#au. dying is easy ( living is hard ) | marvel | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

ririchanva · 7 months ago

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Summary: Shiro, in the last moments of dying, was sent back to the past to rewrite events that will change for the better. Once he started to change one thing, a lot of other things also went into a butterfly effect. Will he be able to prevent a disastrous future this time around?

A/n: Okay, so welcome to this second crossover story on this account~! This time, we're tackling not just Voltron: Legendary Defender, but we get a lot of Ben 10, Marvel and DC stuff as well. This was one of the other projects I've been working on besides Quirks and Miracles, and hope this one receives the amount of love as much as my other story does. I did try to write this story before, but had to scrap and re-do it for some major changes plot wise. Anyways, here is chapter one, and hope you all enjoy~

Chapter Warning: Mentions of war, violence, blood and major character death(s), but only for this chapter. It is also a Fix-It sort of fic about also an AU crossover that's different from canon events.

Chapter One: The Return of Voltron (Part 1)

It was supposed to be an easy mission.

Being called out of retirement, Shiro was invited to a peace treaty celebration between some planets that were joining the Galactic Coalition. And of course, it was not only the former Captain of the ATLAS that was told to come.

It was good seeing the team again. With Hunk dressed in his culinary uniform, Pidge maturing over the years, even Keith grew up and calmed down from his “lone wolf” phase…

….the biggest change was Lance.

Shiro softened at watching the once bright eyed sharp shooter ageing faster than Shiro himself, especially since the Cuban no longer smiled or showed any emotions. He almost looked like a shell of his former self, taking Keith’s role into being a wall flower and avoided talking to people. Particularly to his former teammates. Losing Allura took it’s toll on the former Blue turned Red Paladin, to the point that he had retired earlier than Shiro to live in his family’s farm.

It was a shame, but Shiro respected his friend’s decision.

The reunion was cut short when the party was ambushed by rebel Galras that did not join the Blade of Marmora nor surrendered to the Voltron Alliance. Shiro, being rusty, had tried to fight off the best of his abilities…

….But it wasn’t enough.

And now, the previous Black Paladin was lying on the cold, hard ground…bleeding out and dying.

He couldn’t move. He couldn’t even think straight as he was listening to the blasting of guns, the cries of allies and enemies alike…he even had to close his eyes tight at the shouts of his teammates names. Keith yelling at Lance as a body hit the floor, the screams of both Hunk and Pidge and more thuds.

Shiro had turned his head with a broken sob at seeing his fallen friends. Hunk being the farthest away, body unrecognisable. Pidge…she was curled up as if hugging herself and unmoving…

Then, there was Keith and Lance. Side by side. Lance on his back with dead eyes and Keith curled up on top of him, as if shielding him. But it looked poetic as Lance looked at peace while Keith looked pained…almost regretful..

Shiro too. He felt regret wash over him.

Tears welled in his eyes at the memories flashing in his mind. He regretted not talking to his friends, his found family, more even when they separated to their own lives after Voltron was no more. He wished he knew where the Lions went, find Black maybe. That he didn’t talk to Keith more about Lance, or even talking to Lance himself as the former Blue Paladin withered away.

Heck, he didn’t even want to admit it…but Shiro regretted marrying Curtis.

Thinking now, as he was dying, he never really loved him. Curtis was a sort of comfort that Shiro accepted. At the time, Shiro thought he had true feelings for the man that helped him in the ATLAS. He deluded himself thinking he was in love with the man, because he couldn’t process that Adam was gone. That Shiro…settled because he thought that was what he wanted, needed, at the time.

‘I am an idiot. I’ve basically strung Curtis along in a lie…and I can’t even tell him because I am here…about to die…’ Shiro thought to himself as the world quieted down around him, signalling that the battle was over. He didn’t even care if his side won or if the rebelled Galra did.

More memories of his past flashed before his eyes, and he chuckled. Did he deserve to remember? Allura must be scolding me in the stars by now…

Allura.

What would she think about this?

He had to cough a laugh, thinking that Allura would be upset that they lost easily…or that she would be screaming at him to get up, keep fighting…

“I have no more in me to keep fighting…” Shiro admitted to himself while wheezing, staring at the sky about him as he sniffed, “I think…it’s time…”

“You gonna give up so easily?”

Shiro looked at the voice that spoke, seeing a familiar brown haired male sitting on top of him, staring down at him with those hauntingly green eyes. Hallucination or real, Shiro accepted the person with a bitter laugh, shaking his head.

“You of all people would show up as I breathe my last breath.” Shiro murmured weakly, as the person looked down at him sadly, tilting his head.

“You’re not a quitter, Shiro. You’re a fighter, and a stubborn one at that.”

Shiro softened, wanting to reach up and touch the other person’s face. Or even sit up and reach up to hug him, anything. But alas, he didn’t have the strength to do so and then sighed.

“…You were right, Ben.”

Ben raised a brow at Shiro, who just chuckled then coughed hard, making the brunet concerned.

“Right…about what?”

“Everything. I should’ve listened to you when you said that I was in over my head before Kerberos. I should’ve listened to you when you said you were only looking out for me and not trying to talk down at me because of…of my disease. I know you’re not like Adam, and I just…” Shiro closed his eyes and sighed, his head lolling to the side, “…I should’ve talked to you. O-Or found you when I came back on Earth…hell, I should’ve tried to find you when I came back the first time before finding the Blue Lion…”

Ben stayed silent, and Shiro continued.

“There are many things I should’ve done and wanted to say. And…and I wish I didn’t…”

“…Didn’t what…?”

Shiro opened his eyes again, the light leaving his eyes as he saw nothing in front of him. Hallucination, then.

Shiro sobbed as he felt alone, his vision slowly fading as he breathed out softly.

“I wish I didn’t go to the Kerberos Mission and followed after you that day…”

“Is that what you wish for?”

Shiro looked up, expecting the illusion of Ben again, but was surprised seeing a young pale man with almost shaggy dark brown hair and dark brown eyes staring back at him blankly. While he did look on the youthful side, his eyes…it looked almost ancient and staring right into his soul.

“…Who are you?”

“Me? I’m…” The young man paused, tapping on his chin, bobbing his head side to side before speaking again, “You can call me Caspian. It’s the name I prefer actually.”

“Who…?” Shiro closed his eyes for a moment, before opening them again as he breathed out tiredly, “What are you? Are you…like, Death?”

“Heh, that’s a good one. Dunno what I am right now, honestly…but I do know I am here to help you~” Caspian had a quirk of an amused smile for a moment before looking seriously at the man before him, “Takashi Shirogane, you are in need to save the universe.”

Save the universe?

Shiro couldn’t help but painfully laugh, which confused Caspian as Shiro shook his head.

“Of course I’d be dragged into once again saving the universe….” Shiro sighed in annoyance, then looked at Caspian, “Why me? Why do I have to do it?” And not someone else for a change?

“Because you wished to fix your mistakes? Is that not what you truly wished for?” Caspian raised a brow at Shiro before tilting his head, “That you wanted to change things and make it right?”

Shiro opened his mouth for a moment, then closed it, sighing. “…Why not ask another person? Someone…not me? Someone else that could maybe change things for the better than I could…”

Something in Caspian softened as a solemn smile appeared on his face, “…The Universe cherishes you, Shiro.”

Shiro snorted, “The Universe has a funny way of showing it.”

“Well, the Lions of Voltron had chosen you.”

“…The Lions are gone. They left when Princess Allura died.” Shiro said miserably, feeling the guilt in his heart.

“And they wish to have their Princess and Paladins back,” Caspian countered, “The Universe needs to be put into balance, and properly this time. So, the Universe thought that you alone should go back and fix everything…save your—what did you call them? Your Space Family.”

Shiro turned his head to where Caspian was looking, his heart clenched at seeing the dead bodies of his friends. Pursing his lips, he turned his head back to the other male, and softened.

“…So, are you taking me now?”

Caspian snorted at his acceptance, and nodded.

“Right where you wished to be…”

A hand reached out to touch over the former Black Paladin’s chest as Shiro felt himself passing out.

“Remember, Takashi Shirogane. Once you make ONE change, everything else will be different than what you remember…”

…

……

………

…………

“…Shiro?”

Opening his eyes with a gasp, the Asian male whipped his head around frantically, as if just remembering to breathe.

He…he wasn’t in that planet anymore? He wasn’t dying and lying in his own pool of blood?

Shiro had to pat himself up, down and around his body to see where his gaping wound on his side was, clearly seeing he wasn’t even wearing his ATLAS uniform.

It was a Galaxy Garrison Space Suit.

“Shiro? We’re about to be launch for Kerberos in twenty minutes, are you coming?”

Whipping his head to the source of the voice, he almost dropped his jaws when seeing a very much younger Matt Holt staring at him in concern, fixing his glasses.

“Kerberos…”

Shiro was at a loss at first, before his mind remembered the day of him, Matt and Sam Holt flying off to space for the first time. He had to look around then saw a reflection of himself, and gasped. He was twenty one again, his face young, full of life and…his hair was all black and he still had his right arm.

He was back.

Soon, he turned around and started running, ignoring the calls of Matt as he was making his way into the Garrison.

He had to find him. He just had to!

Flashes of a memory formed in Shiro’s head as he ran. Of a brown haired male talking desperately to the young Shiro to not fly to Kerberos and wanted to say something more, almost looking sad and defeated. Flashes of Shiro angrily yelling at him and storming away…and into the very ship that changed his life forever.

Shiro pushed himself to run faster, hoping he wasn’t too late…

…And smiled in relief at seeing a slouched figure going through the exit of the Garrison gates.

“BEN!”

Back straightened at the sound of the voice, the young man was turning his head questionably, toxic green coloured eyes looked towards him in surprise, and almost slightly red as if he was holding back tears.

“…Shiro?”

Shiro felt his whole body warm at the surprised and breathless tone the other male had and was rushing towards him in top speed, not caring that he looked like a lunatic with arms waving above his head and crying big fat tears. It seemed Ben wasn’t prepared as he was soon feeling strong arms around him, almost falling over if it wasn’t for Shiro pulling him into his chest and sobbing on him.

“S-shiro? What—?”

“Thank god! Thank god, you’re here…”

Ben Tennyson was never one to be surprised about anything anymore. Ever since he was ten years old, the boy now ageing into a fine young adult, the brunet had been through so many things and met so many walks of life that nothing should ever catch him off guard. So it came to a shock that the summer childhood friend he’s known since he was eleven was now burying his face onto his shoulder, leaving tears and snot trails on his hoodie.

“…Ah, S-shiro…?” Ben asked awkwardly, looking at the bigger male tightening his grip around him, and was relieved when he looked up to see Matt running over to them, “Matt! Thank fuck, do you know what’s got into Shiro?”

“That’s what I would like to know! It wasn’t a few minutes ago that Shiro couldn’t wait to leave this place and go up in space!” Matt huffed, hands on his knees as he was taking a breath from running all the way here, and then looked back up, very miffed, “You got a lot of explaining to do, Shirogane! Do you have any idea how this is going to look?! What will Sanda say when you have begged and pleaded for your case to go on this mission—?”

“Fuck Sanda.”

Ben and Matt both looked horrified at Shiro swearing with a low growl, with Ben having his jaws drop and Matt almost breaking his glasses comically.

“Shiro…?” Ben questioned before Matt screamed out loud.

“THE FUCK DID YOU SAY?! ARE YOU CRAZY!?”

Shiro looked back up at his best friend and narrowed his eyes, and Ben squeaked when he felt the arms tighten around him more. What was going on with him?

“Yes. Tell Sanda to shove it, I changed my mind. I’m not going to Kerberos…”

Calming down, Shiro softened.

“Please tell your dad I’m sorry and thank you for everything, but there’s something important that I’ve gotta do…”

This time, Shiro turned to Ben and breathed out.

“Ben, I’m going to need your help. There’s a lot I wanna say to you, but for now, I think there are much more important things to cover. Will you help me?”

“Yes, of course,” Ben said without hesitation, smiling.

This…this was something that Ben had been waiting a long while for. He wasn’t sure what changed in Shiro at this moment, but it was better than the cold shoulder and violent overacting anger towards him for the past few years. Helping Shiro, whatever it is, was something Ben will do and more.

Matt stared at them for a moment, taking a minute or two to process what was going on and sighed. Rubbing at his head, he turned around and spoke out loud.

“You do realise that this will be seen as an insubordination. The Garrison are not going to be happy you did this…”

“And they’re not gonna be happy on what I’m going to do next~” Shiro smiled, before grabbing Ben’s hand and rushing off, “C’mon, we’re going to find a few people and go somewhere else. Talking here in the Garrison is not safe…”

Matt balked at him while Ben was still reeling at the change of attitude from the Asian male, before Matt started stomping his feet and waving his arms up and down angrily.

“SHIRO! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!”

Shiro looked back and gave a happy grin, waving at him, “Fixing stuff. Please give my apologies to your dad and cover for me from Sanda and them! Thanks Matt, you’re the best~”

And with that, Shiro and Ben vanished back inside the Garrison, and Matt felt his heart stop.

“…I need better friends.”

“Okay, are you going to explain what is going on now, or am I to wait until you stop dragging me to wherever we’re going?”

Shiro paused in his steps as he looked back at the confused look on Ben’s face, and his eyes softened. God…just looking at Ben made his heart flutter. He couldn’t believe he was living and breathing in front of him again. Shaking his head out of the thoughts, Shiro calmly spoke.

“Considering you’re a big hero, and know a lot about space, what I’m about to tell you might be shocking. But before that, I’m going to have to pull some cadets out that might help us out,” He explained, and soon started walking again.

Ben nodded slowly, trying to understand him, but he was sort of distracted as to why Shiro was still holding his hand as they walked together down the Garrison halls. Somehow the gesture sort of made Ben’s cheeks flush for a moment, head spinning. This is so out of character for Shiro…but why do I like it?

Ben was going through his internal monologue, Shiro meanwhile was looking through classrooms by their windows, peering in to look for two certain people. He paused for a second when he spotted Hunk for a moment and then looked unsure.

Should he pull Hunk out and drag him to Voltron again?

Shiro softened as he watched Hunk look out the window and into starry void that was space, the two standing at the central deck of the ATLAS in silence. The war was over, and yet…

“Sometimes…I wished that I didn’t get dragged by Pidge and Lance to space…” Hunk murmured quietly, but then looked to Shiro and looked sheepish, “D-don’t get me wrong! While I do love Yellow, and the team…it’s just…there’s a part of me that missed so much of my families lives, that I was gone for so long…I dunno…it feels complicated now that I’m thinking on it.”

Shiro watched as Hunk was fiddling with what seems to be a cup of Nunvil, staring down at the liquid with ageing eyes.

“If I had a choice to go back? I wished someone else would be the Yellow Paladin and I would stay on Earth…”

Shiro knew that Hunk, despite proving time and time again that he was stronger than he thinks, wasn’t cut out for being in a war. And, as much as he wanted to call out to his friend once more, he has been through hell already once in the past. Maybe someone else could take his place?

Deciding to move on, Shiro looked away from the window and started moving on, giving a mental parting farewell to his old friend. Maybe this time, Hunk can stay with his family and be safe.

Shiro was going through classroom to classroom once more, but then paused when he finally saw two familiar figures. He smiled when he saw Keith, who was very young with no scar on his cheek nor looking like he was haunted by war, and then turned his head to see—

“CAN’T YOU DO ANYTHING RIGHT, MCCLAIN?!”

Shiro’s smile fell when he spotted Iverson yelling at Lance, who was looking down at the ground and hands fisted on his sides. Right, Shiro remembered that Lance had a hard time in his first years of the Garrison. And Iverson particularly relished scolding Lance and trying to compare him to Keith, who somehow was some sort of secret genius.

“Yeesh, this guy’s an ass…” Ben murmured to Shiro, and Shiro soon released Ben’s hand from his own and started walking in the room, “Shiro?”

This alerted everyone in the class, including Iverson and Lance, as Shiro was marching over to them.

“Shirogane? I thought you were flying out for the Kerber—“

Before Iverson could say anything, Shiro pulled his arm back and WHAM!

Keith’s eyes widened in surprise while his classmates, including Lance, were gasping and crying out in surprise. Takashi Shirogane, polite and the Golden Boy of the Garrison, just punched a commanding officer! Needless to say, it surprised every cadet in the room. Ben almost had to laugh at the scene, Shiro looking like a raging bull as he stood over Iverson, who was on the ground and holding his bloody nose.

Shiro was quick to pull the man up by the front of his uniform jacket, and sneered at him, “You think it’s fun talking down on people that are not on the same level as others? You get some sick twisted kicks onto bullying cadets that need more guidance and care? Well, let me tell you something, Iverson…you’re never going to be half the man that Lance McClain is!”

While during his time as Captain of the ATLAS, Shiro remembered how Iverson had been somewhat tolerable when joining the Voltron Coalition, even making apologies to Keith and Lance on how he treated them during their Garrison days. But right now, this Iverson wasn’t the comrade he knew in the ATLAS. Might as well start humbling him while he was still high on his ego trip.

“Shiro?”

Shiro turned to the soft voice, seeing Keith approaching him and touching his arm, violet eyes wide and looking concerned. This caused Shiro to calm down, dropping Iverson to the ground and turning fully to look at his young brother figure. By Quintessence, he looked much like a boy than he remembered. Still looking hopeful and bright…right before Shiro flew in space and captured by the Galra.

This caused Shiro to reach over Keith and hug him, surprising the shorter male with a squeak.

“S-shiro?! What’s got into you?” Keith wiggled out of his hold, looking weirded out, “Aren’t you suppose to be flying to space with the Holts? Why are you here? A-and why did you punch Iverson?”

Somehow despite looking appalled at the thought of his hero punching an officer, Shiro could see the envious glee that someone actually put Iverson in his place.

“Let’s just say that…there’s something more important that I have to do,” Shiro soon turned to Lance and smiled softly, “Lance, right?”

“I should thank you all for getting me out…Lance, right?”

Shiro remembered the very first time meeting Lance, and almost felt the same as before. Especially with Lance reaching a hand out and hesitating, his eyes looking unsure. But he then smiled, looking up at Shiro with hero-worship and admiration in his eyes, taking his hand and shaking it.

“Yes, sir. Lance McClain, reporting.”

“Ah, just Shiro is fine.” It felt weird for Lance to call him sir out of all things.

“So, what’s going on?” Keith came in between them, looking at the both of them with narrowed eyes.

“I’ll explain later. But right now I need you two to come with me.” Shiro stated, and noticed that a few cadets had gone out, probably to call another officer while a few others were checking up on Iverson, “We should get out of here. Now.”

Keith didn’t hesitate as he nodded, already grabbing for his backpack and heading to the door while Lance faltered, looking from Iverson and back to Shiro.

Shiro noticed this and softened, “If…if you don’t want to come with, that’s fine. I’m not forcing you to do anything you don’t want. And I most certainly don’t want you to get into trouble, if that’s what your’e thinking.”

While he had decided to let Hunk be this time around and not bring him along, he’s not gonna lie and say that he was going to do the same for Lance. In fact, he was hoping Lance would come with them, no questions asked. Unlike Hunk, Lance was made to be exploring and fighting in space. He had shown Shiro time and time again how much of a fighter he was, and how he was someone that could be on equal footing to not just Keith, but too Shiro as well.

Someone who was destined for great things, just like Allura had predicted.

However, he wasn’t going to push Lance into coming along, as much as it pained him.

Lance looked like he was thinking for a moment, and Shiro’s spirit almost died at the thought that Lance was going to decline him…but was relieved when Lance looked at him in determination and nodded.

“If you say I should come, then I shall follow your lead, Shiro.”

Shiro smiled, nodding his head as he soon turned to rush out the door, Lance right behind him. Ben was talking to Keith quietly when Shiro and Lance approached, the two then glancing up at them. Shiro did wonder why they stopped talking as soon as they approached and what they were talking about, but he suppose he can ask them later. The four of them soon were rushing out of the Garrison quickly, especially when they noticed some officers were now chasing after them.

“Oh man, it feels like we’re criminals or something!” Lance yelped as he kept on running, Shiro looked sheepish.

Okay, maaaaybe he shouldn’t have decked Iverson like he did just now.

Either way, Ben was reaching towards the Rust Bucket and got in the driver seat, looking at the other guys, “GET IN!”

Keith slipped into the front passenger seat next him, Lance jumping in the back. Shiro was about to go in when he spotted Matt and Sam Holt watching them from afar. Sam looked worried for him, albeit, also puzzled as to why Shiro was leaving and Matt…well, he was glaring at Shiro as if he wanted an explanation to all this. Shiro just gave a small apologetic smile and salute, knowing he’ll explain to Matt what’s going on when things have calmed down. And so, he slipped into the RV and Ben drove off, a few Garrison vehicles coming after them.

Lance had to look back, seeing the Garrison in their wheels and gulped.

“Man, they do not look happy.” He stated nervously, then he looked to Ben, “Can’t this thing go any faster?”

“Never a dull moment. This is a typical Wednesday for me.” Ben murmured, rolling his eyes as he pressed something onto his steering wheel, and soon picked up speed.

“We could toss some non-essential weight?” Keith suddenly said, and Shiro’s eyes widened for moment at those words.

“Oh right!” Lance looked around for a moment but then frowned, looking over at a cheeky looking Keith as Lance huffed, “Okay, that was an insult, I get it.“

This…never happened, at least not at this moment? Shiro thought with a frown, but then again, a lot of things happened that weren’t like in his past memory. Since when did Keith look playfully at Lance, who looked slightly annoyed. Okay, wait, that was normal of Lance in this timeline…right?

Keith suddenly straightened, looking at the front window and his eyes widened as he pointed out, “Guys! T-that…is that…?”

Shiro and Lance looked over, and their eyes widened at seeing the edge of a cliff. Ben almost smirked at them, giving a wink before accelerating the speed of the RV. The three boys screamed while Ben was laughing as the Rust Bucket took flight in the air, the Garrison trucks and cars stopping at the edge of the cliff. Rolling his eyes at the men screaming in his RV, Ben pressed something on his dashboard as the RV started floating in mid-air. Shiro managed to calm down, looking at Ben staring at him with a smile.

“You think you’re the only one that knows how to fly the skies, Shiro the Hero~?”

Shiro’s eyes softened, letting out a chuckle as he smiled fondly, “You’re amazing.”

This caught Ben off guard for a moment, his face flushed before turning around to face the front, “W-whatever, Shiro, you’re so weird…”

Shiro continued on staring at the mumbling Ben, ignoring how Keith was looking at him in suspicion.

“Soooooo, where are we going?” Lance finally asked as they were still flying in the air, looking from Ben to Shiro, “I mean, I know I said I’ll follow you, but I would like to know exactly what I’m getting into?”

Shiro knew that he had to eventually tell them what’s going on, but he didn’t know where to start. And would they believe him? The first time around, it was hard to believe anything that happened and what was about to happen in the future. But…what stays the same and what changes? Shiro had already done a lot of things that he didn’t do in the past…how was that going to effect everything from this point forward?

“It’s gonna sound hard to believe…” Shiro started, glancing at the trio with an unsure look.

“Try us.” Keith said, already giving a look that said that he will believe anything he says. Well, that was typical of Keith, who had his whole trust and faith on Shiro ever since the day they met.

Shiro pursed his lips as he then let out a breath.

“Okay…but first, Keith, do you think we can stop by your house?”

Reaching the Kogane home was something that Shiro didn’t think he’d be seeing again in this lifetime. From what he remembered, Keith had taken him and the Team into a shack. Shiro then remembered Keith saying that the shack was just an old place that his Dad had kept when being a part-time ranger around the dessert. Something about how there were stragglers around the area that wanted to sneak into places that are off limits like the Garrisons secret bases. Shiro believed that was the time when people were hearing rumours about aliens being in the area. Oh how right they were.

“Keith, was there anything strange going around here that might seem…I dunno, extraterrestrial?” Shiro asked innocently as Ben parked his RV to the side, him and Lance talking while Keith welcomed Shiro inside his house.

Keith raised a brow up at him before fully turning to him with his hands on his hips, “Answer my question first, since when are you and Ben in talking terms again?”

This caught Shiro by surprise, “W-what do you mean?”

“From what I remember, last week you were telling Ben to ‘fuck off and never come into my life again!’ and always kept telling me how much you hated the guy?”

Shiro winced at the words coming from Keith’s mouth.

It was true. A long time ago, Shiro absolutely couldn’t stand Ben. He didn’t hate him, per se, it was more…Shiro was immaturely jealous of him.

Shiro knew Ben ever since they were young. One summer, when he was eleven years old, his grandfather and Max Tennyson introduced him and Ben with one another. Apparently, the two were pilot buddies and eventually ended up in the same Plumber business, becoming good allies and life-long friends. With that, their grandfathers thought that Shiro and Ben could be good friends too.

Young Shiro was hiding behind his grandfather’s leg as he peeked out for a moment at the smiling young Ben, who was giving the biggest grin and waving all friendly like. Their grandfathers looked amused at this interaction, knowing that they made the right decision.

And it worked for a while…until the news of Ben being a hero came out.

Fifteen year old Ben blinked when he and sixteen year old Shiro were coming out of Mr. Smoothies one day, and the two were surrounded by paparazzi. A lot of them asking about Ben being a hero and saving the day time and time again, to rumours about being an evil traitor to the human race and expect aliens to invade Earth. Either way, Ben looked annoyed as he grabbed Shiro’s arm and escaped the hounding tabloids.

Shiro looked over at his friend, “Wow, y-you’ve become so popular…”

“Yeah, but it’s getting irritating to the point I can’t even do my job,” Ben murmured as he sipped his smoothie, and Shiro looked away for a moment with a strange look.

Thinking on it now, Shiro always felt that Ben got everything in life too easily. He managed to fly by school despite being the worst student ever, he had friends despite that he never tried interacting with people…but what killed Shiro the most, was that Ben got to go to space. Shiro’s biggest dream…

“You…went to outer space?” A seventeen year old Shiro breathed out one day when he came out, a sixteen year old Ben waiting in his bedroom with a smile.

“Yeah! It was so awesome. Check it out, I got a souvenir for you!” Ben excitedly said as he was holding what looked like a shiny rock, and Shiro frowned.

“You…went to space.” Without me, Shiro would think bitterly.

Ben looked at Shiro, confused, placing the space rock down and looked over his friend, “Yeah? I told you that already—“

“You knew exploring the stars and planets is my dream!” Shiro said hotly, looking away as he glanced around all the N.A.S.A. memorabilia and posters of planets and stars.

Ben looked around as well, closing his eyes and sighing, “…It wasn’t like it was a field trip, Shiro. I was on a mission—“

“And yet you come running here to show off, is that it? Rub it in my face?”

Ben looked hurt at the accusation, which came out of nowhere to him, as he stared at Shiro incredulously, “I-I didn’t—”

“Get out.” Shiro pointed to the door with narrowed eyes, “I don’t want to talk to you today.”

Shiro had to mentally face-palm at his younger self, remembering how Ben looked incredibly and reasonably upset that he was shooed away. All because Shiro was jealous. Jealous of a chance that he wanted. And he did eventually get the chance, in the Galaxy Garrison…

…But even then, Ben was involved with that too.

Eighteen year old Shiro’s eyes widened as he looked down at the paper in hand, then looked to a grinning seventeen year old Ben, who was holding a cupcake and party blower.

“What…did you do???”

Ben laughed as he gave a sheepish look, “Surprise~? Thanks to my rep as hero of Earth and the universe, I managed to score you a way in to your dream come true. You said that you would do anything to get into the Galaxy Garrison to train and fly with the best~! And so, I placed a good word for you with them!”

Shiro crumpled the paper in hand and threw it to the ground, looking at Ben angrily, “Do you have any idea what you did?!”

“…Er, this is the part where you say ‘You’re welcome, Ben~ You’re the best, Ben~’ and all that?” Ben said slowly, wondering what had Shiro up in defence now.

Shiro shook his head as he then let out a huff of frustration, “Do you know how this is going to make me look? Thanks to you, they’ll think that I asked you to recommend me into the program, like I need to have you go up to them and beg me to be placed in! Like some desperate yuppy. They’re not going to take me seriously with my skills and knowledge alone. They’ll now think I’m The Great Ben Tennyson’s Charity Case.”

Ben didn’t think of that, and looked almost apologetic, “I didn’t—That’s not my—Shoot, ah, h-hang on! I can fix this—“

“THIS IS ISN’T SOMETHING YOU CAN FIX! AND STOP TRYING TO FIX ME!” Shiro slammed his fist onto a wall, almost scaring Ben for a second as Shiro breathed out heavy and in fury, “You’re sounding like my doctors. You’re sounding like my grandparents. Trying to control my life and tell me what to do with it!”

“I-I wasn’t trying to do that! I swear, Shiro, I just wanted to help you—“

“STOP TRYING TO HELP ME! I’M NOT SOME WEAK LOSER THAT YOU ARE FORCED TO TAKE CARE OF AND BE FRIENDS WITH! I WISH YOU WOULD JUST LEAVE ME ALONE AND OUT OF MY LIFE!”

That was the last time he had ever spoke to Ben like that. There was another time, but it was supposed to be today…when Ben was trying to also stop Shiro from going to the Kerberos mission.

“Shiro?”

The man blinked as he heard Keith’s concerned voice, and was brought back to the present.

“Ah, s-sorry, what were you saying?”

“You zoned out. Shiro, why did you not go to the Kerberos mission? Are you okay?” Keith asked quietly, looking Shiro over, “Is it the disease? Is it acting up again?”

Shiro felt his heart drop for a moment, and looked down at his wrist, the very one that had the monitor to remind him of his booster medicine for his muscles and maintenance for his weakening body. Right…he was still sick. By not going to space and be captured by the Galra, it would mean that he was still on a ticking time limit before his whole body would fail him…and die.

“…That’s not it. But thank you for reminding me,” Shiro will have to figure out a cure later…because he knew there was one, but not on Earth, “I will explain everything to you, Keith, I promise. But there are some other things that I’ll need before then.”

Keith looked like he wanted to question him more, but decided against it and nodded.

“Okay…so what else do you need?”

Shiro hummed before he looked outside to see Ben and Lance approaching to the front door, and his eyes softened.

“We’re gonna have to call in some people.”

“Call in…who, exactly?” Keith asked curiously, before Ben and Lance stepped into the house and hearing the conversation, “That’s also another thing, why did you want Lance to come with us?”

Shiro looked over at Lance and smiled, “Because he’s going to be important on this mission~”

Lance’s blue eyes widened for a moment, looking flustered at being under the spotlight, rubbing the side of his neck, “I-I’m important…?—Wait, wait, time out. What mission?”

Shiro turned serious, glancing at a curious looking Ben, then to the cadets.

“What I’m about to tell you stays in this house. The reason that I didn’t go onto the Kerberos mission is because there is word that Earth is going to be invaded.“

Lance and Keith gasped, and Ben looked suspiciously at Shiro.

“That’s a big statement, Shiro. What makes you say that?” The Omnitrix wielder inquired, and Shiro knew that Ben was on the know about any alien race coming to invade Earth or not. Which is good, this means he’ll take me seriously.

“Have you heard about Voltron?”

Ben looked at him for a moment, before raising a brow, “…From what I heard from Grandpa Max, it was an old wives’ tale. A story about five lions turning into one giant man that saves universes. Something to tell kids before bed—Shiro, why do you know about Voltron? Earthlings don’t know about that…well, they do, but they think that’s all anime cartoon and fake for TV entertainment?”

“Because it’s real. And I can prove it—”

Shiro paused for a moment, before looking to Keith.

“…Keith, I know you have some weird shack somewhere around here and you might be drawn to search around the grand canyons that are nearby.”

Keith looked confused, “…Are you talking about Dad’s shed he uses as a man cave? And all those deserts are just that, deserts. Why would I search around there?”

This caused Shiro to look confused for a moment, but had to mentally slap himself. Duh, that part won’t happen until he disappears during the Kerberos mission. Where Keith got himself expelled from the Garrison and was turned into a hermit searching for the Blue Lion…that all won’t happen until next year.

“Ah, r-right…” Shiro sweat-dropped before looking over at Ben, “Okay, I have another way to prove it…”

“Oh yeah? How?”

At Ben’s question, Shiro then paused once more, giving himself a slap at his forehead for real this time and almost freaking out Ben, Lance and Keith.

Pidge…

At this time, she would be under the name Katie Holt. She wouldn’t be the same Pidge he remembers because right now she didn’t have a purpose of sneaking into the Garrison, changing her name and looks, going on a mission to find her missing brother and father…that were not missing anymore, thanks to Shiro bailing.

‘Meaning she won’t have the machine that tracks Blue or hear the message about the Galra and Voltron.’ Shiro felt himself groan inwardly, and as much as he wanted to find Pidge and ask for her help…how can he?

There were two things that could happen. One, was that Pidge would look at him like a crazy person and pretty much would call the police on him…or worse, send Mama Holt to deal with him. Another would be that Pidge might be willing to help in the name of science…although this might alert Matt and get him riled up into thinking Shiro was dragging his baby sister into something dangerous.

‘With Matt and Sam on Earth now and the mission cancelled because of me, there is no reason for her to come to the Garrison at all…or any reason to be part of Voltron.’

With this thought in mind, it would mean Shiro might have to consider that Voltron won’t be complete this time around. If he had things his way, he wouldn’t want to bring Pidge into war again. Right now, she was fourteen going on fifteen. A child. And Shiro wasn’t about to send her into space and get hurt again.

Ben looked at Shiro’s thoughtful face and sighed, “Shiro, I know that you think you know things, but I have to say that there is no way there is an invasion happening—“

“Okay, okay! I know I sound like a lunatic, but I’m telling the truth!” Shiro desperately pleaded as Ben almost backed away when Shiro stepped forward, “Please, I know you have every right to not believe me…”

“No, no! Shiro, I believe you. Really, I do,” Ben breathed out softly, “But I cannot just go running to the Plumbers with just word of mouth alone. We need actually solid evidence that there is going to be some sort of attack that’s going to happen.”

Shiro tried to scratch his brain on ideas, until he landed on one.

“Ben, do you remember the Teen Titans?”

This sort of surprised Ben as he looked at him strangely but then spoke slowly, “Er, yes but…why would ask about them?”

Shiro was confused why Ben’s tone changed, but then it hit him. How could he forget how he reacted in front of people that understood Ben the most. And the very people Shiro felt insecure around the most. Which was also yet another reason why he and Ben drifted apart.

“Guys, this is the friend I was telling you about.”

Sixteen year old Shiro felt nervous as he felt himself dragged along by a fifteen year old Ben towards a group of teens in costumes, the people turning to them with different expressions on their faces. Some of them curious, some of them confused. Either way, Shiro didn’t feel all that comfortable. At least Matt was with them, along with Ben’s cousin, Lucy Mann.

“This is Shiro. He’s going to be a future explorer to space of the Galaxy Garrison~” Ben boasted with a smile, while Shiro was rubbing the side of his neck sheepishly.

“I’m Robin, leader of the Teen Titans. Nice to meet you, Ben has told us a lot about you,” A teen in a domino mask spoke with a calm smile, placing his hand out to Shiro, who shook his hand.

“I-I’ve heard of you. Um, big fan?”

Robin chuckled, having an arm around a tan-skinned girl with red hair and glowing eyes, “And this is Starfire. My, ah, girlfriend…”

“A pleasure to meet you, Friend Shiro. Ben has told us fondly that you wish to see the stars and planets outside of Earth,” She spoke softly, as Shiro felt his cheeks flush.

Whew, if he wasn’t attracted to men, he would’ve thought Starfire was beautifully gorgeous. Well, she is, but still—

Ben smiled, watching Matt and Lucy mingle with the other Titans before Shiro leaned over to him once Robin and Starfire left.

“Ben, why did you invite me to this party anyways? Matt, I understand, since he’s Lucy’s plus one. But…?”

“Why wouldn’t I invite you?” Ben looked up at him and tilted his head, “You’re my friend, aaaaand well Julie couldn’t make it. That, and Gwen and Kevin have a date night so, I called you,”

Shiro quirked a brow before looking over at someone calling Ben over. Ben just told Shiro to relax and enjoy the party, before disappearing off. Shiro at first did try to stay away from crowds and just people watch, but eventually thanks to Matt and Lucy, he loosened up. He even got to talking to people like Starfire, to Cyborg, and then to other Honorary Titans. He was about to find Ben when he heard his voice along with two others.

“Guys, c’mon, lay off him! I mean, he’s my friend,” Ben’s voice sounded, and Shiro had to lean back from being seen as it seems Ben was talking to Speedy and Kid Flash, “So he ain’t a super or an alien from another planet with awesome powers, so what? So is Matt.”

“The thing is, at least Holt is a super genius and he’s all buddy-buddy with Princess Sludge over there,” The archer hummed a bit when nodding to Matt and Lucy, sipping his drink, “What? Did you think your friend would be good for the team once he upgrades from cargo pilot? We don’t need another space cadet, Tennyson.”

“No offence, but I don’t see anything special about that guy. He’s…too normal, ya know?” Kid Flash hummed in agreement, “He’s no Robin, who was trained as a kid by THE Batman. Or like Speedy with Green Arrow or—“

Ben sighed in frustration, “You’re judging him already without seeing what he can do…”

“Didn’t you say that he was sick?” Another voice sounded as it was revealed to be Raven, floating over to them and looking at Ben seriously, “It wouldn’t be wise to have an ally that’s already on death’s door. Not to mention cruel to be giving him false hope. Does he even know that you wanted to recruit him as a Titan?”

Shiro felt his heart squeeze for a moment as he closed his eyes. He knew it.

He left that party that night without telling anyone. He didn’t even answer any calls from Ben, Matt or anybody. Shiro just felt disappointment once more, and he never wanted to be involved with parties with Ben ever again.

“Shiro? Are you okay? You’re spacing out again.”

Shiro snapped out of the memory as Ben said this, and then sighed, “I’m fine, Ben. Really. It’s just, we’re going to need them.”

Staring at Shiro for a moment longer, Ben then sighed and was grabbing his cellphone from his jacket pocket, “…Fine, there’s someone that I can talk with. Just give me a sec, okay?”

Shiro looked relieved, but then had a thought before asking cautiously, “W-who is it?”

“Ahhh, Starfire actually…”

Shiro had a mental cheer in his head. This is the exact person I need!

“Great! Ahhhh, there’s also someone else we might have to check on first. Where is your cousin, Gwen?”

Ben looked up and blinked, “Err, she’s probably in her Alma Mater considering she’s going for her advance magic masters…we can totally go and visit her if you want?”

Shiro looked thoughtful and then shook his head, “Do you think it’s alright to maybe call her over?”

“I can try and contact her too,” Ben tilted his head, “But why did you want to have her come here?”

“Just…I need her to check on something.”

Shiro had a theory. One that could be possible, but he needed to confirm it with someone that was magical. Turning to Keith and Lance while Ben was talking on the phone, he looked to the two of them and sighed.

“Okay, the next bit…we’re going to have to explore down at the canyons close by.”

“Is there something that we’re supposed to be looking for?” Lance asked curiously, and Shiro smiled a little.

“Yup.”

While it may be a year or so earlier than expected, it was best that they find the Blue Lion now before the Galra does. Which is perfect since at this moment, one of Zarkon’s fleet that was stationed nearby Earth’s atmosphere was not close yet. If they could find Blue first and go to Arus to the Castle of Lions…maybe this time around they’ll have an advantage against them.

“But first, we’re going to need a machine…” Shiro hummed as he was resting a hand under his chin in thought, eyes narrowed, “One that could read Fraunhofer lines. It would give us the exact location…”

Keith folded his arms, looking sort of puzzled, “A frown…who?”

“It’s a number describing a spectrum of an element…” Shiro accidentally murmured, then blinked as he caught the weirded out looks from Lance and Keith, “Er, basically it’s gonna help us find what we’re looking for.”

“Shiro, you didn’t exactly tell us what we’re looking for,” Keith pointed out, now looking annoyed, “This whole being mysterious and not telling us exactly what’s going on is starting to bug me. Not to mention you’ve been acting weird and bailed on the very mission that you thought was your everything…punching Iverson—“

“Kinda had it coming,” Shiro interrupted with a frown, but then shook his head, “I will explain, once we find Blue—“

“Good news and bad news, guys,” Ben came between them with a finger up, glancing at the both of them before speaking cheerfully, “Good news, I managed to contact Starfire and she’s kinda flying her way here.”

“And the bad news?” Shiro raised a brow while Ben looked sheepish.

“Gwen is out world at the moment. Apparently Kevin has dragged her into one of his car shows in another planet and won’t be back for a while,” Ben explained but then tilted his head, “If you tell me what you need Gwen for, maybe it will be better so I can tell her properly why she needs to come back to Earth.”

Shiro sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, before closing his eyes, “I need her magical expertise to check on something.”

“…I might know someone else that might be able to do that for you,” Ben suggested, as he had his hands on his hips and raised a brow at him, “But again, you’re gonna have to tell me why you need magical help? Since if I recall, you never believed in that sort of stuff.”

“…It’s to check if there’s a cure for my disease.”

Keith and Ben’s eyes widened at that, while Lance gasped and placed a hand over his mouth.

“You’re sick?” Lance asked, clearly worried with sympathy in his eyes, which Shiro ignored as he looked at Ben.

Ben sighed, “…Shiro…”

“Please? I have a feeling that there might be something that could.” Shiro pleaded, stepping forward to place a hand on Ben’s shoulder.

“…I’ve tried to tell you this option before. But you had shut me out every time I tried mentioning it, saying that I should stop calling you and meddle in your life.” He took a deep breath, but nodded as Ben turned away and wiped his eyes, “…Okay. Okay, I definitely will call someone that can help. She’s almost the same level as Gwen and might be able to help.”

Shiro’s eyes soften as he smiled, squeezing Ben’s shoulder, “Thank you…”

Lance and Keith looked awkward at the moment the two men shared, and Keith interrupted them with a cough.

“Er…okay, so, is it really that easy that someone could magically cure Shiro?” He asked.

Ben nodded, “Surprisingly there are things magic can spot that human technology and medicine can’t. Anyways, if we’re gonna do this, we’re gonna have to find a big space.”

“Um…why?” Lance wondered out loud with an apprehensive look, growing even more nervous when Ben grinned.

The four young men stood outside of Keith’s home, the sandy winds blowing around them. Ben stepped forward, holding what seems to be a small notebook, and flipping it open. Reading it quietly, he raised a hand up, and spoke softly that the other three had to strain their hearing a bit to understand.

“Esporow Via Esprolixas Capti Capters Few Sonmow Lenton Oway On Respicklas Lokis Lusses Via Astendus Ocultes Ienwua!”

And with a flash of lights, a very large double door appeared before them, almost looking like an entrance of a spooky castle. Shiro, Lance and Keith looked up in awe while Ben just smiled in satisfaction. While they were distracted, Ben walked over to the door and knocked on it, placing his hand over the door and then called out softly.

“Charmcaster. I know you’re there, and I definitely know the password to your door. So you better come out here unless you want me to barge in—“

“Tennyson, I swear to Legerdomain that you are a pain in my ass sometimes.”

Ben smiled as he looked over to the side to spot a young woman with silvery hair tied up in a high ponytail, light purple-bluish eyes and wearing what seems to be a magenta coat with purple at the ends, tight dark pants that matched with her aesthetic makeup she had on.

“Hey Charmy~” Ben greeted cheekily, before the woman snarled.

“I told you not to call me that,” She looked over at the three other males that were there, then looked back at Ben tiredly, “So, decided to ditch Gwendolyn and her guard dogs and replace them with hot men? What also happened to that handsome alien partner in blue that hung around you?”

“Har, har…and Rook has his own thing going on, so that’s that.” Ben rolled his eyes playfully before looking back at Charmcaster, “I need your help with something.”

“You always need my help with things~” Charmcaster purred as she stepped forward, running a finger down his chest, “Is it that time again—?”

“NOPE! Nope, n-not that,” Ben blushed as he took her hand and placed it down, coughing a bit before letting out a small chuckle, “No, ah, there’s someone I want you to check out.”

“Mmm, checking out people besides you~?”

“You know that’s not what I meant.”

“Tease~ As usual~”

Shiro narrowed his eyes at the two of them for a moment, but then blinked when Ben looked over at him, making Charmcaster look at him too.

“Charmy, this is Shiro. He wanted to have someone magical do a medical diagnosis on him.” Ben explained, and Charmcaster’s eyes sparkled with mischief for a moment, and Ben noticed, “Charmy, no—“

“Shiro~? Is it the very same one that you’ve talked about?” Charmcaster teased, already stepping up towards the taller male, observing him and hummed, “Fitter than Levin, and quite handsome than Rook. I can see why Tennyson is very interested in you~”

“You talk about me?” Shiro questioned, making Ben reach over and smack the witch with a frown.

“Now’s not the time to be playing, Charmcaster. Can you please check on him for me?”

Charmcaster huffed, but nodded as she then stepped back for a moment, raising her hands towards Shiro. Keith wanted to jump in, thinking she was going to attack but Lance stopped him and shook his head. The sorceress hummed as her eyes glowed, murmuring some sort of language as a light surrounded Shiro. To him, it felt warm, like he was being wrapped around blankets and coddled into comfort. After a minute or so, Charmcaster stopped, the light dying down from her hands and around Shiro.

“…Well?” Ben asked as Charmcaster looked over at him, raising a brow.

“…There’s nothing wrong with him?”

All the guys looked puzzled.

“What?” Keith asked suspiciously, before Ben shook his head.

“Um, no? From what I remember, Shiro has a degenerative muscle disease?”

“He’s right,” Shiro said with a serious look, “According to the doctors, with my muscular dystrophy, I only have a few years to go and I wouldn’t be able to pilot or go to space anymore.”

Charmcaster raised a brow at him, and chuckled, “Well, your silly doctors are wrong. There’s no disease in you…”

Shiro looked floored, “Are…are you sure?”

Charmcaster looked offended, “Are you saying my magic is wrong? Then you’re even dumber than I thought,”

“Hey!” Keith growled, before Shiro stopped him from trying to thwart her for that comment.

“So, what? You’re saying…I’m healthy and have no signs of my disease in my body?”

Charmcaster nodded, “Yes. Maybe someone out there cured you already without you knowing~”

Shiro tried to wrack his brain for a moment, feeling like this didn’t make any sense. But then the memory of him almost dying, the strange man that had brought him back to this time—

“Caspian.”

Charmcaster froze at the name while Ben, Lance and Keith looked confused.

“Who?” Ben asked, as Shiro breathed out, looking towards Charmcaster.

“You know who he is, don’t you?”

“How do you know that name?”

Before Shiro could answer, a shadow casted over them and everyone looked up to see a flying red haired woman in purple landing before them, her glowing green eyes looking at them before smiling.

“Greetings!” She cheerfully said, but once she spotted Ben, she soon swooped in and brought him into a hug, “Friend Ben! How I have missed you!”

“A-ack! G-good to s-see you too S-starfire…” Ben choked out as he wriggled himself free from her, and breathed out softly with a friendly smile, “Ah, glad you found me. Er, sorry for dragging you out here but we need your help.”

“I shall offer my assistance to the best of my abilities~” She said in a voice of positivity, almost looking like an angel the way she smiled and the sun shining down on her figure.

Shiro was waiting for a moment for Lance to say something, but blinked when a minute passed by and heard nothing. He glanced over at the Cuban male for a moment, witnessing Lance looking to the side boredly next to Keith. Isn’t this the part where Lance slides in and flirts with a pretty girl? He would wonder, scratching his head.

Maybe he should say something?

Sliding next to Lance, he nudged him, “Don’t you think Starfire is pretty?”

Lance glanced over at the older male, then looked to Starfire, then back to him and shrugged, “She’s attractive, I guess?”

“You…guess?” Shiro asked in surprise, with Keith tilting his head and looking at him suspiciously.

“Why do you care what Lance thinks about some alien chick’s looks?” He asked slowly, and Shiro smiled sheepishly.

‘How weird…maybe this is a good thing?’ Shiro thought to himself, glancing at Lance again, who was staring at Keith with a thoughtful gaze.

With Ben and Starfire still talking, the Tamaranian’s eyes then glanced over to Shiro and blinked, but then recognition shone in her eyes as she then softened, “Ah, you are—?”

“U-Um, it’s nice to see you again, Miss Starfire,” Shiro was quick to cut her off, not liking the sympathetic look she was giving him as he placed his hand out to her, “I asked Ben to call you here because I wished to ask you a few questions and help me find something hidden among this canyons.”

Starfire looked at the hand, then shook it kindly with a small smile, “Any friends of Friend Ben is a friend of mine. Tell me, what is it you wish to ask me?”

Shiro smiled a little, and took a deep breath. “Do you know about Voltron and the Galras?”

A gasp left Starfire as she released Shiro’s hand, looking at him appalled, “H-How do you know about—?”

“Let’s just say I have my sources. But it’s good that you might have knowledge about them and know why I’m asking?”

Starfire nodded slowly, “They are an advance alien species that are are known to work in terms of absolutes, with victory or death being a common motto and philosophy. Cruel and relentless, they are a race that you do not wish to go up against. They are even worse than the Gordanians…”

“Don’t…even know what those are?” Keith murmured, and Starfire didn’t look away from Shiro.

“Are you telling me you know the location of Voltron?”

“Yes. And the Galra are looking too. Luckily I might have an idea of where we can start looking before they do, but we’re in need of a machine to find it,” Shiro told her, and Lance raised his hand up, “Yes, Lance?”

“You said you need a machine…but since we have a witch with us—?”

“Hey!”

Lance ignored Charmcaster for now.

“Don’t you think it’s easier to have her track whatever it is you’re looking for?”

Shiro blinked as he stared at the Cuban for a moment longer, before he smiled, “That’s…actually a good idea, Lance. That was really smart of you!”

Lance felt his face flush as he then rubbed the side of his neck bashfully, and Shiro couldn’t help but smile in pride. It was good that he has Lance here, the potential is still there.

Ben tilted his head and looked to the silvery haired girl, “So? Can you?”

“I can use my magic to track a lot of things…but it would be easier if I had some sort of sample of what I’m looking for~” Charmcaster said, placing her hand out as she stared at Shiro for a moment.

Shiro froze as he looked stumped for a moment. Right, how was he going to give something for her to locate the Blue Lion? He would think nervously, glancing around for a moment until his eyes landed on Keith. If he remembered correctly, Keith said that something had lead him to the canyons. Drawings and symbols leading him to where the Blue Lion could be—

Shiro looked back to Charmcaster and smirked, “First, we have to go near the canyons. Then you’ll understand.”

Everyone looked at each other at this, confused and somewhat intrigued.

“…Okay. I admit it…this is super freaky…” Lance murmured as everyone stood at the edge of a cliff, looking over at the large masses of rocks and mountains before them.

Charmcaster was floating for a moment, eyes glowing pink along with her hands as if being a human sonar.

“Anything, Charmy?” Ben asked as he watched over her, and the woman breathed out finally after a minute.

“I have a lock on a strange signature. Follow me,” She murmured and floated downwards, and everyone soon followed.

Starfire stayed in the air to keep an eye on the sorceress, Ben also following by using a little power from his Omntrix. According to him, he had an upgrade on his watch, allowing him to borrow some of his aliens’ powers without transforming. It was both impressive and terrifying to Shiro how much Ben could use said powers. Keith and Lance also followed behind him, more cautious than anything, but somehow had faces on that looked like they felt something…familiar.

Soon, everyone stopped when Charmcaster froze in place, looking down what seems to be an entrance to a cave.

“…We’re going in there?” Ben questioned, and Charmcaster started moving forward once more, and inside the cave, “…Yup, guess we are.”

A sigh escaped Shiro, knowing what was coming next and soon followed after the floating magic user, Ben and the rest behind him. As soon as they entered the cave, amazed sounds of gasping was heard from everyone…everyone except Charmcaster and Shiro.

Shiro, who knows what these were, wasn’t surprised in the least and had a fond smile on his face. Bingo, now all that’s left is for Lance to touch the walls of the Lion carvings…

He turned his head to see Lance already on it, curiously looking at a chipped drawing of a lion and running his hands over the markings. Shiro waited with baited breath for the walls to light up the familiar blue luminous light that would lead them to Blue…but his smile fell when nothing happened. He didn’t understand, wasn’t it Lance that triggered that awakening to Blue?

“Wow, these are…amazing…” Keith murmured, reaching out to brush some sand off one drawing, seeing the drawing of the lion.

It was then that a loud roar was heard, and Keith’s eyes widened when he saw that the drawing started to glow. Standing back, he looked around and saw all the drawings on the walls started lighting up, almost scaring everyone. Shiro had to double take looking at Keith, now even more confused.

‘Keith triggered Blue…?’

And suddenly, the ground shook under them and gave way, each one of them falling down like some sort of waterslide further into the cave. Starfire gasped, flying after them along with Charmcaster to grab them before they hurt themselves. She managed to catch Ben, while Charmcaster caught Shiro…although sadly Lance and Keith fell with a thud into some puddle of water, landing on each other. A groan escaped the two teens before they realised they were entangled with one another and quickly moved away from each other.

Keith slapped his reddening cheeks for a moment, but then his eyes caught sight of what seemed to be a gigantic force field that was holding an EVEN MORE GIANT ROBOT LION!

“Is this it?” Starfire asked, in awe and looking it over with a hint of excitement in her voice, “Is this the Voltron?”

“Part of it…” Shiro murmured, then saw Ben was staring at him and coughed, “T-there seems to be a force field around it. Lance, feel anything weird about it?”

“Huh?” Caught off guard being called out, Lance raised a brow, “Er, nooooo?”

Shiro blinked, looking back up at Blue then looking back at Lance, “You sure? You don’t feel like the eyes are, like, totally following you?”

Lance folded his arms, raising a brow, “No, I didn’t. Why are you asking me that?”

Keith stepped forward as he looked at the lion for a moment, then felt his heart race. For some reason, he felt like the lion was looking at him. The dark haired teen moved himself to the left, then sliding to the right, frowning a bit as he was very much feeling the eyes on him. Going closer to the force field, he hesitated. Then, he raised a fist, taking a deep breath.

“How are we going to get through the barrier?” Ben asked as he stood next to Keith, ignoring how Shiro and Lance were going back and forth behind them.

“M-Maybe we can knock?” Keith said awkwardly, hoping to come out as a joking manner, and even knocked on the force field for a second, “Heh, guess it didn’t work—“

His eyes widened when something shocked his hand, a light coming from the barrier as Keith stepped away. Before Ben could ask if he was alright, his eyes widened as he witnessed the force field melting away and the room light up with magical blue light. Both of them looked down when the ground shook, seeing how strange markings were appearing under them.

Shiro stopped and turned slowly to Keith and Ben, but mostly staring at Keith.

��Blue…chose Keith? That can’t be right!’

But he then gasped when something was entering his mind, and knew then and there that Blue was communicating with them.

‘Hello Black Paladin…it is good to see you once more.’

“What…?” Shiro said out loud, staring at the beast and then gulped, “You…recognise me?”

‘You may look young, but your soul is the very same one as before. Before you and the other Paladins sent us away when the Princess died.’

Shiro winced, but then looked confused, “Wait…do…are you from the time in my future?”

The purring is all the answer he needed. And he won’t question it right now. But this means that Yellow and Green are going to be pretty mad that their Paladins are not here this time around. Glancing at the others, he saw that they were slack-jawed and unmoving, almost as if time stopped for them. Blue must be giving the same vision that she did before, explaining who she is and what Voltron is.

Good, this gave him a bit of time.

“Why did you open for Keith and not Lance?” Shiro questioned, raising a brow at Blue, “He’s your paladin, isn’t he?”

‘While Lance is indeed my Chosen, because of you coming back to the past, things have changed. Thus, I have decided to bestow Keith as my new Chosen in this lifetime…’

Shiro didn’t understand, “But…why?”

That, Blue didn’t answer. And it frustrated Shiro so.

“Okay, don’t answer. So, are we going to head to Arus and meet Princess Allura and Coran in the Castle of Lions now?”

��Yes. All seven of you will go.’

Confusion coloured Shiro’s face. Seven?

He had to count everyone in the room, and pursed his lips.

“Er, Blue? There’s six of us…?”

Suddenly, Blue roared once more and making everyone jump in surprise, including Shiro. It was then there was a sound of a girly shriek was heard somewhere around the cave, then a splash of water. Turning around, he soon found a blonde haired girl in all brown, orange and yellow sitting on the ground, wincing as she rubbed her back and butt with a pout.

‘Who is this?’ Shiro wondered, looking at the girl before a gasp left Keith.

“Terra?”

The girl looked up at the sound of the name, her eyes widened in fear and looked like she was about to run.

“Wait!” Shiro called before Starfire flew past her and tackled the blonde girl to the ground, “Starfire, what—“

“TERRA!” Starfire shouted to her face, but then started crying big fat tears as she wrapped her arms around the freaked out girl, curling around her into a big, tight hug, “OH MY FRIEND, I THOUGHT YOU WERE GONE! A-AND FRIEND BEAST BOY SAID THAT YOU LOST YOUR MEMORIES AND, AND, AND—“

“S-star…y-your hugs are a-as suffocating a-as ever…” Terra choked out as she was trying to wriggle her way out of the Tamaranian girl’s arms, and sighed in relief when she was let go.

Keith took one step as his eyes narrowed, and Terra caught the look with a skittish look.

“Terra…is that you?”

“Keith…” The girl breathed out, standing up shakily as she had her hands onto her chest as if shielding herself, “I…I didn’t think I’d be seeing you again…”

“Why are you here?” He asked, looking like he was holding back some anger as he tried to keep calm.

Terra’s eyes saddened, but then looked up at the Lion before looking at everyone seriously, “I-I felt some weird energy level here. It called out to me and I followed it…although I wasn’t expecting to have some company here. Especially you, Keith…”

Shiro felt confused. Was this girl here before they found Blue?

Lance coughed, before speaking out loud, “Did…anyone else see that?”

Charmcaster raised a brow as she looked at Lance weirdly, “See what?”

“Voltron is a robot!” Ben exclaimed, waving his hands in the air in excitement, “Voltron is a HUGE, HUGE, AWESOME ROBOT!”

"And this is only one part of it!” Terra said out loud, shocking Shiro for a moment as she continued with a hum, “I wonder where the rest of them are?”

‘Did…did Blue show her too?’ Maybe that was why Blue said that the seven of them are going. This just got more interesting, but complicated.

Starfire frowned, looking somewhat lost, “I did not see anything?”

“Neither did I…?” Charmcaster also spoke up, which had Shiro thinking for a moment.

‘So Starfire and Charmcaster didn’t get shown anything by Blue. Only me, Ben, Lance, Keith…and probably this Terra girl that just showed up.’ He thought with a hum, tapping his chest while his arms are folded. But what did this mean for Voltron now? Were Ben and Terra possible Paladins now?

Shiro decided to leave those thoughts away for now. Right now, they had to leave.

The Blue Lion let out another purring sound, lowering her head in front of Keith. Surprise coloured the shaggy haired male’s face, watching how the robotic feline open her mouth to allow him inside. Keith stared, but then confidently walked in, the others following him inside. This included Terra, who stared at Keith’s back worriedly.

It made Shiro wonder what was her history with Keith?

Walking into the Lion, they noticed the inside looked a lot like a ship’s, and Keith was familiar with that scenery as he enters what seems to be the cockpit when another set of sliding doors opened up for him. He saw the single chair, smirked and took a seat. Suddenly, the seat slid forward, shocking Keith as he soon saw the dashboard light up before him, watching how a lot of holo-screens appeared before his eyes and how the command console activated.

“Wow…” Keith breathed out, seeing how the steering handles for a pilot just appeared before him, “This is so cool…”

“Ooookay, I dunno if I should state the obvious or not: but, is no one in here sort of freaked out that we are inside of a big ass cat’s head?” Terra asked everyone with a weirded out look.

Keith stared at her for a moment before he gasped, feeling warmth all over his head and down to his legs. It was as if he was feeling someone tapping at his mind and picture after picture was being presented before his mental cranium and…a voice talking to him.

“Er, d-did you guys hear that?” Keith asked, and Lance looked over at him strangely.

“Hear…what?” The cuban male asked.

“I-I think it’s talking to me?” Keith murmured, as he looked at the dashboard and then to his steering wheel.

“She. And yes, she is talking to you,” Shiro pointed out helpfully, making Ben stare at him weirdly.

“And how would you know that, exactly?” Ben questioned with narrowed eyes, as Shiro looked sheepish.

Keith didn’t hear them as he continued to stare at his console, then to the front window that was already showing the inside of the cave they are currently in. Humming for a moment, he curiously reached out to the bright keys in front of him, tapping onto it. It was then that Blue suddenly got up, stretching her limps and started making a move. Everyone inside held on with shouts of surprise, and Keith grinned once gripping both his controllers.

“Okay. Got it. Now let’s try this~” He chuckled, soon pushing his arms forward with eyes ablaze, forcing Blue to move as well.

With a mighty roar, the mechanical lion soon broke free from it’s prison, smashing out of the cavern walls and off into the sky. Giving a small somersault, jet blasters from it’s paws activated, and the Lion soon was flying even higher up in to the sky. Screams were heard inside of the cockpit, Keith’s eye twitch when both Lance and Terra were hugging around his head and gripping his hair, Starfire and Charmcaster pressed against the walls with their eyes closed and Shiro gripping his arms around Ben protectively while Ben’s eyes were wide and face flushed.

“K-Keith! Slow down! Th-this isn’t the s-simulatoooOOOOOORRRRR—“ Lance was screaming as Keith kept making loop-de-loops with Blue and suddenly blasting off even faster.

Keith was smirking the whole time as everyone still was yelling for him to stop, in particular Terra expressing she was going to barf, and continued to fly. This was the most fun he’s had in a long time, no way he was going to stop now!

“Isn’t this awesome!?” Keith yelled out with a smile, and Lance had to move his head to the side as if finding a place to blow chunks or two.

“Make it stop! Please, make it the stop!” Starfire cried out with comical tears, as Keith laughed.

“I’m not making it do anything~ It’s mostly on auto-pilot~” Keith teased, as Lance snapped his head up and glared at him.

“Keith, you son of a bi—“

“Oops, can’t hear you, Blue seems to want to fly up again~”

More screams were heard as Blue was soaring high in the sky once more, but then Keith frowned when he looked down at the controllers.

“K-Keith?” Shiro asked, as Blue finally slowed down, but it seems they were not in Earth’s atmosphere anymore, “Keith, what is it?”

“The Blue Lion is telling me something…” He responded, as Lance looked at him in disbelief.

“The Lion is…talking to you? What exactly is she saying?”

Keith raised a brow at him for a moment and huffed.

“I-It’s not like she’s saying words per se…more like she’s feeding me ideas in my head…”

Shiro looked curious then asked Keith, “What is Blue saying?”

“Blue wants to go home…but where is her home?”

Shiro knew that this was going to happen. As soon as Blue was free, it was only a matter of time that she would want to reunite with the other lions and meet with the Princess and Coran in the Castle of Lions. Thing was, Arus was pretty much a wormhole away at the edge of the solar system, and way past Kerberos. Meaning once they leave, there was no way they could get back to Earth for a long while.

“…Guys, I have a confession to make…”

Everyone looked to Shiro for a moment, their expressions mixed with curiosity and caution.

“Where we’re about to go…it’s gonna be even farther than you’ve ever gone.” He was mostly speaking to Ben for this part, but Shiro looked to everyone and sighed, “Before we fly any further, I want you to know that you don’t have to be here. We can easily fly you back down and you can walk away from this. Forget about this all happening and go on with your own lives. Because from here on out…your lives will be at risk.”

Shiro hoped at least Lance and Keith will stay and come with him to Arus, but he wasn’t going to force them if somehow they didn’t want to go to space and leave Earth. Shiro knew in his heart of hearts how Lance valued family above all else, like Hunk.

He even had to loosen his grip on Ben just to show that he wasn’t holding him back either.

Ben stared up at him for a moment before smiling, “You talk as if I haven’t been far out of the galaxy before. Wherever you’re going, I’m in.”

Relief washed over Shiro at that moment, smiling down at Ben fondly.

Keith gripped his wheels, as he then breathed out, “I’m already in even if you didn’t say all that. You’re my family, Shiro. There’s no point being on Earth if you’re not around. Besides, who else is going to keep me in line when I get into trouble?” He teased, grinning up at the man.

Shiro chuckled, then looked to everyone else, “W-well?”

Starfire clasped her hands together, looking starry eyed as she smiled, “I would be honoured to join this voyage with you all. Besides, it would be good to stop by Tamaran if I can.”

“What about the Titans?” Shiro asked, ignoring the way Terra tensed up, and Starfire looked awkward for a moment.

“The…Titans are disbanded temporarily.”

Shiro decided not to question any further than that. He looked to Lance this time, and he looked worried. Lance was awfully quiet, and he looked like he was contemplating on his choices. Shiro’s heart squeezed, knowing that Lance was thinking of his family in Cuba. Especially with Veronica being in the Garrison, probably looking for him right at this moment.

“Lance, if you don’t want to, you don’t have to…I won’t force you or think any less of you…”

The brown haired male glanced up at his hero, his eyes wide and something flicked in those blue rises of his. Pursing his lips and narrowing his eyes, he soon straightened, huffing a little.

“I’m a Cadet of the Galaxy Garrison. And we do not quit on a mission. As this is my mission and you are my captain, I will follow you without question. I trust you.”

Shiro felt like he heard these words before, and he felt his whole being break remembering those were Lance’s last words to him.

“I’m a Paladin of Voltron, Shiro. We do not give up! Even if you are part of ATLAS, you’re still my leader. I will follow you to even hell and back if I have to. I trust you.”

“S-shiro? A-are you okay?”

Shiro didn’t even realise that his eyes welled up, quickly reaching to wipe his eyes and smiled weakly at the worried Lance, “I-I’m okay. Just…touched that you trust me.”

“W-well yeah! You’re my hero, after all,” Lance then placed a hand over his mouth and flusters, looking embarrassed that he said that out loud.

Keith saw this and rolled his eyes, but kept the Blue Lion steady.

Shiro smiled, but then glanced over at the remaining people and softened, “And you two?”

Charmcaster was immediate.

“I’m gone.”

And with a magical poof, she actually vanished into thin air, leaving a dust of pink behind.

Ben looked amused, “She does this. But she’ll back…when she’s bored, at least.”

Shiro looked unsure, “What makes you say that?”

Ben grinned as he was then holding up what seems to be a small raggedy pouch of some kind, “Because there’s no way she’d leave me with her magical bag full of unwanted secrets with me~”

Terra almost looked impressed, “Snagged it from her while she wasn’t looking?”

Starfire gasped, “Is that not stealing?”

Ben whistled, twirling the bag around his finger with the strings, “Well, it’s not stealing. More like borrowing~”

Ignoring that for now, Shiro looked to Terra, and waited for her answer with a look, ��And you?”

Keith snorted, “Don’t bother, Shiro. If she wants to leave, she can leave. It’s all she’s good at anyways.”

Terra looked at him with narrowed eyes, then placed her hands on her hips as she looked at Shiro coolly, “You know what? Not like I have any place to be, so count me in~”

Keith quirked a brow at her, glaring at her with annoyance while Terra turned to him and stuck her tongue out to annoy him further. Lance glanced at the two of them weirdly but looked over to Shiro, who was just watching them in confusion.

“Sooooo…I guess everyone, minus one that left, are all on board,” Lance noted as he looked at the other man, “Shiro, you’re our senior officer here. What’s our next move?”

Everyone looked towards the man as Shiro then took a deep breath, looking out the window.

“The Blue Lion knows where to go. I say we trust it…but we're a team now. We should decide together.”

Ben smiled, “My vote never changed.”

“Mine either,” Keith agreed, and it seemed Starfire and Terra also agreed along with Lance, “We trust you.”

Shiro nodded, relaxing a little, “Okay…I guess we’re out of here.”

Once he said this, Keith soon pushed his controllers forward, the Lion soon zooming into the skies and out of Earth’s atmosphere. This surprised most of them except Ben and Shiro, the two already used to space (With Ben being a hero and Shiro…well, from the future and all).

“Amazing. It would take a long trip to travel this far off the galaxy,” Starfire pointed out as she saw the planet that was Kerberos passing by them, “But we are here in a tick…”

Shiro caught this and snapped at her, “You…know that word?”

“What is a tick?” Lance asked as Starfire tilted her head.

“I believe in your Earth terms, it is a measurement of time?”

Shiro didn’t like how his stomach turned at that, but focused on Keith’s piloting when he spotted it. A glowing blue wormhole appeared in front of them, and Shiro knew that this was it. There was no going back after this.

“You ready?” Shiro asked Keith, who smirked.

“Look who you’re talking to~” Keith soon made Blue go forward, the Lion speeding towards the portal and disappeared through it.

After a few rumbles and tumbles from Blue, everyone was holding on tightly in the confined space they were in as they exited the portal.

Keith breathed out slowly, blinking his eyes as he looked around, “W-wow…that…was…”

A groan and a hurling sound was heard at his left, Keith closing his eyes with a wince as Terra threw up at the side. Everyone else also looked away with a disgusted look, Terra then finishing with a small apology while holding her sides.

“Surprised she took this long…” Keith murmured before looking out once more to the window and blinked, “Woah…”

“I don’t recognise any of these constellations…” Starfire murmured as she looked around, Ben also looking around and agreeing with her.

“Okay, maybe this is a part of the galaxy I haven’t been yet. Maybe it’s even farther than Revonnah…we must be a long, long way from Earth…”

“I think the Lion wants to go to that planet over there,” Keith pointed out to everyone as he spotted what seems to be a beautiful looking planet that almost looked like Earth, and Blue was speeding over, “I think…I think this is her home.”

Everyone braced themselves as the Blue Lion was hitting past the atmosphere, growing red hot as she never slowed down one bit, as if excited to be coming home to this unknown planet. But Shiro knew. He knew and was smiling brightly as they got closer. Passed the skies and down to look at the land below.

“Guys, personal space,” Keith murmured as everyone seemed squished against him as he piloted the Lion, then glared at Terra close to him, “Terra, your breath is killing me.”

"Um, is it just me or is anyone else having second thoughts about flying through a mysterious wormhole?” The blonde murmured and then narrowed her eyes at Keith, “Why are we listening to a robotic Lion anyway"?

“This Lion happened to take us to her home planet. So I suggest you shut up and stop complaining. You agreed to come with anyways,” Keith argued, and Lance sighed.

“Don’t be mean to her, Keith, she was just asking…case you haven’t noticed, not everyone is used to being inside a strange robot cat taking us to who knows where?”

Keith looked up at him and cocked a brow, “Ohh, you scared?”

“With you in the helm? Terrified.” Lance said coolly.

"All right, knock it off! We all agreed that we do this together and I know that it’s not a happy situation,“ Shiro interjected between them, trying to calm them down, “But we're here now. If we want to get through this, we've got to do it as a team. Okay?“

“Sooo, what do we do?” Ben asked curiously.

“First, we are letting Blue lead us to where she needs to go,” The Castle of Lions should be close by…He added in his mind then glanced over at Keith, “Keith? Is Blue saying anything to you?”

“No, she’s pretty quiet right now.” Keith said with a shrug, and Lance hummed a little, but then blinked when he looked up and leaned over Keith, who then blushed and looked up at the Cuban, “W-what are you—?”

“Guys! There’s a Castle up ahead!”

Everyone looked up and indeed, there was a beautiful view of what seemed to be a shining modernised Castle that was perched on top of some mountain that was nearby what seems to be a beautiful seaside. Shiro felt his eyes well up at seeing the view of the Castle of Lions, his heart yearning. We made it. We’re home, he would think to himself as Blue was zooming to land outside of the Castle, carefully placing their paws on the ground. Somehow, with a purr from Blue, the Castle suddenly lit up in bright blue lights, just like back in the cave.

“Wow!” Starfire and Terra were in awe, and Ben whistled.

“Neat trick,” He stated, but then turned serious with a pursed lips, “…Maybe we should keep our guard up?”

Lance looked over at him, “Something wrong?”

“Who knows what lies inside this Castle. Friend, or foe?”

Shiro sighed as he placed a hand on Ben’s shoulder, “I can assure you, they are friends. Let’s get going.”

Ben wanted to question Shiro, but one by one, everyone was getting out of the Blue Lion and staring right in front of some large doors with some sort of symbol on it. Suddenly, Blue straightened up and roared out loud, causing everyone but Shiro to tense up as if readying for a fight. But they soon turned around when the same doors were glowing brightly and soon opened wide for them.

“Ohhh…the door is open,” Terra breathed out before looking over at Blue, “Heh, s-sorry, thought you were going to eat us.”

Shiro soon rushed forward and started making a beeline to where he knew the Princess and Coran were, and Ben couldn’t help but follow after him. This also caused the rest of them to follow, wondering how in the world Shiro knew where to go?

‘There’s a lot that Shiro isn’t telling us,’ Ben thought in his head, seeing how Shiro skidded to a halt.

It was then a beam of light appeared as the vestibule activates, Shiro remaining calm while the others sort of freaked out.

“Hold for identity scan.”

“W-what is going on?!” Keith exclaimed as he felt himself being scanned, looking around, “Who goes there?What do you want with us?!”

“Keith, calm down. The Castle is just trying to identify us.” Shiro murmured quietly, and then blinked when it finished scanning and started to light up another hallway for them.

“Welcome, Paladins of Voltron.”

Shiro smiled a little, before making his way down the halls, ignoring the look of suspicion from both Ben and Keith. Either way, yhe lights in the hallway started to glow warmly, the team then started to walk down the lit hallway and down a flight of steps. Soon, they ended up in what seems to be a chamber of some sort of strange looking pillars in them.

Shiro was immediate as he went to the centre of the room and looked over some console, while Ben looked around.

“Where are we? Some kind of control room?"

“Princess Allura…” Shiro murmured as he pressed a button on the console, watching two strange pods rise from the ground, “Hope you and Coran had a good sleep…”

“Alright, Shiro, I think I had enough. Tell us what the heck is going on,” Keith finally snapped and walked by Shiro, who looked over in confusion, “It’s like you know all of this. Like, you’ve been here before?”

Shiro softened and was about to say something until he heard a noise and snapped his head to see four more pods rise from the ground. This caused him to frown, as he remembered in the past these ones were empty. But apparently there seem to be people inside them as well. Alteans? Maybe…

“A-are these guys…dead?” Lance squeaked out in fright, but one of the pods started to open.

Shiro expected Allura’s pod to open, but it was one of the new ones as the glass melted away to reveal a blonde girl with a braid dressed in green. She looked…human.

She gasped, her eyes opening to reveal them to be of obsidian coloured, reaching her hand out and yelled, “Wally!”

Ben was quick to move as he opened his arms out and caught her, the young woman falling into his arms. Shiro was alerted for a moment, almost wanting to step forward but the other pods were opening. Soon, another pod opened to reveal a very young Asianboy in a hoodie, stumbling onto his knees and hands as he then was gasping for air. The next pod opened to reveal another blonde haired girl, this time her hair was down past her shoulders and held back by a black hairband, dressed what seems to be a Wonder Woman shirt and red jogging pants. The last pod opened to reveal some red haired rugged man with almost glowing ruby eyes, in a brown trench coat and even stranger clothes underneath.

Shiro…didn’t know any of these people.

“W-what…where am I?” The woman in Ben’s arms murmured, holding her head, “What the heck happened?”

“You’re…in a Castle. In another planet. Um, hi, I’m Ben.” The brunet introduced himself with a small smile, and the blonde looked up with a squint of her eyes.

“…You’re not Wally.”

“No, I am not. May I ask your name?”

“…”

Suddenly, Ben yelped when he found himself in a restraining hold, twisting her arm over his neck and looking at everyone else in the room.

“Stay back! Are you part of The Reach?!“

“The what?!” Lance yelped as he placed his hands up, almost wanting to step forward to stop her, “No! Let him go! W-we’re just passing through! We don’t know anything!”

“Gambit feels like a Sentinel has hit Gambit over the head one too many times,” The strange red haired man spoke in a deep Cajun accent, rubbing his head before looking around with confusion, “…This isn’t Genosha?”

“Artemis!?!” The other blonde girl there squeaked as she flew over and then placed her fists up to stand in front of the girl holding Ben, “Alright, you Reach scum! You’re not taking us or our home planet!”

Keith was already pulling what seems to be a knife from his jacket, and Shiro was also readying for a fight.

The young teenage boy in the hoodie just was rubbing his head before he looked around, before narrowing his eyes, “…I think everyone should calm down for a moment.”

“What’cha say, short stuff?!” The floating blonde girl looked over at him with a glare, while the boy looked up and gave her the stink eye, which made her flinch back with an unsure look.

“I mean, why are you guys going all aggro the moment waking up in…what I believe are Sleep Chambers,” The boy looked back to where he had come out from and then hummed, “Well, never thought I would be abducted by aliens at the age of fourteen. Sort of thought that would happen later on after I finished my brother’s nerd school—“

“Yo-you’re not abducted,” Shiro spoke up as he managed to calm down too, glancing at the one called Artemis holding Ben hostage, “W-what exactly do you remember before waking up…um—?”

“Hiro. Hiro Hamada,” The boy introduced himself as he looked to Shiro, “You seem to be the ring leader for this operation, correct?”

“Uh, I wouldn’t call myself a ring leader per se…” Shiro murmured before Hiro rolled his eyes.

“Anyways, the last thing I was remember was I was in a science fair with my brother and his friends along with my Aunt. I won and was going to go out to celebrate, but I hung back to double check on my invention one last time. I was the last to leave the building that held a lot of upcoming students’ projects but somehow the building was set on fire. Next thing I knew was I was knocked out and ended up here…”

“C-Can you please let me go now?” Ben tapped at the woman’s arm, before he yelped and was dropped to the ground and the blonde raised a brow.

“My name is Artemis. I’m a former protege of Green Arrow and I was supposed to be with the Justice League and The Team behind them to take down an alien race called the Reach…last thing I remember was watching my boyfriend get fried by some weird machine and I rushed in to push him out of the way and…nothing.”

“Wait, Green Arrow has another protege besides Arsenal?” Ben tilted his head, but then yelped when Artemis glared down at him.

“Arsenal? Do you mean Red Arrow or the real Speedy?”

“Who’s Red Arrow? And….real Speedy?”

Artemis shook her head before looking at the other blonde girl and softened, “Cassie, what are you even doing here? Do you remember what happened?”

Cassie looked sheepish for a moment before shaking her head, “I-I dunno. One minute I was with Robin taking down the Reach’s machines and army and then got a message about Kid Flash, Flash and Impulse being in trouble. I was going to fly to their location when I was zapped and…blacked out too…”

“You know of Robin?” Starfire asked curiously before Cassie looked over and nodded.

“He’s…my teammate,” She looked flushed for a second before coughing, then turned serious, “A-anyways, um, who are the rest of you guys? I only know Artemis since we work with the Justice League.”

“There’s no way you work with the Justice League,” Ben pointed out, “I’ve never met you two before.”

Artemis glared at him, “What? We do work with the Justice League. Who are you to say that?”

“I’ve worked with them plenty of times and I’ve never met you nor your Wonder Woman fangirl here,” Ben pointed to Cassie before looking at Artemis with a grin, “I’m Ben Tennyson. Or Ben 10, ya know, saved the universe a billion times~?”

“…Never heard of you.” Artemis huffed as she stared at him, arms folded.

Suddenly, a whistle sounded and the strange man in the trench reached a hand up, signalling everyone’s attention.

“Ah, je suis tres desole for interrupting. But Gambit thinks that the other pods are opening,” He pointed to one that was already melting the glass away, and soon was making the move, “La tête haute~!”

He had shoved Lance out of the way when a strange mocha color-skinned woman with white hair and in a dress was reaching her hand out with a gasp, whispering out ‘Father!’ with a breathless tone, and Gambit soon caught her in his arms in time before she fell to the ground.

Shiro almost balked at this, knowing that it wasn’t Lance who caught Allura this time around, but a total stranger. Lance groaned as he was rubbing his butt since he fell when pushed away, Keith walking over and looking over at him, asking if he was okay.

"Who are you? Where am I?" The woman in his arms questioned, looking around for a moment before her eyes landed in front of the red head.

“Remy LeBeau, chérie. But you can call me Gambit~”

The woman narrowed her eyes up at him, then tilted her head, almost confusing Gambit. She was quiet for a moment, but then blinked she looked into his eyes again, and felt her face flush.

“…Goodness, your eyes?”

Gambit chuckled, giving a charming smile, “Gambit knows. Eyes are attractive, non~?”

Suddenly, she soon brought him into a headlock, but somehow she squeaked when he turned it around on her before holding her in a princess carry.

“Ah, ah, ah, Princesse. There’s no need for violence~” Gambit smiled casually as the woman struggled.

"Who are you? Where is King Alfor? What are you doing in my Castle?" She interrogated with a yell, as she tried to break loose from Gambit’s grip.

“Princess Allura calm down!” Shiro approached this time, raising his hands up as he looked to her, “My name is Shiro. Blue brought us here, and we need to find the other lions and quickly before the Galra find out.”

“You know my name—Wait! You have the Blue Lion? What happened to it’s Paladin? What are you all doing here? Unless... How long has it been?" Allura gasped as she looked around then back at the strangers before her, and then felt her heart drop, “No…”

Shiro softened, as he breathed out, “It’s been ten thousand years, Allura. Sorry, but as much as it’s a lot to take in, I’m afraid we don’t have time to explain everything.”

“Oh, I think it’s the perfect time to speak about everything,” Ben spoke up as he looked up at Shiro, “You know more about this than you’re letting on…so start talking.”

Shiro sighed, knowing that Ben was right.

“Alright…I’ll come clean. Let’s…sit down so I can explain everything.”

//So what do you guys think? Do you think I should continue this story? Or should I just stick to writing Quirks and Miracles only? Let me know what you guys think~! Leave a comment below or feel free to message me on questions or anything else of this story. Thank you and have a wonderful rest of your day~!

-Riri-Mun

#fanfic #fanfiction #crossover #AU #voltron #Voltron: Legendary Defender #vld #Ben 10 #marvel #dc universe #marvel universe #dcu

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starshipsofstarlord · 3 years ago

Text

The Baby Factor

Summary: You want a baby, but there are multiple things that can get in the way of a decision like that. The lack of a sperm donor, men, friends, secrets. (This is Part One of a new series so there will be more parts, no need to enquire about it).

Fandom: Marvel (MCU/AU)

Pairings: Bucky Barnes x Female Reader, Eros x Female Reader, mentions of Peggy x Steve x Sharon (and possibly more pairings later in the series!)

Warnings: mentions of sex, talk of having a baby, the word sperm (since sperm donors and stuff duh), blackmail, fake dating, real dating, mentions of secrets, alcohol consumption, brief talk of violence, talk of breakups and long distance relationships, fluff, awkward and cute Bucky (he is a warning!), lady killer Eros, flirting, lying

Word Count: 3316 (I haven’t wrote anything this long in ages)

Masterlist Link

Necessarily you didn't know Bucky Barnes too well, he was just the batch of beef that followed your friend Steve Rogers everywhere since they reunited. Delicious, jaw dropping, stunning beef may I add to the description. He wasn't doing much with his life, he was just idly getting by and had just finished therapy, Nat had even dragged you to the small party in concur of the celebration since he didn't have many other friends. The two of you were alike in that department, both new to the group of brilliant minded and humorous people. Though there was one thing that was not obvious for any of them to expect from simply looking at you; you wanted a baby. Just to be a mother to a child you had birthed was the dream, no longer did you think about happy families, a family did not need two partners. All that was crucial was for somebody to get you pregnant, the good old fashioned way was preferred as it would be scarcely cheaper and you prayed for the process to be less time consuming. The problem? You still had yet to have decided on a sperm donor, not to mention that it was a strange thing to outright ask somebody.

You were in your thirties, and every minute that was gong past meant less time you were able to conceive a child. Sure it was a healthy age, but after this decade of your life was over, the less chance there would be. The entire circumstance was ravenously driving you mad, Tony had offered to give you the money to get inseminated in the sperm bank, however if that was the route that you wanted to go down, then you'd rather have summed up the money yourself, rather than feel indebted for getting pregnant. Only two people knew of your plan - Tony and Nat, and it would stay that way until you finally asked someone the question that you were dying to ask someone. The one thing through your journey so far that you had realised was that you wanted to know the father of your child, see his mindset, his appearance, know about his own history so you could we how each detail of him conjoined into the child's form and made them who they were. It wasn't an easy favour to ask someone however, you still had to dictate your choice which would be unfathomably hard; not everyone wanted a child, or to know they had one, and then there was the endurance of actually getting pregnant which when you were trying was known to be more difficult than some drunken one night stand where you'd end up knocked up nevertheless.

Steve came to accompany you at your side, there was a glass of water in his hand, and he reached out to put it in your own grasp. "You look deep in thought over here kid, thought I'd just check in." He always called you kid, you weren't sure why when you were only a couple years younger than him but you never paid it much attention. After all this time knowing him, it was normal. In college it had just been you, Nat, Steve, Tony, Bruce and Thor, and now the lot of you were all grown up, getting your lives together and starting your futures that would stick with you for the rest of your lives. Some people made no attentive differences in their lifestyles, surviving on minimum wage and cheap beer was how most got by, except for Tony of course, but you had made a significant decision. You knew what you wanted, and though you weren't keen on waiting any longer it was the easiest and most sensible thing that you could do. Taking a sip out of the glass, you were joyous to discover that it was really only water than vodka, both were clear and see through, as was your posture in the corner to your blond friend. Nodding when you finished you gulp, your nails tapped on the glass, creating back ground noise to your overly loud thoughts.

"If Sharon was here she'd scratch your eyes out for so much as talking to me." Ah yes Sharon Carter, his crazy and possessive girlfriend. You'd always preferred Steve with her cousins Peggy, he had met her on a college transfer to England, she had even stayed in Brooklyn for a while but the distance split them apart, and missing each other every second of every day just wasn't fair for them. And then in the midst of their breakup he had spent much time alone until Sharon came into the picture, he could do so much better, but he had fallen under her cynical spell and there was no saving him nor avenging his freedom. Steve laughed lightly and rolled his eyes at your naivety, putting a large and warm hand atop of your shoulder; it was always a lovely sound to hear, it was better than serious Steve that gave lectures i the gymnasium of schools when he filled in for Fury the teacher. "Y/n..." he had you on a hook as you awaited for him to finish speaking, raising your brow. A smile was on his face, one that you hadn't seen in a long time, and it all made sense as he finished speaking. "We broke up. Albeit she was cheating on me with Brock, she's living with him now, that said Sam and Buck are beyond pleased, I'd say they're happier than me. They hated her."

"I think we all did." You laughed simultaneously with him, until the sound of footsteps captured your attention. They were heavy and paced, and as you looked up you had to stop your jaw from dropping, it was the man of the hour, James Buchanan Barnes himself. He smiled shyly at you, there was a glass bottle in his hand, the metal one, and Steve could only pull his friend closer. "What're we talking about?" Bucky asked, and you found confidence in yourself to answer in place of Steve. "Sharon." You stated simply, and instantly a grimace covered his features causing you and Steven Grant Rogers to burst out in laughter again. It wasn't so hard to speak to him, but this was normal conversation, which you could have with any guy. Why was asking someone, whoever your choice may be, to have impregnate you without having to be tied down with a parental role, so hard? Bucky shook his head at you, clicking his tongue lightly before downing the rest of his beer. "Steve do you, um-" Steve surrendered his hands high as he patted his comrade on the shoulder before walking away, leaving the two of you alone.

"Hi." It was now just you and Bucky, he was the first to speak, his teeth gnawing at his bottom lip a little as he adjusted his weight from foot to foot a few times. "Hey." You responded softly in return, a smile stretched along your face as the pair of you openly gazed into the others eyes. There was definitely mutual attraction, you thought. Bucky didn't just stare at any women, in fact he often avoided women due to them having hurt him a lot in the past, sometimes he'd peruse through the bars but he'd never stick to his desire to take anyone home, he was stuck in his old ways of distancing himself by avoiding anything that could so much as scathe his feelings. "I've, um, wanted to speak to you one on one for a while, we haven't really had much chance to get to know each other." At that you could feel your heart racing phonemically in your chest, rattling inside of the cage of your chest, the sound reverberating in your ears like thunder coursing through each individual blood vessel. "Steve said to me that you've been single for a while, and I have too, and so, I was uh wondering if you'd maybe, I don't know, want to go on a date with me?" His fingers scratched at his scruff, exhibiting that he was feeling slightly nervous as he awaited for your answer. You'd have loved to have said yes but given your circumstances it'd have been rather strange, however you couldn't turn him down, his baby blue eyes were practically begging you to agree to go out with him.

"I'd love to." There was so much you wanted to know about him, more than what Steve had told you, or the snarky remarks that Sam would pry him with now and again. A goofy smile wandered onto his lips as he breathed out a large breath, he surrendered to the notion of his nerves fading away. "You can get my number off the group chat, right? I mean so long as you don't put our plans on there otherwise Stark may pay our bill and have a secret army following us. And trust me he would, he's crashed plenty of my dates in the past, and Thor always accompanies him which doesn't exactly make their dream team inconspicuous." He laughed as he scratched the back of his neck; he knew exactly where he was going to take you, Coney Island, he and Steve always went as kids, he loved it there and whilst the option may have not been some perfect dinner date, he was aware that you always liked to occupy yourself with something, he was certain you had a self project in the works right in the moment, and he wouldn't ask what it was in order to respect your privacy, but he could not help but be intrigued by the mystery of your thoughts.

The rest of the night went by without an issue, smoothly. Nat went home with you and you both sat in your room, changed out of your casual dresses into pyjamas that brought a sleepiness to your state of which the alcohol probably didn't help with that. She now thought you were mad, but had made a prime suggestion to which you weren't completely opposed to. "If you want a sperm donor why don't you just ask Barnes?" You weren't overly certain if the redhead was being overly serious or not, but it made you think a lot about that scenario. He was possibly an option, though as you sat in your room mulling over the idea, your roommate Eros without disdain wandered into your private space, causing you to roll your eyes. Your mind swapped from Bucky and the date that the two of you would be going on soon to the red headed narcissist who had no respect for privacy, he was a gentleman like Bucky was, however their perspectives were far different, as were their personalities. The two of you got along most of the time, sometimes things such as his current intrusion was one thing that diverted that however. "Hey pretty girl, I was hoping I could pick your brain with a favour..." Nat raised his brow, she had never met him before, he shot her a wink before returning his attention back to you, taking a couple of steps closer. "I mean if this is a bad time I could always ask you later, but I'm kind of running out of time, so could I pinch you for a second?"

"Anything you want to say you can say in front of my friend, whatever crap it is I'll probably tell her afterwards anyway." Curtly he nodded. You were spouting the truth anyways, she already knew of the unison of time that you'd be spending with Bucky alone, which in foresight was why she had mentioned him being your donor. Though you wouldn't rush into anything, if any man didn't want to, then they didn't have to stick around as a father, that was not their duty. To be a mother would be a lifelong miracle that you wanted now! If any suitor of yours had a problem with you wanting a child, it firstly did not have to be with them, and secondly, they could always find someone else that did not have intentions to get pregnant. Eros took it upon himself via your instructions to continue speaking, after living with him for a few months you'd found him to be quite chatty, he was one that liked conversation. You liked that, it made you feel less lonely within the walls that you lived. "My brother Thanos is coming into town, and I may or may not have said that I have a girlfriend. And I need you to pretend to be said person, please." He was desperate for you to agree to his terms and conditions, though from what he had already spoke Natasha could not hold it in to remark her pure mindset. He took a couple of courageous steps forward, getting a better perspective of the frown that framed your features; you were already reacting better than he had expected though he knew that soon there was the possibility of that changing with the more that he talked.

"Does your entire family have weird names or are you guys aliens or something?" Natasha snorted out of the opposer of courteously, Eros rolled his eyes at your friend, you had enquired about a similar question when the pair of you had first met. He remembered the event in the timeline like yesterday, he was surprised to see such a beautiful specimen in the place that he would be paying to stay in each month as rent was a demand, and he'd be lying if he said he didn't try his luck with you, but you denied all of his trials and errors since you claimed that you wanted to live under normal circumstances with your flatmate rather than sexual ones. And with that said tension between the pair of you remained, though his favourite evenings were spent whilst the pair of you watched television, rom coms on Netflix specifically, where the duet of you and him would be sat on the small couch. Sometimes you fell asleep, with your head resting comfortably one his shoulder, and Eros dared not move a muscle, scared that if he did the solace that he was experiencing for a limited amount of time would end shortly. "And why should I do this roomie? I'm sure you have no problem getting girls, you practically get room service for them each night, so why not use one of them? I'm sure you could settle on rather acceptable payment that you'd enjoy also for them, however I'm not like them, we have very large difference, I'm not interested in you like that." You enquired suitably, crossing your arms to eventuate how unimpressed you really were with the damage that he had already done.

"Because... I may or may not have said that I'm already dating you; the descriptions were rather on point, and I said that we're living together which is not a lie. And I also sent him that video of you being high in our bathroom, so I guess I could say that I won't release that to anyone else?" Was he really blackmailing you right now? It was in a very Eros fashion, it wasn't anything particularly serious at least you wouldn't say so, however you didn't want that video getting out to anyone, your reputation would crumble to decimal pieces - it was private, and caused you to dramatically sigh, again when Natasha decided to pipe up and remind you that she was there also. "Now that I would pay to see." Nat said in reference in the video, her emerald eyes were flickering back and forth between you and your roommate, the chemistry between the pair of you was undeniable. It made her smile to herself, you were so oblivious to the connection, all the redhead wanted was for you to be happy. Though the way to be was for you to have a child rather than take up a lover, and that was okay, she just hoped that you found your solace soon without any more distractions ruining your private schemes.

"Well nobody is going to see it, because I guess I'm going to have to accept your offer Eros, and you better stay true to your word, otherwise we're going to have a rather huge problem here." Your brow quirked up at him, a dimple pronounced smile playing on his cheeks as he nodded at you, staring at you with his green eyes a moment longer, before evacuating your room, allowing you to regain your privacy. He even shut the door, his manners were already uplifting since he had done the reverse to gain your attention. Gulping you ogled at the ground for a second, Nat found a strangeness obliterating your gaze and thus the woman snapped her fingers. "What's really on that video y/n?" She didn't know Eros, in fact it was the first time that she had even seen him in person, occasionally his face would pop up on suggested friends on Facebook, but she'd never in person interacted with the man, and she wasn't sure if she liked him or not. The blackmail was something that she couldn't quite make up an opinion on, she would have to stick around a bit longer if she intended to do that. "There is a video of me getting high in the bathroom, but I know he's not referencing that one... There's another, and I know he wouldn't actually send it to anyone, not even Thanos who doesn't know me, but that's a risk that I can't take." Your chin dropped as you brushed the hair out of your face, your fists clenching tightly by your sides; there were things that Eros knew that others didn't have the privilege to, and if a single soul uncovered your secret, especially Bucky, everything would be ruined. You weren't sure anybody would trust you again.

Even if you divulged the truth to Nat, she would never look at you the same - everything would be a grand mess, you may as well burn the world down and start over, because you'd lose everything. "Then I'll help you, and make this lie believable. I may not know what this thing that you want to hide is, but I'm your best friend, and I will do anything that means that you are protected." All that you could do was pull your old friend into a sensual hug, this was why you appreciated her, she was one of the most loyal people that you'd ever had the chance of knowing. So now you were to go on a date with the Bucky Barnes that was weaving his way around your social circle, and allegedly dating Eros your roommate. Everything was occurring at once, simultaneously making your life more complex than it already was, hence why you wanted a child rather than a partner. It was someone to protect instead of be protected by, because every man or woman that had tried to keep you safe always got hurt, your legacy wasn't to live on through memories, instead it'd have been through a creation of your own, someone that you'd love forever no matter the mistakes that they made in the journey of survival. The world was vastly cruel, yet it was within your every intention to bring some reason to continue living in it to your life. Even the thought of having a child made your heart flutter as though a thousand leaves had been raised off the ground but the autumnal wind, and that was how you knew that was the right path for you to take, all you needed was for someone to help you paint that picture, and you had yet to discover who that person was to be.

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bangteamhyuk · 4 years ago

Text

Seesaw (I)

Genre: Mature/Smut, Strangers to Lovers, Neighbors with benefits/Fuck buddies, Producer! Min Yoongi, Fuck girl! OC Y/N, Neighbors AU (a Spin-Off to “Moving On”)

Warning: NSFW! alot of kissing (torrid, soft, neck, and down under😉), protected sex (you can never go wrong with a rubber on, kids!), oral sex, mentions of alcohol, mentions of nipple pierce (pls don’t kill me 😣), mentions of cheating, appears to be pwp but i swear there’s a plot in this..so bear with me please😖, elevator buddies (lol. thanks ggukieland for mentioning this) to eventual lovers. I’m ending this in good terms 😌

Synposis: His outfits are always in black, and if not black then it must be in dark muted tones. You pressed the button on the elevator floor, and positioned yourself at the edge. You watched his back from a distance, and turned away if he moved his head. You were always the one who start your small conversation with him: From “good day” to “good night” to “that’s interesting (whatever it is you find ‘interesting’ from him, even though you were interested in him more than the item)” and other things. You and your little crush to your neighbor who lived on the 18th floor.

Until one rainy night, all drenched and cold, and your eyes smudged all over with kohl, you found him waiting for you inside the elevator. His body slacked on the edge, hair unkempt, his jacket barely settled on his shoulder while holding on to an empty bottle of scotch.

“Rough night?” he asked while you moved to the other side of the lift, pressing the button from the elevator immediately closing its door.

“Yeah, seems you had one too?” you watched him attempt to position himself upright in amusement.

He drank from the empty bottle before he replied and realized straightaway that it’s been drained.

An idea came up to you suddenly and you asked: “I have more of that in my place. Wanna come over?”

A/N: Yoongi have been tormenting me of his visual for weeks and I just have to. Also I owe Producer!Min Yoongi to be happy. :( I hope you’ll enjoy “Seesaw” as much I enjoyed writing it. I decided to make it a mini-series because ideas are just piling up for the two.

And yep, mood song is “Seesaw” by Suga 💖

Word count: 7,190k

“Good morning” you said upon entering the elevator. You walked past him and placed your back on the steel wall for support.

“Good morning” he replied, eyes blinking.

You opened your insulated tumbler to drink your freshly brewed hot coffee you made before leaving your apartment, when you noticed something particularly interesting from the lone stranger you’re with inside the lift. “Nice bean hat” you complimented.

“It’s a gift from my friend” he looks up at the elevator screen, monitoring what floor you two are currently in before it hits the ground floor. “That coffee smells nice, Ethiopian beans?” he turned his head a little to your direction, but wasn’t trying to look back at you particularly.

“No, Tanzania Peaberry” you took a sip and levelled your eyes to the decreasing number before the elevator digital screen until it hit ‘Lobby’. “Well, have a good day!” you smiled at him as you walked past his side. Yoongi let you leave first, like a true gentleman that he is.

It was always the same dry and small conversation. Always the same feeling whenever he is around. Your little crush on the man living on the 18th floor.

——

It started about two months ago when he was running towards the closing elevator, asking for you to wait for him before you could push the close button on the lift. Normally you would mind, and would even subtly push the button hard (about once or twice) so the lift would close quickly before the other person could even enter.

But not this guy, no. The way his eyes looked at you for a second, there was something behind it, something you couldn’t pinpoint exactly. When he reaches out for the door, you knew from that moment on, it was already over. He finally came in and pushed the ‘close button’ before you.

You were charmed.

“Thank you” he panted, as he tried to catch his breath from running and crouched down on his knees right when the elevator door closed. He was wearing a black oversized hoodie and dark blue fitted jeans and black canvas shoes, but were all dripping wet.

“Didn’t expect the rain too” You pulled out your gym towel from your bag. The one you didn’t get to use because, Matt, the cute guy your friend introduced to you during her wedding day, suddenly sent you a message asking if you had any plans for this afternoon.

Naturally, you cancelled your ‘gym day’ to trade it for one steamy workout session with him inside his car. Which leaves you now with your gym outfit and other stuff perfectly unused, including your towel.

“Here” you handed it over to him, feeling sorry for the situation he was in. Wet and dirty from running outside the street. He turned to you, confused, unsure whether to accept the towel you were offering or not. “Oh don’t worry, that’s a new one. I didn’t get to the gym today so it’s not used, like at all…” you smiled.

“Thanks” he bowed a bit and gently wiped his neck and face as he pushed the 18th floor button. He shook his raven short hair a little to his side and tapped it with the towel, hoping to reduce the water trickling from the ends of his straight hair.

You pushed 17th.

“New here?” you asked.

“Yeah, I just moved two weeks ago” he gently wiped each side of his cheek for warmth.

“Has anyone ever welcomed you here?” you took a quick glance at him and furrowed your eyebrows then retracted “Well, besides the management and the security guard?” you snickered, eyes still fixed at the elevator buttons and its screen.

He chuckled at your query “No, unfortunately.”

“Bummer. Well, let that towel be the ‘first welcome gift’ then. From a neighbor” You shrugged then turned to face him and smiled.

The elevator bell rang, ‘17th floor’. You put your feet forward near the elevator door, arguing in your head whether you should ask his name or not. Usually, you don’t ask strangers for their name, especially the ones you just met. You barely knew anyone in this building, except your next-door neighbor who frequently complained about the noises you make at night.

And It’s not like he owes you anything either, so you didn’t expect that he’ll do it so casually… and yet here you are, hoping.

At least, maybe he could ask you a thing or two about you and say ‘thanks’ one more time? That’s just wishful thinking though. You suddenly remember that you did mention the towel was a gift, despite not bothering to ask if he wants it or not.

You began to worry even more, and wanted to ask if he really wants to even keep it. So, you turned around to meet him the eye and “Ah w—”

“Thank you, neighbor” he smiled and held the towel to his ear. The elevator door closes before you, stunned to see him smile. Yes, that damn smile. The kind where you forget where you live for a second, and you just nod. Leaving him behind.

“What’s your name?” you asked no one, and sighed. “Whatever… you’re welcome, neighbor” you turned away from the closed door in frustration and walked along the hallway.

——

Boys are like games. You liked it when they made you scheme so that they could find you interesting, and then trap them once they took the bait. And leave when it becomes dull.

Every so often, you try to lure in guys that interest you so that you could spend about a week or two with them, to fill in the gaps of your own boredom. You despised monotony, the way you hated commitments.

Though you were not always like this before, you once believed in ‘true love’ and ‘fairytales’, until you’ve had your heart broken a few times (mostly due to one-sided love) and then that was it. You’ve had enough. Back then, you were still young and naïve, thinking men will come and save you from this cruel world. You’ve seen it in movies, tv dramas and heard countless songs play about it on the radio, you were hopeful.

Yet no one came to save you, not even one. You came to realize that only you could save yourself from making your life any more tragic. Men are never the key to happiness. Love is not the formula in living a good life.

You looked at your own reflection and marveled at the beauty you created for yourself. And that was the thing, you saved yourself way too perfectly that you just don’t believe in love anymore. And out of nowhere, men were starting to line up.

Not like the teen romance kind of stuff, where they literally line up for you because you started to look like Gal Gadot overnight. More like, you don’t seem to care whether you get asked out or not, either way, men like you because you are a challenge. And who doesn’t like a challenge?

Because men are dying to see one day, that all the walls you’ve built for yourself would fall for them. They wanted to see a damsel in distress behind that wall.

Because men always like their ego stroke, and they always want to have the bigger prize. Unfortunately for everybody, it’s not Princess Peach who they want to save on top of a tower, they just want the game. That’s it, they want to see whether you’d fall for them or not. Nothing more, nothing less. That’s why you never let it. You refused to get too personal and you renounced commitments. You’re too proud.

Because for you, commitments are the epitome of prison. For you, commitments are just a disguise for convenience. In the same manner, convenience is a sugar-coated word for validation, caramelized to perfection.

And for whose validation? For men? Maybe then, they could make you do their laundry, cook them food, satisfy their lustful desires? Are those really an act of love or selfish desire to make their lives easy? Clearly, your choice to keep yourself free from commitments isn’t an act of rebellion against sexims and double standards. It’s actually letting yourself be free from nuisance, which is what they call “love”.

That is why you remain in your stance, that you want men for your own pleasure. Nothing more, nothing less. That you want to see them admire you, kneel if they must, before you. Cry desperately for your touch. Because you’re not giving any, not until a man who thinks the same way as you do, the ones who are smart enough to knock on your door and present to you his pure intentions.

Evidently, that’s impossible, with the way men are in this god-forsaken city? The closest thing you could ever meet to a perfect man is the cardboard stand of Park Seojun, smiling at the entrance of a restaurant beside you right now.

You pat the fabric from your dress, after looking at your reflection from the glass window. Joe, your officemate, from the Design Department, finally asked you out for a ‘little dinner nearby’.

“Y/N, you sure you want to eat here? We can go to some place fancier” he asked while he folded his long sleeves.

“Two seats please” you ignored his query as you grinned over the lady who took on the customer cue. She rolled her eyes upon seeing you again with another man.

Joe went to you close and whispered “Do you have any beef with the lady?”.

“Nah, we’re good. It’s her term of endearment for saying ‘welcoming back’. I’m a regular customer here” you winked at her “so I’m sure she’s delighted to see me every time” she groaned in annoyance and let you in. She remained polite by guiding you both to an empty table.

——

Obviously that’s a lie, because next thing you knew, you were already making out with Joe inside his car, barely reaching his apartment.

“Mmm” you shifted to his seat, knees in between his legs, as he unzips your dress on your back. You helped him pull the fabric down from your shoulder, exposing your lacy lingerie, exclusive for this occasion.

“Can’t you wait until we get into my place?” he parted, panting, leaving him breathless after that torrid kiss.

“I just wanted to give you a little preview with what I can do” you smirked, as you began to kiss his ears and traced it down his neck. “Will get there, don’t worry” you gently bit his ear lobe which made him groan in pleasure. Until, someone came knocking on his window. Joe moved from his seat to see who it was.

“Lara!” he immediately stopped and pushed you away.

“Lara?” you turned to face where he was looking, and to your horror, you saw Lara. Lara, your officemate and your best friend. Lara, who perfectly knew your history and the list of men you slept with. Lara, who stood by you even after office hours and saved your ass multiple times from your mercurial boss.

You didn’t have any slightest clue she was seeing this Joe from the Design department, yet you feel like you’ve done something terribly wrong.

You quickly pulled your clothes up, while Joe immediately left you in the car to talk to Lara.

“I can explain,” he pleaded, shutting the car door hard.

“I don’t need it” Lara shook her head and took a step back.

You pulled down the headboard mirror to fix your hair and lipstick for a moment and let the two do the talking first. You listened to them argue, rather faintly from the inside of his car while you tried to put on your heels.

After you gently pat your lips with your finger, you finally decided to leave the car and went to Lara so you could take on her side and put more misery over Joe, the canker cheater. Besides, isn’t it Joe’s fault that you are all in this muddling position?

“I always knew I shouldn’t be friends with a slut like you!” she spat a disgusted look on you.

Your mouth went agape, bewildered at her reaction “Excuse me? I didn’t know Joe’s seeing you”. You were expecting that above all, she would understand the current situation, that it was Joe and not you who started out all this mess. Why does it feel like you’ve put gas in to the fire? When the one who deserves all these words is Joe.

“So, is it my fault now? That I didn’t tell you I’m seeing Joe?!” she scoffed and folded her arms. Now she’s starting to piss you off too.

“Because I don’t know Lara? We’re best friends? We’re not supposed to hide secrets?” you gave her a sardonic smile, which peeved her even more.

“Of course I should, the way you sleep with everyone’s boyfriend without being sorry? I definitely think I should” she bit at you, barely quivering from the words she chose against you. You must admit, that definitely hurt. Not the words she chose, not the way she barely quivered, but because it came out from someone you trust.

Lara, was the least person you thought who could inflict a burn to your already-distorted ego.

You sighed, forestalling the tears that were slowly looming around your eyes “Right, well at least I learned something about you tonight. Have a great night with Joe, I hope you two sort out things…” you pulled your bag from your shoulder and walked away but then you remember something.

You wanted to slap Joe in the face so bad right now, that the only thing that’s stopping you is the idea of an eventual ‘Physical Harm Outside Office’ complaint against you from the HR Department, well if you were careless enough to actually do it.

“There’s a thong hidden underneath your seat, which isn’t mine by the way. I only wear Kiki De Montparnasse, don’t I Lara? Well, those are Victoria’s. You know I dislike Victoria’s ” you declared, before leaving, not turning your head to face them one last time.

“We’re over Joe!” Lara screeched, as Joe pleaded even more, their voices turning inaudible as you moved farther away.

Of course, that was a lie. There were no thongs left inside Joe’s car. Just the friendship you lost with Lara. And you wanted to retaliate hard, to put everything on equal footing. Except, it didn’t feel that way, because Joe took something away from you forever: Trust.

——

Someone knocked from Yoongi’s studio. “Excuse me sir, but Mr. Park and his fiancé are waiting for you at the lounge area?” one of the staff asked, sticking her head out from the door.

“Right, tell them I’ll be there in sec!” he pushed a few buttons on his keyboard and then left his seat to meet his visitors.

“Hyung!” Jimin stood up from his seat to meet him, together with his fiancé… Yoongi’s ex-girlfriend.

“Hey there kid!” Yoongi went to give Jimin a brief hug, and gestured to them to return to their seats. “Hey there” he nodded and smiled weakly to his ex, not that he’s sour or hostile towards her, but he was just in a tight position seeing the two of them together in one room.

“Hyung, I’ve been really meaning to ask you, but I know it’s pretty awkward considering the two of you well, you were once, you know” he scratched the back of his neck, trying to find proper words but decided to continue anyway “together… and I know this is sudden too, but we reserved a seat for you on our wedding day tomorrow, and hopefully as one of my groomsmen…”

Be there on their wedding day? Tomorrow? As one of his groomsmen? Is this a joke? He was baffled for a moment, but his face remained stoic. “I can’t. I’m sorry…” he nodded coolly.

Yoongi saw how she quickly held on to Jimin’s hand tight, to give Jimin comfort from the rejection they expected from him.

“We understand” Jimin breathed and faced the ground.

“It’s not like that” Yoongi lied. “You know that contract I just had for a soft drink commercial? Well apparently they wanted a full revision on the song, so I just had to finish it before the weekends”

“Oh” Jimin smiled shyly “that’s unfortunate…”

Yoongi turned to face his ex, who knew him fluently. He gulped and smiled weakly, hoping the message would come across to ‘Not tell Jimin’. She nodded, fully understanding what Yoongi had in mind.

He wanted to save everybody (especially her family who knew him for years, and their common friends who’ll come by) to see an uncomfortable scene on their special occasion: An ex on a wedding day.

Hours passed, and Yoongi politely offered to see them leave the office building while bidding them good luck for tomorrow.

“Excuse me, I just need to get this” Jimin took his phone to his ears and left them to receive the call from his manager. “Yeah, they’re there? All areas secured? Yeah, thank you. Hopefully, we can avoid paparazzi and obsessive fans at the wedding venue tomorrow…” Yoongi heard him say, his voice turning faint as he walked far.

“Yoongi” she quickly but subtly held his hand “Just say it…” she shut her eyes and pleaded him.

Yoongi knew what she meant, and even if he still feels something for her, he had to do it. “Don’t do this… I know it’s probably just wedding jitters, and maybe we really haven’t had a proper closure when we broke up, but Jimin is a good guy. He’s better. Please, be with him” he said softly, resisting to meet her eyes.

“I’m so sorry for leaving you that night, I should have stuck out to you then, and understand you, I really lo—“ she started to talk fast, while her eyes glistened.

“Stop” Yoongi, moved back, pulling his own hand away from her. “You made the right decision, and I also made mine. Everything falls perfectly, where it should be” Yoongi bit his lip, maddened to hear her regret. For what? What good does it make to agree with her and run? To destroy a relationship right before their wedding day? He’s not dumb to take the bait.

After years of being left behind, years of putting him in the dark after she left, years of hoping that the two of them can get back together. Only to find later, by chance, that she was already dating his colleague, Jimin. “Stop!” he repeated, taking another step away from her.

Jimin ran back to her side, clueless of what just happened between her and Yoongi. “I’m sleepy, love” she yawned, trying to mask her teary eyes that started when she pleaded Yoongi to take her back.

Yoongi nodded “I’m sure you two are tired from all the planning. I really appreciate you two for visiting. Take care! I need to get back to the studio, client’s calling too!`` He quickly turned away and left, digging his hand in his pockets to hide his shaking palms. The thought of almost agreeing to take her back, right on the night before their wedding, sends shivers down his spine.

He needed a drink.

——

You fumbled on your wallet and realized that you left your transportation card on the office desk. Honestly, you thought you wouldn’t need it when Joe offered to drive you home. “Please, at least a change, at least a change…” you mumbled it like a mantra, praying something helpful would appear, but didn’t.

Even when you dug deeper in your bag, there was no spare change in sight, only your credit card. You didn’t expect the night to turn out so bad. Even worse, it was starting to rain. It didn’t have an umbrella either.

You paused in the middle of the street to cry, not being able to comprehend the series of unfortunate events. You watched the rain flushed down your makeup from a convex mirror hanging on a pole. Your eyes were starting to look like raccoons. Your favorite dress is already drenched and filthy from street dust and smoke. Yet you remained walking, hoping that if you continued to raise your hand every so often, a taxi would come by and let you in.

But even after an hour, no one bothered to let a rain-drenched woman into their dry and pristine car. Until it took you long enough to arrive at your apartment lobby, and you sighed in relief. You shook your head when the security wanted to ask what happened, and declined when the service staff offered you a seat to wait on the couch and bring you a towel. You just wanted to get to your home quickly.

And there he was, inside the elevator, your little crush who lives on the 18th floor.

You saw him drink the last drop from his bottle before he pressed a button, when his eyes widened upon seeing you in a poor state. You walked towards him.

In an attempt to look sober in front of a stranger, Yoongi fixed his posture and quickly pressed the ‘open door button’ and waited for you inside.

“Rough night?” he asked while you moved to the other side of the lift and watched you press the ‘close button’ from the elevator, immediately closing its door. His body fell almost instantly on the slight movement of the lift that shifted towards the upper floors. His body slacked on the edge, hair unkempt, and his dark denim jacket barely settled on his shoulder while he held onto his empty bottle of scotch.

“Yeah, seems you had one too?” you watched his attempt to reposition himself again upright, in amusement.

He drank from the empty bottle before he could reply and realized straightaway that it’s been drained.

“I uh” he gulped “I met my ex a while ago, and she pleaded with me to take her back right before her wedding day” he drunkenly confessed, and giggled to hear himself say it.

“That’s rough buddy…” you folded your arms and watched the elevator screen, as usual.

“What’s your sob story?” he asked, blinking as he tried to mask his insobriety.

“Oh this?” you momentarily look at your drenched clothes. “Well I found out the guy I was out with, ‘double-dipping’ me and my best friend”

“That’s even tougher” he chuckled as he peered on to his empty bottle, wishing that a drop would magically appear out of nowhere.

“I think we’re even” you watched him silently, trying hard not to laugh to see him in his drunken state, until an idea suddenly came up. You asked: “I have more of that in my place. Wanna come over?”

——

The moment you two stepped out of the elevator, you found your bodies pressed together.

Lips knotted on each other, wet and tacky. You moved back while he pressed you forward along the hallway. He then moved to force you up against a wall, pressing himself to you even harder.

Yoongi didn’t waste a minute and pushed his tongue in between your lips, and you reciprocated. You roughly brushed your hand towards his hair, and pulled him even closer to you and deepened your kiss. Whatever it is you two were doing.

He parted and pressed kisses on your throat, his fingers reaching down to your waist and clutched your bottoms.

It was so sudden, so fluid, that you almost forgot that you were still outside from your place.

“Oh, bless you two!” your 60 year old next-door neighbor cried, who just went out of her door. Fidgeting while she tried to close it and ran towards the empty elevator.

“I’m definitely going to receive a house complaint from the management tomorrow” you chuckled. You parted for a moment, and stopped by your apartment door. You quickly entered your password on your lock screen, while he continued to press kisses on your neck. You didn’t mind if he saw it, since you were pretty sure he’s too intoxicated to remember every number.

Upon entering your door, he quickly discarded his jacket and left it on the floor, he kicked the door close. You didn’t dare break the proximity between you and him, even if it bears as a challenge to move back while taking off your shoes from the threshold, and still manage to wrestle with his tongue.

He cut the kiss briefly to remove his own shoes, but quickly as a fox. Like a clockwork, he continued where he left, back to hungrily pursuing your lips. You parted and watched your lower lip leave gradually from his soft bite. You smiled at him and began to trace kisses on his neck.

He closed his eyes and revelled from your touch. He then carried you over to your bare dinner table and hurriedly pulled your dress up, exposing your lacy underwear, while you helped him pull his shirt off exposing his pale chest. You pinched your lip, stared at him for a moment, all pleased to see him bare.

“What?” he nervously asked.

“Just thinking how I’ve always fancied seeing my neighbor naked come to a reality” you tilt your head, while your eyes remain focused on his chest.

“What a coincidence, I was thinking the same” he finally realized that you had a zipper on the back and pulled it down a bit.

“Careful, this one’s from Lanvin” you alerted him. He obediently followed and carefully pulled it down your waist. You gently pushed it away and threw it on the carpet.

“Wouldn’t it be cool if you had your dress in Versace?” you laughed at his remark.

“Oh, so you could sing that Bruno Mars song? Kinky”

He chuckled at your retort. You then realized how charming he looks up close, his gums flashed before you as he grinned.

“Uhuh…” and just like that he swiftly changed from cute charming to a seductive one, as he shifted his position and watched you react to his finger pressed beneath your cloth that was keeping a barrier between your skin down below and his fingertips. “You’re wet”

You breathed at the sensation and nodded “You know for a neighbor, you are pretty friendly. Yet I never get to know your name” you whispered in his ears and unbuckled his belt. You help him pull down his pants from your seat.

He smiled, seeing you fairly repay his effort by finding your hands gently brushing his length beneath the fabric of his underwear.

“Yoongi” he replied, a bit groaning. You felt his flaccid length grow stiff at your touch.

You turn to look at it, then his eyes “Y/N” you smiled as you pulled it down and began stroking it bare. Nice and slow.

“Nice to meet you… God… that’s it” he shut his eyes and breathed, as he unclasped your bra and began cupping your breasts.

“Nice to meet you too Yoongi…” he opened his eyes, his right hand shifted to lick his fingertip and stick it between your lacy fabric down to your nub, brushing it quickly yet soft.

“That’s… yes…” you shut your eyes at the sudden contact. You were sensitive. “You know we are 3 steps away from my bedroom, why don’t we continue from there?” you gave him a peck on his lips and pulled his hand away from you. You jumped out from the table and waited for him to follow you to your bedroom door.

He just stood for a while and watched you slip your panty down, he gulped at the sight and immediately followed.

——

“Yoongi!” your toes curled, as he pulled you even closer to him. You heard him growl a little underneath you. His hands under your butt cheeks, caressing it gently while he sticks his tongue out for a taste. Seeing stars was underrated, if you must describe how wonderful his tongue techniques were when you are receiving him.

“Yeah, that’s pretty” He parted and licked what’s left of you on his lip while watching you shiver beneath him, slowly coming undone. You lost count how much you orgasm with his tongue alone. He then pushed two fingers in you and slowly stroked it in and out, and watched you unfold for the nth time to his touch.

God, you almost forgot that he’s been pleasing you for almost an hour that you forgot to return the favor. “Yoongi, stop… lie down” you gently pushed him to the side, letting him relax on his back, and began rubbing his length.

“Y/N, it’s okay. I want in” he stopped you before your mouth received him.

“Right now? You sure?” you asked, as he chuckled at the query.

“I’m fully erect, Y/N. What’s there to be unsure of? Lie down…” he commanded, and you gladly obliged.

“The condom is on the bed side table, first drawer on the left.” You pointed. He opened the drawer, and found one. He gently opened the golden foil as you helped him pull the rubber out and placed it on him.

He moaned to the cool sensation “Mmm…” he placed both your ankles on each side of his shoulder as he slowly moved inside of you.

You shut your eyes and opened your mouth wide, surprised to feel something fairly sizable and immense. He rests for a second, letting you adjust to him.

“You okay?” he asked worriedly.

“I’m tough, and I like it rough” you panted.

He chuckled momentarily, but his face turned earnest when he began to thrust inside of you slowly. From a steady placid pace, it gradually accelerated, penetrating deeper into you as he moved further. He wasn’t just hitting your sweet spot, he was unearthing everything within you. To say you’re pleased is an understatement, he definitely did more than that. “God!” he started to move fast to an inconsistent pace and finally came.

You followed.

He pulled out, and rested on your chest.

You gulped and found your throat dry from all that just happened “Want something to drink?” you sat on your side of the bed.

“No more scotch, just water. Know what? Fuck it” he pulled you back to the bed. Swiftly changed his soiled rubber to a new one. He took another condom from your bed side table and immediately entered back into you.

Turns out, the night ended unexpectedly great.

——

🎵 Love me special… love me special… love me special🎵

Your alarm resonated all over your apartment. “Alexa, stop” you commanded, as you shift from your bed and was surprised to see a motionless body you don’t recognize on the other side of your bed.

You slapped your forehead upon realizing who it was on the other end. Your little neighbor crush, now with a name: Yoongi. The song continued to play, stirring the stranger from his sleep “Nngh” he lazily scratched his neck in annoyance.

“Alexa, stop the alarm!” you exclaimed, blinking at the thought of rousing him further from his slumber. You didn’t want the idea of little chit-chats on the morning after sex. You disliked being demanded to answer questions like “how did I get here?” or “was sex good?”and etc., conversation like those are a total drag.

Regardless who it was, whether it was one night stand or a regular fuck buddy. You wanted to casually forget it by the day, then crave for it during the night. It is how you put up with stress from your work. You separate your professional life to your personal life, that’s how you endure having to face bullshit for years.

He turned around to see you put your clothes back. “Oh shit” he shut his eyes the moment his memories stirred him from his stupor.

“Morning. Look, I’ll go ahead? I’ll be late for work. You can stay as long as you like… but not too long… Whatever, just, don’t forget to take all your things on the way. I know where you live so don’t do anything funny” you put on your bra and underwear then quickly move to your open rack to take your satin robe with you to your bathroom.

“Wine” he sluggishly replied.

“I’m sorry?” you asked, you peered from the wall separating the bedroom and the baths.

“You were playing ‘Wine’. I made that.” He snickered lazily.

“Made what? Wine, this song?” you pointed to your speaker “It’s sung by a girl named Suran? Wait, are you still drunk? I have Tylenol inside the drawer– ” he smiled at the thought of you being kind and considerate. He then shook his head.

“No, I meant I produced that. I’m glad you like it enough to make it your alarm” he pulled down the duvet, exposing his bare chest. He sat up, but the brightness from your window made Yoongi squint his eyes.

“What are the odds” you chuckled, but only for a while, because when you took your phone and typed in the song on your search bar you found his name, well his other name that is.

“Suga? Are you Suga? Who named you that?” you smiled, as you turned away from him towards your shower but stopped midway.

“You produced a song for Jimin?! THE Park Jimin? the famous idol? The one who won KMA, MAMA, and Daesang… you made those songs?” you swiped further and saw a ‘breaking news’. You narrated it out loud “Look, you know about this? ‘Park Jimin just married his long time non-celebrity girlfriend’…” then paused. You remember the conversation you had with him last night, suddenly grasping and putting things together “Shit, she’s the ex, isn’t it?” you went back to face him, waiting for his response.

“Yeah” Yoongi sat up, eyes still listless. “Isn’t it Dispatch worthy?” he asked sarcastically.

“No,” you replied dryly. “You know what is?” you rested your arm on the doorway from your bathroom and watched him react “Park Jimin, has a piercing on his left nipple. That’s why you never see him wear a fitted shirt” you raised one of your eyebrows and smiled.

His eyes, which looked formerly lethargic, became wide and lively.

“Wait, what? How? When?” he opened his mouth in shock.

“He was still a rookie then I guess? Anyway it’s been years… and was very single at that… He loves that left nipple a lot, you know? That he came by too soon. He wasn’t that great to be honest, you were better, well more than better to be precise… and I guess that’s what made your ex regret her life decisions?” you shrugged as you watched him laugh hard at your remark. “So don’t be too bummed, okay? You were definitely better, and you deserve the best out there” you smiled and left him there on your bed.

“Thanks” he spoke softly as he watched you close the bathroom door.

That was the very first time you talked with someone you slept with, the morning after. And the funny thing is, you never regret doing so.

——

You didn’t want to come, but you have to, it was such a horrible position to be sitting beside your now ex-best friend while you two try to remain professional at work.

It was the first time you weren’t left with a sticky note with a smiling face, nor placed a freshly brewed coffee for her, first thing in the morning on her desk. You were both working fine, but the relationship was beyond repair.

That night after work, you found Yoongi waiting in line to get a cup of java in one of your favorite cafes.

“Hey neighbor” he smiled. “Fancy meeting you here?”

“Well I was on the way home. Then I saw you. Have you eaten dinner?” you asked, you went beside him on the line.

“Is that an invitation or are you asking me out?” he squinted his eyes towards you, as you rolled your eyes.

“It’s the former. I thought it’s around dinner time by now, maybe we could share a meal? There’s a promo on one of the restaurants nearby…” you took your phone out to show him a copy of an electronic voucher they were giving for free online.

“Sure, I like promotions. The ones that don't require me to shell out a lot” he remained stoic, despite genuinely liking the idea of cutting regular priced foods.

“Exactly” you winked at him.

——

You brought him to a BBQ place, and saw him turn ecstatic to see them actually serving Kobe Wagyu Beef.

“I must admit, you know the perfect places to eat” he affirmed.

“Of course, I’m very particular in choosing my meat” you stared at him for a second, as he watched you chew a piece, your eyes still fixated on him. He gulped.

“Wanna come over to my place, after?” he asked.

——

UPDATE: Chapter 2 is HERE!

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uaklauslovesdave · 4 years ago

Note

Hi, thank you for sending me asks, I really appreciate it! :D Could you do 002 for klave, I always want to hear your thoughts about them <3

my buddy, my dude, it’s been roughly 17 years since you sent this ask, and i’m oh so sorry for taking this long to answer. it got to be one of those situations where i wanted to do it Properly, which of course brought the anxiety, which of course then brought the avoidance. But we’re here now! it’s a new era and i have a whole bunch of klave thoughts to dump on my unsuspecting followers. let us begin.

when i started shipping it:

Pretty much immediately! I remember first watching s1 and getting that slow confirmation that Klaus time traveled to the Vietnam War. We saw him on the bus with his fatigues and bloody hands and I was like ‘oh god oh no he went to Vietnam didn’t he.’ And then later we have Klaus experiencing flashbacks in the bathtub and there are echoes of the noises of war but also a strong and clear “Dave!” And in that moment my interest was piqued. Dave, he said? Who is this Dave? Is this someone he loved? Did he have a war-time romance with another soldier? And I was hopeful but I also didn’t want to get too ahead of myself because of Queer Baiting in Media reasons (like, I was in the marvel fandom, ok? I went through the whole stucky dance routine). But then, but then! We got more. We got roughly five minutes (or less?) of scenes of Klaus dropping down in front of a disoriented soldier, of this soldier introducing himself as Dave on a bus, of Klaus and Dave dancing in a bar, of Klaus and Dave sharing a kiss in a quiet corner, of Dave bleeding out and dying in the middle of combat as Klaus sobs above him. And it was quick and it was short but it was meaningful and it was tender and immediately I knew that I was gone for them. There was no turning back at this point. I was all in on the Klave Train.

my thoughts:

My thoughts? Where do I even start? I have many! Some are incoherent! Some are devastating! Some are sickeningly sweet! Some are raunchy! Stay tuned to find out!

what makes me happy about them/what makes me sad about them:

So I decided to combine these two questions because, well, I Do Not Know how to untie the happy and the sad when it comes to klave. I tried and I cannot do it. They’re two sides of the same coin with these two. Because their entire relationship is tinted by tragedy, you know? They only met each other because Klaus was tortured and then flung into a notoriously traumatizing war in the 1960s. And who knows what number tour Dave was on. Had he been there for just 2 months or was this second or third time around? I’m not sure which option is more painful, really. And it’s unclear, did Dave genuinely want to serve in the military? Did he truly subscribe to those values instilled by his family? I’d lean towards no, based on the conversation Klaus tries to have with the Younger Dave in the diner. But I think it took Dave some time to get there, as he grew older and came to better understand and accept himself and perhaps grew more and more disillusioned with the life he was pushed into. And then there’s Klaus, whose own experiences somewhat parallel Dave’s (they just happened on a different timeline). Klaus, who grew up under Reginald’s reign of terror, who was taught to be a soldier just like Dave was. But his own disillusionment was expedited and he was able to rebel and remove himself from that scene more easily than Dave could (but at the expense of losing shelter and security and stability). And we have some insights into what it was like for Klaus to grow up in that environment, constantly surrounded by death. When we first meet him he is a person who clearly does not do genuine attachment or sincerity, because that is far too vulnerable and far too dangerous in his experience. He looks out for himself and he does what he needs to do to get by, and he approaches things from a casual, crass (safe) distance. And then there’s Dave, who we learn a little bit about from his interactions with Klaus in 1963 Dallas. He appears earnest and kind, just a Really Good Kid. He seems somewhat confused by Klaus, but also intrigued. Pretty much every time we see Klaus interact with someone in the 1960’s who is not a member of Destiny’s Children they approach him with disdain (referring to him as “pretty boy,” kicking him out of the diner, etc.). But not Dave. Not until he is pressured into it by Uncle Homophobe. And after that Dave seeks him out and apologizes, says that’s not him. And he and Klaus talk, and we see that they really knew each other, they really had a relationship, but by the end of the conversation Dave has been pushed too far. He’s not quite ready to rebel yet, he’s not quite able to make that leap into living as his true self. Just like Klaus, Dave grew up trapped and restricted and surrounded by ghosts. Not literal ones, no, but the ghosts of dead war heroes who came before him, the ghosts of the Ideal Man and Good Son that he thought he had to be, that he thought he had to prove he could become. And it’s not quite clear how and when Dave finally got to that point where he could rebel, where he could finally push past the fear, knock down the walls of the box he had been shoved into. But by the time he and Klaus crossed paths in 1968 Vietnam he was ready. And Klaus was ready. And they brought that genuine, true, real love out in each other. Something both of them probably thought was never possible. Something both of them probably thought was just a myth. Just turning themselves inside out and sharing that with each other. Trusting the other to take care of it and hold and keep it safe. All in the middle of a deadly war. It’s beautiful and it’s painful and it’s why I love them.

things done in fanfic that annoy me:

Nothing really specific comes to mind. Generally if there’s something I don’t like in a fanfic I’ll stop reading and move on. There is, of course, the Fanon Klaus Problem that makes its way into klave fics, so I suppose that annoys me. Or stories where Dave is one-dimensional and seems to exist just to comfort and take care of Klaus. But really, I don’t wanna hate on anyone who writes fanfic in a particular way. You do you. If it appeals to me I’ll read it and if it doesn’t I’ll just pass it by. No big deal.

things i look for in fanfic:

It absolutely depends on the day and what I’m in the mood for in that particular moment. I’m a sucker for angst so I absolutely do not mind reading something terribly sad and tragic. I like hurt/comfort with an emphasis on the hurt. I’m a fan of the GhostDave Watches Over Klaus Through the Years genre. I like stories that explore their time together in Vietnam. I’m into AU’s that include AliveDave traveling back to 2019 with Klaus and they hang out in Klaus’ room in the academy and Dave meets the siblings and Diego gives him a shovel talk. Sometimes I just want that sweet, sweet smut. Mostly I look for something that is both lovely and sad, which is not hard to find because that is, essentially, their relationship. There’s lots of good stuff out there. All y’all writers are talented. I salute you.

my kinks:

Alright, I’m just gonna preface this by saying that I will try my best to be unapologetically open about this, but at my core I am both shy and repressed. My easy and safe answer to this is that my kink for klave is love, happiness, and tender intimacy. That’s what I really want for them. But also. But also! Let them be smutty! Let them find places to sneak away and fuck, Dave’s hand over Klaus’ mouth to stop him from making noise that will alert the other soldiers to their activities. Or maybe they’re sitting under a tarp in the pouring rain and Klaus sees how far he can take it, and Dave doesn’t back down, and it ends up with Klaus blowing Dave while some other guys are sitting just feet away, oblivious to what’s going on between Katz and Hargreeves just over there. And then there’s that time they get to take leave together, and they’re able to get a hotel room, just to themselves, with real walls and a door that locks and a bed and everything. And the digs aren’t great but it feels like a palace compared to what they’re used to, and they absolutely do not waste this opportunity. Dave fucks Klaus into the mattress, and Klaus gets to learn what it’s like to have someone take control because you actually want them to and you feel safe with them, and Dave gets to learn what it’s like to have someone trust you implicitly and be willing to be vulnerable with you. And it’s not perfect, of course, sometimes their histories and understandings of sex and intimacy bump heads, but they love each other, they really do, and they work through it. And they both cry during sex at some point. For Dave it’s the first time he’s done so, for Klaus it’s not (but this is nothing like those other times this is because he wants to be here this is because he’s overwhelmed with love this is a release this is being seen this is being cared for).

who i’d be comfortable with them ending up with if not each other:

Let me be real and say that I really, really, really want them to end up with each other, and I think that this is where the show is headed. But, if that is not the case, as long as they are happy I will be happy. Perhaps that is cliche, but oh well. Just let them experience love and support, whether that’s with each other, someone else, or just on their own.

my happily ever after for them:

I don’t know how and I don’t know when (like seriously, when in the timeline is a big question), but I want them to find a way to be together. Maybe it involves some time-traveling, maybe it involves some timeline-hopping, maybe it involves some Commission interference, maybe one or both of them will be dead, maybe (most likely) it involves something that has not even crossed my mind as a possibility. But, like I said, I think that somehow there WILL be a (perhaps nontraditional) happily ever after for them. It might take some time to get there and I don’t think it’s gonna be a smooth road, but I do think that’s the ultimate destination. And I’m looking forward to the whole process.

who is the big spoon/little spoon:

Good question! My first instinct was Klaus as little spoon. Because he is Klaus but also because of the Bar Kiss scene where Dave tenderly cradles his face and those Very Important blurry behind the scenes instagram photos of Klaus resting his head on Dave. But I also think it would be really nice for Dave to be the little spoon? Because Klaus gets to hold him and act as a Protector and maybe he can feel Dave’s heartbeat beneath his (hello) hand and he gets to wrap around him and hold on tight and he can let go when he wants to but he doesn’t want to, he wants to stay right here as long as Dave will have him. And Dave will have Klaus wrapped around him, holding on, as long as Klaus wants to stay. Dave gets to be held and cocooned in the arms of this beautiful person he loves. Dave doesn’t have to be strong right now, he doesn’t have to put on the face of the Good Soldier. All he has to do is fall into the space between them.

what is their favorite non-sexual activity:

I’m gonna say that they had a lot of time to sit together and talk while they were in Vietnam. Sure, they had their duties and sometimes they were in the shit but there was also a lot of down time, just sitting around and waiting for something to happen. And so they’d sit and they’d smoke and they would talk. About their interests, about where they come from, and eventually about the life they would build together after they got out of there. But here’s a specific image that I have: they’re sitting close together, maybe it’s dark, there’s no one nearby. Cigarette smoke lingers in the air, mingles with the fine mist. The conversation has turned to music, somehow. Conversations have a tendency to meander when Klaus is involved, and Dave follows him step for step, never tripping, never questioning how they got there. And Klaus asks Dave about his favorite song, and Dave hesitantly mentions “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence,” like he’s embarrassed, but he’s loved it for years and he wants to be honest with Klaus. And Klaus hums and says he doesn’t know it, hasn’t heard of it, and he leans against Dave, lays his head against his chest. And Dave says, that’s ok, it doesn’t matter, it’s just a stupid old song anway. But Klaus says, no, you should sing it for me, I want to hear it, I want to know it. And Dave scoffs and laughs, but Klaus looks up at him, and then Dave looks away, and his mouth lifts into a smile, something small and fragile. He turns back to Klaus, looks him the eye, and softly, so softly, starts singing, “When Liberty Valence rode to town, the womenfolk would hide…” And Klaus drops his head and shifts closer to Dave and hears the words slip from Dave’s mouth and feels the words vibrate in Dave’s chest. He closes his eyes. There’s a war going on. It’s 1968 and he’s in Vietnam and his clothes are damp but he’s right where he wants to be. The song is not romantic, but it’s the most beautiful thing he’s ever heard. He never forgets the words.

#these are my klave rambles! they are long and i am sorry! i could not contain myself! i think you got insight into the Incoherent Thoughts!#alright i’ll stop yelling now #thank you again for the ask and sorry again for taking so long #the umbrella academy #klaus hargreeves #dave katz #klave #an ask and an answer #softforklave

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nataliedanovelist · 4 years ago

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GF - Where the Crop Circles Grow ch.2

Summary: When things get out of hand at the Pines’ family farm, Ford asks an old college buddy to assist investigating anomalies and Stan hires a farmhand. Who knew asking for help would actually get you somewhere?

For @lemonfodrizzleart. Part of her Farmer AU and featuring her OC, Jackie Asante.

Ao3 link here.

ch.1 - ch.3

~~~~~~~~~~

A loud scream Jackie wasn’t prepared for disturbed her slumber and made her jump, lying on her stomach and propping the upper-half of her body up with her hands pushing against the mattress. She calmed down as she became used to the crowing of the rooster… or an opera singer dying… one of the two. Jackie relaxed and fell back on the bed. So that’s what Stan had meant yesterday.

Looking forward to her first day, Jackie hopped out of bed and started to get dressed in blue jeans and a white t-shirt with boots. No sense taking a shower now since she would get sweaty and gross later; she’d treat herself to a bath after dinner, like she did yesterday. After a quick brush through her jet-black hair, she took in a deep breath and gazed around her bedroom.

Stan said it was a guest bedroom, not that they ever had any guests, but Ma had this part of the house built in with the idea of visiting grandchildren. So Jackie was granted a small bedroom with a comfortable bed with an old quilt, a dresser, a nightstand, and a Jack and Jill bathroom with the opposite bedroom promised to be Fiddleford’s when he came up here from Tennessee. Jackie, who didn’t come here with much, was comfortable and anything she couldn’t fit in the nightstand and dresser she kept in boxes under the bed.

Jackie finally emerged from her bedroom and peered up and down the short hallway. She listened and could hear the shower running. As she journeyed to the kitchen her nose picked up the beautiful aroma of coffee and she instantly saw the pot filling up and heard the boiling water when she entered the empty kitchen. Whoever was in the shower must have started the coffee so it would be ready by the time they were done. Seeing no indication that breakfast was going to be made and given what she learned yesterday (that the boys couldn’t cook to save their lives), Jackie rubbed her hands together and started to hunt for ingredients to make biscuits.

About fifteen minutes later, Stan came out of the bathroom with a puff of water vapor behind him, shaking his mullet dry with a towel, his maroon robe wrapped loosely around him. He hummed to himself drowsily as he strode to the kitchen, but his not-so-keen senses heightened as he swore he could smell something cooking. Bacon? His mouth watering, Stan picked up the pace a bit without running and saw Jackie working hard in the kitchen. Holy Moses, who knew he had hired the best cook in Oregon?

“‘Mornin’.” He greeted casually.

Jackie glanced at him and her face dropped in shock. His toned, hairy chest was half-exposed, his legs bare below his knees apart from his slippers, and he had a smile on his face alongside those nice pair of brown eyes, the kind of smile you naturally mimic. It’s more contagious than the flu. Jackie caught it and returned it. “G’mornin’. Slept well?”

Stan shrugged. “Yeah, pretty good. You? Bed okay?”

“Yeah, it’s real comfortable.” Jackie replied. “Fix your coffee and sit down, biscuits are almost ready.”

Stan threw his towel onto the back of his chair and went to the cupboard above the coffee machine for a mug. Standing right next to Jackie and the stove, he saw a skillet full of sausage gravy being cooked, a pan sizzling with bacon, and she was currently cracking eggs into a bowl while another pan heated up. Stan marveled at how one person can keep an eye on so many things at once.

“You like your eggs scrambled?” Jackie asked.

Stan shrugged. “Sure.” His favorite way to eat eggs was over-easy, but hey food is food. The farmer can force anything down his gullet if needed. He watched as Jackie whisked six eggs in a big bowl and added previously shredded cheese, some chopped basil, and a small splosh of milk. Stan raised an eyebrow at that. “Why add milk?”

“Makes the eggs fluffier.” Jackie explained as she threw in some salt and pepper, whisked some more, and then poured the eggs into the small pan. The little hand-timer dinged and Jackie slipped on some oven mitts to pull out the pan of biscuits. Stan’s jaw dropped as the new farm-woman had a tray of twelve beautiful, fluffy, golden biscuits. She carried the tray to the table, where a dishcloth was folded to protect the wood, and she sat the tray down and used a little brush to paint melted butter on top. Stan licked his lips and reached to grab one, but Jackie smacked his hand and said, “Wait, mister, if you eat ‘em now you’ll burn yourself.”

Stan snorted as she turned back to the oven to flip the eggs with a rubber spatula and Stan sat with his mug of black coffee. Ford entered the room, yawning, but fully dressed. He had a rolled-up newspaper under his arm and he dozily threw it to Stan, who caught it one-handed like it was a baseball and opened it. “‘Mornin’, Sixer.”

Ford grunted as he grabbed a mug like a drunk man, poured some coffee, sweetened it with some sugar and milk, and gulped it down. Jackie watched him with a raised eyebrow as she moved the bacon onto a plate. Some people simply could not function in the morning. Ford poured a second cup, sweetened it, and sighed after a few sips, and then sat in his chair to breathe and obtain his necessary caffeine.

“How long before he can talk again?” Jackie asked as she sat the bacon down and quickly moved to the eggs.

“I’d say two full cups for half-baked sentences n’ a full pot for him to function like a normal human bein’.” Stan sneered playfully as he read the headline.

“Har, har.” Ford said sarcastically. He then blinked a few times at the realization of another feast before him. Jackie set the big bowl of cheesy scrambled eggs down and began to move the gravy to another bowl. “Holy Moses, Jackie, you didn’t have to…”

“What else am I payin’ her for?” Stan asked but took the time to throw her a wink so she knew he was joking.

Jackie snorted and sat the bowl of sausage gravy down and made herself a mug of coffee. “Since none of you know how to cook and I don’t wanna eat brown meat, I figured I’d make breakfast.”

“Hey, I can make some mean pancakes.” Stan corrected. “Sure they got a bit of hair in them, but…”

Ford and Jackie laughed and the young scientist reached for a biscuits and was pleased to find it didn’t burn his fingertips. He bit straight into it to give it a try and it was like his brain had exploded. He had never thought he would ever know what it was like to eat a cloud, but here he was. He hummed and took another huge bite, too happy for words.

Jackie’s cheeks suddenly felt a little warmer and she smiled as she spooned herself some eggs.

While Ford happily fixed himself some biscuits n’ gravy, Stan bit into a biscuit as he read his paper and he froze like a statue. Angles were suddenly dancing on his tongue. He moved his eyes to Jackie and muttered, “I’d have to marry you if you always cook this good.”

Jackie rolled her eyes. “Oh, c’mon, your mother never cooked?”

“She always cooked,” Stan explained. “N’ she was good at it, too, but you’re… you’re really, really good!” And he engulfed the rest of the biscuit in his mouth.

“What Stanley is trying to say,” Ford said firmly and smiled at the dark-skinned woman. “Is that we’re extremely grateful you’re here.”

Jackie returned the smile. “Thanks. I’m grateful to be here. What made you decide y’all needed help?”

“Well,” Ford sipped his coffee again and began to explain in detail why exactly the twins decided to hire extra help on their farm. “You see we can handle it for the most part by ourselves, with Stanley handling the sheep and chickens and with me supervising the crops and sales, but recently something has caught my attention and… erm, kept me away from the farm, and it’s too much for one man to do on his own.”

“What’s been keeping you out of the farm?” Jackie asked, not at all judgmental as to why this man wasn’t helping his brother, but curious as to what caught his attention.

“Recently some strange things have been occurring.” Ford added. “I don’t know if it’s because I went away to college and saw what was considered normal and not normal or what, but there have always been weird happenings in this town. The deeper you go into the woods, the more natural anomalies there seem to be.”

“Which means stay outta the woods.” Stan said firmly.

“Which means, since we live on the outskirts of Gravity Falls, we’re safe.” Ford corrected. “But I plan to further investigate what’s going on, and I wish to spend all of my time doing so to quickly get to the bottom of it. I also need some help, and Stanley is too busy and it wouldn’t be fair to ask him to be at my beck and call, so I’ve asked my old college buddy to come down to help me investigate the strange findings in this town.”

“I get it, okay,” Jackie said with a nod, it all making sense now. “But what kind of weird stuff have you been noticing?”

Ford grinned excitedly. “You’ll see in time.”

Jackie blew a raspberry at this guy deciding to be “cool” and mysterious, making him laugh and resume his breakfast. “So, what kind of stuff we’ll you have me do?” Jackie asked Stan.

“Well,” Stan closed his newspaper. “Since it’s your first day I’ll walk you through everything. Some stuff you’ll do every day, some stuff only on certain days. The chickens need to be fed, the sheep need to be let out, the cow’s gotta be milked, n’ the crops gotta stay healthy n’ weed-free.” And he left the table to get dressed in a red button-up and jeans.

Stan made Ford do the dishes, claiming they were behind on work and it would take longer to get everything done since Jackie was learning. Right by the kitchen door, next to two big pairs of rain boots, was a huge bag of chicken feed. “We gotta keep it here or the hens get into it.” Stan explained and opened the bag, showing a big measuring cup inside. “One cup’s enough, just spread it out n’ don’t pour it all at once. If they’re still hungry there’s plenty of bugs.”

Jackie nodded, taking mental notes, and watched as Stan scooped out some food and opened the back door. Jackie had seen the farm yesterday, but to see the sun rising on the barns and crops made the whole thing sparkle gorgeously. She grinned at the little chicken coop by the house and watched Stan sprinkle out the feed as he whistled. A dozen or so hens scurried out of the coop with one big rooster standing as king on top of the small structure, and he fluttered his wings and floated down for food.

“That’s our rooster, Clock.” Stan explained as he put the cup back inside the bag, grabbed a woven basket, and closed the kitchen door behind them so no chickens would run into the house. “Here, get in the coop n’ collect eggs. We don’t need a whole lot, so don’t freak out if the hens aren’t makin’ that much.

“Any chance they’ll have chicks inside?” Jackie asked, eyeing the loud and proud rooster.

“Nope. Clock’s an old boy.” Stan explained. “That’s why he sounds so bad. We haven’t had a chick from him in years. Hey, he always does his job, though.”

Jackie chuckled and ducked into the chicken coop. Some nests had no eggs but some had one or two. Jackie carefully collected them and knew they would be great for baking and breakfast. When she emerged, Stan tossed a metal bucket to her. “Sheep need water. There’s a well out that way, just make sure they won’t get thirsty after you put the eggs in the kitchen. I’ve already got ‘em out in the field. If you need me I’ll be in that barn over there.” And he pointed to the smaller one of the two.

Jackie nodded and headed in the direction he pointed toward when talking about the well. As she walked, she took in her surroundings and was free to acknowledge how big his farm was. There was a lot of land, with the woods acting as the border. On one side of the land it was full of crops like a big cornfield, rows of carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, watermelons, and pumpkins, and closer to the house strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries blossomed. Jackie also noticed a little herb garden growing in a basket on the back porch, not too far from the kitchen door.

On the opposite end of the crops was the two barns and a huge patch of clear land for the sheep. Jackie awed at the thirty-something sheep that “bah”ed quietly and gnawed on grass, their coats a bit short, telling Jackie that they had been trimmed not too long ago. Somewhat between the crops and the fields for animals was an old well that might have once been the primary source of water here, but thanks to modern plumbing now it was only used for the livestock. Jackie saw another bucket tied by a rope with the pulley system and she was clever enough to figure it all out on her own.

Mustering up her strength and hardly breaking a sweat, Jackie filled her own bucket with water and carried it to where the sheep dwelt. By the fence that kept them away from the crops, there was a trough, so Jackie poured the water in it and the sheep came flocking, craving water. She chuckled and noticed the trough wasn’t full, so she walked back to the well, refilled her bucket, and poured it out again, this time sploshing some sheep a little, but they didn’t mind. In fact, they started licking each other’s faces for more water, making Jackie laugh and she petted a nearby sheep and admired the soft wool.

As she petted the sheep, she caught something out the corner of her eye and looked over at the smaller of the two barns. Stan was emerging with a beautiful gray and black horse and then gently slapped his behind so the horse would know he’s free to wander. The horse galloped for a bit and then slowed, lapping up some water at his own trough. Jackie wondered if she needed to fill that one, too, but Stan made his way to the well with his own bucket and watered the horse. Jackie smiled and walked to Stan, ready for her next chore.

“That there Truffles.” Stan explained, pointing to the horse as the woman approached. “Stubborn. It’d be best if you let me handle him. He doesn’t like people much, even gives Ford a hard time.”

Jackie nodded. “Gotcha.”

“Watered the sheep? Good. Ever milked a cow? Well today you’re gonna learn.” Stan said and motioned for her to follow him into the smaller of the two barns. Inside were two stalls and equipment for a horse and a cow. Jackie could even see a horse-drawn sled collecting cobwebs in the back corner. “Luna’s okay, as long as you’re quiet. Doesn’t like noise much. She’s got a soft spot for Ford.”

Stan opened one of the stalls and Jackie got a full view of a white cow with only one big black spot over her right eye. She mooed at the visitors and licked Stan’s outstretched hand. Jackie couldn’t help but notice how gentle he petted her neck and talked to her. Despite having a voice made of gravel, his talk was as soft as silk. “Hey mama, good to see you, good to see you. Try to be nice for me, girl, okay. Alright, c’mere, Jackie.”

Stan pulled a short stool over and motioned for her to sit. He knelt beside the cow and placed the bucket below the utters. “It’s really simple, just squeeze n’ pull n’ squeeze n’ pull.”

“Okay,” The woman sat on the stool, held the bucket between her boots, and carefully grabbed an utter. It was soft and squishy and she could feel the milk, and she did as she was told and smiled to see delicious warm milk fall into the bucket.

“Not bad, not bad at all.” Stan commented with a smile. “Here, you can squeeze harder, you won’t hurt her. Like this.” He gently covered Jackie’s hand with her own and showed her just how tightly to squeeze and pull. Jackie followed, her eyes darting up to Luna, but the cow only happily chewed on some hay. She didn’t even twitch her tail with uncomfortably. Jackie smiled at Stan, thanking him for his help, and he returned the smile and let her go to milk. She milked just as well as Ford or Stan could, and when Stan checked to make sure Luna was empty, there was no milk left to obtain.

“Good job.” Stan praised and stood up. “Take the milk in the house n’ Ford can pan it. He’s got a knack for dairy n’ makin’ butter. He can teach you if you want.”

“Sounds great.” Jackie hoisted the bucket up and let it hang in front of her. “What after that?”

“Well, nothing’s ready to harvest yet.” Stan answered. “We’ll check for weeds n’ make sure the gardens are healthy, then I think we’ll be okay until the afternoon. Usually around noon is when we go into town, do laundry, chop wood, or whatever else needs to get done aside from mornin’ n’ afternoon chores.”

“Well what are the afternoon chores?” Jackie asked.

“Basically reverse of what we just did. I’ll put up Truffles n’ I’ll show you how to drive in the sheep. Then you’ll water ‘em n’ milk Luna again, or you can make Ford do it so you can cook.”

Jackie snorted. “I think I’ll do that.”

“Good. Then we’ll have your afternoon chores only be to drive in the sheep.”

“Anything needs to get done today?” Jackie asked.

“I can’t think of anything.” Stan said with a shrug. “Ma used to have a little jingle… Scrub on Monday, Laundry on Tuesday, Knit on Wednesday, Prep on Thursday, Bake on Friday, Rest on Saturday, Clean on Sunday. O’course, you can do whatever you want, s’long as work’s gettin’ done. I’m sure I can find you something to do.” He hinted at and winked.

Jackie rolled her eyes. “I like it. Your mom was really smart… What’s today? Wednesday? Well, I don’t feel like knitting or sewing, so I guess I’ll try to clean the house for when Ford’s friend gets here. Hey, what did your mom mean by scrub on Monday?”

Stan shrugged. “Usually that meant the kitchen n’ bathrooms. You know, the tubs, sinks, toilets, the oven, the stoves…”

“Ah, gotcha.” Jackie wandered out of the barn with Stan and said, “Well, after I check the crops I’ll scrub.”

“Have fun.” Stan teased and headed for the corn to check for crows and other pests.

~~~~~~~~~~

“Great, so we’ll see you on Tuesday?” Ford clarified. “Thank you so much, buddy. I owe you. No, of course we don’t mind. We’ve got plenty of room. You’re welcome, goodbye.”

Ford hung up the phone and sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. He had been foolish to think Fiddleford could simply drop everything and move across the country just to assist him. Foolish and selfish. What stung most was how worried Fiddleford had sounded over the phone when he began making his request.

There was no good in stalling and not telling Stan, he had to tell him that the plan had changed. Ford stood and exited the parlor to try to find his brother, probably out in the fields by now. He knew if he did he would get tangled into trying to help, which was fine for today, so Ford mentally prepared himself for hoeing and pulling weeds as he entered the kitchen and found Jackie entering the room with a bucket of milk. “Oh, thank you, ma’am.” He said politely. “I’ll pan it later, we’re low on butter. Right now I need to have a word with Stanley.”

“He’s out at the cornfield.” Jackie assisted.

“Thank you.”

Ford found Stan right where Jackie said he would. The younger twin emerged from the field, satisfied with the state of the corn, and raised an eyebrow when the older twin said, “Stanley, we have to talk.”

“What’s the word, Sixer?” Stan asked as they started to walk alongside the edge of the field.

“Fiddleford will be here on Tuesday…”

“Great!”

“... and he’s bringing his son.”

They kept walking as Stan gave Ford a surprised and confused look.

“Tate. His four-year-old.”

“I know who the boy is, Poindexter!” Stan snapped, irritated that that was what Ford thought he was confused about. “That’s fine, we’ve got room for him, but why in Moses’ name is he brinin’ Tate? I thought your friend was only visitin’ for a few weeks.”

Ford sighed and ran a six-fingered hand through his fluffy hard-to-maintain hair. “Fiddleford is getting a divorce.”

Stan winced. He may not have known the nerd as well as Ford did, but from what he gathered he had been over the moon for his gal.

“She doesn’t want anything to do with Tater, either.” Ford added. “Says he’s too much like Fiddleford. He thinks this is a good way to start a new life, you know? Move here and help me, then maybe find their own place.”

“Or we can build a smaller second house.” Stan threw in. “More houses means more hands to work the farm, which means more money n’ more land.”

Ford rolled his eyes. “Perhaps. For now I was thinking Fiddleford could have the guest bedroom and Tate could have the Jack and Jill bedroom.”

“Sure, I bet Jackie won’t mind.” Stan predicted.

“And you’re okay with Tate coming to live with us, too?” Ford double-checked.

“You kiddin’ me, I love kids!” Stan punched Ford’s shoulder and stood still with his arms cross over his chest. “It’ll be great, you wait n’ see! There’s plenty of stuff here to Tate to do until he’s old enough for school n’ nobody’s gonna get claustrophobic here. Not that Santa Claus is real.”

Ford groaned and pinched at his eyes under his glasses. “That was bad, even for you.” But the young investigator smiled at his twin and returned the punch on the shoulder. “Well, thank you. I know it’s a lot to take in in such a small amount of time…”

“You know something, Sixer?” Stan interrupted and gave him a slightly-more serious look. “It’s been too quiet here lately.”

Ford raised an eyebrow. “I’m not sure what your definition of quiet is, but…”

“You know what I meant.” Stan said firmly and resumed what he was trying to say. “I ain’t got a problem with it just bein’ the two of us - you know I don’t - but it’s been way too quiet here. I miss it bein’ crowded n’ busy n’ loud. So I say the more the merrier; n’ the sooner I can’t hear my own thoughts (though few there may be), the better.”

Ford smiled softly at his brother. It was true. The quiet had been appreciated at first, but now it wasn’t as appreciated as the noise that comes with good company. Ever since Ma and Pa had died and Shermie had gone back to California, it had just been the twins on this big farm. What Stan said was true, it was fine, and with Ford gone for four years while he earned as many PhDs as he had fingers, it was nice to reconcile and catch up. But now it was high-time the Pines family grew bigger and louder and weirder, the way it was supposed to be.

“Well, guess we should tell Jackie she’ll be sharing her bathroom, then.” Ford suggested and led the way away from the cornfield with his twin by his side.

#GF #gravity falls #fanfiction #farmer au #ford pines #stan pine #jackie asante #gift #thank you so much for reading!#please leave a comment on what you thought #I'd love to read them!

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bensakindofmagic · 5 years ago

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Dad and His Son

so i wrote an au based on this post, because apparently i like to hurt myself. you can read it if you like to hurt yourself too.

w/c: 1.8k

no warnings, just fluff

A/N: this is an au in which roger is ben’s dad, and for the sake of ease/clarity/my laziness, his mum is a fictional woman. i didn’t want to get bogged down in research and step-parents and exploring those relationship cause this is just a light-hearted wee blurb. don’t get mad about it. right. that’s the admin done with.

“Hey, it’s gonna be fine,” Ben said calmly, coming round to your side of the car as you got out and taking your hand in his considerably larger one. You took a deep breath, exhaling hard, as you took in the house before you. It had been intimidating from the end of the drive as it was slowly revealed behind the automatic gates, and as it grew before your eyes your pulse had started to quicken. It was beautiful, and enormous, and surrounded by fields and forests. You would have marvelled at its magnificence had you not been so nervous of what lay inside.

“Easy for you to say,” you muttered, disgruntled.

“It’s just my parents, and they’re going to love you, Y/N/N.”

Just his parents. Meeting the parents for the first time is hard enough, but when your boyfriend’s dad is Roger Fucking Taylor, that makes everything a little more tricky. Needless to say you were shitting a brick.

He rang the doorbell, even though they had already buzzed you in through the gate, and what was supposed to be a steadying breath rattled in your chest. Ben squeezed your fingers.

“Ben, darling!” his mum gushed, engulfing him in a hug. She managed to wrap him up entirely despite being significantly shorter than him.

“Mum,” he said, detaching himself from her after kissing her cheek, “This is my girlfriend, Y/N."

You smiled in your best impression of someone who’s not feeling horrifically awkward and contemplating a runner, “Hello Mrs Taylor.”

“Oh love, call me Jodie.” She smiled warmly and immediately pulled you into a hug. Ben grinned at you over her shoulder. “Come on in, lunch is nearly ready. Roger! They’re here!” she called into the house, bustling into the kitchen.

“After you,” Ben gestured, raising his eyebrows.

The house was massive, but beautifully light and spacious. A large staircase stood proudly in the middle of the hall, splitting the room and leading to the upstairs realm. Evidence of Queen’s rock-god days lay casually scattered everywhere, hiding in plain sight — framed gold discs were hung on the walls beside artworks, photos of the band were camouflaged between groups of children smiling giddily up from their frames. Conscious of not appearing nosy but wanting to see everything, you peered furtively through a half open door to see piles of old records surrounding an enormous speaker.

“Come on,” Ben gestured with a nod of his head, “I’ll give you the tour later.”

You allowed him to rest his hand lightly on your lower back, anchoring you to him as you ventured into the kitchen/living room.

Roger — that being Roger Taylor. Actual Roger Taylor — was sat in an armchair, idly flicking through the channels on the TV. He glanced at you over his shoulder, piercing blue eyes like ice as they caught you in their hooded stare. Ben may have got the green from his mother but the intensity of colour, the gaze that turns you into a puddle on the floor, that was all from his dad’s side.

“Rog,” Ben’s mum admonished, “come and say hello.”

He stood slowly, and crossed the space between you: it seemed to take a lifetime. Your heart thumped loudly around your head, the sound bouncing between your ears with each step.

“Dad, this is Y/N.”

“Y/N,” he said, testing the word on his tongue, and held out a hand to you. His skin was soft with age but still calloused in the places where his drumstick fit between his fingers. A smile hid beneath his moustache. “Ben’s told us a lot about you, but I see he didn’t mention how beautiful you are.”

Your blush was ferocious.

Ben scoffed, “Yeah, alright Dad. I know you still fancy yourself as a ladies’ man, but can you not flirt with my girlfriend please?”

“Well someone’s got to do it,” he mumbled, turning his attention over to his extensive wine rack. You laughed, incredulous, and Ben just rolled his eyes.

You sat down for lunch and gratefully tucked into the beautiful food Ben’s mum had made, making sure to to compliment her and thank her for her hospitality. You were desperately careful, as images of knocking over wine glasses or sending plates crashing to the floor with your elbow flooded through you mind’s eye. Ben felt your tension and laid a palm on your knee under the table.

He gave it a gentle squeeze and shot you a slight smile.

“Are you keeping up your drumming, Ben?” Roger asked.

His hummed his assent while he swallowed a mouthful, “Yeah, not as much as I’d like, what with work being so busy, but it’s a good stress reliever.”

“Are you a musician, Y/N?” Jodie inquired.

“No, no I’m not. I’m a music lover, for sure, but I never learnt an instrument.”

“But she has an incredible voice,” Ben interjected.

You fought a blush and admonished, “Given present company I think that’s something of an overstatement.” Roger chuckled; you felt a small glow of pride in your stomach.

“Y/N, sweetheart, tell us about yourself. What do you do?”

“Uh, I’m a film journalist. I actually met Ben to interview him for a piece.”

“So your thing is movies? Which is your favourite?” Roger asked.

You shook your head, “I can’t answer that, it’s like picking between your children.”

“That’s easy, Ben’s sister Rory, she’s the smart one.” His face was stoic but his glinting eyes betrayed him.

Ben grunted sarcastically, “Cheers Dad.”

Ben held conversation a lot of the time, knowing how nervous you were and how you struggled to make conversation with new people as it was. He talked you up wherever he found an opportunity and made it easy for you to engage. By the end of the meal some of your nerves had worn away and the gnawing in your belly was replaced with a satisfied fullness. Roger sat back, sated, and announced, “Alright Y/N, you get one question.”

You looked to Ben in confusion, “I’m sorry?”

“People are always dying to ask about Queen, and I like so you I’m going to give you one question. Make it a good one, mind, not just ‘what was Freddie like?’ Or ‘which is your favourite song?’”

“No pressure then,” you sighed. “Okay, who was best at scrabble?”

Roger laughed heartily. “Oh Brian, obviously. He got the highest score I’ve ever seen — it was ‘lacquers’ and he scored 168, the bastard. But Fred was a bit of a dark horse too. He used to just put one tile down and connect this here and that there and tot up all these points.”

His eyes glazed as the memory played out in them. He gave a sad smile, cheeks dimpling with the weight of it. “Oh the adventures of life on the road.”

You got the tour of the house after lunch; Ben showed the studio and his old bedroom and you delighted in seeing his old photos in his room. You gasped, picking one up, “Oh my gosh, Ben, is this you?”

A smiling Freddie Mercury was holding a blonde, rather pouty-looking baby.

“Yeah,” Ben smiled softly, “I never knew him properly, he died when I was still really young. But it’s pretty special to think that he knew me.”

There were more traces of Queen, and other rock ’n’ roll bands, around the room, posters and albums, and the drum kit in the corner bore the band’s logo. Photos chronicled his childhood, frequently featuring a much younger Roger. It was bizarre to you, to see that version of the man you recognised from your favourite band, holding a young boy who would grow up to become the love of your life. How strange, that those two strands of your life converged in the preserved bedroom of a teenage boy.

“I didn’t know you were such a Queen fan, Ben. You don’t talk about it much.”

Ben shrugged, “I was a bit obsessed when I was a kid. Obviously I’m still so proud of Dad, and I love the music, but I guess I’ve toned it down a bit. I’m following my own path now, but back then I wanted to be just like him.”

His hand was sat limply in his pocket, so you threaded your arm through his and kissed his cheek. “I think it’s sweet.”

“What do you think of them?”

“Your mum and dad? They’re lovely.”

“Not going to scare you off then?”

“Never,” you smiled.

Back downstairs you offered to help Jodie with the washing up while Ben and Roger talked shop in the studio about some new drum kit or other.

“You’re too good to them, letting them skip out on helping clear away,” you joked as you dried up.

“Oh I wouldn’t usually,” Jodie mused, “but Rog likes it when Ben’s home. I think he misses the kids more than he cares to admit. But I hope that means you don’t let Ben get away with not doing his fair share!”

“Absolutely it does. He’s good about it though, you taught him well.”

“I’m glad to hear it… You know, you’re the first girl he’s ever brought home to meet us,” she said, glancing at you. Your movements stilled. “I think he’s always been nervous about it. I suspect he was worried that they’d be intimidated by the whole thing, that his dad would scare them off. But he was very keen for us to meet you. He was most anxious that we make a good impression.”

Her words took you aback; you had been so worried about your own nerves that you’d barely stopped to consider his. When you came to think of it, there had been a slight tension in his shoulders, a hint of rambliness about the way he had spoken, as if he felt he had to fill the silences before they materialised.

Jodie continued, “You know, I thought you must be someone pretty special if he wanted us to meet you so badly. I’ve been very excited about it.”

You smiled meekly, pressing your lips together, “I hope I didn’t let you down.”

“Oh of course not darling, it’s been a pleasure. And it’s very sweet to see you with Ben, he looks so happy with you. I think he’s quite smitten.”

You were spared your blushes by footsteps in the doorway and Ben came in, followed by Roger, asking, “What are you two gossiping about? Already ganging up on me?”

He slipped his arm around your waist and looked down fondly at you.

“Hm, something like that,” you hummed, and returned Jodie’s knowing smile.

He leant down to whisper in your ear, “I think they like you,” and nudged your cheek with his nose.

Roger smiled, eyes sparkling, “Son, I’d say this one’s a keeper.”

#ben hardy #ben hardy imagine #ben hardy fanfic #ben hardy blurb #ben hardy au #ben hardy x reader #ben hardy x female reader #taylor!ben hardy #soft ben #roger taylor #dad!roger taylor #bohemian rhapsody #borhap #queen #the absolute shit i put in these tags #*shakes head in disappointment with myself*

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can-u-imagine-that · 5 years ago

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Title: Immortal;

Fandom: The Avengers;

Character: Steve;

Note: Y/N: Your Name;

Warning: Cursing;

Request: None;

Author’s note: Soulmate AU where the older one of the soulmates stop aging at 20 and they only start aging again when they meet the other. And guess what... the soulmate is Captain America.

You always wondered what the fuck was wrong with your soul-fucking-mate.

Now, to be fair... it was taking way to long for you two to meet. You knew sometimes it took years, but c’mon...

75 years was too much.

WAY too much.

And you weren’t even sure anymore if that number was right. After the 60th year you stopped paying attention because they were probably really old by now. You saw so many things change and happen during those years. You saw your school friends grow old with their own soulmates, saw most of your family members die. Made new friends along the years.

You never heard of anyone with a similar case to yours and oh man, how hard you searched. Usually it took a few years, but never as long as you and your soulmate were taking.

At the beginning you dreamed of how special your meeting would be. People said that you could feel your body change when you meet your soulmate. And that they would know it was you in a heartbeat. You were even tired of hearing the descriptions. You had seen it happen so many times. But it never happened to you.

After the world learned of the existence of people with powers and even aliens you started to wonder if your soulmate wasn’t caught in all that stuff but shook the idea out of your head in a few days. There was no way someone as simple as you would have such a special soulmate. They were probably just old anyway. Maybe some kind of weirdo that didn’t leave the house too much.

Who knows.

You sighed, looking out of the window of the coffee shop you were sitting at drifting your attention out of the newspaper in your hands. Even though you lived through all the changes in those decades you weren’t really a fan of using cellphones, call old fashioned, but the thing just created a huge gap between peoples relations. You hated it.

You already felt alone normaly.

All of sudden there’s a huge sound of glass shattering with a tud.

When you look over the window on the other side of the coffee shop you see a man all dressed in black, getting up of the ground from probably being throw into the shop. He is heavily armed and looks around the place, pointing his gun at the customers, saying that if anyone tries to escape he’ll shot. People try to move around but he shots the ceiling, telling everyone to stay put or the next targes will be someone’s head. He as an insane look on his eyes, so no one moved or spoke.

He screams to whoever is outside - probably police or even S.H.I.E.L.D - that he has hostages and if they attack him again a bomb will go off and the whole block will become fire and ash with him.

Soon three more armed men with the same uniform went through the door. Two stayed near them and one went into the kitchen. You heard gunshots as they found employees trying to escape from the backdoor. You cringed at the sound of someone suffering before actually dying.

“STAY QUIET ALL OF YOU!” the first man yelled when people started to whisper and let small cries come out of their mouths.

Your breath becomes caught in your throat as you see a little girl by herself on the couch of the kids area of the coffee shop. She starts crying earning a glare from the man.

Scanning the area you met with a woman’s terrified eyes. She is standing just outside the bathroom area, frozen. She didn’t want to get shot right in front of her daughter but the little girl was crying loud now and you could see the man getting pissed. By the crazy look on his eyes you could see that he wouldn’t mind killing anyone that got on his nerves.

Maybe that’s how I’m meant to die.

Taking a sharp breath you got up slowly, lifting your arms.

“YOU! STOP RIGHT NOW!” he pointed the gun to you. The fear spread on your body, but you managed to not crumble to the ground on your weak knees.

“I’ll just soothe her. I promise.” you said with a surprising calm voice “Please.”

“STAY THERE!” he warned again, turning to the girl “STOP FUCKING CRYING!”

“Please. Let me soothe her.” you took a few more steps before the gun was pointed at you again.

“STOP WALKING!”

“If you keep yelling she’ll not stop crying...” you kept trying to sound calm, taking another careful step to the side.

Just three more and you’d be able to reach her.

You didn’t have to finish because soon you felt little arms on your legs as the girl crawled to you, finding comfort on hiding behind your calf. You kneeled, still looking at the man, taking the girl in your arms and sitting cross legged right where you were, bringing her into your lap. She cried and asked for her mommy who only stared at you, her eyes full of gratitude.

Thankfully you had a hell lot of experiences dealing with kids, since you had many nephews and godchildren along the years.

“Shh, your mommy is there, but right now we can’t go to her. We have to be quiet...” you whispered to her, still feeling the gun pointed at you “Please, calm down...”

Your voice was calm and gentle while you rubbed small circles into her back murmuring reasuring words, until soon her sobbs turned into whimpers and then she finally stopped, still holding you tightly by your neck.

“Attention. Release the hostages and we may negotiate with you.”

“HYDRA doesn’t negotiate.” he answered.

Holy shit, HYDRA.

You were so screwed.

Even though you didn’t met your soulmate you had had a good life, really. You could not say you’d die happy, since you hadn’t met them, but you were satisfied at least.

Just as you thought that, three shots were heard.

The two man at the door feel with their heads clearly bleeding and the one in front of you stumbled with a bullet on his shoulder dropping his gun. The one close to the kitchen made his way to the front, grabbing the little girl’s mother by her arm, pointing the gun to her back.

“NO! TAKE ME, NOT HER!” you cryied, getting up just as he got close to you, still with the girl “Please...”

The man eyed you suspiciously but complied as a willing hostage would be easier to control.

The mother sheed tears as her daughter was handed to her by you. The girl clung to her neck and the woman sobbed a small “thank you”.

You nodded feeling the gun being pointed to your head and your arms firmly squeezed behind your back as he led you to the front of the huge broken window.

There were many police cars and black SUV’s. You could see guns pointed towards you and the man while someone you recognized from TV as Nick Fury stood a little ahead from the barrier created by the police.

“Look, we can either do this the easy way or the hard one. It’s your choice, pal!” he said, waving his hands “Now, let the girl go before I decide to call my backup to end you!”

“We’re not letting anyone go!” the other man howled from behind you “We’ll burst this hole block if we have too!”

Nick shrugged with a smug grin on his face and before you knew, a sound was heard again as the man who had just answered barked in pain and fell with a tud to the ground.

The man holding you hostage turned towards the sound and you closed your eyes at the brusque movement, feeling sick in your stomach because fuck he would surely shot you now.

Then as fast as you turned someone grabbed the gun right from the hand of the HYDRA agent. You lost your hearing for a while after a gunshot ringed right beside your head but felt whoever helped you push the man and hit him with something after spinning you to protect your body with theirs. You found youself pressed securely against a hard chest as the other hostages cheered.

“Hey... are you alright?” a gentle voice whispered to you and when you looked up it felt like time froze when you met with those beautiful blue eyes.

Your breath stopped and you could see that his did too as your heart started beating loudly. Your hole body shivered and you felt something in you shift as if his intense gaze made a piece of you work once again. If he wasn’t holding you, you were sure your knees would have buckled.

It was him.

Your soulmate.

Your soulmate was Captain America.

Captain America.

Steve Rogers.

You stared at each other for a while, drinking in the features and appreciating the lingering feeling of the soulmate’s bond for the first time. We was completely awestruck with how beautiful you were and how perfectly you fit into his arms, still comfortably placed in your waist as if they belonged there. Slowly your hands reached the mask that covered half of his face and you pulled it out, marveling at how perfect his features were.

His eyes drifted to your lips as your mouth parted and your first words to him rolled out of your tongue while your hands slid to rest in his chest.

“Fucking finally. Took you long enough.”

For a moment you could see that Captain America was dumbfounded with your attitude. But you couldn’t care less. You were happy, of course, but you just had to say it.

“Do you have any idea how long I’ve been around? Let me give you a hint. I’m supposed to be older than you.” you started with your eyes still locked into his, both completely ignoring everything happening around you. Thankfully people understood how the soulmate bond happened and didn’t try to intervene, leaving you be “Older than you! I thought I was immortal, Steve!”

He laughed, loving the way his name sounded from your voice.

“I’m sorry. I guess me being frozen didn’t really went well for you.”

“You can bet it. I was afraid you would be an really old man by now.”

Still smiling fondly he allowed his forehead to rest against yours and God it felt so natural you almost swooned.

“You know that technically we are both really old.” his voice brought goosebumps all over your body. Your hands reached his face as you were still mesmerized at how handsome he was.

“All on you!” you said, smiling back at him.

“I promise I’ll make it up to you... but first I have to know your name, don’t you think?” he was whispering now, his face inches from yours.

“Y/N... my name is Y/N.”

“Y/N...” he tested how your name felt in his lips and you even blushed because Captain America whispering your name almost as a mantra was something you had never imagined even on your craziest dreams. And it was enticing.

He grabbed your hand, bringing to his lips and kissing softly the back of it, making you blush even more.

“It’s nice to finally meet you, my soulmate...”

“I could say the same but I’m still pissed.” you both laughed.

“We still have time to change that.”

“We better have, because after all these years you have a lot to compensate!” you winked, allowing him to caress your cheek slowly as he pulled your face closer to his once again. You saw a longing expression on his eyes that made your heart skip a beat.

Through the bond you now shared, you felt how much he also wanted you in his life during those years. You could sense his anxiety waking up after being frozen, only to discover that so many years had passed and you were still out there, without understanding what possibly happened to the soulmate you never met. The distress of thinking he would never find you. You felt it all.

And he felt your lonliness, the nights you lost crying because you didn’t understand what you did to deserve such a lonely and long life. All the pleas you made in your sleep until the acceptance that you would always be alone came.

And you both felt as all the doubts and anxieties disappeared when your lips met for the first time. They molded perfectly together, finding a pace that you seemed to have rehearsed together for years. Your arms gripped the front of his uniform and he hugged you tightly, almost swiping you out of your feet.

Your eyes welled with tears at how right it felt to be with him.

And suddenly all your lonely years didn’t matter anymore.

Because he was finally with you.

#captain america imagine #steve rogers imagine #steve imagine #captain america x reader #steve x reader #the avengers imagine #the avengers #captain america #avengers imagine #myimagine #soulmate au #soulmate imagine #soulmate #female reader

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moonlightjinko-kun · 4 years ago

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Persona

My last late submission for @atsukyouweek is for D6!

Characters/Pairing: Nakajima Atsushi & Izumi Kyouka // Atsukyou

Genre: Angst

Rating: Teens and Up

Prompt used: Hero & Villain AU

Word Count: 1.9k+

Summary: They were once on the same side of justice, fighting villains together. The fateful night where they finally crossed paths again, but now they're on the opposing sides of justice and begins one girl's final fight to save the man she loves from his own despair.

Read it on AO3!

A/N 1: This was angst hell for me when I wrote it and I died after it and wrote a joke of a summary ahahaha A huge thank you to the admin of the week for hosting this marvelous week, with so many fun and exciting prompts! It was very fun to make pieces for the week even though I was late for 4/5 cries, but it was so fun to have a week all to my fave ship! Atsukyou is precious and I love them so muchhhh <3

When their eyes met again under the star dotted night sky, the wind was whipping her hair into her face. His face was shrouded in the shadows of the tree and the air around him was thick with menace. He had thrown the black coat that hung around his shoulders to the side to reveal a set of black shirt and pants under it. Her eyes narrowed at him, at the emptiness in his eyes. She hoped that Yosano had received her message and was on her way, as she faced her enemy, her former partner.

“Naka-“

“Shut up, it’s Shadow Beast now.” He sneered.

She had convinced herself that she would never try to talk sense into him when they met, but she felt her heart breaking at the sight of him. She knew she had to at least try. He readied his stance as she started again, “Please, Naka-“

BAM!

Her head hurt where it hit the ground, but he had leapt back and was now staring from across her, his stance ready to pounce. She felt a warm trickle of blood leaking from a laceration at the back of her head. She winced a little in pain and slowly stood. She shook a little, unsteady on her feet and she glimpsed her opportunity as his stance dropped for a moment. Her body reacted instinctively, adrenaline flooding her system and she flew across the distance, sliding her sword out from her sleeves. The air between their faces was sliced and a lock of his hair - now dyed black, was taken off as she swung her sword in a perfect arc. With the deed done, she hid her sword and leapt back in a graceful arc through the air, landing silently on the ground.

His hand flew up to his hair and a smirk crept onto his face. “I see.”

She narrowed her eyes at him, reading his movements. She knew them by heart from their training together and even after he had fallen into the darkness, she had continued to study him. There was a shift in his right leg and she took a breath to ready herself.

The only way to save him is to stop him.

He leapt towards her and as he landed on the ground where she’d last stood with a loud thud, she was already in the air. She fell towards him, letting gravity take hold, intending to use the momentum of the fall to stun him. A second before she hit him, she saw a glimmer of menace in his eyes. Too much, too late. There was a quick tug on her left leg and then she was flung through the air, crashing to a stop against a tree trunk. Pain exploded in her lower back and a scream escaped her. She looked up as he made his way towards her, a white tail now dangling by his side. She closed her eyes for a moment, silently cursing herself for her stupidity.

“You can’t win. Leave and I’ll spare you.” There was that sneer in his tone again.

She hated it. The Atsushi she love would never speak this way to her. In that moment, she realised the person she was in love with was no longer here, that the man in front of him was a stranger, her enemy. Hatred surged through her, lending her strength. She gritted her teeth and pushed herself up. “Shadow Beast, huh? Bullshit, Nakajima Atsushi!”

Destroy Shadow Beast to bring Nakajima Atsushi back.

―――――

His eyes widened at his name, long uncalled. Waves of complex and indistinguishable emotions had crashed over him the moment their eyes met tonight. He was a mess and he knew it deep down. He stared at the blank expression in her eyes as she moved, each swing and jab with purpose. He dodged and swung clear of each strike, observing her form. Her swordplay was perfect, each move executed in a perfectly timed manner to flow into the next, leaving only a fluid motion of silver. Where there were timed lags to fit his moves before, she had erased them, and she was now moving with an intensity that he had never seen before. Her pace picked up and the blade was lost in a blur of silver, his eyes could no longer track her blade and thin ribbons of blood started to streak across his arms. Her aim shifted up to his face, slicing a shallow cut across his cheek. He lifted his hands to his face, covering it, as she continued to land strikes at his arms. The intensity built to a climax, and suddenly there was a loud whoosh. His hands fell to the ground with a thud, revealing his blood spattered face to her.

He stared at the bloody stump of his wrists, a scream of pain ripping out of him. His legs had turned weak and he fell to the ground, clutching his bloodied wrists. She pushed his face down to the ground and rested the sharp tip of her blade on his neck. He shifted his eyes to meet hers.

“What a shit of a job a hero has.” Her words were clipped with an underlying current of anger. “To think, to think we would end up like this.”

Her face was turned away now, as she spoke again. “I could kill you, you know. But, I don’t think I can ever live with that.” The anger in her voice was already softened by an inexplicable sadness. “Can you… tell me why?”

The rest of her question was left unspoken, but he knew what she wanted to know. The tension in his shoulders started to ease, but he clamped his mouth shut, letting the moment of silence stretch between them.

“You were going easy on me just now, weren’t you?”

He kept his lips sealed.

“Answer me, Nakajima.” She snarled, pressing the tip of her blade deeper.

“No. I didn’t. Kyouka-chan, you’re impressive.” You’ve improved so much.

The pressure from the blade on his neck lifted slightly. He could see tears shining in her eyes. How much tears had I given her?

“You haven’t told me why.” Her voice was shaky, as though she was trying to keep the tears out of her voice.

But the tears brimming in her eyes were tipping him over. He left because he wanted more strength, more power. He wanted to protect her better but he had fallen harder and faster the more he sought after it. Until, too ashamed to face her again, he had decided to leave and to stay out of her way as much as possible, lurking in the shadows and preying on the weak.

But, she had left him with no other choice tonight. The mask of the Shadow Beast was slowly coming loose, and the weakness in him was exposed yet again. His defeat tonight had made it clear, he was still the same pathetic weakling. He had drifted as his new villainous persona for the past three years, living with his emotions suppressed, and that persona with its illusion of power had trapped him in a web of lies. The dam of emotions broke in him, and tears leaked out of his eyes. He had an answer for her now.

“Because I was a coward. Because I was a fool. And I’m sorry Kyouka-chan. I’m so sorry, I was a complete idiot. You’re right, everything, this is all bullshit. I’m really sorry.”

Her facade slipped away, leaving the woman he had left behind staring back at him. The blade in her hand slipped to the ground. He felt her hand on his head move, and he pushed himself up with his regenerated hands to face her properly. He remembered the contours of her face and he reached out for her lips that were forming into a small smile. But he grasped air, his eyes following the drop of her head to his laps.

“Kyou… KYOUKA-CHAN!”

His hands dropped to her head, and he felt the wet and sticky blood there.

“Oh, no no, please, Kyouka-chan!”

Panic set in. His mind was a jumbled mess, and he couldn’t think. His hands darted around her face, unsure of what he had to do. Images from their past blurred with those of the present, dulling his senses to the present.

“Too slow!” She had teased, as her wooden blade struck, drawing an embarrassed chuckle from him. She had taken a few steps back and came at him once more, but he was ready. He had caught her with her hand hovering above his head, before knocking the blade out of her hands. He had pulled her into his embrace and whispered “Predictable.” Her cheeks had turned pink. He had smiled at that, and she had blown an exasperated sigh at him. They had stood there in each other’s embrace as their laughter had rung in the air.

A faint smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as he remembered the bright tinkle in her laughter.

“Promise me you won’t leave me alone here. Hey, Nakajima-san, we’ll get stronger together! This failure, it’s not a problem. Look! I’ll get better and then we can train together and - Nakajima-san? Wait, no, don’t!” A soft thud on the ground stopped him in his tracks and he had turned to see her on the ground, tears streaming down her face.

The intrusion of this memory brought back a wave of regret and remorse. He closed his eyes and took a breath, trying to shut out the rest of the memory.

“ATSUSHI! MOVE!”

The shout had come from behind him. He turned to see Dazai and Yosano running towards him.

“I said, move.” Authority slipped into Yosano’s voice, but he was frozen in shock. Yosano took Kyouka from his arms as Dazai pulled him away, clearing a space for Yosano to work.

Dazai stared at him and gave a long sigh. “You’re hard to find, Atsushi-kun.” Atsushi blinked a few times in confusion, as Dazai continued. “She’s been searching for you all this while. We all have, actually.”

“What? Why?” Atsushi choked out.

“Why, you ask? Maybe it was her persistence? Or maybe you were just a lost soul who didn’t know how to call for help? It doesn’t matter, does it?”

“But, Dazai-san, I’ve done -“ Atsushi stopped, letting the rest of his words trail off.

“We know. There will be consequences, but it probably would work out eventually.” Dazai glanced towards Kyouka. “She sacrificed a lot to try to save you.”

“Kyouka-chan had tried to save me, even after everything I did? Why would she?” A sob entered his voice.

Dazai did not answer, but Atsushi knew what the answer was. He had seen it when their eyes first met tonight. The sadness and love in her eyes were clear enough. Overhead, the cloud had finally drifted to reveal the moon, as it cast a soft light on them.

Yosano clicked her tongue. “Tch, couldn’t the moon have come out a little sooner? The extra light would have been helpful.” Her head jerked up to face them as she called out. “We’re done here, let’s go.”

Atsushi made to stand, but Dazai grabbed his hand. “Not so fast, Atsushi-kun.” There was a glint of silver in Dazai’s hand. Realising what it was, Atsushi held out his hands and watched as Dazai snapped the cuffs around his wrists. Atsushi stood with Dazai’s help, but his eyes were on Kyouka. Dazai crossed over and lifted Kyouka into his arms, cradling her as Yosano came to his side.

“She’ll be fine. Stop worrying.”

“Yosano-sensei, thank you.”

Yosano waved his thanks off and a sigh escaped her. “Just treat her better when we get back.Come on, we need to go.”

Atsushi followed after them, back to where everyone from the agency stood waiting for them.

A/N 2: Thank you for reading this and I hope you enjoyed this piece too! Feedback is always appreciated and I would always love to hear from you <3 This was self-indulgence too AHAHHA angst self-indulgence (as if I don't get enough angst) I live, breathe and spaz atsukyou and this had been a good week of self-indulgence heh

#bungou stray dogs #atsukyouweek2020 #atsukyou #atsushi x kyouka #nakajima atsushi #izumi kyouka #villain atsushi dressed all in black like an edgelord and then he uses his ability #a white tail dangles ahahha #CINFICS 🎀

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omatics · 5 years ago

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I AM A MOTHER OF HEROES -- a marvel au !!

part one .

she was a thought in 1922. conceived as the world’s first fully automatic maid, reginald hargreeves put a patent on his idea and began working on a prototype. imagine, he considered, a world where those who could afford it would want for waitstaff or childcare. a woman, a saving grace for humans with too little time.

the prototype was done within three years, woken up in 1925 although major modifications and reprogramming persisted well into the 1940s. she was hard to replicate and none of the attempts at reproduction were successful. in the end, she wasn’t ready for public exhibition until specifically 1942. along with the flying car, grace was introduced to the world.

and the night she became acquainted with the wonders of the future was the same night she realized she had to go. grace was the only one of her kind right now, but reginald was getting close. he’d have her ( and her sister-selves ) ready in time for the end of the war. she didn’t want it, so she ran.

it was easy enough to find someone to forge her papers, even on her first few days under the sun. she had extensive first aid programming and she heard the frontlines were dying for it. she took on the name grace mark and disappeared to where the war was.

but when it was over, when she’d seen death and lost friends grace didn’t know what to do with herself. she went ‘home’ in 1952, wanting desperately for the purpose only her creator could give.

part two .

but when she got home, the destination she expected ( every home in america , miss hargreeves ) had evaporated. whatever fixation reginald had on her going global fizzled and died. she wasn’t welcomed back with anger, she just slipped in like he never knew she left.

he’d turned his eye to something else, something infinitely worse on the horizon. he’d begun to collect information pertaining to the apocalypse, and children to help end it.

she was the mother of the youngest group of superheroes the world had ever seen. and the world needed heroes. she cared for them, showed them love when it would’ve been otherwise denied. they left behind, slowly, both the burden of heroism and her.

but when the time came for the first finished project of reginald hargreeves’ career as eccentric billionaire, he didn’t live to see it. he died and the success that followed didn’t belong to him any more. the exploding moon, the destruction of earth was stopped. everyone was saved.

except for grace. once again, she’d become somewhat forgotten. she was old by then, nearly a hundred years and decaying in noticeable ways. with her children ready to return to the lives they’d built before the threat he was where she’d been before-- ready to run but now unable, her future uncertain.

#* ♥ ⎛ 𝘪 𝘢𝘮 𝘢 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘦𝘴 . ⎠ ── au . marvel .#basically i needed her to exist At All Times plus i also like gracie-wacie actually being from (give or take)#the period she likes to emulate

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zalk909192 · 5 years ago

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Bluff

AfuHiru Month - 21.08.19

Day Five_ Bluff Rating_ Mature? But a light one. Again. What’s in here?_ bad words, a lot of money, gambling au, sexual tensione, only hiruma pov, a bit of mamori/megu bc yes Ao3 here, folks (Prompt List) by Nene~

« As you already know, gambling is a form of art. » He was shuffling the deck. « The stakes are 100% irrelevant. » A riffle, then a perfect cascade. « The cards are like a body, you have to know how to touch them. » Then some apparently sloppy overhands, he yawned and he covered his mouth with the right hand. The deck was shuffled anyway with just the left one. He wasn't even left-handed, but his long fingers seemed to be made to touch and seduce the cards of that particular deck. But let's admit it; his hands seemed to be able to seduce so much more. He had a strange grin on his face: it wasn't a real grin, it wasn't a real smile. Maybe it was fake, maybe it wasn't. Maybe he was just looking at the cards with love and respect, maybe he was looking at you with arrogance and defiance. But his hands were in love with the cards for sure. « What's your favourite card, pretty thing? » « Ace of Hearts. » He laughed and dropped the card on the table, a perfect line of fifty-four cards, with all the figures in plain sight but one. With his right hand, he flipped the cards in a single effortless motion, just a finger. The covered card was now in sight and it was the Ace of Spades. « And when art isn't enough. » He took the Ace from the deck, moving it in the had and shaking fluidly a little, his grin was more joyful than before, he really enjoyed that moment. « Here comes some magic. » He placed the card on the table and he nodded at the girl in front of him. She hesitated for a moment, confused, then she flipped it. It was an Ace of Hearts, swapped with the other ace with a quick movement of his fingers in and out of a pocket of his silver suit. A show-off. The show-off, because that night the stakes were too high to fuck around the table like he usually did. The casino asked him to be the dealer because the woman in front of him was a professional gambler, Taki Suzuna, but she had an immaculate reputation and the administration had nothing against her. Too good even to be kicked out. She was tricky. She was girlish and innocent and she was too happy for being a cheater. She was difficult to read and her acts were even more difficult to predict. He was there to make her play safe and sound, 'cause he was the best gambler of the house, the city, probably the entire world, but who knows. That simple color change was one of the finest tricks to prove his skills, since nobody -net even Suzuna, he could tell- had seen it coming. He was too fast, too precise and too good to be seen. Even if a color change is really a simple and predictable magician trick. Suzuna smiled at him with his eyes bright as stars, thrilled because she couldn't see it and now she was even more curious than before about the game. « Can't wait, Hiruma-nii~ » Hiruma smiled back with his unusual grin and opened a new deck to restart the shuffling, more precise than ever. He looked at the other players. Anezaki Mamori, an affectionate of the casino, Hiruma knew her very well. He was a hard gamer, but not a cheater. She liked to win only on strategy and luck, but she was a very good friend of Suzuna. She was the one who made up the game. She was ready to have fun, Hiruma could see it: she was stretching her thin fingers too much. Raimon Natsumi, the beauty of the clubhouse. She was either a pretentious one or a lesbian, he couldn't know, but a pretty decent player indeed. Mikado Anna, at last. Because Anna was the rich one and Mamori well knew that high stakes were important to have a game worthy of its name. And Anna, he had to admit, had a pair of eyes so cold that reading them was a hard task. Hiruma didn't like her so much, but he understood why the casino asked him to deal with the four of them. They probably could have destroyed the clubhouse and each other, if left by themselves or with some incompetent. Like Clifford Dickhead Lewis, for example. He caressed the cards and they were in front of the player in no time. Classic poker, all against all until all against the house when all of their money would be be in his hands. Hiruma wasn't scared at all. - He was doing the math better than ever. The game was on for at least two hours and at that table, everybody was losing and winning like crazy. The wheel of fortune was spinning too fast, so fast that Natsumi was classy enough to leave before a total defeat. Hiruma had let her run away, she was such a conscious girl. His spot was empty, but all of the other ladies said they were still on. Hiruma was pretty happy to open the fourth deck of the evening. The stakes were huge. Mamori was trembling inside, knowing she hadn't all of that money with her. Or in her bank account. Well, she was hoping deep inside, that Hiruma would have been kind like he was with Natsumi, but she wasn't too sure. Hiruma was unpredictable, after all. And he was an official croupier of the house and he had to, at least, seem clean and absolutely impartial. Even if some reasonable doubts were floating around the table. Even if it should have been impossible for him to cheat. It should have. But bluffing was all his life. The secret of bluffing, and even cheat, is not only to do it well enough. It's understanding and knowing when you can bluff. It's distracting your ally and your enemy, it's buffing when nobody can expect it. Of course, he cheated, he was there to do it. And to do it so well nobody could see it. But exactly at the moment all the people in the room were expecting him to cheat or bluff, he didn't at all. And he could know it by doing the math well. Because yes, he read people and he wasn't so good at it, but his calculus didn't need to. And it wasn't about counting the cards. Everybody knows that only the Black Jack is the game in which counting makes the difference. It was about statistics. He was a living algorithm, one of the most difficult and complex to understand, his lie was absolute. Or so he believed. After some hands, something happened. Hiruma was too absorbed in the game to give attention to the surrounding, so he didn't mind about the spectators that were around the table. He had almost forgotten the empty spot and when he saw someone taking the seat while he was shuffling again, he stopped for a second with a dangerous but seraphic and crooked smile. « Welcome. Stakes are pretty high by now. I have to ask you if you have enough to open. » It was strange that someone was willing to enter a game already settled. Hiruma didn't fear anything, but it was interesting. The new player was a young man with blonde hair and red eyes, but he had a strange feeling of deja vu looking at him. Something in his inside trembled with expectation noticing his posture, his hands, his cunning smile. It was a delight after hours of boobs and mascara. He was wearing a blue suit and Hiruma had never seen him there. A newbie? No, too distinct to be one. « I don't have fiches with me. I didn't think I could find something worth my attention. Can you guarantee for me? » The new guy took a checkbook, he signed it and gave it with a smile. Hiruma took it and a shiver went down his spine looking at him again when their eyes and their hands met. Hiruma melted in an almost ferocious sneer. A six-figure payout. It was unexpected. « Of course I can. The change is ten thousands a fiche. I'll give you the first 70 on the spot and the others at need. Can we know your name while someone brings us your goods? » Behind him, a boy took the paper and run fast to get the fiches. « Afuro Terumi. It's a pleasure. » « The pleasure is ours, Terumi-kun! I can bet your presence will spice up the game! » Suzuna laughed and started a little bit of a conversation in which Hiruma wasn't interested at all. He was an interest in Afuro Terumi. He observed him like he was hypnotized by his gestures. He was starting to reading him and it was too easy. Afuro Terumi was the best liar he has ever met. Then, fiches, gambling, bets, hands. Suzuna asked to change the game after a while, Mamori was tired and pointed at her girlfriend to take her place for a bit. Tsuyumine Megu took her spot happily. Hiruma knew that Suzuna was saving Mamori asking for the game Megu preferred; Texas Hold'em. Afuro was losing his money, but he was too calm. The house continued to win and Hiruma was confused: he knew Afuro had some damn good hands. He served him, he was well aware of the card he gave without being explicit. Afuro wanted to lose. Hiruma was dying to know what else he was plotting. His heart was racing faster, even if it didn't affect his duty as a dealer. Hiruma stopped the cheating when he understood the truth: Afuro knew. Of course, he couldn't have any shreds of evidence, but Hiruma stopped to choose the cards for them and Afuro started to win. Not because he could, but because he wanted to. Hiruma was defeated, but he didn't mind at all. It was the best game he has ever had. And when Afuro asked to change the game again in favor of Black Jack Hiruma held his breath. Anna, at that point, was out of the game. Megu and Suzuna saw the opportunity to count and win and gladly accepted the change. Hiruma went nuts. If he could have done it, he would have kissed both of them on the forehead. His smile was still impeccable, but his eyes were ready to fight Afuro. Like croupier, he had the upper hand and he was going to crush- « Don't you think, after all of this time, Hiruma-san should play with us? I think it's our last game, anyway. We can ask somebody else to be our dealer. Right, girls? » Fuck. « That's marvelous! Please, Hiruma-nii, join us! » Megu refused, scared by his reputation, but Mamori was ready to take her place again. Hiruma looked at her and understood that Mamori knew him so well to know he would have died to play against the new gay in the right way. And she was asking, like a player and not like a dealer, to have mercy on her. Hiruma smirked at her. Granted. « I can't refuse, then. » So much money on the table, but he could cover it. Black Jack was his game. Black Jack was the real joy in the gambling world. And when all of the players can count, only the best bluffer can win. Or the best cheater. The house had won so much, anyway, that none of his bosses could have ever complained about that unplanned course of events. He took the seat between Suzuna and Afuro and the scent of Afuro hit him for the best. It was hours that a part of his mind was thinking about fucking him, hard, fantasizing about taking him on the card table pulling his long hair and biting his neck until he could taste his blood. Afuro was reading him, Afuro was making him hot just dong it without in silence. Nobody had ever read him like that. Reiji Maruko was the dealer because Hiruma looked him in the eyes with the clear intent to kill if he didn't offer himself faster than Lewis. Maruko obliged. Mamori and Suzuna were cut out in a matter of seconds. Not because they weren't playing, but because they were irrelevant. Hiruma knew their acts like his own and like a player, he had no mercy. Mamori was the first to retreat, but with still some pride. Suzuna was out after three other hands and, talented or not, Lady Luck wasn't been too kind with her and she had to leave with no hard feelings at all: that was so much fun, after all. Hiruma looked at Afuro directly for the first time since the start of the game. He knew he was going to win the last round. He could feel it and he was waiting for Afuro to finally step back. Afuro looked in his eyes and smiled. « I've lost. » Hiruma grinned felling hot on the inside. He had to suppress his imagination and he just slammed his fist on the table letting out fr a solid second all the emotions he felt during the game. The worst and the best thing was that he suspected... with that man had been a damn waste of energy. He almost missed the gentle, but enthusiastic, the applause of their audience. He won the battle, but he lost the war. Afuro waited until the people starting to go away from the table, Maruko was quick to leave with just a glance at the two. « You were incredible. » « And you lost at least five hundreds of thousands of dollars. You are welcome. » He was bluffing again, with a smile over the grin, over his excitement. Afuro laughed softly and lean near him looking in his eyes. « You know I read you all the time, right? » It should have pissed Hiruma, but actually... « It was nice to be read. » The silence between them was so tense, so full of words. Afuro dared to put a hand on his thigh, just a breath away from him at last. « It would be nice to be fucked. » Just a whisper in his ear and Hiruma could have sense another shiver through his body. « Meet me in one hundred seconds in front of the wardrobe. » Afuro couldn't help but sighed a little, then he returned to normal with a peaceful smile on. What a damn perfect liar he was. « Don't be late, then. » « Don't worry. I can count. » « I know. » Hiruma looked at him went as nothing happened and Hiruma stayed still for some seconds. He knew. Nobody had ever said something so seductive to him. And he couldn't believe his luck.

#afuhirumonth2019 #afuhiru #afuro terumi / hiruma yoichi #afuro terumi #hiruma yoichi #eyeshield 21 #inazuma eleven #tsuyumine megu #anezaki mamori #taki suzuna #mikado anna #raimon natsumi #reiji maruko #clifford d. lewis

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dat-town · 6 years ago

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renaître de ses cendres

Characters: Jinhwan & You

Genre: angst

Setting: immortal au

Summary: Jinhwan has lived long but you make him want to live more.

Warning: character death

Words: 2.2k

for @lily-blue have the happiest bday my dear ♥

[original pic credit goes to bylove_951221]

Jinhwan has loved fiercely.

He has loved until death.

He has loved without meaning to, without doubts, without thinking.

Jinhwan has lived many loves. All of which he was fated to lose.

But only when he saw the light fade in your ever bright eyes did he think that the price of immortality was too high.

Jinhwan didn't like to talk about the time he was born into. He didn't like to talk about any of his previous lives. He had been around for a longer time than the Colosseum or the Great Wall of China and he had learned that he would be stuck in the past if he kept looking back. So he didn't. He always adapted to the current time he lived in and tried to make the most out of it, enjoying the small wonders of life. But sometimes he got desperate and lonely too and then he had enough of it but he couldn't die, literally couldn't. Yes, he tried, multiple times. He always came back.

It was one of those times. The ones in despair when he wanted nothing, just leave this Earth and this empty shell of him behind. He was all alone, not a soul would have cared if he just disappeared. He wished he could evaporate in the wind or dissolve in water, if he could just turn bodiless. After thousands of years he got bored of the face that looked back at him in the mirror. He started hating the very same sad eyes of his reflection staring vacantly ahead.

“Are you thinking of jumping?”

A young, curious voice startled him and his steps died on his tracks, feet stilling on the metal barrier of the bridge he was walking on. He spared one glance at the deep, dark waters of the rushing Han River under him, illuminated by the pearl white moonlight. Then he turned around gracefully, his balance not even shaking, airily like a tightrope dancer would have. Then his gaze settled on you, the pale girl standing by the fence in nothing more than a pretty flower-patterned dress, slippers thrown on the ground. You rested your elbows on the cold railing staring ahead with an inextricable look on your face. He couldn't really tell what you were thinking and what made you ask that ground-breaking question so calmly.

“Are you?” Jinhwan shot back the very same question without answering as he elegantly hopped down from the fence, casually leaning back to it after his feet hit the ground, merely a meter away from you.

You didn't seem bothered, not by the new proximity, nor the lack of answer but you hummed thoughtfully before answering.

“No but the fact that I could makes it so much easier to bear life. Because you know it gives the knowledge that I have chosen it. It almost makes me feel powerful,” you chuckled after the long and serious monologue.

You were talking so casually as if the mere thought of your mortality, the inevitability of your own death didn't scare you at all while most people would have been scared shitless. You were standing there in the middle of one of the highest bridges of your town staring down at the rampant water stirring up because of a coming storm. Jinhwan wasn't new to sudden summer downpours, he could feel it come in the air. You seem to pay no mind to it though. Eyes closed you enjoyed the weather and everything in the moment. Taking big breaths and letting out satisfied exhales like you had all the time in the world.

Jinhwan watched you in awe; it's been a while he had met such an unbothered soul.

Neither of you said anything, not until the first raindrops stirred up the silence coming fast like tears and their splash on the ground created a piano melody like nothing else. You smiled not caring about your hair and dress getting wet, not even when the water droplets slid across your body leaving goosebumps in their wake behind them. You inhaled from the humid air one last time before pushing yourself away from the fence and turning to leave.

But Jinhwan who had been staring and marvelling at you in wonder couldn't let you go just like that.

“Won't you catch cold?” he asked glancing down at your bare feet on the harsh, cold concrete. You looked down as if you were surprised by his question. Then realizing what he might have meant, you chuckled and shushed his question away with a flick of your wrist, tiny raindrops following the movement.

“It doesn't matter either way,” you shrugged with a secret smile pulling on the corners of your pretty mouth. Then grabbing your pair of slippers and with them dangling in your hand you danced away with cute little spins, humming a sad song in a way much happier tone than you were supposed to be.

You laughter was a melody in the wind that carried the lovely sound and the way wind played with your short locks and the moonlight reflected on your skin Jinhwan swore nature adored you just as his heart whispered him to.

Already when he first met you he was damn convinced you were like poetry, a moving art in pretty form, riddles behind rhymes and secrets between the lines. He couldn't wait to unravel the mystery that was you.

You met him on that bridge again.

And again and again.

You found yourself waiting for those meetings even if they made your heart soar. It felt like playing with the thought of having something that couldn't really be yours. But it didn't dishearten you, not when he made it so easy to fall.

You were in love, you knew it from the moment he took you to that observatory just to stare at the stars and talk about the meaning of life, being a sparkle of dust in the galaxy. But you knew that you were more in love with the idea of him, of someone who cares than actually with him. Because he didn't like to talk about things like his family, job or past. You had no idea who Kim Jinhwan was but you knew a man with gentle heart and the wisdom of generations. He was the most interesting phenomena you ever encountered and even when he was close he felt so far as the stars you both loved so much.

It had been weeks, months of casual meetings and you had become paler, lost weight and hair. He hadn't said anything apart from asking you to take better care of yourself but he must have known you couldn’t really help it.

“I am dying,” you blurted out after you finished slurping from your fruit smoothie and it might have been too casual to take it seriously because Jinhwan let out one of his typical, philosophical questions:

“Aren't we all?” he looked up at you with unsaid words hiding in his dark orbs: at least humans, the ones without ridiculous curses, he thought. You liked seeing secrets in his eyes even if you could never unravel them. At least you felt a little less bad for keeping yours. Like how your heart went crazy near him.

“No, I mean I know for a fact that I will die within a few months. I even have this cool hospital card because you know I'm a permanent guest there,” you chattered showing off the card to your room. You had years accepting the idea of dying, you were really ready for it. Or you thought you were until he came along.

Now that made Jinhwan dumbfounded. “What?”

You quieted down, smile fading at his sad voice and the blank look on his face.

“I'm sick, Jinhwan and no, it can't be cured. They have already tried everything.”

Suddenly it all made sense: why you were so accepting of the inevitable end. You’ve had your time to deal with it and had decided not to waste any moment, to enjoy the smallest miracles of being alive and to bring as much joy to the people around you as it was possible. But how was it fair? That life cursed him with eternal life but gave you – you of all people! - only so little? Jinhwan hated it.

“Hey,” you nudged his hand and he blinked, surprised, shaking his head to get rid of such thoughts. Your eyes were like unwritten fairytales, magical and infinite, pulling him in. You smiled almost too gently for someone who was meant to die so young, so beautiful. “I'm still the girl who danced around barefoot in the rain. Don't look at me differently. I just thought you deserved to know that you are hanging out with a dying girl before it gets worse.”

It did get worse pretty soon just as you predicted and warned him.

First you weren’t able to walk that much without sitting down for a while. Then you had hard time breathing sometimes. And once you got a seizure in the middle of laughing on something ridiculous like vines. After that they kept you in the hospital, no more free days out in the open, you were bound to machines because your organs started giving up one by one. You were saddened seeing your father's devastated face or your mother's tears, only Jinhwan treated you like nothing changed. He didn't even blink at the sight of infusion and the nasal cannula when he visited you in the hospital. He asked you if you dreamed anything nice lately and talked about the old neighbour lady's story that he heard that night. You were too tired of talking after a while, so you asked Jinhwan to speak in lieu of the two of you.

“What does it mean?” you softly asked tracing the tattoo on his forearm with your index finger a bit weakly. But he gently took your hand in his before it could fall from his arm.

“Reborn from the ashes,” he translated the French text without sparing a glance at it.

You smiled faintly hearing the words and averted your gaze from him to the darkened scenery on the other side of the window.

“That sounds nice. Starting over. I wish I could be a phoenix to do that,” you whispered, voice barely there, a little lifeless and his heart churned, breaking from the pressure, from the weight of all the confessions he didn't… couldn't tell you. Not now. It was all too late from you to hear them anyway.

“Do you want to hear a story?” he asked ever so lovingly and as it became hard to speak, you just squeezed his hand back as a sign of saying yes. So he took a deep breath and started talking.

“Once upon a time there was a young and foolish prince so arrogant that he wanted to become a god, so he searched for the key to immortality. It seemed to be a fruitless journey after years and years-long of pursuit but he still had nothing. He had bathed in virgins’ blood, read rituals and made a deal with all kind of devils, all of them turned out to be imposters… except for one. She was nothing but an old lady, he thought and he laughed when she offered him the eternal youth. She asked for nothing but a lock of the prince's hair. He was curious though, he had nothing to lose, so he cut a piece of his hair and gave it to her. The woman burnt it right in front of him while murmuring something satanic and then threw a knife at him. She was executed immediately for treason with the last words: you will live in regret burning on her tongue and only later, when his anger died down did the prince realize that the wound where the knife scratch him disappeared as if there was no wound at all.”

“What happened to him?” you breathed barely audible but listening very closely with your eyes closed.

“He has lived long and at first he found joy in his victorious life,” Jinhwan continued with the story, his steady voice slowly becoming hollow. “But soon he realized being unable to die was indeed a curse. Centuries has come and gone and he had become more and more distant. Sure he wasn't dead but he didn't feel alive either. Until one day he met a girl, a girl who showed him everything in life that was worthy of appreciation, that there's more to it than just living. She was a girl who was in love with life itself and the prince who was nowhere near a prince anymore wished he could give her more of that.”

The last of it was barely a whisper because the heart rate machine by the bed went still. Even the Moon dressed in silver mourned and the stars all around pitied him. His tears helped nobody.

Jinhwan has loved gently.

He has loved until death and even after.

He has loved truly, madly, deeply and he had lived to tell the tale because you would have wanted him to do that. To live.

To reborn from the ashes.

#ikonicshelves #ikon scenarios #ikon imagines #ikon oneshot #jinhwan scenarios #jinhwan imagines #jinhwan oneshot #immortal au #jinhwan x reader #stories

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itsalreadynever-blog · 8 years ago

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@peacemaiden || x.

“... no, i’m pretty sure i’m right on. if she were anymore explicit, i would’ve had to leave you two alone --”

#peacemaiden #au. dying is easy ( living is hard ) ( marvel. )#I HAD TO; I WAS LAUGHING.

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what-even-is-thiss · 8 years ago

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The Four Seasons

OMG you guys I finally have an excuse to smush together the Sanders Sides and Norse mythology. Don’t ask why I wanted to do that. I’m embarrassed enough that I actually wrote this. Like, really embarrassed. I couldn’t find a way to be satisfied with this. This is the version I wrote that I hate the least.

Anyways, @momfriendlogan had a cool idea for an au where the Sanders Sides are the four seasons and @ec-sanderssides added a cool thing to that post about how each of them would be affected by the other’s seasons, and I’ve been working on a story where I shoehorn some characters into mythology, and this idea went really well with it. And Sumarr and Vetr exist in traditional Norse mythology, but I cut the original seasons out. They don’t exist here. I’m bending the mythology A LOT, but if Marvel can butcher Norse mythology then so can I.

Tip Jar

Warnings: None I can think of. Let me know if it needs some. 2,181 words.

Abstract: The Sanders Sides as four brothers that represent the seasons. Kind of told as a myth or something like that I dunno.

Quick note before you read: I didn’t know what to call them at first, since we don’t have Anxiety’s name and their names aren’t Nordic, so I call them by the season they represent, so for reference;

Anxiety=Autumn/Fall

Logic=Winter

Prince=Summer

Morality=Spring

Yeah, sorry about that. I didn’t feel comfortable calling them their normal names in this au. Ugh, I’m going to regret writing this tomorrow. Hope you enjoy.

Nobody quite knows when the brothers came, or who they came from. For all anyone knew they were primordial beings carved from the first ice and fire. Or perhaps they came with the creation of Midgard. Odin often pressed them for information, but they never gave any, and they always saw through his disguise.

One year, shortly after the creation of Midgard, the allfather took notice of the changing weather. In Asgard and Vanaheim it was always summer, and in the early days of Midgard it had been that way as well. Being the god of knowledge that he was, he had to find out why.

He came across on his travels a man sitting on top of a mountain. He wore all black and had several leaves stuck in his hair that he seemed to not notice in the slightest. Altogether, he looked incredibly disheveled and tired. He sat there, drinking a hot drink and watching the world below with a strange form of calm.

“You there!” the god cried out, “Do you know the reasons for the changes in the weather?”

The man leaned back against the tree that was growing at this altitude despite the odds and caught a leaf as it fell.

“I know who you are, old man. Why don’t you stop poking your nose in where it doesn’t belong?” he said.

Soon after that, the gods learned of the seasons. They were hard to find and hard to talk to, and nearly impossible to get information out of.

Soon the realms of the gods were affected by the seasons as well. In time, the Vanir grew sick and tired off all of their precious crops and flowers being killed on a yearly basis and Freja, the goddess of beauty, sent her strongest fallen warrior from her halls to find them and demand that they stop.

The young warrior knew that the seasons began in Midgard, and so they would probably live there. She searched for years in the mortal world, fighting monsters and giants, but found no gods.

One day, she was wandering through a forest in the northern part of the world. The snow was deep and she was cold. She began to fear dying all over again, when she spotted a hall.

It was a long hall, made of wood, and surrounded by lines of trees. She knew this was her only way out of frostbite, so she swallowed her pride and pounded on the door.

A man standing tall in the armor and rich clothes of a nobleman answered the door. He seemed to be radiating a small amount of light and as he opened the door, the young warrior felt the snow melt around her and her core be filled with the warmth and radiance of the summer sun.

“And who are you? Someone looking for another favor?” The radiant man asked.

“Oh, a person? A person? Let them in! Let them in!” a tired but excited voice called from inside.

The woman was welcomed into a warm hall with a fire blazing in the center. It was not made for guests. There were dead vines hanging from the ceiling and there were two other men almost identical in appearance to the regal summery stranger.

The first one she noticed was dressed in simple peasant clothes and had worn hands like a farmer. He was kneeling next to the fire in the center of the room stirring the coals and had tired bags under his eyes. Despite this, he was nearly as bright and radiant as the one that had answered the door.

The other man was dressed all in black and sleeping on a pile of furs in the corner. He seemed to be the opposite of the other two, and seemed to have an aura of darkness and doom about him, and eerily reminded her of creatures she had met from the realm of hel.

The warrior knelt beside the fire and warmed herself cautiously.

“Are you the seasons my lords? The ones that bring the changes in the weather?” she asked respectfully.

“Yes we are, and stop being so formal,” the regal one said. “This place is stuffy enough without a warrior making grand speeches,”

“Are you pretending that you never do that?” came a voice from the corner.

“Autumn, I thought you were asleep,” the man stirring the coals said.

“When do I ever sleep? Especially with nosy residents of Folkvang coming in,” the dark figure said sitting up.

This one was even more tired looking than Spring, for she had guessed by now which one they were. Winter was probably out in the worlds now, cursing the winds of the great eagle with bitter cold and crafting snowflakes to cover the land and freeze the plants.

“I am going to sleep,” Spring said, yawning. “You all should sleep too,”

He walked over to where Autumn had been sleeping and fell down, falling asleep almost immediately. It wasn’t long before he was clinging to the other man like a scared child.

Autumn obviously didn’t like this, but let him stay.

“Ugh. He gets like this every winter. When Winter gets back tonight I’m passing him over,” He looked over at summer. “Are you going demand payment or not?”

Summer sat down in a chair in the corner. “Why don’t you ask her?” he said in a huff.

Autumn sighed in a way that was somewhere beyond tired. “You always have to hold a grudge over that. It can’t be summer forever. And I know that’s why you’re here, girl. Trust me, he would like the same thing, but it’s not happening,”

“What did you mean by payment?” the warrior asked carefully.

“Tell us stories, young maiden,” said Summer. “We grow bored in here waiting for him to return, and only the dark one over there likes leaving this time of year. I can’t stand it, so cure our boredom!”

The fallen warrior stood and told the tale of how she died. She told of a great battle between her tribe and the Saxons and how she had killed twenty men before bleeding out and dying standing up. She told of her quest to find them. Every giant that had crossed her path, and every wolf that had tried to send her to Hel. Before she could finish however, the door flew open.

There was Winter. He shocked her. This was his time of year, so power radiated off of him. Ice snaked through the open door and over the close wall as he entered. He was dressed in surprisingly very little for the weather. He was dressed properly like a scholor or poet would during the summer.

His walk was so proper it annoyed her beyond belief.

“Ah, I suspected Freja would send someone,” he said, closing the door and allowing the fire to heat the place again. “You can tell her what we told all the others. We will not stop and threats do not work,”

“Oi! Winter!” Autumn called out. “Take this one off of me, will you? He is like a clingy dog,”

Winter sat next down to Spring and tapped him on the shoulder. Spring immediately made the switch over and clung to his other brother instead.

Freja was not happy when she heard the news, but the seasons kept to their word and made no such change.

Many centuries passed and the gods were forgotten, but still very much alive and just as baffled by the seasons as ever. They were hard to catch, but when you found one and got to talking with them, or even saw them work, you would have a story to tell for ages.

It was around the time that men began to shoot fire and bullets that the god of poets Bragi claimed that he saw Summer transition into fall.

“It was so confusing,” he said to a group of fallen warriors. “I saw Summer running through a city, and it was as if the mortals never saw him at all, and his brother was chasing him until he caught up to him and tackled him to the ground. It was all incredibly confusing,”

“Well what’d ya reckon is happening now?” asked a fallen soldier with a musket on his knees.

“I’d suspect Autumn is out there right now, tearing down all of his brother’s work. Putting the leaves and animals to sleep and cooling the air. You can’t outrun him any more than you could outrun the end of the world,”

Spring always visited Vanaheim first, though why nobody knew. It was easy to spot him there shortly after he began melting the snow. Sometimes when he was really excited, the gods and fallen warriors of the world could swear they could hear laughter coming from the air.

The warrior that had been sent to find the seasons all those centuries ago often ran away from the battlefield during the spring, trying to follow the laughter whenever she heard it. She had spent several days with them. Longer than anyone else had, and she longed to see what Spring was like when he was not so tired.

Centuries after, she fell asleep by a tree on a cold spring morning, waiting for something. When she woke up, she heard a delighted squee.

“Oh, you’re awake! You look so cute!” said an excited voice.

The cold battle hardened warrior jumped with fright when she saw the radiant face in front of her. Now he was wearing spectacles and a sweater vest. Small flowers were growing around where he sat on the grass in front of her.

“I never asked your name! What is it?” Spring asked excitedly.

“Uh, Brenna. Spring, I have been looking for you for almost a thousand years. What in the worlds are you doing and... Did you put a blanket on me?”

“Uh huh. It’s still to early to be sleeping outside, you know,” He said happily. “Well, I’m gonna go now. Bye!”

“Wait! I have so many...”

But he was gone. She kept the floral print quilt.

Odin decided to give it another try. Despite his centuries of inability to get any information out of the brothers, he thought he had the perfect disguise.

However, when he knocked on the door of the log cabin where the seasons lived, he was once again proven wrong.

The heat around the cottage was intense. Odin hoped they would let him in, but when the door was opened by a frazzled Winter, he immediately regretted coming.

Winter was red in the face and sweating. His normally clean button-up shirt was rolled up at the sleeves and wrinkled. He had a bottle of water in one hand, and his glasses kept slipping off his nose from the intense summer heat.

“We have told you before Odin,” He said angrily. “We can see through your disguises. Oh, how are you surviving in that coat? Oh my. Go away,”

He slammed the door shut. Odin decided to try and find summer. He was always in a good mood during his time of year. Maybe if he bought him a beer or something he would give him some information.

After a couple months of searching he found Summer on a beach watching a group of young people sit around a roaring fire. They didn’t notice him sitting there, laughing heartily at each stupid joke they made.

He looked over at the god observing him.

“What? Didn’t trust your ravens with this one?” he said smiling.

He looked so young. Even his eyes sparkled with youth. He wore a light golden jacket and white t-shirt and jeans and sunglasses were perched on his head. He smiled at the confused god that didn’t know how the other had seen him.

“You never just want to sit and talk, do you old man?” He asked laughing with the huge laugh of a Shakespearean actor. “You should have learned by now we are not here to make your nerd quests more fun,”

Odin gave in and sat there and talked. Invisible to the mortals, they talked about the changing times. At the end of the conversation an unexpected visitor popped up.

A pair of hands placed themselves over Summer’s eyes.

“Boo. Found you,” said a darkly amused Fall, his upturned hood making him look just slightly menacing in the firelight.

“Oh, curse it all! Is it that time already!?” the warmer season exclaimed.

“’Fraid so, buddy. I’ll take it from here. Hey, old man. Trying to press him for information?”

“We were just talking this time,” Summer said, pulling his brother’s hands off of his eyes. “I suppose I’ll be going now. Goodbye,”

And both of them seemed to disappear in a gust of wind.

The gods still don’t know exactly who they are, and they are beginning to come to terms with the idea that perhaps they never will. They are as fleeting and predictable and unpredictable as the seasons they personify, but perhaps it’s better if it stays that way.

#I'm seriously tempted to erase this #aurgh #It did not turn out as well as I hoped #but I have no more ideas #roman wrote a thing #sanders sides #roman sanders #prince sanders #anxiety sanders #morality sanders #patton sanders #logan sanders #logic sanders #sanders sides seasons au #norse mythology crossover #fanfiction #fan fiction #fanfic #fan fic

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roronoaxd · 7 years ago

Text

just love me

Kurodai Weekend Day 2: Action

Summary: There were a few occasions where Sawamura felt like his feelings for his best friend might toe the line of being deemed 'more than friendly'. He was constantly either gaining a massive migraine from having to babysit Kuroo, or staring at him with a fondness that developed through years and years of being friends. Sometimes there was no differentiation, and they both came crashing over him, practically suffocating.

Additional Info: Marvel AU, Iron Man 2 AU, Slight violence but nothing really too graphic, Friends to Lovers Kinda

Word Count: 4530

AO3 LINK

Sawamura was fuming as he let himself into Kuroo’s home, making his way through the living room at a quick pace. “Kenma! Where is he?” He spoke out loud, knowing the A.I. would answer him.

“I…can’t tell you.”

“Kenma,” Sawamura called out, his voice more stern, knowing with enough pressure the artificially intelligent program would fold, “Where. Is. He?”

“In the lab…but Colonel Sawamura, you do not have authorization in that area.”

“Well, you better authorize me by the time I get down there, because I’m going to kill him.”

Thankfully, Kenma listened, so Sawamura had no problems entering through the lab doors and making his way to his best friend who was hunched over a metal arm. “I think you’re an idiot.” Sawamura shouted out, taking a seat on Kuroo’s workbench.

“Ah, come on, honeybear. That’s no way to greet your fav-”

“Shut up. You are a huge idiot,” Sawamura repeated, getting more and more heated as he continued, “Who admits that they’re Iron Man all casually in a press conference? Oh, wait! You do! You admitted that you are Iron Man all casually in a press conference!”

“I’m very aware of what I did, Daichi.”

“You were supposed to stick to the script! You know, a script is a written text of a play, movie or broadcast. It’s not that hard, you’re a genius, you can read!”

“Don’t yell at me… I’m sensitive.” Kuroo pouted, stopping his tinkering to give Sawamura some puppy eyes. Of course, Sawamura saw right through it.

“Bullshit.”

“Language! There are children here!” Kuroo said gesturing around the room at some of his suits, causing Sawamura to roll his eyes.

“Please give me one reason why I should not… I don’t know, ground you?”

“Oh ho? Does someone have a daddy kink? If I didn’t know any better, I would think you are trying to be my father…”

“Now, give me one reason why I shouldn’t strangle you.” Sawamura threatened, cracking his knuckles for emphasis.

“You have a heart right? You wouldn’t injure a dying man, now would you? Especially because he’s a citizen of the country you dedicate your life to serving.”

“What are you going on about?”

“There’s no easy way to say this, platypus, but I’m dying. This thing…” Kuroo pointed to the arc reactor in his chest, “The very thing that is helping me stay alive, is killing me. The palladium core is poisoning me, and thanks to Kenma’s diagnostics, it seems to only be getting worse and worse the more I use my suit. On top of that, with the fucked up world that we live in where I now have to use my suit even more, my death is really accelerating.”

“Okay, so, can’t we just find a new source of power for your suit?” Sawamura asked, his anger quickly fading to worry. Sure, he joked about killing Kuroo himself a few minutes ago, but he didn’t actually want anything bad to happen to his best friend.

“If it was that easy, I would have already done it.”

“Are you serious? Kenma? Is he serious?”

“uh…yes, Colonel. He’s serious.”

“Fuck.”

They silently left the lab and headed to Kuroo’s living room. Now with the both of them just sitting on the couch, not speaking aloud and just mulling their own thoughts… Sawamura really didn’t know how to take this information, then again, he bet that Kuroo didn’t have much of a clue either. He was at a lost, not even knowing how to approach speaking of the subject. He’s seen his fair share of loss, especially on the battlefield. He’s shared grief with his fellow military personnel and veterans…but the loss has never hit home. It still felt like it was yesterday, when an exhausted Kuroo collapsed in his arms when they were reconnected in the Middle East after Kuroo’s disappearance. At the time he joked, saying “Next time you ride with me,” but the pain feltfor not being there to save his friend had hurt too much. Time has passed since then, and Sawamura was so sure that he wouldn’t have to feel that same hurt ever again, or at least not for a while, but here they were…

“K-Kuroo… there has to be something that you can do.”

“Look, you’re just going to have to trust that I’m doing all that I can…” Kuroo promised, “I also know you, Dai… you’re not only here to check up on me after admitting that I’m Iron Man. There’s something else plaguing your mind. What is it?”

“The Government is adamant on getting their hands on that armor. They think you’re dangerous…and no matter how clear and thorough I was in my report, they’ve made up their minds.”

“I’m not giving them my suit. I’ve made that just as clear. They can stick all their politics and public safety bullshit up their asses. I’ve learned my lesson, and I’m paying for my mistakes every day. I’m done making weapons. End of discussion.” Kuroo said, getting up from the seat on the couch and heading to the bar to make himself a drink.

“But Kuroo-”

“No! No! We’re done with this, Sawamura!” Kuroo exclaimed. Sawamura wasn’t exactly sure where this sudden anger was aimed, but it didn’t sit well with him, in fact, it only riled him up as well. “I’ve seen what damage my technology can do, first hand, and I’ve relived the imagery enough to where it haunts me in my dreams. I’m not doing this anymore. Plus, I already gave the company to Kai.”

“You what?!”

“Kuroo Industries’ new CEO is now Kai Nobuyuki. It was bound to happen. He’s helped me all these years, he knows the company inside and out, he can handle it.”

“You’re not going to die, Kuroo.”

“You don’t know that. I don’t know that. I’m not a doctor!” Kuroo argued, “Just go home Sawamura. I’m…tired.”

Sawamura decided it would be best to give Kuroo the silent treatment. Every time he thought of his best friend, he just got angry all over again. He knew Kuroo would be able to figure out a cure for this poisonous palladium, and that he would survive this. He just wished Kuroo would try to be more understanding. Kuroo had a gift. His suit could not be easily replicated, and all the attempts are still years away from success stories. Kuroo had created something ahead of their time, and Sawamura wished he would be more open to working with the government to help save lives and maybe even his own ass.

There were a few occasions where Sawamura felt like his feelings for his best friend might toe the line of being deemed ‘more than friendly’. He was constantly either gaining a massive migraine from having to babysit Kuroo, or staring at him with a fondness that developed through years and years of being friends. Sometimes there was no differentiation, and they both came crashing over him, practically suffocating. However, the feelings were never really in the forefront, Sawamura choosing to bury them deep and ignore it for a later time whenever they did threaten to surface. Though, he had faith that Kuroo would make it through this rough patch, there was a tiny fear in the back of his mind of the what if. What if Kuroo actually didn’t make it? Would Sawamura regret not sharing his true feelings?

Kuroo’s birthday was fast approaching, and though they still refused to talk to each other, Sawamura thought it was only right to at least stop by and see the genius. Sawamura expected Kuroo to hold himself up in the lab in search for a cure to this poisoning by a palladium core, that way they can share some whiskey and get over their little squabble in peace. He didn’t expect a huge celebration that appeared to have lead to a drunk-off-his-ass Kuroo, dawned in one of his Iron Man suits, putting on a show for all these random people in his home. Sawamura was livid.

He made his way down to the lab easily this time, uttering the words, “Kenma, give me a suit,” as he entered through the glass doors.

“I don’t think I-“

“Kenma, give me a suit.”

The AI hesitated, but then revealed, “The Mark II is accessible.”

“Thank you.” Sawamura might be on a mission to cause the AI’s creator pain, but at least he had manners.

Kenma had to quickly recalibrate and code the suit in order for Sawamura to use it. The suit conformed to his body, and Sawamura made sure to leave the mask off, for now. He exited the lab and made his way back to the living room. A crowd of people were watching a stumbling Kuroo use the thrusters in his hand to shoot at bottles and a watermelon (where did they find a watermelon, Sawamura had no clue). Sawamura cracked his neck, standing tall like the Colonel he was, and spoke. “I’m only going to say this once… get out.” The mask covered his face as people parted way, running for the exits.

“That’s my suit.” Kuroo whined.

“Not anymore.” Sawamura explained, walking over to Kuroo.

“Sawamura…this isn’t going to end pretty. You don’t know what you’re doing. Get out of the suit.”

“No way. Look what you’ve gotten yourself into Kuroo. I’m trying to help you. Now, stand down.”

“Hell no.”

“Watch your language when you speak to me.”

“Fuck no.” Sawamura charged forward, using the weight of the suit to knock Kuroo down on his ass, damaging a table during the push. “Don’t you get it Sawamura? You’re wearing the Mark II, I’m in the Mark IV. You can’t beat me.”

“Who said anything about beating you?” Sawamura questioned, as Kuroo used a thruster to shoot at him. “I don’t want to hurt you, Kuroo! I’m just trying to get you to see how moronic you’re acting right now!”

“Get out of my suit and just leave me alone!” This time it was Kuroo who charged forward, and he was able to push Sawamura through the wall, destroying a few furniture pieces easily.

“I said stand down, Kuroo!” Sawamura called out, backing up at a distance and holding his arm out, palm facing Kuroo’s suit. “I don’t want to do this, so don’t make me. Put your hand down.”

“You think you can just put on a suit, become some kind of war machine, and then what? Shoot all the bad guys? End wars? Make peace? It’s not that easy. Iron Man doesn’t need a sidekick.”

“Put it down, now, Kuroo.”

“I’m the bad guy, Sawamura. I don’t want to do what the government wants me to, so that means I’m the enemy. So go ahead, take your shot, Colonel.”

“Put it down!”

“No!”

“Colonel... Kuro…” Kenma began, trying to mediate.

“Shut it Kenma!” Both iron suit cladded men called out as the thrusters began to fire up.

“I’m giving you one more chance, put your hand down.” Sawamura informed, he really didn’t want to do this, but it was infuriating. Watching Kuroo waste his life and drown his sorrows in alcohol instead of trying to figure out how he could keep living. Sawamura couldn’t stand to just watch him throw his life away like this.

“Take this!” Kuroo demanded. They took fire at the same time, the power from their thrusters bouncing off each other and causing an explosion. All the windows in the home crashed, while the power went out and whatever furniture that remained was easily destroyed. The force even caused both to fly back, crashing into opposite ends of the room.

When Kuroo came to, he lifted his head, searching for any life forms around his now destroyed mansion. His eyes focused in on Sawamura, who stood tall, looking back at him through the eyes of the suit. With a simple shake of his head, an obvious disapproval, Sawamura flew off, leaving Kuroo alone. “Stop him.” Kuroo called out to Kenma.

“He..appears to be offline.” Kenma lied.

“Stop him now.”

“No.”

“Kenma. I command you to find Sawamura now.”

“You’re being a jerk. Colonel Sawamura is your friend, why won’t you let him help you?”

“I don’t need help!”

Kuroo has had a rough couple of weeks. With all the responsibilities that came with being CEO (well now ex-CEO) of Kuroo Industries, creating Iron Man, claiming Iron Man, his looming death, and that Hammer and Vanko duo out on a mission to destroy him…he was starting to get overwhelmed. There was nothing more that Kuroo wanted than to spend his last days enjoying life with his best friend since college, but he was afraid. He knew how broken someone could be after an unexpected death, he still wasn’t over his own loss of his parents. He cared for Sawamura too much, and he didn’t want Sawamura to experience such an intense grief over his life.

Kuroo has made many mistakes in his years, and it’s crazy to think that responsible, law-abiding Sawamura was always there to help pick up the pieces. Now that he thinks, which you would think he would do a lot of (he doesn’t), he can’t really imagine a life without Sawamura. It probably would be a huge mess, and his mouth would have him in deep shit. Kuroo's known for a while that his feelings for Sawamura were a lot more complex than he ever let on. He just couldn't take that leap of faith. He was a coward in that regard.

Sawamura had mixed feelings on leading this Kuroo Expo now lead by Hammer, using suits inspired by Kuroo's Iron Man suit, without Kuroo actually being here. He had mixed feelings being surrounded by all these drones, now with Hammer’s name on them, instead of his best friend’s. He felt like this was the right thing to do, he was now officially War Machine, and would be able to fulfill his duty of protecting his country, but he knew this was wrong. He also imagined this success differently just a few mere weeks ago.

He imagined being able to do all this with Kuroo by his side.

When Kuroo did show up at the expo dawned in the Mark VI, Sawamura didn’t know whether to be upset or thrilled. He settled for suspicion as Iron Man made his way over. “I’m hacking into your frequency; can you hear me okay?” Kuroo asked, his words echoing through the helmet of Sawamura’s suit.

“Loud and clear…unfortunately.”

“Hammer is working with Vanko, and we need to evacuate the building.” Kuroo explained, walking over and putting a metal arm around Sawamura, waving to the crowd and giving the illusion that this was all planned and they were buddy-buddy.

“I’m here on orders, I’m not going to have a sparring match with you right now.”

“Well, you’re going to have to disobey those orders. Go rogue for a second, and listen to me.” Kuroo suggested before making his way over to question Hammer on the whereabouts of Vanko. Sawamura let those words sink in for a second. It was a lot easier to just ignore Kuroo and carry on with his demands, especially if you compared all the trouble Kuroo caused himself on a daily basis. But—Sawamura’s thoughts were cut off as his heavily weaponized armor started to lock onto a target. That target being none other than Kuroo. “Look, I know you’re mad and probably expecting an apology that you know I will not give, but now is not the time to threaten me with your big guns, honeybear.”

“That’s not me, asshole! My system has been compromised! What do I do?” All the drones behind Sawamura also turned their weapons towards Kuroo. “Shit! Get out of here!”

“I’ll meet you outside!” Kuroo’s thrusters in both his hands and feet engaged at full throttle and he quickly flew up to the sky, Sawamura and drones following him almost immediately after.

Sawamura has never felt such a strong sense of dread and anxiety as he felt as he wasn’t in control of his suit and was aiming all his guns to kill Kuroo. Again, he always joked about tis, but now that it was actually trying to happen, he felt a bit sick to his stomach. “Kuroo? Can’t you hack the system and set me free?”

“You’re just going to have to trust that I’m doing all that I can. Or well…Kenma is.” Kuroo commented, his voice sounding a bit strained, probably from the fact he was in a hot pursuit that could leave him damaged heavily. Understandable.

“Well, you’re not doing enough! I’m locked on!”

“To what?”

“To you! What else do you think I’m shooting at?!” Sawamura freaked, Kuroo could only dodge his bullets for so long. “On your six.”

“You know, if you weren’t trying to kill me right now, I’d compliment you and say you’re pretty cute in that suit…even if all your guns have the wrong name on them.”

“Now is not the time. Plus, you’ve seen me in a suit before, remember?”

“That was when I was drunk, and totally does not count. Also, in case you’re wondering… I’m not dying anymore? I created a new element thanks to some help from a clue and blueprints the old man left behind. Who would have thought?”

“I’d love to chat, ask you about this new element and say ‘I told you so’, but again, now is really not the time. Nine o’clock, coming in hot!” Sawamura called out as his bullets began a rapid fire shooting, Kuroo dodging them to the best of his abilities.

“Won’t this be a lovely story to tell our kids?”

“What?”

“I’m thinking a mini-Daichi would be nice… definitely wouldn’t want our spawn to have my hair, that’d be a nightmare.”

“Our spawn?”

“Yeah, what do you say about going out after this? I could go for some greasy foods. You know, when I thought I was dying, I tried to go on a health kick. Drank a bunch of these horrid smoothies. So gross, not worth it at all.”

“Are you seriously asking me out now? When my suit has been hijacked and whoever is controlling it is doing everything in their power to blow you up??”

“So is that a no? Would you prefer something more fancy?”

“Let’s talk about this later, idiot. I have a few drones that peeled off course and are making an alternate route.”

“Don’t worry buddy, just follow me.”

Believe it or not, Kuroo had a plan. He used an upcoming giant globe, flying through it quickly with the drones following him to their demise. Whoever was controlling these drones should have been a bit more mindful of their ability to change courses in a split second, Kuroo thought briefly as he watched these suits ram against the metal globe and blow up instantly. He continued flying, able to think a bit more clearly on his next plan of action now that a giant group of drones weren’t on his tail. “Hey, Dai? You still there?” He called out, realizing it was a bit too quiet at the moment. “Daichi, come on! I know you don’t have feelings for that fake troop of yours, no need to give me the silent tre—whoa!” Kuroo shouted as Sawamura’s suit came crashing down onto his, leading them to fall, break into a giant sphere and land in a man-made stream. Kuroo didn’t even have time to recuperate from his tumble before Sawamura’s suit was back on it’s feet, aiming for him. Kuroo pounced, knocking Sawamura down and grabbing a hold of the main gun doing all the shooting, doing his best to hold it away from his armor as it continued to fire off. Suddenly, Sawamura’s suit powered down, and he went crashing onto his back. Kuroo lifted his helmet and got up, walking over to Sawamura’s body.

He tapped on the suit, “Hey, no time for a nap. We still have some fighting to do.”

Sawamura’s helmet shot up, revealing his face, “Wow…you can have your suit back.”

Kuroo chuckled, “I’m good. This one suits you.” Kuroo held out a hand, helping his good friend stand to his feet. “Are you okay? Everything back online and under your control.”

“Yeah…thanks.” Sawamura began, “Look…Tetsu, I’m sorry.”

Kuroo tried not to coo at the nickname or Sawamura’s timing with it and interrupted him, “Don’t be.”

“I should have trusted you more and known you were just being you.”

“Dai, I’m the one who put you in this position. We don’t have to go through this.”

“I know its your fault, I just wanted to say I’m sorry. Knock a bit off my conscious.”

“…Apology accepted…partner?”

“Well, aren’t you going to apologize to me?”

“I told you that you didn’t have to feel sorry?”

“That’s not an apology.”

“The other drones are still in pursuit, so what’s the plan Colonel?”

“We definitely want someone at higher ground, so let’s put the big gun up there.” Sawamura pointed to a spot a bit to the left.

“Cool.” They both started walking to position themselves.

“What are you doing?” Sawamura questioned.

“What—what are you talking about?”

“When I—look, I meant me! Me at higher ground. You lower ground. Me big gun. You not.”

“You have a big gun strapped to your shoulder, yes, but that does not automatically make you the big gun.”

“Kuroo, now is not the time to be jealous.”

“I’m not jealous at all…but fine, you go up there, and I’ll stay down here.”

“You can’t stay down here.”

“What do you mean? You have a spot, and then you said I’m lower ground. This is lower ground than where you’ll be situated.”

“This is such an obvious placement though! You’re just kind of standing here, waiting to be shot at!” Kuroo wishes he could dignify that statement with a response, probably take a dig at Sawamura’s so called leadership abilities, but drones started dropping from the sky, and quickly the duo were surrounded.

Sawamura didn't have much time for further discussion, and instead put back on his mask and started to shoot at some drones, Kuroo joining him a split second later. They fought side by side, until all the drones were defeated, and Sawamura could finally breathe a bit better. He looked over at Kuroo, who was probably fixing his mouth to say something that would totally ruin the moment, and leave Sawamura with a massive headache and a fond smile, but that was (thankfully?) prevented by one last drone dropping from the sky. “Good to be back.” A heavily accented voice said with a sinister smile, before two electrified whips appeared in his hands.

“So this is that Whiplash guy that kicked your ass a bit back?”

“Also known as Ivan Vanko…yes.” Kuroo answered, “We got this. Teamwork makes the dreamwork, right?”

“I guess…”

It was tough, and after suffering a bit of shock from the whips, Kuroo thought to mimic their birthday party fight, and together they defeated Vanko by using their hand thrusters together to create one sonic boom. They stood in front of Vanko’s body, looking down to survey him. “You lose.” He said before an obnoxious beep sounded, first with him, and then all the drones around them.

“They’re all going to blow, we have to evacuate.” Both took off at max speed, flying far away from any drone as they all self-destructed. Atop of a roof of some high rise, they stopped to take a breather.

“I feel like I might start sprouting some premature grey hairs thanks to all the stress you’ve put me through.” Sawamura complained, lifting up his mask, collapsing down onto his back and staring up at the sky. Kuroo fell right down next to him, mask also up, and frowning.

“Me? I’m not the one who voluntarily gave a suit to Hammer who was secretly working with my enemy.”

“Yes, you. Did we not go over how this was your fault back there?”

“I thought you were just sweet-talking me then.” Kuroo teased.

“Also, I lied. You can’t have your suit back. It is still government property, and frankly, I do kind of like it.”

“It’s all yours…but please let me do a few upgrades. I can’t have you sporting Hammer Tech.”

“I thought you were done making weapons.”

“I thought so too…turns out I’m really good at it? Now that I’m going to be living for quite some time, I might as well go back to my day job, but with some modifications. I make weapons on my terms, and I really hope that Big Brother doesn’t use them poorly.”

“I’ll make sure to communicate that with them.” Sawamura promised, “I’m glad you’re okay, Kuroo.”

“Me too, buddy.” Kuroo smiled, “So…about that dinner… I could really go for a cheeseburger.”

“You know, we have to actually talk about that… with words.”

“Well, here it is. Me, almost dying, led me to start really thinking about what I was possibly leaving behind, which is why I gave the company over to Kai, who will probably want to resign tomorrow morning, but I’ll worry about that then. I was going to leave Kenma with you.”

“How thoughtful of you.”

“Well, he likes you. I like you. You tolerate me, helped me through a lot of my screw-ups…it only seemed right. Plus, like I said earlier, you’re cute in that suit... though it's not the first time I thought you looked cute.”

“I like you too…most of the time. Or..all the time. Even when we were fighting, I still liked you? I just wish you weren't so reckless, and communicated with me more. I don't want to have to go through the pain of possibly losing you. You've been my best friend for so long, I need you.”

“I need you too, in more ways than one. Also, I’m sorry for not really listening to you earlier. A lot of our fights lately could have been prevented if I would have let you really talk about your concerns. My possible death really threw me for a loop, and I went downhill fast. I’m doing what I can to make up for that.”

“I know… I got your back, Kuroo.”

“You can call me, Tetsu.”

“I’d rather not.”

“You did back on the battlefield! Why is this different? We have this nice romantic roof, the dark sky with a lack of stars…”

“Shut up.”

“Get in touch with your inner Casanova. Woo me, Dai.”

“Please, shut up.” Sawamura stated, leaning over to place a kiss against Kuroo’s lips to get the pain-in-the-ass to shut up himself.

“Is this weird?”

“No, it’s not.”

“You sure? Am I doing okay?”

“You were doing fine.”

“I’m out of practice, you know.”

“Tetsu…really, stop talking.”

“Less talking, more kissing. I got it.”

“Tetsurou…” Sawamura groaned, and Kuroo finally got the hint, not saying another word and instead kissing him again.

#kurodai #kuroo tetsurou #sawamura daichi #kurodaiweekend

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