#and then it turns to disappointment when he realizes it's not wilson's words

[quinnmorgendorffer]

[softfem-dom]

the four times they asked about his sidekick, and the one time he realized why. (pt.1)

worst!logan + d&w!deadpool x suicidal!reader

a/n : okay this is sad and emotion-driven asf, so if you're sensitive to suicide mentions or emotional trumoil and problems of self-worth please do not continue reading this. Also warning for suicide description for the other universes' sidekicks. first part out of five!

wc : 2k

TW FOR SUICIDE , TW FOR DEPRESSION , SOFT!WADE , SOFT!WORST!LOGAN , WADE BEING UNABLE TO LOOK AFTER A KID , HEAVY/MULTIPLE BATMAN AND JASON TODD REFERENCES , DEADPOOL VARIANTS FUSSING OVER READER. soft!worst logan . overprotective!deadpool . only-deadpool-still-with-sidekick!wade wilson

Think of Batman and Robin.

Yup. Now turn and twist it around some more and make it.. more chaotic, more unhinged. More morally questionable.

And then think of Deadpool. The merc with a mouth. The dude that chose a red suit just so he didn't have to bother about the red stains.

And then add up a teenager to the recipe. As chaotic as the man, maybe a bit naïver. And you've got Deadpool and his sidekick.

Because if all cool superheros had sidekicks, then Deadpool —albeit while not actively being a superhero. Had to have one too, didn't he?

And that's how you had ended up roped into all of his unethical adventures, killing off the bad guys that had the highest price above their head and helping Deadpool run the official Spideypool fanwebsite.

But, despite how many masks you put on, despite how many bad guys you killed, despite how many times you had saved someone. You were still just you.

A teenager. A teenager paired up with an older, unhinged, mercenary that ran his mouth way too much and that got you into way too much trouble.

A teenager paired up with an irresponsible adult without emotional responsability was the fucking equivalent of throwing a trained lab mouse inside the first maze that didn't have an exist.

Wade cared about you. Yeah, you knew that. But the problem was that you were a teenager and teenagers needed a certain amount of care to grow healthyly.

Because physically you were great, with how much running around and being-at-the-verge-of-death you did. But mentally? God, then you were the messiest mess in the planet.

Spending so much time with someone that had so many intrusive thoughts, that spilled his thoughts without filter, had rubbed off on you.

And sometimes you scared yourself when sudden thoughts popped up in your mind. Like the sudden pull in your legs anytime you walked near the edge of a roof, the "jump!" that flashed across your head. Or the way you wondered, asked yourself, what it would feel to be stabbed when you were cleaning Deadpool's katanas. Or the way you started to throw yourself at danger's way just for the thrill of it. And if you died, well, there went nothing.

It was wrong. It was bad. And it was a totally unhealthy and toxic vice. You knew you were self-destructive.

But you didn't know how to do doing anything about it.

You see, if Deadpool wasn't so reckless and careless maybe you would've told him. But since he did it, you grew into your late teens thinking it was okay.

,,

Lately, your thoughts had grew more dangerous. More specific. And you were starting to get scared of yourself. In movies, that was how villians started —with destructive thoughts. And you didn't want to become a villian.

What would Wade think of you? He'd be disappointed in you, hate your guts, despise you.

So your mind jumped to the quickest—and most self-destructive—conclussion. Offing yourself before that happened.

And you had nearly 10 pages of your pink diary written with ways of carrying on with that plan. Glitter gel pen words scribbled about the knifes in the house—their lengths and sharpness—, about the belts stacked away in Wade's closet, about the height of the fall from the balcony to the ground. You had everything planned.

And Wade hadn't caught onto anything of it, except for the fact you seemed more twitchy and on edge than usual. He tied it to the usual teenage anxiousness that came with your age.

He didn't know this was the last mission he was going to have you in.

,,

He had just brought you along on this 'adventure' just like he had did with all of the ones before, except in this one there was another.. —reluctant—companion.

Logan Howlett. The Wolverine.

And not the dead hero that Wade had unburied a few days before. No. This one was the worst variant of Wolverine in the whole multiverse, the one from the timeline where he killed all of the X-Men.

And that Howlett was smelling something coming.

He could smell the irony scent of blood whafting off of you, a bitter scent choking his airways. Your scent was way too bitter for how cheerful you were, except maybe you weren't.

This Logan had only barely known you for two days, but if something were to happen to you he'd kill the responsible, then find a way to kill the mercenary and then find a way to kill himself too.

But, first. Stop, pause, rewind. How this did even start?

,,

You groaned as you helped Wade drag the uncounscious body of the drunk Wolverine you had found in a random timeline —the only one in which the dude hadn't tried to kill you at first sight. Entering through the door-shaped orange portal to the TVA room.

"one anchor being coming right up!" Wade's voice rang through the air before the merc, fully dressed in his suit, had crossed the portal.

You let out a startled squeak when the antihero pretty much threw the uncounscious body of the Logan on the ground, wincing at the metallic sound of his skull against the floor.

"Wade!" you hissed. "c'mon pumpkin', don't sweat it. He's full metal, remember?" he said as he gave the drunk Logan a kick in the side, the metallic sound echoing his words.

"listen here, babygirl" the merc started, looking at the unimpressed man before him. "this Wolverine has the he-can-do-anything-even-musical-stuff look to him and bonus he's actually wearing the accurate comic costume. So, uh yeah, there, timeline saved"

The silence coming from the dude that had called Wade here in the first place didn't sound too good get it?. And as you sat there, poking the drunk man's face with your index finger while whispering for him to "wake up, Wolvie, rise and shine, wakey wakey?"

"I don't understand"

"You said my, our" he pointed at you "universe is dying because this nutsack died, well, problem solved" he now pointed at Logan.

"oh my god" Paradox breathed out. "you actually think you can replace an Anchor Being with this?"

Oh, great. A rant was comming. Like the ones your mother goes on when you mess up too many times.

"I wouldn't have accepted any other Wolverine BT dubs. But you.. have outdone yourself and brought me the worst Wolverine in the whole multiverse!"

It looked as if the dude's temple vein was going to pop, and you weakly interveened. "what do you mean the worst one..?" you breathed out.

"This Wolverine let down his entire world, he's the stuff of Legend but not in a good way and what he did.. well, some things are just beyond forgiveness"

A beat of silence followed, you knew the Wolverine on the floor had been awake and listening for the whole time. But then, you saw Paradox finally looking at you.

"wait"

"what?"

"is that your little sidekick?"

The incredulous, and cruelly amused, tone of the man in uniform made Wade quirk an eyebrow under his mask.

"yeah, why?"

His words were followed by a booming laugh coming from Paradox. His hand going to his face, pinching the bridge of his nose, as chuckle after chuckle it just confused Wade and you even more.

"I can't believe you've still got her"

That was like a titty-flash for Wade, and not the good kind. He stood there, mouth gaping like a fish as he wildly and overexageredly gestured towards you.

"I gave you a chance at greatness, because my superiors deemed you special. But, I did my duty. I gave you the opportunity and you refused, so there's no more bussiness to do here"

And with that, and a strange remote control in his hand, he pressed a button and zapped you three off to somewhere. Leaving Wade with a strange taste lingering in his mouth.

Well, at least it seemed like your last adventure wasn't going to be boring.

(tags : @coocoocachewgotscrewed , @lokisloverisnthere , @krowsfoot , @lizziegraysworld , @r0reep , @beelzel-brat ).

[balteredsworld]

wilson’s hypothesis. gregory house

🥼🩺 | according to wilson, house likes you and you like him. so, house confronts you with wilson’s hyposthesis.

masterlist: greg house n all

warnings/tags! fluff of sorts, angst if you squint, talks of self-sabotage, idiots in love, sherlocked reference!!! (just watched 8x18—house self-sabotages so bad my lord)

author's note: lowkey hate this but it's idk what're we thinking fellow ducklings???

"wilson thinks i like you," house airs.

you throw him a strange glance.

"crazy, right?"

"yeah? and you think i like cameron," you mimic, matching his dismissive detachment to comedic effect.

only, house is serious.

“no, wilson thinks i like you.” house ignores your joke, repeating wilson’s solemn hypothesis.

when you pause to look at his face, your mind goes off into complete nonsense like's just tipped you over and left you with internal bleeding in your brain, upon the realization that he does, in fact, mean those words he's telling you.

"what makes him say that?"

"i'm apparently connecting with you,” house indulges, relaxing into the cold bit of wall behind him. the moonlight hits him in a more subtle way, half hidden in the shadows. the blue of his wrinkled shirt melts into the glow it radiates.

you're not particularly sure what to say. thankfully, he elaborates.

“you share your food with me, i take your food, ergo it means something in wilson's romantic world,” house offers, before quickly dismissing the thought of his supposed feelings for you. "but you know wilson, he's always been a romantic. thinks he can diagnose emotions as easily as diseases."

you consider the argument, "well couldn't that just mean i can't finish my food and you don't wanna get your own?"

he squints at you, as if with drills for eyes. you're playing dumb, unless you really believe that. but you don't.

you clear your throat, "well, do you believe that?"

"well it's either that or i must obviously like you."

you gawk. "well, do you?"

"do i have to spell it out for you?"

"wilson had to," you snark back. "so, do you?"

"no," he says with a flat face.

something in your chest drops, just as your brows shoot up. "no?"

"no," he reaffirms.

you don't know if you manage to catch your frown. house doesn't say anything if you didn't. you're more than a little embarrassed, surely flushed. you're thankful that the two of you are under the dim veil of night.

"well good thing," you grumble.

house looks at you with a curious look, as if he was almost offended you would say that. "good thing?"

“we’re both lonely. lonely means self-sabotage,” you explain, fiddling with one of the main trinkets that line the ledge. you were sure you proving your point, coming up with an off-putting rationale to cover up your embarrassment. "two self-saboteurs, well, that's an equation with proven unresolved issues... so yeah, good thing."

you were internally cringing at the words you were spitting out, but you were trying to play it cool. it's something that's never worked in your favour though when you were near an attractive guy, and you always swore this was to make them repulse the inkling of interest. and you swore off doing this years ago, but the blunt rejection, if you could call it that, sprung the teenager out of you.

then again, house affects you like that. blue eyes and blue shirt and all.

he makes it no secret that he's a ladies' man, often hitching hookers into the hospital despite cuddy's gentle parenting to make him stop. but house does whatever he wants in the hospital, hence all the lawsuits you've had to deal with.

when you look at him again, he's somehow uncharacteristically quiet. you're unsure if his speculative eyes are because of a lightbulb moment, but one thing's for sure: he was thinking.

"you're thinking, aren't you?" you glean in a tilt.

house doesn't say anything, but turns away from you. when he does, you're unsure if you see his lip curl in disappointment—he hides it too well. some part of you hopes, but you know you're not his type. a bit too much like him in the overanalyzing and overthinking.

and maybe you're convincing yourself, but realistically speaking, your happy arrangement of sharing food in the middle of a hospital shift may work for lonely and misery, but not for anything else. two people who like self-sabotage is like a dumpster fire.

you'd rather have house like this, happy and alarmingly blue.

"aaand you've stopped listening. i shall take that as my cue to leave," you announce, hopping off the ledge in the same ginger fashion you had waltzing in.

when you land your feet, house airs his deduction, nodding along as if he was finally making sense of you and wilson’s hypothesis. 

“maybe he’s onto something.”

you turn to him with a tinge of a worrisome brow. 

“who knows? maybe i’ve been sending subtle signals that even i’m not aware of. so what do you think?” he croons his head, all ominous, arriving to a conclusion. you can practically see the cogs turn in his brain. “you like me.”

"i never said that.”

house looks at you, rising in a smooth motion, as if to showcase his towering height, forcing you to look up at him. sitting down, he's not so large, but now, all you can think is that he's tall.

"you might not, but your body does," he croons, dangerous smirk playing about his face. his eyes probe your face, confidently with a proven theory. "pupils dilated..."

house grabs your wrist, eyes practically lighting up in delight at his impending diagnosis.

"…and pulse elevated. i understand that wilson thinks that love's a mystery to me, but the chemistry's incredibly simple," he says, softening his grip on you.

house doesn't let go, lingering in this proximity, leaning closer like some ghost and spirit you'll always look for. your breath hitches, but house doesn't afford you time to quite think, capturing your lips in a kiss that you reciprocate, clutching onto his arms for balance.

you feel one of his hand snake to the nook of your back, pushing you flush against him. house keeps his other hand cupping your cheek and jaw, large enough to cover that expanse of your face. it's a little dry and rough, but you don't mind, all too preoccupied with his lips.

house makes good work on you. his lips are even better than you'd imagine, but you finally register his words and what you were doing, so you pull away. the furrow of your brows returning, apprehensive about his next words.

you whisper, “i thought you didn't like me.”

"i was lying," he shrugs. "i needed to see if i was right, and i was."

"so you figured me out?"

"you like me,” house concludes, triumphant. “i was right.”

“i thought this was wilson’s hypothesis?” you cock a brow.

“hypothesis,” he nods before flicking your head. “but i can’t give him the credit for my diagnosis.”

you let out an airy laugh, relieved that he didn't make you spell it out for him. "you're an ass, you know?"

his eyes are proudly heralding trumpets. you could practically hear the victory going off them.

"it comes with the sitting arrangement."

[crazyk-imagine]

Disappointment and Broken Windows

Pairing: Wade "Deadpool" Wilson x Supe!reader (platonic)

Characters: Wade "Deadpool" Wilson, Supe!reader, Colssous, Negasonic Teenage Warhead, Yukio

Warnings: Cursing, classic deadpool things, nothing new here, reader and wade are chaotic siblings, this gets better and better I promise, wade hinting at things, breaking of the fourth wall, the x-men mansion, wade breaking the mansion, wade being wade, reader kind of acting like a fem wade

Word Count: 427

Based on this post

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You wander into the mansion, opening your bag of snacks you stole from Wade.

You don't realize the loud crunching coming from you with each bite you take as you stare at the statues.

"Good morning," Colossus says, walking down the stairs.

"Hey, tin man. How are you?"

"I am good. I would be better if you would call me by my name."

You click your tongue, "I'd rather not. It makes this," you gesture between the two of you, "less special."

"It would be nicer if you used my name."

"Nah."

He rolls his eyes, "where is Wade?"

"Somewhere disappointing our lord and savior, Jesus."

Negasonic Teenage Warhead chuckles along with her girlfriend.

You smile and nod at them before turning back to the silver man, groaning at his unamused look. "Oh, come on, that was funny."

"I did not find it to be funny."

"We'll you're just no fun."

"I am fun."

"Nope!" A crash comes from the window and a flash of red rolls across the floor, ruining the expensive carpet. "I'm fun."

"Wade, you fuckhead! You just bleed all over this expensive ass carpet. How are they supposed to come in and sit now when all they're going to do is remember you?"

He shrugs, "now they have a piece of me with them forever."

You scrunch your nose, "no one wants that, babe." You grab another chip, "and it's coming out of your paycheck."

He lets out a chuckle, "fake chuckle, not amused. I don't get paid enough to buy a new rug."

"Take it to a dry cleaner."

"The only thing dry enough to be cleaned is the tin man's body," he reaches behind him and grabs Colossus' junk.

"Oh, dude! I'm eating."

"I'm trying to."

The tall man groans at Wade's language and throws him out the window he broke.

"Finally, someone has common sense."

"Maybe you two should reminisce and talk about the old days so no one has to take you to a dry cleaner."

You furrow your brows, "do you ever know what a dry cleaner is?"

"A place where lonely people meet people to get down and f-"

"That's a poorly run strip club or a brothel."

"Isn't brothel what goes in soup?"

"That's broth."

"Oh! Now I get it." He nods, turning his head to the side. "I'm lying, I totally don't get it, but I don't want them to think I'm not smart."

-

"Wade got some of Ethel's coke again."

Colossus tilts his head, "how do you know?"

"He's talking to his audience."

[jobrookekarev]

This One's For The Girls

Words: 1,940

Summary: Jo and Alex are excited for their first ultrasound and the chance to see their baby, but when they do, they find out more than expected!

 or 21x04 but with jolex babies!

Fandom: Grey’s Anatomy.

Relationship: Alex Karev/Jo Wilson. 

Characters: Alex Karev, Jo Wilson, and Luna Wilson (Mentioned). 

Rating: General Audiences.

Additional Tags: AU, Alternate Universe, Fluff, Romance, Family, Alternate Canon, Canon Compliant, Drabble, One Shot, Happy Ending, Domestic, Parenthood, Pregnancy, Children, Spoilers, Twins! 

Read at AO3

Read at FFN

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Alex let the warm water run over him as he got ready for the day. It had been a quiet morning and Jo was slowly getting up as they got ready for work. He was enjoying a few more minutes of alone time in the shower. He also secretly used his wife's favorite soap and loofah.

“Incoming and I don't have a lot of time!” Jo said as she ran into the bathroom in her favorite fluffy robe. He had gotten this one for her last Christmas after her last robe, the one she had stolen from the hotel at Bailey's wedding, had finally fallen apart. 

“Do you want to use one of our other three bathrooms to vomit?” Alex asked, turning around in the shower to look at her, although she smiled and didn't seem nauseous. 

“Shh,” Jo shushed him, turning away from him as she grabbed the hairbrush. “I feel decent for the first time in weeks, so don't jinx it! Oh and don't forget we have our first OB appointment today.”

“Yeah, I thought it was after work?” Alex asked, turning to look back at her again.

“It is.” 

“So what's the rush?”

“Well Luna is still asleep, my charts are done, and I've got just enough time for a quick shower,” Jo said, putting her hairbrush down and turning around to him. Alex opened the shower door as she untied her robe and he stared down at her body.

“How quick?” Alex asked with a smirk. It had been a while since she felt up to this and he was determined to enjoy it.

“If it's too quick, I'll kill you?” Jo said, clearly thinking the same thing as she stepped into the shower, putting a hand on his shoulders and closing the door behind her. 

Alex smiled and pulled her in with a hand around her waist. The water fell over her as he leaned in, their lips meeting as they kissed. However, Jo's hands moved faster as she grabbed his hips and pulled him into her. The hot water wasn't the only thing that caused the shower to steam up that morning. 

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“Hey I'm sorry I'm sorry,” Jo said as she ran down the stairs past the nurses station to where he was waiting. 

Alex had already changed out of his scrubs and into a change of clothes. He leaned against the counter on his phone, although he didn't look too pissed at her. The last she had talked to him was at lunch before she had left to study. It was supposed to be an easy day for both of them, but it never was. 

“The appointment was at 5:00 right?” Alex asked, looking at her with a raised eyebrow. 

“I know, I just got so busy with patients, and then Yasuda found this amazing surgery to save her sister's fertility and that took a little longer than expected. And I completely forgot,” Jo said, gesturing to her invisible patients with her hands before she shook her head and looked down.

“Hey, you have nothing to apologize for,” Alex said with a little shrug. “I waited for you at the clinic, sitting there like an idiot, being the only guy there.”

“I'm sure,” Jo rolled her eyes as he smiled, clearly teasing her. 

“But DeLuca had to leave.” 

“We were going to see the baby,” Jo wined with a pout that looked all too cute.

“We'll just reschedule,” Alex said, although he couldn't hide his disappointment.

“Wait, come with me,” Jo said with a little smile and a giggle. She realized they were both doctors and had access, and the training, to perform an ultrasound as she dragged him away. 

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Jo lay on the bed as Alex moved the probe around on her stomach. They had borrowed an ultrasound machine and retreated to one of the on-call rooms where they would have some privacy. They could hardly stop from smiling and Jo kept giggling. Luckily they didn't run into anybody on their secret adventure, lest they both spill their secret immediately. 

“I don't see anything, do you?” Alex asked as he moved the wander around and narrowed his eyes at the screen.

“Just my intestine, stop moving it around,” Jo said with a laugh as she grabbed his hand. She moved the probe down towards her uterus before looking back at the screen. 

“How long has it been since you've done one of these?” Jo asked as she tried to find a good angle. 

“Probably not since my second year.” 

“As an attending?”

“As a resident,” Alex said as they both laughed.

“Well, that was ages ago old man, no wonder you confused my uterus with my intestines. I thought you'd be well educated with my anatomy by now?” Jo said with a smirk.

“I am well educated, I did get you pregnant didn't I?” Alex said as they just laughed again and she tried to focus on finding their baby.

“I still don't see anything,” Alex said as he pressed something, and suddenly their baby was on the screen. “Wait, what is that?”

“Yeah, there's our baby,” Jo gasped as she saw them for the first time and the sound of their heartbeat filled her ears. Jo smiled so wide, her cheeks hurt. “And there's the heartbeat!”

There they were. The baby they had wanted for so long and didn't think they would ever have. Before they had adopted Luna they had been trying intermittently and then officially after the pandemic ended. However, Alex's sperm count was low and things would be difficult. Then Luna got diagnosed with hearing loss and they decided just to focus on her. She would be enough for them. 

Then she fainted in Alex's arms and Levi dropped the bombshell on them that she was pregnant. They were so overjoyed, but she was secretly worried that it was wrong. That it was just a false positive and a chemical pregnancy or something. But this, seeing their baby on the screen made everything so real. While Jo didn't couldn't stop smiling, Alex looked at the screen suspiciously. 

“You don't see it do you?” Jo said as she leaned up and pointed at the screen where their baby’s heart was. “You see it right there?”

However, Alex moved the doppler around and pressed a few buttons searching for a better image. “Oh, and also… there.” 

 Jo instantly sat up and started the screen as they saw another heartbeat, another baby. “Oh my God!”

“Twins!” They both said at the same time, staring at the screen in disbelief as if two babies had magically appeared. 

They looked back at each other, both with wide eyes and dropped jaws. Alex stared back at the screen and Jo sighed as she flopped back onto the bed, putting her hand over her eyes. Alex fumbled and mumbled like he wanted to say something but the words couldn't quite get out. 

“Twins, you knocked me up with twins, Alexander!” Jo yelled at him knowing it was half her fault, but still in disbelief. 

“Shush, Jo the whole hospital is going to hear you!” Alex said looking between her and the screen the disbelief still written across his face. 

“I don't care! You knock me up with twins! That's like twice the diapers and twice the screaming, and crying, and, and, bottles, and formula or breastfeeding, and diapers!! Alex the diapers!”

“I know!” Alex said in disbelief, but there was a little sliver of a smile across his face before Jo reached up and punched his shoulder.

“Twins Alex! Are you serious? How did this even happen?” 

“I'm pretty sure you know how this happened,” Alex said with a chuckle as he smiled although shrank away when she reached up to slap him again. “Ow, It's more likely that somewhere along our lines, someone must've had twins and we just didn't know. I mean we still don't know anything about your biological parents, beyond your mom's immediate family. And it's not like my family history is that well documented either.” 

“Yeah,” Jo said in a whisper, staring at the screen as they both fell quiet.

“Jo,” Alex whispered too, looking over at her with concern.

“I'm serious though, how are we going to handle twins?” Jo said, staring at the screen and shaking her head as tears appeared in her eyes as she blinked them away, although they fell onto her cheeks. 

“Hey, hey,” Alex said, seeing her tears and dropping the doppler as he reached down to hug her. 

She sat up and buried her face in his chest as he held her. Alex rubbed her back and Jo tried to breathe and calm down. She didn't want to cry, but she did. She was confused, and surprised, and scared, and yet so full of love for her two babies. All these emotions just overwhelmed her and spilled over in tears. 

“Hey, it's going to be okay,” Alex whispered to her, pressing his lips to the side of her head. “If anybody is more prepared to have twins it's us. The best pediatric surgeon and the best OB resident in the Northwest. If we can handle Luna being in the NICU and everything that we’ve had to go through with her, then having twins is going to be like a walk in the park.” 

Jo laughed as she pulled back, sitting up and wiping away her tears as she looked up at his smile. “If you say that, you're going to jinx us.” 

“I don't care, we're having two babies Jo, twins!” Alex said, letting the excitement fill his eyes as they twinkled with joy. 

“Yeah, we are!” Jo said as she smiled and let the excitement fill her as she reached forward and kissed him pressing her lips to his as the excitement sparkled on their lips. 

“Okay, now lay back. I want to see them again!” Alex said, grabbing the doppler as Jo laid back. Although, she reached out for his hand and he held it, giving him a squeeze. 

It was easier for him to find the babies this time. They both smiled at their babies on the screen and listened to their heartbeats. They should’ve been taking measurements and checking their organs, but they were both healthy and they looked at their twins as their parents. They stared at the images of their babies, just enjoying seeing them on the screen. 

“We're having twins!” Jo said with excitement as she giggled and Alex looked it over at her. 

“Yeah, Karev twins!” Alex said, with a chuckle as he leaned down to kiss her before they stared back at the screen. 

“Oh my God, I'm pregnant with two big headed Karev babies!” Jo said, the smile falling from her face and her eyes went wide as she stared at him.

But Alex just roared with a laugh, as he leaned back, but Jo shook her head in disbelief. “Don't worry, chances are with twins you'll have to have a C-section anyway.”

“No,” Jo shook her head as she glared at him. “It's safer to have a vaginal delivery!”

“Yeah, but with twins they’ll be smaller!” 

“Shut up, no they will not. I've seen the size of your head,” Jo said, although Alex just laughed as he avoided another one of her attempts to smack him. “I am so going to kill you.”

“I don't care,” Alex said, his smile wide on his cheeks as he just laughed. “We're having twins!”

“Yeah,” Jo said in a breath as she smiled, still in disbelief as she said it again. “We’re having twins!”

[americas1suiteheart]

I Think I Love You?

James Wilson x Reader

Summary; After working together for so long, Y/n finally starts to realize just how much she loves Wilson.

Notes; This is a fem reader but it can be read as a gender neutral reader, too. House M.D brainrot has been corrupting me lately..

Warnings; Mild language, "prescription" drugs, angst, pining, and innuendos.

Word Count; 3,802

▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣

"Hey, you! I need you to help out Taub and Kutner with patients in the ICU hall." House shouts from behind you.

You turn around and sigh, glaring at him.

"House. You've known me for god knows how long, use my name. And no, I'm busy, I have stuff to do over here,"

House hobbles over and scoffs. "No you don't. Now go down and help those poor, poor doctors," He said, making a "sad" face.

He was right. You had nothing to do so far other than paperwork that you definitely didn't want to do right now, but would definitely rather than have to deal with House's antics.

"Fine, fine. But-"

"L/n! I need your help with a patient. There are no other nurses available and-" Wilson jogged towards you and House, though quickly being cut off.

"Nope! Uh-uh-uh, I called dibs on her first. L/n, go help Taub and Kutner." House pointed his cane at you.

"What? There are plenty of nurses down there and I'm pretty sure that Kutner and Taub can handle whatever is going on by themselves. They're more responsible than you are!"

You watch the two bicker back and forth, already feeling a headache come on just by looking at them.

Leaving would be the best idea. Avoid your paperwork, avoid House, avoid Wilson. Avoid them acting like a divorced couple fighting over a child.

You decided to walk away, them clearly not noticing just by hearing them continuing to argue.

You open the door to Cuddy's office, not even bothering to knock just due to working for her for so long.. and as well as not caring.

"What happened with House now?" Cuddy asked, looking up from a file to meet your eyes as you tiredly stood at her doorway.

"Not only House, but Wilson too. House wants me to help Taub and Kutner in the ICU, and Wilson wants me to help with a patient of his. Now they're fighting on 'who gets to have me'. I just needed a break from it real quick," You pinched the bridge of your nose as you sat on her couch and hunched over.

For fourty-some year old men, they sure acted like complete children.

"As long as they don't find you and bother me about it, I'm completely fine with you staying in here. But why don't you just lock yourself in your office?"

"That'd be the first place they'd check when they realize I'm gone. Even if I lock myself in there, House won't stop bugging until he gets what he wants." You sigh.

Cuddy hums as she sits back and organizes her files.

It only took mere minutes for Wilson and House to spot you through the windows of Cuddy's office and barge in, interrupting both yours and her, short lived peace.

"I need L/n in the ICU, stat!" House demands, hobbling in with Wilson following behind.

"No. There are plenty of nurses down there. I need her up here to help me with a patient in radiology," Wilson argued immediately after.

You and Cuddy sigh. Unfortunately you were right, House wouldn't leave you alone. But what made it even worse was the same urgency Wilson had.

Maybe if you left like last time they would give up? No, not with House's stubbornness you wouldn't.

"Why do you need L/n specifically? Can't you just get Foreman or Thirteen to help? They weren't doing anything the last time I checked 15 minutes ago." Cuddy asked, looking at the two with disappointment.

The gears turned in the two's heads, thinking of why they wanted your help specifically, inevitably and unfortunately, House was the first to come up with his reason.

"Because she has a nice ass?" House shrugged, earning a glare from you and Wilson.

"Not a valid reason. House, you could "borrow" her momentarily for whatever it is you need so badly." Cuddy sighed once more, dismissing the three of you.

"Wait, wait, what? You just said House's reason wasn't valid, though? Where does that leave me?"

You look at Wilson, then up at Cuddy from your spot in disbelief, "Dr. Cuddy, I'm not just some-"

Cuddy gave you a look and you sighed, getting up from the firm couch to leave the office with House and Wilson.

You stomp on House's left foot, earning a grunt from him. "Ow! What was that for?"

"For that stupid, very unprofessional, comment. Keep those words to yourself at least." You huff, crossing your arms.

"Oh, come on. Anyone else here would agree with me. Right, Wilson?"

Wilson stares dumbfoundedly at him with his mouth hanging open, his cheeks and ears turning a bright red. "T-that's a highly inappropriate thing to ask." He stutters, shifting his standing position.

House shoots a wink with a smirk on his face before hobbling away.

You smile and roll your eyes, following behind him.

You turn your head around to see Wilson following behind you.

"Where're you going? You're supposed to be on your side of the hospital, aren't you?" You laugh.

"I'm getting lunch." He shrugs.

"No you're not."

"Yes I am."

"James, it's 10 am.." You stop and turn to him, crossing your arms and raising a brow.

Wilson's heart skipped a beat with the use of his first name, though he wouldn't admit that.

"Well, then do you want to get lunch with me later on?"

"Sure thing. I'll see you in a bit if not sooner depending on how long House will yap on and on about his nonsense. 'It's not this, it's not that, it's not Lupus, run tests that don't need to be ran, blah blah blah, I'm on drugs, my leg hurts.'" You mock House.

You and Wilson laugh and continue to walk together.

You sigh, "You should get back to what you were doing, now. Don't want to keep your patient waiting,"

Wilson looks at you with a puzzled look on his face. "What patient?"

You raise a brow, "You had a patient you *begged* me to help you with, remember?"

"O-ohh, you mean that patient, yup, I'll uh, I'll get right to them. Right now," Wilson spills.

You grin at him and his newfound awkwardness. 'I kinda like it when he gets like that.'

Wait.

What?

"So, see you at lunch?" Wilson says, stopping in his tracks.

"See you at lunch, Wilson." You smile before departing ways.

What on earth.

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

"This is what you needed me for, House? Are you kidding me?" You glare at him.

After following him and listening to him yap, you go into the ICU to find only 3 patients that Taub and Kutner had already taken care of.

He just wanted to annoy you and waste your time.

"Hmm, I guess they were able to handle it. Anyways-" House says as he pops 2 Vicodin in his mouth, an obvious hint of sarcasm highly apparent.

Though, when wasn't he.

"Seriously, House. Why'd you come to bother me?"

"Why do you think?"

"Because you're annoying and had nothing else to do?" You huff with a smirk.

"Almost! I think- and when I say think, I am sure of it- that you have a thing for James Wilson, the head of Oncology." House says loudly, leaning towards you, as if he were announcing it to the whole ICU.

Your eyes widen and you suddenly feel every single part of your face start to become increasingly warm, other nurses in the area looking at you and House.

"What the hell are you talking about?" You whisper angrily to him.

House gives a shit eating grin, "Oh, you know exactly what I'm talking about. I'm saying that you've got the hots for Wilson."

"How much Vicodin are you already on now?" You ask.

"You get red, sweaty, your breathing is off, you don't talk, and you glance or look at him every chance you can get. You're absolutely pathetic at hiding it. If Wilson weren't so dumb he would've definitely known. And I've had 6 of these in the past 2 hours if that's your concern." House scoffs.

"Why do you have to over analyse everything? How do you know I'm not sick with some untreatable disease?"

"Because I know you, but even anyone that doesn't would know, because you're pathetic." House hobbles off to the ICU room Taub was currently residing in.

"..Anyway, you have a new helper. Do whatever you do while L/n does the rest of the work for you." House announces.

"House! What the hell do you-" House leaves and closes the door before you could pursuit him.

You take a deep breath in and out, pinching the bridge of your nose and turn to Taub. "Okay. What happened with this guy?"

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

You loved helping out patients, but sometimes it was boring, and this was one of the days where it was boring. You and Taub just changed IV's and checked patient's blood pressure and heart bpm. Nothing like what House had exaggerated about.

And finally, it was your lunch break. 1:06 pm. You stood in the lunch line and grabbed your usual food, the cafeteria servers already knowing what you'd get. Simply just a sandwich with black forest ham, sourdough bread and horse radish. And a bag of chips and chocolate chip cookie as a small "reward" to yourself for not killing House yet.

You pay and grab your tray, heading to an empty table, beginning to eat.

"Hey," Wilson says, sitting across from you and putting his food down.

"Hey, Wilson. What's up?" You smile at him.

"Me right now." House says before Wilson could respond, taking a seat next to you and grabbing a bite of your sandwich.

He was really getting on your nerves now.

You stomped on his foot the second time today, earning the same noise and look from him as he did earlier this morning.

"Jeez. Little feisty today, aren't you?" House says.

You glare at him and he sticks his tounge out to you in response. Like a child.

Wilson clears his throat, "..So, what happened in the ICU that House needed you so desperately for?"

You groan and give House a dirty look. "There wasn't anything serious. Just changing IV's and the boring stuff."

"Wouldn't have been if Cuddy had given you to me." Wilson mumbles before taking a bite of his salad.

"Hmm?"

Wilson had been acting odd lately. Even more odd than House already was and you still can't quite place your finger on what it was.

House nudges your arm and gives you a look you definitely don't like and very obviously points to Wilson, not even bothering to hide what he was doing.

"What? What did I do?" Wilson asks, furrowing his eyebrows, making him look like a confused puppy.

God, you loved when he looked like that.

You shift in your seat, trying to stop yourself from going red.

"Better question; what didn't you do?" House says.

Wilson huffs and continues to eat his salad, clearly frustrated about something.

This was supposed to be a you and Wilson thing after all. Maybe that was the reason, because it sure definitely bothered you.

"Whoof, the tension here is high and it's unfortunately not sexual. I don't have the time for that. I'm going to go and relax in my office or bug Foreman maybe. You guys are boring." House rolls his eyes and slowly gets up from his seat. Leaving you and Wilson alone together.

You suddenly didn't know what to say.

Shit, maybe House was right..

You take another bite of your sandwich to occupy yourself and not make any conversation, in fear of saying something stupid.

If it weren't for House telling you something you probably wouldn't be acting this way in the first place. Goddamn it.

"It's quiet when House isn't here to disturb the peace,"

You look up at Wilson to see him finishing up his food and cleaning up.

"Honestly, I just think he's here to bug, but sometimes you can have an actual intelligent conversation with him."

You laugh, "Yeah, an intelligent conversation when he's not high."

Wilson chuckles, crinkling his nose.

You smile. He looked so cute.

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

It had been weeks since you'd had that conversation with House and you rapidly started to realize your feelings for him. It felt wrong, of course since not only was he one of your best friends, but also your colleague. It would be highly inappropriate to even talk about what you felt for him.

So, you got a "bright" idea and figured that maybe you would be able to rid of these feelings by avoiding him. Can't have feelings for someone you no longer speak or interact with, right?

Taking late or early lunches, sometimes even just not eating, showing up to work earlier or later than he does, straying away from areas he's typically in, staying out of your office and busying yourself with things where he typically is never in.

You thought it was working. You no longer had any of those more than PG-13 thoughts of him, you no longer stayed up late at night trying to get him out of your head, you no longer even thought about him altogether.

You were in your office sorting out some paperwork, simple patient forms and bills you didn't have enough time to do at home, separating them into neat little piles despite your mind being a mess with stress. But you had a CD mix on right now and that seemed to silence most of the stress. Key word: most.

*knock, knock, knock, knock, knock* you hear before someone barges in.

"What's wrong with you?"

House. Of course it had to be House to be bothering you right now, immedietly disrupting your peace.

You sigh. It always was a sigh with this man, it was hard not to.

"Wow. Is the Greg House actually being concerned and sympathetic for one of his friends? This has to be a miracle!" You say sarcastically, still looking at your paperwork.

"Correction: colleague. And no, there's just something wrong with you." House corrects.

"Nothing is wrong with me, and if there was; I would only tell a friend what it was." You roll your eyes, looking up at House to make it clear that you didn't want him in your office.

"If there was nothing wrong with you then you wouldn't be saying that if there was you would only tell a friend, would you?"

"God, you're so annoying how does Wilson put up with you?"

"That brings me to my point. Wilson. That's the first time you've even mentioned him in weeks, let alone talk to him. Now, what is wrong with you?"

"Everyday is a fucking migraine with you, House. Get out so I can finish what I'm doing. My job." You dismiss him.

"Get over yourself and admit that there's something wrong with you. You know there is-" House says as he hobbles over to your desk, before being interrupted by knocking on the door.

"L/n- oh, uh, am I interrupting something here?" Wilson says, you shooting your head to the door to look at him.

"Yes," "No," You and House say at the same time.

"I just finished up what I was saying, she's all yours Wilson!" House says before leaving.

"But, House!-" You shout as House slams the door to your office.

You suddenly feel claustrophobic in your own space, for once wishing that it was just House bugging you instead of being stuck in the same room alone with Wilson.

"L/n.."

"I'm sorry, Wilson, but I have some stuff I need to do." You quickly say, grabbing some random files to make some suddenly "urgent" copies of.

"L/n, please-"

You rush out of your office with the papers in your hands, making your way to the furthest printers in the building.

"L/n!" Wilson shouts, trying to keep up with you.

Nurses and other doctors turned to look at the scene, finding it odd especially because they haven't seen any interaction between the two of you for weeks.

You began to walk faster, only for Wilson to catch up with you and startle you, making you drop your papers all over the floor.

"Shit.." You mutter under your breath as you look down at the dropped papers.

"Shit, I'm sorry!"

"It's fine, Wilson. Just- just go, please?" You begin to pick up the scattered papers, other doctors and nurses basically jumping over them.

"Please, L/n. You haven't talked to or even looked at me in weeks. Can we just- ..talk?" Wilson says with pleading eyes.

You suddenly realised just how stupid you were to try and ignore him. How did you do that for this long,

You sigh and quickly pick up the remaining papers, "Fine. Just- let's go to my office."

Wilson let's out a sigh of relief, offering to help you up once you'd finished, but you decline.

Wilson followed behind, practically looking like a kicked puppy, even when you had both arrived inside of your office.

You quickly closed your blinds and locked your door to the balcony that you were just lucky enough to share with House.

You inhaled sharply before letting out a deep exhale, going behind your desk and looking towards Wilson who was standing in front of your door awkwardly.

"What did you want?" You didn't want to sound rude, you just wanted him to leave so you couldn't think any of the thoughts that flooded your mind. You looked everywhere but at him, trying to distract yourself.

"I- I just want to talk to you, L/n.." Wilson seemed upset, not in an aggravated way, but in one of sadness. "We don't talk anymore, or even see eachother in the hallways anymore. I feel like you've been avoiding me. You even talk to House, and that's saying something,"

House. Oh, God, what did he tell him this time.

"...I miss talking to you. I miss our conversations. I miss you. Please, at least tell me if I did anything wrong. Something, anything?" Wilson begged. He looked so cute like that.

"Wilson, I-" You couldn't even finish your own sentence. You couldn't tell him why you've been avoiding him. It would only make him avoid you, though it would be deserved. It was a lose-lose situation..

Maybe him not talking to you would be a good thing.

"..You did nothing wrong, Wilson. It's all my fault I'm sorry. I just- ugh, fuck.." You were struggling to say it, let alone think about it. You were totally fucked.

Wilson looked at you curiously, "Y/n, anything you do or say won't change anything, I promise you. I just- please, L/n.."

You look at him with anxiousness and fear boiling in the pit of your stomach. Your legs began to feel like jelly and you were sure you were about to collapse. 'Just say it to get it over with.'

"I think I love you.." You just blurted it out. You didn't even put any thought of how to try and make it sound less.. creepy. Those five words, which could've easily been described so much better were all that came out.

Wilson looked dumbfounded. You'd never seen that look on his face.

'Fuck. I just ruined everything. He lied to me.'

You were already scared out of your wits, and this didn't make it any better. You began to feel a lump in your throat that pained you to swallow each time, you were suddenly having a hard time breathing, and your fingernails were digging into the palms of your hands, making blood draw.

Wilson heaved a sigh, closing his eyes momentarily before smiling. A genuine smile, that was.

"Oh God, I thought I did something wrong," Wilson was relieved, not only at the fact that you were upset with him, but because you loved him.

Anyone else in the entire faculty or even outside of work could've told him the same thing with explanation and he would react differently. But with you, it made butterflies in his stomach and sudden warm cheeks appear.

He loved you too.

You perk up and tilt your head to the side, clearly confused at the totally different response from him. His expression changed from one of sadness and fear, into one of relief and awe, making you feel so much more relaxed.

"What?"

"I thought you were upset with me, that you didn't want to be around me anymore because of something I must've done, but this.. this is so much better." Wilson sighed, walking to you before taking your slightly bloodied hands into his.

"..gosh, we need to fix this up," he mumbled to himself as he examined your hands, grabbing the first aid kit from your shelf and getting everything to fix the small self inflicted incisions.

You stared at him in awe as he fixed you up. He wasn't disgusted or off put by your statement.

Wilson turned over your hands and placed a kiss on top of each one before looking at you, his hands still holding yours gently.

"I think I love you, too.." Wilson stated, his smile getting bigger and his cheeks getting redder as he said it.

You let out a sigh you didn't know you were holding and that lump stuck in your throat was now gone. He looked at you with those soft brown eyes that you could just get stuck looking at.

Before you knew it, you were leaning over your desk, one of your hands on his cheek, cupping it gently and vice versa with him. Both of your lips fit perfectly together like puzzle pieces, and you could get a faint taste of black coffee on his lips.

The kiss was gentle yet full of passion, hunger, and obvious bottled up feelings. It was something that you'd never experienced before. It was beautiful.

You pull away slowly, opening your eyes to see a flustered James Wilson, his lips swollen and lightly coated in saliva, presumably yours. He looked so gorgeous.

"You're amazing, Y/n,"

You smile and press your forehead to his.

"You too, James,"

"God, I love when you call me that." Wilson groans.

"James,"

Wilson licks his lips and goes around your desk, now holding your waist with one hand, and the back of your neck with the other.

"God, Y/n.."

▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣

Okay, first Wilson fic? What do y'all think? I kinda did a little research for this, but am also just used to how most of the hospitals usually work. Anyways, hope you guys enjoyed it! It took me a while for me to finish this one, but it was pretty fun.

[smkkbert]

Time for a story - Deathstroke

“I know that you think this is crazy, but-“

“Crazy?” Felicity crossed her arms in front of her chest and shook her head. “No, not at all. I think getting in bed with the Huntress was crazy. I think believing some rumors she has heard without backchecking is crazy. Whatever this is – I think we need to find a new word for.”

Oliver paused for a moment, biting his tongue and puckering his lips. If Felicity had hoped that he would stop long enough for them to have a real conversation about his plan, she was disappointed though. Within seconds, he shook his head and continued packing his backpack with weapons and other equipment that he had laid out on the metal table in front of him to have some kind of survival kit.

Since Helena Bertinelli, aka the Huntress, had shown up here last week, their lives had been turned upside down. According to Oliver, Helena had warned him that the person who had taken her and buried her alive wasn’t done yet. He would return and take his revenge on Oliver for whatever he felt Oliver had done to him.

Felicity couldn’t say that the news hadn’t hit her hard. Hearing that the person who had put you though something like that wanted to come back for more had to unsettle you, so of course she had been nervous. She had had one or two sleepless nights about it, but she had soon come to the realization that nothing had really changed. They had always known that this person or any of the criminals they had chased could come back, and they had accepted it to some level. Why else would they still continue their vigilante work and risk to make new enemies every single day?

Besides, those news coming from the Huntress of all people didn’t make it too convincing, Felicity thought. She had been in a high-security prison for the last years. How much information exactly could you get there?

Unfortunately, Oliver didn’t seem to share the same thought of thinking. Since Helena had left their property, he had been doing the best he could have to find out more. He had talked to inmates that Helena had been close to. He had interrogated some of the gangster bosses on the street. He had looked at old traces to find out who was behind this. Nothing had led him anywhere but into the same dead-end streets that they had hit one year ago.

Since desperate times called for desperate measures, Oliver’s newest idea was to verify Helena’s words by talking to nobody else that Slade Wilson. Like she had said before, there were crazy things and then there was that.

When Oliver closed the zipper of the backpack and sat down on the edge of the metal table, he sighed. Nothing but silence followed after that. He kept his eyes lowered, looking at his feet. His shoulders slumped, and he squeezed his eyes shut.

Felicity knew how much Oliver hated to feel like he wasn’t in control. After the Gambit had gone down and even quite some time after he had returned to Starling City, he had felt out of control so very often. Most of the time when that had happened, he had some someone that he loved. Of course he didn’t want to go through that again.

It took a minute or two until Oliver looked at her again, dark shadows under his eyes. He hadn’t caught much sleep lately, and the days had been terribly exhausting too.

With a long outtake of breath, Felicity crossed the distance and sat down on the edge of the metal table next to him. She put her hands in her lap and just looked at her feet like Oliver had done before.

It had been a while since they had been in a situation like this. A lot of major crimes had ceased to happen in Starling City. Apparently, word had gotten around that you didn’t mess with the Green Arrow and his team easily. That someone was willing to confront the Green Arrow and attack him personally was something that hadn’t happened in a while.

And of course it created chaos.

“I know you’re scared.”

Felicity’s voice was low when she spoke. She turned her head to look at Oliver, who was looking back at her immediately. He reached out his hand, and she linked her fingers with his. Oliver lifted their joint fingers to his lips and kissed the back of his hand. Instead of dropping them back between his thighs, he held them against his heart. Felicity could feel how that slowed down his heartbeat a bit.

“Aren’t you?” he asked. “That guy has taken you, buried you alive, almost killed you…”

His voice broke when he said those last words, and Felicity squeezed his fingers. She knew that that time had been just as hard on him as it had been on her. It had been different, but Oliver had taken his trauma away from that too. She knew it because she had been through something very similar when Malcom Merlyn had taken Oliver and feigned his death.

“We tried to find out who did this to me, but we couldn’t find anything,” Felicity said with low voice, “so we knew that he would still be out there.”

“But now he’s coming back.” Oliver looked at her with a frown. “It’s not the same.”

“We don’t know if Helena says the truth.”

“Why should she lie?”

“Why should she tell the truth?” Felicity cocked her head. “She loves to wreak havoc. Back before we were together and she turned to you for help, you wanted me to leave. You didn’t want her near me because you knew she was up to no good.”

Felicity remembered how she had come down to the foundry and offered help, but Oliver had sent her away. Although she could have helped, he hadn’t wanted her around the Huntress.

Oliver scrunched up his nose, a sure sign that he knew she was right and still thought differently. Felicity cocked her head at him, signaling that she wanted to hear what he thought. She wanted to understand what made him think that meeting Slade Wilson of all people was what he needed just because some villainous ex-girlfriend had told him about some rumors.

“Helena was sincere,”  he said, shaking his head, “I know it’s complicated, but it’s the truth. I could see it. She was sincere. Even if all this turns out to be wrong, I need to at least make sure that I took it seriously. I wouldn’t forgive myself if I didn’t.”

Nodding her head, Felicity sighed.

“I understand that. but what I don’t understand is why you feel that you need to see Slade of all people. He is a prisoner, one that is being held captive in solitude. The only person he ever has contact to is one of the guards of A.R.G.U.S. How should he of all people know about this?”

“How did he know about us having a daughter? How did he know where Malcolm kept me captive?” Oliver asked back. “I don’ know how, but Slade just knows things. If he knows something, we will know that it’s true.”

“And you think that he will just give away what he knows?”

“No.” Oliver cleared his throat. “But I know him well enough to known when he’s lying.”

Felicity knew that Oliver was right. He knew Slade better than he knew anyone else. He would be able to detect whether or not he was lying.

“Okay, last try to keep you back from it,” Felicity said with a sigh of defeat, already knowing that she wouldn’t be able to convince Oliver to not go to Lian Yu, “but if you really think that I am in that much danger, shouldn’t you stay here with me to protect me?”

Oliver puckered his lips and nodded his head slightly. Although he did his best to hide it, a grin threatened to spread on his lips.

“Well played, Mrs. Queen, well played,” he said, “but I have already taken care of that.”

Of course he had. Felicity wasn’t surprised.

“So who was ordered to babysit me?”

As if on cue, the elevator released its low pling! to announce that it had reached the bunker. The doors opened. John and Lyla stepped out hand in hand.

“I thought it was time for you and Lyla to just hang out for a night again, maybe open a bottle of wine and-“

“-ignore the dozens of A.R.G.U.S. Agents hanging out around the house?”

Oliver nodded his head slowly. “Something like that.”

When John and Lyla stepped closer, they let go of each other’s hands. While John just shot Oliver a meaningful glance, Lyla wrapped Felicity into her arms tightly.

“For the record, I have been planning on spending a night with you, eating pizza, drinking wine and just talking, in ages. I’m sorry it had to take our husbands going to Lian Yu to actually do it.”

Felicity smiled at Lyla briefly before she turned to John. She didn’t have to ask the question on her mind. He knew it already.

“Can’t let him go alone, can I?”

With a weak smile, Felicity stepped to John and hugged him tightly. The bond they – she, Oliver and John – had formed during those first few years that they had done all of this alone was something that couldn’t be destroyed easily. It had only grown stronger when they had taken more people in and built their own families and started to take even more responsibility for the city by going into politics and doing charity work whenever they could.

“I’m gonna take good care of him,” he whispered into her ear, low enough so only she could hear it, “so Slade won’t get into his head.”

Felicity nodded and tightened her arms around John for a moment. She was so grateful that he went to Lian Yu with Oliver. The thought that Oliver would go alone to the place that had cost him so much of his peace and the man that had killed his mother right in front of him had been unbearable. It was good to know that he wouldn’t be alone. John war the right person to be around for something like that.

When John eventually let go of Felicity, he turned to Oliver.

“We have to go.”

Oliver nodded. He grabbed his backpack and stepped in front of Felicity.

“It will just be a couple of days,” he whispered to her, “so I’ll be back within the blink of an eye. I love you.”

He put a hand to her cheek, leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss to her forehead. His lips lingered there for a moment before he pulled back and locked his eyes with hers. Although he already knew that he would go, he still wanted her approval and her support. Felicity had her doubts about his plan, but since he was going anyway, there was no use in denying him what he wanted and needed. With a weak smile, she gave him her consent.

Oliver shot Lyla a brief glance, and she wrapped an arm around Felicity’s shoulders and nodded her head. Obviously, it was her way of reaffirming Oliver that she was going to take good care of Felicity. Felicity felt a need to roll her eyes at that, but managed to keep it under control.

When Oliver and John walked to the elevators, Felicity rested her head on Lyla’s shoulder. She really needed a friend tonight, she guessed.

The elevator doors opened, and John and Oliver got in. Oliver looked nervous, taking in a deep breath and looking up at the ceiling. Going back to Lian Yu, no matter how long it had been since he had made those traumatizing experience there, wasn’t easy for him. It just opened up old wounds.

John, on the other hand, smiled comfortingly. He winked at Felicity before the elevator doors closed. He would take care of Oliver as well as Lyla would take care of Felicity.

As soon as the elevator doors closed, Felicity released a long sigh. She felt tears burning in her eyes although she didn’t know where they came from. Was she sad? Angry? Scared? Frustrated? All at once?

“I guess I should tell you that our girls’ nigh include five of your and both of my children,” Lyla said, “although I am still working on convincing Laurel and Tommy to take all seven of them. You know, it’s close by, so my agents could easily have an eye on them, and we could have some well-deserved wine-time.”

Felicity chuckled. “I know it’s only three p.m., but do you think that’s late enough for wine-time?”

“You have six kids.” Lyla shrugged her shoulders. “If that isn’t an excuse to make every time wine-time, what is?”

 → → → → →

 “I know we had this conversation already,” John said slowly, putting a foot on the hatch that led down to the Lian Yu prison, “but what exactly do you promise yourself from this?”

Oliver put down the backpack, rubbed his hands over his tired face and took a moment to think about his answer. The truth was that, the more he had to justify his decision, the harder it was for him to do so. He couldn’t say that though because he couldn’t justify that decision to himself anymore, he wouldn’t be able to go through with it, and he couldn’t have left his home to do this and then not do it.

“Slade knows things. I don’t know how, but he does. When he knows about it, we know how serious it is.”

John shrugged his shoulders. “And when he doesn’t? Doesn’t mean it’s not true.”

Oliver didn’t answer to that. He knew that John was right, and he had thought about that too. If Slade knew something, he’d know that his family was in danger. If Slade didn’t know something, his family could still be in danger. He just wouldn’t know for sure.

“So you know that you will go out of this conversation as the loser either way.” John crossed his arms in front of his chest. “Are you sure it’s worth it?”

No, Oliver wasn’t sure it was worth it. He wasn’t sure at all.

“It’s too late to think about it now,” he said, pushing John’s foot aside lightly and started spinning the wheel to open the hatch, “we’re here already.”

As soon as the hatch opened, he lifted it up and took the first rung of the ladder down into the prison. The sooner he got in, the better. He didn’t want to be given a chance to change his mind, and he wanted to get back to Felicity and the kids as soon as possible.

“It’s not that I didn’t try,” he heard John murmur before his head disappeared under the ground.

He could feel Slade’s gaze on him immediately. It made his hair stand on ends and goosebumps spread all over his skin. Maybe he had underestimated the effect seeing him again would have on him.

Once his feet touched the concrete of the prison ground, Oliver sucked in a deep breath. Instead of turning to Slade directly, he turned to the A.R.G.U.S.-agent that was standing at the wall, holding his weapon in front of him like some kind of shield.

“Agent Michaels told you that I need five minutes with him?”

The agent nodded and shot a brief, suspicious glance at Slade before he looked back at Oliver again. It didn’t happen too often that someone came to Lian Yu and wanted to talk to Slade, Oliver guessed.

“Stay out of reach from the bars. The exchange of items of any kind is not permitted.”

“Understood.”

The agent looked Oliver and Slade up and down one last time before he started climbing up the ladder and left them alone. Once the hatch was closed up there, Oliver took position at the wall where the agent had stood before, leaned against the cool stones and finally lifted his gaze.

Slade Wilson had grown old. His hair was almost completely grey now. It was shorter than it used to be. His beard was longer though. He looked like a perfect exemplar of a long-time prisoner. His eye carried the same sparkle of anger or craziness or maybe even evilness though.

“What do I owe this honor to?”

“No words of welcome?”

“Time’s precious in here.” Slade looked around his cell. “Don’t want to miss a moment here, so I’d rather get this over with.”

“I heard rumors.”

“Rumors?” Slade didn’t bat his eye. He just started at Oliver blankly. “Have you brought tea and little tiaras too? Being a father of girls must have gotten into your head. What’s your latest named again? Mia? Like mommy, your mommy of course.”

He was trying to get into his head. He knew that Oliver wouldn’t stay long, so he was doing his best to start immediately. He wanted to set him off.

Oliver decided not to focus on that. Instead, he wanted to focus on the fact that he had been right. Slade still knew things and he had kept an eye on Oliver even from here. If there was something, he would know.

“Speaking of mommy, how’s our sweet blonde with the glasses? Fe-li-ci-ty.”

He emphasized her name the same way Oliver did so often, syllable by syllable.

“Someone tried to killed her last year.”

“Buried alive. I’ve heard.” The corners of Slade’s lips twitched into a smile for a second. “A great bedtime story. I’ve been sleeping like a baby thinking about how close to being destroyed you came.”

He certainly did.

“The person who’s behind this will come back to end what he started.”

Slade stepped to the small cot at the back of cell and sat down there. He enjoyed this. He enjoyed this way too much.

“But you don’t know for sure. That’s why you’re here. You want me to tell you whether it’s true or really just some rumor.”

Oliver clenched his jaws. Sometimes he forgot that Slade could read him as well as Oliver could read Slade. When he already knew why Oliver had come here, it would be harder for him to tell whether Slade was saying the truth or playing with him.

“I could tell you,” Slade said, “but your wife has already claimed the favor that I owed you for letting me see my son instead of killing him.”

“I know.”

Back when Malcolm had faked Oliver’s death, Felicity had gone to Slade and asked where Malcolm could have possibly held him captive. He had told her because Oliver had spared the life of Slade’s son although he had abducted Felicity while she had been pregnant. That favor would have come handy now.

“I’m not going to tell you,” Slade said, his voice uninterested.

Oliver nodded his head slowly. He hadn’t expected anything else. The problem was that he wasn’t sure if Slade knew or didn’t know. He had really thought that he would know, but the fact that Slade had known why he had come here and the long time that had passed since they had seen each other the last time, made it difficult. He really wasn’t sure.

For a split second, he considered offering something to him. There had to be something that Slade would want. Maybe seeing his son again.

Then again, Oliver was sure that the more desperate he’d appear, the less Slade would be willing to help him. He would enjoy seeing him suffer, and it would be worth more to him than any brief moment of reward. Besides, letting Slade see his son would only cause new problems. Slade might love his son and want what was best for him, but Oliver wasn’t sure that he wouldn’t use him for his own plans if necessary.

“Goodbye, Slade.”

Slade seemed surprised that the conversation was over for Oliver already. Apparently, he had calculated on that. Just like Oliver before, he seemed to consider saying something to make Oliver stay a little longer, but he didn’t.

“Give your wife my regards. She can visit me anytime.”

Ignoring that comment, Oliver climbed the ladder back up. He punched his fist against the hatch that was opened for him immediately. As soon as he had climbed up the rest of the way and was back on the overground, he grabbed his backpack and turned to John.

“Let’s go.”

He didn’t wait for John to reply. He just made his way to where their boat was waiting for them. He didn’t want to stay here for even a second longer than necessary.

It took John barely a minute to catch up to Oliver. He walked next to him in silence for a short while, but he soon cleared his voice.

“So I guess the conversation didn’t go the way that you thought it would?”

“Worse,” Oliver replied, “it went exactly like I feared it would.”

John nodded his head slowly. “So we don’t have any new information?”

“Wouldn’t say that.” As soon as Oliver arrived at the boat, he threw the backpack into it and started pushing the boat further into the water. “We know that we need to tell Lyla to hire a different agent to watch Slade because that one is definitely doing all kind of networking for Slade. And now I don’t want to talk about it anymore. I just want to go home.”

 → → → → →

 Felicity woke up to the familiar feeling of a strong arm wrapping around her. His chest pressed against her back, his legs tangled with hers. Still half-asleep, she could feel Oliver pressing his nose against her neck and breathing her in.

With tired sigh, Felicity grabbed his hand from her stomach and pulled it to the top of her chest to press it against her naked skin there. She hadn’t slept much that last night when he had been away. She just couldn’t get used to sleeping without him there, especially knowing where he had gone.

“You’re back.” Felicity scooted back in bed a little, so her body was even closer to Oliver’s. If she could, she would just crawl right into him. “That’s good.”

“I didn’t mean to wake you.” Oliver’s voice was hoarse. “Sorry.”

“I’m glad I know you’re back here with me.”

Felicity was so tired that she could easily just close her eyes again and fall back asleep. She could just feel in the tension of Oliver’s arm and chest that there were things that he needed to talk about. He probably wouldn’t want to, but he needed to nonetheless.

Gathering the little energy that she still had left, Felicity opened her eyes and stared into the darkness. She considered turning around and facing Oliver, but she kind of liked the way he breathed into her neck. It made her hair move and sent chills all through her body. Rubbing her hand up and down his forearm, she let him know that she was truly awake now and not in some sort of half-sleep.

“How did it go?”

“As bad as possible, I fear.”

Felicity frowned for a moment, considering what exactly that could mean. Knowing Oliver, she guessed that she knew the answer though.

“You can’t tell whether Slade is saying the truth or not?”

Oliver released a breath of relief at the fact that she knew already and he didn’t have to explain it. The tone of her voice had been rather neutral instead of reproaching as he might have thought it would be. She wasn’t holding it against him that he had gone there although it hadn’t helped him, and she had seen that coming.

“No, I can’t.”

Felicity lifted his hand to her lips for a moment and placed a kiss to the palm of his hand.

“How are you feeling now?” Felicity asked. “You wanted clarity. You didn’t get it.”

Not answering yet, Oliver moved his foot up and down Felicity’s calf slowly. His nose pushed against her back once more, breathing in the scent of her body again. Felicity knew that apperceiving her helped him keeping a clear head and staying grounded.

“Yeah.” He sighed. “I’m not a step further than when Helena has left.”

“I wouldn’t say that.”

Felicity reached out her hand and turned on the small light on the nightstand before she turned around in bed. Oliver slid up the mattress and rested his head on the pillow next to hers, so they were face to face. Barely a couple of inches separated their lips from each other. Felicity could feel his breath on her skin.

“I know why you feel like that.” Felicity put her hands to Oliver’s cheeks and stroked her fingertips through his stubble. “But that’s not true. You have that information, and you have done whatever you can to verify it. You haven’t found anything.”

“I didn’t find anything to falsify it either.”

Felicity pulled his face closer and touched his lips with her. It was a long but chaste kiss and still made her skin tingle. When their lips parted, Felicity didn’t pull very far away. She just angled her head back enough, so she could look at Oliver and see his entire face.

“We are warned,” she said firmly. “In case anything happens, we are warned. We know where to start. We know – at least in parts – how that person thinks and operates. That’s allowing us to be at least a tiny step ahead.”

“I am not sure that it will be enough.”

“It has to be,” Felicity insisted, “because just think about how long it took Slade to come back here for revenge after he found out how Shado died. Think about how much time Malcolm took to plot his revenge on you. Whoever did that, if he comes back at all, might take years to do so. We can’t spend years watching our backs every step on the way. We are careful as it is, but we can’t live in constant fear.”

She could see in Oliver’s eyes that he knew she was right. He had spent years of his life, expecting nothing but the worst and keeping everyone at arm’s length because he feared what would happen to them. He had lived with that extra cautiousness for so long, and it hadn’t made him happy. It had ben the very thing that had kept him from being happy for so long.

Oliver rested his forehead against hers once more and closed his eyes. She could feel him frown against her forehead, while he was trying to find out what was the right thing to do and say right now.

When he opened his eyes, he pulled back an inch and sucked in a deep breath through his nose. He didn’t look relaxed, but Felicity hadn’t expected him to anyway. Whatever the result of his thought process was, he wasn’t really satisfied with it.

“Just one more week,” he asked with hoarse voice, “give me one more week to find out something more. I’m not going to leave Starling City for it. I will not break more laws than we do on a daily basis, but… I can’t let it go yet. I need… I need a little more time.”

“Okay. I guess that’s fair. You get more time.” Felicity nodded her head and pecked his lips briefly. “And now you need sleep. We both do.”

“Couldn’t agree more.”

They got into their usual sleeping positions with Felicity lying on her back and Oliver on top of her, his ear pressed to her chest. Like usually, he fell asleep to the rhythmic beating of her heart. It might be the calmest night he had had in a while.

* * * 

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

[scottxlogan]

Bucky Barnes Bingo Master List 2023

This past year I was able to participate in the latest round of the @buckybarnesbingo and it was a lot of fun! Below the cut is the list of all the fun fics I was able to put together for this incredible bingo and I encourage any Bucky fan to head on over and check it out when the next round rolls around! You won't be disappointed!

Title: You're My Home Author: scottxlogan Card #: B014   Square(s) Filled:  C2: Angst  Pairing: Bucky Barnes/Tony Stark Rating: Teen and Up Warnings/Tags: Angst and Hurt/Comfort, Angst and Feels, Bucky Barnes Has PTSD, Kidnapping, Mind Control Aftermath & Recovery, Psychological Trauma, Rescue Missions, Cabin Fic, Winter Soldier Bucky Barnes, Hopeful Ending, Established Relationship   Summary: Upon Bucky's disappearance Tony and the others worked their way into a rescue mission to bring him back home. Things take a turn for the worst when the mission forces Tony and Bucky to flee into the bitter winter weather trapped together in a cabin where Bucky has no memory of the life he put behind him after Hydra's latest torture. Concerned for his lover, Tony works to find a way to reach Bucky after the trauma.   Word Count: 4178   Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/46870918

Title: Turning The Page Author: scottxlogan Card #: B014   Square(s) Filled:  Bucky Barnes Bingo: U1: AU: Stripper  Pairing: Bucky Barnes/Tony Stark Rating: Explicit Warnings/Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Alternate Universe - Stripper/Exotic Dancer, Strippers & Strip Clubs, Stag Nights & Bachelor Parties, Sexual Content, Lap dance   Summary: The night before Tony's wedding he and his friends have decided to spend his last single night going out on a high note with the party of the century. Surrounded by those close to him, Tony finds himself facing the prospect of happily ever after until his friends encourage him to take on a sexy private lap dance with a far too tempting dancer that could change the way he views the future moving forward. Could one dance change everything about Tony's future?   Word Count: 6,680   Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/46798801

Title: Just Do It Author: scottxlogan Card #: B014 Square(s) Filled: U4: "Just Do It" Rating: Mature Pairing: Bucky Barnes/Tony Stark Warnings/Tags: Mutual Pining, Idiots in Love, Sexual Content, Implied Sexual Content, Mile High Club, Feelings Realization   Summary: After the battle is over and the team flies back home, Clint encourages Bucky to go catch up with Tony to discuss where their relationship is headed with one another.   Word Count: 5242 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/46775440

Title: Harder Author: scottxlogan Card #: B014 Square(s) Filled: K1: Kink: "Harder" Rating: Explicit Pairing: Bucky Barnes/Tony Stark Warnings/Tags: Sexual Content, Feelings Realization, Sex in a Car, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence Summary: Tony takes a chance on reclaiming his future by inviting Bucky to Malibu for an impromptu trip where after a date night the two find themselves on a detour after they are met by temptation. Word Count: 2213 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/46437511

Title: Home Again (Chapter 26) Author: scottxlogan Card #: B014 Square(s) Filled: B2: Sam Wilson/Falcon Rating: Mature Pairing: Bucky Barnes/Tony Stark Warnings/Tags: Post-Avengers: Endgame (Movie), Canon Divergence - Avengers: Endgame (Movie), Bucky Barnes Needs a Hug, Supernatural Elements, Canon-Typical Violence, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Bucky Barnes Has PTSD, Bucky Barnes & Sam Wilson Friendship, Tony Stark Needs a Hug, Angst with a Happy Ending, Angst and Romance, Adult Content, Explicit Language, Enemies to Friends to Lovers, Past Pepper Potts/Tony Stark, Slow Burn, Sexual Content, Sexual Tension Summary: Bucky finds himself facing a new enemy as an old friend threatens to destroy his future. Caught up in a battle, Bucky faces down some darker parts of his past while he, Tony, and Sam take on the Architect's army. Word Count: 8367 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/38259688/chapters/116856637 Title: Tuesday Author: scottxlogan Card #: B014 Square(s) Filled: Y5: Compromise Rating: Teen and Up Pairing: Bucky Barnes/Tony Stark Warnings/Tags: Getting Together, Sexual Tension, Flirting, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Making Out, Feelings Realization, Massage, Adult Content, adult conversations Summary: Tony's Tuesday morning at the office takes him by surprise when Bucky arrives with a bold suggestion for the two of them moving forward. Word Count: 4138 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/47054182

Title: Birthday Beginnings   Author: scottxlogan Card #: B014   Square(s) Filled:  Bucky Barnes Bingo: U3: Popsicle    Pairing: Bucky Barnes/Tony Stark Rating: Explicit Warnings/Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Post-Endgame, Canon Divergence - Avengers: Endgame (Movie), Sexual Content, Dirty Talk, Flirting, Parent Tony Stark, Injury Recovery, Happy Ending, Second Chances, Past Pepper Potts/Tony Stark, Protective Bucky Barnes, Hurt Tony Stark, Reunions, Birthday Party   Summary: Tony's made peace with his ending after the battle against Thanos has him leaving the world as he knows it, but instead of finding a place to rest, Tony wakes up in a new world where everything is almost the same except for the fact he's waking up next to Bucky Barnes in his bed on Tony's birthday. From his awakening at the end of it all Tony finds himself facing a second chance at a new beginning. Will it prove to be everything he ever needed in his life?   Word Count: 7156  Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/47166235/chapters/118837336 

Title: Birthday Beginnings  (Multichapter) Author: scottxlogan Card #: B014 Square(s) Filled: B4: AU: Reincarnation Pairing: Bucky Barnes/Tony Stark Rating: Explicit Warnings/Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Post-Endgame, Canon Divergence - Avengers: Endgame (Movie), Sexual Content, Dirty Talk, Flirting, Parent Tony Stark, Injury Recovery, Happy Ending, Second Chances, Past Pepper Potts/Tony Stark, Protective Bucky Barnes, Hurt Tony Stark, Reunions, Birthday Party   Summary: Tony's glimpse of his new world leaves him longing to hold onto the new joys he's found in his life. Will this awakening on his birthday be the key to his happiness or a tease before the big finish to a long life of struggles? Word Count: 13493 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/47166235/chapters/119176831

Title: The Morning After Author: scottxlogan Card #: B014 Square(s) Filled: Y2: Pining Rating: Explicit Pairing: Bucky Barnes/Tony Stark Warnings/Tags: Morning After, Misunderstandings, Light Angst, Angst with a Happy Ending, Sexual Content, Pining, Insecurity, Vulnerability, One Night Stands, Idiots in Love Summary: The morning after Tony and Bucky threw caution to the wind and took their flirtation to the next level, Tony wakes up wondering if their time together was a one night thing or if there is the potential for something more between them after waking up the morning after changes all the rules between them. Word Count: 3925 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/47477581

Title: Home Again (Chapter 27) Author: scottxlogan Card #: B014 Square(s) Filled: C1: Doppelgangers, Evil Twins Rating: Mature Pairing: Bucky Barnes/Tony Stark Warnings/Tags: Post-Avengers: Endgame (Movie), Canon Divergence - Avengers: Endgame (Movie), Supernatural Elements, Canon-Typical Violence, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, References to Depression, Bucky Barnes Has PTSD, Bucky Barnes & Sam Wilson Friendship, Pre-Relationship, Angst with a Happy Ending, Angst and Hurt/Comfort, Angst and Tragedy, Angst and Romance, Blood Loss, Adult Content, Explicit Language, Enemies to Friends to Lovers, Blood and Injury, Dreams and Nightmares, Slow Burn, Sexual Content Summary: Bucky's race to save Tony's future results in a final, dark showdown against The Architect. With the future on the line, only one will be left standing at the end of this war to save the world and bring Tony home again. Word Count: 14071 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/38259688/chapters/120018727

Title: Home Again (Chapter 28) Author: scottxlogan Card #: B014 Square(s) Filled: Y1: Pain Rating: Mature Pairing: Bucky Barnes/Tony Stark Warnings/Tags: Post-Avengers: Endgame (Movie), Canon Divergence - Avengers: Endgame (Movie), Supernatural Elements, Canon-Typical Violence, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, References to Depression, Bucky Barnes Has PTSD, Bucky Barnes & Sam Wilson Friendship, Pre-Relationship, Angst with a Happy Ending, Angst and Hurt/Comfort, Angst and Tragedy, Angst and Romance, Blood Loss, Adult Content, Explicit Language, Enemies to Friends to Lovers, Blood and Injury, Dreams and Nightmares, Slow Burn, Sexual Content Summary: The aftermath of Bucky's sacrifice leads Bucky to a surprising discovery where his life and future with Tony are concerned. Word Count: 10998 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/38259688/chapters/120199294

Title: Home Again (Chapter 29) Author: scottxlogan Card #: B014 Square(s) Filled: B3: Magnet Rating: Mature Pairing: Bucky Barnes/Tony Stark Warnings/Tags: Post-Avengers: Endgame (Movie), Canon Divergence - Avengers: Endgame (Movie), Supernatural Elements, Canon-Typical Violence, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, References to Depression, Bucky Barnes Has PTSD, Bucky Barnes & Sam Wilson Friendship, Pre-Relationship, Angst with a Happy Ending, Angst and Hurt/Comfort, Angst and Tragedy, Angst and Romance, Blood Loss, Adult Content, Explicit Language, Enemies to Friends to Lovers, Blood and Injury, Dreams and Nightmares, Slow Burn, Sexual Content Summary: Bucky's growing frustration mounts as he unleashes his upset on Sam. When a chance encounter brings Bucky closer to Tony again, will the chemistry between them be all but forgotten or will the sparks fly in ways that bring hope for a future between them? Word Count: 12149 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/38259688/chapters/120323923

Title: Home Again (Chapter 30) Author: scottxlogan Card #: B014 Square(s) Filled: C3: Free Square Rating: Mature Pairing: Bucky Barnes/Tony Stark Warnings/Tags: Post-Avengers: Endgame (Movie), Canon Divergence - Avengers: Endgame (Movie), Supernatural Elements, Canon-Typical Violence, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, References to Depression, Bucky Barnes Has PTSD, Bucky Barnes & Sam Wilson Friendship, Pre-Relationship, Angst with a Happy Ending, Angst and Hurt/Comfort, Angst and Tragedy, Angst and Romance, Blood Loss, Adult Content, Explicit Language, Enemies to Friends to Lovers, Blood and Injury, Dreams and Nightmares, Slow Burn, Sexual Content Summary: Bucky experiences a painful reunion and pours his heart out to an old friend as his grief over what he lost consumes him. Just when it seems all hope is lost, Sam offers Bucky a surprise that could change everything. Meanwhile Tony and Ramsay share a heart to heart that could potentially put Tony on the right track after his time with Bucky was stolen from his memory. Word Count: 10319 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/38259688/chapters/120843835 Title: Now What? Author: scottxlogan Card #: B014 Square(s) Filled: U2: Comic Bucky holding a knife and talking on the phone Rating: Explicit Pairing: Bucky Barnes/Natasha Romanov/Clint Barton Warnings/Tags: Idiots in Love, Threesome, Sexual Content, Apologies, Making Up, Cooking, Massage, Polyamory, Swearing Summary: When Natasha leaves the tower after getting frustrated with Clint and Bucky's repeating fighting, the two are left wondering if this is the end of their relationship. Fearing the worst the two work together to try to get in good graces with Natasha all over again. Word Count: 6669 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/48200101

Title: Never Have I Ever Author: scottxlogan Card #: B014 Square(s) Filled: K4: Kink: Held Down Rating: Explicit Pairing: Bucky Barnes/Tony Stark Warnings/Tags: Sexual Content, Jealousy, Implied/Referenced Cheating, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Not Steve Rogers Friendly, Past Steve Rogers/Tony Stark, Past Bucky Barnes/Steve Rogers, Minor Sharon Carter/Steve Rogers, Light Bondage, Angst with a Happy Ending, Light Angst, Blindfolds, Restraints, Declarations Of Love, Established Relationship, Angst, Alcoholic Tony Stark, Past Alcohol Abuse/Alcoholism Summary: When the team gets together to spend a night under the stars playing a game of Never Have I Ever, it opens the door to a tense situation where Bucky and Tony are left facing an uncomfortable truth about the history they have with Steve. Will it prove to be the thing that pulls their blossoming relationship apart or will it bring them closer together when everything is said and done? Word Count: 14,368 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/48269416

Title: Dark Obsession Author: scottxlogan Card #: B014 Square(s) Filled: C4: Photo of Bucky as the Winter Soldier Rating: Explicit Pairing: Bucky Barnes/Tony Stark Warnings/Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Canon-Typical Violence, Clubbing, Explicit Sexual Content, Dirty Talk, Light Choking, Rope Bondage, Light Dom/sub, BDSM, Wax Play, Sex Toys, Restraints, Swearing, Switching, Biting, Ice Play, Strangers to Lovers, Smut, Past Steve Rogers/Tony Stark, Past Bucky Barnes/Steve Rogers, Steve Rogers & Tony Stark Friendship Summary: On the anniversary of his parents' deaths Tony finds himself looking for a distraction after Steve stands Tony up on their night clubbing. Undeterred in his quest to find a new distraction Tony works his way into a steamy new club in town where he finds himself drawn in by a sexy stranger who turns Tony's world around in unimaginable ways. Word Count: 17988 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/48772465

Title: A Day at the Beach Author: scottxlogan Card #: B014 Square(s) Filled: K2: Meet Cute Rating: Teen Pairing: Bucky Barnes/Tony Stark Warnings/Tags: Alternate Universe - Modern: No Powers, Single Parent Tony Stark, Minor Bruce Banner/Natasha Romanov, Meet-Cute, First Meetings, Alternate Universe - Different First Meeting, Flirting, Kissing, Innuendo, Past Bucky Barnes/Natasha Romanov, Past Pepper Potts/Tony Stark, Natasha Romanov & Tony Stark Friendship, Science Bros | Bruce Banner & Tony Stark Friendship, Fluff, Mild Hurt/Comfort, Head Injury Summary: Tony and Morgan's daddy/daughter day at the beach takes an unexpected turn as the sexy lifeguard Tony has been eyeing rides in to Tony's rescue. Word Count: 6140 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/49099954

Title: If I Could Turn Back Time Author: scottxlogan Card #: B014 Square(s) Filled: Y3: Fears Appear in Reality Rating: Explicit Pairing: Bucky Barnes/Tony Stark Warnings/Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Time Travel Fix-It, Past Steve Rogers/Tony Stark, Past James "Rhodey" Rhodes/Tony Stark, Unrequited Crush, Bucky Barnes & Loki Friendship, James "Rhodey" Rhodes & Tony Stark Friendship, Canon-Typical Violence, Heavy Angst, Angst with a Happy Ending, Cigarettes, Drinking, Aftermath of Violence, Group Kissing, Sexual Content, dual timelines, Supernatural Elements, Matchmaker Tony Stark Summary: In the past Bucky's dark history comes back to haunt him in the worst possible way. Meanwhile in the future Tony and Bucky are headed towards happily ever after when tragedy strikes under suspicious circumstances and Loki decides its time to intervene on his friends' behalf to make things right for them once and for all in ways that could change everything forever. Word Count: 19865 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/49659079/chapters/125339104

Title: Tempted Author: scottxlogan Card #: B014 Square(s) Filled: Y4: No Powers Rating: Explicit Pairing: Bucky Barnes/ Tony Stark Warnings/Tags: Alternate Universe - No Powers, Bodyguard Bucky Barnes, Fake/Pretend Relationship, Fake Dating, Tony Stark Has PTSD, Single Parent Tony Stark, Panic Attacks, Stalker, Sexual Content, Sexual Tension, Tony Stark has a stalker, Past Pepper Potts/Tony Stark, Past Steve Rogers/Tony Stark, Swearing, Adult Content, Explicit Language, Dirty Talk, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Light Angst, Parent Tony Stark, Tony Stark Has Issues, Flirting, War Veteran Bucky Barnes, Mild Blood Summary: Tony Stark's life takes an unexpected turn when after months of being bombarded, an antonymous stalker takes things a touch too far sending Tony and Morgan's lives into a tailspin. When Pepper reaches out to an old friend for assistance after Tony refuses to heed her advice, sexy bodyguard Bucky Barnes shows up at Tony's doorstep ready to get to the heart of the problem taking place. Armed with a new mission and a cover story posing as Tony's new live-in lover meant to explain Bucky's presence in Tony's life, the two find their way to solving Tony's stalker problem together while flirting with danger and romance along the way. Word Count: 7282 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/51464692/chapters/130059559

Title: Tempted (Chapter 3) Author: scottxlogan Card #: B014 Square(s) Filled: B5: Kink: You’re Such a Tease Rating: Explicit Pairing: Bucky Barnes/Tony Stark Warnings/Tags: Alternate Universe - Modern: No Powers, Bodyguard Bucky Barnes, Fake/Pretend Relationship, Tony Stark Has PTSD, Single Parent Tony Stark,Panic Attacks, Stalker, Sexual Content, Sexual Tension, Tony Stark has a stalker, Adult Content, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Light Angst, Flirting, War Veteran Bucky Barnes, past trauma, Protective Happy Hogan Summary: Bucky and Tony retreat to a safe space where Tony can recenter after his panic attack pulled him from the VIP premiere party. In the dark two share a quiet conversation where sparks fly, but will danger be lurking in the shadows? Word Count: 1071 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/51464692/chapters/130358419

Title: The Next Adventure Author: scottxlogan Card #: B014 Square(s) Filled: U5: AU: Pirates Rating: Teen Pairing: Bucky Barnes/? Warnings/Tags: drinking, Alternate Universe - Pirate, Open ended, No set pairing, Digital Art, Art and ficlet, Ficlet, Pirates, Art, Alternate Universe, contemplations Summary: Bucky's life is set to sail towards new discoveries and tonight he has decided he's about to take on his biggest adventure yet. Word Count: 559 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/52094623

Title: Waking Up To Forever (Chapter 3) Author: scottxlogan Card #: B014 Square(s) Filled: B1: AU: Royalty Rating: Explicit Pairing: Bucky Barnes/Tony Stark Warnings/Tags: Post-Avengers: Endgame (Movie), Canon Divergence - Post-Avengers: Endgame (Movie), Supernatural Elements, Multiverse, Established Relationship, Adult Content, Angst and Romance, Honeymoon, Dreams and Nightmares, Parent Tony Stark, Sexual Content, Romantic Soulmates, Not Sharon Carter Friendly, Canon-Typical Violence, Memories Summary: While on his honeymoon with Bucky in Wakanda, Tony finds himself in the other world where he gets a glimpse of the life the man in The Architect's world faced where a forbidden love and hope for the future guided that Tony to make change in the world around him. Word Count: 6649 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/49392865/chapters/134951323

Title: Serenity Author: scottxlogan Card #: B014 Square(s) Filled: K5: Comic image of Bucky Rating: Teen and Up Pairing: Bucky Barnes/Tony Stark Warnings/Tags: Fluff, Domestic Fluff, Feelings Realization, Flirting, Peaceful moments, Good Cat Alpine (Marvel) Summary: While cleaning up in his makeshift lab at Bucky's home, Tony finds himself contemplating all the ways he'd grown to appreciate Bucky in his life while watching Bucky play with Alpine in their quiet morning together. Word Count: 2371 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/53396959

Title: Going To Extremes Author: scottxlogan Card #: B014 Square(s) Filled: K3: Mad Science Rating: Teen and Up Pairing: Bucky Barnes/Tony Stark Warnings/Tags: Established Relationship, Making Out, Swearing, Adult Content, Mad Science, Alien Technology, Light Angst, Angst with a Happy Ending, Flirting Summary: When an exceedingly hard battle puts Tony in the position to lose Bucky, he makes a choice that he fears could cause them to fall apart entirely. In Bucky's awakening, the two face the consequences of Tony's actions and what it means moving forward. Word Count: 4140 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/53417161

Title: Reckless Author: scottxlogan Card #: B014 Square(s) Filled: C5: AU: Mafia/Mobsters  Rating: Explicit Pairing: Bucky Barnes/Tony Stark Warnings/Tags: Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Assassin Bucky Barnes, Sexual Content, Mobster Tony Stark, Alternate Universe - Mob, Explicit Language, Sexual Tension, Missions Gone Wrong, Attraction, Light Angst, Smut, Obsession Summary: Bucky's spent most of his life with the family doing their dirty work as their ruthless enforcer serving as the dark assassin they need, but when his latest job sends him into a tailspin of the unexpected with arms dealer and mob boss Tony Stark as his mark, it appears that all the rules Bucky's lived by are changing and everything he knows about himself is about to be broken in ways he wasn't entirely prepared for. Word Count: 4070 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/53419438

[honey-on-your-tongue]

All That Could Be

Series masterlist

Part one

Word count: 1.1k

A/N: I don't even know what to say. I've been watching House MD lately and just 😩😩😩 can't help myself. I'm as delulu as it gets.

“I'm getting a divorce.”

That's how Wilson greets you one morning, storming into your office.

You pause, blinking at him. “Why?” you finally ask, the shock still present but slowly wearing off. You can almost hear House saying something about Wilson cheating. “Did you cheat on her?”

Wilson frowns, looking confused and almost offended. “No. Of course I didn't.” He pauses for a moment, almost hesitating before adding, “She did.”

You bite your tongue then. You're not going to lie, Wilson has the bad habit of trying to fix people who are unfixable. His past three wives and House—among thousands of others—are clear proof of that. Still, you don't understand how someone could do that to him. He's as sweet, kind, thoughtful as they come. How do you hurt someone so devoted to helping you in any way he can?

“That...sucks,” you say stupidly.

“Understatement,” he replies, walking past you, towards the couch in your office and plopping down on it, defeated.

“Alright,” you allow, turning to him. “It's a horrible fucking thing that she did to you. But—” You cut yourself off, recognizing this is no time for a lecture, but knowing that making him realize that he falls into the same pattern again and again would probably be easier now that the wound is raw and vulnerable.

“But what?” he asks, glancing up at you.

You sigh softly, sitting beside him. “But maybe...you should ask yourself why this is your third divorce.”

He blinks at you, his brown eyes staring into yours. “Where is this conversation going?”

“Wilson. Three divorces,” you emphasize. “Three wives. What did they all have in common?”

He frowns and asks, “Me?”

You shake your head. “No. All three of them were...well, broken. All three of them had no interest in fixing themselves.” You bite the inside of your cheek, hesitating for a second before finishing your sentence, “And you desperately tried to fix all three of them. Do you see the issue?”

He places his elbows on his knees, pinching the bridge of his nose. He sighs, and your office is suddenly extraordinarily quiet. Like a black hole has sucked all the life from it, and there's nothing else but you and this silent, hurt man beside you.

Finally, he speaks, “Okay.”

You pause. “Okay?” you echo, confused.

He nods. “Yeah, okay. I'm too involved in helping other people even though they don't want to fix themselves and then I'm disappointed when they do exactly what I knew they would.”

You try to help it, you truly do, but by now, psychoanalizing people is almost instinct. You just can't hold back.

“Can you think of a reason as to why you do that?” you ask softly in that soothing, therapist voice.

He glances away from you, staring at the far wall. He's avoiding answering the question by pretending to think of an answer, but you don't call him out on that. You let him take his time.

Eventually, he sighs. “Maybe?”

You nod. “So you've realized that this whole 'fixing other people' thing is a behavior that rises from an issue you may have with yourself?”

He swallows, his Adam's apple bobbing, and he flickers his eyes to yours before looking away again. “Yeah,” he says, his voice strained with emotion.

You nod slowly. “James.” You speak his name softly, carefully, and he finally meets your gaze. “I think that maybe you try to fix other people because you feel that if you can fix them, you'll somehow fix yourself. Do you think I might be right?”

He exhales thickly before rubbing at his eyes with one hand. “You know, uh...can we—can we not do this? Today? Like. I just...” He frowns, chewing on his bottom lip, his eyes glancing around as if looking for the words to appear in your office.

You place a hand on his shoulder. You've known him for years, and you can read him like an open book. “You want friend me, not psychologist me,” you guess, tilting your head a little.

His brown eyes find yours. “Yeah,” he breathes, a soft sound of relief that seems to wash over the room like a tsunami, breaking the tension and leaving the atmosphere feeling lighter. “Yeah.”

You nod. “Alright. She fucking sucks,” you state. “That was absolutely an asshole move. Like—what the fuck?”

He grins slightly. “Thank you.”

You shake your head. “No, no. Don't thank me. Come on, get it off your chest. She's a fucking bitch. How did you find out?”

He sighs. “I didn't. She told me. I mean, shit's been weird at home lately. We were constantly avoiding each other, we'd fight over everything, she was never home and neither was I.” He shrugs. “What else should I have expected?”

“I'm sorry, Wilson,” you tell him honestly. “You deserve so much better.”

He scoffs softly.

You raise your eyebrows. “You don't agree?”

He shakes his head. “No—I mean, yes, I agree, but I don't think I'm gonna find someone different. I seem to keep attracting people who are unfixable.”

You nod, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Take a brake from dating. Just don't let it even cross your mind. Forget about romantic relationships. Focus on yourself. Try and fix yourself and you'll see everything falls into place.”

“Okay,” he says. “Alright.”

You smile gently. “You know I'm here if you want to talk. Or break things. Or get drunk and high or whatever.”

He laughs softly. “I don't really plan on doing those last two but, uh, I appreciate it.”

You nod again. He gets up, walking towards the door. He swings it open and just before he leaves, he turns back to you.

“Just...out of curiosity,” he says. “Um. How would I recognize if I were falling into another unfixable relationship?”

You think on it for a moment. “Well. You'd have to see how you're feeling around that person. And you'd need to recognize that you're desperately trying to help them with things they're not interested in. Also, you have to keep in mind that a relationship goes both ways. You give and give and give, but does the other person do that too? Or is it only you?”

He nods, still not leaving. “And how would I know if I find someone I can have a healthy relationship with?”

“Um. I'm guessing you're not going to feel that eagerness to please them with everything and you'll realize that you're not the only one who gives. And when problems arise, you won't have to solve everything on your own.”

He stands there, still eyeing you, his gaze locked on yours. You get the feeling he wants to say something else, but he doesn't. After a while, he tells you, “Thank you.” And he walks out of your office.

[bluejaysandblackbats]

Honor in Crisis

Fandom: DC Comics, Batfam, NTT, Titans, JLI, Arrowfam, Flashfam, GL Corps, Infinity Inc

Summary: Every chapter will focus on one character specifically and then I'll update their statuses in order.

This is a no powers au/fix-it fic for Heroes in Crisis. I wanted to focus on the characters and their healing. I decided that'd be easier to put some of these characters in a fic like this and work on it more from a real-world perspective. I DO want to say that I do not believe healing is linear so don't plan on a clear-cut happy ending. I'd say (and idk for sure) we're gonna eventually get a bittersweet ending for certain characters but nothing tragic.

Chapters: 1/?

Characters: Jason Todd, Bruce Wayne, Kole Weathers, Lilith Clay, Michael Carter, Michelle Carter, Rani Carter, Grant Emerson, Roy Harper, Grant Wilson, Joseph Wilson, Thaddeus Thawne, Bart Allen, Helen Claiborne, President Thawne, Todd Rice, Alan Scott (DCU), Damon Matthews

Relationship(s): Damon Matthews/Todd Rice

Additional Tags: No Powers AU, Canon Divergent AU, Fix-It Fic, Angst, TW // Suicide Attempt Mention , TW // Gun Violence Mention , TW // Police Arrest Mention

Chapter One: Teakwood (Jason Todd)

Jason sat in the worn, green lounge chair, staring at a teakwood wall art installation. His eyes scanned the room until he made eye contact with his psychiatrist, and he sniffed. She kept her hair cropped short in a brown pixie cut. She wasn't a natural brunette, but the color suited her. It was the same brown as the teakwood she seemed to favor so much in her office. He wondered how much longer he'd have to wait for the time to run out as she sat next to her computer, watching the clock. It was just out of his view. "Jason, do you want to talk about it?" asked the woman. Jason pressed his palms against his closed eyelids. His head still ached from the earlier events of the night. His eyes were swollen, he hadn't slept, his ears were ringing, and his wrists were still sore where the handcuffs cut into his skin.

"Sorry," Jason answered. He tried to form the words with his mouth, but he felt rushed. Jason knew he'd wasted half their time looking around her office as he tried to get a feel for her. He took the notepad she left him on her desk and sighed before writing out, "I'm sorry that I didn't succeed." Jason could hear the responding officer's words playing in his head. She meant well, but her words only made him want to die more. When Jason's gun fired, he was sure he'd died. When the officer cuffed Jason, and Jason realized he missed, he didn't feel the same relief he'd read about. All he could feel since he realized he'd survived was disappointment.

She glanced over at Jason's notepad, and she made eye contact with him. "Did you express these feelings to anyone else before last night?" she asked. Her tone of voice was soft. It reminded him of his mother.

Jason tapped the pencil against the paper as he thought about her question, and he slammed the pencil down on the desk. Before she could say anything, he burst into tears. He'd tried to keep his cool. Jason promised himself he'd stay calm when he got to the hospital, but it was too much to bear. He turned his head away from her in shame as he hyperventilated and sobbed. His psychiatrist moved the box of tissues within Jason's reach. "This must be really difficult... Do you need a moment?" she asked.

Jason got up and walked to the back corner of the room. He stood with his back to her while he collected himself. "No... No one," Jason whispered.

"Was there a reason you didn't tell anyone what you had planned?" she asked.

Jason nodded. He took a deep breath. "Be alone," he whispered out loud. He took the notepad and wrote, "I didn't want to be seen by anyone I knew."

She made a soft noise, and Jason took a tissue and blew his nose. She held up her trash can, and he dumped it before taking another deep breath to keep himself from going into another panic. "But you signed the privacy release... Right? Have you changed your mind?" she questioned.

Jason fixed his mouth to curse at her before huffing and puffing and writing, "I didn't want them to report me missing. I'm sick of dealing with cops. Besides, I need clothes." Jason knocked the back of his head against the chair's headrest.

The events of the night were finally catching up with Jason. He ran his hands over his face and closed his eyes. He groaned and leaned his head back before yawning. "Jason?" she asked.

Jason looked her in the eye, and he knit his brows together. "Your name?" Jason asked.

"Dr. Gibson," she answered. Jason nodded. He tapped his wrist to ask her for the time. "It's been thirty minutes, so you're technically done now."

Jason got up and left the office. A nurse escorted him to his room, and he noticed a young man lying asleep in the bed by the locked window. His roommate talked in his sleep, but Jason didn't mind. He lay on his stomach with his hands tucked under the semi-flat pillow, and he quickly drifted off to sleep. His sleep was restless, troubled with nightmares, and when he wasn't plagued with bad dreams, the nurses would wake him while doing bed checks. When he finally managed to get an hour's worth of uninterrupted sleep, his roommate nudged him and woke him up. "Six-forty-five a.m.," he muttered. Jason opened his eyes, his head pounding and his chest dully aching. He waited until his heartbeat returned to normal, and he sat up.

Jason skipped out on showering, but he brushed his teeth at the sink and followed his roommate to get his vitals checked. Shortly after, he was asked to visit and speak to his father. Jason sighed and met Bruce, sitting on a couch across from him. Bruce reached out and touched the bandage on Jason's head, and Jason turned away. "You've been missing for nearly a week. I was worried sick about you. Jason, don't you think I have a right to know what you've been up to?" Bruce asked. Jason tugged at his shirt, and Bruce nodded. "Jason, what happened? Is this a misunderstanding?"

Jason shook his head and held up his hand to silence Bruce. "No," Jason raised his voice defensively, "A gun... Sick... Cops." Jason stopped to breathe, and he looked Bruce in his eyes. "Striiii—. Stripped and loo—. Search." He raised his eyebrows angrily as he waited for Bruce to react. He hated that Bruce always tried to make the best of things for him when things were shitty and they'd been shitty ever since he was attacked.

"Sick?" Bruce asked. Jason gestured as if he'd thrown up. "When was that?" Jason vomited on himself in the emergency room when the shock of what he almost did finally subsided. He could still smell the faint odor of vomit on his skin through his hospital-issued sweatshirt. He regretted not taking that shower when he had the chance. He wondered if anyone else could smell it as much as he could. It was unbearable.

"Last night," Jason replied.

"So, where have you been for the past five and a half days?" Bruce asked. Jason took his suitcase and held onto it. "Jason."

Jason scoffed and shook his head. Bruce sighed. "I don't want to fight. I'm sorry. This was terrifying... I filed a missing person's report on you two days ago," Bruce confessed. Jason's shoulders dropped. "I'm sorry, but—."

"Go," Jason mumbled.

"Jason, please. I know you're upset, but I didn't know what else to do. You're my son, and you didn't come home. Someone found your phone at a nightclub—."

"Go," Jason raised his voice just loud enough to warn Bruce. He wanted to get loud, but he didn't want to draw any attention.

Bruce stood up and left Jason alone. He got his breakfast and sat at a table next to a young woman with short red hair. She smiled at him before looking back down at her plate sheepishly. Jason glanced at her, quickly scanning her plate before bowing his head. She hadn't eaten a bite, but she started eating once she saw Jason eating. "Jason," he introduced himself without looking up from his plate. The food wasn't the best, but he was starving.

"Kole," she whispered. He reached over and shook her hand without looking at her. "Did you get stitches? Or was it a superficial wound?"

Jason turned to her and offered a puzzled look before she gestured to her temple, and he choked his breakfast down and closed his eyes to focus. He hated talking to new people verbally. He gestured as if he'd forgotten the word, but he hadn't. He just couldn't form it. "Cow eat-. No... Sorry," Jason chewed his lip furiously.

"Grazed?" Kole asked. Jason nodded. "By a bullet?"

Jason nodded again, and he let out a broken chuckle. "Brain hurt... Speech," Jason forced the words out. He knew he didn't owe anyone an explanation, but he felt like it kept people from judging him. "Old hit." Jason held up four fingers.

"Years?" Kole asked. Jason nodded. "Geez, I'm sorry."

"'S okay," Jason replied, "Good?" Jason pointed to her biscuit and oatmeal, and she shook her head.

Kole took a sip of her Ensure. "You made the right choice, trust me... The biscuits are dry," Kole replied. Jason nodded. He didn't want to pry. Jason wasn't there to make friends. He was only there until he didn't want to die anymore. He drank his juice and finished his breakfast, waiting for her to finish eating and talking before he excused himself.

[earth-b0y]

[Word Count: ~940]

[CW: threats, manipulation]

"Well, it looks like you've come to your decision, hasn't it?"

Kri's eyes drift between his hands folded in his lap, Liar, Death, and the slice of chocolate cake in front of him he can't eat. The words "Happy Birthday!" are mockingly crammed onto the cake in red icing, the lettering round and loopy, like the comic sans equivalent of cursive. It makes Kri sick just to look at.

"Yeah... I don't wanna cause trouble; I jus' don't want to be a weapon anymore. I can't take it. I lost count of how many people I killed after about twenty," Kri confesses, squeezing their fists so tightly that their claws leave bloody indents in their palms. His voice cracks as he continues, "No more. No more. That's all I want. Will you let me have that?"

Liar's smile is soft and understanding, as though she truly sympathises with the boy. "Of course, of course, dear. I said you would be permitted to transfer to Wilson's, and I meant it. Did you think I was fibbing?"

"Uh..." Kri starts awkwardly, "Lying is kind of your whole thing, so, yeah... a little bit. Sorry."

Liar laughs loudly, throwing her head back, juxtaposed by Death's complete lack of reaction. The sound is shrill, like the clacking of a spoon in a teacup, and Kri can't help but wince. Her mirth is clearly at his expense.

"Well, you've got me there. Yes, you're right. I am a liar, and a damn good one, but my offer was genuine! As sad as Min and Rai will be to see you go, and I will be disappointed to lose such a valuable asset, it's better to let you go where you're happy than to have you turn on us," Liar explains, and she props her elbow on the table, resting her chin on her fist.

Kri looks up, not daring to be too hopeful as he searches her face for any hint of deceit. He can't tell; she's impossible to read, but her smile looks true, complete with crinkled eyes.

"Really...? You're not joking? Or plannin' to shoot me as soon as I step out the door? This ain't a trick or nothin'?"

"Mhm-hm." Liar nods, and a twinkle dances in her eye. "But I'll admit, it is a shame to see an anomaly like yours go to waste. You're an unmatched marksman, Kri; you could do so much more than feed animals and wrap little bandages around their paws. Maybe one day, you'll realize where you really belong and come back to us. The door will always be open, and that is why I'd like to give you this parting gift. Agapi mou?"

With a gesture towards Death, the statuesque woman finally moves. It places a small white box on the table, delicately pushing it forward. He's hesitant. This must be the surprise Liar mentioned, they suppose.

"Go ahead," Liar encourages.

Kri tentatively lifts the lid off the box, and inside, he finds a bolo tie. Six wears them often, so Kri is familiar with them, but this one reminds him much more of the brooch Min wears or the wolf's head cane Six carries. The slide is an oval piece of ivory, a flower carved into the centre - a columbine, Rai would tell him.

Kri picks up the bolo tie, fingers brushing against the bone charm, and his head drops. Everything goes black.

When Kri's consciousness returns, Death is hanging the cord around his neck, tightening it by sliding the heavy pendant up to rest between their collarbones. It feels almost like a second heartbeat thrumming against his chest. He thinks he sees Death give him a look of pity before stepping back, returning to his seat beside Liar, who smiles, satisfied, like all has just been made right in the world.

"What... what is this? What happened?" Kri asks, and his hand rises to grip the pendant. It might be warm to the touch, or maybe the situation has rendered his hands cold and clammy. They aren't sure.

"It's your present, dear. In most cases, only an Overseer will receive a charm like that, but consider this an investment, a sort of contract between us. Always keep it close to you, boy, and never forget your place here."

Kri's throat dries up; he can't find any words to speak, only stammered beginnings of "What?" or "Why?" Liar and Death stand in unison, and as Liar passes, she leans down to whisper in Kri's ear.

"We have an eye on you. If you ever think to rebel against your masters, you will swiftly be put down like the dog you are."

Kri swallows. He doesn't reply, and she doesn't wait. Liar strides towards the doors with her heels clicking purposefully on the tile, and Death trails behind like a shadow. Then, Liar pauses.

"Oh, and Kri? Happy birthday. Enjoy your cake."

The doors slam shut, and Kri is left alone. A minute or two passes in silence, and all Kri can think is that he should have known. He should have run, should have listened to the warnings others tried to give him, but he held a wishful hope in his heart that makes fools of us all.

Kri grabs the plate and flings it against the door where Liar last stood, and the sound of shattering porcelain is loud, almost cathartic, but not enough to relieve him of his frustration and rage. He bangs his fists against the table, stinging pain spreading through his shaken bones.

"Stupid," Kri murmurs, and a bitter chuckle escapes their lips. "God, I'm so fuckin' stupid.”

[emptymanuscript]

Not a Nazi stochastic terrorism dog whistle at all. *eyeroll* This is the equivalent of sticking your pinkies in your mouth to whistle and then yelling, “hey,” instead.

I think the eternal shocker for me is that Trump’s approval rating is as high as it is among Jews. Subtlety just isn’t his thing. I suppose it’s just means that a quarter of us are Nazis as long as you don’t use the word.

I feel like Mother Night had it right.

I have stuck deep in my head that first image of Frankie Faison as Robert Sterling Wilson, the Black Fuhrer of Harlem, all dressed up in his fancy Nazi uniform and smiling brightly because he knows his mere presence upends what people think is reality.

Anyone can be a Nazi.

Even a Jew. It’s an ethic not an ethnicity. A Jewish Nazi just has a different group of people they think they should scapegoat as the source of all the world’s problems and so they’re absolutely justified in exterminating that group.

Trump’s not a Nazi because he is literally a member of the National Socialist German Workers' Party. He’s a Nazi because he believes people can be broken up into “good” and “bad” by basic traits and he’s just fine harming the “bad” people for the “greater good” which is somehow always a synonym for his own benefit. And he’s very content for the arc of history to favor his outlook, no matter how that looks. He would never personally look me in the eye and push me in an oven. He’s far too much of a coward. But if, having said this, someone happened to proudly take these words a little too seriously so that they looked me in the eye and pushed me in the oven for him, that would be ok.

Oh, he would deny culpability and say there were fine people on both sides. After all, Jared Kushner is an excellent “good” Jew. There are great Jews. Trump loves the Jews. It’s just that there are some “bad” Jews like me who happen to be both Jewish and “Woke.”

It’s so sad that the “some” happens to be the significant statistical majority. It would be so much easier, too, if you could tell just by looking at someone if they were “woke” or not. Of course, Trump can tell. All he has to do is look them in the eye - cue scene of Paul Newman as Ari Ben Canaan having something in his eye, could you have a look, is it still there - and he knows. I mean we all know what bad Jews look like, right? They’re just so good at hiding and blending in. Why if they didn’t have identifying bumper stickers, they might be able to hide inside a decent neighborhood. Right inside YOUR neighborhood. They might feel welcome to talk to you. To talk to your CHILDREN. To put their heathen Mosque, sorry Synagogue, but you know how all those non-Church Churches just look the same. You would have to see with the eyes of God… or Trump to really tell. That’s why I say kill ‘em all and let God sort it out.

I mean that’s easiest, right? Just one simple policy. Kill the “bad” people until they’re all gone or they’ve all finally gotten “reality” and turned “good.” Of course you have to be ever vigilant about that. It’s easy for someone to just pretend to be one of the “good” ones. They could hide in plain sight. Infiltrate. You gotta watch for them. Weed them out. Make guides to help others how to spot them. I mean, if you didn’t carefully analyze it, why, a man might pass as a woman and seduce YOU into being a Woke Jew. Because we all know that’s what they really want: us. To be like us and do to us what we need to do with them. They’ll hunt us down and weed us out and seduce us with false promises and then throw us in the ovens when we let our guard down.

Le Sigh. So much hate. I’m always profoundly disappointed to realize, once again, that of all the people who should know better, my own people just haven’t learned the lesson of our experiences. 27%. Ugh -_-. That number is too high. Way too high. History and experience should have taught Jewish Americans not to be Nazis. Not to trust demagoguery, despotism, and destructive rhetoric. We should have learned to distrust the destroyers. We should be honor students, not barely passing. Though, perhaps that’s me making the same fundamental error as the Nazis. There’s nothing intrinsically “good” or “bad” about a people. Not even my own. History’s most basic lesson is that a people, any people, as a general group is a terrible definition for how any given individual will act. It would just be easier if we could generalize better.

I wonder when someone will act on this post of Trump’s. The high holy days are going to make it easy to target Jews. Lots of people gathered in easily identifiable places.

Fucking Trump.

-_-

[ducksarentedible]

I wish I could talk to you {Spideypool}

Peter’s POV

Deadpool, The Merc with a mouth, Wade Wilson. My copycat. A flirt. The man that consumes my every thought. The man I love. The man I despise. Does he know about these feelings? No. Will he ever know? Nope, do I like these feelings? Absolutely not. Do I miss his annoying ass like crazy right now? Yes.

I haven’t seen him in weeks. 4 weeks, 3 days, and 7 hours, to be exact. Sure, maybe a week will go by without seeing him, but I still would get constant texts about how much he missed me and other “Deadpool shenanigans”. But I haven’t seen or heard from him in so long. I just wish that I could talk to him. Where even is he?

I zoom across the New York sky to my shabby apartment, It was cheap, and being Spider-Man doesn’t really pay the bills (and neither does my job at the Daily Bugle, to be honest). I make it to my apartment, climb in from the window, look around, and feel something. I can smell dried blood in the air. My spidey senses are going crazy. Someone. Is. In. Here.

I push my back against the wall and sneak around to the bathroom. The light was on, slowly I peak in and find someone using my shower and humming a familiar Celine Dion song.

No way it can’t be, I push the door open and see Wade! His bloodied suit was on the bathroom floor. Did he just come from a job? I look at him through my transparent (and quite literally cheap) shower curtain. He is ass naked and still has that god-forsaken mask on. “AHH!” I hear Wade yell as he covers up his body “Baby Boy if you wanted to see me naked you could have just asked”. On the toilet, I sit with a sigh and say “What the fuck are you doing in here Wade?” He looks over at me with a shocked face (well as shocked as he can look with that mask on).

“NO WAY" He looks over at me shocked. "YOU SAID IT, YOU SAID A CURSE WORD" I sink further on the toilet as he goes on about my f-bomb. “I can't believe you cursed,” he says "JUST FOR ME AT THAT!!!" he just keeps going. I'm still so confused though. Why is he coming back now after I hadn't seen him for almost a month? Did he even care? "Of course, I care spidey" I turn my head slowly and saw him soapy and looking disappointed. Did I say that out loud? "Petey, look I was busy and I had no way to get in contact with you. I was worried sick but there was nothing I could do. I knew you wouldn't be dead when I got back." he sighs as he turns off the shower. "but just so you know, I came here right when I got back."

He looked over at me with a clear smile under his mask as he turned off the shower. He steps out and that’s when I realized I’m still sitting here, in here with him. He grabs a towel and wipes his body down. His skin looks so sore, and red blisters cover his beautifully toned body. That looks painful, poor wade. I watch him as he drys his body, moving down to his toned abs. I shouldn’t be looking but I can’t stop. He goes over his abs one last time with the towel before going lower, he grabs his-

Why am I still in here? Getting out of my trance I quickly brush past him and into the hallway, as I’m leaving I hear his deep stupid chuckle out of his stupid mouth. I close the bathroom door behind me and slide down it. I can hear wade humming. I look down and see my obvious erection. God dammit, I get up and stomp over to my room and get undressed. I put on a soft hoodie and some comfy sweatpants, just as I’m putting on some socks, Wade bursts in my room dressed with a hello kitty shirt and unicorn pants. In his hands are a variation of snacks.

“BABY BOY” he screams as he jumps onto me, making us fall onto the bed. "Wade please get off me" All the snacks he was holding fall on top of us and he squeezes me. He moves off me and pulls a DVD out of his pants. “Surprise?” Did he raid my house for snacks? Do I even have a DVD player? Why is he looking at me like that? I glance over at him with confusion while he looks at me, the eyes on his mask widening.

“What?” He pokes my face and then I realize, I don’t have my mask on. I cover my face with my hand and use my other hand to push wade away. “DONT LOOK!!” I say as I grab a random shirt and put it on my face. Oh my god I need to do my laundry this shirt smells like ass.

I get off the bed and back into a wall. “WADE PLEASE GET OUT” I say as I hear him get off the bed. Oh my god wade please just leave.

Stupid stupid stupid Why didn’t you lock the door? Why didn’t my spidey senses go off? Did Wade leave yet? I feel like throwing up. As I’m panicking I feel a hand on my shirt-clad face. “Petey?” I hear wade say in a quiet voice. “Wade please.” I plead trying to push him but I’m shaking too much and he won't even budge. “I’m sorry I should have knocked. I know how much you want to keep your identity a secret.” He says quietly. Now both of his hands are on my face, and slowly he takes the shirt off my face. I look up at him and I can feel myself blushing. I feel so naked.

He is staring so hard. “Wow” I hear Wade say as his hands brush my hair out of my face. "I just don't want you to get hurt," I say, glancing away from him. "Every time someone I care about finds out about me they get hurt." I take a sharp breath as I look back at him. Holy shit he is so close. I'm practically breathing in his air. "After I lost aunt May and MJ... I just don't wanna lose you too." I can feel his breath on my lips. This has gotta be one of the dumbest decisions I’m about to make but fuck it. I’m vulnerable, he is here, he is all I have, and I missed him. I look back up at him and he still has that mask on, I slowly bring my hands up to his face. “Petey-pie?” He says confused, I pull up his mask, and his breath hitches. I start to feel his rough scares on my fingers. His lips are so close I can almost feel them. I feel him let go of my hands and put his own on my chest. " Are you sure you want to?" he asked sounding nervous. "Wade," I say looking up "You are all I want"

I pull him in before he could respond. His lips touch mine. It was gentle and soft, nothing like I expected. I'm finally kissing him, I wish this moment could last forever. His hands slowly move to my hips and I gasp away from his mouth, breathing hard. "Wade" I say hugging him a little more "I'm glad you're here". His hands grip my waist tighter "Me too".

————————

[the-cat-chat]

May 4, 2024

Reptile (2023)

Following the brutal murder of a young real estate agent, a hardened detective attempts to uncover the truth in a case where nothing is as it seems, and, by doing so, dismantles the illusions in his own life.

Warning: Review may contain spoilers. Read at your own risk.

JayBell: I've been watching way too much true crime lately, which I think is partly what encouraged this week's movie choice. But I do love a good mystery movie.

The technical aspects of the movie I enjoyed, like the cinematography and such. It helps establish tone and thematic elements of the story. The acting is fine, nothing super impressive but also nothing super terrible or noteworthy.

I was under the impression this was gonna be a more straightforward murder mystery/whodunnit kind of thing, so I was disappointed it turned into this convoluted conspiracy. What can I say, inside corruption just isn't as interesting to me as plain ol' murder. Plus, the way the conspiracy untangles isn't that clean and there are some definite missing pieces.

Also, the decisions of Del Toro's character in the end perplexes me. He uncovers this conspiracy and decides to confide in one singular superior officer? This is right before he meets up with the suspects. Like wouldn't you set up some kind of sting situation with the FBI before meeting them? He already knew they were guilty and he wasn't gonna cover it up for them, so why "hear them out" or whatever he was planning on doing? And where is the young partner that we've been hanging out with this whole movie?

All in all, it kept my interest, but only enough to be let down in the end.

Rating: 5/10 cats 🐈

Anzie: I have to say this is one movie I himhawed about watching. I kept thinking we all know the bf/husband did it and it Justin Timberlake and he’s old now (and Alicia Silverstone’s old toooo) (and little did I know the boss guy from Law & Order: CI would be old) and I would eventually talk myself out of watching it bc I didn’t have the bandwidth for all that. I mean like I said we always know it’s the bf or husband - what was missing from my life?? The shocking reminder that JT is now an oldish man?? Anyways I like usual I was very wrong. At time it did feel a little slow, but in the end - IT WAS GOOD!!!

Ok first I’m not going to try explaining the plot bc 1. It’s better experienced, but also 2. My two brain cells and me could NEVER!!! (And while it’s not like Uber complicated, it was enough that my even my brain while on Benadryl for an allergic reaction could follow, and that’s no easy task. And while I see Jaybell’s corruption point- I enjoyed the plot for the sake that it’s trying to show the growth of a dirty cop in the middle of a serious corruption deal in his new department, and one involving a sick family member.)

But it’s so good bc you can keep guessing the entire time, which at sometimes, mainly the middle of the movie became a tad annoying. But we had no trust in anyone at all the whole time!!! We thought the bf, then the husband, then the detective himself - at one point we even thought it was foreman redoing the detective’s house bc why not?? We did start piecing things together but it’s so impossible to get every piece bc the level of mistrust and sneaking but not in a way that’s upright??? Gawdddd I was so shocked, but not bc of who was involved but just how everything messily unfolded.

I spent a lot of the movie trying to figure out why the movie was called Reptile and the detectives obsession with a kitchen sink- and I lovvvvve it and it to is one of those things with how it eats at you the entire time- but the payoff for realizing is 1000000% worth it. And I’m a real sucker for little hidden meanings like that when it feels kinda redundant until all is revealed.

In the famous words of Owen Wilson, my overall reaction is “Wow.” End scene. * still wondering what all the therapy/mom talk was about though and how he took her name but doesn’t remember her?? Idk. I’m sure it means something.

Rating: 6/10 Reptiles 🐍

[john-smiths-jawline]

Chapter 4: Cases, Reds, And Brother Mines

“Sherlock?” And John saw the detective’s blood freeze. Before he even turned around, he herd a quiet whisper of “Vic?” before swirling around to see a boy, maybe seventeen or eighteen, with spiky brown hair, charming brown eyes pale skin, and a charismatic smile. He nodded in greeting at everyone before reaching out to Sherlock for a handshake.

“Hey there, Sherl,” he said, stepping closer and closer until they were millimeters from each other. Sherlock grabbed John and practically shoved him in front of this Vic, who John wasn’t liking much, as he felt a surge of jealousy run through him.

“Victor, meet John, my boyfriend. John, Victor Trevor, Victor, John Watson,” Victor seemed disappointed, but moved a couple inches away from Sherlock.

“Moved on, didn’t you?” he pouted.

“Yes,” Sherlock almost whispered.

“With someone named John. Really? I figured you would go for someone more… out of the ordinary.” Sherlock seethed.

“Says the man named Victor. John is the most unordinary man I’ve ever met. He keeps me occupied and off the drugs. He saved me when I was at my worst, complimented me when I was at my best, he found his way into my life and made it so much better when I was almost out of hope.” John was stunned at this surprisingly heartfelt speech. So, it seemed, was Victor.

“How did you die, by the way?” Victor asked.

“Jumped off a roof.”

“Had enough, of him, did you?” Sherlock mumbled the same thing that he did when John asked. John caught the words ‘sniper,’ ‘Mrs. Hudson,’ and this time, ‘Moriarty’. John would probably force an explanation out of him later, but right now he didn’t have the time.

“And what about you, John Watson? How did you die?” Sherlock’s eyes laser focused on him, and John realized he had yet to tell Sherlock how he died. He took a deep breath before confessing,

“I shot myself in the head at Sherlock’s gravestone about a month after he died. I just… couldn’t take living life without him.” Sherlock looked stunned.

“John… what… you…” John gave his love a sad smile.

“Yeah. I did.”

“But why…” Sherlock seemed at a loss for words.

“Because” John shrugged. “I couldn’t take it. I tried, I really did, but it was like when I came back from Afghanistan. Life had no purpose, no meaning, because you had become both of those things. I loved you so much and I couldn’t…” he stuttered into silence. Sherlock took John in his arms and pulled him against his coat. John buried his head in the soft fabric of the scarf and cried. He cried and whispered, “I love you,” and Sherlock cried and whispered, “I feel the same.”

“Um… So…” a different voice said after a few minutes after. “We were looking for Sherlock Holmes, but we can always come back later…” Sherlock and John quickly separated, looking embarrassed. Two women stood there. A middle-aged woman in a pink pantsuit and a Chinese young adult wearing a floral dress and holding a tea kettle.

“Jennifer Wilson and Soo Lin Yao” John whispered. People who died in their first two cases. Soo Lin smiled.

“I came here to thank you,” she said. “I met Jennifer after a month or so of waiting and we found out what connected us. You two and your bravery.” Sherlock nodded. Jennifer spoke next.

“The cab driver, Jefferson Hope? The poison he gave me didn’t actually kill me for quite a while. I survived long enough to hear a police officer say, ‘Call Sherlock Holmes’.” A voice blared over the loudspeakers. The same girl in the booth, sounding frustrated.

“A message for all of you annoying shitheads: The Wi-Fi password is gbytdept. No spaces or caps. AND” She yelled, voice getting even louder, “NO, YOU CANNOT TEXT OR CALL ANYONE UNLESS THEY ARE ALSO IN THE SAME DEPARTMENT SO STOP ASKING!” Even the click of the call ending seemed aggressive.

“Well,” Jennifer said after a beat of awkward silence, “At least we know what problems Booth Lady has to deal with.” The intercom clicked on one more time.

“MY NAME IS ELINE STOP CALLING ME BOOTH LADY. YES I CAN HEAR YOU.”

“…Eline. John corrected.

“I have a question.” Soo Lin said. Sherlock said nothing but stared her down.

“Did you ever catch my brother?” Sherlock shrugged.

“Don’t know a ton about your brother, but I did shut down the entire London branch, so…” Soo Lin smiled.

“Thanks for that,” she said at the same time John corrected that “WE shut down the entire London branch, you self-important idiot”. Sherlock’s only acknowledgement of John’s correction was a kiss to the top of his head and a muffled ‘Sorry’. Something small ran into the both of them. Sherlock let out a short ‘oof’ and stumbled into John, who caught him. The boy jumped off Sherlock’s legs and jumped into his arms.

“Daddy!” the boy shouted. He had red, curly hair and hazel eyes. Freckles dotted across his nose and dimples showed when he smiled. He was holding a wooden sword. Sherlock seemed to choke at the sight of him.

“R-Red?” The boy, Red, seemed positively elated at being recognized.

“Daddy!” John was stunned.

“You have a son?”

“John, meet Red. Red, This is my boyfriend John,” Red pointed at John, looking perplexed for a minute before breaking out in a wide smile and hugging John across the legs.

“Papa!” He said, pointing at John.

“Papa!” He giggled, hugging John’s legs again. John had one more question.

“You named your son Red?” Sherlock shrugged

“Well, originally I wanted to name him Redbeard, but Mycroft did object.” John sighed. Of course

“Yeah, I can see why.”

“Uncie Mycoff!” Red smiled again at the thought of Mycroft.

“How— and why, for that matter— did you have a son?” John asked, he couldn’t wrap his head around the fact. Red squirmed from his place in Sherlock’s arms.

“Papa,” he whined. Sherlock put Red in John’s arms. Red leaned his head against John’s.

“Good Papa,” he said, burying his face in John’s jumper.

“Well,” Sherlock said, “At least he likes you.” “And” he added, “To answer your questions, I adopted him from a child trafficking ring I dissolved in one of my first cases. He was four then, and he didn’t have a name.”

“And how did he… you know…” John was hesitant to say the word die, but judging be the look on Sherlock’s face, he understood what John was asking.

“The same ring I rescued him from… one of their workers… they found out here he was and they… He was six.” He couldn’t finish a sentence, but John knew. He wiped Sherlock’s tears. Red interrupted them with a “Uncie Mycoff!” and a point over John’s shoulder. There, a figure in a bespoke suit stood, observing the interaction with his usual hard look, although John thought he saw a glimmer of what Mycroft would consider sentiment.

“Mycie?” Sherlock whispered, before running into Mycroft’s arms and throwing him off balance. He wrapped his arms around him.

“Hello, brother-mine,” if either of them were crying, no one mentioned it. John knew it was hard for Sherlock when they got the news that Mycroft has gotten shot in the chest fifteen times. His first ‘legwork’ case in 25 years. After all was said and done, Sherlock finally stepping away from Mycroft and both of them held one of Red’s chubby hands (the sword tucked away in his belt), someone made an announcement. John wasn’t sure who. It could have been himself.

“So. Who’s ready to drag Moriarty down to hell?”

Gone Before Your Time

Summary: AU where Sherlock dies when he jumps and John commits suicide. They both end up in the Gone Before Your Time Department, where people who die before their scheduled death end up. They meet each other there and have to make a plan to make sure that Moriarty, who is also in the Department, goes to hell (quite literally). But it’s not as straightforward as anyone would like. There are lies, plans within plans, and people from the past that Sherlock and John would both rather forget. There will be ten chapters and an epilogue. Tags will be added as the story progresses. Please leave a comment! (Major Character Death is for first chapter only)

[sacredsorceress]

Cake || Bucky Barnes

pairing: bucky barnes x avenger!reader

summary: you and your boyfriend bucky barnes head down to the wilson residence for a barbecue. sam’s nephews adore the both of you and as you watch bucky play with the kids you’re ready to tell your boyfriend that you’re pregnant

a/n: gif credit- @davidsfincher ; i will never get over this scene. reblogs and/or replies are super appreciated!!

word count: 2.7k

warnings: pure fluff based on episode six, mentions of pregnancy

masterlist || request || taglist

“I say we get the vanilla one.”

Standing besides you in the supermarket aisle with his arms crossed, your boyfriend turned to look at you with disgust written all over his face.

“Vanilla?” Bucky said, shaking his head. “Are you kidding, Y/n? All kids like chocolate.”

As he was speaking, Bucky reached out to pull one of the chocolate cakes off of the shelf it was sitting on, but you swat his hand away.

“Oh yea?” You asked. “And what makes you the expert on what kids like?”

Uncrossing his arms, he waved his hand in your face.

“Metal arm.” He said. “Also don’t pretend like Sam’s nephews didn't love me last time we were there.”

You couldn't argue with that. The last time the two of you had been to the Wilson residence in between missions, Sam’s nephews absolutely adored the super soldier. They couldn't get enough of the one hundred and six year-old man with the vibranium arm and the fun they had messing with him.

You had just as much joy watching the interactions between the three of them. You couldn’t help but entertain the idea of starting a family of your own with Bucky.

The two of you had been dating for years- not including the five year blip the two of you had been snapped from existence in- and had often discussed the idea of getting married and having children in the future. You didn’t think you would be ready yet, but as you watched children be in absolute awe of your boyfriend, you felt as though the pieces began to fell into place.

And funnily enough- they did.

You had been feeling sick and exhausted for the past few weeks, but you figured it was on account of the missions you had been going on with Sam and Bucky. When the symptoms continued while you stayed at the Wilson’s home for the weekend while Bucky helped Sam fix the boat- you had taken pregnancy test.

It was positive.

Although you knew that you and Bucky could handle it, you were still in absolute shock realizing that you were going to be starting a family- you were going to be responsible for more than just making sure you and your friends didn’t get killed fighting bad guys- you were going to be a parent.

The only person who knew was Sam’s sister, Sarah. She was the only one inside the house when you had taken the test and when she had heard you pacing around the bathroom, hyperventilating, she opened the unlocked door and immediately saw the pregnancy test in your hands. You had sworn her to secrecy, making sure she didn’t tell your boyfriend or her brother, promising her that you would tell them when the time was right... but with the mission in New York City coming immediately after your stay, you hadn't found the right opportunity to tell Bucky yet.

However, you told yourself that you finally would tonight... after attending the barbecue.

“Yeah, yeah.” You rolled your eyes. “I can’t argue with that. They did love you, but that doesn’t mean you know anything about cake.”

Reaching his hand out for the chocolate cake again he scoffed. “I’m not taking advice from someone who wants to bring a vanilla cake to a party-”

You swat his hand again. “We’re not getting the chocolate.”

“Yes,” He insisted, inching his face closer to yours. “We are.”

“No. We’re not.”

“Can I help you guys with anything?” You heard a worker ask from behind you.

Backing away from your boyfriend you smiled, shaking your head.

“No, we’re fine. Thank you.”

As you watched the worker nod before walking down the aisle, you turned back to your boyfriend.

“Okay fine.” You said. “We’ll compromise. Ice cream cake?”

You watched as Bucky’s eyes widened. “Wait! There’s ice cream cake?”

Twenty minutes later you and Bucky had arrived at the barbecue, your boyfriend taking the cake out of your hands as he stepped out of the car.

As you made your way around the front of the vehicle you watched as Sam’s nephews bombarded Bucky, play fighting with him as he faked attacking them back, making sure to dodge their fists from knocking over the cake in his hands.

You couldn’t deny the way the sight made your heart fill so much you swore it could’ve exploded right in your chest.

As you watched the scene unfold, hearing the laughter erupting from the children around him while he faked getting hurt, you heard Sarah come up behind you.

“You know,” She said, crossing her arms and standing beside you. “You almost scared me to death watching you on the news.”

Glancing at her beside you, you shrugged. “I was fine.” You said. “That wasn’t the first fight I’ve been in.”

“I just can’t believe they let you go.” She said.

“What? What do you mean?”

“What do I mean?” She laughed. “I can’t believe they would let you go do something so dangerous like that knowing you’re-”

Before she could finish her sentence you swat at her arm, rapidly shaking your head, checking around you to make sure no one was listening to your conversation or had heard what she had just said.

“I didn’t tell them yet.” You told her in a hushed voice.

“What?” She asked. “Why not?”

“I couldn’t tell them. If I did they would have never let me go- especially Bucky- but I couldn’t let them go in by themselves like that. You’ve seen the Flag Smashers, Sarah.”

“How long are you going to keep this a secret?” She asked.

“I was going to tell him today.” You told her. “We just needed to sort out the Flag Smashers before I could even think about telling him I’m pregnant-”

“You’re pregnant?”

At the sound of Sam’s voice, you and his sister immediately spun around to be met with Sam standing behind you, only a foot away.

You watched as his mouth dropped and his eyes grew wide and you felt your heart began to race in your chest, knowing that you had just exposed your secret to Sam- you and Bucky’s shared best friend.

“Sam...” You said.

“I-” He stumbled over his words, trying to piece the information together. “You’re pregnant?”

“Yes, but you can’t tell Bucky.” You pleaded, gripping his bicep. “I haven’t told him yet.”

“What?” He exclaimed looking between you and his sister. “How long have you known? Why haven’t you told him yet?”

Playing with one of the rings on your fingers, made anxious by the conversation, you focused your gaze on the water behind him, not able to meet his eyes.

“I found out last time I was here.” You said. “So I found out like a week ago. You can't blame me though, Sam, if I told him he would of never let me go help you guys in New York.”

“Yeah!” Sam nodded. “Neither would I. You could of died!”

“But I didn’t!” You said. “Just don’t tell him okay, Sam? I’m going to tell him tonight.”

Before anymore could be said, you heard the sound of your name being called by Sam’s nephews and spun around to find them running in your direction.

“Hey guys!” You laughed, a smile reaching your face once again.

Watching them run towards you, you knew what they wanted before they even had to ask. Stretching out your arms, you moved your hands in the direction of each of the boys, using your powers to lift them a maximum of three feet above the ground- not wanting to upset their mother. You smiled as you watched the boys laugh about how “awesome” it was in awe as they looked down at the ground three feet below them.

You felt Sam’s hand land on your shoulder.

“I’m happy for you, Y/n.” You heard Sam say, leaning in closer so no one outside of your current group could hear him. “You both are going to be great parents. Just tell him soon, okay?”

He pat your shoulder one last time before walking past you and his nephews you were still currently floating midair.

“How come when I ask you guys if you want to fly you say no?” Sam asked.

“She’s using magic!” Cass exclaimed.

“Yeah, Uncle Sam.” AJ agreed. “That’s way cooler.”

Sam threw his hands up in the air, walking in the opposite direction and as he did you lowered the boys to the ground, much to their disappoint. When they scurried off in the direction of their uncle, your eyes met Bucky’s staring at you, smiling from across the way of where you had just been levitating Sam’s nephews.

“Look at you!” He said, smiling, reaching out his arms for you.

“Me?” You laughed. “You just had a whole choreographed fight scene with the boys. You’re like their cool uncle.”

You watched as your boyfriend pulled off his sunglasses and smiled at you, resting his vibranium hand on your waist.

“Only if you’re their cool aunt.”

You smiled. “I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

Afterwards the two of you went to eat and spent the remainder of the meal sharing a table with Sam, his sister and his nephews. Despite the dangerous mission the three of you had been dealing with the past week, the table was full of laughter and joy that you were happy to welcome in.

Even when the cake that you had brought was sliced, you and Bucky smiled at each other from across the table when the boys scoffed down their slice of ice cream cake that contained both vanilla and chocolate- your compromise having worked in the end for the better. At times you even used your abilities to pull the fork out of your boyfriend’s hand just as he was about to bite down on a slice of cake, hearing the boy’s laugh as they watched the super soldier roll his eyes at you.

“Ha ha.” Bucky would say. “Very funny... what is that? Three times now? Really, Y/n?”

But he knew you would continue to do it as long as you continued to hear the sounds of awes coming out of the boys’ mouths and he couldn’t fault you for that. Instead sneaking you a smile when you brought the fork back into his grasp.

At the end of the evening when everyone had began to make their way home, the sun setting over the horizon, you helped tidy up with the Wilson siblings. When the tables were all wiped clean, you brushed your hands off on your bottoms, watching as Bucky sat on the edge of the dock, the golden hue of the sunset setting on his features.

Glancing over your shoulder as Sarah ushered her children back home, you saw Sam throw you a thumbs up. When your eyes met his you smiled, mouthing a “thank you” before he turned in the direction of his sister, following her path back home.

Sighing to yourself you turned back to your boyfriend.

You were going to tell him. You were going to finally tell him you were pregnant.

You took one last deep breath, taking in the last moment before Bucky and your’s life changed forever.

Making your way towards your boyfriend you kneeled behind him, your chest meeting his back as you wrapped your arms around his chest.

“Hi.” You whispered.

“Hi doll.” He hummed, moving his hands to hold yours that were resting against his chest.

“Had a nice day?” You asked, leaning in to press a gentle kiss against his cheek.

You felt as his chest rumbled when he chuckled, staring out over the water while the sun continued to set, its reflection turning the water gold.

“Yeah.” He said. “I wish it could be like that every day, you know?”

You knew what he meant. You understood that he was talking about the peace, the joy, the laughter- the normalcy. You understood that he was talking about how your lives were so hectic and always would be due to the hand you had been dealt with super human abilities. You could never have a normal life, but you also understood that it was more than just never having to fight or go on a mission again- it was the feeling of family, of caring and of love.

“I know it can’t be like that every day.” You said. “But would you... would you settle for most days?”

You felt his hands squeeze yours a bit more, tilting his head back to get a better look at you.

“What are you talking about?”

“Would you settle for most days, Buck?” You asked again. “Would it all be worth it even if you still had to fight?”

He answered in a heartbeat.

“Of course it would.” Bucky said. “I’d fight for one day of this.”

You unwrapped your arms from around his chest, moving to kneel besides him on the dock so he could face you. Knowing what you were about to say, you took in the moment, breathing in the fresh air and memorizing the way his face looked in the golden hour.

“I’m pregnant.”

You watched as his face dropped and you were almost worried until a wide smile reached across his face.

“You’re pregnant?” He asked, so in disbelief he sounded as though the wind had been knocked right out of him.

You smiled, nodding your head and took his hand in yours. “I am. I found out a few days ago-”

“Wait.” He cut you off. “A few days ago? Did you know you were pregnant when we fought in New York City?”

Staring at his face now, confronting the issue, you were suddenly very interested in the frosting he had somehow gotten on the bottom of his shirt, tugging on the hem and scratching it off.

“Y/n?”

“Okay, yes. I knew.” You confessed.

Rather than the fed up, overprotective reaction you were expecting, you felt Bucky’s hands reach to cup your face, forcing you to look at him. Rather than anger in his eyes, all you saw was worry and you were wishing you had never gone and fought just so you could save yourself from seeing him like that.

“Promise me you won’t fight anymore.” He said. “At least until the baby’s here- God I can’t believe we’re having a baby- just promise me okay? If anything happened to either of you I wouldn’t know what to do with myself-”

“I promise, Buck.” You assured him, smiling and beginning to feel tears prickle in your eyes. “We’re gonna have a baby.”

You watched as he began to smile once again and the two of you couldn’t help but laugh- so consumed in complete and utter joy. You and Bucky had gone through so much- especially within the last few months- but as you both sat there, so happy you couldn’t help but laugh, you realized it was worth it and you would go through it all again if it meant that at the end of the day you two would come back to each other every single time.

For the first time in your life, you watched as tears of joy began to fill his eyes, almost as if they had begun to wash away the years of pain that he had suffered previously. Although he was sure he hadn’t fought his last fight... he was sure he was going to be okay. He was happy. He was going to share his life with you. He was going to be a dad.

“We’re gonna have a kid.” He repeated the words, almost as if to convince himself that they were true.

“You’re gonna be such a good dad, Buck.” You told him, laughing through the tears that had begun to fill your eyes. “If you’re half as good at being a dad as you are the ‘cool uncle’- our kid is in good hands.”

“You think so?” He asked.

“I know so, Buck.”