#and then you get assigned to help control providence’s new weapon and surprise! it’s your childhood friend but he doesn’t even remember you

[theaxolotlkween]

lol au where Rex and Noah were friends during the Nanite Project.

[of-tatooine]

for the record. | chapter 2 - bravo

it was time you tied the name to the person behind it.

[Day 0, 2011 - 06:50:12, Credenhill, UK]

Modern warfare was a man’s world.

Everyone knew it, everyone acknowledged it. It was as if there was this unvisible barrier surrounding certain aspects of the life, unwritten rules memorized by many soldiers.

No one would speak about it, nor would anyone bother to, but everytime the guns were locked and loaded, fuels of engines were replenished and explosives were strapped - it was one of the many things running rampant in your mind.

Though you had been young compared to the others, having some considerable amount of years of service under your belt had shown you that some truths were indeed hard to swallow. Yet they had to be accepted nonetheless - it was just the way things worked in your line of duty. After all, it had been just one of the many facts of the matter that you were forced to suppres deep down into your subconscious, along with many emotions associated with them.

They taught you how to suck in your much-preserved pride as you crawled in deep gravel and dirt, your skin a mess made out of mud. As you collapsed out of dehydration during the trek in the jungles, only to be pulled back to your feet to face yet another barked order. As you roared in pain when a bullet lodged itself into your flesh, twice as loud as it was pulled out.

They never taught you how not to miss the fallen, the friend and the comrade, or how to forget about those nightmares creeping into your being at night.

It had taken a lot of pondering and controlling your mental before stepping onto that plane and getting flown out to Credenhill. Being placed on the reserve regiment for some time had gotten to you - it felt like an eternity since you had been out in the field, deployed on an assignment. Weeks that had been filled with gathering intelligence and running strategy behind operations would slowly transform themselves into lots of pushups and reloading, that you had absolutely no doubt about.

However, spoken in the silent mumble of your lips, you prayed your body did not betray you - operating behind screens and files was lightwork compared to the drills that you suspected Captain Price would put you through. At some point the muscle memory would kick in, that was for sure, yet what concerned you was how long it would take till that eventually came true.

One step at a time, Sergeant.

It indeed was a beautiful day out. The rays of sunshine out in the vast concrete of the base courtyard emanated within the short sleeves, providing some much-needed warmth and comfort. Not much time had been given as you arrived on base - “get yourself to the range right away, soldier,” were the instructions that had followed the moment your feet touched the earth in the forsaken hours of the early morning.

Task Force 141. Now, that was a nice mouthful for classic selection training, considering the fact that you had been shipped out to the common 22nd Regiment training compound, the choice baffling you. Operating behind enemy lines within a covert squad certainly could not work when you were right where the enemy expected you to be - one of the main training bases of the entire Special Air Service. He must have been planning something substantial yet hidden behind plain sight - it had been impossible to get a word out of the renown Captain ever since he had approached you in London - in broad daylight, much to your added surprise in hindsight.

That meant you would just have to wait and see.

As your light steps took you towards the armory, clad in your gear of tactical shirt and pants with all the holsters strapped in place, there was a certain mix of emotions harbored in your heart and resonated within your being. Some confusion due to the lack of direction in your assignment.

And then, even though faint, came in a deeply-lodged sense of peace. How everything seemed to fit just a bit tighter, a little bit better - the perfect little adjustment to the crooked painting on the wall. The atmosphere of the green hangars and tents, the smell of tank engine fuel with the sound of shell casings dropping, one after the other, in soft clinks. The constant rush and the ever-lasting adrenaline.

There was a certain habituality to it, an accustomed year’s ease and some beauty in the routine of it all - and your soul had apparently longed for it for too long.

Welcome to your new home.

“Glad you made it, Sergeant,” a familiar face would greet you as bright lights hit you upon entering the hangar, his hand gesturing towards the guns laid out on the table. Nodding your head with a small smile, you would oblige.

“I trust you know the drill. Report back to me after you’re comfortable with the rifle - Captain Price wants to see you.”

That made your jaw clench in anticipation, or was it more of a bottled worry? Whatever it had been, it certainly did help as your bullets rained down on target after target, getting used to the weight of the rifle within your hands - while some shots had been a bit lacking, it did not take too many attempts for you to get back into the groove. The metallic sounds of fake targets lowering and the explosions helping you remember.

Footsteps behind you as yet another target went down in a screeching rusty sound. It seemed like he had chosen to watch, after all. “Not bad. Might even be a bit better than the FNG,” Gaz would comment on your shooting - which you believed was his attempt at being as nice as possible - as you turned your body to face him, your grip on the weapon in front of you relaxed. That earned him a little cocking of your eyebrow, tilting your head in a newfound curiosity.

“FNG?”

And there came the words, along with a nod.

“Fresh out of Selection. His name is Soap.”

There it was again. That name. Now, you had heard your fair share of silly little nicknames thrown around to soldiers - the kinds that stuck with them forever. This had to make the list of the best you had heard.

What the hell kind of a name is Soap, anyway?

It was like he read your mind, noticing that silent pause coupled with the upwards curl in your lips - returning the smile lightheartedly as he gestured you to follow him outside. “Weird name, eh? Captain was not willing to take it easy on him,” he commented as he walked alongside you to the far hangar, the fresh air hitting you along with the grumbles and low roars of the armor passing by.

“I bet,” you returned, a slight chuckle on your lips. Your tone growing just a tad bit lower, softer and meaningful just before the comfortable silence of your walk was cut off at the entrance of your destination.

“It’s good to see you, Kyle.”

“Likewise,” he acknowledged, giving you the type of understanding nod shared between old comrades alike - gesturing you to enter through the vast metal doors as you took a deep breath in your slightly nervous state due to the unknowns behind that hangar wall.

Orders were barked, audible even right from the entrance as you heard commotion. A replica of an obstacle course was occupying most of the space, the Union Jack and the SAS emblem proudly hanging next to each other on the far end. Shots were being fired, and you could hear the heavy footsteps sprint down the wooden flooring.

On the left side, which quickly became your next focal point, stood your new team - a few soldiers huddled up and clad in blackout tactical gear, watching the monitors to perhaps gauge how well the soldier running the course was doing. And of course there he was - the signature beard was recognizable from miles away as he leaned into the microphone installed, practically yelling to the intercom even though the poor soldier was most likely double-hearing him with the echoes of his tone.

His voice followed after a couple more final gunshots dropped in the distance - "Sprint to the finish!"

As you advanced towards observation with Gaz announcing your presence, you could not help but note the uniforms. Completely blacked out gear, light waxed material. Fit for a night time operation - in and out, close quarter combat. Relatively not too heavy material that would last in water and land. It made you wonder what your next mission would look like already.

“Welcome back into the fight, Sergeant,” the familiar commanding voice spoke, the blue eyes softening ever so slightly upon the sight of you yet never losing professionalism.

“It’s good to be back, Sir,” came your response, standing still and awaiting orders as you took a look around your surroundings once more - the static of the screens helping just a tad to numb your mind as you felt all pairs of eyes in that room were focused in on you.

Nothing you had not handled before, so you stood up even straighter - and put a brave face, jaw clenched.

“We’ll debrief for the mission ahead once the FNG carries himself over,” he instructed all the others, his tone sounding almost tired of dealing with the new guy, as the other soldiers that you could not really recognize behind the dark fabric chuckled. With the grip on your weapon relaxed, you continued to hold it against your chest like you were trained to do, losing yourself in the gentle upheaval of the base behind you. The smell of cordite coming in closer, it was followed by residual panting and boots against concrete.

“Pretty good, Soap. But I’ve seen better.”

As you searched for the body to finally associate the name to, it did not take long for you to spot yet another pair of blues, these ones a bit stormy and icy in the little specks - piercing nonetheless. Tall, you would note, as his built legs took him towards the monitors you stood near. His chest heaved in a mild rhythm, the weapon clad iron tight in his gloved hands - in the split second that you had gazed at him, you would also spot his mohawk, which he surprisingly sported well.

Oh.

What intrigued your curiosity more was that he was staring right at you too - the clenching of his jaw indicated that he was trying not to, for too long. In an attempt to break the uncomfortable nature of the interaction, he would nod in an almost respectful way, though there had been some sort of light reflecting in his irises.

It was Captain Price’s authoritative voice and the clearing of his throat that brought you back to reality, from that interlude which felt like it lasted almost forever. After a soft nod of acknowledgement thrown at the man, your focus was again redirected back to your officer in command, awaiting your next assignment.

“Listen up - the cargo ship mission is a go. Get yourselves sorted out. Wheels up at 0200. Dismissed.”

A plethora of strong echoes of yes, sir rang throughout the space, the tone intensified at the hinted urgency of the mission. Perhaps you should not have been so surprised when Captain Price called out your name, beckoning you to come hither.

“Sergeant, it’s your turn to run the CQB test. See if you can get the squadron record broken, eh?”

Maybe it was your eyes lying to you in the early hours of the morning but you could have sworn you saw Gaz’s smile from the edge of your vision as he headed out from the hangar, with the FNG trailing right beside him, sunlight seeking to outline his broad back to you, adorned by the weapon strapped down. With no other evident choice presented to you other than following orders, you did so - this time, with much more purpose.

Was it the fact that you trusted Price with your life? Or was it how you fought side by side in the trenches with Gaz, as dirt and bullets rained down over you both? Was it the way the squadron welcomed you in without question nor judgement, without having their eyes trail down all over you laced in other intentions?

Was it the brief eye contact you had with yet another new soldier into the squadron that told you, somewhere deep within your subconscious, that everything would be just fine?

This de novo sense of excitement and vigor within you, originating from an unknown source led you towards the ladder with considerable ease - you would not notice the way Soap’s eyes lingered on you just for the briefest of moments, turning back before stepping out of the sliding doors - before Gaz eventually and practically dragged him out by his arm.

And that night, during the only time he got to write in his journal before the looming mission, Sergeant MacTavish would start, while his memory was still fresh, the hard lines and edges of the very, very rough sketch which would end up as his most prized artwork - a drawing of you.

previous chapter | next chapter

[sisterspooky1013]

Damsels, by SisterSpooky1013

Chapter Two: Assignment

Read chapter one here / Rated E

Tagging @today-in-fic

Tense. Awkward. Ambiguous. There are many words she might use to describe her relationship with Mulder at the moment, none of them particularly pleasant. As things between them become more intense, it’s getting harder to ignore the fact that their feelings for one another are beyond those of friendship, partnership, or even family. The problem is, neither of them seems willing to risk an overture bigger than a New Years kiss, an offer of wine and cheese, a night of baseball, or even a request for a sperm donor. The little gestures that say they want more pepper their interactions, but the grand gesture is yet to be seen. They’re in a standoff; guns drawn, but no one is willing to fire the first shot. Stalemate. Conundrum. Catch 22. Stuck.

An idle Tuesday afternoon spent completing case reports is both a treasure and a torture. The smell of his cologne when he leans over her desk to point out a typo makes her dizzy with desire. His boyish smile at his own cheesy jokes begs her to kiss his pouty lips. Just the shadow of his presence, his tall frame looming over her like a safe harbor, makes her ache. She wants to be near him, but being near him is a test of every shred of self control she possesses. How she has not yet climbed into his lap on his flimsy office chair is a minor miracle.

For this reason, being called into A.D. Skinner’s office for an impromptu meeting is a welcome reprieve. Mulder is perplexed as to why they only requested her but she shrugs him off, promising to fill him in on the details when she gets back if he finishes the case report he’s been toiling away at for the better part of the day. He gives her a coy smile that makes her belly do flips as she pulls the door closed behind her. Each step she takes away from the basement releases her from the pull of his nearness and she’s able to breathe easier, but knows she’ll start to miss him within the hour.

When she arrives in Skinner’s office, she’s surprised to find that A.D. Kersh is also present. A most unpleasant surprise, given their history.

“Agent Scully, please take a seat,” Skinner directs her, and she sits in the empty chair beside Kersh. This is normally a situation in which Mulder would be by her side, which adds to her discomfort.

“Agent Scully,” Skinner begins, “you’ve been requested to assist in a special investigation being handled by Kersh’s team. It’s an undercover operation.”

Scully’s eyebrows lift in surprise and confusion. “Is Agent Mulder also being requested, sir?” she asks, wondering if this would be a repeat of Arcadia. Though if they went undercover as a married couple now, things may play out a bit differently than last time.

“No,” Skinner continues, “you, and you alone, have been specifically requested. Agent Mulder will not be needed for this investigation.”

“Can I ask why?” she queries, characteristically being respectful of the authority of the men in the room, while also skeptical of Kersh’s motives.

Skinner looks to Kersh, silently signaling him to take up the explanation.

“Agent Scully, this case requires an undercover operation in search of a missing young woman,” Kersh explains in his deadpan, unfriendly demeanor. “Mila Chamberlain went missing from her New York apartment four months ago. Her parents have connections with the bureau by way of a scholarship they fund. They believe that Mila is being held against her will in Philadelphia by a man named Ricky Dean. Our investigation so far has been stalled by the fact that Mr. Dean has a very tight circle and no one is willing to talk. At this point we believe an undercover agent is our best opportunity to locate Mila and extricate her from the situation she’s in.”

Scully listens quietly with her hands folded in her lap. When Kersh finishes, she looks to Skinner to gauge his response, then back to Kersh. She has a feeling there’s something they aren’t telling her.

“What’s the assignment, sir? What is it that I can provide or do that the agents in your division can’t?”

Kersh looks at Skinner and waits.

“Agent Scully, Ricky Dean is the owner and operator of a large and very successful gentlemen’s club in Philly,” Skinner explains, forcing eye contact that clearly makes him uncomfortable.

Scully juts out her chin and looks at him expectantly. It would appear that she has to pull teeth to get the details of this case. “What is the assignment, sir?” she asks again, clear irritation in her voice.

Kersh pipes in. “We need an agent to go undercover as a dancer, Agent Scully, to get close to Ricky and the other girls who work there. To locate Mila and extract her from the club.”

Scully’s mouth falls open slightly. She has to be missing something. “A dancer? Forgive my candor, sir, but am I to understand that you’re asking me to go undercover as a stripper?” She works very hard to keep the edge out of her voice.

“That’s correct, Agent Scully,” Skinner replies. “If you recall, when you signed on as a Special Agent with the FBI you agreed to investigate and solve cases by whatever means necessary.” It seems that Skinner has rehearsed this well. He’s ready for her objections and has prepared rebuttals, though the flush on his neck gives away just how uncomfortable this conversation is for him.

“I do understand that, sir, however I can’t help but wonder why I specifically am being selected for this assignment. I’m assigned to the X Files. This is not an X File. Surely an agent in A.D. Kersh’s division can assist with this.”

Skinner shifts uncomfortably in his seat and avoids her eyes. She looks at Kersh, openly frustrated. “Sir?” she asks.

Skinner speaks, looking at his desk. “We require an agent with a certain…look. Age demographic, physical…features. They have to be able to get a job at the club without the opportunity for a plant. They have to walk in off the street with the certainty that they’ll be hired,” he raises his gaze to look at her. “There is no one on Kersh’s team who fits that description.”

Now it’s Scully who blushes. They’re assigning her to this case because they think that she, of all people, can get a job at a strip club. She swallows hard.

“Sir, with all due respect, I’m very uncomfortable with this assignment.” She looks back and forth between the two A.D.s, directing her plea to whichever she might be able to sway.

“And with all due respect, Agent Scully,” Skinner replies, pulling rank, “we are asking you as a courtesy. Need I remind you that you are not at liberty to pick and choose which assignments you take?”

That’s it. There’s no option to back out or say no. All she has hope for is to try to negotiate some of the parameters. She looks at her hands, which she hadn’t realized she was wringing in her lap. Her skin is now mottled and red.

“I understand, sir. If I may, this sounds like a very…sensitive situation. One in which other agents being aware of the assignment could compromise the case.” This is her very professional way of saying that if the guys in the bullpen get wind that Agent Scully is on assignment as a stripper, they will surely pay a recreational visit to the club. She’s been through a lot and there are many challenges she knows she can overcome, however her coworkers seeing her in such a degrading situation is not something she is capable of surviving.

“Of course, we’ve considered that as well. No one other than myself, A.D. Kersh and the lead investigator on the case, Special Agent Wiley, will be aware of your assignment. We have and will continue to go to great lengths to protect your privacy on this, Agent Scully.” Skinner has softened just a bit now that he got past showing Kersh that he can compel his agents to toe the line as well as any A.D., even unruly ones like Mulder and Scully.

“What about Agent Mulder?” she asks, lifting her gaze. “I don’t mean to be dramatic, sir, but if he finds out about this, he’ll…I’m honestly not sure what he’ll do but I don’t imagine it will be pleasant.” She pictures Mulder storming the strip club, throwing her over his shoulder and hauling her out of there like she’s a wayward teenager. That’s the only scenario even worse than the assignment itself.

Skinner nods solemnly. “Yes, I’ve considered that as well. You’ll tell Agent Mulder that I assigned you to assist with a case at Quantico and that you’ll be away for a few weeks. Tomorrow morning you’ll be transported to your temporary residence in Philly and you will cut all contact with him, and I do mean ALL contact, Agent Scully. I’ll deal with him after you’re gone.”

“Thank you, sir. Is there anything else I need to know right now?” She feels nausea creeping up her spine.

“That’s it for now, Agent Scully. Report to my office at 0400 hours tomorrow. You’re to bring nothing. Not your wallet or your service weapon, and definitely not your cell phone. Everything you need will be supplied to you.”

“Yes, sir. Thank you.”

She stands and leaves his office, a lump forming in her throat as she blinks furiously against the tears that threaten to break loose. Once in the hall, she makes a beeline for the ladies room and spends the better part of 20 minutes calming herself down. This is a living nightmare. She can’t even begin to think about what she’ll be asked to do. What absolute depravity she’ll need to bear witness to, much less participate in. Only two people other than her doctors have seen her in anything less than a bathing suit in the last 7 years; Ed and Mulder. The idea of taking her clothes off in front of anyone, much less men there for the express purpose of ogling her, makes her physically ill. There’s a strong possibility that she’ll deliver a right hook to the first guy who lays a hand on her and get herself fired, which might actually be the best case scenario.

And Mulder. She has to lie to Mulder. Even if she gets through the initial lie, she’ll have to come clean eventually. What will he think of her? This might seal her fate with whatever is going on between them. Knowing that she has done this, that she has degraded herself so completely and defied her own morals in such a profound way, could change how he sees her irreparably. After talking herself down from quitting on the spot several times, she leaves the bathroom and heads to the basement.

Mulder has his feet propped up on his desk, the completed case file stacked neatly in the corner as he flips through a stack of photographs. When she pushes the door open, he smiles broadly and she feels a clench in her chest.

“Hey, you’re back. That was a seriously long meeting. The case file is all done, so what’s up?” he asks, bringing his feet to the floor and propping his elbows on the desk.

“Oh, nothing exciting.” She’s already unsure if she can fool him. “They need some help at Quantico, a big case with a heavy autopsy load, and Skinner is going to reassign me for a few weeks.”

He looks at her quizzically and she feels her pulse quicken. “Really? What case is that? I don’t think I’ve heard anything about it.”

“Uh, I’m honestly not sure, he didn’t give me much information, just said that I needed to report there tomorrow.” She busies herself with organizing the papers on her desk, taking mental note of the fact that she won’t be returning for quite some time.

“Scully, you were gone for like an hour, he didn’t give you any details?”

Her brain scrambles for an excuse. “Oh, yeah, I was only in Skinner’s office for about ten minutes. I ran into Agent Vincent in the hallway and chatted with him for a bit.”

Mulder narrows his eyes while she does absolutely everything other than look at him. “Agent Vincent? I thought you hated that guy. You called him, and I quote, ‘dumber than a bag of hair.’”

Her fight or flight response kicks in and she whirls to face him, irritation bubbling to the surface. “I said I talked to the guy, Mulder, not went on a date with him. He asked for some help with a case he’s working on. Am I not supposed to speak to anyone but you?”

He puts up his hands in defense. “No, I didn’t say that. Sorry. Forget about it.”

“I’m gonna head out early, I don’t feel all that well. Can you make sure these reports get submitted with yours?” she asks, setting her four completed reports on top of the one he’d finished in the same timeframe.

“Uh, yeah, of course. Are you getting sick?” Concern clouds his features; he’s always so worried for her health.

“I’m fine, Mulder, I’ll see you tomorrow.” She collects her briefcase and coat and makes for the door.

“No you won’t,” he says as her fingers grasp the handle.

She freezes, thinking she’s been caught. She turns to look at him, but his expression is neutral.

“You’ll be at Quantico, right?” he offers.

She exhales deeply. “Right. Yes, I’ll be at Quantico.”

“Maybe we can get lunch. Email me when you know what time you can sneak away,” he says, leaning back in his chair and picking up a baseball from the surface of his desk.

“Okay, I will. Goodbye, Mulder.” She takes a long look at him, not sure when she’ll see him again.

“Later, Gator,” he replies nonchalantly, tossing the ball in the air and catching it as she pulls the door closed behind her.

[fishybehavior]

His biggest heist [Part 1]

Borg tower; the pinnacle of technology, security, and the future. Filled with information and innovation. It was one of the symbols of New Ninjago City and has been propped up as unbreakable.

So Jay decided to break in.

And that wasn’t even the best bit, he was getting paid to do it too.

Eight hundred feet in the air, on a window washer lift making it go as high as it could go. It was 10 pm, and Borg industries were having its annual gala. Security was lax so high up, everyone focusing on the first dozen floors, anything about 50 should be bare of breathing guards. But then again, Borg Industries was known for unconventional guards. But that's where Jay’s secret weapon came into play.

“How’s the hacking going Zane?” Jay spoke into his mouthpiece, the familiar metallic voice on the other end huffing in reply.

“No, you’re still out of range. They work on a short-ranged signal for a reason.”

“Well sorry princess, I thought it’d be better now we’re halfway up this stupidly tall building.” He muttered as the lift would go any higher. They were hovering at about floor 55, and he needed to still get up another 20 or so floors. “Welp, I guess I’m just climbing the rest.” He sighed as he unclipped his harness rope from the lift, messing with the controls for his harness.

“What! Your free climbing? The wind speeds are 40mph, you’ll be blown off!”

Jay was messing with the new features he added to his gauntlets. “Don’t worry, I’ve been working on a feature that allows me to stick to glass with electro-static leftover from the residual power.”

“First, you can't just confuse me with technical language like everyone else to get me to stop talking. I know what you're saying, and secondly, that feature isn’t field-tested. You don't know how well it works in real-world conditions!”

“Well, I guess it's time to test them then!” He cheered as he stuck his hand on the glass, it stuck and he tested it before he put his foot out and allowed it to stick. Soon he was completely off the lift, attached to the glass window like gum. Laughing gleefully he started to climb up the wall.

He could still hear Zane mumbling, “I swear you have a death wish.”

Jay elected to ignore the comment, “Tell me when you're in range.” He continued to climb about 10 stories, quickly becoming used to his new life as a tree frog as he methodically climbed the architecture.

“You're in range,” Zane quipped, and Jay stopped, letting his partner take over for the next bit. Zane had to hack in the short wave connection of the android guards. Allowing him to enter without alerting them and without tipping off Borg something was off with his toys.

“Do you have it, Zane?” Jay questioned, he didn’t like sitting here like a duck. Ducks got spotted and fed bread, and he wasn’t hungry.

“Finished,” The AI boasted, “Those androids are ridiculously simple once I cracked the firewall. Their visual and audio inputs are on a loop, so as long as you don't touch them they won't know you're there.” Jay could practically hear him smile. Zane may not always like his criminal behavior, but he couldn’t deny that this was so much more fun than playing go-fish in his dorm.

Jay finally got to his floor, giving Zane a minute to disable the alarm, he cut through the two-inch-thick glass with his laser cutter. Pushing in quietly he stepped into a dim hallway, getting surprised as an android guard walked up to him. He had to step back, flatting himself to the wall so it wouldn’t touch him. But it walked by, disappearing into a door right next to him. Opening the door with its identification code.

Jay let it walk in and before the door could close he slipped followed after it. Walking into another dim hallway with three doors on the end, “Ok Zane, I should be close, can you get me through the doors?” All the doors needed an id to get through, but he couldn’t follow the same android, it was going through the left door and he had to go right.

“Already ahead of you. Do you need me to tell you where to go too? How about what we’re looking for too,” He asked slightly annoyed.

“Haha. You’re very funny.” Jay quipped back, going to the right door to enter. He knew that Zane hated doing all the work, but this wasn’t a simple museum where the most he needed was noticed when the police called. The security here was tight, and the only way he could do it is if he stayed unnoticed. And he couldn’t hack everything as quickly or as unnoticed as Zane could. And being quick was the key to getting in and out without being caught.

Zane provided a code, and Jay projected it onto the scanner beside the door, opening it and Jay slid through. Jay continued to sneak throughout the seemingly endless hallways, avoiding the android guards that stood by some doors, and others that walked up and down the hallway. Staying as far from them as he could, he trusted Zane’s hacking, but things could always go wrong. The deeper he got into the building, the dimmer the hallways became, telling Jay that the security here was taking more electricity than previous. Whenever someone would come here legally they would turn on the aux lights, but he wasn't being very legal at the moment. Not that it bothered him. His bionic eye was equipped with ocular adjustments more sensitive than his natural eyes, making the dimness seem brighter than it was.

Jay opened one more door and saw the door he was searching for, it looked like all the others, but it had android guards on either side. Approaching the machines he looked at the door, it opened just like all the others, with a scanner on the right side right behind the android. It gave him about four inches to maneuver, but that should be just enough. Taking a deep breath he slid his arm between the two, and with a flick, he activated the projector for the code right onto the scanner. The door giving a slight hiss as it opened, Jay froze waiting for the guards to attack him. But they didn’t even twitch as the door opened, sighing he pulled his arm back and walked in. The door shut behind him and lights flicked on automatically. Bathing the small room in harsh light. Hissing at the sudden brightness Jay tried to take in what he was seeing.

There was only one thing in the room. A red mask with white markings swirling about the face. The mouth was closed with big teeth prodding from the mouth. The eye holes were rimmed in black as the mask's impressive eyebrows squinted in discontentment. The mask was in a glass case, and there were four more guards at each corner of the display case.

"Ok Zane, what am I looking at?"

"A mask in a display case," Zane answered simply, and he could hear him chuckling as Jay facepalmed at his response. "I know I know." Zane chortled as he looked at the alarms and electronic triggers around the room. "By opening the door with a legal code, the room sensors were disengaged, but the androids are directly linked to the case. If it's opened without authentication, they will either attack you or attempt to destroy the mask."

Jay stepped closer to the mask, looking for any physical triggers too, "Ok, so what's the authentication key?"

He heard Zane hum as he tried to answer his question, "A vocal command it seems. A person who matches the vocal key and a certain phrase is needed, but I can't decipher what the phrase is." He huffed in frustration.

"Here show me. I'll help." And the code appeared on his gauntlets projector. The two looked at the code, slowly decoding what meant what. Finally, they were able to get a phrase, "Release alarm on case 198-021, by the authority of Cyrus Borg." Jay read aloud, chuckling at the unoriginal phrase. "Could you construct a synthesizer in Borg's voice?"

"I can certainly try, but it may take some time."

"How long?"

"At least ten minutes."

"Can you do it in seven, we don't have the luxury of time."

"I'm working as fast as I can, but you may need to try and find another way if you can't wait," Zane said, returning to work on the synthesizer.

Jay huffed, as he studied the case and the androids. He knew the blueprints of robots well, he could just short-circuit them. But he couldn't do all four at once. And anyway, once he took one out, every android not assigned to a position would converge on him. Not a welcome outcome, so he either had to get the voice key or find a way to keep the alarm system from triggering. But that was going to be tricky because it was a physical trigger on the glass case, either for pressure or an electrical current. If you disrupted it, the alarm would go off. Maybe he could cut into the glass itself? Take out the top and pull out the mask? He'd have to make sure that the mask itself wasn't on a pressure plate as well, but it would be a good option.

"Zane, how's the key going?"

"Poorly, I'm able to get the rest of the phrase, but the different pronunciation possibilities for 198-021 make it nye impossible to make a perfect key with no reference."

"Well, what you have now, will it work?" Jay questioned

"I'm uncertain. I don't know if the phrase needs to be verbatim to work. If it's not right, we'll set off the alarms." Zane hummed in thought, calculating the risk that going through with the vocal key would take.

"It's too much of a risk, we should try to break into the case itself. Zane is the mask on a pressure plate?" Jay questioned the AI, and he heard him hum in thought as he looked through the available resources.

"I can't tell for certain. There are two triggers, but I can't tell if one is for the mask, or if they're both for the case."

"No matter which one we choose, we risk an alarm. I'm going to try and cut into the top. Zane be at the ready. If the alarm does go off, I need you to deactivate the four androids here and the two at the door." Jay said, he knew that there wasn't a kill switch that would work for all the androids, needing to be turned off individually. But if he was going to get out without being caught, he had to depend on Zane's ability for multitasking and speed. Or he'd be a fish in a barrel.

"Of course," Zane hummed, setting up the code to try and find the kill switch. Once he activated it Borg would be notified that something was wrong and the other androids would converge on their location. Which drastically cut their chances of escape. Too much for Zane's comfort. "Ready when you are." He stated ready to kill the androids if needed.

Jay rolled his shoulders, loosening the stress that's been building for the last half an hour. He knew he only had about 10-20 more minutes before something happened. Either someone noticed the androids were on loop or would spot him on camera. He had to act now or get caught. Taking a deep breath he adjusted his laser for the thickness and type of glass he was cutting.

"Here we go," he breathed as he began to cut.

[sharpnothashtag]

The Good Ship CrushWay, Chapter 47

Bridge: KJ, Data, Daneel, Tasha, Tom, Patrick

KJ: Conn, current speed? Tom: Warp 3. KJ: Helm, current heading? Ro: 315 mark 47. KJ: When will we be there, Number One? Data: At current speed, 2 weeks, 4 days, 7 hours. KJ: Daneel, any word from Dukat? We'll be entering Cardassian space soon. Data: In 4 days at our present speed. KJ: Thank you. Daneel: (looking down, multitasking) Dukat's last message was a strange one--we'll be picking up a couple of people who need to be ferried to DS9. His neck was very tense, and he was more articulate than usual. Patrick: Was he annoyed, perhaps? Daneel: (clearly working on something else and not concerned about this) Unclear. KJ: (blinking...realizing she is going to have to get used to someone who doesn't read emotions that well) Are there any ships we need to be aware of in sensor range? Daneel: No. (KJ turns away) However (KJ turns back, fake smiling to put her best foot forward with new Lieutenant) there is a Gamma Class Nebula right (bringing it up on the viewscreen) here if you would like to study it. KJ: Would you like to study it, Lieutenant? Daneel: I have been. (buttons) There are some dilithium crystals that could be used as bargaining chips with the Borg, provided they are in a dire enough state to need them. I have also found trace elements of Galantium. KJ: Data, isn't Galantium the normal antidote given for Lyantirum poisoning? Data: Galantium Byzantride, yes, however it is only used for extreme cases. KJ: You saw the elevated Lyantirum levels from the weapon they were using. Are those levels severe enough to cause poisoning? Data: Yes, but all the drones rescued thus far have not needed the treatment. Hypothetically, with their method and frequency of travel, it would have taken a full year for the effects of Lyantirum poisoning to take effect. However, at the rate the drones were dying due to the phase variant disease, many of them did not succumb to the effects. KJ: Tom, take us by the nebula. Collect all the Galantium we can store. I have a feeling that the Borg we are about to encounter need help, and lots of it. Janeway to Seven of Nine. Seven: Yes, Captain? KJ: Coordinate with Dr. Crusher on the information I'm sending to both of you now. We need to know how the Borg reconstruction surgery could be altered due to the effects of Lyantirum poisoning. Communicate with headquarters that we have found a large cache of Galantium and are collecting it in hopes of using it for treatment. Janeway out. (turning to Ro) Ensign Ro, you and Commander Data figure out the most efficient way to dispense the treatment to as many drones at a time as possible. Lieutenant, you're in charge of harvesting the Galantium. Get down to Engineering, and make sure everyone is on the same page. Daneel: For clarity's sake, what page is that? KJ: (typing into the padd on the arm of her chair, over this before it even starts) The page where we save the Borg's asses. Again.

(throw to commercial)

B'Elanna: Emptying the Bussard collectors is going to take time, Lieutenant. Miles: We'll be here another 6 hours just making sure that they're ready--apparently no one at Utopia Planitia thought they were important enough to test before we left. Daneel: Understood. The Captain sent me to help in any way I can. (B'Elanna nods and takes them off to help clean and test the collectors. Miles is left in Engineering to deal with the programming side of things.)

B'Elanna: Can you hand me that plasma spanner? (Daneel hands it to her. B'Elanna clearly feels awkward.) So...Miles tells me that you and Data hung out last week. Daneel: (blushing deeply) Yes, we did. B'Elanna: May I ask you in what context? Daneel: We went on a date. B'Elanna: (beaming) I like the two of you together. You are both very sweet--almost innocent. Daneel: Innocent? B'Elanna: You're both consenting adults, so it isn't a "young love" situation, but it does feel like you two are generally inexperienced. Daneel: I don't come across as cold and jaded? B'Elanna: I don't think so. But I'm not really one to judge. Daneel: You aren't? You seem neurotypical. B'Elanna: That's true. But that doesn't mean that I trust the way I interpret people's characters. If I were fully Klingon, I think I would be a better judge. But (shrugs) I'm half human. Daneel: I kind of thought that I came across that way. B'Elanna: Why is that? Obviously something in your past has scarred you, but I do wonder why you think of yourself in that way. Daneel: Have you ever found someone who understood you in a way you didn't understand yourself? B'Elanna: Yes. Daneel: Besides Tom. B'Elanna: Strangely enough, yes, besides Tom. Daneel: Wesley Crusher is that person for me. (B'Elanna cocks her eyebrow.) We met while we were in the Academy. One day at lunch, I was studying for my robotics class with the textbook that Data wrote. B'Elanna: (sarcastically) A real page turner. Daneel: (enthusiastically) I know, right?! Anyway, the seat next to me in the cafeteria was open, and Wesley just interrupted my study session.

Flashback (Those of you who know me know I am not a huge fan of Wesley Crusher. That isn't Wil Wheaton's fault. I'm about to try to do him justice. Please bear with me, nonexistent readers and Wil Wheaton.) Wesley walks past Daneel without looking at them. It is as if he isn't allowed to go past--like a video game character hitting an invisible wall.

Wesley: I know this is a really weird thing to say, but I feel like I'm supposed to sit here. Glasses: (Daneel doesn't look up from their book) Go ahead. Wesley: (blinking in surprise, sits down. Notices the book.) Oh, Data's book! I really miss him. Glasses: (deeply surprised, about to fan-person) You know him?! Wesley: Yeah, he's on the Enterprise where my mom was assigned. Daneel: Cool! What's your name? Wesley: I'm Wesley Crusher. He/him/his. Daneel: Wesley? (Wesley nods. Daneel sticks out his hand.) Daneel Akares. They/them/theirs. I have a potentially strange series of questions to ask you. Wesley: (smiling, sitting back in the chair with finger guns) Shoot! Daneel: (hearing the screams of their friends as they exploded; immediately panicked, ducking under the table) Who's shooting?! Wesley: (surprised, talking to them slowly and calmly as he sits on the ground with them) I'm so sorry--I thought you knew that slang term. I just meant to go ahead and ask me the questions you want to ask. No one has weapons here. You're safe. Glasses: I'm sorry. (Daneel is hugging their legs to their chest) I'm still processing a lot of stuff from the Occupation. Wesley: That's okay. (He scoots around under the table to sit side by side with Daneel) What did you want to ask me? Glasses: (looking around) Do you know someone called "The Traveller"? Wesley: (shocked) Yes. He and I know each other well. Daneel: He saved my life. I think he was looking for you, though. Wesley: What makes you say that? Daneel: He called me by your name. He said he was "here to help find her." Wesley: I know when that was. I'll never forget it. Stardate 44161.2. The day my mom disappeared. Daneel: Did the Traveller find her? Wesley: Yes. It was one of the scariest times of my entire life. Daneel: I had a bomb inside my chest. He defused it. Wesley: I'm so sorry. (Daneel puts their head on Wesley's shoulder, still shaking a little.) Do you want to come to my quarters and get to know each other? Daneel: I would like that. However, you should know first that I am not romantically or sexually attracted to you. Wesley: (laughing) Nor I you. Come on, let's go. (Wesley gets up, dusts himself off, and offers Daneel his hand to help them off the floor. Daneel accepts.)

Conference room: KJ, Data, Ro, Miles, Bev, Tasha, and Tom

KJ: Data, report. Data: We have devised a solution. As soon as the threat of assimilation is neutralized, we will beam as many drones as possible into our six cargo bays. Galantium Byzantride will filter in through the environmental controls. Once the treatment is complete, Seven of Nine will take a sample drone, input the command to regenerate, and then we will head back to Utopia Planitia. KJ: How long will it take for the treatment to take full effect? Ro: Only an hour. It's a wonder no one has tried this method before. KJ: Tasha, I want security teams on those cargo bays nonstop until we get back. (Tasha nods.) Doctor, will there be any side effects that would affect the reconstruction surgery? Bev: There is a 30% chance of death with our current surgical routine. Data, Seven, The Doctor, and I will have to perform several holographic simulations in order for this to succeed. KJ: Understood. Lieutenant Daneel, are the Bussard collectors prepared? Daneel: Ready, Captain. Miles: Once the Galantium is collected, Dr. Crusher and I will need to coordinate on how to make the vaccine airborne. Bev: I have a plan in place for that--I'm in the final testing stages. KJ: Good work. Daneel, start the collection process. Ro, when we start the collection, drop the shields and immediately start recharging them. Tom, as soon as we're done, I want to be out of here. Ro and Tom: Aye.

Bev and Miles in Engineering

Bev: (typing in several codes) So, I heard the lovely pieces you, Data, Jean-Luc, and Patrick played at Worf and Deanna's wedding. Would you like to play for mine and Kate's? Miles: Sure. I'd love to. As far as the rest of the quartet goes, you'll have to ask them. Bev: Oh, I already have. I talked to Keiko before we left. She specifically told me to mention it while you were doing something else. Miles: (laughing) That's my wife, alright. She knows I do better when my brain is otherwise occupied. Bev: (laughs. Quiet settles in) So, this couple that we're picking up. Do you know them? Miles: Do I ever. Bev: ...do I get an explanation for that? Miles: (pressing a few buttons in a final flourish) Not at the moment. It's time to collect the Galantium! Bev: You can't just leave me hanging in suspense like that. Miles: I'll tell you this much: there is no more confusing couple in all of Starfleet, and of the same token, they are the most loving couple I've ever known. Bev: (smiling) I suppose I can handle that. Miles: (touching his combadge) O'Brien to Janeway. We're ready to start collecting. KJ: Acknowledged.

(Exterior shot of the ship. The Bussard collectors power up briefly, and then from the nebula, a Borg sphere emerges.)

KJ: (understandably pretty freaked out) Ro where the hell was that thing?! Ro: I'm picking up traces of...synthetic Lyantirum? Data: The cloaking device. Ro: We're being hailed, Captain. KJ: Take the damn thing. Borg: We are the Borg. Your technological-- KJ: I killed your Queen, you directionless drones. You report to me. Borg: Insufficient. Your simple human mind cannot possibly organize the thoughts of millions of drones. KJ: You look at me, Borg ship. I am the only person to ever negotiate with you. I am the one that has gotten away time and time again. You keep chasing me around the galaxy. Years ago when I was ripped away from my crew, it seemed that I was almost immediately forced to deal with you AGAIN. You're almost as stubborn as I am. But notice that I said almost. My efforts to help you have finally worked. Borg: We have noticed the voices disappearing from the collective. KJ: Yes, and that's because of me. And a few hundred other very important people. Patrick: (looking for permission) Captain? (KJ nods) My designation was once Locutus. Does the collective remember me? Borg: The collective recognizes Locutus of Borg. Patrick: Does the collective remember the plans of the Queen before stardate 16147.3? Borg: To research synthetic Lyantirum as a source for a superior cloaking device. Patrick: And did the collective achieve this goal? Borg: Affirmative. Patrick: How?

One drone's voice comes above all the others.

Drone: Because they assimilated us.

Three drones walk to the front of the viewing area.

Data: Sissun? Chuti? Keriss? KJ: The members of the Lyantirum think tank on Mars. Drones 1, 2, and 3: We were assimilated, and then the collective destroyed Jouret IV. KJ: I thought you weren't on Jouret IV when it was attacked. Drones 1, 2, and 3: We were not supposed to be. However, our transport ship was delayed by a plasma storm. We were assimilated. The colony was destroyed. We helped form the Lyantirum transport device and the synthetic Lyantirum cloaking device. KJ: Those devices are dangerous to you and to the space you use them in. Borg: Enough. This discussion is irrelevant. Assimilation is imminent. Resistance is futile.

The communication is cut off.

KJ: Ro, raise shields. Tom, prepare evasive maneuvers. Data: (on communicator) All hands, battle stations. KJ: The Borg have engaged us.

[itscalledbisexualcrisis]

Scrap Metal - Chapter 5

Summary: 

Hiro broke off her engagement to Kuvira three years ago and left Zaofu. All she wants is to live her quiet life in Republic City, away from her haunting past. Kuvira's catching up to her, but is she going to find what she's looking for? Or is she only going to reveal the secrets Hiro kept hidden from her all these years?

AO3 Story Here

“Now down here in this car are living quarters, you’ll be assigned to a pod today. You’ll be provided basic necessities as well as extra uniforms. There aren’t many of us on the maglev train, but we do use it as our main headquarters. Everything is coed here, I hope you don’t mind.”

Kuvira walked promptly down the hallway going from train car to traincar, pointing out various things to Hiro. She was impressed that such a large metal object could move throughout the Earth Kingdom at high speeds by only using magnets and metalbending to propel it. Upon learning that Baatar Jr. was the one that designed it, she wasn’t all that surprised. She recognized some of the features were emulated from Zaofu technology.

She couldn’t linger in her admiration though. She felt like it was her death march as she followed closely behind Kuvira. Things were being shown to her, but she could only half listen. Anxiety swam through her veins and her thoughts kept racing around. What did Kuvira want with her? For the past few days since the fall of Zaofu, Hiro had been kept in the dark. Literally and figuratively.

While Kuvira was spearheading the conquest of Zaofu, and the official reunification of the Earth Kingdom, Hiro was locked away. She thought maybe she would find Baatar Sr. or Huan, but to her dismay, she was put in a singular prison in Zaofu. She supposed it could be worse; they coud’ve sent her to one of the many camps. She shivered at the thought.

Her new Earth Empire uniform was tight and itchy in all the odd places. She tried multiple times to loosen the collar up, but it was no use. The boots they provided were clunky, but she could feel that they were made of a strong metal under her feet. The whole uniform was. Although not a skilled metal bender, even she could feel how much power emulated when she put it on. It made her feel powerful. She wondered what Kuvira’s uniform felt like then or if Baatar had invented this, too. 

“And finally here is your work station.”

Hiro raised a suspicious eyebrow. They were in the final train car of the maglev. It looked like a brand new train car attached to the older looking one they previously stepped out from. There were two levels so spectators could watch on to the lower level from the deck. Couches were strewn with tables on the upper level. Along the walls of the lower level were individual lab tables and the center had one large metal table. Hiro was curious at how empty it all looked. More specifically, untouched.

There’s no way they built all of this just for me.

Kuvira noticed her silence and cleared her throat.

“This is a brand new train car, yes. We had to replace the old one after an...incident. Follow me, there’s something I want to show you.”

Hiro quietly made her way down to the lower level. On the wall underneath the stairs was a full size map of Republic City and the United Republic.

“I know you’ve worked closely with Asami Sato and Republic City on the latest infrastructure remodel,” Kuvira started. “I want you to copy down everything you can remember from that; the technology, any underground roads, hidden passageways. Keep in mind, these will primarily be used by Baatar, so no need to be worried about the reader having engineering experience. Any piece of information about weapons and means of defense will be especially useful.”

“Why?” Hiro finally broke her silence and swallowed the lump in her throat as she looked around the table. It’s the first word she spoke to Kuvira since she picked her up from the prison this morning. A stack of workbooks stood prim and proper, ready to be used on the center table. The map before her loomed eerily as Kuvira sood in front of it with her back turned to Hiro. There were four guards placed around the room, something she thought was excessive. “The United Republic is part of the original Earth Kingdom. Therefore another piece of the empire that I need to rebuild and take back for our people.” Hiro didn’t like how Kuvira used the word ‘our’. “To be very transparent with you, the Earth Empire is seeking to reunite the full original kingdom.”

Hiro scoffed and crossed her arms.

“Believe me, Republic City doesn’t need to be rebuilt or updated, I’ve already done that.” She knows that may have sounded smug, but it was the truth. “Plus, the United Republic hasn’t been part of the Earth Kingdom in decades. Avatar Aang created it as a neutral territory after the Hundred Year War.” “Avatar Aang failed to return what was lost during the Hundred Year War. That doesn’t change its historical significance to the Earth Empire,” Kuvira said. Her emphasis on the word ‘Empire’ lingered and Hiro could hear the warning in Kuvira’s words. Hiro paused, but took a cautionary step forward to stand next to Kuvira. There was a generous gap between them as Hiro studied the map up close. Her eyes darted around the map of the United Republic, slowly piecing the puzzle together in her mind.

“It’s oar supply is significant, you mean.” Kuvira let out a short laugh before letting her face fall into a cocky smirk. Everyone knew the United Republic had an abundance of natural oar supply, which was a valuable and high-priced commodity across all the nations.

“An added bonus to our cause.”

“This is crazy,” Hiro muttered.

Kuvira clenched her fists at her sides.

“Everyone leave us,” she commanded.

The guards cleared out of the train car and left promptly. Hiro kept her eyes trained on the map before her. She knew there was an oar integral mining plant just outside of Republic City. It was something her and Asami had to keep in mind when making renovations. If Kuvira had control over that one mine, she could power the Earth Empire for months from that singular facility alone. With control of all the mines across the United Republic, the Earth Empire would no doubt become the richest nation.

“I will not take any insubordination from anyone, especially in front of my soldiers and definitely not from you,” Kuvira scolded.

“You can’t be serious about this. You’d be setting off a meaningless war with an independent nation. You’d be hurting thousands of people,” Hiro countered, letting the weight of the situation set in.

“You’re not here to tell me what to do. You’re here to serve your country and take back what is rightfully ours.” She spoke carefully and with a clipped tongue. Her patience was running short, but Hiro didn’t care. This is actually insane.

“What, Zaofu wasn’t enough for you?”

Kuvira doesn’t respond, just gives a vocal exhale through her nose.

“You do not want to play this little game with me. I don’t need to remind you that I have Suyin.” The threat didn’t go past Hiro. She finally tore her eyes from the map and towards the floor. Kuvira knew she couldn’t argue against that. At the end, she knew she couldn’t risk anything happening to Suyin.

“Fine.” She turned around and sat down at the central table, opening up a workbook.

“Glad to hear.” Hiro heard Kuvira walk around the table and behind her. The looming presence made her freeze ever so slightly. “Oh and Hiro? If you try anything suspicious, remember my office is only a train car over. So don’t think you can try to pull anything.”

---

Hiro rounded a corner of the Beifong estate. Nothing seemed to be going right this morning. She was already running late to her meeting with Suyin after spending all night trying to perfect her work for today’s presentation. In her flurry of trying to remember which direction was the meeting room, she didn’t notice the stack tipping a little too far to the right and spilling out of her gasp.

Hiro cursed to herself and bent down, trying to regain some semblance of organization. She bent down to pick them up, not noticing the other person coming up to her.

“Here, let me help you.” Looking up, she was met with the most beautiful green eyes she’s ever seen. She blushes and retracts as the guard continues to collect the papers for her. With her help, she manages to somehow get her stack back in order.

“There you go,” Kuvira says, as she hands over the neatly organized paperwork. Hiro notices how her fingers lingered ever so slightly during the exchange and had to swallow the anxious lump forming in her throat.

Even that simple gesture can send warmth radiating through Hiro.

Who could blame her though? It seemed that everyone around Zaofu knew that the Captain was very charming. In her few weeks of living here, she’s noticed how various other young women and men fawned over the young Captain. Hiro had been too shy up to this point to try to speak to her. Besides she was here to work, not chase after beautiful green eyes.

“Thank you, Captain.”

Kuvira’s smile twitched and she cleared her throat.

“Please, call me Kuvira,” she answered smoothly. Spirits, the rich timbre and bass in her voice was intoxicating. “Are you on your way to Suyin?”

Hiro nodded.

“I can be clumsy, I’m sorry to have bothered you,” she apologized.

“It’s quite alright. I don’t mind helping you anytime, Miss. Zhao,” Kuvira replied. Hiro was surprised she even knew her name. She was still fairly new to Zaofu and kept to herself most times. “I can walk you. I was just on my way to the meeting, myself.”

“I would like that very much, Kuvira.” The name slipped off her tongue was foreign, but she liked the way it curved around her lips. Hiro found herself smiling silly at the feeling and tried to contain the joy that came with saying the name aloud. “And please, call me Hiro.”

---

Hiro itched at her collar with her left hand as her right scribbled down notes in the workbook. Sure she recently worked on the plans for Republic City, and she could probably recite all of the new plans by heart. Spirits, Asami and her basically designed the whole city down to the smallest intersection signage and lamppost placement.

But instead she took her easy time filling out the first set of notes. She spent a lot of time tapping the pages, writing things down only to scribble it out seconds later, and pretending to think for longer than she should’ve or using her fingers to count out numbers. The guards clearly weren’t the wiser about the show she was putting on for them, so they didn’t bother her. Meanwhile, Hiro was thinking of her plan.

These past few days had given her time to think about a plan to take Kuvira down. It was going to be a heavy feat, especially since Kuvira’s new endgame was taking the United Republic. She told Baatar Sr. that she could talk to her somehow, that she could get through to Kuvira. But now it seems hopeless and she was fighting against herself on what to do. All she’s really done is replay their interaction from Zaofu multiple times in her head.

“I didn’t forget”

Those three words made an impact on Hiro, more than she’d like to admit. When she glanced up at Kuvira’s eyes, she thought she saw a shadow of the woman she once knew. Maybe it was Kuvira playing tricks on her, trying to gain her trust somehow. Hiro had tried to keep her guard up during their heated argument, but it was that moment that made her feel something she hadn’t in a long time. The sprinkle of warmth and longing landed in her like a ball of fire. It lit a need within her to know more. And then it was the next words that made her spiral more in her thoughts. 

“I never wanted to hurt you”

Hiro didn’t want to think that Kuvira had cared. She always thought Kuvira had cast aside any feelings for her when she started seeing Baatar Jr. If she truly didn’t want to hurt her, then why do it? It was the question Hiro was so scared to answer, because she never got one. She stopped trying to answer that question long ago. It only triggered her to curl up in tears. Was she not enough? Was their relationship not enough? Was she not useful enough?

Stop.

Her hand had stopped writing and was trembling over the page. Lost in her thoughts she almost forgot her surroundings and suddenly could feel the guards staring at her back. She blinked a few times before completely ripping the page of nonsense and crumpling it up. She started writing on the new page, willing those thoughts to withdraw from her mind. Kuvira managed to bring out the weakest part of Hiro and find the cracks in her heart to chip away at. It was dangerous, and she needed to move forward with caution. She couldn’t let her emotions get in the way again while trying to find Kuvira’s weakness.

As far as she knew, Kuvira’s weaknesses were minimal. Physically was not an option for Hiro; Kuvira could easily overpower her. Hiro could only utilize her own wit to combat someone as calculated and fierce as Kuvira. This would have to be like a game of Pai Sho: slow and steady moves to defeat one’s opponent. Which meant Hiro needed to play strategically for now, and to be brave. With each action she made from now on, it needed to be with purpose.

Hours passed as Hiro continued to mentally psyche herself up, while continuing to fill out a workbook. She was barely halfway done with one book, starting out with mostly descriptions of machinery rather than actual schematics of the framework of the city, when Kuvira returned. Hiro didn’t even realize the train had stopped and that she was starving. From the train window she could tell it was the afternoon now and they were out of the mountains. Probably far from Zaofu at this point, but still somewhere in the Earth Kingdom.

Wordlessly, Kuvira walks up and motions for the workbook which Hiro hands her. Her hands are fatigued and she rubs her tired eyes, then she stretches her arms overhead. Kuvira’s eyes quickly darted across the first couple of pages before turning a beady green eye towards Hiro. 

“You don’t expect me to believe this is all you’ve done all morning?” she scoffed, giving her a once over glance. Hiro tensed. 

“You wanted information about the city, and I’m giving it to you,” Hiro responded. If there was anytime to be brave, it’d be now. She looked up in Kuvira’s eyes, trying to subside the anxiety that’s creeping up in her to look away.

Kuvira turned to the guards and ordered them to give them privacy. When they were left alone, she placed the workbook back on the table in front of her. It was the only thing between them and Kuvira leaned down to put a gloved hand on the metal surface. Hiro didn’t let her eyes move from her and matched Kuvira’s blazing eyes.

“I’m not stupid. Giving me information that even a basic engineer student knows about machines that don’t pertain to system management? You’re playing a dangerous game with me right now.” Hiro’s jaw clenched. She hadn’t expected to be caught so fast.

“I thought Baatar Jr. might need some refresher on the basics.”

Kuvira slams her other fist on the desk, and Hiro resisted flinching. Her eyes were now an enraged shade of green and a scowl danced on her lips.

“I have no patience for your bullshit today,” she growled. Hiro wonders if it was because of her or if something happened earlier to piss her off. Her attitude definitely didn’t help it if that were the case.

Kuvira leaned down threateningly, closing the distance over the desk.

Hiro felt the metal on the shoulders of her uniform suddenly tighten around her neck and her eyes widened realizing Kuvira’s silent threat. The fear sparked in Hiro’s eyes just seemed to rouse Kuvira’s anger. It wasn’t tight enough to hurt her, but she felt the weight of the metal give pressure around her slender neck.

“Well this brings back old memories?” Hiro teased and chuckled lightly to herself at her own joke. Kuvira’s fist clenched and so did the metal, stopping the laughter. Her hands quickly reached up gripping the metal best she could. She tried bending against it, but was easily overpowered, helpless clutching it with both hands. Despite being choked, she could see a light flush creeping up Kuvira’s neck and knew she at least caught the Great Uniter off guard.

“I could easily kill you right now and you want to make jokes?” Kuvira spoke with such confidence that Hiro almost believed her. Almost.

Hiro shrugged as best as she could, the constriction around her throat making it hard to move or speak. Kuvira held on for another second, studying her face carefully, before dropping her hand and releasing her.

Hiro gasped out as she regained airflow. She had still been trying to bend the metal against Kuvira, but with no resistance they flew back and clanged to the ground. Her hand reached up and touched the tender skin around her neck, blooming red with bruises. Kuvira said nothing, simply watching as Hiro took time to catch her breath.

“Well you clearly need me and it seems like it’s something only I can accomplish. Baatar doesn’t know anything about Republic City and neither do the rest of your soldiers since they’re from rural villages,” Hiro explains and coughs. She rubs her neck for some relief as she continues. “Killing me isn’t a risk you’re willing to take right now if you want a clean victory for your empire.”

Kuvira’s eyebrow quirked in irritation. She pulls away and stands straight.

“No, but Suyin is still my prisoner. Need I remind you that I won’t be afraid to hurt her if you disobey me?” Hiro bit the inside of her cheek. Of course. The one thing Hiro can’t control or have any leverage over. “So what’s it going to be?”

Hiro stares down at her work and glances back up at Kuvira one more time before turning to the map of Republic City. She takes a marker and starts drawing lines across it.

“I guess something useful would be the underground passageways running all throughout Republic City. They’re part of an old sewage system. We created a new one, but the old one is still in place and out of use,” Hiro mutters and clears her throat. If her neck didn’t have a rash before, it certainly was irritated now. “My honest apologies, I haven’t exactly done this kind of work in a while. I mostly do Sato Mobiles nowadays.”

There’s a brief pause and the only sound in the room is coming from Hiro’s scribbling.

“You worked on Sato Mobiles?” Kuvira questioned, clearly doubting Hiro’s statement.

“Surprised?”

“You didn’t even have a license three years ago.”

Hiro smiled slightly at seeing Kuvira’s surprised reaction.

“And I still don’t have one. Just because I don’t know how to drive one doesn’t mean I can’t draft designs of it,” she said. “Getting to learn from the CEO herself, made it a lot easier to master.” Kuvira is quiet for a moment, letting the statement settle in the air.

“I’m assuming you and Asami were close.”

“You could say that.” The answer was innocent enough. But Hiro couldn’t help the creeping blush heating on her face and she let the lingering smile show on her lips as she thought about the young engineer. It was also a sad smile considering how she left things. Asami was a great friend, and Hiro loved being around someone who thrived off knowledge and technology as much as she does. Despite how close they had gotten, Hiro had kept a lot hidden from her, afraid of being judged or looked down on. Still, it wasn’t right for her to have snapped at Asami for trying to help mend her relationship with Suyin. She promised herself that the next time she sees Asami, Hiro would finally come clean about her past, no matter how much it hurts. It was only the right thing to do for everything Asami has done for her.

Hiro drew more lines and indication markers, completely engrossed in her work now. She hadn’t even noticed when Kuvira left without another word commenting on her relationship with Asami. The guards came treading back in and with the Great Uniter gone, Hiro let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding.

To her left was the metal plates that had been previously wrapped around her neck.

It wasn’t the best way that could’ve gone, but hey she was still alive and that’s all she could really ask for at this point. This was definitely going to be harder than she thought.

---

What Kuvira claimed was a room was more like a closet. It was a tight rectangle box with a pull down bed from the wall, only wide enough to fit one person. Directly next to it were hooks she assumed for clothes and a dresser. The thin blanket and soft pillow didn’t look very cozy. For such a high tech train, their means of living was certainly lackluster.

Hiro sat down and rubbed her neck, trying to relieve the crick in it. Her hand grazed the rash and she winced, remembering Kuvira’s threat from earlier. Her gaze turned towards the small square window near the ceiling of her room. What was she doing? After running for so many years, she was right back to the root of her problems. To help the Earth Empire went against her basic morals. She heard about the reeducation camps and Kuvira’s cruelty towards towns after she conquered them. It was wicked and cruel to do to people already suffering. Hiro can’t help her thoughts linger on Kuvira. The Kuvira she used to know stood for balance and equality. She fought for what was right and would protect people. Doing this just didn’t seem like her.

Hiro closes her eyes. Of course this was Kuvira. This is the name she made for herself now: The Great Uniter with her maglev train of oppression. It was both a symbol of hope and destruction; a beginning and an end. And Hiro doesn’t know at what end she was at. This could all be for nothing and she could just be helping the Earth Empire finish its mission once and for all. She was directly helping the impending war on the United Republic. Maybe it was too late and Kuvira was too far gone. Zaofu fell. Their once shared home had succumbed under her rule and she had Suyin prisoner. Maybe...it was really too late.

The shouting outside her door alerted her from her melancholy thoughts. Hiro hesitated before peeking it open and pressing her ear to the small opening she made.

“You need to trust me, I’m not having this discussion again.”

“Can’t you see she’s tricking us, she’s nothing, but trouble!”

“Will you stop shouting! I told you I’ve handled it.”

“You really think she’s going to give us anything substantial? How do you know it isn’t all a trap?”

Hiro’s hand slipped across the handle and the door slammed shut, nearly taking her ear off with it. She cursed to herself. Even after all these years, she was still quite clumsy. The door abruptly slid back open, not to her own doing. She realized someone had metalbent it open and she cautiously stepped out into the small hallway.

Baatar Jr. and Kuvira stood a few feet away down the narrow hallway. Baatar had a scowl on his face and his hair was out of it’s usual cleaned slick back position. Kuvira had both her gloves off and the top buttons of her uniform undone and disheveled. It was either two scenarios: Hiro had either just cockblocked or gotten in the middle of an argument. She doesn’t know which would be worse. Hiro blinked twice and looked between the two of them.

“Hey Baatar…it’s been a while?” Hiro jokes. She was met with silence, neither of them amused by her sudden appearance. The awkward smile left her lips. “I was just going to the bathroom!”

Hiro mentally slapped herself when she realized she’d have to walk past them to go to the direction of the bathroom. She quickly shuffled past them and kept her eyes down. The tension in the hallway hung in the air as she closed the train car door behind her. 

She walked briskly through the train car and past two guards, into the also very small bathroom. She was going to hide out in here for a while and hope that whatever Kuvira and Baatar had been doing outside her room was finished by the time she got back.

She leaned her forehead against the cool bathroom door in exhaustion. By what she heard, they were definitely having a fight about someone. Maybe her? She didn’t want to assume, although it does flatter her. This could be very useful. In the newspaper articles of Republic City, it seemed like Baatar and Kuvira were the perfect couple. They were always picturesque and ready to lead a nation together. It was something Hiro thought was impenetrable. However, if there was ever a crack in the armour, Hiro thinks she might’ve just found it. Another piece in her Pai Sho game.

After some time, Hiro exits the bathroom and the guards are still stationed. It's dark out now and most of the train inhabitants have retired in their closet rooms. It also meant Kuvira was probably also in her room. Hiro walks quietly past the guards, trying to keep her head low as they continue a conversation languidly. Either they don’t see her as a threat or don’t care about what they’re saying.

“Those twins are really getting on my nerves. Someone should show them respect.”

“Nah, that mom is what’s a pain for me.”

Hiro’s ears piqued and tried not to let her interest show. Walking past them, she tries to slow her pace as she moves into the other car.

“Oh well, they’re getting sent to the camps soon enough.”

Hiro let's the door shut behind her. Relief washed over her when she realized Baatar and Kuvira were gone and she immediately went to her room. Sliding the door firmly shut and locking it, she leaned her back against the metal door. Her heart was racing now at her newfound information. Suyin and the twins were here. On the maglev train. Even though Kuvira gave her word, Hiro had to see them herself. And if what those guards were saying was true, she was running out of time.

---

Kuvira was not having a good day.

She partly blames it on the rooms on the train and how uncomfy they were. Granted she had a slightly larger living space than most people, but it still wasn’t comfortable. She often woke up with a stiff back and aching neck. It was something she had never truly gotten used to despite having to live on the maglev train for quite some time now.

She also blames it on her fight the night before with Baatar. She hated when he let his feelings cloud his judgement. Didn’t he understand that Hiro was useful? And if she wasn’t then Kuvira would send her to one of the prisons, as simple as that. But for now they needed any information they could about Republic City. It was all for their cause, she tells herself. And that’s what she tells herself when she goes to see Hiro in the small gap she has in her schedule.

“Here to check in again? Doesn’t the Great Uniter have better things to do?”

“What is your progress?” Kuvira asked, ignoring Hiro’s comment. Today was not the day to be challenged. Hiro noticed too and obediently slid her now half filled workbook. The Republic City map was now completely drawn over and Kuvira had a hard time understanding what half of the different colored words and symbols meant. She skimmed over the workbook. “It’s a good start, I’m impressed with your progress.” Hiro smiled and leaned back, balancing herself on the back two legs of her chair. “Is there anything you need that I could get for you? Did you eat yet?”

“No, but I’ve been on a roll all day I hadn’t noticed,” Hiro shrugged, casually. Kuvira noticed the metal plates on her uniform were completely gone. “I probably need another map of Republic City though and maybe also the United Republic. There’s more I could write and give visual context for. I know Baatar was always a visual learner.”

Kuvra narrowed her eyes, studying the map ever so closely. Then she turned her gaze to Hiro.

“You seem to be in a good mood?” Hiro stretched her arms over her head and yawned.

“Well the food here is better than I would’ve thought. No fire noodles or seaweed wraps, but better than military rations,” she complimented.

“I was speaking about your adjustment to the Earth Empire. I was expecting more of a fight from you.”

“Why? You want me to beat you up?” Of course this was a joke. Hiro could barely bend metal straight let alone fight. “And to answer your question, oh Great Uniter, maybe I’ve just accepted my fate. I mean what’s the point of fighting what’s inevitable? You have Zaofu and the rest of the Earth Kingdom. Republic City isn’t going to go down without a fight, but what more damage could you do?”

A smirk grew on Kuvira’s face and memories from this morning’s meeting came to mind. The one thing that had gone right today was coming along just as planned. 

“Oh you have no idea.”

Hiro’s eyebrows furrowed together and she tsked, observing Kuvira’s behavior.

“Eerily creepy and very mysterious,” Hiro deduced. “Nice to know you’re just as vague as ever.”

“Let’s just say, soon the world will know of the power I hold,” Kuvira taunted. “Your efforts are much appreciated, please let me walk you to get something to eat before continuing your work.”

Hiro gets up and follows Kuvira out and through the train cars. Kuvira had already eaten, but she could take the time out of her schedule to escort Hiro to the eating area set up outside. Hiro was limited to go places on her own and always had one guard to take her to the workstation and back to her room. They were camped out on the outskirts of the Foggy Swamp since last night. The small fleet of soldiers they brought with them were mostly holding down the maglev train. The main group was already deep in the Foggy Swamp, searching for more Spirit Vines. Baatar had headed out this morning with them, using his equipment to track the strongest spirit energy. Right after she drops Hiro off, she would be leaving with the next set of troops. Kuvira glances over at the woman before speaking up.

“I know this may be inappropriate to bring up, but I don’t like rumors spreading,” Kuvira said, stopping mid pace to turn and face her. “I want to apologize for arguing outside of your room last night.”

Hiro choked visibly on her breath, clearly surprised by the conversation topic. There weren’t that many soldiers around them so Kuvira didn’t have to worry about someone overhearing their conversation.

“I should apologize! I didn’t mean to hear any of that,” Hiro stuttered. “I also really didn’t mean to intrude on anything going on.”

Kuvira’s eyes widened as she realized Hiro’s insinuation. “It was nothing like that!” Kuvira defended. Looking at Hiro’s eyes, she saw them dancing with amusement and the slight smirk she was fighting off. She was making jokes?

“I don't need the details, and don’t worry my lips are sealed,” Hiro reassured. “There’s no one here for me to talk to anyway.” Kuvira smiled gently back at her.

“Thank you. I know it must have seemed strange, as how most people perceive our relationship,” Kuvira started. It was a hard time keeping their personal life away from the cameras or the troops. Kuvira made it a point to never speak openly about their relationship in interviews or meetings. It was something her soldiers knew better than to comment on. That is unless they wanted to be crushed by a boulder. “I assure you, it will not happen again.”

“Like I said, I don’t need to know the details.”

It was the way Hiro was firm with her words that kept Kuvira from pressing further and also made her realize Hiro’s visible uncomfort with the topic. She was seated at a table outside away from many of the other soldiers. Her eyes darted around the camp, looking anywhere but at Kuvira. She sighed, realizing she might’ve just made things worse than keeping her mouth shut.

“I’ll be leaving now, I’ll see you again tomorrow.” Hiro didn’t even look at her as she turned and walked back to the maglev. 

---

That night Kuvira slugs back to her room, exhausted, but hopeful. Being the leader meant she needed to always be hopeful for an auspicious outcome. Although it was a very successful day for them, they were going to have to pull in as many forces as possible now to collect all the Spirit Vines. Plus the travel through the forest had been a tiring one, and they had only made it back to the maglev after nightfall. She was tired and smelled like grime, but maybe she’d have to pass on a shower tonight in exchange for at least some sleep.

She metal bends the top portion of her uniform off, leaving her in a black tank top and green pants. She lays back on her bed kicking her boots off. A gentle knock on her door made her sit up. Kuvira resists groaning as she calls out to the person. There were only a few people that dared bother her after she retired to her room.

Baatar slid the door open and gently closed it behind him.

“I want to talk,” he started. Baatar took a seat next to her and when she didn’t protest, he continued. “I wanted to apologize for last night. I shouldn’t have spoken out of turn.” He gently reached up and started to help her unpin her hair.

“You are forgiven.” “It’s just,” he spoke up. The worry in his eyebrow tells Kuvira that there’s more he wants to push against. Their relationship was a delicate push and pull. He was her second in command, but in turn that meant she was his superior. She’d be lying if she said their work dynamic didn’t also reflect their relationship. And right now he seemed to be weighing his options of which fight he wanted to pick. “I don’t trust her. I think this is a big mistake to have her coming with us.”

“Hiro knows more about Republic City than anyone else. She was vital in the rebuilding project. We need to be prepared for whatever Republic City has in store,” Kuvira answered. She runs a hand through her wavy hair, scratching her scalp. “Besides, she won’t try anything as long as we have Suyin.”

“I know, but that’s what makes her even more untrustworthy,” Baatar argued. He lay back on her bed and took his glasses off. He rubs a hand across his eyes. “I’m not questioning you, I’m just worried.”

“Are you sure this isn’t your personal feelings getting in the way?” she asks quietly. She didn’t want to bring it up before, but it seemed like now was the only time where they could have true privacy to speak openly. Kuvira’s not oblivious to the fact that their three shared past could become a problem. It was the reason why they fought last night. And clearly it seemed like this was past work and was bothering Baatar on a deeper level.

“No of course not. I love having your ex fiance only a couple doors down from me,” he groans sarcastically. Kuvira shoots him a glare before getting up to change into pajamas. 

“It’s not for nothing. Believe me, she hasn’t been easy to handle,” Kuvira muttered.

“Why do you even bother seeing her then? Just leave the guards to take care of her if she acts up,” Baatar said ominously. Kuvira frowned. Baatar was engrossed with cleaning his glasses to notice. “Or I could keep an eye on her? Check her work to make sure she isn’t plotting something.”

Kuvira thought about it. On one hand it would be the smart thing to have Baatar oversee Hiro. But given their history, they may get less done than if she left Hiro alone. He had a good point though, Kuvira couldn’t keep wasting time watching over Hiro. She had a whole empire to oversee and a plan to execute. Once Republic City and the entire United Republic surrendered to her, she will have completed reuniting the kingdom. Then it would be a period of building prosperity back to her people and she would need every waking minute to make sure she could have that. It only bothered Kuvira that she hadn’t thought about it herself.

“What about Zhu Li? I’d rather have you stay primarily working on the Colossal and the Spirit Canon. But if you could release Zhu Li to watch her, I would be satisfied with that.” That seemed to appease Baatar as he nodded sleepily on her bed. With how small the rooms are on the train, they had separate rooms. He seemed to already be dozing off though. Kuvira tucked herself in next to him, letting his heavy arm fall around her waist. Her back was facing him and she was sure that he was asleep, but she wasn’t tired anymore.

Her thoughts kept her from falling asleep. Hiro felt like a new kind of mystery to Kuvira. She wasn’t sure why she insisted on visiting Hiro herself when she knew she could’ve gotten someone else to do it. Although it seemed like Hiro was being complacent, something just didn’t sit right with her. She was just being too casual, when the Hiro she used to know would be fighting and refusing to work unless Suyin was freed. As Kuvira slowly let sleep overcome her, she didn’t let her mind wander away from the young woman who had somehow once again piqued her interest. 

---

“Again? Twice in one week, I’m thinking you need to get a bag,” Kuvira jokes. It wasn’t something she did often. Most of the time she needed to be professional and save face as the Captain. But in this empty hallway with a pretty woman struggling with papers across the floor, even she could let her armour down. Hiro’s glasses were pushed up to her forehead, revealing more of her illuminating brown eyes. They had Kuvira completely captivated.

She looks up and sees the green and metal clad Captain approaching her. 

“I do have a bag. I just never remember to bring it,” Hiro points out. “Maybe I should start though. This is becoming embarrassing.”

“Only a little. I find it quite adorable though,” Kuvira winks. “If I didn’t know any better I would think you were trying to distract the Captain from her duties.”

“I promise that’s not it! I would never!” Hiro shouts, clutching her papers tighter to her chest. She was on her knees and holding on to the papers for dear life. The glimmering look in Kuvira’s eye was the only indication that made her realize that the Captain was teasing her. And the flush on her cheeks made Kuvira want to see Hiro blush a hundred different ways. 

“Well I don’t know if Su would approve of me shirking my duties, but I certainly don’t mind helping a woman in need, especially one that seems clumsy.”

“Sorry, Captain,” Hiro apologizes, looking down at her lap. “I told you earlier this week to call me by my name.” “Sorry! Again,” Hiro muttered.

“You apologize a lot, is that a habit?”

“Yes?”

“Well that’s something we’re going to have to break out of you.” Kuvira didn’t think Hiro could flush more. She licked her lips and realized that during their conversation they had moved closer together. Their shoulders were almost touching now and Kuvira had even a better view of Hiro’s brown eyes now. Realizing how this must’ve come across, she scoots back from her. “I’m sorry. This is very unprofessional of me.”

“No! It’s not you. Can I speak frankly, Captain?” Kuvira nodded. “You make me quite nervous.”

Kuvira's laugh echoed through the hallways.

“That’s not the first time I’ve heard that.” The twinkle in her eyes gave away that she almost found it a compliment. Of course someone of her rank came with a sense of responsibility, and even her closest friends said she let her “Captain” side incorporate it’s way into her personality. 

“I don’t mean to offend. It’s true though. You probably have the most intimidating eyes I’ve ever seen.”

“If we’re both being frank, you also make me nervous,” Kuvira admitted. Hiro’s eyes jerked up in surprise.

“Me? Quiet amateur scientist who drops her papers in the hallways?” Hiro gawked.

“You intrigue me, what can I say?” It was the truth. Unlike most newcomers to the Metal Clan, Hiro was dedicated only to working for Suyin and Zaofu. Hiro hadn’t tried to seek another form of metalbending or trying to find some kind of self improvement journey; she was here to work. There was a sense of loyalty that came from her, something that Kuvira held high respect for. As someone who has spent their whole life trying to find loyalty or a sense of purpose, Kuvira relished meeting someone with similar goals. It was what drew Kuvira to Hiro in the first place, trying to find more reasons than not to visit the security department. 

“How can a simple girl like me intrigue you? I mean, you’re the Captain of the Metal Clan Guard for crying out loud,” Hiro boasts. “You’re the youngest person to have been promoted to be Captain and you’re a dancer.”

“Stalking me now?” Kuvira teased again. Kuvira’s instincts were right then when she thought she felt a figure watching her while at dance rehearsal the other day. Who knew it was the cute girl she had been thinking about? “It doesn’t seem fair that you know so much about me and I know so little about you. How about we change that? Are you free for dinner tonight?” “What?” Hiro sputtered out. Kuvira was known to be very direct. It was honestly a blessing and a curse. Because right now she could either get a date with this beautiful woman she’s been yearning to learn more about or get rejected and have to face possible repercussions for inappropriate behavior. In addition, she’d have to stop trying to find excuses to see Hiro, and in her opinion that was the worst result. 

“I apologize for being so forward.” Kuvira had a sheepish look on her face. It was difficult to face possible head on rejection from such attractive eyes staring at you. “I find that being direct and honest about my intentions takes away from any miscommunication. I would like to have dinner with you tonight, Miss. Zhao. As a date.”

Hiro’s mouth is agape, taking in Kuvira’s words. Kuvira shifts uncomfortably by the silence that follows, and is ready to apologize and promise to leave Hiro alone-

“Okay. It’s a date, Captain.”

[anangelicday-mrwolf]

Wolfsbane : Noblesse Fanfic (post-ending)

(previous chapter)

Chapter 33 – Nice to See You at Last, You Rat

“Lady Lunark...?”

The voice could not be softer, but the werewolf warrior jerked as if she were touched by fire.

In turn, she caused an almost identical motion in the young warrior who addressed her.

“Uh... Your order, please...”

She turned her head, doing a terrible job of hiding that she is dreadfully keen on her leader’s mood.

Lunark directed her eyes towards the two rookie warriors, who were just as conscious of her as they stared in waiting.

They happened to be standing in one of Union’s facilities, officially dubbed as “dispository.”

Based on the Union dictionary, “disposal” comes with a definition different from its counterpart in the civilian world.

The process of disposing something does exist, but irredeemable, permanent disposal is a highly rare case in Union.

Because it is Union belief that even the most useless, outdated file or source could one day shine in the future.

For this reason, every file or source deemed “to be disposed of” follows two steps: (1) its online copies are deleted, and (2) it is duplicated into physical, hard-copy format to be disposed-slashed-stored.

And this is when a dispository comes in handy.

Although she was once an elder of the Union, Lunark could not remember the last time she was at a dispository.

She was back to her main task: discovering and shutting down Union’s facilities, especially those that were in possession of Crombell.

She remembered how she could only suck her thumb as she came across one facility after another already shut down by someone else.

However, for once she landed upon a facility with its doors locked, not sealed for good.

Which is why the three young warriors assigned for today’s mission seemed clueless about what to do.

“First we must get rid of all evidence that could hint our presence. Judging by the location and the order of shutdown for each of the facilities we ran upon, the rat who had been ahead of us all this time will be here. So let’s get ready for our guest.”

The warriors immediately got busy, and so Lunark was given time to get engrossed in her thoughts.

Her reasons were hammering her head that she should not let herself get distracted when she is outside for business, but her head was beyond her control.

She could not help but recall once again the conversation she had prior to this trip.

*****

In spite of the invasion by Union’s weapons against noble heads of clans and failure in initial activation of QuadraNet, werewolves regained peace.

Or rather, they could shake off the confusion, which unfortunately did not apply to everybody.

For instance, a certain werewolf who ended up thwacking her human crush’s lips with hers was still very far from peace.

The problem was that she had to make it so obvious that something was bothering her, and wherever she went she made the occupants tiptoe with nervousness.

In the end, Muzaka summoned her in privacy for a talk.

“Are you really planning to zip your mouth for good?”

“...I’m afraid I don’t know what you’re talking about, my lord.”

“Playing pretend, are we? Well, I should’ve known, based on your atmosphere for the past few days.”

Her eyes were sore, and her tongue was tied. However, her head had never been nimbler.

‘What do I do? Did he notice that I’ve feelings for Frankenstein?’

Lunark was aware that Muzaka does not take kindly the relationship between human and wolfkind. She would not be surprised to find out that he was outright opposed to the idea.

And she would rather make herself Maduke’s stepdaughter than to have Muzaka look into what lies in her heart.

Plus, she knew Muzaka would rather give Maduke a peck on his face than to offer his blessing for her and Frankenstein.

“Is it because of Frankenstein?”

And just like that, Lunark started to wonder if she should start calling the dead werewolf daddy.

Muzaka smirked at how Lunark’s face turned stony.

“Honestly, it’s not that hard to guess. There were only a very few changes in our land lately. Union’s invasion. That blondie’s visit. And trouble with the QuadraNet. But since that blondie happened to have gone around the time you changed, anybody would be able to guess he did something to you. So, is it because of him?”

Despite knowing that silence is definitely not the remedy right now, Lunark could not utter a sound.

Muzaka, on the other hand, was quite unfazed by her silence, which made her question whether she should take it as a good sign.

“I’m sorry, but I say no.”

Muzaka yielded what Lunark had been predicting from him all this time, although the fact that she saw this coming did not stop her mind from crumbling to pieces, to the very bottom of her stupefied body.

“I know I don’t get to play a vote in your relationship. And it’s not like I have power to officially ban you from a relationship. But if I dare give an advice, I do not think this is recommended, Lunark. And I’m sure you know why I can’t say yes. Racial difference serves as no bars in love. I truly loved Eileen, and Ashleen was a gift like no other. To me, they were my entire world.”

Lunark could feel her heart throb as she watched how Muzaka spoke of their names without the slightest flinch.

She could not imagine how many rakes in heart and how much the magnitude of pain he would have gone through until his own family’s names turned mellifluous upon his lips.

Which is why on the other hand, she felt guilty as hell. She actually made Muzaka bring out his deceased family.

“However, our story did not meet a happy ending. Yes, there were bastards that intentionally set fire upon our path. But it does not change the fact that our story is a masquerade of blood, tears, and death.”

Muzaka’s voice remained as placid as it was, but Lunark could not even dare make a face that she wanted to comfort him.

“And as far as I know, I am the starting point of our kind’s taboo regarding relationship with humans. It’s been alive ever since my first era of reign. And I do not wish to see you suffer even little by eyes and ears against relationship with humans.”

“My lord...”

This time Lunark spoke; she did not want to keep her mouth relieved of its duty for the rest of their meeting.

Nonetheless, she could not manufacture any sound afterwards.

“And I have a practical reason as well. As you’d know, Frankenstein is in no situation to get involved in a relationship. Let’s be frank here – and I’m not trying to accuse you – you don’t think you can strike up a good relationship with him at this moment, do you?”

Lunark’s chest seized even harder; this time Muzaka sounded much more legitimate.

“And it looks to me that your feelings are already taking effect upon you. Need I remind you, you’re a warrior – the most influential one, next only to Garda. You should know that you have tons of work allocated to you, and I believe you’re smart enough not to make yourself a hindrance in our kind’s pathway due to unrequited love. However, should you make yourself a hindrance because of your feelings, I must take proper measure as your lord.” 

Muzaka sounded strict, stern, pulling down Lunark’s head even further towards the ground.

Lunark even felt dizzy because his words were as veritable and unbreakable as they could be.

The only reply she could produce was a confirmation, a gratitude, and a promise to be careful.

Her reply was halfhearted, but he would anticipate her to stay true to her words.

And she knew that. She knew that awfully well.

*****

Now that she returned to her field work, she could see that Muzaka was right.

She happened to be agonizing over her feelings at the very scene where she is supposed to get bustling.

She virtually scolded, slapped, and slammed her head to knock it off. She recognized the problem, and she wanted to fix it.

Alas, an elephant is bound to dance in one’s head the more they try not to think of it.

‘Frankenstein... What would you tell me if you figure out what’s with me?’

Would he poke fun at her with that oh-so-impish face, making a condescending show of how he did not expect her to fall for him?

Or would he snap at her that he will have none of her feelings whatsoever?

Lunark could only roll her eyes in her shoes, hopelessly tied to her heart racing to the far end away from her head. That was when the new warriors returned to her.

“Lady Lunark...”

“We just finished the job.”

“Now what should we do?”

Lunark barely managed to hide her wince and answered them.

“Now let us wait. Brace yourselves, all of you. It could take us hours, days, or weeks until we get what we want. But we are not leaving empty-handed. This time we will catch that rat still going about and nipping away what should be our duty.”

Lunark regained her stance as a senior warrior, tall and proud and authoritative.

The new warriors, overwhelmed by her posture, bowed their heads in mixture of anxiety and motivation.

“Now, positions, everybody. You know what to do.”

The three werewolves sang “understood” in synchronization before they jumped into the air, and Lunark followed suit, sneaking into the corner of the dispository that provides the best view of the entire space.

She wished, however, that they would get to stay as long as possible.

She knew that there is no good in taking so long until they could leave.

Yet she wanted to return as late as possible; otherwise she would get to meet Frankenstein again rather too soon.

Lunark grit her teeth in the lowest volume she could pull off, feeling how her lips would boil with heat every time she thought of him.

Sadly for her, it turned out that Lady Luck was certainly not on her side for the day.

She could hear clicks of heels, drawing nearer and growing bigger every second.

In reaction, her muscles tensed with automatic alertness.

After she waited to make out the profile of someone who had been ruining werewolves’ tasks all this time, she got to stare at and scan from head to toe the said someone.

Then suddenly, the visitor’s head violently rotated to a corner of the dispository, and Lunark’s eyes enlarged as she reminded herself who happened to be hiding there.

Bam! Came a thundering noise and a groan of pain.

“What are you? Who do you think you are to spy on me? Well, doesn’t matter. I don’t know how you found me in this place, but you saw my face. Which means you just earned yourself a death sentence.”

Clenching the least competent warrior in the room by the throat, the unknown figure sliced the air with her other hand.

Thud!

Dust and wind were whipped up one more time, along with the impact from Lunark’s feet, when she jumped in just in time to stop a potential carnage.

“And who do you think you are to lay that filthy paw of yours on our warrior? I hope you’re ready for your consequence.”

The woman’s eyes twitched, in clear recognition of the former 5th Elder.

“Nice to see you at last, you rat. You might wanna call your parents right now; you won’t be going home tonight.”

As Lunark bickered, Helga did not even cringe, instead squinting her eyes in a way her eyeballs would bulge out with hostility.

(next chapter)

At last, Muzaka noticed lol. And at last, Lunark found Helga. I may be the writer, but I feel kind of bad for throwing Lunark into two troubles at once. I really wish I can write something fluffy for her very soon! By the way, “dispository” is my creation for this fic. There is a reason why I came up with this facility; however, I will save the reason why for later, for as of now it could serve as a spoiler. Please stay tuned to find out why!

[yourrealitybeyondtime]

My OC Descriptions!

Thank you so much for your positive responses, @dasjansel @corvid-moon @teeny-weeny-ducklings @technoxslayer360 @incoherentmoose and @cake-and-roses ! Since you guys asked, I made overall descriptions of my OCs and a bit of a synopsis. Sorry it's so long! I hope you enjoy it and please provide feedback!

This is a story that takes the "chosen ones" and fantasy tropes and turns them on their heads. The main character never accepts his role. The guy doesn't get the girl. There's no prophecy or guide. The populace thinks they're monsters, not heros. Their powers are explained scientifically. They have to help themselves emotionally so they can help others physically. It's just a bunch of young adults with problems getting into shenanigans, figuring out life's lessons, and maybe saving the world.

Name: Adrian

Age: 18

Height: 5'8"

Gender Identity: Male

Pronouns: He/Him

Sexuality: Bisexual (Feminine leaning)

Race: Human

Ethnicity: German/Portugese

Neurodivergent: Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Active Power: Super strength

Passive Power: Truth (Ability to see through illusions, understands foreign languages, can tell when someone is lying, etc)

Activating Emotion: Courage

Associated Color: Yellow/Gold

Associated Element: Air/Wind

Description: This rich, all-American, high school boy has had a near perfect life growing up until a burglar breaks in his home. Thankfully, he stops the villain… by tackling him through an oak door! First hailed as a hero, his social life then gets thrown into disarray as this new found strength that seems to randomly come and go ends up earning him the reputation of a destructive menace. On top of that, he starts passing out and having "visions." Doctors say he's having seizures, but these visions feel more real than his life ever has, and it's always of the same place, a magic lab where he's the experiment! His visions keep getting worse until one day he fully wakes up in the lab and escapes, but now he can't go back home!

Adrian finds out he's stuck in the world of Mythos, the parallel Earth where all of our fantastical dreams come from, and he's not happy about it! And the locals don't seem happy about him either. Just wanting to get this over with and go home, Adrian faces more ugly reality in this fantasy world than he ever did in his privileged life in our world. With no guides or prophecies and regarded as a monster, Adrian has to figure out how to find others like himself to help him save the world and go back home.

Adrian is the self-proclaimed leader of the group. He's obnoxious, self-centered, and stubborn, and completely uninterested in helping unless it benefits him somehow. You are supposed to dislike him at first. He matures and becomes much more open-minded and accepting through the journey.

Initial Motivation: To get back home

Journey: Breaking out of your bubble is more important than staying in it, others suffer in a way different from you, you cannot speak for others, use privilege to help those that don't have privilege, attraction to anyone who shows femininity or doing female-assigned tasks/behaviors (being kind, showing emotions, being vulnerable) does not make you less of a man, the greatest strength is facing the truth

Name: Iola

Age: 20

Height: 6'2"

Gender Identity: Female

Pronouns: She/Her

Sexuality: Lesbian

Race: Human

Ethnicity: Afro-Columbian

Neurodivergent: Anxiety

Active Power: Shield

Passive Power: Acceleration/Regeneration (Subconsciously heals others, requires focus if needs boost in power, ie, if someone is bleeding out. Can cause things to grow, but also age. Cannot remove poisons/curses, cannot bring people back to life, conditional)

Activating Emotion: Care

Associated Color: Pink/Orange

Associated Element: Earth/Wood

Description: Iola's life had been pretty quiet since she and her dad started a farm out in the wilderness, until a strange boy pops up who brings a whole lot of unwanted attention. She stumbles upon her own powers as she defends her home, and then sets out to find others with Adrian.

Iola is the mom of the group, both the good parts and the bad. She is kind and caring and helpful and also stressed af and sometimes pokes her nose where she's not welcome. It's suggested at first that she may be the Adrian's love interest, but, surprise! She only likes girls. She seems to have lost someone precious to her, and it's not her mom.

Initial Motivation: Believes in following destiny

Journey: Self-sacrifice is not always necessary, mediation is more important than appeasement, give without expectation of return, worthy of just existing, important to take care of self in order to take care of others, rest is a type of work and just as important as being active

Name: Emlyn

Age: 21

Height: 6'0"

Gender Identity: Androgynous

Pronouns: He/Him

Sexuality: Pansexual

Race: Human

Ethnicity: Northern Irish

Neurodivergent: Complex PTSD, Depression

Active Power: Chemical Reaction (Interaction of two or more substances that results in different substances. Can only initiate reaction, cannot control the outcome. Usually uses fire as a weapon, but can use others. Can also stop reaction in process, but cannot reverse.)

Passive Power: Psychic (Ability to sense when others are nearby, can receive symbolic messages through dreams, not prophetic)

Activating Emotion: Passion

Associated Color: Deep blood red

Associated Element: Fire

Description: Emlyn finally seems to have found a home at the inn he works at when two strangers pop up with trouble following them. He unleashes his powers to defend them, but his loved ones reject him when his secret is exposed. With nowhere else to go, he tags along with Adrian and Iola, the only people who seem to accept him how he is. However, he harbors a terrible secret that he's hellbent on taking to the grave, and it creates a division between himself and the others.

Emlyn is very quiet and reclusive. He doesn't talk much, and seems to be insistent on covering as much skin as possible at all times. He's not the angry or brooding type, but surprisingly polite and soft spoken. And surprisingly strong. However, he seems like he'll do anything to avoid using his powers, and almost seems scared of them. Adrian bullies him frequently, threatened by the fact that he's attracted to Emlyn. Emlyn doesn't seem to care, but eventually lashes out, showing a very different, vicious side.

Initial Motivation: Redemption

Journey: The past is the past, use mistakes to learn and teach, secrets create unnecessary burden, it's okay to have darkness, do not let negative emotions rule over logical decisions, take both capabilities and lack of into account, sometimes you just can't do what you want even if others can, you are not damned

Name: Liesel

Age: 82

Height: 5'0"

Gender Identity: Genderfluid

Pronouns: She/Her, He/Him, They/Them

Sexuality: Abrosexual

Race: Fairy/Changeling

Ethnicity: Jewish

Neurodivergent: Autistic

Active Power: Freedom (Ability to unlock anything, create doors/portals with conditions)

Passive Power: Choice (Can tell what someone has decided before they act on it, very useful in combat; can see what future "paths" can be taken but cannot tell outcomes)

Activating Emotion: Hope

Associated Color: Sky blue

Associated Element: Water

Description: Liesel has had to protect her people for decades, so she's more than a bit reluctant to leave with some humans to go on some adventure. When she realizes that she needs to, she goes with them, but completely mistrusts them.

Where Iola and Emlyn are more passive, Liesel is even more aggressive than Adrian. She challenges everything Adrian knows and really gets him to start looking at things differently. They develop a weird rivalry dynamic and eventually soften up with each other.

Initial Motivation: Protect her people

Journey: Evil does not originate from the same place, no group of people are all the same, there's a difference between honesty and being cruel

Name: Uri

Age: ??? (They tell a different number every time they're asked)

Height: 5'4"

Gender Identity: Agender

Pronouns: They/Them

Sexuality: Asexual

Race: Dragon

Ethnicity: Nigerian

Neurodivergent: N/A

Active Power: Light Manipulation (Can be used to make self or others invisible, create illusions, blind someone, etc. Does not actually makes things disappear/materialize, just makes it look like it.)

Passive Power: Compulsion (Redirects electrical impulses between neurons. Makes people think certain things, somewhat like intrusive thoughts. The more impulsive someone is, the easier they are to manipulate. Often accidentally shares own thoughts with others. Usually uses for persuasion among foes and to pull pranks among friends. Cannot read minds.)

Activating Emotion: Elation

Associated Color: Emerald green

Associated Element: Metal

Other: Disabled/Born without wings

Description: Uri's just minding their own business, napping on top of their treasure trove when some adventurers break in. Those same adventurers open that weird lock contraption they've been trying to open for the last two centuries. Interesting. Rather than confronting the adventurers, Uri decides to join them in hopes of making sure their treasure doesn't get destroyed, to find some more, and to enjoy some chaos along the way.

Uri is confident, charasmatic, and devilishly handsome. They only care about their treasure, but slowly finds themself caring about the others.

Initial Motivation: To protect their treasure

Journey: Self-preservation includes helping others, happiness is worth going the long way for, people have different paths to the same goal and that's okay

Name: Oriana

Age: 19

Height: 5'6"

Gender Identity: Demigirl

Pronouns: She/Her

Sexuality: Pansexual

Race: Human?

Ethnicity: Cherokee

Neurodivergent: ADHD

Active Power: Sonic/Song

Passive Power: Empath (Ability to sense motives, can literally share emotions when making physical contact, can transfer powers between people)

Activating Emotion: Love (Both romantic and platonic)

Associated Color: White/Purple

Associated Element: Spirit/Aether

Other: Intersex

Description: Oriana has been waiting at the edge of the Ancient Forest for a long time. She doesn't remember why, but she knows she needs to guide five adventurers through the massive forest that covers half the world. For some reason, she's the only one who can survive traversing it.

Oriana is sweet and kind and too naive for her own good, having never been exposed to civilization or other people before. She seems to have a mind of a child, but has the wisdom and understanding of someone who has been alive for a very long time. Emlyn develops a crush on her due to her friendly and accepting nature and eventually confides in her. Their past is far more intertwined than either of them remember, and is the answer to why this is all happening.

Initial Motivation: Because she was asked to

Journey: Evil lives in everyone, purity is non-existent, be kind to those who "don't deserve it" without allowing self to be walked on, different facets of love

[intothestarkerverse]

Time Of Our Lives (Part Six)

Based on a prompt from @geekymarvel  

Peter is tasked with an important mission that requires him to go back in time.   Finding himself at a gala for Stark industries in the 1990’s, he comes face to face with a young and incorrigible Tony Stark who considers Peter’s attempts to deny his advances a challenge.  Now, dogged by a horny young CEO who won’t take no for an answer, Peter’s task has become much more difficult….

(STORY CONTAINS ENDGAME SPOILERS)

Read on AO3

Tony was staring and making no effort to hide it.  He was captivated by the beautiful boy at the breakfast counter in the large modern kitchen that he rarely ever used.  Peter was wearing only that same pair of boxers from the night before decorated with that red and gold robot that Tony didn’t recognize and one of the billionaire’s robes untied and hanging loosely off his lean shoulders.  Completely unperturbed by his state of near undress, he was seated at the counter with a huge plate of various breakfast foods, eating bacon with his fingers in a way that was ridiculously obscene.  There was a sparkle to his eyes and a shy little smile on his lips every time he looked up and met Tony’s gaze as if every look was accompanied by thoughts of what they’d spent the better part of the night doing.

“Do you eat like this every morning?”  Peter’s excited tone and words spoken between bites of waffle that were dripping in butter and syrup made Tony smile despite himself.

“Actually, no.  I usually just have coffee for breakfast.  Sometimes something quick like toast…never anything like this.”

Peter hesitated, now, a fork halfway to his mouth with more soggy waffle dripping a long line of syrup back onto his plate.  “Then…what is all of this?”

“My butler’s attempt to impress you, I think.”

Tony saw Peter’s gaze hover over the breakfast buffet as a wash of rose colored his cheeks.  “It worked.”

“Clearly.”  Tony was going to owe the man a thank you, not that gratitude was something Tony was known for.  However, he was going to make an exception for this.  “He never gets to show off his skills anymore, he was probably happy to have someone to enjoy his food for a change.”  Jarvis had clearly demonstrated that he understood Tony better than anyone else, perhaps better even than he knew himself.  As much as he wanted to think of Peter as the typical one night stand fare, it was clear from his lingering feelings that morning that this was not as transitory as he might have hoped.

“Why does he want to impress me, though?”  Peter had moved from the waffle to a few pieces of French Toast and a pile of scrambled eggs.  “Oh my God, Tony.  You should have some!  Oh, this is so good…”

The sound he made between bites was positively pornographic.  Never mind the fact that Tony had spent most of the night bending Peter over backwards and sampling everything the boy had to offer.  Tony was sore in the most satisfying way, but Peter didn’t even seem to be phased.  If either of them should be having trouble walking, it should be the kid.  The fact that he seemed so unaffected only made Tony want to drag him back to the bedroom to make sure he was well and properly fucked.  Unfortunately, he was fairly certain the kid was going to be back on that mission of his as soon as he was done devouring breakfast.  “Jarvis knows me pretty damn well, Peter.  He knows I like you, and I don’t like a lot of people…hence your personal Ihop in my kitchen.”

Peter’s gaze darted up again, his blush darkening and his smile widening.  “You like me, huh?  And you actually called me by my name…”

“Too weird?  I can go back to Beautiful…”

“I mean, that’s nice…I don’t hate it.”  Peter drained a small glass of orange juice, as he considered it.  “But I kind of like the way you say my name, too.  It’s…nice.”

Tony chuckled, producing Peter’s watch from the pocket of his pajama pants.  “Picked this up from my lab this morning before you were up.  Thought you might want it back.”

Peter reached for it with both hands, grabbing it gently and putting it back on his wrist with a visible sigh of relief.  “Yeah…no…thanks.  I just…I feel a lot better with it on me, you know?  Did…did you get the GPS working at all?  Do we know who took the machine?  I should really get it back and get home…”

Tony nodded, “To be honest, I don’t think I needed it.  Turns out the thieves would have been at the top of my list of suspects either way.”

“Was it Hydra?”  Peter sounded nervous, shoving his now empty plate away as he regarded Tony anxiously.

“Hydra?  No, Pete, not Hydra.  It’s just regular, run of the mill corporate espionage.  Oscorp.”

Peter’s blank stare made Tony clear his throat.  

“Norman Osborn?  You ever…you ever hear of him?”

Peter shook his head.

“Huh, well that’s oddly satisfying.  The Starks and the Osborns have a long and…dysfunctional past.  My father ruined Norman’s father.  Almost ruined Oscorp.  They lost a fortune and have never really recovered…  Norman is a bit older than me.  He was at MIT the same time I was but he was a few years ahead and no prodigy.  He was big man on campus before I got there.  Then I show up and suddenly Norman isn’t the darling of the campus anymore.  Not my fault I was smarter, better looking, and a hell of a lot more fun to be around.  He took it hard.  Tried to compete with me ever since.  The fact that he can’t, really, compete with me intellectually or financially or sexually…makes him pretty desperate to best me at any cost.  So, he apparently hired some goons to steal from me last night.  Probably thought he’d get the upper hand on whatever tech I’m working on in the lab.  If you want your machine back, we’re going to have to steal it back from Norman.  Good news here is that he’s not that smart…”

Peter nodded resolutely, “Okay, just tell me where his office is and I’ll break…”

“No offense, Gorgeous, but I’ve seen your cat burglaring and it leaves a bit to be desired.  I think if you want to get this thing from Norman without destroying the time line or getting yourself arrested…you’re going to have to let me help you on this.”

“No, no way.  If you get hurt…”

Tony crossed his arms, lips pressed together in an annoyed frown.  “Kid, I’m a weapon’s manufacturer.  ‘Merchant of Death’.  You think I don’t know how to use a gun?  You think I’m some defenseless idiot?  I’m far from helpless and you need all the help you can get.”

“I guess if you put it that way…”  Peter’s smile was enough to make Tony feel warmer and more alert than his coffee ever would.  He placed the empty cup on the counter and skirted it to come up beside Peter.  Resting a hand against Peter’s cheek, he gently turned his head and tilted it up enough to allow for a kiss.  The taste of maple syrup and coffee lingered between them as tongues danced and pulses rose.  

“Yeah, Baby, I’m going to help you.  If I don’t, you’re going to end up languishing in a S.H.I.E.L.D prison cell.  I know you must be a great hero in your time, because you’re certainly a terrible criminal in mine.”

Peter’s eyes were still closed, a little smile on his lips as he leaned his face into Tony’s hand.  “I think that was a compliment, maybe, right?”

“Something like that.”

“So…does this mean you have a plan?”

Tony stepped back, regarding the younger man with arms crossed contemplatively.  “Well, Norman was at the Gala last night.  He likely saw me with you.  He’s always wanted what I have.  We could send you in to seduce him and provide a distraction…”  Peter’s laughter interrupted Tony’s planning.  The billionaire paused, “What’s so funny?”

“Hi, I’m Peter Parker.”  Peter held out his hand as if to shake Tony’s, his voice still full of amusement.  “Have we met?  I’m…uh…I’m not…I can’t seduce Norman Osborn.”

“You seduced me.”

“Did I, though?”

“Yes, most definitely.”

“Well…you’re not Norman Osborn.”

“Thank God.”

“Tony, we need another plan.  One that doesn’t involve me seducing anyone.”

“Not even me?”

Peter smirked.  “Not right now?”

Tony gave Peter’s cheek a little pat.  “Don’t worry, Sexy, I have a plan B.  But first, I’m calling in reinforcements.”

—

“Who’s the kid?”

Peter was perched on the arm of the sofa.  Since his ruined tuxedo was no longer appropriate attire, he had been provided with more clothes by Jarvis.  The butler had graciously shown Peter to a bathroom where he could take a shower while Tony did ‘damage control’ with Obadiah concerning last night’s security concerns at the gala and Tony’s less than stellar speech to the guests.  Peter was surprised that the clothes were brand new, tags still attached.  Jarvis clearly had super powers of his own which included accurately gauging clothing size on sight alone.  

Peter had been waiting anxiously for most of the morning to see what Tony’s idea of reinforcements was going to be.  In the end, he realized, he should have known exactly who it was going to be.  “Colonel Rhodes!”  He bounced up immediately all smiles, eager as a puppy the moment the future Iron Patriot stepped into the room and gave him a puzzled once over.

“It’s Airman First Class.”  To Peter.  Then, to Tony.  “Okay, seriously, Tones.  Who.  Is.  The.  Kid?”

Tony gave his shoulders a semi-noncommittal shrug.  “I suppose if we’re assigning labels I’m going to have to say…my lover?”

“Lover!  Is he even legal?”

“Think so.  You are, right?”

Peter pantomimed surprise, looking over his shoulder and around the two men for several seconds before pointing at himself.  “Me?  Oh, wait, you guys can still see me?  Thought for a minute there I was invisible since everyone was talking like I wasn’t here.  But no, I mean, yeah, yeah I’m legal.  I’m practically an adult.”

One of Tony’s eyebrows rose and he cocked his head at Peter but chose not to question him further.  “See, Rhodey, he’s legal.”

Peter stepped forward again, holding out a hand and trying not to look as nervous as he felt.  “Peter Parker, Colonel…I mean Airman Rhodes, Sir.  It’s an honor.  A real honor.  I’m a big fan.”

“Yeah, I bet you are.”  Rhodey gave his outstretched hand a dubious once over but took it for a quick handshake.  “This kid’s a little off, Tony.  So, you invite me over to waste my leave bragging about your barely legal sexual conquests, or is there an actual point to all of this?”

Tony chuckled, moving to take a leisurely pose on the sofa, one arm draped across the back of the couch, his legs crossed, head cocked as he considered his friend.  “I was robbed last night.  Some hired thugs from Oscorp.  Lost something pretty valuable to the kid, lost a lot of stuff that was semi-valuable to me.  I need to get the kid’s thing back for him and getting my stuff back would be a bonus.  I need you to help me do that.”

“You’re not even going to ask me if I’ll help?  Can’t even give me the illusion of free will?  Is that really too much to ask?”

“And miss your entertaining tirades?”

“Fuck you, Tony.  I’m not helping you rob someone.”

“Technically, is it really robbing someone if we’re stealing back something they stole from you in the first place?”  Peter had been attempting to help the argument, but from the look that Rhodey gave him, he could tell he hadn’t been successful.  Lips pursed in a frown, he settled onto the couch beside Tony and let the older man reach out to draw him in closer until the sides of their bodies were flush against each other and Tony’s arm was wrapped casually around his shoulders.

“God, there’s two of you now.”  Rhodey scowled at them both.

“Would it help if I told you the fate of the universe hangs in the balance?”  Tony’s tone was serious but apparently Rhodey still did not believe him.

“Not really.”  An uncomfortable silence settled over the trio until Rhodey broke it with a groan.  “So help me Tony, if you get me court marshaled…”

—

“I’m sorry, Mr. Osborn I told him you were busy all afternoon…”  Tony heard the harried voice of the secretary as she rushed into the office trailing on the heals of her boss.  Norman Osborn froze in the middle of the office, his chiseled features a mask of indifference, though his ire was belied by the spark of indignation Tony caught in the man’s gaze.  “He wouldn’t take no for an answer!  He just pushed his way in and wouldn’t leave and told me if I called security that I would be putting Oscorp out of business.  I didn’t know what to do…”

“No need to worry, Kayla, Tony and I are old friends.”  His tone indicated that this was not the case.

The pretty, young blonde nearly collided with her superior upon his unexpected stop.  Drawing to an ungainly halt beside him, teetering once on her stiletto heels, she looked back and forth between the two men with obvious concern.  “Should I take notes…”

“No, Kayla, I imagine we will want some privacy to…reminisce about the good old days.”

“And he won’t want any written record of what I’m about to say.”  Tony’s posture was calm and cool.  He was leaning against the wall, arms crossed, surveying them both with his typical nonchalance, but his tone was not as calm.  There was no faux warmth or friendship there, and Kayla seemed to understand quickly enough that she wanted no part of what was about to take place.  She rushed from the room mumbling about holding calls and rescheduling appointments for the afternoon.

Once alone, the two men stared at each other in silence for several seconds like lions sizing each other up before the inevitable throat-biting bout for dominance.  It was Tony who broke the silence at last.  “Did you really think I wouldn’t find out that it was you, Norman?”

“What makes you think I care if you know?”  He was bluffing.  Tony had actually played high stakes poker with the man more than once since college, and from his own keen observations, he knew that Norman tried to deflect with rhetorical questions in his own misguided attempt to recover control of the conversation whenever he felt outclassed.

“I could have the authorities beating down your door in seconds.  You stole materials Stark Industries was creating for the Defense Department.  What were you going to do with them?  Sell them back to the Defense Department at an inflated cost…or sell them to someone else all together?  I think that might make you a traitor to the country, Norman…”

“Why do you always have to default to being so damn over-dramatic, Stark?  Doesn’t it get exhausting for you?”

“I’m known for my incredible stamina, Norman.  Ask your ex-fiance, I’m sure she can tell you all about it.”  The look on Norman’s face made Tony preen with satisfaction. “I want back what you stole, Norman.  All of it.  Now.  Don’t make me force your hand.  You won’t like it.”

“It feels good to know that for once you’re going to know what it’s like to want something you can’t have.  And since we have everything out in the open, Stark, who was the man in the suit?  My men told me you had an operative of your own in a brightly colored metallic suit who could do a lot of remarkable things.”

Tony tipped his head, a laugh bubbling up from his chest.  “Let’s just say my father wasn’t the only one to dabble in the creation of super soldiers, Norman. In fact, it’s funny that you should bring him up.  See, you’re about to give me back everything you stole…if you don’t, let me tell you what’s going to happen…”

—

Peter stole a glance at the man beside him, doing his best to look like he belonged as they were led down office corridors.  Rhodey, for his part, did not even spare Peter a second glance in his direction.  Probably succeeding at playing the superior officer with his assistant much better than the teen was.  Peter hadn’t asked Tony how he’d come up with an air force uniform that fit him in such a short amount of time.  He wasn’t sure he wanted to know, honestly, especially when he took into account the hungry way Tony had looked at him when he’d stepped out in it.  “Uniform kink?”  Peter’s inquiry had been spoken under his breath when Rhodey was otherwise occupied.  Tony had quirked an eyebrow at him, laughed, and answered that he had a ‘Peter kink, apparently’.  

Although the men had argued for quite a bit longer, Rhodey had finally relented and agreed to helping Tony recover his stolen items only because they included some failed prototypes for weapons he was designing for the Defense Department that no one wanted to fall into the hands of Norman Osborn.  “What government would court-marshal you for saving the country, Rhodey?”  Tony’s argument had been sound, though Rhodey had made his displeasure with the plan known at multiple intervals.

Now, after producing the uniform and watching Tony hack the Defense Department server for the second time in twenty-four hours to provide the necessary false credentials, Peter and Rhodey were on their way to inspect a project Norman was bidding on for the Air Force (against Stark Industries, no less).  Just as they’d expected, as the two men were being led into a conference room to await Norman’s arrival, a small blonde secretary came rushing in looking much the worse for wear.  

“I’m so, so sorry, Sirs.  Mr. Osborn has been delayed by an unexpected emergency on an unrelated project.  I think we’ll need to reschedule the inspection because I don’t know how long he’ll be delayed…”

“What’s more important than a multi-million dollar contract with the armed forces?”  Rhodey’s tone was stern and his posture was downright irate.  Peter felt sorry for the girl who almost cowered in response.  

“I…I don’t really know.  I’m not at liberty to discuss it..”

“I don’t have time to come back or reschedule this inspection.  I’ve been informed by my superiors that we’re cutting funding to at least one of the prototypes in development.  I have four other manufacturers to visit today, and if all four of them are willing to allow me to tour their labs…do you want to guess which one I’m going to recommend we cut?”

The secretary swallowed hard.  “I’m sorry, I don’t know…”

Rhodey let out an angry sigh.  “I’m going to go call my superiors.”

Peter almost laughed at the design of the cell phone Rhodey produced to use for that phone call.  He’d very nearly asked to examine it on the way to Oscorp, but thought better of it when Rhodey had given him a withering glare the moment he opened his mouth to speak.  As Rhodey made his call, to Jarvis and not his superior officers, Peter did as Tony had instructed him to do and walked over to provide the girl with a little comfort. She was clearly shaken and it was impossible for Peter not to feel genuinely bad for her.  “I’m sorry.  He can be a jerk sometimes.”

“Yeah, I know all about jerks.”  She sniffled a little, rubbing the back of her hand over her nose.  “I’m Kayla.”

“Peter.”

She gave him a weak smile, her gaze flicking over him a few times before he noticed a little blush starting around her cheeks.

“Kayla…um…well…I know this is a big deal and that people could lose their jobs if the project gets canceled, so can’t you just show us the labs?  We have clearance, you know that from the DoD.”

“I’m really not supposed to.  I only have clearance to make deliveries and inquiries for Mr. Osborn.  I’m not allowed to touch anything or speak to the scientists so I don’t think I’m allowed to take people in there, either.”

“Did he say you couldn’t take us in there?”

“Well…no…”

“And you can get in the labs?”

“Well, yeah.”  Kayla let out a long sigh.  “I guess I could.  Mr. Osborn would be mad, but if I save the funding for the project…he can’t be that mad, can he?”

This part of the plan had been extremely difficult for Peter to swallow.  He didn’t like the idea of getting anyone fired, and he liked it less now that he’d met her.  Kayla seemed like a nice person who worked for a really shitty megalomaniac and Peter using her and getting her fired even in an effort to save the universe did not feel entirely justified.  In the end, it had been Tony’s assurances that he would find her a job at Stark Industries working for someone who would not treat her like garbage that had alleviated Peter’s concerns enough to follow Tony’s instructions.

As Rhodey walked back into the room with a dire expression on his face, Kayla appeared to come to a decision of her own.  “Uh…Sir…Mr. Osborn is going to be busy for most of the afternoon, but I can show you to our labs.  I just need to get Mr. Osborn’s permission…”

Rhodey shook his head emphatically, “If you can’t manage to get us into those labs now, Miss, without wasting any more of our time by trying to get Mr. Osborn’s permission…than you can consider this project terminated.”

Kayla looked at Peter, the fear in her eyes making the teenager’s stomach twist in discomfort.  He just had to keep telling himself that she was going to enjoy her new job more than this one.  Finally, the girl nodded and led them out of the conference room and further into the recesses of the office building.

Ambiguously decorated hallways with carpeting, unobtrusive wall hangings and periodic doorways gave way to spartan white corridors with harsh florescent lighting and security keypads at every door.  Kayla seemed to know exactly where they were going and punched in a sixteen digit code before waving them inside.  Several scientists looked up from their work, one of them a man that Peter swore he recognized from the burglary the night before.  “Mr. Osborn has given these men permission to tour the facilities…”  As Kayla explained the situation to the scientists, Peter slipped the remote from his pocket and pressed the first button.  Overhead, the lights flickered into a brown out.

Step One was complete.  In five minutes, they moved to Step Two.

—

“As we speak, my super soldier has already infiltrated your labs downstairs.  I wonder if you even know what you stole from me last night, Norman?  One of those failed prototypes was an EMP for the Air Force.  It failed because they wanted something localized, pinpoint accuracy.  My prototype was going to take out a whole city block if it was deployed.  And you have it downstairs.  In your lab.  Something that could destroy every circuit board in this building.  Something that could probably destroy you.”  Tony paused as the lights around them flickered into a brownout.  The kid’s timing really was impeccable.

Tony held up a single finger to point to the overhead lights.  “That.  That means the device has been armed.  You have ten minutes to give my men everything you stole last night or they’re going to detonate the EMP.  Then, you can kiss your company goodbye.  You will have finally managed to do something your father couldn’t…completely destroy your company.”

Norman’s face was bright red, there was a subtle movement at his jaw that indicated that the man was gnashing his teeth in frustration.  His red-rimmed eyes moved from the man in front of him to the browned out lights and back again.  

Tony wasn’t bluffing.  He was completely prepared to destroy Oscorp and Norman Osborn with it.  Honestly, he had hoped he would get the chance to do just that.  It had been Peter’s insistence that they couldn’t put that many people out of work to settle an old college rivalry.  The kid had a point, and he had convinced Tony to give the man a fighting chance.  Despite his better judgment, Tony had agreed.

On his desk, Norman’s computer began to emit a loud beeping noise and the man let out a powerful line of curses.  He skirted the desk, bracing his hands on either side of the keyboard as he leaned forward to examine the screen.  Tony didn’t need to follow him to know what he’d find.  Just because the prototype Norman had stolen hadn’t worked, didn’t mean Tony didn’t get the EMP working.  He’d placed a small, fully operational version of the device on the underside of Norman’s desk shortly before the man arrived.  The tiny remote, concealed in Tony’s hand, had allowed him to detonate the device and wipe Norman’s computer.  It was now a very expensive paperweight and nothing more.  All of Norman’s attempts to re-activate it were useless.  

“Fine.  Fine.  Take your pieces of junk and go, Stark.  None of them were worth my time anyway.”  He picked up the phone on the desk and dialed a three digit number.  “It’s Norman.  Wrap up what we took last night.  I’m bringing someone downstairs to pick it up…Yes, all of the hardware.  I know…just do what I say!”  He hung up the phone angrily and turned on Stark.  “Follow me.  Once you have what you came for, I want you out.”

“Believe me, Norman, as hard as it’s going to be to leave you and your winning personality behind, I’ll find a way.”

—

As Rhodey made a show of examining projects and schematics, Peter paced around the room seemingly bored by the entire affair.  In reality, he was laying charges.  As Tony had put it, they needed an insurance policy if they wanted to make it out of the building unscathed.  This was their insurance policy.

Peter laid the final charge and returned to Rhodey’s side.  “Sir, we need to be on our way to the next inspection by 1100 hours.”

Rhodey paused, glancing at his watch.  “Yes, we do.  I think we’ve seen enough here.  You can tell Mr. Osborn that the DoD will be in touch regarding funding.”

—

Happy Hogan had joined Tony in Oscorp after being summoned from the car outside.  The man seemed to be taking well to his new post as personal security and was only too happy to accompany Tony to recover the stolen weaponry from the labs.  

There was a crate identical to the one from the night before waiting in the lab when they arrived and though it seemed somewhat cumbersome, Happy insisted that he could carry it out without a problem.  Once back in the corridor, making their way back the way they’d come, a door opened to their immediate left and Tony turned in time to see Peter, Rhodey, and the secretary exiting another lab.  Norman saw them too, a deep scowl appearing on his face as he recognized his own secretary.  “Kayla, what…”

It all happened very quickly.  Tony heard the familiar thwip thwip of webbing and smiled at the sight of Norman Osborn securely fastened to the neighboring wall.  Peter was in the process of apologizing profusely to Kayla, who was only secured by a single arm to the wall opposite.  Tony had to admit that Peter’s concern for a girl he had only just met was both endearing…and jealousy-inducing.

“You’re going to give me and my associates time to get out of the building, Norman.  If anyone follows us, we will destroy all of our ongoing projects and data in a single blow.  If you contact anyone about our little arrangement here today, audio of our conversations and video of last night’s robbery will be leaked to the press. If you think you can use the charges I left behind to reverse engineer them and use them for Oscorp…think again.  I know how you think, Norman, and the charges will self destruct as soon as we’re clear of the building. I want to pretend this didn’t happen.  You want to pretend this didn’t happen.  No reason we can’t both have what we want.”

Norman opened his mouth to speak, but his words were muffled by a new shot of webbing and a bratty grin from the teenager that went straight to Tony’s pants.  “I think Tony laid things out pretty well.”  

Tony gave Peter a little wink of approval and gestured to the crate.  “You want to use those superpowers of yours to help Happy get that crate out of here before we push our luck too far, Beautiful?”

—

“This?  This is what the Old Man sent you back in time to retrieve?  This is what’s supposed to save the universe?  This?”

Peter followed Tony’s gaze to the machine the teenager was holding reverently in his hands.  The first thing they’d done upon arriving back at Tony’s home from their heist at Oscorp was look for the machine Peter had been desperately trying to retrieve since he arrived in this time.  He’d pulled out and been shocked by Tony’s quick, and less than satisfactory reaction to it.  His large brown eyes had grown wider at Tony’s incredulous tone and he tugged his bottom lip between his lips nervously.  “Yes…”  The word was drawn out, breathy and uncertain.

The other man let out a long and dramatic sigh, “Peter…What did he tell you about this thing?”

“That it’s broken and after I get it back to the present, we’ll have to fix it.  He was going to help me.  He can talk to me when I’m sleeping. In REM.  He was going to talk me through fixing it…”

“Peter,”  Tony reached out, plucking the machine from his hands and giving it a little shake that rang a squeal of dismay from the teenager’s lips. “This thing isn’t broken.  It never worked.  At best, it’s pseudo science and at worst…it’s complete science fiction.  My father called it the Nullifier.  He had these theories that he could create a machine that would condense energy into a solid form.  He wanted to put this thing at the heart of a nuclear explosion and absorb the energy of the blast back into…something less dangerous than plutonium or uranium.  He never got it to work the way he wanted it to.  He never liked to admit he was wrong so he shelved the project and determined that he’d go back to it at a later date…but he never did because it never worked.  I threw it in the incinerator because there was no reason to pursue it.”

“You’re wrong.”  Peter’s heart was hammering so loudly in his chest that he was certain that Tony could hear it.  He was worried and frightened, but he didn’t believe Tony.  Not for a single second.  “Mr. Stark would never send me here for something that wasn’t going to work.  He must know how to make it work.  He’s going to help me fix it and we’re going to save the universe.”

“It’s cute that you trust him that much.  Adorable.  Makes me jealous as hell of my own damn self, but he was lying, Peter.  Lying or stupidly optimistic.  He can’t talk you through fixing the Nullifer in 90 minutes of REM a night.  Even if it was possible to make this thing work, and I promise you that it’s not, it would require days, weeks, maybe months of hard calculations, trial and error, testing and retesting to get this thing working the way you want it to work.  If the universe of 2023 has an expiration date, I’m afraid you’d hit it long before you managed to make this thing work…”

There was a long and awkward silence in which Peter stared at the Nullifer and looked as if he was on the verge of tears.  He didn’t believe that Mr. Stark would send him on a fool’s errand.  There had to be more to the Nullifer than Tony thought, and if fixing the Nullifer during REM wasn’t possible, than there had to be another way.  

“Not if I stayed here.”  Tony was making sense, but perhaps not the kind of sense that he was hoping to make.  Peter’s mind was spinning with the implications, because Tony was right.  If the machine was as far from working order as he suggested, than he didn’t have enough time to fix it in the present and Mr. Stark wasn’t going to have enough time to help him through it.  “If I stayed here until it was fixed, I’d have days, weeks, months, as much as time as we needed to make the Nullifer operational.”

“Woah, woah, wait a minute there, Bud.  We?  When did this become a ‘we’ situation?”  Tony had both hands up, palms out as if trying to talk down a gunman.

“You’re right, Mr. Stark won’t have enough time to help me with the Nullifier.  But you do and you’re almost as smart as he is…”

“Kid, let’s get one thing straight right now.  I’m a hell of a lot smarter than the Old Man.  My brain cells are still sharp, his are probably dying off by the dozens.  He’s already senile.  Probably why he sent you back here to recover a useless hunk of junk to save the universe.  I’m sure if the Nullifier could actually work, I could get it there a lot faster than that old bag of bones ever could.  I can do anything he can do, only I can do it faster and with a lot more style.”

Peter was laughing despite himself.  Only Tony Stark would feel the need to compete with himself.  “Only one way to prove that.  Do it.  Help me.”

Tony froze, squinting one eye at the other man and pursing his lips in a lopsided frown.  “You think you can trick me into heroism, Peter Parker?  You think you can bat your eyelashes at me and convince me to put my company and my current projects on hold to embark on pointless alchemy with a time traveling spider?”

“Yes.”

A long pause.  “Fine.  But you’re going to reward me with sex…and anything else I want while we do this, you hear me?  I’m not the Old Man.  I don’t want to save the universe, but I do want you.  So we make a trade.  You get the use of my brain, and I get the use of your body…”

Peter was already blushing at the thought.  “I mean…it’s a sacrifice, for sure, but for the good of the universe…I can probably swing it.”

[kjs-s]

French leave

Pairing  Steve trevor x reader

Fandom Wonder Woman

Summary Steve’s mission goes wrong and he has to ask for help from a nearby traveling circus

Prompts Wheel of fortyne tarror card - Upright - good luck, karma, life cycles, destiny, a turning point, Circus AU, “I'm pretty good at providing distractions.” 

Word Count: 3260

Warnings: None i can think of

A/N: This is my entry for @goingknowherewastaken and @jiminthestreets-bonesinthesheets Divine me a masterpiece challenge. I chose the wheel of fortune and I used it upright.

Modern AU Diana is his boss and Etta is another spy in this one. The inspiration behind it was Madagascar 3 ans Macgyver.      

Steve had spent the last hour shopping for a suit in numerous shops around Paris. He had flown in town that same morning, landing at a private airport so that any French officials wouldn’t notice him entering the country. Being a pilot made his job as a spy easier since he could fly his own plane anywhere he needed to be. The mission Diana had sent him to was a very risky and dangerous one yet he was one of the most qualified people in the service.

 ‘’Thank you for being early Steve. We don’t have much time so I will need you to read the file when you go home tonight. You would be leaving tomorrow to get settle in.’’ Diana gave him the file and started a video from an armed robbery in Bern.

 ‘’I don’t understand D. Why am I looking into a robbery that already happened? I thought the agents that you sent to Switzerland told you the robbers escaped. Do you think I will find any information they missed?’’ He skimmed over the case file his coworkers have been working on.

 ‘’No, Charlie and Sameer did an exceptional job despite the lack of evidence. They managed to figure out where the thieves will strike next.’’ She switched the camera footage with three invitations. One to the gala at the Louvre to promote a new exhibition based on World War 2, one in Turkey for a jewelry exhibition and one of an international expo in Dubai.

 ‘’They are certain the next target is one of those events. They will take the ones in Asia and suggested that you are the best qualified for the Paris one. You know more about World War 2 than anyone else in the organization after all.’’

‘’So, my mission will be to do what, stake out the place to identify whether the thieves will be there or not? Disguised as a waiter I assume.’’ Steve despised intel gathering missions in which all he had to do was watch and guard a place. He always asked Diana for something more challenging.

‘’Nothing like that. You will go to the gala as a guest. We are always working on an ID to help you pass as a historian who specializes in World War 2. The museum has invited many historians to attend and I know it won’t be hard for you to fit in. The difficult part of your assignment is that we need you to steal the painting.’’

It took some time for Steve to process what Diana had just told him. Apparently, the mission was for him to steal the painting from the museum before the thieves show up and hide it inside the museum. Charlie and Sameer would be doing the exact same thing on their respective missions. After the authorities would be notified they would search everyone whoever looks suspicious, the spy there would put a tracker on them and apprehend them when they reach their hideout. As for the hidden items, Diana was in charge of calling an anonymous tip as to where their whereabouts are the next day.

 Steve was looking around trying to strike up a conversation with any of the other people at the gala. He has done many solo missions in the past nevertheless being there without Etta still felt a little strange. She is always a pleasure to have around and it looks less weird for a couple to sit around a talk. However, since she was working on a job in Monte Carlo Steve had to improvise. So far, he had talked about his fake job to a professor from Cambridge and listen to an author describe his latest book in much more details that he cared for.

Finally, after two hours he found an opportunity to head towards the back of the exhibition alone. He quickly made it to the control room and took out the guards there. Knocking them unconscious was easy for him and he noticed from the cameras that the corridor, which the painting was hanging on, was empty. Running towards it immediately was the first mistake he made on that mission. Not due to the guards woke up but because he didn’t do anything to not get caught on camera. If Etta were there, she would have made the cameras run on a loop for an hour to show the corridor empty still Steve didn’t think of that.

His second mistake was not double-checking what security measures the French had taken. Diana had informed him about the ones he would have to face getting to the painting. Yet nobody knew about the alarm the curator had put on the frame the day before. Therefore, when Steve took the painting off the wall it sounded and he found himself running towards the exit. He assumed someone must have seen him before since the guards were already chasing him minutes afterward.

He carefully left the painting in a closet, not the safest option and not the hiding place he was intent to use, and he went back to the gala. He removed his tie and put sunglasses on however that didn’t work. He started running once again outside the Louvre and entered the Jarvin gardens. He meant to visit them during his stay but he had not studied where he could go to hide from the guards.

Luckily, he saw a traveling circus and hoped he could lose them in the crowd. As he was running, he kept looking behind him to check if the security guards were still chasing after him. He had thrown his glasses away although that didn’t achieve the goal Steve wanted. He tried communicating with Diana who was looking out the museum from their headquarters. She advised Steve to lose the guards without being compromised and that was the right decision since the thieves didn’t end up attacking the Louvre. They were in the jewelry exhibition in Turkey and Charlie did a great job. Instead of just stealing the jewelry he replaced them with fake and made sure the alarm would sound off while they were reaching the case. He tackled them and pointed them out to the authorities who were able to pin the other robberies on them as well.

As for Steve while he was running, he was trying in the meanwhile to lose his tail and remove his suit jacket. As a result, he collided with you and tackled you to the ground interrupting a conversation you had with your fellow performers.

‘’I am terribly sorry, I wasn’t looking where I was going.’’ He helped you up and in the process tried to hide behind your friends. He didn’t even consider that you might not speak English and that he had to switch to French.

‘’You are not looking right now either. Is something wrong? Do you need help?’’ You looked towards the direction he came from and saw two men in suits looking around.

‘’Oh you are speaking English, and yes, do you see those two men over there with the black suits? They wrongly believe I stole something from them and I am hiding so they can lose me. Could it be possible to let me hide here with you?’’

‘’We are having a show in a while. However, before I start I can distract them and give you enough time to go to that trailer over there. The one with the gold star. It’s mine and you will be safe there. Don’t worry, I'm pretty good at providing distractions.’’

You hoped you weren’t committing a crime by harboring criminal but after years on the circus, you felt like you could read people easily. Steve seemed like a trustworthy person and he didn’t seem like he was carrying anything he had stolen. Besides, your trailer had nothing valuable and worth stealing in.

You turned to your friends and pointed towards the guards, telling them how they looked like as if they weren’t having fun. You tapped your best friend and fellow acrobat on the shoulder and asked her to join you. The two of you stood in front of the two men who had concealed their weapons upon entering the circus grounds.

You spoke to them hoping you weren’t doing anything stupid trusting the stranger so much.

‘’Gentlemen you seem like you haven’t planned to visit us tonight. We haven’t had anyone wearing a suit here since we started. Are you interested in our acrobat show that is about to start or are you here to look around and maybe play some games?’’ You smiled sweetly at them like a salesperson trying to promote the circus. You hated when the ringmaster wanted any of his employees to act that way but now it was necessary.

‘’Thanks for the information ladies. We will look around a bit and we will come to enjoy your show afterward.’’ The guards who spoke signaled the other to split up and they checked their pockets fearing you had pickpocketed them.

You noticed Steve giving you a thumbs up from inside the trailer and let the guards go saying you would have to warm up for the performance. Tonight you would be only on the trapeze because the show the previous night was tough on your arms and you needed to rest a little.

While you were taking a bow, you spotted Steve sneaking out. You grabbed a coat and boots and went after him.

‘’Hey you, wait up.’’ You noticed his surprise and how he made sure nobody else was around.

‘’Hi. I don’t remember your name right now still thank you so much for the assistance. I really appreciate it. I’m afraid I have to go now.’’

‘’First of all, we didn’t properly introduce ourselves. I’m (Y/N)…..

‘’Steve’’ He tried to shake your hand forgetting the urgency of the situation he was on.

‘’Nice to meet you. Would you mind telling me what that was all about? Those two were clearly security guards from the museum. You stole something from the Louvre didn’t you?’’ You were trying to figure out what was happening despite your earlier assumption that he must have done nothing wrong. You were drawn into his eyes and due to your gift of reading people, Steve seemed like a genuinely decent guy.

‘’I stole nothing. They only thought I did because I accidentally tripped and lifted myself dangerously close to touching a painting. You can search me if you don’t believe me. Where you do think I would have something I stole, in my pocket?’’ He emptied them showing you that he only had a phone on him that he had called Diana with earlier. She had told him about the thieves’ imprisonment and to lay low for an hour before flying back to London.

‘’You could have hidden it somewhere. In addition, why are you trying to leave without being seen by anyone, even the person who helped you earlier?’’

‘’I am only trying to go back home. I flew to Paris a few days ago with my own plane and my boss needs me back tomorrow.’’ He noticed you hesitation and explained that he is a pilot who is allowed to fly as a hobby from time to time. You continued being apprehensive so he suggested going with him to the private airport.

It was only a short walk nonetheless; as soon as you made it, there you encountered an unpleasant sight. Apparently, Steve had somehow been compromised because the plane he had used was now a pile of metal scraps.

‘’I can’t believe this.’’ He kicked one of the pieces of metal that from the look of it used to be part of the engine.

‘’I’m sorry about your plane Steve. I’m sure your boss will understand. Moreover, if there are no flights out to wherever you need to go, you can always catch the first one early in the morning. Also, if you don’t have any money for a hotel you are welcome to stay with us.’’

Steve was moved by your kindness. He noticed your uncertainty about him only an hour ago and the fact that you were nice enough to help him figure things out made him want to reveal everything to you. So, instead of lying about company policy providing him to fly on another company he told you about being a spy.

‘’So you hid the painting within the museum just in case some actual thieves want to steal it? That was a risky yet brilliant plan. Diana seems like an excellent boss.’’ You were impressed by their adventures and how he talked about her with adoration.

‘’She is, taught me most of the things I know apart from flying. (Y/N) did you mean it when you said I could stay on your trailer tonight? I don’t want to be a burden.’’

‘’You won’t be. Nevertheless, if someone asks, you just joined us and I’m training you as a new acrobat. From some of the story you narrated, I guess you can pull it off.’’

The crew of the circus welcomed Steve warmly the next day and informed him that they were about to leave Paris in three days. Steve couldn’t argue since he informed Diana about his problem and she had no other agent who could help him out. Even if it would take him a little more than a week to reach London.

The first day was uneventful with you giving Steve a tour of the circus during the day and had him observe your preparation for the show. Your arms were no longer in pain and you trained normally on every number you were good at. Steve was impressed by your flexibility and strength that he took a video of you to send to Diana. From the moment you came up with the story of him training to be an acrobat to join you, he thought you would make a great spy.

The only issue with your lie was that Steve couldn’t do acrobatics to save his life. Every time he tried during your stay in Paris, he ended up with bruises

‘’Don’t worry we are leaving tomorrow and I’m sure while we are on the road we can find another skill for you. The ringmaster wants to see if you can be in one of the shows in Rouen or Calais. Let’s see what we can come up with.’’ You reached to get a pen and paper to write down all the occupation he could do.

‘’I can do that.’’ You turned to see him staring at the knife throwers with a joyful expression. He was worried that if he didn’t find something he would be in trouble.

The rest of the days went by quickly with Steve being a part of the knife throwing team. He was excellent at it and he became friends with everyone on the crew. You were proud of him even though you knew it wouldn’t last. He loved his job as a spy and nothing could change that.

Steve hadn’t thought about what to say to everyone when they reached London. Etta called him when she returned from her mission to ask how he was and he revealed to her that the thought of not going back had crossed his mind. She was supportive of whatever he wanted to do. However, Diana was as impressed with you as he was and Etta had heard her saying how you would be a great asset in their team.

‘’We will be in London in a few hours. We will set at Bedford Park so you can arrange how you will go back to your headquarters or your home from there. We will stay for a week if you want to come and visit or watch a performance.’’ You knew this day would come and you didn’t want him to see how sad you were. You had grown fond of him within the short period of time you spent together and you wished you could at least be in touch.

‘’(Y/N) I need to tell you something.’’ He made sure nobody could hear you so that they won’t find out about him being a spy or that he was trying to take you away.

‘’From the first time I saw your skills, I was impressed by you. I took a video of your training and send it to my boss. I was hoping she would agree that you have what it takes to work for us. On top of that, I really like you. I would hate to stay here without you on my side. Please don’t say anything right now. I will give you my number and if you are interested, you can call me anytime you want. And before you argue with me I thought about staying here and join the circus with you but there are criminals I still need to catch.’’ He wrote down his number, gave you a hug and left to find the ringmaster so he would quit.

Two night afterward, you still hadn’t called so Steve was certain you wouldn’t. However, he still missed you and decided to watch you perform on the first show in London. Diana and Etta asked if they could come along. Steve didn’t notice the look the two women shared when they left to get ready for the circus.

None of them saw you around before the show to speak with you. That made sense when during the show you worked a lot more than any of your friends did.

‘’Thank you all for joining us tonight. We will be here for a long time. Having said that, this show tonight is special to us. One of our best acrobats who had been here with us for years just had her last show. (Y/N) please come here to take a bow for everyone.’’ You were so touched by the gesture. You had spent the day saying goodbye to your friends and promising to visit them, yet you had no idea they would give you flowers and praise you in front of everyone.

Steve was so stunned that Etta had to pinch him to react. When everyone else got up to leave, he ran over to you.

‘’Hey Steve what are you doing here? I thought our official meeting would be tomorrow. Right, Diana?’’

‘’Yes, nine in the morning. Don’t be late we need to appoint someone as your trainer before becoming a spy. Probably Etta will be right for the job.’’ She winked at you and left you to go back to Steve who was greeting the other performers. You asked him to come and find you when he was done so you can pack together.

‘’I had no idea you were about to come work for us. When did you decide that?’’

‘’A few hours after you left. I called you but Diana answered it and arranged for me to start work tomorrow. She said she would bring you up to speed. Guessing from your expression, she wanted to surprise you. So, surprise, we will be working together.’’

Working as a spy with Steve turned out exactly as you anticipated it. You loved being his friend and after two months of working together, you decided you could see yourself as a couple. Once again, Diana and Etta knew everything before the two of you but it was Etta who won the bet about who would confess their feelings first. It was you.

@writing-journeyx   @sprinkleofhappinessuniverse@ohyesmarvel@agentpeggicarter@buckyofthemyscira @romantichen @once-upon-an-imagine @locke-writes@lucetheding @marveliskindacool@captainrogerss   @jurassicbarnes@uncomfortable-writers@theassetseyeliner@sgtbxckybxrnes @thetherianthropydaily@dresupi@caplansteverogers @captainrogerss@dirajunara-archive@imamotherfuckingstar-lord @outside-the-government@thefanficfaerie@admiralamott@yallneedtrek@goingknowherewastaken @girl-next-door-writes @janeykath318@kaitymccoy123 @musikat18

[swimperialentanglements]

CHAPTER 1 – Mara meets Harris aboard the ISD Chimaera

Mara Jade

Mara entered the bridge of the Imperial Star Destroyer Chimaera and headed straight into the state room, where Gran Admiral Pellaeon was waiting for her. She knew the Admiral only by his career reputation within the Galactic Empire which was impressive to say the least.

AdmiralPellaeon

Pellaeon smiled allowing her to read how sympathetic he was in force towards her.

“Differently from others, I have nothing to fear from you, Hand. I have a mission for you. Are you in between assignment from the Emperor? Or should I look for a bounty hunter?"

The Admiral knew how to handle people and for this reason, he tried to toy with her pride. Little did he know how different Mara Jade was.

Mara Jade

"It's up to you Admiral, and how important this mission is for you." Mara crossed her arms - she was used to that kind behavior from fellow Imperials.

AdmiralPellaeon

Pellaeon grinned as she seemed to have accepted the assignment and pulled a chair on his room, next to the bridge of the ISD Chimaera.  

“Please have a seat. It is a long story”, he says.  

“Have you ever heard of Chibias? It is not that bad planet, I believe. It is located in the Mid Rim, close to Sibisme. There is a great concert hall there”, he explained staring at her beautiful emerald eyes.

Mara Jade

"Please continue", Mara was totally focused on his words, quickly scanning her own memory for any additional information.

AdmiralPellaeon

“The Rebel Scum is plotting something from Chibias. We have control of the planet but we want to move stealthily. It seems there is a traitor in the Rebellion willing to cooperate. I could send Veres or a stormtrooper".  

He briefly grinned. "but I believe that we need to be more subtle, less threatening to the Rebel deserter... perhaps somehow charming. We must find out where their fleet is, so that we can strike them at once”. The Admiral slammed the table as recalled the fallen comrades in past battles.

MaraJade

Mara smiled. "Understood, I'll make my way there tonight see what this rebel whistler has to say".

AdmiralPellaeon

Pellaeon nodded.  

“Do you need transportation? I have a highly trained storm trooper who could help you in this kind of mission. His name is Harris”

Mara Jade

The Hand denied with her head. "I can get there on my own"  

She started walking away then pauses for a second. "And thanks for the information, I'm sure the Emperor will be pleased to know one more rebel cell has fallen".

She headed to her chambers.

AdmiralPellaeon

The Admiral was about to protest as she walks away, but he is mesmerized by the sight of her rear, curvaceous body in the black skintight suit. He swallows dry and smirks, turning the communicator to Harris.  

“She’s on her way to her chambers. You’re ordered to go with her. The Rebel shall be at the Concert Hall and you are to watch her. That’s what Vader commanded”.

By the time she arrived at her chambers in the Imperial Destroyer, a young man around her age is leaning against the door. Standing at 1m88, he is well built and good looking. His blue eyes were piercing the Emperor’s Hand as she approached her room. “Greetings, Mara Jade. I’ve been told you are traveling to Chibias. Perhaps I may be useful.” He threw a data card towards her.

Mara Jade

She stared at the young man standing by, the perfect prototype of a stormtrooper... before war gets to them. She guessed he was probably there because of Pellaeon.  

"I wonder why Admiral Pellaeon things I'm in need of any assistance", she frowned.

TrooperHarris

Harris knew about the legendary beauty of Mara Jade. Nothing would have prepared him to her arrival - he was used to have women drooling around him and for the first time, he seemed to have momentarily lost his ground. His heart skipped a beat when she appeared and as he was told, she declined his assistance. A lone wolf. He approached her, trying to regain the confidence he was used to next to pretty women. She can definitively feel his strong signature in the force. As the data card he had thrown at her direction was on the floor, he bent his knees and took it. He raised his trunk and towered over her, tilting his head to the right.  

“I thought you were going to take this data card in the air”, he said placing the hand next to her in the wall and hitting the opening button of the door.

“You’d rather listen to me. The Emperor may be displeased if you treat me unwell”, he smirked as slid into her chambers.

Mara Jade

She was used to higher rank officers’ attitude, but certainly would have never expected it from a stormtrooper, specially not from one so young. Probably had a nice post next to Admiral Pellaeon, his man of trust, and of course, it had gotten to his head. 'Men' she thought to herself, trying to maintain composure

"I don't like to play catch with strangers" she answered in a flat voice, standing still outside the door.

TrooperHarris  

Harris entered her chambers and turned his back to Mara. He was not a force sensitive –not that he knew anything about the Force - but he was stronger in the force than the average person. Little did Mara know that he reported to higher ranks than Admiral Pellaeon.  

“Mara Jade, we have two options. You can stay outside without knowing what I have to offer you. Or you can come inside, open a bottle or Corellian wine, listen to what I have to say and then, kill me with you bare hands”, he said with an equally flat voice.  

“Of course, you can do that, but I think it’d be a waste of imperial resources”.

Mara Jade

She could sense the young man's arrogance as clearly as his presence in the force. "At least I can agree to one thing, I will kill you with my bare hands" she said, walking in, the door closing behind her.  

"Alright", she said, standing in front of him, her arms crossed. "The reason I won't kill you is?" She stares right at him, her patience running low every second.

TrooperHarris  

“I thought we had agreed you’d kill me”, Harris retorted as he walked to a computer station and tapped on the screen. “How safe do you think it is?”

Mara Jade  

"I'm pretty sure it's not, feel free to get to the point please" She looked at the screen from a few steps.

TrooperHarris  

Harris sat and showing no sign of fear, he typed an 18-character password. “Can you recognize this person?” A long file opened with the basic data about a certain Legolas Castor.

Mara Jade

She carefully looks at the picture of the stranger on the screen

"Enlighten me", she asked, lowering her tone for a bit, she had no clue who that man was.

TrooperHarris  

“It comes as no surprise you are no familiar with. He’s the new human ‘nephew’ serving Black Sun’s Xizor. I believe you heard about this criminal organization. We know they have been playing with us and the Rebels”, he was serious as he had heard about her past missions.  

“The point is: we do not know whether Legolas Castor is actually willing to provide us with some information or to set a trap for the fleet.”

Mara Jade

"We should find out", she answered. The name Xizor certainly resonated in her memory. A highly influential character within the Empire, she had never really liked him, but he was in good favor with the Emperor, and whatever she thought about him was out place.  

"There's a good chance that this guy Castor is only a pawn".

TrooperHarris  

“That’s why they are sending you. You have skills no other spy has, Mara.” Harris swirled the chair, so that he faced her.  

“Legolas Castor has a weakness. Redheads. Of all species. We have a ticket for you and know what? You’re seating just next to him in the concert hall in Chibias”, he says without making any effort to hide his concern about her safety.  

“I was commanded to be away watching over you. Don’t worry, I won’t be a dead loss. You may leave me behind if I get into trouble”.

Mara Jade  

"So that was it", she thought to herself. She had used her looks as a wrap on of distraction before, in fact it was quite an advantage given certain kind of targets.  

"I see you and your boss had everything set. Anyways, this should be a piece of cake" she said "Tell your superior I appreciate him taking the time to make preparations ahead", she added.  

"Now, if you don't mind I'd like to get busy", she finished, walking up to her chamber door and opening it, gesturing for the young trooper to leave.

TrooperHarris  

"Not my boss, our boss", Harris muttered in between his teeth without giving further explanation. He watched her rear swaying, almost in provocation to him - for a second, he wanted to slap it but he declined.  

"I am glad we could come to good terms, Mara. You´ll not be down", he agreed with her request and stepped out of the room - as he was in the door, he added. "Look for an old HWK-290 light freighter in the docking bay. We are not using any imperial transport, since it would raise suspicious... and I will fly it", he added, leaving her chambers. He boarded the ship and waited.

Mara Jade

Mara sighed. That trooper indeed had an attitude and that annoyed her, but she kind of like it. He was also very stubborn, something she would probably have to deal with. The information provided by Harris had been useful, and she herself had thought about piloting a low-profile ship to Chibias... Then there was the Xizor business... she had been on Chibias before, trying to bring some order back 8n to place after suspecting said ruler of treason, unfortunately, Xizor had his ways of not getting his hands dirty, so hard evidence of it was hard to find. Maybe, and just maybe allowing the stormtrooper to join her was a good idea, he could eventually come handy, she thought. She gathered her weapons and prepared a small bag with some appropriate clothes, she would have to merge at the concert hall gala and use her looks to her advantage.  

After a few minutes she boarded the freighter and joined the pilot.  

"Ok Harris, Let go".

TrooperHarris  

Harris decided to play the professional - if they were going to partner, there was no reason for them to fight each other. He stood up and bowed showing some respect.  

“There’s a room behind the pilot cabin: keep it for you, Mara” he said as he prepared the ship to take off.  

“You’ve just had a great stress in Sullust, so take advantage of this ride to relax. If you want to play sabaac or just drink some Corellian wine, I’ll be here”. Shortly after, the two entered the hyperspace. The trip would last 1 day in a series of pre-programmed jumps to the hyperspace.

Mara Jade

She was suspicious of the trooper's sudden change of attitude. He had proved himself useful, but she wanted to make sure he was up to the task, she had known a few stormtroopers who despite of the rigorous training would miss a simple target more than once or even fail protocol. Besides, she wasn't just going to sit for the ride, inaction tended to ruin her concentration. So she went and sat next to him.

"So tell me, stormtrooper Harris, how good of a pilot are you?"

TrooperHarris

Harris did not hide his surprise when Mara approached him. Her attitude was stern and professional. He turned his eyes to her and nodded. "I have had my quota of dogfights with smugglers in some missions for the Empire. I'm still alive, so it may mean something", he said as the ship came out of hyperspace, turned slightly and made another jump.  

"I plotted the known routes, even though the Hand may be authorized to use the Imperial-exclusive ones. I thought it'd be wiser, just in case someone hacks the NavComputer when we are out of the ship. It will cost us some time but will add some safety too." He swirled his chair slightly so that he could see her slender body. She was indeed pretty as he had been told. It was clear why she was the Emperor's favorite Hand.  

"I do not expect that we need to use my skills as a jet fighter. I am more worried about going physical. Those Black Sun goonies do not think twice to beat and torture people. I'm glad I can join this mission. Their crime syndicate must be ended".

Mara Jade

She was impressed by Harris's strategy skills, he had even planned ahead to cover up their tracks in case their transport was found. She smiled in approval. He was also very aware of the dangers they would probably encounter once they reached their destination, and most important, she was a professional but by no means infallible, he could see something she didn't.  

"Let's make sure it happens", she eagerly added to his comment.

TrooperHarris  

Harris stood up, towering over the redhead. He casually placed the hand on the back of Mara's chair. He knew he was winning her, although he lacked the degree of development in the force. "Yes, I don´t like those criminals", he snorted in disdain, trying to hide personal feeling of grief and suffering in relation to the Black Sun. Harris left her alone and walked to the cargo bay, where he took off the silly stormtrooper armour and put on a pair of bermuda. He began to do push-ups shirtless, focusing on what was to come.

Mara Jade

"So that's what it is", Mara could sense this mission has a personal tint for the trooper, perhaps the memories of past battles... and loss. She could empathize with his words, she despised criminals for disrupting the peace and order the Empire worked so hard to keep. But she didn't know what it was like, to take something to the personal ground, after all she had nothing to lose except for her own life which she had dedicated to serve the Empire. She peaked for a second behind her seat and briefly saw the trooper's figure, he was strong and certainly above the average stormtrooper standard of fitness. She smiled and turned her attention back to the window and out to space. They both wanted the same thing, and maybe their motivation wasn't that different. They would both once again serve the Empire for the good of the galaxy.

[haleyannroach-blog1]

The Basic Facts of How Do Professionals Clean a House

شركة تنظيف بيوت بجدة

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[terra-writes]

Paladin’s reactions to seeing their s/o kill for the first time (Part 1)

Can you please and thank you write Voltron HCs about the paladins reacting to seeing their s/o kill for the first time? I suck ass at requesting - @writing-yj

I’m so sorry for how long this took. I’ve just gotten so busy but I feel bad for not posting anything here so I hope you all enjoy this and I’ll get around to the other two requests I have soon I promise! I made these really long because these took so long for me to do and I promise to add Matt in as well as a bonus. He and Allura’s (Yes I know she’s a Paladin) will be added in an additional post just so I can get these ones out for the sake of getting something out. I’ll add a link to the others on this post when I’m able to get around to them! <3

I also can’t help but feel like I fucked up with Pidge’s and Hunk’s but these needed to get out

Warnings: Violence, mentions of blood. I’m not really sure what else to mention I do go into detail with how the kill was done

Possible spoilers below for new fans (covers stuff through season 4 I think), read with caution!

Shiro:

Shiro would probably be the most okay with it

He’s a soldier first

And I see him as being a realist

Even though most of what you had been fighting were robotic sentries, there were actual living Galra on all those ships you guys blew up on a regular basis

All of you were fighting in a war, and so Shiro knew it was inevitable

You had been on a mission with the Paladins

There was a supply outpost the Blades had tipped you guys on

Your job was to set the charges while the Paladins provided cover

The mission was going smooth, and you guys hadn’t run into much trouble

That luck turned when you were all making your escape

This base wasn’t going down without a fight, and the Commander of the base ordered everyone to try and take you guys down with them

The team was pinned, and you did your best to help clear a path back to the lions

You were the only one to notice the Galra officer running up behind Shiro

He had a broken piece of pipe in his hands, and Shiro was too preoccupied with the other Glara in front of him to notice the other one gunning for his exposed back

Without thinking you rushed forward, grappling with the officer just before he could plunge the jagged end into your boyfriend

The officer was a lot stronger than you had anticipated, and threw you to the ground

You landed next to the discarded pipe, and just as the officer was launching at you to finish the job, you used your position and his momentum to drive the metal through his heart

Shiro had caught the scuffle from the corner of his eye

He had tried to go to your aid but he wasn’t fast enough to get there before you were forced to end it

He wouldn’t mention it until after the mission was over, knowing that everyone’s first priority had to be getting back to the lions

He would be quick to remind anyone of that if any of the other Paladin’s had noticed and tried to mention it however

Once everyone was back at the Castle safe and sound and checked for injuries, he would pull you aside

Even though Shiro understood that killing was necessary in war, he knew that others wouldn’t always have that same outlook

He would be there to provide comfort if you needed it

He wouldn’t be overbearing with it, but he would make sure you felt safe and secure with him

He would assure you that he would always protect you and that he’ll do his best so you’re never put in a situation like that again

If you weren’t really bothered by the ordeal, he would still try and provide some comfort, but it wouldn’t be like it was if you were really affected by it

Killing for the first time still affects everyone to some degree

Regardless, he would make an effort to be more diligent going forward

Even though he wasn’t bothered by the act itself so to speak, he still didn’t want to leave you in situations when that was necessary if he could help it

Keith:

He would be understanding like Shiro, but it would be a complete shock to him when it first happens

You were assisting Keith on a mission with the Blades

Keith didn’t want you to go at first

He knew how dangerous Blade of Marmora missions could get

And that if it came down to it, the others would leave you behind if saving you meant putting the mission at risk

That was precisely why you wanted to go though

Because if it was dangerous for you, it was dangerous for him too

And you would do anything to keep him safe, just like he would for you

But when he realized there was no convincing you to stay, he reluctantly allowed you to come with

Deep down he was touched that you cared so much about him to want to protect him

Just like he did with you

Things were going fine at first

It was on your way out that things went downhill

Sentries had spotted one of your group just before they could get into cover

With the alarm sounded, it was looking to be a tough fight to get back to the shuttle bay

Your group was currently pinned with Galra firing at you from both directions

You were able to hold you own

But it was quickly becoming apparent that your group was getting overwhelmed

That was when your hand brushed the grenade at your belt

You had forgotten about it until now

It was something Keith had given you before you boarded the cruiser, saying that he just wanted to make sure you had enough equipment to keep yourself safe just in case he wasn’t with you

You threw the grenade at the sentries, and with a new opening your group wasted no time in taking advantage of it

You were almost at he shuttle bay when you became pinned by another group of sentries

This time however, there were several Galra officers and the commander mixed in with them

Your group fought as hard as they could, and slowly but surely, you guys were able to whittle down the enemy numbers

You shot down another sentry and turned to Keith, only for your eyes to widen in horror

He was locked blade to blade with on of the other officers, and the Galra Commander was aiming his gun right at Keith’s head

No one else was available to assist him, and it was clear Keith was unable to do anything about it even if he noticed

So without thinking you reacted

You charged with your own weapon drawn, and tackled the Galra to the ground, your knife plunged deep into his throat

You pulled the blade sideways, opening up his throat before pulling it out and stabbing him in his heart

It was when the warm liquid hit your hands that you realized what you had done

Keith had seen the whole thing and he was quick to finish dispatching the Galra he was fighting and run over to you

“He was going to shoot you and everyone else was busy so I just-“

He would shush you and tell you that you two would talk about it later once the mission was over

Neither of you would say anything else until you got back to base and showered

The he would pull you aside and ask if you were okay

If you weren’t, he would do his best to comfort you, even though it was painfully awkward since he wasn’t so good with it, but you didn’t mind, it helped to know that he cared enough to try

He would also blame himself for exposing you to such a situation where you had to take a life

Not that he would ever let it show directly

If you were okay after it, he would not and pull you in for a hug, saying that he was glad you were okay

In both scenarios he would mumble a quiet and embarrassed “Thank you” for saving him

Pidge:

Pidge would probably take this the least well

Because I headcanon her as never having personally killed a living Galra while not in her lion

I don’t really count the one episode where Rover dies, Pidge wasn’t directly responsible for that

Like when fighting with the other Paladins on the ground she only ever makes killing blows on sentries since they aren’t living

And leaves the living Galra soldiers to her team members

Because she’s still just a child and she can pretend that when she takes down a cruiser that there weren’t any living soldiers on there and that it was only sentries or that they all made it to escape pods

So when the two of you were on a mission with the team

You were assigned to the control room with Pidge

You were to guard her in case anything tried to get in while Pidge was busy hacking into the facilities’ network to assist the rest of the team and download information

So far there had only been one or two sentries that had tried to enter the room

Most of the fighting seemed to be focused on where the rest of the team was located

You weren’t too worried, they were more than capable of handling themselves

Especially with Pidge providing tech support

You had let your guard drop for a brief moment

Just enough to spare a quick glance at Pidge

But that’s all it took for one of the Galra to make it into the room

They were alone, so it’s likely that they didn’t think anyone would be in here, and that they thought they could help turn the tide against the intruders by using the facilities defenses against them

They seemed just as surprised to see you two there as you guys were to see them

 All three of you froze for a brief moment, before the Galra soldier went for their weapon

The two of you aimed at each other, but not pulling the trigger

You didn’t really register the pause from the other Galra soldier at the time, so you opened fire, your inexperience making you squeeze your eyes shut as you just held the trigger down and let the bullets fly

It was only a combination of Pidge calling your name, and the clip running out that made you open your eyes again

You really wished you hadn’t

The Galra soldier was indeed dead but…

It wasn’t pretty

Almost all of the shots you fired had hit their mark, and the soldier’s entire torso was almost unrecognizable

It made you sick just looking at it, but you also couldn’t look away, you were still in shock

You were only able to move when your mind finally caught up to what was going on

They had hesitated

You felt your stomach churn at that memory

They had drawn first, but you were the one to open fire

You took one step forward, ignoring Pidge next to you

You took another, and then another one after that, walking towards the dead soldier with each step

You had to know

 You had to know why

You finally reached the body and pulled off the helmet covering their face

You were taken aback by how young they looked

It only made you feel even worse

On some level you were surprised you could even recognize what Galra youth looked like

But there was no denying it in the face of the dead soldier in front of you

They had hesitated because they were still practically a child

Just like you and Pidge

The thought of the Galra Empire employing soldiers so young brought it home to you

Pidge kept trying to call out to you until you heard her gasp and fall silent

She had managed to walk up behind you and had seen their face as well

You kept wondering if you could have ended things without bloodshed had you waited

You could tell that Pidge was thinking the same thing

The two of you were very quiet for the rest of the mission and the whole ride back to the castle

Which was worrying to the rest of the team, as it was very out of character for the two of you

Things didn’t get much better for you two after that

Pidge almost seemed scared of you, like she was finally realizing what fighting in a war really meant

Even though she cared about you, all she could picture was how you ripped apart that soldier with your weapon whenever she looked at you

It was Shiro who finally stepped in after noticing that the two of you weren’t working through things on your own, and needed a little guidance

He sat down with each of you in private to talk things through one on one, offering whatever help he could in that moment, and then he had the two of you sit down together in the same room

None of you were allowed to leave until you reached a solution for your current predicament

It took a long time, but eventually you two were able to get past the whole ordeal

Pidge still didn’t like the idea of having to kill others, and neither did you, but now the two of you knew that you could lean on each other when things got bad

And if you couldn’t get past it on your own, Shiro was always willing to step in and help

Lance:

He would freak out

Like You ArE hIs PrECIoUS S/O HOW COULD YOU

This boy just loves you so much

He treats you like a queen okay?

He knows how nasty war can be

But he just can’t stand the thought of you killing someone

He should be the one to bear that burden in your relationship not you

It had happened while you were taking out an outpost on the fringes of the Glara empire

It was supposed to be a light, easy mission, just enough for you to get a little real-world training in so you could start helping out on some of the more difficult missions the Paladins faced

The base wasn’t heavily staffed and had only meager defenses

So infiltration team was only you, Lance, and Pidge in the Green Lion while the others waited behind in the castle as backup just in case the base was able to send a distress call before you could shut it down

Between Lance’s sniper shots, and Pidge’s hacking, you three had gotten into the control room quick and silent without tripping a single alarm

The room was  mostly empty when you had entered, likely meaning the commanding officer had stepped out for ��a short moment

All that remained were sentries which the three of you quickly incapacitated

Pidge was able to shut down all security in the facility, and you and Lance made your through the doors at Pidge’s suggestion, having found something of interest within while she was looking through their data while she remained behind to finish what she needed to do

Just as your luck would have it, that just happened to be where most of the base’s Galra personnel happened to be, both sentry and living

You let of a surprised shriek as you entered the room, quickly ducking back to take cover on either side of the doorway

You focused on the sentries nearest to you while Lance radioed the Castle for backup since there were too many or just you and Lance to take on, even if Pidge was able to make it down to help you

You felt better when you heard that the other Paladins were on their way

You and Lance were able to keep the Galra from advancing on your position just fine, but it was proving difficult

Eventually, with the other Paladin’s help, you were able to take out or tie up any remaining Galra forces

You stayed behind with Hunk and Lance to guard the captured Galra while Shiro, Keith and Pidge after rejoining the group went to check out what it was they were guarding

What you guys didn’t know, was that whoever checked the captured Galra for weapons forgot to check one, and that one of them was currently cutting through his bindings

Time moved in slow motion from that point on

None of you were expecting one of the Galra to suddenly spring up, and grab for a discarded gun nearby

You could see Lance and Hunk start to draw their weapons up, but you were faster, as you already had your weapon pointed close to his position

You fired before the soldier could even aim his weapon, and he crumpled to the ground with a loud thump

The others came rushing back at the sound of a gunshot, but it was already over

The soldier was already dead on the ground with a single gunshot to his head

Shiro and the others thought it was Lance until he started to freak out

He was frantic as he checked you over, even though you all knew that there was only one shot fired during the whole incident

By you

He would keep going back and forth between asking if you were okay, and yelling at you for killing the Galra soldier, saying that you should have let one of them take the shot instead

You just stood there like a deer in headlights, unable to get a word in and feeling overwhelmed by Lance’s reaction

Eventually it took Shiro using his Dad Voice™ to get Lance to quiet down

Later on back in his room on the ship, he would pull you close and apologize for his reaction earlier

You two would have a long talk about the incident, and he would explain that he doesn’t want you to have to be the one to kill other people because yes Galra are also people they just grew up under a shitty Emperor

You would explain your side, and the talk would be surprisingly civil and calm considering his reaction earlier

Whatever the outcome may have been from that talk, or how you felt about the act of killing another living being, Lance would hold you even closer from then on, and shower you with even more love than before

It was sweet, but sometimes it could be too much

And anytime you were on a mission together after that, Lance would kill anything near you before you had to be forced into a situation where you had to take a life ever again

And he was very good at that job

He was the team’s sharpshooter for a reason

All you ever managed to bring down were sentries, if Lance even let one of those get too close to you, and even though it could be a little annoying at times, you knew it was just because he cared so much about you

Hunk:

He would definitely freak out like Lance, but to a lesser degree

He would freak out, but he would be much quieter about it

He’s mostly fretting over you, making sure you’re okay

Also blaming himself the whole time like Lance

He was a Paladin of Voltron, sworn defender of the universe

Yet he couldn’t even protect you from all the killing and violence that was happening all around them

You were with the team on a mission

The castle had picked up the destress signal of a small squad of rebel fighters

They had come under fire from a lone Galra cruiser and wile their small group had been able to escape, a few of their ships had sustained damage and they were stranded until it could be fixed

Cue Hunk and Pidge to the rescue

And you

You weren’t as skilled an engineer as Hunk, but you had picked up a little bit of it here and there

A little more so after the two of you got together

You knew enough to do basic repairs, and with Hunk there to talk you through the more complicated ones, you were confident in your ability to help out

To say the rebels were happy to see The Castle of Lions and Voltron pull up would be an understatement

Apparently, they had been stranded longer than you guys had first thought

To add to the pressure, they were carrying vital intelligence of Galra operations to their headquarters

That’s why the Galra cruiser had fired upon them so fervently

They didn’t appreciate their secrets being taken by enemy hands

Who knew?

When Allura offered to load them onto the ship and escort them the rest of the way, they had refused much to her confusion

They said that their headquarters was well hidden, and while they appreciated the offer the Castle or one of the Lions would draw too much attention

That’s why they were in four small ships that were quick and easy to maneuver

Lucky for you guys, most of the damage was eternal and looked a lot worse than it really was

Of the four ships, only two required basic hull repair, while one needed a fix for a few of its systems

The last ship took the most damage, requiring both repairs to the hull as well as rewiring and full replacements for most of its systems

You were surprised that it had managed to make it this far at all and that only one or two members of the crew had been lost

Hunk dedicated himself to the ship that needed the most help with Pidge, while you focused on fixing the two ships with hull breeches along with a rebel engineer

The rebels had done their best to fix what they could on their own, but there were in the middle of nowhere with limited supplies

You and the other engineer were helping Pidge and Hunk wrap up the ship with the most damage on it after finishing the other two, when a Galra cruiser showed up

Turns out it was the same ship who attached them the first time after the rebels had infiltrated and took the information off of it

You guess they were still salty about it

Salty enough to bring several more cruisers as backup, which did not bode well for all of you

Hunk and Pidge were quick to head back to the Castle and launch with the rest of the paladins to go and fight the oncoming cruisers and fighters

You were asked to stay behind and help finish repairing the last ship

The plan was for the Lions and the Castle to provide cover/a distraction while you got the last ship working, then for Allura to open a wormhole for the rebels to go through that was near their headquarters, but far away enough to avoid suspicion

After that the plan was for Hunk to quick swing by and pick you up before Allura opened a wormhole for the rest of you to go through and escape

You were nervous of course, for multiple reasons

You and the rest of the rebels were left completely open on the moon they had landed on while you made repairs of which was at a difficulty you had never attempted before let alone by yourself all the while your boyfriend was out there in the midst of the fire acting as bait

Your hands were trembling before you even knew it

However you noticeably relaxed when you heard Hunk’s voice over the comm link

He was doing his best to talk you through it, and just hearing his voice and knowing that as long as you could hear him, it meant that he was okay was enough to calm your nerves and shaking enough to let you spring into action

It was slow going, even with the help from Hunk and the Rebel engineer

Some of the systems were badly damaged and some required far more time and parts than what you two currently had at your disposal

Most of what you ended up doing was configuring workarounds that would only hold for a certain amount of time before failing again

It wasn’t meant to be pretty, it was meant to hold until they got back to where they could get it properly fixed

However even though Coran and the Paladins were doing their best to keep the Galra away from you, some ships still managed to get through and land, and several sentries and soldiers were making their way towards you

Luckily for you guys, the Rebels had the foresight to land in an easily-defendable outcropping and one of the rebels went around distributing weapons to everyone and taking up cover

You were surprised when he handed you a gun, but took it anyway, hoping you wouldn’t have to use it

You wished you hadn’t jinxed yourself

The rebels put up a good fight, laying waste to any Glara who got close enough for them to shoot at before they had a chance to fire

You had finished the repairs, and the Rebels were starting to load into the ships, still providing covering fire

Hunk was on his way, but there was still going to be a brief amount of time where you had to hold the position on your own

The rebel soldier who had initially handed you the gum shook his head when you had tried to give it back, saying that you needed it more than they did

You reluctantly nodded, and watched with anxiety as the four ships took off and made their way to the castle where Allura had retuned to open up a wormhole

You could see Hunk’s Lion approaching in the distance, but it would be more than a few ticks still before he got there

And there were still plenty of Galra between you and him who were very close to your position

You took a shaky breath, and readied your weapon, popping in and out of cover to take shots at the advancing sentries that got too close for comfort

It wasn’t long before their sheer numbers overwhelmed you, pushing you further and further back into your cover

Just before they could completely overwhelm you, Hunk landed with his lion, firing upon the Galra and cutting a path from you to him

You got up to run, but before you took more than a few steps, another Galra stepped in your path

This one wasn’t a sentry, but an actual Galran Soldier

You didn’t give yourself much time to think about your next set of actions

You just knew that you were almost out of ammo, and that this lone Galra was the only thing between you dying right here, and being safe and secure on the Castle with Hunk once again

So you charged, which clearly caught the soldier off-guard, not that you noticed anyway

You slammed the end of your rifle into their face, sending them sprawling on the ground before turning your weapon around and firing the last few shots into the exposed sections of their armor, putting them down for good

You ditched your weapon after that, knowing that you wouldn’t be  He saw the whole thing, but didn’t start freaking out until you guys were on your way back to the ship

He kept asking if you were okay and checking you for injuries

You got lucky with only a few scratches, no bullets managed to hit you

But that didn’t stop Hunk from blaming himself for the whole ordeal

Like Lance, he believes that he should be the one to bear the burden of taking another’s life your relationship

He just wants to keep you safe

To him you’re just too good and too pure to have to do something as dark as that, even if it’s for a good reason and even though you’re all fighting in a war

Regardless of whether the act of killing bothered you or not, Hunk would still act the same

As soon as you guys returned to the Castle, he would be making you your favorite foods, or at least the space equivalent

since we all know that comfort food is a thing and you just had to deal with a lot

He’s also an amazing chef so there’s no complaints from you

Also expect lots of reassurance and cuddling

More so than normal

He just really cares about you and needs you to know that he’ll do his best to keep you safe from the darker aspects of this war from now on

[ghostmartyr]

SnK 104 Thoughts

Hey Galliard.

Hey. Hey. Galliard.

LET’S SEE YOU GRIT THOSE TEETH.

We’re reaching the end of this arc segment, and I think the relief is making it a little easier to appreciate all the things happening. ...I mean it would, if anything remotely positive were still going on in this world.

Wait, Falco’s alive.

Okay team, there’s still hope.

I’m still having trouble working out why all of this is the chosen strategy. Paradis has caused an incredible amount of destruction, and disposed of most of the top brass, so looked at from an Us vs. Them situation, as long as the Scouts and Eren make it out okay, this is a pretty successful operation. It’s going to take some time for Marley to chase after their island with all the devastation.

What’s the score? The harbor, a bunch of surrounding cityscape, plenty of the interment zone, most of their top brass, and... let’s call it four Titans.

The frustrating part is that I’m having a really difficult time working out the scale of it all. In every section of this battle that we’re shown, Paradis has won somewhat easily. But I don’t know how large Marley is. Magath and Willy are willing to offer up the internment zone and all of the talking heads inside of it in order to gain allies in their offensive. They were ready for Eren. They were not ready for their Titans being out of reach, and they were not ready for Armin.

Since Eren’s decision to play along as the villain of Willy’s story, I’ve been sulking and wondering what the endgame is. What’s the point of playing right into Marley’s publicity stunt? What’s the point of making yourselves look so bad when your only contact with the outside world has been self-defense?

Reading this chapter, it’s hard not to think, “what’s the point of standing back when you know you can win?”

(Even though they’re all so very screwed if their escape blimp plan gets derailed. Like. Their eggs have 1 (one) assigned basket. And Eren’s already nearly died several times during this mess. Dun dun dun.)

And I’m not sure how much of that is a sign that Paradis has landed a fatal blow against Marley, and how much is just... here’s where our focus has been. In a very tiny corner of the world, Paradis has the upper hand.

Marley, unlike the rest of the antagonistic world, fights wars with Titans. The lowercase ones too. In this battle, they have lost two of them, one with the unique ability of controlling ravenous hordes of cannon fodder, one with the unique ability of making very kickass weapons.

What they’re left with is Reiner, Galliard, and Pieck. None of them in a state where they are a dominant force.

Magath wants Marley to enter a world where their military strength isn’t determined by Titans, but you can’t change that overnight. Their greatest trump cards have all been beaten or stolen away. In terms of Titan strength, Paradis wins right out. Marley has the numbers to win a siege war, but that isn’t the war being fought at the moment.

A few things are happening with this battle. One (the most annoying, being something Willy and Magath plan to exploit), Paradis is doing a fantastic job of selling themselves as the demons everyone calls them. Two, they’re making it clear who wins in a battle of Titans (however dicey things are during the fight, Paradis is leaving (hopefully) with three of Marley’s Titans horrifically maimed, one MIA, but presumed dead, and one actually dead). Three, they’re leaving a country that the whole world has bad experiences with in a very vulnerable position.

Marley might be putting work into making Paradis the scapegoat, but the night they declare war Paradis stomps every weapon they have faith in. Ambassadors from other countries get along with Willy, less so with Marley. One night of sympathy for the Eldian plight their buddy Willy has gone through isn’t going to change that.

The hope in the aftermath of this might be that Paradis has proven itself too dangerous to be left alone, so other countries will gladly work with Marley to stamp them out of existence, but... I’m wondering a little if those other countries might be more interested in wiping out their known enemy before turning their attention to the island. Marley has zero good will built up.

Ugh, I don’t know. Thinking about all the different ways people could respond to this makes my head hurt. Especially since Paradis does have links with other countries now, and that makes it harder to get the Beauty and the Beast mob song going.

And again there’s the question of scale. Which is really just me questioning how many Erens Armin just pulled, and how many Erens it would take duplicating to raze all of Marley to the ground. Armin’s feat is obviously destructive, but.

Fuck it, I want five pages of next chapter devoted to graphing out population and military personnel of Marley. With real numbers. The sixth page can provide Paradis’.

Has this operation hamstrung Marley as badly as their morale makes it feel like, or not? That’s all I want to know. Acceptable sacrifice vs. monstrous horrifying mass murder of horror is easier to parse out when the mission objectives and accomplishments are written in plaintext.

...It’s obviously going to end up being both anyway. I still feel really lost.

In character land, where things are slightly simpler, Armin’s having his own version of Eren and Reiner’s conversation. If Eren and Reiner are the same, so are Armin and Bertolt. That’s... oy.

I complain a lot about action chapters because I always feel like I just want to watch the anime version and get on with it without turning over every rock, but some of the complaining comes from really, really wanting to get back to the sad monologuing about feelings everyone in this series is prone to indulge. Hell, pull a Naruto and let everyone get a significant backstory flashback when it looks like they’re in mortal danger.

Armin’s from Shiganshina. Ground zero of this war. He’s one of a small percentage of people who lived through watching Wall Maria’s destruction. He’s standing right there when everything their people have known is annihilated.

Bertolt also burns him to death. Basically.

Now Armin’s the one holding all that power in his hands. He kills people and takes away their homes just by taking a few steps.

The good news is that he knows he has an expiration date, so he can look forward to that instead of seeking therapy to help him later in life.

...

Yeah, there is no good news. Let’s pan back to Falco, who is breathing and somehow showing more signs of mental stability than Gabi.

Kid’s made of some stern stuff. If Eren’s betrayal doesn’t completely shatter him, he might be able to make a bright future for himself if he stays alive. He’s compassionate and doesn’t freeze in a crisis.

Unlike some people.

-cough- Jean -cough-

Nah, that’s mean.

From the looks of things, whether it’s Pieck’s interference or Jean’s own heart getting in the way, Jean’s mind was absolutely prepared to kill the little boy if that meant removing the Cart Titan from play. I don’t know if he tried to arrange a shot that would dodge Falco, but I do think that he accepted that there was a good chance the kid would die in the crossfire, and went for it anyway.

This series was so much happier when people were getting eaten alive.

-looks at rest of the chapter-

-rest of chapter looks back-

Well. You know what I mean.

I’m glad Pieck’s alive, even if it’s only for now. Truthfully, I don’t think I want any of the Warriors to die. Their lives have been hell. I want to think that someday, all of the Eldian kiddos get to breathe free air without being a tool of war. If they die, it’s just another footnote to a sad story.

Then we have Galliard, who.

..Yeah.

(btw

Does Titan inheritance run on some kind of lottery system, and does that matter?)

I thought Eren would be done horrifying me after the civilian slaughter. I mean, where else can we go from there? Dead children hit one of the highest tiers of tragedy. Maybe more of them will fall out of the cracks, and surely the psychological trauma of individuals like Reiner will continue to be bad, but we’re done with any of it being shocking.

...

.....

Eren’s a fucking tryhard.

Okay! Okay. Uh.

Points for... pragmatism?

“Aha, I have cracked the case, if not the crystal! Hark, I shall have Jaws crack the crystal, and I shall drink up this woman’s juices as they drip from his teeth while he silently screams at me to stop!”

Eren with the Jaw Titan in the Conservatory.

I mean. If you think about it.

I have been calling the Warriors tools for ages.

Eren using Galliard as his own personal nutcracker is really only the natural evolution of that.

Yike.

I’m surprised Reiner’s already up and about. It makes sense that it’s to protect Galliard (Porco is going to have so very many issues when he wakes up), because protecting people is the one thing the world hasn’t broken inside of him. Even after all he’s been through, he still wants to be the good guy, keeping his comrades safe.

But the dude’s dead inside. He has the strength to stand, but not much else, and I don’t know how the story can lead him into anything dynamic when he’s so screwed up.

Also of curiosity is... Eren’s perfectly willing to nom Galliard. Reiner shows up, gets punched maybe a building length away, is very obviously in no state to win any kind of fight, and Mikasa and Eren walk away.

All of the other Titans are removed during the festival by strategy. Pieck and Porco get dumped down a hole. Zeke is probably working with Eren, and he’s still escorted out.

Reiner gets a conversation.

Reiner’s participation in Eren versus War Hammer would have turned the tables. The only reason he isn’t part of it is because his conversation with Eren robs him of his final will to live.

So uh. ...Eren? Not to be rude or question your moral character or basic sanity... but... I don’t know... how, uh, on purpose is Reiner’s current emotional state?

...On a related note, is that your way of keeping him alive? ...Am I. Am I going to have to start shipping you two seriously?

This has the feel of something else I’m going to find easier to discuss in later chapters, but looking at the last few pages... Eren has the chance to kill Reiner and Galliard. He definitely has no problem nomming Galliard. What changes? Reiner caring about Galliard?

Eren easily could have taken out two of Marley’s Titans, and he chooses not to. It’s a decision Mikasa is either fine with or encourages. I don’t quite know what to make of her very excellent stoic face after Eren punches Reiner. She goes from that to zooming over all “Eren!” and... does that mean killing Reiner has been judged the wrong decision all around? What’s with the interruption, you two? Is that closeup of Eren’s eyes on the opposite page just there to look pretty, or is something going on?

Look, you’ve killed everyone else in the general vicinity, I’m allowed to wonder what makes this special. What, Eren can see his sparkling eyes when his face isn’t armored up and can’t handle the dokis?

Geez, this was a chapter.

Next month we get to see how great the great escape is--only guarantee is that there is no escape from the monsters in their heads.

...I’m with Mikasa. Can we go home now?

[cryptid-jack]

Once a Hero - Prologue pt 1

Title: Once a Hero Rating: T+ Genres: Action/Mystery/Romance/Comedy

Summary: In a world where super villains constantly fought for control of city-states under the protection of a world government, an alliance of heroes rose up to combat them for the sake of peace and justice. No one could have predicted that this alliance and their sworn enemies would be compelled to join forces to fight an alien invasion that threatened to wipe humanity from the face of the Earth.

They won the day, but not without suffering a tremendous loss on both sides

Ten years later, a super villain with a complicated history in heroics uncovers a conspiracy that flips the narrative of their very world on its head. To get to the source of it all, he finds help in the form of a Hero with a strange past of his own, and the key in the form of a little girl with big dreams.

AN: So this is actually the first part of the prologue to a Super Hero story I’m working on in hopes of getting it published some day! In an attempt to get me hyped to work on it again, I thought I’d share it with you! Do me a favor and let me know what your favorite parts are, because I love to hear that and It really helps keep me inspired to write!

There will be four more parts after this one; I hope you enjoy!

November, 2002

(Prologue pt 1)

The air in the assembly hall was ice cold, but Keir was sweating. He could feel it slowly bead, then trickle down the column of his throat to the collar of his shirt where it was absorbed by the increasingly damp fabric. He longed to wipe at the skin there, but any movement on his part now would be a dead giveaway that not all was right with this supposedly brainwashed ‘asset’.

“Asset 543759-11,” said the sharp looking man standing on the dais at the front of the room.

“Sir!” replied a young woman close by as she snapped to attention, eyes straight ahead, right hand lifted to her brow in a picture perfect salute.

“Report to hangar 3 for duty at the end of roll call. Assignment details will be provided by your handler. ”

“Yes sir!”

Keir’s dark eyes remained fixed on a distant point above the left ear of the asset in front of him as more numbers were called and he waited for all hell to break loose.

...

Life had been so much easier before he’d had free will.

‘No doubt about that,’ mused a quiet voice in .his head that was not his own. ‘There is the downside of not being able to say no, however.’ The voice was female, and by this point, as familiar as his own.

‘I don’t get to say no now either,’ he retorted silently as the man on the dais continued reading off assignments.

‘You chose to rebel,’ the voice pointed out. ‘It’s almost over now, I promise. We’re almost free, Keir.’

Free... A week shy of his eighteenth birthday and Keir wasn’t even sure he knew the meaning of the word.

Taken from his parents before he’d been old enough to form lasting memories by agents from the Blackridge Academy, Keir had been molded into the perfect weapon through a combination of brainwashing, operant conditioning, and corporal punishment. Trigger words to guarantee obedience and control his every action had been planted deep in his psyche, making him completely powerless before any handler who knew a few key phrases.

He could run a four and a half minute mile, bench press four hundred pounds, speak eight languages, and was a top class marksman with both rifle and pistol. He was highly trained in espionage, war tactics, assassination techniques, and a master of three different kinds of martial arts... And that was before the super powers.

Blackridge Academy specialized in producing human weapons for the elite to serve as bodyguards, personal assassins, or (if you happened to possess the GDP of a small country) unstoppable military units to turn the tide of battle in your favor. For those with a smaller budget at their disposal (or a trail to cover), they also rented out their ‘assets’ on a mission-by-mission basis.

In 1971, however, the Academy had perfected a serum that, when applied to compatible individuals, resulted in abilities previously beyond humankind.

Well, mostly.

There had always been those few individuals at the fringes of society, people that inspired myth and legend with power to rival the gods. Gifted, they came to be called, but what they could do, and how powerful they were varied wildly between individuals. Some changed the world, for the better or worse, depending on who was telling the tale. Others lived quiet lives in the shadows, either afraid of their own power, or of what people who wanted to control that power might do to gain it.

Keir was one of many who had been given power by the Academy’s scientists at the age of twelve, just at the onset of puberty after proving to have the appropriate genetic markers that made him compatible with the serum. Class-S telekinesis had been the most powerful of his new abilities, followed by Class-C super healing, and Class-D telepathy. The telepathy was just enough to make him empathic, granting him the ability to know what people in his general area were feeling at any given moment, and an uncanny ability to detect when someone was lying.

They were all skills that made him extraordinarily useful as an asset to the Academy, and as soon as he turned eighteen in a week, he’d be auctioned off to the highest bidder, as was tradition. He allowed his eyes to slide sideways a few degrees, allowing him a glance at the people around him.

Cattle, every one of them. Bought and sold at the whim of their masters…

‘If we pull this off, they’ll never get their hands on another child, Keir, I swear it.’

The assassin’s eyes drifted back to the phenomenally boring point straight ahead of him, and focused on keeping his breath slow and steady, just like those around him. Not for the first time, he wondered if the voice in his head wasn’t just wishful thinking. Maybe he was mad.

He wouldn’t be surprised. It could have been the conditioning that had broken him, or the physically demanding training he was constantly subject to. Hell, it might have even been the serum they pumped him full of when he was twelve.

‘That last one makes no sense at all. I doubt it would have taken almost six years for you to lose your mind if it really had been the serum.’

‘It could,’ Keir retorted. ‘Or it could be that combined with all the other shit.’

The voice was quiet for a moment, then replied, ‘You’re not mad, Keir. I know you remember the day we met. I can see it in your head. You remember every detail.’ There was a fondness in the woman’s voice that threatened to make him squirm with embarrassment.

He would never forget the day he had met Layla. It was the first day he’d truly existed as a human being.

He’d been on duty guarding asset 783529-96 with an older agent from his unit. He had never seen said asset, but at that point in his life, it had never even occurred to him to ask about her, or why she required such a heavy guard. All he knew was that a non-agent would be bringing a prisoner into the room they were guarding, and they were to act only if said non-agent requested backup.

He had guarded the room many times before, and it wasn’t the first time he’d seen a desperate looking person in chains dragged within. It was, however, the first time the accompanying non-agent had called for assistance.

Keir and his fellow agent had entered immediately, rifles at the ready, just in time to see the man in chains lunging for a tall, frail looking woman seated in a chair that had been bolted to the floor on the far side of the bare little room. The non-agent had been slumped in a corner, cradling a gushing head wound, but Keir had ignored him. It was protocol that had been drilled into him for this particular duty. Protect asset 783529-96 at all costs.

A gesture of his hand had slammed her would-be attacker into the far wall with a powerful telekinetic force. While his duty partner leaped on the prisoner, Keir had immediately stepped protectively in front of the woman and raised his rifle, ready to fire on her attacker should it be necessary.

What he hadn’t expected was for asset 783529-96 to reach out and touch him.

It was such a small gesture, just a brush of her fingertips across the exposed skin of his left hand that had sent an electric shock straight up his arm into his brain... and suddenly he had been awake for the first time that he could remember; fully conscious of both himself, and of a presence that was not him at the back of his mind.

He’d been left reeling mentally at this sudden shift in reality for what felt like an age, but had been only seconds. Keir had turned and looked at asset 783529-96 then, really looked at her, something he couldn't remember having ever done to anyone. He recognized her as an individual with thoughts and desires of her own, which was a concept he had never truly comprehended before either.

He felt like a man who had been color blind his whole life suddenly seeing the blue of the sky for the first time.

Asset 783529-96... no, her name was Layla, he’d realized abruptly, the information arriving unbidden in his mind. Whoever she was, she was painfully thin, as though she were being given only the very minimum of nourishment required to keep her alive. Hunger had not robbed her soft brown eyes of their brightness as she smiled down at him, however.

It was the first time someone had ever really smiled at him before.

Layla was a few inches taller than himself, with untrimmed ash blonde hair that fell past her waist. He had opened his mouth to speak to her, but an infinitesimal shake of her head had stopped him.

‘I am here,’ a voice had said in his mind, quieting the chaos that hat reigned there only a moment before. ‘I am here, but now you have to go. Do what is expected of you or we’ll both be killed.’

Keir had turned to see that his partner had gotten the prisoner under control and the non-agent was slowly getting to his feet, one hand still clamped to his bleeding temple.

“Lilac equinox,” the injured man had said, and Keir had felt that familiar compulsion to do as instructed. For the first time that he could remember, though, he resented it.

‘I’m sorry,’ Layla had said as she watched the non-agent order Keir and his partner to pick up the prisoner and haul him back out of the room. ‘If I free you from your programming now, there’s a chance you won’t respond correctly when ordered. They’d notice. If you were lucky, they’d simply send you back through reprogramming. If you weren’t...’

Thoughts of his own mortality had been new to Keir as well.

‘But don’t worry, I will free you from them when the time is right.’

‘And when will that be?’ he’d asked, speaking to her for the first time as he’d taken up his station outside her door once more while his partner and the non-agent dragged the prisoner away.

There had been silence between them for a long moment, long enough that he’d wondered if he hadn’t just imagined it all. Eventually, though, Layla replied, ‘As soon as possible.’

And now the day had finally come, assuming he hadn’t lost his mind that day two years ago and just imagined every interaction with Layla ever since. After all, that had been the first and last time he had ever seen her in person. She had been a near constant presence in his mind ever since, though.

To say they had become close during the intervening years was an understatement. They knew everything about one another. How could they not?

Good thing he liked her so much, or it could have been a miserable two years.

Amusement rippled across the surface of his mind. ‘Aw. I like you too, Keir.’

Embarrassed again, he asked, ‘You’re sure Binah will come through?’

Binah, the third member of their little coup, was perhaps the most vital to its success.

Much like Layla, she too was kept in a small room where she was put to work with her unique power set. The Academy rented out Layla and her empathic abilities as a sort of lie detector for anyone with the money to pay. More than that, she could reach into a person’s mind and pick through their memories the same way he could flip through a book. Binah, on the other hand, was a technophage. Her ability to interface with, control, and reprogram electronics was unmatched.

Both she and Layla were considered ‘support assets’ by the academy, while Keir was labeled a ‘combat asset’. Due to their nature, the two women had stopped undergoing brainwashing and conditioning as soon as their powers were revealed. He could only assume that practice had proved counterproductive to capitalizing on support assets.

Besides, the Academy had other ways of bending people to their will. Food deprivation was the first step, with corporal punishment being the next in the face of particularly stubborn assets.

Despite her S-Class Telepathy, Layla’s reach did not extend very far past her room. Only Keir’s own, weaker telepathy allowed her to maintain a bond with him after he had left her presence that day. So it came to be that Keir was the one to make contact with Binah.

It had surprised him just how much the ‘masters’ discussed openly in front of their combat assets, obviously assured of the iron grip their conditioning had on them. With his eyes and mind opened, he had listened and learned.

A technophage, he had quickly gathered, could be an invaluable resource in escaping the academy.

Even with that mission in mind, though, it had taken nearly two years to work out a plan they could act on. With Keir being the only one of them able to communicate with both individuals and gather the necessary intel, things had progressed slowly. His schedule was as regimented as ever, so it was only through hastily scrawled notes shoved under her door as he passed by that they were able to communicate. It had taken time to get her to trust him, but desperation must have ridden her as hard as it did he and Layla, so she eventually agreed.

‘It’s time!’  Layla crowed, startling Keir from his reverie. ‘Now, do it now!’

Keir moved, then, launching himself into the air to land in the center of the room.

“You there! What are you-” the man on the dais began to demand, clearly startled by the sudden show of free will. The ominous rumble that rolled up from beneath their feet interrupted him, however, making him look down in confusion.

Keir reached out with his power, letting it fill the assembly hall until it touched every asset there, none of whom had so much as blinked at the disruption as they stood at attention. When he was sure he had them all, he pulled everyone in as close to him as possible, a mass of bodies huddled together like penguins in the arctic.

As the building’s gas main exploded and the room erupted into flames around them,Keir shielded them all, pushing out with his mind as hard as he could against the torrent of fire, heaving earth, and crumbling building that fought to overwhelm him. Encompassed in a bubble of still air, he and the other assets remained untouched.

When the fire died away and the ground settled, Keir finally released his power and sagged to the ground, feeling drained. It was the greatest use of power he’d ever exerted. In fact, he hadn’t even been sure he would be able to do it at all. To save so many people…

Chest heaving breathlessly, the man struggled from amongst his peers and took in their surroundings. The assembly hall was in ragged tatters, but as they had suspected, some individual rooms still stood in the distance. Cells where support assets were kept were heavily reinforced, though Keir wasn’t sure if that was to keep things out, or to keep their contents in.

“Come on, move, damn you!” he growled at the mass of people around him. Most of them lay motionless, like a child’s cast off dolls. Others sat up, seeming disoriented as they asked the open air for orders.

‘Be kind, Keir, they can’t help it. The assembly stasis command is one of the most firmly entrenched in combat assets. It has to be, to keep so many of you in one place without fear of you turning. Come let me out and I’ll be able to help them like I did you.’

‘Alright, I’m coming,’ Keir replied as he fought his way free of his fellows and waded out into the shattered remains of the Academy.

He paused long enough to grab a rifle from one of the Academy staff that lay dead on the ground, half buried beneath a collapsed wall. He hadn’t bothered to save them or any other non-asset in the room, though there had been many of their number in attendance. Mostly they were handlers waiting to be assigned a combat asset. Others had been wealthy investors or potential buyers there to size up the goods. None of them were innocent like the assets were, taken at infancy and conditioned into the perfect tools to wreak crimes against humanity at the command of others.

He’d let them all burn.

A few staff still survived in one of the far wings as he made his way to Layla, but he killed them as he passed, wanting no pursuit when he and Layla made their escape. No one could be left to tell what had happened here.

It took time, but he eventually found her room, buried deep beneath the rubble. Tired though he was, Keir levitated the wreckage and cast it aside until he was able to see the door at last. It had been so badly damaged by the explosion that he had to tear it free with his mind as well. Metal shrieked against metal until the hinges snapped and he finally cast the door aside.

“Layla?” he called, her name unfamiliar, almost strange, on his tongue as he said it aloud for the first time.

“K-Keir,” called a week, rasping voice from the darkness within the chamber. His first time hearing her speak outside the confines of his own head. She stumbled to the door and the man reached out to catch her without thinking, pulling her taller frame in against him so she could lean on him.

“It’s alright, I’ve got you,” he said, hands shaking as he ran one of them absently over her hair. She was so warm against him, like nothing he’d ever experienced before.

How fucked up was he that simple human contact was enough to make his knees want to buckle?

‘Don’t worry, you’re not the only one,’ Layla remarked weakly, speaking to him silently out of habit. As she did, Keir realized that she was trembling under his hands, spurring him to hold her tighter yet as she buried her face in the crook of his neck.

They stood that way for a long minute, each clinging to the other until their breaths synchronized and both felt a little more able to take on the tasks that still awaited them.

“We’ve got to go find Binah,” Keir said eventually, breaking the peaceful silence between them. He reluctantly released his hold on Layla, though took her hand and began to walk.

“Wait,” she said, voice rough with disuse as she refused to follow, bringing him up short.

He turned and frowned at her. “Layla, we have to move. I don’t know if they have assets stationed elsewhere that will be sent back to investigate when they realize the Academy has literally been leveled.”

“I know, but please,” the woman insisted as she pulled her hand from his, then turned and stumbled across the debris on unsteady legs until she reached another half-buried, steel reinforced room that looked much like her own. “There’s someone in here, we have to get him out.”

Keir followed quickly after her, moving more sure-footedly than the malnourished psychic.

“You’re going to make me free all of the support assets, aren’t you?” he asked with a grimace as he caught her up.

Layla smiled weakly at him and asked, “Would you really condemn them to die alone and frightened in their prisons? Worse, would you leave them to be found and used against their will again?”

Keir looked at her earnest expression and pleading brown eyes. He wasn't surprised to find that he had no ability to tell her no.

“Fine,” he agreed with a sigh as he shouldered his stolen rifle then took her gently by the arm and made her sit on a collapsed piece of wall.

While he worked to excavate the room next to Layla’s the woman said out of the blue, “He’s been there so long, Keir. Longer than any of us, I think.”

“How do you mean?” he asked between grunts of effort as slabs of stone and entire steel beams were lifted and tossed aside.

Layla watched him quietly for a moment, and Keir got the impression that she was having to think on the matter. “I’m not quite sure,” she admitted eventually. “But I could hear him dreaming sometimes.”

The room finally unearthed, Keir paused at the door and glanced back at his friend, brow furrowed in question. “I thought your powers didn’t extend past your room.”

“They didn’t, not by much, anyways,” Layla said with a shrug. “I could tell when people were passing by, catch the occasional thought...Maybe it’s because his room is directly next to mine, or maybe he’s like you,” she suggested with a shrug, clearly unsure. “He’s only woken once that I can remember. He was so frightened and angry and then...I don’t know. He just stopped. Like he wasn’t there at all anymore.”

The woman shuddered a little at the memory. It had been years ago now, not long after she had first been imprisoned. Even so, she would never forget that fear, or the hurt that had inspired it. His anger had burned her senses, and then it had all cut off as surely as though someone had shut a door in her face.

“What, like he died?” Keir asked, confused as he turned his attention back to the door.

“It felt like it at first,” she explained. “But later, I heard him dreaming again, and I can hear him in there now, still at it.”

The man grunted at this information, then proceeded to try and drag the door off its hinges. He swore quietly under his breath when it wouldn’t budge. He could pull harder, but as he inspected the box of a room again, he noted that the ceiling appeared to be a weaker point of entrance than the heavily reinforced door.

Keir lifted himself into the air so he could have a better view, then proceeded to peel the ceiling away so he could peer within. After a moment’s consideration of what he found there, he pushed out the walls and descended, making the entire thing pull apart at the seams so it bloomed outward like a strange flower.

The room was larger than Layla’s, full of tables, computers, and other now ruined machines Keir did not know the function of. It was, he noted, less a prison cell and more of a laboratory. Papers were scattered everywhere, many of which had been damaged by the strange liquids that had leaked from shattered vials to pool in a toxic looking puddle on the floor. Stray files, all with ‘Project Adam’ stamped in their header started to smolder as embers drifted in on the ash clogged breeze.

The centerpiece of the room was a large cylinder that had become unmoored from the wall when the gas main went, and toppled over onto its side. A glass window was built into the front, and through it (and a thin layer of frost) Keir could just make out the shadowy figure of a man. Engraved on the brass plate riveted to the steel just below the window were the words ‘PROJECT ADAM’.

“It’s a cryo tube,” he observed aloud. Layla joined him then, clambering over the remains to get to Keir as he pried the chamber open, icy air hissing out when the seal broke and he peered at the man within.

Coming to crouch on the opposite side of the tube, Layla reached in and brushed her fingers along the stranger’s pale, frost coated cheek as Keir pushed himself to his feet and started climbing out and away from the ruined lab.

“Wait!” she called after taking a moment longer to examine the sleeping man’s peaceful visage. “We...we have to take him with us, we can’t just leave him,” Layla insisted as she too got to her feet and pursued him.

When she stumbled over the uneven ground, Keir reached out to steady her with his power on reflex, then simply levitated her over to his side to save her the effort.

“We can’t. We don’t have time to free everyone and help some popsicle guy who’s been on ice for who knows how long.” he insisted. When she looked ready to object, Keir sighed and added, “I just can’t, Layla. I’m already tired and we’ve got a long way to go before we can rest. I can’t take care of both of you and save the other support assets. We just won’t make it. You have to choose: take that guy with us, or stay long enough to free everyone before we get the hell out of here.”

Layla’s thin features contorted into a deeply unhappy expression, which sent a pang through Keir’s heart, but this time he remained firm as she looked him in the eye, clearly weighing his words. He knew she could feel the truth of them, but that didn’t make his ultimatum any easier to accept.

Finally, the woman turned and cast her eyes back the way Keir had come to where the other combat assets still lay in a sad, graceless heap. Her brow furrowed with effort as she stretched out a hand in their direction. Sweat beaded on her temples, and after a moment, her legs gave out beneath her, forcing Keir to step forward and catch her before she could hit the ground.

“Layla!” he said, shaking her gently, worried by the way her already pale features had gone white as a sheet, her breath shallow. Fear sparked in his heart at the thought of losing her so soon after finally attaining everything they had been working for, but it was quickly allayed when she stirred in his arms a moment later. Her eyes fluttered open and she managed a weak smile and a gentle pat to his cheek with her long, thin fingers.

“I’m alright,” she whispered, then turned to look at her handiwork.

Keir straightened, but maintained his hold on her as he asked, “What did you do?”

“Freed them,” she said, gesturing towards the people he had saved from the blast. He turned to look in time to see the previously insensate combat assets slowly beginning to get to their feet and look around them, seeming at a loss. Most of them began to wander off, but a small handful of the younger ones headed towards them. “I’ve asked some to come look after our friend here,” Layla explained. “They can take care of one another,” she added quietly.

The man nodded, satisfied with this compromise. Before he could say as much, though, movement at the periphery of his vision made him snap his head around. Some distance off, someone was crawling out from amongst the debris. Reacting on instinct, Keir grabbed his rifle, racked a round, and aimed in one fluid motion. Before he could consider firing, though, Layla grabbed the barrel and pushed it down to point at the ground.

“It’s Binah,” she said, and he did not question how she knew, simply trusted that she did. He shouldered his gun again as Layla raised a hand in greeting. After a moment, the distant figure did the same.

The woman to whom they owed their freedom was short, but just as thin as Layla, with short cropped black hair and mahogany colored skin. She didn’t approach them, however. Instead, after the long moment that stretched between the three of them, she turned and walked away, clearly deciding to make her own path away from the hell they had managed to bring an end to.

They watched her go for a time, Keir’s arm instinctively finding its way around Layla’s thin shoulders.

“Come on,” she said eventually, “We have work to do before we go.”

~*~*~*~

“Hey, wake up.”

“Maybe she was wrong after all. Maybe he’s dead.”

There was a sensation of warm fingers pressed against his skin, gentle, but insistent.

“No he’s not, I can feel his pulse. Here.”

The fingers disappeared and were replaced by others that settled slightly to the right of where the first had been pressed.

“I don’t feel anything.”

“Not there,” someone forcefully lifted and then shifted the fingers to the correct place. “There.”

“Oh.”

“Enough playing medic, we need to get out of here ASAP,” a third voice said from almost directly overhead.

The first voice spoke again. “Well we can’t just leave him. The lady said we had to take care of him.”

“Well screw that, I’m not sticking around just because some woman I don’t even know told me to-”

“Where are we going to go?” A fourth voice asked, high and reedy with a hint of tears.

‘Children,’ the man realized foggily. ‘They’re all just children.’

“Project Adam,” the second voice said. “Think that’s his name?”

“That’s stupid, what kind of name is ‘Project’,” the third muttered.

“Not ‘project’, idiot. Adam!”

A fifth voice, equally young but a little more level sounding, remarked, “These papers all over the place say ‘Project Adam’ too. Some have pictures.”

“I-I think some of this is blood...” the fourth and youngest sounding voice said uneasily.

“Adam. Hey, Adam, or whatever your name is, wake up!” demanded the first voice as small hands shook one of his shoulders.

‘Adam’ finally stirred, though not in response to his supposed name being called. He didn’t know what his name was, but he was pretty sure that wasn’t it.

His limbs responded sluggishly as he slowly pushed himself upright, eyes struggling to focus as their lids pried themselves apart for the first time in...well, who knew how long. He ached deep down in his bones and his muscles felt both impossibly tight and improbably loose at the same time.

There was a general clamour from the people around him, and many hands landed on his person as they helped him sit upright. He opened his mouth to speak, but the words barely came out a sigh.

“What?” someone asked, right by his ear. “What did he say?” they asked again to the group at large.

He cleared his throat and tried again, though his voice came out rough and thready. “Year?”

“Huh?” asked the third voice.

‘Adam’ took a breath and forced his eyes to focus, blinking rapidly as the people around him slowly came into focus. Five young faces stared back at him, and his previous suspicion was confirmed. Every single one of them was a child dressed in identical black combat uniforms and matching boots. Two of them had picked up rifles half their size, though they held them with a practiced ease that made the man distinctly uncomfortable in a way he couldn’t quite place. It felt... wrong, seeing a child handle a high powered rifle with the competence of a trained soldier.

Not a one of them looked over thirteen, and the youngest, who had yet to speak, couldn’t have been more than eight.

The man pushed himself to his feet, one of his hands landing heavily on the shoulder of an older child when he nearly toppled mid-attempt. A girl, he realized as he found his balance and was able to get a good look at her. At that age, with all of them not only wearing the same clothes, but sporting the same buzzcut, it was hard to tell them apart.

“Are you okay?” she asked, brow furrowed as she looked up at him. She was the first child to have spoken, he recognized.

He tried again. “Not particularly. What year is it?” he rasped.

All the children shared a look, then the girl under his hand answered. “Er, 2002?” She looked at him as though she worried he might not be entirely stable, and the man couldn’t blame her.

“Sixty-two years,” he muttered after doing the mental math. Fuzzy as his mind felt, the numbers didn’t come easy, though.

“Huh?”

“I think I’ve been in there sixty-two years,” he clarified, then fought to straighten his shoulders before turning his attention to what was left of his prison. The children spoke among themselves in hushed tones at this revelation, and he let them as he struggled to gather his thoughts.

“What happened?” he asked, voice still rough, though recovering quickly, just like the rest of him it seemed. The building around them appeared to have been reduced to a smoking crater. In the distance he could still see others dressed in much the same way the children making double-time away from them.

“The lady and her friends blew up the academy,” the girl who’d leant him her shoulder said. “They freed everyone and they left. She asked us to look after you. Said that you’d look after us in return when we got out of here.” The girl looked up at him with large blue eyes, head canted to one side as though she were debating on how likely this were to pan out for them.

“Whatever we do,” another of the older children, a boy, said, “it needs to be fast. Who knows who’s going to come looking when the smoke clears.”

The man ran his hand down the length of his face, then up into his dark, close cut curls as he tried to think. His memory was a mess. Fragments of different times and places all jumbled together and distinctly out of order. He remembered growing up by the sea, the ocean air blissfully cool in the summer as it rolled in across the bay and up into the hills of the city. He had been different, growing up. He’d had power like the people around him could only dream of; power his mother had forbidden him from using for fear of someone coming and taking him away.

He remembered the people in the fire, remembered the way he’d carried them from the burned out ruins. Fragmented images of men finding him, taking him away from that seaside town…

What had come next he tried very hard not to remember.

The sharp crack of crumbling architecture and the startled yelp of a child activated instincts that even decades spent on ice could not repress as a nearby wall, two stories high and unable to bear up under its own weight any longer, tumbled towards them. Too close to the source to hope to get out of the way in time, the children tried to run anyways, with the exception of the girl onto whose shoulder ‘Adam’ still held.

“Run!” she shouted at him and tried fruitlessly to pull him away while the man beside her turned to look at their impending doom. She watched, wide-eyed, as he reached out with a hand as though commanding it to stop. It didn’t, but a barrier, transparent, glittering, and milk-pale appeared in the air between them and the tumbling stonework.

The wall crashed into the shield with the boom of crumbling stonework and remained there until Adam took a step forward, arm still fully extended, and pushed the shield before him. The rocks fell away, and the barrier dropped as the children hurried back to his side.

The man turned to look at them with his bright blue-hazel eyes, and smiled. “Alright, let’s get going, shall we?”

He started walking, and they followed after him without thinking, clamoring for answers to their many questions.

Eventually, one voice was heard over the rest when the girl demanded “Hey! What do we call you?”

The man frowned thoughtfully for a moment, then said, “Adam will do for now.”

“Told you that was his name!” one of the boys boasted.

“It is not! It’s obviously just a codename!” one of the others argued.

The girl who had remained with him cast a rueful smile back over her shoulder at them as she walked at Adam’s side. He set a quick pace, but they were keeping up for now. “So, which is it? Code, or real?”

The man gave her a sad sort of half-smile, and admitted, “Honestly? I don’t remember.”

Hope you guys enjoyed! Please do leave a comment and let me know what your favorite bit was! I love hearing that! Reblogs are, of course, super appreciated as well!!

(On to Prologue pt 2 >)

(( Buy me a ko-fi?))

[ussarchangel]

Syncable/Sinkable

giftee: @maegfen

prompt: 1)Reunion – Mirror Lorca and Prime Michael are (somehow) reunited post S1 slightly added in prompt 2)Away mission as well.

rated T for some swearing

a/n: i tried to put some actual plot in this but it just didn’t want to happen. dear @maegfen, i hope this does your amazing prompts justice <3

For all intents and purposes, the war has ended, but its haze of paranoia still lingers. Paranoia, that turns out to be more justified than not when the whispers of a Klingon-made biological weapon are confirmed through Starfleet’s top secret communication channels. This in itself would not have concerned USS Discovery, had the weapon in question not been, allegedly, running on a spore drive.

Commander Michael Burnham chewed on her lip as she listened to this news. Apparently, she has the privilege of going on a mission to gather more intel and, preferably, acquire the weapon plans. Admiral Cornwell seemed more reluctant than usual to send someone into a possible- if not likely- death trap. Michael wondered how many friends, crew and colleagues she has lost during those months the Discovery was absent.

And that is why, a very short while later, Michael stands in a narrow alley on a small, barely habitated moon just off Starbase 343, staring at some teashop’s back door, just meters away from the assigned meeting point.

She checks her communicator, but neither Tilly nor Saru have made contact yet. She decides that’s probably a good thing, and opens the door.

Michael finds herself in a nondescript room, plain walls, no windows. She walks a slow circle around the room, observing, cataloguing. It passes as an office, barely. A makeshift desk and a chair, some PADDs strewn about. A small collection of strange artefacts crammed into a suitcase lying next to the desk. She leans forward to inspect them more closely, careful not to touch just in case they’re as dangerous as they are bizarre.

She finds nothing that tells her who the person she’s here to meet is, or what their motives for helping the Federation are.

Her snooping is interrupted by the creak of the door opening and before she even has the time to turn around, a familiar, gravelly voice calls out.

“Hello Michael.”

She freezes, eyes widened in shock, adrenaline level spiking. She’s motionless for barely a heartbeat before instinct kicks in and she swiftly turns, phaser already in hand.

Gabriel Lorca stands in front of her, whole and very much alive.

Her mind races with possible explanations to what she’s seeing, her eyes roving over his form trying to make sure it’s not an illusion, a trick. Michael doesn’t know who or what’s in front of her, but she knows she doesn’t trust him.

“How?”, she demands. To her surprise, her voice doesn’t falter. “I saw you die, how are you here?”

Lorca grins. “Calm down Michael, you look as if you’ve seen a ghost.“

The attempt at a joke falls flat since he might as well be. His face is pale and sunken, the blue of his eyes highlighted by the dark bags underneath. Yet there he is, alive and unharmed. Holding her gaze and pointedly ignoring the phaser aimed at his chest.

He raises his hands in a calming manner. “It’s me,” he insists. His voice is level and calm but there’s an almost imperceptible nervous twitch to his fingers. Lorca shakes his head, “I don’t know how, or why, but it’s really me.”

There’s something in his eyes Michael recognizes, hard determination, self-assured arrogance. The tiniest flicker of fear. Intense. Familiar.

It’s him. It is Lorca, the one she knew. Thought she knew. Thanks to whatever curse or miracle, Gabriel Lorca really is here and alive. Relief washes over her, followed closely by anxiety at the implications that the emotion brings, implications she does not have time to consider.

"Put down the phaser, Michael. I’m not going to hurt you.”

It’s true. She knows it the same way she knew he wouldn’t- couldn’t kill her on ISS Charon. There’s a sense of déjà vu to their current situation that could almost make her laugh. Michael shakes her head in resignation and lowers the phaser.

Lorca releases a small, relieved sigh and steps closer. She notices he’s still wearing the silver armor underneath his jacket, now with a stark, jagged, vertical slit in its center. It reveals nothing more than his undershirt but the sight still unnerves her. She can almost see the sword protruding from his chest, hear his surprised gasp as it impaled him.

She looks back up. “Why are you here?”

“I’m the informant you were sent to meet.”

“No, why are you here? In this universe, on this moon, alive?”

“Destiny?” he shrugs, almost teasingly. “The curious paths of the mycelial network? Take your pick, it’s as good a guess as any.”

She gives him a considering look but he doesn’t seem to be lying. Of course, that doesn’t mean anything anymore, but the issue of his resurrection is not her priority at the moment. Not to mention she’s worried what she might do or say if she doesn’t keep the conversation strictly to her mission objectives.

Michael keeps her tone curt and business-like. “Why are you helping us?” she inquires.

“Klingons have a weapon. I need a mode of transport,” he reasons. “A mode of transport Starfleet could provide, in their gratitude for my assistance.”

Michael raises a skeptical eyebrow. “And what makes you think Starfleet would be inclined to help you? Or anyone on Discovery for that matter?” She decides the unusable state of Discovery’s spore drive does not need mentioning.

He smirks. “Nothing. But I do think Starfleet would be inclined to try and avoid getting blown to shreds.”

She purses her lips, unconvinced.

He sighs, rolls his eyes. “Look, I don’t particularly want to stick around, and I’m sure Starfleet would love to get rid of me as well. There’s an Empire out there in desperate need of a leader,” he pauses, gauging her reaction. Michael doesn’t hide the disdain on her face. “And there’s nothing for me here,” he concludes.

The tone of his voice is detached, but Michael recognizes the question in it.

“How do you know Philippa hasn’t regained control of the Empire by now?” she bluffs.

Lorca’s mouth curves into a teasing smile. “As if you didn’t bring her back here with you?”

She can’t hide how the question startles her. The corner of her mouth twists into a vaguely guilty expression. “How-”

“You always were sentimental. Even the other Michael - my Michael – couldn’t easily abandon her, even after everything she’s done to her.”

A nostalgic sadness fills his eyes at the mention of the other Michael Burnham. Despite the truth revealed to her by Philippa, he looks like someone who lost a loved one. Michael wants to learn more.

“I am not her,” she asserts.

Lorca sizes her up. “No. You’re not. In so many ways you’re better, I told you that.”

His compliments have always made her feel… uncomfortable, but she never could pinpoint why. A certain warm feeling in her stomach, pleasant almost but intertwined with dread. She shakes it off, focuses back on her mission. Acquire the information. Get out. Easy.

“Let’s get this over with. What do you have for me? The weapon plans? Let’s hear it.”

“I don’t have the plans myself per se,” he drawls, “but I know a guy who does.”

Michael can feel the anger spark in her. “And who, pray tell, is the guy?”

“A fucking nutjob honestly, but reliable. Does business with anyone, no loyalty to any side. He has the plans and everything else you need.”

“And I’m guessing he’ll want something in return?” She gestures with her right hand which is still holding the phaser. It has the desired effect as Lorca glances nervously at it.

“A favor.” he replies. “He’ll give you what you need, but you’ll have to owe him a favor.”

Michael takes a moment to ponder that. Clearly, the Federation doesn’t do business with his type, but how much choice do they have?

“Alright”, Michael tucks her phaser back into its holster. “Where can I find him?”

“He’s usually somewhere around Vintaak system,” Lorca answers, his shoulders finally relaxing with the phaser out of sight. “But you can’t go there alone.”

Michael opens her mouth to protest but Lorca interrupts her. “He doesn’t talk to just anybody,” he explains. “You need someone he already knows. Someone like me.”

Michael nods. The whole thing is suspiciously convenient for him, and she’ll be damned if she lets him take advantage of her ever again. “Okay. Now tell me why should I trust a word of what you just said?”

He seems hurt at the abrasiveness of her words. "I’ve never lied to you, Michael.”

She cocks her head to the side, narrows her eyes.

He sighs, “Omitted facts, yes, but never lied.”

“Did you lie to her?” she asks abruptly. “To the other Michael?”

She doesn’t know what possesses her to open this can of worms now, but the words are out of her mouth before she can stop them. Her breathing quickens. All the unprocessed emotion of their unexpected meeting is bubbling up and she’s not sure she can keep it from spilling out.

His lips open in surprise. He walks closer, stops right in front of her. He raises his hand as if to touch her shoulder but then seems to change his mind and lowers it, balled into a fist. It doesn’t even matter because Lorca stares right into her eyes and it almost feels like a physical touch.

“Never.” His voice is raspy, almost breaks. “I’ve never lied to her. I was probably the only person who didn’t.“

Michael wants to come closer. She takes a step back.

“That’s not what Philippa said,” she protests, unconvincingly.

“You don’t believe me but you’ll believe the Terran Emperor?” he mocks. ”Because she has proven herself to be so trustworthy and honorable?”  He tsks, “Michael, I thought you knew better.”

Michael knows he has a point and she isn’t eager to admit it. To admit how quick she was to trust the woman with Philippa Georgiou’s face. Still, she presses on. “She told me what you did to her daughter. How you influenced her from a young age and…” She can’t bring herself to finish the sentence. The disgust written plainly on her face finishes it for her.

His mouth tightens. “That’s what she told you?” he grits out, leaning away from her. “She said-“

Infuriated, he starts pacing around. “I would never,” he swears. In two quick strides he’s back in front of her, towering over her. It would be intimidating were it not for the gentleness in his clear, blue eyes. “Not you. Not her, not- not any version of you, from any universe.”

Despite her better judgement, Michael believes him. There’s compassion in her for him, for the loss of his crew, his lover, his world. Still, it is far overpowered by anger and pain.

Back when she first learned of his true identity she barely had the time to deal with the news before she was fighting him, fighting for the lives of her friends, and then watching him fall to his death. Now she is forced to confront him and all the hurt his betrayal brought that she has tucked away, ignored.

And she must confront him, or it will fester inside her, keep her up at nights. She refuses to let him get under her skin like that.

“It doesn’t matter,” she fumes. “You still used me, manipulated me for your own gain from the moment that prison shuttle was beamed onto the ship.” She trembles, fingernails digging into her palms. “Did you orchestrate that too or was it destiny?” She spits out the word like an insult.

“You’re damn right I orchestrated it,” he admits, unfazed by her anger. “The second I saw your name in the database I made sure to help you, out of pure fucking sentiment,” he snaps.

He clenches his jaw, runs his hand through his hair. It’s not the confession she expected.

Lorca continues, heated, “You were not meant to rot away forever on some mining planet. You, Starfleet’s best and brightest. An officer who followed her own damn reason instead of some idiotic law or principle and got punished for it? They didn’t deserve you.”

He takes a deep breath, calms down. Looks away as if he can’t bear the sight of her.

“I got you out because that’s what you deserved. I kept you safe because I wanted you to be happy. And yes, because I needed you. I needed you to win the war, I needed you to get to Philippa and most importantly, I needed you because on some days seeing you was the only thing that kept me grounded and sane.”

His gaze lifts to meet hers and she is struck by the open emotion. It reminds Michael of the softness on his face when she lied and surrendered herself to him on Charon. He looks at her reverently, adoringly. It’s too much.

She sighs, closes her eyes, drags her hands down her face. She’s tired, tired of not knowing how to feel around him, tired of weighing his every word, seeking the truth and picking out the lies.

“What do you want, Michael?” he asks softly.

“Peace. I want peace of mind.” She neglects to mention the tingle she feels every time he says her name, stands close to her, tells her terrifying truths- it will never let her have that. There’s a difficulty in managing her emotions she experiences around him that has nothing to do with her Vulcan upbringing.

She opens her eyes. She doesn’t know what he sees but it looks like it makes him sad.

“It would be easier if I was dead again, wouldn’t it?” He blinks and suddenly he’s steady and composed. A mask. “Just end it,” he suggests. “I know you can’t do it in cold blood. Do you want me to attack you? Would that make it easier?”

She frowns. Her gaze falls down to his chest, to the open wound in his armor. Slowly, she reaches out her hand and touches the ragged edges. She hears him gasp, feels it under her fingertips. His death never sat right with her. It wasn’t justice, it was revenge. The thought of watching him die once again reveals one thing she feels about him that she can be sure of.

“I don’t want you to die,” she confesses.

“You should,” he breathes.

Her eyes slide up. She notices the gray in his stubble, the crow’s feet around his eyes, the firm line of his mouth. He is so familiar, yet not at all.

He has the face of the man who lied and deceived and saved her life. The man who spits on everything she believes in, the man who gave her a second chance. And yet there’s something different about him since his true identity has been revealed. Something softer, more… real. He’s afraid. Uncompromising. There’s an ever present ghost of a smile, directed only at her.

The fog inside her mind clears and with a cold shiver and a startling clarity, she finally understands. She likes this version of Lorca better.

It terrifies her.

“Discovery’s spore drive will not be operational until we find a non-organic navigator,” she finds herself saying. “It could be months, if not longer until that happens. Your best chance is to lay low until we get it fixed, and even then I can’t guarantee we’ll help you.”

The smart thing to do would be to bring him back to Discovery, keep him in custody and have him escort someone to Vintaak so they can gather the intel. Then send him to trial and execute the sentence. Mirror universe or not, he committed crimes and violated Federation laws. She’d never get to see him again, and he’d pay for his crimes.

She knows this, he knows this.

Lorca stares at her in reluctant amazement, slack-jawed, frowning. Michael stands her ground, head held high. With nothing left to tie him to her, no reason to help her now, she’s ready to say goodbye forever. She suspects – hopes – he won’t let her.

“Okay,” he agrees. Pauses, waiting for her to continue. She doesn’t. “I have the transport to Vintaak ready and waiting?” he adds. Lorca’s smiling at her like he’s just won a battle that was deemed doomed from the start. It’s an expression she has gotten to know well during her time on Discovery, though she’s not sure his eyes ever had this youthful spark they do now.

A million and one thought crosses her mind, plans and strategies cancelling each other out, until one plan, one idea is left.

Well, it’s not the worst she ever had.

Michael nods, straightens herself up, and holds out her hand.

“Let’s go.”