block in dark blue, a tiny scribble inside it - time with g :).

“You block out time for us to hang out?”

“I block out time to do just about everything but pee,” she laughed, keeping her eyes on her textbook as he continued to look through her pages.

“You haven’t peed in like… 3 hours. Drink your water.”

She stuck her tongue out but did as he asked, watching the way he found something on the page and frowned, eyebrows creasing across his forehead.

“What?”

“Nothing.” He answered it too quickly, and it was her turn to frown.

“Babe. What is it?”

“It just says, uh, ‘deposit from Kenneth’. Who’s Kenneth?”

Her breathing stopped for a moment. She hadn’t heard that name said aloud in years.

“Oh um. That’s my dad. Kenneth Cross.”

He switched from realization to guilt in an instant, flipping the planner shut. Grayson wasn’t privy to much information about Indiana’s father, but he didn’t need much to know that the relationship wasn’t great.

“Shit, Dee, sorry, I didn’t mean to bring it up.”

She closed her textbook, sitting it aside with a sigh. Sitting up, she crossed her legs on the couch, a bid to get a little closer to him.

“No, it’s okay. We probably should have talked about it by now anyways. What do you want to know?”

“Whatever you want to tell me.” He offered her his hand, knowing she liked to toy with her fingers when she talked, hoping it would help.

“Well. He wasn’t always a shit head. Actually, he used to be a pretty good dad. When Charlie and I were growing up, he was always there. He coached Charlie’s basketball team, then mine. He helped mom with dinner, we all went on vacation together. I mean, I had a good childhood, I really did. But things changed when mom got sick.”

“How long was she sick?”

“Six months. It took her fast, much faster than usual with her stage and her type. I thought my dad would step up, but he didn’t. He shut down. And I get that, it was hard, but we needed him and he just… wasn’t there. Charlie had to take her to appointments because I couldn’t drive yet. He stayed at home and worked, and drank, and then drank some more and called it work. He never talked about mom, never even admitted to himself she was sick I don’t think. So Charlie and I did our best, and we stayed with her as much as we could, especially towards the end. I’d ride the subway out of the city to get to school cause I slept at the hospital most nights. And I guess Charlie and I didn’t realize, but he was working on selling the house while we were doing all that, before she was even fucking gone. So, when she did go, all of a sudden she was gone, and my house was gone, and Charlie was going to school, so it was just me and him.

“We moved into a smaller house. He didn’t talk to me. He was a shell without my mom. And I thought it would get better but it didn’t. So, I taught myself how to be okay without him, and without my mom… without anyone. I think he realized it too, and some part of him felt bad. But he knew he couldn’t fix it. So, the summer before college, he said he’d pay for wherever I wanted to live for school. I couldn’t swing rent on a Jet’s salary, and I wanted to get out of his house, so I agreed. I moved in here freshman year, and we haven’t seen each other since. Haven’t even talked on the phone really. He deposits rent in my account each month, and as soon as I can get enough money to not have him do that, I’m going to tell him to stop. I don’t want him to think I need him, for anything.”

Indy looked up for the first time since her story started, and she sucked in a breath at the sight of Grayson’s watery eyes. He blinked it away and cleared his throat, but the way he opened his arms up told a different story.

“I don’t like hating him. But I don’t know how to forgive him either.”

“C’mere,” he mumbled, waiting for her to readjust and climb on top of him. His arms wrapped around her tightly, like he wanted to press her into him and make her a part of him.

“I’m sorry you had to go through that with your mom like that, I can’t imagine.”

Indy lifted her head and looked at him with sad eyes.

“Yes you can.”

The knot in his throat grew, and he kissed her head when she relaxed against him again. He let the silence settle for a few minutes, tracing a heart against her back and pressing his lips into her hair over and over.

“I had my mom though. She helped us through the entire thing. And I had Ethan, and Cam. And I know you had Charlie, but thinking about you having to do that without a parent.” He shook his head. “I hate it. Not to mention the rest of the bullshit he’s probably put you through that you’re too nice to tell me about.”

It was her turn to get teary.  

“Well, I’m okay now. I made it, and so did you.”

He ran a thumb over her cheek with a soft smile.

“Wish you didn’t have to make it through it at all.”

“The feeling is mutual.”

Grayson shifted then, rolled them over to the side so Indy was between him and the back of the couch, coiling his arms around her tightly, shifting her up enough for him to kiss her. He let his hand roam down her back, over her ass, grabbing and moving until her leg slotted above his.

“I love you,” he said, hoping she knew just how much. She moved her hand from his cheek, let her arm wrap around him, trapping him closer to her.

“Love you more.”

He shook his head at her, making her laugh against his skin.

“You don’t have a nap written in your schedule, am I gonna screw it all up?”

“I can shift things. I’m flexible.”

He laughed again, a beautiful sound that bounced off the walls of the apartment and filled the space. Indy kept her leg wrapped around him, holding him close and finding his lips with hers again, breathing him in - her favorite distraction.

“Flexible hm? How flexible?” His voice had dropped slightly, throat gruff.

She knew they weren’t going to sleep, so she gave in, dipping down to kiss along his neck, taking charge a bit more than usual.

“You know, I think we might be the only couple who can switch from parental trauma to horny within 60 seconds,” she mused, smiling at the rumbling laugh it got out of him.

“Maybe we’re just built different.”

“Hate that,” Indy mumbled, moving back up to kiss him again. He wasted no time in coaxing her shirt off, sitting them up with her in his lap so he could do the same to his own, getting her bra off quickly after his own sweatshirt was gone. There was no better feeling than her skin against his, he was sure. Her hand landed on the middle of his chest and she hummed, smiling.

“You didn’t shave your chest hair.”

He pulled back a bit with an incredulous look. He hadn't even thought about it, but she was right. “You noticed that?”

“I notice everything about you. You’re my favorite thing to study,” she smiled, and his heart melted in his chest. The only way he knew to respond was to pull her back to him. In a bed, he would have rolled them over, climbed above her, but the couch limited him and he was at her mercy for the time being.

She didn’t seem to be in much of a rush, and between the slow roll of her hips and the kisses she pressed along a path from his jaw to his collarbone, he was very much wishing she would pick up the pace. His hands slid down to her hips, pressing her down against him in a bid for friction.

“Easy,” Indy laughed his favorite laugh, the breathy one that seemed like an afterthought. “If I’m gonna rearrange my schedule, I get to set the pace.”

“Well then, take it away,” he chuckled, but it faded into more of a groan when she nipped at his shoulder, letting her hands run down his sides. She left goosebumps in the wake of her nails, and he couldn’t help but shudder as she toyed with the waistband of his sweats for a moment, like she was playing a game. Grayson Dolan wasn’t used to being at the whim of anyone, and it was liberating in a way that had his nerves buzzing.

Indiana was perhaps enjoying herself a bit too much. Usually, she was so overwhelmed by him that she didn’t have time to really take him in. So, she soaked up the opportunity of having him displayed out for her, tracing her fingers over every plane of him - the v of his hips, the muscles over his ribs. Down his arms, back up to his shoulders, running her thumbs over his scruff as she cupped his face. When she made it back down to his abs she felt them flex under her hands, his hips bucking up just barely against hers.

“Baby.” His tone was stern, and she played into a bit, looking at him as innocently as she could.

“Hmmm?”

“You’re teasing.”

“I’m admiring.”

“Okay, then you’re cheesy and you’re teasing.”

“Guilty as charged,” she murmured, shrugging a bit.

Bad move.

His arms wrapped around her tightly, ensuring he didn’t lose his grip as he planted a foot on the floor and rose up just enough to roll them, getting her underneath him on the couch. It happened so fast that all she could do was gasp, eyes wide as she stared up at him, the blues bright with shock.

“Now, where were we.”

His cockiness was back in full swing, but he paused at the pout that came over Indy’s face.

“What?”

“I kinda liked being up there,” she said, running her hands along his arms as he held himself up above her.

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

“You wanna switch again?”

“Kinda.”

“Okay, I’ll make you a deal. Pants off, then we switch.”

“Deal.”

He stood up first, taking her hand and pulling her up to her feet. They shimmied out of the pants and underwear quickly, leaving them in a pile on the rug in a rush to get back to each other. The mood shifted yet again when he guided her onto his lap as he sat down, lighthearted and fun as she got herself settled. Grayson had never had lighthearted sex before he met Indiana Cross. It was always scratching an itch, even when it was with people he was in a relationship with. She seemed to unlock another side of him, one that made it so much more fun to have her above him, struggling to keep her hair out of her face and get close enough to him at the same time. He wasn’t sure how she managed to be adorable and sexy at the same time, but when she finally got herself lined up and began to sink down onto him, he didn’t have the brain power left to care.

“Shit Dee,” he groaned, using every bit of self control he had to keep his hips still, letting her set her agonizingly slow pace.

She whimpered with every inch that she moved down, finally taking all of him somehow, arching her back for a moment before she caved, leaning forward onto his chest, burying her face in his neck.

He started as slow as his body would let him, groaning as she started to grind her hips, searching out an angle that kept the pressure building. It took a moment, like it always did when they tried a new position, but when she found it Grayson knew by the way her nails dug into his shoulders. He grabbed her hips to hold her there, memorizing the way their bodies fit together so he could get right back to that same spot over and over again.

“Gray,” she whimpered into his ear, bracing her forearms on his shoulders as he chased her high for her, determined to have her shaking. All she could do was moan and hold on as he thrusted into her faster with a renewed purpose, only stopping when she clenched so hard that he could barely move.

“Fuck fuck fuck,” Indy whined, every muscle in her body tightening down in defense of how overwhelmed she suddenly felt, breath catching in her throat as her orgasm ripped through her. His arms coiled around her back as if he was trying to hold her together as she shook, and he chased the last of his high, lifting her off of him at the last possible second before he came, white streaks landing on his torso. He knew it would be a mess and he didn’t care - he pressed her back to him, wrapping her up for a moment in his arms and letting the two of them come down.

“Woah. Good woah,” Indy mumbled, pressing kisses to his neck where she could reach.

“I second your good woah.”

“Good.”

“Do you have time in your flexible schedule for a shower? I got you all sticky.”

She sat up and pretended to ponder it for a moment, making a show of quirking her eyebrow just to make him laugh. “I suppose I could pencil it in. C’mon.”

She climbed off him and took his hand, leading him to her bathroom with a smile. They paused in front of the mirror for a moment, and it was the first time in a long time that Indy felt happy to be looking in one. But still, she turned around and looked up at her boyfriend - he looked better in real life than in his reflection anyways.

“You know, if you play your cards right, you might just win yourself a round two.”

That was all it took for him to pick her up so fast she squealed, carrying her behind the privacy of the shower curtain for a second taste.

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

Bekah’s hands were always cold, but they felt like ice cubes in Indy’s hands. She rubbed along her skin in a bid to warm her up, eyes wandering over to Grayson.

“She’s pale,” he murmured, keeping his distance as he stood at the end of the bed. The sight of her so still in her hospital bed was unsettling. He had expected their first visit back to be filled with smiles, and ‘I miss you’s’, stories of California and her recovery.

Instead, they’d walked into Bekah’s room to find her fast asleep underneath her Halloween blanket, brows furrowed in what he hoped was concern and not pain.

“Her body is probably just trying to get used to the new cells. Not making enough blood, she’s probably up for another transfusion soon.”

“How do you know?”

Indy nodded towards what Grayson had assumed was an IV pole - he supposed it was, but instead of the usual bags of clear or milky liquid, there were just empty hooks.

“An hour.”

Bekah’s voice was dry and horse, and although it was quiet, it made both of them jump.

“Hey! How’re you feeling?” Indy immediately perked up, painting that smile across her face that Grayson had started to associate with everything hospital, from the sounds to the smell of bleach.

“Tired. My next transfusion is in an hour.”

“Did the doctor say anything about your counts?”

Bekah looked at her and rolled her eyes, wincing as she tried to sit up in bed. Indy reached to help her but she held a hand up.

“I have a transfusion in an hour, you tell me what my counts are,” she muttered, sitting up for a moment before she let out a sigh and put her face in her hands.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay Beks,” Grayson said.

“No, it’s not. You all came to see me and I’m being an asshole.”

“No one is nice when they don’t feel good,” Gray offered, moving to the other side of the bed and resting a hand on her shoulder. It was a simple gesture, a small attempt at consoling, but it was too much for Bekah. The sniffles turned into broken sobs that shook her entire body so hard it looked like she would come apart.

“I’m just tired of this. I’m tired.”

There wasn’t an adequate response to give, so the room filled with silence apart from her sobs as they did their best to hold her together, wrapping their arms around her, around each other. Indy’s eyes were red by the time Bekah’s cries quieted, and Grayson scrambled to come up with something, anything, to lighten the mood.

“Well, if we have an hour, that means we have time for an episode of something. Didn’t you say you were watching Vampire Diaries while we were gone?”

Bekah nodded, laying back against the pillows.

“Then let’s watch one and just chill. Save your energy.”

He set it up quickly, turning off the lights and pulling his chair over to the side of her bed as it started to play. When he looked over, there was just enough light to see that Bekah had reached for Indy’s hand. And to his surprise, she reached for his too. He took it, trying to ignore the way his throat tightened at the feeling of her squeezing weakly - a silent thank you as the episode began to play.

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

The first two weeks of November passed with unrelenting speed. Indiana buried herself in her school work, carving out what she could for quality time for Grayson, even if it was just going out to Jersey with him for a movie night that ended with her asleep on his lap before the opening scene was done. He didn’t mind - he just liked having her around, watching her get closer with Ethan and his mom, knowing she was safe because she was there with him. It was hard to help someone who was so determined on being independent, but he did what he could and she did the same, spending what little time she had encouraging him and supporting him.

Grayson had his own work to focus on, and it filled the time nicely as they worked to get their brands up and running through the holidays, plus the task of finalizing the plans for the details of the tiny homes. Somehow, it was already the week of Thanksgiving before he stopped to take a breath, which he found in the backyard with his brother the day before the holiday.

“Listen. I can make rolls. I can’t fuck that up.”

“Ethan, you could fuck anything up, including rolls. Just get cups. And things to put in the cups.”

“Fuck you,” Ethan grumbled, tossing the football a bit harder than necessary across the back lot. Grayson wished he’d put on gloves, but

“When is evil coming in?”

“She lands tonight, gotta go pick her up at 10:30. Is Indy staying out here tonight too?”

“No, I’m staying at her place, her sister and her boyfriend fly in tomorrow morning so we gotta pick them up. You’re picking up Cam tonight too right?”

“Yeah. Damn, I feel like dad,” Ethan laughed, a puff of white in the cold air.

Grayson waited for him to elaborate, throwing the ball back.

“He was always the chauffeur. I mean jesus, how many times do you think he picked us up from the airport when we came home?”

“True, he fucking hated that drive too. Complained about it the whole time, every time.”

“Like you don’t hate driving into the city.”

Grayson quirked an eyebrow at him, tossing the ball a bit harder, trying to put a different spin on it.

“Okay, fine, used to hate it. Now you just like it cause you get laid at the end of it.”

“True,” Gray grinned. “That makes me sound like a douchebag though.”

“You are a douchebag.”

“We’re identical twins, so if I’m a douchebag you’re a douchebag by association,” Grayson said.

“True. You aren’t a douchebag when you’re around Indiana, I’ll give you that.”

“Yeah, she wouldn’t put up with that shit.”

“You are a simp though.”

“Says you.”

“I never said I wasn’t.” Ethan shrugged, offering up a smile as he threw. “Eden really likes her by the way. Says they’d be great sister-in-laws in the future. I told her to chill with that shit though.”

Grayson missed the ball, not even bothering to watch it bounce away on the ground.

“Why?”

“Well, you said you were never going to ask her to leave, or move or whatever. And you live in LA, we live in LA, so... I mean, being here this long is just because of the tiny houses. And I know you, you can’t do long distance bro, you’re too physical.”

“Oh fuck you, I can survive without getting my dick wet if it means being with somebody I love.”

“That’s not what I fucking meant, I mean you’re touchy, and you need to be close to the people you love. Like physically close, as in in the same room, in the same house at least. That’s why I haven’t said shit about you being at her place every night of the week. I get it Gray, it’s how you are. But that shit won’t work when you’re on the other side of the country, and I know you aren’t going to ask her to fly out there to see you after how bad those flights were for her. And I love you, and I’m gonna support you, but you can’t fly home every weekend either. We have businesses, we have shit to do. Work.”

“I know that, I’m not stupid.”

“And it makes me feel like a shit brother but you always tell me that I’m supposed to keep you on track, so if that means being the bad guy then that means being the bad guy.”

“E I know.”

“I’m not saying you have to like break up with her or anything but, I just, I think it’s gonna be hard. Like really really hard.”

“Ethan. I know.”

“I just don’t want to see you hurt, that’s all.”

“Yeah. I get it. But can you just drop it for two fucking seconds? It’s almost Thanksgiving, let’s just focus on that. Besides, you’re the one who said to wait to cross the bridge when we come to it,” Grayson huffed.

“It’s the last week of November almost. Hate to break it to you, but the bridge is right in front of you.”

The thought made his stomach drop.

“Let’s go inside. S’cold.”

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

It felt unnatural to have her sister in the back seat, but that’s where Charlie climbed in after Grayson had helped them load their minimal luggage into the back of the car and made his introductions. They’d borrowed Lisa’s SUV for Devin’s sake, knowing that his long legs would be cramped in the backseat of anything, especially the truck.

“How was your flight?” Indy turned almost fully in her seat, trying to soak in every minute she had with her sister - they had to fly out bright and early the next morning.

“Bumpy,” Charlie laughed, picking at her nails in her lap. Indy frowned when she noticed - it was her nervous tick.

“Devin I have no idea how you fit in coach bro, I barely fit and I’m tiny compared to you,” Grayson chimed in, checking over his shoulder as he pulled out of the pick up lane.

“It’s a struggle my man, it’s a struggle. But I don’t think anyone in their right mind would look at you and call you tiny. You’ve got me beat in every department but leg length.”

“Hey, if you’re actually serious about growing muscle I can throw together a workout for you while you’re here.”

“For real? That would be sick bro, I could really use the help.”

Indy held back her laugh at how they both slipped into bro mode so quickly, and Charlie seemed to be on the same page as she snickered. Eventually conversation gave way to music, Indy proud of herself for finding a perfect 2000’s throwback playlist that had everyone singing and bouncing around in their seats. By the time they made it to the house, they were all a bit breathless and full of nostalgia.

When they climbed out onto the gravel, Charlie stuck close to her sister.

“Lisa is mom. And Ethan is the twin, Eden is the sister, Cameron is the girlfriend?”

“Cameron is sister, Eden is girlfriend,” Indy laughed. “Thank god you asked.”

Charlie gave a bit of a chuckle, and Indy nudged her.

“They’re good people Char. Don’t worry, they’ll love you.”

“I just… haven’t done this in a while.”

She wrapped her arm around her older sister’s shoulders as they approached the house, squeezing her lightly.

“I know sis. I know.”

Inside, Eden was trying to be subtle as she peeked through the blinds on the windows, watching the whole crew approach.

“They’re here! Come to the door, they’re here!”

“Babe, that’s creepy. Just come sit down,” Ethan laughed, waiting for Cameron to make her next move in chess.

“It’s not creepy, it’s friendly,” she countered, but she stood back from the door at the last moment to try to make it less intimidating.

“Hey guys!” Grayson’s voice boomed loud through the house as soon as he opened the door, his excitement obvious. Cam and Ethan abandoned their chess game for a moment, and Lisa came from the kitchen with a warm smile.

Indiana officially met Cameron for the first time, happy that she went in for the hug. Lisa hugged everyone, making everyone laugh when she looked up at Devin and said “my god you’re tall.”

Once everyone had met everyone, Lisa clapped her hands.

“Alright, let’s get to work!”

The Dolan’s did things in stations it seemed, which pleased Indy’s organizational side that usually went a bit crazy around the holidays. Lisa was nice enough to assign each couple a dish to work on, which of course became a competition, like everything seemed to. Indy wasn’t sure how they were going to truly compare E squared’s vegan stuffing to Charlie and Devin’s vegan mac and cheese, but she didn’t care.

Because Grayson was beaming beside her as they worked on peeling potatoes over the trash can, and everywhere she looked she saw smiles. Devin was swaying his hips to the music while Charlie tried to copy him, just a blip behind the beat. Ethan and Eden raced to see who could chop vegetables quicker until Lisa told them to slow down so someone didn’t end up needing stitches.

LIsa was the master of the operation, working on three different things at once, waving off Indy’s offer of help.

“I used to feed all three of them and their dad. Cooking for an army is second nature,” she teased, but that familiar tone was in her voice that tugged at Indy’s heart. Ethan eventually connected to the speakers and shuffled a playlist filled with everything, from Elton John to Cudi. Grayson got vegan butter on his shirt at one point while dancing too hard, and when Indy laughed he swiped it off with a finger and smeared it on her nose. The kitchen got so hot they cracked a window, with the revolving door of the oven trying to handle all the dishes and all the bodies close together.

By 2pm, everyone took turns carrying everything into the dining room to the massive which Cameron had decorated. Everyone took their places at the table, with LIsa at the head, Grayson and Ethan beside her with the girls beside them, and Charlie beside Indy, Devin beside Eden, who had seemed to hit it off with him in their short few hours of knowing each other, and Cam at the other head.

“Before we start, I think we should all go around and share something that we’re thankful for,” Lisa proposed. “I’ll start. I’m very thankful for my health, and for my family. For my wonderful daughter, and my amazing boys, and my husband, who I love and who watches over us every day.”

She could only speak for herself, but it was a safe bet that everyone’s throats tightened. Ethan cleared his before he spoke.

“I’m thankful for my family, for the quality time we get to spend together. For my brother’s ability to deal with my ass and his help in chasing our dreams and making that shit happen. And for Eden, because… well just because.”

Eden laid her head against his shoulder for a moment before she spoke up.

“I’m thankful for my dream job, and getting to do something I love every day. I’m thankful for Ethan, for loving me and keeping me sane. And I’m thankful for all of you, especially you Lisa, for welcoming me into the family.”

“I’m thankful to be here, to meet new people and get to eat some awesome food. Thank you, for inviting us in and sharing your holiday with us,” Devin said, polite as ever.

“I’m thankful for the wine,” Cam grinned, sipping from her glass quickly just to get an eye roll out of her mom. “And for all of you, and good food, and for family. Charlie?”

Charlie threw Indy a nervous glance before she spoke.

“I’m thankful for my sister, and my boyfriend, who always keep me together and on track, and who make me laugh. And I’m thankful for new friends, and good food.”

Indy had been so intent on listening to everyone else that she hadn’t even thought of her own response.

“I’m thankful for my sister, and for all of you guys, who have been so kind to me. I’m thankful for this guy,” she bumped Grayson’s shoulder. “For loving me, and supporting me in everything I do. And, I’m thankful for the years I had with my mom. I wish she could be here today, but I know she’s up there watching, and she’s thankful that I have you guys.”

She ignored the way her eyes stung, turning to Grayson, who squeezed her thigh under the table.

“I’m thankful for my family, and for the way that dad guided us to be who we are today - all of us Dolan’s. And I’m thankful for Indy for showing me what strength and determination looks like. And for everyone here, because we’re all family. I love you guys.”

The weight of his words hung in the air for a moment as everyone soaked them in.

“Alright, dig in!” Lisa broke the silence, reaching for the rolls.

Grayson squeezed Indy’s thigh once, tracing a little heart with his index finger when she leaned over to kiss his cheek before turning back to the table. They all ate until their plates were clear, almost all of them heading back in for seconds. The final verdict was that the vegan mac and cheese was the winner of the side dish competition, much to the pride of Devin. The evening settled into various activities, from Grayson teaching Devin proper pull up form to Charlie letting Eden take test shots on her camera. Indy mostly watched from the sidelines, happy to see all the people she loved all together in one place.

Her family.

“Thank you for this.” Lisa’s voice startled her a bit, but she relaxed when the older woman moved to stand beside her.

“I should be thanking you!”

“No. We didn’t do Thanksgiving last year. Everything was still too… raw, I suppose. Everyone is here because you asked them to be. So, thank you, truly.”

The tears that Indy had been fighting all day finally found their place on her cheeks, and she sniffled through a laugh when Lisa hugged her.

“Well, thanks for sharing your family.”

“It’s not sharing if you’re a part of it my dear.”

She pulled her close for a hug before the two of them folded themselves into the mix, running around in the cold air of the backyard and enjoying each other’s company as the night drew to a close. They opted for pie and vegan ice cream to finish off the night, and Charlie insisted they take some pictures before the food comas took over. She’d thought ahead enough to bring a tripod, and she sat it up in the living room, making sure every couple got a few that they liked, and that they all got one together. Lisa requested one of just her kids where they of course all goofed off enough to annoy her. Charlie would send them all in the next few days, Indy’s favorite being the one of her on Grayson’s back, wrapped around to kiss his cheek while he grinned with his eyes squeezed shut. It became her lock screen as soon as she saved it, and Lisa went on to get the family one framed, as well as the one of all of them together too, both beside each other on the mantel held with equal importance.

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

The Thanksgiving leftovers only lasted two days in Indy’s fridge. With the stress of preparing for four cumulative finals, she didn’t have time to cook anything, and the microwaveable vegan leftovers were a god send. So was Grayson, who stayed by her side each day as she studied, quietly keeping himself busy with work until she needed him. It was a nice co-existence, both of them understanding the need for quiet but enjoying each other’s presence nonetheless. By Wednesday, she was only left with one last final, though it was her hardest, and she couldn’t convince herself that she’d prepared enough despite pulling multiple all nighters. He quizzed her when she asked, even though he butchered half the pronunciations. His commentary was the comedic relief she needed to get through it though, and she was more than grateful that he was there.

“Last set, and then you need to take a break.”

“But-”

“No buts. Unless you’re talking gluteus maximus.” He grinned when she rolled her eyes. “Baby you’ve been going non stop for 4 hours now.”

“Okay fine, hit me with it.”

“Soleus.” She pointed to the side of his calf. “Extensor carpi ulnaris.” The outer side of his forearm. “Zygomaticus major.” His cheek. “Iliopsoas.” The inside of his thigh.

“Dee, you know these. You literally don’t even have to think about it, you know them.”

She shook her head before he even finished his sentence. “I need more practice.”

“The only thing you need more of is sleep,” he countered. “C’mon, we’re both exhausted, let’s just take a nap.”

“Once we finish the set, then we can.”

“Fine. Serratus anterior.”

She tickled his ribs, making him squirm away from her.

“Biceps femoris.” She heaved his leg up from where it was resting on the couch, pointing to a spot in the middle of the back of his thigh.

“Teres major.” It was a reach, but she made it around to the back of his armpit.

“Teres minor.” She poked the same spot, just a bit harder.

“Okay, ouch, don’t abuse my teres. Uh, gastrocnemius.” She was gentler on his calf.

They went through the rest of the stack like that, with Grayson doing his best to say them correctly while Indy poked and prodded.  

As soon as he flipped the last card he yawned, sitting the stack aside and leaning forward to grab her, dragging her on top of him and nuzzling his nose into her hair. Indy sighed and relaxed into him, his warmth and the weight of his arms settling her body down. She could remember the days where she’d always wanted something as simple as this, just laying on her couch with someone to hold, and she tried to soak it in.

“I love you,” she said.

“I love you more,” Grayson countered, pressing a kiss to her forehead. His hands moved under her shirt over her back, finding space.

R-E-L-A-X

“Can’t. My mind won’t stop.”

“Well, I’d offer to sing to you or some shit, but your ears would probably bleed,” he chuckled.

“S’okay. I’ll just dream about muscles or something. Innervations.”

“Sounds exciting.”

“Oh yeah, riveting stuff.”

She wiggled around to get comfortable, her cheek squished against his chest as he rubbed her back.

“Sleep, have your little anatomy dreams,” he teased, reaching over the back of the couch for a blanket to drape over the two of them.

It took a little while, but she managed to drift off to the soothing sound of his heartbeat and the feeling of his fingers against her skin.

And she dreamed.

Indiana was in a hallway. White, smooth walls with doorways that stood black and brooding on either side. Her stomach turned a bit, unease washing through her veins as she took a few small steps forward, moving to peek past one of the frames.

“Don’t sweetheart.”

Her head shot up. At the end of the hall was Nicole. She looked young, even younger than Indy’s last memories of her. Youthful, and full of life, her blonde hair familiar as it hung down and framed her face.

“Mom.”

“Hi my love.”

Indiana ran. She barreled past the doors, not even giving them a second thought as she finally, finally landed in her mother’s arms. The tears were inevitable, but she didn’t care that she shook as Nicole held her, the way only a mom could. Held her body, but held her soul.

“Where have you been? Where’d you go?”

“I’ve been here the whole time. Right here with you.”

“I miss you. I miss you so much.”

“I know. But I’m here.”

She pulled back, letting her mom brush her hair behind her ear the way she always used to when it fell into her eyes.

“Look at you. You’re all grown up. Look at those beautiful eyes. So blue.”

“Just like yours,” Indy said.

“Just like mine.”

A part of her knew that she was dreaming. She knew her mother was gone, that this wasn’t real. But her heart refused to accept it, because she could feel her mother’s skin, hear her voice, feel her like she hadn’t been able to in so long. So she just stared. Tried to memorize every part of her face, every smile line, every freckle. She wasn’t sure how long she stood there, but Nicole was the one to break the silence.

“Baby. I need you to be careful.”

Indy frowned. “Careful?”

“With your heart. I need you to be careful with your heart, with my heart.”

“Momma what do you mean?”

Nicole looked to the left. Indy followed her gaze, surprised to see that the light was on in the doorway.

The doorway to Bekah’s room.

“Beks,” she breathed. Her feet automatically moved, taking her into the room until Nicole’s arms wrapped around her shoulders and pulled her back.

“Indiana,” Nicole cautioned. “No.”

“No, no Mom it’s okay, she’s getting better, see? Look, she’s fine.”

She pushed forward, but Nicole’s grip only tightened.

“No baby. Look.”

Indy listened. And she watched. Watched Bekah try to sit up in her bed. She was probably calling for Jessica, or Emily, or maybe even Indy. Her mouth opened, and no sound came out, her eyes going wide for a moment before she fell back against the pillows, chest rising too fast, too shallow. Indy knew what that meant.

“No. NO! Beks! Bekah!”

“Shhhhh baby, there’s nothing you can do, Indiana stop, there’s nothing you can do.”

“BEKAH!” She cried anyways, fighting her mother’s grip as she watched the monitors light up, heard their mocking monotone calls as they alarmed. Nurses appeared, and Indy watched them do all the right things, give all the right medicine.

She didn’t wake up.

“No, no no no no,” Indy wailed, thrashing in her mother’s arms.

“Indiana. Indiana. Dee!”

She was back in her living room, and Grayson was scared.

“Wha-” she looked around, bewildered. She was sitting up, which disoriented her a bit, though she was with it enough to realize she was still in Grayson’s lap.

“Hey, you’re okay, you’re safe,” Grayson said, eyes still wide. He pushed her hair back out of her face as she looked down, only then realizing that she’d balled up his shirt in her hands. She let go, looking at the disheveled fabric, which was also splotched with dark spots.

“I’m- sorry, I don’t… I uh… I had a nightmare. Sorry.”

“It’s okay baby,” Grayson murmured. “You okay?”

Those two words brought on a whole other wave of tears, and she crumpled into him, shaking her head as she cried.

It took him by surprise for a moment - he knew she didn’t like to cry, and he’d never really seen her so upset. So he took a moment to process, and then he lifted her arms up over his shoulders, coiling his own around her and squeezing her to him as tight as he could without crushing her. He didn’t speak. He just held her, let her get it out of her system, whatever it was.

When her sobs turned to sniffles and his shirt was fully soaked through on the shoulder, he spoke up.

“What do you need? What can I do?”

She pulled back from him, frame seeming even smaller somehow as she sat there.

“Can you go check on Bekah? I know it’s Wednesday, and I know we’re going to tomorrow but… you don’t have to, I just, I know she’s alone up there, but I have so much work to do, and-”

“I can go. I’ll go,” he said. The pieces fell together in his brain, and he leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

“Thank you,” she exhaled, shoulders slumping back down.

“Are you gonna be okay here by yourself while I’m gone?”

“Yeah, I need to study anyways, I’ll keep myself busy. Just need to know she’s okay.”

“Okay. I’ll make sure she’s good, might hang out for a bit and watch something if she’s up for it.”

“That sounds amazing. Thank you.”

He didn’t like the idea of leaving her there, but he could tell she wouldn’t have any peace of mind until she knew that Bekah was okay. It reminded him off all the times he’d called his mother in the middle of the night in those last few months before he’d officially come home, just to make sure his dad was still there.

“If you need me, call me okay? I’ll turn back around.”

“I will.”

“Promise?”

“I promise. I love you,” she said, kissing him quickly.

“I love you more.”

He shifted her off him onto the couch and got up, putting his shoes and coat on quickly before he could convince himself to stay. It was already dark outside despite it only being 6pm, and he kept his head down on the streets on his way to the hospital, mind racing until he got up to the unit and signed in.

He half expected Bekah to be lying still in her bed, on her back with all her machines on. Or, at least for her to be drained and tired like she had been the last few times they saw her. But when he cleared the doorway she was sitting up in bed on her phone, random Tik Tok audio’s playing. She looked up at him and smiled her brightest smile.

“Earrings! It’s a Wednesday, the fuck are you doing here?!”

He let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding.

“You get an extra dose of me this week, deal with it,” he teased, unzipping his coat and laying it over one of the chairs.

“Where’s Indy?”

“Studying for finals. It’s a me you date tonight, you pick. What’re we doing?”

“Well, I restarted Vampire Diaries.”

“Restarted? Bro, you were on season 7 yesterday!”

“Yeah so? The best seasons are the first two, we’ve been over this.”

“Whatever, scootch over.”

She did as he asked, though he had to put the bedrails down to even fit halfway on the mattress.

“Here, get in here so we can send some motivation to Dee,” he said, pulling out his phone and opening snapchat. They moved so just their noses-up were on screen, making Bekah laugh as he sent it off.

She screenshotted it and sent back a heart, which put his mind at ease enough to relax and attempt to enjoy an episode, though he wasn’t really following the plot considering they were almost halfway through the first season.

“So, what’s happening exactly?” He finally asked 20 minutes into the episode.

“Stefan is trying to be all ‘you deserve better than me’, and Damon just doesn’t give a shit. Essentially, Stefan doesn’t want to hurt Elena so he wants her to make the decision to break it off so he doesn’t have to. He doesn’t want to be the bad guy.”

“But if he loves her, then why does he want to break it off at all?”

“Well cause he’s bad for her. She would have to give up so much for him. She’s having to lie to her friends, hide all this stuff for him. Change her whole life really. But she wants to, because she loves him, he just doesn’t think it’s fair to ask that of her. But like… he’s still asking her to do it just by being with her, you know?”

He knew.

“I mean, and he’s a fucking vampire. Yah know, suck suck and all that jazz,” Bekah laughed. “If the rest isn’t a deal breaker, then that definitely is. I mean, yeah, Damon’s a vampire too but at least he just accepts it, and he doesn’t ask her to change or anything.”

He didn’t say anything.

“I’m Team Damon, if you couldn’t tell,” she tried again.

“Yeah. Me too.”

Grayson tried to shake himself out of his thoughts, but it was proving difficult. Luckily, Bekah just mistook it as him being super invested in the show, which made her happy. Jessica let him stay an extra fifteen minutes, and he took a quick video of Bekah wishing Indy luck on her last final before he left and headed out.

The walk home was worse. It was darker somehow, colder as his mind raced with realization after realization. He did his best to do the math in his head. It was December 3rd, which meant 30 days until he was supposed to go back to LA. All the way to the other side of the country, only coming back to Jersey every few months if he was able to. Ethan’s voice rang in his head as he trudged through the lobby and into the elevator.

That shit won’t work when you’re on the other side of the country.

He tried to breathe it off, put on a positive face before he opened Indy’s apartment door, smiling when he saw her on the couch, pencil tucked behind her ear as she looked over diagrams.

“Hi! How was it?”

“It was good, she’s good. Looks great actually.”

His phone buzzed in his pocket once, then again, and he pulled it out to check it.

A notification of a payment from the joint bank account, and then a text from E.

Booked the flights for the 2nd. Hope that’s cool.

“Everything okay?” Indy asked.

He put his phone back in his pocket and smiled.

“Yeah. Everything is fine.”

[ohtobeaspettyasleah]

Can we get more background on Lori and also a reason why Adele left

Adele Samuels and Lorelei Figgs had known each other for the better part of a decade, not the type of best friends to be attached to the hip 24/7-- they mostly went about their lives after high school following different pathways that would ultimately lead them to communicate on a casual basis. The every second-day check-in, the occasional Snapchat, Facebook tag under a meme that had them both crying with laughter. It was casual, a strong connection that didn’t need constant validation or communication to understand Adele would always be in Lori’s corner and Lore is Adele’s. 

That was until, well, until Lorelei started dated Jacob Marshall. A Character to say the least and Adele’s slightly estranged step-brother, from her Fathers second marriage. In Jacobs short 21 years on earth, he had racked up a pretty hefty tally in regards to misdemeanours and assault charges. Swearing he’d be a better man for Lorelei he enrolled in community college, straightened himself out a little more. Got a job that didn’t see him evading his taxes or being paid cash in hand for jobs that had him running from authority. Sometimes people do indeed change? Other times? It’s just a matter of time before the bomb explodes--you can’t change those who don’t truly want to change. Jacob Marshall was absolutely no exception to the eons-old rule. Adele knew that well before Lorelei ever sensed the change. 

She should’ve known better than to get mixed up with the kid from school who got caught selling cocaine under the bleachers to the football team before their homecoming game. But Lorelei and Jacob always had that on again off again classic toxic frenemies relationship. He had a spell on her, someone Lorelei nor Adele could ever explain. They were entangled well before Adele’s dad married Jacobs mum down at the courthouse on 5th ave-- whatever was meant to be had already been put in place years ago. It’s just the fact Lorelei and Jacob couldn’t have been more different, more polar opposites if they tried. Jacobs had always been the hardass, the guy with the home job tattoos, the roid muscles he swore were all-natural. The crackjaw that swung left to right whenever he’d get on the gear with the boys. The law-breaking, gym junkie with a white card that allowed him to work construction and heavy machinery.

Lorelei? Well, she could’ve had it all. But settling for the only guy that had ever given her the time of day was all she ever knew how to do- especially when throughout highschool? He wouldn’t let another guy ever get close enough to say hello. It was always mental mind games. The suttle manipulation-- always with the gaslighting that had Lore feeling less than. She was smart, bright. But her lack of street smarts always got the better of her. Especially when it came to Jacobs. Fuck, it was always Jacob. 

By the time Grayson had finished with his much need shit shower and shave routine, Lorelei was finishing up with Ethan in the podcast room. Taking in all he had to teach her and all she had to learn. 

“And don’t even sweat it, if you forget I can just show you again, or Gray can-- whoever’s around.” 

“Seems pretty straight forwards, it’s an amazing setup.” Lorelei sat on the chair Grayson would normally sit on for filming podcast videos-- feeling a little lightheaded. Nothing she couldn’t mask. Focusing on her breathing, Lorelei watched as Ethan powered down the monitor and flipped back to the cameras. “Pretty secure security system huh?” 

“We’ve had a few incidences, can’t put a price on security.” Ethan shrugged. “If you want we’re just gonna be hanging out for the rest of the day, so you can stay and chill or go home, either way, its a pretty full day tomorrow, have some errands and shit to do so we’ll need you here from what? Maybe 10?”

“That’s fine, I can do that, do you want me to bring over breakfast for everyone? Coffee?” Lore asked with a soft smile, she was just happy to be needed. Happy to be living. Happy to be in the presence of people who valued her. It was nice. A welcomed change. 

“Monty’s open at 11 so we’ll do burgers for lunch instead, you vegan?”

“Not exactly but I try--”

“It’s the thought that counts.” Ethan laughed as Lorelei followed him down the hall out to the kitchen. “So you staying?” she wanted to. Lorelei would’ve loved to have said yes, but she needed to sleep. Suddenly overwhelmed with exhaustion. 

“Id love it, but I better get going, still have some stuff to do at home so I better--”

“I’ll walk you out” it was Grayson. His hair a sopping mess of dark locks that could’ve used a towel dry. The Grey sweats hanging low on his hips as he pulled over his hoodie-- the same Ethan and gifted Lorelei yesterday. Her favourite. Lorelei stared for a moment too long but ultimately nodded in shyness. 

“Sounds good.” there was a short shared silence for a few minutes while Grayson walked slowly beside Lorelei back to her car. He wasn’t exactly sure what to say, how to act. 

“I’m sorry I wasn’t here for the whole hiring process, kinda have a few things going on.” Grayson pressed his lips together as the pair approached Lore’s car. “Sometimes a bit of fresh air is all I need, but I’m here now and I’m excited to have you here, really, Adele, she uh-- she said good things about you.” Grayson was never a fan of lying, but he didn’t think this little white lie would hurt anyone. A victimless crime. He knew only what Ethan had told him Adele had said. Lorelei blushed. She could instantly feel the heat on her cheeks. 

“She’s such an idiot but I love her, she’s done a lot for me, especially setting this u, couldn’t thank her enough, or you guys, even if I wanted to.” Lore was speaking from her heart, Grayson could already tell she was genuine. Not a lot of people were genuine in L.A anymore. “I better get going.”

“Let me take you out for lunch soon? I feel like you and Ethan hit it off really well, I just want the same kinda opportunity to get to know you, you have access to my bank account I feel like I should at least have your number?” Lorelei chuckled but nodded in response. Grayson had never been so straight forward-- he wanted to crawl inside himself. Someone, anyone had to stop him before it was too late. Because he wasn’t about to stop himself, no not this time. Not with Lorelei. Her name alone had him making sure his inhaler was on his presence 24/7 and he’d known her for all of an hour. Grayson realised at that moment as she asked his assistant to go grab lunch with him, not for him, with him-- that he was in fact pathetic on a new simp level only unlocked by the very few men who fall in love in three seconds flat. 

“Oh yeah, sure lets us, gab lunch-- but I’m pretty sure my numbers on the fridge, I put it there on a pink sticky.” 

“Cool, alright well, ill see you tomorrow, uh here--” Grayson opened Lorelei’s car door for her. She beamed a bright smile. No one had ever done that before. Not for her, she thought it was something that only happened in movies. Sitting down, she strapped herself as her window went down. 

“I’ll see you tomorrow, have a good day Grayson.”

“I’ll text you.” Lorelei laughed as she reversed, shaking her head playfully as she drove off biting her lip. Wondering if she was in fact reading too much into such a small encounter with the younger Dolan. Grayson stood in the middle of the drive speechless with himself:

“I need another shower.”

[armandyke]

Look at all my trials and tribulations

Summary: Instead of going their separate ways after the light supper with their father, the siblings pick each other back up and spend some quality time together. 

Word Count: 1450

Square Filled: Ice Cream

Characters: Five Hargreeves, Luther Hargreeves, Diego Hargreeves, Allison Hargreeves, Klaus Hargreeves, Vanya Hargreeves, Reginald Hargreeves

Warnings: Alcohol, swearing, season 2 spoilers

A/N: The seventh of nine entries for @tuacreatorsbingo

You can read it here, or on my AO3

“No skin off my teeth, old man.”

Five necked the brandy in his glass in an attempt to quell the uneasy feeling in his stomach. It had been a long forty-five years since he’d last felt his father’s eyes boring into him, regarding him with an expression you would expect more from a scientist observing their experiment than a parent looking at his child. It had been forty-five years, but right now he felt thirteen again. 

Clearing his throat, he hopped down from the barstool, feeling the same twist of anxiety in his gut that he’d felt the last time he left his father at the table without being excused. 

“I need to get my family out of this timeline,” He said, in answer to a question that hadn’t been asked. “And it looks like I’m gonna have to make a deal I really don’t wanna make.”

“Seems as though you’d be better off without them,” His father observed as he made his way towards the elevator. 

Five paused, clenching his jaw. For the briefest moment he considered the unthinkable, that right now he had the upper hand on his father. Right now he didn’t understand the full extent of his powers. One well-timed jump and maybe he could… No, idiot, he was here to fix the timeline, not mess it up even more. Shaking his head, he squeezed his fists and jumped back to the ground floor before he could do anything stupid.

He’d expected his siblings to have already dispersed, returning to whatever nonsense they’d been caught up in before their father invited them to supper. Instead, he found them all huddled together on the steps outside. Klaus was sprawled out across one step with his head in Vanya’s lap, groaning faintly and looking up when Five nudged him with his foot. 

“Oh, good,” He said, grunting as he lifted his arm in a sad attempt at punching the air. “The gang’s all here.”

“Klaus, can you have your breakdown a little more quietly?” Luther mumbled, sat on the step below Vanya and not bothering to look over his shoulder at them.

“Christ, would it kill you to stop being an asshole for a few minutes?” Klaus managed to muster enough energy to smack Luther’s arm, though he didn’t even seem to register the touch. “Five’s here.”

This time he did look over at them, giving Five a small nod of acknowledgement. 

“What did dad say?” He asked as Five perched himself on the step next to him.

“Nothing of any use.”

Five leant forward to look over at Diego, who was sat with his arms folded tightly and his head down, slumped against Allison’s shoulder while she stroked his hair soothingly.

“Is he okay?” He asked, frowning when Luther shook his head. “I guess family dinners didn’t change much after I left.” 

Sniffling, Diego wiped his eyes with the heel of his hand and looked up at him, fixing him with a hard stare. 

“What did he say to you?” He demanded. 

“Nothing. I literally just said that.”

“Bullshit.” 

The others all looked at him expectantly and Five sighed, leaning back on his hands. 

“Fine. You wanna know what he said? He said I’d be better off without you idiots constantly getting in my way.”

Klaus snorted. “Of course he did,” He said, sniggering hysterically. 

“What did you say?” Vanya asked. 

Five considered spinning some tall tale for them, about how he’d cussed their dad out left with the final word. It was a lie they’d all told each other countless times as kids. One of them would get scolded and then leave with their chest puffed out bragging about how they’d given dad what for, and the rest of them would pretend not to notice their red eyes and shaking hands. 

“I didn’t say anything,” He admitted, looking down at his hands. “I just left.”

They all fell silent at that, hanging their heads in collective defeat. 

“So, what do we do now?” Allison asked after a moment, and they all looked at each other, waiting for someone to pipe up and give them some kind of direction. 

“You know, I could murder a lemon sorbet right now.” Klaus grunted as he sat upright. “Who’s in?”

They all looked at him with varying levels of disapproval until Vanya piped up beside him. 

“There’s an ice cream parlour not far from here,” She told them. “I sometimes take Harlan there when he’s having a bad day. It usually cheers him up.”

“Yeah, because he’s eight, Vanya,” Luther argued and she shrugged. 

“Do they serve alcohol?” Diego asked, and Allison laughed at the absurdity of the question but Klaus grinned. 

“I have alcohol.”

“Alright, I’m in.”

“Diego’s in!” Klaus clapped his hands excitedly. “Anyone else?” 

“Yeah, I’m game,” Allison agreed, Luther gave a somewhat reluctant nod, and Five suddenly found himself faced with the expectant faces of all his siblings. 

He didn’t really have time for this. He needed to find The Handler. But then, when it came to The Handler and the Commission, he had all the time in the world. 

“Alright,” He said with a shrug. “But if one of you pukes, I’m out.”

The ice cream shop was a small, independently owned place, tucked between a bank and a hair salon, and the woman behind the counter watched them with wide eyes as they walked through the door. She opened her mouth to say something when she saw Allison, and immediately shut it again when Luther walked in after her. 

“So!” Klaus said, putting his hands on his hips to try and assert some kind of authority. “What’s everyone having?”

“Wait, are you paying? ” Allison asked incredulously and he waved his hand at her.

“Pfft. I’m a celebrity, Allie. Celebrities don’t have to pay for stuff.”

“How many people are in this ‘cult’ again?” Diego folded his arms, cocking his head curiously at him while Klaus started counting on his fingers. 

“Uh, about twenty now.”

“Twenty? Klaus, that’s not a cult, that’s just a group.” 

While the two of them bickered, Allison rolled her eyes and walked up to the counter. There was something about the way she was able to instantly recall all of their favourite childhood ice cream flavours that filled Five with a warm and comforted feeling. Mint choc chip for Luther, toffee for Diego, raspberry for her, lemon for Klaus, chocolate for him, pistachio for… Allison paused, glanced over at them, and scrapped that order, and vanilla for Vanya. Klaus and Diego huddled behind the table together like school kids, pouring whatever mixture of drinks Klaus had in his flask over theirs, while Luther and Allison neatly divided their portions in two so they could share, just like they always did as kids. Next to him, Vanya was watching them all with a small smile on her face.

“I’m guessing we didn’t get to do this much as kids?” She said, noting the giddy, excited looks on everyone’s faces. 

Five chuckled. “Dad wasn’t a fan of ice cream.”

“Or fun,” Allison added. 

“Hey! The guy had his moments,” Klaus said, pointing his spoon at her. “Remember the dignified chuckle he used to do at dinner parties whenever someone made a tasteful joke.” 

He proceeded to do a frighteningly good impression, raising his ice cream cup in place of a glass, and they all burst out laughing. Diego, who had already finished his ice cream and was now nursing Klaus’ flask in his hands, let out a loud, snorty laugh that Five hadn’t heard since they were nine, and they all turned towards him. 

“Di, are you drunk? ” Luther asked with a look of mild amusement on his face. 

“Of course I’m not- woow.” Diego tried to stand up and immediately had to grab on to the table to steady himself, slumping back into his seat and looking at the flask in his hand. “Klaus, what the fuck am I drinking?”

“Iunno.” Klaus shrugged.

“How are you alive?”

“My doctor has wondered the same thing for years.” 

Diego stared at him incredulously for a moment before dissolving into another fit of giggles, and soon they were all laughing again. It occurred to Five that this was the first time they’d all done something normal together since he was thirteen, and that it was the first time since returning that he really felt like he’d gotten his family back. Vanya slumped against his arm, laughing so hard she could barely breathe, and he smiled. Their father had been right about a lot of things, annoyingly so. But there was one thing he had gotten wrong. 

Five was definitely better off with his family.

[world-of-ryan]

When COVID-19 shut down production last March, it especially hit hard for NBC’s New Amsterdam. The show not only films at several real-life hospitals, including Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan, Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn and Metropolitan Hospital in Harlem, but it also had a pandemic storyline planned. Of course, not the coronavirus specifically.

“There was so much fear and anxiety at that time around the pandemic, we didn’t want to air an episode where people were getting sick left and right and further scare people,” says series star Ryan Eggold, who plays medical director Dr. Max Goodwin, in this exclusive interview.

But New Amsterdam will touch on the COVID-19 pandemic in its Season 3 premiere. It will feature a very powerful montage showing the doctors and nurses at work trying to save lives, working until they are exhausted, showing people getting vaccinated, and then moving into post-pandemic stories.

“Working on a hospital show, post-pandemic, our first responsibility is to tell the stories of the nurses and doctors who have worked so tirelessly to try to keep people safe and healthy,” Eggold continues. “Peter Horton directed that episode. And I think his and [executive producer] David [Schulner]’s intention was to honor the healthcare workers and what they’ve been through and start in that place of, this has been Ground Zero of fighting the pandemic, and it has taken its toll on everybody.”

From there, the story continues with Dr. Vijay Kapour’s (Anupam Kher) life hanging in the balance due to COVID, Dr. Helen Sharpe (Freema Agyeman) unable to touch people as a result of lingering anxieties, Dr. Iggy Frome (Tyler Labine) facing his eating disorder/body issues and Dr. Lauren Bloom (Janet Montgomery) unable to give up her patients to their special-care physicians.

“It’s kind of like that wartime mentality with soldiers coming back and having trouble adjusting to civilian life,” Eggold says. “These doctors were so overwhelmed with patients, not enough beds and trying to keep up. What are the ramifications on their personal life and their psyche? And how do they get back to the new normal?”

Also, viewers will get a long-awaited moment between Max and Helen. Expect some resolution regarding their feelings for each other, despite the fact that Helen has moved on with new head trauma surgeon Dr. Cassian Shin (Daniel Dae Kim).

“I will say that I think Max and Helen have a unique relationship that they are forced to confront this season and figure out what it means for better or for worse, and finally name what has been unspoken for a while,” Eggold adds.

For more scoop on season 3 of New Amsterdam, read more of the interview with Eggold.

How did the New Amsterdam pandemic episode compare to what actually happened?

I haven’t seen that episode because it didn’t air, which is usually how I see them, so I would be curious to know myself. It’s pretty wild. It’s happened to the writers a few times where they’ve written something and then it happens later. But nobody could have predicted COVID was going to happen.

I saw the first two episodes and it feels like a sadder show this year. Will that continue?

No. There’s a lot of humor. I was saying to David, “Is Max getting too broad?” There has been a lot of humor on the show lately, which is nice. I think it’s important to find humor and joy amid a pandemic because we have to remind ourselves what we’re fighting for. The intention is not to make it super heavy and sad, but certainly in the beginning to discuss it; it is a heavy, overwhelming, larger-than-life situation that we’ve all been through.

Max also seems to have lost his “How can I help?” attitude–which is what inspired him to take the job and kept him going when he lost his wife. Will he get that back?

Yeah. I think it’s evolved from how can I help, or how can I fix the system and make it better, to how do we begin again? And how do we build from the ground up because we weren’t prepared for this and it changed a lot of things. I think his perspective has widened in a good way and he will see things differently this season.

What will be the new challenges for Max this season?

One thing is he’s a single dad who is trying to get his hospital through this pandemic. And he has left his daughter Luna with [late wife] Georgia’s parents in an effort to protect her and keep her safe as he is going to the hospital every day. But I think there’s a lot of guilt like, “Am I doing the right thing? Am I being a bad father by not being there? Am I neglecting her?” So, that’s something that he wrestles with.

Then the question of romance. Is there a partner for him to find and is he ready to start a relationship with someone after losing his wife? In the back of his mind, I think it’s something he wants, not only for himself but for his daughter.

(Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC)

There’s a moment where Max realizes that some of his great, crazy ideas aren’t always the right way to do things. Is he growing?

Absolutely. He’s a character who’s full of ambition to change things and to make things better. And he’s very headstrong and optimistic. He’s certainly overly idealistic about how to make those changes happen. The show is about finding out the reality of how that change happens. You have these lofty ideas of, “I want to make everything better, I want to do X, Y and Z,” and you can’t do that overnight, so what does it look like on a daily basis? How does change occur on a systemic level, which is certainly bigger than the individual?

To your point about admitting fault, I think he’s learning that he can’t do this on his own and he can’t change the world overnight and that you need other people. You can’t be a one-man band, so I think he’s going through a lot of change and evolving a lot.

What was it like filming in the hospital in March 2020?

Our last day of filming we were at Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn, and it was weird. People were starting to get nervous, “Should we be filming in a hospital?” We didn’t know a lot about it. Is this real? Is this really growing the way people say it’s going to grow? And very quickly, the world changed overnight.

It’s the right decision not to film in the hospital right now, not for our show, but to get out of the way of the hospitals and to let them function to the best of their capacity when there are so many serious things that need to be addressed. And, then for the show, to keep everybody safe, of course. But I hope we can get back to that once this pandemic is behind us because there’s always this wonderful authenticity to be found when we can shoot in those places because you are near the reality of healthcare so it helps you reflect that story.

Did it take New Amsterdam longer to come back because you had to change your filming locations?

We had to build a lot of sets. We had to build a lot of the hospital locations that we use, and we had to add more sets and locations we could film in. Then everybody was just making sure it was safe and making sure we had the practices and protocols in place to do our job, be safe and not put anybody at risk. To everyone’s credit, it feels really safe. We’re tested every day and we have a lot of protocols in place that keep the set running efficiently and safely. It’s a good place to be.

How did you handle the pandemic?

I look back and that was so much time that we had. I feel like I should have written a novel, climbed a mountain, or something. But, no, I slowly went crazy and did all the usual, like slept. I did do a fair amount of writing. I wrote a screenplay, trying to put my brain to work a little bit. I was in denial like, “This will only last a month of weird whatever.” Then a month goes by and you’re like, “I guess it’s still going.” Seven months go by and it was crazy. It was nice to slow down and catch up with family and unplug for a minute. I wish it had been under better circumstances and people’s lives weren’t at risk, but, yeah, there were some positives.

[multifandomfanfiction]

Mimic Chapter 4

TITLE: Mimic Chapter 4 PAIRING: Klaus/OC/Diego RATING: T CHAPTER: 4/? SUMMARY: Cassie is one of the 43 children born on the same day. Her parents hid her growing up, but her life changed when she met Klaus. Klaus gave her the nickname “Mimic’ because of her power to mimic other’s powers. When Reginald Hargreeves dies, what will the Umbrella Academy think of her secret?

Five disappeared.

“Where’d he go?” Luther asked.

“I think I know,” Vanya said.

They followed her and sure enough Five was in the kitchen. They all gathered around to watch Five make a peanut butter and marshmallow sandwich.

“What’s the date? The exact date.”

“The 24th,” Vanya told him as he walked over to the table with a loaf of bread.

“Of what?”

“March.”

“Good.”

“So, are we gonna talk about what just happened?” Luther asked.

Five said nothing.

Luther stood up and said, “It’s been 17 years.”

Five scoffed. “It’s been a lot longer than that.” He jumped through Luther to grab a bag of marshmallows.

“I haven’t missed that.”

“Where’d you go?” Diego asked.

“The future. Its shit, by the way,” Five answered.

“Called it!” Klaus exclaimed from his place on the table.

Five walked over to the fridge and pulled out a jar of peanut butter, before walking back over to the table. “I should’ve listen to the old man. You know, jumping through space is one thing, jumping through time is a toss of the dice.” Five looked at Klaus. “Nice dress.”

“Oh, well, danke!” Klaus said, fiddling with the hem.

“Wait, how did you get back?” Vanya asked.

“In the end, I had to project my consciousness forward into a suspended quantum state version of myself that exists across every possible instance of time,” Five explained.

“That makes no sense,” Diego told him.

“Well, it would if you were smarter.”

Diego stood up and started to charge at Five when Cassie darted in front of him and put her hands on his chest. She tapped into Luther’s power to hold him back.

“Ah, Cassie. So you’re still hanging around these two dumbasses are you?” Five asked.

Cassie and Five met shortly before he “disappeared”. It wasn’t until she was 15 that she started hanging around the Umbrella Academy more.

Cassie blushed, dropping her hands and stepping back from Diego.

“How long were you there?” Luther asked him.

“Forty-five years. Give or take.”

Both Luther and Diego sat back down.

Cassie stood behind Diego, rubbing his upper back.

“So what are you saying? That you’re 58?”

“No, my consciousness is 58. Apparently my body is 13 again.” Five finished making his sandwich and picked it up.

“Wait, how does that even work?” Vanya asked.

“Delores kept saying the equations were off.” Five shrugged and then took a bite of his sandwich. “Bet she’s laughing now.”

“Delores?”

Five picked up a newspaper, looking at the front page. “Guess I missed the funeral.”

“How’d you know about that?” Luther asked.

“What part of the future do you not understand? Heart failure, huh?”

“Yeah,” Diego said.

“No,” Luther corrected.

“Nice to see nothing’s changed,” Five said leaving the kitchen.

“That’s it? That’s all you have to say?” Allison asked him.

“What else is there to say? Circle of life.”

“Well…that was interesting,” Luther remarked.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

They all gathered in the courtyard later.

Cassie stood next to Klaus under his clear umbrella with pink trim.

Ben’s statue stood at the end of the courtyard.

It was always odd to see the statue when she could see Ben whenever she wanted to. Since Cassie was so close to Klaus, her power was almost intertwined with his. She didn’t even really have to try anymore, except when she was trying to summon a particular spirit.

Cassie was a comfort for Ben. Klaus’ inclination for getting drunk and high impaired his abilities, but Cassie was always sober. There were many nights when Klaus was passed out that she and Ben would stay up all hours of the night and talk about anything and everything.

“Did something happen?” Grace asked.

“Dad died. Remember?” Allison asked.

“Oh. Yes, of course.”

“Is mom okay?”

“Yeah, yeah, she’s fine,” Diego said as Klaus took out joint and lit it, “She just needs to rest. You know, recharge.”

Pogo joined them. “Whenever you’re ready, dear boy.”

Luther opened the urn and emptied it on the ground.

Klaus flinched when Luther looked at it oddly. Cassie wrapped an arm around Klaus’ waist, rubbing his side.

“Probably would’ve been better with some wind,” Luther said.

“Does anyone wish to speak?” Pogo asked.

No one said anything.

“Very well. In all regards, Sir Reginald Hargreeves made me what I am today. For that alone, I shall forever be in his debt. He was my master and my friend, and I shall miss him very much.”

Cassie hated Reginald Hargreeves for what he did to Klaus and Diego, but what Pogo said was very touching.

“He leaves behind a complicated legacy…”

“He was a monster,” Diego interjected.

Klaus laughed, causing Cassie to thump him on the back. Cassie glared at him as Klaus rolled his eyes.

“He was a bad person and a worse father. The world’s better off without him.”

“Diego,” Allison snapped.

“My name is Number Two. You know why? Because our father couldn’t be bothered to give us actual names. He had Mom do it.”

“Would anyone like something to eat?” Grace asked.

“No, it’s okay, Mom,” Vanya told her.

“Oh, okay.”

“Look, you wanna pay your respects? Go ahead. But at least be honest about the kind of man he was,” Diego said.

“You should stop talking now,” Luther told him.

“You know, you of all people should be on my side here, Number One.”

Cassie jumped in between the two of them. “Diego, stop it! Walk away!”

“Sweet little Cassandra. Always the peacemaker aren’t you?” Diego shoved Cassie aside, causing her to slip on the wet ground and fall.

Cassie waited for him to apologize or for Klaus to stand up for her, but neither of them did anything.

Vanya helped her up.

“Thanks,” Cassie muttered.

Diego continued to egg Luther on. “After everything he did to you? He had to ship you a million miles away.”

“Diego, stop talking.”

“That’s how much he couldn’t stand the sight of you!”

Luther threw the first punch.

Vanya pulled Grace and Cassie back.

“Boys, stop this at once!” Pogo yelled.

“I could rumor them,” Cassie said.

“No, I think it’s best to just let them fight it out,” Vanya told her.

“Come on, big boy!” Diego yelled at Luther. Diego started wailing on Luther.

“Stop it!” Vanya yelled.

“Hit him! Hit him!” Klaus cheered.

“Klaus! Diego! Stop it!” Cassie yelled.

Pogo shook his head and left the courtyard.

Luther finally grabbed Diego by the shirt and held him back.

“Get off me!” Diego yelled, punching Luther in the arm.

“We don’t have time for this,” Five said, going back inside.

“Come on, big boy!” Diego yelled.

Luther threw a punch and Diego dodged it, causing Luther to punch Ben’s statue.

The statue went crashing to the ground, knocking the head off.

Cassie’s heart stopped. “No!” She ran over to the statue. Her hands shook as she tried to pick it up and set it right.

“And there goes Ben’s statue,” Allison said, as Klaus walked over to his panicked girlfriend.

“Cass, Cass, its okay,” Klaus cooed to her. He put his hands on her shoulders.

The other Hargreeves’ were shocked by her outburst, especially Diego. He hadn’t realized she knew Ben that well.

“I’ll have it fixed,” Cassie said, “He’ll have a newer and better one.” Cassie was too in shock to see Ben watching them with a sad expression.

Klaus smiled. “I’m sure Ben would love that. C’mon. Let’s get you inside and dried off.” Klaus helped Cassie up and wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

“Cassie, I…” Diego said.

“Don’t Diego. Just don’t,” she told him.

[mysterylover123]

Todoroki’s Relationships Analysis Part 7: Chapter 169-now. Culture Fest, Pro Hero, JTA, MLA & Winter Internship arcs.

(SPOILERS TO NOW)

Culture Festival Arc

The new, party person post retake arc Shoto

Shoto’s retake course has helped to change his perspective on things a little, and understand the value of fun a little bit more (which is what this arc is all about)

He remains critical towards Bakugou here, though Katsuki definitely starts it. 

Or more accurately, the rest of the school starts it by acting like Class A asked to get attacked by crazy supervillains. Bakugou initially in this scene seems like he’s being a jerk, but he’s actually having one of his moments of kindness and empathy, as he defends his classmates from the rest of the school, and Shoto stops criticizing him once that lands. 

Shoto spends most of the CF arc hanging around twith this group, whom he mostly gets along with on the level of fairly normal friendship, so there isn’t much to say about these scenes.

We see Shoto to be the most concerned classmate about Deku’s wellbeing, probably because he’s learned by this point that an unavailable Midoriya probably means he’s breaking his body in two.

He watches Izuku getting scolded by the teachers.

And hangs out with Iida during the Culture Fest event itself. (Iida is the universal bro)

Culture Fest Shoto is still fairly quiet, but much more sociable than before. He suggests throwing a big party for the school, which should probably tell you that he’s a very different kid from the start of the year.

Pro Hero Arc

This arc is mostly about Shoto’s relationship with his dad, though we get a quick glimpse of his classmates looking after him when the fight plays on TV.

Four classmates are specifically watching Shoto. Now, while Kiri and Shoto do have a friendship, Kiri is generally the “glue that holds the class together”, so essentially, he was written to be the kid who always looks after his teammates. The other 3 are Shoto’s 3 main ships: Bakugou, Deku, and Momo. 

Though just about everyone comes over to him afterwards.

Included because how can you not.

joint Training Arc

Sero and Shoto sure have come a long way since “nice try” huh? And yes, Earlyroki is the phrase I want to use too.

Shoto is focused on watching Yaoyorozu’s fight.

He showcases some understanding of Momo’s tactical expertise and confidence in her ability to win. He believes that only a total assault on her could have been sufficient to actually defeat Momo. 

He looks worried for Momo after she loses and states firmly that he “hopes she doesn’t get all discouraged again”, recalling her previous sadness and worrying for her in the future.

We see a moment of Todoroki and Bakugou being on the same wavelength here, as following the above panel Shoto immediately does just that. 

Tetsutetsu pushes Todoroki to the point where he has to use way too much firepower. However, his team still loses/ties.

He has a Deku-like moment and this triggers his actions in the next arc (tears at BabyTodo in the left hand panel.)

This is his reaction to BlackWhip. He goes over to Deku after the JTA is over and after Deku’s training session with Bakugou and All Might and asks him directly, indicating he thinks Izuku has two powers.

Clearly, Shoto felt a bit betrayed that Deku asked him to go all out but was apparently holding back himself. I wish we could’ve had Shoto’s thoughts while the whole thing was going on.

He instantly believes Midoriya and doesn’t think to question this strange development. He compliments him as well, showing that Deku has joined Momo and Kacchan’s ranks as someone Shoto admires. Deku shoots right back at him.

Shoto, having tied while Deku and Kacchan, his two Official Rivals, both won with a complete knockout, obviously feels like they’ve surpassed him. This is, basically, his equivalent (though less angsty) to Bakugou at the end of the PLE arc, feeling completely surpassed by everyone.

The Joint Training arc sees, to Shoto, his classmates surpassing him, and spurs him to decide and seek out Endeavor as a Utility. We see his admiration for Momo, Kacchan and Izuku on full display.

MLA Arc

Newly minted Licensed heroes Todoroki and Bakugou are here to save the day Together!

They’re referring to each other as “we” and working together to end the villains.

Shoto’s showing concern for Kacchan, who as usual takes all concern for his wellbeing as an insult. (and as usual makes everything about Deku. Holy crap, was that really as powerful as the Sports Fest move?!?! They’ll have to bust out some sick animation for that).

Winter Internship Arc (up to present chapter, Chapter 250)

So Todoroki and Kacchan work together well. Are they friends? What does Shoto think of their relationship? His self-definition is that they get along well.

Todoroki apparently defines friendship as “spending a lot of time together”. Bakugou objects to this. Todoroki basically calmly insists that they get along anyway.

Shoto’s motto of heroism here is that he wants “to put others at ease’. We’ve got his manifesto as to heroism laid out here.

This is funny, yes, but also kinda heartbreaking. Shoto is incredibly awkward in his interview and doesn’t seem to understand that he’s being flirted with. It’s possible he doesn’t have much conception of what romance, flirtation and attraction even are. This is a facet I’d like to see explored more in shipping fics, actually, because any idea of Shoto as some smooth charmer with great flirting skills should be heavily dispelled by this instance.

Although he’s talking about his dad here, the words could just as easily apply to Midoriya.

Shoto instantly apologies to Katsuki, taking it as his fault that Bakugou was cut, because he’s not socially adept enough to get that Bakugou’s behavior is inappropriate. While one doesn’t have to, you could take Bakugou’s reply as him relieving Shoto of feeling guilty by telling him it wasn’t his fault. Just in Bakugou-speak.

Deku’s 3 most popular ships watch him try and conquer his quirk. Or is this in his head?

Some nervous solidarity between Shoto and Izuku, + bonus Jealous Bakugou.

ChristmasTodo notices Bakugou feeling down.

And immediately offers him and Deku internship jobs with the #1. Shoto’s motives her deserve some consideration. He states later on that he sees Endeavor, as far as regards his career as a pro, in a utilitarian manner. He views him as a means to an end for success (outside of their past and family drama, obviously). So Shoto is, essentially, offering Deku and Kacchan the best possible internship opportunity he can, even though it involves asking his old man for a favor. That’s some serious supportive friendship power right there.

Endeavor complains about having to teach all 3 but Shoto shuts him down quickly.

He agrees with Bakugou that Endeavor’s dismissive attitude is not what they signed on for or what he promised Kacchan. 

Todo and Kacchan are again on the same wavelength here and act like they both find Deku’s constant chatter annoying.

In his big speech to Endeavor, he states that “competing with these guys” before correcting himself and trying to include the rest of his classmates in that estimation. But he ca’t take back that initial impulse. Deku and Kacchan are placed first in his estimation. They are the first ones he thinks of. And both, as well. It’s  very clear that Deku and Kacchan (Twin Stars of class A indeed) changed his life. Thinking about it too...he didn’t immediately use fire after his match with Deku. It wasn’t until he hurt Bakugou by holding back and lost hte match that he really started to change.

“IN front of my friends”. Shoto again points out that he came her to use Endeavor, regardless of feelings. He insists on being treated the same as Deku and Kacchan, and tells Endeavor not to pretend to be dadlike to him in front of them. This impulse is interesting too. He doesn’t wish to present any kind of lie to these two.

Shoto pays a lot of attention to Kacchan and actually smiles when Bakugou calls Endeavor’s power a “rip-off” of Bakugou’s own explosion quirk. I guess he likes the chance to insult dear ol dad.

When Deku and Kacchan are both in a bad mood, Shoto plays supportive cheerleader.

He’s totally cool with the invitation.

He shows again some understand of (and criticism of) Deku.

This is where Todoroki comes to understand that Katsuki knows about his situation with Endeavor. Interestingly enough, while Deku is the one he told, he hasn’t shown any inclination to add more to that knowledge since the Sports Festival. 

Deku shows some incredible understanding of Shoto’s mind here and supports his decision with Endeav either way. Shoto’s expression is astonished, as if he had never thought of his situation this way before.

He immediately opens up to Deku and Kacchan about Toya with Fuyumi’s help; once again, both know Shoto’s backstory.

He also reaches out to get the recipe from Fuyumi to give to Bakugou. Always the caring, considerate friend.

Presumably she doesn’t thank Bakugou too because he keeps insisting he totally isn’t friends with Shoto. Shoto looks so adorably embarassed here.

He’s solicited as a study buddy for Deku, and for now (until Friday) this is where we leave them. Jumping forward to save Natsuo.

So this retrospective on Todoroki’s relationships - Todoroki’s relationships only, from his POV alone - was interesting. And very informative, as it changed my perspective on Shoto’s character dynamics a lot. I hope you enjoyed, and let me know if there are any other characters you want me to do a Relationships retrospective on in the future.

[goosewhisker]

russetfur vs. the entirety of skyclan || ch. 2

read this on ao3 || read this on fanfiction.net

chapter one

summary:  After enduring months of Turtlekit and Kitekit’s abuse, Rootkit finally snaps and accidentally awakens his powers. This has the unfortunate side effect of reviving the ghost of an angry Shadowclan warrior who: 1) is personally offended by Skyclan’s existence, and 2) has magnanimously taken it upon herself to relieve the world of that burden. Or something.

thanks for all the likes/reblogs/comments guys!! honestly i got way more support than i was expecting and i’m so grateful to all of you. now i bring you chapter two: In Which Rootkit Realizes He’s Over His Head

Rootkit starts with some research.

Once a long time ago, back when he'd been awed by his dad's abilities and not ashamed of them, Tree had told him and Needlekit how he pacified ghosts.

"First, of course, you have to talk to them," Tree'd told them.

"Like you always do!" Rootkit had chimed in. Even then, he'd known of his father's preference for talking over fighting.

Tree had purred. "Of course. Most ghosts don't want to fight; they just have unfinished business here. Talking first can save you a lot of time in getting to the root of the problem."

"What then?" Needlekit had asked.

"The ghost gives you a task. Usually, they want to right a wrong, or speak to their loved ones one last time. Something like that."

"Woah..."

"Once you complete the task, they'll be at peace. The ghost will be able to move on to the afterlife, or wherever they were supposed to go after they died."

In other words: figure out the unfinished business and finish it. Rootkit's already tried talking, with... not much success. Of course, that's hardly the only way of figuring out what a ghost's deal is; one of Tree's favorite stories had been about trying to help a mute she-cat whose throat had been torn out by dogs.

She'd wanted him to find her kittens and take them back to her owners, or something. Rootkit forgot.

Anyway, that's not the point. The point is that there's more than one way to skin a cat (wait, no, bad expression) and Rootkit doesn't have to talk to the crazy lady to get her pacified.

So. Research.

Rootkit starts off with Petalnose. Old people, in Rootkit's experience, know all the local gossip, and Petalnose is the oldest of everyone Rootkit knows. Except Leafstar, maybe, but he's not about to bother Leafstar for something like this.

Especially if she's really having second thoughts about his warrior ceremony.

Petalnose, at least, seems to have no such doubts. Unlike most of the clan, she's never seemed bothered by Tree's weirdness, and never treated Rootkit differently because of it. He appreciates that.

"Rootkit!" Petalnose exclaims when he climbs into the elders den. She jabs a paw into Fallowfern's side, who abruptly wakes up with a snort. "Look who's here!" she adds, gesturing to Rootkit with her tail.

"Hi, Rootkit," Fallowfern says, a little too loudly. Petalnose flicks her tail gently in the way that Rootkit's learned means a little softer. Fallowfern's voice is a little quieter when she says, "What brings you here?"

Rootkit plops down in front of the elders and regards them seriously. "I'm here about a cat," he says. "She said..." he trails off as an idea creeps into his mind. "Frecklewish said," he begins slowly. "She said something about a cat named Russetfur. And I wanted to know if you knew something about that."

It's vague and sketchy as heck, but Petalnose hums thoughtfully. "The name sounds sort of familiar. I think Tawnypelt may have mentioned her, when she was still here. Do you-?" She turns to Fallowfern and makes a conplicated series of gestures with her paws, tail, and ears that leaves Rootkit breathless trying to keep up.

After a moment, Fallowfern's expression clears. "Russetfur?" Her voice is too loud again, but Petalnose doesn't seem to mind. "She was Shadowclan's deputy once. Tawnypelt told us about her, remember?"

"Right!" Petalnose nods and turns back to Rootkit with a smile. "It was a long time ago, I think, before Rowanclaw became leader. Does that answer your question, hun?"

Rootkit considers this. It answers some questions - why she thought the camp was Shadowclan's territory, for one. She must've died back when it was still Shadowclan's. And she thought he smelled like a rogue because she didn't know Skyclan's scent.

It doesn't explain what her unfinished business is, though. Or why she's here in Skyclan's camp instead of at her own. But Rootkit thinks he might know the answer to the last one.

"Do you know how she died?" he asks.

Petalnose blinks, thrown. "Ah... no. Why do you ask?"

Rootkit abruptly remembers that it's a pretty weird thing to ask, no matter who's asking the question, and suddenly all his enthusiasm evaporates. "No reason," he mumbles, and slinks out of the den before she can say anything else.

When he gets outside, Russetfur is sitting by the entrance.

Rootkit yelps, backpedalling frantically, but Russetfur ignores it. "What is this?" she demands. "Some make-believe clan?"

"A... what?"

The she-cat turns on him, eyes sparking with fury. "A bunch of kittypets, playing pretend? Some of your Twoleg-coddlers haven't even changed their names. Harrybrook? Macgyver?" she snorts. "What kind of pathetic housepet names are those?"

Rootkit blinks at her, stung. They might look at him weird, but those are his clanmates she's talking about, and she has no right to make fun of them like that. "Hey-" he begins, but she steamrolls right over him.

"And not only do you embarrass the Clans' names with your little roleplay, you have the nerve to do it on Shadowclan land!"

"But it's not-"

"When leafbare comes, and you mewling Twoleg-snoggers get a taste of real hardship for the first time, you'll go running right back to your masters," Russetfur snarls. "And leave the forest for the real warriors. This is the land of our conquest! We carved out a place for ourselves 'mid hardship and suffering and war and we painted our border lines with blood! You pathetic coddled pets aren't even worthy of the air we breathe, let alone-"

Rootkit screws his eyes shut and screams, at the top of his lungs, "We're not kittypets, you old hag!"

Perfect silence descends on them, and it's only then that Rootkit realizes he's standing in the middle of the camp. Everyone's conversations have stuttered to a halt to stare at him and Russetfur, and no one's looking at Russetfur.

Rootkit swallows and wonders if it's too late to run away forever.

"Then what the Dark Forest are you," Russetfur says, and he remembers whose fault this all is in the first place.

"We're Skyclan," he hisses, glancing furtively at the rest of the camp. Everyone's still staring. "We were one of the original clans, but we got kicked out when the Twolegs took our territory. We just got back to the lake, only you don't know 'cause you've been dead," he adds in a vicious whisper.

Russetfur stares at him.

"Even if your stupid story was true," she says after a beat, "Any clan too weak to protect its territory deserves to be kicked out," and Rootkit sees red.

A second later, he's sprawled in the dirt several tail-lengths away with a brand new bruise across the face. Great, now the whole of Skyclan's seen him get belted halfway across the camp by thin air. This will do wonders for his reputation.

"Don't you try to get one over me, boy," Russetfur shouts. "I've been kicking warriors' butts all the way back to the nursery since before you were born."

Yeah, 'cause you've been dead since before I was born, Rootkit thinks, but he's not dumb enough to point it out. He's about to struggle to his feet when a shadow steps between him and the ghost.

"What's all this about," Tree says, a hint of something dangerous in his voice.

Russetfur, to her credit, doesn't seem cowed at all. She spits on the ground between them and raises her head to glare directly into his eyes. "Teaching that fool boy a lesson."

"That 'fool boy' happens to be my son," Tree says, and then, with an unnervingly pleasant tone, he adds, "Lay another paw on him and I'll rip it off."

A clump of dried bracken rolls by in the wake of Tree's announcement, and for a moment, no one moves.

Then Russetfur blurs. When the outlines of her shape resettle, she's poised with claws outstretched over Tree's vulnerable, unguarded throat. Rootkit wonders hysterically why she bothered to stop when she starts laughing. Unlike her earlier cold laughter, this seemed genuinely amused.

"Interesting," she says, and the mirth in her voice sends shivers down Rootkit's spine. Then he realizes that Tree's claws are suspended over her belly, at precisely the angle needed to rip out her intestines with one move. "At least one of you has something like a spine." Faster than Rootkit can follow, she smacks Tree aside with one paw, sending him hurtling to the ground next to Rootkit.

"Dad!" Rootkit wails, scurrying over to him, but Tree flings out a paw to stop him.

"What do you want, ghost?" he calls out. His voice is unruffled and perfectly steady despite his fall.

"I want you gone," Russetfur says. "I want you and the rest of this kittypet clan to go crawling back to your masters with your tails between your legs. And I won't rest until I see it happen."

Tree rises and shakes the dust from his pelt. His eyes are half-lidded, like he truly doesn't care. "I suppose we're at an impasse, then. This camp is Skyclan's home; Shadowclan gave it to us themselves."

Russetfur snorts. "Blackstar would sooner hang himself by his own intestines than hand over any land to kittypets like you."

... right, whoever that is. Rootkit watches Tree blink in confusion. Russetfur doesn't seem to notice.

"This is my declaration of war," she announces. It's snarled like a challenge, thrown down like a glove on the ground between them. "Me versus the whole of Kittypetclan. Your chances are looking dim, housepet."

Tree visibly sighs. "Ma'am, no one wants that," he says. "If you'd listen, perhaps we could come to a reasonable agreement that everyone's happy with."

"The only agreement I'll be happy with is you and your lot of Twoleg toys dead!" Russetfur lunges at his dad, but even as Tree braces himself for the attack, the ghost dissipates into thin air that blows past him like wind.

Rootkit, who's close enough to feel it, shudders as the ice-cold air claws at his skin.

Tree blinks and relaxes his muscles belatedly. There's a moment of silence before someone asks, "Uh, was there a ghost?"

Rootkit starts and turns to the crowd, having almost forgotten they were there.

"In the camp?" Reedclaw frets. "Is that safe?"

"Hey, wait." Pigeonfoot cranes her head to get a glimpse of Rootkit. Rootkit realizes what's coming even before she says it, and his heart sinks. "Rootkit was talking to it before you even got here. Does that mean he can see ghosts too?"

Rootkit freezes.

And then Tree steps in front of him, shielding him from their audience. "It's not uncommon for kits to able to see ghosts," he says evenly. "Kits tend to have greater sensitivity to the spiritual and can sense a lot of things adults can't. It'll probably disappear as he grows older. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to get my son to the nursery."

Rootkit stares at his dad and, to his horror, feels tears of gratitude welling up in the corner of his eyes. "Dad," he begins, but Tree just shushes him and picks him up by the scruff of his neck in a way he hasn't done since Rootkit was a couple moons old. Rootkit lets himself be carried back to the nursery and when his dad drops him in a nest and curls around him, he doesn't protest.

Needlekit crawls over from the nest they'd shared earlier. "What happened out there," she asks in a small voice, and Rootkit finds that his throat is too choked to answer her.

His dad purrs comfortingly and a moment later Rootkit feels Tree's tongue rasp gently over his head. "We'll get her out of here," he says. "And no one will be hurt. I promise."

[raywritesthings]

In the Dead of Night 8/9

My Writing Fandom: Arrow Characters: Laurel Lance, Oliver Queen, Nyssa al Ghul, Malcolm Merlyn, Thea Queen, Tommy Merlyn, John Diggle, Sara Lance, Maseo Yamshiro, Ra’s al Ghul Pairing: Laurel Lance/Oliver Queen (Eventual) Summary: Oliver Queen returns to Starling City after five years away, three years after Sara Lance was found and rescued by her mother. More troubling to him is Laurel’s abrupt and unexplained absence from the city for the same length of time that her sister’s been home. Three years into the past, Dinah Lance makes a terrible choice. *Can be read on my AO3 or FFN (links to both accounts are in bio)*

Everyone was silent as they were led out of the fortress. Sara wasn’t sure what she had expected originally, before Tommy and Thea and Mr. Merlyn had all gotten involved. Elation? Anger? Tears?

Laurel was different, that much she could tell. It was hard to know what she was thinking when before her sister had always worn her heart on her sleeve. Sara didn’t even want to imagine what must have happened to cause such a change. What was supposed to have happened to her. She only barely suppressed a shudder.

They reached the entrance, and Oliver lingered with their guide. “Maseo, why aren’t you with Tatsu?”

“The man you speak of is dead, Oliver. My life and service is with the League.”

Oliver looked like he wanted to say more, but suddenly Nyssa emerged from the same entrance, pushing past both men. She was dressed in more casual clothes of all black and had a near murderous expression.

That didn’t stop Laurel from approaching her with perhaps the most animation to her face and movements that Sara had yet to see. “Nyssa—”

“You should not have decided my fate for me, Laurel,” the other woman said, jerking her arm from Laurel’s grasp scarcely after her sister had reached out. “I never asked for release from the League. That was your desire.”

“I couldn’t let Merlyn kill you,” Laurel argued.

“You believe I would have let him?”

“Nyssa, please. You- you were the only one—”

“Whatever kindness you feel you have extended towards me, know that you have forever cast me out of my home and the life I have lived and prepared for as the Heir to the Demon.”

“There’s more than that kind of life. I could help you. We could figure it out together.”

Nyssa shook her head. “I must make my own way, Laurel. Return to your old life with your friends and family.”

Nyssa turned and marched away. Sara watched her sister take two halting steps after the woman before stopping in her tracks, her head hanging down.

Sara drew in a breath and then walked over slowly. She brought the rucksack around in front of herself as she got nearer to Laurel. That proved to be a good thing, as Laurel turned sharply at her approach, a knife drawn.

Sara faltered as a couple gasps came from behind them. Her sister stiffened before looking down and tucking the knife back away.

“I, um, I brought you a change of clothes. In case you didn’t have any.”

“Why are you here, Sara?” It was less a question than a sigh.

“Because you’re my sister.”

“Really?” Something like a laugh seemed to almost bubble up, but Laurel was not smiling. “That didn’t seem to matter much before.”

Sara didn’t know what to say. There wasn’t anything she could say, was there?

“I’m sorry about your friend,” she offered, her voice quieting until it was barely above a whisper at the end.

“So...the plane?” Thea asked weakly just as Sara’s eyes had begun to sting with water.

“Yeah,” Oliver agreed. He took the lead, pausing to touch Laurel’s arm briefly before getting them all moving back down the mountain.

It was a long, silent walk. She could feel Tommy and Thea’s eyes watching her periodically, when they weren’t watching Laurel or Oliver. Sara knew a reckoning of some kind would be coming.

Everyone boarded the plane. Oliver followed Laurel to one of the seats near the back and hovered in the aisle there, clearly unsure if he was welcome to sit with her or not. Laurel turned her face towards the window, and Oliver’s eyes closed. He walked back over to where they’d congregated.

“Maybe some time?” He looked just as lost as the rest of them as to how to proceed in regards to her sister.

All except Diggle, who was frowning in thought. He gestured to the rucksack Sara still held. “You want her to have that?”

Sara nodded.

He reached out for the bag, and Sara let him take it. They all watched as he slowly approached, Laurel included. Diggle gestured to the empty seat beside her and spoke, but Sara didn’t understand what he said. 

Laurel gave a nod, and the man sat down. They began a conversation in a language she didn’t have any familiarity with aside from maybe hearing it on television.

Sara started to move towards them, but Oliver stopped her with a hand on her arm.

“Digg did three tours in Afghanistan. Let him try.”

“Is it Arabic?”

Oliver nodded.

“Can you understand it?”

He frowned. “No.”

“So you’re as in the dark as the rest of us,” Tommy summarized. “I guess that’s a first.”

“Let’s get seated for takeoff,” Oliver said, his eyes fixed on the headrest beside Tommy rather than Tommy himself.

They took seats further up the plane, and even if Laurel and Diggle were speaking in English they wouldn’t be able to hear them. The takeoff was a little bumpy but soon enough they had leveled out and were on the way away from Nanda Parbat. Hopefully for the last time.

“Will one of you two please finally explain something?” Thea asked across the aisle from her brother. Tommy was leaning towards them as well from his window seat beside Thea. “What did dad tell you before he died that made you think going around every night as a vigilante was a good idea?”

“He told me the truth about our family. That because of him and others like him in positions of wealth and power, Starling City was falling apart,” Oliver revealed. “He gave me a list of names he and others — including Malcolm — had drawn up, and asked me to fix it.”

“But Ollie, how would your dad have had time?” Tommy asked, and Oliver closed his eyes. “You said he died with everyone else on the boat, except Sara.”

Sara studied Oliver. She’d actually never found out what became of his father. He hadn’t been there when she came to the island, so she’d assumed the worst.

“I lied. He survived the shipwreck.”

Thea was gaping. “But—”

“We were running out of supplies on the life raft, so he gave me the list and he- he shot himself.”

Sara felt her own mouth drop open as she saw Tommy do the same. Thea let out a gasp and her eyes welled up with tears.

“He gave his life for me. If I didn’t complete this mission for him, that would’ve been in vain.” Oliver raised his gaze to Thea and Tommy. “Do you understand?”

Thea’s throat bobbed up and down as she swallowed, but she gave a shaky nod.

“I’m sorry. I just — I don’t understand,” said Tommy. “I mean, my dad...”

“I didn’t know about him until I woke up after the challenge, Tommy, I swear,” Oliver said. “I wish I had known.”

“He said he joined the League after Rebecca Merlyn was killed,” Sara stated. “I don’t know how he would’ve gotten out of it, though.” Ra’s had not been anywhere near that generous in her case. The price it had exacted on her family was present even now in the distance between herself and her sister in the plane.

Her look back in that direction did not go unnoticed by Thea. “What was Laurel doing there? How’d you know she would be?”

Sara stared down at her feet. “Because Laurel was never missing. Not to me and mom. We knew exactly where she was, cause we put her there.”

Tommy frowned. “Sara, what are you talking about?”

She glanced at Oliver once, but he didn’t seem about to help her explain herself. “When Ollie and I got separated the second time, I washed up near where Nyssa was, and she brought me to Nanda Parbat to heal. In exchange, I was going to have to pledge my life and services to the League. Only my mom found me.”

“How come she never mentioned she found you with this crazy League?” Thea wanted to know.

Sara shook her head. “They’re a secret organization that’s been around for centuries. They wouldn’t be if everyone who ever came across them went blabbing. And that was part of the deal. The deal my mom made with Ra’s.”

“The guy Ollie just killed,” Tommy pointed out bluntly. If Oliver was bothered by the critical tone, he did a good job hiding it.

“He wasn’t just a guy, Tommy. He was every bit the Demon they called him.” Sara swallowed down her fear and revulsion at having to relive the worst moment of her life yet again and continued, “When my mom found me, he wouldn’t let me leave without equal payment. A life for a life. You gotta understand, mom tried to offer herself. She didn’t jump right to- to—”

“God, Sara,” Tommy breathed. He’d gone very pale, and his head turned back towards Laurel.

Thea’s eyes were wider than Sara could ever remember them being. “You mean she…?”

Sara nodded, squeezing her eyes shut. “We had to wait two days. Then they brought Laurel in. She- oh God.”

She could still remember her sister’s disbelief, the momentary wonder and happiness on her face, before the betrayal had set back in a thousand times worse. How her screams had echoed down the stone corridors all the way their mother had pulled Sara along, almost running and never looking back. Sara was sure if she had — but it was useless to guess what would have happened then. Maybe they’d all be dead.

“Dad never found out. It’s been hard talking to him, cause he’ll mention her and start in about it, but...I know he’s missed her so much. And I have no idea what we’re going to tell him.”

Thea and Tommy’s gazes were heavy on her even without her looking. She could hear their unasked questions. Why had she let this happen? Why didn’t she get help? They just didn’t understand, neither of them. Even with Tommy’s surprising familial connection to the League and the trouble Mrs. Queen had apparently gotten herself in, Tommy and Thea we’re still the same spoiled children she and Oliver had been before the Gambit. They’d never been forced to make tough choices like this.

Diggle came back up the aisle. “Hit a snag. Laurel wants to leave from China when we stop to refuel.”

Tommy frowned. “Leave for where? She’s not — you’re kidding.”

Sara felt something heavy drop into the pit of her stomach and by the widening of his eyes and the twitch of his fingers she knew Oliver was feeling about the same.

“But where would she go?” Thea asked, worrying her bottom lip.

“I think us not knowing is kind of the point.”

“She needs to come home. Now that dad knows she didn’t just leave, he’s been going spare. He has to see her,” Sara insisted.

“Well you can’t force her to come with you, or how’s that make you better than what she just left?” Diggle pointed out. Sara nearly snapped that at least it wouldn’t involve killing, but really, was that such a high bar to be aspiring towards?

What did they honestly have to offer Laurel after everything they’d done? The boyfriend who’d cheated on her, the sister who’d let their mother cast her aside.

“I can understand why home is complicated for Laurel,” Oliver finally said. “But she should come back to Starling. At least to get her accounts together, renew her passport, anything she needs.” He looked tremendously unhappy as he said, “Otherwise we can’t stop her from what she wants to do.”

Tommy leaned forward with his head in his hands. “This is such a mess.”

With a huff of annoyance and a roll of her eyes, Thea stood and shuffled out into the aisle.

“Thea, what are you doing?” Oliver asked with a note of warning.

“Something the rest of you haven’t tried. Fight for Laurel.”

She marched off down the aisle, leaving their little huddle in silence.

---

With every step she took, Thea’s bravado started to fade. It was easy enough to tell Ollie and all his friends off, but another thing to actually act on her words. She wasn’t about to turn around now, though.

It was kind of freaky knowing Laurel had been in an assassin cult for three years, that she had probably killed people, and that she probably could easily kill Thea if she wanted to.

But this was Laurel. Laurel, who had always scolded Ollie and Tommy whenever they complained about Thea following them all around; Laurel, who had nudged Ollie into helping Thea with her homework some evenings even when it was his and Laurel’s date night; Laurel, who had answered all of her questions about periods when Thea’s mom had been too caught up in grieving. Laurel would never hurt her.

So she took the seat right beside her. “Hey.”

Laurel’s lips twitched up once. It was a shadow of her old smiles, but it had to be a good sign, right? “Hey, Speedy. How have you been?”

Thea only barely held in a snort. “Seriously?”

Laurel shrugged. “I have been away for three years. There’s things I might have missed. You still ride horses?”

The question caught her off guard at first, but Thea shook her head. “I don’t do a lot of that stuff anymore. Horseback riding, archery...I kind of let it all fall to the wayside, after.”

Laurel nodded.

“Picked up drugs instead,” Thea admitted to her lap. “That was a huge mistake. I thought I had it so bad that I just didn’t even think about the things I did still have. My freedom, a home, family. I mean, my mom kind of ignores me sometimes, but I know she’d never— sorry.”

Laurel shrugged again. “It is what it is.”

“How can you be so calm?” She couldn’t help herself. Each time Thea tried to wrap her mind around what had happened to her friend, she wanted to yell. The Laurel she remembered, she would be screaming out at the injustice with tears in her eyes.

“The League teaches you to remain calm at all times. There isn’t room for emotion.”

“Well, you’re not with them anymore. You can be, you know, angry or sad or anything you want. You can talk about anything.”

“Why is Tommy mad at Oliver?”

Thea blinked. Of all the questions, that wouldn’t have been her first. “Well, I guess because we just found out he’s been going out at night as this vigilante who kills people sometimes and who he himself called a murdering psychopath. Plus he apparently knew you were here and didn’t let us in on the plan to get you back.”

“Would you have believed him?”

“Well, no. Probably not.” Even faced with the reality of what Laurel had been through all these years it was still hard to believe. “You, uh, you don’t seem as mad at Oliver as I thought you’d be. You know.”

“Because he cheated on me?”

“Yeah,” Thea conformed quietly.

Laurel looked out the window. “I had to let my anger go along with everything else, and it was hard to hold onto when that wasn’t even close to the worst thing that’s ever happened to me in the last few years. There’s things I’ve done that are far worse, too.”

Thea looked down.

“He also released me from the League. I’m technically in his debt.”

“No way. I may not know my brother as well as I thought I did up until recently, but he would never consider you as in his debt.” Even if he really had died in that awful chamber, Thea knew he would have considered it his penance.

She wondered at how her brother and the woman she looked up to and admired had both been forced down this transformative path. As much as Laurel wanted to slip away from the rest of them, Thea thought that she and Oliver might be best able to help the other adjust back to life in Starling.

“Mr. Diggle says you want to leave us.”

“I haven’t been with you for a long time, Thea.”

“I know. And look how that turned out.” She shifted in her seat to face her friend fully. “Your dad figured out you were missing a few months ago. He’s really worried about you.”

Laurel’s eyes closed, and she breathed in and out once. “He won’t be happy to see me. The daughter he lost doesn’t exist anymore.”

“Neither does the brother I lost, but I’d rather have Ollie back than not at all,” Thea argued, surprised to realize it was true. As frustrating as Oliver had been at times since his return — part of that she could admit was because of her poor lifestyle choices, and part of it made more sense with the full context of his — she would never want to go back to the days where they all thought he’d died. The same as she’d never want to go back to thinking Laurel just left them all.

“I’ve gone against everything my father ever taught me. Justice outside the law. Murder.”

“You did it to survive. You had to. He’ll understand that.”

“Oh, he’ll never find out.” Laurel fixed Thea with a look, making it clear she was to hold to this too. “If he ever learns what happened, it would break him. I can’t be the reason that happens.”

“Then what are you going to tell him?”

“I don’t know yet. Maybe nothing.”

Thea wasn’t sure if that was best, but it was Laurel’s father. It wasn’t up to her to decide.

“Where will you stay? You can stay at our place,” she added when Laurel was silent.

“It sounds like your family’s going through enough without having to worry about me.”

“Hey, you’re family, too.” When Laurel looked at her disbelievingly it tore at something in her. Thea’s lips pressed tight together for a minute, then she fought to push on. “Actually, my birthday’s coming up. There’s gonna be a party. So if you wanted to stick around at least until then…”

A breath left Laurel that sounded almost like a laugh. “You’ve still got everyone wrapped around your finger, huh Speedy?”

She grinned. “Whatever works.”

The two shared a smile, and, for the moment, it was as if the intervening years and all that had happened to them both melted away. Thea felt genuinely happy for the first time in a while, and she hoped her friend felt the same.

“We’re on our way home,” she said.

“Yeah,” Laurel agreed, but her smile faded. “Home.”

---

One year ago

The nights in Nanda Parbat were quiet. Nanda Parbat was always quiet, truthfully, whenever there wasn’t training going on. She missed the sounds of the city, of people, of music. She couldn’t even think of the last time she’d heard music, and as she lay awake one night, she felt a yearning for it stronger than ever. She’d hardly been called a music lover before she had become Taer al Aswad; it had just been one of those things she’d taken for granted.

Hadn’t there been a song about a blackbird? She’d heard it on the oldies station her dad put on when he cooked sometimes. The Beatles or somebody. She thought she could grasp just the first few words.

She drew in a shaky breath and began, barely above a whisper, “Blackbird singing in the dead of night”

She listened. There was no sound beyond her door.

“Take these broken wings and learn to fly

All your life

You were only waiting for this moment to arise”

She repeated the first line a little louder, a little more melodic.

“Blackbird singing in the dead of night”

The next part was escaping her, so she hummed the tune until she could remember something. It nearly made her laugh.

“All your life

You were only waiting for this moment to be free”

She sighed. “To be free.”

After that, whenever she had a few moments to herself, she tried recalling other songs and humming them to herself. They were almost all half-remembered, half-made up things, but it was something to hold onto. Something to remind her that she’d once had a life so different to this one.

“How long has your father been Ra’s?” She asked her friend one night. They were taking dinner together in Nyssa’s quarters, about the only place they could risk speaking freely. It had occurred to Laurel that, despite his apparent knowledge and experience, the Demon Head hardly looked older than his own daughter some days.

“Many years. Over a century.”

The spoonful of soup she’d lifted dropped back into her bowl. “What?”

“Those who hold the title of Ra’s are granted access to the Lazarus Pit. You have seen it,” Nyssa noted. She nodded. “Its waters are imbued with properties that grant healing and extend life beyond its normal limits.”

“He’s immortal.”

Nyssa made a face. “Not as such. With each use, the Pits lose more of their effectiveness.”

“Not by that much,” she couldn’t help arguing. Ra’s didn’t look to be a day over forty. Even without a pit and barring injury or illness, he could go on to be the Demon Head for decades yet. And he probably would.

She found herself unable to eat for the rest of that night.

The days continued to pass, and she stopped counting. What was the point? There were no birthdays in Nanda Parbat, no holidays, no reason to keep track of the time except to drive herself crazy thinking of the life that was slipping away from her.

Nyssa’s promise remained in her mind, but she knew in her heart it had been a kind gesture only and not a reality. Ra’s had no love or respect for his daughter, and with the Lazarus Pit, it could be years or decades before he had to relinquish the title.

Her family had abandoned or forgotten her, and she’d shut down so completely the two years after the accident that she doubted there were any friends who missed her. Or they wouldn’t want her back, now that she was no longer the Laurel Lance they had known.

OnlyTaer al Aswad remained.

[katedoesfics]

Shadows of Hyrule | Chapter 11

Link's disappointed gaze fell on the wood practice sword. His lips twisted to the side. “Seriously? That thing? It's a piece of wood.”

Impa snarled at him. “That blade is sharper than it looks,” she said. “You have a ways to go before you will be able to use it properly. Can't have you cutting your own arm off, now, can we?”

“How incapable do you think I am?”

Impa smiled and shoved the bokken into his chest. “You don't want me to answer that.”

Link sighed, taking the bokken from her. “Fine.” He swung the bokken around and promptly dropped it onto the floor. Zelda snickered from behind him.

“Don't make me hit you,” Impa said.

Link laughed sharply. “Is that a threat?”

Without hesitation, Impa scooped up the bokken and swung it around herself impressively. Before Link could react, the bokken came down hard across the back of his legs, knocking him to the ground. Impa thrust the bokken down against his chest, and Link fell onto his back with a grunt. Impa stood over him with the tip of the wooden sword against his throat.

“That's a promise,” she sneered to him.

“Alright,” Link barked at her. He pushed the bokken aside with his arm and sat up. “You're crazy.”

Impa let the bokken drop into his lap and made her way across the room, picking up another bokken for herself. “Get used to it,” she said. “There's a lot riding on this. No pressure.”

Link grunted in response. He stood, taking the bokken in hand, and waited for Impa to return.

“Don't think I'm going easy on you,” she said. She used the bokken as a tool, hitting Link between his knees. “Stance. Balance. Move your damn legs.”

Link sighed. He watched as Impa demonstrated, then she hit his legs again.

“Will you quit it?” he barked at her.

“Stance!” She hit him again.

“Okay!”

Zelda turned to Paya. “This is going to be tedious to watch,” she said.

Paya nodded and grinned. “I almost feel bad for him.”

Zelda laughed. “I don't. He could use a little discipline for once in his life.” They continued to watch as Impa barked orders at Link, and Link tried desperately – and clumsily – to keep up with her pace, adjusting his stance as instructed.

After a moment, Zelda frowned. “I'm not going to have to do this, am I?”

Paya shrugged. “I don't know how Grandmother plans to help you with your power,” she admitted.

“As long as I don't have to swing a sword around,” Zelda muttered.

“It couldn't hurt to learn a little,” Paya offered.

“Maybe,” Zelda said. Truth be told, she wasn't feeling very confident in her ability to awaken her power. It didn't matter how good Link was with a sword; if she couldn't get control of her power, they wouldn't be able to seal Ganondorf away, and the war would be lost before it even began.

“There's no need to worry about it,” Paya said when Zelda grew quiet. “Everything will come together.”

Zelda continued to watch Link as he was knocked back by Impa. “I hope so.”

******

His father was still not home when Link got home, despite the late hour, but it came as no surprise. In fact, Link expected him not to be home. He wasn't around through most of the weekend, despite their encounter in King Roham's office. He was sure his father had much more to say to him, but his anger was subdued by the anniversary of his wife's death. And Link was quite certain his father would be absent over the next few days as a result. Perhaps working late to avoid his feelings like he usually did, or maybe simply wallowing in self-pity at one of the bars downtown.

Link supposed he couldn't be too upset with his father. It was preferable to him drinking at home and otherwise being antisocial, but either way, it upset Aryll, and she spent the nights their father was out sleeping in his bed or generally hanging out in his bedroom. More often than not, she would dig out the old photos of their mother that were buried deep in their father's closet and peruse through them curiously, admiring the mother she never knew. To Link's relief, she never inquired about their mother, to him or their father; there wasn't much to say about her, anyway.

But for the next few days, it would become his responsibility to keep an eye on his little sister, to fill the shoes of his father until his return to duty. On the plus side, his returns were mostly cheerful, and he always greeted Aryll enthusiastically, and all would be right in the world once more. Link didn't make the best replacement – he was sure if he ever had a child, he would kill it by accident – but Aryll seemed content on his sloppy sandwiches for dinner, the hastily made cereal for breakfast after he slept through his alarm, and the walk with him and Mipha to school. Really, what more could a little girl ask for?

Aryll was still up when Link got home, waiting patiently for him at the kitchen table. Her legs swung in and out under her chair as she doodled on her sheets of homework. She smiled when Link walked in.

“You're extra late today,” she noted.

“I know, sorry.” He dropped his bag on the floor and sat across from her. “I won't be able to come home right after school for a while.” He frowned at her, but she turned her attention back to her doodles.

“That's okay,” she said. “I'm old enough to be home by myself, you know.”

“I hope you don't tell anyone that at school,” Link said. “They would disagree.”

“Link,” she said in her most adult voice. She rolled her eyes before regarding him. “I'm six! I think I can handle it.”

Link smiled, but it didn't change the guilt he felt. Maybe if he asked Impa nicely, she wouldn't keep him so late. Six hours of swinging a stick around was a bit overkill, really. And he had other responsibilities. Surely she couldn't be upset with him for that.

Link stood and moved to the counter, gathering the ingredients for his go-to dinner. Aryll hurried to his side and stood on her tiptoes at the counter as Link made his sandwich.

“Whatcha makin’?”

“A sandwich,” he said simply as he spread the peanut butter across two slices of bread.

“What kinda sandwich?”

“Peanut butter and banana.” He proceeded to slice up a banana, placing the pieces in little rows across a slice of bread. He met her gaze for a moment. “Oh, are you hungry or something?” he teased.

“Make me one!”

Link finished his sandwich, then pulled out two more slices of bread. “You might not like it.”

“I’ll like it,” she said, still watching him as he constructed her after school snack.

Link finished it quietly, then handed it to his sister. Aryll followed him to the table, peering curiously at the sandwich. She pushed herself onto the chair and eagerly took a bite. She chewed thoughtfully for a moment, then grinned.

“I like it,” she said as she ripped off another bite with her teeth.

“Clearly,” Link muttered.

Aryll turned to greet her father as he came in through the door. His tie was already loose around his neck and his face looked tired, but he smiled as his daughter greeted him cheerily.

“What’s going on here?” he asked. He let himself fall into a chair at the table tiredly.

“Link made me a peanut butter and banana sandwich,” Aryll said proudly.

“Oh, yeah? Your mother used to love those.”

Aryll beamed at her father. “Me too!” She took another thoughtful bite. “What else did she like?”

He leaned back in his chair, thoughtful for a moment. “Oh, I don't know,” he started. “I guess she liked lots of things.”

“What's her favorite color?” Aryll pressed.

“Green.”

“Juice?”

He scratched his head and mouthed the word, as if baffled by such a question. He shrugged. “Orange?”

“Mine too!” Aryll chewed for another moment, thinking of more questions to ask. “What's her favorite animal?”

“Dogs.”

“I like dogs,” Aryll said with a nod. “So does Link. Can we get a dog?”

“Don't you think I have enough to do around here?”

Aryll dropped her sandwich and stood in her chair. “I'll do everything, I promise! I'll feed it and walk it and love it!”

Link snorted, but made no other comment. His father regarded him with a smirk before turning back to his youngest child.

“Are you going to buy the food for it?”

“I don't have any money!”

“Guess you ain't getting a dog, huh?”

Aryll crossed her arms and slouched back in her chair. “Hmph.”

Their father stood with a sigh. He pointed a finger from Link to Aryll, gesturing to the both of them. “Be good children and go to bed.”

“Alright, Daddy,” Aryll said as she finished her sandwich. “Night.” She watched as he disappeared around the corner, then shot her gaze towards Link. “Do you have money?”

“Nope,” Link said, not meeting her gaze.

Aryll whined loudly. “But I want a dog!”

“I want a sister that isn't annoying,” he sneered toward her.

“Don't be mean!”

Link grinned at her. “But its my job, and you make it so easy.”

“Its your job to love me and protect me forever and ever,” Aryll said, crossing her arms.

Link put a finger to his chin, as if he were thinking long and hard about what she said, then shook his head. “No, that doesn't sound right.”

Aryll frowned at him, her bottom lip quivering. “You're not gonna protect me?”

Link rolled his eyes and sighed. “Stop it. I'm not falling for your act.”

“I thought you loved me!”

“Not enough to get you a dog.”

“Link!” She pounded her fist against the table. “That's not it!”

Link narrowed his eyes at her. “What's not?”

Aryll leaned back against her chair, her shoulders hunched over. “I dunno,” she said.

“We're not talking about dogs anymore?”

Aryll sighed. “No.” She rubbed at her eyes. “Sometimes I have these bad dreams.”

“They're just dreams,” Link said.

Aryll shook her head.

Link sighed. “I'll always protect you,” he reassured her.

Aryll smiled. “And get me a dog?”

“You're a little shit!”

Aryll giggled and jumped out of her chair. “I'm telling Dad!” She turned and stuck her tongue out at him, then ran off down the hall giggling when he jumped out of his chair.

After a moment, Link poked his head around the corner, but Aryll had already made her way upstairs and to her bedroom. He followed suit with a yawn, dragging his feet to his own bedroom, where the Master Sword waited, leaning against the wall. He frowned as he looked at it, Aryll's words echoing in his mind. It was then that he realized that he had a lot more at stake than just simply saving the world.

[seriouslyhooked]

Lost Souls and Reveries (Part 13)

22 part AU written for @cssns​. Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6,Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12. Story available on AO3 Here and FF Here. Banner created by the amazingly talented @shipsxahoy​!!

Killian Jones is a wolf shifter without roots, without plans, and without a pack. He’s a rogue, someone humans should avoid and shifters should be wary of given his lineage. But one night years back set him on a path he didn’t realize he was taking, a path leading to a future he is destined for. That future is tied up in one woman – a human named Emma Nolan. Together Emma and Killian will find not only answers, but a love that’s truly fated. But will love be enough to set them free, or will past demons win out in the end? (Answer: love always wins – I am writing this so despite some tiny pockets of angst it’s basically a fluff-filled insta-love fest). Rated M.

A/N: Hey everyone! So after a long time away this chapter comes bringing some interesting new elements to the mix. I know that we have the Liam confrontation still to come, but there was another important thing that needed to happen too: Elsa and Anna needed to find out about magic. This chapter is bringing us to that moment, as well as throwing in some other elements as well. A lot of this you guys might have guessed at some of this, but I’m hoping you enjoy the layers and elements I’ve had tucked away in my mind since starting this story. As always thanks so much for reading and I am really looking forward to seeing what you all think!

Life as Emma knew it was totally and completely different than it had been just weeks ago.

Before this summer started, and before she’d found the gift of a mate and learned some big secrets about how the world really worked, she’d lived a normal life. There had been some instances of strangeness, and certainly there had been struggles strewn into her story here in Storybrooke Maine, but on the whole she’d been just a regular girl who met each and every day with a certain set of definitive facts. She didn’t even ever think about them, they were just supposed to be given parts of life, and one of those fundamental truths was that magic wasn’t real. It was a figment of fiction, a childish dream, a beautiful, hopeful imagined force, but it wasn’t supposed to actually exist.

Yet now she knew better. Emma had witnessed first hand some of the varied ways magic manifested itself. She’d seen shifters and encountered Ruby’s visions. This morning she’d even witnessed a bit of spell casting by Killian’s cousin as well, but Emma had been told by Ruby that it was nothing compared to what she’d see in the future. This was ‘mild magic’ but the magic brought about by Emma’s oldest and dearest friend was supposedly far more miraculous. That was amazing to imagine, but at the same time it didn’t make things any less uneasy. She was currently walking up the road to Elsa’s house preparing to tell her she was a witch and that was crazy. There was nothing about that that was normal or expected, and as such Emma was just a tiny bit concerned.  

“You’re going to do the talking, right?” Emma asked, checking with Ruby for the fifth time this morning about what was going to happen when they got to Anna and Elsa’s home.

This reveal had been on Emma’s mind in some capacity since Ruby and Granny showed up in Storybrooke, but now they were on the precipice of the confrontation and Emma was more than a little nervous. This was a huge secret and also a very intimate one. It would explain so much about Elsa and about Anna and their family, and Emma imagined it would be a real awakening for her friend, but at first Elsa might resist. All these years people had been teasing Elsa about her dreams or lovingly pushing the thought that maybe she truly had a gift. Emma and Anna had always known Elsa was special, but now there was more information and more possibility. If Ruby’s assessment of Elsa’s gifts was right, there was a whole new world that was about to open up to Emma’s best friend, and Emma knew that while Elsa would eventually be grateful, she might very well be hesitant at first.

Understandably Elsa was not a great proponent of change. Losing their parents so young had impacted both Elsa and Anna in incalculable ways. For Anna it had made her want to live each moment to a fuller extent. She never let a day pass where she didn’t tell people what they meant to her. She ended every friendly hang out session with an ‘I love you,’ and a huge hug at the very least. Anna was continuously grateful and energized, but she also took risks. She always said that life was all in the way you lived it. She never wanted to be afraid, and so sometimes she took things to extremes.

Elsa was almost a polar opposite, and Emma knew it wasn’t merely because she was a more introverted person. So much of that tendency towards caution had come from being the eldest sister. She’d taken on the role as caregiver and as pseudo-parent, and though Emma’s family and the whole town had come together to help the girls when their parents passed away, Elsa never shied away from her responsibilities. She became Mom and Dad and sister, guide and best friend, teacher and peer. As a result, Elsa would do anything for Anna, but in the rest of her life she was guarded. She never expended too much unnecessary energy and never gave too much away. She sided with safety and certainty, and this big reveal would hardly feel like a sure thing.

“I’m doing the talking,” Ruby promised, her hand coming to Emma’s arm in a sign of comfort. “Well, at least until you get comfortable. And you will, Emma. I promise. It’s gonna be great. I can’t see everything, as you know, but I can sense how things will end and it’s going to be more than okay.”

“I’d trust my cousin on this, love,” Killian said from Emma’s other side, squeezing her hand in a reassuring sign of connection as he did. “Ruby is never wrong about these things. If she’s confident enough to voice a vision, it will come to pass.”

“Damn right it will,” Ruby said with pride, and Emma was happy for this tiny fleeting moment.

Killian’s family might have come because of a bad situation on the horizon (and according to Ruby’s estimates they were still some time away from any kind of confrontation) but they’d done their best to live and be themselves since then. Killian’s deciding to stand his ground and confront Liam for better or worse here in Storybrooke seemed to embolden Ruby and Granny. With a plan somewhat established, they eased into things and had even started to show some signs of hope. Ruby’s visions were still unsure in regards to Liam, but her instincts weren’t as harried and afraid as they had been before, and Emma was more than glad for that.

“Sorry. I don’t mean to second-guess your abilities,” Emma said, not wanting Ruby to feel that she didn’t respect all that her new friend was capable of. “It’s just kind of a lot. Today I have to go tell my best friend she’s got magical powers. Then I have to ask her if she’s seen the future lately because there’s danger looming in a town that never really tends to see it. It’s a little…”

“Overwhelming,” Killian said at the same time that Ruby filled in with her own “totally bizarre.”

“Yeah, both of those actually,” Emma agreed, barking out something like a laugh again and leaning into Killian, pulling a little extra strength from him as they walked up the rest of the steps to Elsa and Anna’s house. Before they could knock though, the door flew open and there was Anna looking out of breath, as if she’d been sprinting around the house for some time.

“Aha! I knew Elsa’s hunch would be right. She mentioned that there might be guests today off handedly when she woke up, and then she said we didn’t have to clean because it was just a thought. That obviously wasn’t going to happen. Elsa knows what Elsa knows, right? Only problem is this place is so big it’s hard for just two of us, and I can never figure out how to vacuum the walls right. But it’s fine because you’re here now!”

Anna said all the words so quickly that Emma wondered if Killian and Ruby would need a translator. It was just like her friend to be going a hundred miles a minute. Her thoughts ran fast, and her tongue ran faster, that was what Elsa and Anna’s Grams had always said and she wasn’t wrong. But where others might have whiplash from the speed of that largely random monologue, Emma was totally comfortable with it. It was indication that things were as they always were here in her friends’ house, and though Emma was about to change that, she took it as a good sign that Anna immediately hugged her close in a welcoming gesture without even saying a traditional hello.

“I’m sorry, the walls?” Killian asked aloud, drawing Anna’s attention to him with the apt question. Emma watched as her friend’s eyes lit up, and she didn’t miss the way that Anna’s gaze flicked back between Emma and Killian a few times before she answered.

“Yeah. It’s like the one thing I’m not a complete disaster at,” Anna said, as if that was any kind of explanation, and Emma shared a look with Killian trying to convey that she would fill him in on Anna’s quirks and skill sets a little later. Meanwhile Ruby chuckled aloud, and Emma thought perhaps her gift made her privy to some of those images of Anna cleaning, which were, admittedly, always a riot.

“You’re never a disaster, Anna,” Elsa proclaimed from inside the house before she appeared at the doorway, looking much less windswept and out of breath than her sister. She also handled the presence of guests so differently, offering a smile and a more socially polite greeting to them all. “We were hoping to see you today, Emma. And you brought company! Hi Killian.”

“Good to see you, Elsa” Killian replied genuinely. Elsa’s smile grew at Killian’s honest enjoyment in seeing her and then her eyes moved to Ruby. Emma waited for a second to see if there would be any immediate recognition. Maybe Elsa had seen Ruby in a dream or something, but there was nothing past a mild friendliness there and Emma knew that for now Ruby was just any other person to her friend.

“Elsa, Anna, this is Killian’s cousin Ruby. She’s, uh, visiting?” Emma said, not meaning to have her inflection change so it sounded like a question, but Ruby went right ahead as if that introduction wasn’t weird and stilted at all.

“It’s really great to meet you two. I feel like I already know you guys.”

“Oh score, he’s got family! And where there’s family there’s like a million embarrassing stories and deets about how he’s going to treat our girl,” Anna said, again seeming to forget herself. After a moment she had the good sense to look a little bashful. “Oh shoot, did I say that out loud?”

“Yup,” Killian and Ruby responded at once, the latter seeming to have a lot more fun with this than the former, but Emma knew Killian had a soft spot for Anna and for Elsa. She’d watched over the past few weeks as he got to know her friends, and he’d said more than once that since they were Emma’s chosen family so to would they be his.

“What my sister probably meant to say is that it’s nice to meet you too,” Elsa said graciously. “And won’t you come in? I wouldn’t have bored you with the details, but since Anna already shared, we have in fact cleaned the house today.”

Everyone walked inside and Emma could almost imagine seeing this house for the first time again as Killian was (with Ruby it was doubtful, seeing as her gift had so much range and possibility). For Emma, this estate had always been one of the most gorgeous in Storybrooke. Anna and Elsa’s family had been some of the founding members of this town centuries ago, and they’d been old money from back in Europe well before that. At one time there’d even been a habit by some people of calling them the town royals, at least among their more jealous and less kind hearted neighbors, but that was before the tragic accident that took Anna and Elsa’s parents from them too soon. Still this house was a symbol of tradition and grace. It was old but still fresh and though it had gotten a little colder when they lost their parents, Elsa wouldn’t allow coldness to linger. She certainly could have, and Emma would have never faulted her friend for giving in to sadness, but for Anna, Elsa had always been strong. Part of that strength meant keeping this house alive and vibrant, and she’d managed to do that every day, no matter how hard it had been.

Looking around the ‘sun parlor’ (basically a fancy rich people word for sitting room with a full wall of glass windows), Emma noticed the subtle differences between their childhood version of this home and the one they were in now. Before, this place had been the epitome of prim and proper. It was still lovely, because it had been filled with the love of family, but Elsa’s mother had been meticulous in her desire to keep things as true to the original integrity of the old Victorian home as she could. Elsa, in comparison, had warmed things up. There were live plants strewn about because of Anna’s love of all things natural, and they were all blooming beautifully. There were also so many more pictures of their family and friends on the mantles and side tables. They were snapshots of happy memories, both long ago and also recent, but it never felt morbid or sad. It was a memorial and yet a living breathing tribute to the sisters now as well.

“This is a beautiful home you two have,” Killian said, showing his good manners and making Emma’s heart squeeze tightly. It was a simple compliment, but she knew both of her friends would take it as sincerely as it was meant.

“Thank you,” Elsa replied. “It’s a labor of love, but it’s always felt worth it to us.”

“You got that right,” Anna said sitting down after all of their guests were seated, and then, because she was hardly as patient as her sister, she got right down to the point. “So. What brings Killian’s mysterious cousin to our house? Emma’s got that look about her like she’s got to say something, so I’m betting it’s a doozy.”

Emma’s stomach flipped at Anna’s perceptiveness, though she should have known this would come. She was wondering what would be the best way to proceed. Emma and Ruby definitely needed to be here, as did Anna and Elsa, but though Emma would love the comfort of having Killian by her side in what could be a trying time, she wanted to make sure all parties were comfortable. This was a huge reveal to Elsa and to Anna, and though Emma knew that they loved Killian because she cared so much for him, she didn’t want anything to feel forced. As if he read her mind – whether through the mating link or through his own well-honed Emma radar – Killian squeezed her hand gently and brought it to his lips to press a gentle kiss. Then he announced his intention as their eyes still held.

“I think it might be best if I take a look around the gardens, maybe scope out this sea walk I’ve heard so much about. Would either of you mind?” Killian asked, finally turning to Emma’s friends, but they just smiled and nodded that it was fine, both of them clearly thrilled at his open affection for Emma. “I’ll be right outside should you need me, love.”

“Thank you,” Emma whispered to him before pressing a kiss to his lips and watching him slip out the door to the patio. Killian headed towards the gardens, a place where one could get lost for hours, but she was sure he wouldn’t get turned around. As a shifter, it was one of his many gifts to have that all too keen sense of direction.

“Okay that’s not fair,” Anna exclaimed, her head shaking and the braids she had in this morning following suit. “I mean seriously that man is just crazy about you. I want one!”

Emma laughed at Anna’s outburst and so did Ruby, and the slight tension that had arisen felt like it dwindled considerably. Still Emma could see that her friend, though honest, was also doing this on purpose. It might be Elsa who was a once in a generation witch, but now that Emma knew of magic and of the magic that ran in this family, she was absolutely certain Anna had gifts of her own. Perhaps they were more hidden or subdued, but they were definitely there. Elsa had always been the one with dreams that were uncannily accurate, but Anna had a way of knowing people and situations just like this one.

“Not to worry, Anna. You’ll definitely find someone,” Ruby said and though it could have been construed as a harmless comment, Anna’s eyebrows rose and her smile widened.

“Oh my gosh, you see stuff too don’t you?!” Anna exclaimed, practically squealing. “I know you do! That’s the same face Elsa makes when she has a dream. Now you have to tell us what the hell is going on!”

“You good with that, Emma?” Ruby asked and Emma nodded, moving to sit with Elsa and Anna on the couch as Ruby told them all that she knew.

Though Emma had heard most of this already, it was another experience entirely to have this conversation with Elsa and Anna present. Ruby was giving a basic 101 run down of magic and the supernatural world. Since humanity itself was formed, so to had magic been living and breathing on this earth. Many people in the know considered magic to be another of the elements that people were more familiar with. It was an essence and an energy that always came from nature somehow, but it manifested in many ways. Sometimes it took the form of witches or clairvoyants, and other times it could be seen in other supernatural beings. Ruby hadn’t mentioned shifters specifically yet, focusing instead on what was truly pertinent to Elsa and Anna, but Emma felt completely compelled by what they discovered too. It was still so new and so amazing that conceiving all of this could be real was a challenge.

The element of magic, it turned out, was all around to those who know how to wield it. For witches and warlocks and other spell-casting peoples, magic was a gift mostly held by families that originated from different hubs of magical influence. Long ago there were places on earth where magic was far more present than others. Ruby listed a few off the cuff: portions of the Amazon, oases in the Sahara, islands off of current day Malaysia and more. As such, the people who came from those areas were exposed to a very rich natural spirit for millennia. That spirit was then internalized by more sensitive families, and then, even if they left, the gift of magical ability was transferred with them.

“My family was from Ireland originally,” Ruby explained, drawing a pendant that she had that didn’t look so dissimilar from the one of Killian’s that Emma had found. As she did so, a breeze swept through the room but it was contained, gentle, warm, and well… wonderful. It smelled sweet, like the fresh bloom of wild flowers, and as Emma looked at the light swirling in the room, she could see these sort of spiritual etchings dancing in the wind of feathers, leaves, and, as one might expect with the scent, petals. “It was just a tiny Celtic town to the south of the Isle, but according to the diaries that all of the women in my family kept, there was a spring there where magic flowed freely. It was their job to protect the spring, but eventually it dried up and so they moved here.”

“This is… it’s impossible. But it’s real,” Elsa said, her fingertips trying to trace some of Ruby’s magic as it flittered through the air. As she toyed with the magic in the air, her whole being was overcome with an undeniable excitement. There wasn’t any trace of the fear she expected. If anything Elsa looked totally free to believe in something amazing and all consuming. “Magic has been real along. Just like Grams always said. I thought she was teasing, or maybe giving us something beautiful to dream of. I never thought… but it’s always been here. I can feel it now.”

“It has,” Ruby replied, her own joy at seeing Elsa experience this growing more and more by the second.

“You said the spring dried up?” Anna asked, continuing the trend that had emerged of her being the one to ask questions that all of them were thinking. “Did something happen?”

“No, it was just nature taking its course,” Ruby said, pulling back her magical display so the room was as it had been. “It was a couple hundred years ago, and then they came here, or rather, to America, hoping to find a new place to call home. The witches in my family bounced around a little bit before moving further out west. Magic loves forests and the untouched spaces of nature, and as the world has changed, so too have the places that magic likes best.”

“Can wi- wi…” Elsa faltered over the words, still clearly grappling with the new information she was hearing about herself. “Can people who access magic turn into animals by any chance? Like maybe wolves?”

“Let me guess, lots of wolf dreams have been happening since Killian came?” Ruby asked, feeling like she already knew the answer.

“Yes,” Elsa hedged. “But they’ve been around a long time. Since that day in Boston…” Elsa looked to Emma and now, finally, Emma felt like she could jump in for a bit.

“The wolves from that night are more than I ever thought they were. They are not animals, but magical people who can transform their shape. They’re called shifters,” Emma explained. “Not all shifters are wolves, but that night when I was attacked it was a rogue wolf who came after me and another rogue wolf who saved me.”

“You were attacked?!” Anna exclaimed, somehow more worried about that than the fact that Emma was telling her that people could turn into giant animals or that witchcraft was real. “And you knew, Elsa?”

“I’m sorry, Anna, I should have told you but…”

“But I made her promise not to,” Emma said, explaining the story as quickly as she could and filling in on how Elsa had been there. She’d had a dream that brought her to the city, but for a long long time they’d all just considered it this mental break. It couldn’t have been real, but now they knew it truly was. “But what I didn’t realize then is that the shifter was Killian.”

“Holy shit, your Killian?!” Anna asked, completely losing herself in the reveal before looking to Ruby. “Killian’s a wolf? That’s so awesome! So are you a wolf too then? I thought you were a witch.”

“Guilty on both counts,” Ruby said with a grin. “It’s very rare, but witches and shifters can be mates and when they are you end up with hybrids like me.”

“Oh my God mates, that sounds so… hot!” Anna said, play fanning herself as she heard. Emma couldn’t help but let out a laugh at her friend’s antics, but she continued to search Anna’s demeanor to see if she was really okay with all she was finding out or if there was more to this. Anna seemed so completely on board, and Emma wondered how that could be.

“But you said the wolf that saved you, sorry, Killian, you said he was all black right? Like midnight. And the attacker was more tan?”

“Yeah. Like a dull colored sand, why?”

“The one I’ve been dreaming of is lighter than just a pure black,” Elsa said, her confusion clearly gnawing at her.

“Let me guess, dark gray coat, that gets darker at the paws.”

“Yes,” Elsa said, her desire to know who it was winning out. “You know him?”

“It’s Liam,” Ruby confessed, and then, realizing that neither Elsa nor Anna recognized the name, she filled them in. “Killian’s brother.”

“Oh my God, so Elsa is dreaming about Killian’s brother?” Anna asked, looking almost giddy. “Wait that’s a good thing right?”

“It’s complicated,” Ruby said, deflating Anna somewhat, though Elsa seemed to already know that was the case. “And honestly, that part of all of this can wait a while longer. I think you guys will face enough today just hearing your story.”

“So you know about us then,” Elsa asked without the inflection of a real question. “You’re going to tell us about our family?”

“There’s no need for that. They can tell you themselves.”

Silence greeted Ruby’s statement, and it was one of the first times that Emma had ever seen Anna stunned into quiet like this. The pain in her friend’s eyes was mingled with a soul crushing hope, and Emma could understand it. Ruby hadn’t given her too many details, but from what she had said every old family of magic had a repository somewhere with stories and spells and all other kinds of things. It was passed down from generation to generation, and Emma assumed it would be like in the movies where there was a giant book written kind of like a diary.

“How?” Elsa asked, her voice coming out stronger than Emma would have ever imagined as she took Anna’s hand and squeezed it tight and then used her other hand to hold onto Emma.

“There’s a room in this house that no one knows about. There’s a hidden door. That’s where the answers are.”

“A hidden door?” Elsa asked, confused. “We don’t have anything like that. If we did we’d have found it by now.”

“One of you has,” Ruby said, looking to Anna with a soft smile. “You just haven’t remembered in a long time.”

At the words a spark of recollection appeared in Anna’s expression, and Emma knew her friend was working through the recesses of her mind trying to figure out exactly when that happened and where she’d found it. After a moment her eyes lit up and she jumped from the couch.

“It’s out back in the green house. But there was nothing there. Just a bunch of old herbs and dried up plants…”

“There’s a hatch door to a lower level somewhere. It won’t take long for you to find it. I can’t see what’s down there – there are blood protection spells meaning only your family can access that space, but there should be a box there. It’s blue and has your family crest. Inside there are jewels, crystals, and precious stones. They’ll tell the story if you two unlock them.”

“I’m sorry, so the stones are going to… talk to us?” Elsa asked.

“You’ll see,” Ruby said, offering a smile as Anna jumped up.

“We have to go,” Anna said, reaching back for Elsa’s hand. “We have to go right now.”

“All right, all right,” Elsa said, still not looking like she fully believed it. “Emma?”

“I think it would be best if you two did this yourselves,” Emma said, trying to hold back tears as she came to stand up with her friends.

“But you’re our sister, too” Anna said, immediately agreeing with Elsa and Emma swallowed back a lump in her throat.

“Always have been and always will be. But this… it’s your legacy and it’s a part of you guys that I think deserves the utmost care. Plus we don’t know how this blood spell thing works yet. I might not be able to go in at all. But I’ll be right here if you need me. I’m not going anywhere.”

“Promise?” Anna and Elsa asked at the same time, and Emma nodded, extending her pinky to them both and twisting tightly when they extended theirs.

“Promise.”

With that, Elsa and Anna headed out to the green house, leaving Ruby and Emma alone for pretty much the first time since Granny and Ruby arrived. It should have been a strange or awkward time, but Emma found it comfortable despite the circumstances. She and Ruby discussed a number of things about magic and about what her friends would find. They were going to be blessed today, not just with their story, but with their story told by their mother and their grandmother. Ruby might not be able to see the story, but she could feel those spirits being close. Ruby explained that it was possible to infuse sound and images into precious gems, and she had a few from her family that had always meant a lot to her. But at one point, after a bit of time discussing this new life changing moment for her friends, Killian caught Emma’s attention. He was outside and in wolf form along the tree line, looking back at the house, or more precisely at her.

“I’ve never seen Killian like this before, so happy and centered,” Ruby mused aloud, her eyes looking towards Killian as she smiled with pride and real joy. “Even when we were kids and his Mom was still here, he was always quiet and always just a little more reserved than me or the other pack pups.”

“I can’t imagine what it must have been like, growing up the way he and Liam did. The way you did, in that pack run by their father. Was it hard when they left?”

“Almost as hard as losing Liam,” Ruby confessed, her expression turning somber and remorseful. Emma wondered if Killian could hear them, but at this distance she thought it was probably doubtful. “But we have the future. I’m afraid to say anything for certain, but it doesn’t feel as menacing right now as it did before. I was panicked when I could sense Liam again, but I still see things. Good things. Things happening years down the way. I have to believe they’ll really happen. You’re going to make them happen.”

“Me?” Emma asked, shocked that she would have any sort of role. “But I’m just a human.”

“Maybe,” Ruby said, not sounding fully convinced, “But even if you’re human, Emma, you’re special. You bring out the best in Killian. You mean the world to Anna and Elsa. You have a light in you. It’s not magic per se, at least I don’t think, but it’s something, and I know it’s important. It might just be the most important thing any of us has to offer.”

Emma thanked Ruby quietly, flattered at the compliment, but unable to respond in any meaningful way because at that precise moment her phone began to ring. She’d been so unplugged for days that Emma was surprised she’d even brought it with her, but the tell tale sign of her mother’s ring tone told Emma that patience had finally run thin for Mary Margaret Nolan. Strangely that was of huge comfort to Emma, and before she so much as greeted her mother, she had a pretty good idea of where this conversation was going to go.

“Hi Mom,” Emma said, thinking about what the proper tactic was for this exchange.

In a regular situation she would apologize for being off the grid. It had been days since she spoke with anyone in her family, and that was not normal for them. But she wasn’t actually sorry for all that had happened the past few days, and Emma also knew that though her mother always meant well, she had a real knack for taking harmless statements and making them a little more innuendo packed than was strictly comfortable.

“Oh Emma, honey, you know I love you, and God knows I love Anna and Elsa nearly as much, but would it be too much for you to call your parents when finally surfacing after days and days away? We miss you.”

“I miss you too, Mom. And sorry about the delay. Things are kind of happening over here. It’s, uh, unexpected.”

“Well surprise guests will do that to you.”

“How did you know about that?” Emma asked, slightly afraid that her mother was going to rehash some truly crazy series of informants, but what she actually heard surprised her even more.

“Easy, I’m having lunch with Granny right now.”

“You’re what?!” Emma asked at the same time Ruby said, “She’s what?!” Well, look at that, even a surprise for the all-seeing Ruby. For a second Emma wondered how she’d heard what her mother said on the phone, and then she remembered Ruby had shifter hearing. She was going to have to get used to that.

“I know! It’s the wildest thing. We just happened to meet at the diner – she was questioning the integrity of the lasagna after ordering it, a good indicator of a person’s character as you know - and we got to talking.” Emma smiled at one of her mother’s strange marks of a person, but it wasn’t the first time she’d heard this bit about the lasagna. “I can’t imagine how you must be feeling, Emma. First you find out your true love is a shifter and then you find out your best friends have a magical bloodline -,”

“Mom!” Emma yelled into the phone interrupting her. “You can’t go around saying things like that. Someone could hear you.”

“Emma, I’m at home,” her mother said in a slightly chastising voice, surprising Emma yet again. “Do you really think I’d be so careless? Besides, I can keep a secret you know.”

If someone had said that to Emma even a month ago she would laugh in their face. Mary Margaret Nolan keeping a secret? Yeah right. It was not her style, but that assumption had been proved wrong. She’d kept mum about shifters for years, and in doing so she’d proven that it was possible for her to not give away a private confidence. “I thought you said you were having lunch at the diner.”

“No, I said we met at the diner. I ended up convincing her to come here. Because again, that lasagna is questionable at best. She’s a funny one though, won’t let me call her anything but Granny. But I like her.”

“You realize she’s a shifter too, right? She can hear you.”

“She could hear me if she were human; she’s sitting right in front of me.”

Emma heard Granny say hello in the background and at the same time Ruby came closer and said hello herself. This could have started a whole big conversation, since her mother was clearly curious about Killian’s cousin, but Emma redirected to get some better answers.

“So did you know about Anna and Elsa all this time too?” Emma asked, hating to think this might have been yet another secret between she and her parents. Before they died, Elsa and Anna’s mother and father were good friends of Emma’s parents. But it would be a little strange that they would tell them and not their children about their family legacy.

“Oh no, honey, Granny told me. Gigi never confided in me about any of that, not that I’d ever blame her after the incident where I accidentally told you girls her real name.”

Emma felt a giggle bubble up at that memory. Yes she remembered that day. It wasn’t every day you heard the name ‘Gerda,’ and Anna and Elsa had gone bonkers over the big reveal. They’d been fixated on it for weeks, months even.

“I’m sure Gigi had all sorts of plans for how she wanted Anna and Elsa to hear all of this,” Mary Margaret said, her voice sounding out with more than a touch of sadness for her old friend. “But things happen that we can’t control. And I’m just glad that the girls are getting the chance to learn who they really are now.  And it’s so amazing! I knew about shifters – your father told me that you know everything now so you know how that went – but magic… well it’s just so exciting, don’t you think?”

“Yeah,” Emma said, letting out a steady breath. “Exciting would be a good word to describe the last few days.”

“Exactly, and with so much going on and so much left to talk about, I think it’s only right that everyone come to the house for dinner. I have to meet Ruby, and I want to check in on Elsa and Anna, but most of all I want to make sure my new son-in-law knows what’s what.”

“Mom,” Emma said with a blush growing over her cheeks before lowering her voice as quietly as she could while still being heard on the other end of the call. “We’re not married.”

“Ha! Maybe not yet, but don’t think a wedding is not already in the works. This mating thing sounds lovely. Your Aunt Gwen told me a bit about it a few years back. It’s like this great big love that means more than any simple ceremony can ever express, but every princess deserves a wedding and you’re darn well going to have one.”

Emma didn’t even have time to groan before Killian approached, stepping into view at the patio door with an intense look in his blue eyes. “I couldn’t agree more.”

Well this was fun. Apparently he could hear her phone calls and from quite a bit of distance away. Emma was doing all she could to not die of embarrassment, but the only thing getting her through was the look on Killian’s face that said he truly did love her and was planning for forever together. It wasn’t like her mother had picked this idea out of nowhere. Clearly Killian felt the same about them getting married, even if they hadn’t gotten there yet.

“Okay well can we table that talk for now, please? There’s more than enough to keep us busy in the meantime,” Emma begged, not wanting to state the obvious aloud – there should be no wedding being planned since Killian hadn’t exactly asked her to get married.

“Absolutely, but we will see you all at seven. Pass on the invite to Anna and Elsa.”

“Tonight?” Emma asked, wondering if it was a good idea. “I don’t know, Mom. They just found everything out, they might need some time -,”

“We don’t need time,” Anna said, drawing everyone’s attention to the doorway where she and Elsa were standing. The sisters were holding hands again, and it was clear there had been some tears shed as they went through their family’s things, but both of them still looked happy. Emma imagined there must be so much relief even though there was the sadness of looking to the past, and with a silent nod between her and Elsa, her friend conveyed that to her as Anna continued. “What we need is some really good chicken parm. I’m talking pasta for days, the good imported cheese your Mom gets in Boston, and that home made sauce even magic couldn’t replicate.”

Everyone laughed at that, and since Emma had automatically put the call on speakerphone when Anna and Elsa came out, her mother took the initiative and replied herself. She had all of those ingredients, and she would see to it that Anna and Elsa’s favorite meal was made and ready. With that, Emma hung up on the call, and she looked first to Killian, finding his eyes shining with so much love. She held onto that, and then looked quickly to Elsa, needing to know that her friend was all right.

“Are you sure this is okay? It’s a lot to reconcile and it’s all happening very fast.”

“Fast is the way things move these days,” Elsa said with a smile that was small but also true. She looked at Emma and at Killian, nodding whether she consciously knew it or not. “And so far that seems to be a good thing. We’re not different people because of what we know now. I’m no different than I was before.”

“No, you’re not,” Emma said gladly, watching Elsa exhale a ragged breath as Ruby chimed in.

“You’ve just got some cool new abilities,” Ruby said cheerily. “And now that you guys unlocked your family secrets I can see so much more, for you and for Anna.”

“You too?” Emma asked, finding herself filled with excitement for her friend. For once Anna looked a little sheepish, something Emma had never noticed her friend experiencing before, but she acknowledged the unexpected surprise.

“Yup. Visions might not be my thing, but according to Grams messages and some of Mom’s too there’s a lot in store for me as well. But for now let’s put all of that on ice. I wasn’t kidding when I said I needed that chicken parm, because honey, it has been a day.”

Everyone could readily agree with that assessment, and in the interest of honoring her friends’ wishes, Emma held back on questions about what came next and what they had learned. Soon enough her friends would tell her. It was always just a matter of time before they shared everything with each other, and whenever that came Emma would be more than willing to listen and learn.

“How are you doing, love?” Killian asked a few moments later, when they’d all decided to head outside together to the beach walk. Elsa and Anna were talking with Ruby about summers in Storybrooke, and Emma watched at how a solid friendship was forming between them already, her heart filled with happiness as her family and Killian’s blended together.

“I’m good,” Emma said, looking to Killian and seeing his concern and affection, shining as brightly as the sun in the sky this lovely summer day. “Better with you here.”

“I feel I could say that in any moment,” Killian agreed, stopping their stroll and pulling her into his embrace. “Any instance is improved with you beside me.”

“Guess we better stick together then,” Emma teased and she delighted in the growl from Killian as his mouth claimed hers in a fierce and hungry kiss. It was impossible not to get swept away in it, her hands roaming, her body arching for closeness as she tasted him and reveled in the heat and charge between them. But before they could take things way too far given their setting, Killian pulled back and pressed his forehead to hers gently.

“Forever, Emma. That’s how long we’ll have each other.”

“Forever,” she agreed.

With that, the two of them rejoined her friends and Ruby, finding themselves enjoying a weirdly normal afternoon in the midst of so much change and transformation. And though Emma was a bit preoccupied with the idea of dinner at her parents tonight, she knew, deep down, that whatever may come she would always have Killian, and the two of them together would always make it through.

Post-Note: So there we have it. Truth be told I have SO many thoughts and ideas about Elsa and Anna’s magical reveal. I would love to write a whole scene from their POV about that, adding the layers of magic I have imagined for this story and giving their experience with the big change in their lives. Unfortunately I don’t really have time to create that chapter, at least not yet. I am debating, however, adding some extra scenes and glimpses into this story when I have the whole thing done. That being said, I have only managed to get a couple of chapters written before my school year, so it’s looking like it’s definitely going to be summer before this whole story is told. As of right now I am looking to move to a monthly posting schedule. I have this chapter, one for February and one for March all written, and I am hoping I might find a bit of time in the next three months to craft together a chapter for April, God willing. Anyway, I would love to hear what you all think, and rest assured there will be some more CS moments in the chapter next time. There’s still a lot of stuff that has to happen, so we aren’t getting full blown fluff for a while, but I trust you guys will still like the story all the same. Thanks so much for reading and hope you have a great rest of your weekend!

Tag list: @jennjenn615 @winterbaby89 @kmomof4 @teamhook @ultraluckycatnd @resident-of-storybrooke @coliferoncer @artistic-writer @snowbellewells @eastside-divebar @snarkycaptainswan4 @allofdafandoms-blog

[antiquechampagne]

Antique Champagne - Chapter 30 - Family Ties

It took a few days, but people stopped giving her sideways glances. Payne quickly fell back into a steady routine of working followed by unwinding at The Third Rail while listening to Magnolia sing. It felt more comfortable than it had before; easy, even.

One late afternoon, she entered the Old State House and found Fahrenheit sitting in a chair cleaning her gun.

“Roof.” It was more of a grunt than a word.

Payne nodded and headed up. Fahr had barely spoken to her since her freak-out. She made a mental note to try to smooth things out with Fahr when she could find the time. Having a reputation could be useful, but she had to work together with Fahrenheit to keep Hancock out of trouble. If communication broke down between the two of them, it could be dangerous.

Sure enough, Payne found Hancock on top of the roof reclining against the wall of the stately cupola, watching the sky.

“This a private party?” she asked. She tapped the bottle of Day Tripper on the railing. “I see you’re swinging for the fences today.”

“Mmmm…” Hancock slowly turned to her, lost in a drug-induced cloud. “Now I know I must be dreaming…”

Payne paused. “Your normal Jet and Mentats cocktail not enough?”

“The latest shipment of Jet was weak as fuck.” He rubbed his temples. “It’s gone off… or something. It’s a rough and dirty ride.”

Payne nodded. The more powerful narcotic was to smooth out the rough bumps of a bad trip. “You haven’t given any of that bad Jet out, have you?” She knew his habit of sampling new shipments before distribution around Goodneighbor.

“Don’t worry, Fehr’s already rejected ’em. Threw the trader out on his ass for good measure, too.” He slowly raised himself to a sitting position, reaching up to the bottle. Payne moved it out of his grasp. Hancock scowled. “What gives? I’ll be fine.”

“I’m not carrying your skinny passed out ass down all those stairs.” She slipped the bottle into a pocket. “Wait a little while, until you’re back inside at least.”

Hancock threw his arms up in defeat. “Bah!” Propping himself back up on the wall, he looked out at the sky.

“Is Fred going to be able to keep up until you find someone else to supply the masses?”

“Maybe for a little while, but that would require him to focus and not take half the chems himself once he’s finished cookin’ em.”

Payne snorted. That was true enough.

“I’ll just have to share some of my personal stock until something comes through.” Hancock patted the spot next to him.

Payne sat down. A comfortable silence settled between them as they watched the sun near the horizon.

Eventually, Hancock let out a sigh. “I gotta tell ya, I’ve been thinking a bit about you.” Payne craned her head slightly. “Well, more about your family situation.”

Payne cocked an eyebrow. Payne wasn’t quite sure what he was getting at.

“Uhhh, it’s just that… even after everything you’ve been through, given the chance, you wanted to see them again. You miss them.” His head bent down as he now looked absently at his boots. “I really can’t say the same.”

Payne should have expected something like this. The last time Hancock decided to dip into his Day Tripper stash, he got pretty philosophical. She made herself comfortable. At least once the sun set, she would be able to take her helmet off.

Hancock grimaced. “If I had that tight-ass brother of mine in front of me right now, I would probably just sock him right in his smug face.”

“Jeez, don’t hold back,” Payne teased. The disdain Hancock had for his sibling was palpable.

“He wasn’t always such a prick. We grew up in a shack down by the waterfront with just our mom. Dad ran off when we were still little. Mom did her best with the two of us, pretty normal shit, ya know? He’d do regular big brother stuff, we’d rough each other up, play pranks. Crap like that. Once mom kicked it, we took what we could and moved to Diamond City.” Hancock pulled a cigarette out from a pocket and lit it, taking a long drag. As he talked, tendrils of smoke drifted from his open sinuses. “Somehow, slowly, he changed. Changed from a jerk of a big brother to something completely unrecognizable. Someone who would do anything to gain power over people. Even stoking hate and paranoia just to gain votes to win an election.”

“Wait a minute…” Payne stopped him. Votes? “Your brother is Mayor McDonough?” Hancock nodded as she digested the new information. “Guess politics runs in the family.”

“We are nothing alike. Don’t lump me together with that pile of brahmin shit. That guy doesn’t deserve the title of Mayor.” Hancock spat sourly. The reddish light from the setting sun made him look severe, deepening the shadows of his uneven skin. “All he does is serve himself, not the people.”

“You know I didn’t mean it like that,” spat back Payne.

Hancock released a sigh. “I know. The guy just gets under my skin. I didn’t become mayor for some kind of personal power trip. By the people, for the people. Those aren’t just words to me, ya feel me?” Payne nodded. She knew he lived those words; she had seen it herself. “And to think that guy is my brother… family and blood…”

Payne really wished she could take off her helmet as she spoke up. “No one is ever going to think you are anything like your brother, trust me on that one… but listen to me. Family isn’t just about blood. Yeah, my family was pretty good, give or take a few details. But I grew up knowing how little that connection meant to some people…”

She took a quick moment to organize her thoughts. Hancock turned to listen.

“Before the war… well, things were different. People were expected to act, dress, behave a certain way… and only that way. Everyone was taught that you grow up, serve in the military, hate commies, get married and pop out a couple of kids. If you were different… if you loved the wrong person, if you looked different, wanted different things out of life… people would turn on you. Viciously sometimes. You’d lose friends, your job. People could end up dead over it. A lot of folks hid their true selves just to survive. My mom’s ranch was full of people who had been kicked out of their homes and had no contact with their families. They were deemed untouchable. But at the ranch, they formed new families. Stronger families, with deeper connections than they had ever had with someone they shared blood with.” She put a hand on his arm and gave a gentle squeeze. “Blood isn’t everything. Sometimes found families are better.”

Payne could see Hancock mulling over her words.

“No wonder you like it in Goodneighbor so much,” he finally said, the last ruddy beams of the dying sunset leaving his face.

Payne chuckled to herself. “I guess so.”

After a few moments, Hancock rose to his feet. “I feel like a walk. Mixing it up with my constituents, as it were.”

Payne knew what that meant… getting plastered at the bar. “Sure thing, boss.” At least it would be easier to distract him from taking more Day Tripper.

As they headed through the Old State House on their way to the Third Rail, Hancock filled his pockets with more chems. He was a veritable pill-popping Santa Claus to the citizens of the town, and he seemed ready to ensure he was propagating that sentiment tonight.

Hancock greeted the bouncer at the top of the stairs with a toothy grin. “Ham, my man! How’s it hanging?!”

A curt Sir was all the regard he gave the Mayor. Payne shared a slight head nod with Ham as she passed.

Down in the old subway station, Hancock fluttered around to packed tables and couches while handing out his addictive gifts to grateful patrons. Eventually he made his way to the bar, Payne trailing behind him.

Whitechapel Charlie whizzed to greet his employer. “Evening, Mayor. What’s your poison tonight?”

“I’m in a generous mood, Chuck.” He pounded on the bar for emphasis. “Next round for everyone is on me!”

A congenial cheer erupted from the evening’s crowd.

Hancock pointed to the wet bar. “A Gwinnett Stout for me.”

“Anything for you?” Charlies metallic orbs settled on Payne.

She shook her head. “I’m on the clock.”

That got her a jab in the ribs. “Live a little!” Hancock chided, his black dilated eyes dancing. His Cheshire grin and easy demeanor was contagious.

Rolling her eyes, Payne ordered a shot of whiskey to sip. Hancock was soon drawn away by a steady flow of acquaintances and drifters wanting to bend the ear of the charismatic mayor.

Payne relaxed a little, enjoying the radio while watching the crowd. A news report came on, commenting on new sightings of the Silver Shroud and his exploits squashing some band of raiders or something. It sounded like Nate was back from the Glowing Sea and up to some good deeds. Good for him. Kent would love that.

Payne noticed Magnolia at the end of the bar rummaging through a box. Curious, Payne took up a seat next to her.

“Whatcha got there?” she asked. Peering inside, Payne could start to see a small collection of records and holotapes.

“Daisy apparently found these in an old locked trunk that she bought off a trader. She had no idea what was inside. Once she popped the lock, she realized she had nothing to play them on.”

Payne smiled. “And that’s where you come in, right?”

“Something like that,” mused Magnolia, moving a stray lock of hair back in place.

Payne saw the flash of a peeling green label on a dusty record. Reaching in, she carefully extracted it, catching the crumbling paper as it sloughed off in her hands. Her breath caught in her throat as she read the faded white words under the bold script:

Capitol.

THE WILDEST – LOUIS PRIMA

Magnolia looked over and saw Payne’s bewildered expression. “You recognize something, hun?”

Payne couldn’t contain a small smile. “Oh yeah… you got a record player around?”

“Of course!” She fished around behind the bar before placing a ramshackle turntable in front of Payne.

“If I remember right, it’s the first track… cross your fingers…” Payne mumbled to herself. She tentatively placed the needle down on the spinning record a few times before catching the right groove. Payne missed Magnolia turning the radio off as her complete attention drew to the recording, listening for the first bars of the piano. Many of the bar patrons stopped their conversations, craning their ears closer to get a listen. The chance to hear ‘new’ music was a rare treat.

The piano joyfully sprang into existence. Payne’s shoulders took tiny bounces along with the jaunty rhythm involuntarily, her eyes closed. Happy memories flooded back in those familiar bars. As the lyrics started, Payne couldn’t help but sing along.

I'm just a gigolo and everywhere I go

People know the part I'm playing

There was no stopping it now. The infectious song ate away at Payne inhibitions. Too many times has she belted this song out in the green room back at her mother’s ranch, hamming it up with friends and family before and after rehearsals. This was their song!

Her eyes popped open, a smile stretched across her face from ear to ear. She stole a knowing glance at her fellow performer… a look that screamed, “Let the show begin!”

Paid for every dance, selling each romance

Payne palled up next to Magnolia, who started to snicker.

Ooh, and they're sayin'

Payne’s arms shot out to her sides. She held her fingers wide, pumping her shoulders while she shook her hands. She looked like some old vaudeville entertainer, drawing the audience in. The steps to the old dance took over, as if the last time she danced them was yesterday and not centuries ago.

There will come a day when youth will pass away

What will they say about me?

When the end comes, I know

They was just the gigolos

Life goes on without me

The words and steps were simple and repetitive. Quickly, she found with some gentle prodding she could get Magnolia to join her. The circle watching the impromptu performance grew. Many tapped along, laughing as Magnolia tripped over a few stanzas.

I ain't got nobody

Nobody cares for me

Nobody cares for me

I'm so sad and lonely

Sad and lonely, sad and lonely

Won't some sweet mama come and take a chance with me?

'Cause I ain't so bad

As she looked up, Payne could see Hancock watching in the crowd. With his one arm wrapped around the waist of a woman in a ratty dress and the other around the shoulders of a stringy-looking drifter, he lifted one hand in salute. Payne winked back. Turning back to Magnolia, she managed to get the half-drunk patrons to stumble along with a call and response, most whooping with lighthearted laughter by the end.

Payne was huffing by the time she took her sloppy bow with Mag. They were walking back to their seats when Hancock slid up to the bar next to them.

“I leave you alone for 10 minutes and you bring the place down!”

“Sorry to steal your limelight, boss,” Payne was still smiling from ear to ear. “I’ll blame it on the whisky if you like.”

“I know you better than that. You love the spotlight.” Hancock smiled back. “You were really grooving to that. Why don’t you keep it?”

Payne took the record off the player and put it back in the box. “Nah, I’m tight on caps remember?” She tapped her temple. “But, if you want to do something for me… have Daisy send it to that DJ in Diamond City.”

“Letting everyone in the Commonwealth enjoy it too? How can I say no to that, sister?” A roguish smirk stretched across his face. “How about you do a little something for me first?”

“Let me guess… you’ve double-booked a tour tonight?” Payne couldn’t help but roll her eyes a bit.

“You’re a mind reader! Clear out the VIP lounge for a private party, would ya?”

Payne got up, mocking indignation and put a playful finger on his chest. “Make sure that record makes it to Diamond City.”

“Scout’s honor.” His grin was growing. Payne knew he would do as she asked.

“You don’t even know what that means…” Payne headed off to the corner of the club. It took few minutes to clear everyone out. MacCready grumbled the most. He only moved after she mentioned the only way he was staying in the lounge was if he didn’t mind watching the festivities. After the area was vacated, she drew the threadbare curtain and pulled the improvised rope across the entrance.

It took her a second to get Hancock’s attention from across the room, his head buried in the neck of the waif of a woman. The trio ambled up slowly, the chems and drink slowing their progress.

“Weapons.” Payne commanded as they approached the lounge. Both of the wanderers looked confused.

“Really?” Hancock cocked his head.

“I’m your bodyguard before I’m your wingman. You know the deal.” She held out her hands. “Hand’ em over.” Reluctantly a few knifes and a six-shooter found their way into her possession.

“Enjoy your flight.” Payne teased as she lowered the rope for them to pass, though few would have gotten the reference. The rest of the night was easy. She nursed another whiskey and listening to Magnolia most of the night. Both were pleasant distractions as she stood guard until Hancock stumbled home early the next morning.

[cha-lii]

making amends

It's strange how much one can get used to in such a short amount of time. They had been back almost two days, and Allison had been asked by almost every one of her siblings, several times, if she was okay.

Apparently she was quiet. Too quiet.

She couldn't help it, though. After the cabin, after Vanya had - Allison had resigned herself to a voiceless life. She had forced herself to accept it, at least for the time being. Because Vanya, her sister, had needed her. There hadn't been time to panic, or heal, or grieve.

So, she had gotten on with it. Had ignored her own hurt and terror in favour of trying to help Vanya battle her own hurt and terror. That was what she had focused on, poured all of her energy into.

Which was perhaps why now, with all of them back in their thirteen year old bodies, her throat uncut and vocal chords undamaged, she couldn't quite come to terms with the fact that she could, in fact, speak again. Everything had happened so fast - not just the travelling back in time, all of it.

From their father's funeral to Five reappearing to the attack on the house. To finding out that Vanya, sweet Vanya, has had powers all along - the most destructive powers that Allison had ever seen. Getting her throat cut and being turned back into a child had happened within twenty four hours of each other.

So, Allison couldn't snap out of it. Not quite yet, anyway. But she had to. Because for every silence that she should have been filling, Vanya suffered. She could see it in the way her shoulders hunched, in the way she flinched away from all of them, and refused to meet anyone's eyes. And Allison didn't want to do that. She didn't want to hurt her sister any more than she already had. She had to change.

They all did.

"Hey, Vanya," Allison whispered, knocking gently on her sister's door. Vanya still jolted in spite of Allison's care, and almost subconsciously took a small step away from her. Allison tried to smile, "I was just wondering if maybe you wanted to, uh, spend some time together? You know, just - together?"

"U-uh," Vanya looked down at her feet, and shuffled on the spot for a few moments, before she nodded minutely. "Sure." Allison just barely managed to hold back her sigh of relief - she had been expecting Vanya to find some excuse to turn her down, just as she had been doing with them all as much as she could.

"Great! Um, do you want to stay in here? Or we could go to my room? Or... well, there's the rest of the house, but Dad might catch us-"

"Your room is fine. It's bigger than mine, anyway." Allison frowned slightly at that.

"Yeah, I guess it is. You know, we could probably move you to a bigger room if you wanted?" Vanya shook her head.

"I'm fine here. It's - it's fine."

"Are-" Allison stopped. Don't push her. "If you're sure. Okay, then. Let's go to my room." She stepped to the side and waited for Vanya to hesitantly pass her before following her down the corridor to her own bedroom. Allison ushered Vanya inside and closed the door behind them. When she turned around Vanya was standing in the middle of the room, eyes down and body tense. Allison sighed.

"Vanya," she began wearily, "you don't need to feel so -  afraid, or nervous, around me. Around any of us." Vanya didn't respond, didn't lift her eyes or give any indication of having heard her. She continued, "We aren't going to hurt you, and we aren't going to belittle you. Not anymore. And I won't let Dad or Luther or anyone lock you up again-"

"I-" Allison stopped abruptly as Vanya spoke, voice quiet and tremulous, "I don't want to hurt you." Allison shook her head.

"You won't-"

"You don't know that-"

"I do know."

"I already hurt you before."

"It's different now, Vanya. What happened before was an accident. And it happened because we were arguing, and you were heartbroken, and afraid - you know more about your powers now, even if it isn't much. And - and I know you don't believe it - can't believe it, not right now, but - you can trust us. We're your family, and we're going to start acting like it. You're safe with us, Vanya. I promise." Vanya looked at her then. Looked at her closely. And Allison looked back, unwavering, pouring as much sincerity and love into her gaze as she could until Vanya hesitantly nodded. Allison smiled, and reached out to take Vanya's hand and lead her over to the bed so that they could both sit.

"Good. Now that that's settled, what should we do? I mean, normally I would suggest we go get drinks or see a movie or something, but I doubt we'd even be allowed out the house let alone served alcohol in our current states." Vanya huffed a small laugh and Allison felt as though a weight had been lifted from her heart.

"Yeah," Vanya agreed, "I guess we're going to have a lot of problems with that." They fell silent, thinking. Vanya made no move to pull her hand out of Allison's grasp, so she held onto it, tangling their fingers together and rubbing her thumb over Vanya's knuckles.

"Wow," Allison murmured after a long moment had passed. "What did we even do when we were kids, apart from train all the time? I mean, I can't think of a single thing to do."

"Didn't you have a plan when you asked me to hang out?" Allison laughed and shook her head sheepishly.

"I, uh, I guess I didn't."

"Well... I guess we could just, uh..." Vanya frowned. "God, I really don't know. All I ever really did was practise violin. Our childhoods were pretty shitty."

"Isn't that the truth," Allison muttered, and they smiled at each other. We can do this, she thought. Yeah. We can do this.

Allison kept a close eye on Vanya after that, trying to keep track of her moods and when she might need some support. Which was how she came to understand just how resilient Vanya actually was. It took her somewhat by surprise - the Vanya she remembered as a child had always been timid, withdrawn and shy.

Allison couldn't understand how she could have been so blind as to why Vanya had been like that. She couldn't understand how she could be so blind to the outright emotional abuse from their father, from their brothers, from her. Allison never allowed herself to forget, even for a second, that she was part of the problem. But she'd be damned if she wasn't also going to be part of the solution.

She watched the way father would reprimand Vanya, with cruel words regarding her lack of power or her worthlessness in the Academy, and would go to comfort her later, expecting to find her in tears or having a panic attack or struggling to control her powers - only to find her almost completely unfazed. Or at least, that was what Vanya would have her believe. But Allison had witnessed the truth now. She knew what Vanya had hidden behind those masks she wore, those sad smiles and quiet assurances.

Allison knew, and regretted everything.

"It's complicated," she would tell Vanya, who wore a face as still and blank as carved stone. "We can't risk to big a change in our behaviours too quickly, or Dad will pick up on something. He'll pick up on you stopping your meds, or on us knowing about your powers. We - we can't do anything-"

"I know, Allison," Vanya would say, a lying smile curving her lips. "It's okay."

And so it would continue; their father's callous abuse, and Allison's comfort offered too late. Until one day, it changed.

It was the first afternoon that they had spent together since Five had brought them back a week previously. Surprisingly, it had been Diego's idea to start their daily "gatherings". The others had reluctantly agreed to it, none of them able to deny the sense that it made, but Vanya had been silent, suspicious. Allison had shared the sentiment, until she caught side of the regret in Diego's eyes every time he looked at Vanya. She thought about how he had been with her, before. His cruel words, his dismissive attitude, his clear resentment of her. But it was what lay underneath it all that Allison saw now.

He's always been like that, Allison realised. Just like Vanya, always hiding behind a mask.

"That's a great idea, Diego," she had said, reaching out to take Vanya's hand in hers and smiling at her brother. "A really great idea."

And so, there they all were. Together. Spending time together. Voluntarily. Not for the first time, Allison wondered if this were all some bizarre, elongated nightmare.

She and Vanya were seated next to each other, backs against the wall of Luther's room. They had chosen his room solely for his wide collection of music, which Klaus had spent the past ten minutes rifling through without seeming to find a single record that 'fit his current mood'. Allison rolled her eyes and smirked as she watched Luther's already tenuous grasp on his temper slip further with each passing second. She heard Vanya huff a small laugh next to her, and turned to find her watching their siblings' silliness with a small, shy smile on her face.

Allison was still watching her when something shifted in Vanya's expression, smile disappearing as though it had never even been there in the first place, eyes widening before dropping to the floor, hair falling forward to hide her face from view. Allison blinked, stunned, then looked up to where Vanya had been looking - Luther.

Of course, Allison thought bitterly. He's still as overprotective and paranoid as he was before. These new circumstances haven't changed that. He was watching their sister now with hard eyes, the corners of his mouth pulled down in a scowl similar to the ones he used to wear on missions. Similar to the one their father would use when reprimanding them all. Allison felt her breath catch in her throat.

She loved Luther. She loved all of her siblings, but there was something different between her and Luther, there always had been. Their father disapproved, and she knew the others weren't exactly keen on it either, but still - it was something neither of them had control over. No one can choose who they're in love with. Allison's childhood romance with Luther had been as idyllic as they could manage in such a regimented environment, and they had been happy together until the Academy began crumbling around them. It hadn't been until a few weeks ago, when they'd reunited after years of distance and change, that Allison managed to remove herself from her rose tinted image of him.

He was different. Different than he had been, and different to how she had always thought him. He was still goofy, still loyal to a fault, still kind - to her at least. But underneath it all, and perhaps above all, he was his father's son. At least for now. It's how Dad raised him to be, Allison thought regretfully, it's not his fault. It's just another thing we need to work on. But for now...

"Luther," she said. His eyes immediately softened as they moved from Vanya to Allison, and the hard lines on his too-young face smoothed away. She forced herself not to give, and kept her voice and gaze hard as she continued. "Stop looking at Vanya like she's a threat. Or she'll be the least of your worries." He blinked, and sputtered, and his cheeks flushed with indignant colour. Allison could feel Vanya watching her, and reached out to take her hand.

Klaus let out a low whistle, and Allison turned to find him and Diego looking at her with wide eyes. Five's eyebrows were raised, and she almost thought she could see a hint of pride in his eyes. She could definitely see it in Ben's.

"I-" Luther began, voice choked.

"Allison is right," Five spoke up, looking at Luther with a sternness that Allison was still trying to get used to seeing on him. "You need to be better with each other. And especially with Vanya. She needs support now, not judgement."

"'You'?" Luther said, defensive. He turned to glare at Five. "Not 'we'?" Five rolled his eyes, unfazed.

"I don't know if you've maybe forgotten, Luther, but I wasn't exactly around for most of your lives. And if I remember correctly Vanya and I got along quite splendidly before I jumped. Didn't we?" He looked at Vanya, and Allison felt her flinch under the sudden attention from everyone. She nodded jerkily nonetheless. "See?" Five continued without missing a beat. "So, yeah. You guys need to be better. All of you." They all wilted a little under his glare.

"Sorry, Vanya," Allison raised her eyebrows, and saw the others do the same before they all turned to Luther. Luther who, bless him, looked downright sheepish. There he is, Allison thought, relief blossoming in her chest as he continued, "I - they're right. I - I want to be better. I'm just - scared. I don't want anything else bad to happen to anyone, but that includes you, too. I guess I keep forgetting you're bound to be even more scared than I am..." Vanya swallowed thickly, and raised her head to meet Luther's gaze.

She's so much braver than any of us ever gave her credit for, Allison thought to herself. How did we ever miss this?

"It's... thank you, Luther," she said quietly. She aimed for a smile. "I'm being as careful as I can, but it's - hard. I just - need you all to be patient with me, until I get a handle on it."

"Of course, Vanya," Allison said, squeezing her hand gently and smiling when Vanya turned to her. "We've all been there, with our own powers. If there's any way at all that we can help, we will. Just tell us."

"And if it all gets to be too much sometimes," Klaus said, looking at her with a gentle somberness that sent chills down Allison's spine, "if it all becomes a bit overwhelming, come talk to me. I know how that feels." Ben nodded beside him, an odd look in his eyes. Allison wondered, not for the first time, just what he had witnessed during his lifetime tethered to their brother.

Vanya smiled wider. Allison could almost call it a grin.

"I will," she said.

That night was the first night she and Vanya slept together.

Allison was woken in the early hours of the morning by her bed shaking. No, not her bed. Her whole floor. Vanya, she realised, and was out the door in an instant. She waved away Ben's sleepy concerns and waited until he'd retreated back into his own room before she eased her sister's door open. She crept over to Vanya's bed, and sat beside her as she twitched and whimpered, every pained noise and expression twisting her heart. She placed a careful hand on a trembling shoulder.

"Vanya," she murmured. She shook her a little, then more insistently when she didn't wake. "Vanya, it's okay. You're okay. I'm here-" Finally, Vanya woke, and the faint tremors that seemed to have been affecting their entire sleeping area ceased. Vanya's eyes were wide, and filled with tears. Her face was pale, and her hand was shaking when Allison took it in hers. Vanya flinched at the contact and turned her terrified gaze to Allison.

"A-Allison," her face crumpled. "I'm sorry..." Allison tucked her head into her shoulder, and wrapped her arms around her tightly, the same way she used to with Claire, though the effect was quite different since they were both children.

"It's okay Vanya," she whispered, over and over until the shuddering sobs began to quiet.

"Don't go," came Vanya's quiet, quiet plea. "Please don't leave me alone."

"Shh," Allison soothed her, maneuvering them both until they were lying on the bed side by side. She ran her hand through Vanya's hair, and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. "It's alright, Vanya. You're not alone. I won't leave you. I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere."

[mightytwogunkid]

MCU Winterhawk/West Coast Avenger AU

I had an idea for a MCU west coast avengers/winterhawk AU, but I have to explain the AU first

 half of it isn’t that important to the plot but

So it’s MCU based  but then there’s a heavy canon divergence and some things are more 616 based

The first difference is obviously that Clint is a lot more like his more recent 616 self (think Fraction Hawkeye, Kate’s run as hawkeye, Occupy Avengers, West Coast Avengers, Captain America & Hawkeye,  etc)

Also, Jarvis is a butler, not an A.I,  since we don’t care if people think he’s too much like Alfred,  but  Tony  worked on an A.I. (or two   one J.A.R.V.I.S based,  the other Friday based)

As for the events, everything happens the same up until Age of Ultron,  where Wanda tries to get to Clint first, but Clint uses his super secret power a.k.a adopt stray, like he had on Natasha years before,  the rest of the movie doesnt happen

So 1. Clint doesn’t have a secret family hidden in a farm, 2.Ultron is not built 3. Bruce is not lost 4. PIETRO LIVES

There’s a small difference  with Captain America: Winter Soldier and that is since we arent constrained by actors schedules,  that clint scene happened

Not that it makes a big difference in the grand scheme of the AU, but it appeases my mind

Tony does end up building Vision, but since AoU didn’t really happen  and wanda didn’t put that vision of the future in his head, he’s taking it more slow  and ends up using one of the A.I he was working on as the base for Vision.

The team works together, they look for Bucky, fight against Hydra, A.I.M. Doctor Doom, Aliens  etc

Steve told Tony that bucky had killed his parents and Tony came to terms that Bucky was under hydra’s control

Also not that it makes a difference but 1. Peter is 23  and not a high school teenager, 2. the x-men and 3. deadpool exist and 4. So do the Fantastic Four  and 5. Pietro mostly works with the x-men 6. Falcon’s Red Bird is an actual bird  6. Doctor Strange is like 70 years old in this AU, his car accident happened not because he was distracted by a screen, but he was reading some notes. He doesn’t age, so he’s forever 35

Oh and Pietro and Wanda are ROMANI

Okay so about Civil War, when ross comes knocking on Avengers Towers, Bruce looks at him in the eyes and tell him “Harlem was YOUR fault” and also “Pretend all you want, you haven’t changed. For you, it was always about having the power controlled by you.”  and ross goes away

And to ensure he doesn’t come back, Tony hires attorney Matt Murdock to find a loophole to make the avengers not-privately-owned

Then, Bruce and Thor  are bff (or boyfriends if you prefer) and go on a space adventure, Thor goes back to Asgard and Bruce tries to go back to earth but ends up on Sakaar. Thor Ragnarok happens

Then infinity war, so Thanos kills the people on the Asgard ship (including/especially Loki (i have plans for him, just wait)), he also kills Gamora.  And Visions mind stone is destroyed,  but since the Avengers + the Guardians + Doc Strange + Wakanda + the X-men+the Fanatstic Four+ the Defenders + Frank Castle + Phil’s SHILED team are all working together as a team, they defeat the purple grape.

Now more important to the AU, a lot of this part is based on the Young Avengers comics, but still based in the MCU

After the battle au Wakanda, half the Avengers retire. Harley Keener comes in and becomes Iron Lad. He basically takes the place of  Nate/kang the conqueror as kid  from the comics

“[...] he downloads the remnants of the destroyed Vision's operating system into his armor. This reveals a fail-safe plan created by the android to reform the Avengers should they disband or fall in action by locating the next generation of Avengers [...] Using this plan, [Harley] assembles his new team, the Young Avengers”

Harley recruits Teddy, the son of og Captain Marvel (Mar-vell) and a Skrull princess (this au is made before the Captain Movie comes out, so we don’t know yet if Mar-vell dies  and if he does, then when but this is an AU so we just say that he wasnt dead around 2002), and Billy (who is, along with Tommy, the soul son of Wanda and Vision)), Eli, the grand son of a soldier who had received a trial of a super soldier serum. They later crash into Kate Bishop, who joins them and becomes Hawkeye. Together they bust Tommy out of juvie

Shuri is able to save Vision, but his memory/life experience is  none existent, so he’s given a kid/teen body and he calls himself Jonas

Then most of the Avengers come back to being Avengers  and Steve decides that the Young Avengers need training and supervision and names Clint as the leader/mentor of the YA (both because he thinks Clint is the best for the jobs but also to shut him up (Clint is always arguing with Captain America about how he could lead the team better than Steve))

Then most of the Young Avengers have to leave for College and they all decide to go to California together, Clint goes with them  and they rebrand to  the West Coast Avengers. Except Eli retires and stays in New York with his grandpa.  Tony gives them a mansion they make their home/headquarters andgives them Jarvis (the human) (because can you really trust Clint to take care of himself and a bunch of college kids?) (and also by then tony has already finished the other A.I which, as you already know, he named FRIDAY)

Then America punches her way into the dimension and joins the team.

And since Scott lives in the West coast too, he and Hope work with the WCA avengers sometimes too.  They also found out that Cassie Lang, Scott daughter, had powers because she used to sneak and used Pym particles  so now she can size shift.  She hangs out a lot with the WCA and joins then on missions sometimes  but she’s like 16 (she argues that that’s the Age the YA started at tho  but her mom is still protective of her)

Oh and then Thor brought in Loki who was reborn/reincarnated/resurrected as a kid, Billy aged him  to a teen to make him more powerful

So all that was the world building,  now we get to the premises of the fic

All this time, Bucky was still in hiding, in Romania, trying to figure out who he was. He’s no longer afraid of who he was, gets in contact with Steve. They have a tearful reunion.

Bucky gets along with Tony and Tony works on his arm. Tony works with Reed Richards (from the F4), Prof X (from the X-men) and Doctor Strange to ensure that Bucky is 100% free of Hydra (aka make sure the Trigger words don’t work ).  (stupid note aside,  Namor sees the four of them working together without him, thinks they’re excluding him from the Illuminati, goes to the King of the Inhumans  who just ignore him , So Namor ends up planning revenge with Doom/making out with him)

Bucky still first weird around the Avengers  and the relationship with Steve is weird because although Steve still gets into fights, he doesn't need protecting,  Bucky has yet to find a purpose.  So Steve sends Bucky to the one the guy who can understand Bucky the most, regarding mind control and also has a super power, which is “adopting strays”. In other words he assigns Bucky to the West Coast Avengers.

Which work out great because Clint is no longer the only full-time adult on the team (other than Jarvis,  and Jarvis  would say he’s the only adult there if you asked him) and Bucky has another blond accident-prone disaster he can protect.

So Bucky and clint get to know each other, bond, be kind of Dads(™), and fall in love

Oh and i didn’t say but Lucky’s there

[marigoldbaker]

regarding honor and honesty in the workplace (29/43)

read it on ao3!

Joke’s On Me I Forgot To Post This Chapter Before Leaving The House!!! at least it’s still on the right day tho

Her cell phone was buzzing. Waking up, Jenny’s first thought was this doesn’t feel like the couch, her second thought was oh my fucking god, Jenny, do you have no impulse control, and her third thought was Rupert smells really nice, which didn’t really help with the whole impulse-control thing. She kept her eyes closed for a few seconds longer, enjoying the way it felt to be tangled in cozy blankets with Rupert’s arms around her waist—

Wait. Okay. Arms. Waist. Snuggling. Definitely not platonic, especially if Rupert woke up and panicked in that way he did whenever anything got too near romance between them. Jenny didn’t have the emotional energy to deal with that, and her cell phone was still buzzing (had she seriously left it upstairs last night?), so she pulled herself out of Rupert’s arms as quickly as she could.

This proved to be a mistake. Rupert started waking up with Jenny half-out of his arms, Jenny froze, and Rupert, to her horror, closed his eyes again and tugged her even closer, mumbling something indistinct in a soft tone she had never heard him use before. She caught the word “darling,” she thought, and felt herself smiling a little before she could help it.

Jenny’s cell phone stopped buzzing and she winced, hoping that the call hadn’t been too important. Somehow, this was what woke Rupert up all the way. She was expecting him to immediately pull back, but he just looked at her with this nervous smile and said, “Any nightmares?”

“None,” said Jenny.

“Good,” said Rupert, still looking a bit apprehensive. He let go of her. For all of Jenny’s worry about him waking up, she suddenly very much missed being close to him. “You—were in quite a state, last night. I was worried.”

“It was just—” Jenny tried to smile. “I guess I’m not entirely okay,” she said finally. “You know? I was hoping that I would be, but maybe that’s a little unrealistic.”

“It’s barely been a week,” said Rupert, smoothing down Jenny’s hair. “No one’s expecting you to bounce back immediately.”

“No, I know, I-I just wanted—I wanted you all to have someone stable right now,” said Jenny, feeling a little ridiculous. On the nightstand, her phone buzzed again. “I should get that,” she said, but Rupert tugged at the hem of her sleeve, pulling her back to face him. “What?”

“You know having someone stable isn’t what we need, though,” said Rupert, and smiled a little. “You’re more than enough just on your own, Jenny, whether or not you feel you’re at functioning capacity. It means so much to myself and to the girls that you and Faith are staying to help out.”

“You’re saying a lot of very nice things,” said Jenny, giving him a tired smile back, “but the fact of the matter is that you got shot and we have three kids who need at least one parent to turn to.” She gently removed his hand from her sleeve, reaching to pick up her phone from the nightstand, and felt her smile slide off her face.

Lilah had texted her. Jenny couldn’t see the entirety of the message without unlocking her phone, but it began: if you get a call from…

“Is everything all right?” Rupert asked from next to her.

Jenny knew that the healthy thing to do would be to ignore a text from the woman who shot her, but the fact remained that, despite her bravado facing Lilah in the hospital, Jenny wasn’t the one with the power in this situation. If avoiding Lilah led to Rupert or the girls getting hurt, or worse—she swallowed, then unlocked her phone.

if you get a call from someone requesting your help today, don’t answer it; they’re looking for protection from wolfram and hart and you won’t be giving it to them. understood?

Jenny stared down at the message, feeling vaguely sick. The entire reason she’d become a detective was to help people who needed it, and now Lilah was taking that ability away from her.

“Jenny?”

Jenny swallowed hard. “Fine,” she said stiffly, and texted back understood. “It’s just, um, Lilah—Lilah wants me to turn down a client who might be calling me today. Says that they’re looking to hide from Wolfram and Hart.”

She almost didn’t want to look at Rupert, she was so ashamed. He was the one who had always praised her integrity and her compassion in her line of work, and now she was just—throwing all that under the bus. But it was the adult thing to take responsibility for her actions, so she looked up at him, and—all she saw was worry and sadness. “Jenny,” he said, “this can’t possibly be easy on you.”

“It isn’t,” said Jenny. “It sucks. But I would rather deal with the guilt my own shitty decisions created than put you or the kids in danger again.”

“You know it isn’t your fault, though,” said Rupert, sitting up and wincing. Jenny put down her phone and moved towards him, placing a hand on his chest to steady him against the headboard. “Thank you,” he said through gritted teeth. “I just, I worry that you see this sorry state of affairs as your own doing.”

“I was the one who took this case,” Jenny reminded him, trying to smile. “You were the one who was pointing out—correctly, I might add—that taking a case based on only one lead from only one person wasn’t a wise thing to do.”

“I was saying that because I was jealous,” said Rupert almost indignantly. “You can’t at all argue that my judgment wasn’t impaired.”

Jenny blinked. “Jealous?” she said, genuinely surprised. “Of what?”

Rupert went a bit pink. “I, I suppose, um,” he stammered, then swallowed, then said, “well, really, it was just—I’d never seen you pay so much attention to—anyone, before. At least, not in a romantic sense, and—it bothered me, a bit. I thought your having a crush might—affect our relationship, and it was selfish of me.”

“No, you were right,” said Jenny a little dismally. “You can’t take the blame if you were right. You and I had a pretty good thing going until Lilah came into our office, and if you had called the shots on that one, you—you wouldn’t have gotten shot.”

“You’re telling me it wasn’t at all worth it?” said Rupert quietly. “I’d think that having a few moments of happiness with someone you care for, however fleeting—”

“You can’t seriously still be advocating for Lilah!” Jenny scoffed.

“She made you so happy,” said Rupert, smiling a little awkwardly. “I-it made me happy, seeing you like that. Perhaps she wasn’t deserving of a woman like yourself, but if Lilah is what makes you happy, perhaps—we could work towards some sort of a reconciliation with her—”

“She shot you,” said Jenny.

“She made you smile,” said Rupert.

“You make me smile,” said Jenny, furious, “even when you’re being a fucking idiot and trying to tell me I should get together with my ex—god, where do you get off, Rupert? Do you seriously think I’d be selfish enough to place my own happiness over your welfare?”

She was irrationally angry, she knew, and she had a feeling she was trying to cover up the deep, pervasive hurt that had begun when Rupert had started looking at her with soft, shining eyes. It had finally hit her: there was no way she could ever risk their relationship, whatever it was, by telling him about her feelings for him. It could throw yet another wrench into their mutually supportive arrangement, and she just could not do that to him. Not ever.

“Jenny, I’m sorry,” said Rupert, and he really did look genuinely remorseful. “I wasn’t thinking.”

“Let me change your dressings,” said Jenny stiffly, pulling herself up and out of the bed. “Or—fuck, hold on, I’m not dressed. I’m gonna go downstairs and get changed, and then we’re going to change your dressings, okay?”

Rupert looked at her for a long second, and then a strange expression crossed his face. Not quite an emotion, per se; more like he had just begun to formulate some sort of an idea.

“What?” snapped Jenny.

“Nothing, just—” Rupert stretched out a hand to her. “Come here, all right?” he said. “Just for a moment. I’m sorry.”

“No, Rupert, it’s fine,” said Jenny, hastily trying to tamp down her anger. She didn’t want to be close to him right now. “I really just have to freshen up and get dressed, please, just—I’ll be right back,” and she was out of the bedroom before he could respond, half-tumbling down the stairs and into the living room, where the girls were standing excitedly by her unmade couch-bed.

“Did you sleep with Dad?” Dawn demanded, very loudly, as soon as she entered the room.

“No,” said Jenny shortly, then, “I need to change. Go upstairs.”

Dawn and Buffy exchanged worried looks, but obliged. Faith, however, hesitated, then crossed the room to stand on tiptoe and hug Jenny awkwardly around the neck. “Hang in there, Mom,” she said, and followed Buffy out of the room.

Jenny sunk down into the couch and buried her face in her hands. “Fuck,” she whispered. She couldn’t stop thinking about what Rupert had just offered to do. He would find a place for Lilah in their lives if it was what made her happy—what wouldn’t that man do for her? A guy like that didn’t deserve the messy-confusing love Jenny had to offer, or getting shot in an alley, or getting stood up and left behind all the damn time over the last few months. He deserved so, so much better than her.

Rupert was sitting up in bed, still, when Jenny entered, placing her phone back on the nightstand. “Would you mind giving me your phone’s passcode?” he asked. “I think there are still some photos on your phone I’d like to send to myself, and—and you have all those games on your phone that I don’t know how to download.”

Despite herself, Jenny smiled. “It’s 4472,” she said.

“Why?”

“There isn’t always a reason for everything.” Jenny clambered onto the bed next to him, settling her head on his shoulder. “Sorry I snapped,” she said. “I think I’m just under a lot of pressure.”

“Oh, really,” said Rupert, “it’s not like someone wise and British was just telling you that you needed some proper rest—” He turned a bit to pull her closer, then swore, drawing a pained breath in.

Jenny pressed her hand against his chest, fingers splayed. “Stay still,” she said softly, moving over him to straddle his lap. It was easy, suddenly, to be close to him when she’d decided she wasn’t planning on acting on it. It was comforting to know he couldn’t have feelings for her.

“Jenny, this is awfully close—”

“Yeah, well, I need to get at your shirt and I��m not climbing over you to do it. I’m not a professional. Stay still and I’ll unbutton you.” Jenny wasn’t really looking at Rupert’s face (so she wasn’t as good at being close to him as she thought. Sue her), focusing instead on the buttons. “Let me just finish with this and then I’ll get the dressings from the—”

“Jenny—”

“—from the bathroom. Stay still.” Jenny’s hands were shaking. Were her hands shaking?

Rupert reached up and took Jenny’s hands in hers, very steadily, a motion that drew Jenny’s eyes first to his hands and then to his face. He was looking at her with a quiet compassion that made her feel near tears. “Kindly take a breath, dear, and stop trying to bulldoze your way through whatever it is that’s bothering you,” he said patiently.

“Oh, if you only knew,” said Jenny, half-laughing.

“Perhaps I’ve been going about this the wrong way,” said Rupert, giving her a small, nervous smile. “You don’t need to tell me anything if that’s what you feel makes you most comfortable. Just—take a breath, please, before you continue with my dressings. I really don’t want to get further injured in your agitation.”

“I don’t want to hurt you,” said Jenny, her voice strangled in an attempt not to cry. “I don’t ever want to see you hurt again.”

“I know,” said Rupert.

“Not ever. I was so scared.”

Rupert let go of her hands and pulled her into his arms. Jenny hid her face in the crook of his neck and breathed him in.

[pjo-hoo-nextgen]

The First Quest XII

Jaxon was the first to wake in the infirmary. The others were still asleep and at first he wasn’t going to bother with them, but curiosity won over. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, Jaxon stood and stretched.

He spotted Andy curled up on a cot next to Sol. A pang of guilt rocked through his core. He hadn’t meant to hurt her, and of all things it had to be a broken wrist. She’d never forgive him. He was sure of it.

With a muffled sigh, Jaxon turned and spotted Grey...next to Maria? Confusion snapped him out of the lingering sleepy haze. Shaking his head he pushed the thought aside. He was starving and the infirmary only had a small kitchen.

Except the kitchen was in use. Jaxon could hear the stove making a skillet sizzle. Curious he ventured down the hall to find Grey’s father, Will, dressed for a day of work. He wore scrubs but over that rested an apron which read ‘Hotter than the stove’.

“Morning.” Will flashed Jaxon a bright smile. “I’ve been informed of the given arrangement.”

“Yeah, my dad told you didn’t he?” Jaxon mumbled.

“Yes,” Will nodded turning the stove top off.

“Bet you think I suck.”

“Actually, I don’t.” Will’s answer surprised Jaxon. “It’s hard when you’re young. Don’t forget that my husband was a grumpy teenager too. Boy did I have a lot of work to do with him.”

“That’s supposed to make me feel better?” Jaxon asked.

“No. It just means you aren’t the only person whose made a bad choice or two because emotions run high.” Will carefully transferred bacon from the skillet to a plate. “Now, I’m assuming you’re hungry. Pancakes are on the table, bacon is here, juice is in the tiny fridge. Eat up.”

Jaxon stood in the doorway for a moment. Will wiped his hands on a towel before slipping past Jaxon and patting him on the shoulder as he left.

— — —

“Keep an eye on them for me.” Will had nudged Grey awake. “I know it’s rough being the one in charge since you’re the oldest but...”

“I know.” Grey smiled despite his sleepy state. “I’ll man the ship.”

“Good boy.” Will winked before heading off to the other infirmary wing. Grey, being woken up, figured he might as well get the day started too. He found Jaxon already eating breakfast. “Hey.”

Jaxon glanced up from his plate. “Hey. Slept cozy I assume?”

“Eh, not too bad,” Grey laughed, scanning the food. “Sweet, bacon is the best.”

“Didn’t think Maria liked sharing stuff,” Jaxon noted, taking a sip of orange juice.

It dawned on Grey what exactly Jaxon had been getting at to begin with. “It was that or sleeping on the floor and she offered so...”

“I wasn’t using the other bed.”

“Yeah, well I didn’t take it because I figured you’d probably use it later when you were done sulking.” Grey pulled a glass from one of the small pantries.

“Whatever.” Jaxon rolled his eyes and stood to set his plate in the sink.

“Listen, I may be making an assumption here, but it seems like you’re jealous.” Grey put the orange juice jug back in the fridge and turned to study Jaxon.

“Am not,” Jaxon insisted.

“Fine. Maybe not. But what makes you think she’s not gonna turn to me about things especially when they regard you?” Grey arched a brow.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Jaxon scoffed, scrubbing at his plate.

“Does,” Grey stepped closer and dropped his voice, “‘Knock off brand’ mean anything to you?”

Jaxon tense and turned to stare at Grey. The running water was the only thing preventing silence until Grey reached over and turned it off. “How do you know about that?”

“She told me,” Grey said simply.

“Pfft. Right. Maria doesn’t tell anyone anything.” Jaxon began drying the plate instead.

“You may have noticed by now that I’m the Go-To-Person for a lot of things. I don’t judge, and I know a lot of stuff about each of you that I don’t share with anyone else.” Breakfast had been forgotten.

“Doesn’t explain the cuddle party.”

“She was crying Jaxon!” Grey couldn’t keep the irritation from his voice. “You have no idea how much you hurt her.”

“I do.”

“No, you don’t.” Grey shook his head. “I get it, you hate being wrong. You don’t like screwing up and admitting you made a mistake because you feel the need to surpass everyone’s expectations. The truth is, you messed up this time, big time, and you can’t keep denying it.”

“What am I supposed to do?!” Jaxon demanded.

“Get your head out of your butt and give an honest apology.”

“I don’t even know-“

“Jaxon.” Grey rested his hands on Jaxon’s shoulders. “Maria has feelings too. She’s always hidden them because for a long time, before the others, it was just us. She had to be like us and the other boys so she could hang out with us. Because when you cry you’re weird, you can’t play with the boys if you cry, it verifies on some stupid subconscious level that you’re indeed a girl.”

“Of course I know she has feelings,” Jaxon protested.

“Then recognize that by apologizing. Believe it or not, even if she’s older, she looks up to you. You’re not as impulsive. You don’t make as many mistakes. She values you but she’s right. You act too superior sometimes. You can still be a kid and be a leader.” Grey pulled back and straightened to his full height. “That’s why she teases you. Believe it or not, a lot of us feel like we only see a two dimensional version of who you really are. Open up a little for Gods’ sake. You think I’m gonna judge you? I’m a mortal in a camp of half god’s. Thia? She has no powers when it’s expected to have them. Eli? He can turn into animals! Sol? She catches fire! We are as weird as you can get.”

— — —

“Let me help.” Maria laughed as Sol tried to wriggled her way into a clean shirt. Calypso had brought a change of clothes for each of them but Sol was struggling due to the bandages and bulky wrist.

“I can do it!” Sol insisted. She turned sharply only to smack into a wall. “Ow!”

“Still don’t need help?” Maria asked smugly.

“Shut up.” Sol let Maria pull her free of the tangled mess.

“Arms up.” Maria laughed. Sol did as told but with a frown on her face. Maria managed to do what Sol could not and soon the younger girl was dressed in fresh clothes.

“Thank you,” Sol grumbled bashfully.

“Are you done yet?” Andy asked from where he sat facing the other way with his hands over his eyes.

“You’re good,” Maria promised.

“Wow. Bright.” Andy blinked as his eyes adjusted back to the room’s light. “Breakfast?”

“Sounds like Grey’s finishing up, so yeah.” Maria nodded. Andy pumped his fist in the air before scampering off with Sol trailing behind him. Maria then turned to busy herself with stripping the cots so they could receive clean sheets later.

“Uh, hey.”

“What?” Maria sighed, knowing who it was without having to look.

“Can we talk?”

“About what?”

“The stuff I said?” Jaxon asked.

“Thought it didn’t matter that much.” Maria sighed.

“Listen, I messed up.” Jaxon paused waiting for a response. When none came he continued. “I was a jerk and I’m sorry. Is...uh, that what you wanted to hear?”

“You’re fucking kidding me,” Maria couldn’t help but laugh.

“I don’t get it.” Jaxon frowned in confusion. “I thought you wanted an apology?”

“Well,yeah, I do. But that? Seriously?!” Maria chucked the pile of sheets at his chest.

“Hey!” Jaxon tossed the fabric onto the floor. “I said I was sorry. I mean it.”

“Right.”

“I do!” Before Maria could leave the room Jaxon caught her wrist. “You’re not a knock off brand okay? That was stupid of me. I just- I don’t know. I know I can be insensitive, I’m used to Andy. I can say some stuff to him and he shrugs it off. I guess girls are different in that way-“

“Nice move.” Maria rolled her eyes.

“I didn’t mean that in a sexist way!” Jaxon rushed out quickly. “What I’m saying is I shouldn’t treat you like a boy. You’re not just another guy I can poke fun at. You have feelings and I forget about it sometimes. I get frustrated. I lash out. It’s a dumb and impulsive thing.”

There was a long and drawn out pause. “And if you’re gonna hit me get it over with already, yeah?”

Maria rolled her eyes and tugged her arm free from his grip. “I’m not gonna hit you...knuckle head.”

Jaxon blinked as she jogged off to join the others for breakfast. Grey made his way back into the room and collected the forgotten bed sheets. “I don’t get it. She always punches or slaps me when I touch her.”

“Maybe it’s because she wasn’t an after thought this time,” Grey muttered.

“Oh shut up.” Jaxon sighed and helped Grey pick up.

“Not a chance buddy.”