#another cookie to whoever gets all the references in this chapter ;O

[starspatter]

Heroes and Thieves, Ch. 10

Title: Heroes and Thieves Fandom/Universe: BTAS, pre/post-RotJ flashback

Summary: A story about second chances, healing, and having hope.

Rating: PG-13, for references to character death, child psychological torture and trauma.

Genre: Romance/Family/Friendship/Hurt/Comfort

Word Count: 6,244 Previous Chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Also on ff.net and AO3.

All of my heroes sit up straight They stare at the ground, they radiate Me, I'm mumbling in the kitchen for the sun to pay up Lonely is a ring on a cold coffee cup I'm some sick hound, digging for bones If it weren't for second chances, we'd all be alone

-Gregory Alan Isakov, "Second Chances"

Then.

“There, that should do. It doesn’t seem like you have a concussion, so I don’t think you need to go to the hospital.  Still, let us know if you feel any lightheadedness.”

Stephanie’s mom, as it turned out, was a registered nurse at West Mercy General.  As she kindly administered first aid to Tim’s forehead, he was vaguely reminded of Alfred’s aged but careful hands working magic on his wounds – albeit without the exasperated tone the butler often took with him, tutting as he admonished and applied gauze with gentle firmness, enveloping bandages like a snug cocoon.  (“Honestly, Master Tim.  Must you be so needlessly reckless?  That goes for you too, Master Bruce.  If I may be so bold, cleaning up after these kinds of messes was quite frankly not part of my initial job description.”)

Meanwhile, Steph hovered, enthusiastically recounting the events of the evening – though in his own humble opinion she was embarrassingly embellishing his heroics somewhat.  (…At least she conveniently left out the part where he almost beat a guy to death, much to his tremendous relief.)

“And then that dude pulled out a knife, but Tim just knocked him down like that- pow!  It was awesome.”

Tim felt his face growing hot from the amount of praise being heaped upon him – especially considering in the end he still had to have his butt saved (by a girl no less).

“…It was nothing, really.”

She looked at him with eyes shining.

“Seriously, you were really cool back there.  Where’d you learn to fight like that?”

He awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck, shrugging.

“I just did what felt natural, I guess.  Most of it was luck, really.  Must’ve been the adrenaline.”

A look of slight disappointment crossed her face.

“Yeah?  Too bad, I was hoping maybe you could teach me those moves.”

“I think we’ve all had enough excitement for one night,” Mrs. Brown declared as she put a hand around her daughter’s bouncing curls, kissing her brow.  “I’m just glad you’re all right, dear.”  She turned to Tim with an indebted expression.  “I truly can’t thank you enough.  If there’s anything else I can do…”

“Ah, you’ve already done more than enough, thanks.  I’m just happy to have been able to help.  …Anyway, I should probably get going now.”

The older woman looked somewhat alarmed.

“Surely you don’t intend to walk back home by yourself again at this hour?  It’s late; you’ve just been attacked by a bunch of hoodlums, and suffered a head injury on top.  Why don’t you just stay here for tonight?”

It was Tim’s turn to balk at risky suggestion.

“N- no, I couldn’t do that.”

“Nonsense, it’s the least I can do to repay you.  Tomorrow’s Saturday, you don’t have classes to be at, right?  So then there shouldn’t be a problem.”

There was a big problem (perhaps more than one, he thought as he glimpsed over at Stephanie, who seemed to be concealing an amused grin as she eagerly watched him squirm).  But of course he couldn’t say the real issue that was troubling him.

“I don’t want to impose…”

“It’s not an imposition,” she insisted.  “Now, is there someone I can contact to let them know you’re safe and you’ll be spending the night?  A parent or guardian, perhaps?”

“Really, it’s okay.  I can just ask my brother to come pick me up…”

Speak of the devil, Tim’s cell phone started to buzz.  He fished it out to find there were four missed calls and seven unread messages from Dick.  He must not have noticed it going off in all the commotion.  Swallowing, he dragged the screen across to answer and raised the receiver to his ear:

“Hey.”

“Finally.  I was beginning to get worried sick.  Where the hell are you?”

“I’m… at Stephanie’s house.”

There was a beat.

“…Wow, you work fast, huh?  Way to go, you stud.  You should’ve just told me that’s what you were after.”

“It’s not like that,” he hissed, trying hard not to look at either Stephanie or her mother – especially the latter.  “You have to come and get me.”

“Why?  What happened?”

At this moment, Mrs. Brown interjected as she respectfully reached out.

“May I speak with him?”

Tim hesitated, then submissively surrendered the phone.

“Hello?  This is Stephanie’s mother.  Am I speaking with Tim’s brother?”

Tim could only listen helplessly to her half of the conversation as she described the circumstances in great detail, slouching defeated into the couch cushions.

“Yes, they’re both okay, don’t worry.  Tim received a minor scrape to his scalp, but I’ve stopped the bleeding and given him some topical antibiotic treatment.  He should be fine, I expect it to fully heal within a few weeks so long as he keeps the dressing on.  I’d like to observe him overnight though for any signs of concussion, if that’s all right.”

After some more nodding back-and-forth, she handed him back the mobile.

“You did a good thing tonight.  I’m proud of you, kid.”

“Dick…”

“We’ll talk more about it later.  For now, just try to relax and enjoy, okay?  Get some rest, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Dick, wait!”

“Have fun on your playdate~”

The other end hung up, and Tim glowered at the dead cellular in disgust.  Gulping, he turned to the expectant two.

“He… gave permission for me to stay.”

“Sweet,” Steph chirped. “So long as you don’t mind the sofa.”

Her mother shot her a disapproving look.

“Kidding.  We’ve got a spare mattress.”

As Mrs. Brown packed away the medical kit, she asked:

“Are you kids hungry? You must be famished, after what you’ve been through.  I can whip something up real quick.”

Tim was about to politely protest, but Stephanie bounded up in keen agreement.

“Yeah, I’m starving.”

“Dinner” then consisted of microwaved leftover chicken and mashed potatoes.  Tim remained reticent during the meal as Stephanie prattled on next to him, thankfully dominating most of the discussion with random topics such as gymnastics and school and how lame their professor was, so he didn’t have to deal with too many prying questions from the clearly curious parent in the room.  He poked at the taters with his fork, honestly not having much appetite, but under both women’s watchful eyes he forced himself to finish it all as a show of courtesy. As soon as he exhausted one pile though, his plump hostess happily served a second round of helpings onto his plate.

“Eat up, young man. You’re all skin and bones. Honestly, what do they feed you at that school?”

Eventually he managed to convince that he’d had enough and couldn’t possibly eat another bite.  (Seriously, he was afraid he really would throw up if he did.)  Afterwards, he volunteered to help do the dishes, but Stephanie’s mother shook her head, adamantly declining the offer.

“Don’t be silly, you’re our guest.  Although I do appreciate such good manners, your parents must have taught you well. Perhaps you could stand to learn a thing or two from him, young lady.”

Stephanie stuck her tongue out in a semi-playful way, but obediently joined her summoner at the sink. Tim perceived her nudge the woman’s sleeve and lean over to intimate something in her ear, casting a surreptitious squint back at him.  While their voices were kept low, he was still well-versed enough in lip reading to make out what they were saying (though he likely could’ve figured from body language and context alone).  In summary: Ix-nay on the arents-pay.

“Oh, I see,” her mother hushed sympathetically.  “I’m sorry. I hope I didn’t offend him.”

Tim exhaled, definitely regretting his decision to be persuaded into staying here.  The last thing he wanted was to cause these hospitable folks any discomfort – as much as the other way around.

As Stephanie dried and sorted the silverware away into drawers, Mrs. Brown opened another cupboard and retrieved a long, flat box.  As she returned back from the counter, Tim distinguished that it was an old-fashioned form of entertainment Alfred often used to try and interest him in, although he was always too antsy to bother sitting still long enough to learn the rules, instead scoffing and slithering off at the first opportunity to go play video games (or better yet, do some physical training exercises down in the cave).

“Friday nights are traditionally game nights at our house,” she stated matter-of-factly.  “You’re welcome to join us if you like.”

Stephanie rolled her eyes as she wiped her hands with a towel before placing it back on the rack. “Mom, I’m sure he doesn’t want to spend time doing something as boring as play some dumb board game.”

“No, it’s all right.” Tim could hardly believe he himself was saying this, but…  “I- I’d like to give it a try.”

So that was how he ended up playing Scrabble at the Browns’ kitchen table.  Fortunately the instructions were fairly simple to follow (at least it wasn’t Clue, thank God).  In fact he could’ve handily won had he taken full advantage of point availability at times, but purposefully stayed his hand, letting either of present company claim vocabular victory.

As he clacked tiles quietly onto the empty spaces, grooved wood feeling cool and smooth in his fingers, he snuck nervous peeks at his opponents across from him – particularly Steph’s scrunched in concentration as she rearranged words on her rack – racking lexicon for all possible combinations.  The elder Brown didn’t seem to be paying much attention to the match either, watching both of them with an amiable smile.  It made Tim supremely self-conscious as he lowered his head further.

This was… weird.  Really weird.  The whole situation was weird.  …Weird, but nice.

Too nice.

A part of him couldn’t help but feel like a mistake had been made somewhere.  He didn’t belong here, in this nice house and nice kitchen – cramped but cozy – with such nice people who were so gladly willing to share what little they had with him.  Doing the kinds of normal things normal “families” typically did together.  Something in him screamed he didn’t deserve this, that it was all just a trick, an illusion – no matter how hard he tried to shut it up.  He didn’t even dare to blink, terrified that when he opened his eyes he’d be back in that suffocating room, with “Mommy” and “Daddy” looming over him…

He wanted to run away.

Steph’s mom glanced at the wall clock after the game, which her offspring had won easily.  (“Man, you guys weren’t even trying, were you?” she pouted over hollow triumph upon calculating the disparate totals, oddly dissatisfied with overwhelming success.)  Noting the time, their tuckered chaperone thus determined with a yawn they ought to start tucking in for the night.

“Steph sweetie, why don’t you go set up the guest bed?”  She bolstered Tim’s shoulder as she stood up, again denying him to assist in clearing the table.  “You two go on ahead.  I’ll clean up here, and find something else for you to change into.”

They left whilst she started collecting tiles together, and Tim timidly trailed after Stephanie as she led back to the living room.  She allowed him to lend a hand at least with rolling out the foldaway bed from the closet and spreading sheets over it.

“You and your mom seem to get along pretty well.”

Tim murmured in a clumsy attempt to make small talk.

“Things haven’t always been this way,” she replied as she tugged at the corners.  “We’ve had our share of differences and disagreements in the past.  We’re both working real hard to keep a close relationship now though.  After all, you do what you can for family, right?  In the end, we’re all each other’s got.”

She halted, hand over her mouth as she realized she’d breached her own established rule on bringing up sensitive subject.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to…”

“It’s okay.”  He’d raised the taboo topic himself after all. “I don’t mind.”

Steph hastily tried to steer the dialogue away anyway.

“Thanks, you know, for earlier.  …Although I bet I probably could’ve taken them on by myself,” she added with a half-humorous grin.

Tim scoffed mildly.

“Right.  Sure.”

“Hey, you saw me with those bricks,” she sniffed in indignation.  “I could’ve handled it.”

He winced, recognizing that old catchphrase he himself used to boast whenever some other senior superhero had to swoop in to his rescue, especially back when he was just starting out as a newbie.

“Seriously though, thanks again for saving my butt back there.  I owe you one.”

“Same to you.  I guess you could call it even?”

“Fair ‘nuff.  …You know, we make a pretty good team, don’t we?”

“Y- yeah.”

Their eyes met, connecting across the bedding – and Tim was the first to flush red and brusquely break contact, revolving away in panic when Stephanie’s mother suddenly walked in with oh-so-impeccable timing.

“Oh my, am I interrupting something in here?”

“No, Ma,” Stephanie drolled as she innocently fluffed the pillow.

“Hm…”

Mercifully, Mrs. Brown made no additional comment as she proffered Tim a pair of plain pajamas.

“These were my late husband’s, so they might be a bit big on you.  I hope you don’t mind wearing them, though if it makes you uncomfortable…”

“You could always borrow some of my clothes,” Stephanie piped up as she elbowed Tim with a wink, which only made him shrink violet more.

“N- no, this is fine.”

“All right then. Bathroom’s down the hall, there are extra toothbrushes under the sink.  Let us know if you need anything else, we’ll both be upstairs.”

Stephanie waved to Tim as she merrily bid adieu.

“G’night!  See you in the morning!”

This time, he at least made an effort to reciprocate the gesture.

“…Goodnight.”

…

He couldn’t sleep.

He knows, that the moment he closes his eyes, he’ll see that whitewashed face staring back at him. Laughing, always laughing.  Drenched in wet dripping blood, from his own clamped and clammy fist as it pounds, pulverizes.  …Hear clear shot ringing out, the agonized shout as stone arrow pierces purple heart, decorating fallen soldier with red and yellow colored flag.  Head and heart hammering.  Hurting.  Hating �� himself.

Sometimes he’ll remember it differently.  The Joker, wrapped – trapped – in wire pythons, entangling himself within the coiled cords.  He stretches out, slips, shrieks like a banshee as he accidentally yanks out lifeline on his own accord.  Like karma itself removed rug and wind – whoopee cushion – from beneath him.  And Tim can’t tell whether it’s his mind making up alternate experience – excuse – to exonerate his conscience.  But there’s something so sweetly gratifying about the way sparks fly like firework cannons and marionette body writhes in spiderweb’s strings, and maybe that feeling frightens him even more, but either way it all comes back to that dead, dead smile…

He sat up and slowly slid to the edge of the comforter, huddling and hugging knees for comfort.  After a minute, he stood up and staggered towards the bathroom, filling basin with water as he dunked his whole head in for the second time today.  Holding breath and counting deliberately to 10.  He lifted and splashed invigorating coldness a couple more times before dabbing dry.  Trying his best not to be sick; scared shitless of his own damn shadow.  Smothering terror in terrycloth, trembling more than terra firma ever did.

As he gazed at his grim reflection in the mirror, praying for gray ghost’s silhouette to go away – resist the urge to punch and puncture glass, splinter and smash (his own) killer sneer leering back at him – his dull concentration gradually fell upon the latch to the side.  A sense of sheer desperation overtook him as he curiously creaked open the medicine cabinet, anxiously seeking any sort of anodyne to ameliorate stress; preferably some kind of thought suppressant – if not full-on sedative.  …This was wrong.  So wrong.  Stealing was wrong.  Murder was wrong.  But he couldn’t control himself as he shakily picked up the nearest prescription bottle (ascertaining by lack of load it was likely nearly empty) and examined the label…

“Can I help you with something?”

Of all the stupid, idiotic, moronic, dumbass things he’d ever done in his entire life…  Forgetting to close and lock the door no doubt qualified as a competitive runner-up.

He whirled around to find Mrs. Brown within the entryway, garbed in fuzzy green bathrobe and slippers, with stern arms severely crossed as she took in the immoral image of him standing there scarlet-handed.  Looking almost more disappointed – crushed – than cross.  …He’d be disappointed in himself too, if he invited someone into his home – nursed and fed and clothed – treated like a decent, worthy human being – and this was how they repaid him.  He tried – too late – to hide the pill container behind his back, which he remorsefully recognized only made things look worse.

“I- I couldn’t sleep. I just thought-  I wasn’t trying to-”  He choked on rueful disgrace, dropping view and dignity to the floor. “…I’m sorry.  If you want me to leave, I understand.  Just please don’t tell Stephanie or my brother about this.”

He said that, but there were even bigger ramifications at stake.  Was she going to call the police?  That meant Barbara would be there – oh God, how to explain.  Would she even believe him?  She’d have to cover for him again – would she even be willing this time?

As he cowered and kowtowed, imploring before interrogator, her wrinkled countenance softened slightly at the mention of her daughter’s name.  His repentance did sound deeply genuine.  …And perhaps all too familiar.

She released respiration, unlocking limbs and insinuating in pockets instead.

“…You seem like a nice boy. One who’s made a mistake but both acknowledged and apologized for it.  I’d hate to have to send you away and break Steph’s heart.  She certainly seems rather fond of you after all.”  She gave him a gauging scan, scathing yet searching for signs of redemption.  “…Whatever your intentions are towards her, you saved her life tonight.  For that I’m forever grateful.”

Still refusing to accept her regard, he shook his head.

“I only… did what anyone else would do.  It was just fortunate I happened to be there at the right time…”

He flinched as she tentatively tapped an encouraging clap on his shoulder, still shuddering in dread at dominant touch.

“Don’t sell yourself short. What you did was very brave.  …I see a lot of things in my line of work, especially in this city.  You prevented her from becoming another statistic.  I don’t know what I would’ve done if I lost my precious baby girl.  I almost did once before, I’m not about to let that ever happen again.”

Her eyes flicked subtly towards the weight of sobering secret in his clasp, and he surmised from the shameful sorrow echoed in them that perhaps she wasn’t only speaking in the literal.  Discerning his grip tauten, she placed her other paw over his clenched knuckles, tenderly prying cylinder away from them.

“Why don’t we put this back now, hm?”

She began to restore the low strength painkiller substitutes to the shelf – a crutch for overcoming her own past narcotic addiction she hadn’t had to rely on in ages, having successfully kicked habit to the curb with combined counseling and dedicated support from her daughter.  It had been a long, arduous road to recovery, but over many months of struggle she’d managed to mostly taper off detox medication, only keeping in case of intense relapse cravings or emergency post-acute withdrawal symptoms.  A small, constant reassurance in the back of her brain, that at least (temporary) respite was always there.  …Upon second thought though, she removed the few remaining tablets and did what she herself should have done a long time ago, per proper disposal recommendation (or rather regulation): Flushed them straight down the toilet.

“Come, let’s talk more in the kitchen.”

He meekly obeyed, tailing with tail between his legs.  She bade him sit, and he slumped into the stool, stooping like a naughty child sent to the principal’s office as she put a pot of water on the stove.  She remained with her back to him in silence for a minute, monitoring for the first evidence of boiling so she could switch off the heat and transfer kettle right before it began to whistle, cautiously avoiding any racket loud enough to wake the other individual upstairs.

“Tea, hon?” she inquired as the poured the liquid into two cups with (cheap) store-bought bags of herbs and leaves inside.  “I find it always helps me relax and get to sleep, especially after I’ve been working many night shifts in a row.”

Tea.  That was something else Alfred oft used to offer him, although at the time he vastly preferred the kinds of sugary soft drinks the elderly caretaker complained would surely rot his teeth someday.  He eyed the mug half-suspiciously as she stirred and handed it to him, almost as if postulating there were poison in it. Gingerly, he took a calming sip of balmy ginger and lemon balm, savoring a hint of spicy cinnamon.

“…It’s good,” he admitted in response to her anticipation.

She beamed faintly, before carrying on with frank concern.

“I imagine it must have been tough, growing up without a consistent, complete set of parental figures to guide and provide for you.  I don’t mean to presume anything about your life or reasons for such behavior, but I’m guessing you’ve had to learn to handle many things on your own the hard way. …My daughter almost went through that. She’s practically had to raise herself since she was a kid.  I can only thank God – and her amazing will – that she turned out as wonderful as she did. She’s a strong survivor.  Stubborn as a mule too, as I’m sure you’ve seen.  I’m so proud of her you wouldn’t believe.”

She paused, sight sinking into her own drink.

“I confess I haven’t always been a model mother, been there for her when she needed me.  …I might’ve even been where you are once, or at least in a similar place.  It isn’t easy, I know.  But, there is a better way.  If you allow for those people who love you most to help.  Your brother, for one.  He seems to care about you quite a lot.  He told me to call him right away if any… ‘complications’ came up.”

Tim groaned inwardly. So Dick didn’t trust him after all. He probably even foresaw something like this occurring.

“You know, when the earthquake hit Gotham, I thought to myself, ‘this is the really the end’.  I wouldn’t get to tell Stephanie how much I loved her, how much she means to me, how much she’s helped me maintain hope.  I made a decision then to change.  I wanted to – really turn my life around – if not for myself, then for her.  Parents are supposed to take care of their children, after all – be the fully responsible ones.  …Though we’re not exactly perfect beings either.  No one is.  We all make our mistakes – sometimes sacrifices that cost us nearly all we have. …Even if in doing so for others’ sakes, we end up hurting them as well.”

She rose, resting a hand once again on his shoulder.

“But, that’s the importance of forgiveness.  If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that you have to appreciate the people you have in your life, while you still have the chance.  Warts and all.  Everyone deserves a second chance.  I’m grateful to the Lord every day that my girl gave me one.”

She patted peaceably.

“We can keep this between us for now.  I hope you make the right decision when you confront Dick tomorrow though.  In the meantime, try to get some sleep, son. You are still welcome to stay, if you wish.”

As she departed, Tim tiptoed after to the adjoining den again.  At the margin of his periphery, he thought he caught a whisk of lavender socks vanishing behind the railing overhead (overheard?), as Mrs. Brown started up the stairwell, still holding hot beverage in hand.

“Goodnight, dear.”

He declined onto the bed again, swirling his own steaming drink.  Thinking.

At length, he polished off the last drop and endeavored to lay back, contemplating the ceiling. Trying to sustain steady breathing and blank skull, clutching blankets close.  Blinking back tiredness – and maybe some tears of reprieve.

…He must have drifted off at some point, because all of a sudden he finds himself back in the aftermath of the quake.  Roaming the demolished streets, stench of blood and bodies buried underneath destruction – devastation – all around him. Moaning hands extend out, corpses clamoring, crawling towards him.

“Help us, Robin.  Save us.  Please.”

They latch onto his leg, and he vibrates them off, breaking into a run.  Shoes slapping slick against asphalt, wet from recent rain.  Rankness percolating through his soles, seeping into the very core of his soul.  Petrichor turned putrid.  Petrifying. Blocking his ears to drown out the din of wails and sirens, death and decay and despair in every direction.

He sees a kid, crying, crouched in front of a falling structure.  Form framed by sunset, outline inflamed in ruby and gold.  Blazing glory.  Electrical lines crackling as they splinter and snap like stars above, one by one.

Someone has to save him. He was all alone.  Where were his parents?  Where was anybody?  Why the hell was no one there to help him?  Why was no one saving him?

He reacts, moves, dives – just in time – as the world comes crashing down around him.  When he looks down at the bundle in his hands though, there’s just a tattered cape.  He cradles, caresses it; turning it over from bright side to black, like the tarps used to shroud rotting carcasses.

He blinks as the cloth unravels, flag unfurling.  Overflows and spills.  He sees Annie instead, lying limp against his aching breast with deceased doll eyes, blooming wild and wide like a glass rose.  She’s wilting, withering – melting in his arms.  He tries to gather her up, reassemble the chipped fragments, but there’s nothing he can do to prevent.  Preserve.  Protect. He can’t save her.  …He can’t save anyone, let alone himself.

The wading clay compresses, clinches his wrists – claiming what’s left of his consciousness.  Rising up to his neck.  Choking, enclosing in earthen prison as the sun blots out and it all goes completely dark, so dark.  He beats against cavern walls and yells frantically at the top of his lungs, but no one can hear him.

A glow shines through.  Too bright, too blinding.  Lamps burn in his retinas, stinging spots.  The only source of natural light is a round checkerboard window – patterned squares within tic-tac-toe circle – painted directly above him, staring out into space, at the bold sky where he couldn’t fly.  He was grounded, wings clipped by a cackling madman as he and his colorful coconspirator – hooting cuckoos in cahoots – tighten belts, belting laughter.

But it’s okay. Because he’s been here before. Hands bound behind his back, glaring down Pukeface and his goons and their guns in defiance.  Cheekily retorting a remark on his aggressor’s “charming good looks” when his cheek was harshly struck.  He was no coward, not like his dad.  Besides- he didn’t know it then like he does now, but Batman would come and save him.  …Any minute now, his guardian angel would bust in through that curtain and kick Joker’s butt.  And then he’d be sorry, for messing with Tim Drake.  Robin.  The Dynamic Duo.  A perfect pair of eternal partners, best buds.  Forever friends – family.  For one would surely never rest until the other was found.  They’d lay down their lives for each other.  Batman would never let him down – not like his old man.

“I’m not afraid of you.”

After all, in their line of work, deathtraps were no big deal.  Even Joker with a camera was nothing new.  They’d both been captured once, strung up in chains like sitting ducks as the clown battered up a series of spiked cannonballs.  Instructing his “kids” – an “all-star team” – to set up a camcorder to record their demise.  For posterity.

“You don’t really think you’re going to pull this off, do you?”

“Yeah, I mean- considering your batting average.”

A car crushes next to him. He cringes, but remains unfazed as Joker readies the catapult again, aiming precisely at his two targets.  Robin can’t let Batman see him sweat, be ruffled by small stuff like this.  Robins weren’t scared of anything.  He’s done his part by making a quippy pun that would make Nightwing proud, now it was up to the Dark Knight himself to do his stuff.

“A little fear is a good thing.”

Even as the doomed projectiles launch, he keeps his cool.  Composure.  Courage.  …It’s okay, because Batman was right beside him.  He’d think of something.  He always does.  Or maybe his new plug-powered pal would come charging dramatically to their aid in the bare nick of time, putting on flashy static show.  There was always someone he could count on.  Close comrades, brothers-and-sisters-in-arms – some no older than he was.  In fact he looked forward to further team-ups with yet another promising young hero, show a more rudimentary rookie the ropes sometime. Shoot the breeze and hoops and grapples instead of guns, share in electrifying thrill.  …Electricity was nothing to fear.

“I’m not… afraid.”

He repeats the phrase, a little more muted, less sure of himself this time.

Joker simply smiles as he adjusts the dial.

“You will be, my boy.”

…The lever goes down.

He screams.

…

Tim bolted upright, breathing heavily.  It took a minute for him to comprehend his surroundings, attuning to unaccustomed accommodations.  As he recalled where he was, who he was and what he was doing here, he drew knees in close to his chest, descending perspiring temple onto them.  Soaked in adrenal secretions – submerged secrets – sticking to the layers as he rocked consolingly.  Rapidly whispering verifiable facts to himself, reaffirming identity.  Reality.

“My name is Timothy Jackson Drake.  I’m a freshman in college.  A normal kid – person – with a normal life.  Currently I’m a guest at someone’s home.  There’s nothing to be afraid of.  No one can harm me here.”

He reiterated the mantra several times, reminding until rationality was fully swayed.  Swaying back and forth.

As he settled down enough to cease metronomic movement, his resuming senses sharpened, picking up on a singed scent coming from the kitchen.  …No mistake, it smelled like something was burning.

Leaping to his feet, he hurried to the open doorway, which was exuding smoke – whereupon he stumbled upon a scene of Stephanie and her mother arguing over a cast iron griddle as beeping began to blare above them.

“Mooom, you left the waffle iron on too long again.”

“Sorry, sweetheart.”

Stephanie sighed as she scratched at her bird’s-nest hair, having apparently yet to tame tangles by brushing bedhead.  As Mrs. Brown rushed to scrape and salvage what she could, Steph hopped up on a chair to disarm the alarm.  Still elevated after hushing detector, she detected the spectator’s peering peepers, warily watching from just beyond the bend of the doorframe –on the outside looking in.  Like a little lost child, displaced waif – wavering and waffling on whether to enter.  She grinned, announcing presence for him.

“Oh hey, good morning. Sorry for the noise.  Did we wake you?”

He startled at abrupt address, shaking his head.

“Um, morning.”

“You want some waffles?” She jumped down to join her mom as she self-consciously served the scorched bread.  “They’re a bit burnt though.”

Tim’s lids batted, taking in the battered buttermilk spread.  Memory meanders, wandering back – to waking up in his dad’s tiny, trash-filled apartment, picking his way over broken beer bottles and crowded cans to the vacant table, where sometimes he’d find a scribbled note from his father stating he was off working another job for Two-Face and – if he were lucky – maybe some money to buy rations.  More often than not there was nothing though, no rhyme or reason or explanation to disappearance.  And he’d have to pour himself a bowl of cold cereal, or – if there weren’t any supplies left in stock and no cold cash allotted either – he’d have to forage for – filch food himself.  Failing begging or burglary, in starving times he’d resort to even further filthy tactics by diving into dumpster bins, fighting desperately with rats and stray dogs and cats for every last scrap…

“…Hey, are you all right? It doesn’t still hurt anywhere, does it?”

He snapped out of stupor upon fretful inquiry.

“Huh?  No, why do you ask?”

Stephanie and her mother exchanged uneasy looks.

“Then… How come you’re crying?”

“Eh?”

He hadn’t been aware of it, but there was water welling at the verge of his blurred vision, swimming with sentiment as what felt like a dam deep within started to crack, rupturing emotion.  Repressed reverie surging to the surface.

“Ah, this is, um…”  He swiftly swiped at his ducts with the bases of his palms, sniffling into loose sleeves.  God, this was so humiliating. “It’s nothing.”

The streams wouldn’t stop though.  He remembers. Sitting outside on the patio with Alfred and Dick as Bruce beamed proudly over a large, towering plate of pancakes he’d spent all morning trying to make, looking utterly ridiculous in his chef’s hat and apron ensemble (and for once his muddled psyche doesn’t relate to Joker sporting a similar getup), smock smeared with flour and batter stains (to match the many battle scars gained the night before).  Himself and Dick giggling as they mimed furtive gagging motions to each other across the table, Alfred striving his best to retain a straight poker face as he politely asked to pass the syrup, later proposing that perhaps Master Bruce best leave the cooking to him from now on.  Barbara would stop by in the afternoon once she made sure her dad was okay after his ordeal, and Tim would tell her all about the breakfast from hell whilst Dick sought to soothe a still moping Bruce’s bruised ego by making some joke about Eggo and Jemima he couldn’t recollect exactly, but it made Babs roll her eyes as she looked at all of them like they were crazy, before bursting out laughing.  And he’s laughing now too between sobs, not because it’s funny – but because it’s been so damn long since he felt anything quite like this, and he wonders if it’s really okay for him to be this happy – so much that it hurts and he can’t breathe and has to brace himself by grasping the back of a chair, gasping for air.  The rills rolls faster down his cheeks, turning to waterfall ribbons of tears as laughter leaks from his lungs in tumbling tidal waves; loosen and knot round his stomach again, wound tight like a tourniquet.  Snowballing into a boulder at the bottom of his gut, before flaring, inflating and bubbling back up like a balloon, groundswell erupting at the seams.  A liberating display of long-lost passion via paradoxical paroxysms, pure and puerile; almost intoxicating in its ignominy.

Stephanie surveyed these strange proceedings with growing apprehension.

“Maybe we really should take you to a hospital…”

“No,” Tim hiccupped, stabilizing himself.  “I’m okay. Really.”

“…Are you sure?”

“Yeah.”  He inhaled, and smiled.  To be honest, he felt a lot better right now than he had in years.  “…I was just reminded of something, sorry.”

Mrs. Brown serenely sat down.

“…Well then, if that’s settled.  Shall we eat?”

“Yes,” Tim appreciatively concurred.  “Please.”

Steph shrugged as she followed cue to forget oddity in favor of food, falling back into regular morning routine – up-tempo rhythm – as she chattered cheerfully between charred mouthfuls – an acquired taste she’d learned to build tolerance to by slathering in syrup.  Sitting next to their less immune visitor, she watched as he took one delicate bite, snorting in amusement as he tried to cover up coughing.  Teasingly, she pushed a significantly seared portion of the platter onto him while her mortified mother speared her evil eye.

Yet, he graciously took the blackened batch in stride and – to both their astonishment – managed to wolf it all down.  In an even more astounding turn of events, not only had his appetite increased, but so had his level of contribution to conversation, energetic speech expanded in stark contrast to before (although still light by her incomparable lively standards).  Basking in current companionship as he casually complimented on baking skills.  And although they all subsequently share a chuckle – even the chef at her sheepish expense – like it’s intended as a jest; he really, truly, sincerely means it, from the bottom of his own blemished, broken heart that had itself been burned – branded – so many times before, but now felt like it was finally beginning to heal – if just a little bit.  Like it had found some measure of peace at last, a place where he could maybe start to mend, pick up the shattered pieces and start again.  …Like there was hope for a second chance.

…Because even though they’re brown and extra crispy and kinda rough around the edges, and taste a little like rubber charcoal – they’re by far the best goddamn waffles he ever had in his entire life.

I'm running from nothing, no thoughts in my mind Oh my heart was all black, but I saw something shine Thought that part was yours, but it might just be mine I could share it with you, if you gave me the time I'm all bloody knuckles, longing for home If it weren't for second chances, we'd all be alone

[blanc-et-n0ir]

MCYT Multi-chapter Fics

Hey, hey, this time it’s the multichapters :D Meaning, three chapters and above. Again, my AO3 over here

COMPLETED

Bring Me Down With You (11,145 Words) (4 Chapters)

Tags:

Dream, TommyInnit, Sapnap, Wilbur Soot, Fundy, BadBoyHalo, Punz, Tubbo, Eret, GeorgeNotFound

No Romantic Relationships, Wilbur Soot & TommyInnit, Dream & Sapnap, Dream & TommyInnit, Dream & GeorgeNotFound

Whump, Poisoning, Dueling, Bows and Arrows, L’manberg War, Mild Hurt/Comfort, Fluff, Family, Compromise, Sick Fic, Sick Character, Wounds, Potions, Healing, Caves, Injury

Summary:

The terms of the deal were simple. They’d both be at their weakest, no armor and no anything and they have to shoot one shot. A single arrow. Whoever is hit, will have to resign and give the win to whoever is left standing. Those were the terms.  So when did they agree to drink poison?

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

Set during the Dream SMP war.

All I Want For Chistmas Is... FLUFF (46,641 Words) (24 Chapters)

Tags:

Skeppy, Dream, BadBoyHalo, GeorgeNotFound, Sapnap, Wilbur Soot, Technoblade, Philza Minecraft, Tubbo, TommyInnit, Eret, Niki, AweSamDude, Punz, Ponk, Purpled, Fundy, Quackity, Schlatt, Karl Jacobs, Ant Frost, Velvet

Skeppy & BadBoyHalo, Dream & GeorgeNotFound & Sapnap & Ant Frost & BadBoyHalo, Technoblade & Wilbur Soot & TommyInnit & Philza, Dream & TommyInnit, Dream & Tubbo, Dream & Purpled, Dream & Technoblade, Dream & Philza, Eret & Niki & Tubbo, Ant/Velvet, Dream & Punz

Christmas Prompts, Fluff, Family Dynamics, Mild Hurt/Comfort, Family Bonding, Friendship, Rivals, Frenemies, Snowball Fight, Snow Day, Domestic Fluff, Fluff and Humor, Cuddling, Platonic Relationships, Boys Kissing, Secret Santa, Cookies

Summary:

Fluffy One shots about our MInecraft Streamers in Dream SMP. Featuring different AUs whether it's IRL or MC but IRL and more! Mostly platonic unless stated otherwise!! (but don't expect much I prefer platonic anyways)

Lots of cuddling, shenanigans, pranks and laughter!! Maybe a little hurt for the comfort to feel so much better!!

The Whispers in the Dark (53, 160 Words) (20 Chapters)

Tags:

Dream, Technoblade, Wilbur Soot, TommyInnit, Tubbo, Schlatt, Philza Minecraft, Eret, Sapnap, GeorgeNotFound, Quackity, Niki, Punz, Fundy, Ponk, AweSamDude, Skeppy, BadBoyHalo, Ant Frost, Ranboo, Captain Puffy, Karl Jacobs

No Romantic Relationships, Dream & Technoblade & Wilbur Soot, Technoblade & Wilbur Soot & Philza & TommyInnit, Dream & Sapnap & GeorgeNotFound, Sapnap & Wilbur, Dream & Ranboo, Ranboo & Philza, Dream & Captain Puffy

Family Dynamics, Enemies to Friends, Hybrids AU, Pogtopia Arc, Villain Wilbur, Chaotic Dream, Bad Ending, Good Ending, Government, Uneasy Alliance, Hunting, Discrimination, Friends to Enemies, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Angst and Hurt/Comfort, Betrayal, Big Brother Technoblade, Switching Sides, Platonic Cuddling, Carrying, Panic Attacks, Found Family, Execution, Violence, Graphic Description, Ambiguous/Open Ending, Decapitation, Revolution

Summary:

They say that when you are a hybrid of a mob, you take one of two things. Their powers or their desires. Their powers, as simple as it is. A Blaze hybrid would be able to conjure flames and stay inflammable. An Enderman hybrid would be able to teleport and are harmed by water. Their desires, not as simple. A Creeper hybrid would desire to see things explode. A Wolf hybrid would desire the thrill of a hunt.  

They say that the dangerous ones were always those who got the desire- the shortest end of the stick.   

-------------------------------   Let me give Wilbur the satisfying ending he deserves please. We all wanted Manberg to b l o w and I'm going to give it to you. No Angst, promise. (I lied, there's angst)

Angst for the Angst God (19,904 Words) (14 Chapters)

Tags:

Dream, Technoblade, Philza Minecraft, Ranboo, Wilbur Soot, GeorgeNotFound, Sapnap, TommyInnit, Tubbo, Captain Puffy, Quackity, DreamXD, Karl Jacobs

NO romantic Relationships, Dream & Technoblade, Technoblade & Philza, Dream & GeorgeNotFound & Sapnap, Dream & TommyInnit, Dream & Captain Puffy

Angst, Character Death, Deity Dream, Fluff and Angst, Betrayal, Assisted Suicide, Mercy Killing, Murder, Suicide, Dream and Techno Friendship, One Shot Collection, Time Travel, Time Loop, Insanity, Time Travelling Karl Jacobs, Prison Break, Manhunt, Immortal Technoblade, Immortal Dream, Emotional Manipulation, Exile, Abduction, Dead Dove: Do Not Eat

Summary:

A bunch of oneshots about AUs that I've written in a server that is filled with angst or fluff. Whichever strikes the mood. Hope you enjoy your stay here ;)

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

(preview)

He watched as the last obstacle in his path fell. Dream smiled, his eyes glinting with malice and power, “You should have kept an eye on your Patroclus, Achilles.”

He hummed and turned around. L’manberg was no doubt wiped out. Ranboo was firmly in his grasp. All he had to do was take care of that damned egg, Badlands and anyone who stood in his way. He chuckled.

It was almost too easy.   

ON GOING

Let’s Play A Game Called MAFIA (14,399 Words) (5/6 Chapters)

Tags:

Dream, Technoblade, GeorgeNotFound, Sapnap, BadBoyHalo, Skeppy, Wilbur Soot, MegaPVP, Illumina, F1NN5STER

Technoblade & Wilbur Soot, Dream & GeorgeNotFound & Sapnap, Dream/GeorgeNotFound

Mafia Game, Mafia AU, Character Death, Suspense, Detective AU

Summary:

A masked man leaves the apartment complex and walks off under the dim lighting of the street lights. It wasn’t long before he reached his car and opened the driver’s seat. He pushed his keys in and turned it, starting the car. He hummed to himself as he took off his mask, placing it on the car seat beside him. He waits inside his started car as he dials a phone number.

“It’s done.”

In a sick twist of fate, Skeppy dies so Sapnap and Bad have to find the murderer before they kill more people. They meet and drag more people into the case but as the days dwindle by, more deaths and incidents come alive.

Will they find the real murderer or end up living on the edge to their very end?

(Based off of the Party Game called Mafia)

Who Would Want To Be King? (10,932 Words) (5/? Chapters)

Tags:

Dream, Technoblade, Wilbur Soot, TommyInnit, Tubbo, GeorgeNotFound, Philza Minecraft, Schlatt, BadBoyHalo, Quackity, Karl Jacobs, Sapnap

NO Romantic Relationships, Dream & Technoblade, TommyInnit & Tubbo, Technoblade & TommyInnit & Wilbur Soot & Philza, Dream & Wilbur Soot

Prince and the Pauper AU, Frenemies, Rivals, Family Fluff, Family Dynamics, Platonic Relationships, Prince Technoblade, Farmer Dream, Fluff and Humor, Attempted Kidnapping, Kidnapping, King Philza

Summary:

In a kingdom not so far away, lived two men. These two lived completely different lives, with one standing at the very top since birth while the other was stuck at rock bottom. Two very different boys with different experiences but they both share one similarity. They both wish to do something different. To live different lives. To get out of their bubble and grow in their own way. In this little kingdom, two men live to see another view of the world they already see.

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

Barbie Prince and the Pauper AU but everything is platonic and it's all about Dream and Techno

Reaching For Something That Isn’t There (3,676 Words) (2/3 Chapters)

Tags:

Dream, TommyInnit, Technoblade

NO Romantic Relationships

Character Study, References to Ancient Greek Mythology, Parallels, Pain, Suicidal Thoughts, Betrayal, Emotional Hurt, Hurt No Comfort, Character Death, Theseus! Tommy, Icasrus! Dream, Achilles! Technoblade, Dream centric, Technoblade centric, TommyInnit centric, Anger, Violence, Imprisonment

Summary:

History is forever doomed to repeat itself.

People ask what Theseus gained by playing the hero, what Icarus saw in the sun, what Achilles truly wanted. They ask these questions and still don't see an answer.

Why was the sun so charming enough for young Icarus to forget his father's words? Why was Theseus so confident enough that he would be welcomed home for his achievement? Why was Achilles considered a bad example?

Three tales all ending with caution and fear. Three tales to remind everyone of their humanity. Three tales to ensure no one would do the same. And what did they do?

History is forever doomed to repeat itself.

Guide Me Through Hell and Back (34,714 Words) (15/? Chapters)

Tags:

Dream, technoblade, Philza Minecraft, TommyInnit, Tubbo, Drista, Punz, Wilbur Soot, GeorgeNotFound, Sapnap, Ranboo, DreamXD

No Romantic Relationships, Dream & Philza, Dream & Technoblade, Drista & TommyInnit & Tubbo, Dream & Punz, Dream & DreamXD,

Blind Character, Fluff, Fluff and Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Fear, Flying, Mild Hurt/Comfort, Family Dynamics, Self Confidence Issues, Trust, Platonic Cuddling, Hybrid AU, Platonic Relationships, Cuddling, Chaos, Explosions, Angst, Broken Families, Trust Issues, Protective Technoblade, Protective Phil, Blind Dream, Panic Attacks, Torture, Kidnapping, Physical Therapy, Black Markets, Forced Healing, Sad Dream, Protective Dream, Soft Dream, Prison, Pandora’s Vault

Summary:

 "I gain immeasurable amounts of stress just looking at you, Dream." 

-SUN TZU

Dream is blind but he's a bat hyrbid with good hearing. Technoblade finds out and he's concerned for his friend. He stays with him and keeps him company, he also ensures Dream doesn't go too far and hurts himself with his stupid ideas. So what if Phil adopts him along the way and Drista causes chaos with Tommy and Tubbo? Technoblade will protect his friend to the ends of the Earth, screw whoever looked at him weird if he gets all fussy.

(Basically just Technoblade and Dream being best friends fluff.)

The Lonely Guardian (59,379 Words) (14/? Chapters)

Tags:

Dream, Technoblade, TommyInnit, Schlatt, GeorgeNotFound, Sapnap, Wilbur Soot, Quackity, Ranboo, DreamXD, Drista, Philza Minecraft

No Romantic Relationships, Dream & Everyone, Dream & Technoblade, Dream & Tubbo, Dream & TommyInnit, Dream & GeorgeNotFound & Sapnap, Dream & Quackity, Dream & Schlatt, Dream & Philza, Dream & Ranboo

Cottagecore AU, Soft Dream, Healing, Emotional Manipulation, Realization, Self-Exile, Self-Reflection, Domestic Fluff, Friendship, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Exile, Protective Dream, Dreamons, Potions, Minor Injuries, Serious Injuries, Betrayal, Friends to Enemies, Enemies to Friends, Long Haired Dream, Dream centric, Anarchist Technoblade, Bittersweet Ending, Sibling Tension, Arguments, Dad Schlatt, Sick fic, Sick Character, Good Friend Dream, Character Death

Summary:

Dream didn't know what came over him, he wanted some time to think. Some time turned to days and thinking turned to building a nice home. Days turned to weeks and the home is bigger and cozier now.

Weeks turned to years and it's been a while since Dream has seen his friends. Still, they're definitely living a more peaceful life now that he's gone, right?

(Or, Dream left and started a cottagecore after the L'manberg Revolution and a Dreamon took his spot and the plot continues as it does in canon. Except, we have a Dream who likes to stay in his cottage and help his injured friends without telling them who he is, exactly)

Dreaming Of Nightmares, Dee? (9,268 Words) (2/? Chapters)

Tags:

Dream, Technoblade, Philza Minecraft, DreamXD, Karl Jacobs, GeorgeNotFound, Sapnap, Foolish_Gamers, TommyInnit, Tubbo, Ranboo

No Romantic Relationships, Dream & GeorgeNotFound & Sapnap, Dream & Technoblade & Philza, Dream & Ranboo, Dream & Foolish, Dream & Karl Jacobs, Dream & DreamXD, Technoblade & Philza, Philza/Kristin

Deity Dream, Dreamon, Deity Karl Jacobs, Time Traveling Karl Jacobs, Fix-It Fic, Sad Dream, Fluff, Family Dynamics, Hurt/Comfort, Protective Dream, Crack, Crack Treated Seriously, Gods and Goddesses, Mins Manipulation, Dream centric, Comfort, Big Brother Dream

Summary:

When three gods have to deal with a world full of mortals, some things get complicated along the way. Well, Dream was hoping for the best when he left the server to his twin, Nightmare's, and older brother, Dee's, hands.

He got more than he bargained for and mortals tend to be fragile. Prime, he needs a break.

(Or, Dream is the god of luck, Nightmare is the god of chaos and Dee is the god of destiny and the three of them try and fix the SMP out of the goodness of their heart /s)

[angelbain]

The Picnic

(aka a little fluff / crack before I dodge on angst again)

The “extra episode of where are they now” as I picture it. 

Oneshot. Small reference to my fic “O Brave New World” chapter 3 https://archiveofourown.org/works/24252301/chapters/58501732#workskin  in which Catra and Adora visit Entrapta who feeds them experimental cookies. 

A Picnic at the end of the universe

Perfuma’s kingdom, a clear patch in the forest. PERFUMA and a few Plumerians helps stretch a big table cloth over the grass. SCORPIA is standing by her, holding huge baskets full of fruits and vegetables.

PERFUMA: Look, Scorpia, some people are coming! Oooh, I am so happy we are all seeing each other today!

She jumps and bats hands with joy. Scorpia looks at her with a loving eye. SPINERELLA and NETOSSA arrive from the air thanks to the former being able to cast winds.

PERFUMA waves at them with a smile: Here! Here! Come around!

SPINERELLA: Hello!

NETOSSA: We brought some drinks! Is that okay?

PERFUMA: Great! Amazing! Put them here!

She shows a small table. The four of them chat joyfully until a sound of magic glitter interrupts them. Appears GLIMMER and BOW who carries a cake bigger than himself, covered with icing and decorations, multiple-stairs type.

GLIMMER (raising her arms in the sky) Ta-daaa! We’re here!

BOW moans, and almost let the cake fall. It is caught on time by all the characters present, and slowly put in the middle of the tablecloth.

PERFUMA (with an inquisitive tone): Glimmer, what’s this?

GLIMMER: It’s a cake! Bright Moon’s cooks spend the whole morning preparing it! The icing has three different flavours, and the decorative pearls are coated with real gold!

As she talks, the cake seems to shine behind her. PERFUMA gives a concerned look at SCORPIA, who answers with an awkward smile.

PERFUMA: Well, err, thank you Glimmer! I’m sure it will be perfect for a light pic-nic in the middle of nature… But where are Adora and Catra? Weren’t they supposed to come with you?

GLIMMER: Oh, they said they would come by their own means… They should be there soo…

She is interrupted by the loud noise of an engine roaring closer. To all the characters’ horrified sight, a huge motorbike comes at them at full speed. Both riders wear a helmet that makes them unrecognised. They brake at last minute in a loud hiss, and do a spin that throws earth at the face of the protagonists. The back rider get their helmet off: it is ADORA, with a brand-fresh undercut and the biggest beam.

ADORA: GUYS! You will never figure out what I gave Catra for her birthday!

GLIMMER: Let me guess, this motorbike?

ADORA;: Yeah! It is a-ma-zing, right? 

There is no answer. CATRA appears by her side, looking embarrassed, with a box that looks like it has been stepped on multiple times.

CATRA: So err Adora… About the pizza…

ADORA: What’s with the pizza?

CATRA: It has… err… suffered a little in the journey… It should taste fine but…

She opens the box to the saddest pizza ever seen.

GLIMMER: Wait! You disappeared all this morning to do ONE PIZZA? Arrrr!(She holds her head in her hands)

CATRA: No! I made cookies as well! Look!

She opens a box, and get a cookie out that has very vaguely the shape of a cat, that she holds proudly in front of an unconvinced GLIMMER.

PERFUMA (trying to stay calm and speaking as if to a very small child): That’s cool! Put it next to Glimmer’s cake and join us!

CATRA (asides, with her hand at the side of her mouth, pointing at the cake): Wait, did Sparkles do that?

ADORA: Apparently.

CATRA (same attitude): And we’re standing here with our stupid pizza…

ADORA (dry voice): It’s a great pizza. Now stop being competitive and enjoy the party.

They are interrupted (again) by the rush of the river close by which becomes a sudden torrent, to let stage for a wonderful boat… on fire. MERMISTA jumps from it and waves her arms to throw water at the arson, and floods PERFUMA who came closer to say hello.

MERMISTA: Sea-Hawk? SEA-HAWK? Come out now, and don’t forget the food!

SEA-HAWK (from inside the ship): I’m co-o-o-oming darling!

MERMISTA (with a bored voice): Oh, hi guys. Sorry for the inconvenience. He insisted for the fire.

PERFUMA (drying herself with a towel handed by SCORPIA, fake-smiling): It’s no worries! What did you bring?

MERMISTA (proud): We got the best fish and sea-food you guys have ever tried! Bring it on, Sea-Hawk!

SEA-HAWK gets out with a pile of wooden boxes. He opens one to shiny lines of fish. In the background, we have a quick glimpse at CATRA’s face, licking her lips with eager eyes. PERFUMA winces.

PERFUMA: Well… err… that’s great?

SCORPIA: Wait, what do you mean that’s great? Didn’t you say you were vegetarian? Do vegetarians eat fi…

As she speaks, SEA-HAWK and MERMISTA’s faces drops. PERFUMA puts a hand on SCORPIA’s mouth.

PERFUMA: No, no, it’s great! Put these around… (she hesitates and points at a random direction) around here! Great! Now who’s missing?

ADORA: Well, Frosta, and Entrapta, and I think that’s all…

CATRA: About Entrapta, do you guys think she will bring Hord…

She is interrupted by FROSTA, who just jumps from nowhere in her ice armor and punches her. After the first surprise, CATRA gets up, smiles competitively, and punches her back. They start a playful fight that pauses quickly. FROSTA salutes the others.

FROSTA (with her warrior voice): Hello, guys! I hope you waited for me to begin the party! Yea-hay!

PERFUMA: Well, we were just greeting everyone and…

FROSTA: Amazing! I brought ice-cream! Yay!

She draws a whole bunch of ice-cream flavours. GLIMMER yaps in the background and Bow’s eyes are huge from excitement.

GLIMMER: Frosta, you’re just the best! Now everyone’s here we’ll be able to start…

She tends to the buffet but is quickly caught back by BOW. Vexed, she pouts and sulks when the calm hum of an engine disturbs them. A sort of spaceship arrives from the sky, and parks between the boat and the motorbike, dumping the later down to the horrified sight of ADORA and CATRA who puts their hands on their mouth. Without a clue, a giddy ENTRAPTA comes out of the ship, followed by candid WRONG HORDAK.

ENTRAPTA: (talking to her log) Social experiment number #132, I am about to share a pic-nic with my friends. (to everyone) Now hi, everyone! I am very happy to see you all!

PERFUMA: We are happy to see you too, Entrapta, and whoever, I really say whoever you brought with you will be as welcomed as…

CATRA (with a concerned voice): Did you bring Hordak?

At this very moment, HORDAK gets out of the vehicule. He looks around. There is a collective moment of awkwardness where everybody looks around to avoid anyone’s gaze, to the exception of CATRA who jumps on their feet and points angrily at him.

CATRA: WHAT? YOU BROUGHT THIS…

ADORA (hands on CATRA’s shoulders): Calm down please…

GLIMMER (pushing them aside): HEY! What is he doing here?

MERMISTA: Yeah, like didn’t he try to destroy the planet or something? Just sayin’…

FROSTA: YEAH! BAD HORDAK!

HORDAK: I can see that I am not welcome here. (He looks at ENTRAPTA who is puzzled). Let’s leave.

Before they do, PERFUMA steps out and catch them by the arm.

PERFUMA (pulling her best smile and stepping before the others who still look pissed): Please, don’t leave! You are most welcome here, and surely the other guests will be able to (she looks at the pissed group with a side angry eye and especially at CATRA for she holds them responsible for the start of the mess) put aside your differences. So, err, did you bring anything?

ENTRAPTA (joyful): Yes, as it is a custom to bring food to a party like this, I tried to find the perfect flavour! I experimented lots of them – Catra and Adora even tried one – but I need more subjects to try it so I brought you a sample! Here it is!

WRONGIE opens a metallic box. It is full of small grey cubes.

CATRA (aside): My, not again…

ENTRAPTA ignores the remark and piles up the box over all the stuff that is already there: the sea food, the fruit baskets, the cake, the pizza, the drinks, the cookies, the ice cream totter dangerously and start to fall down. Every member of the group jumps to retrieve something, but it is not enough, and eventually the cake ends up falling over PERFUMA who jumped to catch it.

There is a small instant of silence, followed by a cry of rage from PERFUMA, who drops her arms on the floor and yells.

PERFUMA: Aaaaaaaaaahhhhh!

SCORPIA puts down whatever she caught and approaches carefully.

SCORPIA: Hey… erm… are you all right?

PERFUMA: No! My party is ruined! People are fighting, and Glimmer’s cake is wrecked! I’m such a bad host!

PERFUMA begins to cry. SCORPIA holds PERFUMA in her arms and glance at the rest of the group, clueless, when ADORA steps forward.

ADORA: We are sorry, Perfuma. It took you time and energy to prepare this, and we are ruining it by being bitter.

NETOSSA: Yeah, and it’s not like it took us a long time to bring the drinks.

MERMISTA: Nor the sea-food. FROSTA: The ice-cream took me one minute…

CATRA: The pizza took us much longer but I’m sure it’s no great loss. And… I’m sorry I started this.

There is another silence. CATRA nudges HORDAK, who looks terribly ill-at-ease.

HORDAK (after a terrible effort): I’ll do my best to prove the princesses I’m an honourable guest.

CATRA: Hmm, good enough.

PERFUMA looks up, eyes still tearful.

PERFUMA: So you still enjoy the party?

ADORA: What? Of course we do! (looks at GLIMMER)

GLIMMER: And I’m just we can still save pieces of the cake!

SEA-HAWK: And the sea-food! (looks at MERMISTA)

SPINERELLA: And I love mashed fruit! (looks at NETOSSA)

FROSTA: We can mix it with the ice cream!

MERMISTA: Add the cake in it, it would be so cool!

ENTRAPTA: What if we make it in tiny scoops? (looks at HORDAK)

SCORPIA: And a little cookie at the top of it? (looks at CATRA)

BOW: Yay, cookies!

He jumps and high-fives SCORPIA. Perfuma cracks a smile, and they all laugh.

Ellipse to the end of lunch. GLIMMER is asleep on Bow’s knees, a small chunk of cake still at the corner of her lips. Meanwhile, BOW is showing WRONGIE how to use a bow. PERFUMA is chatting happily with NETOSSA and SPINERELLA.

PERFUMA: … So I sent an invite to this Double Trouble person, they seem to be so interesting, but sadly they declined. They said they got a key role in a play and don’t want to drop that out… I wonder what that is. Something about crime and investigation… I think Mermista would know more about this sort of thing…  

Her words are lost in the general conversation. In another corner, CATRA is leaning on ADORA’s knees. The others are in the background. ADORA is handing one of ENTRAPTA’s cubes to CATRA.

ADORA: You should definitely try this.

CATRA: I’m not sure about it…

ADORA: Come on! It’s completely different than last time!

Switch for a second on Sea-Hawk, who tries to sing a shanty but is interrupted by a flow of water, a pile of flowers and some snow.

CATRA: All right, if it pleases our majesty…

CATRA eats the cube, chokes from it and reach for the closest drink.

CATRA (after drinking a whole bottle of fizz) You idiot! It’s even worse than last time!

ADORA laughs heartily when CATRA jumps on her. They fight like two kittens.

Zoom on the rest of the groom.

They are gathered at a board game that is probably of BOW’s design, because it featues small figurines. ENTRAPTA is examining them all at once, one in each lock of her hair. SCORPIA is trying to read the manual and scratches her head, but tries to explain the rules. FROSTA is sleeping on her shoulder. MERMISTA just looks bored. HORDAK looks miserable.

ENTRAPTA: Bow, did you made these? They’re amaziiiiinnng…

HORDAK: I must admit it is quite a good craft.

BOW blushes. An arrow brushes by his nose.

WRONGIE: Oops! BOW: Wow!

The arrow ends up in a tree very close to PERFUMA, who is pouring warm water in a tea-pot. She jumps, but the pot is caught by a net that allows it to land peacefully in her arms.

PERFUMA (smiles): thank you, Netossa. (turns to ADORA, who raises her head from the cuddle fight that led her and CATRA to be covered with grass). Adora, I wanted to ask, do you have any news from Swift Wind?

ADORA: Oh, haha, hem… He is on a quest to find other talking animals like him. He said he feels a little lonely in his… hem… condition.

CATRA: Yay, and so far he found a frog and they are the greatest complainer in history.

PERFUMA smiles. ADORA looks away, a little guilty. CATRA uses the moment to grasp a chunk of grass and punch it at her face. They resume the fighting. Zoom on BOW, who stands up, with at his feet a yawning GLIMMER.

BOW: Guys, please, can I have your attention for a minute!

MERMISTA: Eeeeerr, seriously, you’re going to make a speech? This is sooooo cheesy!

SCORPIA: Shhhh, he is going to make an announcement. We are all ears, Bow, go on…

FROSTA (who woke up): Are you and Glimmer getting married? (Glimmer blushes)

CATRA (with a smirk): You’ve got to get a proper shirt for that though.

BOW: Wait, we’re not…

SEA-HAWK: I could do the singing!

SCORPIA: Can I be your best man? Please! I’m never been anyone’s best man!

BOW: We’re not…

ADORA: Wait, who’s getting married?

ENTRAPTA: Bow and Glimmer, apparently. It will be a great social experiment, I’m waiting for it. By the way, aren’t you and Catra going to do it with them? (ADORA blushes violently.)

BOW: WE’RE NOT GETTING MARRIED!

A big silence follows. Everyone looks shocked, Scorpia is even almost tear-eyed.

SCORPIA: You’re breaking up? But you’re such a good couple! Please don’t break up! (She kneels down, grabs Bow’s trouser’s leg and begs) Please-please-please…

BOW (sighs): We’re not breaking up, we’re not getting married, and I just wanted to tell you guys that tea is ready and that I made each of you a personal cup to bring back home!

SCORPIA stops crying, and PERFUMA just laughs from the whole situation. SCORPIA looks at her and smiles from seeing her lover be happy. On the back, ENTRAPTA strokes HORDAK’s cheek with her hair, and he lifts his head to look at her. Behind them, WRONGIE looks at the scene with loving eyes.

BOW: So, here is yours, Adora – He gives her a cup full of tea. It is white, with a sword drawn on it.

ADORA: Nice!

BOW (continues the distribution of tea): Catra’s… - A red cup, with cat ears that poke at the edge, and a >.< cat face.

CATRA (doing exacly the same face): Why is mine making a face?

BOW: Glimmer’s… - A pink cup, with a complicated shape and small pearls that decorate it. She just smiles and grabs it – Perfuma’s… A round cup made of natural wood, with a small twig twisted around it.

PERFUMA: Thank you. (She closes her eyes and smells the tea with pleasure).

BOW: Scorpia’s…- It’s a deep red cup, huge, and with a special shape for her to hold: it is thinner in the middle and larger at the top and bottom, and without a handle.

SCORPIA (still tear-eyed): This is so nice from you Bow!

BOW: Frosta’s… - A light-blue cup, all transparent and with angular shape, like a diamond. It has a top cover to prevent spilling because she is impulsive.

FROSTA: Yay! (She jumps with the cup, but it just shakes the content and only spills a little bit out).

BOW: Mermista’s… - A blue-green cup with the handle in the shape of a fish, and a unicorn whale painted on it.

MERMISTA: Ok, it’s a little bit cool, I admit.

BOW: Sea-Hawk’s… - A dark-blue cup with a boat drawn on it – At least you won’t set this boat on fire!

SEA-HAWK: Oh, thank you!

BOW: Entrapta’s… - It’s a set of three black small cups. On each of them are stylised purple faces with hands: one with the hands on the ears, one on the eyes, and one on the mouth.

ENTRAPTA: Oh, it’s tiny! Amazing! (She gives mouth to WRONGIE, ears to HORDAK, and keep the eyes one. WRONGIE looks happy, but HORDAK looks puzzled). Thank you!

WRONGIE: Thank you! HORDAK: Yeah, hem… thank you. (He looks away)

BOW: and finally, Netossa’s and Spinerella! - He gives NETOSSA a cup all squared in black and white, and SPINERELLA a light purple cup with the handle in the shape of a wind spiral. They smile and cheer with the cups. - So, would you join me for a toast?

ADORA: Sure.

BOW (a little more solemn): So… To Etheria (he looks at ADORA and CATRA, who both blushes). To victory (he looks at SCORPIA, PERFUMA and FROSTA who all cheer). To love (he looks at NETOSSA and SPINERELLA who kisses, and then at GLIMMER who just smiles). To adventure (he looks at MERMISTA and SEA-HAWK who look fiercely ready for another). To forgiveness (he looks at ENTRAPTA, who smiles, WRONGIE, who blinks, and HORDAK, who simply nods.). But mostly to say: It’s the best thing so far to be friends with friends.

They all cheer and yay, and the last image is of a collection of cups all clasped together.

THE END.

[sadrien]

wanna chat? pt.25

on ao3 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25

alright!!! so this chapter is a little special. its a contest!!!!

for literally no reason at all, i decided to have a little fun with this chapter. in this chapter, there are a bunch of pop song references. the majority are from the early 2000s (before 2010, tho there may be one or two from 2011 or 12) and one is from the 90s. whoever can list the most references wins a drabble/short fic of their choice from me!

to enter, submit a list of all the songs that were referenced in this chapter (or the ones you could find!!)

shoot me an ask if you have any questions~!

mental support = nino, ebony = alya, draco = adrien, vampire = alya

i hope you enjoy!

17:20

mental support: a reminder that i hate all of you

ebony dark’ness dementia raven way: u love u s

mental support: i can t believe you just made me listen to all of that what the fuck

draco malfoy: Now You Know

mental support: i wish i didnt

ebony dark’ness dementia raven way: its so good so iconic also the writer is now a fukcing awesome published author and mari and i r gonna read her books together join us we can b the nerds with a book club

mental support: i just spent several hours listening to you three do a dramatic reading of my immortal i think weve gone past nerds with a book club

ebony dark’ness dementia raven way: sounds fake

vampire: You cant say that wasnt a lot of fun though I forgot how wil d that fic got

mental support: i need to process

draco malfoy: Have fun

  5:02

draco malfoy: Reasons to quit modelling: Early morning shoots

draco malfoy changed his name to asleep in makeup

asleep in makeup: I can’t wait to be done today

  9:34

mental support: i am so sorry dude fingers crossed that your dad stops sending you to them

ebony dark’ness dementia raven way: ^^^

mental support: al babe please change your name

ebony dark’ness dementia raven way: f i n e uhhhhhhhh

ebony dark’ness dementia raven way has changed their name to aint no lie

aint no lie: baby bi bi bi

mental support: i dont know what i expected

aint no lie: pls choose a lyric and join me

mental support: youre ridiculous why do i love you

mental support has changed their name to fool for you

aint no lie: lmao sap

fool for you: true

  10:02

vampire: Oh my god we have so man y orders to day Wont be on Im dying Im gonna dronw in frosting

vampire has changed their name to too many cookies

fool for you: uhhh no such thing let me know when youre on your break i wanna stop in and say hi and also steal some baked goods pull you away from baking for a bit

too many cookies: My knight in shining arm or  <3

fool for you: mostly hoping for cookies deemed unworthy to sell but yes i can work with knight

too many cookies: At least youre honest

13:35

asleep in makeup: Get me out og hits hous e

aint no lie: omw get ready to leave boy i was in the area on a walk

asleep in makeup: Thnak s

  13:46

fool for you: let me know if i can do anything ok?? if you need to stay the night or something that super chill my moms wont mind besides they keep trying to invite you all to dinner

too many cookies: Same as what Nino said!!! And also what!! I love your moms Id love to go to dinner??????

fool for you: yeah but theyre gonna tell embarrassing stories

too many cookies: You say that like I wasnt there for most of them

fool for you: yeah but adrie nand alya werent

too many cookies: Ok true true

19:11 in PM between too many cookies and alseep in makeup

asleep in makeup: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6J1-eYBbspA

too many cookies: Why the fuck

asleep in makeup: I’m with Alya We’re listening to 2000 hits from the US

too many cookies: Of course you are Are you having fun And feeling better??

asleep in makeup: Yeah We’re cuddling and making fun of the music videos Mostly the fashion Also her mom brought home some food from the hotel so we don’t have to eat ramen which is both awesome and a disappointment

too many cookies: Mhm How hard are you pining

asleep in makeup: Shut up

too many cookies: You love me

asleep in makeup: Unfortunately Why are our friends just so Great Good Incredible Sos I’m getting emotional about them Mari I really love them what did we do

too many cookies: We have really great taste obviously

asleep in makeup: Man I have shitty luck

too many cookies: Or the best

asleep in makeup: That’s your department

too many cookies: True tru e Are you going to survive??

asleep in makeup: Yeah Cuddling with Alya is unfairly nice

too many cookies: Tell me about it Anyway why this song

asleep in makeup: Because I love you and just wanted to remind you

too many cookies: This is the worst way to tell me that But I love you too I have to go help my mom with dinner but Ill talk to you later <3 Have fun Dont die

asleep in makeup: No promises

20:02 in fucking clock hearts

aint no lie has renamed this conversation to tell your boyfriend if hes got beef

too many cookies: Wha t

aint no lie: THAT IM A VEGETARIAN AND I AINT FUCKING SCARED O F HIM

fool for you: what the fuck

asleep in makeup: We’ve been watching music videos for like 3 hours

aint no lie: im liv in g

asleep in makeup: My dad would die if he saw any of the outfits people are wearing in these

aint no lie: american pop music from the 2000s is wild join us

fool for you: i thik im good

asleep in makeup: Youre not

aint no lie: were not falling in love were just falling apart :/

too many cookies: Im too tired for fake deep al

aint no lie: rip im sorry babe

fool for you: can i break into the bakery and get a cookie i need sugar

too many cookies: Cn I convince you to watch a show with me or something

fool for you: duh

too many cookies: !!!!!!!!! Let me know when you get here Im just at the foot of the stairs braiding my hair Ill let you in  

  20:15

aint no lie: bo y why are all of 3oh3s songs fucking icon ci

too many cookies: 3oh3 is that supposed to like Mean somethin g

aint no lie: idk its just another word i never learned how to pronounce

too many cookies: RIp

fool for you: yo mari im here

too many cookies: !!!

  20:25

aint no lie: a;lsdkfjasdf things i apparently need to do add chloe on snapchat

fool for you: yo why

asleep in makeup: She just sent me a selfie of her wearing designer shades just to hide her face cause she took her makeup off

aint no lie: she is???? weirdly chill snapchattin g marhs whtf

too many cookies: Whtf???

fool for you: what hell the fuck

asleep in makeup: That might have to do with us having been friends since we were like In diapers Chloe isn’t the best person but we still talk for a reason

aint no lie: fair

fool for you: i follow her on twitter for her rants theyre ridic they make my day

asleep in makeup: Oh uh Nino can I come over when you’re done at the bakery?

fool for you: yeah of course dude!!! that offers always there

aint no lie: >:(

too many cookies: I take it you two had this argument alread y

asleep in makeup: Yup I feel bad invading Alya’s space for so long

aint no lie: youve been around all night before!!!!! its not a big deal!!!!!!!!!!! the party dont stop

fool for you: want me to steal some cookies from you

asleep in makeup: Stealing is bad

aint no lie: why are u leaving me!!!!!!!!!!!

too many cookies: Ill let Nino tak ethe cookies then its not stealing Also cant you have this con vo irl??

asleep in makeup: Yeah but this is better

aint no lie: yeah also were comfy on the couch and itd be weird to yell at each other when were sitting like this

PM between asleep in makeup and too many cookies

too many cookies: Rip

asleep in makeup: Please don’t make this worse

too many cookies: Come on Romeo

asleep in makeup: That’s not my name

too many cookies: Fiiine You ok?? I know youre going over Ninos Hes getting ready to leave btw but he just mentioned that in the main chat

asleep in makeup: Yeah I just Its been a really really messed up week

too many cookies: Fair enough Let me know if you need anything ok???

asleep in makeup: Thanks <3 Going from Alya to Nino will be fun

too many cookies: Tonight your e fallign in love

asleep in makeup: Very funny But let me know if you need anything too Ok???

too many cookies: I will <3 <3

in tell your boyfriend if hes got beef

fool for you: ok so how many cookies is too many cookies

aint no lie: there is literally no such thing weve talked about thi s

fool for you: i bet if you eat too many you could die

aint no lie: come on let me shake up ur world and change ur life eat All The Cookies

fool for you: thats too many cookies

aint no lie: eat all the cookies an d die

fool for you: youre just jealous that adrien is coming over

aint no lie: please this isnt even jealousy >:/

fool for you: bruh oh btw im leaving in like 2 minutes gonna steal you away from alya

aint no lie: n e v e r

asleep in makeup: Please save me she’s been playing the same song for like half an hour

aint no lie: listen hot stuff im in loe vwith this son g

fool for you: let the beat rock dude

asleep in makeup: Mari pl e a s e

aint no lie: i cant stop cause im haivng too much fun!!!!!!!

  21:35

aint no lie: i cant believe ive been betrayed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

fool for you: youre so dramatic

aint no lie: this is the worst thing to ever happen o t me

asleep in makeup: Its not enough to say that I miss you, is it

aint no lie: no >:( tell me what i wanna hear and that is that ur coming bcak

asleep in makeup: Sorry Al

fool for you: yeah ive got a blanket fort set up still from last time so i win

aint no lie: shi t

too many cookies: Youre all ridiculou s You need to come back down t o earht Weve got bigger problems than this Liek the fact that I canT FIND MY SCISSOR S

aint no lie: r i p

fool for you: theyre under your chaise

too many cookies: What

fool for you: check

too many cookies: ……. Holy s hi t HO W

fool for you: magic

aint no lie: u might no t believe ur eyes but ninos magic

asleep in makeup: I thought I got away from this

aint no lie: nope <3