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sweetbillwriting · 4 months ago

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In The Dead of Night

ELEVEN

Characters: AU Eric played by Bill Skarsgård from The Crow (2024)

Setting: This story is set in A WHOLE OTHER WORLD than the movie. Shelley isn't a part of this story. Eric will be different from the movie.

Warnings: 18+, NSFW, heavy themes.

“He was in a coma six months ago? For how long?” I asked in shock, but Robin didn't react to it.

“A month, I think? I learned about it after a couple of weeks. His friends didn't know if they should call me and... Heroin. I thought he had stopped with that shit, but one of his weird friends told me he had overdosed on purpose because of depression.”

I looked down at the ground, thinking back on my dreams. Could it be that Eric was in a coma? Believing he was dead? I dragged my hands over my face and shook my head in disbelief. I had started to believe the dreams were just dreams, but now I thought back on it again. The Spotify playlist, the name of his biological mom, the places and drawings he had shown me... Could he in some way visit my dreams while he was in a coma?

“Are you listening?” Asked Robin a little irritated, and I nodded.

“Yeah, yeah. It's just so much… He hasn't told me this.”

“He's probably embarrassed. He has overdosed twice and lived while other people who do something with their lives die of diseases. He gets saved.”

I sat with my elbows on my knees and my head in my hands, trying to digest everything. I started to get a headache from it all and dragged my hands through my hair, but still I had questions.

“Do you see him as your brother? You cried when you found out he was in a coma, but you talk about him like an invader in your family.”

Robin bent down in a similar way as I and looked down at Odin laying on the ground.

“No. He's just Eric to me. He's my parents foster kid, but he's nothing to me. I get that sounds harsh, but I never understood who he was as a kid, and then in my teens he moved in with us permanently and made everything difficult. But… They also favored him so hard. Dad cut down work hours to be home with him; mom was with him all the time, and they gave him expensive gifts, and we traveled more.”

I looked at Robin’s sad face and how he dragged his feet through the wet leaves on the ground. Maybe it was actually true? Maybe they actually gave Eric all that. I could imagine they wanted to give him all the things he had never gotten to lay a bandage over the abuse and trauma his mom caused him, but it was too much to not get Robin's attention. On top of that, Eric had magical powers? I wanted to laugh at my own thoughts but couldn't do that when Robin sat next to me, but it really seemed like Eric was something more. He talked with animals, was kind to everyone, liked by everyone, and could escape death and visit my dreams. He sounded like a Disney princess.

Robin was quiet just like me for a while, but he wasn't thinking about Snow White; he prepared a confession.

“I never told mom and dad I was gay... It would have given them one more reason to love him more than me. Instead, I was the weird one, never meeting a girl. Did you know he slept with my best friend? And later, two other friends. He was clearly straight and on top of that an asshole. Now he has slept with a fourth friend of mine…”

I looked at Robin up and down uncomfortably. I didn't want to believe Eric had slept with his friends, but I could also see how that could have happened. Eric had been tall, hot, and sexy since his late teens, and on top of that, he had taken drugs then already. I swallowed hard when I thought about how many he probably had slept with.

“I'm sorry, Robin... I don't even know what to say, but… He didn't know we were friends. I've lied to him too…”

Robin shook his head to himself and looked down at his hands playing with Odin's leash, then he sighed.

“I guess I can't decide who you date… But can you promise me you will never force me to like him? And that you're careful? He is an addict, whatever you say.”

I smiled with relief, happy to have his blessing, but it fell when I thought about Eric. He would never forgive me.

“I don't think we need to talk about that even… He will never forgive me…” I took a deep breath to calm myself down because I could feel the tears pushing behind my eyes.

“Ehm, before I talk about him, can we go home? I don't want to sit here and ugly cry in front of everyone.”

Robin nodded quickly and fixed Odin's leash around his hand.

“Of course, of course.”

We went to my home, and with a big cup of tea each, I told him about my love for Eric. How he had pulled me in at once and how I couldn't stop myself from loving him from the first time we met.

“I had these dreams about him when I thought he was dead and… He really was everything I ever wanted from a guy. Nothing like Dante, then I met him, and he was the same, and… He really sees me. He really cares for me, and even if you can't see it, he makes me feel safe.”

I cried so hard, I didn't know if Robin could hear me, but it seemed like it. He looked uncomfortable, even upset, but nodded slowly.

“I… Well, okay, I guess. If you feel like that, I will not say that it isn't true; it's just that I can't see anything else than how manipulative and selfish he is. That's my picture of him, but… Clearly, you see other sides in him…”

I nodded and dried my wet cheeks, but new tears came.

“But it's too late now…”

Robin shook his head.

“In rehab, they talk quite a lot about how to ask for forgiveness and to forgive others. If he learned anything there, he would listen. It's worth a try. You should call him.”

I looked at Robin, who met my eyes. It was big of him saying these things even if he didn't like Eric. Once again, I dried my tears, and then I gave him a hug. At least he was a true friend to me.

I waited until Robin had left to call Eric, and then a bit longer after that. I didn't dare at first. Maybe he was really angry and would curse at me. I wouldn't be able to handle that. I thought about leaving it be, so I could imagine him not being angry and grieve what was of our relationship. However, in the long run it wouldn't give me anything, so I collected myself and called him with shaking hands. I heard signal after signal, and the fourth I thought about hanging up, but just when the fifth started, he answered.

“Hey,” he said shortly.

“Hey.”

“Hey… Ehm… I don't know what to say, Eric, more than I'm so, so sorry for… everything,” I said with a dry throat and was forced to even cough after I had spoke.

“Yeah…” he said with his thinking voice. I knew he was in deep thought just in the way he answered.

“I love you. I love you, so so much,” I said desperately. Eric was quiet, so I continued to talk.

“I just wanted to be with you. From the first time I saw your photo, I was—”

Eric cleared his voice awkwardly. It was probably a bit much hearing me explain my love for his photo.

“Maybe, maybe we can talk for real?” He said it in a dreamlike tone, and for a second I would have believed he had smoked marijuana recently, but I knew he often sounded like that when he tried to master his big feelings and sensitive heart. “I can come to you tomorrow?”

My own heart beated hard. I didn't want anything more than that.

“Of course, of course!” I said excitedly, I couldn't contain my happiness.

“Good… I'm sorry, by the way?”

“What? For What?” I answered with a giggle, like he was joking. I couldn't control the euphoria I felt of just knowing I would be close to him soon.

“For what happened with Nick and all that… I guess drugs are the thing I think about when life sucks. Like when you had those extreme menstrual cramps and you asked for—”

“Stop!” I said with a loud laugh, and Eric laughed too. It was a joke, a joke about that time I had such horrible period cramps that my ass cramped so I had begged him for anal sex like it was the only thing that could save my life.

Fortunately, it subsided by itself before we had time to do it, and then it felt awfully scary.

I could hear Eric's sweet little giggle in my ear, and I sighed with love.

“I really love you the most in the entire world, you know.”

“I love you most in the entire world, too, babe,” he said warmly before we hung up.

×××

“I'm sorry, but it sounds super weird you dreamed about me,” he said after thinking about what I had said for a while. I had told him I dreamed about him, but I didn't dare say I believed it was actually him visiting my dreams. It would be too much and sound a bit like an excuse from a stalker.

“It was! After the first time seeing your photo, I started to dream about you, and you were amazing in the dream, just as amazing as you are now, and yeah, I just wanted to meet you for real. And you were so different from Dante. Even the person you were in my dream was everything I wanted.”

Eric looked at me with big eyes and nodded. He put down his cup on the coffee table, then he moved closer to me smoothly.

“You have said many times that Dante was a really bad guy… What does that mean?” He searched my eyes, but I just looked away. I didn't want to talk about Dante like that.

“You can talk to me… I hope you know that.”

I moved closer to Eric and looked into his kind eyes. I was safe with him.

“He hit me a couple of times.”

I looked at Eric's Adam’s apple bob in his throat.

“He hit you?”

“It was just a few times, but I provoked him, so it's just embarrassing to talk about. I don't want people to know how annoying I-”

“Hey!” Said Eric, upset, and it made me jump. “I'm sorry, I'm sorry,” he said softly when he realized he had scared me. “No guy has any right to hit you, even if you're annoying as hell. I don't care what you say about yourself, he is the one in the wrong.” He looked at me seriously but suddenly looked scared. “You know I would never do that, right? I know people say it's a bigger risk for abused kids to become abusive adults, but I would never ever in my life do that. I would kill myself if I ever did that.”

His words were sincere and worried, and his face, cute. I kissed his full lips and dragged my hand over his smooth cheek.

“I know that, Eric. That's why I love you so much. I would never doubt your kindness.” I kissed him again, and it led to us making out a bit. I crawled up in his lap, and he took his chance to pull down my tank top straps so he could play with my chest with his big hands. His lips found a nipple, and once again he sucked so hard it felt like he thought his next dinner was there. I dragged my hands over his head and cradled him against my chest while he found comfort against me.

“My boy… I'm sorry for everything that has happened to you in life…” I whispered and made him look at me, still with my nipple between his lips.

“I'm sorry that your biological mom didn't treat you well and that you met so many others that have hurt you…”

Eric released my nipple and looked away but still lay against my chest.

“I know it's her fault I am the way I am. That I crave... That I need drugs to calm my loud thoughts down, but I'm not mad anymore. She was disturbed. She was sick. The men… They're just faceless idiots to me, so there is no one to be angry with.”

He sounded so mature and calm, and I felt proud and smiled at him a little. It would be a good person like Eric who could see life from that angle.

“But when you are depressed, what is that about?”

He shrugged his shoulders and sat up.

“Depression doesn't always have an explanation. It's just like everything drops for me. Like nothing is important. It just falls to the ground, and I can't see an end. Of course I can have nightmares about the men who kicked me around or the times Linda tied me to the radiator for a day or two.” I gave him an upset look, but he didn't seem to notice. “But it's not those memories that make me depressed. That's just my brain shutting off.”

Eric looked at me and then smiled a little.

“You don't need to look so worried; it was fifteen years ago. And Linda is dead. She died of a failing liver when I was eighteen or something.”

I nodded a little and patted his cheeks. It was hard thinking that a kind soul as Eric had gotten treated like that, and it made both my chest and stomach hurt. I kissed his lips softly a few times, but I noticed quickly that Eric wanted more than that. I giggled when he pulled down my tank top again to touch my chest and when he licked my lips to be able to get permission to dance with my tongue.

Deep tongue kisses made Eric pleasurably groan, and when I moved in his lap, I could clearly feel he was hard. I dragged myself over his sex and could feel his cock grow to its full size in the loose-fit track pants. Eric knew what he wanted but also what I wanted, so he stood up and let me hang around him like a koala bear.

“Am I not heavy?” I said with a giggle. I knew I wasn't for him, but I wanted to hear it.

“Fuck no, you don't weigh a thing.” He said, shaking his head. He probably knew I just wanted to hear that but answered seriously so it would feel even more real for me. I giggled and leaned back while being in his safe arms. I could lean back a long way, and Eric let out a sound of admiration.

“Fuck you're sexy,” he said, and then put me down in bed. His words made me feel my self esteem grow, and I smirked while taking off my clothes while lying in bed. I moved sensually, letting him be my small little audience while I started my masturbation show for him. Eric stood and looked at me with an open mouth and pulled off his big gray t-shirt. I looked at his muscles shamelessly, and even if he was so close, I fantasized about having him even closer. I sat up, drunk of hornyness, and pulled him closer to me with a grip of the elastic to his dark blue pants.

From his navel down to the hem of his pants, I made a small trail of kisses. I licked the lines going down to his groin while teasingly pushing down his pants with his boxers. Eric chuckled a little when I licked closer and closer to his loins and helped me take the last of his clothes when my lips moved closer and closer to the root of his cock. He kicked the pants and boxers away with his socks and then turned around. His idea was to just attack my lips with his, but I stopped him because I wanted to look at him. Eric scratched his ear while I looked at his body up and down.

“Damn boy,” I teased and bit my lip. Eric chuckled, embarrassed but also proudly. He had a hobby you could see clearly how much he worked on, but also, he won a lottery in anatomy.

“Can I fuck you now?” He said and moved closer to me, and I nodded with a giggle. With a smile, he kissed me and moved over me, his body so broad it felt like it swallowed me up. He smelled like one of his expensive perfumes, mixed with herbal tea, and even that smell was intoxicating. With a swift motion, he had pushed me down on my stomach in bed so he could enter me from behind while he held me close to his body. I wonder if I could ever get used to his size or strength. I hoped not because every time he was close, I felt so blessed and protected, and I hoped I would never take that feeling for granted.

×××

Eric fell asleep after our lovemaking; most of the time he had held me up against the wall, and I could see that would even be much for him, but I couldn't deny what a feeling it was to be held like that. I felt small and vulnerable in his arms, full, overwhelmed, and light as air. He had instead held me up by the thighs while also moving in and out of me with fast, hard strokes. No wonder he was tired.

I swept my finger over his nose, following the straight nose bridge out to the upturned tip. He wasn't bothered by it; he just continued to sleep. Warmth rose in my chest while I looked at him, but another feeling started to take over. Hadn't it been very easy for me to be forgiven by him? I had lied and gone behind his back, but he forgave me after just a few minutes, then slept with me in the best way. The last time I saw him, he had also laid in a bed but had asked for drugs. Did that craving just disappear? I thought back to the moment in his bed and what he had said. He had wanted the morphine pills he had seen in the bathroom. Pills I hadn't hidden away before his visit. I stood up from bed and pulled on a floral kimono as I walked to the bathroom on light feet. I know you can guess what I found—nothing. The pills weren't anywhere to be found. I searched over and over in the bathroom, but there weren't any pills. I could feel the panic grow because I didn't want to believe it, but still it was there; Eric had just forgiven me and slept with me to steal my morphine pills.

I stood and looked at myself in the bathroom mirror, more or less waiting for the inevitable breakdown. I loved him so much, but he clearly loved other things more than me, even if he had said he loved me most in the entire world. I waited for the breakdown, but it never came; maybe it had just been too much the last few days and there were no tears left.

I walked back to the bedroom, where he still slept with just the cover on his hips. I looked at all the badly made tattoos, the clues to what life he had lived and probably would soon live again. I wondered if he was high on something while we slept together. Maybe it was amphetamine that gave him his stamina. I kicked his shin with my foot over and over. That was the only way I wanted to touch him; otherwise, I wouldn't be able to keep my cool. I kicked quite hard after a while to make him wake up, and after three hard kicks, he looked up at me confused.

“I'm sorry, have I slept a long time?” He said with a raspy voice and rubbed his eyes.

“Did you just sleep with me to be able to take my pills?” I said crass with furrowed brows. He sat up and scratched his chest. He looked adorable with his big eyes shifting, but for me, that was just proof he had taken them; he couldn't even look at me.

“What?”

“My morphine pills; you have taken them!”

“What? No?”

“God, I never thought this about you, Eric!”

“But I haven't-”

“Don't lie to me!”

“But I-”

“Maybe you are just the fucking junkie everyone says you are!”

Even if he was the one in the wrong, I swallowed hard when he looked at me hurt.

Without a word, he stood up and started to dress. My instinct was to say I was sorry and beg him to stay, but he had used me for drugs, so there was no hope for us.

I stood with crossed arms and shiny eyes while his naked body disappeared into soft fabrics. He walked by me without a look, out to the hallway.

“Can I have the pills?” I tried to sound cold but didn't know if I succeeded very well. The question made him finally look up at me with sad eyes.

“I don't have them.”

I sighed and looked down at the ground disappointedly. It wasn't like him to lie to me right in the face, but I guessed drugs made him into someone else. I looked at him while he pulled on his bomber jacket and turned on his heel to the door. The jackets were the only place he could have them, and for a few seconds I regretted not looking in his pockets but brushed that away; it didn't make any difference. Eric closed the door silently behind him; he would probably never be the kind to be violent in front of a woman. I stared at the door for a long time after he had left with tears in my eyes. I couldn't say why, but it felt like something didn't add up, but I tried to say to myself that it was just me who wanted it to be that way.

I sat down on the couch where our teacups still stood on the coffee table. I breathed heavily, trying to find acceptance, but it seemed like other thoughts knocked on the door and wanted in.

He hadn't even been in the bathroom. He had been by my side all the time.

I thought back to his visit, trying in every way to find a time he could have taken the pills, but there wasn't a time. In panic, I ran to the bathroom, looking again through every cabinet and box after the pills. I threw things out on the floor to see everything better, but they were nowhere to be found. I cried hysterically because I couldn't find an explanation.

“Maybe you are just the fucking junkie everyone says you are!”

Even if he was the one in the wrong, I swallowed hard when he looked at me hurt.

Without a word, he stood up and started to dress. My instinct was to say I was sorry and beg him to stay, but he had used me for drugs, so there was no hope for us.

I stood with crossed arms and shiny eyes while his naked body disappeared into soft fabrics. He walked by me without a look, out to the hallway.

“Can I have the pills?” I tried to sound cold but didn't know if I succeeded very well. The question made him finally look up at me with sad eyes.

“I don't have them.”

I sat down on the couch where our teacups still stood on the coffee table. I breathed heavily, trying to find acceptance, but it seemed like other thoughts knocked on the door and wanted in.

He hadn't even been in the bathroom. He had been by my side all the time.

“Maybe you are just the fucking junkie everyone says you are!”

I heard my own words in my head. Had I thrown that in his face, and he hadn't even taken the pills? He must have taken them. Where else were they? I needed to talk to someone, someone that could tell me I had done the right thing. I called Robin with shaking hands, sitting on the toilet lid with legs bobbing up and down in panic.

“My morphine pills were gone, so he must have taken them, but I don't know when he could have done it, but he must have, right? Right? I mean, where are they otherwise? He came here and pretended to be the perfect boyfriend again just to take them!” I rambled with a runny nose.

Robin was quiet on the line. I wasn't prepared for that; I thought he would just say I had done the right thing.

“I have them.”

I didn't understand what he was saying and furrowed my brows in confusion.

“What?”

Robin sighed deeply.

“I'm sorry, I thought I did both of you a favor by taking them away. So he wouldn't be tempted.”

“Huh?” My heart beated hard against my chest.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. I had accused Eric of stealing my pills without any proof, and here I now sat with the truth. Eric was really the perfect boyfriend, but I had called him a junkie.

“I didn't want to do a thing out of it because I was afraid you would be angry if I said anything that could be critical to your relationship.”

Robin sounded sincere, but right at that moment I didn't care. I had called Eric a fucking junkie. I thought about his hurt expression but how calm he still continued to be. Always so respectful and sweet, even when hearing such things.

“Oh my god... Oh my god…” I said with a shaking voice and laid a hand over my mouth to cover my sobs.

“I'm really sorry, Della; this wasn't my plan at all!” Said Robin with guilt and stress in his voice. I didn't say anything because I was busy trying to control my tears.

“I would never do such a thing to you. Him, yes, but not you. I can punish him with mom and all that, but I wouldn't-” he interrupted himself, and I could almost hear his panic.

“...how do you punish Eric? What? How do you punish Eric??” I said, upset, and raised my voice. I had a bad feeling—a really bad feeling and ideas about what he had done to Eric spun around in my head.

“Nothing!” Robin sounded mad, but I was quite sure it was a way to mask that he had said way too much.

“Tell me now!”

Robin was quiet on the line. “Is it something about him not seeing Lotti? Huh? Have you kept them from each other?”

Robin sighed like he was irritated, but instead of saying anything, he hung up in my ear.

#bill skarsgård #bill skarsgard #fan fiction #writing #story #bill skarsgård writing #bill skarsgård fanfiction #fiction #the crow #eric

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yourfavoritewitchbitch · 2 months ago

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Chapter 6 - Best Laid Plans

A Mafia!Steve Harrington AU (featuring Mafia!Eddie Munson)

Previous l Next

Masterlist

Summary: Nothing can stay secret forever when there are such high stakes. Bliss becomes a nightmare as things start to unravel and Nik isn't as clueless as he seems to be.

18+ Only! Minors DNI!

This chapter contains very heavy content but is crucial to the continuation of the story. Read at your own risk!

CW: Reader is referred to as "Dove" as well as other pet names. Tense situations. Violent threats. Physical and mental spousal abuse (reader is slapped, choked and kicked). Sexual Assault (not explicit but heavily implied).

WC: 5.7K

The days pass slowly, yet quickly in the presence of his company, giving way to weeks in the blink of an eye. You're so wrapped up in each other the outside world fades away each time, leaving you in this perfect bubble you've created for yourselves.

Steve and you manage to meet a few times a week. Making sure to be cautious, always during the evening, never staying too late and slipping back into the gallery without so much as a hair out of place to meet your driver back out front for the small trek home.

Loving him was to live again, though keeping him hidden away in the dark felt like a sin. Each time you were in his light your leaves unfurled a little more, trying to catch his golden rays to flourish and bloom, feeling once more like the woman you were all those years ago.

He was warm sunshine on your skin after Winter's long, bitter embrace. He was the embodiment of hope and everything good in the world. It felt like that part of you that had been missing had finally found its way back.

You were afraid that Nik would grow suspicious, but he hasn't said anything in the few weeks that passed, barely giving you the time of day, business as usual. You remained playing the part of dutiful wife in public settings if absolutely necessary, while behind closed doors you practically never saw him.

Steve wanted nothing more than to call you and tell you about his day. He longed for the mundane experiences. The things that most people take for granted but for now, he would keep you to himself until he could finally tell the entire world that you were his once more.

Playing pretend here in this apartment, in this little world of make believe and to share a bed with the man you loved, felt like pure bliss but it wasn't solely about sex. It had always been deeper with Steve, a connection beyond the physical. You'd known it since you were teenagers, though then you hadn't fully understood.

You took turns cooking for each other, while some nights it was takeout. Mind numbingly boring TV played in the background as you talked about your day while sipping wine. It was hand holding, stolen glances, and talking about the future. Everything you had been missing.

It was perfect. It was a refuge. It was home.

A moment of weakness or a mistake of passion, in between tipsy kisses and whispers of “I should head home” followed by “I know”. Wandering hands and moans of pleasure quickly pushed those more sensible thoughts away as the night slowly edged toward morning.

He slowly began to rouse, releasing a soft breath while reluctantly letting his eyelashes flutter open, only to be met with your still naked form cocooned in the sheets beside him.

The early spring sun had started to settle through the open curtains, casting its luminous rays across the bed. A patch of warm sunlight highlights your body so perfectly that for a brief moment he swears you’re an angel sent to Earth just for him.

He'd left the window open the night before. The sounds of the outside world began to trickle in with the soft breeze prickling his skin. The city was just beginning to come to life, the birds were chirping loudly, almost enough to drown out the engines and horns of the cars on the already busy street below.

Your hair lightly blows with that same breeze sending the intoxicating scent of your lilac and jasmine scented shampoo his way. The bed would smell like you until he inevitably has the sheets washed in the coming days.

You'd explained that Nik was away the entire weekend, business in New York, teasing him you should just stay in the apartment the entire time.

Drunk on wine and high on each other, you hadn't meant to fall asleep but the lure of tender touches and inviting warmth was too intoxicating to leave so soon.

It was stupid and reckless.

He laid there a few more moments basking in what he thought was still a dream before his waking mind caught up to the gravity of the situation.

“Shit,” he hissed, wiping the sleep from his eyes before his blurry vision focused enough to see the time on his watch.

You groaned softly, waking up from his sudden movements when he untangled his legs from yours.

“Dove. Baby, wake up.” He called urgently, but no louder than a whisper, trying not to alarm you too much.

You hum and try to bury your face further into the pillow as he runs his knuckles lightly across your cheek.

“Dove,” he whispers once more, pressing his face into your neck, while warm lips place soft kisses along your jaw.

Another low hum escapes you as he whispers against your skin.

“You fell asleep, tesoro. We both did.”

The moment those words register, your eyes fly open, as you jolt up.

“Shit! What time is it?” Hissing out, as you quickly move off the bed, bending down to pick up your discarded clothes from the floor with a foggy mind.

“Almost 6:30.” He replies, pulling his shirt over his head, crossing the room.

You pull your underwear on, grabbing your phone, fingers working fast to open your notifications. There were numerous missed calls and texts from your driver. No doubt he'd already alerted Nik that you hadn't gone home.

“Fuck! Have you seen my bra?” You ask, eyes searching your side of the bed.

“Over here.” He holds it up and tosses it your way when you turn back around.

He notices the frantic nature of your movements as you rush to finish getting dressed.

“Hey, Dove. Baby.” He says, trying to gain your attention but you don't even bat an eyelash, already too caught up in your own mind.

He finally knocks you from the spiral when he comes to stand in front of you, wrapping his hand around the nape of your neck as your gaze drifts up to those warm, honey hued irises, pulling you back from the brink.

“Hey, it's okay, tesoro.” He says, calm and reassuring as you search his face, wrapping your hand around his wrist, anchoring him to you. He brings his lips to your forehead, pulling you further into his chest. “Take a deep breath.”

And you do. Slowly expanding your lungs, breathing him in, holding it a moment before releasing.

“That's it.” He reassures you with a kiss to your temple. “Finish getting dressed. Call your driver on the way to the office. You fell asleep there. Got it? Right at your desk.”

He pulls back, cradling your face between his hands as you nod.

“Good.” Responding with another kiss to your forehead, lips warm and grounding.

Though he was calm on the outside, his own worry was there. You'd both fucked up. He knew it and was hesitant to let you leave but eventually gave in. It was too early to make a play.

He watches you from the window as you get into the car, silently praying this isn't going to derail everything he'd worked so hard for.

Your heart was beating wildly against your ribcage as the car approached home, wringing your hands nervously as you sat silently in the backseat. You could feel the eyes of your driver every few minutes through the rearview mirror, but you ignore his glances.

As the large house came into view, it seemed to loom over you as if your demise was imminent. You tried to dismiss those thoughts. Now was the time to maintain a level head and not let your emotions get in the way.

Play it cool. Play it cool. Play it cool. You repeat over and over in your head.

The driver opened the door with a “Mrs,” knocking you from your daze. You said nothing exiting the vehicle, as sure and steady steps lead you to the front door.

Silence as you stepped into the foyer, holding your breath for a beat as your heels clicked across the marble flooring, not bothering to look for him as your legs carried you to the stairs. One at a time, they lead you to the second-floor landing and then to the safety of your room.

It was only then you finally let out a heavy sigh, shoulders sagging, as you leaned against the closed door, locking it.

Nik hadn't rushed home, quelling most of your fears but not extinguishing them. He hadn’t called or bothered to check in, which wasn’t unusual, but your guard was still up.

You'd been too careless. Foolish.

Maintaining the facade that nothing was amiss, you lazed about the rest of the weekend, barely leaving your room unless it was for the occasional meal or walking around the grounds for some fresh air.

He had stayed on his “business” trip, until Monday morning rolled around.

It was raining as you sat in the breakfast nook, distracted by the steady stream of raindrops pelting the window surrounded by the peaceful silence sipping your coffee.

His heavy footsteps quickly approaching caught your attention, as your posture stiffened.

Just breathe. You could hear Steve's voice, as you closed your eyes for a brief moment.

“Kitten.” His deep voice cut through, smirking at you when you turned to look up at him.

“Nik.” You grumbled, taking a quick sip and looking back out the window.

He poured his coffee, crossed the room and took the seat across from you.

His eyes were practically burning into you, the way his gaze never wavered as you steeled your features, never giving him a hint of the turmoil churning inside of you. It's as if he was waiting for you to confess, drop to the floor and beg for forgiveness.

“My, my. What did you get into this weekend?” He asked, chuckling. A deep throaty sound that sets your already frazzled nerves ablaze.

“Don't start.” You sighed, bringing your mug back down to the table as you finally held his eye contact. Icy blue shards of indifference peered back at you.

He suddenly reached across the table and gripped your chin forcefully, making a small mewling sound escape your throat. He kept moving forward until his nose grazed yours.

“Oh, Kitten. You know very well who started this.” He spoke, shoving your face away, as you winced. “And you won't soon forget this is all on you.”

You shot up from your seat, backing away from him as quickly as possible. His mocking laughter followed you down the hall as you rushed back to your room.

His threats were no longer idle. You could feel the walls closing in around you, trying not to panic as a familiar sting was felt behind your eyes. He wouldn't do anything, not yet. That thought alone gives you a small amount of hope. If he wanted you dead, he would have already done it.

There was still time.

You arrived at work earlier than usual, feeling a sense of impending doom as you walked through the doors of your office and immediately retrieved your burner.

Steve had thought it best for no contact until you went back to work. Now, more than ever, it felt as if you were being watched.

No missed calls. No new notifications. You only hoped it was a good sign.

“Mrs. Petrov?” The voice of Abigail startled you enough that you nearly dropped the phone, as you clutched your chest.

“I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you.” She began, walking further into the office as you shoved the phone into the nearest desk drawer.

“That's quite alright.” You replied, straightening up and smoothing the nonexistent wrinkles from your shirt. “Today's agenda?”

“Right here.” She extends the paper toward you, glancing over it and immediately dismissing her.

Your attention went back to Steve as soon as the door shut, grabbing the burner and quickly dialing his number.

He picked up on the second ring.

“Are you okay?” He asks, with a hint of relief in his voice.

“I— I'm ok.” There was a slight hitch to your breath that didn’t go unnoticed.

“Tesoro, did he do anything to you?” He asks, his voice coming out a bit more strained.

“No.” You lie. “I just— I have to see you. Tonight.”

“Dove, that's not—”

“I know it's not a good idea, but I need you!” You all but wail out, cutting him off.

He sighs but doesn't say anything as your meek voice comes through again.

“Please.”

He pinches the bridge of his nose. How could he deny you? His tesoro. His heart. His everything.

“Okay, okay Tesoro. Be ready at 6 pm. And Dove?” He pauses. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

The line went dead as you sat back in your plush, leather chair with a forlorn sigh, wiping away the evidence you'd been crying and reapplying some fresh mascara. Everything was fine. Work as normal. Not a hair out of place.

Internally you were a frazzled mess, counting down every second until then.

Somehow you managed to keep your mind preoccupied for most of the day. As the time edged a little past 5:30, your phone lit up with a new message. You smiled. It was no doubt Steve telling you he had made it to the apartment, as he normally would.

Your heart suddenly sank as you read and reread the message in bold print.

921-987-5555 5:32 PM: DO NOT LEAVE THE OFFICE! THE APARTMENT HAS BEEN COMPROMISED.

Four weeks of pure bliss. Four weeks of living in your little fantasy world. Four weeks of feeling like everything would work out and one single text brought this false sense of security crashing down.

You slowly sank back into your chair on trembling legs.

It could only be Nik.

You quickly called Steve.

“Dove, do not leave. I'm coming to get you.” He breathes out heavily.

“No, you can’t— I can't go with you.” You bite back the sob threatening to spill out. At least for his sake, you could pretend you weren't scared.

“You can and will. I'll be there in five.” He insists.

“Steve, he won't stop. It's better if I go home and act like I don't know anything.” Was it though?

“What?! No, that's bullshit! You're coming home with me.” He rushes out.

“Steve, baby please. Just listen to me. He's going to dinner with my father tonight. We have to act like everything is normal. I trust you. You have to trust me.” You urged, though you didn't believe it yourself.

“Dove.” He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “I trust you.”

You ended the call with more “I love yous” and telling him that everything would be okay. Nik wouldn't possibly be so stupid to do anything to you tonight. Steve finally resigned himself, as his own plan began to form in his mind. He still had the upper hand.

Once he hung up with you, he made another call. He was no longer willing to be separated from you, risking your life was not in the cards for him.

It was time.

You crept through the foyer, hoping the small sound of the door closing wouldn’t rouse anyone in the large house.

Removing your heels from your stocking clad feet, so that you could silently move through the room and quickly check your surroundings, pausing, listening. You were met with nothing but the sound of your heartbeat reverberating in your chest.

You thought you were in the clear, but your false sense of security was quickly shattered, rounding the corner only to be met with your Nik’s steely glare. A cigarette and stiff drink in hand. He was home early. Much too early. It immediately set you on high alert.

He was sitting in front of the large fireplace in the study. When you caught his gaze, he bid you to come forward as he set the drink down. Brining the cigarette to his lips, taking a long inhale before resting it alongside his drink.

Dressed in his usual suit, his jacket left on the chair behind him, leaving him in a white button up with the sleeves rolled up on his forearms revealing an expanse of black ink beneath.

You shuffled forward slowly, crossing your arms behind your back with your heels still dangling from your fingertips.

“Tough day, my love?” he cooed, in a sickly-sweet voice that would almost sound sincere to anyone else. His lips turned up into a cruel smirk as he turned to look at you.

“You know exactly how my day has been.” You hissed, already over his little games.

“Now kitten, a little birdie told me you were seen with him. Though, it doesn't come as a surprise.” A calm tone, in contrast to his wild eyes. He knows. He goddamn knows.

“Nik,” you started, as his palm met your cheek with a sharp smack that echoed in the otherwise quiet space, along with the thud of your heels that fell from your grasp. Your eye instantly welled, unable to control the tears forming from the force of his blow. Pain instantly searing the skin.

You could taste the familiar metallic tang in your mouth, as you reached up trying to soothe the discomfort.

Ever defiant, you raise your head slowly, to meet his cold, indifferent gaze.

He gripped your chin, forcing your face closer to his.

“Now, kitten,” no feeling whatsoever behind those words.

“This kind of behavior just won’t do for my reputation. I can't let you go whoring around with him out in public, making me look like a fool in the process.” He couldn't have seen. You were too careful… unless…

He removed his hand slightly, only to cup your cheek engulfing it with his large palm. It was tender, a stark contrast to the pain he had just inflicted. Raised welts began to form under his touch.

He pushed your face a little harshly, putting some distance between you to take his leave.

“Clean yourself up and get ready for dinner. Your father will be joining us.” He leaned down, pressing his lips to yours, catching the back of your head pressing you closer to his larger frame. You made no attempt to push him away, knowing it would only spur his anger.

He released you, grabbing his jacket and turning back one last time before he spoke.

“And kitten, end it. Or I will.”

He left you standing there wilted and bruised, standing in the warm glow of the lit fireplace contemplating your next move, releasing a shuddering breath. If there was a fate worse than death, this was surely it.

Your hand was pressed to your cheek as you turned, slowly trudging up the stairs with your head held high. He was trying to break you.

Nik was a goddamn idiot. It was painfully obvious he'd hit you. There was only so much you could do to hide the welts. You iced it, hoping it would alleviate some of the pain and swelling enough that your father wouldn't take notice.

It worked mildly. Makeup covered the rest. A red lip to also hide the small laceration he had caused.

You changed into a more modest dress with flats. Something sweet. You were in no mood to play the part of a doting wife, but you would behave in front of your father lest there be consequences for you both. Nik was capable of anything.

Voices drifted from the foyer as you came from your room, alerting you that your guest had already arrived.

Turning the corner, your hand gripped the railing to the stairs so hard your knuckles turned white, suddenly feeling like your heart had stopped.

Oh God no! Anything but this.

It took your brain a moment to truly register what your eyes were seeing. Steve was standing by your father, shaking hands with Nik as you stared on with a look of abject horror. As your mind caught up, you began to descend the stairs holding your breath.

Your father followed Nik into the study without so much as a glance your way, but Steve turned, briefly catching your gaze, nodding slightly before disappearing along with them.

“Fuck,” you hissed under your breath, heading straight into the dining room, promptly pouring yourself a glass of bourbon with shaky hands. You tipped it back, downing it with one large gulp, slamming the glass down against the bar top with a resounding thud. The amber liquid burned, settling in the pit of your stomach doing little to settle your nerves, your mind completely starting to spiral with a thousand different scenarios.

Your father and Nik were supposed to go out. Why was Steve here?!

“Miss?” The voice from one of the kitchen staff drifting from the doorway jars you back to the present and the reality of the situation. “Will we be having another guest for dinner this evening?”

“Um…” You didn't trust your own voice, clearing your throat before replying. “Yes, I think so.”

The young lady nods and heads back into the kitchen, returning quickly with another place setting as you take your usual seat at the table, to the right of Nik. You felt numb, as if your body was on autopilot, staring blankly at the plate in front of you as their voices crossed the threshold.

It was all business as they entered the room, one after the other. Nik, followed by your father and then Steve.

You didn't dare meet his gaze, too afraid of what it might hold but he immediately clocked your unusual demeanor taking a seat beside your father. You were withdrawn, scared, nothing like the woman he knows and loves.

“Hey Kiddo. I've missed you for our Sunday lunches.” Your father spoke up. It had been weeks since you'd properly seen him. The bags under his eyes doing nothing to hide the exhaustion evident in his features.

“I know, daddy.” You reply, with a slight lilt to your voice. “We'll do them again soon.. I've been… busy.”

He smiles over at you with a nod, not pressing any further as the wine was poured for the table.

No one spoke as the salads were served. The tension hangs thick in the air, Nik's eyes darting between you and Steve as you lift your fork to begin your meal.

“So, Steve,” Nik's voice laced with venom, as if saying his name out loud physically pained him. “I heard you were going back to Italy. Leaving Chicago to the big boys.” He smirks.

“Ahh, little Niki, do you believe every rumor you hear?” He replies with a nonchalance, taking a sip of wine to cleanse his palette.

Nik’s jaw visibly clenched. Steve knew exactly how to get under his skin, using his old nickname.

The small talk was left to a minimum, a few mumbles from your father about the Cubs as he tried to steer the conversation to more lighthearted topics as the entrees were finally served.

Braised lamb with a red wine sauce served over a medley of stewed veggies.

The meat was tender but as you chewed, Steve noticed you slightly wince, pausing as your eyelashes fluttered closed a brief moment before continuing.

He regarded you closely, taking in your appearance. His eyes widened a little when he finally noticed your flushed appearance and the makeup trying to cover your cheek, a bruise beginning to form just below your red rimmed eye. It was his turn for his jaw to tighten, his fist clenching beneath the table.

Nik followed Steve's gaze, the flicker of irritation passing his face made him smirk to himself as the silence stretched on. The only sounds were forks and knives lightly clanking against the fine china echoing around the room.

Nik’s hand stretched under the table, suddenly wrapping around your thigh with a bruising grip that caused you to slightly jolt upright. It suddenly takes all the willpower that Steve can muster to not jump over the table and end him.

“Kitten?” He suddenly speaks up, in an overly affectionate voice, as you look over to him. “Go on to bed. I'll be up in a little bit. The men are going to talk now."

“But—,”

“Shh, shh, shh. No buts.” He coos, gripping your leg even tighter leaving no room for arguments.

You nod, scooting your chair back from the table, and standing to take your leave, glancing back at Steve, whose face is now set with a heavy frown. His eyes held immense fiery rage as he stared at Nik.

The tension was now at a boiling point, at least from one end of the table.

Nik grabs your wrist before you get too far, pulling you his way suddenly, gripping the back of your neck with his free hand and pressing his lips to yours. The sudden movement caught you off guard, as your lips parted with a gasp, he took the opportunity to push his tongue forward, an unwanted intrusion but you were powerless to fight his advances.

The few moments seemed to stretch on for eternity as he finally pulled back with a sickly-sweet grin, licking his lips and releasing his hold on you. You straighten up to bid your father and Steve both a farewell.

“Goodnight Daddy. Steve.”

Both men rose from their chairs.

“Night kiddo.” Your father kisses your cheek, pulling you into a small embrace.

Steve swallows around the lump in his throat as you take a step toward him, desperation written all over your features as you gaze up at him with an almost pleading look. Don't. You tried to convey.

"Night, Dove." He whispers, still searching your eyes, as your husband stares daggers at him. He leans in, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to your cheek as a silent tear escapes you going unnoticed by the other two men in the room as you finally brush past Steve.

He sits back down, his eyes trailing after you long after you disappear up the stairs. Regardless if you and Steve had been having an affair, the way you looked at each other was all the confirmation that Nik needed. He sighs heavily, loosening his tie.

“So, this is how it's going to be. My own father-in-law is conspiring against me.” He paused, eyes cutting over to Steve.

“And you Harrington, how long have you been fucking my wife?” He sneered.

Both men were a little stunned, heads snapping in his direction. Their best laid plans falling apart before their eyes, with the other seemingly knowing enough.

“Nik,” David started but he quickly cut him off.

“That whore is still my wife. Still MY fucking property.” Raising his voice as his fists come down against the table.

“Don't fucking call her that.” Steve hissed, eyes turning dark, trained on Nik. His calm demeanor hides the maelstrom of emotions churning within him.

“Oh Steven, don't pretend if you were in my shoes, you wouldn't feel the exact same way.” He cruelly grins but turns his attention back to your father.

“And David, I think it's time you shut your mouth and do some listening for a change so before any threats start flying around, let me make it abundantly clear. She's not going anywhere, with either of you.” A sickly, sweet smile grew across his face. He knew he had the upper hand.

Steve quickly rose, but David stopped him before he came over the table at Nik, pressing a hand to his chest.

“I swear to God, if you lay a finger on her, I'll fucking kill you.” He spits, gritting his teeth and pointing his finger at the other man. Pure rage was all he saw.

Nik rolls his eyes, as if unamused by the entire situation, making himself more comfortable in his chair.

“I don't think either of you gentlemen are in the position to make any demands at this point.” He finally rose, nodding to his security in the corners of the room. “Now if you'll kindly see yourselves out, I need to have a chat with my lovely wife.”

Steve made an attempt to lunge at Nik, who only laughed when two of the men grabbed either of his arms, halting his movements. Two more men stepped in, escorting your father out along with him.

“I'll fucking kill you! Do you hear me? I will end you!” He yells before being forcefully dragged from the house, his eyes focused up the stairs, where you had retired moments ago, before they slammed the door in his face.

His stomach sank at the thought of leaving you alone with him. His head was screaming at him to get you out of that house.

Unintentionally, this had caused you to be stuck in the middle when he was trying to spare you from all of this. He should have told you the truth. Gotten you away from all of it when he had the chance. This was HIS fault.

Both men stood there in utter shock. Everything was falling apart.

“You know what he's capable of. We can't leave her here.” Steve turned to your father, a sudden desperation to his voice.

“Steve, he's not going to do anything to her. He knows what would happen if he did.” The other man reasons.

“Did you not see the goddamn bruises and welts on her face?” Steve steps forward, his frustration evident, inching into your father's space.

“What bruises?” He asks, brows furrowed.

“She did a good job at covering them, but the way she winced while eating gave it away. Her cheek was slightly swollen. He's already laid his goddamn hands on her, David!”

Your father gaped in silence at the implications as he stared at the younger man.

“Goddamnit!” Steve shouts out into the night, with other option but to leave without you. Nik had entirely too much security on duty to try anything else. He prayed to whomever would listen to keep you safe until he could get you back.

You heard the commotion, Steve audibly yelling, as you jumped from the small sofa and ran to the top of the stairs just in time to see the front door being slammed in his face. Your heart sank.

Nik came into view, rounding the corner, tie shed, unbuttoning his sleeves and rolling it up his forearms. You locked eyes as a smirk lit up his face. He enjoyed seeing the sheer terror written on yours.

You turned, your feet carrying you into the bedroom far too slowly as he took the stairs two at a time, slamming your door shut, trying to lock it before he reached it, your fingers fumbling with the knob.

He smashed into it with all the force he had, forcing it open and knocking you down in the process.

Your head flew back, hitting the floor, dazing you for a moment but it was enough for him to rush forward, grabbing the back of your hair forcing you to look at him. His fingers tangled in your locks, making you hiss out at the sudden sting as your eyes met his.

Pure rage. Animalistic, predatory dominance staring back at you. No emotion. No hint of regret to be found. Any semblance of a human being was nowhere to be found.

“So this is how you repay me? After all these years? Scheming and whoring around behind my back?!” He screamed like a madman. “You and your fucking father!”

“Nik—please.” Your eyes well up with tears from the searing pain at the back of your head, hands clawing, trying to pry him away.

“Please?!” He yelled, laughing out. “That's all you have to say for yourself?”

You watched on, unable to do anything as he reared back and smacked you across the face. Searing white hot heat, on an already bruised cheek, has you crying out.

Helpless. Hopeless. No one was coming to your rescue.

Gathering as much strength as you could, you slammed your foot up into his crotch. He let go of you as he doubled over in pain, granting you a small reprieve as you started to crawl away.

“You fucking bitch!” He screamed, grabbing your ankle. Your fingertips dug into the carpet, as he dragged you back toward him, flipping you over as you fought but he easily overpowered you, sitting on your abdomen. His weight pressed you into the carpet and his hands wound around your neck, quickly shutting your air supply off.

He was crazed, eyes black with murderous intent, squeezing a little tighter as you continued to fight to pull his hands away. This was it. You were going to die here. He was going to kill you.

“I would love nothing more to see the light go dim in those pretty, pleading little eyes, taking delight to see your precious Steve become a broken man, but unfortunately I have other plans for the two of you.” He spat.

His grasp relented, air once again filling your lungs with a gasp as he moved off of you. You rolled away, clutching your neck, chest heaving trying to take in as much oxygen as possible laying on your side away from him.

He stood, chuckling to himself. You didn't see him coming toward you until it was too late. Intense pain shot through your back. He was a fucking coward, kicking you while you were already down.

Your ears were ringing, too stunned and shocked to keep fighting. A scream tried to erupt from your chest, but there was no sound that escaped your raw and bruised throat as a steady stream of tears fell from your eyes, your mind suddenly on the brink of unconsciousness.

He was saying something you couldn't make out, sounding as though he was so far away when you felt like you were floating, no longer in your body. You didn't feel him haul you over to the bed, tearing your clothes away from you. Your conscious mind was disassociating and shielding you from the abrupt and painful intrusion between your thighs.

You close your eyes, as he takes what he wants from you, leaving his filthy seed behind. Your body was bruised and battered, a broken, withered husk.

Hope was shattered.

Taglist: @teen--marvel @micheledawn1975 @thecreelhouse @girlwiththerubyslippers @bunnyhargrove @taccobelle @madaboutjoe @hazydespair

#steve harrington x reader #steve harrington smut #steve harrington x you #steve harrington fic #steve harrington x y/n #joe keery #mafia!steve #mafia!steve harrington #king of hearts #KOH

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olsenmyolsen · 4 months ago

Text

Chapter Thirteen: For You

The Farmer's Daughter - (A WandaNat Story)

Masterlist . Tag list: @xenaizogie

Summary: Wanda talks to her mom about Natasha just before Pietro comes home..

Word Count: 2.8K

Content: Feelings, Mother-Daughter Talks, Awkward Kate Bishop

"Do you wanna talk about it?" Kate asked as she looked from the road to her friend in the passenger seat. Natasha had her head rested against a neck pillow—a bag of semi-frozen peas from Kate's freezer on her head.

"I could've won," Natasha stated for the nth time today.

Kate laughed again. "Yet you lost and have a black eye and bandage on your nose." Natasha turned her head, and instead of bickering, she looked at her friend with whom she had missed time and spoke honestly. "I'm glad you found someone, Kate." Natasha turned her head back and let her friend sit in the moment.

A playlist from Kate's phone quietly played in the background as Kate smiled. She then thought about how to ask Natasha about Wanda.

Since Kate found her in the stairwell at the art show, she hasn't brought up the younger woman.

"It's just a little after lunch. Do you wanna stop somewhere?" They weren't far from the farm, so Natasha shook her head no. Plus, she wasn't hungry. "Have you talked to her?" Kate then asked, making Natasha lift the peas off her face.

"Since last night?" Natasha asked for clarification. Kate nodded. Natasha slightly nodded and shook her head. "I texted her after my shower."

"Oooohhh!" Kate said, making it sound a lot sexier than the text actually was. "Kate, I just told her we were about to head on the road."

"Oh," Kate said, disappointed.

Natasha wasn't sure how to explain or talk about her bruises and fight with Maya over the phone, so she was just gonna save it for her face-to-face with Wanda.

But she did take some pictures of her bruised face and body after the shower. Natasha sometimes thought it made her look sexier and that the selfies of her face were fun.

"Anything else?" Kate asked, wanting to know anything else that might be going on with Natasha and Wanda. Natasha put the peas back in her head and eye. Natasha smiled. "I'm excited to see her."

Kate looked over at her friend for a second. "Oh, she's gonna flip when she sees you."

Speaking of Wanda, not long after that, she was returning home after crashing the night at Sam's. As Wanda entered her home, the smell of something cooking in the oven worked its magic, creating a desirable smell in the air. Wanda turned to see her Mama on the couch working on a cross stitch.

Magda lifted her head to the sound of slip-on shoes hitting the ground. She smiled at her daughter, who crash-landed on the couch—wearing an oversized scarlet shirt and black leggings. Wanda sprawled out all over the sofa.

"Hi, my baby girl." Magda laughed at Wanda's actions.

"Hi, Mama," Wanda said before turning to face her mother upside down. "Did you have fun with your friends?" Wanda nodded, but Magda could see something bothering her daughter. "Up," Magda said, moving her cross stitch to the table beside her. "Up!" She said again directly to Wanda, making the younger woman pout and sit properly on the couch.

Magda slightly turned to her daughter as the TV played re-runs of a 90's comedy in the background.

"Talk to me. What's up." Wanda sighed. Of course, her mother saw right through her. "It's silly." Wanda tried to dismiss the conversation. Magda shook her head. "Wanda, you should talk to me if something bothers you." Wanda deflated her body and looked away.

Magda allowed her daughter to gather her thoughts.

"I..." Wanda looked at her mother. "I really like Natasha..." Magda kept her eyes on her daughter and nodded. "Okay... as more than a friend, correct?" Wanda slowly nodded. "Yes, Mama."

Magda, of course, had her suspicions, but it was nice to see it confirmed and for her daughter not to shy away from telling her the truth. Plus, Magda had been watching Natasha, and she was confident the redhead was infatuated with her daughter.

"Well, that's okay," Magda said, and while Wanda wasn't asking permission or anything, it was nice to hear. "You're an adult, Wanda. I trust you know what you're doing."

That was just it. Wanda knew she wanted Natasha, but since last night, something had been in the back of her mind.

"What else is it?" Magda asked of her daughter. Wanda opened her mouth and let out an anxious breath before speaking. "I just don't want to mess anything up." Magda's heart almost shattered at seeing her daughter this soft and scared.

Wanda had never felt this way about someone.

Sure, boyfriends and girlfriends have come and gone. But this Wanda was growing up, and Magda could see the actual care behind those eyes. "Plus.. you don't think she's too old for me... do you?"

Magda wasn't expecting that, but it would've been a lie if she had said it hadn't crossed her mind. Magda leaned back against the sofa and was quiet with thought.

Wanda watched and softly picked at the skin on her thumb.

"I think Natasha is mature and has had a very different life experience than you have had so far..." Wanda's face began to turn into a frown. "That doesn't mean you and her can't share new experiences. Yes, she is older than you, my dear." Magda paused for motherly dramatic effect. "But like I said, you're both consenting adults and should do what you feel is comfortable." Wanda felt closer to her mom and had her eyes sting with gratitude. "She's a very nice woman," Magda added.

"Thank you, Mama." Wanda leaned forward and hugged her mom. "Of course," Magda said before pulling Wanda's face to look at her. "Just be safe and remember that your heart belongs to you until you trust someone to share it." Wanda nodded as she sniffled. "I love you, Mama."

"I love you too, my Wanda."

Magda released Wanda from her hold. "But if she hurts you, I swear-" Wanda raised her hand with a smile. "I know we have witches in our blood. You'll curse Natasha." Wanda wanted to roll her eyes at the speech she heard numerous times before. "Don't say anything to Papa, please," Wanda asked of her mother.

Magda scoffed. "Please, if anyone is going to be telling him anything, it better be that Natasha." Wanda couldn't help but laugh. "That works." She said before her stomach growled. It was just after lunch, and the intoxicating smell of food was too good to ignore.

Magda had gone back to her cross-stitch. "Don't touch the stuff in the oven. It's for dinner." Wanda rose to her feet. "What is it?" She asked as she made her way to it. "Take a look, but don't touch it!" Magda yelled from the living room.

Wanda listened and took a peek. She quickly turned the oven light off and tilted her head slightly, confused. She then turned around and saw ingredients for Baklava on the counter. "Mama!" Wanda shouted from the kitchen before walking towards Magda on the couch.

Magda turned her head to her daughter and waited for Wanda to keep talking.

"You have Dolma in the oven!?" Magda smiled at her daughter and nodded. Wanda smiled back. It had been forever since her mother made a dish that was so unique to Wanda and her brother. "Is there any special occasion?" Wanda asked.

Magda shrugged. "I just thought it might be nice since my children will be under one roof again."

That made Wanda freeze. "Pietro is coming home?" Wanda's accent thickened as she spoke about her brother. Magda stopped her art and turned around on the couch. "Surprise! Papa is on the way to the airport now to pick him up!"

Wanda smiled wide and grew excited. She hadn't seen her brother since the new year. He was meant to come home before his trip abroad but was so busy wrapping up classes that he couldn't make it home. "Why is he coming home? Shouldn't he be in Russia or Sokovia right now?"

Magda shook her head. "He said he had a two-week break before he had to start his thesis." Wanda joking rolled her eyes. Her brother was not only a super athlete but could never stop studying.

On the flip side, Wanda was taking her summer to relax and forget about the ups and downs of college.

A redhead was inadvertently making sure of that.

"Between you and me, I think he's homesick," Magda said with a certain smile. "Mama, I think you're the one who missed Pietro." Magda waved Wanda away. Wanda laughed and went back to the kitchen. Doing her best not to steal food that was meant for dinner.

By the time Magda finally made it halfway through her cross-stitch, a black car was pulling up the gravel driveway.

Wanda heard the car approach, and before it parked, she was running down the stairs from her room. Magda laughed at how her daughter fumbled with her shoes. "Wanda." Wanda looked at her mom, calling her name. "She's not going anywhere."

Wanda knew it made her look downright bad for Natasha, but she could barely think about anything while she was gone.

Still, Wanda slowed down and breathed before tossing her hair and looking over her face in the mirror by the front door. "She missed you too," Wanda whispered to herself before opening the front door and stepping out.

Her green eyes squinted as she exited due to the sun reflecting off of Kate's car, but they soon adjusted themselves as Natasha stepped out of the passenger seat.

"Hi- oh my god!" Wanda's smile turned to one of panic as she looked over Natasha's face. "What happened!" Her Vans kicked up some rocks as she ran around the front of the car to Natasha's bruised face. Wanda's soft hands immediately touching Natasha's delicate skin.

Kate stepped out from her side and grabbed Natasha's bag from the backseat. Smiling as she watched Wanda's worried eyes scan Natasha's face with care until they turned to Kate as she walked up behind Natasha.

"Did you do this!?" Wanda barked as she clenched her jaw and waited for an answer.

Kate's eyes widened as she could've sworn she saw red instead of Wanda's green eyes. "No- I- She-" Kate stuttered and fumbled over words as Natasha tried to gather Wanda's attention.

"Wanda!" Natasha grabbed Wanda's face and made her look away from her scared friend. "I did it." Wanda knitted her eyebrows together. "What?" She asked as her hands moved down to hold Natasha's wrists.

Their touch sent butterflies to their stomachs.

"I did an expedition boxing match with Kate's girlfriend." That made Wanda scrunched her face more.

Since when did Kate have a girlfriend?

Oh, Natasha was in love with the scrunch and couldn't stop the smile and laugh that escaped her. "What?" Wanda asked as her eyes continued to look over Natasha's face before falling back to her eyes again and again.

Natasha stepped closer into Wanda's space. Her thumb pads rubbed the sides of Wanda's cheeks. "You're cute," Natasha said quietly, making Wanda beam. "You come back bruised, with a bandage on your nose after getting into a fight on purpose, and that's what you have to say?" Wanda said with a stern but gentle tone.

These two knew exactly what they were doing.

Natasha grinned. "I missed you," Natasha added, and Wanda melted at that. "I missed you too, Natasha," Wanda said quietly in between the space they created. Her heart beating rapidly.

"Who exactly did you fight?" Wanda asked as she moved her right hand to Natasha's barely open eye. Her fingertips glided along the edge of the bruise. "Maya Lopez." Wanda looked behind Natasha for any additional information, but she only found Kate on her phone several yards away.

"Don't worry; it was all good fun," Natasha said as her hands fell to Wanda's. Grabbing them and bringing Wanda's attention to her again. "Plus..." Natasha drew out. "I think you like seeing me like this."

Wanda inhaled quickly. "And what if I do?" She raised an eyebrow while trying her best to contain her nerves. "Then I can get bloody and bruised for you," Natasha growled as she stepped closer, placing her boots right next to Wanda's Vans. Their bodies closer than ever. Wanda was trying to control her breathing as they stood in the gravel driveway.

"For me?" Wanda questioned. Natasha nodded. "For you."

Without saying it, they told each other what they wanted to hear.

Wanda smiled and pulled her hands up Natasha's side, stretching herself to make herself taller as her arms wrapped around Natasha's neck. "I know I said it before, but I really like you, Natasha."

There it was. The softness that bled from Wanda.

"Even though I did this to my face?" Wanda smirked at Natasha, making her blush. "Well, technically, I didn't, but-" Wanda stopped Natasha by placing her lips onto the redheads. Natasha wasn't one to ramble, but the nerves were getting to her.

Once Wanda's soft lips touched hers, she grinned into the kiss and felt her stomach flip.

Kate had turned around just in time to finally see her friends not be idiots and tell each other how they felt. She then turned back as the sound of a truck engine and gravel rolled down the driveway.

"I like you too, Wanda," Natasha said as she caught her breath and held Wanda's hand in hers. Wanda bit her bottom lip and went from Natasha's black eye to the sound of her father's truck.

Natasha heard it, too.

In a flash, Natasha and Wanda's hands separated from one another as they stepped back. Natasha picked up her bag from the ground and stood near Wanda as they watched Erik's truck park on the opposite side of Wanda's SUV.

Kate walked up to the two, hung up her call with Maya, and watched Erik step out of the truck and go to the bed, pulling out a suitcase and duffle bag.

Natasha tilted her head before the creaking sound of the passenger door was heard. The redhead watched as a tall man around Wanda's age with dark hair and silver highlights stepped out. He wore aviators, brown boots, slim-fit dark wash jeans, and a graphic tee.

He reminded Kate of a modern-day Ryan Gosling in a certain way.

Natasha wasn't occupied with who the man looked like. All she cared about was who he was.

The man with Erik behind him stopped in front of the porch of the house and opened his arms side. "Sestra!" He yelled in a heavy accent. "Pietro!" Wanda yelled back before running to the man.

Shit.

"Pietro?" Kate quietly asked. Without taking their eyes away, Natasha answered. "Wanda's twin brother." Kate looked shocked at Natasha and could see Nat's green eyes studying the man.

Kate turned back just in time for Wanda to point to Kate and Natasha behind her. Erik nodded to something Wanda said before they started to move closer. Natasha took steps forward to be polite.

Kate followed and started questioning if she should've just dropped Natasha off and left.

Wanda arrived in front of Natasha with a hidden smile while the other two men looked at Natasha differently. Erik was the first to speak with concern while Pietro looked at Natasha through his sunglasses. "Natasha, what the hell happened to you? Are you all right?"

Kate stepped forward. "It's okay. Natasha just got into a fight with my girlfriend." Kate smiled as she didn't hear her own words. Natasha and Wanda opened their mouths to correct Kate, but Pietro spoke up. "Did you win?" Erik smacked his son's head, making his sister cover her mouth to hide a laugh.

Natasha smiled. "No, and it was an exhibition match anyway."

Pietro hummed with a tone of disappointment before he lifted his sunglasses up. It was in the eyes that Natasha could see how similar Wanda and Pietro really were. "Think you could take me?" He smirked, and that got under Natasha's skin for some reason.

However, thankfully, before she could utter a single word, Wanda and Erik had better suggestions. "Oh, quit it!" Erik patted his son's shoulder. Wanda stepped in front of Natasha and nervously laughed. "Trust me, Pietro, you don't want to do that."

Kate thought the same thing.

He shrugged. "Maybe someday." He looked Natasha up and down. His eyes stopping in one place along the way. "Solider." He smiled and turned with his father to greet Magda on the porch. Her eyes moved from Natasha and Wanda to her son.

"What the hell was that," Natasha whispered with her arms crossed over her chest as everyone else, aside from Wanda and Kate, disappeared inside the house. "He's just trying to get a rise out of you. He's annoying like that."

Wanda was correct, and for a moment, Natasha remembered that that's what siblings do to their sisters and their friends.

"Plus, knowing him, it's his way of flirting." Wanda shook her head at that gross thought. "Ew." Kate audibly said, making Natasha laugh.

dividers by @/benkeibear

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wayfayrr · 1 year ago

Note

What about reader showing Twilight Twilight (the movies) as a joke because they have the same name and wolves

Sure anon!! I hope you like this This isn't written by a twilight saga fan so I apologise for not liking the movies if that's what you wanted

"You had something you wanted to show me darlin'?"

"Since you first arrived here - Since we first met I've been wanting to show you this, it's a perfect coincidence and I think you'd like it."

Gently shoving Twilight onto the couch before sitting next to him with the remote in hand, gave him plenty of time to think over what I'd just said. He certainly hasn't just short-circuited for that minute.

"It's a movie called Twilight, and it's about werewolves, mostly vampires, but I don't really care about them."

"...What's a werewolf?"

"You don't need to play coy link, I already know that you're Wolfie and that the kids have already explained what a werewolf is."

Leaning onto his shoulder now as it starts almost makes me miss being in Hyrule where we would be like this nearly every night around a campfire. Thankfully being back in the modern world has far more perks than drawbacks, but even then there are small things that I myself and I think the chain as well just miss. Maybe I could suggest a camping trip to them soon.

It’s a slow-starting film but Twilight seems to be enamoured by it, although part of that might be that this is the first film that I've shown him. It’d be nice if we managed to go through the whole series at once without being interrupted, well and if he wants to of course.

“...Why is his skin so… so shiny.”

“Because like he said link, he’s got the skin of a killer…”

"But that doesn't make any sense?"

"I know. Not a lot of it does, but the music is great.”

I could feel his wince as soon as I said that. However he’s not leaving me, he’s still here watching it with me. Does that mean he’s enjoying it or is it simply because he wants to spend time with me? Twilight, he can be too nice for his own good sometimes putting himself in harm's way or in this case sitting through a film that he clearly doesn’t like. The movie was over fairly quickly thankfully for Link, as his sigh of relief timed perfectly with the start of the credits.

“How did you find it then Twi?”

“I liked spending the time alone with you.”

“So you would be up for watching all the sequels with me now then?”

His silence was telling enough of his answer, not that I can blame him for it. Twilight is a very divisive film. He looked so excited at the start but it faded during the story.

“I’m not going to force you. We could watch something else or do something else though? I like spending time alone with you rancher.”

“Actually like I said during it, I love the music and one of the bands in it. I’ve got a record of theirs. If you want we could listen to it and relax with some drinks?”

Even though I knew it somewhat before, Twilight really expresses himself mostly through actions, doesn’t he? It’s got to be a side effect of him becoming a wolf, seeing just how puppy-like he acts most of the time. Wait…

“Is it safe for you to drink alcohol? I mean…”

“I’ve never had any issues so far.”

“As long as you think it’s safe for you. I probably can’t foot a veterinary bill at the moment.”

“What was that?”

“Nothing.”

Seems like my plan to watch the trilogy with him is out the window now, but the others are all out for the moment so why shouldn’t I make the most of having him all to myself like this? Drinking and listening to vinyl sounds like a nice evening, and since it's related to the movie I should still be able to talk about it. I’d like an answer for why he’s so pouty.

“The werewolves were offensive though.”

“That’s what bothered you the most?”

“...I just didn’t like them.”

#moss✦writes #moss's✦requests #link x reader #linked universe x reader #lu twilight #tp link x reader #twilight x reader

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snazzilystoopid · 1 year ago

Text

Hello there, fellow Ninjago fan....

I wonder, are you looking for Ninjago fics to read..?

WELL GOOD NEWS I'M HERE WITH A LIST OF AMAZING FICS FROM QUOTEV JUST FOR YOU!! <33

List is below heheh

Also just real quick: Some of these fics are not updated often/not updated anymore! These are all fem readers/ocs, but if they are gn or male I'll lyk. These are also catered to Cole lovers (ofc) but there are some other pretty good ones too!!

Dandelions~ Lloyd x Reader

https://www.quotev.com/story/15255742/dandelions-LloydG-x-reader

This is a reader insert, and I think is a gn reader if I recall. I haven't read it in a while, but I do remember really enjoying it! It's rarely updated, and has under 100 pages currently, but it's worth the read. Promise!

Element of Wishes~ OC

https://www.quotev.com/story/15032547/ELEMENT-OF-WISHES-LEGO-Ninjago

I LOVE THIS FIC SMM!! This is an OC fic, following the story of an elemental master of wishes, who also just so happens to be half-djinn! It currently has over 200 pages as well. You read through the events of Ninjago as normal, but also get to read interesting parts about the mc's own personal quest to find answers! SKYLOR ALSO PLAYS A BIG ROLE IN IT AND I LOVE THAT SM (Most of s1 has been skipped though). Cole is the current love interest, the author can sometimes leave updating for like 4 months lmao, but they have started updating regularly again! One of my all-time favourite fics! I'M CURRENTLY READING IT RN AND I LOVE ITTT

The Master of Wind~ OC

https://www.quotev.com/story/7985682/The-Master-of-Wind

I another one I haven't read for a bit, but let me tell you: I LOVED THIS BOOK WITH A BURNING PASSION OMG. Its also pretty long, with like 900 pages lol. I generally love the concept of a master of wind, more so because I love Morro, but anyways, this book is spectacular. The love interest is Lloyd, and its a bit of a slow burn, but its worth it. Sadly it hasn't been updated for 3 months now, but I am hopeful that the author will update it soon!

Just An Illusion~ Reader Insert

https://www.quotev.com/story/14405232/Just-an-Illusion

Another short-ish book with under 100 pages, but I really loved this one!! The fic begins at the Tournament of Elements, and I don't think there is a current love interest. But seriously the way I read and reread this book is acc insane 😭 The fic unfortunately has been left for 8 months as I think the author is taking a break, but I'm pretty confident that Just an Illusion will continue!

Stoneheart~ OC

https://www.quotev.com/story/14081498/Stoneheart-Ninjago-Masters-of-Spinjitzu

THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING. I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT. The fic follows the story of an OC, who isn't from Ninjago, and who ends up joining the Ninja. Another MASSIVE book with over 800 pages and chock-full with a bunch of amazing original characters, and you're in for a good ride, trust me! I don't think there is a definite love interest, but it does seem to be leaning towards a certain character hehe (and no its not Cole unfortunately). Its being updated regularly-ish and I promise you will NOT regret reading it!

The Infinite Series~ Reader Insert

https://www.quotev.com/story/14276031/Infinite-Serenity-INFINITE-SERIES-BOOK-1

Another fic I enjoyed, this tells the story of the reader who died and had been reincarnated into a show from their childhood, LEGO Ninjago (obviously lol). There are two books in the series, the first one is linked above and you should be able to find the second one from there. I don't remember if there was a love interest or not but I do remember that the mc's personal story is really cool and so so creative! Book 1 had around 400 words and book 2 has like 300, however it hasn't been updated in 7 months 💔 still worth the read!

The Last~ Reader Insert

https://www.quotev.com/story/10806407/The-Last-LEGO-Ninjago-Masters-of-Spinjitzu-X-Reader

THE LAST. I LOVED THE LAST SO MUCH OMG. IM JUST SO SAD IT HASN'T BEEN UPDATED SINCE 2021 😭💔. This book is a Reader insert, where the mc is the last of their species, and joins the Ninja team, though I don't remember if there was a love interest or not, you'll have to read to find out because I really don't remember haha. Though the book has just over 100 pages, there aren't many chapters, and I don't think it's past s1 yet. Its still a good read, however, and I think a lot of you guys would like it!

The Colour of Hope & The Race Against Time~ OC

https://www.quotev.com/story/15708101/Ninjago-The-Color-of-Hope

THIS FIC IS EPIC. ITS AMAZING. It follows the story of a girl who becomes a target for a mysterious gang, and ends up in the care and protection of none other than the Ninja! (The Colour of Hope takes place between Day of the Departed and s7). The love interest is Cole, and the writing as absolutely phenomenal! This is a series, and the first book is linked above. The next book has only recently been made, so I have the upmost confidence that it'll be regularly updated, since the first one was too! Book 1 had around 250 pages I think. I PROMISE. You will wanna read it.

The Indigo and Black Series~ OC(s)

https://www.quotev.com/story/11634295/Indigo-and-Black-Pilots-Rise-of-the-Snakes-and-Destiny-of-the-Green-Ninja

I ENJOYED THIS BOOK SO MUCH! This follows the tale of not 1, but 2 mcs who are both OCs! One is the master of Time, the other, the master of Forces + Shadows. A Three-part series with 3 books, and the love interests are Cole and Kai! (Sorry Kailor fans 😭) The last book was updated around 6 months ago, but I did some digging and turns out the authors are still working on the next book, so I hope it comes out soon!

Kiss Me Baby~ Reader Insert

https://www.quotev.com/story/14954138/Kiss-Me-Baby-Ninjago

Suprisingly, this is actually a fic based on the universe of the Ninjago Movie, and I really enjoyed it! The reader is a confident teen who joins Ninjago High, but is secretly the mystery person who managed to get Lord Garmadon into prison, putting a stop to all his attacks on Ninjago City. A short book with under 100 pages, but it is also going through a rewrite if I recall. No definite love interest, but there is an implied one (once again, *sigh* it isn't Cole). Also, just throwing it out there, I was awake at like 4am reading this 😭

The Truth~ OC

https://www.quotev.com/story/9767787/The-Truth

THIS BOOK WAS LEGENDARY. I REREAD IT ALL THE TIME OML I LOVED IT. This book is all about a girl who somehow knows every member of the Ninja, though they don't actually remember her themselves. It begins at the Tournament of Elements, and runs right up to March of the Oni, where it has stopped being updated for quite a few months now 💔. The love interest is Cole, and honestly can I just say, this book was written SO WELL. Like I wish I could write like that 😭😭

Aaaaand that is all! If I DID have to pick my top 3, it would be as follows:

1ST~The Truth

2ND~Element of Wishes

3RD~ The Colour of Hope & The Race Against Time

I personally think these ones were/are the most engaging and exciting! I'm not saying the others were bad though. You'll wanna read them all. Trust me.

I hope yall enjoy these fics! <33

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quitealotofsodapop · 1 year ago

Note

I imagine the Jade Emperor is feeling very, Very Stupid for thinking Wukong's claims of needing those layers of immortality was just an excuse after he gets the report that Wukong gave birth to a healthy baby boy, literally named 'Little Heaven,' only to very nearly die in the process, something no immortal thought was even possible when they consider how many layers of stolen immortality Wukong had. Like, Wukong had the most outrageous claim that was proven true within his own throne room and by his own wife, and now he's in his personal infirmary (Queen Mother insisted after helping Wukong give birth, she gets very attached because of course she does, its MK) just barely hanging onto life. Needless to say, the trial is postponed. Macaque refuses to be separated from Wukong or their cub until Wukong wakes up, which means no mobilizing the army until Wukong is awake, especially since they've confirmed that the same restrained used to keep Wukong down all those centuries ago simply will not work with Macaque.

By all rights, that cub should have been an orphan, and it was only by the sheer audacity, stubborness, and thousands of years of work put through by his parents that he has both Wukong and Macaque to watch over him. Wukong had been right, something nobody outside of his family and friends can really comprehend.

referencing Wukong having the Century Stone Egg in the middle of Heavenly Court + Wukong getting KO'd by it.

The Jade Emperor is feeling Stupid with a capitial S.

The Queen Mother is furious with her husband for not believing Wukong's claim about his reasons for immortality, but also angry with herself for not recognising that the monkey had gone into labor in her own palace. Had she'd known centuries ago that Wukong had wanted to safely have a child, she may have been able to help him with his goal, and would have forgiven the theft of her divine Peaches far earlier.

Plus, the "Little Heaven" is the cutest little furball anyone in the palace has seen in centuries. And if the Queen Mother has been caught cooing over the little cub no bigger than her thumb, then thats her business.

Lao Tzu is monitoring and documenting *everything*; weights, movements, heart rates, blood samples, anything that could give him knowledge of Wukong and the baby's conditon, but also give insight to what he and Gold Star know about Stone Monkeys. It's like having a unicorn at a vets, he can't not be excited!

The Peach Maidens visit Wukong and the baby with prayers of health and of luck. They were the very few in Heaven that suspected their attendant brother had stolen the Peaches for reasons other than gluttony. They're all super bummed out to see him in his deep sleep, and help to change his bedding and apply medicines to give his mate and found family a break.

Macaque is a bit of a gloomy mess at this point. Jumping between a silent vigil over Wukong's sleeping body, or performing a whole shadow play for their newborn cub as a bedtime story. Xiaotian truly is a little piece of Heaven for him, and he understands fully why Wukong risked and sacrificed so much for the chance to meet them.

The reincarnation/noodle shop gang are extremely supportive during this time, finally having a chance to get to know Macaque outside of their less-than-ideal meeting. Tang keeps the shadow monkey busy by telling him stories (fact-checked by Wukong himself) of the Monkey King's journeys after the couple's last meeting. Sandy teaches him ways to relax during these rough times. And Pigsy hasn't let Mac go without a meal since he got there (how the pig got into the royal kitchen, they'll never know).

The Ao Longs are very solemn during this time too. They nearly lost Mei when her egg came early, and they're super protective of Wukong and his baby while the monkey is unconcious. Little Mei met Xiaotian for the first time a few days after he was born, and hasn't lost the enchanted look in her eyes since.

Redson acts out by head-butting any stranger that comes near Wukongs' room, including celestial guards, noblemen, servants, and even his own (unknowning) divine grandparents. He declares The Monkey King and the baby under his protection! Secretly though, he curls up to Wukong at times and whispers not to "go back to long-sleep again" since it would make his Mama and Uncle Mac sad. :(

Wukong finally wakes up after a couple of days, and is overjoyed to awaken to see him and his baby both alive and well. His "Little Heaven" truly is worth all those centuries of planning <3

#century stone egg au #stone egg talk #childbirth tw #pregnancy tw #lmk aus #sun wukong #lmk jade emperor #lmk #lego monkie kid #liu er mihou #six eared macaque #lmk queen mother of the west #lmk xiwangmu

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helionpegasus · 2 years ago

Text

ceilings (part 4)

Azriel x Reader

masterlist

summary: Reader always had vivid dreams due her Seer heritage. But things take a twist in her life when she starts dreaming with a male she never seen, and wake up in a world that is not hers.

warnings: a bit angst

words count: 3273

author’s note: damnnn this the biggest one so far! as always, thank you for your patience <3 and i hope you like it! :)

There was too much information to absorb. Azriel’s mind was spinning since he found the female yesterday, and now this? A chance of her being able to listen to his shadows? That’s definitely not how he expected to begin his week.

He was trying to understand how the shadows are so fond of her. Because once they announced she was awake, it takes all of his strength to control them. They were trying and trying to run directly to the female, and Azriel had no clue why. And if there’s one thing that makes the Shadowsinger upset, is not knowing what’s happening with something he used to have control of.

"I don't think my shadows have the power to travel between worlds." He states.

They were in the meeting room. Cassian, Nesta, Mor and Amren arrived right after the female told the story. She came with them, eyes wide with confusion, body slightly shaking, probably scared of all the situation and scared of them.

He thought it was completely normal, given all she's been through the past day. They were a bunch of strangers to her, and she's also a stranger to them. That's why Azriel has been keeping his eye on her since they left the nursing room. She was clearly uncomfortable with the look he's giving her from the opposite side of the table, but didn't say a word of complaint.

"Maybe not traveling between worlds, but perhaps being able to connect with other shadows?" Feyre says to everyone but her stare was empty, like she's been trying to formulate a proper answer. "If she's able to hear them, like we think she is. Maybe she has such power in her world."

"I don't think that's possible." The girl says. Azriel was starting to think her accent is cute, but he'll never admit it. "I've never shown such power. I have a friend who has similar powers to that, I know how it is, but it just never happened to me. How can the first time it happens I end up in another world?

"Plus, how were you guys able to open a portal? I thought only the Horn were able to do that." Her facial features pulled in confusion.

"There's other objects that can open portals?" Nesta asked, straightening her back on the chair.

"In my world, there's the Luna Horn, a Fae relic that holds such power. My friend was trying to find it, her intentions was not to travel this much like me, but to Hel find help."

"She needs help with what?" Rhysand asks.

"Our world needs help."

Suddenly the atmosphere of the room was dense. They were still recovering from a War, now they were almost facing problems that weren’t even in their world.

Everyone got lost in their own thoughts.

Azriel didn’t waste time to call Rhysand in his mind.

“I think Nesta should play the Harp and we send this girl right where she came from.” He said once he felt Rhys presence in his mind.

“Don’t be so intransigent. She’s not some dog that we can simply deliver back to the adoption care.” His voice was firm. Making Azriel glance move to the High Lord for the first time since they arrived.

“Already so protective?”

“Not protective, Azriel. I have values. This court as well.”

Azriel was angry, because (Y/N) clearly made him uncomfortable. He didn’t know why, but there was this strange feeling starting to rip in his chest, a feeling that was not welcoming.

He was even more scared of his friends realizing that something was wrong. And he freely gave Rhysand the first sample of it in their conversation.

Their full minds were interrupted by the loud sound of the travelers belly. The Inner Circle realizes that she hasn't eaten for a long time.

“I’m sorry. I got dragged here while I was making breakfast.” She said with eyes wide. Cheeks red with embarrassment.

“There is no reason to apologize!” Feyre turned herself to face the female at her left side. “You must be starving, come with me. I’ll get something for you.”

She got up signaling for the female to the door. Mor and Nesta followed them right after.

“I’m sure of one thing…” Amren says when the females exit the room. “Mother wouldn’t let the world portal open and let the girl slip in our court with no purpose.”

“The thing is if the purpose is good or not.” Cassian says.

“She came with your shadows, boy.” The gray eyes fixed themselves on Azriel. “They didn’t tell you anything?”

“No. Apparently they’re refusing to. All they told me was that they found her in a cavern and brought her here.”

“I thought you controlled them.”

“Yes, I do. But I can not control what they say to me.”

The Shadowsinger’s voice was stiff. All he wanted was to have some free days to relax, and now it seemed like the Cauldron was throwing a bomb near to explode in his lap.

Rhysand and Cassian noticed their brother's change of mood since they saw him this morning at breakfast. Azriel was usually quiet, but now his silence was ice cutting.

You were walking in the hallways trying to remember all the turns you made on the big place those people called home, in case you needed to go back all by yourself.

At this point of the day, you were sure that in this world they were not near the advanced technology you had in Midgard. The lights were pure magic, not electricity; Their clothes were like the ones described in your favorite novels stuffed in your bookshelf and now while you were entering the kitchen you realize that they don’t even have a fridge.

“Do you want anything specific?” Feyre asked you.

She has been nothing but lovely with you since you met her. Clearly not acting like most female rulers you know about.

“Anything is fine, really.” You answer her with a shy smile.

“A bit of everything then, I guess.” The High Lady gives you one of her own.

The counter in front of you was full of food in a blink. Your body stiffen in surprise.

“How can you do that?”

“It’s the House.” The female that resembles Feyre says. Nesta, you remembered. “The House is conscient.”

“B-but how? It’s like a century spell or something like that?”

“Kinda like that.” Feyre says with a laugh. “There’s magic of a whole bloodline in this building, but I have to acknowledge that Nesta played an important part to make it more… alive.”

You read between the lines that they would not explain more than that to you, so you content yourself with only that.

Your belly was almost protesting again, which reminded you to make a move to eat something. The pies and cakes looked delicious, but eating something sweet being so long without eating anything didn’t sound really appealing, so you reach for a sandwich that was apparently with chicken and a salad.

At your first bite you couldn’t control the growl of satisfaction leaving your lips. With everything happening all at once you didn’t even realize you were hungry. But now that you had so much in front of you, your stomach was anxious to be full of everything you lay your eyes on.

“So… (Y/N), what do you work with in your world? If you don’t mind me asking, of course.” The blonde female asked. Morrigan was a name that fitted her so well, you thought, both were extremely beautiful.

“I am in my last year of studies at Crescent City University.” You answer her once you swallow the food. The name coming out of your mouth is more familiar, saying in your accent and language. “I pretend to work with Social Sciences. I’m sorry, I don’t know how to say it in your language. But basically, I want to work with people. Understand different organizations and cultures, and also learn a lot of history. That’s how I learned a bit of this language.”

“That’s really cool. I don’t think we have anything like that!” Feyre says, eyes shining with curiosity.

“The Day Court must be doing something similar, but certainly not that deep.” Morrigan add.

“You must be really smart, then.” Nesta points, making you choke on the piece of pear you were eating.

“Don’t expect a lot.” You gave her a nervous laugh. “That’s how you are divided here? By courts?” You changed subjects, embarrassed by the statement.

“Yes, there are seven of them. Night Court, where you are right now, Day, Dawn, Summer, Winter, Autumn and Spring.” The blonde answered. “We’re in Prythian. In the Continent there’s more places, but there are no Courts, just territories.”

You nod in agreement, processing all the information. Two continents, from what they said until now, but there’s probably more.

“You said you didn’t have powers with the shadows, what powers do you have then?” Nesta asked, plating a piece of the strawberry for you and the three of them as well.

“I don’t have any outstanding power. I can levitate and summon objects like most Fae. My grandmother was a Seer, but I don’t have practice with this power, since it was always very unsteady.”

“What do you mean unsteady?” Feyre asked.

“I don’t have visions out of nowhere like other Seers. It happened like once or twice, and it was nothing big and world saving. Lately I’ve been having a lot of them in my dreams, but I still don’t know if they’re exactly visions.” You feel the edge of your ears burning when you remember about Azriel. Still not trusting them so much to say such a thing. And you feel relieved to have your hair down.

“How come you hear the shadows?” Morrigan looks at you. Her brown eyes piercing yours, like daring you.

“I-I don’t know. I heard them in one of those dreams as well, before everything.”

The blonde gaze softens, surprise flashing fast on them. Not going unnoticed by you, but you decide to not comment on it. The air in the kitchen suddenly thick.

“Well…” Feyre deflected our attention. “There’s anything more you need, (Y/N)?”

“I would like to clean myself if it’s possible.” Your voice was shy. Your body contorting while feeling the stick material of the dried blood in your shirt.

“Yes, of course! I’m sorry, we should have given you the time to clean yourself before everything.” She says grabbing your hand. “Nesta will lead you to a bedroom. You can clean yourself, put some new clothes on and later someone will pick you up for dinner.”

“Alright. Thank you so much, really. You’re making this whole experience a bit less traumatic.” A nervous laugh goes out of your mouth, your eyes watering.

“Don’t need to thank me. We’re gonna figure this all out.” Her arms embraced you.

And how you needed this. The comfort settles in your body to calm your heart at least a little bit.

But that’s not when you break down. It was after Nesta led you down the hall, to a bedroom she said was near hers in case you needed anything. When you took your clothes off and the movements seemed more heavy than normal. It was when you sat inside the bathtub, your body covered in the warm water, muscles sore from everything that you broke down.

Tears falling down your face nonstop. A million thoughts per second all at once. So many feelings at the same time, fear, tiredness, relief, sadness, and mostly, you were feeling lost. When you finally meet the person you swear to yourself would answer all your questions and lead you to find the right path. You were feeling lost.

You were trying to steady your breath, not handling the hurt in your chest, like it was almost ripping itself open. Once you are feeling more calm, you finally start cleaning yourself. Washing your hair that still has some leaves from the forest, your nails still with mud and face that you doubted that the tears already did the job for you. You trace your finger in the thin scar that took place in your ribcage, but stopped before you got caught in a loop of thoughts again.

A small presence made itself known caressing your forearm out of the bathtub. A shadow lacing itself on your arm like a bracelet.

“You’re here to give information to your master? On how pitiful I am?” You ask quietly to the dark smoke, not expecting an answer.

The shadow only hugs your arm tighter.

“I’ll consider this a no. It would be really disrespectful to take information from me while I’m bathing, though.”

It makes no way to leave your arm. Circling your wrist and forearm continuously.

“I guess I’m supposed to be able to hear you. Do you have anything to say?”

“Nothing for now.”

Your body shivers seeing the shadow move to your ear and back to your arm. So it was really it. The voice you heard before was the same as this one.

You got out of the bathtub with a sigh, deciding the time was done. Confused on how the water didn’t go cold.

Once in the bedroom you went to the drawer Nesta mentioned to find something to wear. You put a black leggings and a dark blue sweater that seemed to be the clothes you’re more used to. Socks and a pair of boots to your cold feet.

You used a product that seemed to be a hair product and brushed your hair. Your guess must have been right, because your hair detangle really easily. You finish it up and let it down to dry faster.

Looking at your reflection in the mirror, you realized how your eyes were swollen from all the crying and your nose red. You’re only hope was to not be so noticeable when the dinner starts.

“There’s anything for me to do while waiting? Maybe there’s a book here somewhere.” You say to no one.

You hear a muffled thud in a table near the fireplace, an inviting armchair placed near it. A book was settled on the table, a cup of fuming tea beside it.

“So you’re really conscient.” You say looking at the ceiling, and get by surprise when you see the reflections of the windows making a whole constellation in there.

“A romance, you have good taste. I think I’m gonna spend a lot of time like this to improve my knowledge in the language. Any chance you keep doing this?”

The house answer was a pile of books next to the one it placed before.

“Thank you!” You smiled brightly.

You don’t know how much time you spend reading, but you were progressing very well considering that you haven't read in the language for quite a long time. The reading got interrupted by a knock on the door. Nesta welcomed you with a soft smile when you opened it, but it slowly disappeared.

“You’re okay?” She asked, a little worried.

“Y-Yes, my eyes are still swollen?” Your hand goes right to your eyes, patting it to feel the damage.

“A little bit.”

“You can eat here in the bedroom if you prefer.” The winged male behind Nesta suggested with a look of concern in his eyes as well. Cassian, her mate.

“Ugh, it looks really that bad?” You run your hands in your face not knowing if you cover it or accept your fate.

“No! Your face looks totally fine. You’re even cleaner now!” He says.

Nesta slaps her own forehead before slapping Cassian’s arm.

“What Cassian is trying to say is that if you are still uncomfortable and prefer to be by yourself tonight is completely alright. But we would appreciate your presence with us as well.” The female says calmly to you.

“Yes, I would like to go with you.” You said a bit shy.

“Perfect!” Nesta says and you close the door behind you to follow them to the dining room.

Cassian eyes go strictly to your forearm, where the shadow is still resting. The small smile that shows in his face eases your heart.

Everyone else was in the dining room, the big table was already settled. But there was a presence of two people you haven't met yet. The first was the little baby sleeping in Feyre arms, that you supposed was called Nyx. The second was a brunette girl sitting on the opposite side of Azriel.

The conversation eases when they notice you three arrived.

“(Y/N), let me present to you.” Rhysand starts. “This is Elain. Feyre and Nesta’s sister.” He pointed to the brunette, who gave you a small smile. “And the little one is Nyx, my son.” He caresses the little boy's head.

“Nice to meet you.” You say to Elain with a smile. The female just nods in your direction.

“Let’s eat, I’m starving!” Cassian says, making Nesta roll her eyes.

She led you to the table, to sit beside her, Azriel on your right.

Then everyone enters in a conversation and serves their own plates. Nesta serves your plate before you could feel shy to do it by yourself, you say a quiet thank you to her.

The dinner flowed fast. They shared stories and news, you stayed quiet most of the time, only answering when the question was asked directly at you. You just didn’t know exactly where to place yourself there when they seemed so complete.

“You almost didn’t eat. Didn’t like the food?” Morrigan asked you.

“Oh, no! The food is delicious, I’m just full from earlier.” You explain yourself and she makes an expression like reminding what happened in the kitchen.

“That little one seems really fond of you, (Y/N).” Cassian points at your right forearm with a smirk. “It was there the whole dinner.”

Everyone's gaze went right to you, making your cheeks burn. Azriel stiff himself in the chair when he sees the shadow. The little thing quickly went to its master, twirling itself along with the others on his shoulders.

“I’m sorry. They’re quite… Wild these days.” Azriel says to you.

“It’s okay, They are quite comforting.” You say with a small smile for him, already missing the light feeling in your arm.

Azriel only looks at you in a way you didn’t recognize, then he clears his throat, making everyone go back to what they were talking before.

Later that night, you twisted and turned but couldn’t get yourself to sleep. Mostly scared of what could happen while you sleep. You were on the verge of tears of frustration when you felt a familiar feeling in your arm. There was the shadow again, making you smile to yourself.

“You sense when I’m needing help?” You whisper to the shadow twirling in your wrist. “Thank you.”

With a comfortable presence and the warm bed the House made, it wasn’t a long time for you to fall asleep.

When you looked around you couldn’t place where you were. It was dark, really dark, and cold. It got you bracing yourself even with the thick sweater on.

You hear whispers, coming from behind you.

When you turn around you have to force your vision to see clearly. There was a kid embracing themself in the corner of the place.

“Hello?” You call in a low voice.

The kid looks at you. Eyes big with fear.

You know those eyes. The wings in his back were just a confirmation.

In front of you was Azriel as a kid.

taglist (overlined users i couldn’t tag):

@humanpersonlasttimeichecked @valeridarkness @his-sweet-nightmare @leeknows-wife @mich0731 @kristalhi @marina568 @brekkershadowsinger @cafe-inaaa @lovierhys @kenmaisacinnamonroll @alt-ghost @marigold-morelli @thelightnddarkness @amysangel @thecraziestcrayon @fall-myriad @a-court-of-milkandhoney @hungryforbatboys @elizarikaallen @allison-rosewood-maximoff @gamarancianne @weirdo-fun

#Azriel #azriel acotar #azriel shadowsinger #azriel x reader #azriel imagine #azriel x you #acotar imagine #acotar

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try-set-me-on-fire · 2 years ago

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just really needed a hug sort of hug

for the soft prompts <3

Uhhhh this is a little angsty and vibey sorry about that! Set a few years in the future in a world where the lightning strike had bigger and longer lasting impact on Buck than it did in canon. Send me soft prompts! The rest I’ve done are on a03!

Eddie is pinching the skin by his elbow, the shiny part where it's new. Well, a few months old at this point, Chimney supposes, but he still gently smacks the man's bicep as he passes him to sit at the table.

"Quit it, Diaz."

Eddie makes a face at him but he puts his hand flat on the table. He then makes another, more stressed out face, and waves the hand in the air in a vague but emphatic motion.

"I want to call Buck again."

"You were on the phone half an hour ago."

"Yep." His palm presses into the wood again. "I am aware of that."

Chim hooks his left ankle over his right knee. "You two ever get word…"

"Every test came back fine- within normal- they didn't find anything. They have no fucking idea why his blood pressure dropped like that." Eddie crosses his arms. "Between the two of us we've funded the Los Angeles ambulance budget for the fucking year and the best advice anyone had was for him to 'rest and drink plenty of fluids.'"

"Shit."

"Mhmm." Eddie's knee is bouncing anxiously, and he looks exhausted. He has looked exhausted, frankly, since a fourth story floor went out from under him in June and he gained the dubious honor of being the first member of 118 A shift to sustain third degree burns. He doesn't pinch at it again, but he's gripping the scarred bend of his arm tight enough that it might fall under Buck's strict instructions to tell him to leave it alone. "He shouldn't have been back at work yet."

"He seemed fine, Eddie."

Eddie exhales, shaky and unpleasant. "He seemed like he was getting better from the flu, and then Chris found him on the kitchen floor. He seemed better on Thursday and then-" he shakes his head, breathes in, blows the air out slowly. "I've told myself that a lot today - he was ok when I left this morning, he’s fine, he’s texting me, it’s going to be ok. But he was ok when I left those mornings too." He blows out air again, and it whistles through his clenched teeth.

Chimney thinks Eddie wouldn't appreciate it, but he thinks very hard and loud that the universe should give the Diaz family a fucking break. He extends his leg so his boot taps into Eddie's.

"He was doing so good- he felt good in a way he hasn't in a long time." Eddie makes direct eye contact for the first time this conversation. "We were talking about him working towards recertification. Coming back here. He really does love the call center and he’s good at it, but he misses being a part of the team, still. And then-" he makes an unhappy little sound. "He exhausted himself taking care of me and now this… We can both say 'healing isn't linear' until our mouths bleed but he’s almost back to where he was right after the strike and- and he's disappointed, I know he is and just- just not knowing what life is going to be like one day to the next- It's just been… a rough fucking year." Eddie's mouth turns up in a real grimace of a smile. "But we have experience with those. So… we'll just keep getting through it."

Two memories play out in Chimney's head.

First: A beach day, sometime in the first summer after Buck and Eddie were married. The jeep had arrived first, but as Chimney did what Maddie referred to as his Dad Jog to the trunk of his own car to start unloading he noticed that none of its occupants had got out yet. From the place he was standing he could see Buck, lit up golden in the afternoon glow, twisted sideways in the passenger seat and gesturing wildly as he talked, absolute glee written all over his face. Eddie in the driver's seat and Chris, unbuckled in the back, leaned their whole bodies towards him like plants seeking photosynthesis. Chim had wondered if the sun had been lonely before it had planets to orbit it, and then laughed at himself for being poetic, and anyway he wasn't sure that's the order the universe formed in. Buck would know, he'd have to ask him.

Second: Thursday, when Buck had made it through pneumonia like a champ and then gone back to his job at dispatch only to take a nap in the break room that no one could really wake him up from. It gets more ethically dubious by the year for any of the 118 to treat each other what with their tangled web of marriages and less official family ties, but Maddie had sounded panicked over the radio, and they’d been the closest first responders, and Chimney is certain that even if they weren’t nothing could have stopped them from coming for their brother, son, husband. Chimney remembers Eddie kneeling in front of the couch, the exact quiet tone of his voice as he’d said “Honey, I’m right here,” and the lethargic movement of Buck’s hand coming to weakly grip his shoulder. But the real thing, the clip that’s going to stay in his mind forever and repeat without permission, is looking up from establishing a line in the ambulance and watching how Eddie was curled down towards his partner as he tried to keep a flash of blue appearing between fluttering eyelids. Eddie was talking and Chimney doesn’t remember any of the words because he was also stroking his thumb over Buck’s brow and Chimney can’t stop thinking that he has never seen a human being touch another that gently.

Eddie’s phone buzzes and he looks at it, huffing a laugh and scrubbing a hand over his face. “He’s asking about pasta shapes. Wait- is he in the kitchen?” He frowns and hits dial, and the phone only gets out a single ring before Buck picks up.

“Hey,” his voice drifts, tinny, into the room and Chimney feels some tight little thing in his chest relax a little.

“You better not be cooking, Buck, you’re on speaker so I have back up if I need to yell at you.”

“I’m not, I’m not,” Buck laughs. “I’m exploiting child labor.”

Distantly, Christopher says “Hi, dad.”

“And you’re not helping at all?” Eddie raises his eyebrow and Chimney bets Buck can see it, miles away at their home.

“Chris is doing all the work, I swear, and we’re just gonna dump on the sauce I made, uh- Wednesday? Tuesday? Whatever, I can supervise boiling water. I didn’t even pick a pasta shape, c’mon, farfalle or fusilli?”

“Fusilli. You should be resting, Buck.”

Buck sighs, staticky over the speakers. “All I did today was move from the couch to the kitchen table, and I walked very slowly. I’m wrapped in a blanket and everything.” There’s a faint rustling sound and then Buck continues in a quieter voice. “I promised I’d tell you if something felt wrong. I’m alright, Eddie.”

Eddie bites his lips, and then takes the call off speaker and steps towards the kitchen. “You’re ok? You feel alright?” He spins his silicone wedding band around his finger as he listens. “Yeah. Yeah, before you wake up, probably.” He says “Buck” and Chimney always wondered how Eddie said that name and made it mean so much, folding in care and exasperation and adoration like he’s laminating butter between layers of dough. “Alright, I love you. I love you. Yeah. Tomorrow.”

He hangs up and as he exhales the alarm goes off overhead, because of course it does. Eddie starts towards the stairs but Chimney hurries forward and grabs him first and pulls him into the tightest hug he can. Eddie clings onto him for a moment, and they can only spare seconds for this attempt at comfort but he looks grateful when he pulls back, looks a little less tense.

"I love you, bud," Chimney says, and Eddie actually laughs at him as they head down the stairs. Chim swipes at the back of his brother in-law in-law's head as they pull on their gear and load into the engine and Eddie dodges with the practiced ease of a man with siblings. When they're in their seats and headed to the scene, though, Eddie leans forward and knocks his elbow into Chimney's knee.

"Love you, too." Eddie smiles. Three silhouettes in a car. A gentle touch. Things are going to be ok.

#eddie diaz #evan buckley #buddie #chimney han #911 fox #my writing

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zahri-melitor · 4 months ago

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Recent Reads: Batbooks to December 2020

Batgirl 2016: Let's run through all the writers.

Hope Larsen (#1-23): I think my most overwhelming reaction to this run was at least it's not Brendan Fletcher. I think Larsen was still struggling with writing Babs as way too young during her run, though it was at least feeling like her early-mid 20s rather than an 18 year old. In terms of direction, it felt a bit aimless at times; it was still trying to find a direction to take Babs in. The best parts of the entire run were a single issue where Babs rescues some kidnapped animals with one of the kids from her coding class and Selina, and a flashback story with Dick looking at their earlier days, that ended with something that ends up turning up a lot over 2016: Barbara's implant shorting out.

There's a constant drumbeat all the way from the end of the n52 run through the 2016 run about Barbara facing the fact that her spinal implant won't last forever, and multiple occasions damaging it. It's clearly a lot of writer time spent setting up justifications to move Babs back into a wheelchair if anyone would sign off on transitioning her back to Oracle full time.

As we all know, that still hasn't happened, but the intent is there; DC editorial just has to commit and set the style on what Barbara should and should not be allowed to do in costume.

Mairghread Scott (#25-36): best writer on Batgirl for Babs since Simone, without a doubt. She does a lot of the work towards putting Babs in a situation where she's accepted she likely only has so long left as Batgirl; she writes the most adult and mature DickBabs since probably Chuck Dixon; and she's clearly fond of pre-Crisis Babs, because she's the one that brings back the concepts of redoing both Babs' relationship with Jason Bard, but also Babs' involvement in political campaigning. It's a run that feels like the intent is to provide a modern version of Babs' past as Batgirl for when she is Oracle again, because the history that n52 gave her was so minimal.

Cecil Castellucci (#37-50): Better than Larsen, not as good as Scott. A lot of this is just continuing playing out the rewritten political history and romance with Jason Bard. Castellucci's just a noticeably weaker writer, and less aware of what's going on with her character elsewhere; Babs is fairly involved in the background of Event Leviathan, which was happening at the start of Castellucci's run, but there is absolutely no acknowledgement that she's just been deep undercover and helping to betray the organisation from the inside. Ends with Babs and Jason Bard being fairly serious about each other and the two having somewhat dealt with what the absolutely appalling events of Batman Eternal and Batgirl causing Bard's leg injury mean in terms of Bard's feelings towards Batgirl and Babs' guilt towards Bard. Ah well. I'm sure they will have a lovely breakup off panel.

Batman and the Outsiders 2019: I am also going to include Bryan Hill's 'Tec run (#983-987) which is the prequel and testing ground for this run.

I enjoyed this, but I was also surprised by this run. I guess I went in expecting for Jeff and Tatsu to be more established and confident heroes than how they were written here. My brain was importing 'these two have been teammates since the 1980s', people Bruce knows well and would trust to mentor two of his sidekicks who needed more personal attention. And yet this run was about the beginnings of that relationship with each other and with Bruce.

I think as a run it had a lot of heart, and gave more depth and rounding to both Duke and Cass' characters in the context of Rebirth. It was interesting in what threads it picked up from both of their earlier stories in particularly 'Tec and All-Star.

I also note the continuity of Shiva in this title with how she was characterised in Tynion's 'Tec. I think Ink is right that this Shiva is interested in the concept of what being Cass' mother means, in comparison to how Shiva's interest in Cass in post-Crisis was far more focused on Cass' potential as a fighter, weapon developed by David Cain, and person who could defeat her; rather than their actual biological connection.

It's interesting, as it's got echoes of how Shiva is fascinated by both Dinah and Tim in terms of she finds them interesting and compelling and she's drawn to push them to be better; and while she did have elements of that with Cass before and not just in Cass' Potential To Kill Her, it now also has overtones of what does being your mother mean to us both? This is a Shiva that I think would still be hung up on Cass even if Cass didn't have the fighting skill she does, which was not nearly as obvious in preboot.

Catwoman 2018 (Joëlle Jones): I could probably subtitle this 'Selina finally properly gets her Rebirth moment'.

I haven't read more than a few issues of the n52 Catwoman run, but I understand it to have been one that went some divergent places. Jones takes the Selina that King had been writing, and goes "well the thing is, you didn't actually ground her in terms of Which Selina Is This sufficiently for her history" and...gives her audience a Selina that is parts Mindy Newell, parts Ed Brubaker, with a sprinkling of Jim Balent and a desire to be doing her own thing and walking that tightrope of crime v crimefighting.

I don't mind Villa Hermosa, as a place to put Selina while she figured herself out after running from the idea of marriage. It was a run intended to reset and regroup, and that's exactly what it did. The occasional fills from Ram V during the period showed the promise of how the following run can be even better, as did his parts of Joker War.

Nightwing 2016 (The Ric Grayson Era): So this really has two parts to it.

There's the first part, #50-58, which goes through 4 writers, 7 artists and accomplishes exactly nothing other than establishing what to my eye looks like a set of dictates from On High: Dick must have no memories and push away his family; Dick must go by Ric; Ric's not allowed to act like Dick or be a hero.

The fact it's plotted by Scott Lobdell certainly does not help the situation, but this is the section that is clearly written with the intention that we might be stuck with this for the long haul. Zack Kaplan's writing on #57-58 works really hard to try and get Barbara (who along with Alfred has been the people really trying to reach out to Dick) to accept that the situation has changed.

And then...Dan Jurgens comes in from #59-#77, and some stability returns to the title. I tend to regard Jurgens as one of those writers who DC can just rely upon to turn his hand to anything and produce consistent house style work. But in this case, I honestly think he is the one who finally pitched "I have a way to make this story work". I don't actually think there was a plan for what was happening until Jurgens took over.

He picks up the threads he's been dealt (Dick has a wiped memory; there are four cops & firefighters running around in Nightwing costumes; Dick has helped them out in an emergency) and blows up the city a little so Dick's natural leadership qualities shine through: and then he gets underway with his actual plans. This is all the Court of Owls' fault. They're the ones who exploited the opportunity of the head injury and secretly brainwashed Dick to forget his past.

It's a cop out, and there is SO much brainwashing over the course of the next 13 issues (Dick ends up with three separate versions of his teen years in his head), but it's clear from the moment all this starts that there is a path out of here. Dick will get his memories back.

This must have been epically miserable to read while the issues were coming out, because it would have felt even more lost when you were getting it dripfed out monthly. But it does turn around from #62 onwards and become a story with an actual trajectory.

Also once the actual story starts, Jurgens manages to get a consistent artist in Ronan Cliquet to work on the title. Which also makes an incredible difference because the art style isn't ricocheting back and forth wildly anymore. I had to chart out how bad the art situation got:

Just look at the Lobdell section. This was clearly something nobody wanted to be involved in and where they were struggling to get it to print.

It's unpleasant and it's probably one of the most miserable eras of Nightwing as a title that I've read, but I have a lot of respect for Dan Jurgens after reading it. Like. That was a massive hole he had to dig the title out of.

Detective Comics (James Robinson, #988-993): This is just a really nice little Bruce Wayne, Jim Gordon and Harvey Dent story, looking at how their past working together affects their present, and setting up a bunch of back and forth about what Harvey and what Two-Face knows. I don't think it does anything particularly revolutionary, but it's just one of those stories that give you a window into how interesting he is as a villain and at causing conflict.

Detective Comics (Peter J. Tomasi, #994-1033): If I were going to particularly comment on something that stood out for me about this run, it's the ways that Tomasi's writing reminded me of Paul Dini's 'Tec run in places, particularly how he focused in on stories with a specific Rogue, and kept changing which one. It wasn't the same one-shot episodical style, but it spent a lot of time with different villains and so made a pleasant counterpart title to Batman, even if it was still very much a Bruce focused title.

I think it got bogged down for a bit too long in the Victor Fries story, and I also think there were a couple of moments where it was very clear that Tomasi was mad about what was happening elsewhere to his Special Little Boy (Damian) and tried to counteract that in the title, with accompanying return of the primacy of Damian over any of Bruce's other kids, but it was a decent run. One that you could pick up any trade in the run as a stand alone read and be able to follow along, which honestly is valuable.

Batman (James Tynion IV, #86-105): Tynion hasn't left the title yet, but I want to discuss it, particularly up to #100. The most interesting thing about this whole run is that it has been, from its very inception, a run that wasn't supposed to have happened. King was supposed to have Batman to #100 but got cut off at #85. Tynion was then a temporary fill on the title and supposed to hand it over after #100 to John Ridley for the Fox family taking over as Batman in all of the 5G storytelling. Then Didio got fired, COVID hit, everything got restructured, and Tynion had to pivot from working up to an event that had been designed to tie off a lot of storytelling and go 'so where do I want to take Bruce Wayne?'

Honestly, I've loved it. The first thing I want to point out is the very clear pivot from 'Tec: Tynion used 'Tec the way it should be used; to tell family and wider universe stories. He therefore took the opportunity with getting Batman to really focus in on Bruce; breaking him down and building him back up. He picks up the plot threads that King has left hanging (Alfred's death; the effect on the city from Bane being in control and Rogues running wild) and sets up to build an event, because Batman #100 was accompanied by anniversary issues in Nightwing #75, Batgirl #50 and Catwoman #25 all within a month. It's a situation that did deserve something big. Four of the big Rogues (Joker; Riddler; Penguin; Catwoman) are reasonably pissed about where Bane left things. Joker does want to stamp his authority on the city and betray the others. The whole run up to #100 is the set up of Joker War and then executing it, including using Alfred's death to specifically isolate Bruce and push everyone else away (because where would we be without one of the base Batman plots), and so in the aftermath, launching into a small stakes plot introducing Ghost-Maker feels like a relief.

It's just structurally really impressive work. Tynion can turn a tale and he can pace a story, which is a relief after King's run, which while it did contain a whole bunch of highs that I enjoyed, was also extraordinarily uneven and beset particularly with pacing issues.

I wasn't hugely optimistic for this run, as I knew it was going to be a lot of Joker, and it's not talked about in the same way his 'Tec run is, but I have to admit I was impressed. I think Tynion's just one of those writers who really understands how to tell stories in a shared universe in a way that tracks other titles, acknowledges past ones, and leaves stories in a good position for future writers, and we always need more of those in comics.

#z canon read throughs #recent reads

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kvetchinglyneurotic · 1 year ago

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🌹🌹🌹🌹 for whenever needed :)

I wrote this in a haze last night when I should have been sleeping and I'm not sure if I'll ever expand it into a proper fic, so I'm sticking it here. Part of it is under the cut because it's a) long and b) is about Jamie's Amsterdam story

Roy makes it about a week before it all comes spilling out. They've been playing shit, 'cause Lasso may have rediscovered Total Football but he sure as shit hasn't rediscovered how to coach it, and if he's being perfectly fucking honest neither has Roy. Or maybe he would, if fucking when I was fourteen... didn't keep playing on loop in his head. He picks Jamie up from his front door every day and he's grinning, bouncing around like the chipper twat he is, twenty-five and whole, and all Roy can think about is the twiggy kid he had been, hair stuck up in every direction and mud smeared on his shins. He'd dug up pictures, is the thing, that first night back — got home aching and more exhausted than he'd been after a full ninety minutes back in his player days, and instead of going to sleep he'd dug around through the depths of City's website, through a mountain of those bullshit player profiles he refused to do but Jamie loved, 'til he found a picture of the Man City 2010 U16s. Recognized Jamie right away, the big dark eyes and prickish smirk and long sleeves 'cause the muppet always got cold. And he was a fucking child. A tiny, scrawny little lad, must've been one of the youngest on the team the way most of the others dwarfed him. No one could ever have mistaken him for an adult, not that it would've been any less abjectly fucking horrifying if he'd looked like a full-grown man by the age of thirteen.

Ted corners him in the office. Or rather, Ted knocks on the door while he's got his head in his hands and the lights off, same as he has every evening since Amsterdam. Pokes his head in with his jacket already on and his bag slung over his shoulder, says, "You know I'm always ready for a late night special on the go session of the Diamond Dogs but if sitting in the dark's what gets your brain juices going, I can respect that. Just make sure to skeddaddle on out of here before our good friends over in maintenance come lock up; I love this place but a night with a locker room aroma ain't to anyone's taste," and Roy says, "Jamie told me he was raped in Amsterdam." They both freeze, Ted in the doorway with that stupid folksy smile still fixed on his face, Roy with his elbows planted on the desk and his fingers twisted through his hair. He feels sick. Jamie's already been violated and now Roy's gone and done it again, just fucking spilled his private trauma without permission 'cause he couldn't handle it. "What?" Ted asks, breathless. "He told you— he was— he told you in Amsterdam, or it happened—" "Fucking both," Roy grinds out. "Oh." Ted's gone so pale he's almost grey. "He seemed fine on the bus." "Not when we were there." Roy says. "I mean, he told me when we were there. Happened when he was fourteen. Don't think he knows that's what—" he sucks in a deep breath, not that it does jack shit to make him feel better. "But it is. That's what happened, and now I don't know what the fuck to do."

#fic: tell me something true #yes the snippet has a title somehow #and like. a vague outline of a plot? it involves jamie processing his trauma by adopting and rehabilitating a rescue cat #i think he'd probably be more of a dog person honestly but idk anything about dogs #roy kent #jamie tartt #ted lasso #tw rape #tw csa

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melanieph321 · 1 year ago

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Ruben Dias x Reader - A House Is Not A Home Part 4/8

This chapter = A forbidden kiss 💋 ��

Ruben's wife dies during childbirth along with their son. Ruben hasn't been in a relationship since. Y/N is a single mother to a four year old boy. She buys a house in the small town that Ruben lives in. The house needs alot of fixing which Ruben helps with, resulting in him slowly falling in love with Y/N. However, falling in love with Y/N makes Ruben feel like he is betraying his dead wife.

Enjoy!

You and Ruben rode in his truck on the way to the house.

"No, turn it up."

"What, the radio?"

"Yes, I love this song." You leand forward, stretching your hand to turn up the volume yourself. Ruben looked at you with a crooked smile.

"What, you don't have a favorite song?"

He snorted. "No."

"Don't lie."

He frowned. "Why would I lie about that?"

"I dunno, because you're trying to hide the fact that you're a swiftie like me."

"A what?"

"A swiftie. A fan of singer/songwriter Taylor Swift."

"Who?"

You rolled your eyes, turning up the music a little more. "Johnny would've loved this song." The sounds of Wildest Dreams burst through the radio, the base of the song felt throughout the car. Ruben kept his eyes on the road, failing to hide his grin. He reached out to turn down the volume once the song faded, the radio station moving on to play the next greatest hit.

"So when is he coming?" He asked.

"Pardon?"

"Your husband. He's eventually coming down to live with you in the house, right?"

"Um...right."

Nothing really prevented you from telling Ruben about Johnny. You had to lie initially, but now that the deal was done, the house being yours, there was really no need to keep it up.

"Is it hard, being away from each other?"

There was a longing in Ruben's voice when he asked you this question, a longing you knew that you couldn't ignore.

Ruben nodded understandingly. You couldn't imagine how much he must miss his wife. And his son, who he never got to meet.

"Yes. I miss him alot." It wasn't a lie, you really missed Johnny, your son, more than anything in the world. "I try to tell him to be patient, but he gets so anxious, you know."

"So...what are we doing today?" You asked, an attempt to lift the fallen mood.

Ruben perked up. "Um...I have a guy coming to check the powerline. It must have snapped during the storm for there to have been a power outage."

"Okay. Will he be able to fix it today?" As much as you loved staying with David and Katarina, their hospitality towards you was well overdue.

"I hope so."

You arrived at the house before the powerline guy, meaning you and Ruben had to wait for him. But waiting made you restless so you naturally began exploring your new home. You walked up and down the hallway downstairs, amongst the furniture covered in sheets. Now that you knew the story of Ruben and his wife you weren't sure weather you should get rid of some of the stuff that had been left behind in the house.

"Do you think it's possible to get rid of the wall?" You returned outside, having pondered the question.

"What wall?" Ruben frowned.

"The one in he living room?"

"Y/N," He chuckled. "There is more than one wall in the living room."

"Ruben, you okay?"

"Then come and see it for yourself."

You turned around, ready to march back into the house.

"Ruben?"

Realizing that he wasn't right behind you, you turned backaround. Ruben stood frozen outside his old house, staring up at it, looking lost and afraid.

You approach him.

He shook his head. "No."

"No?"

"No."

The words slipped out of him with caution, but Ruben explained that he was simply terrified of stepping inside his old home, which had been left untouched for years after his wife passed away. He felt like the memories were too much to bear, and he couldn't bring himself to renovate or even clean the place out of fear of losing the last remaining bits of his beloved partner.

You listened patiently as Ruben shared his story, and then you offered him your hand.

"Everyone has to face their fear someday, even you."

There was somthing childlike with Ruben taking a hold of your hand. Like a toddler, trusting its parents to guide them through life. Nevertheless, that's exactly what you did. With your back turned to the house, you guided Ruben into it, one step of the time. Once you were inside it came naturally to you to grab a hold of his other hand, guiding him deeper through a house that probably held so many of his memories, happy and sad.

"It's this wall." You stopped once you reached the living room. Ruben held your gaze for a bit longer, having never let his eyes wander freely as the two of you had entered the house.

"I want to take down this wall and separate the living room from the dining room. This could make the space feel more open." And less intimidating, you thought.

Ruben observed the wall, nodding his head understandingly. He seemed to have found himself again. "Alright, just let me get my sledgehammer."

"That was fun." You collapsed on the floor, surrounded by the rubble of the old walls.

Together, you donned your gloves, ready to tackle the task at hand. You and Ruben took turns with the hammer, tearing down the walls of the house. With every blow, he looked to find a newfound sense within himself, a new found strength. You chatted with Ruben, sharing stories and jokes to distract him from the emotional weight of the moment. At first, Ruben was hesitant and nervous, but as the afternoon wore on, he began to relax and enjoy the process. You laughed together as you knocked down the walls, creating a new, open layout for the house. By the time you finished, Ruben looked transformed - no longer haunted by the ghosts of his past, but instead filled with hope and gratitude for the present.

"I'm worried for you." Ruben chuckled, stretching you a hand to help you back onto your feet. He didn't like you laying amongst the debris.

"Worried, why?" You frowned, letting his strong arms pull you to a stand.

"If this is what you call having fun." He said. "Then I'm worried for you."

"Stop it." You hit him in the arm. "You know what I mean. It was kinda fun bringing down a giant wall with a sledgehammer. I feel like I got all my rage out."

"It was something alright."

You stood close enough to see the sweat dripping down Ruben's forhead. You could imagine the shower you would need after this. It had been a workout of its own kind. A DIY workout.

"Y/N I..."

You were suddenly aware of how close Ruben's face was to yours, his breath warming your cheek. If you had payed less attention to the sweat dripping down his forhead you might have noticed how he was looking at you, how Ruben's eyes had been shifting from your face to your lips with a lustful glare. And so when he kissed you it came as a surprise, making you stumble backwards. Ruben caught you, his arm wrapping gently around your waist, railing you in to have you pressed against his chest.

"Ruben." You moaned against his mouth.

The kiss had deepened, with Ruben grunting in response, his eager front pressing against your pelvis. It felt good. Too good.

"Ruben please." Your palms to his chest slightly pushed off of him, the rest Ruben did himself.

"Fuck, I'm sorry."

He took a step back with wide eyes, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

"It's okay Ruben, I didn't..."

He shook his head. "No it's not. I shouldn't have done that, I shouldn't have kissed you."

You frowned, having just been caught by surprise. Had the kiss been that bad for him?

"You have a husband Y/N." He said, reminding you of your lies.

"Oh." You chuckled. "No Ruben, it's okay I...."

"It's really not...okay."

"What? No. I'm not married Ruben, you don't have to...."

The sound of a honking horn interrupted. A truck had pulled up outside.

"I'm sorry, I have to..." Ruben was glad to escape, leaving you behind.

#fanfiction #football imagine #ruben dias #man city #manchester city #ruben dias x reader #ruben dias imagine #footballer imagine #footballer x reader #football angst

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p-r-art · 8 months ago

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My new roommate

Starring: Gojo x reader Warnungen: none From: Oneshot

Request are open. Ask for Oneshots, Fanfictions or other things.

------------------------------------------------------ My new roommate

It was the beginning of June when I decided that I needed a roommate to be able to pay the high rent. i didn't want to move because I've been living in this apartment for so long and it's so nice and big. So I asked my friends to ask anyone they knew who was looking for an apartment. Nobara then told me that her teacher Gojo Satoru is looking for an apartment even if he has enough money to afford one himself. Nobara just said that he didn't like being alone. Of course I agreed. She had also shown me a photo. And what should I do when someone looks that good. I haven't had a man by my side for a long time.

-maybe something will come of it-

I think mischievously.

He was supposed to come today, but he hasn't shown up yet and it's already 12 o'clock. I sigh and make myself comfortable on the sofa. I've tied my long (h/c) hair into a plait. As it's my day off, I decide to put on a pair of sports shorts and a tank top.He was supposed to come today, but he hasn't shown up yet and it's already 12 o'clock. I sigh and make myself comfortable on the sofa. I've tied my long (h/c) hair into a plait. As it's my day off, I've decided to put on a pair of sports shorts and a tank top.

The doorbell rings. I immediately get up and see a tall white-haired man with sunglasses. I can't see his eyes through them.

“I'm Gojo Satoru, your new roommate.”

His voice is deep. A smile forms on his lips. I step to the side and let him in

“Hi, I'm (Y/n).”

Gojo enters and walks straight through to the living room. He only has two suitcases with him, which surprises me a little.

“The rest of my stuff will be here in a few days.”

“Okay. Make yourself comfortable or look around. I'll make something to drink.”

-A while later-

“Wait, what did you do to Yuji? Poor guy.”

I laughed at his stories. I sat on the floor while Gojo sat on the couch.

“He ate Sukuna's finger, after all. So he should learn and practice it.”

Gojo said.

“But just like that?”

I say with a laugh. The white-haired one just shrugged his shoulders.

- It's definitely going to be an exciting time with Gojo Saturu as my roommate-

-Time Skip-

Several months have passed since I started living with the handsome white-haired man called Satoru Gojo. It's been a real up and down. We tease each other a lot, whether it's pranks or flirting. He almost makes me feel in love with him. But I don't want to give up my friendship with him or make life as a flatmate unpleasant. I'm making myself a cup of tea when the front door opens.

“I'm home again.”

“Welcome back.”

I say with a smile, but concentrate on my tea. A white mop of hair itches around the corner of the kitchen.

“ Well (Y/N)-chan how have you been without my amazing presence?”

“Terrible as always.”

I dramatically hold a hand to my forehead and looked towards him with a playfully pained face. But I couldn't hold it for long. We both started laughing out loud.

“I really missed you, how was it in Hokkaido?”

I grab my cup of tea with my hands, blow a little and drink it carefully. Satoru comes up to me & encircles me with his figure. He puts his arms on either side of me. I can't move to the left or right. Satoru comes close to my face. He is still wearing his scarf over his eyes. I carefully reach for it with my right hand and pull it off. Bright blue eyes look straight into my soul. A grin forms on Gogo's lips.

“Mhm~ Little kitty, me too.”

His voice is like a purr? It sounded so seductive.

“Stop playing with me Satoru.”

I say with a laugh, ignoring the feelings he triggers in me.

“But I'm not playing. I'm serious.”

His smile disappears in his face turns into a serious expression. Gojo comes so close to my face that I can feel his breath.

“(Y/N) you're smart, but you're stupid when it comes to feelings.”

I put my head to sleep. His statement confuses me. Deep laughter permeates the air.

“Then let me put it this way little kitten. You belong to me: mine. Because your heart belongs to me and mine belongs to you.”

I was just trying to process the sentence when two lips interrupt my thoughts. My eyes widen at the surprise of Gojo Satoru kissing me. I close my eyes. My body reacts as if of its own accord and I surrender to the kiss. Gojo breaks away from me again.

“Mhmm I knew you felt the same way.”

A smirk creeps onto his lips.

“What?”

“My ability, little one.”

He winks, walks out of the kitchen & puts the black blindfold back on his eyes.

“See you the day after tomorrow kitten. Get ready for long nights.”

All I can hear is the door closing. Not sure how to react and still with the cup in my hand, I realize what just happened.

“GOJO!”

I shout, knowing that he can still hear me.

#x reader #jjk gojo #gojo satoru #gojo x reader #jujutsu gojo #jujutsu kaisen #gojo saturo #jjk x reader

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jazzymarie1006 · 2 months ago

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You know a TMNT Character I wanna see again who hasn't appeared in a LONG time?

Robyn O'Neil, April O'Neil's older sister!

And oh boy does ya girl have IDEAS!!

Appearance

Since April's color is yellow (with green at times) in most of her appearances, I think Robyn's color should be Cherry Blossom Pink (maybe with a bluish green?). That way both sisters can wear light colors.

Hairstyles, only two opinions for now (if you wanna go with Irish-American or African-American). I am opened to more ideas.

Clothes, a couple of casual and formal styles.

Personality

Her original on is "She's an outgoing but somewhat unorganized and irresponsible woman"

Of course I'm changing that!

She's over protective, but it comes across as bossy. She's still out going, but this encourages her to work harder than she needs to.

She's also incredibly brave and daring when she need to get stuff done.

Interests

She has many hobbies. Drawing/Painting, Fashion Designing, Sewing, Cooking, Dancing, Origami, Parkour, Doing Gymnastics, and Martial Arts.

Ninja Weapon of Choice

I can totally see Robyn's weapon being the Su Yari

Story (Warning: ANGST!)

Robyn is April's 16 year old sister (April's 14). It's been just the two of them when Mr and Mrs. O'Neil died when Robyn was 14 and April was 12 after Purple Dragon thugs broke into their home.

Ever since then, Robyn's been taking small job to support the two of them.

Since the Landlord of the Apartment they lived in is good friends with the O'Neil family, they let the two girls stay there, so they won't be separated through foster care.

The Landlord didn't want Robyn to pay rent, but she insisted and hasn't missed a payment yet.

A year after losing their parents, Robyn would go to work after school, unaware that April was making utterly interesting friends.

Of course Robyn would know of April's new friends because she always talks about the five teens and their father.

Not bringing up that that the four boys are mutant turtles, Mr. Hamato's a mutant, and Karai's the only one who is human.

Robyn doesn't meet the Turtles and Karai until she's leaving her job at the local Pizzeria. When Purple Dragon thugs try to mug her.

She able to hold her own again two of them, but that's when the other three try to jump her.

Robyn's shocked when a girl who looks like she could be April's age comes to her aid by jump from the sky and kicking the thug behind her to the ground.

An even bigger surprise came when a human sized turtle with a blue mask also jumps from the sky and takes out the the remaining two.

Robyn can't help but react with shock.

"Oh my god, those sightings of large turtles is actually true!"

"This is my brother Leonardo. And I'm Karai. April's gonna be so glad that you're okay, Robyn."

"You're April's friends?!"

"Well I ruined the surprise. Got anything to say Leo or are you just gonna stare at girl-"

"IT'SNICETOOFFICIALLYMEETYOU!"

Realizing he said that quite loudly, Leo quickly recovered his composure, almost as if he's trying to ask cool.

"We should regroup with the others."

"Are you trying to make your voice sound deeper-"

"Let’s go Karai!"

Robyn manages to stop the two 14 year olds from leaving.

"I'm going with you. My sister's got alot of explaining to do."

"Oh! Okay!"

"They're not that far from us actually."

As the three of them walked, Robyn has been questioning the two.

"So you've known my sister for over a year and this wasn't the first time you've stepped in to help me?"

"Yeah, every night when we go to play basketball, April asks two of us make sure you get home safe."

Robyn couldn't help but sigh.

"Of course she would..."

"Yeah, this was just the first time you've caught us. I'm honestly shocked that I jumped in before Leo considering-"

"Oh look! The others are up ahead!"

After five minutes Robyn, Karai and Leonardo got to April and the other mutant turtles.

"April O'Neil, explain now!"

"I will, but first I see you've met Karai and Leonardo!"

"H-hi..."

"Really Leo? That's all you could come up with?"

"These three are Raphael, Donatello, and Michelangelo,"

"It’s nice to meet you all. Karai told me how you made sure I left work safely, thank you."

"Nice to meet ya."

"I can wait to show you my comic books!"

"Calm down Mikey, don't overwhelm her."

"Well Robyn O'Neil, it is nice to officially meet you."

"Good work Leo, you got a sentence out!"

"Shut up Raph!"

And that's when Robyn O'Neil became a friend and allie of the TMNT along with April.

She often considers it to be better than dealing with High School drama.

Especially when it comes to dealing with her ex boyfriend Colin and the three Dalindas; Akane, Kendra and Taylor.

But she has her friends Angel and Irma there to make it more bearable.

Relationships

Family

April

Robyn loves her little sister very much and is very protective of her. She goes out of her way to work hard and make sure April's able to life comfortably.

April often has to remind Robyn that she has to take care of herself as well.

When April decides to become a Kunoichi, Robyn insists on becoming on too, to be sure she can have April's back no matter the situation.

When April shows interest in journalism, Robyn's of course incredibly supportive.

Friends

Irma and Angel

Irma and Angel have been friends with Robyn ever since the three were little kids.

The two were even there to comfort Robyn and April when they lost their parents.

She couldn't keep the fact that she met the Turtles a secret from the two, especially since it was Irma's sighting photos that made her aware of them in the first place.

Karai

Robyn and Karai are quite close. Karai will often ask Robyn for older sister advice.

When Robyn becomes a Kunoichi, Karai makes sure she's the first to spare with her.

Karai loves it when Robyn makes her outfits.

Karai is often invited to the girls only sleepovers at Robyn and April's place.

Leonardo (Leo)

Leo has a not so secret crush on Robyn. While Robyn is the only person unaware of his feelings, she does respect Leo as a Ninja.

Because of Leo being April's age (two years younger than Robyn), she's very protective of him and the others.

Leo's also quite protective of Robyn as well. Even after she becomes a Kunoichi. She has to call him out when he goes easy on her during sparing sessions.

As a young teen (14-15) Leo's really shy about his crush on Robyn, but as he gets abit older (16-17) he begins to playfully flirt with her.

Some of the many things Leo likes about Robyn are her determination, bravery, kindness, and understanding.

Raphael (Raph)

Robyn and Raph become quite close. When she finds out he's secretly great at knitting, she gets him supplies whenever she can.

Raph is quite a fan of Robyn's artwork. When she finds this out, she draws some pictures for him and encourages him to ask for more if he wants

Raph often vents to Robyn whenever his brothers tease him.

When Raph decides to become Nightwatcher, Robyn's the only one he tells about it.

Donatello (Donnie)

Donnie and Robyn become fast friends quickly due to them both being very hard working.

The two are excited when finding out they have favorite Anime in common.

Robyn often sneaks Donnie into her High School, just cause he wanted to see it.

When Donnie creates the Turtle Tank, he gets Robyn (when she gets her driver's license) to save it, to make sure it isn't crashed. Donnie even makes sure he's the first one Robyn teaches how to drive.

Michelangelo (Mikey)

Robyn gets along quite well with Mikey. When she's stressed, he tries his hardest to make her laugh (and is often successful).

When Mikey loves her cooking, she happily teaches him how to make the dishes himself.

Mikey loves it when Robyn plays video games and reads comic books with him.

The two absolutely adore each other's artwork.

Master Splinter

Robyn respects Splinter very much, he respects her as well for not only taking care of April for as long as she has been, but also becoming a sorta older sister figure to his sons.

When Robyn decides to become a Kunoichi, she encourages Splinter to train her harder than the others because she's older, buy he refuses.

The two often share tea recipes whenever they can.

They even like to make origami flowers together.

Jason (Jase)

Even though Jase's older sister is Kendra (one of the three Dalindas), Robyn has no ill will towards the 14 year old.

When Donnie and Jase develop feelings for each other, she's so supportive and tries to set the two up on little dates they'd be comfortable with.

Mona Lisa

After their first encounter, Robyn and Mona Lisa don't like each other at first due to a fight they had when Mona Lisa came to earth.

Later on Robyn becomes friends with the alien Warrior Princess.

She's quick to notice Mona Lisa and Raph developing crushes on each other.

Renet

When Renet comes from a portal with no way back to her home, Robyn takes her in without a second thought.

Robyn becomes quite close with Renet very quickly.

When Renet comes really close with Mikey, Robyn's over the moon.

Shinigami

When a 14 year old Shinigami was one of Shredder's minions, Robyn aided the Turtles, Karai and April in some of their fights against her. Robyn was quite hesitant to find her at first.

After Shinigami finds out that Shredder was just using her for her magical abilities, she leaves and finds her way to Robyn's place of work and begs her for help.

Robyn quickly takes the young girl in of course.

When Karai and Shinigami begin to develop crushes on each other, Robyn's shipping them so hard!

Casey

Like Shinigami, a then 15 year old Casey was a minion of Shredder's who was often sent out to fight the turtles, Karai, April and Robyn.

When he finds out that Shredder was actually the one who had the Purple Dragons kill his mother and little sister, he obviously betrayed him and left.

Robyn tries find Casey a please to leave, but he refuses her help. While it does like a while to trust him, but when he earns her trust, the two become friends.

When April starts to develop a crush on Casey, Robyn teases her a little, but is also very supportive.

Venus (Vee) & Jennika (Jenn)

Vee and Jenn are mutant turtles of The Shredder's creation. When Robyn sees that Shredder went as far as to create child soldiers, her heart arches for the two small girls.

When the TMNT Team save the twins, Robyn wants to take them in, but knew the two would be better off leaving with the Hamato family.

Enemies

Colin

Despite not dating for that long (2 and a half month during Freshman Year) Robyn and Colin didn't break up on the best terms.

The Shredder

While Robyn is terrified of The Shredder, she will help the TMNT Team fight him whenever she can.

The Purple Dragons

Robyn wanted to avenge her parents by going after the group on her own. Of course, the team manages to talk her outta of it, promising that they will all bring the Purple Dragons to justice.

The Three Dalindas

Due to the Three Dalindas being spoiled with the money the Purple Dragons take from hardworking people, Robyn doesn't like trio very much.

Akane

When there’s a fight involving the Team and Shredder's minions, Robyn often ends up fighting against Akane. Robyn is disgusted by how much Akane worships The Shredder. Every time Robyn bests her in battle, Akane makes sure to glare at her during school hours.

Kendra

Kendra purposefully tries to antagonize Robyn by pretending not to know her name (they've been classmates since middle school), but Robyn does stick around long enough to care, which infuriates Kendra.

Taylor

Robyn hates how much Taylor flaunts her (purple dragon crime) money. While Robyn doesn't wanna deal with Taylor at all, Taylor is an envy-seeker and is annoyed when Robyn doesn't react the way she wants her to.

What do you guys think? I'm open to more ideas.

#Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #TMNT #Robyn O'Neil #Series Ideas #Leonardo Hamato #Leo Hamato #Raphael Hamato #Raph Hamato #Donatello Hamato #Donnie Hamato #Michelangelo Hamato #Mikey Hamato #Master Splinter #April O'Neil

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trashexplorer · 10 months ago

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BLCD Review: Zanzou Slow Motion

Title: Zanzou Slow Motion (残像スローモーション)

Author/Artist: Janome

Shop: CD + Manga

Release Date: 2021/05/28

Cast:

Furukawa Makoto x Nakazawa Masatomo

Eguchi Takuya

Satou Gen

Tadokoro Hinata

Yasuaki Takumi

Matsuoka Yoshitsugu

Ichikawa Aoi

Yanagi Kouhei

Karino Sho

Synopsis:

What happens when two rival directors who hate each other's guts are forced to share one roof? And what if one of them has a secret he's been harboring for years? Throw in a shared love of movies, BL manga, and an accidental kiss, and you've got the next heart-pumping love story in Midorigaoka High and the sequel to Twilight Out of Focus 1. Jin Kikuchihara, third-year director, main actor, and president of the film club, and second-year director Giichi Ichikawa see eye-to-eye on very little. Jin is flashy, flirty, and focused on keeping everyone happy, while Giichi expects the best from himself and others, and will compromise nothing to see his vision through. Constantly at each other's necks, the two can hardly stand to be in the same club. But what will happen when family trouble forces them to live in the same room? Will their shared interests bring them closer as friends, push them further apart as rivals, or something else entirely?

Review Proper

I love Tasogare Outfocus, but this is actually my favorite Janome.

The second installment curse strikes again!

UGHHHHHHH THIS WAS SO WHOLESOME. Don't get me wrong, Tasogare Outfocus is written pretty decently, but I really don't like how Janome just glossed over Hisashi's SA and grooming like that. It reminds me a lot of Etude vol. 1. I can still get over Etude vol. 1 'cause it's not that uncommon to see in sports and Ichi-san's deal with Futami was given some closure in 2, but given how short Tasogare Outfocus was, Hisashi felt like he just lmao byed his teacher. 😔Doesn't help that it kinda doesn't matter anymore in overlap even though it hasn't been long since it ended. Is my son Hisashi really okay now? 🥹

I'm old, so DK BL doesn't appeal to me that much anymore. It's also hard to find good DK rivalries nowadays that aren't just about fucking or delinquents. Zanzou Slow Motion, however, just checked all the right boxes for the category: simple, no drama, and no loose ends. That coupled with Janome's element of touch?

And can we talk about this monologue?

Ugh.

I will say Jin's suspenders, Ichikawa's snatched waist, and the ABO shout-out greatly influenced my decision too. Y'all should get suspended in high school, not wear suspenders!

Onto the technicalities...

I don't think I've heard these two co-star before (or I just don't remember), so I was a bit skeptical especially 'cause last I heard Makonyan in a DK was in, well... Given as BLCD!Ritsu. And where else did we hear Yuuma star in a DK too? Yuuma as Anime!Ritsu. We just had Given Anime!Ritsu in Tasogare Outfocus being somewhat friends with Ichikawa and now we have BLCD!Ritsu (thanks to ecargmura for catching this!) trying to romance him. They used very different tones for Ritsu, but the vibe was the same overall. THEY'RE THE SAME PERSON. Makonyan and Nakamo also played tops in the last works I heard of them (Makonyan as Takaba in Kurui Naku and Nakamo as Yakumo in Nu:carnival), so I was concerned about a lot of things. Thankfully, however, instead of Makonyan going for his Ritsu tone or his lighter Kimitte Yatsu for a more youthful vibe, he went all shounen in here lmaooo.

His bwakame was so funny it reminded me of this:

I love roasting Makonyan more than any other seiyuu out of fondness, but I'm really proud of how far he's gone. He's gotten so much better in his delivery, and it's obvious in his budding anime career, too.

But...

I didn't expect there would be improvements in his bedding techniques too...

What the fuck was that? HAHAHAHAHAHA. WAIT. No, y'all don't understand. I have most of this man's r-18 otome CDs and BLCDs, and I have never heard him this... this hot before???? Jin is such a smooth flirt, so I had some expectations on the delivery, but FURUKAWA MAKOTO HISSES. HE HISSES!!! SIR IS THIS APPROPRIATE BEHAVIOUR FOR A HIGH SCHOOL BOY??? THEY DON'T EVEN SHOW THEM DO THE DO FOR MORE THAN A MINUTE??? WHERE WAS THE NEED?!

PUTS THE GODDAMN FU IN FURUKAWA MAKOTO ALRIGHT!

First it was Ono Yuuki, now it's Makonyan. Is Nakamo's ass really that good that his tops go all in???

I admittedly don't have a lot to say about Nakamo because that man always slays. I was afraid that Makonyan would overpower him during their Netflix and chill, but as soon as I had that thought, Nakamo pushed back like??? THEM SHAKIRA HIPS DON'T LIE!

HOW DO I LEGALLY MARRY GINGER RECORDS???

I didn't read the scan or the official English release 'cause I actually had the raws, so I can't vouch for the translation. As for faithfulness to the manga, however, I need to stress that there were a lot of rearranged events and cut dialogue. One notable instance was Ichikawa's message for Jin. It was placed after their kiss in the last chapter, so I believe that these changes are quite significant. It is still possible to read the manga while listening to the BLCD, but I suggest reading the manga once first so you're aware of which pages you need to jump to.

Chil-chil Awards 2022 was a scam 'cause this wasn't nominated for ANYTHING! This might actually just be my favorite BLCD of 2021... and Makonyan was my favorite actor in this series so far. OKITSU AND MAKONYAN REALLY SWITCHED IN THIS LOG HAHAHAHA. Makonyan and Nakamo at least won in my heart. 😌 Definitely listen to this if you're a Makonyan fan or if you're a fan of the series in general. It's also perfect if you're looking for something light and sweet but immersive at the same time. Chesk gives this a 9/10! Only the third 9 after Sonna ni and KD!

#blcd reviews #blcd 2021 reviews #zanzou slow motion #janome #ginger records #furukawa makoto #nakazawa masatomo #satou gen #tadokoro hinata #yasuaki takumi #matsuoka yoshitsugu #ichikawa aoi #yanagi kouhei #karino sho

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sunriseverse · 11 months ago

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What are you uh...what are you salty about? (I'm nosy as hell, give me the tea)

okay SO. disclaimer before i start: if anyone seeing this likes the youtuber mentioned, understand i am not calling her a bad person; i have some very specific umbrage with her, and i will detail why. you don't have to agree with me, but if you, in any way, inform this youtuber of this post and what i'm saying, you will be blocked, because this is meant to be on my personal blog only and a severe violation of my boundaries to tell her about this.

let's begin, shall we? (below the cut, since this got a bit long; my apologies.)

for context, since i started watching zmyx, i have been periodically checking youtube for amvs of the show so i can add them to my playlist. while doing so, i stumbled across this video by AvenueX. i had watched a video by her previously on the show under the skin, and mostly enjoyed it. i love hearing people react to batshit cdrama, well, drama, and "this show was up for bare hours before being taken down" definitely counts as something i like hearing reactions to.

i cannot directly upload the clip into this post, but i'll put the subtitles in for the relevant section, which begins at the 12:25 mark and ends at 14:59.

AX: Basically, there is a BL drama that was made quite a few years ago and hasn't come out like all the BL dramas, Zhiming Youxi. It's based on a novel called Wanghuatong [sic] and is a clear BL drama. The platform was iQiyi, and they cast Huang Junjie and Xia Zhiguang. These two guys have been multiple other stuff ever since then, and if you watch a lot of Chinese dramas, you probably have an impression of who they are. Neither of them are considered to be good actors, very young, and not really coming from professional sort of trained actor background[...]I'm not so interested in the story to start with and not interested in these two actors either, because BL dramas is hard to do well; you have to be good actors to pull it off, and you actually have to know what type of acting you need to be doing. You're not actually playing realistic gay people, you're playing imagined version of [here she makes a sound i can only transcribe as the auditory equivalent of tilting your hand back and forth], that whole complicated psychological thing on the back end, and if you're not clever and experienced enough actor you actually easily make a mess. Based on the leaked out footage I see on the internet, it's embarrassing, in terms of the acting, and they stole the most important line from Word of Honor, which is 'there's light on you and I want to grab it and take a look'. Every BL drama has a classic line[...]and this drama shamelessly took a completely, and that part of the video is online. I've watched it, and I'm like, 'oh my god, oh my god, just because you're another BL doesn't qualify you for stealing literally the line from another BL drama[...]just because of that I'm like, oh, okay, now I can make fun with other people together on this drama being living [sic] on the internet for like, what, three-four hours[...]it's a good thing this drama is buried now, and please don't show up again. I don't want to see it. It's embarrassing, it's embarrassing, okay.

bolding mine; these are the portions i have umbrage with.

let's go through the points she makes, shall we?

this show is "embarrassing", in terms of acting; presumably, this is connected to the earlier line about the actors not being known as "good actors", and not having professional acting backgrounds.

it stole a line from shl.

she thinks this drama deserves to be made fun of for "being embarrassing" because, presumably, the actors don't play bl roles the way she thinks they should, and "make a mess of it".

i must reiterate: she can have these opinions. these are opinions she is entitled to. i disagree with them, but i respect her right to have them. however, because i also have the right to my own opinion, i am allowed to be pissed about these opinions she has.

i will go through a point by point breakdown of my responses and thoughts on each point.

i think it's really stupid to judge an actor based simply on them having a professional background or not. when it comes down to it, the most important thing for actors, especially co-leads, in a show, is their ability to do their job and create believable dynamics with their co-actors. in my opinion, xia zhiguang and huang junjie do this very well in zmyx. their dynamic feels natural and realistic to me, and, more importantly than that, it compels me. i don't say this as a "fan" of either actor; it was a nice bonus to me that hjj had also played another character i like, but even if he hadn't, i would be judging this performance as lin qiushi based on its own merits. i have never seen xzg in anything, and again, i am judging his acting in this show on its own merits. also, i should add there's something hilarious about her holding up shl as a "good" bl, when you could argue that those leads aren't "good" actors, either. i mean, look at advancing bravely! or, maybe, i don't know, it's possible for actors to improve over time and do better in certain projects than others? and someone doesn't have to be the "best" in all areas of their field, just the right choice for the role they're playing??

this is just stupid, in my opinion. the line is not stolen; it is altered and becomes its own line in zmyx. in shl, the line is, as she says, "there's light on you and i want to grab it and take a look". in zmyx, the line is "there's a light on you that i don't see on others". this is, at most, a reference—and zmyx isn't the only bl that references other media! this is a silly, petty argument, in my opinion, and frankly annoying as hell. if it were a crime to reference any other media in the same genre as the media doing the referencing, we'd miss out on so much. to me, this reference doesn't read as an appropriation, but as a nod of appreciation to another bl which was heavily censored. also, if her claims are anything to go by, and zmyx did film "years ago", it's possible that, actually, zmyx used the line before shl did. even if that isn't the case, who fucking cares? genuinely, i think this is a stupid point and i hate it.

she thinks the actors made a mess of the show by not playing the roles in the specific way bl roles are "meant" to be played. we could spend years arguing about the "right" way to play a bl role, but to me, it sounds like she has a very specific idea of the roles bl actors must fit into and fulfil—specifically, that they must play an exaggerated, unrealistic mimicry of gay male relationships, or else it's a "bad" bl. i don't know AvenueX's sexuality, but as a person of the homosexual persuasion myself, if not one attracted to men, i personally don't like exaggerated mimicries of gay relationships, and i would wager a guess that many gay and bisexual men are probably in this same boat. when i watch a bl show, i prefer that the dynamics are driven not by the idea of what gay people should act like, but by 1. the plot, 2. their own characterisations and character motives, and 3. their relationships and dynamics with each other. in this regard, while zmyx isn't a "good bl", i think it's a good depiction of the relationship between two characters. i don't say this to be holier-than-thou, or to claim i'm somehow "better" than other people who do like specific exaggerated tropes in bl; i say this because i feel like AvenueX entirely disregards the possibility that the thing that she doesn't like about zmyx are things that other people will.

(additionally, while she never says this, i get the impression that one of the things she doesn't like is that the chemistry between the characters isn't the "typical" bl chemistry. i, frankly, don't give a fuck. i think the leads have fantastic chemistry, and it annoys me that she thinks they "made a mess" just because they don't fit the idea she has for what a bl "should" look like. i, for one, think it's a good thing that we're moving away from caricatured depictions of gay people in media, especially danmei and dangai. myself and other asian gay people, especially east asian gay people, have pointed out how harmful caricatured versions of gay asian characters are.)

(also, as an unrelated, and petty aside, if i remember correctly, she's a british film school grad, and not to be judgemental, but, yeah, i can fucking see it.)

so, yeah. that's my two fen and indignance on this. but, hey, what do i know, i'm just some random tumblr user ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

#sorry this took me an entire goddamn hour to write #unfortunately i kept having to reword things to be less irritated #because while i may be pissed i do NOT want to take potshots at someone for stupid things irrelevant to her actual words #ask #i could go into a whole ramble about lgbt representation and depiction in danmei and dangai and how in my opinion it's #advanced in leaps and bounds even just in the past five years #(you can see a similar thing in yao in and thai bl)#but i will not do that because it's not relevant to this specific conversation #关于门神跟人谈恋爱的那件事 #c.txt

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