#can't wait to draw him as a senator

[missadangel]

The Heart of Rome (Marcus Acacius x Reader)

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Chapter 3: The Intention

"Veritas Odit Moras"

Truth Hates Delay.

"Septimia Aurelia, do you know how much I have searched for you, my lady?"

You regarded him with surprise and were rendered speechless.

The man carefully looked around and then grabbed your wrist to move you to a more secluded spot against the wall. "You've got a lot of attention, dressing like this, and it's pretty clear who you are. When did you get here? You've read the letter? Have you told anyone about it? Don’t."

Your heart was beating like crazy, your ears were buzzing, and the man's voice was almost blurred.

“Who… Who are you, sir?”

How come you knew nothing and he knew more than you?

“I'm Macrinus, my lady. You probably don’t remember me, you were too young, I'm the one who took you to Vicius.”

Vicius was your uncle's real name, the one your father had mentioned in the letter.

“I went to Egypt to find you, as your father ordered. However, Vicius was reluctant, I’m not blaming him but-" he glanced over your shoulder as if he was looking for something behind you. "How did you get back to Rome? Where’s he now?”

You tried to understand what he said, but it was very difficult, too much for one day.

"He died and I was brought back as a captive," you said in a low voice, your eyes bright with tears, recalling him once more, especially in this way, stung you anew.

He touched your shoulder. "It seems it was an unfortunate return for you. You must have opened the letter. You didn't lose it, did you?"

You dabbed at your eyes with the tips of your fingers, wiping away the tears. "It doesn't matter now, sir. I was brought here as a slave."

"What slave? You are the daughter of a deified emperor. Who bought you? Who is your Dominus?”

You remained expressionless and refused to give him the General's name. You knew it might put him in a difficult position and you had no intention of trusting him. “Sir, I am a slave and I have to live like one.”

"You can't be serious, please. This is your birthright, and you must demand what you deserve."

"How?"

"I will present it to the Senate, and it is likely to receive their support. However, I must first weaken Geta," he stated, his voice firm and decisive.

“But-."

"I have to go now before they get suspicious. I will help you. I’ve promised your father."

“Sir I-"

"I have a lot to tell you. Trust me and wait," he said, striding across the temple..

This man claimed to be a friend of your father's, but you were unsure whether to trust him. The situation was a significant source of distress for you, both mentally and physically. You felt a sense of nausea, pressing your hand and then your arm against the wall in an attempt to regain your composure. You closed your eyes and pressed your forehead to your arm, attempting to gain control of your thoughts. At that moment, you heard a voice you recognized calling out to you.

"My Lady!" Octavius hurried over to your side, looking concerned.

When you opened your eyes, you saw his sandals first because you were looking at the floor. You looked up.

“Are you well? Did someone do something to you?” He looked around angrily, ready to draw his sword. You put out your hand and stopped him.

“Calm down, sir. I'm fine."

Octavian pulled his hand away, taken aback by your touch. “I've been looking for you everywhere. The general sent me to find you, he was worried.”

You brushed a few strands of hair from your face with the back of your hand. "I'm sorry, I got a little nervous in the crowd and pulled away."

"Yes, it was unexpected for everyone. The emperors were in a hurry to get to the games, so they cut the ceremony short. I couldn't get you to the carriage in time. Forgive me."

"You still treat me like a lady, sir," you teased him.

He smiled. "If you don't mind, I'd like to keep it up. Shall we? The games are about to begin."

He gestured to the waiting carriage in the distance.

You were mesmerised by the splendour of this building, sitting in the part of the Colosseum intended for slaves and others. From your vantage point, you surveyed the area where the emperors and the General were seated, though they were not clearly visible from your distance. However, when they stood and advanced to deliver their opening speeches, you could see them more distinctly in their white shawls.

Caracalla and Geta raised their hands and greeted the crowd, while they chanted their names repeatedly loudly.

"People of Rome! Today, we gather to honor the glorious greatest General Marcus Acacius.”

Applause and voices rose as Geta extended his hand to the General, you were filled with excitement. He took his hand, came forward and raised his hands. He looked up at the top bleachers and searched the crowd, his eyes determined to find you, but it was hard from such a distance.

Caracalla grasped the General's other hand. He was between them, the crowd now chanting all three of their names.

"Are you ready to see these magnificent, mind-blowing games to celebrate his extraordinary achievements?”

When the crowd responded enthusiastically in the affirmative, Geta and Caracalla shouted excitedly at the same time.

“Then let the games begiiiiiiiiiiiin!”

The thick iron gates of the arena rumbled open and two chariots thundered in, their arrival accompanied by the roar of trumpets and the beating of drums. They circled round the arena and stopped in front of the general and the emperors. While the emperors applauded them enthusiastically, the soldiers in charge ordered them to step aside and the chariots moved forward, their warriors saluting the crowd.

“Now, Gladiatoooooors!” Geta shouted and pointed to the other door. The crowd continued to cheer louder when they saw the iron-armored warriors coming out one by one. Every step was a sharp noise, echoing through the arena. The gladiators, seven in number, turned to the emperors and saluted them.

“Ave Imperatores, morituri te salutant!” Hail Emperors, those who are about to die salute you!

Caracalla looked at the General smiling widely.

“Today, the speech is yours, General Acacius!” he shouted and clasped his hand, and sat on his throne.

"Spur them on, you're the expert, I want to see some blood,” Geta said to the general with a wink and sat on his throne, legs crossed, clapping. From a distance, you couldn't hear them or see his face clearly, but you were certain the General was not pleased. As the General raised his arms in the air, the crowd fell silent, and the shouting died down, allowing you to rest your ears a little.

“As a soldier, I can tell you this: When you engage in combat, it is important to maintain a positive mindset and avoid thoughts of defeat. You must only think about winning! However, winning is not easy, not just about killing your enemy or defeating him. Absolutely not. Winning is about being remembered with honor, like a hero, even if you die in the end! A true soldier most likely, is not afraid of death. Neither is a true gladiator! He embraces it, caresses it, and even defies it! Today, we want to see a real gladiator who can kill death itself! Prove you can achieve it and make your emperors proud! Fight with honor and win the crowd!”

The general's speech was a roaring success, prompting a rapturous response from the assembled crowd. The drums beat again, and the gladiators raised their swords in salute to the general and gathered together in a defensive position.

He was the real deal: a genuine commander and warrior. He made your heart beat fast and you admired him.

As the battle between gladiators and other warriors commenced, you began to feel a certain degree of apprehension. You had seen blood and wounded people before, of course, but this was not the point. The point was that these warriors, whose bodies were being ruthlessly cut and torn apart, were being watched with enthusiasm and laughter by the crowd. You were grateful for the top stand, thankful that you were watching from there. You knew you wouldn't have been able to bear to see such an atrocity up close.

The warriors in the chariot had lost all their horses, also torn apart mercilessly, they jumped down and attacked the gladiators with their spears, killing, and butchering a few in the process. Only two gladiators and three warriors remained. They all had cuts on exposed parts of their bodies and blood oozing from their injured areas, but they were completely focused on survival and didn't have time to care. The dusty floor of the Colosseum was stained red, and the smell of blood wafted around in clouds of dust, like the smell of red-hot iron. The gladiators roared their triumph as they slew the last of the warriors, and their voices echoed throughout the Colosseum. The sounds of drumbeats, applause, whistles, cheers, curses, and laughter filled the air.

The emperors rose to their feet and expressed their approval and support for the gladiators through applause and cheers. Once their orations had concluded, the gladiators proceeded through the reopened iron gates, whereupon the drumming ceased. The sole remaining auditory stimulus was the noise of the crowd. The general and emperors were no longer visible, so you decided to leave, as the noise was already causing a headache.

Your legs were aching as you descended the steps, but it was just as hard to get down as it was to get up. After all, you had watched from the top and it was quite high. You had never been up to such a high building before and you were certain that you would never go up again.

When you reached the ground floor, you looked around, but there was no one you recognized. Senators and other dignitaries were leaving the Coliseum one by one, talking among themselves about the evening banquet. You weren't sure that the General would take you there. He was nowhere to be seen, but you kept looking for him. When you took a few steps in the opposite direction to where the people were coming from, you were frightened that you might meet your brothers. When you saw a white shawl his wearing, you approached the General, who was talking to one of the senators. He turned his head and saw you. But you noticed the emperors were walking towards you from another direction. You reeled back in shock and turned on your heel. You were never prepared to see them so close. You strode through the exit and headed for the stairs. Since already climbed and descended quite a few stairs today your feet were no longer firmly planted on the ground. As you quickly went down, you suddenly lost your balance and found yourself on the ground. You shivered when you felt the cold stones against your skin and scowled at the women nearby who were laughing at you as you tried to figure out what had happened. You sat down on the marble stairs, heard his voice and footsteps hurrying down behind you, and soon felt the breeze from his shawl caress your back."Aya!" The General reached out, grasped your hand gently, and lifted you up.

"Are you alright?" He checked your feet and then your face, clearly concerned.

“Ah, as always, our General is a gentleman, isn't he, brother?”

Your heart nearly leaped out of your chest when you heard Caracalla's voice so close. They must have seen the General holding your hand so you immediately withdrew them from the General's and stepped back, bowing your head. However, they were already descending the stairs slowly, their gaze fixed on you.

“Indeed, aren’t you going to introduce us to this beautiful lady, General Acacius?” Geta asked curiously. From where he stood, he looked taller than the general.

“Is she your secret lover or something?” Caracalla chuckled, tilting his head to see your face clearly.

“My emperors, the carriage has arrived,” you could have sworn you'd heard that voice before. When you looked at her, the Empress Julia Domna stared at you raising her eyebrows and came a little closer. You averted your eyes, the feeling that you had seen this woman before took over your whole body and made you even more nervous than your brothers did.

“We just met the General's lover, Mother,” Caracalla laughed.

“Lover?” She sized you up and gave you a stunned look.

“My slave highness,” the General corrected him. You immediately bowed your head and greeted them formally.

“A slave? How fortunate you are, I have never seen such a beautiful slave,” Geta said, his eyes wide, and you felt him tense as the General's body moved slightly in front of yours. You felt grateful as you hid yourself behind his shawl.

“She reminded me of the Germans, remember?" he chuckled and covered his mouth.

Geta accompanied his laughter and punched him jokingly in the shoulder. Then he looked at you again. “Restrain yourself, brother, this is something completely different, you know what I mean?"

Caracalla huffed, “Tempting!"

You had no idea what they were talking about, and despite your best efforts to keep your eyes off Julia, she was always looking at you.

“Bring her to the banquet,” Caracalla said excitedly, clasping his hands together.

“But Highness, you know, women are not allowed there,” Julia said loudly.

“The Empress is right, only senators and patricians, just like any other banquets,” the General said with a sharp tone.

“How boring, I'd like her to serve me, pour me some wine, so I'd see a pretty face instead of those ugly blokes' faces all night.” Caracalla pursed his lips.

Geta sighed at his reaction and put his palm in his foreground. “You’re still a child brother, if you want a girl to get laid, I'll get you one after the banquet,” he turned his head to general. “Spending the night with another Roman's slave would be a bit of theft,” he said with a grin that showed all of his teeth at the General.

The General clenched his jaw and looked at him menacingly. You felt shivers run down your spine. Domna looked at them with concern and tried to ease the atmosphere by clapping her hands. “That's enough gentlemen, I'm famished, watching the games made me real hungry,” she took Geta's arm “Shall we?” She must have been pretty familiar with this kind of situation.

Geta turned to General one last time, ”We wanted to send you a new slave as a gift, tonight,” his eyes searching you up and down.

"That is very kind of you, but I must refuse,” the General said in a firm tone.

He inhaled deeply, "It's not hard to guess why," he smiled crookedly.

“Then I want it for myself, as you promised,” Caracalla whined, taking Geta's other arm.

“Share with me?”

“You just said it's a theft.”

“Cruel.”

They kept up their debate while they walked towards the waiting carriage. It seemed like the tension was slowly easing.

Once they were in their carriage and out of sight, the general turned to you with a look of frustrated annoyance on his face. Meeting your brothers for the first time was awkward, but it was clear that they had always been like that, and everyone, including their mother, accepted it as normal.

“Are they always like this?”

“Worse.”

“They're like spoiled little children,” you snapped.

He let out a little laugh, putting a hand to his mouth, which surprised you. You thought he'd scold you for criticizing the emperors in his presence. But he didn’t, also, his smile was so beautiful that you couldn't help but smile back.

“Have you seen the games? What do you think?” The General asked you curiously.

“Well a bit, bloody.”

He smirked. “But you're used to seeing blood,” he looked around as if he was waiting for something.

“Yes, but I don't like it when people cut each other mercilessly,” you said in a stubborn tone.

“It's called survival.”

“The game of survival,” you murmured. “I don't know, it doesn't feel right,” you said honestly.

“I'm a warrior too you know, I've fought there countless times,” he said with a proud smile on his face.

You looked at him in surprise, of course, you had expected it, but you shuddered when you imagined him there, fighting for his survival. Soon a carriage pulled up beside you both, he touched your shoulder.

"You'd better go to the villa now. They're expecting me at the banquet," he said.

“I want to say thank you, for bringing me here today,” you said softly as he helped you into the carriage.

“The pleasure is mine," he said gently, his eyes meeting yours made you smile undoubtedly.

He then gestured to the coachman and the horses began to move, pulling the carriage forward.

As the carriage carried you away from the General, you continued to observe him from beneath the curtain until his silhouette in white receded from your view.

The next morning, you opened your eyes and smiled when you heard the rooster crowing cheerfully. You sat up with a yawn, you saw that Norell was already up her mattress was empty, clearly started the day before you. You looked out the window while your mind returned to the events of the previous day. You thought about the ceremony, the games, the gladiators, the blood, your first sight of your arrogant and strange brothers, and that brown-skinned man, Macrinus. And of course, the General. When he stood with that golden crown on his head… You smiled to yourself, remembering him, and suddenly your cheeks flushed. You were surprised every time because you had never experienced such feelings in your body before. It was all so new to you.

On the other hand, you couldn't stop thinking about what Macrinus had said. You were sure he was planning something. It was hard to know if it would be right to tell the General everything, how he would react, who he would side with. Then you remembered the letter, and your body stiffened almost like a statue of Venus. It had completely slipped your mind that you had left it in his room. He didn't have a chance to touch his stuff yesterday because he arrived late at the villa, but he would definitely touch it eventually. You quickly tidied yourself and your hair and walked out of your room. As you stood there by the stairs leading up to the General's room, wondering what to do, Norell came up to you, carrying a tray with food on it.

“Are you taking this to the General?”

“Yes, he must be awake by now.”

“I'll take it to him,” you said and took the tray from her.

“Are you sure? The Master has warned us not to let you do too much work.”

“I'll talk to him, don't worry, I need to check his wound anyway,” you said smiling at her.

“Well, I was afraid of dropping the tray,” she gasped.

“What's wrong?” you put the tray on a nearby chair and went over to her, she was pressing her hand to her stomach.

“Well, it’s my moon,” she smiled at you, her freckled cheeks flushed.

“Oh, do you want me to give you an herbal mixture for the pain?”

“Would that help?”

“It works for me.”

You strode into the room and picked up your leather bag, looking through the few remaining bottles of medicine. You were running low on supplies. When you returned to her side, Norell was sitting in a chair, pressing her hands to her stomach.

You poured some of the medicine from the bottle into a bowl on the tray and crushed it, then poured a little wine into a cup, also from the tray, and diluted the mixture.

"That was the master's cup," Norell declared.

"I'll get a new one from the kitchen, drink this, and I'll be right back."

You had to cross to the other courtyard to get to the kitchen, where you had last entered the balneum. You felt your cheeks flush as you remembered the last time you were there with the General there. You returned to the main courtyard with a new cup, put it on the tray, and looked at Norell, who was grimacing as she drank the herbal concoction you had given her.

"This tastes awful," she complained.

"That's why you should drink it all, dear,” you smiled at her.

Then you picked up the tray and ascended the stairs, one by one. You stopped in front of the General's room, propped the tray up with one hand, and knocked on the door with the other. You opened the door and entered. He was sitting at his desk, looking at papers. He seemed busy. You saw the calamus pen and papers in his hand and knew you had to make a plan to get the letter before he found it.

When he looked up and saw you, he raised his eyebrows. "Have you decided to be my slave now?"

"Well, Norell is not feeling well. I'm helping her, at least for today." You put the tray down on the table and turned towards him, your gaze fixed on the wooden chest next to him.

"What's wrong? Is she alright?"

"It's a woman's issue that happens every month," you explained.

"Oh, I see," he murmured and returned to his papers.

“May I take a look at your wound? As your medicus, of course.”

"So you will appear to be both my slave and medicus today.” He put the pen on the desk, took the paper in his hand, folded it, stuffed it into the envelope, and sealed with pressing his own seal on the wax.

"I guess I am, for today," your eyes were still on the chest, wondering how to get the letter without him noticing.

His lips curled into a smile. "I feel blessed.”

Acacius stood, wearing a dark purple tunic with gold embroidery on the sleeves and collar. He walked over to his bed and sat on the edge of it, looking at you. You moved closer to him and had to bend down to check on his wound. Looking at him out of the corner of your eye, you put your bag on the bed, a bit away from him who had rolled up his tunic.

As you stood in front of him and leaned over him, he was surprised to feel the light breeze of your hair hit his face. He leaned back a little, but it gave him a better view of your breasts, he swallowed hard making him stunned. Then he turned his head away, even though it was so difficult for him, but he waited patiently. You were no different from him as you checked his wound, oblivious to everything, touching his skin made you tense every time. 

The General's wound was almost healed but you noticed a rash around the cut.

“Do you have any itching or pain, sir?”

“Itching, yes, a little, pain, no.”

There’s pain, thought Acacius, but it's not where my wound is, deep in my chest.

He turned his head towards you again and looked into your beautiful eyes shining like a gem under your long eyelashes, he embraced his pain meanwhile. But it wasn't just it. The general was experiencing a whole range of sensations he hadn't felt in a long time, and it was unlike anything he'd ever fully experienced with a woman. You unintentionally revived memories of his naive and callow youth, but he appeared to find it amusing.

“I need to make an ointment for that-“

But just as you straightened up to reach for your bag, you felt pressure and pain in your neck. Looking down, you realize that the chains of the necklace you were wearing were caught in the trimmings on the collar of the general's tunic, stuck in its threads.

He was taken aback, but perhaps not as much as you were. The expression on your face, as you tried to pull your neck backward in utter shock, made him giggle. Unfortunately, you found it difficult to remain calm and the first thing that came to your mind was to unlock the necklace. So when you reached your hands back behind your neck, you lost your balance and fell on top of him. The General was a trained soldier, with well-developed arm and back muscles and a body that could easily carry such a light load in that position. All in all, he was a man so when you fell and your breasts hit his muscular chest, feeling them beneath the thin fabric, made him fall backward onto the bed.

You gasped as you found yourself in this awkward situation without even realizing how it had happened. With a quick move, you put one hand on the bed to sit up and realized that the other was on the general's chest, you withdrew it and looked at his face to check his reaction. The general looked back at you, his dark brown eyes locked on yours, but you were blinking your eyes in surprise. You frantically tried to stand up, but your necklace, as if mocking you, wouldn't let you. He grabbed your shoulders and stopped you as you struggled over his body. You were making it difficult for him to remain calm with your movements, and he was starting to lose his patience.

“Easy, would you?” He growled. His hands reached behind your neck and he murmured as he unlocked the necklace. "Stay still. I can't restrain myself if you keep moving like this.”

Your face flushed like a crimson hue as you realized what he was talking about, gasped as you felt between your legs, beneath the fabric, a part of his body pressing against your womanhood.

“You really don't know how to behave around a man, you are so careless,” he chastised you.

Once your neck was free from the damn necklace, you stood up quickly, feeling a slight soreness in your neck.

“I've spent more time around men than you think, sir,” you mumbled, rubbing the back of your neck with your hand.

As he removed your necklace from the collar of his tunic, a few threads of the fabric snapped with it. “But you were dressing like them, they didn't know you were a woman,” he corrected you. ‘You have to be careful from now on, especially when you're dressed like this.’

"Forgive me, sir," you said, feeling a little embarrassed to look him in the face.

"Your face is as red as wine," he chuckled, sitting up in bed.

You bit your lower lip and pursed your lips, then went over to your bag and picked it up to make the ointment. The medicine bottles rattled as they came out of the bag, and the general looked at them curiously. "You've been carrying these in your bag all this time?" he asked.

"Yes, sir," you replied, uncapping the green bottle, shaking it, and pouring a few drops into the empty bowl on the tray. As you stirred and softened the ointment with your index finger you murmured, “I made all this myself, but it’s almost ran out.’

“Impressive.”

Once the ointment was ready to be applied, you took the bowl in your other hand and approached the general.

“Sir, I need to apply this ointment to the wound.”

“Careful and don't throw yourself on me this time,” he giggled as he grabbed the hem of his tunic and pulled it up once more.

You swallowed and cleared your throat, trying to stay calm, dipped the tip of your finger into the bowl, took some and applied it to the wound.

"You're making the same mistake again," he teased.

You frowned, not quite understanding what he was saying. You were sure you applied the ointment well, but looks like this was not the issue. When you looked at him, you caught him staring at your breasts. He grabbed your wrist and pulled you to him, his eyes meeting yours. His brown eyes were warm and intense, making your heart melt.

"Never bend over another man like that," he whispers.

As his warm breath brushed against your cheek, your heartbeat quickened. "I-I won't," you stammered.

He released your wrist, and you stepped back and put the bowl on the desk. “It needs to be applied at night too, I think you can handle it,” you said with your back turned. You glanced at the wooden chest out of the corner of your eye. It seemed like you wouldn't have a chance to get the letter, at least not while he was still in his room.

“Yes, I'm grateful,” said the general, standing up and coming over to you taking the bowl and sniffing it.

"The aroma is pleasing; what is this?"

You smiled at him. “Asphodeloideae (aloe vera), sir, it does indeed have a pleasing aroma. It has been demonstrated to accelerate the healing of burns and itching wounds. But I'm afraid it's about to run out, so just use it until it's finished.”

Acacius perched himself on the edge of this desk, looking at you. “Carrying all these bottles in your bag might be a little difficult. Besides, you say you're out of supplies, I will be traveling to the city and subsequently to the barracks tomorrow, would you like to come with me?”

“To the barracks?”

“Absolutely not,” his voice was loud and sharp. “I meant to say, I shall convey you to the city in my carriage, and return for you when I have finished my business.”

Pleased by his offer, “Sir, that would be great, thank you.”

He smiled softly at you and walked over to the table to eat the food you had brought for him. As you grabbed your bag and headed for the door to leave the room, he stopped you by extending his hand.

“Won't you join me?”

You turned your head to him. He pointed to the chair opposite him with his hand. “Have a seat, I need to make sure my medicus has eaten something.”

You smiled, did as he said, putting your bag down. Acacius picked up the wine cup, you reached for the decanter before him.

“Allow me, please.”

He smiled gratefully as you poured the wine from the decanter into his cup.

“You are getting better and better at being a slave, you are willing to fulfill all my needs. Except one.”

You almost spilled all the wine when you met his piercing eyes. You slowly placed the decanter on the tray. While you were calculating what to say, he put his hand on yours which holds the handle of the decanter.

"Don't you have any feelings for me?” He was looking at you from under his eyebrows, eagerly waiting for your answer.

His gaze shifted from your lips to your eyes, you lingered looking into his eyes, even if you said what you felt now, it was very difficult to predict what would happen next. You wondered if he would love you for who you really were.

“It's all so new to me also very hard to say anything for sure. But…"

“But?”

You were trying to think rationally under the influence of his gaze, but you were failing.

“I feel happy when I'm with you, and… I miss you when you're not around,” you admitted, feeling your cheeks burning.

“At least there's a silver lining.” Acacius smiled widely, lifted your hand, and placed a kiss on it.

It was an ordinary day in the streets of Rome, blessed by clear sky and sunshine. The sounds of birdsong were interspersed with those of the rooster. Some people wandered the streets on foot, chatting to each other, while others mounted horses and rode along the stone paths at a pace that caused the hooves of the horses to clatter against the buildings with a distinct echoing sound. The sound of a nearby blacksmith's hammer striking an anvil could be heard in the distance, accompanied by the voices of merchants trying to attract customers to their businesses and draw attention to the goods they were offering for sale. Women often inspected the exhibits before making a purchase and then had their slaves carry them home. Since the clothing and accessories worn by each group reflected their status, it was relatively easy to distinguish between social classes.

You and Norell were walking around the streets in your slave clothes and cloaks to buy something just like other Romans. You still couldn't get used to these clothes. When men and women stared at you, wished you were invisible, as you used to be.

You entered the market street and noticed the large crowd gathered in front of the stalls. There were pots, vegetables, fruits, fabrics, fish, butchers, and plants. The plants, herbs, and flowers on the stalls were very varied and fresh. Once you had purchased what you needed and placed it in your bags, you walked down the street once more, recounting to Norell the events of the previous day and your observations at the Colosseum, as she had requested.

"You know he's in love with you, right?" Norell looked at you suggestively through her yellowish eyelashes.

"Are you talking about the General?

“Is there someone else?" she teased, then inhaled deeply. "I wouldn't be surprised, you're quite attractive."

“Oh, Norell, please," you whined.

“I know you love him too, why are you avoiding my question?"

You smiled shyly, “I’m not sure what I feel. How can you be so sure of his feelings anyway?”

You both waited for a carriage to pass in front of you before crossing the street.

“Because I've known him since I was young and I've never seen the General like this before. Even Tullia is worried, she's angry with you, you know.”

You looked at her with your hazel eyes wide open. “Why? But I didn't do anything wrong, I did everything the General asked.”

Once the carriage had passed, you crossed the street and continued walking along the avenue where the west front of the Colosseum was visible. Norell took your arm.

“I don't know how it was where you come from, but here slaves have to fulfill their master’s every need. So Tullia thinks you’re not obeying him.” You were offended by being treated as a slave, but you couldn't blame her for being unaware of the truth about you. You turned your head to her and kept your voice low. “He said he would not touch me against my will.”

“Oh, that's why he's so upset then.”

You stopped and looked at her. “Upset?”

Her brown eyes looked sad. “Every night before I go to bed, I see him looking deep in thought at his balcony. And during the day, he's there, watching whatever you're doing. It's not like him.”

Was he? Somewhere deep in your chest, you felt a sharp, intense pain.

“Other slaves, the beautiful ones, are raped, killed or sold. Even among the nobles, there are those who are forced into marriage and have to sleep with a man they don't love. I know you've never been touched by a man before and neither have I. But if I found someone who could love me the way he loves you, I would give myself to him.” She blinks at you.

You were absolutely certain of her sincerity, but your situation was quite different from that of other slaves, even from all other Roman women.

“I suppose I should confess my feelings to myself first,” you murmured.

“My Lady!”

You and Norell turned to see who was speaking. You were surprised to see Macrinus standing next to you in his cloak.

"I was hoping to meet you," he said, looking around, then came closer. "But, you are very careless," he said in a low voice. "You attract too much attention."

You couldn't understand what he was saying. "Sir, why do you seem to be hiding?”

"I'm lurking because I've been following you for some time, and luckily I found you without anyone noticing."

"Why did you follow me?"

"We need to talk, but not here. We are too exposed.”

“What's going on, Aya? Who is this man?” You forgot for a moment that Norell was looking at you both in confusion.

Macrinus looked at her and then at you then he turned his head to the street.

“Norell, I'll tell you everything later,” you said, touching her shoulder then turned to Macrinus. “Sir, I don't think it’s the right time-”

He grabbed your arm gently. “You don't realize how much danger you are in, Julia suspects something and it's only a matter of time before she finds you.”

“How do you mean?”

"I'll tell you everything, but right now we need to move." He gestured to you as he walked to the other side of the street, you nodded and pulled Norell's arm, you felt uncomfortable going without her.

"Are you going to tell me what is happening? Who is this man?"

"Trust me and wait, I'll tell you everything at once, I promise."

She wasn't convinced, but she nodded and remained silent.

You and Norell followed Macrinus for a few more streets, maintaining a safe distance from the people around you. It didn't take long for you to notice that the streets were getting quieter. There were fewer people around, and the streets were narrower and more secluded. After passing through a narrow, dead-end street, Macrinus stopped, threw back his hood, and turned to you. When you realized Norell was squeezing your arm, you looked at her. Seeing her looking at a structure at the end of the street, petrified. You turned your head to that direction to find out what was worrying her. It was a large but untidy two-story house. The curtains were blowing out of the windows in the wind, they were all red.

“Gods, it’s…whore house," Norell muttered.

You turned to Macrinus in disbelief. At that moment, two men approached you from down the street, surveyed you both, and continued on their way, laughing.

“I'm sorry, my lady, but this is the safest place to talk.”

"To talk? What are you planning? How could you think I would be in such a place?"

Your voice echoed through the cobbled streets as Macrinus approached you, his expression grave.

"I can't speak to you safely anywhere else, your appearance would draw attention if we were in a tavern or other. But this place is too remote for anyone to think of it, you know what I mean, and nothing will happen to you, the one who runs this place knows me and I trust her."

When Norell grabbed your arm, you moved a little away from Macrinus, closer to the wall.

“Look Aya, I don't know what's going on, but this is not good, if the General finds out about this-.”

"I know. He knows my real family, and I trust him.” You lied. “Don't worry, you go to the place where we'll meet with the carriage and wait for me. I don't want you to go there with me."

"I don't think you should go in there either."

You gave Macrinus a quick look, then turned to Norell. "I know, it won't take long, I promise."

Norell looked at you and Macrinus with concern.

"If you won't be there in time, I'll tell the General everything," she said, sounding more like she wanted Macrinus to hear him. You looked at him in panic, but he didn't look surprised. You knew that moment you had to talk to him, no matter what. You were almost certain that he was planning to threaten the General through you.

Once Norell turned the corner into another alley, you turned to Macrinus. He smiled at you, turned, and walked towards the house. He no longer seemed nervous, as if he comes here, and walks through here often. You, however, were tense, feeling abandoned by Norell's leaving and like you'd put yourself in great danger.

Macrinus lifted the iron knocker of the big wooden door and rapped twice. At that moment, you tensed even more as you heard voices coming from inside, your face flushing red with embarrassment. A short, poorly dressed man opened the door and looked at Macrinus, then at you. When his eyes met yours, you looked away.

"Tell Juturna I'm here."

The man gave you one last look and went inside. Macrinus gestured for you to come in as he moved quickly down the corridor. You swallowed and deliberately ignored the voices as you walked in.

“Did it really have to be here?”

“I'm sorry, I understand why you're uncomfortable, but it really is safer than you think.”

Macrinus smirks, but you grow more and more nervous, everyone here men, and women is almost naked even in the mural pictures dyed on the walls. The voices were getting louder and louder when a middle-aged woman came running towards you. She wore too much make-up and smiled broadly at Macrinus.

"Sire, how good to see you again."

"Private room now."

She tilted her head to look at you with wide eyes, you turned your head and wrapped your cloak tightly around your arms, covering your body. She pressed her hand to her chest, "Gods, it's been years since such a beauty drops in here.”

"Don't overstep your bounds, she's a lady!" Macrinus scolded him.

"Apologies, sire. Have your way to up the stairs and the boys will show you to your room," she said with a grin.

Following Macrinus into the hallway, seeing some young girls, half-naked, talking amongst themselves. As you passed them, they looked at you strangely. You felt sorry for them, but also a bit disgusted.

A young boy gestured to the room, and Macrinus invited you in after he had entered. You were almost startled when the door closed behind you. Looked around quickly to observe, red curtains, orange bedspread and pillows, overturned wine cups and fruits in a bowl on the table, and various colored fabrics on the chairs. And the smell... You couldn't stop thinking about what had happened in this room. It made you feel sick.

Macrinus saw your unease and pulled out the chair for you to sit down.

"Have a seat, my lady."

You gave him a look that said you weren't going to be pushed around and sat down on the chair, crossing your arms to avoid touching anything else. "Tell me what I need to know. I don't have much time."

Macrinus took another wine cup from the other table in the corner of the room, poured wine into, and handed it to you. You made a gesture with the back of your hand and shook your head no.

"Are you afraid of the General?" he asked as he sat down in the chair opposite you. "I know you're staying at his villa. How long has he known?”

"He doesn’t! I can assure you that the General has nothing to do with it.”

Macrinus crossed his legs and took a sip of his wine.

"Of course he does. He'll take you to Geta himself as soon as he finds out."

You thought about him. Would he really do that? You couldn't find the answer, and you hated it.

"The general is a man of honor. He will understand when I tell him."

"Are you saying you can lure him to our side?"

"Our side?" You leaned over the chair towards him, "What is your purpose?"

"It's simple. I'm going to present you to the Senate and get them to recognize you unanimously. You will be formally designated as the heiress to the imperial throne. I really wonder about the emperors’ face when they find out."

Macrinus laughed and took a quick sip of wine.

"How do I know you're not lying to me and you're actually on the emperors’ side at this moment?"

Macrinus narrowed his eyes and looked at you. "I am close to Caracalla. He trusts me." He extended his hand toward you, placing one of the red grapes from the table in it. "I have him right in the palm of my hand, right here, and when the time comes…" He closed his palm and squeezed the grape, the pinkish juice of the grape slowly flowed between his fingers and dripped on the floor. You looked at him in disgust as he ate smashed grapes and licked his own palm.

“And what do you want from me? What will you gain if the Senate recognizes me?”

“I promised your father I would restore peace to Rome, and after he sent you away, he asked me to find Vicius and make sure you were safe. So as I stated before, I went to Egypt to find you, Vicius managed to hide you, he didn't believe me, he was very good at covering his tracks. No wonder he kept you hidden all this time. On the way back, news reached me of your father's death in York, and by the time I got back to the capital, Caracalla and Geta had declared their empire.”

That was four years ago, and it was no coincidence that on that very day, your uncle took you from home to the Valetudinarium in Alexandria. But you still weren't sure whether he had done it to protect you from Macrinus or from your emperor brothers or Julia.

“You said Julia suspected something.”

Macrinus was a man of very calm demeanor; it was hard to tell from his expression what he was thinking. “If Julia finds out you're alive, she'll take your life without a second thought.”

You swallowed hard, you already disliked her when you met her on the day of the ceremony.

“But I'm a woman, I can't be a threat to the throne,” you said looking at him, Macrinus put his cup on the table and leaned forward.

“But if one day you give birth to a son, my lady, you will be the greatest threat of all. She is a woman who keeps the General and her sons in balance, do not underestimate her. She wants Acacius in the Senate, to gain power over me.” He reached for a bunch of grapes and plucked one. “But I have secured my position, and with you we can save Rome from them for good.” He popped a grape into his mouth and smiled at you as he chewed.

“What about the General, what will happen to him?”

He stopped chewing. “He has to choose. But before, he could be charged with treason for hiding you in his villa.”

“No, I told you, there’s nothing like that, he doesn't know about the letter. He doesn't know who I really am,” you yelled at him.

“Do you really think emperors would care about that?”

You knew the answer, your heart began beating in your throat. It wasn't fair that the General should face such an offense because of you.

"If you go to the Senate, there'll be a trial and a judgment, and we'll win. No doubt about it. I'll send the word tonight. The court will convene the day after tomorrow. I can hide you until then," he said, standing up and holding out his hand to you.

You regarded him with a determined expression. "I am grateful for your kindness, but I believe I will be safer with the General, I would like to leave now before he finds me here. Moreover, I am not yet ready to trust you fully."

Macrinus laughed. "My lady, I believe that attitude will serve you well in front of the Senate. It might be beneficial to adopt a similar stance.”

As you left the room, you felt a strong inclination to descend the stairs as quickly as possible, in order to avoid the rather pungent odours and sounds. As you passed the rooms one by one, you heard what seemed to be a cry. Out of the corner of your eye, you thought you saw a face you had seen before. You stopped, and when you wanted to look again to make sure, you turned your head, and lifted the torn red curtain blocking the entrance of the room to see her face. It was her, Decima, the girl you met on the ship and with whom you had the good fortune to become friends. You shared your secrets with her, and you had always assumed that she had been sold to a wealthy man. You hoped that she had been happy until now. You were so wrong. You felt your body trembling as your eyes began to well up with tears.

"Are you all right, my lady?" Macrinus asked, concern evident in his voice which came to you in a blur.

"Decima!" You ran into the room beside her, grabbing her shoulders. She was startled, then looked at you with a surprised look on her face and started to cry. You hugged her and pressed her head to your chest.

"Have you been here all this time?”

She was visibly distraught, and your heart ached for her. "I thought you had forgotten me," she sobbed.

"Never. I thought that nobleman had bought you. What happened?"

"No, he didn't," she mumbled, shaking her head.

Without a second thought you grabbed her arm and pulled her out of the room.

Macrinus stepped in front of you. “My lady, you can't do this, she belongs here now.”

"No way! I'm taking her with me!" You barked and pushed him aside, pulled Decima by the arm ran to the stairs, and kept walking while ignoring the murmuring, and shouting coming behind you.

“Hey! How you? She's my slave, I paid eight thousand sesterces for her!” Juturna, who owned the place got up from her seat and came over to you, she was angry. Two guards at the door came in, blocking your way with a threatening and mocking demeanor.

Macrinus came running behind. “My lady, please, let her go. Those are the rules here. I’m begging you.”

It never felt right, you didn't want to leave Decima there to her fate. Then, someone came running up to Macrinus and whispered something in his ear. He tensed, cursed angrily, and turned his head to you. “Acacius is here. I need to go. Please don't do anything dull,” he warned you. Then he made his way back down the corridor and stepped through the door that led to the rear entrance.

You swallowed hard when you heard the General’s name, you had to think fast, decide fast. Then you opted to follow your heart, rather than your mind. As you grabbed Decima's hand and headed for the door, it opened with a thud and the General stormed in. You both regarded each other with surprise, but his expression soon became one of anger.

“General Acacius, sir!” Juturna approached him.

He didn't hear her, didn't look around, he was as angry as you'd ever seen him, with a piercing gaze that took hold of yours. As he reached out and grabbed your arm, you pulled back with all your strength. But the second time he grabbed again and pulled roughly, you couldn't find the strength to pull back. But you didn't intend to let go of Decima's hand either.

“Sir, please tell her something, she's trying to take my slave.” The woman bowed her head in front of the general and squinted at you.

“She is my friend, please help me, sir,” you said pleadingly.

"I'm a Roman citizen, and this one belongs to me. You clearly don't know the laws. Give her to me now," she said, grabbing Decima's other arm and pulling her along.

“No!”

“Let her go, Aya!” the General roared, but you didn't listen to him. Before you could even think about reaching for Decima, he grabbed your arm again and pulled you to outside, but you struggled with all your strength. The General let out a low growl, and before you knew it, the ground gave way beneath your feet. He grabbed you and threw you over his shoulder. Your face hit the leather armor on his muscular back with a thump, leaving you gasping in surprise. You struggled to get free, but he held on tight, carrying you out.

“No! Let me down! Please!” No matter what you said, it didn't stop him, you tried to lift your head to look at Decima, but when you saw that the door was closed, you got angry.

You started punching his back, but it was like hitting a stone wall. He tightened his muscular arm around the back of your thighs, right near your butt. As he carried you, your loud voice echoed through the whole street. People in the street looked at you curiously as they saw the general had come with you over his shoulder to the carriage. You gave up struggling, and he set you down.

Your hair was a mess, but all you had on your mind was getting back to Decima. He saw you looking back, grabbed your arm, and put you and then himself into the carriage. He ordered the coachman to drive and then he started his horses. He sat you down next to him and never let go of your arm. When the carriage moved, he loosened his grip and turned his head towards you. But you were looking the other way. Norell sitting across from you, her lips tightly closed, so ashamed to look the general in the face, blaming herself. No one spoke the whole way, only the sound of the wheels rolling on the stony ground echoed inside the carriage.

Upon arrival at the villa, Norell regarded the General and you with a timid expression before exiting the carriage. You didn't move, your anger still raw. In the end, your stubbornness made him give up and he got out. "Come out now," he ordered.

He was waiting for you with his hand extended. You inhaled and stood up, but instead of taking his hand, you grabbed the side of the car as you stepped out. You walk briskly into the Villa's garden and leave him behind. As you came into the garden, you saw Tullia and Norell whispering to each other. You glanced at them, and they looked over at the general, who was walking quickly behind you. They seemed tense. As you were heading to your room, a strong hand grabbed your wrist. He pulled you to the stairs this time you didn’t resist. He led you to his room and closed the door.

He turned to you, first his brown eyes met yours and then he calculated what to say or tried to remain calm.

“You will never go there again, do you hear me?”

You glanced over at the balcony, and he stepped a little closer. “How could you go there? How could you put yourself in danger like that? What were you thinking?”

“She's my friend,” you murmured, looking at the setting sun on the horizon through the window.

“Even so, there's nothing you can do for her, the rules apply to everyone.”

“That could have been me,” you turned your head to him. “I could have been one of those poor girls if you-” you swallowed, your voice was trembling.

Acacius' expression softened as he moved closer to you. "I'm truly sorry about your friend, but you need to let it go. I need you to promise me you won't go there again." His brown eyes were bathed in the orangish sunlight streaming through the window. They were looking at you with intensity, delving deeply into your soul. You wondered how you could still be so stubborn, defying him like that. You closed your eyes and crossed your arms, realizing your disobedience, he grabbed your shoulders. "I may be a gentle master to you, but don't even think to test my patience.”

At that moment, the anger that was welling up inside you was trying to get out.

“I am not your slave! I never have been! I'm-”

You almost would tell him everything, but not feeling ready yet, not like this. He was far from being surprised, it’s like he knew you were going to say that.

“As for that, I couldn't find any proof that you were a Roman citizen,” Acacius pulled his hands back, “I recently sent a letter to the governor in Egypt regarding your uncle's funeral. I have received a reply from him today. It seems that he does not have any relatives, only his wife and himself. Interestingly, there is no record of the name Aya.”

It was rather unexpected. You were unprepared for how quickly he discovered the truth. As he approached, you instinctively braced yourself and took a step back. You winced when your back hit the stone wall. Acacius placed his palms on the wall, either side of your head. His brown eyes darkened as he leaned in, almost close enough to kiss you. You placed your hands against the wall behind you, feeling the coolness of the stone in your palms and on your skin, in an attempt to gather your strength. His eyes locked onto yours as if he were questioning you.

“Who are you?”

thank you everyone for all likes and comments <3

@myownwholewildworld @orcasoul @pedroslut4eva @immyowndefender @lailathepedritofan @screechingchildfury @shinymusicpanda

if anyone wants me to tag them please comment :) thank you all <3

[photogirl894]

Ok my dear Morgan!!!! Congrats on the followers!!!!!

Bestie I'm throwing a few at you just because I can.

Hehehehehe some of these might look familiar ;D *insert Yoda laugh*

Do Fluff 1. "Do not go far from me."/"I won't." but with a twist? Maybe it's said another time in the story with "And if I do?" instead of "I won't" at a certain point. And Angst 4. and 12 “Do you know what it would do to me if I lost you?” “I need to keep you safe.”/”Then who will keep you safe?”

Angst 24 “Keep your eyes on me. Only me.” and physical affection 1. forhead touches and 19. lifting someone into the air and spinning them.

Do I even need to say his name? The beautiful one with the pretty eyes? ;D

Can't wait to see what you come up with. Will be spectacular as always!

Oh bestie, I love all of this so much!! 😍🥰

I'm gonna do two separate posts for both requests since I really like them both and want to do both 😉 though I'm actually gonna start with #2 cuz I thought of an idea for that one immediately! 😆

And ohhhh yes, I know which beautiful Clone with the pretty eyes you are referring to 😍😍

"Two Left Feet"

24. "Keep your eyes on me. Only me."

1. Forehead touches

19. Lifting someone into the air and spinning them

Pairing: Hunter x fem reader

***

Going undercover at a Republic ball was not something you were looking forward to...especially because you were being expected to dance.

There was just one problem with that...

You couldn't dance!

When you tried to dance, you were like a Gungan with two left feet. You had good rhythm, at least, but not the moves. It was embarrassing.

What was even more embarrassing was you were being paired with Sergeant Hunter of Clone Force 99, someone you'd had your eyes on for a while and you'd flirted with from time to time. You had to try and dance in front of him and you were mortified.

You were an analyst for the Republic and you were needed on this mission to analyze certain data the Bad Batch were trying to retrieve. This wasn't your first time working with them either. There had been reports of a spy in the Republic Senate who was going to be making secret deals with the Separatists during the ball and you and the Clones were being sent in undercover to intercept the rogue Senator. Which meant being dressed up all nice, which you didn't mind as much. That and it meant seeing Hunter in nice, formal wear, as well...which you definitely didn't mind either.

At the ball, you and Hunter lounging around on the side of the ballroom while Crosshair kept watch on the opposite end. The rest of the squad were in other parts of the building.

"Why am I one of the ones that has to be here?" Crosshair complained over comms.

"Because Wrecker sticks out too much and Tech and Echo are needed to keep watch on the cameras," Hunter answered.

The both of you heard Crosshair groan in response.

"Hey, I don't want to be here either, Crosshair, so suck it up," you scolded him on your comm.

As you put it back in a sleeve of your dress, Hunter asked you, "What? You mean you don't want to be here with me?" He grinned teasingly at you.

You could feel your cheeks flashing hot at his remark and even more so at the way he was smirking at you. It made you want to hide your face. Just as you were going to answer, the music started playing louder and people were moving onto the dance floor. The moment you dreaded the most.

"Well, guess we'd better go, too," said Hunter, offering his arm to you.

With a nervous gulp, you looped your arm through his and he led you to the dance floor with everyone else. You tried to hide your growing nerves, but to your dismay, you had forgotten Hunter had enhanced senses and could tell something was up.

"What's wrong?" he asked you.

"I...I can't dance," you anxiously admitted and then you started just rambling without thinking. "I'm going to embarrass you and draw attention to us, which could compromise the mission, and then we're gonna be--"

Hunter came up and wrapped his arm around your waist, pulling you against him and he took hold of your other hand as the dancing began. "You worry too much," he said in a soft voice, "and you won't embarrass me. Just look at me and everything will be fine."

As the music started and the two of you began to move, he stepped to the left and you immediately tripped over your own feet, apologizing right after. The two of you kept going with the dance and you stepped either on his foot or were stumbling over your dress; nothing was working. You clenched your teeth in frustration and shame, feeling everyone's eyes on you.

Then Hunter stopped and said your name. When you looked up at him, he told you, using a firm tone yet still with a gentle voice, "Keep your eyes on me. Only me. Don't think; just trust me and let me lead you."

Something about gazing into Hunter's eyes just made you forget about all of the judgmental stares surrounding you or even your own humiliation at your inability to dance. There was calm, safety and warmth in his eyes that seemed to ease your fears and anxiety.

As you both moved, he quickly explained the steps of the dance and kept you close so you could move with him easier. You let him just pull you with him, your bodies pressed closely against each other, and your gaze never left his. The eye contact you maintained was intense and electrifying, which made your heart race increasingly. Just as you came to that realization, Hunter grinned at you again, which most likely meant he could sense your rapid heartbeat, too. You became lost in his gaze that you almost forgot you were even dancing in the first place.

"I love your eyes," you stated, realizing too late that you'd said that out loud.

Hunter let out a pleased chuckle. "Your eyes are much lovelier to look at than mine," he replied.

Before you could react, he suddenly pulled a move that you didn't expect: he gripped you underneath your arms and lifted you effortlessly into the air, spinning you in a circle. You let out a small laugh of delight and smiled down at him, which made him smile up at you in return. As he slowly lowered you down, your body sliding down against his own, the music slowed down and came to an end, the crowd of onlookers watching all the dancers applauding as the music stopped. The applause was just distant noise as you couldn't pull yourself away from Hunter's gaze, the two of you staying in each other's arms. The rest of the room seemed to fade away, leaving the two of you alone. His lips parted and his breathing grew heavy along with your own as an unknown force seemed to draw you two in and you touched your foreheads together.

You wanted everything else to just cease around you and to live in this moment alone with Hunter.

Unfortunately, Crosshair's voice speaking in both your ear comms broke you out of the moment as he said, "The Senator's on the move. We need to go."

Both you and Hunter snapped out of the moment and back into reality, stepping apart and you rubbed the back of your neck awkwardly, feeling the heat returning to your cheeks.

"You'd better get going," you told him.

"There's one thing I need to do first," he responded. Then he pulled you back to him and you found your lips meeting his in a deep and powerful kiss that nearly made you go weak at the knees. Then when he pulled away, he had a confident smirk on his face. "Now, I'm ready to catch a Senator," he declared before running away.

Your fingers came up to your lips and you smiled. Seems like this mission hadn't turned out to be a bad thing after all...and you couldn't wait for this ball to be done.

Photogirl894's Angst prompts

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[satoshy12]

My wife's dad is more scary then Batman and my grandfather Ra's al Ghul

Estelle as name for Dani or Estrella 

4 Baby Talons (clones of dick Grayson)

It had already been a few months since Damian got married to his friend Ellie, and he was very happy. I'm not sure how to explain it to his family or, worse, her family, but that can wait. It happened while he was traveling with her together on vacation through the countries. And he chated and wrote her like four times a day.

While Damian hid it from his family, Dani didn't, as she first told Sam. Jazz and Maddie are working on how to tell Danny. And then Danny learned about it, and he left to meet that boy in Gotham. It had been a long time since he had been in Gotham. And the observers wanted that one person called Doctor Simon Hurt; too many souls died thanks to him.

He was joined by Skulker on this mission. Skulker was just happy to hunt something new, as he didn't try to hunt Danny anymore. The pain that Danny did to his Robot Body he felt on his real boy!

Well, Dani kind of followed Danny; she wanted to make sure he didn't turn her into a widow! She didn't even tell him about her being a meta!

There was something not many people knew about Danny that he himself never noticed, as Amity Park had known him since he was a baby. And being pretty carefree in your demeanor doesn't help. But once outside of Gotham or at Gala with Vlad, people notice it, like Lex Luthor that very short moment in the Gala.

Here in Gotham,

Danny met his son-in-law, and he found the boy interesting. Sam had told him about the child of Bruce Wayne, the playboy billionaire. But he wasn't sure why the boy was so jumpy. I mean, Skulker isn't even near them; already, with few of his duplicates had found Dr. Hurt and captured him already. And Danny others looked if that Owl group still existed since the last time he cleaned them up.

Danny is too powerful for most normal people to fear. Only with good instinct will he notice how formidable he truly is.

So poor Damian's whole body was in horror at this moment. His instinct made him able to notice it fully.

Damian twitched as he was just near Dani's Father, no matter how he tried to hide or stop it. This man made him think of his grandfather, General Zod or similiar. He wanted to draw his Sword, but he didn't have it near him.

Damian smiled at Dani as he tried to play it cool. But when you notice your father-in-law's shadow moving, HE HAS SEEN WORSE! He can do this!

And after a good dinner and talk he got the support of Danny; Ellie smiled; she wouldn't be a widow; and Damian was happy he was accepted and didn't have to fight this villain, maybe? or in the future. Damian didn't get to sigh in relief as Danny left and whispered something about collecting something.

No! Damian, doesn't care!

He wants alone time with his wife. Only to be told "he was to come with his family to Amity Park to meet the Fenton. Damian's family should meet theirs."

Dani told him they would come, and she would Call them 1 or 2 days bore that first before Damian could say anything.

+++++

As Danny was outside of Gotham, Skulker came to him with his few duplicates, holding four tiny blue-gold mixed-eyed children. "Skulker, you destroyed how they were created and so they can't do it again?" Skulker:"Yup, destroyed both Dionesium and Electrum and let few pets out to eat them, it wasn't Lazarus Pit which is needed after all and has nothing to do with us in the Zone. Also I sent copies of the Court members, very damning evidence of their crimes to many newspapers and reporters all around the US. Did you know they blackmailed a few Senators? It will be a comedy in a few days; you can tell that goth girl to tell her family." Danny nodded his head at that. " The cover-ups for this one?" Skulker:" Yes, Mr. Freeze will do it, as last thanks for helping to heal his wife." Danny:" Good, we can leave then. I am hungry."

Skulker:" Didn't you just eat?"

++++

At Amity Park, it didn't take long for Jazz to just accept the new 4 Owlet babies and raise them, she really is wanting to raise them. True, Danny had no plan for them, but that works too. And now they just have to wait for Damian to visit with his family.

++++

At Gotham, after the chaos was fixed by Mr. Freeze and the new chaos started by the news and police forces and even villains attacking the higher class… Bruce meets and learns about his son's wife, and he is told to meet her family in Amity Park. Damian warned his father, his new father-in-law, that this is very scary and not normal.

[lady-crowned-with-stars]

[ anger ] sender takes their anger out on receiver @empirexsin

Commodus struck her face before, but this is something else; this she cannot think why he is doing it to her. He is angry this much is clear both in his expression and his actions. Perhaps, what she is receiving is meant for someone else, a senator, a general, a concubine, statesman, and she was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

To think that only this morning she was having a nice meal with him, learning about what he enjoyed eating and what he did not; and she got to share some memories of the meals shs ate back home, the pastries. She even held his hand then and gave him a kiss farewell when their duties had to separate them for the day.

However, she cannot seem to be able to soothe him, nor with her words, nor with any touches. All of her attempts are futile and met with only pain and anger, a grip, tight squeeze of her wrists, his hand over her throat, squeezing during each of her attempts to speak up. Eventually, Gilrin gives up understanding the painful actions towards her, only waiting for them to end, for her to be able to lick her wounds back in her chambers and draw some more conclusions about the kind of man she married.

She scuttles away from him, flinches even as she assesses the damage to her body, hand marks on her throat, red, bruises on her knees from when he dropped her to the hard floor, purple and green and aching. Finger marks and bruises on her wrists that make her hiss upon touching them.

Gilrin wants to look dignified, act dignified but she can't, not now, as her lips quiver and her tears starts to fall. She buries her face in her knees. She thought she would be able to handle this, having a volatile husband, navigating herself through court life and his emotions; but it's all beginning to feel impossible to her now. She knows she needs to gather her strength again, but she cannot seem to stop crying.

[vodika-vibes]

The sexual tension between Fox and PA is delicious~ 🥵 drag it on for as loooong as you want vod’ika 😘

Every time I get a reblog cursing the slow burn, ten years are added to my life, lol.

Also, the PA needs a nickname, so when people are talking about them, they're just Yuu. I think I'm clever

Fox looks up from a stack of reports when his office opens, and you walk in, a shiny hot on your heels. Literally, in this case, since he's pretty sure the shiny can smell your shampoo with as close as he's tailing you.

Fox hates him immediately.

"Commander, sir, Personal Assistant Yuu needs to speak with you." The Shiny announces.

You roll your eyes dramatically, and Fox smothers a grin.

"Yes, the Guard does report to them." He says lightly, "Thank you." You sit in your chair and cross your leg at the knee, drawing his attention to your legs.

They really are the most amazing legs-

Fox suddenly realizes that the shiny is still in his office, "What?"

"Policy says that none if the vod'e are allowed to be allow with...um...natborn politicians." The shiny replies.

Fox exhales slowly through his nose, "That rule applies to every who isn't me. Get out."

"But...sir-"

Yeah, Fox hates him.

"Get. Out."

The shiny scurries from his office like a spooked tooka, and Fox focuses his attention on you.

As soon as the door shuts, you're walked around his desk and sitting on the edge, an alluring smile on your lips.

"That wasn't nice," You tease, and there's a flash of pink as your tongue darts out to wet your lips.

He'd sell his damned soul to be able to taste your lips, to have your tongue sliding against his-

"I'm not a nice man." Fox replies as he leans back in his chair. He watches your gaze drop to his chest, and he's suddenly very pleased that he hasn't gotten around to putting the top parts of his armor back on.

You smile at him, all soft and delicate and pretty, and he can't stand it anymore-

He stands suddenly and sets his hands on either side of you, and your legs spread for him, and Fox is able to press fully against you.

You're as soft as he remembers from that night dancing in your apartment, and he's unable to stop himself from sliding a scarred, calloused hand down the column of your neck.

"I really like this top," Fox says, his voice low, and he's rewarded with a shiver. "It looks like if you were to tug on a piece it'd fall apart."

You tilt your head back to meet his gaze evenly, "maybe it will, you should give it a tug."

"Maybe I should." Fox agrees breathlessly, his hand sliding to the back of your neck as he leans in. His lips are hovering just over yours when there's a knock on the door.

And you both stop, but neither of you seem inclined to move away from the other.

"Commander?" The Shiny is back. Fox is going to assign him latrine duty for a year.

"Ignore him," your voice is soft, and your breath is warm, and Fox is so very tempted.

"Commander? I know you're busy, but there's someone here for you."

Slowly, Fox pulls away, but the look of sheer disappointment on your face has him rethinking his decision immediately.

A third knock on the door snaps him out of his thoughts, and he stalks across the room to throw open the door. "This had better be important. As in, the Senate's on fire, the end is nigh important."

The Shiny wordlessly points to the side, where Comander Wolffe is standing, "That's a bit dramatic, don't you think?"

Fox stares flatly at his twin, "Leave. I'm busy."

"To busy to spend time with your own twin?'

Fox glowers at him, and opens his mouth to say something only to pause when you duck under his arm, "Wait, you're leaving?"

You smile apologetically, "Sorry, I was only able to carve out a little time for this meeting. I have to get back to it."

Fox's heart sinks, "but-"

"I'll see you later, Commander." You reassure with a fond smile, "if not today, then definitely tomorrow." You favor him with one more soft look, and then you turn towards the elevator.

...he was so close to actually kissing them this time-

Fox exhales slowly, and presses his hands together in front of his mouth. "Wolffe."

"Yeah?"

"I'm going to beat you so bad that you're going to wish I was 17." Fox says, very calmly.

"...I didn't know I was interrupting a date." Wolffe mutters, "But I'd also like to see you try."

[transingthoseformers]

He is not. Definitely not.

He is injecting, for a truly minor procedure, a band aid of a surgery, and underestimated Ratchet's personal disgust and revulsion.

It hits him while he's inside, making the dear of his patient hit him personally rather than being something that he can enjoy. Trepan with his and Ratchet's instincts slowly pulls out, and vomits shaking manually shut down his own emotional receptors and put the patient under. Without the active fear he quickly and efficiently finishes, cleans to hide it, goes through the day numb, and turns them back on at home to get hit by the full range of self-disgust and utter fury that leads him to throwing Ratchet’s brain around like a stress ball.

He fully focuses on attempting repairs and finds a lot of his work has been dangerously undone. He refuses to come out about it, though lest he be marked as potentially dangerous. He has the data ghost of a "dissident" that's enough to get him flagged, and he knows personally what could happen.

This makes compounds into further stress because he's been pointedly ignoring the persistent Orion, struggling with unfamiliar morals, and new guilt over lying to Pharma, who he worries about.

Trepan degrades and falls into Ratchet's mental patterns to the point he wakes up and goes to the hospital before realizing he runs into Rung in the waiting room. Rung had just dropped off a patient for repairs due to an incident, and he pegs what is going on and says, deliberately, "Ratchet" and Trepan answers and starts having a breakdown.

Rung, gently, escorts him somewhere private and talks him through it. Trepan is lashing out, but Rung is being compassionate yet firm. He understands exactly what is happening and is raging and grieving on the inside, realizing what it means for how Ratchet died.

Trepan lets Rung calm him down and admits he doesn't know his own mind anymore. He's gotten good at hiding it, but what triggered this was he was allowed to go back to work and reacted poorly to injecting.

Trepan almost reaches out but pushes Rung away and threatens him to not tell Pharma.

Rung doesn't, yet only because he knows Pharma won't believe him as he has known Trepan longer and leans on him. Rung also isn't fully aware Trepan reported Ratchet intentionally not just was an unlucky minion who works for the Institute. He knows that the Senate has mnemosurgeons onboard, and they were the ones in power who made the choice. Trepan wouldn't have selected Ratchet or approved him for a P.A. Bit he knows exactly who would and decides he needs to make a point to visit Senator Shockwave about his most recent legislation on mnemosurgery regulations.

Rung is more focused on the safety of those involved. He can see the potential danger to himself and others in thecclearly destabilizing Trepan. He also has taken on the responsibility of being there for Pharma. Rung does supply Pharma with the reality of mnemosurgeries use, Senate laws, and Ratchet's activities to let him draw his own conclusions and investigate when he's ready.

Despite his own disgust he even makes the choice to go check up on Trepan which leads to his first meeting with Orion Pax who has been hounding Trepan for a follow up interview that added to Trepan's stress. Rung politely excuses himself and Trepan pointedly avoids him after.

Yesssss

Oh Trepan

I do not feel bad for him right now😁

I hold firm by my opinion that mnemosurgery is terrifying as shit, and by extension Trepan is triple terrifying.

dAMN ON HIM THROWING THE BRAIN. after all. He can't throw around the psychological parts of Ratchet inside him. But he can throw that.

Mmhm and now he's afraid of something happening to him because after all. If he was in the other's shoes, fuck knows he'd punish first ask questions later in order to keep the status quo.

This is so fascinating because for all intents and purposes, he is partially Ratchet. And this is fucking with him so much.

And Rung can see both of these facts, thus Trepan losing it even more

again god that's gotta be a horrible death, dying during mnemosurgery.

So Rung doesn't know everything, but what he does know is rather concerning. I mean the truth is concerning but yeahhh.

Senator Shockwave, the unlucky bastard himself

Rung may hate Trepan, but he sees a duty in this. Trepan matters to Pharma, and Rung cares about Pharma.

[astrajinn]

Just a Memory

The three of them were running towards the ship; they were about to reach it, and behind them, a man on a speeder was coming after them, accompanied by a flying droid.

"Qui-Gon, wait, I'm tired," announced the boy, struggling to keep up with the other two.

"Anakin, get down/crouch," Qui-Gon yelled at the same time as the speeder passed over him, and he jumped, drawing a lightsaber with which he attacked Qui-Gon. Qui-Gon used his own immediately to start the confrontation.

"Get away," he asked, but at that moment, the droid began to shoot, and Astra pulled out her lightsaber to deflect the shots, protecting Anakin. They were trying to get closer to the ship, and she did the best she could.

"I said go!" she shouted when she saw her jump to the other side.

"When I'm done with the tin can," she complained, jumping again and cutting it in two.

At that moment, the ship took off and flew low, giving the girl and the Jedi time to jump on board. They fell to the floor once inside and were greeted by Anakin and Obi-Wan.

"Who was that?" the older one asked.

"I don't know, but he knows the ways of the Jedi. He probably was looking for the queen."

"Then we need to warn her."

"Let's be patient, Anakin Skywalker. He is Obi-Wan Kenobi."

"Hello," he shook his hand. "Are you a Jedi too? Pleasure to meet you."

"I like him too."

"Qui-Gon, can we go back?" the girl asked.

"Did you forget something?" he asked worried.

"No, but we can probably trade Obi-Wan for Ani's mother," she suggested with a sinister smile.

They embarked on the journey to Coruscant, where the Council would receive them. Astra went with Jar Jar, R2-D2, and Anakin to a different room where they would sleep, but when the girl saw her friend trembling, she got up and told him she would get a blanket. Shortly after, Padme entered and started watching a hologram.

"There are already too many deaths; we must accede to his wishes. You must contact me."

"Will you continue to deny that you lie, or will you persist with this charade?" she pointed out as she entered, and at that moment, Anakin groaned.

"What's wrong?"

"It's so cold," he pointed out as Astra went to him and tucked him in.

"You come from a hot planet, too hot for my taste, and space is very cold."

"Tell me about it. Naboo is a tropical planet, and Paraddle is a snowy planet," he said with some sadness, still haunted by memories of his home.

"They look sad."

"The queen is distressed, her people are suffering and dying. We need to convince the Senate to intervene. I can't imagine what will happen," he explained, and the boy looked expectantly at the younger one.

"For over four days, I should have been somewhere else with someone I care about. I know Qui-Gon didn't inform her about the delay, and she'll be very upset if she doesn't hear news soon. It goes against the rules, but I love my planet and its people with all my heart."

"Paraddle is a very peaceful planet. How does a Jedi come from a place like that?" she asked curiously.

"I'm not the first, I can assure you. Even our queen was a Jedi."

"Can Jedi rule planets?" the boy inquired, not understanding.

"No, but she loved her people more than anything. She was the only heir, and when the time came, she left the Order forever and chose her people," she looked at Padme with a sly smile. "I don't know if I would have that courage."

"I'm sure you have that and more. Things are about to change, and I know it won't be easy, but I'm glad to have met you. I'll never forget you," she left them in the place.

"Astra," he called her timidly. "I made this for you," he showed her a necklace. "I carved it from a piece of Japor, so we'll always be together, and it will bring you good luck."

"Ani," she put her hand on his cheek and smiled at the gift. "We'll always be together," she assured without saying anything.

The children slept in the ship that day, and in the morning, each went their own way. Anakin went to the pilot's cabin, and the Jedi, the master and his two students, began to train. On that particular day, being on a ship and not having the proper equipment, they would have to meditate and learn to free their minds from all thoughts.

"Do this is impossible."

"Clearing your mind is not devoid of thoughts. It's letting them flow like a river. Don't cling to them; if they come, let them go just as quickly," the elder argued, trying to prevent the younger one from getting frustrated.

"Sir, we're about to arrive."

"Very well, you two, grab your things and get ready," he asked, getting up and taking his lightsaber.

The two of them got ready while half-arguing, as always, but it was rare that they didn't. They descended in the chancellor's ship and got off in order: first the three Force users, followed by Anakin and Jar-Jar. Then the captain and the queen with her handmaidens. When facing the chancellor and the senator, the first six bowed and let the queen pass. The children stayed on the side, and Qui-Gon pulled them towards him.

"It is a joy to see you alive, Your Majesty. The communications blockade greatly concerned us. I eagerly await your report on the situation. Let me introduce you to Supreme Chancellor Valorum."

"You'll go with them," the girl informed her friend. "Padme will take care of you, and then we'll come for you."

"And you?" he asked.

"My place is with Qui-Gon; we have something to do."

Everyone moved forward except the three members of the Order, and when they were about to get on their speeder, Anakin turned to look at them, and Qui-Gon signaled him to go.

"Alright, we have to go to the Council. Astra, for this time, don't jump on the walls."

"Can I use my speeder?"

"When we leave."

"And I hope you have a good excuse for Master Yoda," they walked towards their speeder. "He's been without his lightsaber for a week."

"I can always tell him you stole it," he threatened, getting on.

"You don't argue with Anakin as much."

The return to the Temple was not as Astra expected. She thought it would feel like coming home, but she felt empty, and a deep sorrow pressed on her heart. She unfolded her speeder and got on to move through it to the Council room, where Qui-Gon explained about the Sith they encountered.

"My only conclusion is that the attacker was a Sith Lord," he admitted with a rehearsed calm.

"It's impossible. The Sith have been extinct for over a millennium."

"Well, the one we saw was very much alive," the girl argued.

"I highly doubt the Sith have returned without us knowing," Master Windu pointed out.

"Difficult to see the dark side is," Yoda added.

"We will do everything possible to clarify this mystery and discover the identity of your attacker. May the Force be with you."

The padawan walked towards the door, while the youngling and the master stayed in the center of the room, hoping to report on Anakin's discovery.

"Master Qui-Gon, do you have anything else to tell us?"

"With your permission, Master, Astra can speak later. Could you wait outside?" he asked, and the girl bowed before leaving. "I sensed a disturbance in the Force."

"A disturbance, you say?"

"In a person," he corrected. "A boy has the highest concentration of midi-chlorians I've seen in a life form. It even surpasses Astra's."

"The midi-chlorians in Astra increase exponentially as she grows," Ki-Adi-Mundi pointed out.

"At a gradual rate, however, her last check two weeks ago indicated a level of 15,000 midi-chlorians. Two days ago, they had increased to 18,000. You know my suspicions regarding Astra, and I believe this boy was conceived by the midi-chlorians."

"Are you talking about the prophecy of the one who will bring balance to the Force and an incarnation of the Force itself? First, you believed it was Astra, and now you think it's this boy?"

"I don't intend to assume that..."

"He interrupted. "That's what you're doing, and you've already given your opinion."

"I request a test for the boy."

"You're asking for Jedi training for him."

"Finding him was the will of the Force. There's no doubt about that."

"You can present him to the Council."

"The girl can pass, and her concern can be clarified."

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan left the room, and Astra entered, walking with her head down out of guilt.

"What do you wish to talk to us about?"

"Excuse me, Master Windu, but I want to speak alone with Master Yoda."

"He decides that."

"The girl wishes to speak with me. Allow it, we can."

With that, all the other Council members left, and she approached Master Yoda, bowing at his feet, murmuring "apology."

"You want to return something to me."

"Yes, Master," she reached for her belt and took out the lightsaber to give it to him. "I swear I didn't steal it. I wanted to follow Master Qui-Gon, and the only way to get to the hangar on time was with my speeder. But when I used the Force to bring it, it brought me his lightsaber instead, and I ran out of time. And if I went, I would need to defend myself."

"From the Force, a design that my lightsaber be with you was. This journey is not finished. When it's over, you'll return it, and you'll get your crystal," he pointed, closing his hand and pressing it to his chest.

The masters entered at that moment, and Astra stood up to position herself in the middle of the room with a firm posture, looking at the others in their places, and spoke.

"I must ask something from all of you."

"You can say your request, then we'll decide" Windu indicated.

"Allow another master to complete this mission, I will go if you wish, and Obi-Wan can too. But relieve Master Qui-Gon" she pleaded, trying not to break down.

"I'm sorry, young Youngling, but your request must be denied. This is a minor threat, there is no reason to relieve him of his duty."

" If it's a minor threat, there's no reason why he can't be relieved."

" The answer is given, now you must leave. The boy's test will begin soon."

At that moment, Astra turned to leave, got on her speeder, and went with Qui-Gon, who was alone since Obi-Wan had gone to the dining hall for something decent after 5 days of eating granola or strange fruits. She thought about where to go for a moment, until she remembered the small garden in the temple where a tree stood, probably the only one on Coruscant. Qui-Gon stood in the place, lost in his thoughts, until the girl took his hand.

"You're afraid" the man asserted.

"Anakin worries me, Qui-Gon" she whispered, standing by his side.

"Astra, not only the boy is on your mind, and you know it" the master reproached "What are you afraid of?"

"Something will happen" she murmured, holding onto the adult's sleeve "The masters don't listen, I'm afraid I'm not strong enough to prevent it, or brave enough to face it."

"Courage is not the absence of fear, Astra" he caressed her head "And being strong does not mean lacking weakness. Courage, true courage, is to fight despite fear, and being strong is more than just defeating any enemy; it is moving forward even when everything is falling apart. But that doesn't mean you have to do it alone. Even if it doesn't seem like it, there will always be someone or something to help you keep going."

"But if something happens to you, I don't know what I'll do" she sobbed, hugging him around the waist "You're my father and my master, promise me you won't abandon me."

"My precious girl " he took her in his arms "Do you know why I named you "Astra"?"

"It wasn't because of the river" she asserted sadly.

"No, it's because that name has three meanings. The first comes from Paraddle's mythology, where it talks about planets and stars born as children from the love of two gods" he placed her near the railing "The second is because in your language, it means justice and goodness, and finally, it speaks of life, and you, you are life, Astra. From Adora and me. You will never be alone as long as we are here" he touched his chest in the area of his heart "You are the bravest girl I know. Many don't accept their own fear, and at your age, they know so little that they can't distinguish it."

"I want to be like you when I grow up."

"Don't try to be like me when what you should do is be yourself. You will be a very wise woman, Astra, even more than me."

Qui-Gon put Astra down, and they decided to go eat. They walked through the temple, or rather, Qui-Gon walked, and Astra used her speeder. Although it was strange for people to see the girl acting calmly, as they preferred to see her jumping on people and running on walls, it wasn't so strange when Master Yaddle joined them. Near the elevator, they met Qui-Gon's old master and chatted for a while before father and daughter continued on their way.

After lunch, they went to the council chamber to prepare everything for Anakin's test. When the girl went out to wait, she ran into the boy who was coming in with Obi-Wan, and they hugged before the older one asked.

"Do they have to test you too, angel?"

"No, my test was 6 years ago when I came here. I had to come here to prepare everything and because I escaped from the temple to go with Qui-Gon."

"I thought you could go on missions now, you fight very well."

"We don't usually go on missions until we are assigned a master" she explained calmly, forgetting that they had to introduce themselves.

"Is the test very difficult?" he asked worried.

"Honestly, I don't remember much about mine, although it's not as terrible as Obi-Wan says" they started talking through their thoughts, as they did at other times, and he instinctively took her hand "He's afraid of everything, but you and I are brave, and if you pass this test, we can become Jedi together."

"I promise I'll pass this test, and then you can teach me everything you know" he intertwined their fingers and smiled before letting her go towards the exit.

"Good luck, Anakin" "May the Force be with you"

When she left, the masters were astonished because they had seen the interaction of the children and could swear that they acted as if they were talking, when in reality they didn't hear anything, and they couldn't see their minds either. The master and the padawan who were not part of the council went out after her to wait, until a droid came to get them, announcing the council's call.

"Ani finished" the girl asserted.

" Well, let's see what happens, and try not to tell them they are fools. Last time you escaped punishment, this time it might not be so easy."

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Chut Chut Pateesa, a great day for all of us, why?

Because we are about to reach 500 views on Wattpad! And because tomorrow I will upload all the chapters to Ao3. And I assure you that we will go for more.

For my part, I hope you are doing well and that you had a pleasant weekend. I was supposed to upload this chapter yesterday, but correcting the spelling took longer than I imagined, and there may still be a few errors here and there.

As I always say, give it a lot of love, comment, follow me because that encourages me a lot to keep writing. And without further ado, my young Padawans, beware of the Sith, have an incredible night, and never forget that "Once you go down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny." May the force be with you.

[mochinon-yah]

MY LIVE COMMENTARY REBLOG HEHE

(S P O I L E R !!!)

I'm playing the game while eating a cup noodles hehehe

The main theme song here is ven's work, righhtt??? IT SOUNDS SO CALMING AND GOOD ASSRHDJDJ but like kinda ominous, it's like the calm before the storm (btw ven, can u share the song and like make it loop for 1 hour straight-)

ANYWAY U DID SUCH A GOOD JOB @naraven MAKING THIS THEME SONG, IT SOUNDS GOOD!!! AND I LOP ITTT

Okay, so now, with my 18% laptop and my somewhat sleep deprived self and also my cup noodles, we are gonna play this game smoothly (hopefully) 🤩

THAT'S ME GUYS, I'VE BEEN POSTING THAT HASHTAG SO MANY TIMES- /SMACKED

Okay, noted, April 20 2024, 'i' go missing.

EH THE VIDEO????? THE INTRODUCTION VIDEO??? WHAT THE WHATTTTTT???? I DID NOT EXPECT THIS LMAO

"Can you find yourself?"

Aight bet-

WAHHH I ACTUALLY DIDN'T WATCH THE VIDEO ON THE TUMBLR POST SO THIS SURPRISED ME SO MUCH SGSNSHJSKSK SO GOOD BRYNN WAHHH IT'S SO AMAZINGGFF

AND YEAHHH "what happens in penacony city, stays in penacony city" ☝️

Daym, myself, ur so sad 🥲

Penacong isn't really the place where dreams come true but whatever floats your boat ig

OMGGG THE NAME SECTION FINALLY

Mochiiii :D

WHAT THE??????

U SCARED ME FOR A SEC, I WAS LIKE "WDYM PLS DON'T LIE???? 😭😭😭" so this is revenge huh- /jjjjj

Wait, i have an 'ex'????

ALSO BRYNN I'M SORRY 😭😭😭😭 I'LL MAKE IT UP I SWEAR- oh what's that? A dimitri fanart, you say? Ohhh, okay okay, i'll draw one for you-

Yes, i will make one specially for you TRUST ME ON THIS ONE, but i need to finish ven's request first hehe- SORRY FOR BEING SO LATE VEN, I GOT BUSY 😭😭

Context:

Hehe.... OF COURSE IT IS WORTH IT, I'M MISSING YK 🥲

ARE U SAYING YOU DON'T WANT ME TO BE FOUND????

Context:

OH SHOOT MY LAPTOP BATTERY IS LOW- imma get the charger first okay-

Okay i got it, anyway, moving onwards to the storyyy

Awhhh, my name is quite unforgettable??? Thanks for saying that kakavasha 😽

OH??? SPECKLED???? AND DIMITRI??????

Yeah ur so right bestie, i am sleep deprived, i am playing this game at 1 am-

Uhhh wdym he's red

HAHAHAHAHAHA OKAY OKAY "i'm always hot" sure let me get a lighter and burn you-

LMAOOOO MC'S REACTION

Ehhh??? There's a notif 'kakavasha liked that' that's so cutee bdbdhdjsjwkw

Oh wow finally, ratio *claps* now let me at him, i'm gonna diss him-

Okay nvm- oh wait- HAHAHAHAH YEA, MC GO DISS HIM MORE 🔥🔥🔥

Omg.... ratio calm down bae, kakavasha isn't even attacking you 😭😭 oh wait, we don't know he's a gambler????

EH THAT'S SO CUTE, WE'RE NUMBYYGGG

Ayo? No slander to my jelena >:o

Hahahah, sure, we can whisper to each other until they stop dissing jelena-

HAHAHAHAHHAHA GALLAGHER???? YOU THINK U CAN TOP JING YUAN IN A BEAUTY PAGENT???? LMAOO

Okay this is cute, i won't diss ratio ☝️

OH YAY MC'S FAV SINGER IS ALSO ROBIN YEYEHEHD IKR SHE'S JUST SO UGHDNND- WAIT IS THIS A REAL SONG OR DID BRYNN JIST MADE IT UP?????

OH HAHAHHAHAHAHA BRYNN OH STOP IT YOU (context: mochi said "But it's as much as I love to tease Brynn about taking my whiskey neat, and my coffee black and my bed at three- but whatever.")

NO WAIT NOOOOO I CAN'T PUT ANYMORE IMAGES........ oh this hurts </3

Okay, i'll put the context on text now ig hufftttt

OH I'M GONNA DM SOME CAESAR CIPHERS TO KAKAVASHA LMAOOO (is the prank i pulled on you traumatized you-) he said "please don't" i'm sorry bae, do i traumatize people by giving em ciphers??? 😭😭

Okay wow, yes, i can see that, no need to bold it, put it on red color, and the main of the screen- (context: Senator Sunday) /jjjjjjj

Yes, we're all sunday haters (i don't rlly hate him tho but honestly as mc, yes i would hate him!!!)🔥🔥🔥

Did gallagher just barked-

OH HE DID, AND WHAT IS THIS REALLY COOL SOUNDTRACK????? AYO????

Um, pls no sunday angst- 😭😭😭

NOT THE NOTIF SAYING "ARE YOU SURE?" AFTER I PICKED THE TALK TO SUNDAY OPTION- WHAT IS THIS ALHAITHAM DEJA VU I'M FEELING RN- Okay, sorry guys, i'm just trying to make things be more peaceful by talking to sunday alone, is it that hard for you to understand 😭😭

Eh? I need to leave the cafe?? :(((

Oh gosh, sunday.... let me pat pat u here 😭😭😭 why are u such a sad puppy here

Oh? OH? PENTHOUSE-

WAIT HUH???????????? WHO WROTE THAT??? YO, WHO WROTE THAT KIND OF FANFIC HAHAHAHAHA- PLSSSS I WANNA PUT A PIC UGHHHHHFDBND

Oh gosh, it's tempting to say yes oh no uhhhh but since this is my first run (basically choosing what i like) imma say no >:D

Oh.... sunday, oh..... this made me feel bad :((( oh i'm sorry uhhmmm uhhh 🥹 sorry?

Anyway, homeless route is on the go- probably- actually no, it's missing route now

UH IDK???? I DON'T KNOW WHAT I DID IN THOSE TIME- oh.... there's no news about me going missing? Well, aside from that little news on tv after robin's but yea-

Well, robin, i don't think that sad puppy birb would hurt me too, but we don't know yk

I'M SORRY I'M GOING MISSING, ROBIN 😭😭😭 ILY ROBINNNN, UR MY FAV HYV SINGER UWAAHHH HDNDJDKKDKS CAN'T BELIEVE MY FAV SINGER IS LIKE SEARCHING FOR ME

OMGGG WE CAN MAKE SUNDAY A ROUTE???? BRYNN, WHAT- I MEAN- okay 🫡

Lmao not me being scared of my own name showing up when brynn is talking-

EH??? WHAT TRADE- Speckled??? Brynn???? What happened, besties 😭

OKAY THIS HAS BEEN A WILD RIDE, I LOVE ITTT!!!!! If i could take a pic for every scene and comment on em, then i would- trust me hehe!! Sorry if this got a bit too long and sorry if i ever comment something weird, but uh yeah! I enjoy the game so much, brynn! <3

A special muach muach for you <333

🍵 𝒲𝐻𝒪𝒟ℛ𝒜𝒩𝒦𝐼𝒯? ‧₊˚❀༉‧₊˚: A Yandere!H:SR x Reader Otome Game

✧ romanceable characters (© hoyoverse): Professor Veritas Ratio, "Your friend" Kakavasha, and "Gallagher" [for now]

✧ content warning: yandere themes, mentions of racial/species discrimination (your character is SEA/Filipino-coded), (y/n) uses they/them, the story takes place in a modern hybrid alternate universe where each planet (Belobog, Penacony, etc) is considered a country.

PLAY THE DEMO HERE (available for download on PC & Mac AND online play for any devices, though download is preferable to avoid pixellated graphics & misaligned textboxes)

You (name changeable) are a hardworking and full-pledged human cafe owner in Penacony City. Your Dreamjolt Cafe has been a go-to for residents and tourists alike. But your loved ones' lives took a sharp turn for the worst when you decided to take a much-needed vacation back to your homeland, Perlas. While your family eagerly awaited your arrival, you disappeared en route. Where did you go? How did this happen? Who did this? Was it...

☕ the prickly yet fascinating Prof. Veritas Ratio, your self-proclaimed avian-hybrid regular,

☕Kakavasha, your longest fellow human friend who always seems to have a secret or two;

☕ or Gallagher, your hound-hybrid roommate whose past is as peculiar as his loyalty?

☕ or are there two more you're forgetting?

... so...

𝒲𝐻𝒪 𝒹𝓇𝒶𝓃𝓀 𝒾𝓉?

Please support this game by reblogging the post & sending asks/comments! I put a lot of time and effort writing, drawing, and learning for to code for this. Thank you so much, my beloved yandere!H:SR community and of course, @dreamjolt-hostelry, for being supportive friends!!! - @beloved-brynn

✧ Characters, Background Art and UI Credits

Hoyoverse assets sourced from the-astral-express-archive. I just tweaked em a bit!

Canva freestock images... Haha...

✧ Intro video, sprites & CG art Credits

Me!!! Hi <3 I hope you enjoyed them! I can't believe yall made me learn adobe after effects a bit for this-

✧ Music Credits

The main menu theme (the first song upon booting the game) is made by @naraven!

The rest of the royalty free music soundtrack (such as the music used for the video above) is sourced from Vodovoz Music Productions!!! Please show the creator some love!!! I was actually vibing so hard while listening to them lmao

✧ (Fan)Story

lol hi again!!! man. i feel like Argenti.

If you wish to support my work and want to see more of this in the future, please buy me a coffee! So I can at least prove to my parents that my work is at least worth one dollar ;;;;

[flamizu]

Hey guys!!! I finally finished him 💖💖💖💖 sooo, first of all: the armor design is not mine, it's Mack Sztaba, that has done amazing work to design Mandalorian armors!! Check them out 👀 This is not actually an OC but an X-Men au: me and my sister thought about an x-men au in which Erik Lensherr (Magneto) is a Mandalorian Bounty Hunter who is hired as a bodyguard by Charles Xavier, a Senator. Shenanigans ensue. I loved that AU a lot and I'm so happy I'm finally got to draw as I wanted Erik the Mando, that I actually like nearly as the original.

[one-real-imonkey]

I am having thoughts about Corrie Massiffs.

About them being trained as emotional support animals as well as their actual jobs.

About them being long lived (maybe 30-50 year life span) and choosing their corries as their people to protect.

Sensing when their corries need support and helping them though panic attacks and anxiety issues, helping them sleep and guarding them through the night. Helping with their fears and drawing them out of dark spiralling thoughts and having the best hugs.

Thinking about the Corries also being the massiffs emotional support people who do just as much for them, who love them oh so dearly. Who play games with them and always try to get them treats and protect them with everything they have.

Thinking about the way the Massiffs would calm their corries down, little nudges and heads on laps or sitting on them entirely.

Thinking about how neither the corrie nor the massiff like to be apart.

Thinking about about them whining over the bodies of their corries and refusing to move, nudging them desperate for them to wake up. Having to be pulled away and never being the same after.

Thinking about them sitting by the door to the icebox room and refusing to move until their corrie comes back, then following right next to them as they're helped to a space to lie down and curling up with them so their person can take their body heat and feel warm and safe and letting their corries hug tight.

Thinking about the massiffs sitting outside the med bay and just whining and scratching on the door. About Grizzer refusing to move and sounding distressed after Hound was carried in and about Hound finally waking with Grizzer on his lap.

About everything getting all too much all of a sudden for Pup and Bumble pulling him away to get him somewhere quieter and then putting her head in his lap and licking his face and being a warm solid presence for Pup to focus on and calm down and feel safe.

About massiffs knowing their corries are overworking themselves and trying to make them sleep. Of Grizzer knowing it upsets Hound and that Fox is almost his person too so he steals Fox's datapad and leads him to his bed then sits on him. Fox scratches him behinds the ear with a very soft chuckle and admits he could probably do with a few hours.

Grizzer trying to get the smell of Palpatine off of Fox. All the massiffs trying to get the smells of Senators off their corries and take the horrible smell of distress away.

Thinking about no-Order 66 where the massiffs stay with their corries and help them with their recovery post-war and this spreading through the GAR. They get even more training on how to be support animals and they love getting to help and love their people who love them so dearly back.

Thinking about Order-66, and the massiffs not understanding whats happened to their corries. Why they're not them anymore.

About any blackout mission and their corries aren't behaving like their people and they don't smell of anything, not fear not joy not sadness not anything they can usually sense, they can't read any emotion off their corries and they don't know what to do. Trying to get them to react, trying to bring them out of it or simply waiting for them to come back and being worried until they do.

You know, just thinking thoughts...

[winterdrag0n]

Bucky with a smiley face

Pairing: Bucky x Fem!Reader

Summary: There’s something in the blue of Bucky’s eyes that comforts you. And there’s something in the smiley face that you draw beside his name that brightens his days. The unspeakable words tie your bond with the man of few words himself who of course notices when you have a bad day.

Warning: Fluff, and a pinch of angst (because god help me, I can't write anything without angst in it).

Word Count: 1.7K

A/N: TBH I didn't think I was physically able to write something fluffy, but reading a lot of fluffy romantic stories from @pellucid-constellations Love Letters Writing Challenge inspired me this little coffee shop AU and my hands were itchy to write this. I hope you like it! This is my submission for the challenge. :)

You haven’t seen him for three days, but you remember he was wearing that black leather jacket over the grey Henley the last time you saw him— it means he hasn’t been home? He looks tired, with dark circles under his eyes and bruises on his left cheek. You know he’s in Avengers business and he did come with cuts and bruises sometimes but your heart still aches seeing him like this.

“One Americano, iced.” He taps his card onto the little machine in front of the iPad that serves as your cash register.

“Thank you. Do you need a receipt?” you ask while pulling a paper cup from a stack and start writing his name on it.

“No, thanks. Oh, it’s B—“

“Bucky. I know.” You smile sheepishly.

He looks at you, his tired eyes sparkle and the corner of his lips curves up a little. That simple motion gives you shivers and your heartbeats drumming so loud you worry Bucky might hear it.

He waves his hand lightly before walking to the end of the counter, waiting for the barista to call his name.

You started working in this coffee shop three months ago and Bucky was your first customer. There was just something about his eyes that radiated warmth and kindness although he didn’t smile in your first encounter. You remembered seeing his metal arm that day and he looked self-conscious so he started to wear gloves afterwards. He always ordered the same thing— Americano, sometimes hot, sometimes with ice. At first he came every day, and then he was MIA for a week, and then he came again for three days straight before he was popping up in the news for saving Senators and the other important people. You knew he was an Avenger and he was out of your league, but seeing him had always been the silver lining in your cloudy days, as you seeked comfort from his blue eyes. And before you even realized it, you were having a major crush on him.

Today is the first time he smiles at you, and at the receiving end of that devilish beautiful smirk, you’re so gone. You know your crush has officially become an infatuation, or worse, you might be in love with him. Is that even possible?

Like usual, you write his name the only way you know how, with a smiley face at the end.

Bucky ☺

And today, you add some words, because that smile makes you greedy. Feeling bold, you can’t help not to let him know how you feel.

‘Glad you’re okay. Rest well.’

***

He skipped coming to the coffee shop yesterday but today he enters the place looking so fresh, as if he slept for the whole day. He taps his fingers in front of your iPad and says, “Flat white, please.”

You look up, looking surprised.

“Yeah, I’m feeling adventurous,” he says cheekily. He’s come a long way from keeping his distance from you to starting a little conversation. He even stopped wearing the gloves, confidently showing the distinctive looking metal.

“That would be $5.20,” you say with a controlled smile.

He taps his card into the machine and says, “Thanks, um— Y/n, right?”

You can feel your cheeks heat up, your name on his lips sound so... unbelievably sexy. You swallow dry air and stammer, “Um, yeah, I—, uh…” And you suddenly forgets how to function like normal human being and stupidly turns your back pretending to look for a paper cup under the cabinet.

Bucky waits until you turn around and face him again to say, “And I’m Bucky… you knew that already.”

You take the sharpie and write his name on the paper cup. “Yeah, got it.”

Bucky ☺

“All right.” He taps his vibranium fingers at the counter again before waving them cooly to you. “See you tomorrow, Y/n.”

There it is again, your name on his lips.

***

“Americano, please,” he says with a gentle tone.

“Oh, you didn’t like the adventure?” you ask earnestly.

“Not a dairy kind of guy.” He grins.

“We have soy milk, or oat milk,” you offer.

“Yeah, no, I think I prefer my coffee black.”

“Sure.” At this rate, you can write his name without even looking.

Bucky ☺

“Thank you, Y/n,” he says while tapping his card to the machine.

“You’re welcome, Bucky.”

He smirks, “That’s the first time you say my name.”

“Oh, sorry, is that okay?”

“Yeah, of course… it just—“ He doesn’t finish that sentence.

“Just…?”

“It feels… weird.”

“Weird?” you ask worriedly.

“No, no. Don’t get me wrong— shit. I’m bad at this. I meant… It felt foreign, but good. Definitely good.” He smiles faintly at you before giving you that look, the kind that makes your knees lose all their strength, you swear you’d fall down if your hands don’t grab the counters.

“See you, around, Y/n.” And then he walks to the end of the counters, leaving you gasping for air.

***

Bucky doesn’t realize he skips his steps on the way to the coffee shop. The Avengers headquarters serve coffee for free and it tastes just as good, but he knows he doesn’t come to the coffee shop for the coffee.

He noticed the way you looked at him whenever he pretended to study the menu— he’d choose Americano anyway, or the way your eyebrows rose the moment he entered the coffee shop. At first he just liked the feeling of being wanted, of knowing someone was longing to see him, especially after a tedious and tiring mission, but lately there’s just something in the way you write his name that makes him finally feel again.

Bucky ☺

There’s something about that smiley face that expresses more than any words could. Along with your shy lopsided smile, they brighten his day.

When you said your name, Bucky had goosebumps all over his good arm. He loved the way his name sounded on your lips. He never thought he could feel like this again, he didn’t even know if it was even possible. You’d unlocked something that he thought hidden forever and you’d thawed what he thought had been frozen.

But today, you look different. Your eyebrows didn’t rise when he entered the coffee shop and he had to clear his throat twice before you finally noticed him.

You smile at him, finally. “What can I get you, Bucky?”

“Just Americano would do,” he replies politely.

Both of you stand awkwardly with a counter separating you. He wants to ask about you, about your day, your favourite movie, about what you’re doing in your free time, or if you’d like to go to the park with him.

But there he is, just standing, saying nothing, while tapping his stupid card onto the stupid machine.

“Thanks, Bucky.” You smile faintly at him, and then turn your body to the side, writing his name on the paper cup.

Letting out a soft sigh, Bucky walks away to the end of the counter. He’s still watching you from the corner of his eyes as you’re smiling at the next customer, taking their orders.

But you seem off and it worries him. He’s trained to read body language and he knows you’re not feeling okay.

The barista puts down the cup on the counter as he calls his name. He nods lightly at him while grabbing the cup and his heart sinks when he reads his name.

Bucky.

Just Bucky, without the smiley face.

He freezes for a while, thinking if he should do something about it, but he’s lived long enough to know better, not to poke his nose into areas that don’t concern him.

Although… you concern him.

***

You watch Bucky’s back as he steps out of the coffee shop. Somehow the lump in your throat gets bigger and hotter and you grit your teeth so your tears won't well up.

You had a sucky morning and you wish you had someone to talk to. You wish Bucky would offer to lend his ear to you, but then the words that your step Father said this morning linger in your mind. ‘Get lost, you useless bitch. You’re just like your Mother, nobody loves you and you’ll die alone!’ You know it’s not true, you know he said mean words whenever he visited and you refused to give him money, but no matter how many times you tell yourself to ignore, sometimes those words manage to infiltrate your fragile heart, especially when the heart has been loving someone one sidedly for so long, growing insecurity upon your self-worth.

You’re helping Jack, the barista, to unpack some soy milks when the door opens and Bucky stands there, like a deer in the headlights, hesitating his steps.

You look at him, his eyes are fixed at you, his mouth agape before he is finally able to move and call your name.

“Yeah?” You answer just as softly as he walks closer to you.

“Are you okay?” he asks.

“Um… yeah.”

“Are you sure?”

“Why— why do you…” You’re not sure how to finish that sentence.

“You didn’t put a smiley face on my cup.” He raises his brows while showing the papercup to you, his eyes wide and vulnerable, locking yours. “I thought… if maybe… you had a bad day.”

Your heart swells, it skips a beat, you’re not sure what’s happening in your body. A wave of relief rushes over your stomach and your chest suddenly feels so light.

“When does your shift end? You wanna… go for a walk?” He asks, his eyes still glued to yours, telling emotions that words are unable to say.

“His shift is over, actually.” Jack winks at you.

You smile at Jack gratefully, mouthing thank you.

Curving his lips, Bucky offers his right hand to you, his blue eyes are kind and open. You take off your apron and walk around the counter to meet him on the other side. Bucky smiles at you as you take his hand, feeling the warmth of his flesh as it transfers the heat to your contrasting cold hand.

You knew you were right all along. Behind his metal arm, his fully black outfit and grumpy face, Bucky is as warm, as gentle, as generous as the smiley face you’ve drawn on the paper cups. Holding his hand feels familiar, like you’ve known him all along. Your fingers interlacing and it feels so right, like puzzle pieces that finally reunite together, wondering how they survived all those years without one another.

Hopefully, they never have to anymore.

Reblog and comment are really appreciated! They feed my soul! I'd love to connect and I don't bite (most of the times).

Go here if you wanna see my other fics! Or send me an Ask!

[leftoverenvy]

Tastes Like Sugar (ch. 2)

Summary: India Mae, or Indi, is a music major, struggling to pay bills, tuition, work, and make good grades.  Emily Prentiss is a BAU profiler, as well as a DC socialite thanks to her huge family fortune.  The two enter into a mutually beneficial arrangement: Emily will pay for Indi's school if Indi accompanies Emily to her social functions for a few months, posing as her girlfriend.  As weeks go by, the lines between their arrangement and their true feelings start to blur.  But money can't buy love, right?

Pairing: India Mae Banks x Emily Prentiss; OC x Emily Prentiss

Warnings: eventual smut; sugar baby relationships; age gap (16 years - but all over 18); very slow burn

Word Count: 2.3k

Emily's POV!

Read on Wattpad | Ao3 | Tumblr

Taglist: @ssa-sapphic 🧸; @5raysofsunshine 🌮; @reidselle 🦭; @milfprotector 🐝💚; @gaelic-symphony 🎻 ; @scargarcia-magshotchner 💜; @hotchs-bitch ; @multiverse-mxdness ; @sadgirlml ; @spencersendgame

Chapter 2 - Forced Proposal

Emily's POV: I was sitting in the bullpen, trying to finish my last report for the day, but I couldn't focus.  Paperwork days were the bane of my existence.  I wanted to be out in the field talking with families, or in the interrogation room questioning suspects.  I pulled the pen, fresh with new teeth marks, out of my mouth and sighed.

I urged myself to finish this report; if I finished this one, I could go home.  But even that wasn't as big an incentive as I'd like.  There was nothing for me waiting there.  Even though I had felt lonely in my last relationship, now – since splitting with JJ – I was lonely AND alone.  It had never bothered me before, but I had several big events scheduled over the next few months.  It didn't help that the last tabloid read, "Ms. Prentiss seen alone once again at Senator Kane's birthday party."  I didn't want to see that again the morning after a social function.

I had never minded being alone before.  In fact, being alone was required during my time with Interpol.  I thought taking this job at the BAU would help me have a more normal schedule and be able to put roots down.  Dating my coworker was the wrong way to do that.  But truthfully, I had no way to put roots down because I didn't meet anyone outside the walls of this bullpen.

I quickly scribbled a last note on this shit report.  It was well-below my standards, but I didn't care anymore.  I quickly packed up my briefcase and stood up to go home.

"Prentiss!" Rossi, standing in the doorway of his office, shouted from across the bullpen.  I snapped my head up and raised an eyebrow at him.  "Come here!" he shouted again, waving his hand to draw me in his office.  I had been so close to sneaking out undetected. 

I wound my way through the bullpen, up the stairs, and towards his office.  "What?" I asked, a bit too curtly.

"Hey now!" he responded defensively.  "Don't bite my head off yet.  You don't even know what I was going to say."

"I'm sorry, Rossi," I apologized remorsefully.  "Really.  I'm just tired."

"It was a long day of boring paperwork."  He let me off the hook with a smile.

So I could get home quicker, I asked, "What did you need?"

"I noticed you haven't dated since JJ…"

My eyes widened so far I thought they might fall out of my skull.  Because dating coworkers was forbidden, JJ and I had kept things a secret.  Well, I thought we had kept things a secret.  "How-"

He held up a hand.  "Don't worry; I didn't tell anyone."  That wasn't the issue, but I was too embarrassed to say anything, so he continued.  "I don't think anyone else knew either.  Anyway!" he stopped himself, "I did something for you.  And before you go poo-pooing the idea, just hear me out."  Oh boy.  This couldn't be going anywhere good.

I bit at my fingernail, anxious to hear what he did.  "What is it?" I mumbled.  He flipped his computer around to show me a social media page with a picture of me I had never seen at the top.  I looked closer trying to figure out where that picture was taken, but upon closer examination, I noticed it wasn't a social media page; it was a sugar baby website.

"ROSSI!" I gasped, outraged.  I reached for his computer.

"I said don't poo-poo it immediately!" he reminded, pulling his computer out of my reach.

"Delete that!" I commanded.  "Now!"  I couldn't believe him.  I didn't need some vapid, materialistic sugar baby feigning interest in me just to get a diamond necklace and a Louis Vuitton.  I wasn't that lonely.

"This doesn't have to be serious," he said, still trying to get me on board.  "It's just for fun.  If you hate it, you can rub it in my face and lord it over me for the rest of our lives.  I'll even let you say 'I told you so.'  But just try," he begged.  "Don't delete it yet.  Give it a chance."

"Why should I?"  I was a bit hostile now; this was incredibly offensive.  But as I thought about it, I realized I wasn't going to meet anyone any time soon.  And the thought of showing up to the next event without a date, to hear my mother go on and on about how I must be doing something wrong, was unbearable.  Even if it were a fake date, I would not hear my mother criticize me for being single again. 

"There's nothing wrong with a little companionship, Emily.  Here," he handed me a paper, "Take this; it's the log-in info.  Just give it a try."

I was already on board, but hell if I was going to tell Rossi I was doing this.  "No."  I heard him sigh as I walked out of his office.  "Have a good night!" I threw over my shoulder.

I rushed home, called for takeout, took a shower, and then flopped on the couch.  David's log-in info, my log-in info, burned my hand as I held it and stared at my computer.  He already made it, I reminded myself.  Curiosity got the better of me and I logged in.  I was blown away by the twenty-six notifications I already had.  But first things first, change the password so David couldn't check up on me.

I then clicked on my profile to see what David set up.  I smirked.  He way underestimated my net worth.  There was no need to change it though; it was already quite high.  I marveled at my profile picture.  It was lovely.  Somehow David got a nice shot of me secretly taken on the jet.  I decided if I was going to do this, I'd go all out.  I added one of me in a nice suit taken at some past event.  I rolled my eyes at the memory of my mother chastising me for wearing a suit.

I clicked on the little bell icon to scroll through my notifications.  Each profile was nearly identical.  They were all obviously catered to what they thought someone would want to hear.  "Will show you the best time for small allowance" or "Looking for someone to spoil me and I'll spoil you in return ;)"  I rolled my eyes at each profile and then sighed, embarrassed that I had let myself get excited about this when I knew this was exactly how it was going to be.  I didn't need a brainless idiot only seeking a few bucks.  Anger swelled in my chest that David forced my hand in this.

I almost shut it down, but then I saw something different – someone different: India Mae.  My heart fluttered and my breathing increased.  She was gorgeous.  The first thing I noticed were her huge, brown eyes.  They were deep and somehow safe.  I knew I could lose myself in them forever, uncovering the world's lost secrets.  She had a video posted of her onstage at what looked like a piano recital.  She was extremely talented and obviously enjoyed music immensely.   You could see the passion exude from her as she played.  She was, in a word, stunning.  Seeing someone genuinely display parts of their personality, things she truly cared about, was a refreshing change from the dozens of profiles I had just scrolled through.

Her bio discussed her drive to finish her degree and her financial difficulties.  Education and music were important to me, as well.  I would be more than happy to help her pay for her degree.  I looked back to her profile picture, entranced by those guileless eyes once more.  Perhaps Rossi's plan wasn't so bad after all.  I hit the like button faster than a lightning strike.  I couldn't leave anything up to chance.  I wanted to message her as soon as possible.

"India, You've caught my eye.  You are absolutely stunning – I'm not convinced you're real.  I can tell this isn't usual for you, as it is not for me.  I'd love to hear more about your music tastes and how you got started playing the piano.  You are incredibly talented, by the way.  Your video took my breath away.

Briefly about me: I'm Emily.  I'm thirty-eight and I work for the FBI.  I went to Yale for undergrad and then studied psychological profiling.  I have demanding hours, which is why my friend basically forced me to do this.  If you can handle my work schedule, I'd be very interested in getting to know you more.

In my free time, I enjoy going to the symphony, reading, and drawing.  My favorite medium's charcoal, and when I have time off, I'm usually always covered in charcoal dust.  Ha.

India, I sincerely hope to hear from you.  I can already tell you're different than anyone else I would find on this site.

Sincerely, Emily"

Because she was young, I expected an immediate response, anticipating she'd always be on her computer or phone.  As the minutes ticked by, I grew impatient.  And then anxious.  And then embarrassed.  She was gorgeous, and young, and smart, and talented.  What the fuck would she want with me?  She was obviously ignoring me.  Maybe Rossi's plan was just as bad as I had originally thought.

Ding!  I laughed as I saw "India Mae messaged you" scroll across my screen.  I was utterly absurd.

"Emily, Thanks for reaching out.  I don't know if I would say I'm different from everyone else on this site, but you are right about this definitely being unusual for me.  And it sounds like we were both forced to join by overly meddlesome friends.  My best friend forced me to make this profile, basically under threat of death lol.  But it seems to be looking up 😌

Thank you for the sweet compliments.  I've been playing the piano as long as I can remember.  I always knew it would be something I'd want to pursue as a career.  Music is more than just a hobby to me.  I've been wanting to learn how to play the guitar, as well, but I guess I only really have time for one instrument right now.

Wow!  You sound very busy, indeed!  What exactly is psychological profiling?  And what do you like to draw?  Landscapes?  Portraits?  I'm hopeless as an artist.  Maybe you could give me a few pointers.

Thanks again for sending a message.  I hope we can get to know each other better too ☺️"

I was completely giddy.  It was a bit ridiculous how excited I was by each of her responses.  As we messaged back and forth, my interest in her only grew.  She was fascinating.  To hear her describe playing sounded like a holy experience to her.  I didn't feel that way about drawing, but perhaps I never allowed myself to lose myself in my art like that. 

The website was tedious and slow to use.  After about half an hour of IMing, I sent a message that said, "India, would it be too forward to ask for your phone number already? It would be easier for me to text…" and I listed my phone number.  I was pleased that I heard my phone vibrate against the coffee table nearly immediately

Unknown Number: Hi :) It's me. I actually go by Indi

I couldn't help but smile.  Of course she went by Indi.  It somehow suited her perfectly.  I quickly saved her number and texted her back.

Emily: Tell me more about you?

Indi: I'm not sure what you really want to know, but I grew up in a small town in Washington state. No siblings, and my parents died in a car wreck a few years ago. It's, ultimately, what helped me feel okay about going so far away for school. Washington to Washington (DC). It's been hard, so much change, but there was nothing left for me in Washington. And having my roommate has been amazing. She's one of the best people I know. She's one of those people that basically just embodies sunshine. I'd be lost without her. Anyway, when I'm not drowning in piano practice or waiting tables, I try to read as much as possible.

My heart ached to hear she had lost her parents, her entire support system, so early in life.  But I admired her all the more for making her way in life with very little.  This did satisfy my curiosity why her parents weren't helping her with school.  I tried to reign my privilege in – not everyone had parents that could help them with going to college.  Not everyone had a seemingly endless trust fund.  I was also concerned about her working.  I'd have to – delicately – ask if she would be willing to forego work during our arrangement.  That is, if she wanted to pursue an arrangement.   Don't put the cart before the horse, Em.

Indi: Your turn :)

Indi: Actually, hold that thought. I am exhausted. I had a rough day and I'd just like to go to sleep. I'm really glad you messaged me, Emily. Talk tomorrow?

Emily: Definitely. I'm sorry to hear you had a tough day. Sleep well, sweet girl

I wanted to add a kissy face but didn't because 1) I wasn't quite sure how, and 2) I thought it a bit much for the first night.  I laid down on my couch, clutching my phone, already a fool over this girl.  What had Rossi gotten me into?

_ _ _

Continue to next chapter

[emperor-palpaminty]

Okay full disclosure I'm doped up on pain meds so I'm just gonna request a bunch and you can pick and choose which ones to ignore.

Echo and 16

Ha! Pain meds! Must be on the good stuff if it's making you want fics my guy!! You mind if I bring back the senator that Echo likes?? Cuz I will. I will do it. That is a threat.

16-a kiss that isn't meant to happen but it does anyway

Prompts taken from here!

Gold

___

It wasn't that Echo regretted his feelings. Life was too short to not acknowledge them. He knew he could not help the fact he was a living person and had emotions like one, but he was caught off guard at who he felt these feelings for.

He now held his helmet under his arm, standing in front of her office door, waiting patiently for her after his brief knock. He heard silence before her curt but kind, "Come in."

Echo pushed opened the door, glancing in. "Ma'am." He said softly. His legs moved without much thought as she glanced up from her desk. The rain outside puttered on the window, but it couldn't dampen the brightness of her smile. "You asked for me."

"I did." She smiled and lowered her pen, standing. "Can I get you anything? A drink? Dinner?"

"No, ma'am, thank you." Echo lowered himself into a chair, helmet sitting in his lap, a weight all to heavy.

She leaned back on the desk, the gold trim of her sleeves catching the light of her office as she crossed her arms. She glimmered- not just the intricate gold threading, but her, her soul. "I wanted to thank you for the gala. You, jumping in for me, getting me out of danger... That means a lot of me."

His heart jumped briefly as the gold balmed his soul, his chafed eyes. War could be dim and grey or gaudy and oversaturated. She was neither. She was a balance, cool but warm enough to draw him in, stone but turned him soft, white and black and grey but also so extremely golden, so precious, so balanced.

"I'm sorry about kissing you." He blurted, eyes flickering away. The calmness of her made him uneasy- shouldn't people be emotional? Shouldn't they have outbursts?

She smiled at him, shaking her head, the golden ornaments draping around her ears brushing on her shoulders. "Why are you sorry, Echo?"

"The kiss," He rasped, scooting forward in his seat. Her gaze was soft but pinned him in place, a spotlight. "It wasn't supposed to happen."

"Why not?" She frowned. "Am I a bad kisser? Oh, did you not-"

"No!" He sprung up. "No, ma'am, I liked it. It was a good kiss. And I like you. But... We." He moved his hand back and forth between them, tracing the invisible tether she was using to tug him close. "We shouldn't happen."

"Says who?" She leaned up, challenging him, eyes gleaming like bullions. "Who says that? You?"

"Everyone, everyone but me and you, apparently."

She chuckled, stepping closer to him, cautious. In senate, on the floor, she was bold- but here she was a rolling wave, gentle and slow, giving him time to stand away, say no. And yet he didn't - he could not bring himself to say to to her, or to say no to himself. I've said no to myself for too long.

"Why can't we try?" She asked, gently. Her hand landed gently on the helmet in his hands, gripping it, and he allowed her to take it away. The bright of her robe brushed over it as she set it on her desk. "Why can't you and I do it anyways?"

"Your career-"

"Has been earned. I will survive. I'm thinking of not running next term." She waved a hand away, as if dismissing the thoughts, his fears- and it worked.

Echo stared at her, somewhat shocked, and even as her smile drew him in, drew him closer, his brain clocked out, thoughts failing him. He finally matched her smile, width even, lips mere centimeters away from his.

"Okay," He whispered, shortly before her lips landed on his. Any arguments that remained turned to dust in his mouth as she kissed him, and he sighed, his helmet slipping from his fingers as he wrapped his arms around her back and pulled her in. She fit so we'll against him, from the gentle way her lips formed to the way she had to curve into him to fully hold him, take him all in.

This kiss was taboo, a soldier and a leader- but, Echo decided as she sighed and tangled her fingers in his hair, this was a rule he was fine with breaking.

[thebreakfastgenie]

Yeah it's kinda strange to me that he has never commented on how the final episode ending up being..... not really about that. Apparently that's where the episode originally came from, though! Drinking before surgery has consequences... once.

Now I'm going to subject you to my extremely normal Fallen Idol theorizing even though you literally did not ask.

I've alluded to this before, but I suspect the whole "putting people on pedestals is bad" part was somewhat personal. This is all deeply speculative, but he openly admitted to writing about his own family dynamic in Lend a Hand and the movies he wrote draw his own life with varying degrees of transparency. Fallen Idol aired in 1978; The Seduction of Joe Tynan was released in 1979. Sometime later, he was asked if Joe Tynan drew at all on his own fears about balancing his work and his family, and he said that while he didn't think about it consciously, it probably did. Joe Tynan is also a character on a pedestal; he's a senator with a reputation for honesty and integrity, and we see him compromise those principles.

At its peak, Alan Alda's reputation for being the nicest guy in Hollywood was kind of out of control. There were literally magazine surveys ranking him third after the president and the pope as admired men (the specific one I recall is from 1981, but I'm pretty sure it was going on before that and the sentiment was certainly there). And Alan Alda was understandably uncomfortable with it. One of the things he spoke about was that when you're on a pedestal like that, if you make a normal, human mistake, the reaction is extreme. You can't be a person, because that level of hero-worship is dehumanizing.

So I suspect, with no hard evidence whatsoever, that when Alan Alda started thinking about how these doctors got away with getting plastered on a irregular surgery schedule, decided to write an episode where it catches up with one of them, and settled on guilt as the reason Hawkeye drinks so much, he ended up drawing on a lot of his own feelings about being put on a pedestal, and what would happen if you let everyone down. I think the weirdness of how Hawkeye is handled in that episode makes more sense if the writer is bringing complicated feelings about himself and how people see him to the table.

I also think a lot of Alan Alda's "wait a minute, Hawkeye sucks!" attitude was an attempt to balance out people who missed the complexities of the character and just idolized him because he was cool and funny and saved lives, so it would make sense if that made him go harder on the negative side of Hawkeye in scripts, too.

#alan alda what were you trying to say when you wrote this episode @stroyent

The wild thing is apparently he was trying to say "it's weird that they drink all the time and also get called into surgery unexpectedly all the time and this is fine" and feeling guilty about Radar was originally just a reason for Hawkeye to get extra drunk.

[verdigrissoup]

soup I'm stealing your WIP guessing game. also give me a snip for FAE BOND

WIP Guessing Game

Ahaha I can't wait, I wanna ask you about your WIPs.

Part of my fae bond fic is out rn as The Promises We Must Keep, but there is so much more to that story that's unpublished that I kept it on the WIP list.

This story has been rattling around in my brain since last November (omg this November is coming far too fast), and it's a magical realism/fantasy Bond AU where the double ohs are fey bound in a contract to MI6 against their will. It's been a well kept secret, as the rest of the world bans intentional conspiracy with the fey. When the man who becomes Q finally gets on the scene, he begins to learn that things are far far worse than he'd ever imagined, and MI6 has sunk to far deeper depths than he'd thought. Q is caught between worlds and has to ask himself who can he really trust?

Enemies to lovers! Secrets! Magic! Violence! Seduction! All sorts of fun stuff!

It's also a songfic based on It Will Come Back by Hozier, if you want to know what vibe I'm going for with this story (and what I listen to when I write!) I highly recommend giving that song a listen :)

I love this story to pieces. SO much thought goes into every chapter, and I really do my best to draw as many aspects of the bond-verse into this AU as I can. It also means it takes forever for me to get chapters to my liking. I love talking about this story though, and I have so many fun twists and characters in store :)

An excerpt that hasn't yet been published:

“Q. Status on the target.”

Fuck. Q had forgotten that M was watching all of this from his office. He’d been so caught up with Bond and the hostile that the had forgotten about the senator. Quickly tapping into even more security feeds, he found the procession of black cars that the man had been a part of mere moments away from the large wall at the edge of the city.

“Escaping in less than a minute, sir.” Something heavy fell to the bottom of Q’s stomach.

“Will 007 be able to get him in time.”

A shriek and a grunt rang through on the comms, interrupting Q.

“No, sir.”

“Is there anyone else on the ground who can get to him in time?”

“Not without CIA support.”

M’s line was quiet for a moment.

“Pull out, Q.”

“Sir?”

“Cut the feeds, scrub the footage. This mission is over.”

“Sir, 007 is still engaged with an attacker, he needs assistance.”

“Let him die.” The words came down like an executioner’s blade. “I don’t have time for agents who can’t do their job."

On the other side of the comms, there was a grunt as the attacker drove an iron knife into 007’s side. 

[blackkatmagic]

Leia has traveled back in time and Aayla has to save Anakin from her trying to strangle him.

“You're sure you can do this?” Aayla asks gently. “No one will blame you for waiting.”

“I’ll blame me for waiting,” Leia says sharply, but when Aayla touches light fingers against her wrist, she turns her hand, grabs Aayla's, and squeezes.

Aayla squeezes back, smiling at her. “Obi-Wan will be there,” she points out, because mention of Obi-Wan is generally a good way to deescalate once Leia starts getting tense.

“That’s what I'm afraid of,” Leia says grimly. “I'm going to have to look at Obi-Wan and him and smile at them like I'm just another Jedi—”

“Not just another,” Aayla says, quiet. “One among many.”

Leia turns and looks at her, then takes a breath. Her mouth firms, and there's a fire in her eyes that made Aayla trip over herself, the first time she saw it on the battlefield. What she had with Kit once, that was overwhelming, but—

Leia is a storm, and she takes Aayla's breath away.

“Many,” Leia repeats, watching her, and finally smiles a little. It’s a smirk that Aayla will never tell her looks very, very much like Anakin's, even if Leia wears it better. “I guess even he can't face down all the Jedi if they know what’s coming.”

And Leia is here to be sure they do, regardless of the consequences. Aayla has heard her arguments with Luke, fights on how much to reveal and how much to keep secret, but—

This story should buy them enough cover for Leia to reveal everything without worrying. Aayla just has to play her part, and she’s more than willing.

“We will,” she says, and Leia squeezes her fingers one more time, then draws herself up straight and nods.

“All right,” she says, steely. “I'm ready.”

Aayla isn't about to doubt her. She nods, then casts a quick smile at Bly as he approaches, and asks teasingly, “Do I need to take your lightsaber away from you?”

“You might need to, but you're not going to,” Leia says flatly, and keys the door open.

That’s not the most promising start, Aayla thinks wryly, but she follows Leia's ringing bootfalls up towards the command deck of the Negotiator.

“The Liberty’s all ready if we need to make a quick getaway,” Bly says, only partially a joke. “I've got Lucky and Flash standing by to storm the bridge and carry General Leia away.”

Which entirely rests on the assumption that Leia will let herself be carried away, and Aayla doesn’t precisely have a lot of faith that that will happen.

“Thank you, Bly,” she says, and touches his vambrace lightly. “Have you heard from Master Quinlan?”

“I'm assuming no news is good news,” Bly says, a little wry, and Aayla snorts in agreement. Quinlan and Luke are going after Dooku. There are so many things that can go wrong, but—Aayla is trying to have faith.

The handful of them who are in one this plot have all the reason in the world to keep their faith, though. Leia is the greatest sign of that.

Or maybe, Aayla thinks, smiling, she’s just biased.

“Aayla,” Obi-Wan says, straightening as Leia takes the stairs up to the command center, Aayla a pace behind her. His eyes linger on Leia for a moment, no doubt feeling the curls of carefully-channeled fury and determination, then flicker down to the lightsaber clipped to her belt. “And a new face.”

“I'm only new if you haven’t been paying attention,” Leia says challengingly, tilting her chin up. Which, Aayla supposes, is entirely factually correct. The Senate was Leia's first stop, and no one there was quiet about her in the aftermath, whether they loved her or hated her.

Obi-Wan’s brows wing up, but he keeps his pleasant expression as he steps forward to meet them. “Well, I suppose I must not have been, then. Please forgive me for my oversight.”

“What do you mean, forgive you?” Anakin says, mulish, and comes around the edge of the table to stand next to Obi-Wan. Aayla can see the way Leia's shoulders instantly go tight, can feel the snapping rage that courses through her and then is dismissed in a wash of steel-edged determination. “You're not at fault here, Obi-Wan. Who even are you?”

Alderaan, Leia thinks, and Aayla only just catches the edges of it, but it’s quickly shoved down, shut away. She catches up with two quick steps, pressing a hand to the small of Leia's back. and smiles at Obi-Wan. “Master Obi-Wan, good to see you again. Anakin.”

“Aayla,” Anakin acknowledges, though he’s frowning at Leia. “You're keeping strange company these days.”

Leia takes a breath that’s ready to snarl, but before she can, Aayla tips her head, lets a lek curl around Leia's wrist. “Strange? Another Jedi is hardly unacceptable company, Anakin.”

“Jedi?” Anakin asks, startled, and he looks Leia over—

“Yes, Jedi,” Leia snaps, and doesn’t put her hand on her lightsaber. “Who did you think I was, a senator like your wife?”

Anakin goes instantly, dangerously white, and his eyes widen.

Tellingly, Obi-Wan only looks mildly startled. “Wife?” he asks, and slants a glance at Anakin. “Anakin, you married Padmé and didn’t even bother to invite me?”

Anakin's mouth opens, but not a single sound comes out.

Leia's smirk is a dangerous thing, and is Aayla had an ounce less composure, she’d probably try to drag Leia off somewhere secluded right then and there. “Say hello for me, next time you meet up with her to whine about not being appreciated enough,” she says. “Even though you know you're not fit to be a Master yet.”

“Excuse me,” Obi-Wan says, noticeably cooler, and steps right in front of Anakin. “I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I don’t know you.”

“I'm Leia,” Leia says, and it’s a dare, a taunt, a challenge all in one. “Leia Skywalker.”

“What?” Anakin demands. He steps past Obi-Wan, glaring, and his shoulders are tight, his hand close to his lightsaber. “You can't be! You're wrong.”

“Of course I'm not,” Leia snaps. “Wrong? Just because I say something you disagree with? Of course you’d take that track. I suppose you're not a murderer, either, just because you don’t like being called names.”

“Leia,” Aayla says, and tightens her lek just a little. “You can—”

“It’s a war,” Anakin says loudly, and takes a looming step towards Leia. “Anyone I've killed has been an enemy of the Republic—”

Leia makes a sound of pure, incandescent fury and lunges. With a yelp, Aayla throws herself after her, grabbing her around the waist and hauling her back half an inch before her hands can close around Anakin's neck. “Leia,” she says, and Leia snarls, but doesn’t fight it as Aayla bodily picks her up and carries her three steps back.

“Fine,” she spits. “But as soon as Luke gets here, I'm going to gut the bastard.”

Unlike most people using that tone, she’s definitely not talking about Aayla's Master. Aayla sighs, but hooks her arm through Leia's and aims her best smile at Obi-Wan, who’s eyeing Leia like a loth-cat that suddenly turned into a nexu. “Perhaps we should sit down and discuss this in a more comfortable setting,” she says. “Leia has information on Grievous’s location, and her twin is nearing Dooku's base. Once he’s close, he’ll comm us.”

“He’ll contact me,” Leia corrects sharply. “I'm the only one who can hear him across half the galaxy.”

Obi-Wan blinks at her, like he can't even begin to comprehend this statement.

“Hear him?” Anakin demands. “Through the Force? How is that even possible?”

Leia's grin has teeth. “I guess you're not the most dangerous almost-Jedi anymore, slimeball.”

This, Aayla reflects, might not have been the best idea after all.

[On AO3]