#april watches barry

[wonderjanga]

can we get an April fools special please? :)

Marvel is impervious to pranks, including April Fools pranks. And it’s not because he can predict them or whatever… It’s because he doesn’t even realize he’s being pranked.

Marvel: *leaves a plate of Oreos and goes to get milk*

Flash: *speeds over and starts replacing the cream with toothpaste*

GL: *floats over* “Dude, what are you—”

Flash: *violently startles* “Wha?! Hal, don’t scare me like that!”

GL: “Uh… sorry. But still, what are you doing?”

Flash: “What do you think? A prank. Duh. It’s April Fools.”

GL: “It’s that time already?”

Flash: “Yeah! So are you going to help me prank Cap or not?”

GL: *floats down until he’s just standing* “Of course. Did you think I wouldn’t?”

After Switching the Fillings…

GL and Flash: *run off to a corner, giggling like little girls*

Marvel: *comes back with his milk and starts eating and watching a show*

After about a Minute…

Marvel: *still eating like nothing is wrong*

GL: “Uh… Barry, buddy, he does not look disgusted in the slightest. Did you somehow managed to pick a good tasting toothpaste?”

Flash: “No? It was just normal mint?”

Martian Manhunter(MM): *floats over* “Ah, Captain. May I have a couple Oreos?”

Marvel: “Huh? Oh sure! Take as many as you want J’onn.”

MM: *eats one* “Interesting. I don’t believe I’ve had these before.” *thinks it’s a new flavor*

Marvel: *thinks he’s talking about Oreos in general* “But I’m sure I’ve seen you eat these…?”

They munched on them together while GL and Flash watched from around the corner with disappointed expressions.

Later…

Flash: “Cap! Buddy, can I talk to you for a sec?”

Marvel: “Yeah? Sure, what’s up?”

GL: *slowly sneaks up behind him and creates a hand to gently put a ‘kick me’ sticky note on the back of his cape*

Flash: “Actually, I’ve gotta go.”

Marvel: “What?”

Flash: “Yeah, fun talk!”

Marvel: “We exchanged at best two sentences—”

Flash: “Bye!” *zooms off, grabbing GL*

About a couple minutes later, a cry of anguish reverberated throughout the entire Watchtower as Green Arrow, in all his wisdom, decided to follow the directions of the sticky note and kick Captain Marvel. He broke his foot.

Marvel: *absolutely horrified* “OH MY GODS ARE YOU OKAY??”

Billy honestly thought that was his own fault because he didn’t even feel the kick. Billy assumed he stepped on GA’s foot or something… he didn’t even know himself.

Even More Later…

Flash and GL: *gave him some fake scratch offs with the fake winning numbers*

GL: “Okay, we gotta have him now.”

Flash and GL: *in cheap disguises, following him to a corner store to watch him try to cash them in*

Billy was bummed that he didn’t get the hundred million jackpot, but the clerk did give him a free scratch off because he was a hero. And guess what? He got ten dollars. Isn’t that amazing!?

Marvel: *celebrating, holding his ten dollars bill*

GL and Flash: *watching him celebrate*

Flash: *squint at him* “Are you actually kidding me right now?

[keikikait]

can you do something really angsty for rafe please. like one where they might not end up together:(

ᴅʀᴜɴᴋ ᴡᴀʟᴋ ʜᴏᴍᴇ (ʀᴀꜰᴇ ᴄᴀᴍᴇʀᴏɴ x ꜰ!ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ)

pairing: rafe cameron x kook!f!reader, (not au, both are early to mid 20s)

word count: 4.8k

summary: from the corner, at the party, you watch him

warnings: ANGST!!!!, pining/whipped reader, rafe & reader are friends, kook!reader & kook!rafe, drinking, not proofread

a note: yeah....yeah....

please reblog and like, it means a lot! let me know what you think!

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ*:･ﾟ✧

He’s never looked more beautiful. 

You bring the red solo cup to your lips, eye twitching and throat burning as you take a sip. It was foul, cheap vodka mixed with melted skittles, but it was getting you drunk, and that’s all that mattered. You felt like a creep, sitting in the corner of Barry’s living room, practically eye fucking Rafe as he stands in the kitchen, but you couldn’t help it. Your eyes naturally went to his figure, tracing the expanses of his toned arms. 

You wanted him.

You always have.

From the second you met him in elementary school, when you were around 6 years old, you’ve had a crush on Rafe. You remember that day like it was yesterday. You had just gotten new shoes that had laces instead of Velcro, and even though your mom had tied them for you in the morning, you were struggling to tie them yourself after they had come undone. Rafe had spotted you in the courtyard and expertly tied them himself before sticking his hand out towards you to shake, announcing his presence with the upmost confidence. Ward had been raising him to be a businessman, after all.

You fell for him immediately, and you fell hard. As your friendship grew, so did your feelings towards him. You had just moved to Kildare, and your parents had exclaimed that you would be best friends forever when you discovered that you were actually his next door neighbour. Through the trees you could just make out his bedroom window, and if he tried hard enough, he could see right into yours too. You spent the rest of your days wanting, needing, dying for him, hoping one day he would pick you over whatever girl of the week he was seeing. You wondered what it was like to be chosen. You were never chosen by Rafe. You were a maybe, a probably, sometimes even definitely, but never his first choice. 

You remember when he got his first actual girlfriend, April. You were 13, already head over heels in love with him, and were absolutely devastated when he sent you that text. You cried so hard you nearly threw up, yet your reply to him was a simple ‘Congrats!’. You knew that he didn’t like you back then, and that showing any type of jealousy would just drive a further wedge between you. He was already starting to pull away. He was dealing with so much at home that he was taking it out on everyone else at school, constantly screaming and yelling and throwing things. He needed the attention he wasn’t getting, and it seemed that the attention you were giving him wasn’t enough.

At 15, he got a new girlfriend, Lillian. They weren’t serious like how he was with April, but this was the first girl he had in a while that actually stuck around. Lillian didn’t like you, and you didn’t like her. She was, quite ironically, jealous, and was constantly reading your texts with Rafe. She purposely excluded you from parties and hangouts, doing everything in her power to get you away from Rafe. They only lasted seven months before Rafe dropped her, saying: ‘I’ve known her for a few months. I’ve known you my whole life. It’s a pretty easy choice.’

He didn’t get another girlfriend until he was 17, bordering on 18, when he met Jacquelyn. The daughter of one of Ward’s business partners, they were essentially a PR relationship, only hugging and holding hands during fancy black tie events. Jacquelyn was nice to you, nice enough, although you always had a feeling that she knew you loved Rafe. 

And it was hard not to love him. You had tried so many times over the years to just get a grip and move on, but something about him was so alluring. You had watched him grow, blossom into the most handsome man you’ve ever seen in your life, and it was hard not to fall for him. You had tried to gaslight yourself a few times into believing you were truly over him, climbed out of the hole you were stuck in, but the next time you hugged, and you got to bury your face into his chest, you fell right back down. He was the moon in your universe, and you were barely even a star.

Just as you had seen Rafe blossom, you had seen him shrivel up. Watching him get into drugs, alcohol, and violence was heart-wrenching, but he never listened to you. He said you didn’t get it, and you didn’t understand him, but when things got too much for him, or he got too drunk, he would always turn up on your porch, your favourite candy in hand as a figurative olive branch. And you accepted it every time, eagerly opening your arms to welcome him, revelling in the feeling of his whispered apologies in your ear. 

You were always the one he went to.

Until he met Sofia.

You didn’t want to hate Sofia, but you couldn’t help it. She had everything you wanted, and she was everything you wanted to be. She had Rafe, and she was Rafe’s. After Rafe heard of Ward’s death, Sofia is the one he went to, not you. You didn’t see him until weeks later at The Island Club, and as you tried to give him your condolences, she whisked him away. He left the room as quickly as he entered it, leaving only a waft of his cologne and a pit in your stomach in his wake.

She stole him away from you, constantly hanging on his arm and dragging away during parties. He never responded to you anymore, too busy spending time with her, taking her to some stupid boutique on the mainland or going with her to the beach when the UV was too high to resist. Did he rub sunscreen on her back? Did his hands ever slip under the bikini straps as he caressed her skin, did his hands ever wander around the front and slip underneath the cups?

Did you even want to know?

You had grown apart these last few months. You rarely saw him, even out on Kildare, and your conversations were few and far between. Even then, your feelings for him never faded. You would sit on the chair by your window, staring out towards his, wondering if just maybe you would catch a glimpse of him walking by. You felt, for lack of a better word, hollow without him. Rafe was one of your best friends, and after spending years together attached at the hip, you were suddenly missing your other half. It felt like a breakup, except you were never together in the first place. You were grieving a relationship that never even happened. 

You advert your eyes from Rafe, realising you’ve been staring for a bit, and go to take another sip, only to find your cup empty. You sigh, chewing on the inside of your lip as you look back up at the kitchen. His arm is slung around Sofia’s neck, his fingers absentmindedly rubbing at her collarbones as she leans against his chest, a smug look on her stupid pretty face as she sips on her hard seltzer.

You look back at the cup again. You needed more alcohol if you were going to stay sane at this party. You stand up, placing the pillow that was once in your lap on the chair before moving across the room towards the kitchen, manoeuvring through drunk Kooks and groping couples until you reached the linoleum.

‘It’s an open bar,’ Barry said, ‘Take whatever.’ so you didn’t feel weird about immediately digging through his liquor cabinet, pulling out the giant bottle of Everclear from the bottom shelf. You had only ever had Everclear one other time, and all you remember of the night was waking up face first in the sand with seaweed in your hair. You had promised yourself never again, but this night was different. You wanted to stay at this party and be with your friends, but you couldn’t bear to look at Rafe and Sofia sober.

Rafe’s thumb moves up to caress Sofia’s jaw as he watches you set the Everclear down on the kitchen counter. “Damn, already?”

Oh, shit. Was he talking to you? You look over, pursing your lips together. “Uh, yeah. Why not live a little, you know?”

“Yeah, yeah, I guess…” He mutters, dragging his thumb down Sofia’s neck. “You know that stuff is hella strong, right?”

Did he not remember that night? “I’m just gonna take one shot, dude.”

“Well, one shot can turn into two, then into four, then…” He trails off. “You know how you are after a few shots.”

You unscrew the Everclear and pour some into your solo cup. Your hands are shaking from the vodka you had before, and you dump in more than you had initially planned on. You screw the cap back on and slip it into the cabinet again before opening the fridge to grab a mixer. “I got it.”

He watches you pour, eyebrows raising when he sees the amount that flows into your cup, but he says nothing, simply continuing to caress the skin of Sofia’s jaw with his thumb. “Mhm, okay.”

Sofia looks between the two of you, sipping on her drink before speaking up, “You never drink like this.”

You don’t even fucking know me, you want to say, but you don’t. You shrug as you open a can of Cherry Coke and dump it into the solo cup before crushing it and tossing it into the recycling bin on the edge of the kitchen. “Just wanna try something new.”

“You could do that with literally anything. Everclear is not a good start,” He sighs, looking down at you. “One shot of that stuff will have you on your ass within the hour.”

You swirl the drink in your cup and shrug again as you leave the kitchen to go back to your spot. “We’ll see.” You glance at Rafe over your shoulder as you take a sip, moving back through the crowd.

It tasted disgusting. You felt the liquor burn all the way down to your stomach, your eyes watering slightly as you hold back a cough, but you keep drinking. You wanted to forget. You wanted to be drunk enough to not care about Rafe and Sofia. You sat back down without a word, grabbing the pillow you had left on the chair and putting it back on your lap. You watched the party from the corner, hesitating as you lift the cup to your lips and take another sip.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆

The party gets too hot too quickly.

November was one of the cooler months in the Outer Banks and although the patio door was wide open, you were starting to sweat. The alcohol, mixed with your bubbling anxiety as you watched Rafe and Sofia, was causing you to start to squirm uncomfortably in your seat.

You hadn’t even finished your drink when you head outside, pushing through the crowd bottlenecked at the door, breathing a sigh of relief when you reach the pool area. Your shoulders droop as you start to relax, your skin starting to cool down. The loungers and seats are full, but the pool is empty, even though Barry had been promising everyone it was heated. There were a few Kooks sitting on the edge of the hot tub, their feet in the water, beer cans littering the surrounding ground.

You look around, biting the inside of your lip. You start to move, looking around the expansive backyard before finding a small concrete bench pressed up against an old out of use fountain full of leaves and dried algae. You brush some of the leaves off and sit down, a small noise escaping your mouth at how fucking cold it is. You zip up your jacket, sitting cross-legged as you try to get as comfortable as possible. 

You continue to people watch, taking some brief moments to look up at the stars.

It’s peaceful, and you’re grateful for the silence. The sound from the house is still audible, but it’s muffled enough from being out in the yard. You watch the Kooks in the hot tub, noticing a couple of them starting to kiss.

You were grateful to be out of there.

You were grateful not to be looking at Rafe and Sofia. You couldn’t stop your mind from wandering back to the kitchen. Rafe’s hands on Sofia’s hips. Him burying his nose in her hair. The soft kisses they exchanged every time they thought you weren’t looking. It made your stomach turn.

You look up at the clear night sky, shivering as a breeze passes, brushing the stray hairs that escaped your low bun away from your face. You could see Orion, you could see the moon, you could even see some stars you didn’t know the name of. They manage to distract you for a long time, so long that you don’t even remember how long you’ve been sitting there.

You feel something heavy being placed on your shoulders, the weight startling you. You turn around, ready to snap at whoever had disturbed your solitude, but you're met by Rafe. He's wearing only a t-shirt, his own jacket in his hands. “Couldn't let you freeze to death sitting out here alone.”

“I have a jacket,” You say. It’s true, your jacket was keeping you warm, and a large part of you felt bad that Rafe was trying to give his up. “Keep yours.” As you stop dissociating, your fingers and toes suddenly feel stiff. You move the cup to your other hand, clenching and stretching your fingers.

He ignores your protest, draping his jacket over your shoulders anyway, even going as far as to zip it up under your chin. “No arguments. You looked like a baby deer sitting here shivering.”

His cologne smells so good. It smells like home. “Thanks.” Your eyes follow him as he sits next to you on the bench, beer bottle in hand.

“No problem,” Rafe looks out, his knee brushing your leg as he turns to check out the backyard, eyes scanning the Kooks in the hot tub as he takes a sip of his beer. After a moment, he turns back to you, eyebrows furrowing as he notices your drink. “You didn’t finish that.” he nods towards the cup in your hand.

“No, it’s uh…” You clear your throat and sit up straight. “It’s disgusting. Guess Everclear and Cherry Coke don’t mix.”

He snickers, “Told you so,” He takes another sip of his beer, the corners of his eyes crinkling as he looks at you. “You shouldn’t drink that stuff anyway. I’ve seen people go down quick after only one shot. Not pretty.”

“Eh. Wanted to try something new.” You say, swirling it around in the cup.

“Yeah, well, don’t go drinking Everclear again. I’m not gonna hold your hair back while you’re puking,” He gives you another once over, eyes lingering on your face. “You don’t look very good.”

You weren’t doing good. Not at all. You were trying to live your life without Rafe around, even just as a friend, and it was proving to be a very difficult task. It was so hard to not immediately rush to text him, or to send him a million TikToks throughout the day. You missed him, as much as it pained you to admit. You shrug. “Just kinda tired. Didn’t sleep well.”

He notices the change in your demeanour instantly, the walls that he was so used to seeing come down were up now. You were shutting him out. “You gotta stop staying up late on your phone, then.” he elbows you playfully, hoping to get you to laugh, like old times.

You don’t.

You awkwardly look back down at your drink and swirl it again. You had thought that maybe this unwelcomed distance would do you good, and you would eventually fall out of love with him, but it seems to get harder and harder every day. You just wanted to hold him one last time. You needed him back then, and you needed him still. You let out a breath. “Yeah. Probably.”

He stays silent, taking another sip from his beer as he looks back out to the yard. There was a tension in the air now, but he wasn’t sure if it was all in his head. You seemed…distant. Shut off. He was so used to your bright personality, your happy demeanour, your laugh. Now, you were just…blank. His knee bumps yours again as he shifts. He looked back over at you, watching you for a long time. You were just staring straight, avoiding his gaze.

You clear your throat again, setting your cup down beside you. You unzip his jacket and stand up as you slide it off, trying to avoid his gaze as you drape it over his shoulders. “I’m gonna head back inside.”

Rafe catches your wrist as you start to move away, fingers gentle, but firm, almost reluctant to let you go. His eyes meet yours immediately, holding your gaze captive as he looks at you. “Wait.”

“What?” You ask, picking your drink back up with your free hand.

“We…” he trails off, his thumb rubbing the sensitive skin of your inner wrist as he looks at you. It was cold outside, but your skin was so warm against his. It felt so natural. Like everything was right again. He didn’t ever realise how much he had missed you until now. “We need to talk.”

You try to pull your wrist away. ���About what?”

He lets the grasp on your wrist loosen, but he doesn’t let go, his touch trailing down until his fingers are laced with yours. “About this…distance…” he motions vaguely between you two, “That you’ve been building for the past couple of months.”

“That I’ve been building?” You ask, your eyebrows raising. “You’re the one who’s been ignoring me.”

“Not on purpose. I’ve been busy.” he says defensively, almost immediately. He’d be lying if he didn’t say that he had been busy lately. Sofia had been keeping him on his toes lately, and he hadn’t had much time alone during the day, let alone time alone in his own home. But he also couldn’t deny that he had been purposefully avoiding you, knowing that if he spent too much time with you, Sofia would have something to say about it.

“Maybe I’ve been busy too.” You say, although it’s a lie. 

Rafe snorts, almost calling you out on the lie, but he lets it go with a sigh. He doesn’t say anything for a long time, just looking at you. His thumb rubs slow circles on the inside of your palm, the touch familiar. It hurt his chest. “I don’t like this.”

“Don’t like what?” You ask, crossing your arms over your chest.

“This,” He gestures between you and him. “This distance. I don’t like it,” He looks away, a frustrated expression on his face. “We’re friends. We’ve known each other for years. Why do you act like I can’t even approach you anymore?”

Friends. You never hated a word more. You take a step back, sighing as you glance out over the pool again. “Sometimes friends drift apart, Rafe.”

He looks at you, his jaw clenched as he watches you avoid his gaze once again. You wouldn’t even look at him. It was infuriating. He couldn’t believe that you were so nonchalant about all of this. Friends drift apart. That’s what you said. Did he have to mean so little? His hand falls back to his side, but the expression on his face stays fixed. “Bullshit.”

“You’re busy, I’m busy,” You say. “Sometimes that happens.”

“I’m only busy with Sofia,” He snaps, frustration seeping through in his voice. He takes a step towards you, eyes narrowed. “And even when I’m busy with her, I still manage to find time-” He stops himself, taking a moment to slow his breathing. He was getting too worked up. The last thing he needed right now was to blow up at you.

You chug the rest of your drink and set the empty solo cup on the bench, immediately regretting it. You should’ve dumped it out a while ago. The last thing you needed was a drunk walk home. “We’ve both been busy. That’s it, Rafe.”

“That’s it?” He repeats, looking at you incredulously. He couldn’t believe you were so blasé about this. About you guys practically ignoring each other, never talking, practically avoiding each other every chance you got. Was it so simple to you? To forget years of friendship over something so idiotic like being busy? “You’re bullshitting me.”

You hated this feeling. Your heart ached, and your hands went numb, your body full of tingles. You take a few more steps back. You had to do it, you had to rip the band-aid off if you wanted to finally move on. You didn’t want your happiness to live and die with him. “Maybe this friendship thing isn’t working anymore.”

It felt like you had stabbed him straight in the chest, twisted the blade, and then pulled it out slowly, painfully. Every word that you spat out felt like another layer of pain. It was bullshit. You had been by his side through everything. You were always there. He trusted you more than anyone. And this was how you felt now? You didn’t want to be friends? Rafe clenched his jaw, biting back the sting of emotion. “You’re not serious.”

“I don’t know what you want me to say, Rafe.” You say.

“I want you to tell me that you still give a damn about our friendship!” he says, a frustrated tone in his voice.  “I want you to tell me that this distance is bullshit and that I still mean something to you! That you still want to hang out and talk and everything else I thought we’d still be doing when we got older, and that I’m just reading into this too much! I want you to tell me that you’re just busy, and it’ll all get better in a little bit, because I can’t handle this anymore.”

“Rafe--” You try to speak, but he cuts you off.

He was getting more worked up now, his chest heaving as he stares at you. He had never felt like this before. You always knew how to calm him down from whatever fit he was throwing, but you weren’t doing that now. He takes a step closer, getting into your personal space now, anger evident in his eyes. “Do you even care about me anymore, or are you just pretending you do whenever I’m around? Do you hate me now?”

You would probably still adore him with his hands around your neck. “No, of course I don’t hate you.”

“Then why are you doing this to me?” He demands, his tone a mix of anger and desperation. He was getting louder, but he didn’t care. For once, he wanted to let his emotions out, knowing that they would be safe with you. “Why are you acting like this?” He gestures between you, “You’re shutting me out, and you’re pulling away, and you can’t even look me in the eye without flinching. Why? Tell me why.”

“Because I like you, Rafe!” You blurt out. Your eyes widen slightly when you realise what you said. You let out a shaky breath. “I like you a lot. More than I should. And seeing you with her, with Sofia… it’s so hard for me.”

He stares at you for a moment, stunned into silence by your confession. 

You liked him.

A lot?

More than you should.

His jaw clenched, his mind trying to process everything as he sits back down. He had suspected that you liked him more than a friend for a long time, but he had never dared to try and confirm it. The words were out in the open now, though. And it changed everything.

You hate how silent he’s being. Your voice is shaky when you start to speak again, “And I know that you don’t feel the same way about me. I know that, and I’m okay with that.”

He lets out an almost bitter laugh, running a hand through his hair. The sound is harsh in the air, like a slap in the face. “That’s what you think? You think I don’t have feelings for you?” His voice was quiet, but there was something in it that made it even more threatening than if he was yelling.

“I know you don’t.” You say softly, tears starting to well in your eyes. You weren’t stupid. You knew from day dot that he would never feel the same way that you do, and you always knew that he would never be yours, but it was never enough to help you finally move on. 

For the first time in Rafe’s life, he struggles with what to say. It takes him a few seconds to find the words he's looking for. “Jesus Christ, are you kidding me? We’re not romantic or anything, we’re just friends.”

“I know that.” You say.

“We’re just friends.” He says again, as if you didn’t hear him the first time.

Your stomach hurts. “I know.”

He looks away from you, standing up from the bench. “How long have you liked me?”

“Since the day we met,” You say. “When you tied my shoe for me.”

He runs his hand through his hair again. “And you never said anything.” It’s a statement, not a question, and it stings.

“There was no point,” You say. “I knew even back then that you would never feel the same way.”

He doesn’t know what to do. You’re right, he doesn’t feel the same way. He doesn’t like you the way you like him. At least he thinks he doesn’t. He stays quiet, his fists clenching.

“I don’t want to ignore you, Rafe,” You continue. “But maybe this distance will be good for us. I’ll be able to get over you.”

“You shouldn’t have fallen for me in the first place.” He snaps.

It takes you by surprise. Your eyes flutter for a second as tears start to fall, and you take a step back, chest clenching.

He stares at you, his stomach lurching as the first of the tears roll down your face. He stays silent for a moment, before finally sighing. “It’s not supposed to be this way,” He walks towards you again, reaching out to take both of your hands, trying to stop you from backing away from him. “You’re supposed to be my best friend, not some girl in love with me.”

“I’m sorry.” You say.

“Stop apologising,” He says, holding your wrists tightly, like he’s trying to keep you in place. “I hate it when you do that.”

You almost apologise again. You just nod, looking down at your feet before moving your gaze back over to the pool. No one has noticed you two yet.

He follows your gaze, looking towards the pool. No one had even spared a glance in your direction. It was just you and him, secluded in the quiet corner, surrounded by a party that seemed a mile away. He doesn’t know what to say, or how to react to your confession. All he knows is that he still hates seeing you cry.

“Do you still want to be friends?” You ask quietly, looking up at him.

Rafe hesitates. 

His first instinct is to push you away. To tell you that it would be best if you two just never spoke to each other again, that things would be better that way. But he knew he didn’t mean that. And when he looked down at you, seeing the heartbreak on your face, he knew he couldn’t say it. He wasn’t the best at expressing his feelings, and he had no idea what he was doing, but you were his oldest friend. You had been by his side through everything. There was no way he was pushing you away that easily.

He pulls you into a hug, pressing his nose into the crown of your head. “Of course, I still want to be friends,” he murmurs. “You’re my best friend, you idiot.”

You hug him back, and it feels so good to finally hold him again. You interlock your fingers behind his back. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologise,” he mutters, resting his chin on the top of your head. “Stop apologising.” He stays silent for a moment, soaking in the feeling of being able to hold you again. He had missed this. He had missed you more than he had ever realised.

You stay there for a while, nose buried in his chest, before you speak again. Your voice is quiet, muffled against his jacket, but he can hear you loud and clear. “I love you.”

Rafe sighs, pushing your hair away from your forehead before placing a kiss on it. “It’ll pass.”

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ*:･ﾟ✧

part two is here!

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join my permanent obx taglist here!

[suotar]

Photos Olivia Repaci for Russh magazine Short interview from the mag under the cut

Backstage at Laneway 2025 with Djo, Remi Wolf, Olivia Dean, RONA and Girl and Girl

--

So who have you seen so far at Laneway and is there anyone you’re still ready to catch?

Fcukers, Clairo, Remi, Charli, Olivia Dean – I haven’t seen Joey Valence & Brae because we’ve been playing at the same time, but I was listening to their music on the plane and was really enjoying it. And it was hyping me up for an early flight. And, I want to see 2Hollis, Barry Can’t Swim. It’s a great lineup! Sorry I’m eating a Fisherman’s Friend also!

That is A-OK. We love a Fisherman’s Friend. I know you also have an album that will be coming out in a couple of months. Can you tell us anything about it? How has the sound evolved from the last one?

It’s coming out in April and the main difference is that the whole thing was done in an actual studio, prior to this it was kind of like a bedroom recording process, and this was doing it in a studio. So I think the fidelity is kind of different, and the sonics are a little bit more pure and just uh, yeah, maybe leaning back to music that I loved as a young kid. Reconnecting to influences that I used to really love – you know, Bruce Springsteen or The Cars, or who else? I want to say Carol King. People who are writing great songs. I’m just trying to write better songs I guess.

Well, speaking of great songs, we just caught your set before and you finished on End of Beginning, and that is such a Springsteen-esque, swelling kind of song in my opinion. Is there a song that kind of gives you that feeling from another artist that people get from that song?

Honestly like, Dancing in the Dark, Bruce Springsteen, or I'm On Fire. The song’s great too. Bruce Springsteen is so good. I also just watched a Bruce Springsteen documentary called Blood Brothers where they were like, recording an album and he’s like, maybe 45 or 50. I watched that on the plane ride over here so I’m feeling it.

[ludmilachaibemachado]

March 4th 1969 - A V.I.P. visits the set of 'The Magic Christian' (Princess Margaret turns up too)🌼🌼🌼

Barry Miles (author of The Beatles Diary): "Princess Margaret met Ringo when she visited the set of The Magic Christian at Twickenham Studios to see her friend Peter Sellers. Paul and Linda were also there."💐

Monthly magazine for Beatles fans (No 69, April 1969): "On Tuesday, March 4th, Princess Margaret paid an unscheduled visit to Twickenham Studios, arriving at eleven in the morning and staying there until five o'clock in the evening. She watched as the stars - Ringo Starr and Peter Sellers - rehearsed and filmed some of the film's first scenes. Other visitors that day included Paul with Linda Eastman and Mary Hopkin. In the afternoon, Paul spent a lot of time sitting next to the Princess and talking enthusiastically about something."🪷

Via Beatles and Cavern Club Photos FB🪴

[crepesuzette2023]

“One afternoon that April [1967] I arrived at Cavendish Avenue and found Paul in a meeting with Brian Epstein. They invited me to make myself at home and I watched them at work. Brian obviously adored Paul and it was always interesting to see them together. He touched Paul at any time that it might seem natural, laying his hand on Paul’s arm to make a point or placing a casual hand on his shoulder as they left a room. I often noticed a certain admiring look, a slightly moist eye. He sat next to Paul in the big settee beneath a pair of Rene Magritte paintings and an alternative, unused, painted drum skin from the Sgt Pepper sleeve. Brian was dressed in his usual impeccable Savile Row suit, hair neatly parted, though longish and with long sideboards. He seemed relaxed, happy and completely unlike the usual hyper businessmen of the pop world.” - Barry Miles, In the Sixties

i'm feral

what are your thoughts on the shift in Paul and Brian's relationship particularly in 67?

Hi Anon,

This is where I admit openly that I wish I knew more *details* about both of them, in order to give you a more grounded answer instead of the inevitable speculation...!

It seems to be the case that Brian and Paul were closer in '67 than before. Brian's good friend Nat Weiss said they "got along really well."

Here's one explanation I remember coming across: John was 'absent' (drugs, home, seclusion) at the time, giving Brian & Paul time to flourish. But: was John really that absent in '66, '67? He and Paul worked closely together on Sgt. Pepper. And how realistic is it to assume John *still* stood between Brian and Paul at this point? I think Brians managerial role was much more settled than it had been in, say, 1963. So were the band dynamics. So that can't be the whole story, in my opinion.

Maybe there was simply more softness and happiness in both Brian and Paul—or others noticed it more. Especially when it was just the two of them, instead of "Brian and the boys."

Then there's the idea that Brian was in love with Paul at the time. Hmm. What if it was mutual? I'm resisting the idea, simply because they don't seem to have been each other's type. But I love the idea of there being more love, perhaps a flirt...

I do wonder why John was shouting *Barcelona* in Carnival of Light.

I see the clumsy love in Paul's letter to Brian (from the @amoralto blog)

And I'm thinking of Paul in NYC during the 1960 Apple Launch, finding the word "be" in the newspaper and saying these were Brian's initials.

And I love the ending of The Fifth Beatle, in which Brian leaves the band in Paul's hands, as it were—and Paul wears the white jacket, no less.

The fiction writer in me could go on, but...

Look at these pictures. Look at the three of them. Look at their hands.

Finally, @eppysboys made a fantastic post about Brian and Paul with lots of quotes — if you haven't read it already, check it out if this topic interests you!

[fizzywashere87]

Hello!! If it's alright with you can i please request rottmnt with a mom like yor from " spy x family "? Platonic, funny one-shot, hc or anything you want.

Like she's sweet and would go up and beyond for her babies but she's secretly an assassin and that's the one thing she WON'T tell anyone at all.

notes: OMGIE YESESES!!! (we don't talk about the fact this is over a month past due but :D) I'm going to do them altogether- and I'm making reader's personality like what you described to me so I'm sorry if i misunderstood anything!! Hope you enjoy and tysm for requesting!!

We Love You Anyways, Ma (HC's)

Toitlez

I think it's a trend for the rise!turtles to have dumbass parents

Look at Splinter from even before he was mutated

Barry.

yeah, you're a little naive but isn't everyone?

Now we know where your boys get it from! :D

April is apart of the family btw and she's your daughter

I reckon Mikey does all of the cooking anyways because you...

cannot.

The few times you tried ended with Raph, Leo, and Mikey screaming in the background, while Donnie extinguishes the fire

You guys lost a very important member of the family that day,

Speck.

You burned 'im at your failed attempt at cooking

That poor speck of cooking residue that was immune to cleaning supplies :(

Not even you, the mama of this carnival was able to remove

Maybe had a 'lil funeral as everyone cried but Donnie wasn't phased his ass was waiting for it to happen-

The lair is literally spotless

Nobody ever questioned why you were so good at cleaning

Actually, Leo did, I lied damn intuition i swear he has it

The boys get away with a lot, I'm sorry

"Where have you boys been?" You stand with your arms crossed scowling at the boys, they just got back to the lair and they do not look like they were anywhere you would condone as their mother.

Leo steps up, flashing you a smile, a bright one at that, "Sorry we're late Ma, we wanted to stop and eat pizza! We're sorry for not letting you know, we promise we'll let you know next time." He says, sounding oh-so genuine, how could you not believe that? Raph, Donnie, and Mikey are standing in the background nodding along to everything Leo is saying and you look at all of them carefully.

"Alright, be more careful next time! You had me worried!" You'd smile, and that would be the end of the conversation as your boys scurry away as a person right in the head would deem; suspicious.

You're not right in the head btw.

Overall, you guys are a family and you love each other tons

They do appreciate everything you do for them

You love them unconditionally and would do anything for them Please give Donnie validation and praise- boy needs it

You'd also do anything to protect them

Did I mention you're crazy strong?

Yes, you trained the boys so they have your agility

At some points you're overly gentle but you'll never tell anyone it's because you can't handle your own strength

Your excuse is that they can't handle it

You brush it off as a joke though

It's hard hiding such a big secret from them, but it's for their safety

They don't know why exactly you're so strong and cool, you played it a certain way that they'll never question

You do have your dumbass moments, but they never imagined you as an assassin- their mother? nah.

Your children come up with some weird ass shit on a day to day basis and never once they put two and two together

Your dumbass children i swear-

The boys love watching you in action

From the close combat that almost nobody can match-

To the way you effortlessly handle your blades

The way you know the exact points on a person to aim when attacking

Or how you've basically never lost a fight

The way you can scope out where your opponents are and how quick your reflexes are-

No you're not an assassin

I'm just lying!! You are!

If they ever were to find out, it's because your dumbass let something slip

The boys and April caught onto something

Leo confronted you in an indirect way

Boom

Exposed.

"WHAT?!" They simultaneously exclaimed in shock. Donnie pulls out a bunch of tech- probably to add to his file he has about you, Leo is shaking you by the shoulders demanding more information, Mikey copes by running around yelling 'OHMIGOSH,' Raph fell over backwards as if he were an object, and April yells 'I knew it!'

It's chaos.

As everyone settles down, you have no choice but to fill them in further, you go sit down at the table and they listen to your story. They are very shocked, very confused on some things, a lot of things are adding up now. But they aren't mad at you for keeping such a secret, none of them are, they think it's hella cool.

Leo raises his hand with a question and you wait for him to go on,

"So did the weird creepy fox yokai end up with the ugly bunny yokai or the nasty hamster one?" He recalls one of the missions you just told them about.

"I'm pretty sure it was the bunny." You answer, not really phased by the type of question he just asked and everyone nods along calmly.

Yeah. This is your life and you wouldn't wish for anything different.

[gardenwalrus]

John and Paul 'hitchhiking' to Paris, 1961

[Johnny] Gustafson happened to bump into them the day they left, Saturday, September 30. “They both had bowler hats on, with the usual leather jackets and jeans. They said they were off to Paris, so I walked down to Lime Street station with them and watched them go. They were an incredible pair: always great fun, irreverent, and so close.” They meant to hitchhike, hence the bowler hats. Acker Bilk’s freebies would catch the eye of drivers as John and Paul thumbed a ride. But John had £100 in his pocket, so they took the train to London and beyond to Dover, then caught the last ferry to Dunkirk and the first morning train straight to the French capital. They emerged at la Gare du Nord…

– Mark Lewisohn, Tune In (2013)

PAUL: We planned to hitchhike to Spain. I had done a spot of hitchhiking with George and we knew you had to have a gimmick; we had been turned down so often and we'd seen that guys that had a gimmick (like a Union Jack round them) had always got the lifts. So I said to John, ‘Let's get a couple of bowler hats.’ It was showbiz creeping in. We still had our leather jackets and drainpipes — we were too proud of them not to wear them, in case we met a girl; and if we did meet a girl, off would come the bowlers. But for lifts we would put the bowlers on. Two guys in bowler hats — a lorry would stop! Sense of Humour. This, and the train, is how we got to Paris

— Paul McCartney in The Beatles Anthology Book (2000)

John decided to use some of the money for a hitch-hiking trip to the Continent intending to go first to Paris then hitch on to Spain; so the day after playing the Village Hall, Knotty Ash, Liverpool, he and Paul got out on the road and stuck out their thumbs. They reached Dover and took the ferry to Calais, but hitching was almost impossible in France so they took the train to Paris. Paul had picked up quite a bit of German in Hamburg and had taken German and Spanish at school but had not studied French. John had taken a few months of French, but had not paid attention, so between them they barely spoke a word.

— Barry Miles, Many Years From Now (1997)

“As a matter of fact, it was a holiday that introduced us to these hair styles,” John Lennon said. “Paul and I set off on a hitch-hike to Paris. Well, it was going to be a hitch-hike but we ended up taking the train all the way - sheer laziness.”  “Speak for yourself, whacker,” cut in Paul with a deep Liverpool flavour.

— Interview with Chris Hutchins, ‘The truth about that Beatles hairstyle’, DISC (27 April 1963) (x)

[austinslounge]

The only thing that really bothers me about the GG situation is that the screenshot with Kaia was taken in the house where Austin was shooting for Cartier before SAG. This is obvious from the layout, interior, etc. (I've looked at parts of this house a lot in different photos). The photographer who took the pictures wrote that this was Austin's house. Let's be honest, it looks like the truth, the house is too modest for Kaia + the same photographer did a black-and-white photo shoot about Austin's trip to Anaheim and there was the same house. Q: Why was Austin watching GG not in this house, but Kaia?

Ahhh.... the great house debate comes up again lol 😆

Well, I'll provide you with evidence and receipts, and you can make up your own mind. How about that?

Golden Globe Awards & SAG Awards:

Callum and Austin already stated (twice in fact) that they watched the GG's together in Austin's house ("Butler's pad"), and the author of the article below even went as far as to say that Austin and Callum watched the Golden Globes TOGETHER ALONE.... in "Butler's pad", with **"no glam girlfriends"** lol 🤭

EXHIBIT A

There's also the fact that Callum wasn't sure if Austin had a dog or not lol. 😅 In an interview for MOTA, he questioned Austin on whether or not he had a dog. Now, if Callum were in the same home where Kaia was watching the GG's, why would he be confused on whether or not Austin had a dog? 🤔 Wouldn't he have seen the dog at the house?

Cartier & SAG Awards

I assume you're referring to this?

I'm not sure how you can tell where Austin is from this photoshoot for Cartier above, but keep in mind that the SAG Awards took place in Feb of 2023...

EXHIBIT B

And Kaia didn't move into her house until April of 2023.

So, wherever Austin did that Cartier photoshoot, it wouldn't have been at Kaia's new house. Sorry!

Keep in mind also, that even the media outlets weren't sure whether Austin was actually moving into that house, or if he was just helping Kaia move, like the rest of her family.

This is from Page Six:

EXHIBIT C

Kaia's House AFTER the Gate:

Kaia's House BEFORE the Gate:

It is very customary for celebrities to install gates in front of their houses for privacy reasons, so this is nothing new.

Another fun fact, the Daily Mail themselves referred to the house as "Kaia's home" in their article regarding the Casa Migos Halloween bash.

EXHIBIT D

There's also the fact that when you look at Kaia's House, especially her bedroom, there's nothing with Austin in it. Even the photos above the bedpost in one of the bedrooms are all Kaia-centric. Usually, when you live with someone, you have your stuff and their stuff as well.

Greg Williams did do a photoshoot with Austin for Hollywood Authentic. The photoshoot did take place in what we know to be Kaia's House. We do not deny that Austin spends time with his girlfriend in her house.

What we are not fully sold on is the "Austin and Kaia bought a house together" claim. Idk about other fans, but I actually think that Kaia's parents helped Kaia buy her own house in Malibu (close to them), and Austin (like a good boyfriend) helped her move into that house.

I think Austin has a smaller "pad" on his own. It would explain why sometimes we've seen them taking separate cars, even when they're out together with her family.

So, there's the evidence Anon! You can feel free to believe whatever you want, but those are the facts for now.

[coldflashevents]

EVENT ANNOUNCEMENTS (2024)

LET'S GOOOOOO!

Hello, all! Thank you all for your patience, and for your responses for the interest check. I'm back to let you know the results, and with some exciting announcements for the year ahead.

First of all, I'd like to announce that we have another mod on board! Everyone please welcome @burdenedwithpointlesspurpose, who'll be helping myself (@coldflasher) and @moriavis run the events this year! We're very excited to be running these events for you :D You can reach out to any of us on this blog or on our main blogs with any questions.

And now, onto the events!

Most people wanted three events, and the most requested event types were prompt-based events, including both mini weekend events and longer week-long events. People also expressed interest in bingos and big bangs.

The majority of respondents had greater availability to participate in the summer months, between April and August.

That being said, I'm excited to announce that our first event will be a mini weekend event that will take place on the 27th and 28th April 2024. This will be a prompt-based event very similar to Cool for the Summer, an event we held in July 2022—we'll provide a list of prompts chosen by you, and then everyone can create works inspired by the prompts, or a combination of them. These types of events are very chill; there are no sign-ups and no commitments, just lots of Coldflash content!

You know what that means—we need prompts! Please drop your prompts in our askbox (you can do this anonymously, if you'd prefer) and once we've got a good number of prompts, we'll give everyone the chance to vote on their favourites.

If you're interested in a slightly more involved event format, I'll also be announcing zine sign-ups for our Coldflash 10-Year Anniversary zine very soon, so stay tuned! We're currently looking at a provisional publication date of March 24th, 2025, which will be the ten-year anniversary of 1x16: Rogue Time, the episode where Leonard learns Barry's identity, and an uneasy truce is struck between them...

I wanted to choose a date with significance to the ship whilst also ensuring that everyone has plenty of time to work on their submissions, and to give us time to put the zine together once we've received them all.

Right now, the aim is for everyone to have their final submissions in by the end of December 2024. Please note that these dates have not been finalized, and are still subject to change, so watch this space for more details.

More information on sign-ups will be released shortly!

If anybody has any questions, please let us know. Until then, happy coldflashing!

[raylaui]

"Oh, oh! Two minutes to go!"

Mikey's declaration snapped Casey Junior out of his thoughts and brought his attention to the paper plate being shoved in his hands. He grabbed it instunctually, smiling in awe at the size of the cupcake before him.

"HOLY -- ! Mikey, you said you were making collossal cupcakes, but this is just HUGE."

The box turtle beamed at him. "Go big or go home! Now, check out this new trick Barry taught me ..." Mikey squinted in concentration, sticking his tongue out just a little as he held a finger close to the sparkler stuck in the cupcake.

A tiny crack-pop-whoosh of flame erupted from Mikey's fingertip, and the sparkler ignited in a glittery show.

"Woah," CJ stated.

"I've got to get everyone else's! There's one minute left!" Mikey said quickly, springing away to light the rest of the party's sparklers.

At a glance Junior could see the others scattered around the living room. Times Square was cramped and cold this year, and none of them wanted to hide on the rooftops in the rain when they could be inside in the warm and enjoying snacks. Donnie had set up a projection so they could watch the New Year's ball drop. The softshell was currently adjusting the sparkler in his cupcake so it was sitting exactly dead center.

Leo had already taken a taste of his frosting but was trying to sneak some of April's on the sly. Just to see if he could. But April kept changing her posture and trading hands with her plate, full well three steps ahead of Leo's game. Casey Jones had already taken a bite out of her cupcake, chewing as she gave Mikey a thumbs up. Raph hadn't touched his cupcake yet, but was eyeing it with precision: he and Leo had made a $5 bet to see who could devour theirs the fastest at the stroke of 12. Judging by the look on Raph's face, the snapper intended to win in a single bite. $5 was $5 after all.

CJ laughed softly to himself and turned back to his own cupcake, the sparkler on top still sputtering a brilliant show of light around the little chocolate 2025 decoration glued to it with frosting.

It felt strange to him still, even after living the last two and a half years of his life in the past. Time moved forward, merciless, a whole new direction because he had been sent back to change it. He had time to live now, all because his Sensei gave everything to make sure he had that gift.

The thought brought mist to his eyes. And the sense of a comforting hand on his shoulder: a memory. A quiet whisper is his ear from Master Leonardo and Master Michaelangelo and Raphael and Donatello. A promise from the future: "You are not alone."

The live hubbub around him promised the same.

... 7 ... 6 ... 5 ... 4 ... 3 ... 2 ... 1 !!!

Everyone cheered, blowing out their sparklers with varying degrees of success. Raph downed his cupcake in a single bite and Leo sure tried, spraying crumbs everywhere. Donnie made a face and produced a tiny automated dustpan and hand-broom at the push of a button.

Casey Junior smiled.

He took a big breath, and blew his sparkler out. Another year gone. A new one full of possibility before him.

There was still plenty of uncertainty, too.

But Casey Junior would fight every day for his family. Because no one faced the future alone.

[satansapostle6]

Characters I Write For

Please message me with any ideas/requests! I need ideas(short fics or series)

Mostly write for fem!readers. I can write fluff, angst, smut, etc. If I’m not comfortable with something I can let you know

Character/Actor List

Favorite Characters/Actors To Write For

Draco Malfoy, Weasley twins

Jesse Pinkman

Paul Dano characters

Josh Hutcherson characters

Dean Winchester, Sam Winchester, Castiel

Damon Salvatore, Silas, Klaus Mikaelson, Kol Mikaelson

Rodrick Heffley

Bellamy Blake

Ezra Fitz(should probably make it clear I don’t condone)

Ian Duncan(Community)

Charlie(It’s Always Sunny)

Luke Castellan, Percy Jackson, Annabeth Chase

Finnick Odair

Tommy Shelby

Killian Hook

Paul Dano

Klitz(The Girl Next Door)

Dwayne Hoover(Little Miss Sunshine)

Edward Nashton(The Batman)

Calvin Weir-Fields(Ruby Sparks)

Brian Wilcox(Fast Food Nation)

Joby Taylor(For Ellen)

Nick Flynn(Being Flynn)

Josh Hutcherson

Peeta Mellark(The Hunger Games)

Mike Schmidt(FNAF)

Josh Futturman(Future Man)

Devon Bostick

Rodrick Heffley(Diary of a Wimpy Kid)

Jasper Jordan(The 100)

Cillian Murphy

Tommy Shelby(Peaky Blinders)

Dr. Jonathan Crane(The Dark Knight)

Neil(Watching the Detectives)

Christian Bale

Patrick Bateman(American Psycho)

Bruce Wayne(The Dark Knight)

Breaking Bad

Jesse Pinkman

Jane Margolis

Saul Goodman

Harry Potter(Golden Trio Era)

Harry Potter

Ron Weasley

Hermione Granger

Fred Weasley

George Weasley

Ginny Weasley

Luna Lovegood

Neville Longbottom

Draco Malfoy

Pansy Parkinson

Blaise Zabini

Theodore Nott

Daphne Greengrass

Adrian Pucey

Terence Higgs

Harry Potter(Marauders Era)

James Potter

Remus Lupin

Sirius Black

Lily Potter

Severus Snape

Regulus Black

Lucius Malfoy

Narcissa Malfoy

Bellatrix Lestrange

Arthur Weasley

Harry Potter(Fantastic Beasts Era)

Newt Scamander

Queenie Goldstein

Leta Lestrange

Percy Jackson

Percy Jackson

Annabeth Chase

Luke Castellan

Thalia Grace

Jason Grace

+ Gods

Criminal Minds

Spencer Reid

Aaron Hotchner

Emily Prentiss

Derek Morgan

JJ

Penelope Garcia

David Rossi

Elle Greenaway

Cat Adams

Megan Kane

Supernatural

Dean Winchester

Sam Winchester

John Winchester

Mary Winchester

Castiel

Charlie Bradbury

Rowena McLeod

Adam Milligan

Lucifer

Ruby

Jessica Moore

Gabriel

Benny Lafitte

Bela Talbot

Jo Harvelle

Ellen Harvelle

Superstore

Jonah Simms

Amy Sosa

Marcus White

Garrett McNeill

Dina Fox

Cheyenne Lee

Bo Thompson

Gilmore Girls

Lorelai Gilmore

Christopher Hayden

Luke Danes

Logan Huntzberger

Jess Mariano

The Hunger Games

Peeta Mellark

Katniss Everdeen

Gale Hawthorn

Finnick Odair

Johanna Mason

Haymitch Abernathy

Pretty Little Liars

Aria Montgomery

Spencer Hastings

Emily Fields

Hannah Marin

Mona Vanderwaal

Alison Di Laurentis

Jason Di Laurentis

Ezra Fitz

Toby Cavanaugh

Jenna Marshall

Caleb Rivers

The Vampire Diaries

Damon Salvatore

Stefan Salvatore

Katherine Pierce

Elena Gilbert

Jeremy Gilbert

Bonnie Bennett

Caroline Forbes

The Originals

Klaus Mikaelson

Elijah Mikaelson

Kol Mikaelson

Rebekah Mikaelson

Freya Mikaelson

Hayley Marshall

Marcel Gerard

Davina Claire

Twilight

Edward Cullen

Bella Swan

Alice Cullen

Jasper Hale

Rosalie Hale

Emmett Cullen

Victoria

The 100

Bellamy Blake

Octavia Blake

Jasper Jordan

Shameless

Fiona Gallagher

Lip Gallagher

Carl Gallagher

Frank Gallagher

Mandy Milkovich

Kevin Ball

Veronica Fisher

The Bear

Carmy Berzatto

Sydney Adamu

Richie Jerimovich

Suicide Squad

Harley Quinn

Rick Flag

Blackguard

Once Upon A Time

Emma Swan

Regina Mills

Killian Jones

Rumplestiltskin

Robin Hood

Ruby

Hades

Community

Jeff Winger

Abed Nadir

Annie Edison

Troy Barnes

Ian Duncan

It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia

Charlie Kelly

Dennis Reynolds

Dee Reynolds

Mac

Cricket

House MD

Greg House

Robert Chase

James Wilson

Lisa Cuddy

Parks and Recreation

Ben Wyatt

April Ludgate

Andy Dwyer

MCU, Marvel

Steve Rogers

Tony Stark

Natasha Romanoff

Bruce Banner

Wanda Maximoff

Loki Laufeyson

Peter Parker(Holland, Garfield, Maguire)

Gamora

Peter Quill

Scott Lang

Steven Strange

Jessica Jones

Wade Wilson

DC CW

Oliver Queen

Barry Allen

Felicity Smoak

Laurel Lance

Sara Lance

Malcom Merlyn

John Constantine

Leonard Snart

Ray Palmer

Caitlyn Snow

Julian Albert

Rip Hunter

10 Things I Hate About You

Patrick Verona

Cameron James

New Girl

Jess Day

Nick Miller

Schmidt

Other Characters

Charlie Kelmeckis(Perks Of Being A Wallflower)

Jesse Eisenberg Characters

Dr. Who(10th Doctor)

Will Probably Add More

[maximumwobblerbanditdonut]

Manhunt

Tobias Menzies -Emmy Award Winner in the ‧ Conspiracy Fiction Manhunt - 2024

The 2024 Winter Television Critics Association press tour, Apple TV+ revealed the trailer for “Manhunt,” the upcoming seven-part, true crime limited series starring Emmy Award-winning actor Tobias Menzies (“The Crown,” “Game of Thrones”), and created by Emmy nominee Monica Beletsky (“Fargo,” “The Leftovers,” “Friday Night Lights”), who also serves as showrunner and executive producer. “Manhunt” makes its global debut on Apple TV+ with the first two episodes on Friday, March 15, 2024, and new episodes will debut Fridays, culminating in the finale on April 19, 2024.

Based on the New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award-winning nonfiction book from author James L. Swanson, “Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer “ is a conspiracy thriller about one of the best-known but least understood crimes in history, the astonishing story of the hunt for John Wilkes Booth in the aftermath of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination.

Part historical fiction, part conspiracy thriller, Edwin Stanton delves into the aftermath of the first American presidential assassination-and the fight to preserve and protect the ideals that were the foundation of Lincoln's Reconstruction plans.

Starring alongside Menzies are Anthony Boyle (“Masters of the Air,” “Tetris”), Lovie Simone (“Greenleaf”), Will Harrison (“Daisy Jones & The Six”), Brandon Flynn (“13 Reasons Why”), Damian O’Hare (“Hatfields & McCoys”), Glenn Morshower (“The Resident”), Patton Oswalt (“A.P. Bio”), Matt Walsh (“Veep”) and Hamish Linklater (“The Big Short”).

Manhunt” is produced by Apple Studios and coproduced by Lionsgate Television, in association with POV Entertainment, Walden Media, 3 Arts Entertainment, Dovetale Productions and Monarch Pictures. Beletsky, Emmy nominee Carl Franklin, Layne Eskridge and Kate Barry executive produce. Swanson, author of “Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer,” also serves as executive producer alongside Michael Rotenberg, Richard Abate, Frank Smith and Naia Cucukov. Franklin (“Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story,” “One False Move,” and “Devil in a Blue Dress”) also directed the first two episodes.

“Manhunt” will premiere globally on Apple TV+ on Friday, March 15.

Tobias Menzies great actor. I’m determined to watch the series 🍿

[shaotie]

Seven Years - Ch 3: The Whole Truth

When Raph, Mikey, Casey, and April got to the dojo, Leo’s entire body was shiny with sweat and he was clearly out of breath from having been training for who knows how many hours, perfecting his kenjutsu technique and showing no signs of giving up anytime soon

“We’re going out on patrol and you’re joinin’ us this time,” Raph demanded as his curt 'greeting' for his 'stubborn, dumb-dumb' brother.

“Can’t,” Leo replied without looking at them or slowing down with what he was doing. “I’m heading out to Draxum’s after this. He agreed to train me one-on-one, after dad refused for the fifth time.”

“Draxum!” Raph, Mikey, and April blurted out in surprise, before April exclaimed: “I thought you never forgave him for throwing you off a building!"

“Draxum threw Leo off a building!?” Casey exclaimed in surprise, never having been told that little tidbit in his timeline; and knowing Draxum as a brilliant warrior scientist who frequently worked alongside his turtle mentors/family in their fight against the krang.

“There’s a lot worse things than bein’ thrown off a roof,” Leo blandly replied, while continuing on with his perfectly timed moves.

“Is that where you've been disappearing to? Goin' out with Barry instead of spending time with us?” Raph curtly asked demanded.

Leo ignored him to continue with his training.

“Leo?”

“Hi-ya!”

“Leo!”

“Hoo-wa!”

“LEO!!!”

Leo stopped, lowered his hands, and looked straight at Raph, who angrily said: “Didn't you ever think we could use your help out there keepin’ the peace?”

His 'stubborn' brother wiped the sweat off his brow with the ninja wrappings covering the back of his hand, and then flashed Raph his winning 'faceman' grin when he casually replied: “They’re nothing but a bunch of lowlife crooks, you can handle them yourselves, you don’t need me.”

“Typical,” Raph replied angrily with a scowl. “Actin’ like we don’t need you. Just like the day of the invasion. I suppose you figured we didn’t need you and that’s why you sacrificed yourself to the krang, leavin’ us behind to clean up your mess!”

Leo took an aggressive step ahead and clenched his katanas tightly while yelling: “Is that a dig at me for losing the key!? You said you put that behind you!”

“I did. Raph wasn’t talkin’ about the key, I was talkin’ about you leaving us behind without you, to clean up the mess from what we thought was your death!”

“You keep telling me how much it hurt to watch that portal close with me on the other side, so why don’t you ever act like you missed me!? I missed you, but yooou’re too busy yelling at me every time our eyes meet to make me believe you even cared I was gone!”

“Of course I cared, that’s why I keep riding your shell! Because I want to make sure you never do something so dumb ever again!”

“Oh, sure, sacrificing myself to save the whole world was dumb! You know what the alternative was, but if you forgot perhaps you should have a long chat with future boy over there and he’ll refresh your memory!” Leo yelled even louder than before, and aggressively pointing to Casey with the pommel of his sword.

(The 'future boy' who was the only one outside of Draxum and Leo who understood the dire consequences of what would have happened if Leo hadn't decisively and swiftly acted as he did.

The 'future boy' who came from an alternate, apocalyptic, krang-dominated timeline and therefore was trying his best to keep his head above water in the midst of a totally different world that was thrown at him by his sensei and adoptive dad - who literally threw him into Master Michelangelo's time portal, and whose tragic death Casey witnessed.

The 'future boy' who was barely known by this ninja turtle family so felt it was wrong to stick his nose into their personal family affairs, and often watched the drama unfold from the sidelines, silently suffering over his own very traumatic past and losses)

“There had to be another way and if you can’t see that then Raph’s gonna keep riding your shell until you do!” the angry snapper yelled in the third person.

In reply, Leo screamed: "YOU ACT LIKE IT WOULDA BEEN BETTER IF I NEVER CAME HOME!!!" saying something he felt for a while but didn't share before today. Then he lowered his voice and glared at Raph in anger when he added a contemptible: "But that’s no good cuz then who would you have to push around and yell at every waking moment?”

He took deep breaths through his scowling mouth as his heart beat hard in his chest, waiting for a reply. But when everyone stared at him in stunned silence he felt too uncomfortable to keep looking at them, so turned around and sheathed his katanas while walking over to the table where his water was.

When April gently put her hand on his big snapping turtle arm, Raph thought about her words, thinking maybe she was right that they should lay off giving Leo a hard time and give him some breathing space, and not realizing before now that his brother felt they didn't want him around because of the way they had been treating him ever since the invasion. So he lowered his voice and replied in a softer tone: “I never said that, Leo. We’re glad to have you home.”

Leo poured himself a glass of water from the jug he brought into the dojo, and without turning around he said in a cold, quiet, spiteful tone: “Oh yeah, you have a really good way of showing it.”

The angry slider downed the water in one mouthful and stayed back-on to his family when he cut off Raph, who softly said: “Leo, I…” “Don’t wait around for me when you get back. Draxum said I could spend the night at his place. I need some time to get away and think, to clear my head.”

“Leo, can we…” “You better head out," Leo said much softer this time. "It’s getting dark, the crooks won’t wait around for you to show up.”

There was a moment of awkward silence, during which time Leo poured himself another glass of water - not because he was still thirsty, but because he wanted an excuse not to turn around and face his family.

(He was used to being a little dehydrated, after all, and it provided a weird comfort zone for him after feeling that way for seven long years before being ripped out of one alien dimension into a totally different, foreign yet familiar one)

Raph let out a sad, quiet, apologetic-sounding: “Yeah, you’re right. We’ll talk tomorrow at breakfast, ok?”

“Sure.”

. . .

"Come on team, let’s get going.”

Leo breathed a sigh of relief as soon as he heard his family leave, Then he tipped up the glass to slowly drink the contents.

But before he finished putting his empty glass back on the table, he heard Donnie’s voice in the doorway say: “Got a minute?”

Leo turned around and unsheathed a katana to resume his practice, while gruffly saying: “You’re talking to me now?” He began his training with one sword instead of two, and continued without letup as Dee calmly told him: “I finished the scans on Mikey’s portal.”

When Donnie stood in the doorway, watching Leo practice, not saying anything and clearly not planning to leave until his brother responded, the angry slider replied with a blunt:

“And?”

“And I discovered it was an interdimensional and time portal.”

. . .

“What’s your point?” came the sour reply.

“My point is that you were there longer than we thought.”

“I wouldn’t know. Like I said, can’t remember.”

“Highly unlikely.”

“Ok, genius, why don’t you tell me what happened if you know so much.”

“You’re deflecting.”

“I'm busy. Come back when I'm done and we'll talk then.”

“Try again.”

Leo abruptly stopped his practicing to glare at Donnie, and yelled: “Tell me what you want and leave!” Then he resumed his training but continued glaring at his brother to say a quieter but angry: “It was better when you weren’t talking to me.”

Donnie walked all the way in the room now, and Leo continued his training while keeping an eye on Dee while he spoke.

“You don’t think we see the signs?”

"What signs?”

“How you keep spacing out, your nervous tics, the panic attacks and night terrors, how you're spooked so easily..." "You guys don't get enough of your frustrations out yelling at me, you gotta talk about me behind my back, too!?"

"The random bursts of anger over minor things, like when you spread peanut butter too close to the edge of your toast..." "I don't like gettin' it on my fingers!"

"How you train until your hands bleed and you're so exhausted you can barely move..." "It helps me sleep!"

"Yeah, on the floor."

"How do you that!? Put a camera in my room after I took off that tracker!?"

Donnie once again ignored Leo's angry, defensive outburst to finish with: "How you refuse to go above ground, even when everyone else is heading to your favorite spots outside the damage zone. You were there, with Krang Prime, longer than two point zero three minutes, you and I both know that, just like we both know you remember it all.”

Leo abruptly stopped his training and threw his hands out while defensively yelling with an angry scowl: “Alright smart guy, you found me out! So I was there seven years, what of it!? That didn't affect YOU! I came home the same day, DIDN'T I!”

But judging by the look of shocked horror on Donnie’s face, he figured he shouldn’t have blurted that out.

Leo lowered his hands, straightened his fighter's stance, and stared Donnie in the eyes while quietly saying: “You didn’t know.”

Donnie stumbled over his words when he replied: “I . . . I thought it was fifteen, twenty minutes, maybe half an hour tops . . . but . . . but seven years! How is that possible!?”

“Don’t know, but it is.”

Leo turned around to walk back over to the table where his water was, but instead of pouring himself a glass he stared down at the jug and fidgeted with the hilt of the sword in his right hand. Which was only one of the many nervous tics he returned with.

“But you didn’t age a bit, and you remember everything from before you went in, right down to what you had for breakfast that day!”

Quietly and sadly, Leo told him: “Yeah. I know. I didn’t age in there and my clothes never wore out. And when I got home to the lair, everything that happened before was fresh in my mind and the prison dimension faded like a dream. Just like being there made this life feel like a dream. I was starting to believe it was all a dream, that you never existed ‘cept for my imagination. But Krang kept reminding me and then you blasted him in the face and Raph pulled me out through Mikey’s portal. But I thought none of that was real, until Mikey said my name, and I opened my eyes and you were all there, standing over me.”

“How do you know it was seven years?”

“The floating rocks orbit in a pattern," Leo bluntly and immediately replied, feeling like his insides were squirming around, wanting to get this part of the conversation over with as quickly as possible, and eager to open a portal and leave.

But now that one of his brothers was finally willing to listen without flying off the handle, he had a whooole lot to say.

"My wrist com lasted a year in there. That was one full orbit. Eventually I got good enough to tell apart the months and weeks, and even the days. There was nothing else to do," he added, before saying a quieter: "'Cept one thing."

*BAM!*

"AAAUGH!"

"DIE you worthless WRETCH!!!"

*BANG!*

"STOP IT!!! STOOOP IIIT!! OOOW!"

*BLAM!*

"AAAAAUUUGHHH!"

Leo took a deep breath to steady his shaky hands and continued in a quiet, sad, monotonous voice.

"I knew when it was our birthday, the night of our Jupiter Jim marathon, and our extreme skateboard brotherly bonding night. At least what I thought were those days here. But it was only two minutes for you, and I came back and nobody missed me. Because it was only two minutes.”

Donnie skipped over the untrue 'nobody missed me' phrase to deal with later, so he could focus on the cold, hard facts at hand, and asked: “We know Krang Prime was there with you, he was reaching for us when we pulled you out! Didn’t he attack you in all that time?”

“More times than I can count.”

“But you came out completely unscathed! And what about food and water!? How did you survive in there for seven years!?”

Leo spun around, stared Donnie straight in the eyes with an emotionless gaze, and pointedly told him the simple but weighty phrase: “You can’t die in the Prison Dimension.”

"WHY can't I KILL you you wretched VERMIN!!?"

"I couldn't, anyway."

He fiddled with his sword hilt a little more, and as he continued, Donnie wondered how he could share all of this without tearing up.

But it was because his emotions had gone completely numb.

(He was used to shutting off after all, as a coping mechanism to help deal with everything he went through for the past seven years)

Then he continued in his emotionless, monotone voice:

“There’s no need for food or water. No bleeding, no cuts, no swelling, welts or bruises. No knocked out teeth, no broken bones, no cracked shell; but you feel it all the same. There’s only floating rocks and islands in a black abyss surrounded by an impenetrable border that looks like giant krang mech suits floating in the distance, crying out in pain. With nothing to do but sleep and count the days, and Krang pummeling me over and over again for the little ‘trick’ I pulled as the only reminder any of this ever happened.”

He gestured with both hands to the room while looking around before staring at Donnie, still with an eerily blank, emotionless gaze that sent a chill up his spine because of how very un-Leo-like it was.

Because of how it looked like a part of his brother had already died on the inside.

Did his eyes always look that dull and listless over the past month?

Donnie really didn't know, and that realization tightened the guilty knot in the pit of his stomach for giving his brother the cold shoulder all this time.

Leo continued.

“It was just me and Krang Prime in a small dimension, no bigger than two or three miles wide all the way around. Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, he was never far away. And he never left me alone for long.”

Leo closed his eyes and put his head down when he quietly said the heartbreaking words in a barely audible whisper: "I gave up trying to run and hide after the first two years."

Next, he turned around to point the back of his shell at Donnie, and added: “That’s why I don’t join patrols or go topside with the rest of you. I look up at the sky, and it’s so big, never ending, I feel exposed. I look around, and all I see are hiding places for Krang. I know he’s not here but that doesn’t change how I feel.”

"You were there, suffering for seven years, and yet you'd do it again?" Donnie asked, dumbfounded, and repeating something Leo once told them when they were giving him a hard time, trying to convince him what he did was dumb and wrong.

"Yeah," Leo replied without hesitation. "It's not about me, remember?"

Leo began feeling antsy, wanting a quick way out in case this calm conversation suddenly turned sour (like most conversations with his family eventually did). He felt the soothing tingle of his ninpo as the markings on his face and body lit up, as well as the runes on the blade of his sword in his hand. Then a bright blue portal opened up beside him - just as effortlessly as if he hadn’t spent seven long, lonely, torturous years in a dimension where he couldn't once use his mystic powers.

“Leo, don’t go, stay, so we can talk,” Donnie pleaded, and Leo laughed to himself over the irony of Donnie of all people being the one to ask him to stay so they can 'talk' after spending a month giving him the cold shoulder. But he otherwise ignored him to say: “Krang Prime was right about you…”

“You useless, pathetic vermin. Do you think you're missed? Do you believe your family wants you back? Don't you understand yet you stupid pest, they HATE you for sacrificing yourself to the krang and leaving them behind to mourn."

“He was right about everything. He told me none of you missed me, and he was right. I missed you every day for seven years and I come home to find out it was only two minutes here, that you didn’t miss me, you didn't have time to miss me, and that you hate me for what I did.”

"We did miss you and we don’t hate you, Le…” “I suppose you should know, I told Raph I'll be spending the night at Draxum’s, but that's not the whole truth. All those times I disappeared, I went to his place. I told him what happened. I had to tell someone, and he was the only one not mad at me, the only one who understands. Well, Case was never mad at me, but I don't know if he understands why I did it, 'cept he took the key away, but not 'till after I begged him. I don't talk to him cuz I hardly know him at all. And I've been avoiding him because he reminds me of what could have happened all because I lost the key. And that I already failed once."

Leo took in a deep breath before continuing, and Donnie did what he realized he should have done a long time ago, by patiently waiting for his self-proclaimed 'twin' brother to continue pouring out his heart by telling him all the things he had been forced to keep inside until now; all while standing back-on to him and never once turning his head to look at his brother, or taking his blank gaze off the water jug.

And during the silence, Donnie realized for the first time that normally common for him word 'twin' or 'twinsie' never once left his mouth in the month since the invasion.

He wondered if it was because Leo was now seven years older than him, because they hadn't been talking, or perhaps because he didn't feel like they were twins anymore with the way Donnie had been treating him.

When he was ready to continue, Leo let out one sad, pathetic, bitter laugh and said:

"I told Pops two days after you guys brought me home. I told him when his show was on that I was there for seven years and Krang Prime kept beating on me, cuz I just couldn't hold it in anymore and every time I brought it up, to try and tell someone else, it always turned into an argument. But all he did was wave me away, say 'yes, that's nice,' and asked me to put on the kettle so he could have a cup of tea at the next commercial break. So I gave up trying to talk to him and left. That was when I went to Draxum's the first time. And when dad saw me later that day, we got into an argument cuz I didn't put his kettle on the stove and he missed part of his show waiting for it to boil, as if something like that even matters. He acts like the invasion never happened - like I don't need him - so I didn't bother him anymore after that. 'Cept to ask him to train me a few times. But he's too busy with his soap operas and game shows for that. And I suppose April backed off after the first couple of weeks, but there's still a tension I can feel, and I was already talking to Draxum by then.

"He got his place back by the way. The big one in the Hidden City, cuz of all the good he did helping fight the krang by keepin' those krang zombies outta there. Stuff he did that we didn't know about. And when I asked, he said I can stay with him as long as I need, to clear my head and get back on my feet. When he gets sick of me, like I know he will, I suppose I'll find some other place in the Hidden City to live. Or maybe somewhere else, somewhere far away, where we won't bump into each other, so I can't get under your shells anymore."

"Leo, please..." "Tell Raph I lied, I won’t be back for breakfast. It can’t make him more mad at me than he already is, not that I'll be around to hear it. Besides, this is better for everyone. Especially for all of you. And me? I'm done fighting. I fought long enough. I hung around today cuz it's the one month anniversary and I wanted to see if anything would change, to give it one last try. But Raph and the others left just before you showed up. He came here for no other reason than to boss me around and yell at me some more. Didn't even bother saying 'hi' first. He yelled and we argued and the others listened and, like usual, none of them stood up for me. Nothing ever changes, everything stays the same, like in the prison dimension. The same squabbles, the same bickering, the same cold shoulder, the same arguments playing on repeat, the same heartless blows. Except yours hurt worse than Krang's did, cuz all yours were aimed at my heart. Nothing ever changes, 'cept for me."

. . .

"Leo..." "I'm tired, Donnie. If the world needs me for another earth shattering disaster I'll be there, but I'm done playing the hero. All I want now is..." 'sleep.' "peace and quiet. And I'm used to being alone. I'll be fine. Not that any of you care."

"But we do care!"

"No you don't. You think you do, but you don't. Not anymore," Leo abruptly and flatly replied. Without closing the portal beside him, that was casting a blue glow on his green turtle frame, he sheathed his katana to put both hands on the table, stretched out to the sides, with his arms straight and his elbows locked, so he could lean his weight on his hands.

And for the first time since the invasion, Donnie finally noticed how very tired his 'twin' brother looked and sounded.

Even back-on to him, it looked like he was carrying a heavy burden - one too heavy for him to bear alone that he had been carrying for a very long time - ever since the day of the invasion when he first fought Krang Prime and went into the prison dimension.

Seven years ago for him, mere minutes for them.

The weight that was tiring him out and weighing him down, of coming back from fighting and defending himself day in and day out in there, only to have to do the same thing but in a different way out here; but with his family who was supposed to love him taking Krang Prime's place.

The same routine - the same fight - day in and day out.

Tired of constantly defending himself against his family, who should have been on his side, been wiling to listen; to show a little love and empathy and compassion that they didn't even show during family therapy sessions - the sessions that he never missed, despite the fact they always ended with the same heated debate over and over again every time.

Donnie wondered now if Leo only attended to get the mandatory group hug they started with. The hug he flat-out refused to participate in, because of his strong feelings towards their 'dumb-dumb' martyr brother.

The one hug Leo could get from his family every other day, before they went back to giving him the cold shoulder and tearing him down with their words.

Tearing him down like Krang Prime did to him in the prison dimension.

Tearing him down like they were his enemies.

Each of them so convinced of the rightness of their words and actions that not one of them realized what they were doing to their very own brother and how he looked so tired - moreso as the days stretched on - partly because he put on a brave face and coped with smiles and humor and bad puns and one-liners, and partly because they let their anger and fear of losing him again blind their minds to the truth staring them in the face.

'Did we really stop hugging him?' Donnie wondered to himself. 'Did none of us listen to him, not even once? Was he really trapped away all alone with that monster for seven years and he couldn't tell us, because we wouldn't let him? Because we were too busy venting our emotions to listen when he tried to share his?'

Despite how much that thought sickened him and even left him feeling a little bit dirty on the inside for some reason he couldn't explain, Donnie couldn't help but admit the answer to each and every one of his questions was a loud, firm, resounding 'YES!'

And the distraught softshell was beginning to wonder if his self-proclaimed twin brother was even a little tired of life itself as he continued in his flat, monotonous, emotionless voice, standing back-on to him, never once turning around to see his face, as though just looking at his brother was a source of grief for him; and leaning all his weight onto the table, as though just the effort of standing and . . . well . . . living was too much for his turtle soul to bear.

And sounding very much like he really was seven years older than them now. That he lived seven long, harsh, lonely years where he had plenty of time to contemplate the far reaching effects of his heroic, self-sacrificing actions, as well as the devastatingly bitter consequences if he had not acted when he did.

"You only care about yourselves now," Leo continued, never raising his voice, never breaking out of the bland, tired tone that was beginning to rip Donnie's normally scientific, factual heart apart.

"Because you're stuck in your bubbles, too busy yelling at me for how my little 'trick' affected you to see the big picture," Leo went on.

"What could we have done if Krang pulled the technodrome out of the portal, hmm? What if he closed the portal and put the key somewhere we could never get it, what then? Did any one of you ever think about that? No. You're too preoccupied with your own anger and resentment you put on me instead of putting it where it belongs, on the aliens who came here to destroy us all, to realize that even a five minute delay could have meant the difference between victory and destruction; between life and death for everybody. Because you're too afraid to see the truth of what the krang could've really done. All because you want to keep denying there could be another threat out there, somewhere. A threat as powerful as the krang. One that can't be stopped. It's easier to blame the guy right in front of your nose, who hurt you, than deal with your fears of what could have been or might still be. I know, I went through it too, I'm still going through it. I blame myself for losing the key instead of blaming the Foot for opening the portal or the krang for what they did.

"This is ALL YOUR FAULT!!!"

"I blame myself for a lotta stuff. But I never said any of those things before, what was the point? If a living, breathing person staring you in the face who had to be sent back from that timeline as a last resort wasn't enough to open your eyes, nothing that came out of my mouth would've mattered."

Leo paused in his speech and hung his head a little lower, with Donnie staring at the back of his head with his mouth open, as though he wanted to say something; but no words came out.

Not because his genius mind wasn't reeling from all of this, but because he was left totally speechless by Leo's heartfelt, brutally honest words that cut him to the core.

The silence stretched on until Leo scornfully laughed, and this time when he continued in his speech, although the quiet, bland tone remained, there was a clear hint of something his brother couldn't quite put his finger on, that lay somewhere in the range of bitterness, anger, resentment...

...or possibly even outright hatred.

"You all know Mikey sacrificed his life in the future to send Casey back to stop the krang, but none of you seem to think he did anything wrong. No. That didn't affect you, did it? Instead you keep praising him for how his 'mystic hands' brought Casey to us to help with the fight, and for how he used them to 'save the day' after your dumb-dumb brother got himself trapped with Krang Prime. A 'dumb' move none of you seem to realize ended the invasion the same day it started, instead of it stretching on for decades with hope dwindling away until it becomes nothing but a distant memory from times long gone."

Leo sighed deeply at the thought of how hope dwindled away and died like a distant, forgotten memory for him a long, long time ago.

Was this living?

No. He was just alive.

And then he continued.

"A 'dumb' move that saved your lives and the lives of the countless billions all over the earth. A move that saved everyone except for the millions who already died or got mutated after the krang were here for only three hours."

For the first time since this conversation started, Leo's voice began to rise from clear, undeniable anger. Anger mixed in with disgust, and Donnie didn't need to see his face to know he was speaking with an angry scowl when he said his final, hard-hitting words that stabbed through Dee's heart like a sword:

"But you don't have to worry about your dumb-dumb brother ruining your lives anymore. The lives you're only living because of me. The safe, petty lives you get to live because I was willing to sacrifice everything for you."

Donnie cried out: “No, wait!” and ran at Leo when he suddenly stepped through the portal without a second's hesitation, and without as much as turning around to give his brother one final passing glance 'goodbye'.

Before he even made it halfway across the room, the portal snapped shut behind his ‘twin’, who was actually seven years older now, and who believed with every fiber of his being his family really and truly hated him for doing what he knew from the beginning was the right thing to do:

be a hero by protecting innocent lives without hesitation. Even at great cost to one's self.

And standing there, alone, in the dimly lit, quiet dojo, Donnie knew Leo was right. Why didn't he see it before? Why did it take something so monumental to open his eyes? The entire invasion lasted no more than three hours from beginning to end, but it destroyed over half of New York and took millions of lives.

And Leo knew from the beginning. He was the only one of the four mutant ninja turtle brother 'heroes' who could look past their noses to see the cold, hard realities they were too afraid to let themselves see - Donnie was too afraid to let his fact-loving, empirical, data-collecting mind to see. Even one five minute delay could have cost the lives of millions more, and put the krang in a position where the technodrome wasn't vulnerably sitting in the precipice between two dimensions.

The otherwise indestructible technodrome that itself was so wickedly powerful it destroyed all the military advances in an instant and had the power to put the already mighty krang in the position where they could never be defeated - where they would annihilate every living thing on the entire planet that wasn't first mutated into their likeness.

Like what already happened in Casey's timeline.

The timeline where they failed.

In his mind, Donnie heard Casey's voice from the day of the invasion. The voice he heard before but didn't really hear until now.

The voice that told them - that warned them:

"Right now the krang are using that key to bring in something that will destroy the world."

But they were all caught up projecting their anger and fears and frustrations squarely on their brother's shoulders instead of against the deadly krang - who were stronger than them; who, despite being small in number were so powerful they couldn't be defeated in combat...

...who were gone and they couldn't see. Couldn't direct their anger and frustrations and fears onto from the trauma they were each experiencing as a result of one three hour, devestating alien invasion.

So instead they projected them all onto their brother, who was right in front of their faces and they could see; focusing on how his actions affected them; feeling the pain of being left behind to grieve their loss that really - to them - only lasted two minutes. So that they never once took a step back to see the big picture, and kept venting their frustrations (frustrations that should have been directed at the murderous krang) onto their brother, Leo, by trying to get him to stop being so 'stubborn' and agree with them never to do something so 'dumb' ever again.

By giving him the cold shoulder in between incessantly bringing up the events of that day, and giving him a hard time with frequent debates and lively arguments until he relented.

All while he suffered in silence with a grin on his face and a joke on his tongue in between aggressively defending himself, because he had to.

Because he was right.

Leo was never going to relent, and now Donnie understood why. Despite how harshly he suffered for his quick, lifesaving act, their red-eared slider hero brother knew he did the right thing for the greater good; was so confident about the rightness of his decision that he would be willing to suffer all over again for them, when they weren't willing to bear the pain of losing him for what amounted to no more than two measly minutes.

Seven years versus two minutes.

Seven years of torturous agony to come home and continue suffering in silence while they loudly and persistently vented their anger and hurt and frustrations and everything in between over two minutes of heartache.

It hardly seemed fair.

It wasn't fair.

And now, they lost him, just like that he was gone, with the real possiblity he would never return to his sewer home to be with his family who allowed the anger and resentment they wouldn't let go of to weigh him down more than he already was, and push him away when he needed love and affection; all without seeing what they were doing to him.

Not until it was already too late.

Donnie stared blankly ahead at the empty spot where Leo's portal shut a few seconds ago, and raised his arm to click on his wrist com to reach out to Raph.

"Come home," was the only thing he sadly said.

"Donnie what's wrong, are you ok!?" came Raph's panicked reply.

Donnie's mouth went dry and he swallowed a lump before opening his mouth and saying in his bland, yet sad tone of voice:

"Leo's gone."

"What do you mean gone!?" Raph cried out.

"He left and he's not coming back. Come home."

And then, Donnie really got his big brother in a panic when he said four words he had never before uttered in his entire life.

"I need a hug."

<<previous || next>>

🐢 Seven Years masterpost

🐢 masterpost for my rottmnt ao3 fanfics and art

[wambold]

The weekly James Bond watch party - Die Another Day

The last Pierce Brosnan Bond movie. Halle Barry and Rosamund Pike.

IMHO, this was the Bond movie that was so over the top that there had to be the DC Bond reboot.

8am Pacific time, Sunday, April 13, 2025.

As always, we'll be in the Discord channel. Message me for an invite if you need one. All Bond fans welcome, join us! (Drop me a note if you want to be tagged.)

@a-forger-and-a-point-man

[riptideripley]

Chapter Ten of Addicted

word count: 986

It was Friday, the first day of the draft. Rhea sat on the couch and was excited to see Bianca as the first draft pick, making a mental note to call her later. Hearing that Jey would stay on Raw gave her so much peace, after talking to him since last Tuesday she finally made her peace on what her future choices would be.

Standing up and going to the kitchen, she grabbed a small bowl and heated up some soup Jey had made the day before he had to leave out to get ready for Raw. Her phone started to ring and it was the one person she for damn sure didn't want to speak to, Dom.

"Hello?"

"Hey mami, how's the shoulder?"

"It's doing better. How's your elbow?"

"Better as well. Hey you wouldn't have talked to Liv or JD lately have you?"

Shit. "No.. I haven't, why?" she lied straight to him, not that it bothered her any.

"Oh alright just wondering.. you watching the draft? How's Bella?"

"Yeah I'm watching.. and Bella is fine."

Dom could sense something was wrong with her tone but didn't want to pressure her about it. But something was definitely.. off.

"You seem tired so I'll let you go, night mami"

"Night Dom"

She immediately hung up and got this weird feeling, it was like he knew that she knew. She dialed JD's number and waited patiently.

"JD? Are you alone right now or.."

"Yeah what's up? Everything okay?"

"I um.. I think he knows that you told me."

"..what?"

"We were on the phone and he just seemed off, it feels like he knows JD. I just don't want anything or anyone to get hurt okay?"

"Yeah..yeah. Hey listen, call Damian alright?

He hung up, leaving Rhea confused. 'Why do I need to call him..' she thought and brushed it off, grabbing her bowl and returning to the couch.

As the night went on and Smackdown was finished, she finally decided to call Damian.

"Hello?" Iyo had answered the phone.

"Hey Iyo, is Damian around? I need to talk to him, it's kind of important."

She heard some shuffling around and waited, glancing down at a sleeping Bella on her side.

"Hey Sis, you alright?"

"Yeah I'm alright but.. JD told me to call you. It's about Dom and Liv.." she trailed off going quiet. She hated the thought of them together and just talking about it made her want to rip someone's head off.

"Oh I see.. look me and Cody found out some shit about them. Apparently they've been sneaking around behind your back since like December or some shit, you'll have to ask Cody. Look I don't know as much as he does but-"

"Don't even bother. I'll talk to Cody myself, don't tell anyone you told me okay? Talk to me after the draft." she hung up before Damian could respond, tossing her phone to the side. She just needed some rest and this will all be over by the morning.

Time Skip. April 29th.

Rhea had talked to Cody about the situation. Now all she needed to do was wait for Damian to call her once the draft was over tonight. "Hey Rips you alright? You seem zoned out over there" Roman spoke, breaking her from her thoughts.

"Yeah I'm alright.. just a little worried about this whole thing with Liv and Dom" she confessed, scooping Bella up into her hand. "I understand but look it's nothing neither one of us can do about it yet alright? We just have to trust Damian, Cody, and whoever the hell else is involved to fix this shit." he told her, setting some plates down on the counter with a slice of toast.

She sighed and waited for him to finish spreading some butter on her toast, grabbing the vegemite from the cabinet. "Have you talked to Jey?"

"No.. Not since yesterday morning" she responded, spreading some vegemite onto her toast. "Well I'll be back, I'm gonna take Barry and Luna to the vet today so you can rest. Does Bella need to go or is she good?" he asked as he stood up, finishing the rest of his toast.

"She has an appointment next month"

Time Skip. 10:45pm.

Her phone rang.

"Damian?"

"Hey. So look, I know you saw what happened earlier on Raw. But I've talked to Cody, he's gonna see what he can do."

"Alright.." she trailed off, scrolling through her laptop. It didn't take her long to get all of Dom's messages and even the camera roll hooked up to her laptop, seeing as she had to do the same thing with Liv. "I'm just looking at some shit here from his phone if you're wondering why I'm quiet."

"How the hell- You know what, I don't even wanna know. Where's Roman? I thought he would be home by now."

"He's out with Dean right now, they should be on the way back with Seth though"

"Shit- Sorry I gotta go, Doms calling"

"Oh-" the line cut. She continued to scroll, seeing messages discussing her injury.

"Hey Rips..? Are you alright in here? Seth is downstairs if you want to say hi" Roman spoke as he opened her door, watching her slam her laptop closed. He sensed something was up and walked in, shutting the door behind him.

"What happened?" "I.. I found some stuff from his phone that I hooked up to my laptop. Look, should I just wait until after Backlash to talk to him?"

Roman sat there and thought for a second, "Yeah.. that's the best choice you got right now. Look, backlash is this Saturday so let's just wait it out and talk to them after alright?"

She nodded and sat her laptop beside her, kicking the soft grey covers off her legs. "I'll go talk to Seth, how's his back?" "He's feeling better"

[rivailshootin]

I keep thinking about p!Leo with F!Donnie. or p!Leo with F!Leo, even

tw: nsfw, teasing, a bit of S&M, accidental voyeurism at the end

are we. are we allowed to post these kinda things on tumblr. I'm not sure I'm prepared for twitter. I haven't thought this through

they're both so much bigger than p!Leo, I bet if they sandwiched him between them you would barely even see him - and p!Leo is just a flustered mess between them, because goddammit this is his twin who dislikes physical contact and super hot and competent version of himself from the future.

F!Leo and F!Donnie already having an established relationship and deciding to mess with p!Leo. F!Donnie making sure to give p!Leo more attention than usual, lingering touches while passing by, subtly showing off his arms and such

meanwhile, F!Leo takes advantage of p!Leo’s admiration of himself - calling him to train to show him some moves, pressing himself against p!Leo's back to fix his posture, casually grabbing him by the waist and leaning towards his face when giving him advice

all while Leo is having a crisis because is he really that narcissistic? did he always feel like that about Donnie, does he need to review their whole relationship? having a whole spiral that just gets shut down the moment F!Donnie puts a hand on his shoulder while asking him if he wants to spend evening with him and F!Leo while everyone else is out. Splinter is on vacation thanks to Barry, humans are at April's and the boys are probably on a patrol, it's been pretty quiet after the invasion so while thinking it's a bit weird they don't mind when Leo tells them he's hanging back with the future twins

the moment Raph, Donnie and Mikey are gone the game between F!Leo and F!Donnie starts - who can crack down p!Leo first. if p!Leo was flustered before, now his face matches his markings. pressing p!Leo into their sides, talking right beside his ear slits, at one point they play some games together and p!Leo keeps losing because he's too distracted by their hands on his thighs.

eventually, p!Leo ends up in F!Leo's lap with F!Donnie right next to them, when it gets too much and he finally gives up, grinding onto F!Leo's thigh. immediately after everything freezes, before F!Leo chuckles and grabs p!Leo's hips and pushing him down as he's moving his leg up, grinding p!Leo onto his thigh just like he had done so himself moments prior

F!Donnie, watching all this joins into the action and starts whispering sweet filth into p!Leo's throat, one of his hands moving to squeeze p!Leo's tail, making p!Leo drop into his shorts. it's not long before they have him moaning and twitching, nearing p!Leo's release when both of them abruptly stop. p!Leo doesn't even realise he started whining until he feels fingers at his entrance, pushing into him before he has a chance to protest. the burn is there and it's extremely uncomfortable, even with how wet p!Leo is. the digit starts moving inside him, stopping shortly after with a small 'tsk' and mutterings about needing to fetch lube.

the Leos wait together for Donnie to return, F!Leo checking with p!Leo that he's actually okay with what's happening and getting positive answer in return. F!Donnie returns and pushes p!Leo to sit on his knees above F!Leo's leg, taking off his shorts in the process and throwing them aside, p!Leo winds his arms around F!Leo's neck and F!Donnie moves to stand plastron to carapace with p!Leo. this time with lube, F!Donnie's fingers return to p!Leo's entrance, pushing obscene moan from his mouth. F!Leo starts pressing kisses onto the younger's face, throat, and shoulders, letting out a startled groan when he feels hands on his dick. F!Donnie started jerking him off from around p!Leo, pulling out his fingers and moving p!Leo's arms to jerk off F!Leo. when F!Donnie's satisfied, he moves away from them both and lines up with p!Leo's entrance, smoothly ramming his dick in and bottoming out with one thrust.

p!Leo is seeing stars and the burn is back, just as his cock is weeping from the lack of attention but he's too far gone to do anything except to keep begging for more and grinding back onto F!Donnie's dick. he drags p!Leo further down on the couch as he's pulling back his hips, until p!Leo is low enough for F!Leo to push p!Leo's head onto his dick. not giving p!Leo any chance to adjust to the new position - F!Leo knows himself, knows he likes it rough - F!Leo starts sharply thrusting into p!Leo's mouth while F!Donnie sets a brutal pace, sighing his claws into p!Leo's hips. F!Donnie and F!Leo synchronise so they're pushing in at the same time, stuffing p!Leo from both ends at the same time. with a particularly rough thrust from F!Donnie, p!Leo lets out a high-pitched wail around F!Leo's cock, strangled curse the only warning he gets before F!Leo is grabbing him by his nape and pushing his head down until he's choking on his dick with snout pressed against F!Leo's pelvis, cum shooting down his throat, giving him no choice but to swallow.

F!Donnie continues to slam into p!Leo, intent on making him cum untouched, right hand on p!Leo's hip while the other keeps squeezing Leo's thigh and ass. knowing he's not gonna last long, he bends over and sharply bites down on p!Leo's shoulder, strong enough to make him thrash and start warbling around F!Leo's dick still lodged in his throat. with one last powerful thrust F!Donnie pushes over the edge, his load shooting inside of p!Leo setting off his own orgasm. when F!Donnie's caught his breath enough, he pulls out and gathers p!Leo into his arms with shaky legs, heading for the bathroom. F!Leo cleans up after their activities before joining them in the shower for the 2nd round.

p!Donnie knew his twin was behaving weirdly when he told them he wasn't going to join them on patrol, but decided he's gonna find out what's that about later. when he and his brothers returned home, the trio was already asleep. Raph and Mikey thought they just got tired, but p!Donnie had a feeling there was something more to it. and behold, when he checked the security tapes, he quickly found what made p!Leo behave so weirdly. even after jerking off to the recording, it wasn't enough and no matter how much he tried nothing helped, making him go to the bed aroused and frustrated.