#but there was at least another kid walking off that ship. what about her parents? how long was she gone?? man...

[nero-neptune]

close encounters of the third kind is an objectively good movie, but it feels sorta tragic. and i doubt thet was the intention lol. love the cinematography, love the music score, love the visual effects. that's all fun and good. but where everyone else seems to see a movie full of "wonder", it just makes me feel sad. the movie ends the way it does and it leaves me feeling bummed the fuck out.

[bluegalaxygirl]

Amnesia (KidKiller X Reader) P10

Plot: After an explosion reader wakes up in a hospital with no memory of the past few years, her parents want to take her home so she can recover and get back to a normal life while the Kid pirates want her back on the ship where she belongs.

Warning: Bad language, Medical stuff, family issues and Violence.

Reader is Female, Poly Relationship, established relationship, Kid X Reader X Killer, Reader is a member of the Kid pirates and is in charge of the money, Budgeting and negotiating the best price.

< Previous part ….. Next part >

Your parents turn to the nurse with outraged expressions at her suggestion "compromise with pirates?" Your father asks crossing his arms over his chest "There is no compromise, We want them to leave" Your mother pipes up before making her way over to your sleeping body looking you over while the doctor checks your shoulder "How many times do i have to fucking tell you? We're not leaving.. She's getting her memories back and your little lie is going to fall apart. Once she see's that, we're taking her home" Kid yells, now that your passed out he can be as loud and angry as he likes knowing it won't hurt you or at least hopes it won't "She's getting her memories back? That's amazing" The nurse smiles only to be shot down by the doctor who moves some hair out of your face before turning to the nurse "That's not what is happening, you should go back to your rounds, I'll sort this out" A puzzled look forms on the nurses face but unable to refuse the doctor she bows slightly before leaving the room "She is not getting her memories back-" The doctor turns to talk to your father but is interrupted by Kid who growls while his hands are clenched at his side "Bullshit, She remembers how we met, and she knows who our doctor is" Killer nods in agreement while looking down at you and your mother seeing the woman stoking your hair with care and whispering soothing things to you. He doesn't understand your family, while you were awake and in pain all they did was yell and cause problems but now your out she's acting like the perfect mother, soothing her injured child.

Your farther sighs one hand grabbing onto his bicep and squeezing hard seeming to control his anger and stop himself from saying something he shouldn't, the doctor panic's at this quickly walking over to the man and clearing his throat due to his nerves "N-no thats not what is happening, she's just having strange dreams due to the seizures" The doctor tries to explain as Kid growls again walking around the bad and grabbing the man's throat and lifting him off the ground making the man gasp and struggle for air "I don't know what the fuck your trying to do, but she's remembering shit weather you like it or not" The captain glares throwing the doctor into the other bed, his back its the bed hard making its wheels unlock and roll into the wall, the loud bang snaps Killer out of his gaze on you and your mother to see the fight starting to break out between Kid and your father, both yelling at each other about if your actually remembering or not. If you were awake Killer might have stopped them just to save you the pain of their loud voices but now that your passed out and don't seem to be waking up he'll let Kid get his anger out and if he pushes your father then so be it. The masked man crosses his arms over his chest looking at your mother debating on how to start, making a compromise would make thing easier for both parties, but he knows their all bound to break it leading to another big fight that might hurt you. "Do you mind?" Your mother scowls up at Killer, she's not sure who he's looking at but either way she doesn't like it, letting out a sigh Killer shakes his head and grits his teeth holding himself back from snapping at her, he wishes he could let his anger out like Kid but one of them has to keep a clear head.

He wants nothing more than to grab you and take you back to the Victoria, set sail and leave your bloody family behind but you won't trust them if they do that, you won't want them around if they kick your parents out and you might not remember anything else if he or Kid aren't around so through gritted teeth he states. "Lets make a compromise" Your mother sits up straight, her hand stops stroking your hair as her eyebrows nit together baffled by his suggestion, it takes her a second to think while looking him over and drowning out the fight behind her between her husband and Kid while the doctor tries to stop a physical fight between the two most of the time just getting shoves away or even punched by one or the other. "Your a pirate, you don't make compromises" she states with a smirk thinking she's won something "Your right but for her sake we'll make an exception, we want Y/n to get better just like you do, we care for her just like you do, she's our partner and our crew member we won't abandon her, and we won't or ever will take her away by force" He didn't believe most of it himself, but he hopes to take a note out of Heat's book and pull on someone's heart strings, thats if your mother actually has a heart. She thinks for a second, looking from you to the three still arguing behind her, Kid now with her husband's tie in his hands threatening to chock him and then back to Killer letting out a sigh "Fine, lets make a compromise" She yells out getting the three behind her to shut up and look over at her "We are not compromising with pirates" Your farther yells his hands grabbing Kids metal arm thats pulling his tie causing it to tighten around his neck. "I don't like it either but there not going to leave" Your mother sighs turning to look at her husband giving him a sad look, a smirk forms on Kid's face seeing your mother give in, letting go of the tie he watches your father fall to his knee's while trying to undo the knot with the Doctors help so he can breath normally again.

----- Memory -----

The work out room was big which was a good thing since you had room to work with, a large blue mat lies on the floor and on top of that was House with Heat kneeling next to her, his hands wrapped around her throat but not squeezing. "Ok so wrap your legs around and then force him down, just like i showed you" You state with a smile, the blue haired woman nods at you before grabbing one of Heat's wrists before bringing her hips up to wrap her leg under and then over his head while the other moves under his arm that she's grabbing. She pushes her legs and hips down bringing him to the floor while his arm stays on her chest where she holds it there with both hands. You jump up from your seat on the push up bench and clap happy that she got it "That's it you got it" You smile walking a little closer to help adjust her leg, House smiles wide at you seeming very proud of herself "That was fun" the stitched man now trapped laughs while lays there unmoving, you smile at the two before kneeling down to House's side who still hasn't let go just like you taught her "So what do i do now, if i get up he'll just grab me right?" she asks trying to work out how to get away, you nod at her glad she's thinking a head before placing your hand on Heat's stretched out arm "Well i don't want you to do it to a friend but if you lift your hips up while gripping his arm you will break it" House jumps a little at your words before looking down at Heats arm seeing that your right, even though she doesn't have a degree to be a doctor she knows the body well and can see the strain she's putting on his arm just from the position alone, if she does push her hips up she can snap his arm in two.

You tap her hands letting her know she can let go now before standing up "And if you want to do more damage instead of just letting go and rolling away you can roll away while holding his arm, if you do it right you can dislocate his shoulder" At this Heat lets out a big laugh pulling his arm back to his chest while he sits up "And here i thought you were a sweetheart" You can't help but laugh at that as well, just because your nice to them doesn't mean you won't put up at fight if need be, you may not be able to beat these pirates but you can at least buy time to get away. House smiles at the two of you while sitting up and fixing her strange glasses to see you better "So, what if i don't have the strength in my legs to push him down?" The blue haired girl asks getting the two of you to stop laughing and get back on track, she knows that in a fight she might get hurt and that can limit her abilities in battle, you pat her head in reassurance seeing she's still a little nervous about things "Well there are several things you can do, but an easy one is to twist the arm your holding in wards until his elbow touches your chest and then you can punch him in the face or even better the throat or head butt him" You state watching as the girl nods along taking in everything your saying.

Giving her two thumbs up you wiggle them making a point to show her the weak points in the hand "Remember, the thumbs are the weakest part of the hands, so you can pull on them or push against them. It might hurt a bit but its better than being strangled to death and when in doubt… you remember what i always tell you?" You ask, its something you tell her every time you practice, you want it drilled into her head so if she ever gets into a fight she'll use it on impulse "Always go for the eye's, throat and groin… even if it's a girl" She states as you ruffle her already messy hair happy that she can quote it so easily and be actually excited about it "That's my girl". As the memory fades your left in darkness to think but you only have questions, Training the crew, they let you train the crew or at least their doctor? It also seems you've been doing it a while and seem super comfortable training her. They must have trusted you or thought you were good enough to do so but that man who was with House, What was his name again? Heat? He's a strange looking guy and yet you don't feel anything but a friendly love for the stitched man, he does remind you of something though. He looks like a… a Scarecrow. Another image appears in your sleeping mind, a beach and a sunken ship, there's water and fire but the memory makes you happy like you gained a friend that day and… maybe more.

----- Hospital -----

It took an hour maybe more, but they soon managed to come to an agreement, your farther tried to set up a schedule for when the pirates could visit but that was quickly shut down by both pirates glaring at him and letting out a growl, in the end they all agreed to leave you alone at night, let you gather your thoughts and get some rest without others to disturb. They could tell your parents were still up to something but for now they'll let it slide, their sure if anything happens you'll tell them about it and you've already agreed to see their doctor so if its something medical House can find out. "So where agreed, You and your pals aren't aloud to touch my daughter while we're around" Your mother smirks waving her hand in the air like she's telling them to get lost, Kid growls not liking this at all, not being able touching you will be hell for him, he can't hold your hand or put his coat around you when your cold, hell they don't even want them touching you if you fall or hurt yourself. Killer nudges Kid in the side nodding at his captain who growls at his partner before nodding, as much as he hates this he trusts Killer enough to agree "And in turn you won't degrade, insult or say any kind of negative comment to Y/n or our crew" Killer states earning a nod off your parents, your farther stands out of his chair glaring at the two pirates before looking down at his wife "Now that this is over, i need to get on with business, i trust you'll stay here until they leave" Your Mother nods up at him watching the man grab his case and new's paper "If you break your word, i will insure there will be punishment" Your farther states directing the comment at the two pirates but refusing to look at them as he leaves the room and heads down the hall.

Kid groans leaning back against the wall and looking out of the window seeing the small port and a large ship that is most likely your parents one, anger boils in him not only for letting Killer talk him into this but also because he can't kick your parents aside, blow up their ship and take you away. Killer stands cracking his neck before grabbing the captain's arm snapping the man out of his destructive thoughts "Can i have a word? I'll head back to the Victoria and be back later but first we need to talk" The masked man knows he has to ease the captain before leaving, letting him sit and simmer in anger is only going to cause a fight and leave dead body's behind, with a groan Kid nods following his partner out the room, the captains eye twitches once in the hallway wanting to yell at the first mate for making such a stupid compromise but Killer doesn't stop, not until they get to a clear hallway where your parents, nurses and doctor's can't hear them "The Fuck Kill? wh-" Kid yells not bothering to keep his voice down until the masked man places a hand over the captains mouth and shoves him up against the wall "Keep your voice down" Killer whispers earning a deep growl from his partner whose quick to grab Killer's wrist pulling it away from his mouth while his metal hand grabs the masked man's face shoving him away "The fuck's your problem?" Kid whispers through gritted teeth, Killer sighs pulling his wrist out of the captain's grip before leaning against the opposite wall crossing his arms over his chest.

Despite the two sometimes getting into a physical fight neither of them get hurt, its normally just a little push and shove both not using much strength and knowing when enough is enough, it's normally because one or both of them need to break something or fight someone due to the adrenaline and anger in their system. "Kid, i understand your angry-" Killer goes to say only to be interrupted once again by Kid, despite the angry look on his face the masked man has been with his partner long enough to know he's actually upset "I'm more than angry Kill, i can't touch her, hold her, heck can't even help your out of bed if she needs. How can you make a compromise like that? what's next? i can't look at her, can't even be in the same room as her?" The captain's hands shake the feeling of wanting to punch a wall or strangle someone is making it hard to keep his voice down, Killer pushes off the wall stepping closer to his partner despite the warning glare he's getting "I noticed something with Y/n before, when her mother wanted to compromise with her. Y/n really thought about it and noticed how things where phrased, all the stuff you were happy with were worded in a way that wasn't in our favor but this one was" Kid groans while rolling his eyes not wanting a lecture from his partner right now, seeing this the masked man sighs and places a hand over his mask "You can touch her Kid, just not while their in the room" The captain raises a brow at his lover not fully understanding but his body relaxes, he can hold you, touch you, help you. "She said we can't touch her while their around, so when ever their not in the room we can touch her, if she'll let us"

Kid lets out a huff of a laugh while running his hand over his face and into his hair pushing it back, the anger he once had starts to fade away as a smug grin forms on his face "You manipulative bastard" The Captain chuckles grabbing his partner by the hips and pulling him in placing kisses and bites on the masked man's neck "K-kid" Killer tries not to laugh while wrapping his arms around Kids shoulders keeping the two close, the captain bites down on the first mates neck earning a groan of satisfaction soon followed by a slight push on his shoulder "Kid… Come on" The masked man protests despite wanting to continue, the captain slowly pulls away still keeping a firm grip on his partner's hips and raising a brow "What? Not aloud to show my lover some love?" he asks with a smirk knowing thats not true at all by the way his partner is still gripping onto him, if Killer wanted to he could easily get away. "We can continue this later, for now i need to head back to the Victoria, i promised the crew I'd save them from Papa's cooking and I'll get House ready to see Y/N tomorrow" Kid groans but understands since the crew have been complaining and honestly the hospital food is better than Papa's cooking, Killer garbs Kids hands pulling them off his hips to get his point across that he has to go, reluctantly the captain lets him do so and follows him out into the hallway leading back to your room.

Before Killer can leave though and idea pops into the captain's head, he's not sure it will work but it'll be worth a try "Hay Kill, bring the Victoria round to the port" Killer quickly turns to his captain humming in a surprised tone, they didn't want to draw any attention to themselves which is why they docked at the back away from the small port "I don't know if thats a good idea, we'll be spotted and have marines called on us" The protest earns a sigh from Kid while placing his hand on Killers shoulder, a small cocky grin forms on his face while looking his partner over "You know, I've noticed a few things too Kill. This place seems very reluctant to call in the marines, they've had days to do it, and they haven't even threatened us with getting those bastards. I don't think we have to worry about them, plus seeing the Victoria might trigger something for Y/n" The captain knew he was right, he didn't know why everyone seemed to not call in marines or even mention them but its working in their favor, so he won't question it, for now. Thinking for a second Killer nods agreeing with his captain "In that case, I'll pack some of her stuff hopefully that will trigger something too, I'll drop it all off later" Kid nods turning to his partner and placing a kiss on his jaw line while his flesh hand caresses his side, Killer leans into it letting out a hum while running his hand over Kid's shoulder and into his hair tugging on it lightly "Don't leave me too long with the old hag" the captain chuckles before pulling away and letting his partner go, Killer's shoulders shake while holding in a laugh quickly turning and walking away before his partner makes another comment. "Don't forget the Polka dot shirt" Kid calls out after earning a simple hand flick in return.

----- Memory -----

The first Island you stopped off at was an uninhabited one, you knew it was a smart chose to add that the island had to have a village for you to get off their ship since this was bound to happen. You got off the ship with Heat and wondered around a little, the two of you trying to help find something edible that you could take back to the crew. Pushing past bushes and branches you soon make it to the other side of the small island, Heat sighs as he plops down on the sandy shore "There aren't even animals on this island, boring" The scarecrow like man sighs making you shake your head at his whining, you keep your eyes on the water scanning it until they land on something thats almost fully submerged and surrounded by rocks. Strolling over to the water you stop just before the tide touches your boots, leaning forward while squinting your eyes you make out some kind of small wooden ship. "What is it?" Heat calls out before standing and brushing the sand off his pants before making his way over "I think there's a sunken ship over there, it beaten up but there's nothing growing on it so its most likely resent" you state before taking off your shoes and socks, Heat stands behind you not wanting to get his feet wet while looking out at the sea soon spotting what you've spotted, its small but has a cabin on the back of it, most likely a fisherman's boat from all the netting clinging to the side of the boat. You take off your jacket which gets Heat to look down at you and raise an eyebrow "What are you doing?" He asks stepping away from you as you place your jacket, shoes and socks to the side "I'm gonna have a look" you smile back at him.

Heat sighs and shakes his head "I don't think thats a good idea, we should tell the others and bring the ship round" You shake your head at him before turning to fully face him "It's not that far away don't worry. I would offer of you to join me but i don't want you getting your straw wet, scarecrow" you giggle seeing him growl at you while stepping closer "i'm not worried about you, i don't give a damn about you and why the hell do you keep calling me that?" His tall slender body towers over you while his eyes turn almost back with anger, it scares you a little but you know better than to show weakness "It's the stitches, your also abnormally tall and thin and when ever your mouth opens its just back, you remind me of a cool punk rock scarecrow" you state staring blankly up at him before turning and stepping into the water, he stands there frozen for a second unsure of what to say or do until he hears a splash. Once it was deep enough you dive forward and swim over to the wreck, there were some small fish around, but they swam away before you could get close. Once at the wooden ship you can see why it sunk, the underside of the ship is torn up beyond repair and it seems to be lower than a normal ship's bottom should be, It must have scraped against the rocks when getting too close to the island. Going under the water you swim through the open door of the cabin and then up to a large air pocket, wiping your face of the salty water you look around seeing the ships wheel and a bunch of lockers along with a opening where a ladder goes down into the bottom of the ship.

Checking the open lockers you don't find much just some old jackets and waterlogged boots but there is a small tin full of different fishing hooks which you place in your back pocket, maybe Wire who was fishing today since they haven't been affected by the water, kept nice and safe inside the tin box for who knows how long. Taking in a deep breath you push off the wheel of the ship and head down through the hole using the ladder to help you descend quickly, you now know the reason for the boats deep bottom, there's a small kitchen with broken wooden cupboards and a table and bench attached to the wall next to it, on the other side of the room are 6 cot beds going up the walls. You search for as long as you can before going back up for air, you knew there has to be something down there, so you took another breath and headed back down going straight over to the closed metal fridge, pulling a few times you managed to open it. With a happy smile you reach into the fridge and grab a large crate of beer before swimming back up and out the door before going up for air, catching your breath you manage to tread water until you can find a rock to stand on. "Hay Heat… Look what i found" You yell out while lifting the heavy crate full of alcohol bottles over your head. "Get your ass back here" Heat yells back at you but even from this distance your can see the huge smile on his face "Not yet there's another two crates and i haven't even checked the freezer yet" You yell back before looking around you and finding a loose piece of wood on the side of the ship, you kick it a few times until it comes loose and floats up to the top where you place the crate on top of it.

Luckily it didn't sink with the weight so you grabbed the wood and pushed it towards the beach "I'll grab the rest, just push the wood back once it gets to you ok" You call out as the wood floats over towards the shore being helped by the small waves. It took the two of you a while but soon enough you got all the crates of beer to the shore along with some big rolls of cheese wrapped in wax. Stepping onto the sand you sigh and rubs your arms suddenly feeling cold despite the warm weather, Heat looks over your loot checking to see if their edible and drinkable before stacking the crates on top of each other, so he can carry them. You take your shirt off and ring out the water while his back is turned before putting it back on and going to put your socks and shoes back on "You'll catch a cold, Tiny" Heat places a hand on your shoulder pulling you away from your dry clothes and over to another area "Hay what are-… Wait Tiny?" You ask pulling away form his arm and glaring up at him only for the tall man to loom over you again "While you were away i had time to think, if your gonna give me a nickname that you feel is fitting then why not do the same so because of how small you are, your now called Tiny" his smile grows bigger as your cheeks go red with embarrassment, the only up side is that he didn't call you anything to do with your looks, your height was never an issue to you but the way you looked was.

The two of you glare at each other for a while until you sigh and wave your hand at him "Fine, call me what ever you want but that just means your now scarecrow for life" The tall man throws his head back in laughter before ruffling your wet hair "And you will away be tiny" he comments before pulling you over to the side a bit more "Now shut up and let me dry you off, i don't want to hear any whining from you when you catch a cold" he states before stepping away from you, confused you stay there until he takes a breath in, your eyes widen realizing what his about to do. He breathes out fire that shoots past you, it doesn't touch you but the blazing heat warms you up instantly and mostly drys your hair and clothes off, once he stops you keep staring at him wide-eyed wondering how you didn't die. Walking over to your clothes Heat grabs them and throws them at you snapping you out of your scared state "Hurry up and let's get back, we have some drinking to do" The scarecrow laughs before picking up the crates and starting to head back the way you came, you scramble to get your socks and boots on before garbing the cheese and running after him while trying to put your jacket on not wanting to be left behind. Making your way out the forest you spot Killer already cooking over a large camp fire while Kid rested on the sand his hands behind his head as he looks up at the darkening sky, there's a few of the other crew member's scattered around the beach and carrying things off and onto the ship "Hay your back" House yells out running down the ramp holding a small bucket, she rushes over to the masked man placing the bucket down before turning to you and Heat who stop just short of the captain.

Glancing over with a groan Kid's attitude suddenly changes at seeing what the two of you brought back "Where the hell did you find that?" The captain yells sitting up with wide eyes making you both laugh, walking over to a blanket nearby you place the cheese down for Killer to inspect "There's a ship wreck on the other side of the island" Heat answers his captain placing the crates down before stretching cracking his back, leaving them to talk you head over to the ship pulling out the tin in your back pocket as you look for Wire. You soon spot the tall man leaning on the bars inside the skull at the front of the ship a fishing pole still in his hand as he throws it out and over the skulls teeth so it'll hit the water "Its late, thought you two got lost" Wire states not even turning to look at you, it shocking since you hadn't even gotten close to him for the tall man to see you and the floor doesn't creak, maybe it's some kind of sixth sense. Walking over you lean next to him on the railing holding the tin out to him "We found some cool stuff though. I thought you might want these, their not rusted like the tin" Wire raises an eyebrow while propping the fishing rod up and taking the tin out of your hands opening it to find the fishing tackles inside, picking one up he inspects it before placing it back in the tin and closing it "How much?" His question makes you tilt your head not fully understand what he means by that, did he think there's more or did he want money for it? Sighing Wire leans against the railing "How much do you want for it? 20? 30?" He asks glaring down at you only for you to let out a laugh surprising the man.

Shaking your head and putting your hands up you back away slightly "I don't want anything for it, i sore it and thought you might want it so just take it" You state putting your arms back down to your sides starting to realize that you just laughed at the tall man, gulping you wait for a bad reaction but his face is blank making the the tall man more intimidating than before. A tense silence falls between the two of you, Wire looking you over for any kind of deception while your waiting for him to scold you in some way, suddenly the tall mans hand lands on your head giving it a few pats "Thanks" He states the one corner of his mouth turning up a bit before he turns back to fishing, you stand there for a few seconds wondering what on earth just happened, you were sure he would be mad, but he thanked you. Nodding you slowly back up and walk away unsure of how to deal with what just happened only to stop when Wire calls out to you "Hay… have you fished before?" The tall man asks attaching one of the new tackles to his fishing line, turning you shake your head feeling more confused than you did before "Well if your going to be out at sea on your own some day, you might as well learn. Come on, I'll teach you" Wire gestures for you to come over while holding the fishing pole out to you, your still unsure what is going on but your not about to pass up this opportunity to learn something that will help you later so you walk forward taking the fishing rod from the tall man's hands.

[apomaro-mellow]

Whatever Stevie Wants 10

Part 9

While writing this, I didn’t realize I was plaigirizing Durpleton’s backstory LOL

In accordance with tradition, Steve’s mother waited until they got home, until they were behind closed doors, before she started her tirade on him.

“I hope you’re happy with yourself!”

“As if you care about my happiness!”, Steve shot back.

“Everything your father and I have done has been for your happiness. Including all of the work I’m going to have to do cleaning up this mess.”

“What mess?”, Layton asked, coming into the foyer.

“You’re son slapped Findlay in the face and then threw egg salad in his face”, Margaret said.

“Actually, it was chicken salad.”

Margaret pointed a finger at him. “You and that mouth of yours. Whatever husband we can get for you, I promise he won’t tolerate it the way we have. Now we have to put out this fire before it spreads. People talk Steven!”

Steve shrugged. “I wouldn’t know. You won’t let me near the phones.”

“Son, settle”, Layton started. “You’ve been a good sport and the girls have been liking the nursery.”

“But I will send them to another house”, Margaret warned. “And they’ll be lucky if it’s one of our vacation homes. I’d just as soon send them off with a maid.”

Steve bristled at that, his scent turning sour. His mother pinched her nose.

“I keep forgetting to order you blockers. Honestly, it’s no good the way you throw your scent around. Now, go to your room while your father and I sort this mess out. And don’t even think of going to the nursery. Eleanor has taken the children out on a stroll anyway.”

Steve’s feet stomped with each step and he slammed his door behind him. There had to be something else he could do. Some way he could contact the outside world without a phone. Or at least without his parents knowing. It had been days since he’d last spoken to his real family outside his pups. They must have noticed by now and were doing something about it.

He might be able to convince someone on the staff to let him use theirs, might being the operative word. They were usually more loyal to his mother and father. Steve considered running away on his own. But he couldn’t leave the twins behind. He knew if he did, they’d be shipped off to parts unknown, maybe even separated. He tried to think of who could help him where he was now and there weren’t very many. Folks around here would either be indifferent or send him back to his folks.

Wait-indifference, that could work. 

Steve collected himself and went back downstairs, walking past a room where his mother was on the phone, either apologizing to Findlay or planning a party, it was hard to tell. He went right to his father who was on his way out in his golf gear, right on time.

“May I come along?”, Steve asked.

“With me? To the club? Didn’t your mother send you to your room?”

“She did. But I remembered I have to be a team player”, Steve said. “And maybe there’s some nice, younger alphas at the club.”

“Well you know we can’t afford to be picky when it comes to that”, Layton reminded him as he walked out, a silent approval for his son to come along. “But perhaps there is someone. You know Findlay has some kids around your age.”

Steve winced. “Maybe not anyone from that family.”

They arrived at the country club and it took very little to convince his father to go off golfing and leave him on his own. Steve’s front was that he’d find someone to talk to in the tea room or perhaps one of the leisure decks. True to his father’s nature, the man didn’t question the fact that Steve had just returned from brunch or even process what had happened at said brunch. 

All he cared for was that his son appeared pleasant, agreeable, and social. So Steve was free to roam. The moment his father was off on the course, Steve looked around for someone his age, maybe even younger. He really didn’t feel like flirting with someone just to get access to their phone, but he would if he must. 

He sat down at a table on the deck and allowed his order to be taken as he looked around and then he saw it, a kid with an ipad. Jackpot. Steve scanned the area and found their mother. They were wearing matching clothes and as usual, she was a distance away, distracted. It reminded Steve too much of his childhood, the kind of thing he was trying to save Violet and Vanessa from. But he couldn’t think about that right now.

“Hey”, Steve said, approaching the kid’s table. “It’s probably pretty boring here, isn’t it?”

“Yeah”, the little boy said, not looking up from his screen.

“You know, if you go through that door over there”, he pointed to where servers were coming and going. “Sometimes they give you sweets.”

The boy’s legs kicked a little at that. “Won’t I get in trouble?”

“You might. But they can’t take the cookies out of your stomach when you’ve already eaten them.”

That was all the boy needed to hop out of his chair and head to the kitchen. Steve took the ipad with a smooth motion and went further inside, finding a private bathroom. He went to the apps and of course this five year old child had twitter. Steve couldn’t judge some stranger’s parenting when it was in his favor right now. 

He searched around and found exactly what he was looking for. The trending page was full of phrases and hashtags regarding the whole situation #CorrodedCoffin, HE’S MISSING, #Stevegate, and BRING HIM HOME.

Steve wanted to spend hours looking at everything. But he had to be smart with his time. His pack knew he was missing, but Steve didn’t talk about his parents much. While the Harringtons were public figures, Steve could narrow the search down from their many homes. 

He opened up the camera and started recording, beginning with who he was. “My name is Steve Munson…”

---------------------

Margaret was waiting for them, glass of wine in her hand. “I don’t like it when people go behind my back.”

Layton looked confused, while Steve froze, afraid he’d been caught already.

“Steve was just at the club with me, on the prowl for a husband”, Layton said.

“He wouldn’t need to prowl if he took this seriously. And when I send someone to their room, I expect them to stay put until I say so.”

“Margaret, you’re too harsh on the boy. He was perfectly well behaved while with me.”

“Oh but of course, you’re his favorite”, Margaret bit out. “I’m just his warden.”

Steve slipped away, not interested in stroking his mother’s ego nor coming to his father’s aid. When he got to his room, he let out a sigh. He’d made the video, posted it on the kid’s account with as many keywords and hashtags as possible, then deleted it from the ipad. Steve wished he could’ve taken it with him, but surely the device had a location tracker. He could only hope the video got shared and viewed for the right people to see.

Corroded Coffin had ended their promotions early, citing issues at home. And it was just that morning that they came public with the fact that Steve, their pack omega, had gone missing after a visit to his parents. Their fans were making waves and news outlets were running with the story. The spouse of a celebrity going missing was juicy news.

Steve wouldn’t be able to see what effect his video would have. All he could hope for was that his parents didn’t see it too soon and that if they did, the coded messages in the video would go over their heads.

“My name is Steve Munson. This is a message to Eddie, Jeff, Grant, and Gareth. The pups are safe, we’re together. I went to visit my parents at a rented villa. They drugged me and now intend to make me break my bonding so that I can mate with someone in their circle. The castle has many defenses. But those unknown by the dragons may have a chance to cast a charm. I urge you to make off with the treasure first. The princess has her own wings.”

Part 11

[morrigan-sims]

The Noble House of Lockwood

Lord Alistair Lockwood, his wife Lady Evangeline Lockwood, and their children: Silas, Byron, and Theodore Lockwood.

Lord Alistair Lockwood

Current head of the Lockwood Estate.

Wood Elf.

Extremely wealthy.

Member of the ruling council of Arborcea.

Takes great (too much) pride in his house, name, and family.

Has a short temper and is quick to bring it out on those who displease him.

Loves his [legitimate] sons, although he's not good at showing it, at least not in healthy ways.

Had an affair with a human woman ~27 years ago that resulted in Rook's birth.

One of the key players in placing Arborcea under Elven rule.

Very well-respected among the other nobles.

Stubborn and prideful, even arrogant. (His eldest son, Silas, takes after him in this regard.)

Despite his prominent place on the council, he hungers for more. More power, more wealth, more influence.

Very traditionalist/old-fashioned.

A strict father, but well-respect and even idolized by his [legitimate] sons.

Lady Evangeline Lockwood

Lady of the Lockwood Estate.

Eldest daughter of another of Arborcea's noble houses.

High Elf.

Her and Alistair's marriage was an arranged one for politics and money, not love.

Strongly begrudges Alistair for the affair that led to Rook's existence, and has not forgiven him yet. (26 years is a blink of an eye for an elf.)

Despite this, will forever and always keep up appearances of a happy and faithful couple. (Even when they are alone, she hardly ever shows her displeasure with Alistair.)

Was thrilled when Rook ran away, because it meant that there was no longer a constant reminder of her husband's infidelity and shame wandering the halls of her house.

Vain, and always fishing for compliments from everyone around her.

Cleverer than she lets on.

Her sons are her greatest love and pride. They can do (almost) no wrong in her eyes. (However, damaging the image of house Lockwood does count as wrong.)

Has tea gatherings with the other noble ladies where they talk shit about anything and anyone.

Very strict mistress to the servants and anyone in her employ.

Also a strict mother, though much more loving.

Silas Lockwood

The oldest Lockwood brother.

The closest thing to a "rebellious" kid the [legitimate] Lockwood family has.

Stereotypical "popular kid": has a ton of friends and is always the center of attention despite being a dick to most people.

Is rarely at home, usually off "adventuring" (aka, paying other people to do the real work, then let him come in and deal the final blow and taking the credit.)

Excellent fencer, but initially trained for dueling competitions for entertainment, not lethality. His style is kind of exaggeratedly showy because of this.

When he's not adventuring or dueling, he's usually in a tavern, slightly drunk and surrounded by "20 of his closest friends". (or "friends"... most of them are using him or he's using them. He's aware of this and doesn't care.)

Has his father's short temper and intense pride. Can never walk away from a fight.

Hates nothing more than losing/being humiliated.

Byron Lockwood

Middle child, often overlooked in favor of his siblings.

Most boring/practical of the kids.

Doesn't really know what he wants in life.

Doomed to always be out-shined by Silas or Theo.

Totally not bitter about it.

Currently engaged to the daughter of another noble house.

Wants to inherit the title of Lord Lockwood, and is offended that someone as irresponsible as Silas would get it.

Perfectionist. Expects the best from everyone around him at all times.

The only Lockwood kid with a "real" job. (Manages some of his father's interests in a handful of shipping companies based in Arborcea.)

Think of the stereotypical shitty boss: Greedy, ambitious, treats his underlings like tools not people.

Theodore "Theo" Lockwood

The youngest Lockwood brother.

His parents' favorite.

Mama's boy, has Lady Lockwood wrapped around his finger and he knows it.

Spoiled youngest child. Is used to getting everything he wants whenever he wants it.

Will get very upset if his desires are not met.

Has spent the last few decades attending various kind of universities for degrees in all sorts of things. (the perks of being an elf and super rich, I guess.)

When asked about his plans "after schooling", he just does a kind of vague handwave and starts rambling about "research projects", but can't give any straight answers.

Will probably end up as some kind of weird professor/research funder: Ultra wealthy, multiple PHDs, "inventor" (but really just pays people to invent things for him), more than a little bit of a jerk. All his future students will come in so thrilled to meet this famous guy who's done so much impressive shit, but end up leaving disillusioned about their idol.

Not as smart as he seems. More than possibly has paid his way through at least a few of his classes/degrees.

As an academic will almost certainly plagiarize most or all of his work.

[sophieswundergarten]

OKAY. Ended up watching Doctor Who with my sibling tonight, so I am presenting a series of revamped DW/MBS AU thoughts. Still very rambly and silly, but due in large part to the genius of @oflightningandstars and @nobody33333333, so a great deal of thanks to them :)

According to Bods' very clever idea, the Book versions of Mr. Benedict and Curtain are previous regenerations, and Show Nicholas and Nathaniel are their current regenerations. Of course, they are being set up as the Doctor and the Master of sorts: As two Time Lords who were friends and then enemies and the whole mess.

Mr. Benedict comes across Number Two when she's a small child, maybe ten or so, living in Victorian England (Because why not). She's been shipped off to boarding school and then orphaned, but the school is waiving her tuition and everything as a philanthropic public image stunt, at least until she's 18. However, she utterly hates it because she's the smartest kid there and while they let her skip a couple grades because she obviously couldn't stay in the class she'd been put in, they didn't care enough to evaluate her and acknowledge that she was far more advanced then their curriculum was prepared for. The other girls didn't like her, the teachers couldn't stand her, and the administrative people ignored her every time she tried to come up for a compromise or a way to make the system better.

She's outside crying quietly by herself because she doesn't want to go in to another class where she's mocked and derided and told to keep small and quiet, when, lo and behold, a random older man walks up to her. He's wearing a green plaid suit and has white mussy hair. He looks like he could be a teacher at her school, except he seems much kinder, and he asks her why she's crying. She tells him all about how she hates it at the school but she doesn't have anywhere else to go and while she does miss her parents, it's in a distant sort of way, because they were largely absent from her life and it was they who sent her to boarding school in the first place to teach her to sit still and shut up.

And he hugs her and offers her a biscuit, listening to her story until she's cried herself out and falls asleep. He'd be perfectly content to sit out there with her, except it's England and so it starts to rain, at which point he scoops her up and very carefully takes her inside his TARDIS (Which is disguised as a bookstore around the corner). After a bit she wakes up, and instead of feeling scared or upset, she feels safe, and like she's home for the first time since she can remember. He asks her gently if she'd like to be taken back to the school now, and he's spent so much time listening to her that she has the courage to ask, plainly and desperately, if she can stay. She knows, even as young as she is, that it's foolish. That he needs to take her back, that he's an adult, and that it would be irresponsible of him not to.

But, instead, he smiles at her as if the idea delights him. She can stay for as long as she likes, he says, and he'll still be able to get her back in time for tea. She's a little puzzled at this, until he whispers in a quiet, conspiratorial voice, as though he's telling her a great secret and trusts her to keep it safe, if she'd like to see something amazing. She says yes almost immediately, as for however strange this man is, she trusts him just as much as he seems to trust her. And what she sees certainly is amazing

Milligan is someone they pick up later, in a far corner of the galaxy at a time where humans certainly shouldn't have been able to make it there. He's alone, lost and confused, living on the streets and being largely ignored by the extraterrestrial inhabitants of the planet. He can't speak the language, and no one cares to take the time to understand the gibberish of some species they've never seen before. Number Two isn't very old, still, maybe in her early teens, and she stumbles across Milligan where he's sitting in an out of the way alley. He reaches out to the young girl with a desperation all too familiar to her, hoping that she might understand what he's saying.

She does, and though he looks half crazy in his muddled, panicked state, something in her lets her know she doesn't need to be scared. She tells him that she knows someone, a man who will help, a man who will help him find what he's searching for. She takes him to Mr. Benedict, and Milligan almost collapses in relief upon finding someone who understands him (And also from exhaustion). They work out that Milligan was taken, and his memories had been stolen. He isn't exactly sure where or from who, but he knows that he's missing something important. Something vitally important to him is missing, and while he isn't sure what it is, he knows he must find it again, even if Mr. Benedict doesn't want to help him.

Mr. Benedict quickly assures him that of course they will help him, and he's welcome to stay with them for as long as he's comfortable. Milligan thanks the two of them profusely, and while he's not exactly a stranger to space travel, his first trip in the TARDIS takes his breath away.

(And if he feels a strange need to look out for Number Two, maybe a bit more than another responsible adult would, that's his business and no one else's. Mr. Benedict looks at him sometimes with a strange sadness, as if he also knows that kind of hollow, aching loss that never quite leaves the lungs, but Milligan has yet to ask him about it.)

Rhonda they meet in what to Milligan is the future (And to Number Two the far future). She is living in a human settlement on a faraway moon, and she is the only child there. Her parents were prolific scientists, but when they passed away, she was left in the care of some of their colleagues who were rather too busy and self-important to handle a child. They relied on her intelligence and experience with her parents' research when necessary, but for the most part she was on her own. It was a lonely life, but at least she knew she was necessary, in that way that people who have never understood what it is to be truly loved do.

A few more years had passed at this point, and while Milligan had settled in with his new family, he still felt that there was something missing. He had regained a few memories, but nothing substantial enough for a man who had command of all of time and space to fixate on. To cheer Milligan up, Mr. Benedict and Number Two decided on a destination that would allow him to indulge the interest in chemistry he had recalled.

While exploring, Number Two, who is still not quite grown up but feeling that she'd rather like a moment away from her two slightly over-protective "fathers" (Seriously, it's as if she's never been on an alien planet before), wanders away. She comes across a girl, a few years younger than herself, hiding in a back storage closet and writing in a well-worn journal. She jumps a bit, but asks Number Two what she's doing. The older girl replies that she's just looking around, and asks Rhonda what she's writing about. Her younger sister (Because, even after only a few seconds, Number Two knows they'll be taking this girl with them when they leave) replies that she'd been recording notes on what the researchers were working on.

A few minutes later, Rhonda realises that this must be what real companionship must feel like, as Number Two has spent the whole time nodding and listening with great seriousness, and even adding a few thoughts of her own. She tells the older girl about how she came to be at the settlement, and how she's been hearing whispers of them sending her away. She really would rather stay, but in a falsely upbeat tone she adds that maybe leaving the settlement for the first time she can remember will allow her to make some friends.

This is the last straw for Number Two, and she announces that they're going to meet her family. Half dragging Rhonda, she swiftly navigates her way back to Mr. Benedict and Milligan, who are enjoying a presentation about compounds accelerating plant growth. Introductions are made, and Number Two watches smugly as her family grows. One of the researchers notices Rhonda, and comes over to tell her that a shuttle will be by sometime in the next day cycle to take her off-world, and officially enter her in the foster system. At Rhonda's panicked look, Mr. Benedict is quick to whip out his psychic paper and announce that, actually, they are the authorities responsible for taking this wonderful little girl off their hands.

Rhonda watches curiously as the exchange goes down, and is ushered to a strange little shop that turns out to be a great deal bigger on the inside.

[luci-j]

Okay, since I had a ton of fun with the last ones, some more headcannons of characters from my fic series! <3 This time we're going to focus on Lir Tam-Lin, with some facts, headcannons, and background info.

* He started off as a little bit of a one-off joke I made with a friend who is a FREQUENT head cannon buddy of mine, and I love that for them. Literally just something along the lines of "wouldn't it be funny for Rocket to be walking down a hall at Nova Corps and seeing someone who looks like Meti??"

* His last name, "Tam-Lin," is from an old Scottish ballad that is strikingly close to "Beloved and the Bastard". His first name, "Lir," is that of an Irish sea god. It was kept because it is also the name of Elphaba's son in the "Wicked" series, and that was too much a coincidence to pass up since Meti has basis from this story (down to his mother's voice claim is Idina Menzel!). This is all a loving homage to my headcannoning friend too, since they've been so instrumental in how this series has turned out.

* Speaking of voice claims, his is Timothy Omundson, who played Lassiter on "Pysch". When I write a character, it helps me to have a voice to work with in real life, and Omundson hit a lot of the marks for me with how tense he could sound but also how warm he could be.

* Omundson is a stroke survivor, and while this initially wasn't part of Lir's character, it quickly became one. Anyone who's read at least a little bit of my stuff probably has a handle on the fact showing those with disabilities is a big thing to me. While I have some disability issues of my own (with learning, a few other things), I also have a disabled parent. Seeing things through her eyes made me want to write more characters who were disabled, yeah, but also bad ass.

* Lir is from the planet Hill Temar, is another Celtic reference, this for the Hill of Tara, which factors in a lot of Irish mythology.

* His ship is named the Bán Pangar, which is yet ANOTHER Celtic callout. This is a 9th century Irish poem about a cat.

* Lir is really into Gundam models and mecha anime. His favorite is Gundam Wing, since it was his introduction series, and he is also a fan of things like Big O and Neon Genesis Evangelion

* He also has a soft spot for magical girl anime but would die of embarrassment if anyone found this out

* He was a fan of mecha things from childhood. He grew up in a very pastoral home world, and moving to Xandar was a shock to him. He didn't have many friends, but he always loved going out to watch machines or see ships fly

* Some of his favorite activities when he was a child was bow hunting, fishing, and collecting pebbles by the stream

* He has crow brain, much like Meti does, and loves collecting things

* He may be a little terse with Richard Rider and Sam Alexander, but would also take a bullet for either of them

* His mother is an Eternal. Being part Celestial as well, he has the potential for a lot of power

* While it hasn't been stated in text yet, his mother's name is Morga

* He loves music from anime and JPop. He's stolen away to more than one concert on Earth and watched from a distance

* He credits his dexterity to building models. While he does have exosuits that allow him movement with both hands, he still prefers using one hand to work. It's mostly out of habit now.

* Loves his weapons. Being a sharpshooter is what initially got him noticed by Nova Corps. Being a natural tacticle genius is what got him thrown into the position of Nova Prime. He actually has a lot of respect for Rocket, even if they butt heads a lot.

* A bit lonely and has trouble expressing it! His wife is also the only woman he ever dated, and he was about 27. He has a hard time opening up to people, but really wants to make a connection

* Loves kids and babies and is a natural with them. This is something he gets from his mother

* Owns about ten different outfits. Wants to branch out in his style currently, but doesn't know where to begin. With being half Meti, there is hope for him.

* A hopeless romantic at heart and a bit shy about it. Poor guy. <3

[tabbyclaw]

Yep, I'm doing this. Crosssposting my Yuletide letter here just for the hell of it.

Overall I like stories that are more on the lighthearted side, fun with a bit of humor and a happy ending. Grand, world-saving plots are always great, but I love an adventure where the stakes are low and personally important to the characters, and when the plot gives them a chance to show off their competence and recognize the competence of the people around them. (Most of the characters I've requested are a bit pathetic or goofy to some degree or another and I absolutely encourage embracing that, but they're also good at what they do and I'd like them to have a chance to shine.) I don't like AUs that completely change the canon setting and circumstances, but I'm always interested to see what people do with "What if [canon event] happened differently?"-type AUs. Characters and their interactions are always the biggest thing I'm here for, so I'm definitely hoping for banter and casual physical affection, both platonic and romantic. And speaking of romantic, there are definitely some requests here where that's what I'm hoping for, although in all cases I will absolutely be happy with platonic relationships between the characters as well. For romantic stories I'm a sucker for mutual pining and accidental feelings realizations, and I love unusual and unexpected romantic moments and flirtation, where maybe this wouldn't look like flirting if anyone else was doing it, but when it's these specific characters it definitely is. I'm not keen on second-person POV, but first and third are equally welcome.

DNWs: explicit sex, unrequested non-canon pairings, unrequested identity headcanons, non-canon character death, tragic/bleak endings, mundane/modern/setting change AUs, non-canon severe illness/injury (canon-typical comedic, non-permanent injuries in cartoon canons are fine), animal harm.

Fandom-specific likes and prompts

Darkwing Duck Requested characters: Drake Mallard, Gosalyn Mallard, Launchpad McQuack

I'd really love some domesticity for this group, especially mixed in with the way their home lives intersect with the crimefighting. Navigating the early days of making it work as a household and as a family, and how that changes over time. Possibly as Gosalyn gets older Darkwing considers bringing her into the crimefighting business (maybe to fill in temporarily because Launchpad is unavailable for some reason, or maybe as a more permanent thing) and has to walk the parenting tightrope of "wanting to help my kid grow" and "wanting to keep my kid safe"? Or maybe a look at her relationship with Launchpad specifically, and how it differs from her relationship with her dad? Also, Launchpad is out there being a superhero's sidekick with no secret identity to protect him and it should be super easy to connect him to both his lives. I don't actually have any specific thoughts about that; it just makes me go "Hey, wait a minute" sometimes and I wanted to throw it out there. And I definitely ship Darkwing/Launchpad, so if the spirit moves you in that direction knock yourself out. (But nothing about them dealing with homophobia, please!)

Kung Fu Panda Requested characters: Tigress, Shifu

This is a request made mostly in hopes of fix-it fic. The original movie makes it clear enough how desperate Tigress is for Shifu's approval, and every time the extended materials dip into her backstory it just hammers home how long she's been chasing it and how much not getting it has affected her. What I'd really like to see is Shifu actually recognizing that post-canon (or at least post-first film) and making some effort to ease that pain and improve the relationship between them going forward. I don't need a huge dramatic blow-up with groveling, just something that says the first steps are being taken. (Maybe something tied to that still of the two of them eating noodles in the end credits? I always felt like that suggested some of the tension between them loosening up.) And if that whole thing feels like kind of a lot (fair), maybe something about what she was like growing up, before things got really difficult. I've always thought that her time with him must have overlapped with Tai Lung's (would Shifu have taken her in so readily if he was already bitter about his previous failure?), so what would that have been like, and how would that loss that she was too young to understand have affected their relationship?

Oxventure D&D Requested characters: Prudence, Corazon de Ballena

That reference I made in my general likes, to characters who are pathetic or goofy but still surprisingly competent? I was definitely counting the Oxventurers among those, and Corazon especially. I love how cool he thinks he is, and how cool Prudence actually is (well, you know, most of the time), and I love the chemistry between them when they're being terrible people who are trying very hard to pretend not to care and failing miserably at it. Especially when they're being a mix of terrible and caring towards each other. They play off each other so well and have so much chemistry that I'd love to see them doing almost anything together (unintentionally taking a day off in the same place? Secretly planning a job they don't think the rest of the guild will approve of?), but I do specifically ship it pretty hard and I am always down to see things go in that direction. Anything that involves accidentally realizing and/or revealing their feelings for each other would be great, and specifically I think these two would be perfect for a fake dating plot (as part of a plan that made sense at the time? To piss off Corazon's dad?) that gets more real than either of them ever intended it to.

Megamind Requested characters: Megamind, Roxanne Ritchi

Even when these two are in conflict there's a level of sincerity and familiarity between them that I love, and they're already pretty flirty and comfortable with each other from the very beginning of the movie. I'd be interested to see a pre-canon take on that, with the two of them gradually getting bolder and more familiar in their interactions as Megamind starts to develop an interest in Roxanne and Roxanne realizes that a) Megamind is basically harmless and b) it's really fun to push his buttons. If "Bernard" had never happened, would they have ever gotten to an 'openly interested in each other' stage on their own? Alternately, post-canon it would be fun to see the two of them learning to live in each other's worlds, with Roxanne helping Megamind get used to being around people and interacting with the public like just another citizen, and Roxanne getting used to being with someone who approaches everything in his life (including romance) with the same level of drama and spectacle he devotes to villainy.

[storiesofsvu]

Happy thursday.

fair warning, if you care about svu spoilers at all, make sure you're staying FAR away from social media until you've watched it.

WOOF

spoilers under the cut for all three l&o's and not really for CME, but just some minor thoughts

Thursday Thursday… here we go!

As usual Ayanna looking like a fucking bomb snack in her suits

Ian doyle get your crusty ass face off my fucking tv. Like, im literally writing Emily fic as I’m watching organized crime, this is NOT THE TIME.

Okay, not surprised the snitch is already dead.

Ah… and we’re back to the sleazy casino manchild. Amazing.

The more we find out about jet, the more I love her.

Wait… bobby’s MARRIED??!? Did we know this already and I just forgot or is this new information? Or is the new info just that he’s married to a mob boss’s niece?

Okay also…the mob boss woman was in the once upon a time in el barrio svu ep.. that’s where I know her from…

LOL to Jamie little white kid freaking over the food and bigger LOL to them having a giant pile of containers to take with him…

Murphy’s accent keeps slipping in and out which is weird cause the actor is irish… then again, if he’s been living in the us for that long it probably does that anyways

The girl playing Rika has defs been on svu before… but im not complaining… she’s hot.

Yeah she was in s19.

Bobby’s such a lil cutie.

“I deserve a lot more than that. But you’re going to spend it on me. Dinner, maybe some jewels…”  “buy you a house if it means I get to come home to you.”  ….things to file away for future fic inspo….

Jet… omg.. I love you.

Okay… but like… jet was being flirted with by a KNOWN gangster ,one who clearly wanted more time with her, whether that is pure intention or not (cause out on the street he did seem a bit genuine, esp once murphy showed up) and like, yes I get that she’s a cop, but WHY would she be left to walk to her car alone late at night. Like, im not talking police escort, but at the very least a “security” from the club or a bartender or anything like… there are some bars that don’t let their service staff walk to their cars alone….

Okay, im actually invested in this arc…  weird.

Now we’re onto mothership. Will I pay attention or will I focus on the prentiss smut I’m working on? Only time will tell!!

Shouldn’t this be a special victims case?

Cops walking up to a suspect muttering “don’t run, don’t run, don’t run.” Will always be hilarious to me.

“these Zumba classes are not working…”  “…I did all the running.” LOOOL that is some quality partner banter. Love it.

I literally just said “where tf are this kid’s parents.”  Like… he’s under 18..

God this is one of those cases that just has curveball after curveball…

Wait… barba upped a case to reckless endangerment and rita’s response was “really, now we’re talking felonies?!” but now RE means no jail time?? Brb while I go google some shit. Okay… It looks like its first degree vs second degree. I’ll accept that.

Samantha maroun and rita Calhoun go on shopping sprees together and I will not accept notes on this. They’re both always so colourful.

I feel like this case would be a super hard one to take to trial… like that jury is gonna be deadlocked no matter what, it would so likely be a mistrial.

Damn these lawyers are fucking smart and know their shit. Good job.

Holy FUCK another curveball. Damn. This is old school writing. Bless.

 Okay, svu time. I don’t know if I’m prepared. (and not because I ship it…)

Still cant get over that Oscar papa is a fucking TWINK

Awwwee sonny… sweet sonshine. I fucking miss you. Wish you were around more often.

Wow… timing.. Seriously? We couldn’t even get sonny in the room?? He had to zoom in? wtf?!

This aint the first time a perp has threatened her son.. like.. she aint fucking around anymore

Also… the fact that they were *actually* going for noah is terrifying and makes it like, so much more worse?!

Fuck.. Velasco… ive missed you…

A phoebe mention!! Can we see her again pls?

Still haven’t decided if I like Bruno or not. Wouldn’t be mad if he joined the team cause lort knows they need a bigger squad. Also really liked that other Bronx detective

Okay.. note on the commercial break… they’re making ANOTHER magic mike??? Is channing tatum that desperate for money??

LOL the “let me call you amanda from now on” line followed by “alright well tell carisi I’ll be home late.” Omg. Fin. Best one liners.

“all you white boys look alike to me” LOL.

Bruno my man, why TF you carrying around that much cash?!?

Yes… THIS ONE! The black girl detective from the bronx. I want more of her.

HANDS! Joe.. jfc calm yourself

Churlish! Okay… imma try to remember that name

….im assuming we’re not getting any muncy in this ep

YEESSS VELASCO playing dirty fake UC (well… kinda…) this should not be as hot as it is…

OH MY GOD ARE WE ACTUALLY IN COURT?! IT’S A FUCKING MIRACLE.

Man… testifying/prosecuting/being on the jury in a gang related case like this, like, my anxiety would be through the fucking roof for the rest of my life…

Im over here still trying to figure out just how dirty joe was playing? Like, if he was gonna go that bad why do it in front of a cop he doesn’t know that well. Like yeah maybe he has a hook with mcgrath but im just wary of shit rn. He’s not that ballsy….

Okay, this isn’t the first time that liv has made threats like this, and it wont be the last.

Yeah.. still so confused about joe… like he *knows* what he’s doing…. Right? Like at first I lowkey thought it was the two of them playing good cop bad cop like liv & Elliot used to back in the day.

“that an invitation?” DUARTE WOW WAY TO BE FUCKING BOLD (would probs prefer that to eo tbh)

Theyre flirting your honour

WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK??!!! ARE YOU FUCKING WITH ME?!!? I legit wish you could see my face rn. WOW SVU WAY TO FUCKING GO DARK THERE IS ONLY 10 MINS LEFT OF THIS SHIT AND THAT INCLUDES COMMERCIALS WOOOWW

 Are you fucking with me???

Wow… okay.. noted… pray for anyone named Mike on SVU

(but is he actually dead..  or is this gonna be a witsec thing?)

I WAS JUST STARTING TO LIKE HIM DAMMIT

Oscar’s got mommy issues… that checks

Okay well they prosecuted him for murder so… duarte’s dead… wow..

Her new apartment is gorgeous

Did we really have to go all dutch tilt for this scene?

LOOOOOLLL omg that promo had y’all fucking freaking your shit out and it turned into nothing. God bless. So proud of liv for saying no, that she can’t. like, not only did unstabler bring it up at a time that she was probably hella vulnerable, feeling the relief that she/noah were finally safe, like that’s gonna have her releasing emotions she didn’t even realize she was feeling. And then on top of that, someone, a friend.. a flirtatious friend maybe? Coworker? The SECOND person she’d worked closely with named mike be murdered a moment after she left their side, holds herself responsible. Like that is NOT the time to try to fucking kiss her my man. That is the time to wrap her in a hug, tell her that things will eventually be okay and let her cry into your shoulder, a light kiss on the head at most. Jfc. Read the room.

circling back to duarte.. they SERIOUSLY couldn't bother paying molly for like a half day of work to be in the waiting room? he was her captain.. she would be there...

ANYWAYS.

Uh,… CME summary?

Episode was meh. Like literally meh. I have basically zero good or bad points about it. AJ’s kids are so grown up now. JJ looks hot af as usual, and gay af, like the reboot really said “okay, jj is also gonna be secretly gay, don’t tell will”. Sick of the will they wont they with will being sick/dying, lets not tease this shit anymore. Also sick of the wardrobe dept giving Prentiss the exact same shirt in like 4 diff colours to wear and that’s it. Also please let Emily say fuck again. Also JJ. And Tara. Let the women swear pls. it’s not fair Rossi got the first like.. three… let’s hope next week is better!

[sirkul]

The story I've been working on

Rotten until you’re ripe 

When you wake up, you stay in bed. When you brush your teeth, you stay in the bathroom extra-long to be alone. At meals, you examine your food and then eat it so everyone thinks you’re busy. That’s how it works at Vivian Freener foster home. Where dreams go to die, and the sky is never blue, and everyone loses hope. Especially when you’re twelve, like me. And the other kids just can’t seem to figure out that all hope is lost when you’re twelve. No boy, girl, foster parent, real parent, or even the Greek gods will understand why Maggie Baxter (me) hates every birthday she’s ever had. Because no one wants to adopt (adopt, not foster) a kid who is going to be a teen. A moody, conceited, grown-uppity teen. They all want people under eight, a kid or two who is still learning, and a kid that’ll last longer. And, while I was lucky enough to be fostered more than once by a certain family, they stopped after I turned ten. So ten was the limit. And I was way over it.

And so, this early Sunday morning, I stayed in bed extra-extra-extra long with my head buried under the sheets of my worn out covers and I tried to  listen to the springs in the mattress, which is older than me, pop, creak, and groan. I listen as the nuns walk past the big room I’m in, that I  share with thirteen other girls, and across the hall, fifteen more, connected only by an ugly floor carpet. I hope they’ll slip by, but they notice my arm move to cover my face with the blankets and sheets. If the dean happens to be near while you are still in bed late, she tugs on your hair by the ends, where it hurts the most. And if you still keep up your hoax of sleeping, she’ll turn your lamp on and then put tape on your fingers in intricate folds and shake you pretend-awake. When you go to rub your eyes, you can’t, and when you go to eat, all the girls around the long-tables laugh at you, and she only takes them off of you when it’s midnight. When she does though, she has to use a safety-pin, and if you get stabbed and flinch, she’ll tell you it’s your own fault. Mrs. Freener (The now-owner of Vivian Freener Foster Home For Young Children)  used to be the dean. When I was five,  the new dean, Paula Thurn, took over. We all just got used to calling her Dean, though. The nuns, in their mysterious cloaks and cross necklaces, instead patted my shoulder and gently shook me until I forced a yawn and said, “Breakfast already?”

I brushed my short brown bob of hair, and, unlike the other girls, didn’t twist it into a bun, and I didn’t tighten it into pigtails, and I didn’t really have enough hair to braid right now. Maybe I never would. I went to the mess hall, down the spiral steps. I was actually a little early, so I set the table with the maids and cooks (another reason I hated being early, because Dean always criticized what went where and how it went there). When I was done with that, I watched out the window until I heard the last girl clomp down the stairs so we could pray, then eat. If you looked hard enough, you could see the 7:00 ferry pull out of the port. My favorite ship was the red, gray, and blue one; whereas the others were usually green and yellow, so of course my favorite had to be the different one. 

Though VFFH (Vivian Freener Foster Home) Was a Christian facility, they accepted children from all religions as long as they were converted to Christianity. I remember a girl who was about seven whenever I was ten, telling me that her real parents were actually Muslim and that she was also supposed to be Muslim, but now she was Christian and didn't know how to feel about it. I told her that Muslims and Christians both believe in God but Muslims call him Alan (ah-lawn), and they pray in a tent, or at least that's what one of my friends told me, who was also Muslim. She could have been lying to me but I didn't know and I still wouldn't have known because she got adopted and I didn't. The family she got adopted by I always wore hats and suspenders, and the women and girls had cloth discs made of lace in the back of their hair, and wore dresses made of denim and other cloths. They rode in a horse and buggy with her to her new home. That was a year ago. I don't even remember her name. It was so long ago, and it was so sad to see her leave in that Carriage drawn by horses with the hat boys and the disk girls, with their dresses and suspenders flowing behind them. I'm guessing that she was happy now that she could probably live with a lace disc in her hair, helping cook and clean and the hat boys as her brothers, a hat man as her father. The day she left I asked one of the nuns why they wore hats and suspenders and discs and dresses of denim and cloth and she told me that they were Amish and that's just what they wore. I think that day may have been the saddest day of my life. I was so sad that I didn't even watch the ferry  leave the port. I was devastated to watch her go even if she was a year older than me. She's a teenager now and I can't say that I'm not jealous of her because I most definitely am. I hope she thinks about me, because if she doesn't I think I would be incredibly sad. 

It was Maya. Her name was Maya. I remember it now. And even though I was sad to see her go I remember being mad at her the day she left. Because I remember we had a big fight about her leaving. We promised each other a year before, that if one of us got adopted then she had to take the other with her.  She also told me that if we got adopted together we would share a room and do everything together. We would pool our money one day and pay for college, and we would go there together. We told ourselves that the world was our oyster and that no one, even whoever we got adopted by, could tell us that we weren't going to school, because we wanted to be teachers. We promised each other that if the family refused to adopt both of us then we would refuse to go with them. We shook hands on it, and just to steal the deal, she slept in my room that night so we could experiment how it would feel if we actually did have to keep our promise  the day one of us got adopted. I always knew somehow that she would be the first to get adopted, though, because she had little ringlet curls that wrapped around her ears and never got frizzy and they were black as night. She had olive skin  and piercing green eyes. She always spoke the truth and, unlike me, had never gotten in trouble with the Dean, not even once. It was scary just how good she was. actually, she would do jobs for the Dean, running down to the supermarket to buy flour for the cooks. She would always help all the other kids to keep out of trouble too, reminding them to wash their faces, or telling them to brush the back of their hair before they braided it, and other things of the sort. but then somebody else discovered her and her magical features, and her beautiful kindness. They fostered her for a little while, so she was gone for about a month. During that month I had no choice but to wait and anticipate her return like a puppy. and I hate to feel like I hated her, because she was probably the only friend that I had. In fact, she was the only friend that I had, and I couldn't bear to lose her, until she hurt me badly. One day she told me that she was getting adopted. It was a week after she returned from her foster parents. I thought she meant that we were the ones getting adopted, together, like she had promised me.  When I told her this, she said that she was the one getting adopted. She started saying that it was awful selfish of me, saying that I was going with her just because I wanted to get  adopted, but when I reminded her of the promise, she got angry. she was starting to scare me, she got so angry, and when I continued on about everything we said and even how she slept in the same bed as me that night, she smacked me across the face. I refused to see her after that, and my heart was rancid and in pain for nights. she smacked me so hard that my whole mouth was coated in blood from where I bit my tongue, and I had a bruise the shape of her index finger for a week. Also, she hit me on the left side of my face, and so it hurt to close my left eye for more than blinking time, which made sleeping kind of hard. She got a very harsh punishment from the Dean which was that she had to have her hands encased in socks for a week until her new parents arrived. From then on I cried every time I thought about her. I remembered the toy that she got me for Christmas, which was a cloth doll, so the day after she slapped me I ripped it up and drew on its face with a marker. I put it in a bag the day she left, and wrapped it and I sent it away with her to her new family. I made sure that I wrote a note that she had to give her to her new parents first before she opened it. I was overjoyed when I gave it to her, but she didn't apologize, and she in fact started being rude. I think that that was the best, worst day of my life. 

Chapter two

        I Thought I Was Alone

One bright morning after breakfast, I was stuck with the task of sweeping the entryway porch, and beating out the welcome mat to get rid of dust. I decided to sweep the porch first and then take the mat out to the clothesline and use the broom to beat the dust out of it. I swept until I couldn't see any more dirt fly off the edge of the small porch. Then I picked up the mat and walked it to the backyard. I took the broom and beat the mat until I was sweaty. The dust from the mat flew with the wind, squeezing through and going around pretty much anything that happened to cross its path. I watched the dust fly until I heard a small sound coming from under a corrugated metal plane that was left over from construction that we had on the roof from a storm. The noise repeated itself once.

“W-w-who’s there?” I ask, cowering. I drop the broom, which startles the Thing. Then the Thing startles me, then I stare at the Thing, and the Thing stares at me, and at the same time, we drop our heads to opposite sides in the ultiment confusion. The Thing was a pointy-eared cat. It wasn’t scared though. More like curious. I wanted him. I reached out my hand and tried to grasp him by the collar, because that’s how you do it with dogs, but he made a sound that sounded feral. It went like this: “HHHTTCCH!!!” So, like a rabbit (those pretty little animals that Dean refused to let us girls touch), I hopped away.

“No,” I say, “ Hcccchh” to YOU!” And I turn around with a petty little “hmph!” with my nose in the air, like the Dean said to do when the little kids were very rude. But the cat-oh, this little hag- didn’t care!

[bakumu-archive]

a silent question

bakugou x fem!reader

wc: 1.5k

summary: kirishma uses his big brain to figure out why exactly bakugou is being so doting this christmas eve, it can’t be because you're… oh my god, are you?

cw: fluff, parenting, pregnancy, christmas eve traditions, kiri has a partner and children but they are only mentioned in passing (its @eijirosriot lol), and a hug where reader is lifted a little

a/n: this was inspired because I want to have his babies so bad, as many as he wants, i do not care. This also maybe might fit into the ruby red series in the future because this is apart of my self ship story, but it's totally not related to anything happening right now. its just a nice lil one shot. merry christmas, happy holidays, and all that jazz.

this is a part of the @goldenshoyo holiday collab for day 24! christmas eve! check out the masterlist here!

minors do not interact. this work contains mature themes and if you continue reading you have agreed you are willing to see such content

Kirishima sits across from you and Bakugou at his large dinner table, the red walls of the room contrasting beautifully with the Christmas tree decorated in the corner, and the soft holiday music fighting to be heard in the background is the opposite of the screaming children around him.

When your families get together, it always ends up loud like this. Your oldest and Kirishima's oldest are very close in age, and both boys are so excited about everything, they can't help but yell, and today they are shouting about who can finish their dinner first because for some reason they think they get to open their presents the second they finish eating.

Eijiro’s twins aren't helping the situation either; they are trying to tell their older brother that it doesn't matter who finishes first, Christmas Eve presents are opened from youngest to oldest, but their arguments are completely lost in the chaos.

And then there's your and Katsuki's youngest daughter, the princess of the group, or at least she usually is. She is currently crying, refusing to eat her dinner because her older brother told her the rice was made out of bugs.

Yep, just a normal Christmas eve for the Bakugou and Kirishima families.

The tradition started when the boys were born. It was nice to spend the evening together watching the babies wrap their tiny hands around your finger and giggle when they saw each other. Now it's still just as exciting, except there are more of them and they are louder and love to run everywhere.

The only thing missing is Kirishima’s partner who couldn't get the night off, but Eijiro gave them a kiss before they left and told them that he could handle it, and he can. But the yelling is starting to get to him and you as well.

Your eyes are closed and your fingers are rubbing along your brow bone, trying to soothe away a migraine.

Katsuki, who was trying to convince the princess to eat, looks over at your motion and Eijiro can see the fierce look of protection in his eyes.

“Oi! Inside voices. Now,” Bakugou barks at the boys, and they instantly quiet, sensing the unwavering energy radiating off of Katsuki.

Kirishima furrows his eyebrows, watching the way his best friend turns to you and begins rubbing your back in circles. It reminds him of something… but what is it?

There’s a nagging feeling at the back of his mind and he takes another bite of his food before replaying the evening in his head.

His first note of evidence: Bakugou is being too doting on you tonight. Sure, he has always been protective, but when the two of you walked in the door this evening, Katsuki wouldn't even let you take your own shoes off. Nor would he let you help cook dinner or help set the table. And you were only allowed to help serve the plates when you finally put your foot down. Kirishma has only seen Bakugou like this three times in his life: first on your wedding day, and the second and third times when you were pregnant with your kids.

Secondly: you're not drinking any alcohol or eating any fish, which honestly doesn't clue him in to a lot since those don’t always happen when he sees you. Sometimes you just aren't in the mood or you’re driving a drunk Bakugou home, but… it's not nothing, he thinks. Maybe he should test his theory.

“Here,” he says, placing a piece of sushi onto your plate. “You didn't have any yet, right? You can have some of mine.”

Katsuki instantly whips his head around, looking at your plate before glancing at you with wide eyes.

“Thanks Ei,” you say, trying to wave off the death glare that Katsuki is sending you. “But I'm not really feeling sushi tonight.”

Kirishima takes the sushi off your plate, checking off the ‘no fish’ box in his head.

He takes a bite and chews, pondering the rest of the night. The only other weird thing was when Kirishima gave you and Katsuki your Christmas gift before dinner.

It's a trip for two to visit one of the most beautiful hot springs in all of Japan. It should have been the perfect gift; he's even heard both of you mentioning wanting to go there but when he presented the tickets, he was met with silence and worried looks.

An overprotective husband, no alcohol or raw fish, no hot springs— they are essentially hot tubs, right? All of these things usually come with—

“Holy shit,” Eijiro chokes, chopsticks slipping from his fingers and landing on his plate with a clang.

His twins stare up at him like he just committed a cardinal sin. “Dad said a bad word,” one of them chastises before the other joins in with, “That's a dollar to the swear jar.”

Kirishima feels like he's being held at gunpoint with the way both of their palms stretch out expectantly. He reaches in his pocket, fishing out a spare dollar and holding it for them to snatch. “If you're done eating, why don't you go separate the presents, I need to talk to Uncle Katsuki and Aunt Y/N for a second.”

The kids leave the table, and you call after them, “Don't open them or we will return them!”

A chorus of ‘yes’s and squeals is all you receive and you take another drink of your water.

You can hear the kids fussing with the presents in the other room, but they know not to test the rules; one year you did actually take the presents away, if only temporarily.

“So…” Kirishima starts, looking expectantly between the two of you.

Katsuki narrows his eyes at him in response. “So?”

Eijiro’s eyebrows raise and he shakes his head a little, “Are you guys…?”

“Ei, just spit it out,” you laugh, cutting the tension between the two pro heros.

“Areyouguyspregnant?” he blurts out, immediately bowing his head and clashing his hands in front of him, praying that Bakugou doesn't blow up his house.

You look over at Katsuki, and he is already looking at you with a half smile. You raise your eyebrows at him in silent question: should we tell him?

Katsuki’s smile gets bigger, crinkling his eyes as he nods his head towards Kirishima as if saying: go ahead.

You cup Katsuki’s cheek, and he nuzzles into your palm. He's so absolutely smitten with you, especially when you're pregnant. It makes up for how overprotective he gets.

Truly, it is a little too soon to start telling people about it, as you haven't even told either of your families yet, but it's Eijiro. He's your confidant, your partner-in-crime, Katsuki’s best friend, and yours too, if you're being honest.

Katsuki takes your hand in his and rests it on his thigh, giving it a light encouraging squeeze.

“Kirishima Eijiro, how do you always figure these things out?” you sigh with a giggle, “Yes, we’re pregnant—”

He rises from his seat, raising his fists in glory. “I knew it!” he exclaims, running over to your side of the table. He pulls you from your seat and wraps you in a huge hug, lifting you slightly off the ground and swaying back and forth.

Katsuki stands up, putting a hand heated by his quirk on Eijiro’s shoulder and a wicked gleam in his eye, “She just told you she was pregnant and you come over here, yanking her outta her chair, and start swinging her around?”

Kirishima puts you down gently and releases you with a smile before he launches himself at Bakugou.

“You're so right, man! I should have attacked you instead!” Kirishima’s whole body is wrapped around Katsuki’s, clinging on to him like a koala. “I'm so happy for the both of you!”

You can hear the slight waver in his voice like he's about to cry, and you lock eyes with Katsuki. He looks torn between being irritated at his buffoon of a best friend for enveloping him in a heavy-ass hug and the joy of sharing this life-changing news to one of the most important people in his life.

You put a hand on Kirishima's back and lean against Katsuki’s arm in the weirdest group hug you've ever had, but you're so happy right now you feel like you could cry.

Your small moment of bliss is soon interrupted by a large crash followed promptly by the wailing of not one, but two children.

The twins come rushing into the dining room, stopping dead in their tracks when they see the sight of their father clinging on to his best friend. They try to process what they're looking at before one of them speaks up, “You know what—” and the other finishes “—nevermind.”

They slowly back out of the room like they are inching away from a hungry predator and then bolt back towards the commotion.

Kirishima climbed off of Bakugou and gives you one of his shining smiles before he's rushing off after the twins.

You go to follow him when Katsuki grabs your hand and pulls you into him. He kisses your forehead and you feel love bloom across your chest.

“Just think,” he whispers, smiling against your skin. “By this time next year there will be another one.”

[bluegalaxygirl]

Amnesia (KidKiller X Reader) P13

Plot: After an explosion reader wakes up in a hospital with no memory of the past few years, her parents want to take her home so she can recover and get back to a normal life while the Kid pirates want her back on the ship where she belongs.

Warning: Bad language, Medical stuff, family issues and Violence.

Reader is Female, Poly Relationship, established relationship, Kid X Reader X Killer, Reader is a member of the Kid pirates and is in charge of the money, Budgeting and negotiating the best price.

< Previous part …. Next Part >

Kid didn't know what to do after you left, he wanted to follow you and drag you back to bed but the trust you once had with him was now on thin ice, he's scared to make a move in case it cracks altogether, losing you or Killer are the two worst things in his life, he can't imagine going a day without the two of you around. He's snapped out of his thought's by someone walking through the door and coming to a stop, a sense of dread washes over him while managing to get his eyes off the floor to see Killer whose shoulders tighten the longer he looks into the empty room. Looking around the room the red head sighs barely remembering your mother swinging the door open and going after you when you didn't come back in a few minutes leaving the room a mess, The masked man's jaw clenches as his hand tightens around the duffle bag full of your clothes, books and some food he made while scanning the room, his heart beating louder and louder as panic starts to set in. Why is the room empty? Why does Kid look like he's about to cry? Several scenarios of what could have happened rush through his head, did you get hurt? are you dead? Did you decide to leave early and go with your parents? "She's ok" Kid manages to get out seeing the masked man's hands shake in worry and anger, the blondes head snaps in his direction and even with the mask on the captain can sense the glare, he already knows what Killer is wanting to ask but the anger and worry seems to be making it hard for him to talk right now.

Putting his hand into his pocket Kid focuses his gaze back onto the floor looking and feeling like a kicked puppy "She… she lashed out at me and her mother after remembering something, then.. Took off" The captain sates not wanting to deal with his partners outburst that he knows is coming, but he also thinks its earned, if it were him in Killer's shoe's he'd be mad too. "The fuck Kid? You just let her go?" Killer yells dropping the bag letting it thud onto the floor before storming over to the captain and grabbing his coat pulling the two close together, to the masked man's surprise Kid doesn't fight back or get angry instead he stays still letting his partner pull him around and yell in his face "Where is she? Why didn't you at least go after her? She's injured Kid and god knows what these doctors are up too. The Fuck?" The blonde yells his grip on the red feather coat growing tighter causing a few stray feathers to fall off and slowly fall to the floor, Killers hot angry breath forces its way through the holes of his mask hardly able to control the rage that is building up. Kid lets out a gruff breath while clenching his fit at his side getting angry at himself, but he didn't know what else to do, if he did follow you then he would have dragged you back or started another argument making things worse. His anger finally snaps as his hand grabs onto Killers thats still attached to his coat gripping it tightly while taking a step closer his nose pressing into the metal of the blondes mask. "And do what Kill? Drag her back to bed? She doesn't trust me anymore, you should have seen the fucking look in her eyes" The captain yells remembering the look you gave him, full of hate and betrayal, it crushed him making him hurt more than he thought possible.

Killer loosens his grip seeing the clear hurt on his partners face while bringing his other hand up to grip into Kid's wrist just holding it instead of trying to pull his captain off. The small gesture allows Kid to relax a bit and loosen his grip but the hurt is still there making the anger he had before start to be forced away despite him trying hard to get it back. He'd rather feel angry than upset but right now his mind and body aren't letting that happen. "She's never said shit like that to me before, insulted me, compared us to her parents and called herself my toy. She's not a fucking toy" Kid's voice breaks slightly his heart feeling like it's going to be ripped out of his chest at your words alone, he tried for you, tried to stay calm and not fight or kill anyone just for you and yet its not enough to make you trust him, what ever you remembered made that trust disappear and there's nothing he can do about it. Seeing the tears start to form in his partners eyes Killer lets out a sigh while moving his hand from the captain's wrist to his cheek letting his thumb run over the scared skin "I know… we'll find her, talk to her. Ok?" Killer asks tilting his head slightly, a long sigh leaves Kids mouth before he nods and let's go of his partners hand feeling a little better since the masked man isn't going to scold him or yell at him, the blonde lets go of the red coat and reluctantly removes his hand from Kid's cheek before turning and heading back over to the door. Kid glances over to his metal arm thats propped up on the side of the chair, he took it off because his stump was hurting, but he didn't miss the way your mother relaxed around him once it was off which is what prompted him to keep it off. He hated keeping it off but hoped that if she was calmer than maybe another argument wouldn't break out, it didn't work out well but at least he can say he tried.

Picking up the duffle bag the masked man turns to his captain seeing the man slowly pick up his prosthetic and place it back on, the fingers on the metal hand move a little before turning into a tight fist, despite it being back on, which usually make the captain more confident, Kid still looks deflated, it's hard to see his partner like this, but he understands, trust and loyalty is very important to the crew especially Kid. "Come on, tell me exactly what happened" Killer states heading out the room and down the hall with Kid picking up the pace to follow, he tries his best to explain giving details and exact words to the best of his ability knowing Killer likes to have it that way, he's not one for it, he prefers quick and simple explanations but in this case maybe the blonde can pick up on something he didn't. After explaining everything and checking several corridors and empty rooms the two stop at the end of a T like junction at the edge of the building, big windows line the hallways letting the moon light shine through and light up the dark hallway, the only lights that are on are small dim bulbs hanging above paintings lining the walls down the way they came which all have open doors leading to empty rooms. While Kid leans against the windowsills with his arms crossed tightly across his chest, Killer looks down the two long hallways they haven't been down yet.

Panic starts to set in at not finding you, there's no lift up to this floor and your too injured to walk down several flights of stairs so you have to be here somewhere "Where the fuck is she?" Kid growls his foot tapping the floor in frustration and unease, Killer grunts in response feeling a little anxious its a descent sized floor so there is a chance they have just missed you by accident, a thought pops into his head but before he can suggest his plan of splitting up footsteps get his attention. Kid pushes off the windowsill starting to make a run for it down the way they came from soon followed by Killer both hopeful that it's your footsteps, the nurse in charge of your care rounds the corner about to scold who ever it is for running only to almost get knocked down by the two pirates. She lets out a small squeak of terror while holding her arms up hoping to at least soften the blow but the two pirates manage to stop themselves just before crashing into her much to everyone's relief "You seen Y/n? She took off" Killer asks placing a hand on Kids shoulder as the captain start to shakily pant out of anger and hurt, he's already managed to talk himself up in his head, he knows exactly what to say to you and he was about to spill it all only to find it wasn't you but the nurse. Letting out a breath and putting her arms down the nurse looks up at the two giving them a small smile, even though their pirates its clear to see how much they care "She's fine, we had a long chat-"

Killer lets out a sigh of relief knowing your not hurt somewhere or off crying alone, despite that he doesn't care what else the nurse has to say so steps closer towering over her "Where is she?" The masked man asks expecting a straight answer, Melody lets out an annoyed sigh placing a hand on her hip "I can't tell you that" She sates raising her hand to stop Kid from yelling at her, she could already see his fists tighten at his side and the tension on his shoulders knowing he would be the one to yell first "We talked, and we both agree that she needs time away from everyone starting now. No one is allowed to visit tomorrow but you can come back the day after" The nurse explains putting her hand down and letting the two voice their thoughts, she knows they will yell and maybe hit a wall or break something so keeps her arms close to her hoping not to catch any of their physical outbursts, what she fears though is that they will decide to hurt her but for now she pushes that down in order to do her job. "You fucking bitch, just tell us where she is and don't you dare try and quiet me again" Kid yells slamming his metal fist in to the wall beside her head making it crack, he notices her flinch, but she didn't crack and manages to keep her resolve even with the increasing murderous aura starting to ooze out of him "I have said all i needed to say" Her voice is quite trying to hide the slight fear in her voice, Killer's fists tighten by his sides trying to hold himself back but these past few days have been beyond stressful and now this, its starting to get too much the anger inside starting to bubble up becoming unbearable "I want to talk to her, she can tell me herself"

The nurse gulps looking over at the masked man, Kid hitting the wall next to her head was scary but the blondes calm voice mixed with a raging aura makes her fear for her life even making her think of giving in, gripping her shaking hands together she miraculously manages to speak "I-i can not allow that, s-she's only just calmed down and to be honest… her mind is a mess, she's struggling to cope with everything" They growl again but surprisingly let her continue, to be honest their quiet impressed that someone like her can still stand up to them after feeling their powerful aura "She needs rest, she needs time to process everything. So i please ask you to leave and come back the day after tomorrow, a days rest will do her good. Her parents won't be allowed to see her either, I have already seen to that and i told them the same as you" Kid keeps glaring at her while slowly moving his fist away from the wall and down to his side, Killer looks the nurse over as his fists start to loosen, the two look at each other before looking back at the nurse both giving a silent nod. Melody lets out a long breath suddenly feeling very dizzy as the tension and strong aura disappears, one of her hands reaches out to support herself on the wall trying to stop herself from swaying. "Just make sure she's ok and… tell her i'm sorry" Kid looks away while crossing his arms over his chest not wanting to say it to the nurse but it's the next best thing since he can't see you.

Killer hums in agreement glad that the captain pushed his pride aside to say it before holding out the duffle bag, Melody gives the captain a nod and a smile before looking at the large and very packed duffle bag, a part of her wants to give it to you but it might overwhelm you "I'm sorry but i don't think giving that to her right now is a good idea" The nurse looks up at the blonde hoping he'll understand but Killer groans in transfusion shaking his head "Its just clothes, books and food" He states getting a little angry, Melody sighs pushing off the wall now that her balance is back and places her hand on her hip "Her mother said that too but i don't want anything to trigger another memory until she's processed what's already come back, she's got weeks of memories crammed into a couple of days and on top of that they hurt her. I'd like her to rest her mind as well as her body" Even though Killer doesn't like it he silently agrees until he remembers your glasses and how you keep asking for them, setting the duffle bag down the blonde unzips it and rummages through it soon finding your glasses case, it's not anything special just a normal oak case with a few scuffs on it and your usual glasses inside. You had a habit of always picking out the same black frames each time you had to buy a new pair, so he hopes it won't trigger something and you can read on your day of rest. Closing the bag and standing up the masked man holds out the glasses case determined not to take no for an answer on this one, luckily the nurse happily takes it "I'll let her know this came form you. Now if you please, visiting hours have long since been over" Melody smile gesturing in the direction of the stairs.

Your eyes were growing heavy but you refused to sleep until Melody got back, despite the tiredness the alone time allowed you to think on what was said and how your feelings, you thought you knew what love felt like but this was something different, it makes you think if its real or not, maybe your brain is forcing you to feel like this. With a sigh you look over to the window seeing the moon slowly rising its soft light flowing into the room, it does nothing to help you stay awake instead making you feel more tired, luckily before your eyes can flutter closed Melody walks in "Hay, their all gone now, lets get you to be you look exhausted" The nurse gives you a smile as you stand up making your way over to her so the two of you can walk to your room together "I am, thanks though, this means a lot you going out of your way to do all this" You give her a smile back glad that she's willing to help you, letting out a giggle the nurse makes you link your free arm with hers helping to keep you steady on your tired legs "Oh it's no problem, plus my shift is long over so no one can complain" A spark of shock and guilt shoots through your heart at keeping her up longer than needed, sensing your worry Melody gives you a big smile while waving her other hand seeming unbothered by being on the job even after her shift "Don't worry, I'm glad i found you, the night nurse isn't… lets just say, I don't like to speak badly of coworkers." Melody's smile fades at the mention of the night nurse making your skin crawl a little, she can stand up to pirates and your parents but for some reason can't seem to mention her coworker without looking almost fearful.

Getting to your room your glad to see no one is there which means they hopefully listened to the nurse and stayed away at least for tonight, walking over to the bed you sit down feeling your legs throb a bit from all the walking "Now were here i can give you there's, Killer brought them for you and Kid apologizes but i'm sure he'll tell you that later himself" Melody pulls a glasses case out of her pocket and hands it to you earning an almost giddy smile as you quickly take it out of her hands, relief washes over you knowing you'll at least have a pair and don't have to use your contacts to read. "They did bring some other stuff but i advised against giving it to you just yet, i want you to rest and as much as i want you to get your memories back i don't want you in anymore pain. Rest tomorrow, and then we can continue trying to get your memories back and on the road to a full recovery… I'll get you your meds and then let you sleep" The nurse reassures before leaving the room, your grateful for her work and kindness but also kind of sad that she's working when she shouldn't be, you'll have to find a way to properly thank her later. Opening your glasses case you look over the black rimmed glasses, there not your old ones but there not new either, their worn slightly and there's a thin line across the joint which seems to have been expertly fixed, placing them on you grab a book nearby and read the first page glad to see their perfect, you only take them off when Melody comes back and hands you your pills "Good night Y/n, see you in the morning" Melody gives you a smile before heading to the door one last time closing it on her way out, sighing you look over the pills in the white paper cup, the blue ones worry you but you take them anyway not wanting to risk the doctor being right.

[ragingbookdragon]

Make All The Cookies

Batmom x Batfamily One-Shot

Word Count: 1.5K Warnings: Explicit Language

Author's Note: Edited and titled changed! Enjoy! -Thorne

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

The manor was quiet as he walked through it, making his way to the bedroom from the cave. His sons had gone off to bed in the earlier hours after they’d gotten home from patrol, his wife kissing his cheek and going off to bed as well, too tired to deal with whatever he was still working on—Bruce could tell she was overworked by the way she had tiredly told him goodnight and wandered up the stairs, leaning on her eldest sons the entire time.

He rolled his shoulders as he reached the stairs to the second floor, and as he put his foot on the first one, he stilled his movement, the sound of metal clanging together coming from down the hall in the kitchen. He frowned, mind shooting out different scenarios of who could be in the kitchen. One of the boys getting up for a snack? Alfred preparing something for breakfast the night before?

Unsure of which one it was, and he turned, feet carrying him to the breakfast room. The closer he got, the more sounds he could hear, and he wondered what exactly was happening inside. He turned the corner, expecting to see one of his sons raiding the fridge of all the sweets or fruits, but was greeted by the sight of his wife stirring something in a bowl, leaning against the island whilst humming some song she’d heard on the radio.

A small smile graced his lips as he watched her pick up a bag of chocolate chips and pour a handful into her mouth before she tipped the bag and poured them into the bowl. She went back to mixing, still oblivious to him until he stepped inside and up behind her. “What are you doing up so late, sweetheart?”

She spun around with a sharp curse, one hand clutching the bowl to her chest, the other pointing the spatula at him. As she realized who she was staring at, she heaved a sigh, setting down the bowl and tossing the spatula in it. “Jesus Bruce, you scared the shit out of me.”

He grinned and wrapped an arm around her waist, resting his chin on her shoulder. “Sorry (Y/N), wasn’t my intention to.” She hummed at him absentmindedly, pulling the pan towards her and starting the process of rolling the cookie dough. Bruce shifted, wrapping his other arm around her waist, his chest pressed to her back. “You never answered my question.”

(Y/N) rolled a ball of dough between her hands. “Couldn’t sleep.”

“Is something bothering you?” Bruce asked, pressing his lips to her shoulder.

She shrugged, placing the dough on the cookie sheet before grabbing more. “It’s not important dear…just work stuff.”

“If it’s important to you, it’s important to me.” He shifted, nuzzling her neck and quipping, “And if it’s work stuff, it involves Wayne Enterprises…what’s going on?”

(Y/N)’s hands stilled, and after a moment, she leaned back into his chest, her head dropping to rest back against his shoulder. “I’ve got three board meeting before this weekend, I have a meeting about the modeling line on Saturday, I’ve got a meeting with Damian’s teacher about a kid he’s been arguing with all week, and to top it off—”

She pointed at the refrigerator and griped, “Some turd-nugget used the rest of the salted butter and I had to use unsalted for the cookies.” She gestured to the bowl. “You don’t put unsalted butter in cookies! You use salted because it gives more flavor! How am I supposed to make my famous chocolate chip cookies without the correct ingredients?”

Bruce observed her for a moment before shifting an arm, picking up a ball of cookie dough and popping it into his mouth, much to (Y/N)’s irritation. He chewed and swallowed, then shrugged. “Tastes fine to me. Can’t even tell the difference.”

(Y/N) narrowed her eyes at him and picked up the spatula, pointing in his direction. “You do that again and I’m gonna smack the shit out of your hand, clear?”

Bruce smiled at her and wrapped his arm back around her waist. “So, why don’t you just let Lucius handle the board meetings sweetheart?”

She scoffed, hands rolling another ball. “And dump more work onto him than he already handles? No, I need to do my part too.” She jutted her chin out to a glass across the island. “Hand me my water, please.” Bruce obliged, picking her water glass up and handing it to her; she took a sip before setting it down and telling him, “Wash you hands and help me roll the rest of these cookies, please.” He nodded, moving to the sink and rinsing his hands before walking back over.

They worked in silence, and before they knew it, (Y/N) was popping the cookie pan in the oven and setting the timer. They rested against the kitchen island, (Y/N) resting her head on his arm. She watched the oven for a moment, then sighed, “I can’t believe my immediate reaction to stress is to bake cookies.”

Bruce snorted at her. “At least you don’t stress clean like Jason does.” (Y/N) nodded in agreement, shifting and burying her face in his chest, feeling his arms rest across her back. Bruce leaned down, lips brushing just beside her ear. “You don’t have to take on the world, sweetheart…it’s okay to take a moment for yourself.”

She nodded against his chest, turning her head so that she could see him. “I don’t really want to do the meetings this week.”

“Then call Lucius and ask him to cover for you, and I’ll handle the modeling agency and Damian’s teacher…sound good?”

(Y/N) nodded, closing her eyes and breathing deeply. “What about my cookies?”

Bruce chuckled lowly. “I’m afraid that ship’s already sailed, sweetheart.” Before she could respond, the timer beeped and Bruce said, “Speaking of ship, looks like it’s found a harbor.”

(Y/N) rolled her eyes, pulling away and putting on an oven-mitt, opening the oven and pulling out the pan. She set it on a trivet and pulled the mitt off, tossing it aside and moving back into Bruce’s arms. “I need to make more cookies…I’m still stressed.”

Bruce hummed, reaching up and massaging her shoulders. “How about we stress eat these cookies you just baked?” He tipped his head back and asked, “Does that sound like a better idea?”

Whatever response she had was cut off as four boys stumbled into the kitchen. “We smell cookies.”

Bruce and (Y/N) looked over to see Dick and Jason standing there, Tim and Damian wrapped around their backs; (Y/N) huffed a laugh at the sight. “They just came out of the oven, so they’re still hot.”

Jason stepped forward, leaning over and plucking one from the pan and holding it up. “Hot or not, they’re cookies…we’ll take ‘em.” He waved the cookie. “Oi, Timberly.” He glanced back and sighed, shaking his shoulders. “Timmy, wake up, I’ve got a cookie for you.”

Tim stuck out a hand, sleepily responding, “Gimme.” Jason handed it to him, and he held it, head dropping back against his shoulder. Dick laughed and picked two up, handing one to Damian, keeping the other for himself. The two parents watched their sons descend on the freshly baked cookies, smiles on their faces.

Jason looked up from his and said, “These are good, mom.”

The others, save Tim who’d fallen back asleep, nodded, and (Y/N) smiled at them. “Thank you, baby.”

Footsteps came from down the hallway, and they all turned to see Alfred stepping in the kitchen. He gestured to the kitchen and the family eating cookies. “What on earth has happened to my kitchen! And are you eating before breakfast!”

No one said a word, too afraid to until (Y/N) stepped forward, pointing at the others. “Alfred, I woke up and came in here and they were eating cookies. I told them that you would be angry if you came in here, but they didn’t listen.” The others gave shouts.

“What?!”

“That’s not true!”

“You’re the one who made the cookies, (Y/N).”

She turned to her husband, a smirk on her face. “No, I’m not. I only use salted butter in my cookies.” (Y/N) plucked the empty butter box from the counter. “Whoever made these, used unsalted butter.” Bruce’s face morphed in shock and she turned back to Alfred. “I think it’s safe to say that you can handle their punishments, Alfie?”

He nodded, crossing his arms across his chest. “Of course, Missus Wayne.” He glared at the others. “I can certainly handle it.”

(Y/N) smiled as she grabbed one of the cookies, pressing her lips to Bruce’s cheek and whispering, “Thank you for handling my affairs, husband. You’re such a dear.”

He glared as she pulled away and hissed, “And you’re a witch. A temptress of a witch whom I love, but a witch nonetheless.”

(Y/N) winked as she backed out of the kitchen. “Goodnight boys! Have fun cleaning up the kitchen!”

[collecting-stories]

First Kiss - Carl Grimes

Request: Hi so I’ve seen you take requests for TWD, so I was wondering if you can do Carl x reader. I was thinking you can do something that takes place in season 8 where the reader and Carl are talking about the war and the reader is all worried that Carl will die because he’s her best friend and the only one she has left, so maybe ti reassure her Carl kisses her and confesses that he loves her and maybe they become a couple, I thought it would be cute

The Walking Dead Masterlist

✰ ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰

There were a lot of things to know about Carl. He was headstrong, unbreakable in his loyalty to people he deemed family, constantly searching for his dad’s favor, and, most of all, really damn lucky. You’d met Carl the only real way to meet a person in a post-apocalyptic world, when he opened a shipping container and saved you from becoming another person’s dinner. Rick had told you, even as you stood there in the middle of the woods, shivering and bloody and caked in mud, that you would have to pull your own weight if you wanted to stay. 

“Don’t worry,” Carl had reassured you in a whisper as his dad walked away, “you’ll be fine.” 

In the months that followed Carl hadn’t only become your best friend but also your buffer to the outside world. If Alexandria had put a wall up around itself to block out the ugly parts of life than so had you, though yours just happened to be Carl Grimes. 

Sometimes though, you wished you could be that same wall of protection for him. At least long enough to prevent him from doing something stupid. “Everyone’s luck runs out eventually Carl, all it takes is one stray bullet or walker you weren’t expecting and bam!” You clapped your hands together with finality, “you’re dinner.” 

“I have to do something,” he stressed. 

Negan had incited something in Carl that was very different from his father’s exhausted submission. He didn’t want to bid time and when the war seemed to reach a crescendo, he was itching to get involved. Rick told him to stand down more times than you could count, trying desperately to give his son any kind of responsibility that would keep him alive but Carl had played with fire before and you were beginning to realize that he had an uncanny way of coming out unscathed. 

The eye was hard to miss but you’d seen the scar on his stomach from being shot too. The scars from the group they’d run into after their prison stronghold had fallen. You’d watched more times than you could count as Carl seemed to escape bad situations unscathed. 

“Stay here.” It seemed like the simplest option. He could stay here with you while you helped keep Aexandria standing and made sure nothing bad happened to Judith. “If everyone goes off to fight and no one stays…who protects the community?” 

“You’ll be here, you know how to shoot.” Carl reasoned, as if your months of practice with a gun had made you an expert. 

You had your own fair share of luck too. You’d made it this far after all, almost entirely alone. Both of your parents had died in the beginning, when reports were just coming in about people getting infected. They’d been some of the first. You’d bounced around communities after that, finding places that had kids that you could blend into…this new world demanded quick thinking and uncanny survival skills. 

“I’m one person Carl! Your dad put you in charge-“ 

“My dad doesn’t know what he’s doing!” Carl snapped, the mention of Rick always managing to put him on edge. 

He loved his dad, emulated him to a sometimes terrifying degree, but you knew better than anyone that adoration turned to anger and disappointment. When Rick didn’t live up to the unmeetable standards that Carl set for him in his mind, it only led to a further splinter in their relationship.  

“No one knows what they're doing,” you argued, “we’ve never been put in this sort of position before...I mean, Negan is-” you trailed off. You’d heard stories of the group before they reached Terminus, and while that community had been terrifying, there was something more to Negan that scared you.  

“He’s just a person.”

“So then stay here and trust that your dad is making good decisions.” You replied.  

“I can’t.” He moved toward the door like he was planning on leaving, ending the conversation there in the middle of the argument with no resolution. Before he could reach the door, he turned back around, “I don’t wanna fight about this with you every day.”

“I don’t wanna fight with you either Carl...you’re my best friend. I just want you to be safe and not get yourself killed doing something stupid.” You admitted. You didn’t know what you expected to happen, you just wanted Carl to come back to you and to Alexandria every night. You’d seen enough death in the time since the world fell apart, you didn’t want to lose Carl too.  

“You’re mine too...” Carl said, taking his hat off and setting it down on the table. He came over to you and placed his hands on your upper arms a bit awkwardly. Being in an apocalypse didn’t exactly lend a lot of time for flirting or even dating and traveling with a group of people so much older than him hadn’t given Carl too many moments to be with someone. But he tried to act instinctively, leaning forward and placing a rather awkward but delicate kiss on your lips before pulling away. “More than that. I love you and I need you to be safe, I need to know that I did everything possible to make sure that nothing happens to you.”

“Carl-”

“I mean it. I love you.” He repeated, “you’re more than just my best friend. Ever since Terminus...it’s like, I just want to be around you and knowing you’re okay, that’s all I care about.”

You nodded, taking the chance to talk once he’d stopped, “I feel the same way...I love you too.” You confessed, smiling at him.  

The war was certainly far from over, as was the discussion about him fighting, but at least he had told you how he felt and knowing you felt the same made him happier than he’d been in a long time.  

[jimblejamblewritings]

little situation | part 31.

Summary: For years, HYDRA had been trying to use the samples of Steve’s DNA to make another super-soldier. They finally succeed and when S.H.I.E.L.D. breaks her out, Cap is forced to come face to face with his kid and figure out parenting on an Avengers’ lifestyle.

Warnings: maybe potential childhood trauma but nothing really

Pairing: Steve Rogers x blackdaughter!reader, avengers x child!reader, peter parker x black!reader

Word Count: 2.7k

Previous Part | (Series Masterlist)

The paint on the star had chipped away completely over the years. He had become a nomad, feeling like he didn’t have much to live for. Not when he lost his second chance, a chance he shouldn’t have even gotten and Steve was sure there wouldn’t be a third. If you asked the old Avengers where Steve Wilson-Rogers— he couldn’t bring himself to drop the Wilson in his name— was, they wouldn’t know. They stopped knowing Steve’s location by the middle of the first year. His social media went dead, most of theirs did. They didn’t call him, he called them. Once every two or three months. A single voicemail sent to everyone to know he was alive and doing as well as he could.

He didn’t really go by Steve either. On the off chance one of the Avengers managed to actually pick up Steve’s call before he got it to voicemail, they didn’t address him by anything other than Cap. He wasn’t Captain America anymore, he had left the shield with Tony. But he also wasn’t Steve— that was a name that belonged to his family. So he became Cap, staying in ratty motels around the world and helping people from the shadows but never staying for long and never being seen by many people.

The only time anyone truly knew it was Cap was the tattoo artist in Berlin. The man was starstruck but didn’t say anything, the world— the half that still existed— had learned what he had gone through. So the artist worked on Steve in absolute silence: the outline of a large star on his left bicep and two more around it. There was also a secret, smaller tattoo. Another star in the same shade of pink as your suit behind his right ear. When it was done, Steve paid the man and walked out to never be seen in that part of Berlin again.

Natasha and Rhodey got the most contact with him. After finishing a job he would send them a text of where they could pick up the bad guys he had tied up for them. There was always a hope that they might see Steve when they went to retrieve the people but he never showed. It went like that until the third year when he broke. He couldn’t keep punching through his grief and eventually it all made him numb. So Steve went back to New York, back to his old home in Brooklyn.

Nothing was there, everything still in the apartment at the compound. And nothing was really added the longer Steve stayed. He became a grief counselor. He wasn’t sure if it was because he hoped that helping other people process their grief would eventually help him or if it was because being a counselor was Sam’s old job and it felt like being close to him. He told everyone they had to move on, learn to process but it wasn’t easy for him so how could he expect others to do it.

He finally found himself slowly getting through it by the fifth year. And Steve thought he might be able to stop running now. So he got on his motorcycle after his latest counseling session and started to drive. The compound still looked the same. That was nice, at least one thing was still the same. Steve entered just as Nat was throwing a dry sandwich back onto her plate.

“I’d offer to make you dinner but that would be more depressing,” Steve joked, it didn’t come out as light as he used to.

Nat smiled a little just seeing his face. “You here for free laundry?”

“And to see a friend.”

“Clearly, your friend is fine.”

“You know, I saw a pod of whales coming over the bridge,” Steve said.

“In the Hudson?”

“Fewer ships, cleaner water—”

“If you’re about to tell me to look on the bright side, I’ll throw this sandwich at you.”

Steve laughed before taking a seat at the table. He apologized, the speech was a force of habit from being a counselor. Even he didn’t really believe it. Steve was surprised that Nat was still in the business of being an Avenger. But her will was a little more than his. Although based on the woman in front of him, Steve suspected she would leave soon as well.

They engaged in small talk, Nat being very careful not to say anything that might have remotely related to you. It was awkward and hard but something both of them appreciated. Just being with each other. Old friends, two of the original Avengers. A notification popped up on the hologram and Nat swiped it without really paying attention.

“Hi! Hello? Is anyone home?” a voice called out over the intercom. “This is Scott Lang. We met a few years ago at the airport!”

The two of them turned towards the hologram screen. They weren’t actually seeing Ant-man. They couldn’t be seeing Scott, it was impossible. He was someone who they had on the list of Avengers that got snapped. But here he was on the screen, standing on the front door. Natasha quickly pressed the button to let Scott in. He paced back and forth in attempts to collect his thoughts.

“Have you two ever studied quantum physics?” Scott asked.

“Only enough to make conversation,” Nat said.

“That’ll do. Right, five years ago, before… Thanos, I was in a place called the quantum realm. It’s like its own microscopic universe. Hope she was my… she was supposed to pull me out but then Thanos and I got stuck there.”

“I’m sorry,” Nat said. “That must have been a long five years.”

“But that’s the thing. It wasn’t five years, for me it was five hours… Time works differently in the quantum realm, we don’t know how to navigate right now but what if we did? I haven’t been able to stop thinking about that. What if there was a way we could enter the quantum realm at a certain point and time and exit at another? Like before Thanos.”

Steve and Nat looked at each other. Steve didn’t want to start giving himself hope again. But Scott seemed so sure, like he knew what he was talking about.

“You’re suggesting a time machine?” Steve asked.

“Um, yeah. A time machine.” Scott scratched the back of his head. “Never mind. It’s crazy.”

“Scott, I get emails from a raccoon. Nothing’s crazy anymore,” Nat said.

“So who do we talk to about this?”

The car slowly rolled to a stop in front of Tony’s fancy cabin. Tony, who was carrying his kid Morgan, watched it stop and Steve step out followed by Nat and Scott. Tony set Morgan down and told her to go inside as the others approached the porch of the house. He looked at the serious faces of the three adults in front of him. Tony came back out with four glasses and started pouring water as Scott talked.

“Now we know what it sounds like. But after everything you’ve seen is anything really impossible?”

“You guys are talking about messing with the Planck scale, triggering Deutsch Proposition. You do this… you’re not coming home.”

“But I did.”

“No, Scott. You accidentally survived. That’s different. Billion-to-one cosmic fluke. I’ve got a good thing going here. If there’s no logical way for me to safely execute said time heist, I’m not doing it.”

Morgan came outside. “Mommy told me to come save you.”

“She did? Thank you sweetheart.”

Tony noticed from the corner of his eye how Nat and Scott turned their faces to look at Steve who seemed to tense up after watching the whole interaction. The glass in his hand dropped and Steve looked down as if he was suddenly aware of where he was.

“Sorry,” he mumbled as he bent down to pick up the glass and put it back on the tray.

“Cap, I’m sorry but it—”

“It’s fine, Tony.” Steve looked around and his eyes briefly landed on Morgan. “I’ll be in the car when you guys are, uh, done.”

Steve walked off before Nat could grab him. They all watched him get into the car. Tony walked inside with Morgan, leaving Nat and Scott to stay on the porch.

“What are we going to do now? We need him, we can’t stop,” Scott said.

“We’ll need a bigger brain.”

Tony was on dishwashing duty for the night— he and Pepper liked to switch off chore duty. The water on the nozzle sprayed out. Tony scrambled to turn it off and grabbed a dry dish towel to dry down the area that had gotten sprayed including the shelves. As he dried the shelf he picked up the picture frame that had gotten sprayed. Tony swiped over it with the dish towel once before pausing.

It was the picture of you, him, and Peter playing chess in the lab. He and Pepper had put the picture up when they first moved in. There was also another picture of you and Peter in the house: It was two days before fighting Thanos, Halloween. You and Peter were going to a house party, both of you surprisingly excited for it. Naturally a cheesy couple’s costume was necessary and of course it was going to be Tinkerbell and Peter Pan. You two wore goofy smiles on your face because Tony had something silly right before he took the picture, wanting a more natural smile.

Morgan had asked when she first saw and was old enough to talk causing them to have to explain. Not that the little girl really understood and just thought you guys were on a trip that’s been lasting for five years. Tony set down the picture back in its spot. He told himself he was going to bed but ended up in his home study instead asking FRIDAY to pull up some simulations.

~~

Testing time travel was something Steve never thought he’d be doing. As far as he was concerned, waking up years into the future was time travel enough. He stood next to Bruce as he started up the machine. You used to love hanging out with Tony and Bruce in the lab, that was all Steve could think about. Sometimes he’d find you up way too late on a school night with the two of them working on whatever you were working on. He’d mention the time only for Tony to interrupt saying they had just one more thing. You would beg for five more minutes that would turn into an hour with Bruce promising he would get you upstairs as soon as possible.

This would’ve been something you wanted to watch, you would probably be helping Bruce if you were there. Steve watched as each test run brought back Scott but not normal adult Scott. He was old, and then a baby, and then a teenager, and then old again.

“Bruce! Bring him back,” Nat practically yelled.

“I’m trying.”

Twice more as a baby and finally adult Scott was in front of them. Visibly shaken at ageing so much in such a short amount of time. Steve rolled his eyes and walked outside while Bruce was celebrating what he considered “a minor victory”. It wasn’t working. Well it was, but not in the way they needed. Steve played with his wedding ring.

“I’m sorry guys,” he said to himself.

The alarm on his phone rang and Steve pulled it out to turn it off. His home screen was still the same picture of the four of you. Steve unlocked his phone to turn off the alert that read, Sarah’s Birthday. He shouldn’t do it because it only made grieving worse but every year Steve opened his photos to the video Sam took on your last birthday. This year was no different as he pressed play for the video to start:

The compound was littered in balloons and confetti as you sat on the couch after school in the apartment. You were in pajamas and pretty tired but still had your birthday girl sash on and crown. Bucky and Clint passed behind the couch briefly to hand you, Nat, and Steve large mugs before disappearing from the frame, although their sounds of laughter showed they were still in the room.

“You’re such a pushover, babe,” Sam’s voice came from behind the camera.

“I think Dheaidí looks perfect,” you laughed, taking a sip of your drink.

Your only request for your birthday was that everyone had a self-care day with you. They agreed but only Nat and Steve did every single part of the routine which included hair steaming and acrylics.

“You know she just likes messing with you, punk?” Bucky’s voice was off screen.

“I have years to make up for Uncle Jamie, don’t ruin it.”

“Yeah, Barnes don’t run it,” Nat joked. “When are we ever gonna see Steve like this again?”

“My bad.”

Sam’s voice was loud since he was the one filming. “Happy Birthday, sweetheart… Steve say something to your child.”

“You just want to see the nails.” He rolled his eyes.

“Oh I’m saving this memory, we’re not letting this disappear on us.”

Steve sighed and set his drink down and so did you.

Happy Birthday, Sarah. I hope this day was everything for you. I love you, doll. Steve signed as the nails clicked.

You gave him the biggest smile Steve had seen to date. You looked past Steve when Clint called your name.

“Favorite present you’ve gotten?”

“Being back this year. Dheaidí,” you answered with no hesitation.

“Really?”

“No. The bracelet you and Aunty Laura got me.”

You giggled and turned back to Steve. Sam had almost missed this part of the video because he and everyone else was laughing. You were looking at Steve.

You’ll always be the best present since I was twelve. Thank you for always being there for me, Dheaidí. My favorite person in the world… you’re tied with mom.

Well, I don’t think anyone could ever beat your mother.

The video cut off after you gave Steve a hug and he kissed your temple. The video always made Steve smile. There weren’t lots of private, candid moments of you two caught on camera. Especially since the first few years, Steve didn’t really think about it. He sighed and put the phone.

“Happy Birthday, Babydoll,” he said to no one in particular as he looked at the sky.

A car entered the compound and abruptly stopped in front of him. Tony rolled down the window.

“Let me guess, he turned into a baby.”

“Among other things.”

“EPR Paradox,” Tony said as he stepped out of the car. “Instead of pushing Lang through time, you could push time through him. Tricky, dangerous. Someone could’ve warned you against it.”

“Okay, Tony you did. We get it. So you just want us to give up?”

Tony just looked at him.

“What?”

“Here, fully functioning time-space GPS. Should fix the problem.”

“Tony…”

“Wait. So we get the stones, okay. But I have priorities. I have to keep what I have at all costs. We don’t change right now, we just bring them back. And maybe not die trying.”

Steve nodded in understanding like Tony knew he would. If anyone was on the same page as Tony when it came to family, it was obviously Steve. And he wouldn’t ruin Tony’s now. Tony walked to the trunk of his car and pulled out Steve’s shield.

“Had to wrestle Morgan for it, she’s been using it as a sled.”

“More use than I would’ve given it,” Steve gave a dry chuckle as he took the shield back.

(Part 32)...

[talesofstyles]

Drs Styles

paediatric heart surgeon harry, husband harry and dad harry. honestly the holy trinity.

warning: they did it in the car. bloody animals.

Harry

“Move your car, please!”

“What are you going to do? Write me a ticket?”

“This is in the interests of safety for the children!”

I look at the time in the car. I’ve still got about twenty to twenty-five minutes to watch this drama unfold at the school gate. I just wish we had popcorn because drop-off and parking situations at the school gates are always more entertaining than Good Morning Britain. 

The school gate is a strange social scene, and honestly, I don’t blame my wife for trying to avoid it like a plague. Sometimes, you don’t even have to talk to these people to know everything about their lives and more. I swear there are more gossips in the class WhatsApp group and daily playground chattering than in the copies of The Sun and Daily Mail combined. You know who’s married, who’s getting a divorce, whose husband shagged the au pair again, whose party you haven’t been invited to, even who’s looking for a builder. 

I see the school caretaker chuckling to himself as he sweeps the autumn leaves off the pathway, no doubt also enjoying our morning entertainment. 

“Why is Mrs Chambers screaming like that?” Alma, our eldest daughter, asks from the back of the car. 

“Because that man parks his car in a drop-off zone,” I reply, still watching him as he removes a child from his car seat. “Do you know who that is?”

“I think the boy is your classmate,” Alma turns to her sister.

Fiona, our youngest, peers over to inspect. “Oh yeah, that’s Rufus and his dad.”

“Do we like Rufus?”

“Not unless we like boys who pee down the slides,” Fiona scrunches her nose up. “He stood at the top and peed down like a waterfall. I haven’t gone down the slide ever since.”

I shake my head and let out a chuckle. “M’sure they’ve cleaned it up since, button.” 

Did you know that choosing a school for your child after nursery can be a head-throbbing, stomach-twisting, heart-pounding experience? Well, it can. How is one supposed to choose a school anyway? According to the proximity? Leavers Results? Adorable uniforms? Parents’ agendas?

After many, many discussions and visits through more schools than I can count, we ended up with Thomas’s Kensington. It’s a great school, and only ten minutes away from our home, making school runs easier. The downside of this school is the fact that it costs us an arm and a leg and that they’re always trying to rip us off any chance they get. Also, they only take the kids until 11, so after that, we’ll have to look for other schools again. But since our girls are only seven and five, we can worry about that later. 

There’s a strange mix of parents at this place. I went to school up in the North and the school gate scene is nothing like this. Here there are more au pairs, fancy cars, nicer clothes and people coming with impressive tans from their last weekend break in Antibes. The kids here are suited up too: the PE kit is the size of a small weekender bag, and we put them in uniforms that make them look smart, hoping that will increase the size of their brains. A child walks past our car with a cello case, another with a hockey stick. It’s a different land here. One that my socialist in-laws constantly tease us about and one which my mum was hysterical about because she was scared her grandbabies would be little Tories. I promised her I’d keep them grounded by only giving them plain hobnobs. None of those luxury chocolate covered ones.

Jokes aside, my girls are happy here. They’re thriving. They learn French and Spanish and Mandarin, even if they share a class with kids who have ridiculous names like Kitty and Archibald. 

A knock at my window calls me to attention. I wind it down.

“Are you Fiona’s dad?” A mum asks me.

“I am.”

“It’s about Ophelia’s riding party this Saturday at the riding stables.” 

Like I said, it’s a different land here.

“I thought we RSVPed to that?” I look at her in confusion.

“Yes, you did, but we have to change the food options as one of the partygoers is allergic to nuts. I’m making everyone aware and we need to let the guests know that they can’t bring any nuts on the day.”

A dirty joke is right there on the tip of my tongue and I’m trying my hardest to keep it in. My wife would definitely find it funny though, I’ve got to remember this and tell her later. 

“Noted,” I mean, I wasn’t going to send my daughter to a party with a packet of cashews anyway but I nod politely.

“And just gift vouchers for gifts please. Smiggle, if you can.”

Again, I nod, biting my tongue at the presumptuousness. But then I suddenly panic, because we haven’t entered the realms of pony riding just yet. Do I have to buy jods and boots? If I don’t, will my daughter be the odd one out? But Ophelia’s mum saunters off before I’ve got the chance to ask.

“Do I have to go to that party, daddy?” Fiona asks. 

“Well, we’ve already replied, poppet,” I tell her. “Did you not want to go?”

“I’ll go if I have to.”

I don’t answer because I get distracted by a vacant space. I edge the car forward so my girls can hop off. 

“I love you both. Have a good day, make good choices.” 

“Bye daddy! We’ll see you after work!”

***

Evelina London Children’s Hospital is our second home. Of course, as a children’s hospital, we try to make the place as fun as possible as not to freak those little patients out at being ill. It is bright and primary coloured, and each ward is decorated according to its own theme with different colours and lovely artworks. There are televisions and toys almost in every corner. We have a giant slide on the ground floor, and even the bins are shaped like red London buses. The aim was to help the children to forget that they’re in a hospital and take their minds off their sickness.

Since my wife and I are in the same department, our offices are next to each other, both overlooking the Thames. It’s nice up here. Would’ve been nicer if we could sneak in a quickie, but that’s practically impossible with our shared secretary’s desk sitting literally in front of our doors. 

Speak of the devil.

“Good morning. Here’s your tea,” my secretary follows me into my office with a cup of tea and a tiny plate with a couple of rich tea fingers. “Clinic until 3 pm, scheduled PDA ligation in the laboratory for 4 pm and then evening rounds on the wards.”

“Mornin’ Rhonda, you look lovely today,” I greet her cheerily. She’s a stern-looking woman who definitely likes her tea as strong as tits and who has probably never cried in her life. With such severity, she runs a tight ship, but she secretly has this affectionate side in her too. Not only is she a great secretary, but she also takes care of us in a way as a grandma does. She makes us tea, feeds us in between surgeries with biscuits or nice baby cheeses and crackers just so we wouldn’t starve. 

See that sofa over there in the corner of my office? Rhonda got me that. It was around the time when I had just become a new father with the sweetest, most gorgeous little baby who did not sleep. Alma wasn’t a fussy baby though. For some reason, she just wouldn’t go back to sleep after her midnight feed for months. Believe me, I tried everything. I changed her nappy, I swayed and jiggled and rocked and sung her to sleep. Odd nonsensical songs like, ‘Alma darling go to sleeep. Sleepy sleep sleep. Pleeeeease. I’m so tirrrred. My eyeballs may actually exploooode. I don’t want you to see thaaat.’ And she would just look at me all wide-eyed like I’d lost the plot. Those were song lyrics? That was rubbish. Please don’t give up your day job. Also, it’s not sleeping time. I’m awake. I’m ready for life. Come on, entertain me, old man. Isn’t this nice, just you and me? Tell me everything you know. EVERYTHING. 

Except of course she didn’t say all that. She would just stare at me and I had no idea what was going on in her little head. 

I took over my wife’s patients at the hospital during her maternity leave, so I had longer hours at the hospital. One day Rhonda found me napping on the floor between surgeries, so she sweet-talked some porters into looking for any old sofas on the go and paid to have this one reupholstered. She even bought me a fleece throw for it too. We really don’t deserve her.

“You hittin’ on me?” She deadpans. “Yer wife not doing it for you these days?”

“It’s the blazer. I’m a sucker for a blazer.”

“If I’d known, I would’ve worn it more often,” she replies. “Did my nice dress yesterday not give you the fanny flutters?”

“It’s schlong shiver for me,” I roar with laughter. “And it’s the tartan, makes you look well old.”

“YN, yer husband’s a bloody git, did I ever tell you that?” Rhonda says loud enough for my wife to hear, and I can hear my wife’s laughter from her office next door. “Drink your tea. Your first clinic appointment is in twenty.”

“Yes ma’am,” I salute her. 

***

The Arctic ward in the Evelina is home to many of our imaging, heart and kidney services. The name is probably giving it away, but everything is decorated in blue and white to go with the theme. We have several zones, and since paediatric cardiology clinics are held in the Walrus zone, I spend a great deal of time each day looking at walrus and snowflake decals. 

“Doctor Styles!” I hear a little voice shouts in excitement as I walk towards the waiting room in the outpatient ward. I smile, because I recognise that voice even before I see the little person.

The waiting room is very open here compared to other hospitals. There’s a sea of noise, snacks, tiny juice boxes and colouring pages. There’s also always a look of expectation, judgement on the faces of parents and guardians every time I walk in. They want to see if their doctor is old or qualified enough to see their children. There’s always one child who has the whole gang with them; parents, two sets of grandparents and even several aunts and uncles, and there’s also at least one child running around in circles out of boredom. 

This little lad bounces off his chair and hurls himself at me in a way like a little puppy would when its owner comes home from work. I put an arm out, hoping that he’ll apply the brakes but no such luck and he bundles himself into my arms. “Nice to see you, mate.”

His parents smile as they watch their son’s antics, who then runs off as I shake their hands. I turn around to see what caught his attention, and I can’t help but chuckle when I realise it’s my wife. 

“Doctor pretty Styles!” He exclaims excitedly as he bundles himself into her arms. She gets a mouthful of curls in the process. 

“Hi Rory,” she greets him as she runs her fingers through his curly mop. 

“Oi,” I pout as I walk towards them. “You don’t think I’m pretty?”

“Your wife is prettier,” he says with a shrug, his tone matter-of-fact.

She laughs and gives him a high-five. “Rory, you are officially my favourite patient.”

She is right. Rory is one of our special patients for sure. We’ve both known him for about six years now, ever since Rory’s mum gave birth to this tiny human next door at St Thomas and his heart was literally broken. I remember watching proudly from the theatre when my wife replaced two of his valves when he was born. It was in our early years of training. Long time patients like Rory almost always feel like family. We’ve seen all their parents’ tears and watched over their children throughout the years. They send us cards and wine every Christmas and despite all attempts to keep a professional distance, their kids do feel like our own.

Rory shrugs off his dinosaur rucksack and unzips it, pulling out a drawing of a blue whale and an opened packet of KitKat. I like that the whale wears a top hat and appears to also don a moustache. 

“I drew you both a picture. Only one though, because I figure you can share,” he says with a big toothy grin and hands the packet of KitKat to my wife. “And I’ve got half a KitKat here. Do you want it?”

“I’m good for now. Keep that KitKat for later on the tube,” she smiles and waves at Rory as she begins to walk away towards the fetal cardiology ward just down the hall. “Bye Rory, thanks for the picture.”

“Bye doctor pretty Styles,” Rory replies, making my wife laugh as she walks away. I give her a wave and a wink. 

“Hey Rory, did you know a blue whale has a heart the size of a small car?” I ask him and his eyes widen.

“No way! That’s mega!” He exclaims. “Do you think you could operate on a whale heart?”

“I would need a very big ladder,” I tell him. “And a wetsuit. I’d give it a go though.”

A senior nurse from the outpatient ward, Florence approaches us with a junior nurse trailing behind her. “Dr Styles, always a pleasure.”

I smile at her. “Florence. How are we today?”

“Busy as usual,” she replies. “We’re about twenty minutes behind I’m afraid. We had Dr Goodridge in this morning and you know he likes to talk.”

“He always runs over,” I chuckle. “Well, don’t worry. I’ll skip lunch and get us back up to speed.”

“I’ll make sure to send some snacks for you. Here’s your chart, your files are already in your office. And this is Alice, your nurse today. She’s newly qualified so might need some instructions.”

The new nurse looks terrified so I smile at her to try and calm her fears. I totally get that. When you work in medicine, unfortunately, you’ll realise that there are a lot of rude self-important wankers. 

I look down at my chart and find Rory’s name on the top of the list. “Well, look who’s coming with me to the exam room.”

Rory reaches out to hold my hand and we walk towards the examination room. His parents follow us closely, carrying the usual coats and devices that people do when they know they’re bound for a hospital waiting room. I see them inside and sit behind the desk.

“So, young man, I hear we’ve had a touch of drama with you. Can you tell me what happened?”

I’ve actually already got the information in the file, but I like the way this kid tells a story. He reminds me of my youngest. 

“So… I was at school and we were doing PE and I wasn’t really feeling it because it was cold and really we should have been inside but Mr Witter makes us go outside because he used to be in the Army apparently and he says we should get used to the cold but that’s what they do in prisons.”

I smile. “Go on.”

“And then my heart started running.”

“You mean racing?”

He nods firmly. Racing isn’t even the word. It sprinted to the finish like Bolt at 252 beats per minute, three times the speed it should.

“It felt like bubbles in my chest and then the school went crazy panicky and they called the ambulance and they brought me to the hospital but not this one, it was another one and it wasn’t as good because you weren’t there and they had really bad biscuit.”

His mum adds. “And they gave him some drugs to bring it back to a steady rhythm; they were close to shocking him.” Her voice trails off and both parents’ faces look drawn and pale remembering the incident.

Rory looks absolutely unbothered by this. To be fair, we have put this little man through everything. We’ve cut his chest open more times than is necessary for someone so small, we hook him up to machines and put him on treadmills. His resilience and character amaze me, and I really can’t imagine what it feels like to see your child so vulnerable and helpless, to be paralysed and weighed down with such worry.

“Alright then, little man, we need to make sure that your heart is working as it should. This is Alice, and she is going to take you over for an ECG and we just need to make sure your tick-tock is in good shape.”

Rory nods and jumps off the chair. His dad offers him a piggyback, and his mum smiles at them. I can hear Rory offering that half KitKat to Alice as they leave the room. 

His mother turns to me as the door is closed, her shoulders relaxing, allowing herself to breathe. “And how are you?” I ask her.

“You just think it’s done and then something like that comes along to scare you,” she says with a sigh.

“Let’s have these tests and then see if it’s anything major to worry about,” I try to calm her. “Episodes of rapid heartbeat is quite common in Rory’s case, and we can look into drugs to remedy that if necessary.”

She smiles, nodding.

“Did you have any other questions for me?”

She studies my face for a moment too long. “I… well, it will show up in Rory’s records soon, but my husband I are… I mean we’re getting a divorce.”

I pause for a moment. Of course, I know these things happen in life, but I’ve known this couple for years. I’ve seen them at their lowest ebb, bound by friendship and their love for that boy. I really do feel sorry for them.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” I mumble.

“We just… we’re terrified about telling Rory.”

“He doesn’t know?” I ask.

She shakes her head. “We’re scared of breaking him. I mean, look at him. All of this stuff he’s been through and he carries on like nothing has happened. We don’t want to upset him.”

“It took a team of us the best part of six years to build Rory’s heart. There's a warranty on that workmanship,” I reassure her. “Have that chat with him. He’ll be fine.”

***

“Have we got time for dinner first?” I turn to my wife as we walk out of the hospital. We don’t normally have the luxury of ending our shift at the same time, but today is exceptional. We have parents’ evening at the girls’ school so Rhonda made sure to clear up our schedule after our evening rounds at the ward. 

“No, but we can raid M&S and eat in the car?”

I’m starving and I almost cry with relief at the suggestion. “Always knew I married the right woman.”

She chuckles. “Damn right you did.”

We leave the car at the hospital and she drags me along the walkways to Waterloo, the breeze biting at our cheeks. I pull her into M&S, dodging the marching commuters and grab a basket. 

“I’ll look for some wine,” she says before she saunters off. “Oh and I want sushi. None of that crap with the mayonnaise please.”

“Alright.”

I skipped lunch today so the whole place calls to me. I start taking very random things off the shelves: a packet of raspberry iced buns. That’ll do. I also take some hummus for my wife because she bloody loves hummus. I’m not even joking, I’ve seen her down a whole pot of it. Then I take some sushi as requested, some coleslaw, a family bag of mature cheddar and red onion crisps and a trifle. I hope I don’t bump into Rhonda. Next are cheese twists, noodle salad and cocktail sausages. 

It takes me a while to notice that there is a man right next to me with a roll of yellow stickers in their back pocket. Hello there, you are one of my favourite people tonight. Have I managed to find that sacred hour when all the food is being marked down? He labels some prawns with dip and even though I get a little squeamish about eating fish near its expiry date, I put it in my basket. I then follow him around the corner. Now, this is dinner. I put all sorts of random food in my basket and smile at the thought.

Ooh, knockdown pizzas. I should get a pizza. That’s tomorrow’s tea sorted, the girls will love it. Although I can’t help but wonder, what’s the limit for us to feed our daughters frozen pizza in a week before they get taken away from us? But eh, we might be able to get away with it if we give them frozen peas on the side. 

“Look at you,” says my wife, depositing two bottles of red in the basket. 

“Yes, it’s me. I’m the yellow sticker bitch.”

She snickers as we turn to head for the tills. “Excellent work.”

***

“Mr and Mrs Styles, welcome.”

“Mrs Ebner, always a pleasure,” I shake the headmistress’ hand who’s standing at the door. 

“Busy evening?” My wife asks her as she shakes her hand next.

“Always,” the headmistress replies with a smile, then proceeds to speak like she’s reading out of brochures. “But such a wonderful opportunity to connect with our parents and build on the special relationships we have with our school community.” 

Two uniformed minions appear.

“Lewis, Maggie, could you please show Mr and Mrs Styles through to the drinks reception?”

They both nod in unison. The boy holds his arms out like a waiter showing us to our table. We follow them through the school’s grand corridors to the main hall. It’s the one thing I like about this place. It’s very Hogwarts-like with hefty engraved name boards and sepia photos of successful sports teams. In the hall, a throng of parents mill around waiting to see respective teachers. It’s the same every year. We all dodge the people from the PTA trying to sell us quiz tickets, and the bowls of crisps out of hygiene concerns.

“Red or white?” Asks a lady in an apron.

This right here is the very reason we get through parents’ evening. From the look of the bottle, it’s decent wine too. I think that’s where a good proportion of our fees is going. 

“Red, please.”

We both take our glasses and walk to the corner of the hall. It’s essentially a holding area without the background music. The idea is that all the parents will get on and create a party vibe but it just becomes a strange family gathering. As terrible as it sounds, it’s sorted into cliques: parents who know each other via NCT groups, the international expat brigades who keep to themselves, the parents who’ve ostracised themselves by gossip, the ones who you know regularly brunch and ski together.

The boy from earlier suddenly appears in front of us. “Mrs Hughes is ready for you.”

I put my hand on the small of my wife’s back as we walk towards the classroom. Fiona’s teacher first and then Alma’s straight after. Right, we can do this.

“Mrs Hughes, we meet again,” I shake her hand. I’ve got no qualms about Mrs Hughes. She’s a seasoned teacher who likes a slack and sensible moccasin and we’re familiar with her since she taught Alma two years previously. When we enter the classroom, Lewis bows in reverence, taking his leave and I wonder whether to tip him. 

“It’s always lovely to have another Styles girl in my classroom. Fiona is a particular delight.”

My wife and I smile proudly. I’m sure Mrs Hughes says this to every parent here about their child, but that’s always nice to hear. 

“She talks a lot about you,” my wife says. “She seems to have settled in well.”

Mrs Hughes opens up a couple of books and it’s classic Fiona. Alma is ordered and neat—if she makes a mistake then she erases it completely and she underlines things with a ruler and listens to instruction carefully. She gets that from her mum. Fiona though, on the other hand, she’s all me. She has more wild abandon about her; no rulers, no rubbers. She puts giant crosses through things that don’t work and likes her bubble writing decorated with doodles of many, many cats.

I glance around the classroom as Mrs Hughes talks to us about standardised scores. The theme of the school is to show you how smart and educated these children are. Look at the copperplate handwriting, their reproductions of Van Gogh and our languages corner where they’ve all had a go at telling us what they like in French. I spy a contribution from my girl. J’adore les chats et le gâteau au chocolat. 

I’ve lost track of the conversation so I try to catch up.

“So to push Fiona into those top scores, perhaps we can look into tutoring? For maths, in particular, so she can grasp some of the concepts a little more tightly,” says Mrs Hughes. 

My wife and I look at each other confused. “Uh, I don’t think there’s a need, right? She’s only five.”

“It’s never too early,” replies Mrs Hughes. “We run an after-school tutoring club on Tuesdays that would help.”

Back when I was a youngster, clubs were fun endeavours that involved matching baseballs caps or were a chocolate biscuit that you had in your lunchbox. Maths tutoring session was not a club.

I ask her. “Is it free?”

“It’s fifteen pounds per session.”

See? My point being this should be a parents’ evening, not a sales session.

“Well, then it’s something to think about,” says my wife. “It could be that Fiona catches up with people throughout the year.”

“Possibly,” Mrs Hughes nods. Still, though, she proceeds to go into her folder and passes me a form. Sneaky. “Fiona has also shown great interest in languages and art. Her pictures have been a joy.”

Mrs Hughes goes to a file and pulls one of Fiona’s drawings. I glance down at it. It’s a standard child piece of art. The grass and sky are strips of colour to the top and bottom. It’s a family portrait, and we are as tall as the broccoli style trees. Wait, hang on a second. I count the number of people in the picture again. Is that-

“And Mrs Styles, I gather congratulations are in order,” she says with a smile. “Such lovely news.”

“I’m sorry?”

“Fiona told me it’s a boy,” she adds, and the sheer terror on my wife’s face at the realisation is priceless. “You must be very thrilled.”

I study the picture. There’s a house in the middle, and standing in a line in front of the house is our family. The one slightly taller than the broccoli tree is me. I’ve got my white lab coat, and I look like a serial killer because I’m holding a scalpel with the size of a butcher’s knife. Next to me is my wife, also with a white lab coat, but instead of a scalpel, she’s holding a very chunky baby who rather looks like a basketball with a head.

“Oh dear,” I chuckle. “Guess now we know what she’ll ask for Christmas.”

“Yeah,” my wife shakes her head. “We’re not expecting.”

“Oh, I apologise,” Mrs Hughes says with a sheepish smile.

“No worries, Mrs Hughes,” I tell her. “So, what else has our girl been up to here? Besides gossiping of course.”

Mrs Hughes laughs under her breath. “Well, in class, Fiona is attentive, bright and very helpful. She is a credit to you both.”

***

“I swear your daughter, Styles.”

We’re sitting in the car now. Finally done with parents’ evening, still laughing at the slightly creepy, chunky basketball baby in Fiona’s picture and the fact that three people, including Mrs Hughes, have congratulated us for the ‘baby’.

“You haven’t called me Styles in years,“ I turn to her with a grin. “Not since medical school.”

I can’t help but flashback to the good ol’ days when we had matching university hoodies and we’d test each other on the parts of a kidney whilst walking into lectures, sitting next to each other, sharing pens and cans of Lilt. 

“Well, after that I became a Styles too,” she chuckles. “Would be confusing then, wouldn’t it?”

“True,” I laugh under my breath, then I grab her hand and pull it to my mouth so I can kiss her knuckles. “Thank you.”

“What for?”

“For being a Styles.”

“Aw, aren’t we soppy tonight?” She smirks. “Alright, stop the car.”

“What?”

“There,” she points to a dark empty spot and I oblige. 

Then, before I can even ask her why, she reaches over and grabs me by the collar. Pulling me close to her and gives me a kiss. I kiss her back, and I smile when she bites gently on my bottom lip.

“Oi, oi. Something’s got you randy.”

The next thing I know, she undoes her seatbelt and then rolls her trousers down her legs along with her knickers, fumbling and giggling at the awkward movement. I push my seat back and pull my trousers down. 

“Don’t fall on gearstick now,” I joke as she climbs over to straddle me. “Well, unless you want to, of course…”

She laughs as she lowers herself over my lap. I really can’t believe what’s happening here.

“Mrs Styles, we’re about to have sex in a car. Around the corner from our daughters’ school.” 

“I know,” she says with a smile before she runs her tongue along my neck. “Not our first rodeo though.”

“Oh right, we did it in our Volvo years ago, didn’t we? Thought the suspension couldn’t take it.”

“And it turned out fine. Told you that you needed to have more faith in the Swedes, they’re a reliable breed.”

“I love it when you talk about Sweden.”

“Ikea.”

“Fuck.”

“Meatballs.”

“Billy Bookcase.”

She throws her head back in laughter and I take this as an opportunity to run my tongue along her collar bone. She gasps. I reach down to lift her before I slowly lower her over my cock. We both sigh as I enter her, a long exhalation with our lips barely touching. 

“Viggo Mortensen.”

“Isn’t he Danish?”

“Tomato, Tomahto.”

I smile at my wife and push my hips up, silently telling her that we don’t need to talk about Swedish people anymore. She grabs onto the car seat and levers herself up and down. I look at her in the eye, a goofy smile still plastered across my face.

But then I squint. Light. Bollocks, what’s that? Where’s that light coming from? Crap, that’s bright. Shit. I see the flash of a hi-vis jacket, a knock at the window and someone shaking their head.

Oh sodding fucking bollocking shit wank.

[gladerwolfstarkimagines]

Request: Imagine being Lin Beifong’s daughter and having a crush on Iroh II

Tags: @tincdraws

Growing up as the daughter of Lin Beifong metal and earth bending were your whole life. You learnt to earth bend by the time you could walk and your mother had you in training from a young age so you graduated from the earth bending school at the top of your class with your eyes firmly set on following in your mother’s footsteps whilst also trying to emulate your grandmother’s success. You had a sharp focus and nothing else really caught your attention. You had friends but training came first and dating seemed something superficial you could live without. Republic city was your life and you would never dream of leaving it but your mother had other ideas.

Your mother thought you needed more worldly experience before you joined the police force so she sent you to the fire nation to gain some training as an officer. She claimed the fire nation had some of the best officers in the world and that they would help you learn invaluable real-life experience. You did not agree and protested the whole thing. All your training had revolved around the needs of Republic City specifically and you couldn’t see how you’d learn anything new about how to protect your city by travelling all the way to fire nation but your mother refused to change her mind and that was that.

So you were shipped off to the fire nation fresh out of the academy. Your mother had spoken to Firelord Izumi and it was agreed you’d be staying at the palace so not only would you be unfamiliar with the environment, you’d be in a place where every small look, word or action had large consequences. You didn’t know much about the fire nation and couldn’t really recall the royal family. You were aware your grandmother was very close with the late Firelord Zuko but since then things had changed. Although your grandmother’s friends (mainly Katara) had tried to keep the group close it was hard with everyone scattered across the four nations and so with each generation the group had drifted further and further apart. You knew Firelord Izumi had a daughter older than you and a son around your age called Iroh. You recalled meeting Iroh when you were younger at some event in the south pole but couldn’t remember much more than a serious fire nation child. So you arrived on the steps of the palace utterly out of your depth determined to see these three months through so you could return to your beloved city. You were shown into the palace immediately, your belongings taken by maids who refused to let you carry them yourself as you were a royal guest. You weren’t used to finery so proceeded through the palace partly in awe and partly in utter confusion why someone needed this many paintings of old men everywhere. You were finally shown into a large room. “Ah you must be y/n Beifong” a voice called and you turned to see someone who looked vaguely familiar. You knew he wasn’t Firelord Zuko or Firelord Izumi’s husband as he was too young so figured by his royal outfit this was Izumi’s second child the prince. “Prince Iroh, it’s an honour to see you again” you said bowing and he chuckled “I bet you thought that would be a winning line with any fire nation citizen didn’t you? Because we’re still all obsessed with honour like we were centuries ago?” Iroh asked and you hesitated. “If I caused any offence...” you started but Iroh cut you off breaking out in a large smile “no I was only kidding, it is a winning line we are still obsessed with honour”. You watched as Iroh laughed at his own joke surprised, you didn’t expect the prince of the fire nation to be like this. You figured royalty lacked the ability or the clearance to have a sense of humour but apparently not. “So have I really not changed since we were eight?” Iroh asked and when you frowned he elaborated “you recognised me but the last time we met was just over ten years ago”. You paused “ow no I didn’t actually recognise you, you were young, dressed in fine clothes with royal hairpins, not to mention you’re in the palace...you had to be the prince”. “Good deductions officer” Iroh said saluting you before he grinned “i’m in training too”. That piqued your interest “really? for the fire nation army?”. He nodded “yep! I’m an officer but my hope is to be general one day and to fully earn it, rather than just get it because of who my family is...hopefully in a few years i’ll get there”. “I’m sure you will” you agreed and Iroh led you into a large dining room. “Are we dining alone?” you asked confused and Iroh smirked. “Why? Not pleased with me?” he asked and you rushed to assure him that wasn’t the case when he laughed again “I’m joking again y/n, I know my grandfather told you the whole family would be dining with you in his letter to your mother but he, my parents and sister were all called away to an urgent matter and asked me to fill in as we’re similar ages”. “Ow” you nodded “that makes sense...is everything okay?”. Iroh nodded “everything’s fine just boring fire nation stuff...so shall we?” he asked holding out his arm to you. You weren’t sure if this was appropriate so averted your eyes and only took his arm lightly. Iroh smirked at your caution and led you into the room.

The meal with Iroh was nice. He was friendly, hard-working and interesting. You soon got used to his humour and learnt not to take him too seriously. You hadn’t met many other people your age who shared your passion for a military career and found it was nice, a sentiment Iroh apparently shared. He enquired what you were doing the rest of the week and when you replied nothing as training didn’t start for another week he soon had several of your days planned out with fire nation sights to show you. Iroh seemed to understand you didn’t know much about the fire nation so planned to take you to all the important sites as well as areas relevant to the army to peak both your interests. You enjoyed the prince’s tours greatly and even when training did start you continued meeting with Iroh regularly. You liked his company and were surprised that didn’t fade the more time you spent with him, if anything it grew more and more. You thought he’d be a spoilt entitled prince but he was kind and considerate pleasantly surprising you.

You didn’t become aware that you liked Iroh as anything more until one of your friends at the academy pointed it out. Since starting training you were progressing well, you achieved high grades and were held in high esteem by your fellow recruits. You had made some friends and often trained with them after the academy retired for the day. After a long training session you were heading to the palace when one of your friends called out to you “hey y/n some of us were going into town to celebrate our class’s good progress, do you want to come?”. You smiled pleased they wanted you to come when you remembered you couldn’t go “I’d love to Shani but sorry I can’t I have plans”. “Of course you do” she smirked as your other friend Aizori grinned “is it with Iroh by any chance”. “Actually it is” you said frowning at their shared look “why?”. “Ow nothing just it’s not every day your friend is dating the crowned prince”. “Me and Iroh are not dating!” you cried “our families are old friends that’s all”. “Uh...hu, if that’s true then what are your plans together may we ask?”. “We’re attending a party at the palace”. “Together?” Shani asked and you blushed “yes but he only asked me because it’s a formal event that’s apparently really boring so he wanted a friend there, trust me we’re not dating”. “But how can you resist?” Aizori asked “I’ve only seen the prince a handful of times but he seems to get better looking every single time! How don’t you get lost in those golden eyes and that chiselled jaw? The royal family has some amazing genes not even a Beifong can resist”. You paused considering it. For you looks weren’t very important so you didn’t tend to notice them. You held work ethic and determination as much higher priorities and Iroh scored very highly in both but in looks...you honestly couldn’t say. “I’m not sure I’ve noticed” you admitted and the girls rolled their eyes not believing you.

When you arrived back at the palace your friend’s words were ringing in your head and when you next saw Iroh something felt different. You took note of his looks and were surprised by what you’d found. Iroh was attractive, very attractive, how had you missed that? You stared at Iroh wondering if his eyes had always been that bright? Was his jaw always that sharp? His hair that good regularly when he frowned “why are you staring at me?”. “Nothing” you cried and he paused before shrugging “Are you ready to go?” he asked “the party has already started” offering you his arm. You nodded and took it cautiously following Iroh into the ballroom.

You could see why Iroh had wanted to invite you, everyone in the room was at least 60 years old or some stiff nobel person from an ancient line of fire nation families. All they seemed to want to discuss was old family bloodlines, territories or ancient traditions. After your fifth boring ambush by some old fire nation man Iroh pointedly headed for the gardens. You frowned as he exited discreetly, closing the door behind him, and headed away from the hall. “Iroh I’m pretty sure the party is inside” you commented and Iroh grinned “I know but I can’t take another second in there so humour me? One lap of the gardens then we’ll head back, please? I know you haven’t seen them properly yet so how about a tour?” Iroh holding out his hand to you. You rolled your eyes but took his hand happily. 

Iroh led you around the gardens explaining the different flora to you and their history. “I spent so many parties hiding in here as a kid” he grinned “this place is so huge they couldn’t find me for hours”. You smiled at the thought “my mother would’ve killed me if I did that”. “Mine did” Iroh chuckled “but I’d honestly rather face her wrath than some boring commander who wants to lecture me about our family’s history and why it’s so important...they’re literally my own family and even I don’t care” Iroh cried making you smile. “I see why you escaped out here so often, I’m very grateful formal parties were not a part of my childhood”. Iroh smiled and went to comment when the smile was wiped from his face and he grabbed you, quickly pushing you behind a large fern. “Iroh what are you...”. “Shhh they’ve come for us” he hissed and you frowned when you heard a voice. “Prince Iroh?” a man you recognised as the palace coordinator called “Are you out here? You’re needed inside”. You smirked and Iroh rolled his eyes “they’re relentless”.  “Master Iroh if you’re out there please return to the ballroom, your mother’s orders”. There was silence and then the sound of the butler coming closer. Your eyes widened and Iroh put a hand over your mouth pushing you further into the bushes. “Prince Iroh?” a voice called literally right beside you and Iroh smirked as you grabbed his arm in surprise. You heard a sigh and the sound of the man retreating. When the footsteps died away Iroh dropped his hold on you and you both burst into laughter. “I thought we were going to be caught and then royally punished...literally” you added and Iroh smirked “I wouldn’t let them punish you, it’s not your fault I dragged you out here”. “True but I didn’t try hard to stop you”. “You did encourage me” Iroh nodded thinking “okay it’s all your fault”. You gaped laughing “I never said that! You are such a liar” you cried pushing him and Iroh laughed grabbing your arm “okay okay maybe we share the blame 50:50?”. “No way” you smiled and Iroh paused “60:40?”. “I think 90:10?” you said grinning and Iroh sighed “fine, i’ll take 10% of the blame”. You shook your head at how wonderfully infuriating he was and smiled at him fondly. Iroh grinned back and you realised suddenly how close his face was to yours. Iroh seemed to notice too, he glanced down at your lips and you panicked moving away from him suddenly. There was an awkward tension in the air and you broke it with a cough “so want to show me more of the gardens then?”. Iroh nodded “right this way my lady” the awkwardness gone and led you further into the garden.

When you were safely hidden from the ballroom Iroh stopped walking, explaining this was one of his favourite spots in the whole garden and you gratefully took a break sitting down. “I can’t believe you’ve already been here a month” Iroh commented and you nodded “I know only 2 more to go then my mandatory 3 months work experience is done”. Iroh frowned “mandatory...so you could stay longer if you wanted to?”. “Hypothetically” you agreed and Iroh hesitated “do you think you’d extend it? Hypothetically?”. You paused “I’m not sure, I have enjoyed the fire nation far more than I thought I would but I’ve always wanted to complete my training as quickly as possible, I hope to be chief of police one day and I’ll need many years of service for that...”. Iroh frowned “isn’t the youngest chief like 41?”. You nodded “yeah so i’ve got time I guess, maybe i’ll stay for longer...is this just so you have someone to skirt your royal duties with?”. Iroh laughed “maybe...I like you being here, it’s nice not being the only person under 30 in every room”. You smiled “well i’m glad my presence isn’t displeasing to you...you’ve been pleasant as well” you added blushing and Iroh grinned. “Wait did I make a Beifong blush? That’s like a legendary occurrence, this is amazing!”. “Stop it” you cried but Iroh wouldn’t let you turn away “no, this will go down in history, Beifong blushes are rarer than dragons so I’m soaking up every second”. For the second time that day Iroh stared at you closely and you blushed more under his gaze but this time you didn’t move away. Iroh continued gazing at you before he lightly moved his hand to your cheek “y/n...” he said softly leaning in closer when a figure appeared. “There you are!” a voice cried and you both jumped away from one another. Your jaw dropped when you realised who it was and you dropped into a bow “Firelord Izumi...i’m so sorry I didn’t see you approach”. “Rise child you did nothing wrong” she said warmly “my son on the other hand...” she trailed off glancing at Iroh who paled. “Hey mom” he frowned and she raised an eyebrow “really? That’s all you have to say? No apology or grovelling”. “Erm I’m sorry for ditching?” Iroh offered and Izumi sighed. “Y/n would you please excuse us, I want to have a word with my son”. “Of course” you agreed bowing and you rushed away.

Iroh returned not long after with his mother and told you he had to stay in the ballroom for the rest of the party. You agreed to stay with him and he smiled gratefully at you making you blush and look away rapidly. The night passed and neither you nor Iroh spoke about what happened in the garden. How he’d almost kissed you and how you were going to let him. You couldn’t believe your own recklessness. What good did you think would come out of kissing the prince of the fire nation? You were obviously not an appropriate match and so there was nothing to be encouraged there. You resolved to never find yourself in that situation again and decided to just stay as friends no matter how much you got along or how attractive he was. Getting involved with a fire nation prince was not responsible behaviour. So after that night you made sure to put distance between you and Iroh. You didn’t stop seeing him you just made sure to emphasise it was a friendship. You didn’t let yourself get caught up in him the way you had in the gardens and always kept a level head. Iroh never tried anything or mentioned that night either and you supposed he picked up on your not so subtle hints. You carried on as before but there was definitely an unmentioned barrier between you which you never let fade.

You left the fire nation 2 months later. You didn’t extend your stay as with your feelings for Iroh you didn’t think it would be wise. Iroh saw you off and hugged you tightly before you got onto the airship. “It’s been nice having you around Beifong, I’ll miss you”. Iroh’s words made you hesitate and you hugged him tighter. For that time in Iroh’s arms you imagined what would have happened if you’d kissed him in the gardens that night. Iroh didn’t strike you as someone who flitted from person to person taking what he wanted, you think if he wanted to kiss you he must have felt something for you too and perhaps would have suggested dating. You imagined all the things you’d have done together but as a couple and wondered if you’d made a mistake, maybe you should have just gone for it? But then reality set in. If you really wanted to be chief of police then you couldn’t have short relationships with high ranking members of the fire nation. Other candidates could use it to show you had compromised morals and there was no way it would be a long term relationship due to your lack of fire nation heritage. Sure the fire nation was pretty progressive but that didn’t really apply to royalty. They had thousand-year-old traditions to uphold that couldn’t be broken easily so Iroh was never a long term option for you. Therefore all logical signs said you’d done the correct thing not persuing something with him...so why did it feel so shit? You finally pulled away from Iroh and he noticed your expression. “What’s wrong?” he asked and you shook your head looking away “nothing i’ll just miss it here...promise you’ll keep in touch?”. “Cross my heart” Iroh smiled “you’re not someone I intend to let slip away, expect a visit every time I come to republic city”. You pushed away the rational voice in your mind telling you to keep a distance from him and smiled “you’ll always be welcome and I’m very much looking forward to it”. Iroh blushed “thank you y/n” and you nodded back, just looking at him in admiration before catching yourself. “I should go...” and Iroh nodded “safe travels” and with a final look you walked away.

2 years later

After your departure you and Iroh stayed in regular contact and your letters only halted when he was deployed by the military but the second we was out he would write and arrange to come visit you in Republic City. You still thought about him and your feelings for him regularly and every time you saw him you knew your crush hadn’t lessened. You loved Iroh’s visits and soon they became the thing you cherished most. You told yourself all of this was fine because you’d never act on your feelings but sometimes you wondered if Iroh felt something too? You’d catch him staring at you or he’d blush if you smiled at him in a certain way. The very idea of Iroh liking you made you very excited but you also knew it would only lead to heartache. He wouldn’t be allowed to settle down with someone outside the fire nation so it didn’t matter if he liked you too. So you settled for his friendship which was more than enough for you. When Iroh was posted in republic city when he became general you were thrilled and you only continued to grow closer.

However republic city wasn’t as peaceful. There had been multiple attacks on the city from Amon’s chi blockers to Vaatu’s take over and you and Iroh were constantly pushed into the fray. Multiple times you’d faced staggering odds and every single time you wondered if you should confess your feelings to Iroh in case the unthinkable happened but every time you chickened out. You and Iroh had been safe every time but there was only so much you could push your luck.  

You’d been wary of Kuvira’s take over of the earth kingdom from the very start. Your aunt Su Yin had told you all about her so you weren’t surprised when she set her sights on Republic City but that didn’t mean you weren’t terrified. The avatar and her friends informed you what you were facing and you weren’t sure how you could even think about facing a giant mecha suit with spirit cannons. Iroh shared your sentiment but as general of Republic City’s army he was forced by President Raiko to lead his troops out there. Watching Iroh take to the front line you were swept with the desire once again to be honest with him, to tell him how you felt before it was too late. You decided three was too many times to chance it and so decided to finally tell him how you felt. You made your way to the general’s tent and found Iroh with Korra discussing strategies. You greeted them both warmly before making your way to Iroh’s side “could we please talk? I have something to tell you”. You knew Iroh had a hundred things to do but he nodded warmly squeezing your hand “of course just give me one second to...” when the radio sprang into action. President Raiko had surendering to Kuvira’s demands. Republic City was hers.

The avatar was furious and you matched her sentiment. You and Iroh joined her as she met with other leaders in the city like Tenzin and your mother and they all agreed something had to be done to stop Kuvira. A plan was quickly assembled, it was agreed that airbenders would attack the suit from the sky and earth benders would attack from the ground. You didn’t actually expect to damage the suit, you only had to distract Kuvira long enough for Korra to get inside. You were agreeing fervently getting ready to leave with your cousins when Iroh grabbed your arm. “Wait Y/n are you sure you want to do this?” he asked nervously “that mecha suit is dangerous there’s no guarantee you’ll be able to stop it”. I know but it’s my home, I swore to protect it and I won’t break my oath. I have to try and help”. Iroh sighed thinking and you watched him wondering what he’d say. “I understand why you’re doing it and I want to come too”. You paused pleasantly surprised “You do...but I thought President Raiko told you to retreat and surrender?”. “He told me to surrender the army not that I couldn’t personally engage in fighting, i’m not fighting as a general but as plain old Iroh” he announced proudly and you smiled “there’s nothing plain about you even without your titles”. Iroh beamed at you “Does this mean you agree? We can fight this giant together!”. You nodded your head “okay let’s go meet up with the others”.

You and Iroh rushed after the others and found them all suiting up. “Finally” your mother said spotting you but she frowned when she saw Iroh with you “y/n tell me you didn’t bring the general who is also the prince of the fire nation into this”. “She didn’t, I volunteered” Iroh spoke up “I’m not here as a general or as a prince but as a civilian so, where can I help?”. “You know your mother won’t like this” Tenzin commented and Iroh nodded “I know but some things are worth facing her wrath for” he said shooting you a smile and you blushed.

So it was agreed Iroh would stay. Your mother thought it would be best to place him on the roof with the airbenders, she ordered him to shoot lightning at the joints to try and cause some malfunctioning. When you’d all suited up the teams said their goodbyes and Iroh appeared in front of you. You didn’t have long, Kuvira’s giant suit was already in view and the ground shook whenever it took a single step. Iroh stared at you and sighed heavily “Y/n...”. “Don’t say it like that, we don’t have time and we’re both going to be fine okay?” you said faking a smile but Iroh saw right through it. “What did you want to tell me earlier?”. You froze caught off guard and blushed “I...I just wanted to...it doesn’t matter”. The ground jumped and Iroh looked at it nervously before stepping closer to you “I think I can guess what you were going to say”. “You can?” you asked nervously and Iroh smiled “yeah...you had another Beifong blush moment and I’ve noticed you do them around me a lot”. You went bright red and Iroh chuckled “yeah like that...”. You looked down embarrassed but Iroh took your hand gently “don’t, I blush a lot around you too”. You smiled blushing more and Iroh chuckled softly. “Y/n are you ready?” your mom asked and Iroh gripped your hand tightly. “Wait I want to tell you everything before you leave” Iroh cried but you squeezed his hand gently. “It’ll be okay” you smiled “you can tell me everything later and I think I can guess too”. Iroh grinned blushing “later then...just got to get through this”. “We’ll be fine, this is what he trained for” you smiled confidently “I promise I’ll see you on the other side”. Iroh nodded and stared at your lips, he went to move in when your mother called “y/n are you coming or are we leaving you behind”. “I’m coming!” you yelled and stepped away from Iroh “mothers” you commented and he smiled “go, i’ll see you after” and with a last look you both rushed off to your assigned group.

The battle

The fight went about as good as could be expected. The suit swatted the air benders away like flies and your group’s earth, metal and even lava bending barely slowed it down. But it didn’t matter, all that mattered was the avatar and her team managed to find a way into that thing and your team cheered when you saw she’d done just that. Now the fight was Korra’s so you let your guard down when suddenly the machine began malfunctioning. Your mother yelled for you all to take cover but you were too far away from the building. The suit exploded with a blast and you saw a blinding light and then black.

After the suit exploded everyone assumed the battle won. Half the air benders went after Korra to help her with Kuvira and the other half went to the ground to make sure the others were okay, of course Iroh went with the latter. He saw Bolin, your aunt and cousins but no sign of you or your mother. They told him they were all searching for you and he rushed to join in. With each street he passed his heart began to sink when finally he spotted you! In the arms of your mother unconscious. Iroh ran forward dropping to his knees beside you. “What happened?” he cried and your mother clutched you desperately “that thing exploded and she was too far to get into cover, it hit her sending her flying through the street and now she’s...she’s...”. Iroh saw the blood seeping through your mother’s hands where she held them against you. “No” he said viciously “y/n won’t...she can’t! We need a medic” he yelled loudly before taking off his jacket to wrap around your wound. “Maybe I can cauterise the wound?” he asked “seal it to stop her losing so much blood?”. Lin paused “I think the wounds too big but it’s worth a shot”. Iroh nodded and Lin lifted the bottom of your uniform. Iroh saw a large gash across your stomach and winced. He lit his hand on fire and pressed his hands against the wound. You gasped suddenly and your eyes shot open. “Y/n” your mother and Iroh cried in unison and you blinked trying to make sense of the situation before you groaned in pain. You tensed trying to get away from the burning but your mother held onto you “please y/n just hang on Iroh is trying to cauterise your wound”. “It’s not working” you grimaced resisting the urge to scream “Iroh stop! Please!” you cried and he yelled in frustration moving his hands away from you. “No it has to work if it doesn’t then you’ll.....we need a medic down here” he yelled again but he knew everyone else was spread out and there were no healers in the group. “It’s okay” you said breathing heavily as the situation dawned on you “Iroh it’s alright”. “No it’s not” he cried sinking onto his knees beside you “it’s not y/n, you can’t...you have to fight this, you can’t leave me”. You nodded “trust me i’m trying but Iroh if I do...”. “No y/n don’t even think about it! I won’t let you go it’s not going to happen”. “I don’t think we have a choice” you admitted trying to smile but Iroh just shook his head “but we never got our shot, we never got to talk, I never got to tell you...I love you y/n” he said simply “I have for years, that’s why I never found anyone from the fire nation because the perfect person for me is you. I know there’s traditions and rules but I don’t care, I don’t want anyone else but you. I’d give up anything for you and we were finally heading in that direction and now that stupid spirit cannon”. Tears leaked down Iroh’s face and you reached out a hand to him shakily. He took it and you stroked his face “it’s okay, i’m sorry for being too scared and cautious, I’m sorry for wasting our time together but I love you too, I hope that’s enough”. Iroh nodded “It’s more than I ever hoped, you didn’t waste time you have nothing to be sorry for y/n Beifong, do you hear me?”. “I do” you smiled before coughing in pain and your mother clutched you tighter. “Y/n” your mother cried and you smiled up at her “it’s okay mom, don’t worry. It’s all going to be okay”. You clutched her hand against your chest and took Iroh’s other one. “I’m with the two people I love the most, I’m happy. This is the best way for it to...”. “Stop” Iroh said crying but you just gripped his hand tighter “Iroh look at me”. He blinked through the tears but looked at you. “It’s okay, I promise you everything will be okay”. Iroh just said your name softly and rested his head against yours. Your mother wrapped her arms around both of you and you held onto both of them the best you could when you felt the world fading away. You heard sobbing and your mother faintly saying your name until everything turned dark and it was over.

Epilogue

Following your death the fire nation, earth kingdom and republic city all paid their respects in their traditional fashions. A statue was raised by your mother in the spot of your death and every year on the anniversary of your death both her and Iroh would visit it. Iroh and your mother supported one another following your death being the only one’s who understood how monumental the loss of your life was. They managed to get through it together and although neither of them ever stopped loving you they found a way to carry on. Iroh never married, he couldn’t even consider the idea and his family never pushed him to. He still lived a long and happy life. He was very involved with his sister’s children who he loved dearly and his family never stopped supporting him. If he went quiet and got a teary look in his eye or if he struggled serving in the earth kingdom they understood. Your family also treated him like one of their own, with Lin even calling him her son on a few occasions, and he was invited to all your family’s events in recognition of your love for him. Your memory never faded and when Iroh’s life eventually ended he passed on to find you waiting for him. He knew all the suffering and heartache was over, you were finally together at last. 

____

So initially I was going to write a happy ending as well but then I thought screw it, I want to cry so I killed off the reader...but I can release the happy ending as a part two if anyone wants it. 

Edit: For the happy ending version click here