#anyway as usual i had no plan going into this other that blue green and silver
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that-last-alliance-fan · 1 month ago
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Fast - Lasgalen
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idontcaboose · 4 months ago
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Haunted car Au part 14
So, it has been a week, and it feels like when you wake up from an unplanned 30 minute nap and have to ask 'What year is it?' While feeling like you have been run over by a whole procession of clowns, clown cars, and maybe a camel for good measure. Granted, that may be from the ragweed that is pollinating like crazy, but oh well... new part!
THIS IS YOUR WARNING! SWEAR WORDS! Plenty of cursing ahead! You have been warned!
Previous. Masterpost
It had been over 24 hours since Jason saw Danny. The most troubling thing was, there were no whispers of a trafficking group in that area. He couldn't fathom what had happened to the kid. Barbara couldn't find the kid on her cameras either, so he might need to go to the cave and look at the Batmobile himself. The footage Babs pulled were just as corrupted as the ally cameras were. Maybe the kid built himself a little jamming device, wouldn't be his first strangely useful creation. Whether or not he had a jamming device, he was still missing and none of the other street kids had seen him. He knew they were probably not harboring him with the bounty for finding Danny being as lucrative as it was. Jason knew offering to cook 3 meals a day for a week would get all of his street kids looking, some adults too.
Jason was a little surprised to see Duke looking at the Batmobile's underside when he drove in. Normally only Bruce and Jason worked on the cars since they had the most hands-on experience with them. Case in point, Duke had the car up on the lift with the front doors open. Did he have to sit Duke down and go through safety in maintenance 101? Maybe he could borrow little Timmy's version “The importance of Maintenance Safety: Or why you don't let Megan write safety plans.” It would hit all the important bits and sear the information in with neon yellow and blue comic sans font.
“So, Glowstick, mind telling me why the fuck you are trying to get yourself crushed?” Jason growled at the kid, the helmet making it even more menacing.
Duke gave Jason an unimpressed look. “B got a stick up his ass and thinks I somehow was involved with the Batmobile running weirdly." Duke sneered as he continued. "Last night when Red Robin activated his emergency beacon, the lead goon got in it and ran over some of his goons. The fail safes for theft didn't activate. Somehow, it was my fault. Perks to being the closest non-injured, I guess.”
Jason was surprised at the bitterness the usually sunshine-y kid had.
“Well, good news, we can swap for a bit, and I can teach you properly how to maintain this beast.” Jason offered.
“Why are you so interested?”
“I can't be nice?”
“You are here willingly, and no, you usually are not ‘nice’. So what is it?”
Jason was not expecting such hostility from Duke, but if Bruce had his panties in a twist and took it out on Duke, he could forgive some of the bite. Couldn't hurt to get Duke in on his hunt for Danny anyway.
“I… need help. One of my guys mentioned they bet a kid, named Danny, some money to put a sticker on the Batmobile. No one has seen the kid after entering the alley where the car was parked. Oracle said the cameras were corrupted at the time the kid was there with it. Figured I would check the car for clues.”
“Oh…. Sure.”
They both looked at the undercarriage of the car in silence before Jason gave a snort.
“The kid really did put a sticker on the oil pan. That is hilarious.”
Sure enough there was a Green Arrow sticker, one where he had his arms crossed and looking smug as all hell, positioned in such a way that eluded that when the oil was drained it would look like Green Arrow was pissing.
“That is amazing, if you find the kid let me give them a high-five for that. What does he look like anyway?”
“Adoption bait, pretty much a mini me with a more ‘polite’ mouth.” Jason was sure Duke could hear his smile when talking about the kid.
“No shit? You with manners? I don't think I can imagine that from a Alley Rat.” Duke teased.
“Watch it Narrows, us Alley Rats are all a little rabid.” Jason found himself teasing back before sniffing. “Besides, Alfie would have my head if I didn't have some manners.”
They went back into a more comfortable silence while working, Jason took to looking through the center, hoping to find some sort of clue of a struggle if Danny got nabbed. Duke was focusing on the engine compartment and any wirings that he could follow. It was rather relaxing until Duke went to move some rubber piping to get a closer look at a relay.
Neither person expected the car to shudder and produce a kind of creepy giggle. Duke froze and Jason reacted by tackling him away from the car and pulling one of his guns at the Batmobile.
“What in the ever loving fuck?” Jason screamed, the Batmobile responded with its own car alarm going off.
“Don't shoot! I'm sorry, I didn't expect that to happen, we are still trying to figure things out!” Duke had jumped back up and put himself in front of Jason, waving his hands and trying to keep attention on him.
“We? What the fuck Narrows?!”
“Just, both of you, stop! Hood, gun down, Car dude, stop the alarm. Please.” Duke all but whined the last word in desperation.
Jason took a Very deep breath, and growled out in the now silent cave.
“Car. Dude?”
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@kizzer55555 @sebas-nights @candeartist422 @trappednyourheart @fandom-life-corrupted-me @tkiesai @2lbballpeenhammer @admiralwidow @rewrittenwrongs @whotfevenknowsanymore @symmetricalastigmatism @thespacedragons @atinygracie @okami-love @lesbian-spider-drone @1n0sss @forgetmenot-bluepurple
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unoislazy · 1 year ago
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I am feral for Mizu and you’ve been feeding me well with your Mizu fics so thank you so much for your service!! 💕💕💕💕💗💗💗💗💗 i really enjoy your writing and the way you portray Mizu. With that said i wanna run a scenario by you and im just wondering how do you think it’d play out (if you like the idea enough to do a mini fic or headcanons that’d be awesome but if not then that’s okay and i understand 💕) hear me out, what if Mikio had a sister and she lived with him and Mizu during the time they were married, say her and Mizu bonded while they all live together but then their friendship blossoms into romantic love 🥺 how do you think that’d play out?
I Am No Coward
(Part 1)
Mizu x Fem! Reader
A/N: all of you guys are so nice and I love all of you. Thank you for the suggestion! This will be around a 4 part series that I hope to continue working on in the near future so BUCKLE UP
Also!
I am planning on making a Mizu x Black reader soon but I’m struggling on deciding a scenario for it. If anyone has any suggestions they won’t be to try out for it, I’ll take them with open arms!
Summary: You’re Mikio’s sister and todays the day you meet his new bride to be.
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Days were quiet with you and your older brother Mikio. After you had been put under his care and he had been outcasted by the lord, you both lived on his land more on the countryside, away from those who would cast their unwanted opinions on to you.
You usually took care of the more mundane tasks, cooking, cleaning; Things Mikio never truly liked to do. He wasn’t against helping but he was usually too busy with the horses to ever truly give you a hand. You knew your brother was obsessed with trying to win back the favor of the Shogun and as much as you knew it wasn’t going to happen, you let him believe anyways.
Time went on as usual until one day Mikio had returned home with some news.
“I’ve been offered a wife.” He said plainly as he took off his cape. You stopped cutting the vegetables and turned to him with a smile.
“That’s great… right?” You smiled hopefully. Given that he was now deemed an outcast and he was an older man it was unlikely that he would find any matches at this point, so you were just pleased that someone had been offered.
“She has the eyes of an onryo.” Was all he said in response before walking over to you. He kneeled down, watching what you were doing with a watchful yet critical eye. He adjusted your hand, suggesting that you had been cutting wrong in the first place.
“And that’s a problem?” You asked, your smile dropping for a moment as you rolled your eyes at his wordless suggestion. You knew he truly had no say in what opportunities were offered to him, you both did. If he had anything to gain, he should take it. He sighed for a moment, looking down before answering,
“No, She’ll be here in three days.”
Your smile returned, pleased to know that at least your brother would experience something other than the constant stress of trying to win back his honor.
You didn’t care what his wife would look like, she could have blue eyes, green hair, and purple skin for all you cared. All you cared about was your brother being happy, and you hoped she would be the key to that.
Mikio used to be a much more upbeat man. He liked to bring light to dreary situations with a joke or some laughter, but he always knew when to keep it serious. However, after he had been outcasted it seemed like all the fun parts of him disappeared. He became so hellbent on training the horses to be the best they could be that he forgot to have fun or indulge himself in anything. You used to enjoy spending time with him and you were elated when you realized you would be put under his care, but that joy soon subsided when you realized just the effect a bruised ego can have on a man. He became closed off, irritable, and would barely even give you the time of day. He cared about nothing more than his honor and as much as you tried not to, you began to resent him for it.
But you kept your thoughts to yourself and went on with your life, hoping someone would come along and change him.
The three days had passed and it was time for his new bride to arrive.
And Mikio was nowhere in sight.
You sighed, disappointed in him, believing he was avoiding yet another responsibility that seemed to ‘get in the way’ of his horses. Even if you had suggested anything, he wouldn’t listen to you, he knew what was best for him.
At least that’s what he claimed.
You sat quietly outside your house, waiting patiently for the woman to arrive so you could greet her. If anything you were ecstatic to meet the mystery woman and you hoped you’d manage to get along with her.
It hadn’t taken long for you to see them approaching. The two women walked towards your direction, both holding two bags, presumably full of their belongings. However, the younger woman seemed to also be holding what looked like a sheathed sword.
You smiled, now standing and walking down the steps, excited to meet the woman. You watched as the two women made their way towards you, one older and one younger. The older woman had turned to face the house that you stood before and spotted you, giving you a wide smile before turning back to the younger woman who seemed reluctant to continue following.
You couldn’t blame her.
Marriage wasn’t something a woman had control over in your world, you just got lucky that you got placed under your brother's care; because of him you were also considered ‘disgraced’ so not many men would truly want you.
She finally made her way, after many unpleasant words from her mother, and stood at her full height with a very plain expression.
She was beautiful.
You examined her features for as long as you could deem polite, your eyes floated from her hair, to her dress, taking in her height, and then lastly taking notice of her eyes.
However, when it came to her eyes, you didn’t see the eyes of an onryo. You saw eyes that reflected a color you saw only in the sky above, you had never seen such eyes before, but you needn’t stare and make the woman uncomfortable, she just got here after all.
You walked towards the two women, an excited smile on your face as you greeted them.
“Hello! You must be the woman Mikio’s going to marry. What’s your name?” You asked happily, the woman stared at you for a moment, clearly in some inner battle with herself on what to do now that she’s in this position. You waited patiently, understanding that being forced to marry someone is not always the happiest thing to do so you did not want to push her.
Her mother, however, cleared her throat and sent a glare at the woman, you assumed from this she was the one who had set up this offer.
The woman sighed, looking back towards you and answering,
“Mizu, my name is Mizu.” She waited for a moment before looking at you, expecting you to say something before speaking up again and asking, “and you are?”
“Oh! I’m sorry, I’m Mikio’s sister.” You introduced yourself, you did give them your name but you figured it would be more helpful for them to know why you were there in the first place. With this new information Mizu seemed to relax just the slightest bit. Maybe she thought you were a concubine.
Gross.
“So, Where is the man?” Mizu’s mother asked, seemingly wanting to get the show on the road as she turned to you expectantly. You averted your gaze, a bit embarrassed as you answered,
“I’m actually not sure.”
With that answer both of the women stared at you like you were crazy.
“You may or may not be happy to know that Mikio often isn’t home. He’s usually out training his horses.” You explained, trying to subdue the urge to roll your eyes.
“I’m sure he’ll be here any minute.”
As if on cue, you could hear the thumping of hooves accompanied by the sound of a horse's whinny. You all turned to the source of the noise which just so happened to be the aforementioned man. You sighed a small sigh of relief, thankful that he didn’t make himself look too bad.
You snuck a small glance at Mizu, wanting to gauge her reaction to your brother and you noticed that her fists were balled up tightly and her face was scrunched. Just like you had expected, the marriage wasn’t her idea. You hoped to the gods your brother wouldn’t ruin this opportunity, if not for his sake than for yours, you were tired of only having his company and truly wanted someone else to be around.
Mikio yields his horse, stopping just in front of Mizu. The first words he uttered were,
“You’re not as hideous as I expected.”
If you could’ve gotten up on that horse and smacked the life out of that man, you would’ve. It didn’t have to be love at first sight but out of all the things to say when he first meets his soon to be wife, and that's what he says? In that moment you were disappointed to have introduced him as your brother.
“You’re a lot older than I expected.” Mizu responded, earning a quiet snicker from you. Between you and your brother there was a decent age difference. If anything you were closer to Mizu’s age which was quite weird in your eyes but… it’s a sign of the times you guessed. Mikio shot you a silent glare telling you to shut up, which you did and you acted as if you had done nothing wrong.
“Let’s get this over with.” He said plainly, guiding his horse back to the field. You rolled your eyes, turning back to Mizu who just watched him go with a very obvious glare on her face.
“I’m sorry about him but if it's any consolation, you won’t have to deal with him alone.” You mentioned, trying to be at least a little encouraging. Mizu looked at you, her glare subsiding as she gave you a very small smile. With that, Mizu’s mother quickly began to rush her inside, wanting to get her ready to be wed before the sun went down. You offered your assistance in getting her ready, the entire time taking it as an opportunity to get to know Mizu.
“I noticed you brought a sword, do you know how to fight?” You asked curiously as you carefully brushed the white makeup across Mizu’s pale face. You couldn’t help but admire the woman's beauty, sure she might not have had the face of a princess, but to you that didn't mean anything. Her eyes of course were the main feature but you had also taken notice of the curl that stuck out from her hair that was pulled up.
“I fought a bit in the past… I don’t know how much I’ll keep up with it though.” She answered with a sigh but she regained her composure once she had looked over to her mother who glared at her.
“I don't know, Mikio might enjoy someone to fight with,” You began, gaining her interest a bit as she looked back up towards you. “And if he doesn't, then I would love to learn if you’d be willing to teach me.”
She gave another small smile, acknowledging your attempt to lighten her mood.
Once she had finished getting ready, her makeup was done, she was dressed in all white, you and her mother took a step back to assess how she looked.
“You look perfect!” You exclaimed to which her mother slightly nodded.
“You look fine, now where is your brother?” She asked impatiently. You turned to her, about to answer but Mikio had already walked in before you could say anything. He had taken off his cape that he wore everywhere and walked past you without saying a word. You sneered at him, he couldn't even try to make an effort? He was more of a grump than you ever remembered him being.
The private ceremony went on with the help of Mizu’s mother. You had no role in the ceremony so you simply sat back and watched. You looked on and for a strange reason you almost wanted to stop them… you felt as if one of them was making a mistake and all though it wasn’t entirely clear who, you could take a wild guess and probably be right. Regardless, you sat back. Your opinion in this matter doesn't matter anyways even if you did have the courage to go out and say it.
Immediately after they had finished, Mikio stood up, handed his dish over to Mizu, and went on his way. You could see the subtle yet dejected look that came across Mizu’s face and you felt a pang in your heart. Sure he might not know the woman very well but the least he could do is act as if he’s even the slightest bit interested. You quickly walked over to Mizu and took the dishes from her hands.
“I’ll take those, don’t worry about them.” You smiled at her, again trying to offer some sort of comfort or reassurance but this time it led to no avail. Her mother had decided it would be best to get her ‘ready for tonight’ so they both walked out and into a different room, as they walked out though the expression Mizu held had shifted to one of confusion or fear.
You sat quietly as you cleaned out the dishes that had been sitting around from hours prior. The resentment you felt for your brother only doubled down by seeing his actions first hand. Was he the most disrespectful man to ever walk the earth? No, but you still expected better from him, and when he arrived home you weren’t going to let him forget it.
A few hours had passed and the sun had set long before your brother had finally deemed it an appropriate enough time to come home. The moment he did you stood up from where you were sitting and walked over to him,
“Whatever you’re about to say, I don’t want to hear it.” He said, already knowing you were going to complain. You looked at him up and down with a look of disgust, as if he had a choice in the matter.
“Well you're going to hear about it.” You argued.
“Can’t this wait?”
“You don’t even know what I’m going to complain about.”
“I don’t need to know what it is to know that it can wait for another time.”
“Oh sure, just so at that ‘other time’ you can shoo me away and say you have to take care of your horses, or you have work to do, or you're too busy.” You began to rant, much to Mikio’s dismay. This of course was not the first time you had gone off on him, and usually you were quite good at holding your tongue around him, usually his ego was too fragile to handle it, but you were not going to watch this woman sign her life with him just for him to look straight through her.
“You have been nothing but a slob and a grump all day and, I don’t know if you noticed, but you have a wife now. A wife that you called ‘not that hideous’ within two seconds of meeting her, are you serious?”
Mikio didn’t make a move to acknowledge any of your statements but you knew he was listening. You knew, even if it wasn’t exactly obvious, that he knew his actions were wrong, but Mikio was not the kind of man to admit to his failures and you knew that. You knew this argument would go nowhere but you at least hoped if he made a change, he would pretend he got himself to that conclusion.
“It’s not exactly like I’m marrying a princess.” He finally responded, his tone laced with sarcasm causing you to scoff.
“Any woman who has to be subjected to marrying you, deserves nothing less than to be treated like one, and if you wont, someone else will.” You spat, storming out of the room to leave the man with his thoughts, or lack thereof.
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littlespacereader · 8 months ago
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I haven’t regressed for a while because you know, life sometimes gets in the way. But I finally got a moment after class to have the rest of the evening off and just regress. At first I was worried I wouldn’t be able to regress after a stressful day at college. Then I literally was two second into a Blue’s Clues episode with Steve and suddenly I’m a baby😂 Steve just had the magic touch🥹💞
I felt inspired to write a cute fic with him and a little reader. I’m actually thinking of making a mini series of fics with a little reader in a kids show. What do you think? Would you guys like something like that? Let me know😄
So please enjoy another “side quest fic” I didn’t plan on writing😂💞
Looking for Blue’s Clues🐾
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Caregiver!Steve Burns & GN Little!Reader
Tags - scavenger hunt, Steve is the most gentle and patient CG ever, hand holding, hugs
I held my head up high as I walked through the woods, stuffie in hand, backpack on my shoulders, wandering around on my own little adventure. I needed this, just some time away from the busy and hectic working world. I just needed some time outdoors to regress in peace.
And that’s what I did. All my supplies shoved into my backpack, my favorite stuffie in hand, I am ready to go! I started on a trail, following the winding trail through the thick woods. I’ve been on this trail before, it’s calm, quiet and peaceful. Perfect for a regression day.
As I kept walking I noticed something with my usual trail. The trail split into two pathways. One, the usual path, went right and down towards a river. But now there’s a left path, a path that’s never existed before. Maybe the parks department decided to make a new path for everyone?
There was something deep down inside of me that filled with excitement for the new adventure. I looked to my stuffie in hand, “What do you think (stuffie name)?”
Though they didn’t outright say it, I knew my stuffie wanted me to go forward towards the adventure.
“You’re so right! New trail it is!”
The path wasn’t very different than the other trail, though it did go deeper into the woods. But there was a clearing up ahead, I could see there was a colorful neighborhood with a yellow house.
A blue dog ran infront of me, stopping me in my tracks. She began talking to me before she skipped away. I smiled to myself, a blue dog?! That’s a first!
Suddenly out of the corner of my eyes I spotted something. On one of the tall trees next to me is a blue paw print. I walked over and looked at the print and smiled. Why would there be a blue paw print here? Did that dog leave it behind?
“A clue!”
I quickly turned around to be greeted by a man in a stripped green shirt. He smiled, happy to see me as if he knew me his whole life.
“You found a clue!”
“A clue?” I pointed to the blue print.
“A blue’s clue! Great job! You’re very smart.”
I couldn’t help but smile at the praise. “Thank you, but I wasn’t even trying.”
“You weren’t trying to find blue’s clue and you found it anyway? You’re better at this than me! Wow!” Again, the stranger glowed with praise.
“I’m Steve, it’s so nice to meet you.” He put his hand out to shake.
“I’m Y/N. It’s nice to meet you too.” I gladly shook his hand.
“Now that we have our first clue, we gotta put it in our handy dandy notebook!” Steve pulled out his notebook from his back pocket, popping the crayon out from the top and flipping to the first page.
He stood along side me so I could see what he was drawing. “So our first clue is a tree. We’ll start with two big lines for the trunk of the tree, then we’ll draw smaller lines on the top for the branches, then we’ll make this curly lines for the leafs at the top of the tree. There, a tree.” He looked up from his drawing to smile back at me.
“Our first clue is a tree. So what could Blue want to do tonight after dinner with…a tree?” He asked me.
I began thinking of all the possibilities a tree could mean. What does his dog want to do tonight? “Maybe she wants to play fetch with one of the branches of the tree?”
Steve hummed in agreement, “Good idea, maybe she does watch to play fetch. But we have to find the other clues to be sure.”
I nod my head in agreement but I can’t help but ask. “How many clues are there?”
“There are three clues. Once we find all three clues we sit in our thinking chair and think, think, think. Because when we use our minds, we take a step out of time and we can do anything that we want to do.” His smile is utterly contagious because I smile just as big as him.
“I’m really going to need your help to find the other two clues. Will you help me find them?”
“Yeah!” I practically jump saying.
“Really? Thank you! You’re the best! Now, this second clue must be around here somewhere…Lets go this way.” He hold his hand out to me as a silent offer.
I appreciate him not being pushy or just grabbing my hand. It was an invitation if I wanted it, so I took his hand in mine. Together we walked to the yellow house I saw earlier.
Steve opened the door and lead the way into his house. It’s beautiful with its peach tone wallpaper and big red chair in the living room.
“That’s the thinking chair,” Steve pointed out, “Once we’ve got all three clues we’ll sit there and think.”
Then it was off to the kitchen to further find a clue. Inside on the counter top is a family different spices.
“Y/N,” he squeezed my hand, “I’d like to introduce you to Mr. Salt and Mrs. Pepper and their children Cinnamon and Paprika.”
I couldn’t believe my eyes as the Salt and Pepper shaker waved and talked to me.
“Bonjour Y/N! Welcome to our home!” Mr. Salt waved.
“So wonderful to have you here.” Mrs. Pepper added.
“So nice to meet you both.” I smiled back.
But then my eyes caught it, across the kitchen on another counter top sat a bag of marshmallows. And on the bag? A big blue paw print!
“Steve! A clue! A clue!!” I squeezed his hand back and was jumping out and down.
“The flu? You don’t look sick to me. Here let me check.” He held his hand to my forehead. “No, you don’t have a temperature.”
I couldn’t help but giggle to Steve. “No! A clue! Over there!” I pointed to the paw print.
Steve gasped and quickly the two of us ran over to the bag of marshmallows. “So our second clue is…marshmallows. You know what we gotta do. We gotta put this clue in our handy dandy…”
“Notebook!”
“That’s right! Our notebook! Now, a marshmallow. We’ll make two round lines on the side and an oval on the top. At the bottom we’ll make half a circle to connect the sides. There! A marshmallow! But what could Blue want to do tonight after dinner with…a tree and a marshmallow?”
The two of us stopped and started to think about the clues. There were pretty different from one another. It would be hard to tell what they meant together.
“Maybe she wants to play fetch then eat some marshmallows?” I suggested.
Steve gasped and nodded his head, “Maybe! But I think we should find our last clue before we decide.” I nodded in agreement.
Mail time, mail time mmmmaaaaaiiilllll ttttiiimmmmeeee
“Oh! The mail is here!” Steve grabbed my hand and together we ran into the living room. Blue and him started dancing around happy for the mails arrival. After a minute I started to join in the fun.
“Here’s the mail, it never fails. It makes me want to wag my tail. When it comes I want to wail, MMMMMAAAAAIIIIILLLLL!!!”
Steve plopped down into his thinking chair and held his hand out for me to sit as well. “You’re more than welcome to sit on my lap or on the arm of the chair. Whichever is more comfortable for you Y/N.”
After a moment of consideration, I chose to sit on the arm of the chair next to Steve. The mailbox stretched into the room and over to our chair. “Mails here! Mails here!”
“Mailbox! I’d like you to meet my friend Y/N. Y/N, this is Mailbox.”
“It’s nice to meet you.” I smiled to the purple mailbox.
“It’s nice to meet you too! Infact this letter is for you.”
“It’s for me?”
“Yup! Here you go!” Mailbox opens his lid and Steve grabbed the letter for me.
“We just got a letter, we just got a letter, we just got a letter, wonder who it’s from.” He went to open the letter but paused and looked to me. “Y/N this is your mail. Would you rather open it or would you like me to?”
“Could you open and read it?” I asked a bit shy. But Steve brought me back to feeling comfortable with his warm smile and nod.
“Of course I can. Now let’s see, oh! It appears that this letter is from a (stuffie name here).”
I gasped and looked down at my stuffie. “It’s from (stuffie name here)?!”
“Uh-huh. That what it says. The letter goes,
Dear Y/N,
Thank you for always taking such great care of me. Thank you for always coming to me whenever you need extra love and comfort. Always know I will forever be with you even when you have to go to school or work. There’s always a piece of me inside of you just as there a piece of you inside of me.
Love you always,
(Stuffie name).”
Tears started to fall down from my eyes as I looked at my stuffie in hand. They looked back up at me with a smile and a wink.
“What a beautiful letter! Your stuffie is very grateful for you Y/N, just as I’m sure you are for them. Oh, I don’t think we were introduced. It’s nice to meet you (stuffie name).” Steve leaned over and shook the stuffie’s (hand, paw, fin, ect.)
“They said it’s nice to meet you too.” I add back to Steve, wiping the happy tears from my eyes.
“Are you okay?”
I hum in agreement. “My stuffie was just so nice.”
“They seem great! You’re perfectly matched because you’re great and they’re great too.” Steve smiled. “Now, would you like to take a moment here or would you like to go find the last clue?”
“The last clue!!”
“Alright!” He stood up and offered his hand again. I jumped off the chair and took his hand in mine again. “Off we go looking for clues…but ummm…where do you think we should go?”
I looked outside and saw the sunsetting. It might be nice to get some fresh air again. “Maybe outside?” I offered.
“Great idea! Follow me.” Steve led the way as we ventured back outside.
Outside we started to walk around the town. Steve showed me the eye doctor where Blue’s friend Magenta got her new glasses, then there was the present shop where his brother Joe works and another house down the block where his cousin Josh lives. The town seemed so nice and peaceful.
Since we didn’t see anymore of Blue’s clues we ventured back to Steve’s house and into the back yard. There it seemed all of his friends were handing out around a picnic blanket, tree and a fire pit. WAIT A MINUTE! THE FIRE PIT!
“Steve!! A clue!! Another clue!!” I pointed out again.
“Really?! Where?”
“There by the fire pit! The final clue!”
Steve gasped and looked at the fire pit. There, at the base of it was the clue.
“A clue!! Our final clue! And it’s on the fire pit. You know where we need to put this, in our handy dandy…”
“NOTEBOOK!”
Steve grabbed his notebook from his back pocket and began drawing. “So our last clue is…a fire pit. We’ll start by making a cylinder for the fire pit. Then spark points for the fire inside of it. There, a fire pit!”
He closed the notebook then looked at me just as excited. “We have all three clues! We have to sit in our-.”
“Think chair!!”
“Yes! Come on!”
The two of us raced back inside the house and over to the thinking chair. Steve sat in his usual spot and I opted for the arm of the chair again. Blue ran over and joined us, to see if we got it right.
“So now that we’re in our thinking chair, let’s think. So what could Blue want to do tonight after dinner? What’s our first clue?”
“A tree.”
“That’s right! A branch! Good job remembering. So our first clue is a branch. But what was our second?”
“Marshmallows!”
“You’re right it’s marshmallows! You have an amazing memory.” He smiled.
“Finally our last clue is a fire pit. So what could Blue want to do tonight after dinner, with a tree, marshmallows and a fire pit?”
The two of sat in the chair together and think, think, think. They did seem random at first but they meant to go together. Then suddenly it hit me!
“Steve! I’ve got it! I’ve got it!!”
“What is it Y/N?”
“Blue wants to use the wood from the tree to make a fire so that she can roast marshmallows!”
Steve’s face lights up to the idea. He looks to Blue who start jumping around the room happily. “You did it Y/N! You figure out Blue’s Clues!”
Steve jumps up and put his arms open to me. I immediately run into them, getting a big hug from him. “You are so smart! I am so proud of you!”
Tears build up in my eyes hearing the admission. He’s treated me so sweet for hardly knowing me. I haven’t felt this safe and happy in such a long time.
“Come on, let’s go outside and get ourselves a marshmallow.” Steve says as we break apart.
The two of us join the rest of the neighborhood outside to roast some marshmallows. There I meet Joe and Josh as well as the rest of the family including Magenta, Sidetable, and more.
I sat next to Steve as the evening turned to night. We looked up at the stars above as we ate our marshmallows.
“You know, you could stay if you wanted?” Steve said after a moment. I looked at him shocked at first. “It’s just that, you did such a good job finding all the clues. And Blue and I loved having you here. Plus, I could look after you and show you the rest of the town and-.”
He stopped himself. “Sorry, what I’m trying to say is. If you like to stay you’re more than welcome to. I’d love to have you here. And before you say anything, I don’t mind your regression. I’d love to help take care of you and maybe even possible be your Caregiver. So what do you think?”
I immediately began to tear up again. “I’d love to stay and I’d love to have you as my Caregiver.”
Steve’s nervousness turned immediately to happiness as he put his arms out again. I didn’t waste any time as I joined him in a hug.
“I’m so happy to hear that Y/N. I think you’re going to be the best person for this town. I couldn’t be more happy to have you here Y/N.” Steve added as we broke apart.
“I couldn’t be more happy to be here.” I smiled back.
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short-honey-badger · 1 year ago
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Peppermint Tea 10
Late night post! Couldn't sleep! Have some tooth rotting fluff!
Masterlist
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The days dragged on, Mihawk actually busy for once with Navy orders to investigate a new emergence of rookie pirates at the edges of Doflamingo's territory. The world leaders knew that the pink moron would rather turn a blind eye to any criminal activity in his region. 
Even with his experience with much of the Grand Line and the New World, it still took Dracule a few days past a month for him to even return back to Gloom Island. He found that he missed you terribly, to the point that even Perona had pointed out his less than stellar mood. Not that he was ever really expressive anyway. Mihawk ignored her questions as he packed his ship once more for another week of travel. 
Perona floated after him, a scowl on her pretty face, “You just got back, and you're already leaving again? Why? What about me?” 
Hawkeye rolled his eyes, “I have a life outside of this castle, Perona,” he groused out and carefully stacked the books he had mentally chosen on his way back to Gloom Island. Last time he had seen you, you were particularly interested in the Blues. One of the thick tomes he'd picked would be a perfect gift for you. 
“You didn't three months ago,” She snapped back at him and crossed her arms in a pout. She hated being ignored! What was she supposed to do all alone in this dreary old castle? Zoro wasn't here to entertain her any longer. 
Dracule sighs, sweeping his hand through his hair and leveling the ghost girl a look, “It's rude to dig into other people's business. So stay out of mine,” He points out and then closes the bag full of books. Another smaller satchel rests at his feet, though that one is full of small trinkets from his foray into the New World. 
Usually, he strayed away from the market stalls and overpriced jewelry, but a small wind chime made of green sea glass had caught his eye. Dracule had paid for it without looking at the price and then continued on his way, unconsciously keeping a lookout for anything else that he thought you may like. 
The warlord may or may not have ended up with a few more than he had even meant to buy, but Mihawk thought about the look of joy that would cross your face at his gifts, and pushed the thought of how many he'd gotten away. 
“Well someone should be in your business! You've been so sneaky, Dracy! I want to know what you've been up to!” Perona demands again with a huff. She doesn't care that it's rude to butt into his business. He took care of her, let her stay on Gloom Island, and hadn't kicked her out like she knew he could. Perona would look after him, too! 
“Give it up, Perona,” Dracule grumbled, tone final as he picked up both bags and slung them over his shoulder. He fixed his hat with his free hand and then marched out of his study without a word to the floating pink girl. 
Mihawk wouldn't lie and say that he didn't feel at least the tiniest bit bad for lying to Perona. He did care for the girl, in a way like one would a stray cat. But she also had a big mouth, and Dracule had already slipped up once with Shanks. He couldn't do that again. 
The ghost girl pouted behind him as she followed the warlord all the way outside and to his ship. A frown took over her face when she noticed that he was packed as if he would be gone for a while. The ship looked more crowded than usual, and she wondered what Mihawk had stored away. 
“Well. How long will you be gone for?” Perona asks quietly and tries not to let it show how upset she actually was with Dracule leaving already. 
The older man sighs, stepping off his ship to trudge back inside the castle, “I won't be leaving until tomorrow. The trip takes around a week. I plan to stay for at least four days and then a week trip back,” Dracule says and makes sure to keep everything as vague as possible. He glances at the young girl and rolls his eyes when she still looks upset. 
“We will go shopping when I come back. Will that appease you?” Mihawk asks, and it's like a light switch. 
Perona grins in excitement. Shopping with Mihawk means getting whatever she wants. The warlord had more than enough berri to spend. 
“Fine! But I want to go to the best places, Mihawk! You owe me that,” She demands and crosses her arms in a huff, ready to argue her case if denied. 
“As long as it keeps you quiet,” Dracule says instead, and Perona just sticks her nose up in the air again as she floats away to her room. This wasn't over! She would find out what had suddenly taken all of Mihawk's attention. 
Dracule watches the pink girl leave with a fond sigh. He sits in his chair and reaches down to retrieve a bottle of wine from inside his desk. He pops it to let it air and then pours himself a careful glassful. Mihawk admires the red and thinks back on how this same brand of wine had stained your pretty lips. 
Now alone, the warlord allows his mind to drift without worry, eyes closing as he thinks back to the last time he was with you. His overly romantic thoughts have him sneering at himself, as if he were some prince come to sweep you off your feet. Dracule sips his wine. 
He likes to think that it's the other way around. For the most part, life had before a melancholy bore to Mihawk. Either following the government's orders to look for a good fight or nap the day away in his ship. Little caught and held his attention, but you? You are an entirely different story. 
Mihawk had never met someone so sheltered, only knowing of the world through waterlogged books and from the kindness of any pirate that may have washed up on your beach. From what Dracule has gathered, he has been one of the very few who hasn't tried to kill you. 
You were kind and intelligent. He loved the way that your eyes would light up whenever he spoke of what he knew, always excited to acquire more knowledge. Mihawk found that he wanted to teach to show you everything that he knew. 
He frowns suddenly and thinks back to the rather innocent question that had made anger and panic race through him. You wanted to know about him, not his knowledge, and it made him antsy. You didn't deserve to know the hardships and pain that he has gone through to get to where he is today. You did not need to be aware of the atrocities that he has committed over the years. Dracule Mihawk is not a kind man, and his past certainly reflects it. 
Mihawk would tell you more in time, but for now, Dracule wanted to be selfish. Wanted to hoard you away from the world and keep you safe like a dragon would its treasure. And maybe that is what you were to him. A pirate needed treasure, after all. 
The warlord finishes his glass and then stands, intending to fix himself and his ward dinner. He would leave at first light tomorrow morning, not later than that. 
~~~~~~~~~~
Hank whines at your feet, big puppy dog eyes catching your attention from where you sit slouched at your kitchen table. It's been a month and a half, and still, there has been no sign of Dracule. He had promised that he would be back, and the man didn't seem like the kind to break those, but it still made you worry for him. 
Was he okay? Did whatever business he had to attend go bad? Did a seaking attack him and somehow get the better of him? You have no idea, and your chest hurts at all the horrible possibilities that could befall your friend. 
Were you friends? Did that term apply to the two of you? The few romance books that you'd been able to cobble together didn't make it seem like the two of you were just friends. Was he your boyfriend? Partner? Lover? Again, another countless item that you did not know, however, you resolved to amend that when Dracule returned. Whenever that may be. 
“I know, Buddy. I'm sorry that I'm being such a sad sap,” You lament to your pooch and lean down to give the shaggy dog a scratch under his chin. 
Hank's woofs at, and you watch in suspicion when his ears suddenly snap back, and he wheels around to start barking at the front door. You frown as you get up and follow him, curious as to what got Hank's attention. 
That frown turns upside down when the door opens, and Dracule Mihawk strides in like he owns the place. He sets down several bags and pats Hank's head with a soft smirk before the mutt’s attention is caught by something outside. He bounds away, leaving you and Mihawk staring at one another. 
“Snow Angel,” He begins and takes a half step forward, but that's as far as he gets before you slam into him, Snow exploding around the two of you as you bury your face in his chest. You don't even care that his cross necklace is digging into your face. 
“You're back,” you cry. And when did that start? Oh, we'll. You pull away and wipe your eyes, though you can't help the tremble in your bottom lip, “I was worried that something might have happened to you.” 
Warm, calloused hands close around your freezing face, and Dracule leans in to rest his brow against your own. The feather on his hat tickles your face, but you ignore it, not taking your eyes away from the beautiful yellow ones that demand your attention. 
“There is little out there that could truly hurt me, Dear one,” Mihawk says in such a sure tone that you have no choice but to believe him. He strokes your cheeks, wiping away your tears with a soft smile meant only for you, “Though I do appreciate the thought that you worried for me so.” 
You sniff and send him a glare at his teasing. Damn this man and what he does to you. What you hardly understand. 
“You're really that strong?” You find yourself asking him, and lean back to observe his chiseled physique and the sword on his back. A funny feeling shoots through your stomach when you lay eyes on the cross guard, and you frown at the negativity of the emotion. 
You're so focused that you don't notice Dracule's hesitation, though you are quick to tune back in when he speaks. 
“I am. One of my proudest titles is the Greatest Swordsman in the world,” Mihawk admits, and you can't help but think that this is an important event for him, and you delight in knowing that he was finally giving you a peek inside of who he really is.
“It sounds like you've worked very hard for it,” you say softly and reach up to cup his hands with your own, thumbs swiping gently over his knuckles.  
“I did, still do. It is a title that I will happily defend,” Dracule murmurs and slips a hand free so that he can curl his arm around your waist. You shiver at the warmth he emits, and finally feel like you can breathe properly once again. Before you can comment further, Mihawk is twisting the two of you around and backing you up against the door, “Enough of that. Do kiss me, sweet thing. I have missed your taste.” 
Your back hits the door, and then his lips are upon your, closing over your own in a heated exchange that has one of your hands sliding into his hair and pulling him closer. You kiss him back like your life depends on it, opening up for him when Mihawk's tongue licks the seam of your lips. A choked moan leaves your throat when that hot muscle sweeps inside and curls around your tongue. 
Dracule slows, this kiss turning less frantic with need and more passionate, soft pecks of the lips that still leave your heart racing but in an entirely different way. He leaves one last lingering kiss to your cheek and then pulls away to tuck your head under his chin. You take advantage and cuddle close to him, arms dropping to wrap around his waist. You hum when his grip on you tightens. 
“I missed you,” you murmur quietly, and Dracule kisses the top of your head. 
“I know, dear. I longed for you as well,” he says, and your heart flutters at his words. Did he long for you? Did he pine like the men from your storybooks? 
“Wh-What are we?” You ask before you can stop the damming words coming out of your mouth. You flush and bury your face in the crook of his neck, “I know that we're friends, right? But I don't think friends kiss and, um, touch the way we do.” 
Dracule listens to you babble, finding it endearing that you wanted his opinion on this.
 “You can call what we have whatever you like,” He decides on and then catches your chin to lift your face and place a quick kiss to your lips, “But no matter what you choose, you are my treasure.” 
You can't find any kind of words to say to that, so you just reach for him to pepper his face with kisses, giggling when his facial hair tickles your face. Mihawk allows your fun for a whole before he puts a stop to it by flicking you in the forehead. 
“It's later than I intended to arrive, Darling,” Dracule scolds with a smirk and turns to the two of you around and gently pushes you to the kitchen, “You remember how I showed you to properly open a bottle of wine, right?” 
You laugh and dance into the kitchen, gathering the glasses that he had brought from last time and showing him that you did remember his instructions. You haven't touched the dangerous red liquid since that night, but you know that Dracule enjoys having a glass or four in the evening. 
The two of you settle in the living room afterwards, and Dracule sets his wine down long enough to retrieve the smaller bag. He opens it up, and you watch in growing panic as Mihawk pulls several boxes out of the drawstring. He hands over the largest of the parcels. 
“Open them, please,” Dracule instructs, and you set your own mug away to carefully tug at the delicate purple ribbon that holds the box shut. A gasp leaves you when you take the lid off, and you reverently pull out the beautiful green sea glass and delicate metal tubes attached to the fishing line. 
“What is it?” You ask and raise it up to better examine it in the setting sun that streams through your window. You gasp in delight when you hear the melodic echo at the slightest movement. 
“A wind chime. We can hang it wherever the wind blows most,” Dracule suggests, and you nod eagerly as you set the chimes back inside the box for safekeeping. Miahwk takes it away only to replace it with another. 
You end up with a fish bone comb that has been chiseled by masterful hands. A full sand dollar that you are extra careful with, and a large piece of red glass from a broken bottle that has been sanded and polished to a shine. Each item is handpicked just for you. 
Dracule looks like a smug cat, lips tugged up in a smirk as he watches you reverently put away your gifts. You agree to hang up the wind chime in the morning and open his arms for you to fall into. You gladly do, holding Mihawk close and not ever wanting to let go. 
It's quiet between two of you, a comfortable air that puts you at ease. At some point, Mihawk takes up the book, the one that you had read to him from, and begins to read. His soft timber is enough to send you into a light doze, and he slows to a stop, not wanting you to miss anything. 
“Darling, if you are so tired, let's get you to bed, yes?” Mihawk murmurs and rolls his eyes when all you do is give a sleepy nod. He shifts forward and then stands with you in his arms, tracing the now familiar path back to your bedroom. 
Dracule tucks you in, content to leave you for the night, but he doesn't get far before your pitiful voice rings out, “Stay here with me?” 
The warlord is already sitting on the bed and tugging his boot off. You watch with squinted eyes as Mihawk reaches for his belt, sliding it out of the loops and sliding his pants off. You admire his lean form dressed only in black men's underwear. He is radiant, and it makes you a little nervous to have him so undressed and in your bed no less. 
You toss back the blankets and Dracule slips in beside you. It's a little awkward at first, but then you can feel how much heat he is radiating and desperately wants to know how it feels to have so much of his exposed skin touching you. You roll over to face him, smiling in the dim light of the moon when you realize that he's been watching you the whole time. 
“I know you're cold,” Mihawk whispers, and you can hear that knowing, teasing tone that you have missed so much. “Come here, Snow Angel.” 
You don't have to be told twice, happily closing the distance and tossing your arm over his waist, head pillowed on his chest. You press your freezing feet against his legs and are treated with the rare sight of his eyes going wide and a hiss like a cat escaping his mouth. 
You snicker and get pinched in the side for your trouble, but you can't bring yourself to care. This night couldn't get any better. 
@writingmysanity @kenkenmaaa @foggyturtleknightangel @browneyedhufflepuff @djbumblebee @goth-mami-writer @myradiaz
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little-teacupss · 4 months ago
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Their good fairy
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Maleficent x Fay x Hades
Note: If you don't like the ship, you don't have to read this, criticism is welcome, but I also believe you can critize something nicely without being a prick about it, anyway this is an underrated ship that me and another tumbler were talking a little bit about, and I hope you enjoy!
Warnings: bullying, AK and VK relationships, and poly
Summary: Hades, Maleficent, and Fay go through the hardships of hiding their relationship and also dealing with being on different sides
Note 2: a bit of the dialogue comes from the actual movie part two here
part three - part one of castlecoming
Part three - part two of castlecoming
___________________________________________
Fay let out a sigh as she continued to hopelessly wave her wand around as she repeated bibbidi-bobbidi-boo, over and over, never getting the results she hoped for, what she didn't notice was two girls appear simultaneously out of no where and stare at her as she says
"Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo?"
She says with pursed lips, her brows furrowing as nothing happens, Fay then repeats bibbidi-bobbidi-boo again. This time, her wand sparkles as she waves it around. As she flicks her wand, the book jumps out of her hands and onto the concrete in front of the two girls who appeared suddenly
"No, I wanted to speed read, not for my reading to speed."
Fay says to herself as she quickly makes her way over, attempting to pick up her book, which jumps away from her as she tries to grab it. She looks up to the two girls who are staring at her in shock, "Hi, excuse me where did everybody go?"
The blue haired one asked while looking around in confusion, Fay gives the girl a weird look as she picks her book up
"Everywho?"
The blue haired girls eyes widen, and she then continues."All the royal families of Auradon they were just here?"
Fay purses her lips as she looks at the two girls with a confused look, as she has been the only person outside and has no clue what the blue haired girl is talking about
"What's Auradon?"
Fay says before letting out a gasp. As her book goes flying from her arms and down the hall, the group stare in the direction the book goes
"I have to go catch my homework!"
Fay quickly replies before running off down the hallway, the two girls are left staring in shock as she runs away
"I swear what is wrong with this wand."
Fay says to herself as she continues to chase the book that had a head start down different hallways before making it to the court ward, the book makes it to near the fountain before a green mist lifts it up
"Lose something?"
A teasing tone can be heard from the darkened corner of the courtyard, as the book is floated towards Fay before being plopped into her arms
"You could say that."
Fay answers as she looks up and sees Maleficent and Hades sitting on a bench table close to where the VK's hang out in the courtyard, Hades looks up to Fay, "What went wrong this time?"
Fay lets out a sigh as she takes a seat on the edge of the waterfountain, and flicks her wand around, "The usual, I say 'Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo' and it doesn't workout how I planned."
As she said bibbidi-bobbidi-boo, her wand lights up and shoots a firework into the air, to which Fay fums in response, "Really now you decide to work."
She says as she waves the wand around in front of her clearly frustrated with how things have gone, she hears a hum
"At least your able to cast spells even if it's not the kind of spell you hoped for?"
Maleficent said awkwardly to try and bring comfort to the other fairy, to which Hades nods along to as he stares at Fay, "You've done well, so far you even managed to get a better score then Marywheather."
Fay nodded as she looked down at her lap, "Thanks, I just don't understand, Mal, you have perfect control over your powers, and the other fairies like Marywheather, Flora, and Fauna, they can cast any spell they please."
Fay said as she rants about how amazing everyone else is at having control over their abilities, while she fumbles every time
Before Maleficent or Hades could say anything they hear in the distance
"Cause the sunshines a little more brightly."
The two give a nod to Fay before walking off into the darker part of the courtyard and disappear into the overgrowth, while Fay makes her way to a bench and sits down while reading her book, then Bridget, Ella, and the two new girls make their way towards her and Bridget holds out her tray, "Guess I'm here for a spell, even though it really never works out well for me, one wave of my wand and it's whoopsie."
Fay says as she closes her book, waving her wand around, before taking a cupcake, biting into it, causing her wand to turn a bright pink color
Once their group is done singing the VK's come out from the overgrowth
"Look for a hand, find a golden hook, Captain of the seas, I got em all shook."
James Hook says as he leads with his hook forward towards the crowd of AK's, then Morgie pops out."Son of Morgana, Serpentine, Morgie's the name better run and hide."
Then Hades and Maleficent walk into view together, "Hades here from the fiery depths."
"Sharp as a thorn I'm Maleficent."
Then Hook and Morgie go to the center together to introduce Uliana, the little sister of Ursula
"I'm not your everyday villain, I'm taking souls for living."
Fay purses her lip as she looks between Hades and Uliana before focusing back on Uliana's introduction, she finishes the introduction and the two new girls look around before Bridget says, "She's Ursula's baby sister."
Fay watches from the back as both groups circle each other, the VK's trying to intimidate the AK's while the AK's try to bring the VK's to the good side, then Uliana's focus shifts to the plate of cupcakes and Bridget holds them out towards her."Thanks."
"Oh sure, of course, happy too."
Uliana smirks as she allows her tentacles to come out of her back, "For all."
The crowd watches as Uliana uses her tentacles to snatch the tray from Bridget, the group of girls around her gasping, Uliana chuckles a she lifts the tray close to her hand, "I mean flamingo feathers are like super rare right?"
Ella steps forward and infront of Bridget, giving Uliana a glare
"Hey, give that back to her!"
To which Uliana cackles and answers, "Sorry, I don't speak peasant, love your oufit, by the way. it's just so put together."
Uliana then uses her tentacle to rip the sleeve of Ella's jean outfit she'd sowen for herself
Fay's eyes travel from them to Hades and Maleficent, giving them a pointed look, as Hades circles around the group of girls before making his way back to Maleficent, she then looked to Charming to see his reaction before turning her head back to the scene of chaos as Uliana continues
"My names Bridget, and I need to bribe people with treats to make people be my friends because im such a loner."
The other blue haired girl steps forward with a sword pointed a group, which Hook simply moves away with his hook and moves closer to her
"I don't know where you come from, but around here we don't fight till after school, met me then?"
The girl pushes him away and crosses her arms, "You wouldn't stand a chance."
The group of VK's laughs, then the red-haired girl steps forward, "Listen squidface give the cupcakes back or I'll rip that magic tongue out of your throat."
Uliana tsks, "Girl, I only wanted the feathers you can have the rest."
She says and drops the plate, leaving the cupcakes smashed onto the ground, Bridget narrows her eyes and purses her lips as she watches Uliana slowly bring the flamingo feathers to her mouth
"Wait! That's too many."
Uliana simply giggles in response and swallows the feathers before looking at the group of AK's with a deviously grin and snaps her fingers, while Bridget wears a worried look, "You shouldn't of done that."
Uliana side eyes her as she brings out a little mirror and starts preening herself, "I'm sorry, you're just jealous of my fabulosity."
Nobody notices the bits of pink that appear in her eyelashes as she preens herself and continues, "You can't handle my-"
Before Uliana could finish, she let's out a bird like noise as feathers come from her mouth. In shock, she brings a hand to her mouth, her eyes widening, as she slowly turns pinker, gasps can be heard, then she says, "What was that."
Before letting out screams and falling to the ground, turning pinker by the second, Fay, watching the situation unfold
"Somebody should help her!"
Fay says as she steps forward and closer to the group, Hades looks up at her and then brings a finger up, "Yeah, somebody should help her."
He said in a bored tone as Maleficent lightly hit him on the chest, giving him a look before looking back a Fay for a moment before her eyes go back to Uliana, watching as Morgie falls back with Uliana's jacket as he tried to help her
When Uliana finally gets back up, she's entirely pink from her hair to having pink feathers all over her face and a long beak. She glares at Bridget and makes a bird like noise before she begins to chase the two girls. The entire crowd follows behind them to watch, more of the chaos unfold
As the crowd finally gets there, they watch as Uliana chases closely behind Ella and Bridget, then Maleficent and Hook pop out of one of the corridors, "Hello Darling! I just want to have a little chat with your friend."
Morgie and Hades pop out of the other corridor but are more laid back and simply watch the scene, Uliana chases Bridget around the fountain before they both hop up along the edge, it's only when Ella pulls Bridget back to her that Uliana falls over loosing her balance, when she resurfaced she was completely back to normal, but soaked, "This isn't over!"
Uliana runs away through one of the corridors screaming while the crowd bursts out laughing before everyone leaves in separate direction, still talking about it, but going about their business
Fay walks over to Maleficent and Hades, who are now seated at one of the picnic tables in the corner
"Why did you let her do that?"
She questioned as she took a seat across from them. They both looked at each other before looking back at Fay across from them
"What would us saying anything do?"
Maleficent answers as she fiddles with the collar of Hades jacket, "Fay, we all have roles to play."
He says to her as they hold eye contact, before Fay looks down and nods
"Don't worry about it, she'll get over it nothing bad will happen."
He tries to reason to smooth things over with the upset fairy
"If you say so."
Fay crosses her arms before sighing, and it had been a long day of messing up spells and then watching a verbal brawl take place, Maleficent smiles and reaches her hand over to Fay and squeezes her arms gently
"Why don't after school we met up at the enchanted lake?"
Maleficent asked in an aloof manner, trying to hide her excitement, Hades looked at the two back and forth before nodding along to the idea
"Yeah, it's been a while since we've had time with just the three of us."
The two VK's lean forward both trying to hide their excitement, but their eyes told different stories as they were glued on Fay's brown ones
"Alright, but after school, I can't get caught skipping, my mother would kill me."
The two nod while they try not to break out into big smiles, to which Fay smiles at the two as they try to keep their cool facade up
"See you then."
Fay answers as she leaves, as the two plan out what they'll do at the enchanted lake
___________________________________________
Okay, i had no idea how to leave it off, so this may have a part two. If you all want to see that, anyways have a wonderful day, and enjoy the story!
@giveityourworst
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suzukiblu · 1 year ago
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Day seventeen of fic NaNoWriMo, obligatory sugar daddy Tim/sugar baby Kon AU.
“I think it's pretty normal to give someone a phone when you want to talk to them,” Tim lies. Bruce gives the other Bats burners sometimes, though. And also communicators. And Robin’s loaned plenty of allies communicators before, including Superboy. So it's normal in their circles, whether Kon actually knows they're both in said circles or not. 
“. . . I like the green one,” Kon says after a moment, which is a little bit of a surprise. It's a nice sort of deep, leafy color, Tim guesses, but he would've expected Kon to go for black or red or blue; maybe yellow. 
He wonders how green Hawaii is, come to think of it. 
And how much green Kon regularly sees these days, living underground in a lab. 
“Okay,” he says, then gestures towards the phone case display with his smoothie. “Let's get you a screen protector and a case too, just in case.” 
“You don’t have to,” Kon says. “I mean, I am gonna have my TTK on it.” 
“Yeah, but that only works if nobody knocks it off the table or something when you’re not holding it,” Tim says. “Besides, better safe than sorry, right?” 
“Um, okay,” Kon says. Tim leads him over to the phone cases, and Kon glances them over indecisively, clearly paying more attention to the price tags than personal preference. Tim decides distraction is the better part of valor, in this case. 
“I don’t recommend anything superhero-themed, for the record,” he jokes. Kon snorts. 
“That’s called a feint, thank you very much,” he informs him mock-primly. “Nobody’d think a superhero would actually have the balls to go around with a superhero-themed phone case.” 
“They’d think Superboy would,” Tim says in amusement. 
“. . . okay, fair,” Kon allows, making a face at himself. Tim laughs. 
“How about that one?” he suggests, pointing towards the second-most expensive one on the rack–so Kon will know money isn’t a concern, but also so Kon won’t realize he’s specifically doing it to make sure he knows money isn’t a concern. 
“It looks like a tire tread,” Kon says wryly, which is a fair assessment. It’s one of the heavy-duty cases, so it’s pretty bulky as it is, and the pattern on it is a little tire-like. 
“The ones down here have glitter, if that’s more your thing,” Tim replies in amusement, pointing again. 
“Glitter is more my thing,” Kon says, leaning over to peer down at the indicated row. Tim probably should’ve expected that response, considering, except also he would absolutely never have expected Kon to willingly admit to liking glitter. At least not without being concussed first. “Hmmmmm.” 
“That's a nice one,” Tim says. Kon’s looking at a green and blue case with bright gold glitter swirled all over it in abstract designs; it looks a bit like ocean water, if you look at it the right way. It’s definitely not going to be anywhere near as durable as the tire tread one would, but Tim isn’t particularly concerned about that anyway. He was gonna get accident insurance no matter what. Statistically speaking, Kon will probably go through more than a few of these. He hasn't had the same phone for longer than three months since starting up as Robin. Something always seems to happen to them. Usually a supervillain. 
“Too bad they don’t have anything with a cute little goat on it,” Kon jokes as he straightens back up, regrettably letting go of Tim's hand to take the green and blue glitter-case off the wall. “You know, commemorate our first date and all.” 
“That was not our first date,” Tim says, mildly disgruntled but mostly flustered by the idea. “I'd have planned a date a lot better than those morons planned their dumb heist. And bought you something from the gift shop, if nothing else.” 
“Could've just kept the goat, I guess, but Superman would've made me give it back anyway,” Kon muses idly as he looks over the case in his hand and takes another sip of his smoothie. “This is for the right model, right?” 
“Should be,” Tim says, though he double-checks anyway. “Yeah, no, you're good. Lemme go grab a clerk so we can get the plan set up. We'll just go through my name, I can probably set up autopay for the bill easier that way.” 
“Um, sure,” Kon says, biting his lip for a moment and then glancing sidelong at him. “So is this our first date, then?” 
“No,” Tim says, though technically it probably is. But given how Kon’s been acting about the idea that Tim would actually be interested in dedicating actual time and attention to him–“I'll take you somewhere nice for that.” 
“Somewhere nice?” Kon says, hiding a very unsubtle grin behind the phone case. It'd work better if his stupid pretty eyes weren't sparkling for it, Tim thinks in resigned accusation. Kon doesn’t ask what “somewhere nice” means, but Tim is already trying to figure out what restaurants he knows that might appeal to Kon’s palate. If he likes Hawaiian flavors . . . there’s some Asian influence in that, right? He thinks, anyway. Japanese, at least. Maybe Filipino? Polynesian? Any other influences or parallel cuisines he’d have to look up to figure out, though. 
Tim knows absolutely no Filipino or Polynesian restaurants, much less actually authentic Hawaiian ones. He could definitely do Japanese, though. Japanese would be easy. Just going to a restaurant isn’t much of a date, probably, and he can’t take Kon on patrol or anything like he and Steph used to do, but they could maybe go shopping in a nicer boutique or something? Or go to a museum for actual entertainment instead of just business, if Kon would be interested in something like that. Admittedly, it’s hard to picture him being particularly into museums as a concept, but it might be worth a try. 
Maybe he’d like the aquarium or planetarium more than something involving art or history or science, though. Those are a little cooler than just wandering through a bunch of random exhibits, Tim thinks. Or at least, they might appeal more to Kon. The ocean, or stars and planets, or . . . like, whatever, he guesses. 
He’ll have to do some recon, probably. Light interrogation. Figure out what Kon would be the most interested in. 
Or they could just go to the beach. It’d require a little bit of travel on his part, but likely wouldn’t be a big deal for Kon; he could just fly. Though in retrospect Kon’s probably spent about half his life on a beach, so maybe that’s not interesting enough. And the Jersey Shore probably wouldn’t measure up to Hawaii in his eyes, either. 
Hm. Yeah, Tim's definitely going to have to do some recon. 
Tim is possibly putting in too much effort here, considering Kon is going to lose interest in actually flirting with him in about five minutes. Kon never seems to really properly date anyone, as far as Tim's seen; just flirt around a lot. So he should be prioritizing shopping and apartment hunting, really, before Kon gets bored of the flavor of the week and wanders off. 
Tim Drake is not exactly an exciting date, so . . . yeah, Tim’s not expecting Kon to stay interested for long. He’s just got to take advantage of it for as long as it lasts to leverage Kon into letting him buy him that cul-de-sac and go from there, that’s all. Kon seems to stay friendly with the girls he flirts with even after things fizzle out or fail to go anywhere, so he assumes it won’t be any different with Tim Drake. As long as Kon’ll let him keep paying his way, that’s all that’s going to matter. 
Tim is really going to need to frontload that, though. Establish him paying for Kon as the new status quo very quickly and get Kon used to it before he loses interest in him, so he won’t feel awkward about accepting it by then. Or so Tim will already have signed all the paperwork and it’ll be too late for Kon to protest; whichever. 
He’s definitely going to have to frontload it.
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casual-praxis · 2 months ago
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“Those awful, ravenous rainbows.”
Shadow’s Slime Rancher AU design is finally complete! I may have procrastinated getting it done a little, but ironically he’s the only one whose design I had completely figured out. I can already tell he's going to be a pain to draw more than once lmao.
(Sorry if this one looks wonky, I drew it entirely on my phone instead of sketching on paper like I usually do. It did not make the process any faster sadly.)
I intended for him to have both Tarr inspiration as well as hunter slime, but the bulk of it ended up being Tarr related and the only potential nods are the yellow stripes on his pants and the claws on his gloves. Very impractical, but Shadow doesn't really do the normal ranching stuff anyway.
As always, more details about him below the cut!
+ Shadow was the second person to arrive at the shared ranch, although the gap between his arrival time and Red's was much shorter than the one between him and Vio. As a result, he was still learning the ropes alongside Red for a while. This helped the two bond while also driving Vio slightly (more) insane.
+ While he does find the slimes to be cute, Shadow much prefers the vibe of the Tarr, hence his jacket theming. The others don't really understand his choices, but so long as he doesn't intentionally bring one back to the range, they don't mind it.
+ Everyone had their outfits tailored by Shadow. It's just one of his many miscellaneous unconnected talents. He can also play the piano, speak three different languages, do a perfect split (among other things), and partially keep up with Vio in the lab. Asking about where he learned any of these things gets a wildly different explanation each time.
+ Shadow pays the most attention to the plort market. He goes to the board immediately after breakfast to check what's going on with it for the day, despite the fact he doesn't have any slimes of his own. Depending on what's high value, he'll hunt down whoever has said high-value plorts and let them know it's time to crash the market.
If he doesn't have a stream planned, or has time to spare before one, he'll spend that time helping move plorts where they need to be.
+ Streaming is something Shadow had always been passionate about, but he just wasn't getting any traction back on Earth. It was hard to stand out even with his odd assortment of skills, so that's how he ended up moving to the Far, Far Range. With literally no one else to compete with, he very quickly found success in livestreaming his day-to-day there.
As a nice bonus, he does genuinely enjoy being out on the range. His viewers mostly stick around for him and his wacky roommates at this point, even if a few more streamers have popped up in the area since.
+ One of the first things Shadow ever said to Red was, "Vio is lying. He has more than one," with absolutely zero follow up context. Like, more than one what? Slimes? Plorts?? It took him a bit, but he did figure it out eventually. Green and Blue are still in the dark, but Shadow finds their confusion hilarious, even more so since Vio won't explain either.
+ Pretty much right from the get-go, Shadow was flirting with everyone. The other's always had such funny reactions to it, he wasn't even mad when he caught actual feelings for them. Vio would flirt back harder (which Shadow was not expecting), Red always took a moment to realize he was being flirted with (to which he'd start fumbling through his own attempts before laughing at how silly it sounded), Green would get incredibly embarrassed (Shadow was delighted to find out Green's ears light up too), and Blue similarly got embarrassed (but brushed it off a lot quicker and would usually chase Shadow off).
No surprise, Shadow was the first one to suggest they all date each other. By the time he mentioned it, they were all basically married anyway. All their stuff was merged and it's not like anyone was going to move out. Plus, different pairings kept getting caught doing couply-stuff, might as well make it official.
+ He gets lost most often, to the point where Green constantly has to go out and look for him. It's a running joke on his streams that whenever Shadow tries to show chat something he found in a different direction than he was originally heading, one of the mods needs to start a prediction (point-based betting poll) on whether or not they should call for Green now or later.
Green is attempting to get Vio's help in making a tracker for these specific situations, but negotiations keep falling through.
"You can't make him wear a collar, Vio, that's demeaning."
"It fits his brand. I don't think he'd mind."
"Why's it have to be a collar? Can't it be something less weird?"
"It's symbolic."
"No."
(A collar may or may not actually be added to his design. It can even have a little nameplate on it with instructions on how to deal with the lost little feral cat should anyone find him, because Vio thinks he's funny.)
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leapingbadger · 2 months ago
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Summary: It’s finally time to return Jax to his family after his ordeal on Tantis and time on Pabu. But as usual, things don’t go to plan.
Read on AO3
Notes: This follows my general head canon.  You don’t have to read any of the other stuff I have written to understand what is going on but Tested ties directly into this story. If interested you can also check out some of my other stories at these links: Hope; Sunrise; Sunset, Goodbye and Tattoo
Word Count: 4697 (sorry, it's a long one)
***
It had taken a while to get to this point, but Hunter was still nervous. Rex had heard from Ventress and Vos and they were ready to get Jax and his family back together. They thought it best that they do this with one kid at a time in an effort to draw less attention.
With his family extracted and at a safe house, Hunter and Omega were tasked with transporting Jax. Crosshair had been less than enthusiastic about missing out on yet another mission, but until he had a permanent prosthetic, he wasn’t capable a wielding a weapon properly. Wrecker also grumbled at the plan, but he stood out way too much for a covert mission.
“And you don’t?” he had barked at Hunter, pointing at his tattoo.
Hunter had been thinking about it for a while but Wrecker’s indignation made him act on it. He had grown a beard as a way to try and hide his most prominent feature. The dark hair covered enough of his tattoo to soften the appearance of the skull’s mouth, leaving the top part of the tattoo passing for a strange birth mark. It was unlikely that the empire was still looking for them, but it didn’t make sense to make things too obvious. His new helmet would also help with that. It lacked the distinctive design he had had since the war, and for this one mission he was thankful for it.
Jax and the other Tantis kids had had a long, sad goodbye. They didn’t have the comfort of knowing they would see each other again. They didn’t know if they’d be able to stay in touch. These siblings, forged in fire and trial may never meet again, and they all knew it, well…maybe except Behrn.
Hunter watched sadly as Jax turned from the farewell party and boarded the ship. He brushed hurriedly at his green cheek and slunk up the ship’s ramp. Omega put her hand to his back in comfort and he nodded appreciatively.
Hunter hung back and said yet another goodbye to his brothers. It was rare for them to take on missions alone, but it seemed to be all he was doing since Pabu had become their permanent home. At this point it was routine, but they still said the same things anyway, it was comforting in a way.
“Comm us if you need us,” Wrecker said after squeezing Hunter into a hug. Hunter nodded obediently.
“Watch out for her. You know what she’s like,” Crosshair said, eyebrow arched, eyes on Omega.
“Yeah, I do.” Hunter said with a sigh, “I will.”
He really hadn’t wanted to take Omega along but there was only so much resistance against their kid’s strong will. She had made some excellent points, pacing the floor in their small common room.
“Jax will need comfort. You know I’m better at that than you, Huntah. He needs me with him.” She had said, foot stomping in place. Hunter was reminded of their first mission together on a desolate moon long ago. She had refused to be left behind then too.
After the third go around, Hunter had relented and as much as he was concerned for her safety, as he always was, he was glad to have the company. She was right, comfort wasn’t his strong suit in most cases.
He waved at his brothers from the ship’s ramp with promises to check in at regular intervals. He took one last deep breath of the salty, sweet, Pabu air and walked onto the ship, the door hissing and closing with a clang behind him.
***
Hunter, Omega and Jax sat in the back of the ship. Echo was on a different mission and none of them, nor their pilot were interested in small talk. Hunter could see the familiar blue swirls of hyperspace from where he sat. Omega was opposite him, Jax asleep with his head on her shoulder. They were taking multiple jumps just in case there were any designs on following them. You never know with the empire.
“You okay?” Hunter asked Omega with a whisper.
She nodded her head and smiled in answer. She wore her old jacket and hat but it didn’t fit her like before, the sleeves were too short and the hat sat at an odd angle because of her ponytail.
“It’s been a while since you’ve been off world,” he said quietly.
She nodded again, gave a concerned look at Jax as he stirred and spoke in a soft voice only after he settled.
“I’m kind of looking forward to it. Pabu’s wonderful, but this was part of my life for so long. It’s nice to be amongst the stars again,”
Hunter smiled and nodded. He felt the same way. He’d spent most of his life flying around the galaxy with his brothers. Being planet bound, no matter how beautiful, felt unnatural in many ways.
The ship rumbled as they came out of hyperspace. Hunter didn’t have much intel on who was meeting them but knew Rex and Vos had arranged for someone to take Jax for the next part of his journey. Hunter wasn’t happy about not seeing him to his final destination, but Rex had assured him it was for Jax and his family’s safety and Hunter was trying to be okay it.
He gave his thanks to their pilot as they exited the ship into a back world space port. Muffled announcements rang overhead as he guided the two kids through various hangers to a cantina on the outskirts.
“We have to go in there?” Jax asked nervously.
“It’ll be okay, I practically grew up in a place like this,” Omega said reassuringly taking his hand.
Hunter led them down the uneven steps into the dark space. Pink and blue neon lights shone and reflected off the shining metal surface of the bar. Music thumped from a juke box in the corner, the beat making the bottles behind the bar rattle.
“Stay close,” Hunter instructed, and he made his way over the bar, taking in his surroundings. The cantina wasn’t full by any means. A Rodian was draped over the bar on his right, head on the metal bar, bottle in hand. A mon calamari couple argued loudly on a booth, something about gambled tickets.
Hunter froze when he saw her. In the far corner booth, boot propped up on the table, black and orange helmet at her side sat Fennec Shand. Hunter instinctively pushed Omega and Jax behind him.
She had spotted him too and raised her fingers lazily in greeting with a lopsided smile on her lips.
Hunter swore under his breath and Omega looked up startled.
“What is it?”
“Shand,” he said quickly. He looked at the entrance they had come in. A large party of patrons had entered after them, blocking the exit.
Shand had sat up straighter now, eyes wide and on Omega.
“Head for the exit, I’ll cover you,” Hunter whispered to Omega. She didn’t hesitate to follow his order. She threw her arm around Jax and led him back the way they had come.
Hunter walked backwards slowly, hand resting on his blaster.
Shand was up now, walking towards him. She left her helmet at the table, her long black hair, braided with thick orange cord trailed over her shoulder. Her hands were up and facing him, not resting on her blaster like he had expected.
She had crossed half the distance between them now, Hunter shifted again, trying to hide Omega and Jax from view as they made it to the stairs.
“It’s been a while, Tracker,” She said in a smooth voice, “Hi, Omega,” she called over his shoulder.
Hunter drew his blaster, aiming it directly between her eyes. She didn’t flinch or move, but a smile crossed her lips, and he didn’t like it.
“Nice to see you too,” She said with grin, “Ventress sent me.” she said calmly.
Hunter paused. His blaster was still raised but he relaxed his stance slightly.
“Didn’t think bounty hunters worked for noble causes,” he growled.
Fennec shrugged, crossed over to the bar and grabbed the bottle out of the now passed out Rodian’s hand, “friendship makes the galaxy go ‘round,” she said, knocking back the last of the bottle and gently placing it back on the bar.
Hunter gave a quick glance at Omega and Jax. They were three steps up the stairs, Jax pulling at Omega’s arm while she crouched, energy bow primed (Echo had come across a few Zygerian’s and had…liberated it). Good girl, Hunter thought.
“I told Ventress you wouldn’t trust me.”
“Why would I?” he said again, his blaster still pointed directly at her. The other patrons hadn’t noticed or simply didn’t care. Most skirted around them to get to the bar. The music thumped loudly in Hunter’s ears.
“I came through with the Intel, didn’t I?”
“You sent a Sith assassin to find us,” said incredulously.
Fennec shrugged again. “Former Sith assassin. And did you or did you not find out that you wanted to know?”
Hunter huffed but didn’t respond. This wasn’t getting them anywhere.
“So, I’m supposed to just give you the kid and trust that you’re taking him where he needs to go?” he finally lowered his blaster and jerking his head to Omega who obediently came over, a nervous looking Jax in tow.
Fennec smiled, “that’s about it, yeah.”
Hunter took off his helmet and cupped it under his left arm. He kept his blaster in his right hand, just in case. He hated talking to bounty hunters. Everything was double talk.
“Omega, look at you,” Fennec said, sounding like a proud aunt. “nice energy bow,” she said with a wink.
Omega glared at her but didn’t speak.
“I’m glad you found you way back to each other.” Fennec said sincerely, turning and walking back to her table.
Hunter and Omega exchanged a confused look and followed. Hunter rested his hand on Jax’ shoulder, “it’s going to be okay. You’re safe,” he said, trying to force himself to believe it. Jax looked up at him and gave what Hunter thought was a half-smile at best. He supposed it was better than nothing.
They slid into the opposite side of the booth, Jax in between Omega and Hunter. He nervously played with the fastener on his jacket.
“I’m not just giving him to you,” Hunter said gruffly, before she could talk.
“Then this is going to be a short visit,” she replied, her eyes narrowed.
“What if we come with you?” Omega interjected leaning over the table looking between Hunter and Fennec.
Fennec paused for a minute looking from Jax to Omega and finally rested on Hunter.
“I suppose that could work,” she said smoothly, “I’m not one for babysitting duty anyway,” she looked at Omega and Hunter scowled at her. He heard his kids trembling voice after her first and second encounters with the bounty hunter. “What do you think, Tracker?” she said calmly, a teasing tone in her voice.
“It’s Hunter,” he said gruffly. He hated nick names. He looked at Omega and then Jax, who looked like he was holding it together by a thread. He couldn’t leave this kid with Fennec Shand, even if this was not the plan. “Fine,” he said finally.
“Great,” Shand said, hopping up from the booth, “let’s get going,”
She shoved her helmet on her head and strode out of the door. Hunter, Omega and Jax followed.
“Do you think we can trust her?” Omega asked Hunter, out of earshot of Jax.
Hunter scowled, “Not sure. Keep your guard up and your weapon ready,”
Omega nodded.
***
Hunter looked up at Fennec Shan’s ship in the hanger, the black and orange paint peeling away. He had told himself last time he would never set foot on this particular ship again but here he was.
Hunter had sent a hastily prepared message to Rex, Crosshair and Wrecker letting them know the change of plans. He hadn’t heard back and didn’t expect to before they took off, but at least they knew who they were with.
Shand lowered the ramp and Hunter hesitated for a second before following her aboard. He heard Omega and Jax’ footsteps behind him and waited at the top of the ramp to usher them onboard. He noticed omega looking wearily at the number of ray shield protected cages as they walked thorough the hold. No doubt thinking of the first time they met Shand and the fact that this is where she would have ended up had they not been able to evade her on Pantora.
“You okay, Kid,” he whispered gently, as they continued to follow Fennec through the massive ship.
“Yeah, just…thinking,” she said introspectively.
Hunter nodded and rested his hand on her shoulder in what he hoped was a reassuring way. They climbed a set of steep steps up to the cockpit. Shand disappeared behind the sliding door and Hunter indicated for Jax and Omega to take the seats outside. There were only two, he supposed bounty hunting didn’t lead to friends or the need for extra seats.
Hunter propped himself against the door, still holding his helmet under his arm. He felt the rumble as they took off and blasted out of the planet’s atmosphere. He heard Shand’s chair swivel and braced as he heard her boots on the deck.
The doors slid open with a swoosh. It was tight proximity in the space, so much so that Hunter backed up to the top of the stairs to put a gap between him and Shand.
“We’ll make a couple of jumps, just to be safe,” she said, parroting what their other pilot had told him. He had trusted the clone though, Shand, not so much.
“Where are we going?” he asked
“That’s need to know,”
“I agree,” Hunter said doggedly. Why Rex hadn’t told him to expect a bounty hunter he didn’t know. He should have been aware of their previous run ins with Shand. Even if Echo only mentioned them in passing. Either Rex wasn’t aware, or Ventress was lying to him.
Hunter looked down at Jax, he was huddled in on himself, clearly scared. Perhaps reliving the horror of being stolen from his family those many months, possibly years ago. They really had no idea how long the kids had been kept on Tantis. Hunter nodded to Shand and stepped over the threshold to the cockpit.
She followed quickly, the door closing behind her.
“This kid’s been through a lot. I need to make sure he gets to his family in one piece.” Hunter whispered.
“That’s why I’m here,” Fennec said.
Hunter studied her face. He reached out with his senses as though he was trying to read her mind. Trust was so hard to gain. In this galaxy, everyone was out for themselves.
“How much are they paying you for this job?
“That’s a pretty personal question there, Hunter,” she said slyly.
Hunter sighed, a long, exasperated sigh. “Bounty hunters are only out for themselves. You’ve gotta be making something off this deal to make it worth your while. You’re not altruistic and you’re not above kidnapping children.” He added pointedly.
“Money’s not everything.” she said with a smile, throwing his own words back at him.
“It is to people like you” he growled back.
“The galaxy is a dangerous place. Having a ‘former Sith assassin’ as an ally is priceless as far as I’m concerned.” She stepped closer to Hunter than he was comfortable with and looked up at him, “I’m taking the kid to safety as promised. I’ll make more than enough money on my next bounty to make up for it.”
She reached her hand up to his face, but he caught her wrist and glowered at her. She raised her eyebrows and smiled, “loving the beard.” She said before he let her go. She gave him a look over her shoulder and walked out in the corridor with a whoosh of the door.
What is wrong with these women, Hunter thought. He followed her out and gave Omega a reassuring nod when he returned. Shand had gone down the narrow steps into the bowels of the ship.
“I think she likes you,” Omega said in her usual cheery voice.
“Omega, don’t,” he said warningly.
She smiled up at him, that knowing smile. He ran his hand through his hair. This really was the longest day and it had only just begun.
***
Hunter started as the ship shook. Omega and Jax were both gasping as they awoke to the flickering lights above them and the ship listing to the side.
“what’s going on, Shand?” Hunter called
“Relax, just some rough air,” she called calmly from the cockpit. Hunter raised an eyebrow and went to look for himself.  He heard Omega rise too and let her follow.
They were cutting through the sky of an unremarkable looking planet. There didn’t seem to be any cities to speak of as far as Hunter could see. Clusters of tall, dark green trees swerved in and out of view as Shand moved the ship this way and that. This was not the smooth, if a little eccentric, flying Hunter was used to. Even Phee was a steadier pilot.
She landed on a circle of dirt that looked like it had once been grass. Shand swiveled in her chair and grabbed her helmet from the shelf.
“We better move if we want to make it by nightfall,” she said coolly.
Hunter and Omega followed her out of the cockpit, picking up Jax as they exited the ship. The temperature was cooler than expected. Omega zipped her jacket up to her chin and pulled her hat over her ears. He noticed Jax pull his jacket tighter around him and fished in his backpack for something.
“Here,” he said, handing him a red scarf with thin, white lines. Jax smiled up at him.
“Thanks, Hunter.” He said, quickly wrapping the scarf around his neck.
Hunter adjusted his pack and followed Fennec across the landing pad, as it was, and through the small village. The smell of roasting meat and cooked vegetables wafted out of a tavern on their left. Hunter’s stomach grumbled and he realized he hadn’t eaten anything since they left. He pulled out ration sticks for the kids and smiled as they inhaled them hungrily.
“You kids doing okay?” he asked, dropping slowly behind Shand so she wouldn’t be able to hear their conversation.
“Yes,” they both replied in unison.
“Are we almost there?” Jax asked, wiping his mouth on the sleeve of his jacket.
“It’s just passed the other side of the village,” Shand called back.
Omega and Jax looked at Hunter who nodded reassuringly. They continued the walk in silence. The wind started to whip up as they left the safety and warmth of the village. They followed a dirt track up a small hill, through a enclave of impossibly tall, green trees. Hunter hadn’t realized how big they were from the air.
Jax started to look nervous again and Hunter noticed Omega instinctively put her arm around his shoulders. He smiled up at her and whispered “thanks, Sis.” Omega smiled back at him.
Hunter noticed Fennec watching the exchange and sank back so she was in lock step with Hunter.
“She’s a pretty remarkable kid,” Fennec said quietly as the kids continued on in front.
Hunter nodded but didn’t engage.
“It takes a special kid to inspire such…loyalty,” she continued.
Hunter stopped and looked at her. She paused too. “You even think about trying to take her again I’ll kill you where you stand,” he said, his voice deep and threatening as it had ever been.
She cocked her head to the side and smiled, “I believe you, but I’m not interested in being a babysitter, remember? I just meant that there’s something about her. She even got to me. Offered me a spot on your squad when we first met,”
Hunter laughed despite himself, “of course she did,” he said, thinking back to that sweet, innocent and hopelessly naive version of Omega they first took off Kamino.
“I have to admit I was a little tempted. She certainly had Nala Se wrapped around her finger too,” she said, glancing up at him.
Hunter stopped again, eyes narrowed, “Nala Se hired you?”
Fennec raised her eyebrows and shrugged, “she called me off, once she realized she was safe with you.”
Hunter looked down, trying to organize these thoughts in his mind.
“Why are you telling me this?” he asked. He noticed Omega and Jax had paused ahead, watching their conversation with interest.
“If we’re both working for the path we need to trust each other. I figured this was the quickest way to get there.”  She started walking but turned around to watch him, “besides, what does it matter now that Nala Se is dead and the Kaminoan’s are gone,” She shrugged and caught up with the kids. Hunter jogged to follow.
The path curled around and opened up to a small wooden house. Hunter noticed Jax stop dead, fear in his eyes.
“Jax, it’s okay,” Hunter said gently. Omega took hold of his right hand and led him forward.
“Are you sure it’s them?” he asked Hunter.
“it’s them,” Fennec supplied.
Brown paint was peeling off the door. Hunter reached out with his senses. There was nothing that would indicate a dangerous situation. He kept his hand on his blaster, just in case.
Shand knocked on the door and to Hunter’s surprise, Ventress answered. Her chin length hair was still cut in the same sharp bob at her chin. She nodded in greeting and stepped back to let them in.
The cabin was warm, a stove on the far wall roared to life and to the far left, gathered around an old table was what could only be Jax’ family.
All hesitation in him melted away as he sprinted to the other side of the room and threw his arms around a green skinned women in a blue dress. His mother buried her head into his neck and Hunter knew she was drinking in the scent of him. Sometimes your eyes can lie to you, but your nose never can.
Hunter felt awkward, like he was intruding into a private moment. He noticed Ventress and Fennec sneak out of the door, mumbling quietly to each other. He gently touched Omega’s shoulder and indicated for her to follow him.
He looked back at the family reunion. Jax had now moved on to his father whose arms were wrapped around him, quiet sobs coming from him. Perhaps they didn’t think this moment would come. Jax had a few siblings to work his way through as well. It was best they wait outside.
Omega smiled up at him as he leaned against the exterior of the cabin. Fennec and Ventress had walked further to the tree line. He kept a close eye on them, his enhanced hearing picking up most of their conversation. He was pleased to know there was nothing duplicitous, just two friends catching up.
Ventress noticed them and walked over.
“Omega,” she said with a fond nod, “…Hunter…” she said trepidatiously as if not sure she was correct.
He nodded confirmation and her eyes traveled back to Omega.
“This is an unexpected surprise. Any changes, Omega?” she asked
“No,” Omega said confidently.
“And you?” she asked Hunter. Last time they spoke she implied he might be force sensitive. Hunter just shook his head at her. He had no interest one way or the other.
Fennec crossed to the group, “I told you he wouldn’t trust me,” she said with a smirk.
“Trust is earned,” Hunter retorted.
“And now? Ventress asked, stepping in front of Fennec as though shielding her.
Hunter shrugged, “for now,” he said simply. He wasn’t really comfortable with any of this, but if this was the situation they were in, and it seem like they were part of the path whether they liked it or not, he at least have to be civil.
The latch on the door clanked and Jax wrenched the door open. He was followed by his mother, father, brother and two sisters.
Hunter had never seen him look so joyous, although given the circumstances that wasn’t a huge surprise.
His mother threw herself at Hunter, arms around his neck sobs falling onto his pauldron. “I can’t thank you enough,” she sobbed. Hunter was taken aback. He looked down at Omega who was grinning ear to ear.
“Omega is actually the one who saved him. We just kept him out of trouble until we found you.”
The mother enveloped Omega, a fresh round of sobs rang out. Ventress and Fennec had stepped back to the tree line.
Jax came over and offered the scarf to Hunter. “You keep it,” he said with a smile. Jax nodded and  held out his hand. Hunter took it and pulled the young boy into a hug. “Take care of yourself,” he said ruffling his hair. “we’ll miss you.”
Jax wiped a tear away and moved to where his mother was finally letting Omega go. Hunter looked on with pride as the two former prisoners, hostages, kids, hugged each other for the last time.
“Goodbye, Sis,” Jax said, tears freely streaming down his face. “Thank you for saving me,”
Omega smiled and nodded, silent tears tracing tracks down her cheeks. It took a few more hugs, handshakes and tears before Hunter could extricate them.
Hunter, Omega and Fennec walked back to her ship in relative silence. Ventress stayed behind, just in case any trouble showed up although Hunter couldn’t imagine it would in a place like this.
The ride back to Pabu was uneventful. Fennec dropped them at the space port where she had met them. The ship landed with a jolt.
Fennec spun around in her chair in the cockpit.
“And here we all are. You’re all in one piece, as promised.” She said smugly, “Shame I didn’t get to see you in action with that bow, Kid,” she said to Omega as she stood up.
“Maybe next time,” Omega said with a smile, as she made her way to the narrow staircase and down to the cargo hold below.
“Wait,” Hunter said suddenly, “you have to wipe the navcomputer,”
“Why?” Fennec asked, eyebrow raised.
“what’s the bounty on Jedi these days? Why don’t you humor me?” He stepped closer, ensuring she wouldn’t be able to leave the cockpit, unless she wanted to shoot him of course. This thought tingled in the back of his mind, but he pushed it away. This was important.
“Fine,” she said cooly. He watched her delete the data and he nodded, satisfied. Hunter followed Omega down and out of the ship. Fennec trailed after them, Perhaps to make sure they got out, Hunter thought.
Omega waived energetically at the bounty hunter; all concern about her seemingly forgotten. Hunter’s memory wasn’t that short though.
“So, I guess I’ll be seeing you around,” she said to Hunter, “we’re both part of the path after all.
“We’ll see,” he said gruffly.
“Looking forward to it,” she called after him. He didn’t turn around.
He jogged to catch up with Omega who had spotted their ride home.
“I think she likes you, Huntah,” she said with a giggle.
Hunter pinched the bridge of his nose, “Omega, she literally tried to kidnap you twice,” he said exasperated.
“Maybe if you have a girlfriend, you wouldn’t spend so much time worrying about the rest of us,”
Hunter rolled his eyes as Omega took his arm and interlocked it with hers.
“I’m pretty sure worrying about you is my life’s purpose, kid.”
She giggled and nudged him with her shoulder, “Then I better not make it too easy for you,” she said.
Hunter laughed as they climbed abroad Rex’s ship. They were all safe and headed home. What more could he ask for.
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tigreblvnc · 2 months ago
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YOUR LIFE IN BLUE LOCK — @soleilonthesun
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BACKGROUND HEADCANONS;
♤ You were probably invited by Ego, “We need a few calm and collective people to act as natural leaders. Even in Blue Lock, structure is needed.”
♤ So you were scouted for your level headedness on field and overall encouraging vibes :D
♤ I believe you accepted just because you were interested, and were excited to explore a new environment anyway
♤ During Ego’s whole speech, you had to make a decision. It was either risk your future to reach your true goal, or fall back and continue to live in our mundane society.
♤ Of course, your parents would advise you to take the latter. But this was your choice, wasn’t it? Entering Blue Lock would be your best chance at reaching your goal.
♤ After all, if you didn’t accept, it would take ten fold effort, and even more risks. If you didn’t accept, would you ever truly be happy with the path you set yourself on? You refused to live with that sort of guilt. So you vowed to win. To become the person you always wanted to be.
♤ To be someone who could be looked up to.
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COLOR AURA;
♤ Lime Green
♤ #9cf569 (example, not necessarily exact)
♤ I KNOOWWW IT MAY NOT SOUND THE BEST- BUT LEMME EXPLAIN
♤ It’s a strong colour for sure, but of everyone I really do think you’re the only(or one of the few) person who could pull the colour off
♤ NO IT WOULD NOT LOOK LIKE FART- THATS NOT MY INTENTION CHAT U GOTTA BELIEVE ME
♤ Lime Green is NOT a colour you could ever ignore. I think it’s presence would be very indicative of yours on the field.
♤ Green means go right?
♤ The vibes, comfort, assurance, and encouragement you bring, it fits green.
♤ I spent quite a while deciding on this one. Green was one of the first to come to mind, but I was hesitant to finalize it (maybe it was the fart effect, im not sure) but playing around with the colour wheel, it really did seem best fitting.
♤ Green isn’t necessarily a loud colour, at least it doesn’t come first to mind when you think of one, but it certainly isn’t quiet, or easily look passed.
♤ Within the colours of pigment, Green isn’t actually a primary. But in the colours of light, it is. It’s the core of many other colours, and is needed to balance the others out.
♤ But it still isn’t usually considered a primary colour, due to its absence in pigment.
♤ And yet it’s still a lot of people’s favourite. The few Green likers I know are very passionate and dedicated, especially since there isn’t another colour that gives similar vibes.
♤ Lighter blues and purples often give the same vibe, majority of reds are still very red no matter how you tint it, etc. ♤ But lime green wouldn't be generalised
♤ If you break down the pigment, it is just blue and yellow. It’s an interesting blend, given that one is known to be incredibly energetic, and the other completely calm. Green’s a good blend.
♤ But yes, green.
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TEAM SELECTION;
♤ Ubers! You want to advise the others on your team yes?
♤ Thatd be pretty hard if you were on a more… violent team- it could definitely work, but I think your teammates on Ubers would even ask for you opinion at points
♤ I think Ubers is a team that needs more structure, determination, and overall leadership.
♤ Nothing bad to Snuffy, but they’ve got incredibly good players(imo) (ex. Japan’s national defender, Japan’s Ace, one of bllk’s best strikers, and one of bllk’s best defenders) but I wouldn’t say they’re using them all that well… (pls no dox /j)
♤ In Uber’s you could advise(control) marjory of their players, using your imagination to throw together fun play plans.
♤ Ok yea Barou probably isn’t the happiest with it, but the rest of the team is more than eager to try something new!
♤ Playing with Ubers would also help with your weaknesses. Since they have an incredibly stable defensive line, you don’t have to worry or hesitate as much. Staying static and overthinking will eventually decrease as you learn to trust them on field.
♤ I won’t speak much about off field… Individually, Ubers is an interesting set of people…
♤ They wouldn’t bother you too much though (but Aiku will probably try-)
♤ I think overall, Ubers gives you a strong base to work with, allowing you to do what you’d please from there.
♤ + They probably would benefit a lot working with someone like u! So even if they aren’t necessarily your first choice, they’d probably throw in a good offer for ya ;)
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BEST FRIEND;
✦ My dear dumb bunny.
✦ Admit it, you didn't see that coming!
✦ As soon as I saw the word "magic," I knew I had to pair you with the magician of the team.
✦ You two share much more in common than you might think. And as I like to say: I'm shocked that you've never noticed the resemblance between you and Ness all this time.
✦ You're so similar. Two big idealists, dreamers, poetic souls, both passionate about things that don't exist.
✦ You hit it off right away, from the very first day, the moment you joined the soccer club. I believe the saying "birds of a feather flock together" is true.
✦ Typically, you cry in each other's arms when you suffer a defeat, go through a hard time, or get overwhelmed with emotions. You're completely in tune with being hypersensitive, and you own it fully.
✦ I think that if Kaiser weren't around, Ness would spend his time glued to you.
✦ He just needs a little human warmth, poor thing.
✦ He needs a sun, not a winter.
✦ To life, to love.
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RIVAL;
✦ And I hope you're catching my drift with this matchup.
✦ Aren't Ness and Noa the perfect opposites?
✦ Emotion versus cold logic.
✦ You're rivals in the sense that your ways of thinking and doing things are very contradictory once you're on the field together. But it's also quite a challenge for each of you.
✦ I also think you'd have had quite a bit of trouble with Noa regarding your place in a team where he's present. Luckily, that's not the case.
✦ Besides, I like to imagine that Ness struggled quite a bit during his years at the Bastard München club, with his way of being so opposite to what Noa represents.
✦ So yes, Noa is that intimidating coach who gives you a knot in your stomach before every training.
✦ But he's also a likely path for your future development.
✦ Will you seize the opportunity, or stay in your comfort zone?
✦ It's up to you, little sunshine.
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POSITION ON THE FIELD;
✦ Midfielder.
✦ I think you do a great job of being a bridge between people. A human bridge, I mean.
✦ That is to say, you're skilled at connecting one person to another, and this also applies on the field.
✦ People can trust you to make passes that are both surprising and game-changing for your team.
✦ This is the true strength of this matchup: placing you as a midfielder gives you the chance to prove your worth. You can combine your creativity and imagination with the rational thinking of passing to the best player at a key moment in the match.
✦ It's this position on the field that will not only strengthen your value in Ness's eyes, but also counter Noa's belief that a creative, free spirit has no place in a high-level match.
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© TIGREBLVNC 2024 | OCTOBER '24 MATCHUPS EDITION.
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dontspillthefrijoles43 · 4 months ago
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What he thinks vs what she knows (Drabble)
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Word count: 2k-ish
Warnings: self image, insecurities, internalize racism, self esteem issues, sappy lovers, teenagers being teenagers
(A/N: Had this saved up in my drafts, figured I post it since I’m still editing and getting ready for more Chispo and bruja content. Y’all are surviving a drought so I figured you’d like to get scraps 😭 you can see this as chipso y bruja canon? Uncanny? Maybe another au who knows? 🤔 I know I’m literally the author of this fanfic Anyways Thinking abt making a tag list for when I post so lemme know if you want to be tagged. Til the come get ya scraps! This one an agnsty one)
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Leo thinks he’s ugly.
He thinks it has to do with his frame. It’s too scrawny and weak. Not enough muscle, like the rest of his siblings who buff up endlessly. Or the Ares kids who have chiseled abs.  He doesn’t even have the height to gain such strength. Or the right body fat percentage.
Maybe he’s ugly because he doesn’t have wavy hair like a Greek should. He has tight curls that seem to go everywhere, never in one place. Messy and kinky in all directions. No one ever seems to notice when it’s comb and neat. 
His skin can be the reason why he’s ugly. It’s not perfectly pure white. And it’s not just the right olive tan. He’s dark that awful awful color— Moreno feo! His aunt would hiss at him. As if she wasn’t the same color. 
Or could it be his scars? They’re littered onto his body jagged and spread over his arms and hands. Not to mention the disfigured tissue from the left of his face and downwards, all red-brown burns spread over him.
If none of those things prove that he’s ugly, then maybe his face will. 
He doesn’t have a strong chiseled jaw, even after puberty, it’s still soft with some baby fat. Except for his way too pointed chin. The smile he paints on, definitely crooked and awkward; not perfectly straight shining white teeth.
Lips are usually chapped, because he kind of sucks at self-care. Proof by all his acne scars over his cheeks. Besides his weird moles. And who can forget the weak peach fuzz placed on his upper lip. Upwards his small, wide, and awkwardly squished nose.
Above that is not sky blue or green or any other unique  color— but his dirt-ugly brown eyes, baggy from his lack of sleep some days, and way too thick eyebrows. 
The worst part of it all, is his pointy ears. They stuck out enough to notice. The first thing people would see. They were stupidly pointy. And ultimately what Leo was most known for:
Fuckin hobbit 
Elf 
Troll
Imp
Mexican Spock he didn’t even like Star-trek!
The list just goes on. 
All these things make Leo thinks he’s ugly. Bullies and ex-infatuations have been sure to let him know it. 
So to himself — Leo’s ugly.
Breisa loves Leo. She loves how he makes her feel. And how he cares. Or how he shows his love. She loves the warmth he brings. The dizziness she feels when she’s with him. He never fails to make laugh. Or her feel any less important, more than just his girlfriend. His compliment. Not his missing piece.
But one thing that irks her, is how he can’t see himself in the same light as she sees him. He doesn’t love himself the way he loves her. It hurts to see that. 
Breisa wanted him to be able to have the self confidence in himself. He’s so smart, sweet, funny, strong, handsome, and caring but in his charming way. Despite how awkward or weird he could be which she had to admit was also cute he was charming in his own little way.
 Hopefully her plan was the best way to show him. 
_
“Come on!” Breisa smiles and dragged Leo from behind, “Ya llegamos!”
“Alright alright—stump!” Leo tripped and face planted into the dirt. “Ow.” His voice went small.
“Oh my bad.” She winced, helping him up. Dusting off his clothes from the dirt. “Didn’t mean to get so excited.”
He spit grass out his mouth, “No worries, cariño.”
 He wipes off the dirt with a bandanna from his back pocket. 
“It’s not like that I can get any less dirt-ugly” Leo laughed.
Breisa frowned at that. “Let's just keep going.” 
Then she pushed through an overgrown bush, leaving him confused. 
‘She always laughs at my jokes…’ Leo thought to himself; anxiously fiddling with his silver ring he made out of metal scraps and pennant washers. 
“Leo, apurate!” Breisa called. 
He shaked his head and breathed in, ‘Worryin’, over nothing. No seas pendejo.’
Trudging forward he pushes through the leaves, trying not to get smacked by branches and vines. 
As he stumbled out— almost face plant again when Breisa caught his arm. 
“Careful.” She smiled down at him. 
“Ya sabe.” Leo rolled his eyes playfully. “Why are we here?”
All she does is point with her lips— forwards. 
As Leo glanced over, his eyes caught where the rocks met a grassy field. Overlooking the underside of a hill.
A fuzzy rose-patterned blanket laid out, a picnic basket holding it in place. Next to the basket was a sketchbook, pencils, and a little radio. And the view of Camp-Half-blood spread out below them. From the Strawberry fields to lava rock climbing wall.
“Woah.” He breathed. “Did you—?”
“Yup.” Breisa grinned. 
“Picnic date—?” 
“Uh-huh.” She answered. 
“For me—?”
“Yes.” Breisa huffed jokingly. “Siéntate, lindo. No te preocupes por nada.” She plopped down and patted the spot next to her. 
“Bossy.” Leo sticks his tongue but laid back into the blanket. 
She mimicked his face. “Whatever. Since I’m so bossy, I guess all these tortas and Capri-suns should be for myself.”
He popped an eye open. “Tortas with ham, chips, and cheddar cheese? Topped off with tapatío?”
“My speciality.” She started digging from the picnic basket. “But guess you don’t want some. Cause I’m so bossy.”
“Espérate.” He sat up, “Sólo porque eres así— I don’t have to die of hunger.”
“Nah, pero soy mandona.” She munched on the sandwich. 
“Hey!” Leo jumped.“I want some!”
“No way!” Breisa pushed his face away. “I don’t want to annoy you. I’m mean and bossy so my food must be bad.”
“Awe come on, it's still editable!” He laughed. 
“Now you really ain’t getting nothing!” 
Leo sighed satisfied, laying back on the blanket.
“Guess my food was editable?” Breisa raised an eyebrow. 
“It was alright, I guess.” He shrugged. 
Breisa shook her head with disbelief. “Tell that to the four tortas, bowl of fresas, and endless capri-suns.”
“No te oyes. Sugar crash. So sleepy.” Leo closed his eyes. 
Breisa rolled her eyes. Flicked his forehead. Then pulled her sketchbook onto her lap. Without even thinking she began to sketch a picture of him. 
Pages and pages of Leo began to fill her sketchbook, it’s become a habit of her to have at least one drawing of him in each. Always having three hearts or a little flame next to each sketch. 
Before, she would have never admitted having these drawings of him. Only because it would inflate his gaintanic ego. Leo being Leo, he would have something annoying to say.
Now even  she knows that it was his way of saying— ‘I like you a lot. I just say stupid stuff because it’s easier to get your attention.’
 It doesn’t make him less annoying, even as her significant other.
“What are you drawing?” Leo suddenly appeared beside her.
After her surprise wore down. She traced her pencil idly and muttered, “You.”
Leo stared at her for a good long minute before bursting into laughter. 
“Why are you laughin’?” She flushed, feeling a little embarrassed. 
He calmed down and smiled. “It’s nothing— just..” He snorted again, looking at himself, “Why do I look like that?” 
“Like what?” Breisa asked.
“Like all majestic and shit.” He waved his hands. “I ain’t that good looking. Or you know a profound art subject.” Leo rubbed his neck awkwardly with half of a smile on his face. “I’m just me, heh you know?”
Breisa put her sketchbook down, inhaled deeply, and faced him. “Eres tan pendejo.”
“Say what now?” He raised an eyebrow. 
“You. Are. Stupid.” She said slowly. “You aren’t just whatever Leo. I draw how I see it. You’re cute, handsome, and freakin pretty. That’s why you’re my favorite muse.” 
Leo’s face burned…And so did his hair. 
Breisa reached up, pinched a curl between her fingers. It fsss as the flame went out. 
Leo cleared his throat, and swatted at the rest of his hair. “No way I’m that good looking. I’m sure there are other better people to be your muse. You must be blinded by love.” 
“I’m not blinded by nothin’.” Breisa fussed. “You just can’t and refuse to see what I see.”
He looked at her like she was crazy. “See what? Fuck up half-melted ugly troll goblin thing—who shares no light to a girl like you?!”
She grabbed the sides of his face and made contact with his coffee brown eyes. Gods she melted when the sun made them glow. He automatically shut up any protest he had. 
Breisa brushed her thumb over his jaw, right at the scar.“I see a scrawny mofo with big beautiful brown eyes. A sideways smile that makes my heart flip. All wrapped up in that pretty face of his. Soft curls I can play with all day. Cute ears that get all red when I compliment him.
Hard working hands, that I can trace very dent and curve with my fingers. Strong arms that hold me in warm embrace. Just the right height so I don’t have to snap my neck up to look at.
Goofball pyromaniac but somehow suave n romantic. That knows everything about me, cares for me, and loves me. 
And even though he thinks he’s the scum of the earth. A monster burned with his scars in and out. Or  is undeserving of love because of some bullshit and stupid unworthy people from the past. They’re wrong. Cause to me, querido, you are the best person to ever walk into my life. And melt my heart.” 
Then Breisa planted her lips on him with tenderness, her hand on his chest, and moving another hand from his jaw to his curls.
Leo squeaked and brain short-circuited. Half of it was racing with thoughts while the other half went numb. ‘Do something idiot!’ His brain finally scolded. Arms wrapped around her waist and he sighed against her lips.
When she pulled away, his lips still tingled pleasantly. Just like every other kiss they shared.
Then she looked at him with so much love and admiration. He nearly cried. 
But he shook himself out of love-sickness and gave her a deadpan look. 
“Ok, you really gotta stop kissing me without warning.” Leo huffed, swatting his hair which was probably on fire. Again.
Breisa snickered at him. 
“En serio.” He empathized half-heartedly. “You realize how many times I’ve almost passed out? Or bursted into flames? I could’ve started a Forest fire.”
“Eh,” She shrugged, "It's worth it to see you get all flustered.” Then she squished his face, while cupping his jaw again. “I love this face. ¡Qué lindo! ¡Qué guapo! ¡Te adoro! ¡Te quiero, mi amorcito! Such a pretty boy, Mwah!”
She kissed all over his face dramatically. Extra affectionate on his scars. 
“Stop.” Leo rolled his eyes. Yet, his big dumb grin that showed off his cute gap gave him away. 
“Nah.” Breisa smiled just as stupid, “I am not done admiring. And I’m not done with my sketch.” 
“Hmn. Guess I gotta keep being your muse.” Leo hummed leaning onto her palm.  
“Guess you do.” She pecked him on the lips. “I’m going to make sure I get all of your beauty.”
“You know my face better than me.” Leo agreed and kissed her again…and again…and again.
After that he walked back to his cabin holding Breisa by the hand. Lipstick marks all over his face and the folded sketch in his pocket. Thinking maybe he wasn’t so ugly.
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cloudi-bunni · 2 years ago
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Cause I’m a jealous jealous jealous boyyyy
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{how the boy’s will act when jealous}
{all pre-borderlands au btw!}
Tw:possessive behavior, Yandere behavior, manipulation
[Characters;arisu, chishiya, Karube, Banda]
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CHISHIYA:
• wouldn’t get jealous often but when he does it’s hard to tell
• he compares it to looking at window. He watches your interaction as if you were a lab rat. He wants to find one thing about the whole thing and focus on it.
•but don’t be fooled, that’s what he wants you to feel like.
•he does feel the green heavy monster weighing his chest, he just prefers to have you prove yourself to be his even if you aren’t dating
•I mean it’s a given you should know your his…it doesn’t need to be said?
•and if you flirt back he’s going to ignore you for weeks, last time he ignored you for a month straight.
•he hates it but..you made him. Why would you say that to a fucking pathetic parasite, when he was right there?
•”shuntaro why are you ignoring me ? I miss you…did I do something wrong?”
•he will just get up and walk away, as if you were nothing and then out of the blue he’ll start talking to you again.
•You don’t even ask why he ignored you , you’re scared he’ll do it again. You’re just so happy to have him back!
•loves knowing he has this control over you, he can do anything and just like a puppy you’ll come back and sense like nothings wrong.
•no one could control how you feel, how you act No one but him and he wouldn’t have it any other way
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ARISU;
•his feelings are to hard to hide
•he compares it to watching someone pour paint over his masterpiece.
•he watches one of your friends shamelessly flirt in front of him.
•he just glared at them as he was Lost in his mind
• “oh you two seem close”
•you go on a rant on you two met, but Arisu wasn’t listening.
•he only payed attention when you just so happened to mention their address.
•his mind started planning
• When they leave he clings to your side, huffing at the thought that they may have been doing the same as well
•he feels like a dog trying to ‘mark’ his scent into your hoodie, letting his cologne ingulf you. He wants to make you his in anyway possible
• “They interrupted our hang out.” “Do you like them more then me?” “This was supposed to be our time”
•he’s only saying how he feels, he didn’t mean to get you worried. But oh when your holding him and apologizing, does he smile.
• after an hour of hanging with you he goes back home.
• He types the persons name and address. Would you look at that they had a criminal record.
• he couldn’t have a criminal get close to you, what if they hurt you?
•Arisu Wouldn’t be able to live with himself if that happened.
•so he did what any good boyfriend would do, he went into their house when he knew they would be there.
•hiding the body wasn’t hard especially not when he’s done this a million times before.
•he comes to your apartment talking about a movie he wanted to watch. With you, he smiles at how you snuggle up to him.
• You look so cute like this so peaceful, you had no idea your new friend was gone.
•when you do find out, he was ready to comfort you. Like he always does, he can’t bare seeing you sad.
•he just wants your eyes on him! And god help anyone who manages to take them off of him.
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BANDA;
•wouldn’t call it jealousy, he calls it liking to keep what’s his , his.
•he compares this feeling to playing with his meal.
•he feels the need to prove himself
•usually he wouldn’t care but today was one of his days off, and he wanted to spend it with you. His future partner, he just can’t believe that they want to bother you two on such a day.
•sure you looked good in your outfit, you always did. But the pair of you, come by this cafe often so you talking like you were friends with this person confused him.
•did you know them? Did they know you? Cant you tell they’re flirting with you if you were such good friends? When did you meet them? Was it when he was working? He thought he had you on a leash you told him everything…are you gaining feelings for this insect? No no..he would have known by now.
•he hoped you were just oblivious instead, it made him feel more sane and in control. Yeah you were just unaware.
•” how about another date?”
•…..date? ….another?..he put the puzzles together, and was enraged, at you for ‘betraying his love’ at the person for not getting the hint. And at himself he swore himself this wouldn’t happen again. Not since LAST time.
•he will start to touch you, it’s almost impossible to tell he’s doing it to prove a point.
•he will start to touch your shoulders, letting the touches linger just a bit
•you don’t notice it but the person does
•if the small hints aren’t enough Banda is going to give them the nastiest glare ever
•well what he thinks is a glare, but in reality is just a blank look.
•works in his favor either way. They usually get weirded out, at this point.
•will ask you all about them , what’s their name, where they live, do they live alone etc
• “I just want to get to know your new friend.”
•the next day you come to him crying, the insect died randomly. You couldn’t believe just when you thought your love life was getting somewhere.
•he just wants to make sure your his…
• god help anyone who isn’t able to notice
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KARUBE;
•gets jealous often
• compares it to a small noise that won’t stop
• he doesn’t hide what he’s feeling from the person tho
• “what do you want from y/n? Huh? Don’t act like it’s just being friends I see the way you look at y/n!”
•the poor person would stay away from you due to orders from him
•you just assumed it was because they hated you, you cried and cried
•the person started talking to you in private, still wanting to peruse this relationship with you
•the thrill of being secretive made you feel all giddy inside, always sneaking out to see them at night.
•the two of you would joke around, go from place to place, flirt
•you didn’t know that karube saw it all
•he knew exactly what time you came out to see them and knew exactly where you two would meet up
•he just watched , never doing anything. He didn’t know what to do, he wanted to come out and punch them but he didn’t want to frighten you
•that was until one day when they kissed you, oh was he pissed seething when he watched it happen.
•he went home throwing everything upside down, his apartment looking like a child has been home by themselves for a day
•he calls you the day after, wanting to hang out with you knowing you and your friend don’t hang out on this day.
•he grabs you phone when you go to another room
•he finds your friends contact and quickly types “hey are you free today it’s totally fine if not! :>” he thought it was adorablhow the way you texted was so predictable. Made it easier for him to act like you
•”sure! same time?” he quickly sent a yes, deleting the messages he waits until night when he finally bid goodbye to you
•making his way to a small cafe, and he gets in an alleyway seeing your little friend there
•karube can’t help but smile at the thought of finally getting rid of the thorn
•the thorns face morph from a happy one to one that looks terrified. Karube cant enough of that face ,
•“I told ya to stay away but you didn’t listen did ya? Just had to get close to my y/n..Don’t blame me for what’s about to happen I warned you”
•he only really has one rule! Don’t touch what’s his
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406 notes · View notes
rollypoliesonarock · 2 years ago
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No one asked, but here's a vest tour! I've added a bunch since I last talked about it here, so here's the update!
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Here's the full front and back
Most of this I made myself. The patches were mostly made by hand embroidery (anything machine done was probably given to me as a gift), with the exception of a couple that were just markers on white fabric.
Under the decorative patches is also a layer of random fabric patches, mostly from leftover projects scrap fabric, or old clothes I didn't know what to do with.
There's also some random paint splashes in green and red, and a ton of pop tabs and safety pins thrown around in empty spaces.
The pins I made were made from painted bottle caps, and held on with a pop tab and safety pin combo, with the edges of the bottle cap bent to hold it in place
The vest itself I got from a family member's friend, and said family member didn't want it. So she gave it to me to put patches on. I used it as a formal jacket for a year, but I didn't like how the sleeves felt, so I cut them off and ended up putting patches on it anyway. I've been working on this vest since last January, but many of the patches and stuff were transferred from my old jacket that I have other plans for, but that's for a different post.
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Inside, plus the snack pouch
so much white embroidery floss, I'm surprised I'm still able to scrape up some in my embroidery floss drawer
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Front top left (from the perspective of someone looking at me)
Gay frog pin is the only pin I own I paid for, I found all the rest for free from various events and also the library likes giving people free pins
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Front top right
Got the Vulpix pin from some random lady at the empanada restaurant because she liked my nerdy jacket. A few months ago I reconnected with an old friend, who recognized the art style. So that's kinda neat
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Front bottom left
I used to have the heart/brain patch sewn on an older jacket (that is no longer with us). I am never attempting to stick a needle through that thing again. Easily my most painful patch I own. Also a little keychain ring so I can clip stuff to my vest
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Front bottom right
The worm's name is wormy, named by my friend who loves him. Wormy has been through a lot, and before finding a safe home on my vest, rotated between being a room decoration and a cat toy
The hotelier patch (the house on the pocket) is probably my favorite music based patch I've made. I spent way too much time on it, but I think it turned out nice in the end!
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Back top
the trans flag section in the center is my favorite part. The peace was never an option patch is usually peoples favorite, and I get compliments on it regularly. It's hard to see, but the patch at the bottom left of the flag is the chemical formula for testosterone
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Back bottom left
The QR code is a Rick roll, and also fully functional. When I made it, a picture of it was floating around between my friends between various group chats. I had one friend who tried to go to lengths to avoid getting tricked, until one of his friends sent him the picture, and he actually scanned it before realizing it's the QR code on my back. He was (jokingly) upset at me the next day. I want to make another qr code to a song I like more, but that one took longer than most my other patches do, so I'm not sure it's worth it.
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Back bottom right
The Kos-mos patch (blue haired girl on left) is my favorite non music patch on here. It just feels like one of my most well made patches. Not much to say here, I just like the patch a lot
So yeah, that's my vest. No clue how many patches are actually on this, or how many hours I've put into this thing already, but it's probably a high number whatever it is.
If this gets at least 0.5 notes Ill talk about my other patch stuff, of which I've got a lot of.
252 notes · View notes
fyonahmacnally · 8 months ago
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Eight Years Ago, Cambridge, MA…
Stormy blue meets turbulent green. Palpable tension crackles in the air as things escalate faster than usual. Pent up anger and resentment boil over like a volcanic eruption of past transgressions never spoken. They hurl sharpened words at one another, daggers cutting through the fragile skin of the relationship they’ve forged for four years. It’s been building, both of them know it has, each stewing in the silent hurricane of thoughts swirling inside them. It was an inevitable train wreck set on course six months ago when Lena decided to stay in Cambridge instead moving to National City with Kara as planned. 
Four years at MIT together, two as best friends, two as lovers and living together. They talk about everything. At least that’s what Kara thought until that moment six months ago when Lena dropped her bombshell. Now, they’re standing in the middle of their apartment screaming at one another like they’re sworn enemies instead of longtime lovers. Each of them tossing insults and barbs at one another with complete abandon. Sharing spiteful disdain in the way they used to share I love you’s. 
Neither of them stop to think about what they are saying or the damage they are causing. It’s heated. It’s cruel. Everything is going down in flames and neither of them seem to care. Kara yells about Lena’s horrendous family and how she’s behaving just like them. Lena screams about Kara’s naivete and obliviousness. They cut one another to the bone with words neither of them ever thought they’d speak to each other. It’s an emotional bloodbath drowning the remnants of their relationship in the dripping, viscous venom spewing from their lips.
Eventually, the room is silent. The only sound is the heaving breath of the two women glaring at one another, tears falling. It’s a moment frozen in time, one that neither of them will ever forget. 
It’s Kara who finally storms out. Since she’s finished packing all her things for the move anyway, she reasons that getting an early start on her drive will get her to National City faster. Plus, she desperately needs to get away from the demise of her relationship. Her once homey and warm apartment feels cold and foreign. The woman in front of her is suddenly a stranger. Her heart is decimated, shattered into a million pieces. She thought for sure Lena was it for her. Her other half, her person. Apparently not. Everything they’ve built lies broken and dead at her feet as she grabs her final piece of luggage. 
Dragging the bag behind her, she pauses at the door. Hanging her head as tears glide across her skin, she whispers, “I will always love you. I just thought you felt the same.” Taking a deep breath, she straightens her back and opens the door. She keeps her eyes forward and her jaw set. If she looks back now, she’ll change her mind and it’s too late for that.
Lena stares at the closed door, her mouth hanging open, arms wrapped tightly around herself, and tears streaming from her eyes. She has no doubt she just made the biggest mistake of her life, but she’s frozen in place. Everything happened so fast, it’s a blur. She’s utterly confused as to how she has managed to destroy the longest, healthiest relationship she’s ever had. She’s staying at MIT to get her doctorate, but had no intention of breaking things off with Kara. In her mind, they’d make it work. They always said they were stronger together and could tackle anything as long as they had each other. Sure, she probably should have spoken to her girlfriend when she applied to the PhD program, but her anxiety got the best of her and she waited until everything was in place. 
Now, here she stands watching the love of her life walk away. She’s paralyzed, stuck in the spot where her life fell apart. Her eyes seem to suddenly refocus and time speeds back up. Unsure of how much time has passed, she is suddenly hit with the reality of what just happened and bolts out the door. Kara. She has to catch Kara. Just as she rushes out the front of the building and onto the sidewalk, she can see the taillights fading from sight. Her whole world just drove away in a moving truck. Without her. Her body acts before her mind does, she runs back up the stairs. Swinging the door to the apartment open, she snatches her phone up to call Kara. Voicemail. She calls again. Same thing. 
And so it goes for hours, then days, then weeks. Lena even tries to call Alex, to no avail. It’s the same silence. Eventually, she resigns herself to the fact she fucked up and she has to live with it. When three months turns to six and six into twelve, she finally puts the pictures away. She lost her chance at happiness and love. Now she needs to put all of her focus and energy into school. It’s the only thing that gets her through the rest of her masters and PhD programs. 
Present Day, New York City…
Six more years in school and two degrees later, Lena has moved forward in her life. Well, as much as she can. She hasn’t had any real relationship to speak of since she and Kara split up. A few flings and one night stands, but nothing serious. It’s hard when she hasn’t stopped loving the bubbly blonde that stole her heart all those years ago. Deep down, she knows she’ll never love anyone the way she did…does Kara. 
Her Kara. Or she used to be.
It’s been two years since she began working for Spheerical Tech & Pharmaceuticals as their head of research and development. It’s grueling and exhausting. Not that it matters because she doesn’t have a life outside of work. She spends half her time in New York in her lab and the other half split between Cambridge and National City with occasional trips to London. She visits each of their lab sites at least once a year, sometimes more. Most of the time she volunteers for the trips. Besides, no one is at home to miss her. Not even a pet. No one is around to call before she goes to bed. It’s pretty sad when she really thinks about it. 
When her boss and longtime friend, Jack, first mentioned needing her to manage the National City lab, she was hesitant. She didn’t want to risk running into Kara at all. Sure, it’s a large, populated city and the odds are slim, but Kara doesn’t need her showing up and ruining the life she has now. She knows her ex-girlfriend made a name for herself and became a well-respected investigative and scientific tech journalist. The woman is absolutely one of the best and most accomplished journalists of their generation. In fact, Lena has every article the blonde has ever published. Further, unbeknownst to Kara, Lena was there when she won her first Pulitzer three years ago. She stayed in the back of the crowd and left before anyone knew she was ever there. 
Even now, eight years later, Kara is never far from her mind. Of course, she stopped calling Kara years ago, she has no idea if she even has the same number anymore. Lena kept hers, the same number all these years. Kara will probably never use it. She hasn’t yet, but at least it’s there if she ever tries. 
She has always genuinely wanted Kara to be happy. No matter what it looks like, that’s what she wants for her. Even after all this time, the one thing Lena held onto, the one thing she does every year, is send an email on the anniversary of their first date. She has no idea if Kara reads them since she has never responded, but she still sends them. Never any words. Always just a simple heart emoji. Nothing else.
It’s why she’s thinking about their fight and the demise of their relationship right now. There’s roughly three months until the anniversary of their first date. Ten years ago, they went on their first date. A long, wistful sigh escapes her lips. They met at the station across from campus in Cambridge and took the train to Boston to spend the day. She remembers when their eyes met across the terminal, there was an eruption of butterflies in her belly. It was as if she could finally breathe. What she wouldn’t give to see those cerulean eyes again. 
That’s when she gets an idea. Probably the worst one she’s had since she let Kara walk out the apartment door. It’s probably fruitless. She’s pretty sure Kara has long since forgotten her, especially after the hurt she caused. But, what if, after all this time, Kara still feels the same? 
One more time and then she’ll give up. For good.
Present Day, National City…
Kara is having a shit day. She spilled coffee on her favorite shirt, broke her favorite pen, and missed her first deadline in years. Then, Alex canceled sister’s night because of some emergency at the hospital. And fine, she gets it, Alex is a doctor, blah blah blah. Still doesn’t mean she has to be okay with it. Needless to say, she’s ready to go home to curl up with her favorite show and some ice cream. If she could leave right now she’d pack up and be gone in an instant. Unfortunately, she still has three more hours left. She sighs an exasperated sigh and drops her forehead onto her desk. 
It’s moments like this when she thinks about Lena. Her ex-girlfriend had a way with brightening the worst of her days. Their nights together, the fun they had, the uninhibited comfort her presence provided. She hasn’t found that comfort in anyone since. The closeness and trust the two of them had was something she’s sure she’ll never have again. She’s tried, she really has. Several times over the years, with men and women alike. No one ever compares to the woman she reluctantly admits she still loves. 
There are so many things about their last fight she wishes she could take back. So many things she regrets. It still makes her cringe when she thinks about the spiteful things she said to Lena and the hurt she saw in her favorite green eyes. The biggest regret from that day is walking away without talking things out. She knows neither of them behaved very rationally the last six months of their relationship. It eventually culminated in their massive blow-up followed by their sudden break-up. Unfortunately, it isn’t something she can take back or undo.
Actually, scratch that, her biggest regret from back then is ignoring Lena’s calls and letting Alex talk her into blocking her number. There have been so many times over the years when she wanted to reach out, to hear that smooth, saccharine voice again. It seems there’s a little voice in her head always preventing her from doing it. The nagging little voice repeats things like ‘you deserve better than her’ and ‘she doesn’t care or think about you anymore’. The voice sounds an awful lot like Alex. As much as she loves her sister, her overprotective actions probably cost her any chance at reconciliation. Given how long it’s been, she’s almost certain of it. 
She puffs out a frustrated breath. This happens every single time she thinks about Lena. She remembers the chance she could have taken, the window of time in which she might have been able to fix things. Now, there’s no way, it’s too late. Her eyes close briefly before she lifts her head up from her desk. Blue eyes settle on the phone sitting next to her keyboard and her lips twitch upward in a wistful smile. 
Pulling the device toward her, she navigates to the one file she keeps locked and protected. It’s an obscure folder with a few pictures of her and Lena. Her finger swipes through the pictures and her eyes tear up before she quickly closes it. She navigates to her contacts where her weepy eyes scan over the place where Lena’s phone number still sits. Seven numbers and her favorite name casually staring up at her. A combination of letters and numbers she could never get rid of. 
A shaky hand makes its way to her glasses, pulling them off to wipe away the errant tears that managed to escape. Her mind wanders again. Would the number still work if she tried to call? Probably not. Surely Lena changed her number and moved on, right? She’s intelligent, successful, and a goddess of a woman. The amount of people likely knocking on her door for dates is innumerable. Certainly more options than Kara has.
She leans back in her chair with her head tilted toward the ceiling and runs her hands down her face. Silently chastising herself for letting her mind drift, it doesn’t do any good to think about it. Not anymore. She doesn’t even know where Lena lives or what she’s doing. Last she heard, Lena is an executive with Spheerical. Possibly one of the chief executives? One thing she’s sure of, Lena gets photographed in New York and London several times a year. So, she could live in either place for all Kara knows.
Kara is very aware there’s a branch of the company here in National City as well. It’s a building she passes almost every day. She’s fairly certain she would know if the beautiful genius was living in her city. There’s no way they wouldn’t have at least been in the same places. Given her work in science and technology for CatCo and Lena’s involvement in research and development, Kara would know. RIght? In fact, she’s interviewed a few of the staff scientists at the National City branch. If Lena was working there, she’d know. Wouldn’t she? 
Another deep sigh forces itself out of her throat as she shakes her head. It’s a motion made in a futile attempt to remove any thoughts of her lost love from her mind. At this rate, it won’t ever happen. She’s doomed to carry her love for Lena to her grave. It’s been eight years and her heart still skips a beat when she sees a raven-haired woman resembling her ex-girlfriend. Her chest still aches when she looks at pictures or sifts through her memories. Her brain still runs what if scenarios for any possible conversation they might have should they ever meet again.
While she knows it’s unlikely, she can’t help but think about the possibility Lena might still love her too. She’s sure it’s a false hope, but what if? It’s crossed her mind countless times. Honestly, she’s surprised Lena didn’t reach out via email when her calls didn’t go through. It’s one of the reasons she’s so sure her ex has moved on. The Lena she knew would have exhausted all avenues. Maybe she should try to text her old number. If it’s someone else’s number, then at least she’d know. 
She really needs to talk to Alex. Her sister is the only one that can talk her out of doing something rash.
--
Lena glares at the blinking cursor in front of her. She spent the better part of two months convincing Jack she needs to be in National City for the month of October. He was skeptical at first, but she managed to backlog enough work to justify it. Instincts tell her Jack still doesn’t believe her, but she’s here and got her way. That’s what matters at this point. 
Now, here she sits inside her office at Spheerical, a few scant blocks from CatCo. The thought makes her stomach do somersaults, knowing how close she currently is to Kara. A long sigh presses between her lips as she continues to stare at her screen. The email in front of her has been written and rewritten so many times she lost count. Her anxiety is at peak levels and she still isn’t sure this is a good idea. But really, what does she have to lose at this point? Her dignity and pride walked out the apartment door with Kara eight years ago. 
A shaky breath billows from her mouth as she drops her head into her hands. She’s been working on this email for two weeks. Well, longer if she counts the amount of time she spent drafting it in her head. In truth, it began to form almost three months ago when she was thinking about the blonde goddess living rent free in her mind. Again, it’s probably the worst idea she’s had since that fateful day. The day Lena turned her entire world upside down. 
She chuckles and shakes her head, resting her hands back on her desk. “Come on, Lena. It’s no big deal. You’re just asking the woman you haven’t spoken to in eight years to meet you at a park.” Another humorless laugh leaves her throat as she realizes she’s talking to herself. “I’ve resorted to giving myself verbal pep talks now. I mean, I guess that goes along with the insanity of trying to convince my ex-girlfriend to meet with me seemingly out of the blue. On the anniversary of our first date, no less. What have I become?”
Her finger lands on the backspace key as she starts the email again for the umpteenth time. It’s her final hail mary. Her last attempt at connecting with the woman that still owns her heart. Some part of her desperately hopes Kara will show up and they can, at the very least, talk things out and get the closure they never had. Her heart wants Kara to feel the same way she does. She wants a second chance, but she’s a realist. The odds of that are slim to none. Her rational side and the little voice in her head sounding eerily similar to Lillian’s, says her chance has passed and there isn’t anything she can do to change it. 
But, there’s a tiny little kernel of hope holding out. That’s what she’s holding onto. 
“Alright, Luthor. You have to get your shit together. Tomorrow is the day so it’s now or never.” She reads over the email one final time before scheduling it to send at midnight or 12:01 a.m to be exact. October 16th - the anniversary of their first date. She sighs and hopes for the best. Nothing about this goes beyond her usual one email per year. This one just has words attached to it. A simple request really. She’s not anxious about it at all. 
Not. One. Bit.
Her office suddenly feels too small and too quiet. With her thoughts racing at jet speed inside her skull, she bolts from her desk and makes her way down to the labs. Her brain needs a distraction or she’s going to have a panic attack and change her mind. Changing her mind is the last thing she wants. She’s loved Kara for ten years. The woman owns her heart, something that will likely never change.
So, she needs to distract herself for the next two days and hope the blonde shows up tomorrow evening. What could go wrong?
--
October 16th - the day Kara dreads every year. The anniversary of their first date. One would think after all these years, she wouldn’t remember it or care, but she does. She remembers everything and always has. The first three years were hard. She took off work and shut the world out. After those rough years, it kind of got better. Now, she does the best she can. Sometimes, she leaves early and spends the day with her favorite movie and ice cream. This year is shaping up to be one of those years. She has to take care of a few things this morning, but there is a pint of Ben & Jerry’s calling her name. She’ll be on her couch and stuffing her face with some Moose Tracks by 3:00 p.m. 
Most of her day is uneventful. She even manages to get through it without scrolling through her folder of old pictures. Well, more than a few times. It counts. It was less than last year, give her a break. Lena is beautiful, amazing, and a goddess on Earth. No one can blame her for reminiscing on how it felt to hold her and just bask in her presence. The feeling of soft pale skin against her own…
A long, frustrated sigh followed by a growl of irritation crawls from her throat. Now is certainly not the time to be thinking about Lena’s skin against hers. Not to mention all the other very vivid and inconvenient images running rampant in her mind. Kara wearily shakes her head in an futile attempt at erasing the memories flashing across her mind’s eye. This happens every year on this day. She combs through the memories of the two years they spent as lovers, even the two years they were friends beforehand are filled with moments imprinted on her skin.
Another glance at the clock on the wall across the bullpen tells her she still has another hour before she can safely leave without causing any eyebrows to raise. She decides to plunge herself into some research she has to do for an upcoming piece on Spheerical. Fortunately, she gets lost in the details and the next time she looks up, it’s time to head out to lunch and then to her couch. 
Just as she’s walking out of the building, her phone vibrates. A big smile stretches across her face when she sees Alex calling. “Hey, Alex!” She hurries across the sidewalk and across the road, dodging people as she goes. “Perfect timing. I’m just heading to Noonan’s to grab lunch. Are you still coming over later for sister’s night?”
“Yes, dork. Don’t we always spend this night together?” Alex huffs, rolling her eyes at her sister. “I’m leaving the hospital now, but I have to go by my apartment first. Do you need me to bring anything?”
Kara hums in thought, pausing outside the entrance to Noonan’s before shaking her head. “Nah. I have ice cream and snacks already. Just bring whatever alcohol you want if you plan to drink. You know I only have the fruity stuff.”
“Yeah, yeah. I’ll see you in an hour or so.” Alex says, a smile evident in her voice. “Love you, dork.”
Chuckling, Kara shakes her head and smiles. “Be careful. Love you, too.” She ends the call and steps inside, still laughing at her sister’s antics. 
After deciding to eat her lunch on a park bench, she catches the bus home. Happy to finally be away from CatCo and the stresses of work, her mind drifts to Lena again. The last couple of years, her mind has conjured images of what their lives would be like if they were still together. Marriage, a house, and sometimes a baby. It’s not always the same, but they’re always married. Something Kara always thought would happen once they graduated and got settled in National City. 
She’s shaken out of her daydreams by the subtle stop of the bus and people around her standing. A sorrowful sigh releases as she stands to exit as well. Her mind seems to enjoy torturing her with things she can’t have, made worse this day every year. As she steps off the bus, she spots her sister standing in front of her building and a smile replaces the frown she’s sure was there.
The two sisters make their way up the stairs and into Kara’s loft. They settle in to watch the movie they always watch on this day, Hocus Pocus. By the time they finish watching the movie and polish off their ice cream, it’s nearing dinner time. Alex orders pizza and potstickers and they snuggle back into the couch to wait, a random show playing in the background. 
Alex eyes Kara carefully, brown eyes scanning her sister’s face. She can see the pain and sadness in the normally sparkling sapphire eyes. Instead of pushing the blonde to talk, she watches and waits, knowing Kara will eventually open up to her. It usually takes a few minutes, but she knows her sister will start spilling her feelings.
“I really miss her, Alex.” Kara says, tears welling in her stormy blue eyes. “Some days it feels like everything just happened. It feels so raw and so fresh. No matter how hard I try, I can’t stop loving her. My heart won’t let me. No matter how much convincing my mind does, my heart won’t let her go.” Two glittering tears slither between her eyelids and drip onto her shirt.
The redhead sighs, slides her arms around her younger sister, and pulls her close. “I know, kiddo. I wish there was something I could say or do to make it easier for you.” She rests her head on top of Kara’s as they sit in silence for a few minutes. Their bubble bursts when there is a knock on the door. “That’s probably the food, I’ll get it.”
Alex bounds over to the door while Kara leans back on the couch, head resting against the cushion and face pointed to the ceiling. She wipes away the now drying tears, willing the rest to stop their descent down her cheeks. Her body remains still even after Alex drops the food onto the table. When she finally looks down, it’s to check the time on her watch. 6:43 p.m. 
“We’d been on our date for about an hour by now. It was one of the best nights of my life, Alex. We walked through the park, the leaves changing all around us, and the sun going down. Each of us had a cup of hot chocolate in one hand while holding hands with the other.” Kara wistfully smiles as she remembers how she felt. “It was almost magical, we talked just like we always did, but it was…more. It was like we connected on a new level, like something clicked into place. Like…coming home.”
She looks up at Alex, tears streaming down her face, bottom lip trembling. “Why does it still hurt so much? I’ve spent the last eight years feeling like part of me is missing. Why won’t it stop?” An anguished look twists Alex’s face as she pulls her baby sister back into her arms. They sit and silently rock, waiting for Kara’s tears to subside.
--
Lena takes a deep breath as she sits on the park bench just inside the park. She twists the key and keychain in her hand with a smile. It’s the only thing she still has that was Kara’s. It’s a dorky keychain she bought the blonde on their first date. A pewter medallion with her name engraved across the front and the Boston skyline behind it. It’s not worth anything, but it’s one of her most prized possessions. Kara’s apartment key is still attached to it along with a woven bracelet. After the blonde walked out that day, Lena saw it laying on the counter and hasn’t parted with it since. She keeps it in her pocket and has it on her everyday. 
Glancing at her watch, she starts to feel a sense of dread bubble in the bottom of her stomach. It’s pushing 7:30 now and she asked Kara to meet her here at 7:00. She told herself she wouldn’t wait longer than an hour. Knowing the reporter for four years and living with her for two, she knows her ex-girlfriend can lose track of time. Lena’s hands continue to fidget with the keychain, running the pad of her fingers across the raised letters. Verdant eyes watch countless couples and kids pass by, but none of them are the figure she so desperately wants to see. 
A trembling sigh rushes across her now chapped lips, she can feel the stinging of tears in her eyes so she bites her cheek to stop them from falling. A glance at her phone shows she’s been here for much longer than the self-allotted time frame. Her watch face mocks her with a time of 8:07 p.m. Still no sign of Kara. Lena glances around one more time to make sure she didn’t overlook anything as she checks her phone to make sure she did say 7:00 p.m. in her email. Knots continue to tie themselves together in her stomach. 
She decides she can wait just a little longer.
So she does. She sits stoically on the bench, fidgeting with a relic from a relationship that ended almost a decade ago. A relationship that will officially be dead and buried after tonight. Unless a miracle happens and Kara appears in front of her, it’s pretty evident that her hope was for naught. The woman that holds her heart released it long ago. She’s doomed to love someone who doesn’t love her back.
At 8:32 p.m. on October 16th, Kara Danvers broke her heart for the first and last time. She broke her own heart eight years ago, it only seems fitting that it’s irreparably shattered by the woman that will own it for eternity. 
Gathering the strength to stand from the bench is a lot harder than she anticipates. Lena ends up having to pause before she can finally stand to walk back to her car. She does manage to keep the tears at bay until she reaches the car and is safely inside. That’s when she releases the sob that has been building in her gut for hours. The sounds and tears coming from her body are louder and heavier than anything she’s experienced in her life. With the trauma she’s been through, that is saying a lot. 
When she finally manages to stifle the tears enough to drive back to her hotel, she makes her way back to her room as discreetly and quietly as she can. She refuses to break down completely until she is in the privacy of her own room. By some saving grace, she steps into her room, closes the door, and immediately collapses on the floor. She must have eventually cried herself to sleep because she woke up in the same place two hours later. 
Peeling herself off the floor, she stripped off her clothes and fell into bed, makeup and all. The rest of the world would have to wait.
--
“I can’t answer that, kiddo. It hurts because you still love her and never got closure.” Alex says, watching her sister’s face contort from an invisible pain. “Come on, Kara. At least eat something. Please.” 
“How the hell am I supposed to eat right now, Alex? How?!” Kara screeches, her voice rough from tears and emotion. “I shouldn’t have blocked her number. I should have just called her, Alex. Why didn’t she email me or write me a letter? Something!”
Another gut-wrenching sob rips from her chest, her body heaving with each one as it wracks from her lungs. Alex’s gut twists with guilt as she wrestles with the words sitting like ash on her tongue. Watching her sister writhe in the pain of heartache that she might have contributed to is eating her alive. When her baby sister’s distraught blue eyes land on hers, the decision is made. She has to confess.
“Umm, K-Kara. D-Do you have your laptop close by?” Alex asks, looking around the living room, but not seeing the device. “Can you tell me where it is?” Her eyes settle on the heartbroken blonde and take in the stretched out arm pointing across the room to the dining table. She gently squeezes her sister’s shoulder and makes her way over to grab it. Taking a brief moment to steel herself for what she’s about to do, she takes a deep breath and turns to face the truth.
Kara tracks her sister’s movement, a little confused by her actions, and curious to know why she’s behaving like a scared dog. She sniffles, wiping her nose with the tissue her sister hands her. “What’s going on? Why are you acting so strange, Alex?” Her eyes scan the laptop now sitting on the couch between them. “Why are you opening my laptop? What’s going on?”
An audible gulp can be heard coming from the redhead’s throat. Brown eyes bounce between teary cerulean. “Eight years ago, when you called me crying hysterically about what happened, I got you to block Lena’s number. I knew she wouldn’t give up trying to contact you so…” Another hard swallow and a shaky inhale are the only two sounds Alex can hear at that moment. Everything else is drowned by the sudden ringing in her ears. 
“What, Alex? So, what?” Kara says, a wave of nausea and anxiety builds in the pit of her stomach. “Alex. Please finish what you were saying.” Blue eyes filled with turmoil scan the redhead’s face, searching for something, a clue. There’s nothing, but fear and guilt resting on her usually stoic sister’s face. The look does nothing to ease the feeling gathering in Kara’s gut.
Alex opens the browser and pulls up Kara’s email. She clicks around a few times and Kara watches as her face falls. Her sister’s face goes white and tears gather in her eyes. A panicked and grief-stricken look settles on her sister’s face before she opens and closes her mouth a few times. Another deep breath. She sits the device in Kara’s lap before clearing her throat and dropping her hands into her own. “I knew Lena wouldn’t give up trying to contact you and I was so pissed at how much she hurt you, Kara. While you were driving to National City, I, umm…” A shaky breath, another hard swallow. “I blocked Lena’s email address so you wouldn’t get anything she sent to you.” The last part of her sentence is so quiet Kara almost doesn’t hear it. 
Almost.
When Alex finally looks up, she can see her sister clicking through emails with tears streaming down her face. “Alex…” It’s a broken whisper, barely audible. As blue eyes finally look up, there is an anger unlike anything the redhead has seen before. “Get out. I want you out of my apartment right now. Do not talk to me right now, Alex. Just get the fuck out of my apartment. Now.”
It’s not loud. It’s not harsh. It’s broken and it rips Alex’s heart in two. She silently stands, gathers her jacket and keys before briefly pausing at the door. “I’m really sorry, Kara. I love you and I’m really, really sorry.”
There’s nothing but silence before the door softly closes. Once Kara is alone, she sifts through the emails. All of the things she missed over the last eight years. Lena tried. She tried to reach out, to fix things and Kara didn’t know. There were at least ten emails from the first few months after the breakup. A few more scattered across the first year and then one per year with a simple heart on the anniversary of their first date. Lena probably thinks…
Then, she sees the last email received. Dated today, sent early that morning. 
Date: October 16, 2023, 12:01 a.m.
Subject: One Last Time
Hi Kara,
I remember everything. Your smile, your laugh, the way your eyes sparkle when you get excited. Every October 16th after you left Cambridge, I went to our park and retraced our steps. It was never the same without you. Of course it wasn’t, but it always made me feel closer to you. 
You made me so happy, Darling. Being with you felt like being home, like I was finally whole and where I was meant to be. Losing you was the hardest thing I’ve ever faced. Even now, I feel like part of me is missing. You took part of me with you that day, Kara. I haven’t been the same since.
I know it’s been eight years and I know it’s a shot in the dark, but I have to try one last time to reach you. I’m in National City. If you want to and are available, I’d like to see you again. Meet me inside Centennial Park at 7:00 p.m. tonight. There’s a bench about one hundred feet from the gate to the left next to the footpath. I’ll be there until 8:00 p.m.
If you don’t show, I’ll understand. Just know I remember everything and I’ll always remember you.
All my love,
Lena 
Kara’s eyes go wide. She scrambles up from her couch, looking down at her watch and almost dropping her laptop. Shoving the laptop onto the coffee table, she steps into her shoes, snatches her keys and jacket, and bolts down the stairs. She doesn’t have a car and the park is at least a thirty minute walk, but the bus would be just as long. Without another option, she starts running.
It was nearly 8:17 p.m. when she left her apartment so the odds of Lena still being there were slim, but she had to try. Her legs moved before her brain caught up, she ran as fast as she could. She’s in pretty good shape, she runs almost every morning and does a lot of walking around the city, but tonight it feels like she’s running through sludge. Kara rounds the corner into the park at 8:43. While she managed to make the run in twenty-six minutes, she can already tell she’s too late. 
The bench is vacant and Kara’s heart falls. She plops herself onto the metal and huffs in frustration. As her hand settles on the bench beside her, she feels something under her palm. Her fingers wrap around it and she brings it closer. It’s some sort of woven bracelet. Upon closer inspection, she immediately recognizes it. It’s one of the silly bracelets she made for her and Lena when they first became friends. They each had one. Lena wore hers, but Kara kept hers on the keychain Lena bought her on their first date alongside her apartment key. She pulls out her phone to shine a light on it. Sure enough, it’s the one she kept on her keychain. Right there in the middle of the bracelet are their initials. 
Lena really had been here and Kara missed her chance. She sat there for a while. She’s not sure how long, but eventually she walks back toward her apartment. Without a care for the time of night or for how long it would take, she dejectedly makes her way home. Another chance stolen, her second chance lost.
--
Lena didn’t go into the office the following day. She couldn’t bring herself to face anyone. Her eyes were certainly swollen and her mind was in no condition to function properly. She sighs and rolls over in bed, her hand automatically reaching for the keychain she plays with every morning. As her hand settles on it, she pauses, something is missing.
Her body bolts upright, feet swinging to the side of the bed and hitting the floor with a thud. She snatches the prized item up and stares at it in disbelief. The bracelet that has been on the keychain for close to a decade is missing. It has to be at the park, she thinks. It must have fallen off when she was toying with it on the bench last night. She blows out a harsh breath. “Of course.” She mumbles to herself. “That would fit with the rest of my evening. Why not top it off with losing the bracelet?”
With that, she heads to the shower to remove yesterday’s makeup and grime. Maybe it will make her feel a little more human. Maybe it won’t. Either way, she has to get up and get cleaned up.
Across the city, Kara is suffering a similar fate. She wakes up feeling hungover. Emotionally, physically, and mentally, she is exhausted. After a phone call to her boss, she plans to work from home for the day. She’s not sure how much work she’ll get done, but at least she doesn’t have to face any people. At the very least, she can finish up the research for her upcoming interview with one of the lead scientists at Spheerical. The interview isn’t until Friday, so she still has plenty of time. 
The thought stops her in her tracks. She knows Lena is in National City, so the chance of her seeing the beautiful genius is higher than it’s ever been. While she wants to see the woman, she also doesn’t know if she’s truly prepared for it. With this in mind, she pulls up the email from her boss to double-check the name of the scientist she’s scheduled to interview. It’s the same woman she interviewed previously, Felicity Smoak. The knowledge puts her at ease and she gets back to her research and preparation. 
Both women spend the rest of the week trudging through the remainder of their daily grind with the enthusiasm of a doorknob. Neither of them have recovered from their experience on Monday and neither are really in the headspace to figure out how to move on from it. Lena is still in an immense amount of pain knowing the last spark of hope she had is well and truly doused. Kara is so angry with her sister and herself that she can’t think of anything else. It hasn’t yet occurred to her that she knows Lena’s email address is active and she could respond to the email and explain her absence. 
It seems even after eight years, they still haven’t gotten their heads out of their asses. 
--
After arriving at her office as usual, Lena spends her Friday morning reviewing budgets, new project proposals, and current project status reports. It’s the mundane part of her job as head of R & D that makes her want to pluck her eyeballs out. She’s just about to move on to the next proposal when her phone intercom buzzes to life.
“Miss Luthor…” The smooth voice of her assistant, Jess, echoes through the speaker.
“Yes, Jess. Go ahead.” Lena says, casually closing the proposal and grabbing the next one. 
“Sorry to disturb you, Miss Luthor. Your lunch is here. Also, Miss Smoak asked if you can cover a meeting for her this afternoon.” Jess says, the sound of typing evident in the background. 
Lena shifts in her chair. Felicity is the R & D manager for the National City branch and typically doesn’t ask her to handle anything unless it’s absolutely necessary. “What type of meeting and what time, Jess? I already have a meeting at 2:00.”
Jess sighs, she knows Lena’s schedule inside out so she is aware of the meeting, but keeps that information to herself. “She said It’s an interview for a science journal or magazine about the upcoming tech and prosthetic release. Miss Smoak had an emergency and won’t be here to cover it.” More sounds of muffled typing sound over the line. “The scheduled interview isn’t until 3:30 so it won’t impact your schedule in any way.”
“Thanks, Jess. Can you bring my lunch in? I’ll just have it at my desk.” She rubs the back of her neck, all of the tension and emotion from the week seems to have settled there. “Let me know when my two o’clock arrives.”
She spends the next two hours reviewing the rest of the documents and doing her best not to think about Kara and the sting of knowing all hope is lost. Her chest has been filled with a dull ache since the moment she realized the woman wasn’t coming. To say she’s used to it would be a lie, but she’s adjusting.
Across town, Kara leans back in her chair and reviews her list of questions, cross-referencing her research notes one last time before she packs everything into her messenger bag to head out. Her walk to Spheerical won’t take long, but she doesn’t want to risk being late so she gives herself plenty of time for any delays. She’s definitely a lot more nervous for this interview than the last one with Miss Smoak. This prosthetic is supposed to be cutting edge and is set to change the game for amputees. In short, it’s an article that could put her on the short list for another award, but her nerves aren’t related to any award. No. Her stomach is twisted into knots at the idea of possibly seeing Lena. 
As much as she wants to push the idea from her head, the more she tries, the more green eyes seem to float across her thoughts. She huffs in frustration at herself and sets her jaw in determination to overcome her traitorous mind. By the time she enters the glass doors of Spheerical, she feels like she has more control and is ready to get to work. A widest, most charming smile gets plastered across her face as she approaches the reception desk.
“Hi! I’m here for an interview with Felicity Smoak.” Kara says as she hands over her I.D. and CatCo badge. “It should be under Kara Danvers for CatCo Worldwide Media.”
The young gentleman at the desk returns her smile and takes her information. A few minutes later, she is handed a visitor's pass and moved along to the elevator. Stepping into the elevator seems to increase the gymnastics inside her stomach so she leans back against the cool metal of the wall and takes a few deep breaths. By the time she has opened her eyes again, the doors are opening to drop her on the tenth floor. It’s the same place she met with Felicity the last time and it settles her nerves a bit. It’s familiar scenery and the same smiling receptionist.
“Miss Danvers, it’s good to see you again.” The receptionist smiles, standing to show her into the conference room across the hallway. “Go ahead and have a seat, she’ll be with you shortly. Help yourself to the refreshments.” 
Kara grabs a bottle of water, deciding she doesn’t need anything that will make her any more jittery than she already is. She sits down and pulls her things out of her bag, getting everything settled for the interview. Her eyes and mind are so focused on her task that she doesn’t notice the door opening and closing.
The sound of footsteps breaks the reporter out of her focus. When Kara looks up, it is into all too familiar eyes, her favorite shade of green. Their eyes meet across the room, wide and shocked. Both of them momentarily freeze. It’s been 8 years since they last spoke or were remotely close to one another. Almost a decade since they went from the center of each other’s world to mere strangers in a quiet conference room. Hurt green eyes meet surprised blue across the large room. They stare at one another inside a building full of people oblivious to the world-stopping moment happening around them. 
Amid the silence, Kara can see Lena’s face has gone ashen and her throat keeps bobbing with harsh swallows. Before they realize what’s happening, both of them are talking at the same time. Kara is out of her chair and speaking before Lena is even halfway to the table. The shocked scientist heads toward the table and does her best to keep her tone professional. 
Once Kara realizes Lena is sitting in the chair with a no-nonsense look on her face, she plops herself back into her own and looks up. Azure eyes comb over pale features, finally settling on pain-stricken viridian eyes. They hold the stare for a brief moment before Lena straightens her back. Kara can see when the Luthor mask emerges from the pained features of the woman she loves. 
“I apologize, Miss Danvers. Miss Smoak had to leave for a personal matter so she asked me to fill in.” Lena states with a matter of fact tone, no emotion and strictly professional. “I understand you’re here to talk about the new prosthetic line and the tech we’re releasing next month. It seems Miss Smoak allotted an hour and a half. If you have your questions ready, we can get started.”
Kara’s shoulders drop. She feels her eyes stinging with tears and isn’t sure if she can stop them from flowing. Lena is being crystal clear that she’s keeping this professional and has no intention of veering into anything personal. The reporter closes her eyes and takes a deep breath to center herself. She clears her throat, opens her eyes, and gets to work. “Of course, Miss Luthor. I’ll do my best to make this as painless and efficient as possible.”
The interview starts and things are a bit stilted. It isn’t until Kara makes one of her signature terrible puns that they both laugh and things settle into a more natural rhythm. Kara asks her questions and Lena provides the most detailed and honest answers she can without revealing too much. The reporter smiles and sits her head in her hand as she watches the love of her life gesture passionately about one of her newest inventions. It reminds her of all the nights they spent on their couch in their apartment sharing stories about classes and just life in general. She must have missed something the scientist said because she is broken from her thoughts when a hand lands on her forearm.
“”Hey, everything okay?” Lena asks, brow furrowed in concern. “I called your name several times and you didn’t respond.”
Kara nods her head, clearing her throat in embarrassment. “Y-Yeah. Yes. I’m fine. Just got lost in my head for a bit. I’m sorry.” She flashes a half-hearted smile and sits back to flip through her notebook. Scanning to make sure she didn’t skip any questions and counting the remaining ones, she looks back up. “Seems like we only have five more questions left.”
Lena watches her for a few more seconds, biting her lip as if to hold back from saying something. Whatever it is dies on her tongue as she shakes her head and gestures for the reporter to continue. They get through the remaining questions in record time. Kara gives a polite thank you and starts stuffing all of her items back into her bag. Once everything is packed away, she glances around to make sure nothing was missed and stands. Pushing her chair back under the table, she turns to walk away. For the second time in eight years, she’s walking away from the woman she loves. Just as her hand lands on the handle of the door, she stops and turns.
“I showed up.” Kara mumbles quietly as she fidgets with the strap of her bag, eyes fixed on her feet. “I was too late, but I was there. Just wanted you to know.” She reaches into her pocket and pulls out the bracelet she found sitting on the bench. When she looks up and her eyes find Lena’s, she can see the surprise on her face. A broken smile barely lifts the corners of her mouth as she turns to leave the room. Before she can wrap her hand completely around the handle again, a cold hand settles on her warm skin. She freezes.
“You were there.” It’s quietly whispered. Like a leaf rustling in the breeze, it’s barely audible. Lena isn’t sure she can speak any louder, there’s a lump of emotion in her throat she’s been begging to stay put all week. “I waited and waited. Almost two hours. You never came.”
Kara spins around, her eyes wide with fear. She’s desperate to explain, panicked that things will spiral and she won’t get another chance. “Lena, I promise I would have been there sooner if I had known. Alex, she did this thing…I wasn’t getting your emails. Then she undid the thing…then I got the emails and I kicked her out, but I didn’t see the…” 
She takes a breath and starts again. “Once I saw the email, I took off running. Lena, I ran as fast as I could and it should’ve taken thirty minutes, but I did it in twenty-six. And I was still too late.” Her face drops and tears sting her eyes again. This time she doesn’t stop them, she just lets them fall. If this is the last time she gets to be in the same room with Lena, at least it will be honest.
Green eyes observe with interest, she’s not really sure what Kara’s rambling about, but she has deduced that Alex did something. Blocked her email address, she thinks? Then she unblocked it and Kara got the messages. It’s still not really clear. A humorless laugh pushes through her lips, why doesn’t she just ask?
“Kara, I’m not really sure what you are trying to tell me. Can you slow down for a second and explain?” Lena asks, her hands involuntarily raising to wipe the blonde’s tears. When she realizes what she’s doing, she pulls her hands away and steps back. “Why don’t we sit back down? Sounds like this is going to take a while.”
So they sit. They talk about what happened on Monday and why Kara never responded to any of her messages over the years. It doesn’t fix things. It doesn’t make everything better. They still have a lot to talk about and a million things to sort out, but they’re talking. It’s more than either of them could have anticipated a few days ago. They make plans for dinner the following day and discover they both kept the same numbers just in case the other ever tried to call. 
As they stand outside the elevator, getting ready to part ways, Kara lifts the bracelet up again, offering it to Lena. “I can’t believe you still have this. It was always attached to my keychain. It was the one you bought me on our first date, I always kept my apartment key on it.” She grinned down at the brilliant woman as long fingers plucked the bracelet out of her hand. Her eyes trace the movement of her other hand lifting something from her jacket pocket.
Kara’s jaw drops in disbelief. It’s the keychain.
“I’ve kept it with me everyday since you left. I’m not sure why. I think maybe it was my way of staying connected to you. Holding it always takes me back to places we went and things we did.” Lena shrugs, running her fingers across the ridges of the metal. “For a really long time I wished I didn’t, but I remember everything, Kara. Now, I’m glad I do.”
A teary smile spreads across Kara’s face. “How do you feel about starting over?”
Lena lets out a wet laugh. “Mmm, I’m not sure that’s really what I want.” She pauses to hold her hand to her chin, staring at the reporter. “Hear me out. Starting over feels like forgetting everything and starting new. I don’t want that. Our history and our past are what built us. What if we just talk things out and start again?”
“Yeah, I like that.” Kara smiles, tears slowly drying on her cheeks.” Let’s start again.”
“I told you, I remember everything. I want to keep it that way.” Lena smiles and presses a kiss to her cheek. They share one more smile. Kara disappears into one elevator and Lena into the other. 
Things aren’t perfect and it’s not going to be easy, but they’re starting again. What more could they ask for?
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mochi-marmalade · 1 year ago
Text
Rose & Scar
ONE: The Rose
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a/n: HERE WE GO royal guard!König x princess!reader 3.2k words chapter summary: you are assigned a personal guard, who you take a liking to. suddenly your days seem brighter warnings: language, slightly suggestive (?) 18+ MDNI
Exactly one week ago today, your father gifted you a personal guard. He had been handpicked by your father for your safety- after all you are a woman now. Father does little to conceal his distaste for your refusal to marry, but how can you marry when every suitor is so incredibly boring? They had no real interest in you anyway, many were pushed by their own royal parents or had come in hopes that you’d be a beautiful, complacent prospect. They were wrong. You turned down every single one of them. However… you cannot deny your liking for your new guard. He is quiet, but exudes an energy that demands respect. You know it is quite unbecoming for a princess to be in a situation like this, but nothing will come of it. You are sure that someday you’ll find a proper prince who actually wants to get to know you and court you. You hope. For now, you sit at your desk, head in hand, and look out the window at the scenery below. You are prone to getting lost in your thoughts and daydreaming, which you suppose you are doing right now. Instead you think you’ll ask for some tea. The door opens and you peek out into the long hallway. As usual, your guard is standing by your door. You call your handmaiden and return to your room while you wait for her to arrive. “You’re up early today, Your Highness.” She chimes as she walks in. 
“Yes, I suppose so.”
“I’ve brought your breakfast along with some tea. Which dress will it be today?”
You say the first color that comes to mind, “A green one.” She dresses you in a soft sage green dress that flows to the ground. She slips shoes on your feet and powders your face lightly. “His Majesty expects to see you at lunch today. Have a wonderful day, Your Highness.” With that, she slips out the door. You eat your breakfast and drink your tea rather quickly. “Another boring day.” You sigh to yourself. Although you are certainly very lucky and grateful to live the life you have, it still comes with its downsides. Every day is the same, and you are nearly crushed with rigid rules and expectations. You manage, though. Closing the door behind you with a click, you tell your guard, “Come along.” As you two make the short walk to the library, you tell him about your plans to take drawing supplies and books. You’d like to flip through several romance novels and sketch different scenes, maybe it would give you something to do besides study. He follows along in silence. You push open the doors to the library and revel in your grand collection. You think there are probably thousands of books in here, and you’re glad to have access to them. You peruse the selection of books and pick out a few sappy romance novels, also taking a few sheets of blank paper and a sealed well of ink. “Is there anything you’d like?” You ask him. He doesn’t reply, but his icy blue eyes flicker to you. You wonder why he wears a mask. Maybe you’ll ask him someday. Slowly, your guard shakes his head, muttering, “Thank you, Your Highness.” You stare at him, merely processing the sound of his voice. You’re actually not sure you’ve ever heard it before, but it lingers in your mind and you wonder what accent he has. German, maybe. You’re at a loss for words so you nod at him in response, and walk back to your room. You sit at your desk for a while and draw scenes from books: lovers seated on the grass, holding hands and looking at each other. You sigh, wishing you could have this kind of relationship. Really, you have very few relationships at all, including your father and servants. Father. You check the clock, finding that it is five minutes before noon and exhale a sigh of relief. You exit your room to go to the dining hall, your guard close behind. You take a seat opposite your father and brush a strand of hair out of your face. “Hello, father.”
“Good afternoon, daughter. I’d like to discuss a few things.”
“Such as?”
“I have arranged a ball for you to find a suitor! In one month’s time, nobles and civilians of higher standing will be gathered to celebrate your belated birthday and offer their sons. Is it not wonderful?”
“Yes… Wonderful.” You exchange small talk for the rest of your meal, then you are excused. You do not want to attend a ball. In fact, you do not like the idea at all. An event like that will attract all the wrong people, but you pray that you’ll be shown otherwise. You are guided through your studies by teachers for the next few hours, until you are released for dinner. After eating alone, you return to your room. What a dreadfully boring day. You’ve established a habit of undressing yourself, and as you unlace your corset, you spy the stars through the window. Once changed into your nightgown, you inspect the night sky. You’ve always loved stars. Finally, you crawl into bed and drift off into a peaceful sleep. 
Stretching, you awaken to your handmaiden setting down your breakfast. “Thank you.” You yawn. 
“Shall I draw you a bath?” 
“Yes, I think I would like that.”
She scurries off to do that, and you dress into a robe. She returns and escorts you to the bath, followed by your guard. You’re painfully aware of his presence outside the bathroom door, but bathe in peace anyway. When you’re done, you put on your robe again and call your handmaiden. She escorts you back to your room and dresses you in a sky blue dress. “You look lovely, princess.” 
“Thank you, Sara.” 
“You’re quite welcome.”
She leaves, and your attention is turned to your desk. There lays a bright red rose, which you’re sure wasn’t there before. You pick it up and notice all the thorns have been clipped off. Who could have left this? Then you realize it’s probably a gift from another suitor. Although you appreciate the simplicity, you scoff at the thought. Perhaps, though… it wouldn’t hurt to put it in a vase. It seemed too cruel to throw it away. You unceremoniously toss your fake flowers out of a shimmery pink vase and take your vase to the bathroom to fill it with water. As your guard follows, his eyes never leave you. “Just, um, getting water for a flower. Probably from another stupid suitor.” His eyes flicker to the side. “What’s your name by the way?” You ask.
“König.” 
“That’s German, right?”
“Yes.”
“Do you speak German then?”
“Yes.”
Suddenly, your hands are wet and you notice the vase is overflowing. “Oh, shit.” You say to yourself. He huffs in amusement, to which you raise an eyebrow. König quickly straightens himself, “Apologies, Your Highness. I just… Didn’t expect someone of your standing to use such language.” Before you know it, you’re grinning at him, not expecting this answer. His eyes scan you and he asks, “Did I offend you, Your Highness? My deepest apologies, I didn’t-“
“No, no! It’s just funny.”
König’s eyes crinkle in what you think is a smile. You stare at him and find yourself absolutely unable to form any words. You turn on your heel and quickly return to your room, forgetting to close the door behind you. You place the rose in the vase, and see König peeking at you out of the corner of your eye. “It’s the flower I mentioned earlier.” He visibly stiffens, and asks, “From the suitor?”
“Yes, I often have suitors ask for my hand in marriage. It’s nauseating. None of them even want to get to know me, they just want to own me.”
He hums, and you look down at the pretty rose. “Would you like to go somewhere with me?” You ask. “I don’t have much of a choice, princess.” What an ass. You walk with him down to the garden, which may be your favorite part of the castle. You sit on a white stone bench and motion for him to do the same. He sits slowly and carefully. “Princess, I’m not sure if I’m allowed to do this.”
“Oh, hush, it’s not a crime to sit.”
He looks away. You sit in silence for a bit, treasuring the sunshine and sounds of chirping birds. Finally, you tell him, “I love the gardens. Have you been here before?” 
“Yes, princess.”
A part of you feels dejected, as if you wanted to be the one to show him the gardens. “I used to hide here when I didn’t want to bathe.” What are you even saying? “The servants hated it.” Why are you still talking? Finally, you manage to shut up, but instead of repulsed König almost looks amused. You feel your cheeks heating up, and look at the hydrangeas to your right. It must be hot out today. Leaning over, you pick a small flower and smell it. A smile is brought to your face by the soft, nostalgic scent. You hold it out to König, telling him, “It’s lily of the valley. My favorite flower.” He takes it and nods. He really isn’t much for words, is he? “I’m sorry,” You blurt out. “I feel as if I'm bothering you with all my questions and conversation.” Shaking his head, he replies, “Don’t be. It’s my job.” Your heart sinks like an anchor in your body. Right. It’s just his job, why would you think there would be any semblance of a friendship? He notices you looking down at your hands for far too long and places his own gloved hand on your shoulder. “Princess, are you okay?” 
“Yes, I’m quite fine, thank you.” 
He can’t help but feel as if he’s said something wrong. You look up at him with tear-glazed eyes and it damn near breaks his heart. “Are you really only talking to me ‘cause it’s your job?” You manage.
“No.”
You relax and sniff once more, not sure whether you should trust him or not. You barely know him, after all. You smile at him anyway, and he gives you some sort of look you can’t discern. “Shall we walk, princess?” His question surprises you. “Yes, I suppose we shall.” You hold the crook of his elbow, and his muscles seem to become rigid under your touch. It seems almost as if you can feel his sheer strength from the size of his biceps alone. Now that you think about it, he’s huge in general. You wonder what it’s like to be trapped under him, utterly powerless against his- You pat your face with your free hand and decide that’s quite enough. “Er- Princess, forgive my forwardness, but that’s quite inappropriate, is it not?” You turn to him and your eyes widen before you realize he’s talking about the fact you’re holding his arm. 
“Ah. Well, I am quite clumsy. Besides, is it not a form of chivalry? Do you mean that you have no respect for the princess, König?”
“Certainly not, Your Highness! I simply meant… Is it not a sign that we would be courting?” 
He says the last word in a low voice, almost a whisper. The way he says it is as if he could never think of the possibility of courting you, and it almost hurts you. Then you remember that it is, in fact, not a possibility. You are a princess and he is your guard, and it is nothing more. So why do you keep thinking of him this way? As if you could sit on the plush grass together, holding hands and reading poetry. As if you could press chaste kisses to his knuckles and lay his head in your lap, weaving your hands through his hair. You wonder what his hair even looks like. He always wears a helm carefully designed by you, along with a cloth mask that covers most of his face. Your handmaiden, Sara, had asked for you to sketch a new design for the royal guards’ armor, although it had actually only been used for your special, personal guard. You wonder if he ever felt as silly as he looked- a large, hulking man with dainty decals on his helm and a large sword strapped to his waist. “Princess?”
“Oh. Well, I don’t see it that way and you don’t either, so it doesn’t matter.”
“But you must keep up appearances, Your Highness.”
“And who would dare to argue with the crown princess?”
König falls silent, and begins to walk along with you. The two of you meander through the lush gardens, watching birds flitter by and bees buzz among the flowers. You pause for a second to pick a purple cosmos and place it between the strap of his baldric and his breastplate. Surprisingly, it stays. “Ah… Princess.” He mumbles. You laugh absentmindedly. If he didn’t look silly before, he certainly does now. “It suits you well, König.”
“Princess, I am aware that I am your personal guard, although I’d advise you to distance yourself from me. You’re hardly fit to be friends with a soldier.”
“According to whom? I do think I have a say in who I become friends with.”
“Of course, Your Highness. However, I think… If you knew what kinds of things I’d done…”
“And who says that it would matter, König? Who says that what you’d done in the past determines your happiness now?”
The two of you are locked in a stare, and the air feels electric. His eyes move, from your eyes to your cheeks to your lips. You can hardly keep your feelings inside, butterflies threatening to explode from your stomach at any moment. Finally, he looks away. “Let’s return to the castle, I feel a bit hungry.” You’re such a liar, but you can’t stand the tension. He nods and follows you back into the castle. You call Sara and ask her to bring you a snack, perhaps finger sandwiches and tea. She leaves to do so, and you begin to reflect on what just happened. Step by step, you walk yourself through the past hour. You and König walked through the garden, and you took his arm and told him he deserves happiness. With you. God, you’re an idiot. He definitely thinks you’re weird and maybe even knows that you have feelings. Today, you’ve done irreparable damage to your reputation and relationship with König. You should have kept your mouth shut, you should have never even invited him to sit with you. “Your Highness, I’ve returned with your tea.” 
“Thank you, Sara.”
“You’re welcome, Your Highness. Is… everything okay?”
“Yes. That will be all.”
“Then pardon my intrusion. Have a wonderful day.”
You nod to her, although you’re looking through the window with your head in your hand. The closest thing you’ve ever had to a friendship is already destroyed. Feeling nauseated, you wonder if you’ve ever had a friend. You scoff to yourself for even wondering, immediately knowing the answer is no. How will you ever fix this? Maybe you’ll apologize or tell him you were joking- no, you’ll ask for a new guard. This is truly a fine predicament. Maybe, just maybe, you’ll take a short nap and sleep this disgusting feeling off. 
When you awaken, you lift your head off of your crossed arms to find the sky completely dark. Your dress feels incredibly uncomfortable and you walk to your closet to change. Then you’re interrupted by your stomach growling. Perhaps you’ll just grab a quick snack, but how? The kitchens must be closed at this hour, and you don’t know where else to go. You’d also rather not wake Sara. Groaning, you think there’s only one reasonable option, and you’re not even sure it’s all that reasonable. You peek your head out the door and whisper, “König?” He’s very much awake and alert, and looks surprised that you’re awake too. “Princess, what are you doing up right now?”
“I’m hungry.” 
He stuffs his hand into a pouch strapped to his leg, and after fishing for a moment he pulls out a wrapped bar of some sort. He looks away nervously, and offers it to you. “I’m so sorry, Your Highness, this is all I have. I don’t think the kitchens are open, unless you want to wake your servants, I’m sure they’d be willing to-”
“It’s fine. Thank you.”
You take the bar from him and retreat to your bedroom. You eat it absentmindedly and change into your nightgown. It tastes pretty good, actually, like it has peanuts and some kind of dried berry. You’re fortunate enough to be the kind of person who can sleep anywhere, anytime, so you turn the lights off and climb into bed. You let your mind wander for a bit, but you’re eventually lulled to sleep by the soft light of the moon. 
The next week is dreadfully dull and you don’t have anything notable happen. However, you continue to have friendly conversations with König. You’d like to get to know more about him, but you wonder how much he’d actually tell you. He doesn’t seem to be the very trusting type, nor does he seem eager to tell anyone about his past. You go about daily life for who knows how long, but somehow everything is different. Things seem more fun, and you actually look forward to certain activities. You’d like to learn another language, but don’t want to go through the trouble of asking your father for another teacher. Besides, he carefully picks each of your studies and you doubt he’d let you give up a current subject for language. You sigh, picking at the plate of chicken in front of you. Maybe falconry would be interesting? You’re sure you could find a book about it in the library. A servant from the kitchen comes to check on you. He frowns when asking, “Is the chicken not to your liking, Your Highness?”
“Oh, no. It’s wonderful, I just don’t have much of an appetite.”
He nods and takes the plate, and you leave the massive, empty dining hall. As you’re walking through the long hallway, you wonder how long it’s been since your lunch with your father. You freeze, realizing it’s probably been a few weeks. Weeks. Which means the ball is drawing near. The feeling sets as a pit in your already upset stomach, and you sigh louder than you mean to. “Is there something wrong, princess?” Of course König has to ask.
“Ah, yeah. There’s just this thing tomorrow.”
“Yes, of course, the thing I’m obviously supposed to know about.” His voice drips with sarcasm, and you shoot him a glare. “It’s the ball, you fool.”
“Yeah, and I was supposed to know that. Isn’t that a good thing, though?”
“Well, it should be, but my father expects me to find a husband. Tomorrow. Within a few hours.”
“I see. Well, I wish you luck.”
“Thanks.” You scoff. Tomorrow is going to be one hell of a day.
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lvlyghost · 2 years ago
Text
Salvation
Pairings: John Price x F!Reader
Summary: after a few months since his last visit, john finally gets the chance to see the girl.
Word Count: 1.7k
tw: fluff, angst, allusion to human trafficking, NCA, terrified girls. nothing too descriptive. bad english and poor grammar as usual. if i missed anything just lmk💕
A/N: so this took a little longer since it was supposed to come out during the weekend. i was planning on making it longer but didn't, maybe a second part could happen🐸 anyway, i love price✨🩵!
Masterlist✨ | Part 2
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She hears it while cooking her homemade cherry pie. As far as she recalls, no one was supposed to come today. No. Officer Davis came that morning at eight o'clock like he always did. He had handed her some new books she's been wanting to read for a few months now and was kind enough to buy for her.
Since she wasn't allowed to give her address to anyone,and let alone type it on some random website, she was always asking officer Davis for favors. He was truly an amazing man. Although, even if they ever let her do such thing, giver her some freedom, who would want to go to the house in the middle of the forest to drop off a package?
Freedom. She scoffs. Such a strange word.
Making her way out of the room she walks towards the front door, but not before taking the remote that was given to her by the NCA. All it takes is pressing the red button twice and she'll have the whole police in her doorway. She stands behind the white wooden door, hesitating. Her heart begins to race, feeling it beat against her ribcage.
What if someone had finally found her location?
I can't go back there.
Frozen in her place, hand barely touching the doorknob and tears gathering in the corner of her eyes.
"It's me, sweetheart." A deep voice comes from the other side. "It's okay. I'm sorry for not coming sooner."
John.
She mumbles his name, like a prayer, and then opens the door.
He stands there, tall and broad. The same baby blues that saved her a year ago looking back at her. The lines on his forehead soften at the mere sight of the girl. He's wearing that black beanie that once sat atop of her head when the winter had begun that first time he visited her here.
The only other one that knew where to find her. Because she knew, they all knew, he'd do anything for her.
-
John can hear the river outside the old house. The rustling of leaves moving against the wind, soon it'll be dark. The humid weather making his green shirt stick to his skin layered with sweat. He inhales deeply. This mission. This fucking mission has been going far too long. But everything they found les the task force to this very place. He goes room by room, entering with his gun aiming ahead and the safety off. Always.
Despite not having execute authority he wanted nothing more than to put several bullets in their bodies. Whomever they were.
A creak echoes on the second floor so he rushes upstairs stealthily. The place above doesn't look much better that the bottom part of the house. There's a weird smell in the air. Like blood and death.
After checking the first room, the bathroom and all the cabinets just in case he sighs.
"Only got one room left to check. Anything out there?" He waits for an answer, in the middle of the bedroom. The mattress was torn and dirty. He thinks of all the atrocities that must've taken place there.
"Negative, Captain. Got you on my sight just in case." Ghost's monotone voice interrupts the eerie silence engulfing his surroundings.
"Copy."
The radio dies and John walks to the next door across the hallway. Except it's locked.
Of course.
"Last door locked. I'm going in. Gaz, Soap you're in position?" He asks
"Aye sir. Both ready."
Next thing that happens is a bullet. He shoots the doorknob and the door bursts open with a loud sound of his firearm.
And screams.
Terrified screams and cries from... girls. At least seven of them. Price swallows hard, his eyes scanning the room when they land on the girl shielding a younger one. She's terrified, shaking, yet still looks him in the eye imploring to be saved.
-
She's hugging him in an instant, almost making him stumble back on his steps, but embraces her body nevertheless.
"What took you so long?" She asks, her face resting on his hard chest. Price can feel the softness of her skin against his calloused hands.
"Special Ops." She smells like strawberry and caramels. Pulling away so he can look her in the eyes. "How're you doin' love?"
Her heart skips a beat. Never gets tired of hearing Price calling her that.
"Come in and I'll tell you."
Taking his hand she guides him to the kitchen where the pie is almost finished. John drops his duffel bag on the wooden floor, contemplating her small form moving around effortlessly.
"I got some new books this morning. Turns out I've been missing a lot. Davis was kind enough to bring them since... you know." She shrugs.
"They're still not letting you out?" He asks with a serious tone.
"Nah. Might be dangerous." Taking out the pie from the oven she places it on the counter between the two. Price doesn't say anything for a moment, merely looking at her, pondering. "The boys are alright?"
"Yeah." He nods,"Had to drag one or two out of a burning building but that's not new."
She laughs softly, taking a seat, motioning for him to do the same. He obliges.
"How long do you think they'll keep me here, John?" It's a genuine question. It's only been a few months. A year, almost.
"Love..." he sighs. "It's complicated. I don't know much."
"Yeah but, but once they're all captured..." she stammered.
Price could never say he understands what she's going through. What she endured was beyond him. Whenever he thought of it it just made him want burn the fucking bastards. All of them.
"I promise you this. Once it's safe for you I'll personally come and give you the news. And we'll go wherever you desire, yeah?" Although it's not entirely what she wanted, she could wait a little bit longer. John had never let her down. He saved her and in all honesty she'd trust him with her life. "I'll tell you what." He stands up, making the small kitchen look even smaller with his tall form. "Have you heard about the town fair?"
Her eyes light up.
"No... is, is that..."
"Let's go." She doesn't move. "Why don't you go get ready."
"John, I'm not supposed to leave the house you know that, I mean I want to, but... you said..." She's mortified, yet excited. A breath of fresh air. That's what that man meant for her. No one ever cared about her like he did.
"I've got contacts, love. I don't need their permission. For all that matters you're safer with me. Come on, out we go." He points to the front door. "I'm a patient man but don't keep me waiting for too long eh."
-
He was right.
It was a sight to behold.
John watches her eating the snack he got for her. She loved sweets so much therefore he couldn't let this opportunity pass. When was the last time she got to experience something like this? Sometimes so simple.
Something so mundane.
Her eyes are glimmering whenever she looks at the different attractions at the fair. John takes a long drink from his beer bottle. Right hand finding her lower back whenever she's about to bump into some other person when she's distracted.
"You like it huh?" She looks at him confused. He points the stuffed otter in her left hand. A smile crossed her features.
"I do. And I still don't know how you did it... I mean, I guess being in the military does help when you try to shoot a moving horse toy at the fair to win something." She laughs, embarrassed about what she just said. She thinks she sounds stupid, almost making her want to hit her head against the nearest tree.
He smiles, the wrinkles on the corner of his eyes more prominent than the last time she'd seen him.
"I guess it does, love." He agrees wholeheartedly.
"How long are you going to stay?"
Price looks down at her when she stops before the ferris wheel. The wind blows her hair swiftly. What was that in the air? Her perfume?
"For as long as I can, dear." He takes a strand of hair in his hand, and gently put it behind her ear.
There she is.
"John..." she breathes. "I feel so lonely when you're gone." The grip on the stuffed animal tightens. "I've no one. If it wasn't for you..."
"No." He gently reprimands her. "Don't say another word. With or without me you'll be fine, love."
"What if I don't want to be fine when you're not around?" He's silent, yet his mind is so loud. "You saved me, John." She states. "Any other person would just continue with their lives. You were just doing your job. Another one in the endless missions you're assigned." Swallowing, she asks: "Why are you still here? Why do you keep coming back?"
He doesn't answer the question right away, instead looks over her head, lost in his own thoughts as he shifts his weight from one foot to another. He then clears his throat and looks back at her, who's waiting with wide eyes and lips slightly parted. She was right. Any other day John would've turned page. He would sure remember, after all these are stories that will stick with him until his last day. What made this mission different?
"I think you know bloody well why."
-
Price helps her sit inside the helicopter to get medical attention. Feeling her weak body trembling even under the black blanket she was tightly wrapped in. He had carried her body all the way outside from that house when she collapsed. The adrenaline running through her system disappearing when she realized they were being rescued at last.
Simon had side eyed his Captain when he didn't let anyone take the girl from him. Why her? He couldn't say. So he went away and led one of the other girls out of there instead with Soap's help.
"There's nothing to be afraid anymore, kid." He reassured her, voice soft trying not to startle her more than she already was. "We got you. All of you."
Her big eyes once terrified and filled with tears of despair finally saw the light at the end. It was him. What she always prayed for. Salvation.
It was staring back at her.
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