#behold my punching bag oc

[sleepy-bear-tm]

Asher Janus

[athena-is-a-chaotic-lil-shit]

Of Ice and Blood

Part 3

Hey there! Thank you for taking the time to read this

There are so many left out details here that I did on purpose for future explanation within the fic for the element of mystery I'm trying to brew . Hope you don't mind! Enjoy reading❤

Part 1

Part 2

Part 4 Part 5 Part 6

1.7k words.

Pairing: Tai'chi Kashharzol (Orc) x Pearl Blackbell (Human OC/Reader)

Warnings: cursing, violence, injury and fighting.

*

Without thinking, I drove my fist towards the voice, regretting it the instant I recognized who it was.

Tai'chi.

I shouldn’t have been surprised when I found my fist encased in his hand. He seems unfazed by my reaction, seemingly expecting it.

“Oh shi— I’m so sorry!”

How the hell did he sneak up on me without making a sound??

“Feisty- I mean, I should be the one sorry, for startling you...And for following you. I just wanted to, make sure you were alright.”

I blinked. He was concerned?

He spoke up when I didn’t respond.

“So, are you okay?”

“Y-Yeah. I’m fine. Just, disappointed.” I breathed in and sighed as he gently let go of my fist.

Oh, and his scent helps right now. He smells so...wonderful I don’t know why. It’s not like I’ve been surrounded by disgusting odors my entire life. I swear I’ve inhaled appealing scents like lilac, sandalwood, cinnamon, even rain has its particular smell! But Tai'chi, he—he’s something else entirely.

“Shouldn’t you be somewhere else like, I don’t know, maybe getting lunch with some of your friends or in a classroom?” I asked. I wonder why he would even bother to be in my presence. Anyone should be creeped out by the way I spoke up earlier. I mean, who does that? Plus, I did throw a stranger down to the floor. But part of me knows he deserved that.

Definitely.

“Want to talk about it?” He ignored my question. Tai'chi was now sitting cross-legged beside me, the oak’s root in between us. His deep azure eyes studying, watching me carefully.

“What?”

“What you did back there, wasn’t something a plain, timid college girl would do.”

Wait. He knew I was pretending to be one?

“Yes, I knew.”

“You can read minds?!” I stammered out. He can read my mind this whole time?! Shit.

He held up for a second before a boisterous laugh broke out of him and echoed through the circling trees, scaring away some birds perched above. I don’t know if I should be offended or flustered by his guffaw. It was so, so deep and rich and —

What the hell Pearl? What if he's reading your mind??

Tai'chi faced me again, sighing once he calmed down.

“To answer your question, no, I can’t read minds. But like I stated before, your face gives it away. Or your brows since you’re wearing a mask, but I can imagine your expression.”

I let out an incomprehensible noise.

“How did you find out I was pretending to be…you know,” waving my hands around.

“The moment we made eye contact this morning when you entered. And the way you shifted your body at the last second to prevent yourself from plunging into the trash bin, I knew you were something more. Your eyes and your actions show your experience in combat. A skilled warrior would notice these little things right away.”

My jaw fell open, and I’m sure he knows. He left me speechless.

Should I tell him I am a trained martial artist and a weapon wielder?

But we just met like 5 hours ago!

He seems trustworthy. And he’s an orc, didn’t they have a code of honor or something?

My thoughts ran wild I swear Tai'chi could hear my mind, screaming.

“Hey, it’s okay if you don’t wish to. And I must’ve sounded, creepy when I admitted I’ve been observing you. But before anything else, will you allow me to introduce myself, for real this time?”

“You mean your name isn’t Tai'chi?”

Letting out a chuckle, he replied, “I swear to you, my name is Tai'chi. What I mean is, I want you to know my full name. Do you understand what this implies, Pearl?”

I racked my brain for a moment, trying to recall what my parents said about orc traditions when my uncle, papa’s brother, married the orcess he fell in love with. Something about an orc’s real name being reserved only to those they’re close to?

“I guess so? But what exactly?”

“I want to become your friend.”

I couldn’t help the slight warmth creeping into my cheeks behind my mask. He can’t see it, can he? A friend, he says. A friend!

“Oh,” was all that came out. A pause and;

“Uh, I mean, I’d love to be your friend! I never had an actual friend before. I mean, have cousins, but we aren’t acquainted enough to consider myself their friend— I mean— uh, what should I do?” I blurted out a little rapidly.

He smiled. He actually smiled! Oh, damn, it was adorable!

Tai'chi was about to say something, but he snapped his mouth shut and grimaced. I was confused by his sudden change of mood, along with his scent.

Then it struck me.

The two of us shot up when multiple smells filled the air, making my stomach clench.

We were followed, not just one but six individuals. One of them was the pretentious human from earlier.

My day can’t get any better. And is that a baseball bat? Great. Fucking great.

I swear. I’m cursed to find trouble anywhere I go.

“Hello, freaks.” The guy in the middle began. “Whatcha doin’ out here in the forest?”

The others began spreading out and surrounded us.

“Planning something nasty I bet.” A human to my right spat.

“You will pay for what you did to me, you bitch. Just so you know, my father is the dean of this university. No one will ever hear a word of what I did here and what we will do to you.

'Dean’s son, David Silverstone, assaulted by an insane student in the woods within campus grounds. His friends graciously helping him fight off the lunatic until she passed out and was carried to an isolation chamber for monitoring, later finding out about her severe psychological disorder.’ Now wouldn’t that be a hit in the papers!” The bastard and his companions cackled and snickered, some of them stealing glances between my legs and I felt my skin crawl.

Tai'chi growled lowly, silencing them for a brief moment. He was getting mad but held his ground.

“And you,” the human pointed, “you beast. It won’t be hard antagonizing you, people will no doubt believe you were the one who violated the schoolgirl and left her in the woods to die.”

This fucking—

I felt a hand on my shoulder just as I was about to start, gently gripping, in hopes of trying to calm me down. He knows they were baiting us on making the first move. He shook his head, and an idea popped up.

Taking a deep breath, I attempted to make my voice as girly as possible, sounding so hilarious, like those overdressed, flashy high school girls with flowery perfume so strong I wrenched every time I get a whiff of it.

Provoking them would do.

“Oh, I’m so scared! Should I get on my knees and beg for mercy? Oh please, great and noble one, have mercy on my poor soul.” My voice laced with mockery and sadness, with my legs fake trembling and my arms flailing.

And did Tai'chi just snort?

“If you beg nicely, I will perhaps give you a chance to— ”

My sudden wheezing interrupted him and I laughed. Hard. I can’t believe he bought my terrible acting! I expected him to straight-up be offended rather than actually bite the false bait. He is dumber than I thought.

I was holding my middle by the time I was done. Tai'chi’s shoulders were moving slightly, probably chuckling and trying to hold back his amusement.

“Did you honestly take it seriously??? I can't— oh my God!” I choked out once more before I went on.

“There’s no chance in hell I’m gonna bow to you, not even one degree of an angle, you foolish, idiotic, spoiled, bastardized son of a bitch.”

His face was turning red out of rage and oh! Wasn’t that a sight to behold?

“You brat!” Turning his head to the others, he yelled, “What are guys standing there for?! Get them!”

Good.

Perhaps they didn’t catch my hands slipping on my beloved crimson knuckle dusters out of the bag when I was laughing then, tugging down my hoodie’s sleeve to hide it.

“Don’t move.” I told the orc, whose eyebrows shot up in surprise.

“But—”

“Just don’t.” I said with my voice firm. I will take them on my own. I can’t have him getting in trouble and people blaming him for being an orc. Imagine that. The ones who attacked him will be viewed as victims because they were up against him, an orc. Numerous humans will jump at the chance to throw dirt at their race, a single act of self-defense treated as a one-sided assault to humans, the thought of it being enough to somehow remove all of them from the city, but everyone knows it's not that simple. Dimwits.

I strode forward without earning his response, waiting for the first person to come at me.

I took my stance, although it was more of preparing half of my body since I was still hiding both of my hands.

They all seemed confused and hesitant, which was what I was going for. To me, and those with experience in hand-to-hand combat, this is one of the most basic stances, but fundamental, nonetheless. A simple form that can determine the outcome of a fight. With my right foot forward, left foot back, both firmly planted to the ground, and my dominant hand wearing my dusters. In their eyes, it was…wrong, foreign. Some may even say it’s an open vulnerability, showing how inexperienced the opponent is, but oh, it is the exact opposite.

I didn’t see Tai'chi’s expression, though. I was on alert and getting into my zone to peer at him, one motion that can put me in a compromising position. Did he notice my brass knuckles? Likely.

“Scared to hurt a little girl like me?” I enticed.

Finally, the one beside their alleged leader charged at me.

A typical amateur approach.

The guy, about two inches taller than me, threw a right punch, which was a huge mistake.

Predictable.

I smirked under my mask and dodged it not a second before it connected. Making him falter as I grabbed his arm and brought it down to my knee, dislodging his joints.

A high-pitched scream of pain broke out of him as he dropped down on the forest ground, gripping his bent-off arm, cursing, but refused to rise and fight me again.

I gave him one last glance before I looked back at the others.

“Who’s next?”

****************************************

Those human shits just can't leave them alone! Interrupting their supposed-to-be official introduction! There's more to the orc that meets the eye *wink* Who is he exactly? Why was he so... observant?

Part 4 is actually on its third revising— and I'm still trying to come up on HOW to phrase my next words to lead to part 5. I let me brain take a break from spewing senseless words for now so I'll probably post the next part of this later or tomorrow

Anyways, I hope you enjoyed! And I'd appreciate it if you have some advice for me, or just point out some mistakes I made! Thank you

Ps. This is really not perfect formal writing if you're wondering. I just type away whatever comes into my mind, and then proofread it to the best I can. And I hope you don't mind me using a lot of spaces. It... sort of makes my mind clear and continue moving forward, and it helps me when I'm reading it again, mentally taking note that with every line between spaces there's a slight pause and again, read it clearly like you were the one thinking it. I don't know how to explain how my own brain works but I guess that's that?

Tags: @kokokatsworld @crackinanutshell

[sweetlydraws]

I’m back on my bullshit! I’m angry about Miraculous Ladybug again! 

I fucking mean, she goes to china to stalk Adrien!!!

Anyway, here are some redesigns of my oc’s akumas and Marinette’s akuma.

Here a link to the old first draft of the akumas minus Marinettes.

https://imgur.com/a/CTtYVeU

Size chart also, using Ladybug as scale.

More about them under the cut.

Trigger warnings, Threats of Suicide, Themes of Abuse.

First is Heart-Breaker or Aurora’s akuma.

I think her episode in this AU would be Valentine day special. Her akuma is her heart earring. 

Story: Aurora is being stalked by a guy she kindly rejected, (Aurora’s a lesbian.) He’s been sending her nasty messages and threats. On Valentine’s day he send her a message that he was going to kill him self and that it would be her fault, then blocked her. This sends Aurora in to a panic attack. Trying to get someone to help her Hawk Moth akumatizes her. 

Powers: Her legs are blades, using them she can slice through anything. She can use her claws to rip out people’s love.She goes after people with unrequited love. This makes her attack Chat Noir the most. (Marinette has fallen out of love with Adrien at this point. She just doesn’t realize it yet.)

Defeat: Ladybug uses a bow and arrow to shoot and shatter the earring. When Aurora is back Ladybug comforts her. Telling her that her feeling are valid and she should never have to put if anything he tried to do. (Ladybug is going to be giving a lot of advice she should be internalizing.) Chat will take how Aurora feels and apply it to Ladybug. (Chat is going to move passed his entitled lave towards Ladybug one Akuma at a time)

Focus/ Vivienne;

No special holiday. Maybe the summer solstice?

Story: Vivienne hates parties. She hates that her grandmother forces her to go to them. Vivienne tries to hide in the bathroom. Her grandmother finds her. Long story short, she hits Vivienne and tells her that she’ll never be anything other then her name. Ripping her headband off, Hawk Moth introduces himself.

Powers: Focus can turn anything into a statue of her self. (Note these are not alive.) She has super human strength. If her bag is ripped off, she lets out a sonic screen. The more she screams to more her porcelain skin will crack.) The whole time Focus will be talking shit about how Ladybug and Chat Noir will only ever be their names.

Defeat: Ladybug will use a mirror to reflect the screams back at Focus, causes her to be disoriented allowing Chat to break her headband. Oddly Chat will be the one to know the signs of abuse. He will be very insistent that Vivienne get help. Ladybug will take Vivienne to a place she feels safe, (Brethold/ Lillian house.) (Chat is also a hypocrite.)

Fairest/ Lillian;

Story: (Lillian has vitiligo instead of weird birthmarks.) Lillian was fed up with the constant bullying. Bullied for being Bi, bullied for having vitiligo, bullied for being the only member of the photography club. In anger she punches a mirror. A butterfly lands on one of the glass shards.

Powers: Fairest will corner people. Forcing them to look in to her mirror. (The inside of her hair is a mirror.) Once they do that, the mirror will steal what makes then unique. Leaving behind a gray husk. Flight, and telepathic speak. (Tho she only says the mirror mirror on the wall rhyme over and over again.)

Defeat: Ladybug will use a mask that blocks her sight. This will force Fairest to try and rip the mask off. Ladybug will be able to grab Fairest hand and pull the glass shard out. After Lillian is back, she’ll still be angry. Chat will try to calm her by saying her thinks the pretty (but not as pretty as Ladybug). Lillian will snap, saying that easy for people behind mask to say. They could look like anything and no one would care. Ladybug will put her hands on Lillian’s shoulder and say that before she was Ladybug, she was bullied and even though she is Ladybug now, she still is being bullied. That no matter what you look like, even how nice you are people will just not like you. But its up to you to move forward, you can’t change them. But never change your self.

Monster/ Brethold;

Backstory: During a akuma attack Brethold was hit by a car trying to flee the akuma. His leg was crushed.

Story: Brethold lays in a hospital bed just had his leg amputated. Brethold can hear the doctors talking to his parents. He hears will parents say what will become of him now that he can’t play soccer. That his life is over. After all they sacrificed to get him this far. Brethold will think of how he yelled for Chat to help him only Chat to run away. (Chat was terrified, he had never seen a grotesque scene like that before and panicked. He’s only 15. Then again so is Brethold.) He starts to sink in on himself and think about what a horrible human he was. A little butterfly hand on his cast.

Powers: Monster, is just a huge ass monster of a man. He just wants to destory. He wants to attack Chat, to make him feel the same pain Brethold is. (He has 3 hands for limbs.) He can detach his hand and send that after people. 

Defeat: Ladybug honestly just talked him down. She didn’t know where is cast was. (hint inside his leg.) She just went to his shoulder and talked him down. After a while Monster gave her his akuma. When Brethold was back, he cried. Chat didn’t know what to say other then he was sorry. Ladybug didn’t know either. She felt responsible, her miraculous ladybug should have healed him, but it didn’t. She brought him back to the hospital. She may or not have screamed at his parents about being great full that their son was even alive. 

Beholder/ Marinette.

He akuma is different that the original version.

Story: It was Marinette’s birthday. She had invited everyone to a party her parents he throwning. What she didn’t know is after that Lila told everyone that she was throwing a party with her parents (Marinette’s parents) at a different location. Marinette waited for hours. No one came. Not even a text. Marinette when to the bathroom, crying. Tikki tried to calm her, but Marinette was fed up. She threw tikki earrings as far she could. She ran to her room. Marinette cried until she felt a butterfly touch her neck.

Powers: Teleportation. Projection. Super human strength. Flight. Beholder will lock eyes with a person and force a truth about that person to be branded on their head. Because Marinette herself is the akuma, she regained some of her own thought. Mostly stop Hawk Moth. Focusing all her power she forces Hawk Moth into her Mirror. Teleporting to him she defeats Hawk Moth and steals Nooroo. 

Defeat: During the fight against, Chat Noir, Queen Bee, Rena Rouge, and Carapace. She end up taking the bee, and fox miraculous. She flew up high only to get Nooroo in her sight. Seeing Nooroo caused her mirror to break and for Marinette to be freed. As she fell Nooroo had taken over her body and caused a mass akumatizing. Making everyone think Marinette was saved by Ladybug, and that the former fox and bee heroes just lost their powers to incompetence. 

[jeanstoppable]

17th & 18th OF OCTOBER

hop, step, jump

fuck your pride

(A/N: Fun fact! This oc is based on a dream of mine AND they exist on the same universe as Yelena/Yasemin, my villain oc. Now, buckle up cause it’s time for some Cyberpunk goodness.)

Supposedly, there’s an unspoken rule that whatever background you came from, rich or piss poor or somewhere in between, as long as you end up in the streets, you’ll always be at the bottom of the system. Unless you fight your way up---that is to say, if you survive the climb.

“Hey!” A voice called out from behind.

I stopped walking and peeked over my shoulder, expecting trouble that’s usually present around these parts to have finally found me and lo and behold, a bunch of ‘thugs’ were waiting at the entrance of the alley. Four people differentiating in sizes, three men and one woman, their dark silhouettes painted by the bright neon lights behind them were nothing short of intimidating. 

My eyes darted to the walls of the two surrounding buildings, measuring the distance between each window, the extending pipes and the height of both structures. Scalable. There was also that fire exit just ahead, I reminded myself as I mulled over what will happen within the next 10 minutes. 

A fight, no doubt.

I glanced at the floating holographic numbers on my wrist, taking into account the time and---the meeting that was about to start soon.

Escaping might be the more reasonable choice but...

I hate taggers.

Blowing out a rough sigh, I turned my attention back to the group who was now leisurely cruising towards me, wearing devilish grins and haughty gazes. Some of them were even cracking their knuckles while exchanging unashamed jabs about having first dibs grated on my ears---and my nerves.

Oh boy. Things are about to get interesting.

My lips curled into a snarl as I repressed the overwhelming urge to be the one to draw first blood. Instead, I focused on scrutinising them individually from top to bottom: their gadgets, clothes, bags, shoes. Anything of importance at all that I can lift and hopefully sell.

It only took a moment to finish the assessment, if you know how to estimate things from face value. 

After gathering enough information, I spun to fully face them, smirking provokingly as I loosened the straps of my bag, letting it hang on my fingers and then swinging it.

“Alright, assholes!” I whistled cheerfully before letting the venom bleed into my tone, “Whoever’s got first dibs, you’re up.”

Each of them looked taken aback for a second but then their expressions darkened, my words finally registering as insults, as they should, and then immediately charged forward.

I halted the swinging of my bag.

It was the slightly skinny man that approached me first, I figured he was the leader or something along those lines because he was the one barking the most---however… I narrowed my eyes and observed as the man tossed his shoulder back and aimed a fist at my face. I ducked to avoid it, then I tightened my grip on the straps of my bag and swung it to his side, hitting him square in the ribs----accompanied by a distinct crack and a metal clanking noise.

The man howled in pain as his body smashed into the wall to the left.

One down. Ignoring the groans, I stepped over the crumpled man’s legs and stared down the group with a raised chin. 

I huffed and then pointedly tilted my head at the others, “Next?”

The second one didn’t hesitate to attack, taking on the challenge. There was an enraged expression on his face as he reached forward with knees bent and back lowered while his arms went wide to try and trap me in a grapple. Seeing through him, I grabbed my bag with both hands, feeling the solid weight of the robotics inside, and rushed forward to match the man’s attack. 

Right before his arms would’ve caught me, I clutched the bag close and whacked it in his face, successfully causing him to lose balance. 

Taking advantage of this, I lifted a boot and launched a strike to his thigh, swiftly bringing him to his knees. Without a second to waste, I twisted on my heels to deliver the final kick to the side of his head, waiting for the satisfying thud of his body hitting the ground---

There was a blur of shadow to my right and before I knew it, excruciating pain bloomed in my stomach. 

The third came quicker than I anticipated, it was the woman, who didn’t wait for the fight to finish as she sneaked up on me and ruthlessly swung the bat directly to my gut. I hit the ground a second later after the previous guy did, landing on my ass hard. Fucking ouch. 

I shot a glare at the woman and within her grasp was the source of my injury, which was a goddamn light-up metal baseball bat.

“Bitch, don’t get ahead of yourself.” The woman hissed.

My blood’s boiling even more now. I bit the inside of my cheek to hold in the groan that was about to escape me as I willed myself to get up, slightly making it look like I’m struggling more than I actually was and then ripped off the mask covering half my face. 

Hook, line and sinker.

Puffing proudly, she took a step forward closer and was about to pitch another hit when I hastily seized my arms around her hips and forcefully pushed, knocking the woman off her feet as she fell backwards on the asphalt. I wasted no time to straddle her, trying to wrestle off the bat from the woman’s tight grip, but what the hell, she wasn’t letting go at all.

Letting out a frustrated growl, I took a hold of her collar, pulled it towards me, and then spat the blood that I’ve been purposely pooling in my cheeks in her face. 

As expected, she shrieked in shock and disgust, momentarily forgetting about the bat and easing her hold on it---

Now! 

Jumping into action, I snatched the bat, wrapping it around my fingers and drove its hilt straight to her forehead, knocking the woman unconscious as she slumped to the ground without any further hassle.

“Fuck...Goodnight to you.” I grumbled out, panting and breathing heavily before I steeled myself to glance at the last person left. 

“Okay, one more.” One more and then I’m fucking going home.

It was another man, his frame was slightly wider and larger than the others I’d beaten so far. He stood only a few meters away and I swear he hasn’t moved an inch since the beginning. Enjoying the show? I almost wanted to say but kept it in as I studied him a bit more.

So he’s the boss.

I slowly got to my feet, not taking my eyes off the man as I flaunted the newly acquired weapon to my side, the bat’s cool metal surface feeling quite nicely in my palm.

“Ready when you are,” I said with a raised brow and a cocked hip.

He regarded me for a few seconds, his face hidden in the shadows, before bringing up a hand to his right arm and surprising me by tearing away at the sleeve, the cloth ripping into ribbons to reveal---a bionic limb.

My gaze brightened. Bingo.

While he probably saw me dead, I saw him...as a means of profit. 

A smile took over my features, “That might sell a pretty penny,” I coughed out.

The man let out a savage cry as he shot forward, his robotic arm poised to strike and or grab. I counted his heavy footsteps as I prepared the bat and gripped it with both hands, waiting for him to get closer. 

Once he got near, I noticed traces of a smile dancing on his lips---Fuck, too late---and then his forearm suddenly popped off its socket. Those metal fingers soared and latched themselves around my bicep, squeezing painfully. I grit my teeth, thinking it would bruise later if he didn’t let up soon. 

But the man wasn’t done yet. His eyes glinted dangerously and pulled on the wire connecting the detachable limb to the rest of his bionic arm.

I panicked as I got yanked roughly by my bicep, “Shit…!” Cursing my luck, I tried hitting him with the bat but it lacked enough momentum to actually do damage. So he merely stopped the attack with his other arm and smacked the weapon out of my grasp.

I was being slammed into a wall the next second, a pained gasp slipping out of me whilst black spots swam in my vision, just barely registering the man’s words.

“Where’s that bravado now, huh?” The man sneered, bringing his face real close to mine.

I cringed at the distance, wishing I hadn’t taken off my mask earlier, and clutched him by the nape---then crashed my forehead against his. I knew it would take much more than a headbutt to release me but I only intended to disorientate him.

That small moment of distraction was all I needed to snake my free arm around my back as I grabbed something from the hem of my pants and pulled it out by its handle.

“Right here, fucker.”

I brandished the weapon in front of me and clicked on the switch, the buzz of electricity split the air as the stun baton hummed with power, producing small yet lethal blue sparks.

The man paled. I grinned.

Before he could protect himself, I arched the baton and jammed it into a narrow gap in his bionic arm. The reaction was instantaneous as those metal fingers involuntarily opened and dropped uselessly, the electronics inside malfunctioning. The man himself was in shock, never getting the chance to see the punch heading straight for his nose. 

I bitterly smiled whilst hearing a satisfying crack the moment my fist landed.

I shoved against his chest, pushing him back a couple of steps as he held his bleeding nose, “Y-you...you bitch...!” 

I stared at him, my expression impassive, and shook my head.

“This’ll fuckin’ hurt,” I say to him before zipping forward, baton ready to strike once more.

. . . 

It was the memories that motivated me, helped me get up in bed every single day, the reason for me to keep going and going---because they were the only permanent things I have left in my life. 

I tucked away the stolen bionic arm inside my bag along with the rest of what I managed to collect today. My eyes shuttered as I remembered a rather specific memory: my younger self and my father having multiple discussions about our extremely flawed society, still is, and the people who run the streets, making an adamant point about never stooping to their level. 

If only I knew back then how people, including us, will react when faced with complete desperation and defeat..

It was a lesson I had to learn quite painfully.

A merciless beating and almost bleeding half to death behind some old abandoned factory. 

“Fuck your pride.” They spat and then just left, taking off with my shit. Everything I owned.

That was 3 years ago. 

“Fuck my pride, huh...” I bit back darkly, “Might as well fuck everyone else’s too.”

I did one final sweep at the bodies littering in the alley before running towards the fire exit stairs, hauling myself up and up, the wound on my stomach burning by the time I made it to the building’s rooftop and just leaned against a wall to rest a bit.

Bzzt. Bzzt.

Without looking, I swiped a finger across my wrist.

It needed a few seconds for the transmission to go through and then a familiar scolding voice boomed in my ears, 

“Where the hell are you? The meeting’s about to begin.”

That damned meeting.

“...Can’t I just skip it?” I rasped, my voice sounding foreign even to me.

There was a pause and I held my breath.

“Get your ass over here,” the voice growled out and I resisted the urge to groan in defeat, “You’re not missing the meeting twice in a row.”

“Yeah, yeah. I’m on my way.” 

. 

.

.

“...Is it okay if I’m a bit late?”

“Get moving.”

(A/N: AHHHH, I’M HAVING FLASHBACKS TO MY UNRELEASED TOKYO GHOUL FIC. Anyways, I kinda lowkey love writing action. I swear it’s because of the Cyberpunk theme in this. I hope ya’ll enjoyed this, I might want to expand more on this character’s lore, there’s tons to unpack, so be ready for that! ALSO IM LATE LIKE REALLY LATE SO YEAH PEACE)

[akemiozawa]

The Hacker and the Pirate (RP PT.1)

An adventure awaits the unlikely duo of Solena “Sol” Bucanero and Trinity “Trina” Homura.

Sol is @treasureoftheseas’s OC, as Trina’s mine

————————————————————

Solena enters Trinity’s room, determination written in her aqua green eyes. “Trina, are you there? I just got back from that country I told you about. I think I found something you might be interested in.” The Swordswoman had made intentions to speak with the Hacker Spy when she returned to Night Raven after a journey to somewhere no one knew. No one except Trina.

Pause for a minute. You may be asking: how are these two acquainted with each other? Well, that’s a story for another day. Back to our story now!

Sol scans the room, intent on finding the brunette Eurasian woman and seeking her help on a mysterious object obscured in her bag. And lo and behold, there she was, sitting in her desk chair, multiple screens stacked atop one another on her desk, different screens displaying different people doing certain things: Malleus electrifying Sebek after discovering he wasn’t invited to another gathering, Riddle screaming his head off at an underclassmen for spilling the ruby paint meant for his roses, and Jack punching a third year square in the jaw, the latter obviously said something that pissed the first year immensely. Ruggie soon showed up after, desperately trying to stop the fight from escalating.

Even with her back turned, Sol could feel Trina’s smile grow maliciously bigger at the scenes unfolding before her eyes.

As if sending her presence, Trina spun around in her chair, hands clasped together as if in prayer, elbows resting on the arms of the chair. Her left leg was thrown over her right in a lady-like fashion, icy blue eyes shifting focus from the TVs to her phone, the blue rubber silicone case dimmed from the light behind her. After a few quick seconds, Trina shut off her phone and darted her sight up to the Pirate standing in front of her.

A lazy smile formed up instantly. “Oh, hey Sol. Yea, I’m here; just looking through my cams.” As if it weren’t obvious.

Trina pushes herself up, magenta combat boots thudding against the floor. She walks up to Sol and together, the two girls make their way out of her sanctuary and to the Ignihyde common room, ready for discussion.

————————————————————

After sitting on the couch by a nearby coffee table, Trina speaks again.

“What’s the thing you wanted me to see? I hope it good.” Trina claims. The girls did have a good trading partnership: whenever Sol goes off exploring different lands, and whatever she finds, she bring back Trina random machine parts she finds during said trips, and in exchange, Trina would help Sol up the security system in Hooksclave. Cuz Sol doesn’t trust her dim-witted dorm mates well enough to defend their territory from intruders.

“It’s some strange metal sphere.” Sol explains, reaching for her bag. “It sometimes hums and glows red. And it’s about as big as a basketball.” Reaching in, she pulls out the object that was described a few seconds ago. A big silver sphere with a graph-like design grids across the surface. A low buzzing noise is faintly heard and between the smooth cracks, if one could look closely, they can barely make out a red-ish light inside. The surface seems smooth and yet was a cross of opaque and glassy. A strange object indeed.

Trina’s eyebrows rose. “Whoa.” Her lips scrunch together perplexedly. Then, she speaks, “I’ve never seen anything like it...ever.” Her confession is truth. Trinity has come across many a device in her days back in San Fransokyo and knows them all by heart. But this thing seemed...off. It could either help her link back or lead her somewhere unknown. And she won’t admit it, but she was a smidge scared.

Sol interrupted her train of thought. “I thought so.” Looking back at her friend, Trina’s eyes said for her to spill where she got it. “Even the man I got it from seemed nervous. He was practically pushing it into my hands.” Sol thought back to when the man stumbled into her path. She remember clearly: A crazed look in his eyes, mixed with fear. He was just pleading with her to take the cursed thing away, never see it as long as he was breathing. “It was all a little suspicious if you ask me.”

Trina couldn’t help but nod at her statement. “Definitely sounds like it, too.” Trina raises her right hand and nibbles on her middle finger’s knuckle, a habit she’s had since childhood. She claims it helps her when thinking. “But there must’ve been a reason that made him want to chuck it instantly.” If the mysterious man was somehow cursed or scarred by the thing, could the object be that bad? “Lemme see it.” Taking it from the table, Trina holds it between her gloved hands. The thing wasn’t light, not was it heavy. Holding it up high, Trina looks at it, her eyes moving carefully across to see what made this gadget work. “Hmm...I could try and dissect it to see what this thing’s made of.” She looked back at her companion to explain what she’ll do. “I’ve seen around every kind of electronic component in all my years of inventing. There’s bound to be something familiar I might find...” She said for some reassurance, ignoring the feeling of doubt in her heart.

Sol nodded, a bit hesitant, “Alright, but just be careful. I don’t want you getting poisoned or some...thing...” her voice trailed off as her eyes casted downwards. At the bottom of the sphere, dark black writing was engraved in some strange language. Her worry vanished. “Hey, there’s something over here...” Her head moves closer to the thing in Trina’s hands. “...and I think I might recognize it....”

Trinity, at Sol’s words, followed her line of sight and sees the engraving on the object as well.

“What in the…” It was some weird language that looked very similar to Latin, but gave off a different vibe-one that made her question, “What the hell does it even say?” And plops the sphere back into the third year’s gloved hands.

Like answering a math question, Sol immediately answered, “I think it’s an ancient language from an old undersea empire. I have quite a few of their scrolls back in my dorm.” The pirate holds the sphere up close to examine the mysterious scripture. “It roughly translates to:

‘The map holds all, but none may see. To awaken the truth, one must persuade the sea.’ ”

Trina whips out her phone and as fast as lightning, types out what her companion just uttered aloud. Looking over her typing, she nods in affirmation. “Well, looks like we’ve got some work cut out for the both of us. I’m willing to lend a hand, if you need me, that is....” she trailed off, some nervousness creeping into her voice. There was something about that language that had Trina on edge, and she hated it. Whatever was waiting for both her and Sol...she didn’t know what it could be, and in that moment, the Trinity Homira of Ignihyde, the hacker spy of Night Raven, all whom feared her and her unknown strength in magic and power, has a twinge of fear implanted into her heart.

Sol looks at Tris like she just said something completely off the topic at hand. “You’re kidding me, right?” Bewilderment etched in her voice. Tris kind of expected a scolding for not thinking when she spoke, but instead, it was, “I don’t know anything about tech. If we’re going to solve this, we’ll have to do it together.” At that, the former puts the sphere back in her bag. “I’m going to compare this to some ancient texts and illustrations and prepare for anything we might have to do. I hope you’ll do the same.”

At that, it was as if the worry just got swept away like dust. Trina soon regains her usual attitude, adrenaline starting to set in. She smirks and snarkingly says, “You had me at ‘get your equipment and meet me at Hooksclave, Tris’ !” Without waiting for her comrade to reply, Trina sprint back to her room, now ready for the adventure, and potential danger, ahead.

[lostscenarios]

Which Way to Home? Chapter 2

Title: Which Way to Home Characters: OC Han Soo, Oh Sehun and ft the rest of Exo Plot: Today, it seems as if everyone knows what they want to do and how they’ll do it. Fresh out of high school Han Soo is a fish out of water, sucked into a forced summer program at a local college with her cousin Han Soo attempts to find the answers to her unanswered questions. And the only thing that she knows? Oh Sehun may just have the answer. Genre: slice of life, college au, suspense, angst, romance Rating: PG13 - only because I plan on doing more with this and if it wasn’t PG13 or lower my mom would have a serious discussion with me so...

Chapter 2

Staring at his hand, Sehun realizes I’m contemplating shaking it.

“It’s okay if you don’t want to, you know...shake my hand.”

Mustering up the courage I slowly shake his hand, “I’m Han Soo, I don’t go to school here.”

Tilting his head Sehun playfully smirked, “Oh really? So you just came for the frat?”

I feveriously shook my head, “No, not at all! It’s kind of complicated you see-”

Laughing Sehun shook his head and said, “It’s okay. I’m just messing with you.”

Huffing out a breath that I didn’t even know that I was holding I took a sip of my water. Letting the awkward silence sit in, Sehun and I basked in the bass of whatever hip trap song was blasting throughout the dorm. But before the silence could become comfortable, a voice yelled, “It’s time for games!”

Hearing Sehun let out a groan, I whipped my head around.

“Not this again,” Sehun sighed pointing at me he said, “If I’m going, I’m dragging you along with me.”

Before I had a chance to refuse his offer, he was pulling me with him up the stairs onto the second floor. As we passed all of the bedrooms I could feel my jaw drop. Just how many people were in this fraternity?

“Soo, you’re playing too?!”

“Huh?” I turned around only to see a red face Ara enter the room along with a redhead I’ve never seen before. Winking at me Ara only giggled while taking her seat across the room on the loveseat. I was just about to ask Sehun something when a frat boy yelled, “Welcome to the amazing and glorious dorm housed by the one and only Exo of Yonsei University. I welcome you all tonight to a classic, but fun game of find my soulmate!”

Everyone in the room started protesting. Tilting my head I thought to myself, what’s find my soulmate? Well for one, it was definitely not a game!

“Relax! Chill, now everyone just give me something of yours so I can put it in this plastic bag and we’ll begin!”

Reluctantly I took off my elephant pop socket and dropped it into the bag. Tapping my feet on the ground I impatiently waited for the game to start. The sooner it started meant the sooner I got to leave this hell of a place. It wasn’t that it was so “bad” rather it was uncomfortably awkward. As soon as the guy who organized the game, who I soon learned to be Baekhyun, came back to me with the bag. Sticking my hand into the bag I felt a mixture of objects, the first item my hand came into contact with a rather small object much like an earing. Feeling for the next object I felt a piece of what I thought was folded paper, with no other choice I wrapped my hand around the paper and pulled it out. Watching Baekhyun move onto the last person I played with the piece of paper. Opening it I realized it was my “soulmate’s” phone number. Rolling my eyes I thought of how this couldn’t get any worse.

“So what did you pull out of the bag?” Sehun asked as I fiddled with the paper.

“A piece of paper.” I replied as I watched him slam the rest of who knows what was in his paper cup.

Laughing Sehun said, “You by any chance didn’t happen to put a elephant pop socket into the bag right?”

Widening my eyes I exclaimed, “Sehun, you’re my soulmate?”

Shrugging his shoulders he replied, “Hey I guess fate has a way with things.”

Returning our items to each other, Sehun and I sat on the couch for a good five minutes without conversing with each other. Yawning I took that as a sign that I was more than ready to return back to my dorm. Standing up I scanned the room for Ara, but she was already long gone searching for her so called “soulmate”.

“Leaving so soon?” Sehun said behind me.

Weakly replying I mumbled, “Parties just aren’t my thing.”

Nodding his head he shrugged and said, “I don’t blame you. They weren’t my thing either until I learned to let loose.”

“Excuse me? Let loose? I’ll have you know-”

Laughing Sehun put up his hands in defeat, took a sip of his punch and said, “Hey wanna see something cool?”

Crossing my arms I asked, “And why should I trust you? For all I know you could be a serial killer.”

Scoffing he replied, “Serial killer? Is that the best you got? Well you’ll just have to figure it out and see.”

“Lead the way.” I said as I follow Sehun out of the stuffy room.

We passed the bedrooms, went down the staircase, passed the couple playing beer pong, and made our way through the kitchen which in way served as the “bar” of the night. Looking back to see if I was still behind him Sehun gave me a small smile and continued to lead me to who knows where he was taking me. Pushing open the backdoor Sehun motioned for me to follow, as we walked side by side, the noisy frat party soon became quieter. The flashing lights were soon replaced by the soft glow of the streetlights, cars turned into parked bikes and fold up chairs turned into park benches.

“No way.” I said as I stare astonishingly at the view before us.

Along the bushes that littered across the plain there were roses as saturated as blood, hydrangeas white as snow and cotton candy pink lisianthus! Not to mention a brick paved walkway which led to a stunning oak gazebo which acted as the center of attention. Who knew Yonsei had a hidden gem such as this!

Cheekily smiling Sehun asked, “So...do you like it?”

Letting out a gasp I exclaimed, “Like it? I love it, how the heck did you find such a beauty like this?”

Chuckling he replied, “Well there was this one time, the guys that I thought were my friends took me to a party but ended up leaving me to fend for myself. I was annoyed and too flustered to talk to anyone so I just walked away. And low and behold I stumbled across this secret garden.”

“I guess that makes two of us.”

“Friends abandon you too?” He asked as he glanced down at my figure.

Rocking on my soles I replied, “Yeah, not like I wasn’t expecting it though.”

Before Sehun could say anything his phone broke the peaceful silentness.

“Hello?” He groggily asked as he tapped his foot on the ground. “Now, really? I’m not even at the house. No I didn’t-”

Slapping a hand over face he mumbled, “Yeah, whatever, you owe me one.”

Glancing at me Sehun feverishly apologized, “I’m so sorry Soo! You see the guys need me to do a quick beer run and-”

Making an x with my arms I said, “No, no. I understand you’re friends need you. I’ll just call an uber.”

“Thank God, thanks Soo. I promise next time we meet we’ll finish this conversation. I gotta go bye!”

As I stood there watching Sehun’s figure disappear, I let out a sigh. Once again it was just me, myself and unfortunately, I. Digging my phone out of my pocket, I called an uber and waited for him or her to arrive...I guess coming to the frat party wasn’t so bad after all.

[aajmgrayson]

Rooney King, Former human: Part One

This is primarily a fanfiction of an OC of mine, Rooney King, who grew up alongside George Harkness, (Captain Boomerang) before he became... Assholish. I don’t know the correct adjective to describe him. Moving on, enjoy. 

If you have any questions on the Australian slang, comment below and I’ll clarify for ya. (A sheila is a woman, a bloke is a guy, bottler means superior,above-average, bonzer means great, just tell me if theres more y’all don’t get.)

Word count: 3094

Suicide Squad-Not mine, DC’s

Rooney King-mine

Warnings: Strong language, slightly implied sexual content, SPOILERS, angst.

He grabs my hand and leads me to the edge of the river. We stand at the perimeter of a large clearing, fireflies dancing in the faint crescent moonlight. He grins cheekily, a devious look fluttering across his face. A smile, spreads slowly across my own, despite myself. He takes off his shoes and socks and rolls up the bottom of his pants. “Come on, Rooney! Ya ‘fraid ave a little water?” “Absolutely not, ya little-” a strong hand pulls me into the mild current, water reaching my knees. “George!” I shriek, swatting him away as he laughs hysterically. I break into giggles and he reaches to cup my face in his hands. “Rooney…” he breathes. “Rooney!” his voice becomes urgent and more insistent

“ROONEY!” My eyes are pierced by a ray of sweltering sunlight. “Hmmmmm…” I sigh sharply, lifting my arms to shield my vision. Ugh. What are my limbs made of, lead? I bravely open my eyes, tanked that my dream was abruptly ended. I realize I’m lying on the ground, and I suddenly feel jabbing rocks pressing into the flesh of my lower back. “Right, don’t even let a gal rug up, just throw me on the ground. Smaht.” I am consciously aware of my thick accent. “A fellow ozzie, huh?” I look up at the provenance of the voice. My eyes widen to indescribable sizes. I feel warm liquid running down my face, and realize it’s my own tears. Next thing I know I’m standing over him, screaming curses at him, as he holds his cheek, stunned. “Wot the hell crawled up your arse an’ died, Sheila?” “Ya fucking figjammin’ wanker! ARGH!” “’Scuse me? Do I know ya? I think I’d remember such a fine piece of woman…” I stare daggers into his vivid blue eyes. “Enough. That injection you got? That’s a nanobyte. It’s the size of a rice grain, but powerful as a hand-grenade. You disobey me, you die. You try to escape, you die. You otherwise irritate or vex me, guess what. You die.” The thin sheila with stringy platinum-blonde hair raises her hand and peers at the guy warily. “I’m known to be quite vexing, I’m just full warning you…”  The missionary snaps at her. “Lady, SHUT UP!” he orders. I snort, crossing my arms indignantly, smirking at her. She flips me off and I grin. He pipes up again, staring superiorly at a dark-skinned man in a bright orange jumpsuit. Belle Reve. Huh. “Listen, here’s the deal. You’re going somewhere very bad, to do something that’ll getcha killed. But until that happens, you’re my problem.” He raises and drops his arms in defeat, his face sporting an annoyed expression. “Fella, I think it’s the otha way ‘round. You’re our problem, and personally, I wanna get ridda ya as soon as possible.”  He glares in annoyance at me, and the jumpsuit bloke paces forwards. “So, is that a, a pep talk?” “Yeah, that was a pep talk. Grab what you need for a fight. We’re wheels up in ten.” He dismisses all of us, speaking into a comm. I sigh, and a cart is lazily wheeled in front of me. Ah. My belongings. I gaze to the side, where the sheila squeals dramatically and holds up a black and red jumpsuit to her chest. I roll my eyes and she glances at me. “’Cha got there, lady?” she skips over and starts rummaging through my stuff. “First of all,” I slam my trunk closed, “Non’a ya bizzo,” I shove her away, “An’ secondly, bail out, sheila.” I turn abruptly as Flag holds up a tablet bearing the federal government crest. “Behold, the voice of god,” he drawls sarcastically. “For those of you who don’t know me officially, my name is Amanda Waller. There is an active terrorist event in midway city. I want you to enter the city, rescue HVT1 and get him to safety.” Lawton speaks up: “I’m sorry, for those of us who don’t speak good guy, what is HVT1?” “The only person that matters in the city, the one person you can’t kill.” She stares at us through the lens somberly. “Complete the mission and you get time of your prison sentence, fail the mission: You die. Anything happens to Colonel Flag and I’ll kill every single one of you.” I laugh halfheartedly and stare at her a mocking expression on my face. “An’ how ya suppose you’ll achieve that, Mandy?”  I smirk, and waltz over to my lootbox and grab the utility and Hot Box bag, and march up to the cargo plane. “Onto tha lemon looking set ‘a wings then.”  I stand, clutching the hanging handles with my right hand. “Aussie. Yeah you.” Flag points at me, then to the seat next to the other oz. “Sit your ass down, will you?” I sneer and flop down ungracefully beside him, and buckle in. Another woman walks in as the click from my seatbelt is heard. Flag peers up at her. “You’re late,” he announces. She replies something in another language. Japanese. He addresses us. “This is Katana,” he shouts over the whirring engine, “She’s got my back. She can cut all’f you in half with one sword stroke, just like mowin’ the lawn. I would advise not gettin’ killed by her, her sword traps the souls of its victims.”  The blonde sheila extends an equally pale hand to Katana. “Harley Quinn. Nice tah meetcha.” She says cheerily. I feel a slight nudge to my right shoulder. I snap my head around sharply, a frown decorating my face. “Oi, no need to get antsy, I’m not gonna crank ya or nothin’. Just wanted to know why ya hit me.” My face softens.

“Someday, Roo, we’re gonna buy that house. We’ll have a dog, and a-”

“George… I… you used to…”   He stares at me expectantly. “What? I used to wot?” “Never mind.” I wipe clean my facial expressions and my face veers blank. No emotions. I’ve gotten good at this. Ever since my parents died, ever since he left, ever since my powers. I’ll never forget that night.

“Rooney Eliza King, where in bloody hell’ve ya been?” “Dad, I’ve told ya I’d be at George’s place an’-” “I told ya that boy was not to be ‘round ya! Ya never listen, do you?” I fall against the doorframe, face stinging with sudden pain and rage. He raises his hand to me once again, and a voice calls behind the fly wire. “Heya Rooney! Ya left yo-” His face shifts into an expression of terror.  My eyes feel aflame with anger. No. This was the last time he’d lay a finger on me. My father glares maliciously at George, then lowers his voice to a throaty milidecibel. “Boy, I’ve told ya. Stay away from my daughter, hear? You don’t deserve her an’ I shure as hell ‘aint havin’ your arse in ma’home!” I beg George to go, to just leave it be. I don’t want him getting hurt again. Not ever again, I- BANG! I fall to my knees, auburn hair flying around my panic-stricken face. I claw at the ground, and look back at George. “Yo-your eyes…” he stammers, and I peer up at him through the falling rubble of what used to be my home. “George please- I can’t do this anymore-I-” “No. Nonononono! You’re not- ya crazy!”

“The last thing ya said to me. You said I was crazy. You told me ya hated me. I couldn’t control it, ya didn’t understand!” He looks at me surprised, then terrified, then angrily. “Roo? Lil Roo? King?” “Yeah, that’s me.” I turn my neck to face forward and tear myself up inside. He does the same. Not a single word was spoken. He mutters softly, touching my knee. “Why ya here? Why git caught up in all this? Ya gonna getchure self killed, Roo.” “No, I won’t.” “Yes, ya will.” “No.” “Mhm.” “Why do ya even care?” I whisper, my eyes trained on my shoes. “I don’t, I’m just lookin’ out for a fellow auss. There aint’ much’ave us bottlers out theya ya know,” he states, looking straight at me, then to the point on the floor my gaze is locked onto. I clear my head. No more George, no more memories, no more wasted energy on blokes who’ll never really love me. Suddenly, the cargo plane is filled with the sound of gunshots and the smell of charred metal. “Our set’a wings are gettin’ a little arsy tarsy all up in here…” I mumble, grasping my seat in a desperate attempt to stay in an upright position. I hear screams coming from all directions, and I swear under my breath. I roll my eyes and brace myself for the fall. I run my eyes around the cluster of falling bodies. “Nope.” I announce and teleport out onto the ground outside the cargo plane. Every time I do that, it seems my body is being pulled through a huge air vacuum, but it almost feels good. In a way that it makes my stomach tingle, if you know what I mean. I analyze my surroundings hastily, as the cargo plane sputters and crashes before me. Debris is projected half an inch from my face. I grab the bashed door, dented to all extent by silver bullets. I pry it forcefully off its warped hinges, freeing the squad from the iron prison. Flag trains his eyes on me, and nods barely perceptively. I smile sarcastically and jut out my hip, hands resting along my defined waist. Auburn hair flutters around my face in the post-disaster breeze. Harkness stares at me, addled. “Wha? Who-how? You can-ohmygawdyou’reawitch.” “Yeah. That I am. Ya see, ya missed a lot when you left,” I snap at him. Harley grins at me and punches my shoulder playfully. “Thank’ya Roones!” “Don’t call me that.” “Why not?” “Just don’t!” I grit my teeth at her sudden use of my child nickname.

“Roones, ya know we have an exam tomarrow!” “Don’t care.” I clutch his arm and mount my bikie. “Cam’on now, let’s go! I wanna get there before the rain starts!” “Rooney Eliza King, we should be studying! Ya know better. Ah raised ya better than this!” I break into a fit of hysterical laughter at his expression on my uptight father. I grab his arm insistently and tug him to the bike. “Let’s go!” I demand as if I were a missionary addressing a jube digger.  “Roones, we-” I grasp him by the nape of his neck and press my mouth to his. I pull away grinning deviously. He sighs, trying not to break into a smile. “Ya win. I’m comin’.” “Hahaha! Come on comeoncomeon!”

I flinch, memories flooding my clear mind like a breaking dam. I open my eyes from my daydream and find the squad is halfway down the abandoned road I had appeared on. I take a couple lightheaded steps towards my teammates, and exhale sharply. “Let’s go, King.” I stride up to them and push through the group. I continue at a steady pace as we approach our target gradually. Harkness leans over the short man bearing dreadlocks. They confer for a few seconds, then acknowledge each other solemnly. They break out in fists, and a split second later, I wince as a spray of warm crimson liquid douses my face and upper body. I stare up at Weiss, dangling from a tethered nylon rope hooked to the top of the building. A flicker of a smile plays morbidly across my lips. “An’ I thought it was a hoax. That is damn bonzer!” “No! No, that is not cool! So not cool!” Lawton cries, looking at me as if I were deranged. I shrug lazily, and glance once again at the mass of blood and fleshy pulp that used to be Weiss’ neck. I mean, I’ve seen my fair share of gore in life, ranging from death to liquid laughter. (Which is vomiting, for those not connoisseur of Aussie slang.) But that was something nasty to no limit. After a bit of walking, which to me, seemed like we got nowhere, the group comes to a slow halt. I scrutinize the objects they are looking at through a lens. “Regolith…” I mutter softly, adjusting the straps on my tucker-bag. “’Scuse me?” Flag veers to peer at my concentrated face. “Regolith. They’re made out of regolith, duh.” I reply in a sarcastic manner. “Wot the hell is that?” Harkness takes out a couple boomerangs and begins to sharpen them, preparing for a fight. “A layer of charcoal-grey semi-heterogeneous rock covering bedrock, usually found on spatial bodies of solid matter, as in meteoroids, asteroids, the moon, Mars, etcetera.” I lift a finger to validate my point as a school-teacher would. “Nerd…” Lawton mumbles under his breath as he strolls past me. I flip him off, and widen my eyes as the creatures jerk towards us and approach the squad at surprising speed. I immediately flip my internal switch to survival mode. I hear gunshots, my vision blurred by sudden movement. I throw a couple punches in, then give up at melee and dig out my powers. Analysis of target, determination of form of combat, throw the fatal blow. That’s how I hit’em. When they’re not looking. Cheap, yes, but at least I can take these things out.

“Orthodox stance, good, now outpoint, bolo- Perfect. Now, for a real sparring partna.” He takes my arm and dips me as if we’re ballroom dancing. I shove him away with a snort. “Come on, then. Hit me. Or ya too ‘fraid to hit a gal? Hm?” I challenge boldly. “Oh ya don’t even know. I’ve been wanting to hit ya for a while now.” “And which demeanor are you referring to?” A deep blush covers his cheeks a he pins me unexpectedly. “Ah ah, go talkin’ like that, and some bloke’s gonna get the wrong idea, Roo.” I climb up the wall and backflip, slamming him to the ground in a split second. “An’ I reckon that bloke’s you?” “Seriously, Roones, I would neva-” I straddle him, and push hair out of my face, my eyes laughing. I lean down and rest my lips on his. “Mm.”

I shake my head, my anger overcoming me. I scream, the ear-splitting shriek crumbling the witch’s soldiers as if they were piles of dust. I fall to my knees, shocked at myself for my loss of control, and exhausted by the sudden release of excess power. I feel eyes boring into my tan skin. Diablo is the first to speak up. “Damn, chica. You okay?” I inhale, the smell of burnt flesh invading my nostrils. I realize my hands are charred and black. “Yeah, fine.” I reply shakily. I close my eyes, a sliver of light emerging from under my thick lashes. My fingers warp and change, regenerating themselves to their healed state. “Woah… Lady, that is some cool shit right there. Woah.” Harley utters. I look up to the swirling rings of incandescent blue supernatural magic. This is gonna be a long night, I think to myself.

  Panting heavily, Harley collapses onto the rail and whines, something about cardio. I roll my eyes subtlety and sigh dramatically. “So fuckin’ tired of walking…” I mumble, and flip both legs over the railing. “What the hell are you doing?” Flag demands. I close my eyes and jump off, falling as my hair flutters around my face. I will myself to levitate, rising to the top of the stairwell, followed by the incredulous eyes of the squad.  I gracefully set myself down as the others tread heavily behind me. “Let’s get this done, shall we?” I grin deviously, and head into the room along with Harley, Flag, and Lawton. He puts on his mask and adjusts the eyepiece. “Pussy.” Harley announces, smiling from ear-to-ear. I jut out my hip, and cross my arms across my chest. The creatures jump out of the shadows, quickly surrounding us. We’re outnumbered. Bonzer. “We’re rooted.” I mutter. “Excuse me?” Lawton peers at me through the white fabric of his mask. “Fucked, I said. We’re fucked,” I declare sarcastically. “Ah. Hm.” He shrugs his shoulders and raises his guns in an attempt to take out the flurry of soldiers. I grab an iron pipe, fallen from the ceiling they popped out of. I begin to hit everything I find, one of them being Waylon. I grin sheepishly and duck as one lunges for me, doing a sharp 360, and beheading it with a swing worthy of the major leagues. “Ha!” I cry triumphantly. I guess I really wasn’t paying attention, because I feel an impromptu slice of pain in my back. I glance down at my stomach and distinguish the vague shape of a blade tip. Dark red stains spread across my once-white shirt. “ROONEY!” George cries as I fall to my knees breathing heavily. He sprints towards me and catches me just as I begin to black out. “No, no nonono… I just got ya back, I’m not letting ya get away that easy this time… Roones, no…” he sputters and I laugh, almost hysterically. “Wot? Why are you laughing?” I sit up, thrust his arms away from me, and get up unsteadily. While we were living a romance sob-story, the rest of the squad were able to take the rest of the soldiers down, and are now staring at me warily. I feel my skin bubbling and stretching to create a puckered scar over aforementioned slice. I stretch leisurely, and lower my hands to rest on my hips. “What are ya all starin’ at?” I mock. I strut out, heading to the given coordinates of HVT1, and kick to the side a pile of soldier that may have been their ass.

“Ya have to stay with me, Roo. Ya gonna get through this, it’s gonna be okay…” A tear slides down his cheek, leaving a shiny trail in its wake. “Georgie, please,” I cough, blood splattering on my lower lip, “I’ve survived worse. Memba’ when I crashed?” “Yeah.” He laughs through his sobs. “Well, I’m here with ya, aren’t I?” He says nothing, but grasps my hand and squeezes it gently, staying by my side as they roll my bed away. “Sir, you can’t come here.” A woman with an American accent steps in his pathway. I faintly hear him protesting desperately. She begins steering him towards the exit. I smile reassuringly through my tears, and all goes black.