#and then if it turns out I have space for three I either want felicity or addy

[dentpx]

This is a good set up because I have the space for exactly one more AG doll and then I have to stop

[sea-owl]

Wait, I wanna write more on the hero au for Gregory x Lucy x Felicity but we gonna go a little bit into the Featherington side too cause ya'll know I'm a hoe for the Featheringtons.

Original post found here.

As said in the last post the Featheringtons are a family of mind witches. They really don't have any alliances, their powers are used for self serving reasons. Portia can go either way of good and bad depending on what gets her to her end goal. Prudence and Philippa really didn't have a goal besides just making every day life easier. Penelope let herself be persuaded by Eloise into the hero life until the incident that led to everyone thinking she's dead. After that she took a page out of her mother's book where she now spies on everyone and sells the information off to the highest bidder as Lady Whistledown. Very few people know she's alive, and there's three secrets she does not sell off.

One of those that knows she is alive is Felicity. When Penelope recovered enough she immediately set to training Felicity. While Penelope does not blame Gregory or Hyacinth for what happened to her, that blame is for a different set of Bridgertons, she still believes something similar is going to happen to Felicity. Better to be prepared, and her training is what ultimately saved Felicity that night.

The first time Felicity ran into Gregory again it was about a year after her fall. He was on a mission with his older brother Colin. Felicity was there with Penelope about to sell off some information.

The two were about to enter the building when Lady Whistledown stopped her sister.

"Wait," Lady Whistledown commanded.

Black Cat raised an eyebrow at her sister.

"Feel the different minds around you," Lady Whistledown instructed.

Doing as her sister said Black Cat lightly touched the minds around her. She felt the buyer, his guards, the driver, and -

Black Cat snapped her eyes open. "Oh hell no."

Lady Whistledow agreed. "Best in our interest to leave."

Just as the girls were turning around a flash of movement cut them off.

"Sorry ladies but can't let you go anywhere," Gregory said as he stopped in front of them. "Wait . . . why is there two of you?"

Without hesitation Black Cat rushed forward her clawed gloved hand wrapping around his throat. "Hello darling, I'm Black Cat."

Gregory forced himself out of her grip, her claws had ripped his costume and left scratch marks. "You work for Lady Whistledown?"

Black Cat shrugged. "Why not? We have a bit in common."

Black Cat could hear the fight behind her, apparently the other Bridgerton had caught up and was now fighting with her sister. Well this deal was blown to hell as her mother would say. Time for the sisters to find a new one.

Black Cat rushed forward again to push Gregory back. She used her magic to slow him down by creating physical shields around her. If some of those shields sent a shock to him that was fine by her. She wanted him to hurt, just as he hurt her.

"Is being fast all you really are darling?" Black Cat taunted, she was in his personal space again. "I feel sorry for your girlfriend."

"Black Cat let's go," Lady Whistledown ordered. "There's nothing here for us."

"Bye bye darling," Black Cat whispered in his ear before making her escape.

When Felicity met with Lucy again it was complete accident. Felicity just happened to be meditating on the roof of Lucy's apartment complex learning her new target's mind. Lucy just so happened to walk up to the roof.

"Oh hello."

Felicity froze. She was in civilian clothes, but thankfully she remembered the white wig.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know there was anyone else up here."

Black Cat turned to face Lucy.

"Of course not darling, it's not as if you could see through the door, and I don't exactly live here."

Black Cat knew she had to get out fast. It was one thing when she had her mask, but now she runs the risk of being recognized.

"Wait, you don't live here?" Lucy asked. "Then how did you-"

Black Cat cut her off by invading her personal space. In Lucy's ear she whispered. "You're in a relationship with a hero, yet question how someone got on your roof? Really darling you would think you would know better."

Moving quickly Black Cat ignored the flushed look on Lucy's face and jumped off the roof.

When Lucy would later tell Gregory about the white haired stranger he tensed.

"We don't know much about her but her name is Black Cat, she works with Lady Whitsledown. We think she might be her apprentice."

Lucy nodded in understanding. Lady Whistledown had so many people in her pockets, looking to buy information off her. Gregory's third brother, Colin, was relentless in pursuing her. Something she said during her early days when she first appeared left him believing she knows something about . . . Felicity's . . . older sister Penelope and what happened to her that night. If she does she's not giving up the secret easily. Having an apprentice means she's growing more confident, which is not good based on the product she sells.

"She was quite um, flirty," Lucy said.

Gregory felt his own cheeks flush, remembering how Black Cat was not afraid to get close in his, and apparently Lucy's, personal bubbles. "Yeah she can be."

[imagines4thefandoms]

Oliver Queen X Wife! Reader

requested: @purpledragon04​

Sorry this took to long i just couldn't think of anything good enough. hope you like it.

Can you do a Oliver queen x reader? where they’re having a gender reveal party

Word count:2456

Warnings: NONE....slight fluff

“What time is it,” William asked shoving a big bite of pancake in his mouth.

“Son, its only 8am,” Oliver laughed at his son’s excitement.

You walked in the kitchen and sat down next to William. Oliver slide over a plate of pancakes and a cup of coffee. After taking a sip you looked at your husband.

“What time is it,” you asked excitedly and nervously.

Oliver and William laughed as your husband walked over to you and places a kiss on your temple while placing his had on your ever growing belly. Today was the gender reveal party that Thea and Facility planned. You and William were excited to find out what the gender of the baby was, while Ollie was just excited to be having a baby with the love of his life. After all the bad in his life he was happy to have this good thing/things.

“Its just another party,” Oliver said taking a sip of his coffee.

“Ollie, your not looking forward to finding out the gender of our baby,” you asked tearing up.

“Sweetheart, I don’t care if we are having a boy or girl. I just want to have a happy healthy baby with the love of my life,” Oliver replied rubbing your back.

Oliver was right, it doesn’t matter if you were having a boy or girl. Honestly, your would have rather stayed home with the two men in your life but if you did Thea would drag you kicking and screaming.

After Oliver calmed you down from your crazy hormonal episode, the three of you finished breakfast. The party wasn’t until noon so there were four hours to kill.  William went back to his room to play some video game while you took an shower and Oliver clean the kitchen.

“(Y/n) you ok,” Oliver asked after you had been in the shower for an hour.

He walked into the bathroom and found you sitting on the floor of the shower crying. He climbed in and pulled you into his arms letting his t-shirt and sweatpants get soaked. Oliver and you just sat there for a couple minutes.

(N/n) what’s wrong,” he asked.

“What if i’m a bad mom,” you asked Ollie looking over your shoulder.

“Impossible, i’ve seen the way you care about William. I know that you will be a great mom,” he responded laughing.

You gave him a small smile and laughed when you noticed that he was soaking wet. Oliver helped you up and out the shower while he got out of his soaking pjs and took a shower himself.  After getting dressed in maternity leggings and a (f/c) T-shirt dress you laid in bed and continued reading the book on your nightstand.

When ollie was done, he got dressed is just jeans and a t-shirt and went to his office t work on some mayoral things. The three of you were doing your separate things til William ran into your room excitingly.

“Its 11:30 come on lets go,” William said basically bouncing off the walls.

When you found out your were pregnant you were worried not about what Ollie thought but about what William thought. You were scared he would think that this baby would be more important to him but when you and Oliver told him he was excited to be a big brother.

After you got out of bed you and William ran, well William ran you wattled, to Oliver’s office. Oliver laughed at the sight of his pregnant wife and son jumping with excitement and telling him to hurry up. He finished looking over the budget for the police (idk what mayors do) and closed his computer.

The car ride there consisted of William going back and forth over either wanting to have a baby brother or sister, and you staring into space imagining your life with a baby boy then again with a baby girl. Spoiler alert both were full of sleepless nights and tears from you. Oliver held your hand and shot down williams dream to play some video game with a little brother.

“William, you won’t be able to play Modern Warfare with a newborn,” he laughed.

When we pulled up to Oliver’s childhood home, Thea, Felicity and Dig came outside and greeted us. Thea walked past her brother and gave you a big hug. Oliver faked a hurt look while Thea ignored him and then went to hug her nephew.

“OMG you’re glowing,” Felicity stated pulling you into a hug.

“I think the term you are looking for is gigantic,” you said returning the hug.

“She’s right (y/n) you look amazing,” Oliver said placing a kiss on your temple.

“You have to say that cause you are coming home with me.”

“No it the truth. You are the most beautiful person in the multiverse.”

“Wow you’re cheesy Mr. Queen. Now lets find out if we are having a little girl or another boy. “

The two of you walked into the Queen Mansion. Moira was standing in the parlor by a table with little paper pins of the supergirl symbol and flash symbols. With a sign that read “will baby Queen be Supergirl or flash?”

“Omg this is too cute,” you said picking up each symbol.

Oliver looked over at his sister and Felicity. Dig laughed at Ollie’s reaction an pined a flash symbol to his shirt. William grabbed a flash symbol then went to hug Moira.

“Whose idea was this,” Oliver asked when you put on a supergirl symbol.

“Ours,” Kara and Berry said walking out of the living room.

“Kara, you’re here,” you exclaimed running or more likely waddling towards your best friend.

“I would never miss the baby shower,” she responded hugging you.

After you grabbed a supergirl symbol which matched the one Kara was wearing and she pulled you into the living room which was decked out in supergirl and flash decorations also pink and blue balloons. There was the famous first picture of Kara flying and a picture of the Flash above the fireplace. All of our superhero friends were here including our DEO friends from Earth-19.  It  was nice seeing everyone when it didn’t involve a worlds ending crisis.

Oliver walked over to you to take in the decorations and the fact that he has to look at a dozen pictures of Barry and Kara. You looked over at your husband and saw that he was wearing a supergirl and flash symbol on his shirt. Before you could comment on the buttons Sara walked into the mansion with the legends.

“Sara, how can someone with a time machine always be late,” you joked hugging her.

“Mick,” Sara replied as an excuse and with that one word you completely understood.

After ten minutes of catching up with Alex, Kara, and Brainy, it was time to play some games. Thea grabbed you and Oliver and brought you two to the front of room. The first game was guess the baby food. Kara and Felicity walked around the room with a plater of baby food jars with no labels and tiny plastic spoons.

After playing guess the baby food, baby bingo, baby birthday pool, and having everyone write wishes for baby queen, and scarfing down three sandwiches, two cake pops and some fruit it was time for the big reveal. Thea directed everyone out to the backyard while Dig and Barry brought out a wooden target with the words ‘Supergirl or The Flash’ in red and blue. There were three black balloons pinned to the plywood. Felicity stood infant of the target and explained that the colors in the balloons will match the superhero costumes so red is for the flash and blue is for supergirl. Thea brought Oliver a bow and three arrows.

“Really speedy,” Oliver asked smiling.

“Its cute ollie,” Thea replied patting his back.

You laughed at how the green arrow is gonna fire an arrow to find out if the baby is “supergirl” or the “Flash”. Oliver wouldn’t admit it cause he is a stubborn bastard but he thought the idea was cute. You went up behind Oliver and wrapped your arms around him and placed a kiss between his shoulder blades.

“Don’t miss,” you teased him.

“You think your cute,” he retorted as you let him go and stood behind him.

“I know I am.”

Oliver shook his head and let out a small laugh as he grabbed an arrow and pulled the drawstring back. Everyone beside William and I were standing three feet behind Oliver watching to see what color explodes from the balloons. Oliver let the arrow fly and it hit the black ballon on the right and white paint exploded. Oliver reloaded the bow and took aim. William and you were anxiously waiting to see if the next shoot would be red or blue. Oliver released the arrow and shot the balloon on the left. The balloon released white paint again. In that moment you mentally cursed Felicity, Thea, and Kara for setting up the reveal like this. The suspense was killing you.

“Babe come here,” Oliver called to you.

You walked over and Oliver handed you the bow. “Sweetheart, you know I cant shoot a bow like you can,” you explained trying to give the bow back.

“I will help you,” he said pulling you back towards him.

Oliver grabbed the last arrow and placed it on the string. He placed his hand over your on the bow and guided your other hand to the string. The two of you pulled the sting back and Oliver helped you relax your shoulders.

“Take a deep breath and focus on the target.”

“You sure you don’t want to do this yourself.”

“Be quiet and focus.”

Oliver helped you correct your position and placed his hands back over yours. You and Oliver took a deep breath and he whispered “Let go” in your ear. The arrow flew across the yard and landed center of the last balloon. Blue paint exploded from the balloon. A girl. You and Oliver were having a girl. You dropped the bow and turned around and wrapped your arms around your husband. William ran over and hugged the both of you.

“Congratulations,” everyone yelled.

Moira and Thea came over to y’all and pulled you and Oliver into a hug. It didn’t matter what color came out of the balloon because you knew no matter what this baby would be loved and protected. I mean her god mother was freaking supergirl.

“You happy,” you asked your husband.

“Yes, now I don’t have to watch you dress my baby in flash onesies,” he said placing a kiss on your temple.

“I can still do that just to annoy you.”

“I guess it will be cool to have a little sister,” William said. You laughed at his reaction and pulled him into a hug.

After a couple minutes, everyone went back inside to finish the party. The party lasted another hour and Moira left to finish some business for Queen Consolidated and the rest of our non-super friends left. Team supergirl, team flash, the rest of team arrow, the legends, and Kate Kane stayed. Since we didn’t have to keep any secrets now we decided to open some presents.

Kara gave us a cute supergirl onesie with a little cape and a bib that read ‘stronger than supergirl’. “Kara this is too cute,” you hugged your best friend again. “Please this is nothing. Im going to spoil her so much.”

Alex gave us a cute teddy bear. “Thanks Alex,” you said giving it a tight squeeze. “Its just like the one my dad gave me when I was younger.”

Jon gave us some martian baby toy. It looked like a block of bedrock. “Its an old martian toy. It can shift to what every toy she thinks about.” “That is really cool Jon, thanks.”

Brainy gave us a cd with classical music to play during bedtime because it has been proven to increase intelligence. “Thank you Brainy.” “It has my favorites. Playing it every night will increase the baby’s intelligence by 45%.”

Kate got us a lot of diapers and pacifiers. “I didn’t know what to get so,” “No Kate this is great thanks.”

The Legends gave us a bunch of baby toys the stole from time. Some from the past and some from the future. “These are really cool.” “This one was from Queen Victoria’s nursery,” Nate explained. “Having these won’t mess up the time line will they?” Oliver asked. “Probably,” Mick said.  “I don’t know,” Nate said.  “No,”Sara said. “We will find out,” ray commented.

Caitlyn gave us a little baby booties/socks that monitor the baby’s vitals when she is sleeping. “Caitlyn this is awesome. Thank you,” “your welcome.”

Cisco build a little mobile with all the our symbols and it played “twinkle twinkle little star” “This is pretty cool Cisco,” Oliver stated spinning it around. “It also can create a protective force field around the crib at the push of this button,” he said handing you a small black remote. “Ok, that’s great. Hopefully we never need it,” you said looking closely at the mobile.

Iris and Barry gave us of course two flash onesies and a little green arrow one too. “Wow thanks Barry,” Oliver said in a monotone. “Come one ollie, these are really cute,” you pleaded holding up one of the flash ones.

Ralph gave us a cute little dinosaur plushie. “Thank you Ralph. This little guy is really cute.”

Thea and roy got us a little pink blanket. “Speedy is that,” Oliver asked.

“Yea mom helped me find it.” “Ollie what is it,” you asked taking the blanket from him. “This is her old blanket. Thea would never go anywhere without it.” “Thea this is so sweet.”

Dig and Lila got us a bunch of baby thing that they said saved their lives with baby Sara. “Trust us you will need these,” Lila explained. “Thanks you guys.”

Felicity got us a bunch of little books. “These are perfect Felicity,” you thanked her.

After presents, Oliver, dig, Barry, and William loaded the car up with all the stuff and the three of you left to head home. The car ride home was quiet; William was playing his video games and you and Oliver just held hands in silence. It was perfect. The silence only broke one time when William commented, “Just so you know I'm not playing dress up or attending a tea party.” You laughed and looked at your husband. The two of you just knew that William will end up doing anything for his little sister.

[atomicblasphemy]

Eda becomes some kind of flying taxi service

Amity: So I told Malphas he needed to have a talk with Gary about our coffee break space.

Emira: Mhmm.

Amity: I mean, for one, Gary never cleans after himself. Like, I once saw him leaving his mug dirty for over a week. A WEEK. It was disgusting. It was just sitting dare on the table for days. I didn’t want to clean it, I’m not a doormate. But it was dire and I had no choice. And don’t get me started on the fridge situation. My lunch has been getting smaller by the day and I can’t seem to figure out the culprit.

Emira: That’s nice, Mittens. Isn’t it nice, Edric?

Edric: What?

Amity: Will you guys pay attention? I need some advice on...

*Windows cracking”

Edric: What the...

Hooty: AMITY FELICITY BLIGHT! IT IS I, HOOTCIFER, HARBINGER OF THY DESTINY. COME WITH ME AND I SHALL REVEAL WHAT JOYS THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR THEE.

Amity: I... What?

Hooty: DOTH THOU DARE DEFY FATE? *Swallows Amity*

Emira: ... What just happened? Wasn’t that Eda’s house demon? You know, the one we met before Grom?

Edric: I think it was. I’m not sure though, he sounded more... ominous...

SEVERAL EMOTIONAL MOMENTS LATER

Luz: It’s early... Do you really have to go already?

Amity: Yeah... I still have to finish homework, and I have work tomorrow. But I’ll come back here tomorrow... If you’re okay with it, that is...

Luz: YES! I mean... yeah, I’d love that...

Amity: Anyway... I guess I should get going, we’re not exactly neighbors after all. See you tomorrow then.

Luz: Wait, I have an idea. *Turns around* EDA!

Eda: *Not stopping her flight practice* What?

Luz: Do you think you could give Amity a lift back to her place?

Eda: Oh? Not walking your girlfriend home? Thought you’d be more chivalrous.

Luz: *Showing that Amity’s tomato like properties are infectious* EDAAA!

Eda: Sorry, sorry. But yeah, sure. *Picks up Amity and flies away at neckbreaking speeds. She soon slows down to a more reasonable pace* So... Amity, before I give you that whole “What are your intentions?” scare there’s something I’ve been itching to ask you. What made you chose to dye your hair of all colors, and how did Odd-alia react?

Amity: Luz... Me... Girlfriend...

Eda: Ugh... Don’t make me regret making harmless fun of young love, kiddo.

ONE AWKWARD TAXI EDA FLYING SESSION LATER.

Eda: *Placing Amity on the Blight Manor’s front porch and looking at the two bewildered faces watching her* Sup. *Turns to fly away* Oh right, I guess purple here is in not in the mental state to give any explanations.

Amity: Small ceremony... Human realm... Only friends and family... Boscha is not invited...

Emira: Are you... Edalyn Clawthorne?

Eda: Last I checked I was.

Emira: You look different.

Eda: Oh right... Look, it was a very eventful night so let me start with the simpler one. King, you remember him, right? Tiny, angry, looks like a cat, was the MC at the last Grom along with Goops.

Emira and Edirc: Yeah...?

Eda: He’s harnessing all the powers of yelling. I guess all children his age kinda do that but he went above and beyond and actually learned how to make things go boom with his voice alone, and that’s why both Luz and your sister are still alive. And now I’m realizing I should probably go hide all those Death Metal records I got in human realm. Can’t risk turning my son into a weapon of mass destruction. Not yet.

Edric: That’s... nice... I guess?

Emira: How about Mittens?

Eda: Right. She and Luz are an item now. It was adorable, I called her Luz’s girlfriend then I think it finally really hit her and that made her go all catatonic on me. Sorry about that.

Edric: WHAT?

Emira: Okay, okay... So came out with it? Ed and I have some scores to settle.

Eda: I... Both, I guess? I don’t know, it was sort of at the same time. But I don’t want to spoil it for when she recovers. So I guess us three are kinda family now, huh? Tangentially at least, like you’re my nephew and niece-in-law or something like that, I don’t know.

Eda: The important thing is: there’s a huge waterway under my house and I think it is actually part of my property. Now I need to figure out a way to find out how big that place actually is without letting town hall know so my taxes won’t go up. Can’t push my tax evasion skills. I mean, can you imagine it? The Owl Lady, the most successful outlaw in Boiling Isles history: arrested for fiscal crimes.

Emira: Okay... That’s... cool.

Edric: Yeah... Not to pry though, but what happened to you?

Eda: Oh... Me? I got very high. Not on purpose. Then I became a Harpy. Also not on purpose.

Emira: ... I’m sorry but I’m not following the cause and effect relation between those thing.

Eda: Neither am I. All I remember is: Hooty spiked some cookies; I revisited that time I gauged out my dad’s eye, also not on purpose; then when I push my ex away (You know, Raine Whispers, current head of the Bard Coven, lead a small revolutionary guerrilla, now under mind control. Oh, yeah, guess they’d make to sure to keep it under wraps, anyway...)

Eda: Then it got pretty weird. I got trapped by this tall hooded sun and moon figure and I’m not sure whether that was an actual memory (I did get arrested a few time after all) or if it was just a hallucinogenics induced manifestation of the subconscious trauma of being persecuted for years by the state. Anyone’s guess to which was it.

Eda: And then I became Icarus, fell into the sea, and became a piece of paper. Then I was at the beach, the piece of paper was also there, but that’s not important... I hope... Anyway, so, my curse was there too an for a moment there I thought we were gonna play some chess, but nah.

Eda: I did have an epiphany though. The sky changed colors and now I’m a Harpy. Gotta a lot of stuff to process right.

Edric: *Wide eyed and mouth agape* Mother of Titan...

Emira: *Same as her brother* Do you... need a hug or something?

Eda: Ehh... Don’t worry, I’ll get through. I mean, I’m a badass Harpy woman now, what else could I want? I appreciate the thought though. Anyway, I’ll get going, Luz has probably been stuck in the same place ever since I left. Was nice seeing you guys. *Turns around*

Edric: WAIT, EDA.

Eda: Yeah? What is it?

Edric: Can you take me flying a little bit like you did Mittens? Pretty please?

Emira: *Elbowing her brother* EDRIC!

Edric: What? There’s a tall and friendly winged lady standing in our front porch and calling us family...

Eda: Kinda family.

Edric: Kinda family. And we only went flying, on dad’s staff mind you, like twice. And I mean, look at her. That’s clearly a person with next to no regard for speed limits or any form of flying safety. *Turns to Eda* I mean that as the highest of compliments, by the way.

Eda: *Nodding and smiling* Well, I’m not one to brag... But you’re on point there.

Edric: *Turning back to Emira* See? It will be fun. *Turns back to Eda while making puppy eyes* So, pretty pretty please?

Eda: Eh... What the heck, why not? I do need to get a better hold of this flying thing after all. Fair warning though, I only had these for about an hour, I’m not taking responsibility for any loss of limb or life. *Picks Edric up and place him on one of her shoulders and turns to Emira.* You sure you don’t wanna come with? There’s plenty of room.

Emira: ... I never said I didn’t want to...

Eda: *Placing Emira on her other shoulder* Alritty then, make sure to hold on tight to my hair, just don’t fall into it. Can’t promise I’ll find you if you do. And up we go. *Takes off at neckbreaking speed*

Eda: So... I tried that to Mittens herself, but she was too lost in elation to form coherent sentences. What’s the deal with her hair color change? Why did she pick that specific shade of... pink? Lavender? Purple? Whatever, I was a tad curious about that choice coming from one of Odd-alia’s offspring. So either of you can shed some light on it for me?

Emira: Eh, what can I say? Our little Mittens is growing up, coming out of her shell. I mean, if you told me a month that she’d have a girlfriend by now I’d call it bullshit. Though I would have guessed Luz as being the most likely candidate. In any case, I’m pretty proud of the steps our baby sister is taking, not gonna lie.

Edric: Yeah... Same. But I can’t shake the feeling that it is at least in part an act of rebellion against mom. She did always have that weird fixation with Amity’s hair after all...

Eda: Hum, I see. This actually takes me to my follow up question. How did your mom react when she saw it?

Edric: *chuckling* Oh, I thought she’d have a stroke right then and there.

Emira: Yup. Never saw mom that mad. You’d think the two of us would be the ones to cause it but nope, Mittens beat us to it. Again, I’m a proud big sister.

Eda: Hehehe Sounds about right. You two are the troublemaking type then huh?

Edric: That’s a way of putting.

Emira: We like thinking of ourselves as practical entertainers however. We are in the Illusions track so it comes with the territory. Buuut...

Edric: We indulge in some prankery every now and then, and there’s no one better at it than us.

Eda: Is that so? Ever get in trouble for it?

Edric: Sometimes... When we (kind of accidentally) cause more property damage than intended because SOMEONE botched their end of the spell and caused Bump’s office to almost go up in flames.

Emira: Awww. Ed, I told you already. Don’t beat yourself over it. Accidents happen. You’ll do better next time.

Edric: HEY!

Emira: Anyway, Eda. Why were you asking about Mittens’ hair?

Eda: Oh... You guys are going to love this. I think. Anyway, did you know that me and your parents attended Hexside at the same time?

Edric: Yeah, I remember mom seeing one of your wanted posters a while back and calling you “Ewdalyn Clownthorne” or something like that.

Eda: Ah, haven’t heard that in a minute, Titan those were the day. Anyway, as you might have guessed by now me and your mother we... had a bit of a rivalry. Unfortunately, I couldn’t top the nickname she gave me, best I could do was Odd-alia. No offense, but Blight doesn’t give much to work with in terms of puns, can’t get funnier than that. Especially when thrown at her.

Emira: None taken. And yeah. I mean, it is fun when people call us stuff like “The Blights of Hexside”. But it is kinda sad to know we’ll never get a nickname as cool as Owl Lady or Lord Calamity.

Eda: Oh, my fame still precedes me huh? You know, I think the three of us will get along just fine.

Edric and Emira: Yup, we sure will.

Eda: Anyway, flattery aside... Part of the reason why I love poking your mom with a short stick was, other than how aggravated she’d get and how surprisingly good at paying in kind she was, the fact that she was in the Oracle track. You see, that made her a challenge. And given how she would actually prank me back (successfully, mind you, I have no shame in admitting that) I feel like like we actually a weird sort of friends, or at least we reached some kind of agreement that we were fair game for each other. And trust me, she was ruthless, and very good at escalating things.

Emira: Wow...

Edric: That sounds nothing like the mom we know. Other than the ruthless or the escalation part, that is still true.

Eda: Yeah, anyway. Part of our little game was keeping it hidden. Neither your dad or my sister actually ever realized what was going on until... well, I’ll get to that.

Eda: Anyway, so some lovely day I notice how weirdly obsessed with her hair Odd-alia was. This gives me some ideas, but I know I have make this the mother of pranks, so I decided to just keep a watch, to figure out what the best way to go about it would be. And I was also making those smaller pranks, something to throw her Oracle powers off-balance, you know?

Eda: Well... Back in the day your mother wasn’t monochromatic as she is nowadays. She’d circle through all colors you can think off on her accessories (which she used an ungodly amount, and no judgement it just never seems physically possible). But I noticed that there was one very specific color that she never got anywhere near her.

Edric and Emira: No way...

Eda: And as I said, she was weirdly obsessed with her hair... And as top student of the Potions track making hair dye was child’s play for me... So... do the math... And guess what very specific color was? I may be bad at color names, but I won’t ever, EVER, forget that particular shade.

Edric and Emira: No... freaking... way...

Eda: Yes... freaking... way... I mean, seriously, the first time I saw Amity’s new hair I had to do a double take. The resemblance was just too uncanny.

Emira: And what did she do?

Eda: Well... For a couple weeks there I thought I’d have to place a restriction order on her or something like that. Ultimately the two of us, along with Lilith and Alador (they were our attorneys, no they were not qualified for the role.) sitting across from each other in a very formal looking table, signing a contract. An actual freaking contract setting clear limits to our mutual pranks, like what was off limits like her hair or my then partner, how long was the maximum period a prank could last, so on. Surprisingly enough that was Al’s idea.

Eda: And let me tell you, that was probably the toughest negotiation I ever been a part of. Shame it was not long before I dropped out so never could really put it to use. You know, sometime I think this actually made Odd-alia realize she wanted to be a business woman. I mean, before that she’d go off about how she’d join the Emperor’s Coven all the damn time.

Edric: Wow...

Emira: I second that. Really, wish I had brought something I could take notes on. You completely blown anything we ever did out of the water.

Edric: No wonder she never told us that. You know what? I think I’m dying my hair that color first thing tomorrow.

Emira: Can we tell Amity this story?

Eda: Are you two actually thinking of antagonizing her? Are you crazy? First off, she’s your mother, she holds power over you. All you’d accomplish is getting grounded. Not to mention that she has decades of experience on you, even if she wasn’t your mom, she’d demolish the two of you. No offense, you’re still young, naive, you lack guidance in the ways of the pranksters.

Edric and Emira: *Dejectedly* Ohh... You’re right...

Eda: Hey... Don’t look so gloomy. I see a lot of potential in you, in both of you. *Sighs* I can’t believe I’m gonna take more kids under my wing... But.... Have you guys ever heard of the Bad Girl Coven Initiative? We annoy our foes into submission.

Edric and Emira: WE’RE LISTENING.

Eda: Heh... We’ll get along just fine indeed.

[mightynonagesimus]

15 Minutes (What If I Told You)

ANGST WITH AN UNHAPPY ENDING. DO NOT READ FOR A GOOD TIME. This is a supercorp oneshot I wrote after I hear the title song. Very Angsty, you are warned. Trigger Warning : Angst, mentions of suicidal thoughts, depression, MAJOR CHARACTER DEATH. Obiviously. This is pre-apocalypse.

11:27,

Monday, July 13th

Lena's Loft,

National City.

It was very unnoticeable at first. Solar flares from a nearby galaxy far enough that they didn't think much of it. A few explosions a couple galaxies down hardly warranted the DEO's involvement. Besides, Earth had different things to worry about. The Team had different things to worry about. Probably. Lena wouldn't know anymore, would she? After the Fortress, she had taken extra precautions to block every single one of them out of her life. She didn't need anyone. She just needed to save the world.

And to be honest? Lena was ashamed it took her that long to figure it out. It wasn't like her. The  Prodigy of her generation. The CEO of one of the biggest Tech Corporations in America. The sister of Earth's most infamous criminal mastermind.

If she had just gotten out of bed, checked any of her projects, called her secretary back. But she was too numb, too empty. Lying in bed, unable to move or think. Wishing to die. She couldn't even muster up the energy to lift a hand, it was just... pathetic.

After a week, Jess had had enough. It took Sam flying over from Metropolis to even get Lena out of bed. Sam had no idea about Kara, of course. But it didn't take long for her to march over to Alex's apartment and threaten her friend until the truth spilled. Lena had never seen that furious. Over Lena, of all people.

She didn't deserve Sam.

***

Sam had been pestering her all week. Bringing over food and staying with her every night. Lena felt like an asshole, taking up so much of her time. That was the main reason she returned to L-Corp after a week That was when she found out about the satellite malfunctions. Some radioactive signature was messing with their signals. That was fine, this was a problem Lena could fix, right? Easy.

Wrong. Turns out the signature was something her systems could recognize. Kryptonite. A giant chunky piece of Kryptonite and debris about the size of a small moon. A Krypto-Comet that was hurtling at half the speed of light from deep space, directly towards Earth.

Mondays, right?

Of course, she contacted the DEO immediately. They were horrified. For a Secret Government Agency handling the extraterrestrial, they had some shockingly bad tech. She wasn't really surprised.  Also, they might have been slightly distracted with Leviathan. Lena had spent the next three days cooped up in a lab with Brainiac 5 desperately trying to come up with a way to deflect it or destroy it, or anything really. Usually, an Anti-Kryptonite suit and Supergirl would have taken care of the problem real quick, but considering the size of the comet and the excessive amount of Kryptonite on it, it just wouldn't be possible. There was no time to call for back-up from Argo City either, with the satellites malfunctioning.

The last five days were utter chaos. Naturally, the news hit the public hard. It was pandemonium, but how could you keep a goddamn meteorite impact from them? The skies were already turning purple.

Lena however, was still in her lab. Over the course of three days, a complete whirlwind of people checked in and out of her lab. People she had never met before. People she had never even heard of. Cisco Ramon, Caitlin Snow. A scientist named Raymond Palmer with some very interesting ideas on molecular structure and shrinkage. Felicity Smoak. Alex pulled her aside during lunch to explain about the Multiverse.

What. Even. What.

Okay.

It felt like her brain was exploding, but she was their best chance of saving the planet. She had to pull it together. She can't show any weakness.

Alex called for another excruciating meeting the second day.

"Attention! I have some news." Alex exhaled slowly. "Sara?"

"I'm sorry guys, but it's bad. We were unable to prevent this event from not occurring. It happens rarely, but this can't be prevented by modifying the timeline. It's inevitable. We have to find other ways."

"What if we move your population to our Earth?" Harry? Larry? The guy in red spandex asked.

"More than half out Earth's population have doppelgangers in yours. It will mess with the balance of your universe. We can't move them. How about finding an empty universe?"

"Kara is out looking for one, but every Earth we found was either ruined or full. That's too long a shot, I don't think we'll find one in time."

"Well, theoretically-" Brainy hesitated - "My ancestors had a way of...dealing with planets that disagreed with them. They would shrink them down and have them as trophies."

"We can't shrink the planet, the gravitation of the solar system would collapse and we would fall into the sun." Lena muttered distractedly, fiddling with her pen.

"Let's not do that. Any luck contacting Superman?"

"Radio silence. The radiation is messing with communications."

"We could push it through a wormhole, or a portal, but-"

"The comet will be here before we could begin to build it. What if we transport our people to a different planet?"

"Seven billion people on a different planet without nearly enough food and water?"

"Or maybe into a space station?"

"We have four days. To transport seven billion people. And essential items."

"Yeah, that's not gonna work either."

"Okay, let's keep at it guys." Alex clapped her hands together. "There IS a way, we just don't know it yet."

***

Yeah, there was no other way. The days went by in a whirl. They came up with theory after theory, but it was too late. Their world was going to end. Nothing can stop it.

During the last day, Alex ordered every non-Earth-38 person off the universe. And even though there was some resistance, everyone sombrely agreed it was the best move.

A surprising lot of friendships were made that week. World-ending threats tend to do that, apparently. Lena personally never wanted to experience Nia and Zari Tarazi try to cook a pizza together ever again. They almost blasted the dough halfway across the DEO building and into the miniature Nuclear Reactor.

Lena would never, not in a million years, ever admit it; but she wanted what they had.

She couldn't fathom that comfort, that mutual understanding of trust that Nia shared with Zari. How did they build it? How could they rely on it, when they had been strangers only a week ago? How could you share your secrets, yourself, with someone who could potentially turn against you, someone who could be lying through their teeth like Eve was, someone who might hate you just because of a name that you can't change?

Not that anything could be done now. It was too late.

They were gathered at the DEO training facility off-city to say their final goodbyes, except Lena was at L-Corp. It took her a while to accept it, but this time it was real. There was no hail mary, no high stake final masterplan left in her. She was going to die, along with her planet.

So it was the perfect time to break out her finest bottle of scotch.

The L-Corp building was deadly silent. Any other day, Lena would have enjoyed it. The building was almost never fully empty, with the security team and the journalists and the interns who never sleep. Today it put her on edge.

Because she did this. Lena caused all this, it was Lena's fault. She was the reason-

'Alex.'

The tiny blue screen lit up on her desk, ringing insistently. The tech mogul was almost relieved that something interrupted.

The silence. Interrupted the silence.

Lena brought it to her ear.

"Hello?"

"Lena!? Where the hell are you?" For a second, Lena relished the panic in Alex's voice. Of course, it probably was over the world ending, but she wanted to pretend that it was over Lena. That Alex actually cared about her.

"What do need me to do, Director Danvers?" Her voice was meant to be posh and clipped as always, but it came out slightly more drunk than she wanted it to.

"Wha-Nothing! I just couldn't find you anywhere so I thought I'd check up on you." Aww, Alex. You don't need to pretend, everything is gonna go to shit anyway.

"Is Sam still there?"

"Uh- Yes. Yeah, she's here. Do you want to talk to her?"

"Nooo." Lena considered it. "No, definitely not."

"Lena, are you drunk?"

Lena exhaled loudly. "Why did you call me, Director?"

"Because the universe is ending!" Lena cringed away from the phone. That was too loud for her sleep-deprived brain.

"I don't see your point." She huffed back.

"Goddammit. Look, Kara and I will keep looking for a solution, you don't need to worry, okay? You know she never gives up. Nia and the others-"

"Please just stop." Lena begged.

"I-Stop?" Lena could picture Alex's face. She hated that she did.

"I don't care! About anything, anymore. Just leave me alone. Goodbye, Alex."Sorry I pulled so much shit.

Lena switched it off and chucked it across the room, onto her couch. It bounced over the cushions and fell over.

She was alone, now.

"Hope?"

"Greetings, miss Luthor. What can I do for you today?" Hope was always here. Lena's only constant companion through everything. Even if it did wear the face of her traitor friend.

"You understand that this will be the last day?"

"Yes, miss Luthor-"

"Lena. Call me Lena."

The robot cocked its head to the side. Why did Lena program it so life-like?

"Lena. Would you like for me to call anyone else?"

"No, thank you. How long is it now?"

"Seventeen minutes and three seconds."

Lena cradled her head. It felt like her brain was swimming in the alcohol. At least she won't have to feel this tomorrow.

"Execute terminal orders and shut down, please."

"Executed. Goodbye, Miss Luthor."

The hologram blinked off. Lena swirled the last of the scotch in her glass. It didn't taste nearly as good as she hoped. She set it down in distaste.

God, this was all her doing, wasn't it?

If only Lex could see her now, pushing everyone away, alone and lonely on top of the empire that was built by her psychopathic family. Everything he said that day was true.

And it was all Lena's fault. Because she chose to trust Kara. She chose her new family. She wanted that. She craved that. Even when she knew she could never have it. She's always craved that. This wonderful 'family' she could love with all her heart. They would have been her people, they would love her no matter her last name. They would support her through hell and back. She fucking fantasized about how they would be there for her every birthday, about how she would shower them with love and affection, about game nights and road trips. She didn't give a shit about romantic, platonic, she just wanted someone to be there at the airport when she comes back from month-long expeditions through Europe.

It all seems so naive now. She was still here, on top of an empty building, because of her choices. Because of her stupid, stubborn pride. She must have chosen this, right? This is what she wanted. To be alone. Sixteen minutes from the world ending. She had chosen to be alone, bitter, angry at herself for doing what she had done.

Fuck, no.

But it was too late. Too late to accept her family, too late to enjoy them. Too late to save the world. Too late to apologize.

Too-fucking-late.

Fuuuuuuck, she messed up. What she wouldn't give to go back in time, find her younger self and...eughh. Berate her? Explain? Mug her? Lena had no idea.

This scotch tastes like shit.

Why is time so slow?

Tick.

Tock.

Her life is shit. She would like a refund.

Tick.

The alcohol is really getting to her brain, cause she found that funny.

Toc-

The entire floor rattled when the door flies open behind her. *

"What the fuck do you think you're doing?!" Oh hey, Sam. You did come.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing?" She crossed her arms, raising one brow at her CFO.

"Lena, no." Sam stomped over and wretched the glass away from Lena.

"Goddammit, leave me alone, Sam!" Why I am so shitty all the time Sam?

"No." She repeated firmly.

"What?"

"No. I should have done this a long time ago when I first got back here. I'm not leaving you alone, I'm not letting you drink yourself to death. I'm not let you wallow in your misery when the world is fucking ending and you still stubbornly refuse to put down your pride. I'm not leaving!"

She walked over to Lena's hidden break room and poured the scotch down the sink.

"But I-"

"No. Listen, you dumbass. You've been through some horrible, messed-up shit. Your brother almost destroyed the world multiple times. Your mother was a narcissistic fucking psychopath. I cannot even begin to understand how you feel most of the time. Having every move scrutinized by the world, feeling like you can't trust anyone."

"I trust you."

Sam paused. "I-What?"

"I trust you, Sam. You may be the only person who I can be myself around right now. And-And I know that isn't fair to you, me having constant breakdowns. I keep you from your life and Ruby and I hate it-"

"Lena!" Sam takes her hand. "You can always tell me about it. Everything. And I won't lie, helping you through your trauma isn't easy, especially since you refuse to meet a therapist. But that doesn't mean you can keep everything to yourself. It means that your pain, it matters to me. It is a piece of you that you have shared with me, and it isn't going to fucking evaporate the second I know about it. You matter. Your trauma matters. To me, and to everyone at the DEO. I want to help you." She inhaled deeply.

"And I can't promise that everything is going to be fine, I don't even know if we'll exist an hour from now, but I can tell you this. You don't deserve all this pain. That doesn't mean you don't have it. You are not responsible for what your family did, and you are not responsible for your mother's death. You don't deserve to die alone and at odds with everyone you love."

"Sam, but I-"

"And I'm sorry, I know Kara and the others messed up. But they love you. They are your family now. And I can't watch you punish yourself over this. Lena, it's time to let go."

Tears lined Lena's eyes. "I can't do it, Sam!"

"You can."

"I can't! I trusted Kara with everything. I shared every piece of me with her. Love and family were supposed to cure me! I made myself completely powerless, I was vulnerable, and she threw it back at my face. I cannot make that mistake again!"

"It's not fucking magic, Lena! Love isn't a cure-all. It doesn't mean everything bad that ever happened disappears! It only means that you aren't alone in your fight. Family and friendship, it  takes work! You have to see them, and they have to see you. And Kara and the others, they love you!"

"If they fucking love me so much, why do they keep hurting me? Why am I the only one who gets lied to?!"

"It not that fucking simple! Everyone there has their own stuff. We're fucking terrified all the time. And now everything we ever feared is happening, and we can't even fucking be together!"

"What, now you're on their side?!" Lena heard the words spill out her head as messily as she felt, drenched in bitterness and insecurity. "Should've known that you would turn on me too."

Regret fills her immediately, but Lena drops Sam's hand like a searing pan.

Fuck.

"How can you think that?" Sam's voice was quiet now. Her eyes, Lena realized, were also filled with tears.

This is it. This is the moment I chase away the last person who's ever cared for me. One last screw over that will be wiped after the comet hits. One more mistake in my endless list.

Sam raised her arms. Lena reflexively leaned back, her heart hammering against her chest. Shit. She knew how this goes. She's seen enough fights between Lillian and Lionel end. She could hear the resonating crack from almost two decades ago. Lionel might have loved Lena, but he wasn't all that kind to Lillian.

You deserve this. You failed. You failed to protect yourself,  failed to protect the universe. You are never going to be enough. You failed both your families, you failed yourself.

Warmth burst around her. Sam wrapped her arms around Lena.

What in the world... why was Sam hugging her?

Shit, this feels nice.

"Sam?"

"There are no sides, Lena. That's the whole point. You are a part of this family, and we will fight like hell to keep it that way." Sam stroked her hair. "We aren't perfect, we are flawed, we hurt each other. But we aren't alone. We love fiercely, and we have each other's back. We take care of our own. And you are one of us. We love you. We are here if you accept us."

Lena sniffled against Sam's shirt. A fierce rush of gratitude rushed through her. Sam has always been her rock, her constant for almost six years now. She's had her back so many times. Her best friend.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Sam." Lena sobbed. "Shit, it's too late. I can't fix everything. I messed up. I messed the whole thing up-"

"Hey. There's still time." Sam drew back and swiped at her eyes. "You can still call Alex. We have... seven minutes left."

Lena nodded, biting her lip.

"Thank you, Sam."

She shakily dialed her phone.

"Alex?"

***

"Hi! Aunt Lena!" A little bundle of joy crawled into Lena's lap and gave her a hug.

Ruby.  She always meant a lot to Lena. Maybe because Lena never really had an aunt while she grew up. Maybe because her hugs were made of pure love; because Ruby is the most wonderful little human Lena ever met. Maybe because there was no tension, no tears involved. Ruby felt like hugging Lena, so she did.

It was the first time Lena cracked a smile in over a year.

"Hello, little monkey. Did you eavesdrop our whole fight?" She mussed her hair.

"Hey! I'm fourteen now. Not so little anymore." She carefully flattened her hair down. "And I know what swear words are, Auntie."

"Do you, now?"

"Yes!" She huffed. "Mom said she's making Mac and Cheese. She said your fridge was full of atrocious rabbit fodder and she hid about seventy percent of your kale." Ruby's voice dropped low and she whispered conspiratorially. "It's behind the eggs, don't tell her said that. Not that we'd be needing it anymore." She glanced sadly at the red skies.

"Are you okay, little monkey?"

"Aunt Lena, is there really no way to destroy the comet?" Ruby asked her.

Lena's heart broke. At that moment, she would've given anything to be back in her lab three weeks ago when they first found the comet. To have found a way out of this catastrophe.

She smiled sadly at Ruby. "I'm sorry, monkey. There's nothing we can do."

How do you tell a child that you failed her, that the entire world was gonna burn? That they were all going to die?

"It's okay, Aunt Lena. I love you." She kissed Lena on the cheek.

The elevator bell dinged and Lena could hear the doors open with a hiss. Her's mouth got just a little dry.

"I'm going to go help mom with the cheese. You should talk to them."

"Wait, Ruby-" she was gone. Great.

Lena exhaled shakily and got to her feet.

Here goes. Oh god. Why did I do this? This is a bad idea, shit. Shit, shit, shit. They still hate me why did I call them, they- Alex.

It was Alex. Suddenly, it wasn't the monsters that she was facing. It was Alex and Kelly and Nia and Brainy. Her family.

Alex stumbled forward first. "Lena, I-" She interrupted herself by crashing into Lena-"I'm so fucking sorry. I should've told you when the whole thing with Reign happened, but then Kara told me that she had to work things out between you and Supergirl, and then I lost my memories for a while-" Lena realized with a jerk that Alex was sobbing against her shoulder.

"-I feel like such an awful friend." Alex's voice cracked.

"Ale-Alex! Hey, it's okay." And for the first time, Lena really meant it. "I'm sorry too. I just felt-"

"Betrayed. I know. I'm sorry." She repeated, stepping away from Lena. She gave Lena a small smile. Smaller, but much like the one she gave Lena the first time they met in Kara's apartment. Tired, but it gives off so much warmth that Lena could feel it. It reminded Lena of all the times they spent together. All the days when they made small explosions in her lab and teamed up for game night.  When Alex took her to self-defense classes and showed her fancy tricks with her guns. She was Lena's best friend. She is.

"Brainy, Nia." God, it felt good to- Lena couldn't even describe it. She missed this. Her friendship with Brainy was one of the few things she treasured most in the world. He was the only one who could ever match her intellect, her best lab partner. Her friend. And to the lonely twelve-year-old genius from the Luthor family, that was everything. And Nia was one of the bravest people Lena knew, unafraid to be herself and face the world. Fighting every day for the greater good. And she was more than that, she was the one who taught Lena that she didn't have to hide who she was. Lena will be a Luthor her entire life. She just had to embrace it. Or as Nia had framed, quite eloquently; 'own it.'

Kelly, and her crazy therapy skills. Lena regretted not spending more time with her. She was such a wonderful person. Kelly was the silent rock of their group, Lena could see that now. She was always there and she knew exactly what to say. In Lena's eyes, she was magical. So determined in supporting her friends through everything. The sweetest, most bad-ass person out of them all.

Shit, Lena was crying now.

"No more little boxes, Lena." Brainy whispered in her ear, and she giggled. Even Lena was surprised by that.

He was right. No more boxes. She has three minutes left to live and she wasn't going to crush herself with the weight of her stupid boxes.

There was still one more person-

"Kara. I'm sorry Lena, she- couldn't make it." Alex squeezed her shoulder. "Barry's Earth- they don't have a Kara. She can live there and not disintegrate. I told her to go with him. I'm sorry, Lena."

Lena's lungs filled with lead.

"Yes, of course." Lena's voice sounded far away even to herself. "She deserves to live there, in peace. I'm sorry, excuse me."

Something akin to panic swelled over her. Anxiety? Sorrow? Feelings were not Lena's strong suit. Panic attacks, unfortunately, she's already dealt with. She backed away from the room, almost knocking Sam over in the process. "Uh- Bathroom."

The door slammed behind her, and Lena splashed her face with cold water.

She would never get to apologize, she would never even get to see Kara again. Her best friend. Her soulmate. And now, she would die without Kara knowing- knowing that-

Because Lena only ever hated herself. She could never,ever hate Kara.

She curled into a ball on the floor, trying to physically hold herself together so she didn't fall apart. She couldn't fall apart, not right now. Her heart was racing and her breathing was short and distressed.

"Lena? Open the door." Alex's voice, carried in through the door.

"I-I'll be right out!" Even Lena knew they won't buy it. She could hear her voice crack with emotion.

"Lena? You don't have to go through this alone, I just told you that." Her voice was soft, and Lena chose to listen.

"I know it's hard. I know you miss her, and I can't imagine what it must feel after everything that happened between you and Kara. It was difficult for me too. I'm leaving her alone, just like everyone else in her life. I'm leaving her and her world is ending again, and we can't do anything about it. I hate it. I broke my promise. She doesn't deserve this pain, and you don't either."

The door creaked open. Suddenly it was Alex surprised by the hug.

"Alex, I'm so sorry."

"Lena." Alex wrapped her arms around the small brunette. "Trust me, she knows. She knows that you love her."

Lena sniffed and pulled back.

"That's just it, Alex." Lena's voice grew softer. "She doesn't know that I'm in love with her."

"You're in love with me?" A small, hopeful voice echoed from the back of the room.

The blonde superhero stepped forward with the sunny smile Lena loved. "Sorry I'm late but, I bought emergency Potstickers." She waved a bag at the rest of them.

"Kara-" The word was out of her mouth before she realized it, but then it was Lena in Kara's arms and nothing else mattered. She buried her head in the Kryptonian's shoulders.

"Hey." Kara tucked a strand of hair behind Lena's mismatched eyes, and Lena fucking melted.  "You know, I've been doing some research." Her voice was low and breathy.

"Oh yeah?" Lena's eyes shined as bright as the red skies outside. Kara thought she could see the whole galaxy in her them.

"I think I finally know what Quantum Entanglement means." She rested her forehead against Lena's and smiled softly.

Lena's heart was racing. She reached up and caught Kara's lips in hers.

"I love you too, Lena."

***

"System error. Terminal order simulation failed."

Lena gasped and fell to her knees.

"Redirect operations to internal systems." She gasped, tears streaming down her face.

Just a few more, a few more minutes. Please. I need to hold her. I need to be held by her.

"Simulation failed."

"No! No, no, no. Please. Try again." Lena fumbled with her screen.

"Simulation failed."

"TRY AGAIN, GODDAMMIT." Lena cried, her voice full of raw emotion.

"Simulation failed. Shutting down. Thirty seconds left in final countdown."

"NO! I SAID FUCKING TRY AGAIN!"

"Twenty-five seconds."

The air was getting hotter. She could already see the streaks of green and red raining down from above outside Kara's window.

"Nooo." She sobbed. "Please, I need to see them. I need to hold her. Please." She crumpled on the floor, holding Kara's green hoodie in her hand. The last piece of her Lena had. The worst part is, Kara wasn't dead. Just lost forever, to Lena.

"Ten seconds."

"Please."

"Five seconds."

"I don't want to be alone." She whispered.

.

.

.

Here's my twitter, go yell at me. https://twitter.com/Keroessa24

[obscure-sentimentalist]

flommy, “I have pillows, blankets, supreme comfort, and all that’s missing is you.”

[So this one’s been nagging at me for probably about a year now? It had been sitting half-started for ages, as I never really knew how to carry out the idea I had, but I did my best in coming back to it now. Bit lighter on the Flommy interactions this time, but in exchange we get Tommy and Thea siblingness and some Tommy thoughts.]

From the Comforting Cuddles starters list

“What do you think about ‘I have pillows, blankets, supreme comfort, and all that’s missing is you’?”

“Do you need me to take you to the ER?” Thea deadpans from her perch on the cushioned window seat in Tommy’s room of the hotel suite without looking up from her phone. “Because it sounds like you got one of those Hallmark cards from the airport gift shop lodged in your throat.”

Tommy slowly lowers his own phone and rolls his head towards his sister, expression settling into one of loving annoyance. “What I’m getting out of that is that I have a future in the greeting card industry.”

“The future you should be more concerned about is the one where I spin-kick you in the head before the emotional trauma of hearing my brother workshopping romantic texts to his girlfriend sets in.”

“Hey, I’m keeping it perfectly PG,” Tommy defends, pointing at Thea with his free hand for emphasis.

That finally gets her to set her phone aside and swivel in her seat to face Tommy, giving him a striking, raised-eyebrow look. “I think the subject matter automatically makes it PG-13.”

“It’s a hotel bed!” Any exasperation behind the words trips right out of the gate, stumbling into nervous laughter.

Thea just continues to stare, swinging her legs back-and-forth unevenly as her feet dangle above the floor.

“That’s… achieved the perfect ratio of softness to firmness for an excellent night’s sleep?” Tommy can feel his ears reddening as they disappear into his shoulders. “Also, those pillows. Heavenly. Remind me to check with management to find out who the supplier is, I’m going to place a personal bulk order once we get back to Starling.”

“Right,” Thea says slowly, legs finally stilling. “So the high-quality comfiness is the thing worth writing home about. No other reason why you’d express missing having a plus-one to enjoy it.”

Had his mouth not dropped open with a scandalized pop instead, Tommy might have swallowed his tongue. “Thea Dearden Queen, you’re going to stop right there before I also ask about the hotel’s highest-strength cleaning supplies and if they can be applied directly to my brain.”

“You asked for critique,” Thea reminds him, but backs off by raising her hands sarcastically in surrender. “Just pointing out insinuations you may or may not have intended. You’re welcome.”

Chagrined by both the acknowledgement that he’d asked for help and his sister’s frankness in delivering said feedback, Tommy turns his attention back to the blinking cursor in the half-filled message box. The wittiness of the greeting has dulled significantly since the lightbulb first flicked on, even without the suggestive commentary. It’s a grim admission that spurs Tommy’s thumb to find the delete key and hold, consuming the carefully-crafted words before his eyes until he’s greeted once again by blank space.

The fact that Thea’s sigh is louder than his own is what pries Tommy away from his seemingly insurmountable task with his eyebrows raised in curiosity.

“You really haven’t done this sort of thing before, have you?” Thea asks, waving a hand vaguely at the room as she sinks back against the window. “The out-of-town business trip.”

Admitting defeat (at least for the moment), Tommy tosses the phone onto the bed and crosses his arms, the corners of his mouth twitching. “I mean, if my business was pleasure...”

“So no, then,” Thea cuts in with a fond eye-roll. Her face goes soft a moment later, though, and she glances back at Tommy with a strange sort of knowingness. “Which means you especially haven’t done it when you’ve been in an actual relationship.”

Tommy offers up an entirely sheepish look. “I think that’s a given.”

Thea makes a little shrug-like expression with her lips, conceding that point. She pulls one foot up to rest on the cushion and hugs her knee to her chest, before giving Tommy another gently pointed stare. “It’s okay, you know.”

“Hmm?” Tommy rocks back on his heels as he lets the questioning hum slip, and rolls his lips under for a façade of innocence. These last few exchanges have been drawing them dangerously close to vulnerable topics—it’s still Tommy’s carefully-wired reflex to either clown about it or just play dumb.

Too bad Thea knows those moves when she sees them, and her narrowed eyes suggest that she’s still considering the earlier threat of a spin-kick in the head.

“It’s okay to miss her,” she says, stripping Tommy’s anxieties bare with a single statement.

For a split second, he thinks he might have preferred stewing in the awkward surrounding the Bed Text for just a bit longer. Incidental innuendoes are familiar territory, even if being called out for them by his younger sister adds a new layer of humiliation.

The notion doesn’t linger, though, but it’s due less to the embarrassment than it is to his brain bouncing from point to point like a pinball machine from hell. The mortification just ricochets back to the almost-slip in question, and—true to pattern as of late—propels his thoughts to a flare of fondness and Felicity. The thing that makes Tommy want to bury his face in one of the pillows that started it all, though, is the fact that the ball rebounds again to the current conversation, seemingly inescapable.

“It’s not weird?” The question comes hesitantly as he uncrosses his arms, immediately bringing one hand to rub the back of his neck. “I mean, it’s only two nights, and one already down—we’re back by tomorrow afternoon, no time at all. I feel like it’s too much, just me being unreasonably clingy.”

Experience seems to back up that impression, after all. Two years, five, more have created gulfs between Tommy and his loved ones, and even then, his longing and loneliness came off as exaggerated and one-sided.

But maybe that’s not entirely fair, he immediately scrambles to note. Oliver was working through his own problems at the time (in questionably-at-best healthy ways), caught up in a different storm of emotion and trauma that instinctively repelled Tommy—familiar magnets flipped to the same pole for the very first time. Perhaps it took more time and effort than either of them could have expected, and still never returned them to where they left off, but they did manage to establish a balance better suited to who they are now.

(Even Tommy’s being in this hotel room—as one of three co-owners of Verdant, joining Thea in exploring options for expanding the club outside of Starling—is evidence enough of that reconciliation and understanding.)

As for his father’s absence and return…

Well, any expression of emotion comes off as an overreaction when compared to Malcolm, and should not be counted.

Almost as if she senses Tommy’s once-solid evidence crumbling to dust, Thea pushes off the window seat, landing gracefully on her feet. “You’re overthinking this, especially with the texts. Just call her, all right? We don’t need to head out for at least another hour, so there’s plenty of time.”

Still lagging a little bit from trying to detangle his anxieties, Tommy nods absently in agreement as his eyes follow Thea’s movements towards the door. When she crosses the threshold to head back into the suite’s living area, though, his brain finally catches up. “Hey! How is it that you’re the one giving me relationship advice?”

Thea grips the doorframe and leans her full body back into the room, one eyebrow arched as she tilts her head to look at him.

“I mean, isn’t it supposed to be the other way around? You know, older brother’s prerogative and all?” Tommy defends weakly, wilting under the sharp stare.

“Seeing as I ended up with emotionally-constipated brothers on both sides, I think that privilege has been revoked,” Thea declares, smoothly propelling herself back upright and reaching for the doorknob. She pulls it behind her as she finally departs, but not before shooting Tommy a cheeky, “I’ll give you some privacy to relay the magical properties of a hotel bed.”

Tommy imagines his immediate response is the sound an ostrich would make if strangled. “Okay, look…”

The door closes firmly before he can get any more words out, but not fast enough that he doesn’t catch Thea’s laughter.

“Brat,” Tommy mutters affectionately under his breath, before teetering backwards to flop down on said bed. The impact bounces his phone an inch or two above the comforter, only to land face-down right next to his hip.

Tommy’s breath catches in his chest as his attention is drawn again to the device, a mere hand-twitch within reach. Hardly any effort at all to pick up, and selecting Felicity’s name from his recent call log to re-dial is no more complex a step. But his hand seems to be declining all calls from his brain, remaining unmoving at his side without even an itch in the fingertips.

He’s overreacting—he has to be, and for real this time. It’s been barely a day since his standard morning protest of Felicity’s alarm (involving an exaggerated yawn and an arm stretched across her stomach to secure her in place for just a bit longer) was met with a laugh and a set of ice-cold toes pressed to his shins in retaliation. Barely a day since Tommy lumbered past the bathroom door on his way to the kitchen and couldn’t (wouldn’t) fight the grin that bloomed upon overhearing Felicity’s murmur-singing of some earworm while getting ready. Barely a day since she’d swept into the kitchen, all color and curls, to accept the travel mug of coffee from Tommy’s hands in exchange for a soft, lingering kiss and wishes for a safe flight.

A one-day break from routine—one that’s still a few months fresh, at that—and certain comfort shouldn’t be this jarring, should it?

After all, it’s not like they’ve been completely out of contact for the last 24 hours. Tommy had passed along travel updates (and a couple pictures taken mid-flight of Thea, tuned out with her neck pillow, eye mask, and earbuds); in turn, Felicity had relayed the shift between her day and night jobs, and confirmed her safe return home following the latter. There may temporarily be a few hundred miles of physical distance between them, but Felicity is still firmly here in Tommy’s life.

And yet, he can’t help but linger on the memory of waking this morning: rolling onto his stomach and reaching across the bed, only for his arm to land flat atop a mattress completely devoid of another body’s warmth. How the confusion and pinprick of hurt struck faster than the recognition that said bed wasn’t his own and why, and the clarity only served to transform it into a yearning ache. Even brushing his teeth was a more solemn affair, with Tommy still half-listening for Felicity puttering around and starting her day.

Maybe Thea… has a point.

Before Tommy can tend to the gentle bruise to his ego from admitting his younger sister has relationship wisdom where he does not, his phone buzzes with an incoming call. Synapses finally firing as they should, his hand wraps around the device and lifts it to his face to glance at the screen.

His fingers nearly fumble and drop the phone directly onto his face when he sees Felicity’s contact photo (one he’d surreptitiously taken shortly after they’d moved in together, when he’d caught her pleasantly lost in thought at the kitchen table) and the banner requesting a video call.

Thankfully, Tommy manages to spare himself that painful landing by adjusting his grip and scooting back into a seated position against the headboard. He takes and releases a deep breath to compose himself, before his thumb finds the Accept button.

Within an instant of Felicity coming into focus, Tommy feels his lips tug into a broad smile to compliment her still-sleepy one.

“Morning,” she greets with a little finger-wiggling wave, before she pulls a steaming mug of coffee into view with her other hand. After a second, she curls her fingers into her palm and wrinkles her nose in thought. “Wow, that was weird.”

“What, saying ‘good morning’?” Tommy asks, raising an eyebrow teasingly.

Felicity mirrors the expression and throws in a shrug. “I rarely get to open with it, at least. It’s usually beat out by someone requesting that I ‘please keep hands and feet and body inside the bed at all times’.”

“Always best to take those safety messages seriously, you know,” Tommy notes sagely. He can feel the corners of his mouth twitching, threatening an even bigger smile, but the impulse immediately extinguishes once he sees Felicity worrying her lower lip between her teeth and averting her gaze in uncertainty.

“I missed it today,” she blurts, catching them both off-guard after a (seemingly agonizingly long) beat. A light flush comes to her cheeks at that, but she confidently lifts her eyes back to meet Tommy’s and amends, “I missed you. Waking up with only a tangle of blankets trying to keep me in bed, and then getting ready on my own… I mean, it’s not unusual or unfamiliar, I did get by for many years this way. But I guess going back now, after getting into new and shared habits, is stranger than I expected.”

Felicity takes a breath to duck her head a little and push a stray curl behind her ear with her free hand, before picking up steam. “It must be something about the distance that’s getting to me—for no real reason, because it’s only been the one day and you’re back tomorrow—but I wanted to call and say…”

“I have pillows, blankets, supreme comfort, and all that’s missing is you.”

Only once Felicity pauses, lips frozen in a little “O” and only a single surprised blink to prove that the connection isn’t buffering, does Tommy realize he’s landed himself right back where he started. This time, though, he’s backed by Felicity’s own testimony, and that changes the game.

The lights on the pinball machine of his thoughts are going wild, that’s for sure.

“What I mean by that,” he starts, punctuating mid-sentence by awkwardly clearing his throat, “is that I miss you too. That I was actually looking forward to cold feet on my legs this morning, and hoping to hear you singing in the bathroom, and…”

Tommy trails off, disguising a small wince. Thea’s going to be smug about this for the rest of the weekend, and almost certainly for a while after they return to Starling.

“And I think that, if we’re both feeling this way, maybe we’re not overreacting so much as we’re… on to something.”

It’s difficult to determine what that “something” is, beyond the sense that it feels right. That they—Felicity and Tommy, together—feel right, and even a temporary deviation from pattern (no matter how small or odd) is a shock to the system.

It’s okay to miss her.

Felicity remains silent on the other end—the stunned expression having melted off her face and into something more thoughtful, but much less readable. Even though their conversation up to this point made their alignment apparently clear and she’s likely just turning the implications over in her mind, Tommy can’t help but subtly squirm from the suspense.

“Yeah,” Felicity finally speaks up, lips spreading in a small, soft smile as she nods in agreement. “Maybe we are.”

Despite that being the very answer Tommy was hoping to hear, he has no immediate idea how to respond.

“Oh. Uh, good,” he fumbles. “Because I’m hoping you’ll feel the same way about these pillows if I manage to find out where they’re from and get my hands on a few.”

Something in Tommy’s chest swoops as Felicity cracks out a startled yet amused laugh. “You’re really stuck on those, huh?”

Tommy meets that with a casual shrug and pats the one next to him for emphasis. “I’m a connoisseur. These meet all the necessary criteria, and then some.”

“And I’m a tough sell,” Felicity retorts, settling back in her seat and bringing her mug to her lips. “I know what I like, and I’m seeing only one pillow here that I want for sure by the end of the weekend.” To drive the point home, she bobs her head sharply to give Tommy a once-over.

“Well, now that I will gladly arrange,” Tommy agrees, and lets the grin spread unrestrained across his face.

[dc41896]

Favorite

Pairing: Paul DiskantxBlack Reader

⚠️: Fluff!

“Cmon baby girl please stop crying. She just left for a little while.”

Bouncing the fussy six month old, his pleads fall on deaf ears as her wails continue and seem to grow louder with each passing second. He tried using her favorite bear, her rattle, and play her favorite lullaby but nothing worked. She acted as if he was just showing her random items that were of no interest to her.

“Aww what’s wrong munchkin?,” you ask putting down your keys and purse before walking up to the both of them. “What did daddy do huh?”

“Nothing! I’ve tried her toys, food-,” he starts as he places her in your arms.

“Honey, relax I’m kidding. I know you didn’t do anything, Noelle’s probably just cranky.”

“Seems like she’s only cranky when I try to take care of her,” he mumbles sitting on the couch.

“That’s not true.”

Raising his brow, he reaches out to take Noel from your arms making the currently calm baby begin whining as soon as she felt space between the two of you.

“See?,” he counters returning her to your chest as she snuggles into your neck.

“She’s sleepy. Let me go put her down, you try to relax okay?” Watching you walk away while softly humming, he tried to reassure himself that it was in fact her sleepiness making her fussy and not that his own daughter hated him.

But thinking about the past couple weeks only made it more difficult to believe.

All throughout your pregnancy he was there talking and reading books to your stomach trying to bond with Noelle. When she was born, all she wanted to do, besides eat and sleep, was stare at her father and even flashed her first smile at him.

After returning from his recent three month undercover assignment though, all those memories seemed to go out the door. She treated him like he was a stranger and favored being with her mom over him. And when she was left with him, even for a few minutes, she’d squirm in his arms whining while trying to escape. It left him no choice but to either lie her on the blanket on the floor with her toys or place her in the bouncer.

Sighing, he flips through the channels eventually stopping on the news, but not really caring about anything the anchors had to say.

“Whatcha watching?,” you ask in a childlike tone entering the living room, slowly making your way towards the back of the couch.

“News,” he weakly smiles as your hands rest on his shoulders gently massaging the tense areas. Relaxing into your touch, he slowly exhales while his eyes close and head leans back hoping you never stop. “Noelle hates me.”

“No she doesn’t. Where did you get that from?”

“Her and how ever since I’ve gotten back she wants nothing to do with me.” Feeling your lips on his forehead, his eyes flutter open to your upside down sympathetic smile.

“She’s probably going through a time where she wants to be with her mom. Pretty much all kids go through it, including a certain mommas boy sulking on the couch.”

“Am not.”

“Are too. When you get sick now you’re all stuffy on the phone like ‘mom my head hurts’ or ‘can you give Y/N the recipe for the soup I like?’,” you tease imitating his voice and making him roll his eyes as he chuckles.

“But seriously though, Noelle loves you. I’m sure once she gets used to you being home again, she’ll be back to her old ways.”

Arms now draped across his chest, you lean down kissing his cheek before resting your head close to his neck. “Hey, I think I know what’ll make you feel better.”

“Hmm?”

“How about I make you a bath with that soap you like and those bath salts you say make your skin feel soft?,” you smile fiddling with the chain around his neck. “How does that sound?”

“Very relaxing, but one thing though..” he pauses gently pulling on your arm so you’d join him on the couch sitting in his lap. “Will you be coming with that bath too?”

“I can if you want,” you giggle as his pink lips peck and graze your neck. “We gotta be quick though, there’s no telling when- Paul!” A short squeal leaves your mouth feeling strong arms suddenly lift you in the air.

“Shh, before you wake her up,” he smirks taking you down the hall and eventually your bedroom.

———

Peacefully lying in bed with sheets sprawled across his body, a light draft against his bare chest causes him to stir extending his arm to pull your body closer to his for warmth. However feeling nothing but more sheets, he cracks one eye open to find you gone and a beam of light from the hall shining through the cracked door.

As he sits up, he hears you frantically talking on the phone making him quickly slide out of bed following your voice to Noelle’s room.

“Hey what’s wrong?,” he asks seeing you close to tears gently bouncing the hazy eyed baby.

“I-I think she’s sick. I heard her coughing so I came to check on her and then when I picked her up she sweating and hot. Now she’s acting off and not really responding to her name or when I try to tickle her which isn’t usual-,”

“Baby breathe, okay?,” he says kissing your temple. “Everything’s gonna be fine.”

“And what if it’s not?! What if something’s going on that we don’t know and then-,”

“No don’t think like that. What did the nurse say?”

“She said that it sounded like she might have a cold and I could give her liquid Tylenol. To be safe though, she said I could bring her in tomorrow morning.”

Shifting their attention to the little girl in your arms, Paul takes her small hand in his softly smiling at her as you kiss the top of her head.

“You’re gonna get better baby girl, okay?” Hazel eyes on her father, her gaze doesn’t last long before she turns her head in the opposite direction making his smile fall. “Did you give her anything yet?”

“No not yet, I have a feeling I know how it’s gonna go though. Can you hold her for me?”

“Um yea...a-are you sure though? You know with how things were earlier?”

“And like I said earlier she doesn’t hate you,” you reply placing her in his arms. “Plus I don’t think she really cares who holds her right now.”

This was the first time since she was born he felt nervous holding Noelle. With how she had been acting as of late, he was afraid of doing anything that would make her start crying and thus, make her feel worse and you stress more.

“Okay sweetie, time to take your medicine,” you smile holding the small syringe near her lips. You couldn’t even release any in her mouth before she scrunched her face in disgust starting to whine and squirm in his arms. “I know, but you gotta take it so you’ll feel better.”

Trying to keep it close to her mouth, you manage to get the syringe in and squeeze the medicine out, but your daughter had other plans immediately spitting it back up all over her onesie and the upper part of Paul’s abdomen making you groan.

“Okay, um you stay here and I’ll go put some juice in a bottle and see if she’ll drink it mixed in or something,” you state wiping the medicine off both of them before leaving for the kitchen.

“Alright come on Noelle I know it tastes funny but you need it to get better,” Paul softly explains using his free hand to refill the syringe. He figured he’d probably get the same reaction, but he could at least try once to help out. “It’s like the Winnie the Pooh story we read that one time. Where he ate too much honey and the mommy kangaroo made him the soup to feel better? You probably don’t remember but trust me it was a good story.”

Looking up at Paul, she seemed so entranced by what he was saying he could easily stick the plastic in her mouth squeezing out the medicine before gently blowing on her face making her rapidly blink as she swallowed.

“And then she rubbed his tummy and sung the song that always makes Koo feel better,” he adds beginning to rock her. “Get well soon my Noelle, there’s better days for you. Get well soon my Noelle, always remember I love you. Of course her voice sounded better though.”

“Looks like someone doesn’t hate you anymore,” you smirk leaning against the doorframe.

“Or she’s just really calm since she’s sick.”

“You saw how she was when I tried. Yet when you gave it to her, it was like she was drinking from her bottle,” you giggle. “Why’d you blow on her face?”

“I was told it makes them swallow. I got it when I was in the hospital talking to a witness and saw a nurse do it giving some medicine to a baby.”

Slowly moving towards the crib, he attempts to reposition Noelle so she’d be easier to put down, but once she wasn’t able to feel his heartbeat, her eyes immediately open and head sits up as faint cries come from her mouth.

“Okay I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” he laughs watching her calm down once placed back near his chest. “Guess she’s sleeping with us tonight?”

“It’s fine and probably best so we can keep an eye on her. Plus I know you don’t want to let her go.”

“Never,” he chuckles kissing her hand as her lips curl into a small smile.

Taglist: @maxcullen @fumbling-fanfics @honeychicanawrites @honeychicana @lady-olive-oil @themyscxiras @melinda-january @lovelymari4 @literaturefeen @damnitaa @curlyhairclub @plokyu23 @fullofmelaninsarcasmandepression @nunubug99 @felicity-x0 @ellixthea @jojolu @jnk-812 @brwn-sgr @captainsamwlsn @wildfirecracker @nina-sj @iammyownlover @chaneajoyyy @scoop93535 @secretmysteriousperson

If anybody wants to be tagged, has asked to be tagged but don’t see your name, only want to be tagged for certain people I write for, or no longer wish to be tagged let me know🤓!

[hibiscuswrites]

Hi! Love your writing!! Wondered if I could get rio x reader, where they’ve been friends or in a relationship FOREVER and they’ve got this cute banter and a bit of competition in their relationship, and she works with him and when the girls rob the store in beginning she’s right there with him that first time and basically they turn hooking up with Beth into a competition? And maybe reader wins and Rio gets jealous but neither really wanted Beth they just wanted the spice things up a bit??

It was a little long to have everything included so I skipped around but kept the bulk of it. Hope you like it  😊

Having Rio as your man was something that you loved 

Having him as a business partner was something you loved also 

They say you shouldn’t mix business with pleasure but the trust and commitment you have to each other goes above and beyond what most others have 

You’ve been together for years and have known each other even longer 

You still love each other just as much and enjoy each other

But sometimes you like to add a little excitement 

Whether it’s him having you wear vibrating panties out while you go shopping 

Or you sending him videos when you know he’s got a busy day 

You do what you can to one-up each other and see who can drive the other the craziest 

So once you’re messily introduced to the girls that fucked with your money 

You both read Beth pretty quickly 

You can both see that she tries to get in where she fits in 

You can see she’s desperate

She’s also foolish though 

She tries to earn brownie points where ever she can 

To try and get either of you to like her and be on her side 

She tries to pit both of you against each other but learns quickly that that won't be happening 

And after she starts to hit on both of you, trying to siddle her way closer to both of you in hopes that she’ll be able to take advantage of you

Rio comes up with an idea 

When she tries to seduce either of you, go for it 

Whoever has her wrapped around their finger first wins

You figure, if she can try to use you, then three can play at the game 

You just don’t tell her 

So when she thinks she’s seducing you, she’s really not 

When she believes that she’s getting both of you under her spell, she’s really the one that’s getting caught up 

When you win, Rio’s annoyed 

One, because he’s competitive and always wants to win 

And two, because even with as much as it was a mutual thing, he’s suddenly jealous and doesn’t like the fact that someone else had their hands on you 

He verifies with you that it’s still just because of the competition and not because you like her 

And once you have him convinced, he’s cool but still feels like he needs to remind you who you belong to 

Rio taglist @belle82devart  @existentialvacuum  @hermionetriskatniss  @thickemadame @aria725  @glimmerglittergirl  @juul4jesus  @tashawar   @issa-lici-kuwonu  @tcailin-00  @gemini0410 @sweet-babyangel @feelingsandemotionsnotexplored @uhlxis @breakingnewsin-no-oneasked @smoooore @asapkyndall @icyyy-diorr @woahitslucyylu @bisexual-space-slut @browngirldominion

General taglist @a-dorky-book-keeper  @jigsawlover10  @titty-teetee @my-rosegold-soul  @felicity-x0 @vibranium-soul @ateliefloresdaprimavera @preciousbarakat @elcococruz @glimmerglittergirl @hatterripper31

[comfy-whumpee]

Bridge

Happy Valentine’s Day! Here’s the whole polycule hanging out.

@iaminamoodymoodtoday, @wildfaewhump, @ishouldblogmore, @lektric-whump, @that-one-thespian, @raigash, @just-a-whumping-racoon-with-wifi, @rosesareviolentlyread, @castielamigos-whump-side-blog, @burtlederp, @starnight-whump

They’ve never met before now, Felicity and Addison. In the harsh light of retrospect, Nic realises they should have fielded that issue before bringing Ellis into the equation.

They didn’t notice at first. They were sitting on the sofa, the three of them, with Ellis on the floor. Felicity had asked him, “Where do you want to sit?” He’d chosen to sit at Nic’s feet, and as Nic was between the two girls, it seemed to be a decent spot. Not a separation from them that suggested he was nervous. He wasn’t kneeling, either.

“Not the sofa today?” Felicity said when he chose. “That’s okay.”

Iz had given her a look, and Felicity had blinked back without understanding it. Nic had leaned forwards, unknowingly breaking the moment, and hit play on the DVD.

The movie rolled forwards. They’re at the halfway mark now, taking a break before the third act, and Nic is getting drinks.

“Can you come up here a sec, Ellis?” they hear Felicity say from the living room, accompanied by the sound of her patting the sofa cushion. “How are you feeling at the moment?”

Nic stills to listen. Ellis’s voice is always soft. “I’m okay, thank you, Felicity.”

It’s not the most worrying answer to hear, but the way he tags her name onto the end of the sentence indicates where his head is at. That’s the gap that used to be filled with a different word.

Felicity pauses too, then says, “You don’t need to be on edge, pumpkin. There aren’t any trick questions, remember?”

Ellis takes a moment to reply. Nic can see his expression in their mind’s eye, the open bemusement as he tries to work out why he is being reassured about something he didn’t realise he was scared of. If he nods in reply, they wouldn’t know.

Iz speaks next. “Keep on sitting wherever you like, yeah? It’s all good.”

There’s the sound of Ellis sliding back off the sofa.

“Try not to give him orders,” Felicity says after a moment. Her voice is a little low too, but Nic can still hear it, and Ellis obviously can – but she makes the effort. “It’s better if he decides himself.”

There’s silence in response. Nic picks up the glass of water for Ellis, and the mug of tea for Felicity, and takes them through. Ellis is kneeling now, in the spot he was in before. Nic passes him the glass, and he smiles weakly at them, but he at least doesn’t thank them with his rote gratitude.

They go back to grab the other two cups, and Iz says, “You got a question, Ellis?”

Nic winces at the countertop. There’s only one question, and all three of them know what it’s going to be.

“Do I have permission to drink?”

“Of course you do, pumpkin,” Felicity says immediately.

At the same time, Iz says, “Now can you answer that yourself?”

Nic steps back into the room and into a short, tense silence. Ellis is turned to look at the two on the sofa, eyes slightly widened in confusion, feeling like he’s being tested somehow. Iz and Felicity are staring at each other.

“Don’t confuse him,” Felicity speaks first, sounding reproachful. “Questions always have right answers, haven’t you heard him say that?”

“The solution isn’t to just tell him the answer,” Iz retorts, and she sounds pissed off. “He can figure it out himself if you just give him space, he’s done it before.”

“He’s not having a good day. He’s not ready.”

“That’s not up to you, is it?”

“It’s not up to you, either!”

“Go home,” Nic interjects, voice projected but not loud. It cuts across their conversation and they fold their arms when both heads turn. “Both of you, now. Out.”

Felicity blinks in confusion, opens her mouth to protest, but Iz cuts her off by standing and nodding, and she deflates. “Sorry,” she says to them, getting up too and going for her shoes. “Text me later?”

“Sure.”

Iz pauses after stepping past Ellis, and drops to a knee. Nic tenses, but she cocks her head and gives Ellis a little smile. “Sorry, Ellis. Shouldn’t talk about you like you’re not here. Have a good night.”

They’re both gone a minute later, the faint sound of Addison’s motorbike fading into the dark.

Nic sighs, letting their arms drop. They go to sit down by Ellis, who is kneeling in place, clutching the glass of water in his hands and staring at the floor. Nic sidles up next to him, and he leans against them, shuddering in relief.

“Just me and you,” they tell him quietly. “No guests. No fighting. You haven’t done a thing wrong.”

“Am I allowed?” he whispers.

“You’re allowed whatever you want. You don’t have to ask.”

He gulps down the water. Nic eyes up the three cups of tea that are going to go cold, and shrugs inwardly. “Do you want to finish the film, go to bed, or something else?”

Ellis swallows, and thinks about it, really thinks about it. Not what he thinks Nic wants – he doesn’t do that when they’re alone with him. Most of the time.

“Can we finish the film?”

“Yeah.” Nic dials down the volume a little, and sits with their boyfriend on the floor, watching the film the way he watches everything, from below.

In the back of their head, they run over the events of the night, and wonder who was right.

[atamascolily]

Unicorn Chronicles, Book 4: “The Last Hunt,” by Bruce Coville

The Last Hunt is even longer than Dark Whispers--the hardcover edition runs to a whopping 605 pages (not including a multi-page character list), so it's a great example of Sequel Creep. Scholastic never gave it a paperback run, so Coville ended up buying back the rights and re-releasing it as smaller volumes (bringing the series to seven in all) to balance it back out a little. But still. It's a lot.

Coville says in the acknowledgements:

If I hadn't been painfully aware so many people were waiting for this story, I might have given up at any number of points along the way.So thanks, dear fans, it's been a long journey, and I literally could not have done it without you.

1) Awwww. 2) #relatable.

The Last Hunt is divided into sections based on time: 'Blood Moon Night," 'Day One of the Invasion,' and so on. The entire book spans about six days in all (five days + the Blood Moon), although there are lots of flashbacks and the last chapter opens with a time skip of several weeks. Suffice to say, this is one hell of a week. Each section is also captioned with a quote--sometimes from one of the Unicorn Chronicles, sometimes from Sun Tzu's The Art of War, which is unexpectedly plot-relevant.

We left off with Beloved and her army of Hunters invading Luster by ripping a hole in the Axis Mundi, the World Tree, with the intent to kill all the unicorns. The unicorns, led by the newly crowned Amalia Flickerfoot, must decide what to do next.

What follows: so many subplots, an inevitable quest, dragons, humans gonna humans, baleful polymorphs, dramatic battles, and a literal deus ex machina.

WHAT HAPPENS:

Lightfoot is right by the Axis Mundi when the gate opens, so he watches in horror as the Hunters come through. He tries to escape to warn the Queen, only to be pursued. To escape, he runs through the Gate to Earth, which for some reason burns people the second time around if they don't wait long enough (for reasons that make zero sense to me). Lightfoot finds himself in Beloved's keep in the Himalayas, and finds Cara's mother Martha asleep and pulls her out of the Rainbow Prison.

Fortunately, Martha was able to make contact with Ian and company long enough to learn how to pull them out, so she does. Lightfoot is afraid to go through the gate because he doesn't want to get crisped, so they wait until Beloved sends her troops after him, and then sneak in behind them. It turns out Fallon created the unicorns and is basically a deity.

Beloved has adopted a bunch of orphans -- girls abandoned by their families--whose purpose is to be unicorn bait. We meet one of them, Feng Quan, who is a total badass and a Sun Tzu stan, who is horrified when she witnesses a unicorn being slaughtered and jumps ship. Feng Quan runs into Belle, who has been haunted by the Whisperer (who knows Belle wants to be Queen) and convinces the skeptical warrior to take her to Amalia Flickerfoot.

Meanwhile the Geomancer M'Gama has been captured by the delvers, and Rocky and his reunited cove search for his teacher, the wizard Namza, who is turned to stone and having a lot of flashbacks. They eventually join up and work to stabilize Luster, which is devastated by increasingly severe earthquakes as  Beloved's gate is destroying the Axis Mundi and thus the entire world.

The queen sends Cara on another quest, this time to beg the dragon Grammaug for aid. (IDK while Amalia doesn't try to get all seven dragons, but okay, fine, whatever.) This time, it's only Cara and Medafil, because everyone else is busy. Cara encourages her grandmother to "think like a human" to outwit Beloved, which Feng Quan seconds when she arrives.

Grammaug turns out to be a dragon who turned into a human (it's complicated) and came to Luster because she was basically allergic to the world that all the other dragons went to when Bellemore opened THEIR gate. I thought that her story dragged on a little long, but it does eventually turn out to be relevant, since we are introduced to Transformational Magic, which can be moved around from person to person. Watch this space.

Hunters are looking for Cara, using special "blood trackers" that cannot be fooled, because Beloved wants her for unspecified reasons. Thomas the Tinker is also on his own quest to pick something up at the Queen's behest. The centaurs are having drama of their own as well. Ian tries to track Cara and gets captured by the delvers and taken to the king, who sends him to Beloved.

Grammaug agrees to help, but they are intercepted by the hunters on their journey back and Cara encounters Elihu, the mysterious "friend" Fallon has been searching for, who transforms her into a unicorn in order to lure the hunters off the scent.

Amalia and Feng Quan come up with a plan and send Grammaug to deliver a message, lying to the dragon about the details to mislead Beloved. Grimmwold summons the Queen's Players as part of the plan. Cara runs into Fallon, who reveals that Elihu created Luster, and was banished from the gods' realm because of it, and Fallon came down with him. Grammaug persuades Firethroat to join the battle; Firethroat is very pro eating humans, and agrees. The Whisperer uses Martha Hunter's anger about her mother to try and turn her against the unicorns.

Everyone converges on the Axis Mundi before the battle. We learn that a deity called Allura was responsible for sending the story of the Whisperer from the Chronicles and giving it to the centaurs and she made the Squijum. Like Fallon, she is searching for Elihu. Cara reveals her true identity, and reunites with her mother, who rejects the Whisperer.

Fallon summons the Whisperer and fights it to the death (Fallon's doesn't take). The group pieces together that the Dimblethum is Elihu--he returned to his true form when he betrayed Luster by helping Beloved with the Gate, only to revert back when he used his magic on Cara--and they must bring him back since he's the only one who can save Luster.

The Queen's Players stage a performance and Thomas produces a cockatrice who starts turning Hunters to stone. The dragons shoot flames, and the unicorns attack. Rajiv frees Ian in the chaos. Moonheart dies in the charge. Beloved is perplexed by the Whisperer's absence, and the centaurs and delvers arrive to join the fight. The Hunters flee back to Earth. The Axis Mundi splits in half and the dragons try to hold it together temporarily.

Cara attacks the delver king, who is trying to murder the Dimblethum, and the delver king falls into a conveniently opened hole in the ground and is swallowed up forever. Fallon uses transformational magic to swap places with Elihu so that Elihu can fix the tree. Elihu can't hold it alone, so Allura helps and both are swallowed up by the repaired tree. Graumag dies.

Beloved, believing Cara to be dead, takes Martha hostage and taunts Team Good. Cara reveals herself and Beloved begs for death. Cara tries to heal her and fails and Beloved dies.

Rajiv joins the Queen's Players. Cara is still a unicorn and no one can turn her back, but everyone's okay with it? The surviving Hunters are put to sleep and woken one by one and given the choice of staying in Luster or returning to earth; Feng Quan and Belle work with the maidens. The new Dimblethum and the Squijum visit the Axis Mundi every night to mourn their fellows and M'Gama and Namza are still in comas and we never learn their ultimate fate. Firethroat is in mourning and refuses to talk to anyone.

HOW I FEEL ABOUT IT:

"meh". So much happens and it's extremely epic, but I only care about half the characters, and the rest is just tedious. The whole deus ex machina thing could have been interesting, but wasn't--I could deal with ONE god running around but three was pushing it. The Dimblethum being Elihu was fine, but Fallon and Allura on top of that was too much. I would have preferred Grimmwold stepping in with a legend that allowed them to piece the answers together or something--not this.

It was hard to tease out what was relevant and what was a red herring (Felicity in the Rainbow prison, the Blind Man, etc). Lots of new characters, but I felt like the old characters were already underused - I wanted to see much more of Thomas and Grimmwold, for instance. Feng Quan, however, is absolutely awesome and I love her.  She and Belle are perfect together.

Cara ends up staying a unicorn was something I definitely did not see that one coming. Which makes Cara/Lightfoot the strongly implied endgame ship, which is just NOT WHAT I WAS EXPECTING WHEN I STARTED THIS SERIES, THAT'S ALL. They barely have any time together at all in this, even at the end, which makes me sad. Likewise, all that Lightfoot/Belle stuff never gets addressed.

IDK why Jaques keeps giving speeches about how he doesn't care if he and Cara are related by blood - they seem to be more for Cara's benefit than any character development/change.

Lightfoot's first glimpse of Earth (which he has never seen before) is incredibly poignant. So is his wandering around the deserted castle and struggling without hands. I wish he and Cara were able to discuss this, but NOPE, there is no time for discussion in this entire book, sigh.

The whole business about only going through the portal once in a given time period makes zero sense to me, especially given the established worldbuilding. It feels so contrived. Likewise, Belle and Martha are tempted by the Whisperer, which doesn't really go anywhere for either of them?

I don't know why Elihu smashes the amulet to transform Cara if there's this whole transformational magic thing going on. I still don't really get how that works.

I am also annoyed that Fallon deals with the Whisperer instead of the unicorns. So much for the unicorns "embracing their own darkness" and coming to terms with the fact that they screwed up in their ambition to be perfect.  What a wasted opportunity.

Also, it's book four, and we're only NOW finding out there's a prophecy that a scion of the hunters and the unicorns is the only one who can destroy Beloved?? Seems like we needed that earlier. We knew Beloved wanted Cara, we just didn't know WHY until the last possible minute. [Also, who told her that and why??] Without the Whisperer, Beloved is pretty helpless, which annoys me--I wanted her to be a villain in her own right.

Coville is very clear that Beloved tortures Ian, but like, only emotionally, because this is a kid's book, and that Elihu and Fallon are Definitely Not Gay For Each Other, which annoys me. (Coville is generally sympathetic towards queer folks; I really enjoyed his short story "Am I Blue?" which is about a literal fairy godparent and a working gaydar, so this was disappointing.)

The whole subplot with the Blind Man borrowing Ian's eyesight goes absolutely nowhere. I thought the Blind Man was going to play into the Luster drama somehow, but no, he's just some random magician who uses his deal with Ian to blind him at inopportune moments for reasons of his own that are never explained. WTF. This is one reason I hate Ian's subplot so much!!

Likewise, Martha seems cool, but her genuine beef with Ian, Beloved, and Ivy/Arabella get smoothed over and ignored because there's just zero time for anything in the midst of the chaos. Which is too bad!

The fact that the Squijum is the personal favorite creation/messenger of a god is just hilarious to me. Doesn't mean he isn't annoying af, though.

I WANTED ALL SEVEN DRAGONS AHHH.(though apparently there’s a secret eighth dragon no one talks about??WHAT???)

I think I'd be more okay with it if there was more time at the end to see the characters react and reflect--there's only one chapter, and it's not nearly enough. Is Lightfoot still Prince or is the Cara the heir now that she's a unicorn? How do THEY feel about that? That's another subplot from the previous books that just didn't go anywhere, and it bugs me.

(I was convinced Beloved was going to wake Martin Hunter from his sleep and have him lead the attack--like a reverse King Arthur--and I'm SO MAD THAT DIDN'T ACTUALLY HAPPEN...)

Also the fact that Cara has to mercy kill someone at the climax of not one but TWO BOOKS in this series... damn. I’d like to see some more reflection and thought about this after the fact.

Also, the whole thing with the delver-unicorn connection -- what kind of relationship are the two species going to have moving forward? RADIO SILENCE. What the hell did the other dragons think was happening during all this and why didn't they help/investigate? Are the Hunters going to stage a counterattack or disband now that they've lost their leader? Are the unicorns going to return to Earth or will it continue to be just the Guardian of Memory?? There are so many things that are just left hanging, and while MAYBE Coville will write another book to address these issues (it's happened before!) I am grumpy because I WANT TO KNOW, DAMN IT.

I had hoped on re-read I'd feel better about this, but I don't. I get to the end and I think "why?" which is not a great feeling to have. IDK what exactly I expected from this series--it definitely delivers in some ways, and in others, it totally falls short. I’m still impressed Coville managed to finish and it’s not entirely his fault that the results didn’t match up with my expectations, but it’s still sad that older!Me isn’t more excited about the end results.

*sigh* Maybe older!Me will buckle down and write a fix-it fic or two to make younger!Me happy. Currently, the only Unicorn Chronicles fic on A03 is a complicated crossover between LOTR and various other media featuring a human!Lightfoot, which I probably will never read, but it makes me happy to know it exists. FFN has more stories, but this was never a popular fandom, so the field is wide open for anything I want to do with it (more so than usual). Also, it seems I wasn't the only person of a certain age imagining self-insert fic in this universe, which is oddly reassuring.

[dust2dust34]

maaaaaaan bre it's been years and I've read it like 8 times already but Wanna Be Yours is Still. So. Good !!!!!

Thank you so much, beautiful anon! I am so happy to hear this!! Re-reading is the highest compliment I could as for as a writer. Also, I just really love that fic so much. It’s everything I love about Olicity. There’s a touch of angst, and it’s all because of what they assume, and we get Smitten!Oliver (my favorite Oliver), and they’re just so soft when they admit their feelings.

Guh. 

Can I share my favorite part with you? It’s in Chapter 5 when they’re being all cute in the kitchen: 

“You wanna help me cut these up and then we’ll go outside?”

“Before my stomach eats us both?” Felicity asked. His stomach gurgled next and she laughed. “Or each other.”

“Eating each other,” Oliver mused. “I was just fine with what I was eating upstairs.”

Felicity’s eyes widened for a very different reason this time and she smacked his arm. He grinned, shooting her a wink before she moved to the sink to wash her hands.

That was mistake number one. Well, no, actually his bringing up how his face had been buried between her legs just a few minutes ago was the first mistake. The second mistake was he didn’t look away when she sauntered over to the sink, so he caught every single bit of her shapely legs where they were encased in the thin black pants, as well as the hint of skin at her back when she leaned over for the soap. It occurred to him that he hadn’t spent nearly enough time worshiping the damn fine shape that was her ass. God, she had to have been working out since the last time he saw her, or maybe it was the pants? Either way, that needed to be rectified.

He should probably clean his hands again.

Yeah. For health reasons.

Just as Felicity turned on the water and started soaping up her fingers, Oliver stepped up behind her and reached around, covering her hands. She made a startled little noise before letting out a tiny little laugh when his fingers laced with hers, getting just as soapy.

The sound morphed into a gasp when he pressed the length of his body against her backside.

It was bold and a little dangerous considering how close to the edge they’d been upstairs, but Oliver didn’t care, and neither did she. A burst of euphoria hit his chest that he was able to do this at all as he pushed her into the counter, dipping down to rub the bulge in his jeans right against her ass. The joy mixed with the pleasure, making him feel faint in a way that had him gripping her hands for strength. She held him back just as tight and he nuzzled his way through her hair until he reached her neck. Her head fell to the side, and he took complete advantage of it, his tongue darting out to taste her.

She rotated her ass right against him, and he was so fucking sensitive that he shuddered, his eyes fluttering shut with a moan.

Bad idea, bad idea, bad idea.

Common sense flew right out the window a second later, though, as she whispered his name, her fingers tightening around his as she moved to grip the edge of the sink. Using it as leverage, she lifted herself up, rubbing against him.

Stars exploded against his lids, the combination of her soft ass and the tough denim against his painfully hard dick sending spiking pleasure straight through him.

Oliver hissed out a series of unintelligible curses and he dug his face into her throat, dragging his face up her jaw, his cheek brushing against hers.

“We should…” she started, her voice strained, fading, the opposite of convincing.

“Yeah,” Oliver replied, his breath sending spare strands of her hair brushing against his lips.

They should stop, but for a second he had absolutely no intention of doing that. No, his mind was already jumping ahead a couple of spaces, running through all the various places on the main floor he could pull her into and ravage her. It didn’t occur to him that they still didn’t have a condom, or that people were waiting for them outside, or that they had things to do. He just didn’t care. All he cared about was the woman in his arms, that she was here, with him, and that his feelings for her combining with the lust racing through his veins was exhilarating.

But he should stop. Because he didn’t want to do that to her, he reminded himself. The sappy side that she’d just teased him about wanted to make it as special and perfect as possible, preferably in his bed and with protection so he didn’t give himself a goddamn heart attack afterwards wondering if he’d pulled out soon enough.

Oliver suddenly stopped moving, pinning her to the counter. She whimpered her displeasure, just as caught up as he was - and god, that alone had him positively fucking floating - but she didn’t move either. At least not the way he thought she would.

Felicity let his hands go and spun in his arms, looking up at him from under heavy lids. It was too close to a come hither look and he groaned, falling against her, his lips slanting over hers. Her soapy hands landed on his chest, curling in his t-shirt as he grabbed her hips with equally soapy fingers, pulling her close.

He was so damn insatiable for her. She burned through him, scorching through his veins, setting him on fire in a way that he’d never felt before. That was addicting. That made him want more… and more she gave him. Felicity kissed him back with equal ardor, using his shirt to tug him down to her height. She moaned, just loud enough for him to hear, and it sent him into overdrive, notching up the need between them to blinding levels.

Neither of them heard the balcony door opening, or the sudden buzz of conversation outside, or the sound of someone’s exasperated sigh.

“Oh my god,” Tommy said, and that was loud enough to pierce the bubble they were caught in. They broke apart with heavy pants, Oliver jerking away from her like he’d just gotten caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Tommy was trying his hardest to keep from smiling as he pointed at them. “I’m separating you two. You guys are not allowed to be in the same room without supervision, you obviously can’t be trusted.” The words hung in the air between all three of them, right before Tommy burst out laughing. It was a loud boisterous noise that had both Oliver and Felicity chuckling with him. “Hell has frozen over,” Tommy declared. “I’m cockblocking my best friend in the worst way possible. I’d be sorry, except I’m starving, so at the same time…”

“Right,” Oliver said, nodding. He moved to scrub his face, but his hands were still soapy.

“And you, Ms. Smoak,” Tommy said, walking around the counter towards Oliver’s girlfriend, “are coming with me. Well, if you want it done right, at least.”

Does anyone else have any favorites?

[she-who-fights-and-writes]

She-who-fights-and-writes Coronacation Book Rec List

I know that a lot of people are stuck at home right now in dire need of entertainment, so I decided I’d put out a book recommendations list of all the books I’m currently reading and all of my must-reads!

(Just a note that a lot of these are Fantasy because I’m a fantasy nerd haha)

Books/Series I am currently reading

1. The Folk of the Air Trilogy by Holly Black (Currently on #2, The Wicked King)

Genre: High Fantasy

Setting: The land of Faerie which is kind of historical, but in the human world it is modern day

Main cast :

Jude Duarte (white, human, cutthroat, if I saw her in a Denny’s Parking Lot at 3am I would RUN)

Cardan Greenbriar (white, faerie, the true embodiment of Bastard)

Vivienne (Jude’s half-sister, lesbian with canon gf, half-human half-faerie, I would totally try to be her friend)

Taryn Duarte (Jude’s twin sister, queen doormat, still, I would take a bullet for her she’s jUST TRYING TO FIT IN)

Rating: 5/5 Stars

These books have been on my “To Read” list for so long now and for some reason I just never got around to reading them! Hands-down, these are some of the best high fantasy books that I’ve read in a long, long while.

I finished the first book, The Cruel Prince, in just two days and rated it 5/5 stars! Even though these books are high fantasy and focus on the traditions and ways of life of faeries, somehow all of the characters seem like I could meet them in real life!

The main character actually has genuine flaws and not just “””“flaws”””” and is a Bad Bitch down with murder, and the plot had me on the edge of my seat from page one!

The summary makes it sound like it’s going to be about their romance, but it’s really mostly about a power struggle and Jude being a badass.

Goodreads summary for The Cruel Prince:

Jude was seven when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King. To win a place at the Court, she must defy him–and face the consequences. As Jude becomes more deeply embroiled in palace intrigues and deceptions, she discovers her own capacity for trickery and bloodshed. But as betrayal threatens to drown the Courts of Faerie in violence, Jude will need to risk her life in a dangerous alliance to save her sisters, and Faerie itself.

2. The Raven Cycle Series by Maggie Stiefvater (Currently on #1, The Raven Boys)

Genre: Present-Day/Realistic Fantasy (?)

Setting: The fictional town of Henrietta, Virginia

I haven’t gotten around to much of the book, so there’s not much I can tell you about the characters and I can’t properly give it a rating yet.

These books were also on my “To Read” list for a while; I was a huge fan of her book The Scorpio Races and have also been looking for something to quench my thirst for “private school/ghosts/magic” that I’ve been dealing with ever since I read The Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo.

I’ve only JUST started The Raven Cycle yesterday, but so far I am hooked! I’m super worried because I’m TERRIBLE at juggling two series at a time but both of these are just so interesting! 

Goodreads Summary for The Raven Boys:

“There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.” It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive. Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her. His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble. But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little. For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.

MY MUST-READ BOOK LIST

1. The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

Genre: Historical Fiction

Setting: 1700s Europe (England, Paris, Barcelona, Marseilles, Venice)

Main cast (I’ll try my best not to spoil anything because you find out a LOT of different stuff about these characters throughout the book):

Henry “Monty” Montague (white, bi/pansexual, attitude problem)

Percy Newton (mixed race, gay, very sweet boy, definitely got “most likely to bring home to mom” in the yearbook)

Felicity Montague (white, Monty’s little sister, headcanoned as asexual, I love her to death)

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Daring adventure, gay representation, historical setting, hilarious characters!

This book literally has it all! I would consider it one of my favorite books of all time, yet for some reason I’ve never gotten around to reading any of the sequel books! The ending is very satisfying and ties everything together, which I feel is part of the reason why I haven’t gotten around to them yet. 

Therefore, it can serve as a one-shot read or a full series if you want to dive into something good!

The humor made me laugh out loud at points and all of the characters are very real and very, very relatable, not to mention the vivid settings of 1700s Europe!

Goodreads summary:

Henry “Monty” Montague was born and bred to be a gentleman, but he was never one to be tamed. The finest boarding schools in England and the constant disapproval of his father haven’t been able to curb any of his roguish passions—not for gambling halls, late nights spent with a bottle of spirits, or waking up in the arms of women or men. But as Monty embarks on his Grand Tour of Europe, his quest for a life filled with pleasure and vice is in danger of coming to an end. Not only does his father expect him to take over the family’s estate upon his return, but Monty is also nursing an impossible crush on his best friend and traveling companion, Percy. Still it isn’t in Monty’s nature to give up. Even with his younger sister, Felicity, in tow, he vows to make this yearlong escapade one last hedonistic hurrah and flirt with Percy from Paris to Rome. But when one of Monty’s reckless decisions turns their trip abroad into a harrowing manhunt that spans across Europe, it calls into question everything he knows, including his relationship with the boy he adores.

2. The Ninth House By Leigh Bardugo

Genre: Horror, Fantasy 

Setting: Yale University and the town of New Haven, Present Day

Main cast:

Galaxy “Alex” Stern (Hispanic, sees dead people, very scary)

Daniel Arlington “Darlington” (white, rich, an angel who can sometimes be a dick)

Pamela Dawes (tbh I honestly don’t remember what she looks like, only that she’s a tired grad student with big nerd energy)

Detective Alan Turner (Black, takes shit from nobody, husband material)

Rating: 4/5 Stars

(NOTE: THIS IS VERY DARK ADULT FICTION AND CONTAINS MATERIAL THAT MAY BE TRIGGERING FOR SOME PEOPLE, WOULD NOT RECOMMEND FOR PEOPLE UNDER 16)

This book is a great read for someone who’s looking for a disturbing, gritty book with layers upon layers of secrets that you have to peel away as the mystery unfolds. I love the secret societies and the intricate magic systems that the book introduces, and it actually made me hungry for more books like it!

 Alex is a three-dimensional, very real character who also serves as an unreliable narrator who witholds or warps the information that she’s telling you, making the narrative all the more riveting.

The only issues that I have with it are the fact that Leigh Bardugo kind of just dumps you in the middle of it without explaining stuff first, to the point where it kind of feels like you’re reading the second installment of a series rather than the first one, so things can get a bit confusing at first.

The book also can drag and draw things out for a bit too long, but once the plot fully kicks into gear, you will not be able to put it down!

Goodreads summary:

Galaxy “Alex” Stern is the most unlikely member of Yale’s freshman class. Raised in the Los Angeles hinterlands by a hippie mom, Alex dropped out of school early and into a world of shady drug dealer boyfriends, dead-end jobs, and much, much worse. By age twenty, in fact, she is the sole survivor of a horrific, unsolved multiple homicide. Some might say she’s thrown her life away. But at her hospital bed, Alex is offered a second chance: to attend one of the world’s most elite universities on a full ride. What’s the catch, and why her? Still searching for answers to this herself, Alex arrives in New Haven tasked by her mysterious benefactors with monitoring the activities of Yale’s secret societies. These eight windowless “tombs” are well-known to be haunts of the future rich and powerful, from high-ranking politicos to Wall Street and Hollywood’s biggest players. But their occult activities are revealed to be more sinister and more extraordinary than any paranoid imagination might conceive.

3. The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Setting: Earth, Space, The Moon

Main cast :

Linh Cinder (Chinese, based on Cinderella, cyborg, certified badass)

Scarlet Benoit (French, based on Little Red Riding Hood, farmer who is not afraid to shoot you)

Cress Darnel (White, based on Rapunzel, nerd, I will protect her with my life if I have to)

Kaito “Kai” (Chinese, based on Prince Charming, kind of has to run a whole country, a very kind soul, deserves a nap)

Carswell Thorne (White, based off of Rapunzel’s Prince, bastard)

Winter Hayle (Black, based off of Snow White, royalty, has super special powers)

Wolf (Race unspecified, based off of the Big Bad Wolf, charming killing machine, furry????) 

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Do you like fairy tales?

Have you ever wanted to know what fairy tales would be like if they took place in the FUTURE instead of the PAST? 

Do you like an amazing, hilarious cast paired with a super interesting plot? 

These are the books for you!

I haven’t read them in so long, but I remember how much joy I felt while devouring these pages. Definitely something you will not able to put down!

Goodreads Summary for Book #1: Cinder: 

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth's fate hinges on one girl. . . . Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She's a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister's illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai's, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world's future.

4. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

Genre: Fantasy

Setting: Ancient Greece

Main cast:

Patroclus (Greek, Gay, quiet pining) 

Achilles (Greek, gay, very strong, student athlete energy)

Brisies (Anatolian, clever, literally the only one in this story who has a brain cell)

Rating: 100000/5 stars

This is basically the Iliad but if historians hadn’t completely erased Patroclus and Achilles’ relationship. “Haha yeah these guys were totally bros” they say, even though I have read the Iliad and their relationship isn’t even subtle.

This book made me cry at least ten times. It’s just so beautifully written and has such a distinct vibe to it that whenever I crack it open for another time, it takes me straight back to the vacation that I read it on. (Needless to say, sobbing your eyes out can be less than helpful when you’re on the beach)

If you can only read one book on this list, it should be this one. I could talk all day about it and write novels on just how much of an incredible writer Madeline Miller is, but I feel like you’d get my drift a bit better if you actually read the book.

Goodreads Summary:

Greece in the age of heroes. Patroclus, an awkward young prince, has been exiled to the court of King Peleus and his perfect son Achilles. By all rights their paths should never cross, but Achilles takes the shamed prince as his friend, and as they grow into young men skilled in the arts of war and medicine their bond blossoms into something deeper - despite the displeasure of Achilles' mother Thetis, a cruel sea goddess. But then word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped. Torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus journeys with Achilles to Troy, little knowing that the years that follow will test everything they hold dear. Profoundly moving and breathtakingly original, this rendering of the epic Trojan War is a dazzling feat of the imagination, a devastating love story, and an almighty battle between gods and kings, peace and glory, immortal fame and the human heart.

Hope this list helps you through your coronacation, and please don’t be afraid to reblog or message me to tell me if you’ve read/will read any of these!

[smkkbert]

Time for a story - So it begins

To read before:  Present tense & Missing

Thea and Roy were the last to arrive to the bunker. Roy was holding the sleeping Robbie cradled against his chest. Thea, who was seven months pregnant now, was holding a hand to her baby bump. The slow movements of her fingers told Oliver that she could feel her baby, his nephew, kicking at the excitement of this nightly trip.

As soon as Thea had taken the few steps up onto the platform where Felicity’s work space usually was, she crossed the distance towards Oliver. Straightening up on the tip of her toes, she wrapped her arms around his neck and put a hand to the back of his head.

“We will find her, Ollie,” she promised with whispered voice, soothing him, “of course we will find her.”

Oliver put his arms around Thea’s waist and tried to believe in her words. He wanted to believe that she was right. He wanted to believe in that spark of hope that she offered, but he just couldn’t do it.

While they were still hugging, he looked at the team that he had to help him find Felicity. Thea and Roy were his legal family. John and Lyla were his family by heart. John had been the first person to join his team. He was his best friend, and the person he trusted more. He was the one who would have to lead this operation because he was calmer and more focused than Oliver could be, especially given the situation at hand. Nick was Felicity’s – and through that – his family too. He wasn’t exactly stable yet, but he was skilled, and he’d do everything necessary to save Felicity. When it all went down, Oliver trusted Nick to follow him in the most dangerous darkness to save Felicity.

Fact was that the entire team was family. People who went through the shit that they had been put through and continued to go through it again and again every single night they went out into the field for years either became enemies or family. Oliver was lucky enough to call the people around him family.

They’d be complete if Tommy and Laurel were there too, but they had gone on vacation three days ago. Tommy had wanted to escape his day of death. It was still so traumatizing for him that it was hard for him to live through it. Taking his wife to some lonely place where they could be all alone and he could let himself fall and be caught by her was what he needed. Oliver got that. He often felt the same way about his trauma.

Oliver tightened his arms around Thea’s waist once more before he let go of her. He took a step back and flashed her a sad smile. It was meant to soothe her the way that she had tried to soothe him and tell her that he was doing okay – as okay as possible given the circumstances – but he guessed that it looked so pathetic that it wasn’t believable at all.

While Thea stepped back towards Roy, who put his free hand to the small of her back and rubbed it over the probably aching part of her muscles, Oliver looked around the faces of the people around him. His fingers tightened around the banister around him.

“Thank you all for coming here. I know that-“

“Spare yourself the breath, Oliver,” John interrupted him softly and shook his head, “because, as far as I got it, we don’t have a lot of time. What about Felicity?”

Oliver sucked in a deep breath, grateful that he got to skip the general rules of politeness. After the island, he had felt like he had forgotten all about those rules the same way he had felt unable to participate in small talk or anything like that. Felicity had taught him to adapt to more normal standards, but sometimes it was still hard to remember it.

“William Tockman got her.”

“Tockman?” Roy frowned. “Should I know who that is?”

“He calls himself the Clock King. Sara, John, Felicity and I know him. He hired two criminals to steal something from Kord Enterprise and killed one of them for killing a guard. Later, he hired others to steal money from the Starling National Bank. We set him up, so he broke into another agency of Starling National. That is where we took her down, well, Felicity did.”

“So he wants revenge,” Dominic concluded and crossed her arms in front of her chest, “and he wants to wreak revenge on Felicity the most which is not good news.”

Oliver nodded his head though he felt every muscle in his body tensing once more. He knew what Lyla meant. There was no good reason why Tockman would want Oliver to find Felicity alive. Her death would certainly suit him much more, at least unless he was going to kill him in front of her eyes.

“Tockman is playing a game.” Oliver gestured to the traces that he had found already. “He sent me the countdown. That’s the time I have to find Felicity. It started at forty-eight hours and went down since I opened the gift box it was wrapped in.”

Forty-one hours and thirty-four minutes were left, and it continued to run out right in front of his eyes. There was nothing he could to to stop it, and it already felt like it was too little time to succeed.

“He said we will start where we finished the last time, so I drove to the bank and found that tablet in my private box. It allows me to see Felicity, but I can’t contact her.”

“May I check?”

Oliver grabbed the tablet and put it onto Lyla’s hand willingly. He knew that through her job at A.R.G.U.S. she had a lot of hidden talents and a lot of resources. From the computers here, Felicity had given herself access to these abilities, and Lyla knew that too. She linked the tablet with Felicity’s system and started working her way through the almost child-proof system. Still, she’d probably be more successful than Oliver would have been.

“He said that there are rewards to be unlock if I follow the right traces, but they will be taken away if I take the wrong traces.” He sucked in a deep breath. “And I am not allowed to get myself any help to do this. It was meant to be a one-on-one. Calling you and telling you everything about this wasn’t a light choice to make because it might cost me the person I love and need most in this world. I just know that Felicity ”

Saying that made his chest felt heavy because it reminded him once more what risk he had taking by calling John. Given what was on the line for him, he shouldn’t have been able to contact him. If it hadn’t been for the fact that he knew how much Felicity had always said that they needed to trust in their friends and needed to trust in the joint effort of the team, she wouldn’t have contacted them.

Oliver could see his family and friends sharing meaningful looks. They knew how much it must have taken from him to call them. He had always done things alone and, even though he had gotten offers for help from people he had felt he could trust a lot of times, he hadn’t been able to take those offers. He had just been too used to doing things alone, and deep in his bones he had still believed that the only person he could trust was himself. That was how it always had been after all.

“We need to find Felicity,” Oliver said, “and, to do so, we need to find the next clues. The tablet was the last thing that I got from Tockman, so it has to lead to some new traces. The tablet has to be the key to the next trace.”

Dominic nodded and stepped right behind Lyla. Looking over her shoulder, he tried to follow the codes she went through. The way he narrowed his eyes at what he was seeing at the screen told Oliver that he had no idea what he was seeing there. Felicity had often joked that Roy really didn’t get the way tech worked at all although he did very well at trying to cover it by sounding smart and like he knew his way around a computer.

“A.R.G.U.S. would be a great help with this.” Lyla sighed while her fingers moved on the keyboard. Others would probably say they were moving quickly, but since Oliver had memorized the clattering sound of Felicity’s fingers dancing over the keyboard, he knew it was rather slow compared to her. The comparison wasn’t exactly fair though as Felicity had been behind computers for years, and it had been exactly where she had wanted to be. “My experts in IT know their way around a computer much better than I do and-“

“I don’t trust A.R.G.U.S.”

“I basically am A.R.G.U.S.,” Lyla replied almost a little sharply, turning around in Felicity’s chair and looking at Oliver urgently, “because I ran background checks on them. They all came back okay. I also interviewed them to test their psych. I made sure that everyone working for A.R.G.U.S. is fit and trustworthy of the job. I was very thorough in choosing what agents had to go and what could stay. I trust everyone working for A.R.G.U.S. because they have been chosen thoroughly.”

Oliver knew that Lyla was saying the truth. She was a good friend of Felicity and him. She knew how much they meant to John. She wouldn’t keep it a secret if she had even the slightest doubt about this. If there was a mole within her team, she would say it because

“You are a part of that agency which is not the same as being A.R.G.U.S.,” Oliver countered, “which is why I trust you, but I don’t trust your agents. I don’t trust them with anything that affects my missions, and I definitely don’t trust them with my wife’s life. It’s Felicity.��

He knew that he could trust Lyla because she had become part of this family a long time ago. She had supported Felicity when she had needed it the most, and she offered her services to the team a lot of times too. Still, given the history that he shared with A.R.G.U.S., Oliver couldn’t trust that institution. He knew how it worked, and he knew that he wanted no part in it if it was avoidable.

“There are too many people involved in this as it is.” Oliver sighed. He knew that a fight was the last thing he needed right now. “I don’t want to risk even more by asking for more people to help.”

Lyla knew that he was just soothing her. Oliver could see in her eyes that she knew. Instead of saying anything, she just nodded her head and turned back to the computers though. After all, she knew as well as he did that this wasn’t the right time to pick up a discussion about whether or not A.R.G.U.S. was trustworthy.

Oliver’s eyes found the countdown once more, and he felt his heart aching in his chest. He was looking on life a lot more positively now than he had a couple of years ago, but he was still a realist. Chasing criminals on the street was much easier than playing the games of some psycho. He wasn’t the one in charge here.

In the latter half of his life so far, Oliver had experienced a lot of loss. Every single one had taken a part of his soul. For years, he had been walking around like a ghost, really being a shell of a body more than anything else. That was what happened when the people you cared about were ripped from your life, and it was completely out of your control.

With how helpless and out of control he had felt with every time someone he loved had died, Oliver guessed it was no surprise that he had turned into a control freak. Like so many of his symptoms, it had become better with time, but he still had trouble sometimes. During family walks, he always needed his kids to stay somewhere close. He always needed to know where they were. It made him nervous when he couldn’t see them.

Losing the people that you loved the way he had lost them did that to people.

“I need a phone.”

His words seemed to surprise the people around him. He didn’t care to explain to them that he didn’t want to use his phone in case Tockman would call him. With a single look he told everyone that he was serious and held out his hand. Immediately, everyone reached into the pocket of their pants and held their phones out for him. Thea was the first to put her phone into his hand, so Oliver took it.

“What are you doing?” John asked.

“There is someone that I have to call.”

“Curtis?” Thea asked. “That’s probably a good idea. Felicity was the one who invited him in on the team in the first place to replace her and-“

“It’s not Curtis.”

Oliver wondered if he should call Curtis. While he had indeed jumped in a couple of times when Felicity had been unavailable and he had actually been a regular part of the team since they had divided it into two shifts, for some reason Oliver just didn’t consider him a close part of this family. Maybe it was because, other than Arrow operations and QI occasions, there were barely any touch points between them. Maybe it wasn’t fair not to call Curtis, but he really was Oliver’s last priority right now, and he actually wasn’t sure enough if he could trust the bubbly man to keep a secret like this.

John frowned when Oliver stated dialing the number. Oliver only saw it from the corner of his eye, but he lifted his gaze to his friend nonetheless. His thumb was already hovering over the green receiver.

“I need to call Bruce.”

A couple of years ago, these words would have surprised Oliver himself, but not anymore. He had grown a lot through the years and he had learned to understand people as well as people’s feelings a lot better. Understanding a person that was in love with Felicity was the easiest.

“If the situation was the other way around, and he was the one married to Felicity, while I was hopelessly in love with her, I would want to know.” Oliver pressed the green receiver. “Bruce deserves to know.”

It didn’t take long for Bruce to take the call. He didn’t say a word though, probably suspicious as he wasn’t sure who war calling. Oliver doubted that he had saved Thea’s number. Just like Oliver himself, Bruce knew that an unknown caller usually meant that there was trouble as only a handful of people had access to their phone numbers.

“Bruce, it’s me. Oliver.”

There was only a beat of silence, barely longer than the beat of a heart. As short as the moment of silence was, it still weighed heavy. Bruce had experienced as much pain as Oliver had in his life. Maybe his pain and his experience had been different, but it had taken him to the same point it had taken Oliver eventually.

“What happened?”

“William Tockman aka the Clock King took Felicity. He gave me two days to find her and, although I know it’s against the rules, I think a group effort is our best chance.”

“I will be in Starling before sunrise.”

Oliver nodded his head when Bruce had already hung up. He was glad that Bruce was coming here. They could need the help, and he offered the right expertise for this battle with Tockman. If someone aside from Felicity could fight him, it was Bruce.

“I might have found something.”

Quickly, Oliver handed his phone back to Thea and stepped behind Lyla, who was skimming through a folder full of music files.

“What did you find?”

“Well, to be completely true here, Felicity’s security check found it. The folder has been hidden and was secured, but the system basically found and unlocked it all by itself thanks to Felicity’s preinstalled routine mechanisms.”

So Felicity was probably going to find herself at the end and lead them right towards her, so they could get them out of wherever she was held captive. Felicity had learned early to save herself.

“What files are there?”

“They are all music files. Apparently, they belong to different albums of a band that’s called Mortician.”

“How is that going to help us?” Thea asked and stepped next to Oliver. “It has to be a new trace, but where is it supposed to take us?”

“I looked at the files a little bit more thoroughly.” Lyla shot a brief look back over her shoulder before she turned back to the monitors. “The song that was most listened to is called Zombie Apocalypse. I looked for any connections between that and Tockman or the song and Starling City. Apparently, a horror movie with the same title has filmed some scenes around here. On the property of a local mortician.”

“That’s where I will start my search for the next trace.”

“I’ll come with you.”

Roy already turned to follow Oliver, but he shot a look back over his shoulder and shook his head. It might have looked weak, but it made Roy stop nonetheless.

“No,” he said, “I will go alone in case Tockman observes me.”

He had risked enough as it was. He couldn’t go a step further. If Tockman saw him with anyone of the team, he would know that Oliver had broken the rules. Maybe he knew already. Oliver hoped that wasn’t true, but it was possible. He just couldn’t allow himself to think about that.

 → → → → →

Since it took him more than an hour to get to his destination, less than forty hours were left to find Felicity by the time that Oliver arrived at the morticians. Although it was still the middle of the night – something he had only realized once he had arrived at the building – there was light behind one of the windows. Apparently, someone was working a nightshift or something.

Oliver went to the door and knocked at it firmly. Maybe the light had only been left switched on by accident, but Oliver really couldn’t care less right now. He had an excuse to say why he had knocked at the door so late, but he wouldn’t care if he woke up anyone.

It didn’t take too long before the door was opened. An elder man with glassy eyes and tousled hair was looking at Oliver over the rim of his glasses. Before Oliver could say anything though, he nodded his head with a long sigh and beckoned him to come in.

With a quick, suspicious look around Oliver tried to find out if there was anyone watching him. Since he got the impression that he had been expected, he wondered if Tockman was somewhere around here. Even if he wasn’t, he certainly had been here or had sent someone to come here and announce that he was going to come here.

This was the right trace. Oliver could feel it.

Oliver stepped into the house carefully, already taking a thorough look around. This might be a trap, one of those wrong traces after all. His feeling might betray him. It had happened before after all.

“Come on,” the man that had opened the door for him said, “I will show you the coffins.”

“Thanks,” Oliver said after a brief moment of hesitation, “that’s exactly what I intended to see.”

He had no idea what game exactly was being played here, but he guessed that playing along was his best choice for now. At least that was he wasn’t dismissed just yet.

“I know.”

The man sighed, looking at Oliver for a long moment. He looked him up and down thoroughly, taking him in and judging him for sure. He looked at him like he thought very little of him. As the mayor, Oliver was used to that. He was used to people thinking little of him because of the political decisions he had made. There was something else here though. Oliver could feel it.

“I am sorry for the late visit.”

He had to feel a way into this conversation. He had to find out what exactly was being placed here without losing his chance of finding the next trace. It was close. He could feel it. He couldn’t risk losing it.

“I knew what I was getting myself into when I agreed to do this.” The man sighed once more. “Luckily, I wasn’t paid that badly, so I guess it’s okay.”

Oliver nodded his head, unsure wat he could say to that. He still wasn’t sure if all of this was right or a trap or whatever.

“I voted for you by the way.”

“Thank you.”

“I have to admit that I am not sure I would have done it if I had known that you were taking part in scavenger hunts.” He stepped into what looked like a showroom for coffins and turned around to Oliver. With his arms crossed in front of his chest, he looked at Oliver almost a little dismissively. “I thought your days of being a spoilt bachelor were over.”

A scavenger hunt. That was what he believed was happening here.

“They actually are over. I was persuaded into joining.”

The mortician just nodded his head, looking Oliver up and down once more. If Oliver had to bet, he’d say that he wasn’t going to vote him next time. He didn’t care, at least not right now.

Oliver shot a look at his watch. He didn’t have time for long conversations. He needed to get onto Tockman’s track.

“I guess your time is precious since you want to find your friend.”

Again, the mortician sighed. Turning away, he opened one of the coffins and reached inside. When he turned back around, he held out a USB drive for Oliver. Taking it, Oliver turned the little device between his fingers.

“Your friend asked me to tell you something.”

Oliver perked up his eyebrows and felt his heart skipping a beat. Maybe the message in combination with whatever was on the USB drive would take him a step closer to Felicity.

“What did he say?”

“He said The dead are always trying to convince me how comfortable their coffins are.” He made a brief pause. “He also asked me to offer you to test the comfortability of one of my coffins. He said you might have a thing for playing with death.”

Oliver looked at the coffins intently, wondering what exactly this was supposed to mean. Was it just a little joke Tockman was making or was there some deeper meaning to it? Was it maybe a wrong trace to follow?

Pressing his lips together tightly, Oliver sucked in a deep breath. He would need to know what was on the USB drive and also have the whole effort of the team to help him put the pieces together.

“Not tonight,” he said and tightened his fingers around the USB drive, “but thank you for your offer and for everything.”

With that, he turned around and left the house, hoping that these next clues were helping him to find out more.

 → → → → →

 Thirty-eight hours and less than fifty minutes were left by the time that Oliver arrived back in the bunker. The moment he stepped into the dark, he lifted the USB drive.

“I have something.”

Everyone, including Bruce who was sitting in Felicity’s chair, his fingers dancing over the keyboard as quickly as Felicity’s usually did, turned around to him. Oliver wondered briefly if he should be surprised that Bruce was here already. A flight from Gotham took a lot longer than two hours. With how crazy the world they were living in could be, Oliver was sure that he had found a way to make this work though.

“I will check that,” Bruce said and lifted a hand to catch the USB drive when Oliver threw it in his direction, “and meanwhile you will tell me the entire story from the beginning. I need to know everything. Every little detail. Maybe there is something you missed or something you- I don’t know. Maybe there is just something.”

Oliver nodded his head. He grabbed the tablet he had found in his private box and pushed the button to see Felicity. She threw her head to the side, a sob falling from her lips. Oliver couldn’t hear it, but the sound echoed through his head nonetheless. And it broke his heart.

“Oliver.”

Bruce’s harsh voice made Oliver hug the tablet to his chest before he looked at the one man who loved Felicity as much as he himself did. He wasn’t looking back at him though. Instead, his eyes were glued to the monitor as he was already trying to find out what exactly was saved on the USB-drive.

“Felicity took Tockman down a couple of years ago, using his own tech against him,” Oliver explained, his voice almost sounding numb as he lowered his eyes back to the tablet and the footage of Felicity he was receiving, “and he has been in prison for the last years. He broke out during the latest earthquake. Now he is holding Felicity captive and wants me to find her. He gave me forty-eight hours and even sent me a countdown, to make sure I know the exact time I have left. He said it was like some kind of game, and he set up some rules. The most important one is that I should find her alone. He says there will be consequences if I break any of the rules.”

“Then why did you call your team?”

From the corner of his eye, he could see Thea already taking in a breath to tell Bruce that Oliver had made the right call, but Oliver shook his head quickly. Bruce was still where Oliver had been a couple of years ago. He doubted people more than he trusted them, and when it came down to it, he would always decide to trust only himself over anyone else.

“Because I know it’s what Felicity would have wanted me to do,” Oliver explained, pushing the button to see Felicity once more, “because she knows that doing things alone never leads to the same success as trusting your friends. She was the one who convinced me that a team was what this city and what I would need for my wellbeing. She would want the team to be involved in here.”

“You should have called me and only me.”

Bruce’s voice was low, but Oliver could still hear the anger in it. There was nothing Oliver could possibly say to convince Bruce otherwise. He wasn’t ready to trust people in situations of crisis, and this was certainly one of the worst situations for Bruce given how much Felicity meant to him.

Who knew. Maybe Bruce was right, and Oliver should have just contacted Bruce. He could have easily erased all traces of their contact. Bruce had the skills necessary for that. It might have been the safer option, but they would certainly need a bumper between them eventually.

Tapping onto the little button of the tablet, Oliver lowered his eyes. For the first time, Felicity hadn’t slapped her hands in front of her face protectively. Still, she looked anything but happy or content with the way things were. Felicity looked exhausted. There were dark rings under her eyes that she had squeezed shut to protect them from the light. Her lips were dry, her skin pale.

Who knew what she was going through right now? She didn’t have much room which scared her as Oliver knew although it had become better. Did she have something to drink? Something to eat? Was she comfortable?

The dead are always trying to convince me how comfortable their coffins are.

As soon as the display went black, Oliver pushed the button once more. He needed to see Felicity alive. Who knew what was done to her when he couldn’t see her?

“Stop pushing that damn button. It hurts Felicity.”

Bruce’s harsh voice made Oliver lift his gaze and frown at him. Still, Bruce wasn’t looking back at him. He continued working on the computers, trying to figure out what clues the USB-drive were holding.

Oliver wanted to ask him how he knew that Felicity was being hurt, but deep down he already knew that Bruce was right. The glaring light was shining right into her face, probably blinding her as much as the reports’ flashlights always hurt Oliver. Given how close the light seemed to be to her face, it had to be even worse.

Sucking in a deep breath to breathe against the pain, Oliver put the tablet again and stepped behind Bruce.

“How is it going?”

“Give me a couple more minutes, and we will know what’s on the USB-drive. It’s encrypted well, but certainly not well enough. He encrypted this for you, not for me.”

Oliver didn’t doubt that.

“I have something to work on for the rest of you,” Oliver said, crossing his arms in front of his chest and turning around to the rest of the team, “because the mortician I have been to has delivered a message from Tockman. He said The dead are always trying to convince me how comfortable their coffins are. We need to find out what that means.”

While the others left the platform to discuss exactly that, Oliver stayed back with Bruce. He glanced towards the tablet again and again. His fingers were twitching with the urge to reach out for it, but Oliver didn’t dare to. He knew Bruce was right with his estimation. Felicity was only getting hurt through it.

Oliver just didn’t know what else he should do, and he hated not doing anything. It drove him crazy and-

“Got it.”

Immediately, Oliver was back behind Bruce. He looked over his shoulder at the monitor, trying to understand anything of the many numbers there.

“What is it?” he asked urgently. “Any new clue?”

“It’s a program for audio transmitting.”

Oliver frowned. “He sent me another message?”

“No, I think it’s the missing audio for the video footage of Felicity. The line is safe, so even if Tockman has access to the line, he can’t hear you know. It’s blocked.”

Oliver felt his heart skipping a beat before it started racing in his chest. He needed to talk to Felicity. He needed to assure her that he was going to find her. She probably knew that already because she had so much faith in him, but he wanted to tell her nonetheless.

Bruce pulled the USB-drive from the slot in the computer and held it out to Oliver. The expression in his eyes was so intense that Oliver barely dared to take the USB-drive from him. He could just see in Bruce’s eyes that he would love to keep it to himself. He needed to talk to Felicity as much as Oliver did, but he knew that this was a privilege that was all Oliver’s. At least for now.

“Tell Felicity that I am here and that we will find her.”

Nodding his head, Oliver took the USB-drive from him and whispered, “I will. And we will.”

While Oliver put the USB-drive to the tablet, Bruce left Felicity work station. Oliver sat back on the edge of the table and sucked in another deep breath. Closing his eyes, he cradled the tablet to his chest for a moment.

He knew that he had to get a hold on himself. Only if he had a hold on himself, he could be calm enough and assuring enough to make sure that Felicity believed him. He needed to be calm if he wanted to calm her down, and he wanted to calm her down. He wanted her to spend the next hours of her life, afraid that she was going to die in that cold hole she was captured in. He was going to find her, and he was going to hold her for hours until she was going to be okay eventually. Until they both were.

Breathing out slowly, Oliver brushed his thumb against the small button on the display.

“Felicity?”

 → → → → →

 “You’re still the one I run to / The one that I belong to.”

Felicity hadn’t been surprised when that song had come to her mind. It was kind of her and Oliver’s song although they had only chosen it rather lately. Oliver had woken up after a nightmare, and they had danced to that song in their bedroom. Listening to the lyrics, they had decided that it was their song.

“You’re still the one I want for life / You’re still the one that I love / The only one I dream of / You’re still the one I kiss goodnight / Ain’t nothing better.”

After everything they had been through together and despite the uncertainty of what else they would have to go through in the future, they had known that they would always be the one for each other. There would never be anyone else because nobody could possibly understand them as well as they understood each other.

“You’re still the one I want for life / You’re still the one that I love / The only one I dream of / You’re still the one I kiss goodnight.”

Although she had told Oliver that she was going to take care of everything, she was sure that he had set up everything romantically, so they could fully enjoy the evening together. This song had probably been played on repeat for hours already, and he would have still insisted on continuing to listen to it.

Oliver was a giant sap, no matter how much he tried to hide it from anyone but her. He was her giant sap, and she wouldn’t want it any other way.

“Ain’t nothing better / We beat the odds together / I’m glad we didn’t listen / Look at that we would be missin’.”

God, they would both miss so much if they hadn’t given into their feelings. They were both happier than they had ever been in their lives. Without each other, everything in their lives would be different. Maybe they’d still be happy, but their lives wouldn’t be full.

Felicity squeezed her eyes shut, feeling a single tear running down her cheek.

She might not see or speak to Oliver again. She could never tell him how much he had enriched her life and how much happiness and stability he had brought into it. She could never tell him how much she really loved him.

Maybe he knew it already, he probably did, but she needed to tell him again. She needed it to be the last thing she told him. Otherwise, she would never be sure.

There were always so much things more that she needed to tell him. There were things that he needed to tell their kids. She needed them to know some things, things she had thought she could tell them later on. Since there wasn’t necessarily a later on, she might have to tell Oliver to tell them one day and-

The glaring light was switched on once more. The heat seemed to drill itself into her skin. It hurt everywhere, feeling like a fire being held close to her face.

“Felicity?”

A sob that had been sticking in her throat the entire time since she had woken up in this little cage or whatever she was in.

“Oliver.”

She didn’t have to ask. She’d recognize his voice in a pool of a thousand voices. Even through his voice modulator she’d be able to recognize him by now. She just knew him so well, and she’d recognize him through every costume he could possibly put on.

“Hey.”

His voice was soft, but Felicity could hear the tears in his voice, and it made tears streaming down her face now too. Although she had been and still was so sure that Oliver would find her eventually, she was scared about being locked into this tiny thing in the dark. All of this was so very scary, and that made her weak.

“Hey, hey, hey,” he said quickly, his voice still lowered to a whisper, “don’t cry. I will find you, okay? I don’t know where you are yet, but I will find you and-“

“Oliver.”

His name fell from her lips in a sob. For the break of a second, she felt all those words she had been thinking about for the past minute threatening to fall from her lips. She knew that those words would be a goodbye and a sign that she didn’t believe Oliver would find her eventually, and that wouldn’t be fair. Oliver would try everything he could to find her. No matter how much it took.

“I will find you,” Oliver repeated, his voice more convincing now, “we will find you.”

“You called the team.”

A sigh of relief fell from her lips, not because she doubted that he couldn’t find her on his own, but because she knew that it must have taken a lot from him to trust anyone with what had happened. What exactly had happened though?

“Yes, I called them,” Oliver told her, “although Tockman told me not to.”

“It was the right choice.”

“I know you’d say this.” Oliver sighed. “Which is why I called them and Bruce. Together, we are a good team. We will find you. I promise you.”

“I know,” Felicity whispered closing her eyes once more, “I know you will find me.”

She really knew. Whatever thoughts she had had before had just been symptoms of how bad she felt locked up in this dark. Now that she could hear Oliver’s voice, those thoughts felt completely irrelevant because Oliver was going to find her, no matter what her dark thoughts were trying to tell her.

Everything was going to be okay. She knew that now more than ever. She was going to be back with Oliver and her kids soon because he would save her. She knew he would.

“Are you okay?” Oliver added eventually. “Did Tockman hurt you?”

“No.” Felicity shook her head and took in a sniffling breath. She quickly wiped away the tears from her cheeks. “He just took me and took me out. When I woke up, I was caged into a small, dark thing. I have no idea where I am.”

“I know,” Oliver whispered soothingly, “I can see you.”

Felicity frowned. “How?”

“There has to be a camera in there. Tockman sent me a tablet with the video footage, and we managed to unlock the audio just now. We can talk now.”

“Good.” Felicity nodded slowly. “So, it’s you who can switch on the light in here?”

“Yes, but I am trying to avoid it. I know it’s not pleasant and-“

“No, I- It’s a lot easier to bear it now that I know you are the one looking at me and not him.”

She imagined Tockman to sit behind his computers and watch her. He wanted her to suffer, but Felicity was sure that knowing she suffered alone wasn’t enough. He needed to see her. He needed to see how much she was suffering.

Although the light still prickled on her skin unpleasantly, at least now Felicity knew that it was Oliver thinking about her. She could imagine looking into his deep blue eyes and seeing his soft smile on his lips. It would comfort her in this cold and lonely darkness.

Closing her eyes, Felicity took some deep breaths and imagined right that. She felt her heartbeat slowing down immediately. Some of the panic that had spread in her veins in the last minutes or hours or days since she had been locked in here – there was no way she could keep a track of time here – faded. Oliver and the team would find her. Easily.

“Are you okay?”

“I am going to be,” Felicity promised, “how long have I been away yet?”

“Almost eleven hours since Tockman called me.”

Was that long or short? Felicity wasn’t sure.

“I have thirty-seven hours left to find you, but don’t worry. We have traces. We will-“

“I know,” Felicity whispered, “I know you will find me. I trust you, and I love you.”

“I love you too. So much.”

Felicity smiled softly, feeling his words wrap her into some gentle warmth that seemed to fill her from the inside as much as it covered her from the outside.

Everything was going to be okay. She just had to hold on for some hours more.

* * *

@fannaz​ @promiseyoullbepatientwithme​ @bytemegeekette​ @felicity-said-just-in-case​ @phanseptiic​ @orangeisorange​ @mspotatohead14​ @whentheheavenfades​ @emmaamelia95​ @smoakingskye​ @seaolicity​ @ourwritinginvein​ @1022bridgetp @felicityqueenforever​ @leagueofolicity17 @yryssss​ @myhauntedblacksoul​ @sherlock44​ @sinceriouslybea​ @olivyflavescentdeer​ @olicitys-castle​ @ofnothingcharming​ @vaelisamaza​ @smoakedandcharmed​ @alexisa1206​ @florence-bubbles​ @addictiontelly​ @queens-of-arrows-blog​ @memcjo​ @hysterical-for-joshifer-blog​ @oswinelevenforever​ @olicitylovemaking @bandanab310​ @mymusiclove101​ @lynslogic​ @scarletqueen23​ @olicityshipper19-blog​ @alex-wesley​ @arrows-4ever​ @unabashedlynerdypatrol​ @louehmysoul​ @ligiapimenta​ @chattyyana​ @charlie-leau​ @coal000​ @samcrowleys​ @ishippolivia​ @julianegomesqueen @malafle​ @miriam1779​ @charlinert​ @melaux​ @ontheolicityship​ @myshipperlife​ @wrightainsley @lexi9515​ @ladygreenwood​ @multi-fandom-crazy-fangirl​ @morinamel​ @mje-thomas​ @kebarry​ @canadianheartgirl​ @nannett2307​ @almondblossomme​ @kathrynelizabeth89​ @imdfabulous​ @mrt2501​ @arsipaci14​ @salasvia​ @brandis91​ @cainc3​ @morganmiguess @pr0fessi0nal-fangurl​ @iamisalima​ @nessafraan-blog​ @jonhdiggle​ @niki-is-amazing​ @universed-posts @hopeful-warrior​ @senoritaswiftie​ @bellemmie​ @green-arrows-of-karamel​ @iheartarrow​ @olicityovereverything​ @oliverfel4​ @olicity-in-the-heart​ @fullychippedcreation​ @geemarie​ @everything-but-normal-cat @myarroworld​ @tjmartinez​ @pleasantfanandstudent @j69confessional2​ @scentedcolorpirate​ @icanica74​ @tjmartinez98​ @certainmentalityface​ @tatianadamaceno @ryelew​ @wildwillowzepplin​ @missafairy​ @letsplaymurde-r​ @lipizette​ @positivepiper​ @nuttymilkshakehologram​ @laksagirl-blog​ @turnupthemusicandscream​ @pumpernickle93​ @onceuponanolicity​ @1106angel​ @jaspertown​ @fadinglands​ @morganashimi83​ @mochababychristy​ @omglovechrissie​ @mariejr88-blog​ @thetaufactor​ @onceuponanolicity​ @speakandseethetruth​ @bri206​ @aglasgo​ @geemarie​ @pineprincess​ @nerdgirljen​ @eternal-olicity14​ @allyouhadtodowas-stay-stay-stay​ @lovelycssefan​ @tsseract​ @flowerandsunshine​ @dcnmarvelgamergeek​ @blondeeoneexox @monetsmark​ @bb-olicity​ @mashamarty​ @rulerofsilence​ @erika-amber​ @nothingmorethanmyotps​ @kayleenyc​ @tonto16 @olicityfluv​ @olicitea1990 @haahaaa2408​ @pattid1​ @faegal04​ @24karatgem​ @wrldtravler​ @readerkas​ @olicity-beliver​ @greencoffeecups​ @snorlaxishere​ @sonothappening118

(If you want to be tagged or untagged, just let me know. :))

[madelynsok]

it takes a lot of love to hate someone

tw: mention of death, neglect, anxiety attack 

Is she to blame for her parent's death? Her sisters seem to think so. And maybe, just maybe, she does too.

“I’m not taking her back to Paris with me.”

“And you think I want to take her back to LA? Fae, I’m pregnant. I’m starting a family. The last thing I want to deal with is a moody teenager especially when that teenager is our sister.” 

“I can hear you two, you know,” Maddie said, her voice loud and ringing out across the room. Both of her sisters, statuesque and beautiful, every bit the product of their parent’s, snapped their attention to where she sat, arms crossed on the couch. Guess she was right. They had forgotten that she was there. 

The term ‘sister’ was more of a placeholder to explain their shared heritage. The word never went beyond that. So it stood to reason that even after all the years of knowing her sisters, Madelyn still didn’t understand what they were thinking sometimes. They had buried their parents mere hours ago and had proceeded to listen to the reading of their will. It was all the usual things you’d expect at a will reading: how their hefty inheritance was being split up, what they would do with their belongings and real estate to name a few. The clause that neither of the sisters were expecting however, was that if they passed before Madelyn was of age, their parent’s last dying wish was to ensure that her older sisters took care of her. 

The statement had hung in the air after the lawyer had read it, and Maddie had cast a glance at both of them seated to her left. Felicity looked like her face would crack at any moment and Odette’s hands had fluttered to her belly, the look in her eyes like they could kill. Maddie hadn’t been thrilled about the idea either. There was no love lost between her and her sisters, but they had just lost their parents. Devastatingly. Tragically. Maddie still bore the bruises and scars from the accident herself, but instead of eliciting sympathy, her injuries seemed to only further prove to Odette and Felicity that she was to blame for their parent’s demise. 

Her sisters seemed to care little about what their constant distaste for her existence did to her psyche. They had always treated her with mild disinterest. But now, after their parents had passed in a car crash that had been no one’s fault but the drunk driver’s, it had transformed. Anyone who could read past the strained smiles and fake displays of affection they gave her at the funeral would have been able to tell that they hated her. As far as they were concerned, their baby sister was the reason their parents weren’t alive anymore. It was, after all, a family outing that Maddie had insisted they take together. 

Odette and Felicity didn’t need to voice their blame. Maddie knew. It was the hot, uncomfortable truth that she had sat with over the last several days, even when they had flown in from opposite sides of the world to visit her in the hospital. Her not-so-quiet reminder that she was sitting in the same room seemed to pass, and Odette and Felicity turned back towards one another, hell-bent on trying to pawn their younger sister off on one another. 

Felicity jumped in before Odette could speak. “I’m still in university! How am I supposed to study and take care of a 16-year-old?” Odette and Maddie both scoffed at the sentiment. They both knew Felicity was making the most of her time flitting around the upper echelons of the Parisian social circles instead of studying. 

“You could figure it out. You have a busy enough social calendar. One more human being couldn’t hurt.” Felicity’s eyes flared at the snark remark from the eldest Sok child. 

“What about you, hm?” She jabbed her finger into the lapel of Odette’s crisp, black designer suit. Maddie saw Odette’s jaw clench, an already defined jawline turning sharp like steel. “Just because you’re Mrs. Hot Shot Film Executive now, you think that my time is more valuable to waste?” 

Waste. That’s what her existence was for them. A waste. Maddie could feel the bile rise in her throat and she wished for what was the thousandth time that her parents were still alive. “You’re the oldest. The one with the most income. It makes the most sense for you to take her back to LA with you.” Felicity fluttered her hands, exasperatedly. “Just stick her in some far corner of that mega-mansion you live in and be done with it.” 

“Want me to collect dust while I’m at it?” Maddie asked, raising her voice again. “Because clearly I’m just an object and not someone that shares your DNA.” Felicity and Odette’s gazes shot back to her, both momentarily blinded by their argument that they had willingly chosen to ignore her presence again. Maddie’s voice was sharp. “Shocked that I can talk?” 

She pushed herself up off the couch, closing the space between her and her sisters within seconds. “First of all, I don’t want to live with either of you so don’t flatter yourselves in thinking that. Second of all, I don’t give a shit who I live with. But can we stop being so up our asses and just honour what mum and dad wanted?” The very thought of her parents wanted to make her cry but she’d keel over before her sisters saw her do that.    

Odette stared at her as if she was seeing her for the first time while Felicity’s mouth fell open wide. Words seemed to escape them and the three sisters looked at each other for the first time in the longest time. Finally, Maddie broke the silence, not wanting to be in the scenario for any longer than she had to. “Figure it out with a rock-paper-scissors match for all I care, just stop being dicks for once. This isn’t about any of us. This is about them.” Her chest heaved up and down having exerted more than she thought she had. As she was turning on her heel to storm out of the room, Odette spoke up. 

“...I’m flying back to LA tomorrow. I’ll get a room ready for you at home. Take as much time as you need here.” Odette’s hands went unconsciously to her slightly protruding belly, something Maddie had noticed that she did often when she thinking. “But we’ll want to find a school that you like before the year starts in September. Just keep that in mind.” 

Maddie turned to face her sisters again, but as soon as her eyes met Odette’s, Felicity spoke up. 

“I know some friends in the city that own moving and packing companies.” Odette’s eyes darted back to Felicity who was standing there with her arms crossed. “I’m sure they’d be happy to help you pack.” They all knew that Felicity wasn’t flying back to Paris for another week or so, but Madelyn would have thought the world was ending if Felicity had offered to help her pack herself. This was the closest that she’d ever get to offering something useful. Their eyes met and Maddie slowly nodded at both of them. 

“...Great.” She paused. “Thanks.” 

The Sok sisters were lulled again into silence. This was new territory for all of them. They never expected to lose their parents this soon. This was probably the closest thing to care that they’d engaged in together collectively in their short lives. Maddie wasn’t sure what to make of it. She had a feeling that they didn’t either. Odette and Felicity both looked at her with eyes that Maddie couldn’t read for the first time in a while. It was a mix of shame. Awkwardness. Contempt. Sadness. Blame. 

She didn’t hate her sisters. She never had. Once upon a time, Maddie had longed for their approval and wondered why they didn’t even pretend to like her, even in front of their parents. Had she done something to offend them? Or was it the mere act of existing and dividing the attention of their loving parents between yet another child? In that moment Maddie had a feeling it was the latter. She swallowed, giving another nod to the two of them before darting out of their dad’s study. She took the stairs of their brownstone several steps at a time until she reached her room. 

With the door slammed shut behind her, she blankly surveyed her room which was in more of a state than it normally was. The energy to clean and keep things in their place had been difficult to come by. Suddenly something snapped. Maddie’s chest heaved, the sound of her heartbeat in her ears as her hands mechanically began pulling at her stiff, black dress. It felt suffocating. She struggled to tear it off, hands trembling from anger, from sadness - she wasn’t sure what - before tossing it aside onto the pile of wrinkled clothing on the floor and collapsing on the bed. The wall of tears she had built up quickly tumbled down, leaving hot streaks down her cheeks. 

The words that her sisters had never vocalized rang in her mind. Her parent’s were dead. It was her fault. They had been the only ones in the damn world that really cared she existed and they were gone. All she was to Odette and Felicity was a waste of space. A waste. An object collecting dust. Not a sister. Just some human that they were bound to by blood. 

She had always fashioned herself as someone strong. As someone that didn’t take shit from anyone. To her sisters, she was a firecracker, unbearable and loud - so different from them in every single way. But it hadn’t mattered because at least she’d had her parents. But without them, without their love and support…

Something in her heart broke. 

Maddie noiselessly pressed her face into the pillow, fists clenched tight around its edges as she screamed. She screamed herself hoarse until they turned into sobs.  

She was alone. 

And she had no one else but herself to blame.

[originalhybridloverfics]

I Can’t Let Her Die Ch7

A/N: I’m trying my hand at shorter chapters in the hopes I’ll be able to post more frequently. 

Felicity was relieved when she finally got off work.

She hated working at Tech Village but never more so than today.

Having had Roy bodyguarding her all day Felicity just wanted to go home and forget everything else.

But she couldn’t. She had to into the foundry. There was work to be done if they were going to catch her killer.

She needed that. She needed her life to go back to the way it was. Before she had an ax hanging over her head.

And not only that Oliver, future Oliver needed to get back home but he could only do that once they saved her and she wanted to help him.

He was affected by her death more than she thought possible and if she could take away his pain she would do anything she could.

Oliver has been through so much already, she didn’t want more pain, more loss for him.

She wanted him happy. Was that too much to ask?

All she wanted was for him to have one happy story and if he believed that her being in his life, having his girl Wednesday at his side than who was she to argue. She loved being the one he relied on.

And honestly, it would be great not to have to make up stupid excuses about why she needed a bodyguard shadowing her every move.

Felicity bounded down the steps of the foundry tuning out Roy’s complaints about her car being too small.

“Don’t be a baby, Scarecrow. Stretch and roll those muscles and you’ll be fine. I’m sure, it’s nothing more than a bad kink.”

“You’re too short, you wouldn’t understand. That car was meant for tiny people like yourself.”  Roy retorted.

“She’s perfect just the way she is.” Future Oliver’s voice sounded.

Felicity looked up to see him approaching with her Oliver and John. All three men were covered in sweat, shirtless as they walked off the training mats.

Felicity thought it almost strange how she could immediately notice the difference between the two, even in their voices.

Future Oliver, when he talks to her, there was nothing but vulnerability and hope in his voice. Just looking at them, she could tell them apart. Her Oliver held himself at a distance while the future Oliver seemed like he couldn’t get close enough.

They were the same man, same looks, same voice yet she could tell them apart in an instant.

“How was work?” her Oliver asked.

“It was soul-sucking, is what it was.” She continued, setting her purse down and moving toward her computers.

“Were there any attacks?” Oliver continued.

“I would have called if there had been,” Roy told him.

Felicity deflated, looking at present Oliver. “I thought you were asking about my day.”

Future Oliver set his hand on her shoulder. “You can tell me about your day.”

Felicity looked up into his eyes and the intensity she found had her breath catching in her throat. She reached up with her hand and squeezed his in thanks.

Present Oliver’s eyes shot to their hands and his eyes narrowed. He placed his hand on her lower back and urged her to sit in her chair. “You should check on your searches make sure they're still running.”

Oliver wanted to get Felicity away from his future self, he didn’t like the way he looked at her or the way she stared at him with the softest of looks. Why didn’t she look at him like that? They were basically the same person.

“Of course, my searches or still running unless someone went messing with my babies when they should keep far away from them.” Felicity sat down in her chair, her fingers moving over the keys.

“Have your searches located are target yet?” John asked, moving behind her.

“No,” Felicity shook her head. “Not yet but once we find him, you guys do your thing and we’ll turn him into SCPD.” Felicity’s brow furrowed though. “Though they’ll need a reason to keep him detained indefinitely.”

There was a quietness behind her that she wasn’t used to.

She turned and saw John staring at her his arms crossed, Roy had a dark expression and the two Oliver’s seemed to be sharing a silent conversation as they stared at one another coming to some sort of silent agreement.

“Am I missing something?” Felicity asked, looking between the two Olivers’s.

“Felicity, we need to find your killer before he kills you,” John told her.

“I know that John,”

“You don’t understand,” Roy interjected. “We’re not going to give him the chance to kill you.”

“I know which is why we will be putting him behind bars.”

“Felicity, we’re not handing him over to the police.” Her Oliver told her slowly.

“What are you talking about?” Felicity knew what her team was saying but she couldn’t believe they were all willing to cross that line for her.

“He has to die, Felicity.” Future Oliver’s eyes were hard, his lips curved into a grim line. “I won’t take the chance that he’ll get to you. The only way to eliminate the threat to your life is to end his first.”

Felicity stood up. “We don’t kill,” She took a step toward both Oliver’s, her left hand took her Oliver’s hand in hers and her right hand took future Oliver’s hand in hers. “You made a vow, a promise to Tommy, to honor his memory that you wouldn’t kill. And it’s not who either of you are. You’re not a killer. I don’t want you to break it for me. Not again.”

John and Roy silently excused themselves, giving them some space.

“Too late.” Future Oliver said, eyes dark.

“What?” Felicity's hand fell away from both of theirs as future Oliver sent his future self a look.

Her Oliver looked back at her a moment. “It’s not a choice when it comes to your life.”

Felicity shook her head. “You only kill when necessary.” she looked at future Oliver. “You didn’t have a choice right?”

“I did and I chose to kill him and I still would have made the same choice.” Future Oliver said.

Felicity turned away, needing a moment.

Oliver killed for her again. He killed for her when the Count held her hostage and now he did again.

He always made it a point to honor Tommy by not killing but when it came to her it was like none of that mattered.

She was quickly finding a pattern.

For Oliver, she was a line that could not be crossed, or else Oliver got Arrow happy.

It wasn’t a good thing.

He couldn’t kill every time she was in danger. Not in their line of work because if he did there would be a string of bodies all over Starling city with the amount of trouble she tended to find.

When she turned back around, her Oliver had wandered over to Roy and Digg leaving her alone with his future self.

“When did you... was it right before you came here?”

“I don’t want to talk about it,” Oliver reply was abrupt.

Felicity felt like he was closing a part of himself from her off and it hurt. “Okay,”

Oliver stepped forward, his hand coming to rest on the side of her neck. “I don’t want to talk about it here. I’ll answer any questions you have when we’re alone but I rather not talk about the worst time in my life with an audience.

The worst time of his life? He couldn’t possibly be including his time on the island.

There was no way her death could compare to the torture he went through on Lian Yu. It just wasn’t possible and yet. Future Oliver had never looked more haunted then when he talked about losing her.

“Okay,” she said finally. “We’ll talk later then.”

Later when she had time to be alone with him and be able to process what he told her without being on constant watch by her team.

“Alright,” she turned away from him addressing the rest of the team as they discreetly watch her from the training mats. “Who wants food from Big Belly Burger?”

“I do,” Roy said, picking up a bow, intending to get some practice in. “I’m starving!”

“Great, I’ll go get everyone some food while my searches run.” Felicity scooped her purse back up.

“You can’t go alone,” her Oliver interjected stepping forward.

“I’ll go with her,” future Oliver was already pulling on his shirt and looked at his younger self. “You stay here and train with Digg.”

“I can go,” Oliver interjected, bristling as being told what to do even by his future self. Especially by his future self.

“There can’t be two Oliver Queen’s out in public.” Future Oliver argued, his hand moving to hover at Felicity’s lower back.

“He’s right,” said John. “Besides, he’s the only one who has dealt with our enemy. He’s the best person to be looking out for her.

“Don’t worry, I’ve got Felicity.” Future Oliver said.

That’s what worried present Oliver. He could see the way Felicity was looking at his future self and hurt to see her looking at someone like that.

Someone that wasn’t him.

Felicity didn’t like being discussed like she wasn’t there but she did enjoy Oliver’s protectiveness. It made her feel special and like she mattered to him in a way she didn’t believe was possible until now.

She smiled at future Oliver and allowed him to usher her up the steps of the foundry, a soft look in her luminous blue eyes.

Oliver watches them go, his stomach tearing up in knots with a familiar emotion that he was starting to associate with Felicity.

The same feeling he got when he saw her with Barry, the same emotion he felt every time he saw his future self with her.

Her smiles had always been for him, that soft adoring look in her eyes pointed his way was a light in the dark recess of his mind and now he wasn’t the one receiving that look.

It sent his emotions reeling to see her looking at someone who wasn’t him.

Barry was nothing, his jealousy then was more petty than anything else.

That wasn’t the case when it came to his future self.

This time it was serious, he felt like his future self was slowly stealing her away and it was tangling him up inside.

He needed it to stop. He wasn’t sure how much he could take.

A possessiveness unlike anything he ever felt before was building up inside him and he wasn’t sure how much more he could stomach seeing them together.

He was looking at everything he ever wanted but was standing on the outside looking in.

It was harder than he imagined it would be to see Felicity with someone who was not him and he hated it.

A/N: You can also find this story on ao3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/18196577/chapters/63832900

Tags: @erika-amber @msbeccieboo @faegal04 @eloiselili @jendiaz69 @omglovechrissie @icannotbelieveiamhere @hope-for-olicity @keabbs  @lageniuswannabe @it-was-a-red-heeler @aguschaer @memcjo @mariestark @alwayssawyou

[olicitysecretsanta]

uncanny valley (pg, 1972 words, Bratva AU)

A very happy and hearty post-finale (because I refuse to say “farewell”) Olicity wish to this wonderful fandom, and especially @nikscaroline​, who asked for jealous/possessive Bratva!Oliver. I haven’t written a lot of him in that space, so welcome to this AU (inspired in part by this image, which I’ve been hanging onto for, oh, a year or so? Thanks for the great prompt to finally use it, Irvane!)

By @effie214​

Summary: In aesthetics, the uncanny valley is the relationship between the degree of an object’s resemblance to a human being and the emotional response to such an object.

© Pawel Piotrowski

  The bite of the Boston winter is not unlike that of Russia. 

What’s unfamiliar to him, however, is the light he sees when he lays eyes on her for the first time. It’s not from the waning colors of the mid-December sun as it sets, nor even the light emanating from behind her in the room in the second house from the right in Fall River. He doesn’t see the blonde hair that he’ll catch wisps of in the corner of his eye as she eliminates his blind spot entirely; doesn’t see the blue eyes that will look up at him at first in fear, then in meditation, and finally in a trust that shakes him to his core with a chill more biting than any snow could ever muster. 

He does not see the hands that the Bratva have tracked here, to Felicity Smoak and her ridiculous boyfriend, as they nearly – and, he’s sure, unintentionally, but if there’s anyone who knows that all roads to each hell, for there are many, and their devils multifaceted, it’s Oliver Queen – brought down one of the outfit’s most brilliant money laundering schemes through fake student loan payments and “donations” to various colleges and universities. He does not see the fingers that will shake first as he enters her house unannounced, the ones that will scratch and claw and tear at him the way fear will do the same to the soul he thought he’d buried in the South China Sea when she stupidly – brilliantly, for even in her folly, she will be his guiding genius – pushes him out of the way of a bullet aimed for a heart that, were it still there, would by that point belong to her. He does not hear the voice screaming into the silence for help, the one that sounds like his from so many last chances ago, lost in the echo of the waves and a recoiling gunshot. He sees nothing, feels nothing, hears nothing of this place; only knows the emptiness Anatoly has trained him to be in order to survive. He is as empty as a valley, but as he stands in the darkness that knows his name better than he does, he looks up to that light, and the shades of grey fall from his eyes as he sees the stars that he will come to understand reside in hers – not of fancy or fantasy, but of unshakeable strength even the hardest men he knows will cower beneath. He sees a precipice, a choice he’s somehow going to be given even as he plans to take away hers. He somehow sees something that shakes him from his stone: she in her uncanny nature will breathe him back to life, and he gasps against it; not the salvation, for no person – even as important as she will become to him – will ever give him that, even in the wee small hours and the tiniest sighs of hope. No, he does it because he knows – somehow he just knows – she will make him man again, instead of the many mistakes he is built of. In his old life, the one built on so much promise and so easily parted with, it had been easy to turn Judas; run from the things he was too small for. Even as he’s been warped and weathered like storm season on the island, even as he has been laid bare and barren as the Siberian winter, alone because there is no strength found in numbers, only vulnerability, somehow he looks upon her and see the Atlas to his Sisyphys, the one who will roll his truth and all their consequences up a hill of his own making. 

He cowers in that already towering presence, palms burning not from frigid temperature but from the feel of her waist in his hand as they work undercover, the pink silk of her dress crinkling easily beneath his possessive hand as she tries to charm their latest mark to get her into his study, when the jealousy becomes too much and he gives into the basest of instincts to tell the world she’s his. His ears sing not in the winter wind but with the forgotten feeling of calmness that slides down his being with her voice in his ear, the only one he trusts – a partner, even if he cannot say the word. It will start first with short, angry reminders of her nut allergy, then with clipped efficiency as she talks him through his missions. A surprised, soft “thank you” that will come when he brings her a cup of coffee every time he refills his own mug as she runs search programs and he reads the results; the adorably offended laugh that unintentionally escapes her when he effortlessly makes an omelette for her at three in the morning after she goes through almost an entire dozen trying to do it herself; the gentle, soothing words as she prays in Hebrew that he doesn’t know but understands all the same – even if it terrifies him to realize one night during Passover that he’d kept his eyes open and on her the entire time, enchanted by her face lit by flames of her belief instead of the ashes of his own aftermaths. 

  His eyes tear not because of the plea he’ll see in hers when the Bratva captains try to make him think Interpol has struck a deal with her so he’ll banish her long and far enough that they can take her out, because they don’t trust her as Oliver does – with the life he only thinks might be worth saving when he hears her tiny sigh of relief when he returns each time from wherever he’s been, to that place called home that he hadn’t even realized was there until he walks into her upstairs office and she does the same to his life, changing everything – and she stands toe to toe with him, manicured, brightly colored fingernails poking him hard in his chest as she screams with as much volume as she’ll do in mere minutes when she calls out for help that will not come that she’d never give up on him, no matter how much he’d already given up on himself. “You are not alone,” she’ll spit vehemently, “And I believe in you.”

His lips are chapped not from the night as it settles itself in navy over him, but of the future memory of finally pressing his mouth against hers in a hungry revolution, a shot across the bow and the one that will restart that heart she saved, a resolution that they are in this together, even if they have no goddamn idea what this even is. 

No, by then they’ll know: by then, he’ll have told her to go, in as quiet and heartbreaking and shaky voice as she’ll ever hear from him, that he refuses to make her a regret. Coward that he’ll be until she reminds him that the only easy day is yesterday, words that will propel him forward into a future as unknown as the destination has always been, he won’t be able to look at her when he tells her he’s sorry, that he’ll get her out, that this was a mistake. He’ll turn only when her hand finds his face, not in the slap she’ll give him when he tells her to stop getting in his way, but instead bringing him forward; bringing him to her light. “You may have forced me to leave, Oliver, but I’m choosing to stay.” She’ll shrug, those slim shoulders that hold up his world moving so easily as his lungs cannot in that moment. “There’s really no choice to make.” 

(He’ll want to fall into bed with her then, claim her and let her know he’s hers as much as she’s ever been his, but then he spots the red dress and heels she buys during a girls’ day out with the medic called Sasha – because Felicity Megan Smoak not only ends up getting the Bratva to do her bidding rather than the other way around, but makes sure to prove time and again to anyone in her sphere that she’s both hellbent and heaven-sent – and though he’s sure to the very heart she put the beat back in that the evening will end up with a grenade launched from a rooftop across the street from the restaurant, the only explosions that happen are in those wee small hours he looks so forward to now are the best ones either of them can even fathom.

They’ll fall into bed time and time after that, fall into each other and three words that should be so easy to say, especially given his increased time around her verbosity, but they don’t come until she’s elbow deep in flour, has butter on her nose and there’s what’s supposed to be fondant on the ceiling when he walks in on her in the kitchen where she’s told him about her bubbe’s latkes and he about Tommy and Thea and where they’ve hashed out his moving from an enforcer to a kapitan – as they try to relive and also rewrite the narrative of the story they’ve both found themselves and the best parts of each other in – trying to make him a birthday cake. 

They’re not so hard to say after that; in a world of fools and falsehoods, she truly is his felicity. When she looks at him in utter disblief, instinct driving her “you don’t…”, this time it is he who finds the words quickest: “Don’t ask me to say that I don’t love you.”)

He stands still against the New England quiet, the same kind that will not just echo but follow as they run from their pasts but with each other, hiding from the outfit and her father and Cooper Seldon; as she pretends to be someone else, working in a Tech Village under a carefully built and maintained identity, only herself when they are together; when they share a tiny last egg over a candle on its last millimeter of wick, and when they cuddle together under a blanket on a mattress on the floor as they disappear into a dingy Hong Kong walkup and the only thing that has ever felt like safety. He is unmoving against it, the way they’ll both be in the darkest hours, first when her tears belie her loneliness, and when his deeds catch up to him in his dreams.  When she forgets who they are, or supposed to be, or something in the middle, he’ll kiss the top of her head and say, “I know who you are. Whether you’re in a ponytail or those terrible khaki pants, you’re the one thing I believe in.”

When they sit on a plane on their final forged passports, hand in hand with fingers adorned with rings bought with cash in suburban Vancouver, slipped over still-brightly colored nails and now healed knuckles and with whispered “for better or for worse” and “I’ll go anywhere with you” inscribed in the metal as the flight attendant welcomes them to Starling City, because they have decided – chosen, that holiest of holies – this mission to save his city in the same way they’ve saved each other. “Because this is what we do,” she whispers as they touch down and she presses a kiss against his shoulder. “Because this is who we are.”

He’s not met her yet, but she’s already under his skin; more a part of him than anyone or anything else. 

He knows going in he’s not ever going to let her go again.

The beauty of it is, as he takes that first and ultimately final step, toward her door and their shared destiny, he also knows she won’t, either. 

fin