#and the idea that yeah. yeah that waas a normal response for her to have to that happening there wasnt anything extra

[wackywatchdotcom]

something thats always confused me is why people assumed early on that pomni 'saw something' while she was out in the void... like i dont see it in discussion anymore but that idea always confused me, cus i thought it was very blatantly a 'pomni is not processing what is happening because theres a lot going on and she was already struggling immensely and kinda freaking out before being full on launched into an area that has nothing but distant light and squares and nothing else and you are moving but youre not' thing

[jackabbot]

Realization of the day: Michael saying he married Athena to fix something he thought waa broken in himself but he was just...trying to hide from the fact that he's gay. Something something eddie thinking he's broken and he tried to fix it with shannon/kim/marisol/whoever but he can't.

mm yeah there are definitely parallels but also just thinking about Eddie in the context of... he was practically a teenager when he reconnected with Shannon (in 12th grade) and got her pregnant probably pretty much immediately and then had to scramble to create a presentable life for himself and for his family and he did what he thought was best (while also desperately running away without it being obvious to anyone outside of the relationship)

but i think what we rarely talk about is what it was like for him before? cuz yk the military and being constantly shot at and watching people die and then coming back to something more normal but it's not actually the normal you knew before... Eddie's suffering and the difficulties he was facing is pretty understandable imo

but before any of that his homelife was already too much for the child that he was; he had to take care of his mother and his sisters and he was told at the age of 10 that he's now the man of the house... he married Shannon because of the pressure of the church and his family, but why did he date her in the first place?

i mean i know a lot of people love to act like Eddie didn't even love her and i think those people don't understand that even in difficult, messed up relationships that cannot possibly work — you can still love each other. and even with all the posthumous idolisation he did with Shannon, it's clear that Eddie loved her very much

but when he started dating her he was just a school kid looking for what everyone his age was looking for (him probably more than others with all the responsibilities waiting for him at home) and that thing was fun.

he wanted to be with someone he liked, go on dates, kiss her, have sex with her and do the normal becoming an actual adult stuff instead of what really happened

idk where i'm going with this, i just think that Eddie had such a tumultuous life from the start, it's almost as if watching someone having an identity crisis 24/7 while knowing full well what he has to present... and back to Michael — he knew exactly what he was hiding and what he was trying to fix.

or at least that's what it sounded like to me; he knew it and he couldn't face it, so he married Athena and did the whole getting married and having a family thing until he couldn't live a lie anymore

Eddie on the other hand — to me — seems like he has no idea what's not working because he never had the room to explore that part of himself even in hypotheticals within his own mind, because of the weight of his own responsibilities

[plow-and-propose]

uh oh, something weird and bad happened during a walk today!

I was with Cocoa (cause when aren't i lol) and it waa towards the end of what had been a very calm and normal walk. Nothing had really happened except Cocoa receiving a warning growl, which isn't too unusual because he still has rambunctious puppy energy and a lot of dogs sense that and don't want to deal with it, and both dogs were on leads so we just carried on no problem

I actually met two other customers (and their owners) which was nice. Echo was all over me and despite not seeing me for a week Cocoa showed no signs of jealousy (not that he has before but he's never seen another dog fawn over me like that and he is a spaniel so i did wonder) which is a relief. he is, for the most part, a very good boi

towards the end of the hour we turned back. The park we were in is fairly small, just big enough to fill an hour, and i took a small shortcut down a path through some bushes and trees. on the main path on the other side was a man and his off the lead dog, which looked a bit like a slightly overweight greyhound (tho idk if it was)

Cocoa was also off-lead and wanted to say hello which isn't unusual because he LOVES greyhound type dogs, but the owner took his dog's collar and held him still, so of course I immediately called Cocoa because ok, not friendly i guess, nbd

Cocoa came back and while I was kinda mentally rolling my eyes and thinking 'ok but your dog should be on-lead or at least have a special jacket or collar or something', nothing had actually happened so it was cool

(I would also like to add that we were in an area with no lead restrictions, where people bring their dogs specifically to let them off-lead. it's actually leads-only season in the nearby royal park right now so if this owner was concerned about his dog he could have easily taken him to a place where leads are mandatory)

except the owner started saying something like... "you need to set an example for your dog"?

and I was like 'i don't know what that means but ok'. I assumed he was just concerned for his own dog because yeah ok, we sorta emerged suddenly from the bushes it might've been startling, and didn't say anything

the owner kept walking, and also kept speaking, even tho I was out of range and couldn't make out the words

I was getting bad vibes by that point and starting to think 'ok, he's a bit weird, maybe a bit mentally ill'. but he hadn't actually done anything

I waited for him to get a bit further ahead so we wouldn't pass him where the path was narrow and potentially set off his dog. I put Cocoa on the lead just in case and continued walking

AND THEN

guy and dog came sprinting back up the path towards me

and guy rammed his shoulder into mine as he passed

and did not stop. didn't even look back

I'd rolled with the hit so it was more surprising than painful. I stopped and called after him smth like "bro what the hell??"

and dissonantly, from within the bushes further up the path, I heard him shout back something to the effect of "take responsibility for your actions!" as if it had been my fault??

I said, "you could at least apologise!"

to which he repeated the part about responsibility and actions and... followed it up by calling me a tomboy??

(diversity win! the asshole who clipped you isn't enough of an asshole to call you a slur!)

I couldn't even see him and in retrospect it was actually kind of comical. also in retrospect I should have kept walking and not risked antagonising him but I was very much not thinking straight lmao

as it was, we both kept going in opposite directions and didn't see each other again. HOWEVER

the next people to come up the path were an elderly woman with downs syndrome and her carer. if that guy had run into them he could've knocked them to the floor. by that point I had gone from startled to pissed!

I warned them because I had no idea where the guy was and whether he was still barrelling around, but fortunately soon after I got away from the trees i spotted him on the other side of the open field, just walking, not sprinting

I took Cocoa home without issue. he'd been such a good boy and while I kinda wish he'd barked in my defense I'm glad he didn't do anything to make the situation worse. he was remarkably calm. I love him so much

but god what a weird, bad thing to happen! my area isn't rough by any means and while I've met some oddballs before (i am one myself!) I've never encountered anyone like that

and now I have a bruise on my bicep just above my elbow and another on my hip where my elbow hit it. I hope that asshole has them too lmao

[migila]

Fic time! It’s Inojin’s birthday!

December 5th

“Sai?”

“Yes, Beauty?”

When Ino didn’t answer, Sai turned to look at her, seeing her biting her lip, her eyes going around the room, looking at anywhere but him. That was never a good sign, the man had learned. Insecurity, slight fear, sometimes quilt. It made him wonder what his wife had done “What’s wrong?”

Ino took a deep breath.

“I’m pregnant”

There had been many life changing moments in Sai’s life, but none topped that one. His wife, pregnant. He was going to be a father… probably.

“Am I the father?”

The answer to that question was Sai having to sleep on the couch for the rest of the week.

XXXXX

It had been months since then, and Ino was now in labor. Sai had been kicked out of the room, against his wishes, but Sakura had insisted that his insensitivity would only make things worse for his wife. Maybe she’d been right; Sai knew he still didn’t have a proper instinct on what words were considered okay when and what weren’t. He was studying hard though, both from books and in practice.

“Waa…” Sai looks down at Sarada, Sakura’s daughter, who’s tugging at his shirt. Naruto had shoved the toddler in to his arms not too long ago when he’d left to change his own son’s diaper “Waa-aa…”

“What is it, Sarada?” he asks “Is something wrong?”

The baby just raises her hands, like trying to reach for something. Sai blinks.

“I have no idea what she wants” he thinks, frowning “I don’t think I’ll be able to understand our baby, either.”

This wasn’t the first time he had these concerns, and he’d asked advice from Sakura, but she’d only shrugged and told that no one knew what to do immediately, that he had to “grow in to the role of a parent.” Sai honestly didn’t even know what that was supposed to mean.

“What if our child learns from me too much and becomes as hopeless?” he wonders “He’ll have a hard time making friends.”

“I think Sarada wants you to pay more attention to her, you know” Chouji, who’d just arrived with his daughter in his arms, says. Looking at the baby girl, Sai supposes that at least one of his fears was unnecessary; his baby would be part of Konoha’s legendary Ino-Shika-Chou; it would have at least two friends.

“Is that so?” Sai asks, just staring at the baby “…What exactly am I supposed to do?”

“I can show you” Chouji says, holding out his daughter to Sai “Hold Chou Chou for me.”

Sai takes the sleeping baby, watching as the bigger man picks Sarada off his lap. He can see the baby’s smile fade.

“Hello Sarada~!” Chouji says, making a face that Sai assumes is meant to be funny. Sarada however, seems to disagree as she starts crying.

“Oh no” Chouji panics “No no no, don’t cry!”

“Chouji has yet to grow in to the role of a parent, it seems” Sai thinks. In a way it’s a relief; the man had been a father for a while now, yet didn’t have a hang of it, so Sai wouldn’t have to hurry, either. But if even Chouji had trouble with it…

Another scream joins Sarada’s crying, and Sai notices the older baby had woken up the younger one.

“Oh no, not Chou Chou, too” Chouji whines “It takes a forever to calm her down!”

That Sai was not so eager to know, but it made sense; the girl had apparently inherited her mother’s temper. He just hoped that their baby wouldn’t inherit Ino’s… though the more it’d be like its mother otherwise, the better. Ino would be able to raise the baby in to a proper shinobi and tell him what to do, too.

Sai jolts as a third scream joins in, but this time it’s not a baby’s, it’s his wife’s. Again.

“It has been two hours already” he thinks. He’s read about childbirth, so he knows it can take a long time, but the wait is agonizing as he fears that Ino and the baby won’t be fine. Not that he has any right to complain; Ino obviously has it the hardest.

“It’s like a concert in here” Shikamaru says as he walks in, his baby in his arms “Troublesome.”

Sai cringes, seeing that the baby boy had been asleep, yet was now waking up. Another one to join the concert-

…Or not. Shikadai opened his eyes, frowning in annoyance, which Sai hadn’t known was possible for one so young, before closing his eyes again, seemingly undisturbed.

That was weird.

“Looks like we have Lazy Junior here” Naruto snorts as he returns with his son in tow “I’ll bet a dinner that his first word will be “troublesome!””

“Haha” Shikamaru huffs as the others laugh “But I’ll take you up on that bet; there’s no way Temari’s letting it happen.”

“We’ll see” Naruto laughs, then frowning “Why are Sarada and Chou Chou crying?”

“Chouji scared Sarada, and that made Chou Chou cry, too” Sai tells honestly, getting a frown from Chouji. Naruto sighs.

“Alright, Chouji, switch with me” he says, holding out Boruto for the bigger man to take “And don’t make my son cry while you’re holding him.”

“I won’t I won’t” the man assures, taking the boy as Naruto takes Sarada. Sai watches as the Hokage to be, yes, he’ll definitely be one eventually, coos at the toddler, swaying her up and down slightly, and soon the baby’s crying turns in to laughter.

It seems that at least one of them knew what he was doing. Sai was surprised by the fact that it was Naruto.

“Phew” Chouji was relieved “Sai, take Boruto. I’ll handle Chou Chou.”

Sai did, and watched the baby calm down as Chouji pulled out a bottle and started feeding her. Figures. But it did work.

He winces as Ino screams again, and hopes that it doesn’t upset the babies.

“…I think we should take the kids away from here before they start crying again” Chouji says.

“Might be a good idea” Naruto agrees, taking Boruto from Sai, balancing two toddlers in his arms “We’ll see you later, Sai.”

“Yeah” he mutters. He could’ve used the distraction from his worries, but he couldn’t ask them to stay; they had their own families to take care of. And in Naruto’s case, Sakura’s family too since the woman was aiding with the childbirth and Sasuke was off on a mission.

Sighing, Sai tried to get his emotions under control, wincing as Ino screamed again.

“Ino’s going to be fine, you know” Sai jolted, having not realized that Shikamaru had remained behind and sat down next to him. He saw Shikadai still in the man’s arms, his small face holding a frown again, but the boy didn’t let out a sound.

“I hope so” Sai says, not taking his eyes off of the baby “…Does he ever cry?”

“Our Dai? Mostly only if he’s hungry” Shikamaru laughs “Temari has been worried, but mom assured her that I was like that too when I was a baby.”

“Ah” Sai says “Lazy from birth, then. Is it a medical condition?”

“Shut it” Shikamaru answers “If your baby is anything like its mother, you might want to invest in some earplugs.”

“I’ll tell Ino you said that” Sai laughs, and Shikamaru glares.

“One doesn’t get friends with that attitude” he grumbles. Not too long ago, Sai would’ve thought the man was angry, but now he knew it wasn’t the case, not really.

They were friends after all.

XXXXX

Ino slumps back in her bed, exhausted. Eleven hours, eleven! She knew childbirth could last long, but she’d thought it’d be a few hours max. She should’ve read those books Sai had bought, too.

“Congratulations!” Sakura says, holding the newborn heir of the Yamanaka clan “You have a healthy baby boy!”

As tired as she is, Ino smiles, holding out her hands. Getting the hint, Sakura hands the baby over. Holding her child for the first time, Ino can’t help but get emotional as the tears start falling down her face.

Understanding the privacy of the moment and that they’re not needed for now, Sakura and Shizune leave the room, the former saying that she’ll tell Sai as she goes. Not long after, the fresh father enters the room. And stays at the doorway, unsure of what to do from here. All those books hadn’t prepared him for this.

“Sai, it’s okay to come closer” Ino says “He’s your son, too.”

Son. It was a boy.

Nervously, Sai does walk over, seeing the little bundle in his wife’s arms. The baby had its mother’s hair, he notices.

“Hold him” Ino says, holding the baby out, but Sai hesitates. He had never held a child that small before.

“It’s alright” his wife says “You’ll do fine.”

Sai smiles, though still unsure of himself, but it’s not like he could say no. Like Ino had said, this was also his child, also his responsibility, so he hesitantly takes the baby in his arms.

“He’s so small” Sai says. Babies always were, but somehow, theirs seemed smaller than he’d expected… but then again, he hadn’t seen one right after birth before.

“Maybe a bit more than he should be” Ino says, but after Sai looks at her in alarm, she continues with a reassuring smile “But Sakura said that he’s healthy, so everything’s fine. I’m sure he’ll grow up to be strong.”

“…Strong, huh” Sai mutters. He supposes their son will be a shinobi like them. That’s natural, of course, but Sai’s surprised how reluctant he feels about the idea. Somehow, the thought of his son willingly putting his life in danger out there doesn’t sit well with him.

“Yes” Ino says, smiling “But even so, we’ll always be there to protect him.”

“Absolutely” Sai agrees “…I just really hope neither of his teammates have inherited the tempers of their mothers; if they have, we’ll really have our hands full.”

Ino laughs.

“Well if our baby got my temper, he’ll be fine even if they have!”

Sai shivers.

“I think I might need some protection in that case”

Ino just laughs. Normally, she’d let Sai have it for a comment like that, but she’ll let it slide today. Only today.

“So…” she says “Do we still agree on the name?”

“We decided it together” Sai says “It’s a good name.”

Ino smiles, and right then there’s a knock on the door.

“Ino, can we come in?” Chouji calls “Chou Chou and Shikadai want to meet their teammate to be!”

Sai’s about to retort that the babies are too small to express wanting something like that, but holds his tongue. Not the time for that.

“Of course!” Ino calls back “Come meet our Inojin!”

[lady-divine-writes]

Coldflash one-shot - “Fatherhood” (Rated PG13)

Summary:

It's been six weeks since the arrival of baby Lisa, and Len isn't exactly handling things well. He seems to be pulling away from his husband and daughter, acting less like himself, and Barry is beginning to wonder - did they make a mistake bringing a baby into their lives? (2313 words)

Notes: So, I would put this at the super beginning of the series. Just a peek into where they began, and some of the issues Len had with the idea of being a father.

Part 7 of Father-hood

Read on AO3.

“Waaaahhhhh!”

…

“Waaaahhhhh!”

…

“WAAAAHHHHH!”

“AAAAHHH! Barry!”

“What?” Barry grumbles, barely opening his eyes even though he’s wide awake.

“Your daughter’s up, and she’s calling you.”

“She’s our daughter. But if you want to get technical, biologically, she’s your daughter. Probably why she complains so damned much ...”

“Waaaahhhhh!”

“Ugh!” Len rolls onto his stomach, dragging his pillow over his head. “Why were we so flippin’ eager to bring her home anyway? The hospital staff had this baby care thing on lock. We could have gone back and picked her up when she was what? Three? Four?”

“Len!”

“Waaaahhhhh!”

“Or you know what?” Len continues. “Felicity’s her mom. Why can’t she take her for the night shift and we pick her up in the morning?”

“We have full custody! That’s how surrogates work! Besides, Felicity lives all the way in Star City!”

“You say there like you can’t zip over there in three seconds and back.”

“Not with Lisa. It’s not safe for the baby.”

“How do you know if you don’t even try?”

“Waaaahhhhh!”

“I mean, Cisco can just whip up a pod or something you can carry her in and …”

“Come on, big guy.” Barry gives Len a shove that about shoots him out of bed. “Time’s a-wasting.”

“What? Me?”

“A-ha.”

“I’m not even awake yet!”

“You’re talking to me.”

“It only takes half a brain cell to hold a conversation with you.”

“Waaaahhhhh!”

“You know the drill.” Barry climbs out of bed, dragging Len by the arm. “She either needs a change or a bottle.”

“See? You’ve got it all figured out.” Len struggles against Barry’s iron grip in an attempt to scurry back under the covers, but he’s not going to win. Regardless of his deceptively slender frame, Barry has that pesky Speed Force on his side. It may not be the same as super strength, but the way Barry manipulates it, it does tip the balance in his favor. “So why don’t you just have at it.”

“Because, Len. It’s your turn!”

“Oh, come on, Bare!” Len wrenches his arm free, but only because his husband lets him go. “You can run in there, change her, rock her back to sleep, and be back here in ten seconds flat. I don’t get what the problem is!”

“Because that’s not the way we should do it! It’s been six weeks already, and I can count on one hand the amount of times you’ve gotten up to take care of her. Waking up in the middle of the night is a pain in the ass, but it’s also important. It’s a chance to bond with our baby!”

“I’ll bond with her during daylight hours,” Len grumbles, staring wistfully at their mussed bed with its comfy sheets and blankets.

“Waaaahhhhh!”

“It’s daylight somewhere.” Barry puts his husband in a halfhearted half-nelson and leads him to the nursery. Len stops resisting. Better to get this over with so he can get his ass back to sleep. He needs about eighteen hours of it to keep up with their baby. That’s part of why he’s making such a big fuss about getting out of bed.

Having baby Lisa in the house, Len feels himself slowing up.

Len’s not an idiot. He knows he’s getting on in years, but he doesn’t want to admit it. Who does? Hooking up with Barry on the sly, and then marrying him, had been such an ego boost in that department. To have a man half his age want him made Len feel like a teenager again. And a superhero to boot? If Len’s head gets any bigger, he won’t be able to fit into his t-shirts. But whereas Barry doesn’t seem to ever run down, Len finds himself getting winded more and more every day. Len has spent the past few decades planning heists, running from the cops, fighting Team Flash, even rescuing the crew of the Waverider and multiple Earths from destruction.

It took becoming a father to make him feel his age.

“Waaaahhhhh!”

Three steps into Lisa’s room and the two men know exactly what’s bothering their baby.

“Phew!” Len groans, head jerking involuntarily to the side. “Good night! What have you been feeding her, Bare? Gravy?”

“Baby formula.”

“Is it expired?”

“No,” Barry says, offended, though he never thought to check. That can’t be the issue. He bought it yesterday. Baby poop just smells … a lot.

“Waaaahhhhh! Waa-AAHHHHH!”

Lisa’s wails seem to rise in pitch when her fathers enter the room. Len expects Barry to blow past him and rescue their screaming infant, but he doesn’t. Len looks over his shoulder at Barry, of absolutely no help whatsoever, then back to his daughter, miserable and probably as exhausted as he is, with a load of wet yuck stuck to her butt.

“She needs you, Len,” Barry whispers.

“I don’t see why when she’s got you.”

“She needs the both of us. And right now, you’re up. Do your thing.”

“You want me to steal her a diamond?”

“Change. your. daughter. I’m not letting you put a foot back into bed until you do.”

Len sighs. All he wants at the moment is to climb into bed and slip back into the open arms of unconsciousness, but his obnoxious husband won’t let him. Tomorrow. He’d be awake and raring to go tomorrow. He glances at the Strawberry Shortcake clock hanging on the wall. 2 a.m. He sighs deeper. It is tomorrow. “Fine,” he says, trudging toward the crib. “I’m on it.”

Barry leans against the door frame and watches as his adorably grumpy husband plods across their daughter’s pastel pink throw rug, gathering things he’ll need as he goes. Normally Barry would toss himself on the grenade and do it, but Len hasn’t been himself lately. He’s not quite as witty, definitely not as devious. He sleeps more than usual, he has no appetite, and he stresses over the tiniest things. Plus, his sex drive has gone straight into the toilet.

The first two weeks after Lisa came home, things went fine. They had a rhythm going. They traded off duties - Barry went to work at STAR Labs during the day and Len stayed home with the baby. When Barry came home, he took over with Lisa so Len could have some time to himself. Len has other pursuits. Team Flash and Green Arrow both pick his brain as their ‘resident criminal consultant’, but he said he was perfectly happy as a stay-at-home dad. They began to feel like real parents. But bit by bit, something in Len started to drift away. He didn’t always answer his phone, and Barry found himself racing home to check on him. Things would be fine when he got there – Lisa fed and content, the house generally clean, but Len …

Some days he’d be working himself to the point of exhaustion. Other days, he’d be staring at Lisa with an unreadable expression on his face.

He just wasn’t Len anymore.

Looking at the situation through the lens of a scientist, Len seems to be suffering from postpartum depression. It wouldn’t be too unusual. Paternal postpartum depression is rare, but it does happen. And Len has the classic signs. He’s irritable. He seems at a loss in his role as a parent, determined every time the baby cries that something’s wrong with her.

Or that she hates him.

He doesn’t show up uninvited to STAR Labs anymore, nor has he tried to break into The Foundry in weeks.

He’s been pulling farther and farther away from life as a whole.

Barry would welcome finding out that Len had PPPD. At least, if Barry knew the cause of his behavior, they could decide on a course of action – medication, meditation, therapy.

Whatever’s going on with him, Barry has been praying Len isn’t regretting their decision to bring Lisa into their lives.

“Okay, little bug,” Len mumbles, negotiating their daughter’s kicky feet and unbuttoning her onesie, holding his breath when he breaches the seal of cotton holding back the bulk of the stench. “Let’s see what’s going on … good Lord!” Len pulls a face, blowing a raspberry through tight lips. Lisa stops crying. She stops kicking. She stares up at her father with wide, wet eyes and an o-shaped mouth.

“You need to stop eating cement, girl,” Len continues in a softer, teasing voice. “We can pave the streets with this BM.”

Lisa waves closed fists. Her lips tremble. Barry takes a step forward, afraid she might burst into tears again, but she doesn’t. The corners of her mouth lift slightly. It’s not the biggest or the brightest smile. It could also be gas. But when Len sees it, his whole face lights up in a way that Barry has been missing for weeks.

“Yeah. You might have your Papa beat in the full of poop department.”

Barry’s smile drops when he remembers that Len refers to him as Papa in front of Lisa. “Hey!”

“There you go,” Len coos as he cleans Lisa up and puts a new diaper on, wrapping the old one and tossing it in the trash without looking. “That’s it. Nice and clean. Feels a lot better, don’t it?”

Lisa kicks her legs in response and Len chuckles, carefully sliding one leg at a time back inside her onesie. He buttons her up, then wraps her in her blanket, swaddling her meticulously the way the nurses at the hospital taught them. He considers her a minute, rocking her with his palm pressed lightly against her tummy, but then he picks her up and walks the room with her, swaying in a lazy two-step towards the rocking chair in the corner.

“You know, if you leave her, she’ll probably go back to sleep.”

“Meh, I’m already awake, and I don’t think I’m going back anytime soon thank you very much.” Len slides into the wooden chair, setting it rocking back and forth with his heels buried into the rug. Barry smiles, watching the loves of his life sit together in silence – Lisa blinking up at her dad with drooping eyelids, Len gazing at his daughter as if she’s the biggest payoff he’s ever scored.

“Feeling any better?” Barry asks, padding across the room to be closer to the two of them.

“A little bit … maybe. The jury’s still out.”

“You know, you’re really good at this.”

“You think so?” Len swallows hard. “Because sometimes I wonder if …” He stops himself short of spilling his guts and giving voice to every doubt he’s had since little Lisa came home. She’s nothing like his sister was when her parents brought her home, that’s for sure. Regardless of Lisa Snart now, Lisa as a baby rarely made a peep. Or maybe he’s just not remembering things clearly. A dark cloud seemed to descend on their house shortly after, one that moved into his brain, obscuring certain details he’d rather not relive. No, his boisterous daughter is nothing like his sister, name notwithstanding.

He just prays that, in the long run, he’s nothing like his father.

“Well, this daddy thing has its moments, I guess.”

“Yes, sir.” Barry bites his tongue. Close. He was so close. But whatever’s bothering Len is in there somewhere. And if Len wants to talk about it, he will. Barry just has to give him time.

“Hey, I know she just dropped a huge deuce, but do you think … she might be hungry?”

“I don’t think so.” Barry puts a gentle finger to her lower lip to see if she’ll suck, but she doesn’t. Her eyelids flutter shut. She takes a deep breath in, lets it out, and just like that, she’s asleep.

In under a minute, and with no Speed Force powers necessary.

“I’m hungry,” Len says.

And even though Barry is thrilled that Len’s hungry after days of living on pretzel rods and Near Beer, he recoils. “How the hell can you be hungry with that smell still hanging in the air?”

“I’m sorry. I can’t help it. My hunger knows no bounds.”

“Neither does this stench.” Barry yanks the waste basket liner out of the trash, eyes flashing with a thin thread of red electricity.

Len’s brows pull together. “What are you doing?”

“I don’t want this in the house.” Barry’s voice cracks, static echoing as he phases with energy.

“Shhh! You’re gonna wake the baby!”

Barry steps out into the hallway and closes the door. Even through three inches of wood, the room crackles with the familiar heat of Barry tapping into the Speed Force. The seam around the door glows with a bright orange aura. It blinks out, but a second later, it comes back, and Barry re-enters the room. He puts a white paper bag down at Len’s feet, taking a seat beside it on the floor. He opens it and reaches in, the rank odor in the room overwhelmed by the delicious scent of meat and onions.

“What’s that?” Len asks, staring at the bulging bag dubiously.

“A double double animal style,” Barry says after a bite. “You said you were hungry.”

“There aren’t any In ‘N Outs in Central City.”

“No, but there’s one in San Diego.”

“And that’s where you threw out her dirty diaper?”

“Yup. In the dumpster outside the 7-11 next door.”

“Don’t you think that’s overkill?”

“I don’t really feel like waking up in the morning to the smell of stale diaper, do you?”

“Fair enough.”

“Besides, you can consider it an apology for losing sleep,” Barry says, throwing his husband a wink. Len smirks.

“Well then.” He reaches down for his share of the meal, but he doesn’t take his eyes off his baby girl. Not for a second. “If this is the way night time changing duty is going to go, I’m definitely on board.”

[carishinlove]

TSUBAKI CHOU LONELY PLANET CHAPTERS 52/53 TRANSLATIONS

Hey guys!! I decided to (try) translate two of the recent chapters. Don’t know if I’ll work on 54 or not, but I have time, so we’ll see! I know I have a few errors, but I tried the best I could! Also, If I hear any complaints, anyone talking mess about my translations, you’re coming at the wrong one buddy, so don’t try. ALSO: PLEASE DO NOT MESSAGE ME ABOUT TRANSLATIONS OR ANYTHING. I JUST DID THIS BECAUSE, SO PLEASE DO NOT ASK FOR MORE! THANK YOU AND ENJOY!!

NOTE: () - Thought bubble/smaller text

[ ] - Inner thoughts

Also if there is no name next to ongoing text, that same person is talking for awhile. So there’s no mistake.

TSUBAKI CHOU LONELY PLANET CHAPTER 52 TRANSLATIONS

CH. 52 Translations

Opening Page:

In fact,

I want to be with you, even in my dreams.

Pg. 1

Gorou:  Sorry, I only have those clothes.

Fumi: Don’t worry, thank you very much.

Gorou: It was fortunate that, by chance, I had somewhere to attend in that place...

Take this blanket.

Fumi: I am sorry

Gorou: (You're cold, right?)

Gorou: Do you want a hot drink..?

I have no milk at the moment...

Pg.2

Gorou: But here there must be chocolate...

Hm…

Fumi: Why haven’t you asked me anything…

... Nor has he asked me to come home soon?

Gorou: Good,

Fumi-chan, there's only one reason why you'd be this depressed

After realizing that I could not ask you to go back ...

Pg. 3

Gorou: If you feel uncomfortable going back,

Would you like to stay here until you feel better?

Fumi: EH?

Gorou: I have a sofa.

And if we put the partition there, it becomes another room.

Fumi: B-But. I do not want to give you problems ...

Gorou: In return,

You could prepare delicious food every day.

All right...

I have something to do, so I'll go out for a while.

Pg. 4

Gorou: …You can eat everything you want

In addition, there is a close convenience store.

Here you have the key.

Fumi: Oh, thank you!

Gorou: All right, I'm going to close the door.

Bye

Fumi: (It's been a while)

(Since I used a key…)

[Since that house was always Akatsuki sensei.]

(Sensei,

Surely at this moment he is out with Uneda-san…)

Pg. 5

Uneda: Waa! This food is delicious!

Do not you agree, sensei?

Akatsuki: Ah ...

Uneda: It's okay.

I don’ know what has happened but,

I'm sure Ohno-san will be back soon.

Akatsuki: … It's not that I'm worried about that girl.

Waiter: Excuse me,

Do you want to drink?

Pg.6

Uneda: Oh yeah. please.

Akatsuki: [She’s probably at that girl's house that looks

like a cat.]

Yoh: “You need something…?”

Fumi: ”I do not want these"

Fumi: “I give them back to you "

Akatsuki: [I bought it]

[Because I thought that would make her happy.]

Uneda: Hm...

By the way,

I have something important to talk about ...

Pg. 7

Uneda: It has been decided that Kaneishi will once again

be your editor

As soon as the issue ends.

Actually, it was supposed to be when Kaneishi had recovered from his injury, but

I insisted on putting it off until the issue ended, so I extended the deadline

I am a big fan of yours Akatsuki-sensei.

Therefore, being part of your work is an invaluable experience for me.

Fumi: ”I like the stories you write, sensei!"

Fumi: ”They thrill me and I have a lot of fun"

Akatsuki: (I thought

I would be happy that it becomes more popular.)

Uneda: So,

Pg. 8

Akatsuki: [The closer I get,]

[Less suitable I am to love others.]

[It is very unpleasant.]

Uneda: If possible,

If sensei agrees with that...

It would be useful for me to learn more,

Could we meet from time to time...

Just like today...?

Akatsuki: [Is this the result of not having considered the

feelings of the people, until now?]

Akatsuki: [What]

Akatsuki to Uneda: …Do whatever you want.

Akatsuki: [I wish for is]

Pg. 9

Akatsuki: [Your smile.]

[Nothing more than that.]

Uneda: Thank you very much for today,

Then I will contact you.

Akatsuki: Aah.

*Door opening*

Pg. 10

Yoh: What...?!

Pg. 11

Yoh: What?!

What is this!?

Wha...What happened!?

Akatsuki: …The girl...

Is she here...?

Yoh: Eh?

Fumi asked me if she could come but my dad came back

so I couldn’t do it, I told him via line but ...

Akatsuki: I get it.

Yoh: Is there something wrong with Fumi?

Akatsuki: It's okay.

Excuse me.

Yoh: Eh?

Wha-

What...

What just happened…?

Pg. 12

Fumi: ”Please do not go"

Fumi: ”What I am, is nothing more than"

Fumi: ”A girl in high school"

Oh

Gorou: Finally, you’re here.

Hell…Where have you been wandering...?

Pg. 13

Gorou: Hey, but you're soaked.

Akatsuki: …What do you want?

Gorou: Ah, ok ok.

Fumi-chan is in my house.

I found her in the park and for some reason she didn’t

seem to want to go back,

that's why for now she will stay with me in my house...

As long as the situation goes on.

Akatsuki: …..

Do as you want.

Gorou: Aaah.

Pg. 14

Gorou: I think I'll stop being considerate of you (Not sure if it’s “Ill stop thinking highly of you” or around that line?)

Tell me,

Do you think it's okay if I go out with Fumi?

Akatsuki: …Huh?

Gorou: Until now, I had been half joking, but as you are

now, she is too good for you.

Gorou: Akatsuki,

Pg. 15

Gorou: It's the only place that girl can come back to,

right?

But you can’t even take care of her.

And, to make things worse, you tell me to do what I want.

I can’t leave Fumi-chan with someone so irresponsible...

Pg. 16

Gorou: So...

See you on Monday.

Pg. 17

Akatsuki: *Pants, pants* ~~~~~~……..

*Door opening*

Gorou: I’m back ~

Pg. 18

Fumi: Oh, welcome.

Gorou: So... It's cold outside, right?

? hm?

?Hey? Have you already changed your clothes?

{You even tied your hair.}

Fumi: Oh, yes.

After all, I think it would only bother me.

I do not want to cause any problems...

Gorou: No problem.

I already told Akatsuki.

Fumi: Eh?

What, What did sensei say…?

Gorou: Ah?

He said it was fine.

Leaving that aside, I bought puff pastry cream.

Fumi: (I

I see…)

Gorou: Do you want the normal or the double cream?

Fumi: Eh!? Well, the normal...

Gorou: Okay.

Pg. 19

Fumi: [Even though I didn’t want to go back, I can’t

believe how empty it makes me feel that I'm no longer

important to him.]

Gorou: This is for me?!

Fumi: I just used what I found...

Gorou: Wow! You are perfect.

Fumi: It is not a big thing...

Gorou: No, no, no, no.

*Grab*

Gorou: Do you want to become my wife?

Fumi: Ahahahahaha

Pg. 20

Gorou: Then, I will call you when I return home.

Fumi: (Incredible ... Exactly the opposite of sensei.)

[Sensei can barely walk in the mornings…]

[A zombie tomorrow.]

Fumi: (Hm... I knew I can not rent a house if I have

debts.)

(First of all, I can not get a financing contract, since I'm in

high school.)

Pg. 21

Fumi: [I should tell dad…]

[Do not.]

[Better not.]

[He would worry unnecessarily]

[In addition, I must be responsible for my actions.]

(Yes.)

[Anyway]

[I have to return]

[To that house.]

[It is right.]

[I’m sure]

[How will I get used to it?]

[I can’t continue depending on Gorou-san's kindness.]

(At least)

(I will prepare something delicious as a thank you.)

Pg. 22

Fumi: Kya- }

Yuki: Waa!

Fumi: Ouch~

Yuki: Sorry.

Are you alright?

Fumi: Oh, no, I'm the one who should apologize.

Yuki: Do not worry, it was not intentional.

Katsura: Oi…

Did you know if this can be used for the Nabe Tsuyu*?

(Tsuyu (dipping sauce) is necessary to make or eat a variety of japanese cuisine such as Soba, Udon, Tempura, Nabe (hotpot dish), Nimono and so on.)

Pg. 23

Katsura: So,

Do you not even know that...?

Pg. 24

Fumi and Katsura: !!!!??

TSUBAKI CHOU LONELY PLANET CHAPTER 53 TRANSLATIONS

CH. 53 Translations

Opening Page:

Let go of half loves, little girl.

Pg. 1

Yuki: Wow, so you do know each other ...

In that case, take your time to chat!

I will take care of the purchases!

Fumi: (That)

[It was what he said, but…]

(…This

This is uncomfortable…)

Pg. 2

Fumi: [I had not seen her since that time…]

Fumi flashback: [Accept this, please!]

Katsura flashback: Wha-…

Fumi: (Aaaaaah!!

How can I break the ice at a time like this…?!)

Fumi: [Eh-]

Fumi: …T-Tha-

Katsura: At least  take the water, poor girl. (not sure if I said this right?)

Fumi: …Hey

The person from a moment ago, is your boyfriend?

Pg. 3

Katsura: Ah?

Of course not.

He is just an acquaintance with whom, by pure chance, we hung together today.

Fumi: Oh, so that’s what it was.

It just seemed strange to see you with that casual appearance when

you're accompanied by someone Katsura-san.

Katsura: What?

Can I not relax a bit, at least on my day off?

Fumi: No, that’s not it.

Katsura: …Don’t tell me.

You felt relieved that you thought I got a boyfriend ... right?

Aah??

[It's a shame, girlie!]

Fumi: I didn’t think about that.

Katsura: Damn... How can you think I would choose that, when my guy is Akatsuki-sensei?

That's why I can not stand those who relate everything to love.

[They see two people together, and they think they are a couple]

Yuki: Achoo! Achoo!

Ah, I’m sorry.

Pg. 4

Katsura: Ah!

More important than that!

What's with that woman called Uneda?!

Fumi: …Aah

Katsura: I don’t care if it's the temporary editor or whatever you want

to call it, but

I detest women like her!!

Katsura: The other day she came To the bookstore and said,

Katsura Quotes Uneda: ”Please take care of Kibikino-sensei"

Katsura: It is an insufferable... Does she believe she’s his wife?!

I’d take better care of him!!

Pg. 5

Katsura: Women like that appear because you allow it!

Curse...

Fumi: …But,

It is possible that Uneda-san

Would be better for sensei

than I.

Pg. 6

*Stretch*

Fumi: OOOOOUUCCH!!!!

Katsura: How can you say such stupid things?

Fumi: That hurts, Katsura-san!

Katsura: Listen up!

I was in love with him for two years!!

Two years!!

Do you have any idea how valuable two years are when you turn 25?!

(ME: As a matter of fact, I do now lol)

Katsura: And just so a little housekeeper would suddenly appear and

take it from me.

Pg. 7

Katsura: And despite that, now you wave your white flag only because

that insignificant woman appeared.

Is that what Akatsuki-sensei is worth to you?!

And what about my feelings, now that I gave up?! (This could be worded differently, I’m sorry)

Fumi: Bu-but

Even sensei

He has been kind to her since the beginning,

Unlike other people.

I also recognize that she has a lot of motivation as an editor.

Pg. 8

Fumi: I, on the other hand, can only take care of domestic chores.

Katsura: Well that's true

Fumi: Because of my age and my position, I am not suitable for him.

Katsura: And to make matters, worse you have debts.

Fumi: I can not help thinking that it will come to the moment when

sensei realizes it

And he regrets having chosen me and not Uneda-san...

That's why maybe I should step aside, before that happens.

I've always been thinking about that ...

Katsura: So,

What you say seems pretty accurate, right?

Pg. 9

*Stretch*

Fumi: OOOOUUCCHH!!!

Katsura: But there is a huge error (problem) in this.

And that error (problem) is that

If Akatsuki-sensei wanted an adult and hard-working woman, he would

surely have chosen me in the first place.

I'm more attractive than her, after all.

But sensei,

He chose a girl with the face of an old woman good for nothing and full

of debts.

Katsura: You know why?

Pg. 10

Fumi: *Shake shake*

Katsura: After all, it is something that I don’t even understand.

So, why do not you ask yourself?

Katsura: …To me

I always liked those cold eyes

and that expression of overwhelming bitterness.

Pg. 11

Katsura: That's why, the first time I saw them change,

Was when he was with you,

He seemed worried,

And his face felt gentler.

Katsura: I think Sensei had never seemed so beautiful to me then.

And even so

Your...

Katsura: Do not be intimidated by someone as insignificant as Uneda!

Fumi: Wait, Katsura-san...

Katsura: If you want to lose it so much, give him back to me…!!

Fumi: EEEEHHH!!!

Pg. 12

Yuki: Whaaaaaaat...?!

Katsura: Come on, take out the key to the house!! I will make a duplicate!

Fumi: Stop! Stop Please!!

Yuki: Seriously, I thought something had happened ...

Fumi: …

Yuki: Even if  were just kidding, be a little careful.

Fumi: (Actually, she seems capable of making that duplicate…)

Katsura: They are raffling Bakukimi products !!

How did I not realize..?!

I'll be a moment!

Fumi: (She went…)

Yuki: When she gets like this, she stops caring about everything else.

Pg. 13

Yuki: It's hard to imagine when you see her working, right?

Fumi: It is.

Fumi: Have you known Katsura-san for a long time?

Yuki: Eh? I've known her for about two months.

Fumi: Ah! Really?!

I thought you probably knew her before.

Yuki: Unexpected, right?

It was not when I met her but,

Yuki flashback: (Where is this book…)

Katsura flashback: (It must be this one here…)

Yuki: After meeting with her about 2 or 3 times, I began to notice her

personality.

I think that, for some reason, I was relaxing with her. (She felt more at ease with me?)

Or, rather, I realized that we understood each other very well.

Pg. 14

Fumi: [They understood each other very well]

[each other.]

Yuki: Although

I guess it's not very convincing if someone says it to you for the first

time.

Fumi: It’s not that.

Yuki: By the way, you are ...

Fumi: Oh, my name is Ohno.

Yuki: Ohno-san, where do you know Katsura-san?

Katsura: Are you Kouhai* in college?

(A kouhai is the guy calling people senpai. For every senpai in the world there is akouhai, and vice-versa.)

Katsura: Eh…Oi,

Even though she looks older, that girl is still in high school.

Yuki: EH!! I-I'm sorry, I thought you were definitely more than 20 years old!

Yuki: Can’t really say that about Suzume?!

(NOTE: kind of confused on how he says that, but he is talking about Suzume and her looks)

Katsura: You're only making it worse.

Yuki: Leaving that aside! What happened to the draw?!

Katsura: Nothing good.

I finished in that store.

Yuki: Wait...You spent a lot of money again?

Katsura: Come on, nothing happened.

That's what salary is for.

Yuki: Oi, don’t say such irresponsible things.

Katsura: Oh, better take my leave. (Again another confusion)

Pg. 15

Katsura: I bought you

a gari gari-kun*

(Garigari-kun (ガリガリ君, literally "Mr. Crunchy") is the name of a famous Japanese ice pop brand and its mascot, created in 1981 by the ice cream company Akagi Nyugyo based in Fukaya.)

Yuki: Oh, thank you.

I see you remember my taste very well.

Katsura: Of course, since I am a responsible woman.

Yuki: Well… If you say it yourself.

Katsura: At least let me say that.

Divine justice.

Yuki: Ouch…

Katsura: [Sorry.] Hahahaha

Katsura: Oh, that’s right.

I bought you something too.

Fumi: Eh!

You did not have to bother!

In the bag: Mix of traditional sweets. The small text does not read very well, but it is more or less for grandmothers who yearn for the past.

Katsura: You like those, don’t you?

Fumi: Ca-

Pg. 16

Fumi: Can I take them...?!

Katsura: Eh-

Fumi: For a long time I wanted to try them!

Fumi: (Eh!! !? Mochimo-naka?! Are monakas stuffed with mochi?!

Amazing!!)

Fumi: (Ah! These dorayakis with almonds also look good!!)

Fumi: But I do not know if Sensei likes traditional sweets...

But I would feel bad eating them by myself.

Yuki: How nice.

Katsura: Eh, Ah, yes ... How nice that I cheer you up…

Fumi: Yes, thank you very much.

Yuki: Ohno-san, do you want to join us to eat Nabe today?

At Katsura-san's house.

Katsura: Aahh?! Just a moment!!

Fumi: Oh no. I must go now.

Yuki: Yes! Children should always go home!

Katsura: Hahaha

Fumi: I won’t tell them that I ran away from home.

Katsura: Goodbye.

Do not ever show up on my way again.

Yuki: I will help you with that.

Katsura: Don’t worry, I’m fine.

Yuki: Come on, give it to me.

Pg. 17

Fumi: [Its the first time]

[That I see that expression]

[To Katsura-san.]

[She probably feels comfortable when she is with that person.]

Yuki: ”I realized that we understood each other very well"

Yuki: ”It's strange"

Yuki: ”Since it did not seem like we had anything in common"

Pg. 18

Fumi: [I]

[I know that feeling.]

Pg. 19

Fumi: [More than my parent,]

[More than my friend,]

[More than all the people I've met until today.]

[Someone whose heart is in sync with mine.]

Gorou: I’m here...

Fumi-chan?

Pg. 20

Gorou: Fumi-chan

Fumi: Welcome home

You're early

Gorou: Oh yeah...

I have to go to a thank-you party, so I just came to leave my things...

Fumi: Ah-

Gorou: I see that you are ready to go back home.

Fumi: …At the end,

Pg. 21

Fumi: I thought I should speak properly with sensei.

I think I had lost sight of the things that really matter.

Because

I want to be someone who can understand Akatsuki-sensei, at all

times.

Gorou: Already...

I'm not hesitating.

Gorou: Very good, very good.

Pg. 22

Gorou: That is precisely why you are Fumi-chan.

At last you seem yourself.

Fumi: Sorry to worry you...!

Gorou: The best thing would be if you could tell him at this moment,

but

Unfortunately, today is that thank-you party.

Gorou: I think Akatsuki won’t be back today, because he will be

staying at a hotel near the place where we are going.

Fumi: EH!

Gorou: Yes... But

Pg. 23

Fumi: In-In this case, I'll wait for you at home...!

Gorou: Ah, wait a moment.

Gorou on phone: Hello, Editor in Chief?

He has been saying that he would like to say hello to Ohno-san's

daughter, is that right?

Gorou on phone: Yes, Yes. Yes it is.

Can I take that girl for today?

Of course, I'll send her back early.

Yeah, right.

Oh, understood.

Well, I'll call you again when we get to the place of the event.

Thank you.

Gorou: All right.

Let's go to the party.

Fumi: EEEEEHHH!!!

Fumi: S-Someone like me should not

Gorou: Don’t worry.

It is common for people to take their family members.

Fumi: But, they will be angry if they notice.

Gorou: And there we will be Akatsuki and me, so there will be no

problem.

Pg. 24

Gorou: All right,

Gorou the sorcerer will take Cinderella to the party!

Points to Fumi: *Super worried*

Fumi: [I…]

[I wonder if this will work out …]