#but because she either poisoned him with cleaner or just fucking went after him with a knife

[nychthemeron-rants]

My personal headcanon for how Niffty died is that she killed her shitty husband, but her husband killed her back.

[starshipsofstarlord]

God is With You, Even as You’re Sinning

Pairing | Sam Winchester x reader

Summary | it was your first time not killing a monster, and in its place, taking the life of one of your own. Guilt entraps you, and it is up to Sam to break you out of your pitiful hypnosis.

Warnings | mentions of death, blood, angst, guilt, some smut, oral sex (fem receiving), penetrative unprotected sex, fingering, swearing, mentions of murder

Requested ✖️

Quick link to my masterlist, if you’re interested in reading more of my crap 😬

Fuck God. This was all his fault, everything was to be fair. He had left the world to continue on its own accord, the apocalypse threatening to spill over the planet and destroy it and all beauty that was lingering through the existence of humans.

They killed each other, and the creator of all could care less. It was his smallest problem, he didn’t mind that the murderer was succumbed to guilt, or how many restless nights that he or she endured. God was cruel, even if he held up a facade of being your ally, and trying his hardest as he supposed, to be your friend.

Your hands shook as you remembered the entailment of your mistake. It was a slip up, a vast and surreal experience that people usually learned from. But what were you supposed to do, not kill a human again? Yeah you had gotten that, after all, the initial deed had not at all been intentional.

There was the victim’s blood dried upon the outer layer of your skin, casting you in the perfect image of murderous intent. However, you had no thirst to kill, instead, your hunting of monsters, alike to many others partaking in a similar lifestyle, executed the mythical beasts to protect the human population.

It pained you truly, to know that you had killed a person. You hadn’t even spared the familiar body a second glance, and out of panic, you fled the scene, leaving the body of the city cleaner in the gutter, laying in the remnants of his friends’ and family’s waste, burying him in their crude excrement.

The thought alone, and the sight that was engrained in the peripheral of your mind had you feeling sick. Slowly, you plodded down the steps of the bunker’s entrance, surely leaving footprints trademarked in all kinds of grotesque evidence.

Without much care for what lay heavily inside, you dropped your duffel from your shoulder, allowing it to fall on the ground with a disgruntled clatter. Nothing meant anything anymore, not if you were indeed a real killer. Whilst some monsters had weaselled their way into society, ending their pathetic attempts at normality was different than taking away the life of an innocent and mortal bystander.

Often, with the darker and crueler species, there were reasons as to why they pretended to be of human birth. Mostly, it was so that they could feed from the naive flock, or kill for their own amusement. Either way, none of their reasons were good.

But now, you thought of yourself as no different than them. A creature that needed to be put down for their crimes. Filing, you breathed in, only inhaling the various moulds of putridity that was weaved into your hair, and stuck to your skin like a face mask.

“Should I call you Cassie now?” At the joke, a laugh from the speaker was triggered. He was quite amused with the sight of you, and thus, you sneered at the tall man, hating him a little bit more than usual.

“Your pop culture references aren’t appreciated Winchester, it’s more Dean’s street.” Shoving past him, his high shoulder floundered back at the harsh and ignorant impact, an expression of offence covering his stupid face. Like a fawn, he tumbled after you, watching as you walked sullenly into the kitchen, yanking the door to the fridge open, and extracting one of his brother’s store bought beers.

“I’m going to guess the hunt went bad.” Sam speculated, shoving his hands into his jeans pockets, and staring expectedly down at where you popped the cap off the bottle recklessly with your teeth. He almost winced at the sight, but he wished to keep this arrogant demeanour up with you, it was a natural desire to piss you off, and he’d be pissed at himself if he let it slip out of simple pity.

“Guess correct. Well done, you’ve won a trip to Hawaii.” You waved your free hand mockingly in the air, as the other raised the liquor to your mouth, allowing you to wilfully gulp the bitter liquid down. At his presence that remained nursing over you, you cocked a brow, leaning forwards as you expectedly looked back at the moose. “Just leave me alone Sam, I’m not in the mood for putting up with your bullshit.”

He, however, seemed not to be phased by you wanting to be left alone, and instead, quickly snatched the poison out of your hand, leaving you throughly prepared to keep him right in the balls. “What the fuck?” You all but screamed at the not so jolly giant. In turn, he crossed his arms across his chest, placing the bottle down on the island.

“I could ask you the same y/n.” His tone was dominantly serious, causing you to cower back into your shroud of guilty conscience. “Tell me what happened on that hunt, of which i told you that you shouldn’t have went on alone, since you wouldn’t have been able to handle it solo.”

You felt demeaned by his words, they sparked an anger out from the firm pit of your stomach. But you knew deep down, he was getting through to you, which was something that you had not managed to even do by yourself. Air heavily passed through and out of your nostrils, as acidic tears pooled in your eyes; a crack was falling down your walls, and out of all people, it was Sam Winchester whom had caused it.

“You’re right, I shouldn’t have gone alone, but you know what, I thought of what a Winchester would do. And then I remembered, I am sure as hell not a Winchester and I don’t have a brother anymore! Not now, he didn’t even know who I was earlier, didn’t even recognise a single genetically identical hair on my head as he watched me parade through the town, the very one that I ran away from when he was a baby and I was seven, wanting to hunt a monster. Yet, i didn’t kill a damn monster Sam, I murdered my brother because you’ve been right all along, I’m not fit for this job. I am a mess, so congratulations, you finally have got me to admit the one thing that you keep reminding me of.”

“Y/n...” Sam wasn’t sure how to respond, he felt the waves of shock ripple through his body. Never so freely had you been vulnerable around him, and here you were now, with very visible tears cascading down your utterly torn face. He understood it was an accident, and the times that he and Dean had tried to kill each other under supernatural circumstances had him wondering what if.

Shaking your grime tethered head at the sound of his cracked voice, you stormed past him, and immediately raced towards the shower room, finding to your luck, which had been non existent during the rest of the day, the halls were barren of life. Walking through the door, you tore your ruined clothes off, chucking them upon the floor without much acknowledgement, before you went under the warm spray of the shower head, trying to calm yourself.

To rid your skin of its evidential accessories, you had to scrub your skin until it was immediately raw. Everything within you ached, as you flicked back to the memory of the clueless expression that had been worn by your blood brother. It was probably a good thing that he didn’t know who you were, or else, he’d have known that his own sister murdered him due to her incompetence to listen to others.

Now, you were not even sure what were your tears, and what droplets of water belonged to the shower itself. For over an hour, you basked int eh warmth that seemed unable to cure your cold blooded system, turning the spritz off, and covering your body in a fluffy towel, that you were sure belonged to someone else, but right now, you could care less about who owned what.

As you reached the door to your bedroom, you found it to be preached slightly open, and as you pushed it the rest of the way, you saw Sam sat on the corner of your bed. You held your arms around yourself, insecure on the fact that beneath the stolen towel, you were nothing more than you. A wolf in sheep’s skin.

“Can I help you?” You bitterly asked, your eyes still burning from your own faulted loss. Sam breathed in, his eyes trailing up to your face, that was naked from any gruesome cosmetics or make up. The bareness to your completion illustrated an aura of innocence, and evidence that you were the same as him - human.

“That’s my towel.” The male hunter laughed, in hopes of changing the previous and well wounded subjected to ensure that you felt better. But what was he kidding, nothing could fill the void that you had dug in your own heart, nothing was closer than the bond between siblings, even if you were considered as strangers.

“Take it back then.” Too exhausted from your gruelling day, you dropped the material, your confident action making his eyes go wide, as he tried to look away from your exposed skin to respect your boundaries. It was impossible though not to allow his hazel hues to slip up the trunks of your thighs, up to- no, that was wrong, very wrong.

You had just lost your brother, not to mention, by your own hand, and he was prone to checking out your freelancing body, taking in every curve and twisted scar that was prominent to his speculating eyes. His eyes dropped to the discarded towel, which he had purposely left on the heating rail for later use, and then, they switched back towards you.

He stood, walking behind you as you looked through comfort clothes within your dresser. A light touch of his hand brushed your hair away from your neck, as he breathed a sweet hoax of hot air upon your scare. Sam was relieved that you didn’t reject the contact, and instead, pressed his lips upon the flesh, finding succession whence you hummed deliriously to yourself.

This interaction had been inevitable for a long time, but now no longer were the suspected intentions for such an exchange to be to release well endorsed frustrations. No, he was going to clear your mind for some sensual moments, and make your pretty little head forget for a moment that you had pained yourself in the worst of ways.

Turning, you laced your hands through his chocolate locks, massaging his scalp as you pulled him closer so that your lips could endure a rougher clasp against his. There was no passion, behind each contribution there was a spur of hunger, he grasped your ass cheeks, pulling you up to be sat upon the top of your heavy dresser.

Obliging his command, you spread your legs so that he could stand between their partition, his hands now running up the windows of your thighs. For a while, the pair of you did nothing more than make out, and cup a feel here and there, but soon after, Sam dropped to his lanky knees, leaving kisses in the wake of his descent.

His thumb and forefinger spread your fluttering folds, watching as your slit squirmed for attention. Sam licked his lips at the sight, running his middle finger up the expanse, until he came to your yearning entrance. Slowly, after making sure you were wet enough, Sam slipped his digit inside, you wiggling your hips to adjust to the thrust of his one finger.

To add to the sensations that were overriding your body, he moved his mouth to closer proximity, smelling the divine aroma that pulsed out of you. It was far too addictive to not get a taste, and thus,he pulled his finger out, sucking off your juices contently.

But that small sample just wasn’t enough, which encouraged him to dive face first into your pussy - literally. His long tongue teased your folds, slurping at the lips, and then switching to your clit to heighten the stimulation. He kept up a rhythm, using it as a pattern to push you closer to that edge, and he was surely certain that you were enjoying his oral work as you ground your face against him, moaning at his succulent administrations.

“Sam.” Oh god, was it pleasant to hear his own name fall out your mouth in such an erotic manner. It was far different from the way that you usually used it to snide at him, though, the thought of your regular treatment of him aided only to spur his lustful actions on. He wanted you to cum, for your juices to run down his face in waterfalls, looking as though someone had tried to drown him.

His work would not be complete until you found it difficult to even pronounce his short name. Digging his tongue in the hood of your clit, tracing around the protective area, his fingers returned to their earlier placement, and he quickened their pace until he could hear a satisfying squelch in the air.

Rapid sounds of parted moans raked from your mouth, your chest sticking out as you breasts heaved with your heavy breathing. It was noticeable that you were close, not just from that, but you were squeezing the circulation out of his fingers. “Fuck.” Left you in the form of a squeal, as you pussy wept its juices.

Sam was quick to lap everything that left you up, once more, tasting those that clung to his fingers. He went back in for another taste, but you tightly grouped his hair, pulling him away from your sopping cunt. “Need you to fuck me Sam, now.”

In an instant, the hunter stood, working precariously on undoing the buckle of his belt, and pushing all material that covered his lower half to the bottom of his thighs. He read already hard, and oozing precum. You swept your finger across the tip of his dick, bringing it to your lips to taste his foreshadowing seed.

Sam huffed at the sight,picking his prick up in one hand, and jerking himself a couple of times. And then, he aligned himself with you, rubbing his cock around your wet crevice a couple of times, slapping his tip teasingly against your puffy clit.

“Want my cock baby?” He asked, smirking as he watched you nod your head repeatedly. With that being all the confirmation that he needed, he pushed into you,feeling even more turned on as he heard you mewl, and watched the ecstatic expression cross your face as his dick fit inside of you all the way.

He grasped your hips, pulling out once before pushing in again. He repeated the action, his own eyes rolling to the back of his head at how tight you were. This would make you forget the cruel method of god, his story was not as epic as he though, for his characters were screwing against his will, basking in a distraction rather than the regretful pain that seethed in your trodden heart.

Another thrust had your nails clasping onto Sam’s covered back, biting onto his shoulder through the plaid, as you held back the tears that were trying to creep out of your blissful eyes. A few grunts left Sam, as his pace increased, and with every thrust, which only served to fuel him further, the dresser smashed into the wall behind it, most likely leaving a decent dent within the historical architecture.

“Gonna cum.” You told him, dragging him in for another tongue filled kiss as your cunt pooled around him, coating his cock in the honey from your delicious pot. He soon followed after, and for a moment, he remained against you, allowing you to bask in the comfort of his strange presence.

And then he pulled out, watching as his distraction dripped from your entrance, trailing down your thigh in a white streak. An orgasm smile was pulled onto your face, but it was certain to not last long for when you returned to the reality that laid waiting for you to return.

Sam stepped closer again, moving his fingers towards your cunt, and pushed his seed back inside of you, watching as your puffy pussy lips swallows any part of him that it could get. He would distract you for as long as he could, and then, deal with the inevitable.

[angelyuji]

I SKWKWJWJWK listen i know this isnt yandere content, but cooking together with ur s/o is probably my dream date and thats where i got this!!!

How Each Avenger Cooks For You 👩‍🍳:

loki, stephen, nat: these bitches show off every time they enter the kitchen. they like impressing you, but they’re super nonchalant about it and ur not allowed to help. they flip their knives, throw the ingredients, slice stuff in the air, do that fire pan flip thing...basically it’s organized chaos. a lot of fire too like... a lot. ur impressed, but don’t think it’s all show. the food is literally amazing. they basically cook like those fancy chefs in 5-star restaurants. (loki doing his iconic knife flips in the middle of ur kitchen and ur like um dangerous but cool!)

carol, tony, wanda: these heroes do all this impressive stuff, but cannot cook for sHIT. they don’t follow recipes because “recipes are for sheeples” and they’re fucking LEADERS....right... anyway, they wont let you help fix the food and yall end up ordering takeout. in the end, it looks gorgeous but tastes like ass, or it looks and tastes like shit. either way, they cannot cook, but they can put on a show! (i hc that carol cant cook for shit and tony literally cant take care of himself, so theres no way he knows how to cook properly)

bucky, steve, clint: home-cookers. they make homemade food, gives me very much housewife vibes. they dont put on shows, but cooks like a normal person. it honestly doesnt matter if u help them or not, the entire process is very wholesome and domestic. they dont need recipes because the recipes are probably something they learned from their family. there is usually no mess, but if there is, they clean up and make sure everything looks exactly how it looked before or cleaner! (pre-serum steve cooked healthy food often because yk...hes a growing boy and post-hydra bucky learned how to cook from steve. it calms him)

thor, peter: although they grew up very different and thor and peter seem like they would absolutely destroy a kitchen and not make anything edible, thats actually not true. thor was dropped in midgard for being a brat, so there’s no way he wouldnt know how to cook, but he only knows how to cook simple meals like eggs or...coffee. and, yes, peter is a hot mess like the rest of us, but he still knows how to make basic meals like pasta, eggs, and whatever. peter’s only had May and when she’s busy, he has to make sure he can cook! they both have their own little piece of paper with recipes and directions, so they don’t forget and you like to watch as they squint their eyes as they read their tiny notecard and look around for everything (there is no way in hell, jane didnt teach thor basic human skills during his time with her)

bruce, vision, t’challa: they dont know how to cook. vision doesnt need food, t’challa is a king, so he has people to cook for him, and bruce’s daily sustenance is takeout from fast food places near his apartment. so when ur like “lets cook at home!” theyre like “....what” so when u ask abt their cooking skills, theyre gonna try and prove that they can cook. these three follows the recipe down to the fucking teaspoons of salt, but STILL somehow manage to make the worst thing youve ever tasted. you’d watch and be like “woah ur doing pretty good!”, but you’ll eat it and go “...hoW TF?!??” theyre gonna stare at u like actual puppies as u eat it, so you have to pretend to like it (you’ll have to give in tho or you’ll get food poisoning, but they wont be hurt just upset that it went wrong. they’ll keep practicing till they get it right, so u become the official tastetester)

scott, sam: everyday is adventure with these two. scott and sam are okay cooks, but amazing company. their slogan is “its not the destination, but the journey”. sure the food is a little burnt and wayy too salty, but you guys had fun cooking together. cracking jokes, talking about your childhood, making animal shapes out of the vegetables, throwing knives into the ceiling...yeah, you probably werent too happy with that one. they both have one braincell, so they saw knife, they throw! you kick them out of the kitchen after that. (scott and sam are avid sitcom/rom-com watchers, so they obviously watch new girl, which then inspired the throwing knives at the ceiling)

[elisajdb]

BadaGine Week 2020: Day Three

The Life We Share @bardineweek

 Day 3: Welcome Back

  “So, when is Bardock coming back?”

 “He was due back a week ago but I got confirmation it’s tonight.”

 Gine’s day at the meat factory was coming to a close. She and Basi were cleaning their work stations as they generously talked. They were acquaintances more than friends. Basi fought alongside Bardock a few times but an injury and not reaching a healing tank in time cut short her fighting career. So she built a second one at the meat factory where Saiyans not equipped for fighting worked.

 “This is the first time Bardock’s been away since you started courting,” Basi remarked. When she noticed Gine blushing, she asked slyly. “Any plans?”

 Gine had them but she wanted to keep it to herself. However, she knew Basi wouldn’t stop asking until Gine told her something. “He’s coming by my place tomorrow. I will make him a yummy meal.”

 Just eating. Sounded weak but Gine wasn’t like other female Saiyans. There was also something else that bothered Basi. “Tomorrow?” Basin questioned. “But Bardock’s coming home tonight.”

 Gine wanted to celebrate tonight, too, but this is what Bardock wanted. “I wanted to see him tonight but Bardock said when he comes back from those missions he’s tired and wants to sleep.”

 “Sleep?” Basi rolled her eyes. If that wasn’t the weakest excuse… “He’s a Saiyan. If he’s sleeping, he’s not doing it alone. When our warriors come back, they want to party and sex and you’re not doing either.” Basi had her skepticism when she heard about Bardock and Gine. They were complete opposites but they seemed to make it work. “Have you two fuck yet?” Gine’s face turning beet red answered her question. “Seriously?! You’ve been together for three months and you haven’t fucked that walking sex machine yet?! What the hell’s the matter with you?”

 Gine wanted the ground to open and pull her in. She never talked about intimacy with anyone. She’s never done it and didn’t know how to broach the topic. She and Bardock shared kisses and light touches. Bardock touched her breasts sometimes through her clothes but they never went there yet.

 “It’s been six months,” Gine corrected her.

 “And Bardock’s been gone for three. Do you want him to fuck you?”

 Yes. No. Maybe. Definitely but Gine was mixed up. Gine loved kissing Bardock. Part of her wanted to experience sex but another part of her was nervous and not sure how Bardock felt. He never voiced it.

 Gine didn’t answer so Basi made the decision for her. “Tonight you will. If you want to be Bardock’s woman, you are going to be at Bardock’s home when he returns tonight. Cook him dinner but when he steps in his home, you need to be the first thing he sees: naked, wet and waiting for him to fuck you until you both can’t move.”

 Until they both can’t…..?? “I…. I can’t do that.”

 “Why not?”

Because I don’t have any sexual experience. “I…. I don’t have a key to Bardock’s home.”

 “Then break in! It’s not that hard. Pry open a window, knock the door down. Whatever you do, just get inside his home! If you want to be Bardock’s woman, you’ll do it!”

****

 Gine could not believe she was doing this but here she was climbing in the window of Bardock’s home. Knocking the door down was too obvious and Gine didn’t think she physically could do it anyway. Gine thought of asking a neighbor if they had key access but remembered all of Bardock’s neighbors were soldiers and were gone on their own missions. Gine left her bags of food on the porch while she struggled to climb in through the window.

 Height wise, the front window reached her head so Gine jumped on the ledge and using a glass cutter, cut a hole small enough where her hand could reach in and open the latch. Bardock will complain about the window but once Gine explained, she knew Bardock will understand and happily replace it and give her a key so she didn’t have to do this again.

 When Gine opened the window, she lost her balance and fell in Bardock’s home. A end table with a lamp on it broke Gine’s fall.

 Gine worried while Bardock will accept the broken window, he would not be happy about his broken table and lamp. “I hope my food and body will be enough.”

Gine hurriedly prepared dinner for Bardock. While dinner finished cooking, Gine showered and called the base Bardock would return to after his mission. She just missed him. He left the base five minutes before she called. Gine didn’t waste time removing her clothes in Bardock’s bedroom and laying out in waiting for him on the sofa.

 “Maybe I should be like this,” Gine told herself as she sat on the sofa naked with her legs crossed. “No. Too tame.” Gine laid back with one foot on the floor and the other prop on the sofa blatantly showing her spread legs. “No. No. That won’t work.” Gine laid on her stomach with her head looking over her shoulder so when Bardock walked in he will see her cute butt greeting him. Well, she thought it was cute but will Bardock?

 Five minutes passed and Bardock hadn’t come home. The longer she waited, the more time Gine thought of her situation. Ten, twenty then thirty minutes passed. The more nervous Gine got reality set in this was the dumbest thing she ever did. Bardock wouldn’t appreciate her breaking in his home, have a home cooked meal and see her waiting for him naked. He would be angry she broke in and think she’s a psycho. He gave her a reason why they couldn’t meet when he returned and she let her own insecurities and Basi poison her mind.

 Why did she listen to Basi? Yes, she has experience with men and relationships but no one has taken her as a life mate.

 “Oh,” Gine groaned with her hands in her head. “I’m so stupid.” What to do, what to do, what to---- Gine clapped her hands suddenly. She will fix this. She’ll get dress, leave a note for Bardock apologizing for breaking in and hope the meal she left will make up for it.

 That was Gine’s new plan until she heard a vehicle slowly come to a stop. Gine raced to the window and peeked.

 Bardock!

 He was home! He couldn’t see her like this! Panicking, Gine started to run but stubbed her toe on the end table next to the sofa. When she stubbed her toe against the table, it wobbled and the lamp on it crashed on the floor.

 “Eek! Not again!”

 Her heart thumped wildly in her chest as she heard footsteps approaching the door. “Oh, no!” Gine squealed and ran out of the room.

 ****

 Bardock was not in the best mood. He was returning a week later than expected. One of the people on this mission got injured and delayed their return. At the base, Bardock called Gine. He wouldn’t see her until tomorrow but he wanted to let her know he’s home. He was disappointed she didn’t answer. It was evening. Gine should be home. He thought she’d be waiting for his call but now thought it was too much to hope for.

 Against his better judgement, Bardock drove to Gine’s home. He didn’t want to see her now. He wanted to wait until tomorrow.  When he arrived at Gine’s home, he knocked and waited before looking around her property. All the lights were out. Gine wasn’t home.  

 Bardock wondered where could Gine be. She knew he was returning home today. Was she upset his return was delayed? No. That wasn’t Gine but something must be bothering her. He hadn’t heard any accidents happened while he was gone so he knew Gine was safe; just not home.

 Resigning himself to not speaking with Gine at all, Bardock went home. All was well until he approached his home and noticed something amiss with his window. There was a hole circled in it.

 “What the hell?”

 He’s gone for a three month mission, he can’t talk to his girlfriend when he returns and someone breaks in his home?!

 His sharp ears picked up the sound of something breaking and footsteps running.

 They were still in his home?!!!

 Bardock saw red. He punched a fist in his hand. All right. Time to face this intruder and kick his ass! Bardock wished he had his scouter to measure the power level of the intruder but he left it at the base. Still, the way he was feeling, they could have the power level of Freeza and that wasn’t stopping Bardock from beating his intruder’s ass.

 When Bardock stepped inside his home, he noticed three things. 1. The end table and lamp in front of the window were gone. Bardock figured the intruder broke that both when he climbed in. 2. The end table by his sofa was toppled over and the lamp on it was broken. 3. Something was cooking in his kitchen.

 When Bardock entered his kitchen, he saw it was very clean; cleaner than it was when he left and there was food; lots of food on the table. His intruder cooked him dinner? Bardock crossed his arms over his chest. So the intruder didn’t have wicked intentions of robbing him but something was wrong.

 Who did this?

 Bardock’s first thought was Gine but that wasn’t possible. Gine didn’t have key access to his home. Gine would never break in his place. Eliminating Gine, Bardock thought of who else could do this. Only one name popped up.

 Beeta. His ex.

 Beeta couldn’t cook to save her life and this food on the table looked edible. She would break in. She was that crazy but they were over for months. He ended it even though Beeta wanted to continue.

 Bardock started thinking. Was it possible Beeta broke in his home and cook him a meal in hopes they get back together? Bardock didn’t want her. He wanted Gine. He had Gine but if Beeta want him back…..

 “Ah, hell,” he groaned.

 He had to deal with this before Gine finds out. He didn’t want her thinking he was back with his ex.

 “Beeta, I know you’re here. Come out!” He waited but no response except he heard something in his bedroom. Angry, Bardock marched to the room. “Dammit, Beeta! I know you’re here!” He pushed the door open. “Now come….!”

 Bardock froze.

 Beeta wasn’t the intruder.  

 It was Gine and she was naked with her clothes crumpled in her arms.

 “Gine?” Bardock stepped in the room  “What are you doing? Why are you naked?”

 “Who’s Beeta?” When she heard Bardock entering his home, Gine thought he would call her name but he calls someone named Beeta. Who was she? Was she an ex or was she the woman Bardock planned to meet today instead of her?

 “Never mind that,” Bardock ignored the question. There were so many questions running in his mind and he needed one answered now. “Why are you naked?”

 “Who’s Beeta?!” It was rare for someone as happy-go-lucky and kind as Gine to yell but she was mad!! Never mind she broke in Bardock’s home and spent hours making a wonderful homecooked meal for Bardock and even cleaned his place. He let her think she is his only woman but he was sneaking around with someone else! Gine decided she had every right to know who the other women is!

 “Put on some damn clothes!!” Bardock roared back.

 Bardock never raised his voice at her. It was as if he slapped her! She knew her body was not warrior like the many female Saiyans Bardock fought alongside with but she didn’t know she was so unappealing to him Bardock couldn’t stand to see her naked.

 “Am I that ugly you can’t stand to see me naked?!”

 “Stand to….” Where was Gine getting these thoughts? Why did she think he found her ugly? Frustrated and still confused on why Gine is here and naked in his home, Bardock grabbed her hand. He yanked Gine forward. The action cause the clothes to fall out of Gine’s hands. Bardock put Gine’s hand between his legs. “Feel this? Does that say I find you ugly?!”

 No. No, it did not. She never felt one before and this, he, was hard and large.

 Gine jerk her hand away as if it was burned. She stumbled back a few steps until the back of her legs touched Bardock’s bed. With a shriek, Gine fell over.

 Gine, naked and sprawled on his bed, was not something Bardock needed to see right now. His pants was already tight enough. “Could you put on some clothes?” Bardock strained out the words. “You’re really distracting right now.”

 Embarrassed for multiple reasons, Gine put on her clothes. She sat on the bed and waited for Bardock to speak again.

 Exhaling, Bardock sat beside Gine but kept a respectable distance. “Wanna tell me what this is all about?”

 Even sitting, Bardock’s figure was large and intimidating. Not in a bad way, Gine reasoned. He was so powerful and large and she so petite besides him. One didn’t cross him and one didn’t betray a man of his physique.

 Gine licked her lips nervously; her sweaty hands kept rubbing her knees. How could she tell Bardock what she did and why? Would it make sense to him? Would he laugh at her? Break up with her?

 “Gine,” Bardock put his hand over hers. “We’re not leaving this room until you explain yourself.”

 His voice was so rich and thick with masculinity. It left her heart beating faster and her body reacting between her legs.  

 “I hadn’t meant to break in. I was going to wait until tomorrow to see you but I talked to Basi and well, she told me about you and what you usually did after you returned…..” Gine kept her eyes on Bardock, waiting for him to say anything; dispute Basi’s claims, but he didn’t. Disappointed, she continued, “And it’s your first mission since we started courting and you didn’t even want to see me today! Three months and you didn’t want to see me. You wanted to wait until tomorrow. Basi told me if I wanted to be your woman, I’ll break in here and wait for you naked.”

 With her story explained, Gine waited for Bardock to say anything but for several seconds, he was silent.

 “Why weren’t you waiting for me?”

 “Hmm?” That wasn’t what Gine expected Bardock to say.

 “Why weren’t you waiting for me?” Bardock repeated. “You were in here with your clothes in your hands like you were trying to escape. So, why weren’t you waiting for me when I walked in?”

 And the embarrassment continues. “You live ten minutes from your base. I called and was told you just left. I waited for you and after thirty minutes, I started thinking how crazy I would look waiting for you. When I came in here, I started thinking you were celebrating your return with other Saiyans and women…… and I didn’t want to be here if you came home with one and…..”

 “That’s enough.” Bardock squeezing her hand silenced her. “I heard enough.”

 What did that mean?

 “When I was unattached,” Bardock explained, “I did party when I came home from missions. If a woman approached and I was attracted to her, we did what came natural. When I’m with someone, I unwind with her.”

 Gine flicked his hand away. She heard enough, too. “You didn’t want to unwind with me. You wanted Beeta.”

 “Beeta is the last woman I dated before I met you. We’ve been over months. I ended it but she still wanted me. That’s why when I thought you were her. I never thought you would do this.”

 Maybe he had a point there. Gine wouldn’t have done this if Bardock wanted to meet tonight. “That doesn’t change the fact you didn’t want to unwind with me when you came home. You wanted to wait until tomorrow. Did you make Beeta wait a day?”

 “No, I didn’t.” Bardock didn’t lie and this admission crushed Gine. “But…. Beeta and I were together. We’ve been together since our second date.” It wasn’t hard for Gine to understand what ‘together’ meant.

 “Why not me?” Gine asked. “We’ve been together for six months, including the three you were gone. “You’ve touched me sometimes but never enough to….” Gine couldn’t finish. This was too much for her. Bardock found her attractive but not enough to want to bed her. “I need to go.”

 Gine tried to rise but Bardock’s firm hand held her in place. “You had your say explaining. Now it’s mine.” Bardock exhaled as he struggled to find the right words to speak. “When I return from my missions, I’m still pumped. I used to drink and party with others. If I had a woman, I’d go home to her. I’m….. very charged, Gine. I knew if I saw you, I’d want to mate with you. That’s why I wanted to meet tomorrow. I need a day to cool off.”

 “So, you wanted to stay away because of me?”

 Bardock confirmed with a nod. “We haven’t reached that point in our relationship and you’re not experienced. I didn’t wanna pressure you.”

 With that, Bardock released her hand. Gine suddenly felt cold without his touch. Bardock gave his reason why he didn’t want to meet tonight. She understood except….. “It’s not pressure if I want it, too.”

 “Gine,” Bardock sighed, “you’re only saying that because of what I told you. You think you’re ready and you want it to please me.”

 “That’s not true. I wanted to. Before you left my answer would’ve been no because I was unsure, but while you were away, I realized I wanted to. I didn’t know what to say or explain what I want because I’m not experienced, but I want you, too.”

 Gine rose and stood before Bardock. Basi was wrong suggesting Gine break in, but she was right about one thing. Gine needed to take charge and show Bardock what she wanted. “I now see I should just ask for what I want.”

 Standing before Bardock, Gine removed her clothes until she was naked before him. Taking Bardock’s hand, Gine placed Bardock’s hand between her legs. She rubbed him inside her before pulling out. Moisture glistened on his fingers. “See this? Doesn’t that say what I feel? What I want when I think of you?”

 Unable to resist, Bardock licked his fingers. Damn. He shouldn’t have done that. “Gine,” he warned her, “you better go.” If she didn’t leave….. if she insist on staying…..

 “Why?” Gine refused. She saw the look in Bardock’s eyes. Lust. Desire. He didn’t want her to leave. She pulled at his uniform. “It’s not what you want. It’s not what I want either.” He didn’t resist as Gine removed the top of his uniform.

 “Gine,” Bardock warned her again. She was so close and her scent was so intoxicating. Gine placed a knee between Bardock’s legs. Leaning over, she kissed him tenderly. With Gine’s kisses, her hands on his bare chest, and her scent filling his nostrils, the last reserve of Bardock’s control snapped.

 He grabbed Gine, flipped her over so she lay beneath him on the bed. “Gine,” he repeated again in a hoarse voice.

 “Bardock,” Gine whispered as her hand caressed his face. “Let us both have the welcome back we both want.”

 Nothing else needed to be said.

[geminimoonbeamx]

Oh, Baby: Chapter One

A/N: Okay so I’ve literally had this in my drafts for the last...six months or so? And I figured I’d tweak it and edit and post it since I’ve been so AWOL on this site lately, and so that I can give you guys some new content from me.

Word Count: 3k+

Warnings: Heavy cursing. This chapter is pretty PG, talks of mental illness, unexpected pregnancy and contemplating abortion- but she doesnt go through with it. Smut to come. AND LOTS OF FLUFF TOO, I promise lol

Summary: After a drunken night, Y/N finds herself having to face the biggest decision of her life; is she ready for motherhood? And a better question, is Bucky Barnes, her long time friend and womanizer extraordinaire, ready for fatherhood? They’ll just have to go along for the ride and find out together. A Bucky Barnes x Plus Size Reader Story 

Chapter 1/6: The Baby Woe’s and Oh No’s

You knew it.

You’d known something was off, different, changed.

You sit on your toilet, your world spinning as you attempt to wrap your mind around what was going on. Everything seems sludge like, too slow and too fast and not real.

You’re definitely going into shock, you point out to yourself. The catatonic kind. You’ve been staring at the bright, sunny lemon print of the shower curtain, your eyes focused but not seeing. Your elbows rest on your knees and your hands cover the entirety of your lower face.

At least you’re not crying anymore. 

Nope, your body had moved past that-Maybe, it felt like the tears could start rolling again at anytime.

Oh god, what are you going to do?

Why, why, why?

Why you? You’d been a good person- well a decent person at least… You recycled and tipped more than twenty percent. Didnt vote for Trump and ate your vegetables.

And your life was just seeming to even out. You’d somehow landed your dream job a couple months back- every Wednesday night your voice could be heard on WNEX. You we’re making enough money to finally be comfortable- doing what you loved. Gaining a wide audience and wiggling your way into the industry. Your mind was so career oriented, so focused on your end goal that you’d never even considered something like this.

Throwing a big fat wrench in the gears.

One night, it had only been one stupid, drunken night. Hadn't you racked up enough karma coins to cover your ass for one fucking night?

Are you there god? It’s me, Y/N, and I really fucked up this time.

Wanda comes back into the tiled room a few minutes, her dark features soft and a colorful mug in her hand.

“Are you okay?” She gauges, gently, as she reaches out to you.

You snort and shrug, but accept the steaming cup from her anyway. You look down at the swirling, murky drink.

Wishing for just one moment that you could drown yourself in it.

“Look, babe, I know you’re dealing with some major shock right now- but maybe you should go lay down. We’ll figure it out later-” Wanda’s voice is even and you appreciate her being so calm and sure during all of this but you just can't process the situation enough to accept it.

You can't go lay down.

“Why not?” Wanda questions and you didn't realize you’d said that out loud, you hadn't even felt your mouth form the words.

Your head really is swimming. Disconnected from your body a little bit. You force yourself to take a drink of the tea as she gives you a more pointed look.

“Because I have to- I don't know. I have to figure all this out” You protest. You can't hear your voice, how spiked with anxiousness it is.

“There’s not much to figure out” Wanda supplies, unhelpfully as she leans against the counter, arms folded over her chest and you give her a look that’s half between a glare and a gape.

“Um, what the fuck do you mean? There’s so much to figure out, I don't even know where to start” You give a short, sharp, slightly hysterical laugh gripping the mug hard enough to hurt with one hand while cupping your forehead with the other.

“Okay, first things first. And this is the big one: do you want this?”

Well, that whole ‘I'm done crying’ thought you’d had before was a lie. You feel the tears well up once more and overflow, spill down your already swollen cheeks. Your face is hot. Your tummy is full of rocks.

You’d always hated crying. It never made you feel released or freed or lighter like it did for other people. It made you feel icky and stupid. And afterwards it always felt like you’d gotten punched in the nose.

Yes, you did have a therapist to work out those issues with, thanks.

Your mind doesn't know what to do with that question.

You look at Wanda, searching her face as though she might have the answers but she just shook her head and reached out her hand to rub your shoulder. That’s all she could offer. Her support in whatever path you we’re about to embark on.

And then you look down, at the countertop. That was usually littered with stray tubes of mascara or straightening irons. Bobby pins and half lit candles. All the things that resided in the bathrooms of girls in their mid twenties.

In place of those was now four pregnancy tests. All of which read positive.

The first two had been those double lined ones. Two bold lines- both times. Then you’d ran down to the bodega at the end of the block and gotten two more. And those we’re more straight to the point. They literally read the word pregnant- in a font that you don't think you’d ever forget.

Did you want this? Did you want a baby?

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

“I dont know- I’m not ready. The timing is all wrong” You croak.

“Okay” Wanda coo’s “well there's alternatives then-” you squeeze your eyes closed at that thought “Either way we should make a doctors appointment to make sure you’re actually pregnant. I’ve read so many stories about how unreliable these things are”

She holds up one of the tests and rambles on about all of the online articles she’d come across. How some woman had taken a dozen of ‘em, gotten all positive results and then went in and had an empty uterus.

“For one, ew. I peed on that” You nod your head at the test in her hand and she rolls her eyes.

“Other side of it- and I held your hair when you got food poisoning from that shrimp shack. I’ve come into contact with worse body fluids of yours”

“For two- I’m pregnant. I know it. I’ve known it for weeks. I knew something was wrong and I just tried to...think it away, you know? Out of sight, out of mind? I sound insane” saying the words out loud makes you realize how...ludicrous those thoughts had been. But still. It was the truth.

She just nods though “You don't”

There’s a moment of silence. Stretching, as you stew in your reality.

“I’d be doing it alone” you whisper into the mug as you sip on it “I really dont think he’d want a baby”

“You would never be alone, you know that. You have so many people in your life that would support you with this” Wanda protests, sad that you’d even say that.

“You know what I mean” You push on. Because having a good group of friends and family wouldn't change the fact that you were possibly looking at the possibility of being a single mother.

If you decided to keep it, that is.

“Yeah I do- and I don't know if I agree with that. Bucky's a lot of things, an arrogant asshole at that top of that list, but he’s a good guy and I think he’d want to be involved. He doesn't give off deadbeat dad vibes”

All of that was true. Bucky is a good guy, at the core of him.

He was kind and decent and the two of you had been friends for years upon years. He was charming, magnetic and women loved him- you’d found it amusing, before you we’re the one in his bed after a drunken night a month ago.

He’d left your messages mostly on seen since then. You’d only sent a few, but still that had stung. Him icing you out the moment he’d gotten into your pants pissed you off, not only because it was rude but because it was expected.

You knew how Bucky was with women, it had been such an idiot move to sleep with him.

It made it all the more complicated that you ran in the same social circles- had all the same friends. Sam’s small promotion dinner a couple weeks ago had been extremely awkward for you, to say the least.

He’d earned himself the cold shoulder from you and no matter how many times he’d try to broach a conversation with you, crack a joke in your direction, or single you out in a group conversation you pretended he didn't exist.

“Damn, re-jec-ted” It had been so obvious that Clint had of course pointed it out, which was uncomfortable but expected because Clint had no filter like that.

Bucky had stopped trying after that- and started flirting back with the waitress that had been throwing herself at him throughout the night. You cut out early, claiming tiredness. And upset stomach. Whatever to get you out of there.

To say it was a shitty night was a bit of an understatement and you hadn't spoken one word to him since.

“I haven't talked to him since that night- and now I’m what, supposed to call him up and tell him I’m carrying his child because he doesn't properly know how to operate a condom?

“I don't know, yeah? It doesn't mean you two need to get married, but if you choose to keep this baby, that’s going to be a conversation you’re going to have to have” Wanda is so annoying sometimes. She was such a sharp thinking human- always grounded and level headed. She claimed it was from always having to be the “good twin” growing up.

Of course she was rationalizing this whole thing while you we’re floundering about it like a fish.

“I think I should make a doctors appointment” You just mutter. You’d rather focus your attention there. It was easier, cleaner for you. A goal you could actually accomplish.

And so that’s what you did.

//////

They were able to get you in at the end of the week, which in overpopulated New York City was a godsend. And still, it felt like far too long. Like the reality of it couldn't sink in until you talked to a medical professional so you we’re left in some kind of fucked up long until then.

You tried to keep your anxious mind busy, throwing yourself into work. Talking to people over the static airways of the radio about their lives; about the world and all of its workings was so much easier than talking to anyone about what was going on with you.

The only person who knew was Wanda and you’d canceled all of your other plans during the week, not able to face anyone. Not yet.

Lots of sleepless nights, staring at the ceiling. Thinking until your brain physically hurt.

And then you’d turned to you journal- maybe if you wrote everything down it would make sense. If you could see it all, inked out, you could make a decision.

Did you want this child?

Wanda had suggested making a pro’s and con’s list and while it sounded crazy and unhelpful, and you rolled your eyes at it ‘As though that will help’, you ended up doing it anyways.

You start with Cons, naturally. Always had been too damn negative.

Cons:

-I have no fucking idea how to be a mom

-Bucky???

-My job. My career. Who’s going to watch the baby while I work?

-How in the fuck am I going to financially support a baby.

-No room in the apartment/My room is fucking tiny and where will we put a baby

(Wanda said we can turn half of the living room into a playroom/makeshift nursery. How fucked up though? Not even a real nursery)

-No car? A baby on the subway? No thank you.

-Weird to explain to people even if Bucky wants to co-parent. All our friends??

-PAIN

-Pregnancy looks so painful. Birth looks scary. My poor vagine.

-Life is basically over

-The baby will not have a grandmother from your side...

You could keep going on, but you decide to stop there. You could go on, make the list pages and pages long but you decide against it.

Pros:

-I’ve always wanted to be a mom. Always dreamed of babies and motherhood, baby fever crashes over me in waves.

-Me and Bucky’s baby is going to be cute AF(and that just pure facts)

-I have a great support system- amazing friends and family who I know will help

-Bucky could want to be involved. He probably will...maybe?

-He has a big family, i think. The baby would have lots of family

-I don't want to have an abortion. All about pro-choice, but I just...don't know if I can.

That had made you bite the end of your pen.

Adoption?

Could you give a child that you went through nine months of pregnancy up for adoption? Knowing yourself- probably not. You cant even get rid of the moth hole ridden clothes at the back of your closet. Not comparing a baby to a jean jacket- fuck, see how unequipped you were for this?

-I’d be a good mom(I think)

-I could swing it financially. Maybe get a second job

-At least I have a good insurance plan now

-My life might have more of a purpose?

You hide the lists away in one of your many journals. Stick it in the wicker basket under your night stand- and revisit it too many times in those days between.

You make a lot of other lists in that time, too. 

//////

One of them sits tucked in your purse as you make your way to the eighth floor- Arms folded across your chest and the inside of your bottom lip speared between your teeth as the elevator takes you up.

Wanda stands beside you, of course. Sipping on her iced americano. You’d tried to tell her that she didn't need to come, that you were perfectly okay with going on your own. You’d gotten about two words out before she shut you down-

“I already took the afternoon off, don't be ridiculous”

You both know you wouldn't admit it, stubborn as you we’re, but you’d let out a big sigh of relief. You really didn't want to do this alone.

The waiting room is standard for this building, looks similar to the one that you sit in when you see your GP- save for a sign hanging about the door that labels it the OB-GYN.

Fake plants and those standard waiting room chairs that had that weird diagonal print on them TV’s that we’re playing the local news and tables stacked with months dated magazines. There was no windows though and it made the back of your neck feel hot.

The receptionists is nice. Middle aged with mild with droning, mellow voice. She checks you in fast and efficiently and tells you that you’ve got about a 15 minute wait on your hands.

Annoying, you think even though you give her a big grin and a sweet ‘thank you’. You’d been right on time. Why in all offices of all kinds is there always a fucking wait?

Wanda has plopped down on a chair in the corner and is fingering through an issue of LIFE, her long legs crossed at the knee. you sit next to her. The office air conditioner is blasting, it had been a muggy May in the city, but you feel overheated. You let the chunky cardigan you’d donned slip down one shoulder, exposing your skin to the chilly air.

You should feel the cold but you’re over heated. Nervous as hell. Why doesnt anyone else in this office seem nervous?

You tend to people watch when you get overly anxious like you are now. Tend to take in every little detail of every little thing around you.

There’s a black couple- the woman doesn't look pregnant but they’re holding hands tightly and they keep whispering to each other. He smiles and nudges her shoulder with his. Then there’s a Latina woman who looks just about ready to pop and is reading one of the kids book to a little boy with her eyes. A white lady, with twin carriers rocks them gently as she chats with a woman who looked to be related to her, maybe. Older and graying.

You feel like a creep but you can't stop looking at them all. Staring at each of the people who are at different stages of the same  life-path you found yourself on.

Wanda clicks her tongue as her dark eyes focus on the magazine. Muttering, her accent thick, about how the lenses they used for the shoot on the page was all wrong.

Her photographers eye was snobby and elitist.

“Y/N?” The nurse calls you back, not butchering your name which is nice and look over at your best friend.

“Are you sure you don't want me to come back with you?” Wanda whispers, big gingerbread eyes searching yours and you shake your head quickly.

You had to do this, on your own. What if...what if you ended up having to do this whole thing alone? You had to be grown, had to face this solo. That’s just how you felt, even if it might not be true.

“It’s just another appointment- I can do it on my own. I’ll live” there's a reasoning lilt in your voice that she doesn't quite buy but she nods all the same. Tells you that she’ll be waiting right there for you as you muster up all your courage and train your face into a smile, following the nurse into the back offices, the door mechanically closing behind the two of you.

The OB’s office is...warmer then you’d thought it would be. Her desk has frames of all types and her walls are plastered with colorful posters, making the alabaster of the wallpaper less daunting. There was even a window in here.

You’re perched up on the exam table/ chair thingy, staring out at the tall buildings across the street, at the people moving fast below on the sidewalks. You wonder what all of them are doing? How many of the have kids?...

When there’s a soft knock at the door your attention snaps back to the present.

Doctor Helen Cho is a petite Asian woman. She has glossy dark hair that's tied up in a clip high on the  back of her head, and her voice is friendly and her expression open as introduces herself to you and reaches out to shake your hand.

“I’m Y/N, it’s nice to meet you, too” You sound so much surer and more confident then you feel. It had always been your party trick- meeting new people and being able to talk to them. Leaving trails of barley there acquaintances in your wake.

“So it says here that you think you’re pregnant, yes?” She gets right to it, and your appreciative for it.

“Yeah, I know I am.  I took four tests and they all came out positive and I...I feel really off” you try to explain it, poorly but she seems to understand.

“When you say off, do you mean like bad feeling off or?” She probes as she sits at her desk, swivels her chair to face you. Her chocolate almond eyes weren't piercing or clinical, just waiting.

“Not really bad? But I’ve just been so tired lately and I’ve had like, zero appetite. And my breasts have been so sensitive that it hurts to put on a bra” as you tell here these things you could slap your head for not assuming you were pregnant before you’d taken the tests.

Dr. Cho hums and nods as she looks over her tablet “Well from the look of these results from those blood and urine tests your nurse went ahead and gave you when you came in, I can tell you that you are definitely about nine weeks pregnant- so those symptoms are right on with where you are”

You inhale and exhale, bigly. It’s real. It’s been real, was a notion, a happening but now...it’s so freaking real.

And there's a real life changing decision to be made-

That you’d already made before you’d even walked into this office but now seemed even clearer. Crystal, in that moment of clarity.

“I want to keep it” Your confident as you say it. Your voice cracks with some kind of emotion you couldn't even begin to explain, but you’re confident. You’re sure.

Dr. Cho grins at you, and stands, congratulating you then, after she’s sure you even want a congratulations. You like her, think you might.

It’s hard to focus on her voice though because all your mind can think of is the next big obstacle, the next big step in all of this.

How were you going to tell Bucky?

Okay guys? I posted? Crazy right? lol give me some feedback! Comment and tell me what you thought of this. I absolutely love interacting with you guys, but I’m sure ya’ll know that. 

Also- the taglist for this story is still OPEN, so if you’d like to be tagged in future chapters just ask!

@peacefulwriter88 @jaamesbbarnes @jalapenobarnes @brieannakeogh @gifsbysimplysonia @lostinthoughtsandfeelings @lostinspace33 @4theluvofall @plumfondler @tatathekissypotato @siren-kitten-his @skishenanigans @geekyweed @spidey-babe-parker @lastfallenstar @rachelle-on-the-run @prettybubblesintheair @dani-si 

[honourablejester]

Dishonored Playthrough (Spoilers)

People my sister and I have killed so far in Dishonored (Low Chaos)(We’re just heading for the Lighthouse now):

Lady Boyle, because screw that non-lethal option (we were going for Clean Hands, right up until we ran up against this option)

The Torturer, because he’s immune to sleep darts?!? and we didn’t realise this until he was already waling on us with a branding iron - with which, by the way, he hits like a Mack Truck

Granny Rags, because she’s bugged and even if you tranq her after destroying the cameo she somehow still dies

The only one I actually feel guilty about here is Lady Boyle. The other two we didn’t actually mean to kill, but honestly I’m not that fussed about them. The torturer is a horror show and honest-to-Outsider self-defense on our part, and Granny ... the first thing that woman asks you to do is kill four people, and the second is to poison an entire district with the plague. Also she was trying to boil a man alive when we met for the last time. I’m kinda not that fussed that we accidentally killed her.

It probably is an interesting demonstration of the slippery slope, though. Because yes, they’re easy enough to justify, but I wonder if we hadn’t already made the conscious decision to kill Lady Boyle, would we have gone back a save point and put the work in to avoid killing the other two? We were like, we’ve already lost Clean Hands, by our own choice, do we really want to get beaten to death with a branding iron again? And the answer is no, but it’s an interesting excuse for killing someone when you (the player) are functionally immortal and definitely have the (frustrating and difficult) option not to. In-universe, you wonder if Corvo was thinking the same thing. 

(Though granted, in-universe, killing the torturer definitely could have been a complete ptsd-fueled survival reaction as well. And Granny was just baffling, because we definitely tranq’d her, and then she gave this horrible scream and died anyway, and I’m guessing in-universe that was equally baffling and horrifying, so maybe Corvo just wrote that one off as ‘terrible shit happens in Dunwall, even when you’ve done literally everything in your power for it not to’)

We killed Lady Boyle because we ... couldn’t justify the alternative. I mean, yes, where there’s life there’s hope and maybe she could have gotten away, or maybe he’d magically turn out to not be a rapey bastard who’d keep her captive the entire rest of her life ... But no. Death is cleaner.

And then one of her sisters wrote to us to thank us for sparing at least some of her family (Waverly’d actually found us with her sister’s body, and begged us not to kill her as we fled, so ...), and basically everything was horrible.

I mean, couldn’t we have just ... done a Sokolov and kidnapped her until Burrows went down? Granted, given Havelock’s reaction to Sokolov I wouldn’t necessarily have trusted the Loyalists with her either, even at the time, but like, we could have tried Slackjaw again? Here’s her fortune in river krust pearls, can you hold this lady unharmed until we topple the government please? Mind you, then she might have been eaten by rats when Granny went omnicidal, so ...

Ugh. Now we have sort-of-semi-innocent blood on our hands, and everything is horrible, and we’re not getting beaten to death with a branding iron again. We’re just ... not in the mood.

Also, we spared Daud at least 90% because we were tired, and dude, we didn’t even want to be here, we just need the key, we just woke up from being poisoned and betrayed all over again, please go away for a bit? I’m not here to murder anyone, I just need my daughter, and a bed, and for nothing horrible to happen for like, at least three days. Also, you’re sorry, and you’re trying to spare your men, and until we remembered our crossbow we were fighting like a man who’d just woke up from being poisoned so clearly you’re not trying all that hard, so can we just ... make like I was never here? Please?

And then we drag ourselves to the Hound Pits and Lydia and Wallace have been brutally fucking executed by Admiral fucking Havelock, and I’m wondering if maybe we’ll be finishing this game with a kill tally of four. Because you, sir, are a goddamned asshole.

But no. No. We’re going to do our best to be low chaos, and moral, and not throw him off a goddamned lighthouse.

Besides. He doesn’t deserve to get off easier than Burrows.

So, yes. This game is going well. Heh.

[stusbunker]

Lay Me Down

A Supernatural Fan-fiction

Featuring: Sam and Dean Winchester, unnamed female character/ reader, Castiel, briefly Jack

A/N: Show level violence and gore. Lots of gunshots, attempted suicide(bad guy). Angst. Character death. I decided to try this for @supernatural-jackles #Weekly Writing Challenge. Prompts will be in bold. I have about fifty other things I should be writing and of course this came out instead. Case is rushed, but action demanded it. xoxo Stu

Word Count: ~3388

Song Inspired: All the Pretty Girls by Kaleo

“What?” Sam recoiled at her smug display.

“She totally wanted to take a bite of you, man,” she warned, leaning back to watch the cop retreat behind her desk.

Dean sneaked up on them at just the right moment. “What are we looking at?”

“The cop making goo-goo eyes at your brother.”

“Not the time, Sammy. We have a team ganking those poor saps, so we need our A game.”

Sam stammered, “I wasn’t-”

“Later, Romeo.” She pulled him out of the precinct by linking their arms, patting on his large hand as to comfort him of his loss. The Impala waited for them at the curb outside and in less than ten minutes they found their next stop, the only store in town that carried ammo. Whoever they were hunting seemed to like their magic with a side of gunshot wounds, that’s why no one else had put two and two together. Until Sam got the autopsy reports emailed to him, anonymously.

C.O.D. may have been G.S.W. to the chest, but whatever potions they had added to the bullets left the people purple husks of themselves. Five victims over twelve months in a town with little other major crime. The public were passed high alert and into panic mode. The locals practically threw a party for the fake Federal Agents that morning, and not just the chipper traffic cop. Everyone wanted answers.

^*^

After narrowing down the suspect pool, Dean called Cas in. He didn’t want anyone to be left without back up and with what seemed to be two witches at work, neither were to be underestimated.

“What I don’t get is why shoot them, then poison them,” Dean groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“Tell me about it, is it just to confuse the M.E.?”

“Not a very innocuous way to destroy evidence,” Sam added, closing the folder in his lap.

“That can’t be it. Whatever magic this is, it isn’t a poison. Because that would be cleaner than shooting someone. The potion must be for something else,” Dean continued.

“It’s a soul siphoning serum,” Castiel had been squinting at the photographs from the morgue.

“Say that five times fast,” Dean said under his breath, she couldn’t help but laugh as he goaded her.

“So whoever is doing this is sucking out the victims’ souls?” Sam cleared his throat, giving his brother and their friend a teacher’s scowl.

“It’s like a conduit, instead of the soul being released by the witch or more likely warlock, the serum allows the power of the deceased’s soul to be absorbed by the spell’s caster,” Castiel grabbed a pen and started writing down some runes.

Meanwhile she got Sam’s attention, “how much do you guys know about warlocks?”

“Uh, some, I think Cuthbert Sinclair probably was the closest we’ve dealt with,” Sam frowned as his focus turned back to his laptop.

“Not that douche, so what, we’ve got people’s souls in jars or is it an instant recharge button. Boom, the bastards get some more pep in their step?” Dean waited for Cas to finish his scribbling.

“It’s a lot more than pep, Dean. If we are going in, we need to set up a trap. As warlocks tap into demonic energy, these should dampen their powers, but at least one of them will still have elevated abilities.”

“Still got those witch killing bullets, boys?” She sat up straight, determination masking the fear in her eyes.

“Never leave the Bunker without them,” Sam smirked.

“Sam and I will work on, enhancing, the ammunition for a warlock,” Cas suggested. “You two work out exactly who they are and how we can draw them out.”

^*^

“You know teasing Sam about girls is about the fastest way to get him to retreat, right?” Dean asked her once they were comfortably down the road.

“Dean, stop, okay? It’s not like that, with either of you,” she looked him dead in the eye as he cocked his head and considered her rebuttal.

“You jumped on that pretty fast,” licking his lips like the smooth bastard he was. “But I was talking in general, you know. Girls and Sam are a touchy subject.”

“After Eileen?”

“Um, yeah, but there were others and each one ended wrong. But don’t tell him I told you that.”

“Won’t, plus it’s not like you have a list of epic romances that ended mutually. None of us do, that’s not hunter style, not really,” she called him out and summed it up, like she always did. Speaking hard truths and kicking ass. Ignoring and denying herself, because there were more important things. Dean nodded, squinting into the afternoon sunshine. She wondered if he owned a pair of sunglasses or if he just liked straining his eyes. Dumb ass.

Dean pulled into the circular drive of the looming old house, though it was immaculately cared for, it still wore its years at the seams. She led the charge to the ornate front door, hoping the well-respected Mason wasn’t an unholy murderer all the same. Dean scowled as the door remained unanswered, though two vehicles were visible in the car port. As they peeked in different windows, their suspicions were verified when a rumble erupted from inside the house.

They drew their weapons and as Dean squared himself to kick in the door, it burst open. A golden blast of light sent him and the door on top of him back ten feet. Dean rolled, hunching against the cruel landing on the front lawn.

“Freeze, Federal Agents,” she tried to keep charade, at least for the neighbors who may be home during the day.

“Sorry, honey, but you’re coming with me,” the man’s unnaturally breathy voice answered. And before she could reply or Dean could focus enough to aim, they disappeared.

“Fuck!” Dean roared.

^*^

Cas and Sam took a cab and met Dean outside the house as the locals swarmed the premises after being called in for a disturbance. Dean was talking to the lead detective about what happened, who insisted he get checked out after losing consciousness.

“Dean, we can’t do a thorough search with all of these people aggravating the contents of the house,” Cas worried.

“Yeah, well, better than letting them search it alone and end up a toad or worse,” Dean snipped, giving Cas his sad half smile.

“We’ll get her back, Dean.”

“Oh, you bet your ass we will.” He wouldn’t look his brother in the eye.

Two hours passed where nothing exploded or remotely magically was found on any level of the house. Dean’s agitation grew by the minute.

“Okay, I, uh, we all need something to do. So let’s get back to the motel and regroup, find the partner, maybe, or –”

“Sounds like a plan, food on the way?”

It was the damn coroner the whole time. Which they only discovered after reviewing the autopsy reports that Sam had been sent versus the official ones, which were lousy with muted details and outright omissions. They waited for night fall and made their way back to the morgue.

^*^

It was a trap, she was bait and she was pissed. Mouth breather one and clammy hands doctor were slowly trying to take over the town. Power hungry loners together at last. Luckily, she knew the guys would be prepared for anything, but it didn’t make the worry stop churning in her gut. Instead of focusing on the negative, she used her time to figure out what made each man tick.

Obviously, Mister pillar-of-the-community was the dominant personality while the M.E. was the minion. She tried not to let her biases determine who had just sucked down a soul, but it seemed like her kidnapper wasn’t the type to share such power. He certainly wasn’t the type to stick around and babysit her. He left her in the back office with his sidekick going on an hour and a half. Before she could properly sweet talk the pasty coroner, her rescue team arrived.

They sent in Castiel, in scrubs, she caught his reflection in the window from the hallway, which she figured was because he hadn’t been on the case during initial interviews. But it was a small town and any new face caused justifiable distrust. While Cas waited for whatever paperwork or samples he had been sent to claim, she worked on freeing herself.

*^*

With the second can of spray paint emptied along the surrounding corridor, Sam signaled Dean to move on. Everything seemed to move in cornered urgency once the lights went out. When the emergency spots came on at the exits, Dean spotted him approaching, tendrils of magic crawling from his eyes, a deep amber pendant pulsing at his throat as he threw everything he had at the hunters. Both men were pinned to the wall, backs rattling the blinds on the opposite side of the windows where Cas was trying to buy them time.

“What was that?!”

“I’m not sure, perhaps you should check?” Cas tried, he really did, but he still wasn’t very convincing. The coroner froze for two beats as he waited for Castiel to move, panic won out and he dove back into the office to ensure their bait was still on the hook. The door slammed in Cas’s face, handle burning hot with warding. Cas’s grace blazed through him as he tried to break the enchantment stopping him. The sound of choking forced him to turn around and see what the Winchesters were facing in the hall.

^*^

She stumbled out the back, trying to breach the heavy emergency door as quietly as possible. The cement steps continued out into the base of a massive retaining wall and another set of stairs. She threw herself forward hoping to find the Impala and any of its weapons to circle back. She heard the door burst open behind her as she reached the final stair, but she didn’t look back. She ran with everything she had to reach the corner of the building and the hope of suitable cover but the shot that echoed in the cool night air was faster.

^*^

Castiel stared at the warlock pinning Sam and Dean in place in confusion, the warding should be dampening his abilities. Castiel reached out with his grace and broke the man’s concentration, pulling him out of his trance.

“He’s channeling powers, besides the souls,” Castiel spoke through the strain.

“Somebody is a quick study, now, uh, what are we, hmmm?” The man’s eyes sparkled as he measured Castiel. “Devon! Devon let’s get this one first. He’s going to be just, divine.”

“He doesn’t have a soul you can suck on, Sparky,” Dean barked, clamping a firm hand on the distracted warlock’s shoulder, as soon as he made contact Dean flew back once more.

“Yes, I know that, Dude, but his Grace is extractable as well, isn’t it?”

“Where is she?” Sam changed the subject, standing beside Castiel. “You’d knew we’d come for her, what did you do with her?”

“Devon has your little pet, quite the talons on that one,” he hummed before gasping, finally a waiver in his resolve. Which is all it took for Dean to try for the amulet at his throat once more. Sam flanked him, grabbing his left hand and locking it into iron shackles. In a split second a shot rang out and the three men fell in a huddle as Cas’s hold broke. Dean wrenched the thick cables of cord from his neck, the magic radiating from the cursed stone. Sam worked to secure the other wrist.

“I think… I think I’ve been shot,” Cas groaned as he slummed against the far wall, along the office door frame.

“Cas?!” Dean was there in four strides, panic filled him as he checked the wound, the bullet still inside him. “Sam!”

Sam kicked away from the nullified warlock. “On it,” he replied as he chased down the infamous sidekick Devon, gun drawn and menacing.

^*^

The cement hit every part of her, a mass of uncontrollable weight fell hard against the wet stone. She should have been uncomfortable, but the magic of the bullet seemed to muffle the pain into a bubble of heat centered just above her bottom ribs. The spell spread quickly, like spilled water on a tabletop, spreading until it had no more volume to spare. She willed herself to roll, to push on, but the magic dulled every resistance. The sky was hard to make out against the fluorescent security lights, but she convinced herself there were stars beyond the false beacons. That there was something worth wishing on.

^*^

“Come on Cas, heal damnit!” Dean growled.

“I am, Dean.” Cas sighed in exasperation, digging the bullet from his vessel before continuing to flood the body with healing light. “The magic was strong, but it wasn’t meant for angels. It will just be a bit longer. Go find Sam and the partner.”

“We still gotta–”

“I’ll find her, in a sec.”

“You sure?”

“Yes, Dean.”

Dean patted his shoulder before checking his gun. As Dean strode passed the prone man, he contemplated putting a bullet straight between the guys’ eyes, but let the urge pass as he raced after his brother.

Cas stood slowly, eyes burning the now terrified man across the hall. He spotted the pendant on the floor where Dean had dropped it and just before he crushed it beneath his heel, Castiel muttered a chilling, “good riddance.”

^*^

There were only a few rooms left where Devon could have gone, but Sam took his time, clearing each office and storage room with the diligence that was ingrained in his very being. He felt Dean behind him, but spun all the same, as the brothers locked eyes they moved to the last room. The chill in the air greeting them as they stepped to either side of the Autopsy Room. The wall of refrigerated beds their only option.

“This guy is whacked,” Dean muttered, starting at the top row and working down.

“Ya think?”

“Uh, Cas is getting her, by the way, but we should get back quick, he’s still weak,” Dean froze in front of the final door, counting down with his fingers.

3-2-1

Sam’s finger was itching on the trigger before they realized it wasn’t Devon, but another victim. A lab tech that Sam recognized from another case, he couldn’t remember her name, but she must have sent him the original reports. Their hearts sank as they left her there on the metal tray. Dean sealed the door once more and they backtracked.

^*^

Cas staggered through the office, finding her restraints empty. He followed her only possible course, quickly ending up outside. The smell of blood and the slowing of a heartbeat pulled the healing angel to the edge of the building.

“Oh no,” Cas fell to his knees, hand sliding down her face to her pulse. “Where?”

“He got me in the back, can you believe it?” She groaned as Castiel carefully slid her on to her side.

“You’re going to be fine.”

“When are we ever fine, Cas?”

^*^

Devon was back in the first hallway, devastated tears pooling down his face as he paced, the damaged necklace clutched in his fist with his gun in the other.

“What happened,” Sam whispered.

“I don’t know, Cas must have snuffed him,” Dean shrugged and aimed. “Devon, come on man, it’s over.”

“You! You did this!” Devon pointed his gun at Dean’s face, his arm visibly trembling with grief.

“No, man, look, I left him where he was, I swear,” Dean held up his hands, belting his weapon with a single glance at Sam, whose was still at the ready.

They were at a standstill, when suddenly Devon countered, “I will make this right.”

“Devon don’t do anything stupid,” Sam barked.

“Loyalty isn’t stupid, even you dude-bros have to know that,” Devon-the-coroner spat.

“What are you talking about?” Dean took a step forward, only to throw his hands back up when Devon squared his shoulders and straightened his gun arm.

“My soul will give him enough power to heal himself,” Devon sniffed and turned the barrel to his temple.

“He’s gone, man. Don’t do this, your life isn’t worth this,” Dean begged.

“Good luck, Matthew,” Devon closed his eyes against the shouts of the hunters, but before he could pull the trigger, Sam did.

Dean spun, incredulous at his brother’s move. “I couldn’t risk it working, Dean,” Sam swallowed, not pleased with making the tough choice.

^*^

She could feel the cool touch of his Grace as he tried to heal her. It was a simple comfort beneath her now unbearable reality. They had her back, even when she couldn’t get back to help them. She watched Cas’s brow furrow as he worked, eyes closed. He always had kind eyes, even when he was furious. It would be a good last face to see. Something more tangible to make her wishes on.

“I just need you to do this one thing for me,” she struggled against the blood filling her lung. “I need you to burn my journal. They, they don’t need to find that. It would only make it, worse.” She swallowed, “D’you hear me?”

Cas leaned forward, struggling to knit her wounds closed, but the more he tried, the harder the magic seeped into her system and pushed back. “You can burn it yourself,” his deep voice clipped.

“Cas? It’s okay, just let me go ‘ith my Reaper. My books have all been swapped out now,” she said simply, with little worry in her voice. But the telltale tears mirrored themselves in the angel’s ancient eyes. He nodded his understanding and watched her go where he was no longer welcome. Though the serum chased her soul, the effects fizzled out as Sam left no spell-caster standing for it to return to. Her soul was safe.

^*^

Dean reached them first, sliding down to their level to lend a hand. The moments of frantically patting at her body only echoed the quiet stillness that was Castiel. Dean’s large palm found her cheek, his eyes burned as he looked into the open lifeless eyes of his friend. He called to her, begged her, berated Cas, but nothing could undo what was done. He rocked her into his lap, holding her to his chest as the weight of her body seemed to increase with every passing agony.

She still smelled the same, sure there was blood and dark magic swirling from her too, but that was just any other hunt. This was just another hunt. He didn’t realize he had lost his grip until Sam pulled him to standing. It took Sam five tries before Dean heard him. Sam gestured to Cas, who held her body in his arms, as they walked back to the Impala. Dean sat in the back with them as only Sam could drive at that point.

Sam didn’t sleep, driving all night only to find Jack to help with the pyre. Cas dragged Dean away so he could wrap the body without him falling apart again. When Dean fell asleep it was with gunsmoke and rust in his nose. He couldn’t dream and found no rest. Sam searched for her, naturally, she was wrapped and waiting on her bed, her hands crossed over her chest beneath the mock-ghost white sheet. It wasn’t how they usually did it, but he didn’t say anything. In truth, Sam was grateful he wouldn’t have to dwell on what the magic had done to her.

His exhales were ragged as he spoke to her, little things about how she always stole his shampoo or sang worse than Dean. Words of gratitude and affirmation that she wouldn’t have accepted were she alive. After more tears and pauses than he would have liked, Sam gave his farewell. Trusting Billie’s minions had taken her to paradise; she deserved the best a hunter could get. Hell, she deserved better.

When he kissed her forehead, Dean’s voice stilled him. “We ready?”

“Never ready for this one,” Sam croaked, but nodded to his brother all the same. He took her shoulders while Dean hooked her knees beneath his elbow. Castiel and Jack followed them out into the woods where they laid her down on the bed of brush and logs in silence.

^*^

@madlu45 @dontshootmespence @mrswhozeewhatsis @mogaruke @because-imma-lady-assface

@seenashwrite How’d I do on the no Y/N part?

[odinsblog]

Goddammit, I’m so mf simple. Literally got excited about Ty D Bol for my bathrooms

LMBAO. And I just found a cheap, concentrated cleaner that mixes with water, so I don’t have to keep paying a small fortune for Tilex every few weeks

I literally took pics of my bathrooms & toilet bowls and sent them to my sister to convince her to start using it too (I might edit this post and put them here later, if I don’t just delete this post)

I’ve always been the house cleaner in all of my serious, long term relationships, but I have no fucking clue where all this giddy excitement is coming from rn. Especially since I really don’t have anyone to clean up for (or behind) anymore

Woo boy I can nevr tell my brother about this (actually, on second thought, I bet he would dig it too bc he is also a “house cleaner” type of guy)

Anyway, since we are apparently on the subject, and seem to be talking about my ex-fiancée: I miss watching iconic movies with her. Because of my father’s job, we moved around a lot, and each year I attended a new school. (I’m not complaining. All that moving around sparked a love of traveling in me). Plus, all my free time was spent either working, or playing sports, or trying to create a comic book, or just reading tons of comic books under some highway underpass with my boyz

But anyway, with all that moving around, trying to fit in as the new kid, and basically trying to not get into yet another fight, I actually managed to miss quite a few cultural moments on tv. Like, I didn’t get into BTVS until years after it was cancelled and went into syndication (don’t judge me, Joss Whedon is a sexist asshole, but hey, that shit? I freaking loved it)

So, for example, I never saw Indiana Jones until I was with my girl

She LOVED showing me these iconic movies from pop culture

And she super loved pausing them at a crucial moment, and then quizzing me to see what EYE thought was going to happen next, and why

I still remember how surprised she was when I correctly guessed which goblet Indy would choose when he was in one of those crazy death traps (where picking and then drinking from the wrong goblet would have basically poisoned him to death) because I said, “If Jesus was a carpenter, then he would have a simple chalice, not some gold encrusted pimp cup”

Talk about impressed. The way she reacted, you woulda thought that I had just solved a rubik's cube while blindfolded, upside down, and underwater

And somehow(?) she never realized how the ending of the original “Total Recall” could be a dual ending??? When she showed it to me and we watched it, at the very end I was a little pissed, and said something like, “What a shit way to end a movie” and she was like, what do you mean? And I was like, “Well, was he still dreaming in that Mars vacation place, or did their adventure REALLY happen?” And she was like, OMG!!!

Anyway ............................ I miss a lot of things about being with her, but I especially miss moments like those

And I think I’m really missing tf outta someone rn

[thewritenerd]

This Life and the Other: NaNoWriMo Day 5

(cw for brief mentions of child abuse and transphobia)

My mind started racing, this could be my chance. I turned back to Apolo and Ezra. ‘Hey do either of you think you can throw a ball hard enough to knock someone out?’ I asked. Ezra shook his head while Apolo looked thoughtful. ‘Maybe with my telekinesis, depending on what kind of ball it was. Why?’ I shook my head. ‘Can’t tell you now. Just make sure you come to the break room after class okay?’ They looked uncertain but nodded. ‘Okay. We’ll be there.’

The day seemed to drag more then it usually did. Which was really saying something. I tried to focus on my work, hoping if I got my grades back up I could stop my lessons with Dr Gjorgiev. But my mind was too busy focussing on my plan. It was a risky plan that would require cooperation from my friends in both worlds but it may be the only way for me to be there when we break into the Pound. When we were finally allowed out I headed to the break room, Ezra and Apolo following close behind. Once we were sat at a table in the corner I told them about the plan to break into the Pound on earth and how I needed to be asleep here in order to be there. ‘Only problem is it seems time is reversed there. So when it’s night there it’s day here.’ They looked uncertain but nodded. ‘And what does that have to do with me?’ Apolo asked. ‘If you throw a ball at me with enough telekinetic force to knock me out I might be able to stay awake on earth.’ ‘How long would you need to be out?’ Ezra asked. ‘I’d say six hours minimum.’ Apolo still looked uncertain. ‘Are you sure? That’s a long time and you know my aim’s not great.’ ‘Yeah and don’t you guys have really thick skulls?’ Ezra asked. ‘Like I’m pretty sure I read somewhere Railon’s are evolved from something like deer. So their skulls are really thick from when they used to fight with their horns?’ ‘Like deer? You mean keeker?’ Apolo looked thoughtful. ‘I guess they do look a bit like deer. But to answer your question Saren and my skulls are a bit thicker than yours, but we’re only 14 so they’re nowhere near as thick as an adults.’ ‘Anyway do you think you can do it?’ I asked Apolo. ‘I guess it could be worth a try. But it’ll be a risk.’ ‘What’ll be a risk?’ a voice pipped up making us all jump. Turning around I saw Kido standing there staring at us. The three of us exchanged glances. ‘The prank we’re planning to pull tomorrow.’ I lied. ‘A prank?’ Kido asked his eyes shining. ‘Yeah that’s right.’ Apolo agreed catching on. Ezra looked confused. ‘But we weren’t talking abou…’ he began, before being cut off by a kick in the shins from me. ‘Yeah we’re planning on pulling a prank on our classmates tomorrow.’ I continued. ‘Can I watch?’ Kido asked bouncing on my toes. ‘Sorry little buddy you’ll be in class,’ Apolo reminded him. ‘But we’ll tell you all about it when we’re done.’ He added when he saw Kido’s crestfallen face. Kido cheered up at that. ‘Hey Kido. Want to play a game with us?’ I asked him. He nodded. ‘Okay what do you want to play?’ He looked thoughtful. ‘You can pick.’ He said. ‘Okay let’s see. Do you know how to play Craydell?’ I asked. Kido shook his head. ‘Well I’ll teach you. Just wait there.’ I went off to fetch a pack of cards as Kido sat himself down on one of the chairs. The four of us played together until it was dinner time, after which Kido was sent to bed along with all the other little kids. Though I guess I didn’t so much play as sit beside Kido and help him.

On earth we decided there was no point in sending Cam, Lalita and myself back to the pound as we’d learnt pretty much everything we could. Instead we all sat together on the sofas trying to finesse our plan. I’d told them about my plan to be there and they agreed that tonight would be our only chance for the foreseeable future. Once we’d planned as well as we could it was decided Iesha and I would be sent to get supplies for the break in. We headed to a shopping centre the opposite direction to the Pound.

‘So we need torches, some batteries,’ Iesha began reading the list. ‘Walkie talkies, umm… floor cleaner?’ she looked uncertain.

‘To knock people out I guess?’ I suggested.

‘Like in the movies? Does that actually work?’

‘In a way. It’s not as quick as in the films though. It would take like 5 minutes give or take.’ She looked back down at the list.

‘My breath would be quicker.’ She mumbled. Or at least I think she mumbled. It could have been her mask covering her face. She was wearing a white surgical mask with yellow polkadots over her mouth, which matched the daisy hair clips she wore in her braids. Apparently she wore it whenever she was in a crowded area in case she accidently started breathing poison gas, though it made it hard to hear her talk sometimes. She shrugged and stuffed the list into the front pocket of her dungarees.

‘Well we can get most of these things at the supermarket. But I’m not sure where we’re going to get six walkie talkies though?’  I looked around before spotting what looked like a map.

‘Over here.’ I gestured for her to follow before heading over. Looking at it I began to read the list of shops.

‘Any of these shops sound like they’d sell walkie talkies?’ I asked. Iesha reached up and pointed at the shop name labelled number 16.

‘There. It’s like a toy and novelty shop. If any place will have them it’ll be there.’ I nodded.

‘Right well it’s no where near the supermarket. So seeing how that’s closer we’ll head there first and then get the walkie talkies.’ I decided. We started heading to the supermarket walking past all sorts of shops. As I looked around, I couldn’t help but feel this place was familiar. Not like it reminded me of a similar place back on Kalreck. No it was as if I’d been here before a long time ago. So some things seemed different but the general lay out felt like I knew it. I considered bringing this up to Iesha but decided against it. There was already so much we needed think about it wouldn’t be fair to burden her with my weird subconscious thoughts. We bought pretty much everything we’d need there before heading to the novelty shop. I hadn’t been sure what she’d meant by that but when we walked in it sort of clicked. The shop sold all sorts of things, party games, rc cars and helicopters, neon lights, lava lamps, pop culture figurines, boards games, stuffed toys, books and quite a few other things.

‘I found them!’ Iesha announced rushing over to a wall of electronics and grabbing a pack of two walkie talkies.

‘Wow these are a little pricey. Do you think we can afford three pairs?’ I peered at the price tag.

‘I’m not sure? Are those the only ones they have?’ We walked along the wall trying to see if there were any other options. Near the end I spotted some brightly coloured walkie talkies for kids that seemed to be half the price.

‘What about these?’ I asked picking them up.

‘I’m not sure let’s see the back.’ I turned them round and we read the list of features. ‘Seems good to me.’ Iesha said. I nodded in agreement reaching to take two more.

‘Right let’s pay for these and head back,’ I said heading towards the checkout. Iesha followed me but stopped when she spotted a large display of what looked like hand sized fluffy balls.

‘They have Fluffle Buddies!’ She cried picking up a blue one.

‘Um what?’

‘Fluffle Buddies. They’re these reversable stuffed toys. You can either have them as a ball or,’ She unzipped the zipper and turned the ball inside out revealing a small blue creature with big plastic eyes and a tail. ‘A little creature like this wolf.’ She was beaming from ear to ear as she looked at the thing in hands. ‘Isn’t it adorable?’ I looked at it thinking it looked a little weird to me. The eyes seemed to stare at me, and its face was a little squashed. Not too mention it looked like a round  head with a tail sticking out the back.

‘I guess…’ I said not wanting to hurt her feelings.

‘I used to have one of these. A little pink penguin. I called her Maya’ She continued undeterred by my non comital answer.

‘What happened to it?’ I asked. She sighed setting the fluffle back down on the display.

‘My mum found it one day when she was looking through my room. She showed it to my dad and he made me watch him set it on fire. I remember when I started crying and begging him to stop he just yelled “I’m not having my son playing with a fucking girls toy”.’ Her smile was gone and she seemed to be trying to make herself as small as possible.

‘I’m sorry,’ I said. What else could I say? I looked back at the display thinking. Somewhere in my bag I’d found a bag of money. I wasn’t sure how much it was but it seemed a fair amount. Before I could change my mind I grabbed the blue Fluffle and a pink one and started heading to the cash registers.

‘What are you doing?’ Iesha asked following close behind. I ignored her and place the three walkie talkies and the two Fluffle Buddies on the counter in front of the cashier. Once she’d scanned the toys I handed them to Iesha.

‘Here you go.’ Her eyes started to water as she took them from me and clutched them close to her chest.

‘Thank you.’ She said quietly. The cashier gave a sympathetic smile before turning to me to tell me my total. The whole walk back she was clutching them close to her chest. I looked at her thinking how this was the first time I’d seen her act her age. If I didn’t know better I’d think she was just like any other 12 year old girl, not a homeless mutant planning on breaking into a top secret facility.

‘Hey Saren can I ask you something?’ Iesha asked.

‘Uh yeah sure.’

‘Do you like Ronnie?’

‘Um yeah. I mean we’re friends.’ She shook her head and laughed.

‘No I mean do you Like her. Because she likes you.’ My heart skipped a beat. Ronnie liked me? The coolest girl I knew liked me.

‘How do you know that?’ I asked her.

‘Well she stood up for you yesterday. Normally when there’s a fight she just watches. So the fact she stepped in shows she must like you. Also I’ve seen her flirt with you multiple times.’ I looked at her and she looked back with her dark grey eyes. Everything about Iesha’s appearance is dark. Her hair, her eyes, even her skin. Usually when humans describe someone as having “black” skin they mean various shades of brown. But Iesha’s was the closest to the actual colour I’d ever seen.

‘So do you like her?’

[mr-lancers-english-class]

Waiting to Die Part 3

Waiting to Die Part 3!

AO3 isn’t working for me, but I’ll update when it is.

Word Count: 1916

Sam didn’t go to school the next day. She had woken up with a massive headache, and when her mother checked, a perfectly normal temperature of 97° (for Sam that was absurdly high, but Pamela didn’t know that). As a mature and responsible high school junior who was definitely totally worried about getting good enough grades to get into a good college, she spent all day texting Danny and Tucker. She tried using Discord, but after twenty messages with no responses, Sam remembered that first, the school wifi had recently gone on another purge and now blocked any sight deemed “games” or “personal” or “messaging,” and second, Danny had English Literature and Tucker had Statistics and neither teacher was particularly forgiving when it came to phones. After watching half of a movie and knitting a hat, she tried again, this time via text.

SM: Am I missing anything good?

TF: No

DF: Yes

TF: Definitely not

DF: Wes has decided that Tucker’s a ghost

SM: But…

SM: He is. Is that news?

TF: Ha ha

SM: I’m here all week, folks

DF: Lancer gave me your homework. We’re starting presentations next week, and we all need to make an outline for next class

SM: I thought only six people are presenting?

DF: Yeah, but we don’t know which six, and I think Lancer’s gonna pick based on the outlines

Sam groaned. She had not enjoyed reading The Great Gatsby, and did not want to have to think about the book any more, much less give a ten minute presentation.

SM: Well fuck

TF: Lol

TF: That’s what you get for taking Lit honors

DF: Moderately jealous

SM: You did this to yourself, Fenton

He had. Where her parents had made her take the hardest courses, his parents often didn’t even realize he was at school, much less think about his course load.

TF: Sooooo……… how’re you doing?

SM: My head hurts and I have a fever

DF: How high?

SM: 97 F

DF: That’s not good

SM: I know

DF: Aren’t you normally like a 93?????

SM: Yeah

TF: When do you start melting?

DF: Dude!!!

SM: Right under 100

DF: You don’t ask somebody when they start melting!!!!!

DF: But Sam, if you get up to 98, let me know and take an ice bath

DF: I don’t want to have to explain to your parents why you’re missing and there’s a puddle of ectoplasm in your room

SM: That’s fair

TF: Gtg. Tetslaff is yelling at me for not changing out

SM: Good luck! Don’t die!

DF: He should be fine…. Right?

SM: Nope

Suddenly, Sam straightened up. Her hair started to float up around her head and the air smelled a lot cleaner. She sighed, and climbed out of bed.

SM: Ghost. I’ll text you when i’m done

DF: Valerie just “went to the bathroom”

SM: Got it

DF: Be safe! You’re still sick

Sam pulled her hair back into a quick ponytail, stuffed a pillow under her sheets and turned the lights off to keep her mother and father from noticing anything, and shuffled over to the window.

“Well then, guess I’ll die.” As her voice trailed off, the two rings split around her waist, and she transformed. Immediately, she staggered and fell against the wall. “Oh, no no no. Not good. Come on, Sam. Just one ghost. You got this, you got this.” She quickly turned her arm intangible and reached through her wall, grabbing the Fenton Thermos and Fenton Wrist Ray she kept there. Danny had been both building and stealing his parents weapons since the Trio first started fighting ghosts, leading to the rather sizeable hidden collection they now maintained. Aside from the three other guns and extra thermos in her walls, Sam had stuffed an arsenal into the school walls, her locker, Danny and Tucker’s locker, her car, an old oak tree in the park, the library bathroom, and the Nasty Burger.

“Alright, let’s do this.” She attached the Wrist Ray to her left hand and the Thermos to her belt as she phased through the wall. It only took her a minute of meandering up Main Street to find a trail of small craters and broken bricks, and only a few more seconds to find Skulker.

“Ah, Ghost Child! You are here, which means I can-”

“Cutting you short there, buddy. I’m sick. I need to be home sleeping. I don’t have time to deal with your whole ‘Kill the Whelp! Take the Whelp’s pelt and hang it on my wall! Argh! bullshit. Can we just call it a draw and you head back to the Ghost Zone?”

“Never! I shall be victorious in this hunt-”

“Dude, seriously. You never win. Like, never. Not once. I’m giving you one chance to go home. The Red Huntress is gonna be here two minutes ago, and she’s not as nice as I am. Can you please just go away?”

“You are weakened. That means I shall-”

Skulker was cut off and thrown spinning backwards in the air as a missile hit him square in the chest. Sam groaned and dodged to the side as Valerie shot by her. She popped up, and almost went crashing to the ground just as fast, her vision fuzzy and darkening. She watched as Valerie went zipping around, peppering Skulker with rockets and plasma blasts and the occasional sideswipe with her hoverboard. If she hadn’t been on the verge of falling, Sam would have taken a moment to appreciate Valerie’s skill. Sam had never seen her equal. Back when they had dated for a month in freshman year, back before either of them knew what they were doing as ghost and ghost hunter, Danny and Tucker were convinced Sam was better. Having seen Valerie in action (and having been on the receiving end of that action more times than she would have cared for and thankfully not recently) Sam knew that, if it weren’t for her plant powers and preference for negotiation over confrontation, Valerie would have long surpassed her. As it was, most ghosts just needed a few kind words, directions to a natural portal, or a weekly shipment of boxes.

“Take that, ghost!” Valerie’s shout jolted Sam back to the present, right in time to fall into the road. She sat up as Skulker crashed a few feet away.

“I shall have your skin, huntress!” Skulker roared, clawing out of the new crater.

“I already told you, Skulker, go away!” Sam planted her hands on the ground, and let her powers loose. In seconds, vines and roots began to spring from the ground, breaking through the asphalt and wrapping themselves around Skulker’s suit.

“No! I will not be defeated by a tree!”

“It’s poison ivy right now, thank you very much, and yes, you will.” Sam pulled at the vines with her mind, and they brought the metal suit crashing into the ground. Skulker’s head popped off and rolled away, his little feet kicking frantically at nothing.

“And in you go,” Valerie laughed as she pulled out her own thermos and sucked in the head, as well as the rest of the armor. “That wasn’t too bad, eh?”

Sam smiled weakly. “Not too bad.” Valerie nodded back, her mask hiding any emotions. The two girls had come to a tentative truce at the end of sophomore year, and had been getting more comfortable with each other ever since. Sam had even gotten a burner phone so Valerie could call her at any time. She hadn’t yet, but it was the thought that counted.

“Hey, you good?”

“Mostly. Just a little under the weather.”

“Aren’t you dead?” Sam turned abruptly to glare at Valerie “Ack, wait, that came out wrong. Sorry. I just, well, I didn’t think you could get sick.”

“Oh,” Sam’s face relaxed. “Yeah, neither did I. But, here I am.”

“You should go rest.”

“I’m planning on it.”

“Like, right now. Go back to the Ghost Zone. I can take care of things here, at least for a few days. Besides, if I need any help, you have a phone number for a reason.”

Sam sighed. “Okay. Don’t die, Huntress.” She lifted off the ground a little.

“You too, Wraith.” Sam chuckled at the mention of her ghost half’s name as she flew shakily away. Valerie sped off in the other direction with the small hope that maybe she would make it back in time for the end of class.

“Now, back home I go. Slowly, very slowly,” Sam said to nobody. “Very, very slowly. Don’t want to collapse, don’t want to fall.” She faltered above the buildings. “I’m gonna set myself down right there, because falling hurts a lot. That is more power than I’ve used in a while. That was more power than I meant to use.” Sam set herself down in the middle of the road, and glanced back at where the fight had just gone down. Vines were everywhere. A few were still growing, twisting up to the sky. The entire road was blocked, along with half of the sidewalk.

“That is way more power than I thought.” Sam turned away from the destruction and pulled out her burner phone. She wasn’t sure how, but once she clipped it to her belt, the phone was always there when she transformed.

“Where is it… there it is.” She speed dialed the fire department. “Yes, hello?”

“Amity Park Fire Department Non-Emergency line. How can I help?” The operator on the other side of the phone sounded too cheery.

“Hi, yeah, it’s the Wraith.”

“Oh, hi! How are you? It’s been so long!”

“I’m pretty good, Sharon, you?”

“It’s good, it’s good. Nothing’s burned down recently.” Sharon, the operator, laughed.

“That’s good. So, I made a bit of a mess…”

“Just now?”

“Uh huh. Skulker showed up on Main Street.”

“Is everyone okay? Do I need to get an ambulance? A firetruck? The police? Did you burn something down?” Sharon’s voice rose an octave as lots of scrambling and thudding was heard through the phone.

“Nothing’s burned, Sharon, and nobody’s hurt. No police or ambulances necessary. Just a lot of vines in the middle of the road.”

“Can’t you undo them?”

“To be honest, I don’t know how. I was hoping, if there’s some extra people at the station, you could send some to burn them down?”

“You said in the middle of the road?”

“Yeah, they’re growing through the road. And a few on the sidewalk. And they’re poison ivy. Sorry.” Sam winced.

“I’ll send a crew down. Main Street?”

“Yeah, right in front of the mayor’s office.”

“Okie dokie. Sounds good. And thank you!”

Sharon hung up before Sam could respond. The woman was nice, and Sam liked talking to her. She almost never got to, but Sharon didn’t know anything about her other than their phone calls and the news, so when they did talk, Sam enjoyed the outside opinion and caring voice.

“And now, all the way home. You got this Sam. You got this.” She continued walking, slowly and shakily.

It took her another half hour to walk to her house, and then three minutes to muster the strength to fly up to her window and phase through. She wasn’t sure when she had transformed back, but a quick glance in the mirror told her Sam Manson was lying on her bed and not the Wraith. She sighed lightly, and drifted off to sleep.

[werezmastarbucks]

Flame for one [13]

warnings: violence, language

word count: ~ 3300

taglist goes below

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3  Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8   Part Nine Part 10 Part 11  

Part 12

You went out on the concrete field. For once, it was quiet, and you felt wind caressing your face.

“Follow me”, Steve whispered, and you went running. Suddenly, out of the blue, Iron Man bumped into the concrete, and his mask opened to reveal Tony’s face. Rhodes landed right after him and did the same.

“I mean, what a surprise. You never know who you’re gonna bump into at the airport. Hi guys”.

“I hope you haven’t taken any poor decisions while we were enemies”, you smiled, charmingly, in your opinion. Tony smiled back with a touch of bitterness.

“You’re an outlaw and you’re going to speak about poor choices”.

“Since when law is any good at all? Plus, poor choices are my, sort of, specialization”.

He brushed you off.

“Give up, guys. Ross gave me thirty six hours to return you and Barnes, twenty four of them are already out. Help me, Captain”.

“You need to listen for once, Tony”.

“I’m not listening if this is some crap about how Barnes is not a criminal”.

“Then you gotta back off and feel a bit guilty later when we save the world once again, but without you”, you stated.

“You can’t even save yourselves. You’re delusional, Y/N. You still may just come back and I’ll pretend nothing ever happened”.

“You really need to stop acting like my father, Tony”.

“Whoooah! You may regret this!” Sam yelled in your earpiece and you frowned. Stark fell speechless for couple of seconds.

“Did you teach her this nonsense?” he pointed his iron finger at Steve, “I’m taking her away and urging you to return all the fancy stuff I ever gave you as gifts”.

“Tony, they’re playing for time”, Rhodes sighed. You made an innocent face. Tony gave it a thought.

“If you want people to treat you like a grownup, you need to become one”.

“This saying is as old as this vacuum cleaner next to me. Come up with something more exciting”.

“Stark, you need to let us go, there are soldiers like him in…” Steve pressed as if there was no conversation other than that happening inside his head.

“I am NOT”, Stark lifted his finger, “letting you do anything. I am this sick of your…”

That was the moment you realized the fight was meant to be. Some things, you found with dark amazement, were una-bloody-voidable. Others, however, weren’t that disappointed: they had prepared themselves for it. Bucky and Sam reported they were locating the jet to fly on. Scott was on his spot, ready to strike.

“Okay, we got it”, Sam murmured in your earpiece, and Steve glanced at you barely turning his head. That was the signal, and you fell on the ground rolling away, with Tony simultaneously shooting in the air:

“Spider-dude!”

You didn’t have time to look sideways. You saw a man, blue and red, more colourful than Rogers, and very lean, sitting on the top of a big passenger plane. You rushed in another direction for your role was to join the guys and cover for Scott. Steve visibly didn’t like this idea, and Barnes agreed. You wondered if you all were coming into their agree-on-everything-because-we-are-secretly-married era. You were thinking about it before Nat crossed your way and stopped, blocking you. She didn’t say anything, just cocked her head in an accusing way.

“Wha… don’t be sore”, you urged. She pursed her lips, didn’t say anything. Apparently, she was holding a grudge. Maybe she was hurt that you preferred Barnes over her. But then again, Natasha wasn’t the spiteful type. Before you knew, she attacked, without any further urging. You knew each other well. She knew that there was no use trying to convince you anymore. Now it was time for beating.

You jumped back, in awe of her passion for a moment, and the next second you were ready. Sending a massive heat wave in her direction, you widened it, for Nat was capable of jumping over it. The new thing you invented was stretching the field making it slightly thinner, that it was more fragile, but at the same time, it was wider. It was good in every way because didn’t let Romanoff escape, but didn’t injure her much either.

“How is it going Y/N”, Steve puffed in your earpiece.

“It’s going!” you shouted, immensely intense as you were trying to outspeed Natasha. You could use some help as well but wouldn’t admit it. That was the way you overcame one trouble after another: too proud to cry for help. Had no other choice but to get the upper hand. Pinning Nat down to the ground, you looked up to locate Sam and Bucky, then got a glimpse of Clint hurrying towards you.

“Stay down”, you growled, sniffing out the hot air and warming Nat’s blood. She went red. You could feel her inner self starting to get anxious from heat.

“Yeah sure”, she gasped, and you felt her legs on your neck. God knows how she’d done that over and over again, but now she was strangling you with her thighs. It was a question of who was the first to knock the other out: you obviously couldn’t boil her brains, because it wasn’t the real fight. Nat, though, had every reason to choke you just enough to get you out of it. That wasn’t meant to happen because you were to assist Wilson and Barnes as soon as they reach the exit and head for the remains of the team. You rocked back trying to unbend her knees. It was fairly impossible. Luckily, Hawkeye was soon there, approaching the furious ball you two were forming. His arrow whistled by your ear and ticked behind your back. Then you were released from Nat’s grasp. Thanks God and Odin, you’d happily give a speech about how you’d never wish to anyone to madden Black fucking Widow. This woman was intimidating.

“We’ll talk later”, you said grudgingly, rolling away and giving in to Clint. “You have fun”, you spat and got up with an intention to get as far away from these two as possible.

“Y/L/N to the terminal. Sam and Buck having trouble with the red-blue guy”.

“What fucking red-blue guy!” you roared, already running. At times like these, you felt so much for the Hulk. You felt so much sympathy for him. You were practically ready to marry him. You knew just exactly what it felt like. To be so furious your skin soared. It only took a little choking or one red-headed woman, one angry look or one unplanned Tony’s ally to get you into this state. You knew you were fucked up. You heard there was no way from this. But now, it was your advantage.

“That spider-boy!” Sam shouted.

“How many fucking names you got for one dude?!”

“Language”, Steve reminded surprisingly calmly.

“It was you who introduced the incredible meowing kitty cat purr guy prince man to us”, Sam stated.

You didn’t reply, just ran faster. You had to crawl, after taking the turn, because Vision appeared, scanning the space with his crazy all-seeing eyes. This was unfair. He was unfair. Having him as a side-kick was unfair. He was worth a bloody army.

“Y/N stop”, he requested in his ever pacify urging voice.

“Sorry about that”, you puffed, taking a sudden turn and heading towards the plane. You ran around, feeling his glance on you. Vision followed you, trying to cut your way. You stopped by the tail of the plane, jumping and hanging on the small wing with one hand.

“Sorry about what?”

You nodded and hit the panel with your free hand, sending huge and hot red wave inside. There is always a bit of fuel left. It only takes on sparkle to start a great fire. Well, you had plenty of them. You had fireworks. It wouldn’t be a trouble for Vision to stop the explosion. But it would take some of his time. Being ungodly small, you rolled in a ball, cuddling with the fire that roared from the inside of the plane. You could see it like in slow motion. Vision, hanging in the air not far from you, and the flames covering you from him. Being inside was warm, and comforting. It was like the one last place you felt genuine in. You didn’t feel any guilt when you blew something up, because you were being yourself. Guess it made you a villain.

Before he could notice, you crawled below the falling parts. While all Stark team gathered around to stop the fire, you were flying inside the terminal to lead the two troubled guys outside.

As you got on the second floor, you saw the red and blue figure flying out the window.

“What the…” you followed the trace of broken glass and metal remains of the railings. Barnes and Wilson were lying on the floor side by side, both pinned to it by some white glistening substance. Bucky looked extremely annoyed. Sam looked even worse. They weren’t very happy about a girl coming to save them, either.

“Oh don’t tell me you can’t tear it off”, you exclaimed as you saw Bucky’s metal arm glued to the floor.

“You’ll be surprised”, he sniffed.

“Who the hell is he?”

“What amazes me is that he seems to be a kid”, Sam complained reluctantly.

“A kid? What do you mean? Like, a childish kid?” you kneeled before Bucky examining the sticky shit that was holding him down. His eyes were bright green, you noticed. He was breathing heavily. Bright pink on his cheeks, and adrenalin radiating from the depths of the sea green. He was so human, and it was so endearing, for some reason. You felt so attracted to him it even scared you for a second. Then he spoke, and the delusion died away.

“Like, he blocked my punch, but his fist was so small, and his voice is almost pre-pubertal. He’s a freaking teen”.

“Steve, are you copying this: kick Tony’s ass”, you passed. Rogers replied with a kind of uh-huh, barely listening to you.

“Since they call him the spider something, this must be his web”, you grinned. You tried to burn it – the web went smoky. A poisonous and harsh smell appeared.

“Just take it off”, Bucky urged you.

“You gotta help me”.

“Place your hand and melt it the fuck off”.

“I don’t wanna touch it, Barnes”.

“You take your time guys”, Sam snored with raising hysteria in his voice.

“Get in line young man!”

“Y/N, do it”.

“Relax, man. Don’t shout at me”.

“I’m not shouting at you. Am I shouting at her?”

“Almost”, Sam confirmed.

“I beg your pardon!” Lang’s voice shouted right into your brain, “but I am running into a very angry flying robot right now and might use a little advice! If you are done your threesome party, and, hell, where is everyone?!”

“The colour of the robot’s armour?” you asked, melting the web and pulling Bucky’s arm, trying not to make a face. You wrapped your fingers around his metal wrist, and felt the tiny plates moving. It felt strange. He looked at you with careful eyes, then tried to lift the arm.

“Red and gold!”

Barnes sat in a fast move nearly hitting you with an elbow as he was jerking it trying to get rid of the melted web. You proceeded to Wilson.

“Oh shit. Coming to rescue!” you sang.

“Abort rescue. I’m closer. You and Barnes take on T’Challa. Sam, proceed to the jet. Let’s finish it”.

“Roger that”.

“Pardon?”

“Crap”.

“It’s his last name”.

“Yeah”, you puffed, “I am seeing my mistake here”.

Once you were outside, it was visibly tense. The field and the runway, as it used to be, was ruined. Half of the plain you’d blown up earlier was dragged away; apparently, somebody tried to smash somebody with it.

“You go through, and I’ll try to slow the Catman down. Guess you don’t wanna meet him again”, you suggested to Bucky as you two ran out and hid yourselves behind the vehicle.

“Nah, I’m fine”, Bucky shook his head bravely, and his chocolate locks covered his face for a second.

“Have you ever… thought of an option… of tailing your hair… cause it’s long, and you must have problems with seeing what’s in front of you”.

Bucky gave you yet another amazed look. He must have thought, how on Earth were you able to occupy yourself with such kind of thoughts while in battle.

“You really did change a bit”, he smiled, but he did swipe away his hair behind the ear.

“Yeah, I talk a lot these days”.

“Yeah”.

“Locating the Cat King”, you reported.

“Go”, Steve ordered.

“Wanna dance?” Bucky offered, catching your elbow and slowing you down.

You looked at him pretending to think about an offer. Were you forming a team? Was it really this okay to now go on like two normal fellows? He was suggesting using the knowledge only you two shared, which meant you’d be indestructible. Barnes wasn’t that lost helpless lamb altogether, after all.

“Haven’t danced for a while”.

It was strange to see his eager smile stretching the lips and warming the face, making it beautiful, a face that you’ve never seen smiling before. Watching him disappear slowly, as if he was being wiped away, or else, he was moving with the rushing world while you froze on the side. The Soldier who broke free, who spoke, who smiled at you, and sent your brains in shreds. You were trying to persuade yourself: it was safe now, next to him. You were good to fight shoulder by shoulder, like colleagues. He wouldn’t punch you in the rib, or drag you by the hair, or give you a blue eye all of a sudden. He’d protect you. You were trying to keep it in mind as you left your corner when he waved his hand. It was still in slow motion: T’Challa, seeing that Barnes is not scared and not rushing from side to side anymore, calculates his moves and gets above on the plane wing to have an opportunity to jump over him and crush on his shoulders, injuring the spine. What he doesn’t know is, Bucky won’t bitch about having no opportunity to follow him, because he has you. You need three steps to get you speed. On the fourth, you make a start and gather yourself in a spring. You understand everything Bucky is doing: you guess your next move by the motion he uses to bend his knees slightly. He squats a little exactly as low as to let you get on his left shoulder; stands up, while you squat simultaneously; grabs you by the ankles not to let you fall off; pushes you up. It all happens so fast that T’Challa doesn’t have enough time to move himself away, and there you are, grabbing his waist and dragging him down like a shark.

As he collapsed on the ground, you rolled away and grouped. T’Challa stood up, turning his head on each of you in turn. Without seeing his eyes or mouth, his face being completely blank, you found it quite scary.

“You chose the wrong path to follow”, he said to you.

“I’d rather you stopped lecturing everybody”, you hissed, “your highness?”

You attacked him at the same time, from both sides, crashing your fists together. Bucky, hitting his jaw from the left side and securing his back so that he didn’t have an opportunity to escape; you, hitting his head from the right and putting just a little bit of flame heat in the punch, so that the pressure is equal with Bucky’s blow, to secure T’Challa’s neck. For a moment, it felt like the Black Panther has lost all the wish to fight you any more, but he recovered pretty fast, even though it was visible that it took him more time to adjust to the situation. Barnes wasn’t giving him any time at all: stepping forward, he kicked him in the chest before T’Challa could get up, and when the man rolled back, jumping up, and relocated, standing once again between you and Bucky.

He made a bitch move, pretending he attacks you this time, and it worked for Barnes. Once he jumped at you, Bucky crashed on him from the back, so T’Challa got the chance to get his hands on him. Jumping up and dragging Bucky with him, he tried to flip, using Barnes’ impressive weight just to bash Bucky on the ground as hard as possible.

You got on his side, concentrating heat in your leg and kicking T’Challa. Without super supply, he would barely feel it, but given the acceleration you possessed, he flew off like a straw on the wind. Bucky got up immediately without any visible effort. He rushed at you, confusing you, and rolled himself around you, only to cover you from the energy blow sent by the Iron Warrior, you discovered. You two were blown away and crashed again, you in a circle of his hands gripping you tightly. For some time, all you could hear was a howling pulsation inside your head. Bucky rolled off you, and you took half of second to look at the sky to at least focus on where it was.

“Okay?” he sighed, as you shook your head and tried to get up.

“Good”.

“Is everyone on the spot”, Steve asked.

There was a slender choir of ‘yes’ in your earphone.

“In line then. Bucky, Y/N, head straight to the hangar. There’s a chance they won’t notice that after all”.

“Right”, you sniffed, “just for the record, I still think they won’t buy it”.

“And I am still open for better suggestions. You got her Buck?”

“Yeah”, Bucky said without any confidence.

“Good. We’ll join you”.

“No. You three go. We’ll stay”, Sam argued.

“That’s right. We’ll buy you some time”, Scott agreed.

“No time will be of any use if you don’t get rid of Vision”, you warned, eyeing the dark crimson cape in the sky not so far from you.

“Let’s run”, Bucky touched your elbow and motioning towards the open gates of the hangar.

“We’ll think of something, I guess”, Scott suggested.

“Romanoff approaches you, I say you get moving”, Sam warned.

“Oh shit, not her again”, you snapped furiously and ran. Bucky just had to trail behind you.

You ran like hell. You believed if you ran fast enough, no monster would be able to catch you, just because you existed in different realms.

“Get in line”, Steve commanded, as they were left behind your back.

“When I give you a signal…” you took out your earpiece as it was only distracting you. You saw Bucky at your shoulder. He was slightly ahead of you clearing the way. Clint’s arrow flew by. Something exploded. You were trying to get a glimpse of Wanda since she refused to have her earpiece, saying that it was distracting her from chanting. You haven’t heard from her and hadn’t seen her but hoped that she was okay since Steve didn’t mention her once. You were too close when Steve joined you, running with his feet burning. It was about thirty steps to the gates when a golden ray came above your heads and cut the hangar roof like butter. You stopped and gasped, bowing instinctively, but started on the next second. Steve and Bucky grabbed you by the hands at the same time, without taking their eyes off the falling building.

“We still have time!”

“No, it’s crushing down”, Steve said.

“I can hold it”, you growled, jerking angrily in their hands, “just enough time to get you through, you morons!”

“Stop it Y/N!” Steve went on. Suddenly your idea went real, only, instead of the transparent invisible heatwave the force holding the debris was bright red. It was Wanda. You could see her small silhouette among the falling concrete parts.

“Okay, go!” Steve yelled, and you ran again. You lacked speed compared with them, so when you were just below the falling roof, held in the air magically by ephemeral matter, you felt a strong pull and nearly fell. It got you through though. If only it was the end of the way.

You got up and looked before you.

“Nat”, Steve sighed.

“You’re not gonna stop”, she observed. She was standing right between you and the jet.

“Nat, we don’t have time”.

“I reckon. Tell me where you’re headed in case you need help”.

You took a moment to bow and take a huge breath after a long running. Bucky shifted next to you.

“It’s in Siberia, Nat. Are you… for us now?”

“Maybe you’re right”.

“You tell Tony. And follow us. Now we have to go”, you urged.

She looked at you with an old warm look.  

“Are we good Y/N?”

You moaned.

“I’ll tell you when my neck stops hurting”, you marched past her tapping her shoulder.

Romanoff, so quick and so flexible. You were sorry you already had crush on Wanda.

 taglist: @moistpotatobear  @heytherepartner   @sebbytrash @thewinterher0   @lbouvet   @areuforreal   @allofthesearetakendafuq @thesalsafic  @rhaeneris

[hazcoms]

A little info and backstory on Hazcom DILF, my crush, who I tag as M.

He is a safety instructor, now exclusively for wind energy students it seems, at the tech school I go to. He was one of the two guys who gave us our class on hazcom and fire safety in nursing school (which was in 2018), probably the best day of school I had in that class. I had so much fun in that class, and it didnt help that I like M a lot.

When I first saw him, I knew I was going to have a problem bc this guy was my type. Dark hair with a bit of grey, scruffy facial hair, attractive outfit, and just the energy he possessed. His voice was interesting, one of the girls in class compared it to Steve O, but he also had a southern-ish accent so that made things funnier with that comparison.

He and the other instructor, we'll call him "Fire Guy" or "S," were hilarious. Not only as people themselves, but also as a team. They took jabs at each other and us as well. Although, M seemed to be a little less...I dont know, not mean, but rather...teasing? When he talked. I really dont know how to describe it. But S teased us far more than M did.

M and S both know my father, apparently, and that made me feel even more awkward about my growing attraction to M. Other than asking me about him and asking me a question about smoke during a slideshow, they did not really call me out. I was still pretty shy and quiet at that point, but if I had the class now I'm sure I would have been louder and participated more.

Anyways, the class started with one of our nursing teachers guiding us to the building where we had the class. It's detached from the main building, and to get to it you have to climb up a little hill made of big gravel and go past a weird object that S called "a rocket ship." It's a big cylindrical thing and I have no clue what it actually is and I havent had the courage to ask anybody what it is in all my years at this school.

Walking past the rocket ship, we were dive bombed by a flock of pigeons that apparently live inside the thing, and it scared all of us and it felt like resident evil. You know, the crows in 1 and 0 that come at you for breathing wrong? That's how it felt. So we ran the rest of the way.

In the building, it was freezing. Like 40 degrees. It was a good thing I wore a jacket, but others were not so lucky and they had to occasionally go outside to get warm. Later on in the class if we complained about how cold it was, they would turn down the temperature even more to make it colder. Funny, but irritating. We all sat down, and since none of us really knew each other, we sat sporadically at different tables. Some of us, including myself, were by ourselves. I was happy with that.

The first teacher to come in was S. M came in a few minutes later, but I didnt know he was M, his name was said by my teacher to be our instructor but since S was more talkative and acted like he was the teacher, I assumed he was M. But he wasnt, obviously.

As the two instructors prepared to teach us or whatever, they played a video of like...fail compilations for whatever reason. And that changed to a more safety focused thing when the video they played was a fail compilation themed around people setting themselves on fire. As a huge Jackass fan, I found this hilarious. Then they played the fire safety scene from the Office, and then a video known as Highway to Hazmat Hell (Watch here). If you don't want to watch it, it's basically a truck carrying cylinders under pressure which start falling off and a bunch of explosions and crashes happen while Highway to Hell by AC/DC plays. Great video.

After the video was done, M came to the front of the room and put his backpack down on the table, then sat/leaned on it. S went to the podium and began introducing himself and what the class would be about. I watched M the whole time, entranced by how attractive he is. The teacher really had to be hot and me get a crush? I thought I left that shit in middle school. But apparently not.

After S told us about himself, then he introduced M as "6'3, 170 lbs, and single" (still not sure that the first two are true although he is rather tall) and a few other things. When he said he was single, I felt myself turn all warm. I avoided looking at him. And it was true that he was single, because M had gotten divorced recently and said that he preferred being single. I didnt really care though considering I have no chance with him and I'm already in a lifelong relationship. Even if I wasnt, he knows my father and is old enough to BE my father. I wouldnt date him but I admit I would hook up with him had I been single myself and the circumstance occurred.

Anyways, he told us his life story, and then we got to introduce ourselves. This was where I found out they know my dad, because I said my last name and M looked at me and smirked and said "oh, shes (dads name) kid!" And S was like "oh yeah" and something else I didnt pay attention to because my face was on fire from M even paying attention to me and I became all shy.

After we all introduced ourselves, the slideshow on fire safety began. The first question S asked was, "what elements are needed to start a fire?" A girl in my class, one of the funniest, said, "uhh...fire?" I get where shes coming from, fire is an element in the four elements sense, but he meant like..chemicals or whatever.

So we all had a good laugh at her, and she happens to be from Texas so they would attribute her "stupidity" to that. S told us what is actually needed for a fire to start, and talked more about that. Then came to the subject of smoke, and S asked us what smoke is. Texas girl said "its smoke." We all laughed again, and S was just rolling his eyes and laughing. I dont think he genuinely thought she was stupid, because she isnt, but he wanted to laugh at her being "dumb."

The lecture continued and eventually we noticed this windowed room beyond a glass door attached to this room was beginning to look hazy. We pointed it out in concern, thinking that maybe they were testing us, but S was like "oh it's just humidity" and we went on with the lecture. Eventually the haze got super super noticeable and M and S called us out on it, asked us why we didn't do anything about the smoke, but it ended up that it was a smoke machine they were using to fuck with us. Which was, admittedly, pretty funny.

Later on, S told us we were going down to the shop to practice using a real fire extinguisher. Not the powder ones, just a water one, since powder would make a mess and fuck with the oxygen. So we all went to climb down that gravel hill, only to realize there was a sidewalk that went up it and M was like "you guys can go that way but I'll walk on the sidewalk like a normal person" which made me laugh and also annoyed at myself for choosing the gravel hill, because it slides down when you walk on it and I almost fell like multiple times.

So we got to the shop and there was this little box thing connected to a propane tank, it looked almost like part of a grill. M explained that it can be controlled to light on fire, similarly to a grill, and the fire can be put out using the same controls or a fire extinguisher. It's used specifically for fire extinguisher training apparently.

S went and filled up the fire extinguishers with water, as they were empty, then brought them out and showed us how to use them. But honestly, me and Texas girl and another girl we will call F were all paying attention to M. More on that later. Anyways, S asked why we were distracted and one girl was like "Texas girl is trying to get M's snapchat" which was a joke, I don't think he even had one.

Next came our time to use the fire extinguishers- we ALL had to do it and it was in front of everyone. Less than half of the class got to put out the fire on the magic training box, which was controlled by M, before it started raining. Like a literal downpour of rain, right out of nowhere. Along with the rain getting us wet (no pun intended irt M) it kept putting out the fire training box, PLUS there was some kind of problem with the gas and the fire training box.

So S sent us with M back to the building so he could figure out what was wrong with the fire training box. M then taught us the hazcom lessons- bloodborne pathogens, PPE, hazmat procedure, MSDS, placards and their meanings, etc. Then he got into the storytelling phase, which was the most entertaining thing.

First he told this story about a guy he either knew or someone he knew knew, who died from rat poison. Then he talked a bit about his time in the oilfield before moving to wind energy, and he told us about how one time they had this bottle of methanol in what looked like a water bottle, and one of his coworkers came in and just started drinking it. Like, he didn't notice it was in fact NOT water and WAS methanol, and just kept drinking it. M did not elaborate on the fate of this guy, but I can't imagine it was good.

Now came the best story. Liquid Fire. Liquid Fire is an infamous drain cleaning chemical that if you Google it, will show results of news about bad things happening with it. But they do still sell it, I found some in a hardware store and took a selfie with it which I intend to show to M if I ever see him again. Anyways, the story began with M's bath/shower drain being clogged for seemingly no reason, until he found out it was because his kids kept shoving their bath toys down the drain. M tried traditional drain cleaners and other methods, but none worked, so he went to this local hardware place (which my mom has a vendetta against because the people who work there are apparently real cunts) and found a product called Liquid Fire. He claimed that seeing it had a skull and crossbones on it made him sure it would work well.

One of the employees warned M that Liquid Fire was strong, and to only use a certain amount each time. But M said that he was stupid because he's a man and ignored this advice, using much more Liquid Fire than necessary. But the stuff worked, it unclogged the drain, so he continued to use it. Until one day, his bathroom started smelling weird, and he couldn't figure out why. So he hired a plumber, and the plumber looked at the drain.

The plumber then told M that the smell was because his shower water was draining directly under the house and stagnating. M asked why. Plumber explained that his pipes? Gone. Disappeared. Not there. After some investigation, they discovered that it was the Liquid Fire which destroyed the PVC pipes completely, it is THAT corrosive and he used THAT much of it. The reason it worked so well on the bath toy problem was because it was literally dissolving the plastic toys, and when it got done with them, it moved on to the pipes.

After M told the story he paused for laughter, which we did a lot of, and from then on Liquid Fire became a running joke between me and F, and a story I'd reference all the time, even to people who weren't there. We then went over a bit more stuff that I don't remember exactly, and S came back in saying the rain had stopped and the fire box was working again.

Well, part of that was true. The fire box wasn't working again, but using some kind of gas and a cigarette lighter from one of my classmates, S got it working again. The class then got to continue putting out the fire, and guess who was dead last? Yeah, me. Back then, I was a scrawny little thing. I'm 5'1, and then I was a size 00 XS who weighed 90 pounds and carried all that weight in her breasts (still where most of my weight is btw). So yeah, I had some trouble picking up the fire extinguisher. They're heavier than you think. S had to literally stand behind me and help me hold the damn thing- it was embarrassing enough being last, but being the only girl in class who could hold the extinguisher herself? Even worse.

I can only imagine how flustered I would've been if M had been the one holding me and the extinguisher. I may have just passed out. Anyways, I get to finally use the extinguisher!! By then, it was in a downpour again, but we couldn't delay anymore because lunch break was coming up and we didn't have time to delay.

So I'm in the pouring rain, held by S, extinguishing a controlled fire. But as soon as I got it out the first time, my celebration was cut short because M TURNED IT BACK ON. And the funny thing? HE LOOKED RIGHT AT ME AND SMIRKED AS HE DID IT. HE LAUGHED THE SECOND TIME. That's right, there was a second time, because he turned it back on after I extinguished it FOUR TIMES!!!!

Now I don't know why he did this to me in particular, or why he found it so funny, but at the time I was irritated. Later on I thought about it and was like oh. Wait. He was teasing me, that's kinda cute. So anyways after the fourth time of tormenting me in the pouring rain, I got the fire out and it was lunch time, so me and the class bid S and M goodbye.

Later, after we all got back from lunch, Texas girl called M a dilf. And oh my God did I feel relieved that I wasn't the only one who thought so. F also was attracted to him, while the girl who sat next to me was weirded out bc apparently he looks like her dad. We discussed M for a bit before the teachers got back.

From that day on, M was on my brain CONSTANTLY. I'd see him occasionally (check out my diary tag for M incidents) around the school and freak out each time. I still, to this day in 2021, have feelings for M. And they're strange feelings, because Im obviously in love with my boyfriend and we are getting married asap and I'd never leave him, but I talked over my situation with M with my therapist and she said it was fine.

Anyways, that's the story of M. Check out my diary or M tags for more stories and feelings about him. If you actually read this, thanks, and I hope you enjoy my blog.

[sapphireillustrations]

Meant to be Yours CHAPTER 10 (Ereri/EreMika)

"Hello Slut."

The voice was loud and right in his ear, starting him. He looked around quickly before his eyes found the source in front of him.

"Annie?... How did you get in here?!..."

"I'm like oxygen~ I'm everywhere..." Annie grinned, her teeth almost appearing like sharp razors "Really, Eren? Sleeping with that no-friend, phsyco kid that always looks ready to kill someone or bite their head off at the least as a hello?" She laughed hysterically "I will crucify you for this~" She smirked "Everyone at school will not only already hate and despise you for the whole Mikasa stunt you pulled, but now they'll think you're a dirty man whore who only wants one thing... Looks like I get what I want after all, like always~" She gloated, her perfect skin glowing with poisonous perfection.

"Annie... Why?... Why are you so determined to hurt me?!..." Eren snapped, his hands in tight fists by his sides, his body now starting to shake with hurt and rage

"Because I can! It's easy! And it's going to be so... Amazing!~" She grinned widely

Annie broke out into more hysterical laughter, it practically turning into a cackle as her eyes darkened and a twisted expression fell upon her face. She started drawing in closer to him as that cold laughter rang constantly in his ears, piercing them painfully with every passing second as it sound grew louder and louder until Eren couldn't stand it anymore. He could feel his heart beating rapidly in his chest, pounding painfully as his breaths came out short and quick as he started hyperventilating. He shook his head and shut his teal eyes tightly, his shaking hands quick to press against his ears as hard as they could to block out any and all sound.

It was then Eren screamed, Levis eyes widened as he shot up and quickly found the source as he glanced down at the shaking boy in the sheets that he awoke to screaming.

"Eren?... Eren!" Levi shook the male, rapidly trying to wake him to end his hellish-looking nightmare "Wake up! What's wrong?..." He asked in a concerned tone.

Eren woke up with a gasp, quickly sending a fist flying in a blind direction, uncertain if he was really awake this time. Levi caught his wrist before he could hit him and Eren quickly scrambled to move to get up, pacing the dark room anxiously and roughly running his hands through his hair and tugging at his brunette stands in panic. "Oh my God, I... Shit... I need to leave... I need to get to Annies house..." He spoke in a quick and panicked tone

"Eren, calm down, for fuck sake, just for a second..." Levi pinched the bridge of his nose for a moment as he tried to regain his thoughts "What's wrong? You can't just wake up screaming and then suddenly leave, spewing some bullshit nonsense about going to that Bitches house for God knows what reason this early in the morning... Just tell me what the Hell is going on, you said last night that things went to shit between you two..." He glanced up at the taller male as he stood from his bed, walking over to him to stop his anxious pacing by gripping him by the arms gently but sternly and making him look at him "So, what's the rush? What is the sudden big emergency that requires you to be there right now...?"

Eren exhaled a shaking breath "I just, I fucked up really bad last night... Okay?... I didn't just fuck things up for me though, I fucked things up for someone else too..."

Levi looked to him sceptically "So you woke up screaming in a soaking wet sweat over what exactly?..."

"Look, please, it doesn't matter. I just need to get there. Now. I... I need to try and fix this..." He sighed "Last night I was living in some fantasy world where I didn't care about anything anymore and now it's morning... I... I'm not strong like you are, so now I have to go kiss her giant egotistical ass... That's the only way I can fix this and make things go back to normal... Almost..." Eren muttered as he quickly gathered his clothes, dressing quickly as he stumbled around the dark room

Levi shook his head, sighing to himself as he went to get dressed also "So I'll come with."

Eren turned around, blinking "Wait, really? You'd do that?..."

"Yeah, for back up of course."

Erens smiled slightly, exhaling a small breath "Okay..." He walked over to him, some of the anxiety gone and leaned in to kiss him once "Thank you..."

Levi half smiled and kissed him back "Don't mention it."

He took his hand in his and laced their fingers together as they made their way to the door when Eren stopped "Oh, um, by the way... You were sort of... Well, my first..." Eren rubbed the back of his neck as a light blush spread across his face.

Levi smirked to himself "I know, I can tell. Why did you think I called you 'Cherry Boy'?"

Eren blinked "Wait, what?... That was because of the Slushie I got, right?..."

"Come on, let's get this over and done with." He hummed as he walked out his room to go downstairs

"Hey, Levi- Wait. What does that mean...?!" Eren asked as ran after him.

Levi shook his head and turned around once they got downstairs, kissing Eren once more to shut him up before taking his hand and walking outside.

It didn't take long to get to the Mythic Bitches house, not with Levis motorbike. Eren unwrapped his arms from Levis waist and jumped off the bike, Levi doing the same afterwards.

"Shouldn't you really wear a helmet when you ride? What if you wipe out?"

Levi simply shrugged "Then I wipe out."

"But-"

"I got you here without killing either of us, didn't I? Don't worry about it."

"Fine. But this conversation isn't over."

"Whatever." He shook his head and smiled slightly at Erens caring tone

Eren sighed when they got to the front door, feeling a familiar weight back onto his shoulders upon opening the door and walking inside.

"Shouldn't you have knocked? I mean, I'm all for breaking and entering if you are but you're trying to resolve this mess, aren't you?"

"Oh please, I doubt she'll be up and mobile at this time. She probably celebrated by drinking more last night..."

Eren looked around the large room, thankful that Annies father was still away on business or the situation would have been more awkward "Annie?..."

"Mm... What?... Who the Hell thinks they can wake me up at this ungodly hour?!..." Came Annies unamused and groggy voice from upstairs

Eren tensed and Levi rubbed his lower back in reassurance, pulling him closer to his side.

"Um... It's Eren... I came to apologize...."

He head a laugh from her room before she spoke again "Bring me a hangover cure and I'll think about it. Oh, and while you're apologizing you better get ready to really fucking beg for my forgiveness because it'll be near impossible for you to get it after how badly you fucked up last night."

Eren sighed and went into the kitchen to concoct a cure for the demon queen, rummaging around in cupboards with Levis help.

"Mm, I think this might do..." He muttered to himself, pulling out some ingredients to put together.

Eren started to unscrew lids from containers and condiments and pour everything into one cup as Levi watched him with a raised eyebrow.

"That's what you call a cure?" The shorter male asked sceptically

"Mm, guess it's just a little of my revenge. It's gross and I don't even know if it works but whatever." He shrugged, swirling around the disgusting looking contents in the mug and grimacing at the thought of even knowing what it would taste like already "I should really spit in it or something but I think this is enough. Maybe. What do you think?"

"Hm? Yeah, whatever." Levi said as he was distracted, rummaging around in the cupboard under the sink

"What are you looking for?"

"The best part." He smirked upon finding the item and grabbing it "And here it is. You said you wanted revenge, right?" He stood back up, holding a dark blue bottle.

"I think spitting in the cup would be extra enough." Eren shook his head and squinted his eyes a bit, recognising the label and looking at him in disbelief "Hey, don't be a dick, that stuff will kill her..."

"Thus ending her hangover. I mean, I'm a no-rust build up man myself and I know this shit can work wonders." Levi smirked slightly "You wanna put an end to her... Er, hangover don't you? I say we go with big blue here." He said as he unscrewed the cap from the plastic bottle, the child cap lock being no match for him, as he poured the thick blue-coloured contents into a clean glass and inspected it in the light, the shine making the blue liquid look almost appetizing to consume.

Eren blinked, looking at him in disbelief "You can't be serious... Um, besides... She'd never drink something that looks like that anyway..." He shook his head a bit and added a couple other things to his 'beverage'.

"Mm, you're right..." Levi glanced around the kitchen, finding something else to transfer the contents into "So we'll put it in this." Levi shrugged, pouring the drain cleaner into a similar looking mug as to what Eren was using "That way she won't know what hit her."

Eren gave him a look, setting down his gross mixture on the table "We can't just do that, Levi..."

"What are you, a Coward? Maybe I was wrong about you." He teased only slightly

"You know, you're not funny..." Eren frowned a bit

Levi sighed, setting his toxic mug down next to Erens as he walked towards him, wrapping his arms around him "Look, I'm sorry. I just hate how she treats you... It was a joke, okay? Let's just forget it."

Eren smiled softly and nodded, leaning in to kiss him. Levi quickly responded, gently pushing him against the counter as he lightly brushed his tongue along his lip. Eren parted his lips and things were getting hot when-

"Eren what the Hell is taking so long?! When I want something, I want it now, as in yesterday! Are you trying to piss me off more?! Get your ungrateful ass up here already!"

Eren tensed in Levis arms and sighed heavily, rolling his eyes before closing them and leaning his forehead against Levis for just one more second of bliss. He kissed him as he grabbed a mug off the counter, making his way to Annies room with the 'cure'.

"Uh, hey, Eren..." Levi called after him, glancing at the disgusting looking mixture that was left on the counter.

"Yeah?" He turned around, stopping before he was about to go upstairs

"Mm... Nothing, I'll be there in a second." He leaned against the counter

He smiled slightly and nodded, ascending up the stairs only to be greeted by Hell on earth herself.

[coll2mitts]

#92 Labyrinth (1986)

Right out of the Muppets and into the Labyrinth...  I am very glad I watched this movie before I dug into that project, because I think I would have rage quit this whole thing.  This list has a Jim Henson bias, which is semi-understandable, but like... 8 movies?  Out of 100?  There aren’t better musical movies than these?

Family Video rents most old movies for like .50, but because of the world slowly ending, the one by my house was closed and I was forced to pay $3.99 to stream Labyrinth.  It was about $3.49 too much.  I don’t understand how Jim Henson, George Lucas, Terry Jones, and David Bowie could get together and make such a mediocre film.  Like, honestly, the entire time I just wanted the movie to end so I could watch Flight of the Conchords and laugh at some truly ridiculous Bowie-related content.

A self-involved teenage girl named Sarah is politely asked by her stepmother to babysit her little brother.  Sarah decides to take her angst out on a literal infant by offering him up to a goblin king, freeing up her time so she can wander the streets reciting dialogue from a play to herself, which is super important, guys, there’s no way she could have done that in her own home.

Jareth, the Goblin King, who is also David Bowie, is in love (!?) with 15-year-old Jennifer Connelly, and shows up to steal her little brother, leaving a glitter trail behind him.  Sarah decides suddenly she wants the burden of being an older sister, and follows him to the Goblin City to get the kid back.

She is immediately greeted by Hoggle, a puppet that simultaneously looks like the animatronic tree trolls in Maelstrom and Mel Brooks dressed up like Yogurt.

He tells her the only way she can get to the castle of the Goblin King is to first make her way through the Labyrinth.  In an effort to save money on sets, they have Sarah run the same glitter herpes infected stretch of it for 5 minutes, complaining it goes on forever, without having the thought she could use any of the trees to climb up the wall and jump over it.  An actual adorable worm takes pity on her and tells her to walk through the wall, because he’s sick of seeing her pace back and forth.  Sarah learns that everything in the Labyrinth is not as it seems.

David Bowie, observing how slowly Sarah is making her way through the maze, does a preemptive “I’ve stolen a child to raise for nefarious purposes and there’s no way she’s going to get him back” celebration dance.

I discovered Sting was Jim Henson’s first pick for Jareth (presumably because he saw how excellent his acting was in Dune) but his son talked him into approaching David Bowie for the project.  I would give anything to know what that conversation was like.

“Now, picture this... you are a goblin king, and you’re going to steal a kid.  The great majority of the movie you’ll either be trying to entertain an infant, lust after a teenager, or dance with creepy fucking puppets.  Also, we need you to write all the songs.  We cool?”

I should probably take this moment to mention that I’m not a huge David Bowie fan (I know, I know... it’s terrible), so it’s hard for me to consider how appealing these songs are to those who like his type of synth-pop.  They fit the mood of the film, but I don’t feel like they add anything particularly special to the narrative.  Labyrinth easily could have not been a musical and nothing would have been lost.

Anyway, Sarah continues to truck her way though the maze and runs into Alice in Wonderland-style talking playing cards that ask her to pick a door, and then assist her in falling through a rabbit hole.  She is accosted by nightmare-fuel hand faces that ask if she wants to be molested up out of the pit, or down into it.  

She decides to go farther down into hell, where she runs into Hoggle and convinces him to help her get through the maze in exchange for a fancy plastic bracelet.  It’s about around this time where Jareth intervenes to grab some constructive criticism about her experience.

Not very much, David.  Not very much.

Being frustrated with her answer, he sicks the cleaners on Sarah and Hoggle, which is a drill driven by two guys on a bicycle.  After avoiding certain death, they are greeted by a series of verbally abusive rock faces, who apologize for just doing their job.

Here’s the thing about this movie - The sets and the puppets are awesome (although super fucking creepy), and they are used for some really great visual gags.  But all the craftsmanship is crushed under the weight of a truly unremarkable, low-stakes story.  I tried to write this summary for over a week, and every time I tied, I got bogged down trying to come up with what the fuck I’m going to say.  The plot is like if Monty Python and the Holy Grail and every Disney movie fairy tale cliche had a puppet baby, and I’m just bored.  Let’s fast forward through the rest of the Labyrinth, shall we?

Hoggle and Sarah run into a large dog-looking thing named Ludo (not Pluto), who is being attacked by a bunch of things that look like the naked mole rat anti-christ from South Park’s Woodland Critter Christmas.  They save him, work their way through another set of doors, listen to a musical number by a group of demonic Crash Bandicoots, and trudge through a bad smelling swamp.  They are then introduced to the only cute thing in the entire movie, a fox-looking puss-in-boots that pulls a Gandalf and a black knight.

Sarah convinces Sir Didymus and his big Hammerlock energy to help them reach the castle, and he joins their group.  She then gets poisoned and trapped in a dream bubble, where she wears a gown that looks like it would melt if exposed to an open flame and lusts after a grown-ass man who yanked her brother out the window like the Lindbergh baby.

She escapes from the dream, reunites with her party, and storms the castle.  They are immediately confronted by the coolest monster ever to be made out of a door, and Hoggle Shinji’s his way into the mecha and takes it down from the inside.

Seriously, this, and the battle that ensues afterward, is peak Jim Henson.  From Ludo opening up the wall to enter the house, to the exploding cannon, to the goblins going down like bowling pins... I was increasingly impressed by the work and care that clearly went into creating these scenes.  If only the rest of the movie were this captivating.

Sarah finally confronts Jareth in the castle, and the big climax of the movie is... David Bowie whining that Sarah is ungrateful that he stole and babysat her brother for a few hours, while she runs through an M.C. Escher painting to grab Toby.  No, seriously.

Sarah jumps out of the rabbit hole and returns back to her house to find Toby in his crib.  She celebrates by throwing a party with all the puppets in her bedroom, while Jareth turns into an owl and buggers off to make some other teenager walk through a maze for 2 hours.

Now to prepare myself for some 1950s Baltimore camp, because Cry-Baby is next.

[reztheripper-blog]

Rise of The Demon Huntress Part 3

 The front lines were in the city of Divitiae. Really nice place if you can ignore the raging demons killing every man, woman, and child in sight. We knew when we were getting close not because of the screams of those being slaughtered nor from the sight of fires spreading throughout the city, but from the scent of blood. Look, if anyone ever tells you blood isn't creepy, they're fucking insane (Or They're Alice. She actually enjoys the smell, then again, she's not the sanest person I know). It hit us like a wave, the metallic stench of death. As we got closer, the sounds we thought were sirens turned into the screams of the citizens and regular combat magicians (For reference, combat magicians are citizens who decide to defend a city if the need arises. They tend to do this until the military can arrive.) who were trying to hold off the demon onslaught.       "This is worse than the reports ever made it."  Alice said       Nero simply shook his head in sadness. "These people weren't meant to hold off such a large attack. They wouldn't have stood a chance."       "Well there may still be survivors. At worst, it overrun with demons and we all get brutally devoured. At best, we come across a fighting force and the douche who decided to cause this mess."       We wandered through the city encountering mainly dead people and demons. It was kind of a silver lining to say that it was an equal number of human and demon corpses, but at the quantity we were seeing, it was pretty bad. At one point there was a roving group of demons combing the streets looking for survivors. We had to avoid them as I didn't want to try and fight while getting Nero to the front lines. There was one strange occurrence that had all of us confused. There were several human corpses in a street and upon closer examination, they all had magical burns and weapon scratches (Demons leave a more ragged tear while weapons give a cleaner cut).         "Did they... kill each other?" I asked       Nero gave the bodies a long examination while me and Alice kept watch. "Whatever killed them was human. In fact most of them were killed with a combination of knife wounds and electrocution."       "Great. So one of our own decided to go rouge and start killing civilians? This just gets better and better." Alice said with a sigh. She turned to me and asked, "Do you think we should find them?"       "No. Hopefully whoever it is has moved far, far along."       I probably should've never said anything because the second I said that I felt a knife tip press against the back of my neck.       "Who are you?" A woman's voice asked from behind me.       "I think the better question is who are you? You kinda just came up from behind us and took me hostage."       "Nope, she got us all as hostages." Alice said as she slowly turned around to face me.       I had to do a double take, because last I remember, she was already facing me and was much farther away. Then it clicked instantly "That's not her." The shadow that was Alice dripped away and the real Alice came from behind our mysterious attacker and started to attack her instead.       "Stop fighting me or your healer gets it!!"         "Alice, stop!"       "Yes, please stop. I'd rather not die just yet." Nero said while being held hostage by a male attacker.       Alice stopped, but never sheathed her short sword. She grumbled something and came back to us.       "Now answer me: Who are you?" This strange woman asked us.       I guess it couldn't do any harm to tell her. Worst case scenario, we kill her. "I'm Melina Angelo," I pointed to Alice "the one who so kindly tried to murder you is Alice. That passive guy you have your goon pointing a knife at is Nero. And it's only courteous if you do the same and tell us your name."       The mysterious woman sighed and sheathed her knife. "I'm Natasha. Part of the actual group who is trying to stop the demon horde called the House of Knives."       This little statement piqued my interest as it would kind of explain the weird dead bodies we found. "So there's another group?"       "Yes, they're trying to help the demons invade our world. We don't know why, but we do know that these people all seem to reference meeting someone with strange eyes (Note: Strange eyes in the world of Favent means you have some really strange eyes. Like one neon green eye with a white spiral in it and another dull silver eye with purple rim around it) and the person offered them a well-paying job. We call them the "Controlled". You can tell them from other people because they're eyes are completely whited out. However, some still have normal eyes and will still religiously follow any order their leader gives."       "Well, shit. A cult basically?" I said       "In essence. Except they want the end of all humanity. Not enlightenment."       "We'll help you if you help us."       "It depends on what exactly it is you want."       "We want to find out who opened the Obice."       "Good. 'Cause the guy who did it is the leader. Kill him and you break the spell on the Controlled. Win-Win! I'll help you of course, because I remember the layout of the facility. I used to work there actually."       "Where is it?"       "You're not gonna like it. The weapon's facility 'Divitiae's Finest' is where their going and producing all of their equipment."       "Um... could you please call off your guy here? This knife is really digging into my throat." Nero complained       "Oh yeah, Marcus you can let him go. Head back to base and tell them I'm going to be doing a raid on the Controllers and to not worry."       Marcus let Nero go and proceeded to leave, but there was a more pressing concern here: What exactly was controlling these people? If it were a demon, that meant someone managed to do a controlled summon and did it basically across dimensions. They would be a powerful magician and a decent threat.       We were approaching the weapon facility, when that large group of demons decided now would be the perfect time to appear in front of us. And this time there was no hiding from them.       "Hey Alice, mind doing me a favor and getting it dark for them?" I glanced at Nero, "Please stay as far back from the combat as possible. But not so far we can't help you."       "I'll be back about one block." Nero said as he hurried along       I looked at Natasha, "I guess you do what you do best."       "Kill shit?"       "Oh yes!!" And we all ran at the horde of demons.       It was freakin' awesome! Alice had all of the demons near blinded by her Shadow Sorcery and Natasha was like a deadly dancer on the battlefield! She whirled her knives and always found her mark. Around her, graceful splashes of blackened blood sprayed from dead demons as they dropped like flies. Me? I just went and had fun (If you're gonna die, at least have your last moments having a blast). I changed my weapon into a scythe and started to spin it through demons. I really loved this blade! I could hear the bone shattering in the demons, but it left the cleanest cuts I'd ever seen. I swept through the demons like they were butter. At one point I changed it into a sword and it was unreal. I could cleave off entire limbs in a single, effortless swing and pierce the thick demon plating surrounding a demon's chest like it wasn't even there. Alice was like a ghost in the battle, appearing in one spot then killing another enemy elsewhere or making two enemies kill each other as they lunged their claws at her shadow image.        As epic as we were, however, we weren't invincible. I got dangerously close to dying as a demon faked a lunge and bit my arm. There aren't too many things in this world that hurt blindingly, but that is a whole new level of pain. I probably would have died because I couldn't get to my sword (It clattered out of my hand when I fell) and he was gnawing on my better (-ish) arm (I'm ambidextrous). He stopped biting my arm to attack my face, but I grabbed him by the throat and began to bash his brain matter on the concrete.         I had to save Alice from getting mauled to death. Even though she's a talented fighter, it's not her style to head-on fight someone. She tends to pick enemies off and use mass confusion. So when she got surrounded by five of the more vicious looking demons (Bloodier scales, sharper teeth, actually had horns, smelled really bad), I kinda jumped in to save her. She gave me the "Thank you" nod as a response.       Natasha saved my ass twice. Once when a strange demon that looked like a chicken (Writer's Note: Picture a velociraptor and you have a perfect idea. Act 2 will explain why this term doesn't exist) with arms knocked me over and tried to gut me with its claws. She simply jumped over it and slit its throat with both of her knives, then helped me up. Another time, it was more of a mutual assistance. We ended up back to back and began to just murder everything in sight. When she ducked I would back swing over her and kill all demons that were in front of her. When I did a side dodge, she would reach her knife out and impale whatever was in front of me (Luckily she never nicked me. I think her knives were poisoned.). It was glorious in-tandem killing!!       After maybe 30 minutes or so, we killed them all. About 75 demons slain because they chose the wrong corner to turn on.       "NEEERRROOOO!!!!!!" I called out "IT'S SAAAAFEEE!!!"       He came peeking around a corner and walked out, but he didn't walk like he normally did. Once I noticed the blood on his hands, demon blood, I rushed over to help, trying to remember any healing spells (Look! You try and remember thousands of incantations, spell circles, concoctions, and other stuff! Shit's hard! Then Healing classes only meet during the winter for 2 weeks. It's total bullshit, but I digress in my digression).         He had heavy, labored breathing which meant he was either losing a lot of blood or about to die. I was kinda hoping for the former. "Nero, where are you hurt?" I said in my professional voice       "My... my back. Snuck... away and....." He trailed off       I flipped him over and saw the four long scars going across his back. "Uhhh......"       Natasha came over and immediately saw what was wrong. "Sana" she whispered. Suddenly Nero was encased in a dim white light for a few seconds and once it dimmed everything on him was repaired, even his clothing. Some of his hair had even reversed from graying!!       "What spell is that?!!" I asked, incredulous at the results I just saw       "It's a Grandmaster level spell of healing. Don't ask how I know it and no, I'm not an ex-Grandmaster."       Alice suddenly warped in front of us carrying one beat-up, wimpy demon. "While you two were here chatting away, burning time away, I found us a demon to interrogate. He should know what to expect around here." She started to slowly strangle the demon, "IN PERFECT FUCKING DETAIL!!!!!"       I told you she was a bit psycho. We set up something resembling a camp and looted nearby stores (Yeah, I know it's a crime. Fucking hang me. Oh, wait you already are planning to kill me!) for supplies. We still had some way to go before we reached to weapons facility and a lot more to learn about this threat of the "Controllers".                                                  [End Part 3]

[wildegreenlight]

Reconciling Accounts: Chapter Four ~ Mystery Solved

Chapter Four

Turning back the blankets of the bed, his bed, a wave of disbelief passed through her. It was almost impossible to process the events of the last twenty-four hours. Had it really only been yesterday that they had left Shell Cottage? Had they really broken into Gringotts? Ridden a dragon? Destroyed all the Horcruxes? Defeated Voldemort? Kissed?

The color rose to her cheeks, not only in memory of that kiss’ intensity, but also in guilt. How can you think about that at a time like this? I’m sure that Ron has too much on his mind now to think about one little kiss! Subconsciously her fingertips touched her lips softly, remembering the way his lips had felt against them, the way his arms had felt wrapped around her, the way he had lifted her off her feet.

There had been no time to talk: victory and grief were intertwined in the aftermath of Tom Riddle’s mortality. Conversations about love would have to wait. Even after she, Ron, and Harry had found their way up to Gryffindor Tower the need for a shower and a sandwich had taken precedence over any verbal revelations. There had been so much comfort in the simple act of sitting with the two of them in that common room, silently eating sandwiches: no more plans to make, no more battles to fight. She sighed heavily at that thought. I guess that is not entirely true, but perhaps we can have one night off; I think we’ve earned that much at least.

When they had eaten their fill, Harry had excused himself to shower and sleep. She had been relieved beyond measure when Ron had taken her hand and led her toward the boys’ staircase. He had paused on the first step and looked back at her with an adorably earnest expression on his face.

“I just need you with me…can’t stand the thought of being away from you…not now.”

“Me either.”

She had found them some clean well cleaner than they ones they had on clothes in her bag and they had gone to wash up. Ron had gallantly offered to wait outside until she had finished, but had refused to let her return the favor.

“I’ll be out in a tic. You go get the bed ready.”

They had both turned pink at his words, but she only nodded and headed off to the room they would share with Harry. He was already snoring when she came in; he had fallen asleep with his glasses on, so she removed them carefully and drew the curtains around his bed. Harry Potter: the boy who lived: again! How had they done it? All three of them still miraculously, wonderfully alive?! Even though she would have never admitted it to them, her logical mind had become more and more convinced that the odds of them all making it were almost zero. Thank Merlin the two of them love nothing more than proving me wrong!

All of these thoughts were swimming around in her head as she pulled back the blankets. Should I go ahead and get in? Is that too presumptuous? Stop! He asked you to stay with him! Stop being such a coward! She crawled beneath the covers and used her wand lower the lights. Just then, Ron came into the room and paused when he passed Harry’s.

“Is he out?”

“Yes, before I even got back. I had to take off his glasses. He looked so peaceful.”

“Good…he deserves a rest.”

“We all do.” She patted the bed next to her, and he took the invitation immediately.  

They both sat up against the headboard. With a few flicks of the wrist Hermione had closed and sealed the bed curtains and thy sat in the soft glow of her wand.

“Don’t want to disturb Harry,”

“No…’course not.”

“Ron…I…just wanted to say…that..well…”

“’Mione…”

“I know…that’s what I wanted to say”

“What?”

“That we don’t have to talk about anything tonight. I know you must be exhausted.”

“Not as much as I thought I would be.”

“Me neither.”

“Right…well I just wanted to say…well…you kissed me…and”

“Yes?”

“Well that wasn’t really fair.”

Her heart sank. Had she misunderstood after all? Had she taken advantage of an emotionally charged moment. Had it really just been a desperate I-think-I’m-about-to-die kiss? If that was the case she was going to have to get out of here and quick. Tears pricked at her eyes and she avoided looking in his direction.

“It wasn’t fair because…well..damn it all!”

He reached for her and gently turned her face to his. As he spoke again his words came out soft and deep, in a way that made her insides clench in a deliciously painful way.

“You were, like always, one step ahead of me, but I plan on catching up.”

He kissed her then. It was softer and slower than their previous kiss but every bit as passionate. He drew her closer so that he could take her fully in his arms. She felt as if her heart would burst. He was alive and real and kissing her the way she had always imagined. She pulled him tighter to her and he actually moaned into her mouth, causing her to lose touch with anything close to a rational thought.

They were temporarily lost in a place of pure feeling. Years of doubt and misunderstanding evaporated in a blur of hands and lips and tongues.  All the little voices of second guessing were drowned out by soft moans and ragged breaths.  Eventually they found themselves panting for breath, foreheads touching.

“Are you caught up?”

“Not yet, but I’ll keep working on it.”

“Planning on keeping count, are you?”

“Of course.”

She had read somewhere that the human brain is a problem solving machine; that even the most ordinary minds will mull over a problem in the background of thought until it finds an acceptable answer. That’s why people often think of the answer to a question at 2 am, or remember a name two days after they see an acquaintance on the street, or discover why Dumbledore left Harry the Sword of Gryffindor weeks after they started the hunt.

Her eyes went wide as looked at him, like she was really seeing him fully for the first time. She was not one step ahead, she had been behind, for over a year really, but in that moment everything clicked into place and she had finally caught up.

“You counted.”

He could have feigned ignorance, but there was no reason to now. He really thought that she had it pieced together that night at Shell Cottage, so there was nothing left to gain by denying what they both already knew.

“I did.”

“But when? Why?”

“I think you know why, but I guess you deserve to hear it, all of it. I promised myself that I would never not tell you again, you know?”

“I do know. Ron, we don’t have to talk about this tonight, if it’s too much.”

“No, I want you to know. It all started the day after you sent those canaries on me…I know I deserved it…no, let me say this…Well, the next morning I really thought it would all be over. That you’d be mad for a day or two, but that things would go back to normal. But then she bounces up to me at breakfast the next morning going on and on about how she’s my girlfriend. I knew I had cocked things up, but I really didn’t know what to do. I just wanted to show you that I was fanciable…which I know now was a dumbass move, but anyway…there I was, the one girl I wanted hated me and a girl I didn’t want wouldn’t leave me alone. And before you say anything, I know that I didn’t give her much of a reason to leave me alone, and it serves me right for being so jealous of Viktor when you never rubbed it in my face when you were…you know…with him.”

“Pardon?”

“I mean, when you dated Viktor at least you didn’t make an idiot of yourself like I did”

“I’d hardly call it dating, but I understand your point.”

“So, anyway, the next night as I was going to bed I thought about how much I had fucked things up in one day, and how I really wished I could just take back those 24 hours and fix the mess I’d made. That made me think of when you had the time turner. That’s when it started. So all those days I just started adding up the total…how many times would I have to turn that little bugger to make everything right again.”

“Oh, Ron”

“When I woke up after I had been poisoned and you were there, I thought for a minute that I had somehow made it happen, but I didn’t fix anything, you did.”

“I was so convinced that you could never see me as more than your friend, I just decided to give up trying…I couldn’t lose you completely, no matter who you wanted.”

He cradled her face in his hands, “You. You were always who I wanted. When I…left you…I knew that I had fucked up so much worse than I had before. The only thing that kept me sane until I got back to you was keeping track of those bloody hours. I know it sounds mental, because I know that the turners are all gone, and even if there weren’t they don’t go back that far, but it just made me feel connected to you. It was only a few hours that stood between us. Maybe I could find a way to make it up to you.”

“You did, Ron, just like I told you at Shell Cottage, you more than made up for it. You came back! You saved me, in so many ways!”

“That’s when I thought you worked it out. I was counting then too, I just…It should have been me”

“Ron, can we make a promise to each other?”

“Sure! Anything you want!”

“From now on we focus on the future and considered the past settled?”

“That sounds brilliant!”

“Brilliant!”

“There’s just one more thing I need to tell you.”

“Anything, you can tell me anything.”

“I love you, Hermione. I have for a long time.”

He laced their fingers together and placed a kiss on the back of her hand.

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“I love you, Ron. I have for ages.”

She looked up to find his eyes as wet as hers. He placed tender kisses on her forehead and down her cheeks. As he reached her mouth, she released his hand and brought her fingers into the hair at the nape of his neck. He responded by continuing the trail down her jaw to the column of her neck. It was exquisite! He murmured his love into her skin and she clutched him closer still until she thought she might never get him close enough.

“Mione…I can’t believe this is real.”

“It is. I promise it is.”

She was quickly getting lost in the feel of him. She scooted down until she was lying on the bed, pulling him down with her.  This, this was worth it all: the doubting, the waiting, the near misses, the heartaches, they were all leading them to this moment. He kissed her lips again as she let her hands wander underneath the bottom of his shirt. She whimpered when he grabbed her hip in response and rolled so that more of his body covered hers.  

“Fuck…sorry.” They were both panting heavily as they tried to catch their breath.

“Sorry? Why?”

“I got kinda carried away there for a minute.”

“No more than I did…I like getting carried away with you.”

“You do?’

“Yeah, it’s a nice change. After holding myself back for so long, you know what I mean?”

“I do!” He laughed as he hugged her tightly, and she reveled in the comforting feeling. “I just don’t want you to feel pushed, or rushed.”

“I don’t feel that way at all, but I don’t want you to either, it’s been a difficult day.”

“It has been. The most horrible, but most wonderful one too. I guess someone won’t explode if they feel all that at once?”

It was her turn to laugh, “Well, I guess teaspoons hold more than you might think.”

“More than you can count.”

He kissed her then, and put an end to talking for the night. They both knew that there was more than enough to talk about: friends and family to grieve for, parents to find, a world to rebuild, but all of that could wait until the morning at least. They had time. More hours than they could ever count.