#cassandra jones is his mom and she raised him!! that's his mom!!!

[darkscaleswriter]

⭐️⭐️ *Tosses stars at you for the ask game*

(ask for a director’s cut on any of my fics!)

!!! thank you for giving me the opportunity to ramble :D

SO for Write Our Names in the Wet Concrete, which I just updated a couple days ago so it's still very much on the mind, I have many many feelings about casey junior (as I'm sure anyone can tell lol I'm not subtle). specifically, I have many feelings about his relationship with his mom, bad future!cassandra jones.

I know there was some stuff from the rottmnt crew on the former bird site or something (?) about how cassandra died when casey was pretty young and he was mostly raised by future leo, but I personally do not subscribe to that. not for his backstory in wonitwc, at least. as much as i love dad leo, it's important to me that he's just as much a jones as he is a hamato, especially given that he uses the jones last name.

anyway, many thoughts about the wonitwc iteration of bad future!cassandra jones under the cut, bc i uh. definitely rambled haha ^.^

(also, important note: a lot of my characterization and backstory for cassandra is probably inspired - both consciously and not - by the mean teen fighting machines fic series by @radishhqueen, which is an absolutely incredible character exploration series for april and cassandra that made me fall in love with cassandra jones as a character. please go read it if you have a chance, it's SO good!!!)

so in wonitwc, after cassandra found casey as a baby and decided to raise him, she fully committed. it definitely wasn't an easy decision to take a step back from field work, but a baby is a 24/7 job, and the shift to handling the more organizational/admin side of the growing resistance (as mentioned in chapter 10) helped her feel less like she was costing the group by making others fight in her place. she never regretted that decision, but I think there were a few times she came close. maybe when a mission party would come back having lost someone because they didn't have enough eyes, maybe when a scout never returned after running into a trap that she knew she could've spotted.

as a parent, i think that cassandra was, honestly, not too different from what we see of her in the show lol. a bit more even-keeled with age, but still wholeheartedly committed to everything she put her mind to and not shy about it, which is why i find it extremely funny that casey somehow turned out a Good Kid (TM) who listens to authority (mostly) and respects his elders (unless theyre wrong). he's definitely got moments when his temper breaks, like when he yells at teen leo in the movie, but on the whole, his brand of feral is less… loud, i guess. not sure that's the best way to describe it but it's all my brain is coming up with right now haha.

part of casey's comparatively calmer personality can probably be attributed to the turtles and april, who also played large parts in raising him, but it's not like they're chill either. the final movie opening didn't get to really show this, but in the storyboards for a previous version of the movie's opening, it's shown that future leo has still retained a lot of teen leo's goofiness, though it's hard to say how much of that is performative. at any rate, i interpreted that as showing that the turtles were still themselves in the bad future, at least in some small part.

speaking of the turtles!! my general headcanon is that they and april informally adopt cassandra as family at some point in the future, and joke that she's a distant cousin since the hamato clan started as an offshoot of the foot clan. they get very emotional when cassandra decides to include "hamato" as part of casey junior's full name, which is a real whiplash moment from their reactions when she told them she was going to name him directly after herself lmao. anyway, casey junior grows up knowing that he's a part of the hamato clan, in name and spirit if not by blood.

cassandra was definitely grateful for the help raising casey junior, too. i don't think she ever really considered herself a single parent - raising casey was very much a team effort, even if she was his primary caregiver. cassandra is the only person that casey ever used a parental title for, though. i think she first started teaching casey to address the others by their titles out of ingrained tradition (foot clan was traditional in an oddly random assortment of ways lol) but then let him keep doing it bc it was funny. this does not help casey's Good Kid (TM) image haha.

cassandra's feelings on becoming a hamato, meanwhile, are initially mixed. on one hand, nothing brings people together like an external threat that's in the process of ending the world, so she's bonded a lot with the remaining members of the hamato clan in the apocalypse. on the other hand, she was still in the midst of finding herself after leaving the foot clan when the apocalypse hit, and the invasion triggered by her former cult definitely did not help with that. especially not when she had to put down the krang-infected foot brute and foot lieutenant. i debated taking that out, since it got darker than i expected, but it felt fitting for the tone of the chapter, so. sorry, cassandra :P

i think that cassandra's relationship with her sensei's was very much a "it didn't change anything, but it matters that the love was there" situation. they did terrible things, but they were her only family for a long time, and they cared about her. i don't think she ever fully reconciled with that. there's a reason she never really talked about them to casey junior, besides the fact that reminding people in the apocalypse that she was a former member of the clan that started said apocalypse by summoning the krang would've been a terrible idea.

but. there were times, especially when casey was little, that cassandra would catch herself wishing she could show him off to her senseis. the brute would let casey ride around on his shoulders while the lieutenant would teach him how to fold perfect origami. in another world, maybe those would've been casey junior's eccentric grandpas, visiting on alternate weekends to spoil him. fighting splinter for the position of "favorite grandparent," lol.

maybe something like that could happen far in the future of wonitwc, depending on how things go. we'll see!

[untowardsthoughts]

new fixation. rottmnt oc save me. save me rottmnt oc

his name's yeowl!! he's a black cat yokai, and for all intents and purposes, casey jr's brother

lil origin story comic and tidbits under the cut <3

YEOWL AND CASEY'S ORIGINS !! WITH LIL BITS SCRIBBLED AROUND !!!

essentially, leo and raph find two kids, hidden away in the middle of the apocalypse, and take them in. they both latched onto leo and raph, having been the first faces theyve seen.

the two of em clung to each other growing up. they share a birthday, the day they were found. they get their names separately; yeowl was named first. no matter how much anyone tried to get him to stay silent, yeowl just wouldnt shut up, earning him a nickname that just Stuck. that left his brother referred to as 'the kid'. this was unacceptable to Cassandra, immediately prompting her to call dibs and name the child after herself. keeping the brothers as a package deal, she officially names them Casey Jones Jr. and Yeowl Jones

just as how leo is essentially casey's dad/mentor/sensei, yeowl looks up to raph in a similar manner. theyre both raised collectively by the resistance though, with donnie and mikey being their uncles, april their aunt, and cass as their mom.

thats most of what i have of him so far :] with rottmnt taking over my brain i wanna flesh him out a little more but i thought why not make a post for him <3

[the-last-flame-au]

[ The Ember That May Reignite The Fire ]

"Cassandra Jones!! You cannot be serious right now!!" April shouted. It was rare for her to truly get mad and chew someone out and even rarer for April to cuss out Casey but this was something that couldn't be left unaddressed.

"Look- I couldn't just leave a baby out there to die. You're the one who's been telling me for years to do the right thing and now that I do it, it's still wrong?! Where is the logic in that O'Neil?" Casey defended herself while holding the dirty orphan she picked up on patrol a little closer to her chest.

Somehow this little creature had awakened a new side in Casey. A caring one. Not in the way she cares for the Hamato clan or the resistance. She started to care like a mother and all the small child had to do was cry.

The situation Casey had found the orphan was dire, her squadron had just pushed back a small group of Kraang hounds and were securing the area for supply runs when the child cried out beneath some rubble.

It was a human child that Casey picked up and something about that small, dirty face made her soft inside. The moment she had picked up the human infant he stopped crying, opting out for more content coos.

"Casey you are out of your mind! We are barely scraping by already! We cannot handle a small baby here! Our resources are limited!" April chastised Casey some more. "Just- just let me try okay? Maybe this kid grows up to be strong and bright. Maybe he's gonna be the

solution to the mess outside. Let me try and raise this kid. April please."

Whenever Casey got to emotional talk April couldn't keep up her tough demeanor. It didn't help that the small child in Casey's arms was malnourished and still adorable. April understood that these two would be an incredible little family and a major pain in her ass. "Fine. He's your responsibility though. You make sure he is fed, clothed, bathed, gets his shots, trains when he's old enough and most important of all: make sure that child is loved. If you wanna be a mom, do it right" commanded April.

Casey saluted, a sign of respect yet there was softness in both women. For each other and the small child that was now snuggled up against Casey's chest and sleeping soundly.

"He shall be named CJ!" Casey proclaimed loudly. It had only been a few hours since she brought the infant into the base and introduced him to her found family, the Hamato clan.

Mikey especially loved the little boy from the second he saw him. The child gave him hope. Hope that within all this death and destruction new life could grow. It gave him hope that his brothers didn't die for nothing. That there might be peaceful days again.

Mikey missed his brothers so dearly, he lost them when they were all just children. When they were thrust into a situation so much bigger than themselves, even bigger than the Shredder.

Michelangelo hoped that this child, CJ, would be the key to making everything up to his beloved brothers.

"May I ask what CJ stands for Casey?" Splinter spoke up. He was also excited at the existence of this little boy, he missed his own so much. Feeling like a failure of a father unable to protect them from the world, from danger.

"Well it stands for Casey Junior, of course!" Casey, now senior, proclaimed proudly. "Casey… Junior..? You named the child after yourself?" Draxum questioned. "Of course! There is no greater fighter than I so this shall set my son's destiny in stone!" shouted Casey.

Casey junior seemed unshaken by his mother's loud antics. While Casey laughed at her own genius she caught unimpressed looks from April, Draxum and Splinter.

The only one not paying attention was Mikey. He was busy holding CJ in his arms, enthralled by the little life he held. CJ seemed equally curious about Mikey, reaching for his beak and trying to grab at him.

The baby babbled away, incoherently but still very headstrong in what he wanted. Mikey entertained the young boy while the other four still argued about Casey's name choice.

"I will protect you CJ, I promise no bad thing will ever happen to you." Mikey spoke, though it was little more than a hushed whisper, just loud enough that CJ might hear but no one else. Mikey failed at protecting his brothers but he would not fail in protecting this child.

That, he swore to himself.

Story written by @spacemimz Art by @noxvee6

[classicninjasoup]

MAIN HEADCANONS

Centered in a Pico's School Before Shooting/LCA timeline

No ships mentioned on this post

⚠️ NON CANON ⚠️

[Link to Fanfiction List!]

[Link to Character List!]

Pico Captain

American

The only thing he's sure about is that he loves science and he'll study

He/Him

Unlabeled, Pansexual, Omnisexual with male preference? no idea, he's just a silly guy doing silly stuff.

Somehow popular.

His eyes are green

He has a lil cute tooth gap

Lots of freckles!!!!

18 y/o (PS) | 21 y/o (FNF)

Born April 30th

Darnell Jones

Afro-american, Born and raised in america

Almost full Default setting aka cisgender

He/him

Bisexual

An extroverted

He also has a lil bit TOC, he needs everything to be symmetrical.

His eyes are either purple If we take fantasy colors in count, if not they're deep blue.

18 y/o (PS) | 21 y/o (FNF)

Born January 24th

Nene Nakamura

Asian-american, Born and raised in america,

She's still connected to her Corean and Japanese roots.

She used to be really conservative, once she grew up she started to make her own opinions.

Not sure about her gender identity, she's really confident about being a seen as a girl

She/They

Definitely LGBTQ+

Her eyes are brown

She has a total of three moles in her face, one on the bottom corner of her right eye, another on the top right corner of her lips, the last one bottom left corner of her lips.

18 y/o (PS) | 21 y/o (FNF)

Born July 2nd

Cassandra

Penillian, although when someone ask she says she's german and she does have a subtile accent.. s

She's bi-gender.

Gives a flying fuck about pronouns but people seem to perceive her as a human female so she goes along with it.

Bisexual against her will, hates men BUT SOME OF THEM ARE FINE...

Yellow eyes

Shit ton of piercings on the ears and a total of 3 on her face, left eyebrow, two other on her bottom lip,

She has a little space in her right eye brow, no one know if she shaves it or if there's an scar there.

18 y/o (PS) | 21 y/o (FNF)

Born June 6th

Cyril "Cyclops" Johnson

BORN AND RAISED IN AMERICA🦅🦅🦅🦅

Cisgender

he/him

Straight (he's lying to himself)

He prob has posters of shirtless buff men on his room, he thinks it's normal for guys to have those kind of stuff.

He has a real bad idea about punks, real dumb

He failed a year.

He's Naturally blonde

Blue eyes

He does have an scar in his covered eye (he made the scar in the most stupidest way possibly.)

19 y/o (PS) | 22 y/o (FNF)

Born April 20th

Alucard A̶n̶d̶e̶r̶s̶o̶n̶ Volkov

Born and raised in america

His mom is Russian, his father's British

He's not completely sure but he thinks he's a Demiboy

Any pronouns mainly He/They

He might be in the Aroace spectrum

He didn't turned lavender from a day to another, he had vitiligo for quite some years before his skin went fully lavender.

His eyes are a mystery to everyone mainly since he doesn't take off his glasses because of how sensitive they are (this being a secondary effect from the experimentation his father did)

18 y/o (PS) | 21 y/o (FNF)

Born October 31th

Harold "Hanzou" Sasaki Hernandez

Born and raised in america, their mother is mexican, dad's japanese

Non-binary

They/He/She, they don't mind about what people call them,

They're polysexual.

They have multiple moles on his body the ones more noticeable are the ones on his face, some on his neck and hands being obvious as well.

His eyes are pure black..somehow

17 y/o (PS) | 19 y/o (FNF)

Born October 24th

Pierre Lemieux

Born and Raised on France, parents decided to move to USA for better work opportunities

Gay

Cisgender

He/They (Uses 'They' to refer to themselves)

The glasses are a esthetic thing, he wear contact lenses on school and black squared glasses on his house.

His eyes are brown.

18 y/o (PS) | 21 y/o (FNF)

Sebastián "Spike" Aguilar Flores

Born and raised on Mexico, he moved with his parents to USA since they wanted a change of airs

Non-binary

Any pronoun, mainly referred to as He/him

Abrosexual or antrosexual

He's working real hard to make Cyclops idea on punks change, he's so dang tired.

Naturally a brunette

Multiple face and ear piercings

Also some moles

His eyes are honey green.

18 y/o (PS) | 21 y/o (FNF)

Visual representation on my takes on their positions and stuff

You can change the "weeb" to "geek" or "nerd" if you like, lol

[louff4tw]

So I have this head cannon about Casey Jones Jr and Donnie

Edit: Don has prosthetics that he got at different points in Caseys life. Both legs when he was 7. A arm when he was 10. He only really went on the most dangerous missions cause they involved Krang ships directly

So. Donnie’s specialty is defence. So he needs to stay back most of the time but he does most of his fight with drones. He is the only one that spends more then a few days at the base. Only leaving once in awhile when a mission involves a lot of tech.

Cue Cassandra tasking him with also caring for Jr. She doesn’t trust many and she trusts him and his family. Cause they are her family.

So he has this infant that he basically raises. She’s gone a lot. They all make jokes about how he’s such a dad. Raph and Mikey think it’s adorable. Leo sees it as blackmail material for how Donnie almost cried when Jr started walking.

Jr even started calling him Dad. He tried discouraging it. He didn’t know where Jr learned to (Leo just to mess with him). Cass wasn’t sure how she felt about it. At one point Don wasn’t his dad. But on the other. Splinter wasn’t hers. But he was. One night she’s exhausted and Jr won’t stop crying cause he was teething. So she brings him to Donnie going “when he can’t stop crying. Your his dad. Make him stop”.

Shelldon 2.0 is best big brother and is AI that helps run the place.

He makes soothers while he’s almost crying. By now everyone has accepted he’s a dad. (Boogie woogie woogie). His Bros and April are uncles and auntys and Splinter is a Grandpa.

As Jr grows Don starts teaching his Son™️ about tech. Jr is like a natural. More “no these aren’t tears Leon. My eyes are leaking blinker fluid”

Raph dies when Jr was 4. He doesn’t really remember him. Anymore but he spent weeks after asking for him cause he didnt understand death yet. He inherited one of Raphs bear. And when it clicked Don spent hours holding him while quietly sobbing together.

He understood death when his mom died 2 years later. He rarely left Dons side. Terrified that if he did. He would loose him to.

Don made him his weapon to look like his moms with a mic of his own. Told Jr when he’s older he can show him how to fully trick it out. He never got the chance.

When Jr was 13 the krang found their base. Emergency protocols were set in place. A mass exact took place. Many didn’t make it out. One of their own leaked their plans to the krang in hopes of being allowed to survive. (They killed him anyway)

Jr was one of the ones who couldn’t make it out.

Donnie didn’t even think of leaving until Jr did. He found Jr facing some Krang. He took Jr and ran. All exits blocked. He went back to the lab and hid him. There was only room for Jr. Donnie went full out on the Krang. The parental mom lifts car mode activated.

The krang fought hard. But he fought harder. But there was so many of them. He got several down, he’s so hurt but he can’t stop. Leo and gang arrive. They are able to take down the last of them/scare them off.

“Great work Donnie! Donnie? DONNIE!” From Leo. He was hurt so bad he could barely move. His brothers and April run to him. He’s trying to reach where he hid Jr when he bursts out and books it to Don.

He collapses onto Don begging him “Please be okay Dad! Dad please! I can’t loose you”

Cue movie moment where Don smiles a genuine smile while he caresses Jrs face. Hand and smile Drop. Gravity kicks in and his head Lulls in the opposite direction.

He clings to Leo and the others from then on. They continue his training and he continues his Dads work of doing the tech Defence. Shelldon helps.

Leo eventually becomes his main teacher and he shifts from calling him Uncle to Sensei. He takes it upon himself to raise his twins Son. He and Mikey do everything to keep him safe. EVERYTHING.

Cue being in the past. It’s not till after the krang are defeated they start asking more questions. And he meets his young Mom. They learn that Don was his dad. He and Cass look at each other and he just goes “not the worst person to co parent with”

Splinter makes a joke how he’s so calm when raised by his two chaotic children (yes he counted Cass. To him April and Cass are his daughters)

Casey Jones Jr is happy to see them safe and okay. But part of him will miss his family. And find it weird how his family is becoming a extension of his family.

Either way. Mission accomplished for the future Mad Dogs. Casey is safe and happy(ish)

[wisegirlandseaweedbrainforever]

I started thinking about what it'd be like if all the Casey's had a Cassandra Jones like parent like in rottmnt and this fic happened.

Casey Jones sprinted from the van and up the steps of the apartment he lived in with his dad and little sister, praying they were here and he wouldn't have to search the city. He bypassed the elevater for the stairs not willing to wait for the ancient machine, making good time. The door wasn't locked, Casey wasn't sure what to make of that, they never left the door unlocked, this wasn't a safe part of town after all.

"Dad! Angel! Are you here?!" Casey called

"In the kitchen, Jr." He heard his father say, sounding far too calm for an alien invasion, maybe he hadn't seen yet?

"Dad, there's an alien invasion, you need to look out-"

His dad was at the counter by the sink, seemingly packing Casey's school backpack "Case, I know. I need you to listen to me. Your sister and I are going to live with the foot clan-"

"The foot? Y-you know about the foot?! They're the bad guys dad!"

His dad sighed shoulders sagging, and turned around to face Casey.

"Casey, you know how before your mom died, I wasn't around alot?" He said gently puting his hands on Casey's shoulders.

"Yeah dad, what's tha-"

"Everything Jr. I was a lieutenant for master Saki, for the Shredder. When your mom died I was alowed to retire and raise you two, they will take me back, and the foot are always looking for recruits they will be happy to have your sister, but you are Hamato now-"

"I'm not-" Casey started, but stopped after seeing, his dad's look. "How did you know?"

"The same way the Shredder knows the Hamatos survived, I found a kunai with your symbol among your things while gathering laundry. You all have to be more careful about leaving weapons around like that." Casey sr. Said turning back to the bag on the counter.

"Dad the guys would protect you too, you don't have to go back to the Shred head-"

"Jones don't go back on their oaths Jr, that's why I'm not asking you to come with us. Now, there is enough food in here for two days and ten people if you are careful, and there are bags by the door with first aid and survival equipment, I also packed all the money I could get out of the atm, we won't need it with the foot. But I'd feel better if you did. Help me pack it into the van you took here."

"Dad-"

"Don't argue with me son"

"Yes sir" Casey said swallowing around the lump forming in his throat. "Where is Angel? Can I say goodbye?"

"She's already at the compound, you know she'd never let you leave, if she was here. Come on grab a bag" his dad said ducking around him.

Casey hurried to do as he said.

The walk down to the van was silent, except the sounds of explosions and screaming from the streets, Casey tried to think of something to say, but the fear, confusion, and betrayal was overwhelming and words wouldn't come. This felt way too much like he was being disowned, and he didn't know what to do with that. In the back of his mind though the realization that his father was already dressed in foot garb registered. That didn't make him feel better.

Casey pulled open the back of the van, and they started packing the bags in. Casey desperately trying to not let unshed tears fall. A hand fell on his shoulder, and turned him around. Suddenly he was enveloped in his father's arms.

"I love you son, don't doubt that"

"I love you too, dad"

His dad pressed a kiss onto the top of his head, and pulled apart.

"Now Casey Jones of the Hamato clan, you will go gather your brothers and sisters, and get out of the city. I don't want to find any of your bodies, when we are cleaning up after, you hear me, I know I have trained you well enough for that." Casey Sr said eyes steely.

Casey lost the battle against the tears, but managed to choke out a "yes sir"

His dad's face softened, but he gently pushed him towards the drivers side, and said "now go, and know I am proud of you."

Casey nodded, wiped at the tears so he could see, climbed into the seat and started the engine. His had dad backed up to let him pass. Casey made up his mind, and rolled down the window.

"Hey, dad! I'm proud of you too!" He shouted over the engine.

His dad's face broke into that shit eating grin he knew so well, and said. "That means more than you know son. Now go!"

Casey nodded, and put the peddle to the metal. He had brothers to save.

[annonniiiiieeeee]

So since I moved Casey from being district three to district 7 that means his games changed.

Casey was 13 when he won his games.

His mom was famous for winning her games with a spear she made out of a tree branch. She was a brutal fighter. She was also paranoid beyond belief when Casey was born. She’s a single mother so that means there is no one in district 8 to watch over Casey when she has to attend the games year after year. Casey had to come with her.

He grew up on her hip as she wove deals for her tributes. As she cursed out capital high names. His mother might be the capital menace but he grew up as a darling. He softened her image. When his name is called for the reaping the capital citizens were upset but also completely enraptured in the drama of watching 13 year old Casey Jones be separated from his mother for the first time.

Cassandra wasn’t an idiot. She knows she upsets the capital with her brazen speech and awful temper. She had tried to calm she self since Casey’s brith. Since she was forced to bring him to the capital with her. She knew the capital didn’t like her but she tried to soften her image for her son. She always feared that the capital would try to punish her through him.

Casey being reaped at 13 was a personal attack in her mind. It’s was just luck of the drawl but if the capital didn’t want this then his name wouldn’t have been in the bowl.

No one that young had ever survived the games. The youngest was Usagi who won his games at 14 two years prior. Usagi had also been trained by Katsuichi (the second quarter quell winner) since a young age. It wasn’t legal but no one could prove it, plié Usagi had been a fan favorite.

Casey was going in in a very different scenario. While no one had known about Katsuichi and Usagi’s connection before the arena, everyone knew Casey was Cassandra’s son.

He was going in with a list of people who wanted to sponsor him. He was also going in as the number one target. All the other tributes know that he’s the one getting all the sponsors. They also know that whoever kills him is going to be seen as the villain in the eyes of the capital. They are all severely hoping he goes down in the blood bath or some other hectic event where his death can’t be tied to any of them. Or they hope someone else kills him so they can “avenge” the capital darling.

Casey will have no allies in the arena.

He takes off running as soon as he can and makes his way up a tree, high up where he can’t be seen. There he waits for the two gifts he knows his mom is sending. A sharp rock and twine. He’s able to use both to fashion his own spear.

Then it’s hunting time.

Cassandra raised him well.

He waits up above in the trees and comes down on people when they walk by. The kills are fast and even his small body is enough to push the makeshift spear through them with gravity on his side.

The capital loves it. It’s like watching a mini Cassandra.

But Casey leaves the arena deeply traumatized. After spending weeks with no allies or safe place to go. Weeks of hiding in trees waiting for people to pass by, the game makers get board. Casey might have his mom’s signature weapon but not her ferocity. He’s not actively hunting out opponents.

Originally president Saki was hoping the boy would die but the capital was to invested in him. Sending a mutt to kill the boy wouldn’t go over well. He needed to die at the hands of a tribute not the game makers. He wants the capital to see the savagery of the districts not the cruelty of the games.

The game makers do create mutts or a “natural” event to drawl Casey and other tributes into an outright fight. Casey can’t win that fight. He’s so much smaller then the 18 year old he’s facing. But luck is on his side and whatever drove them together injured the other tribute enough that they can’t fight Casey at full strength.

The fight ends with Casey getting knocked to his back and as the other tribute charges in to kill him, they end up getting impaled on Casey’s spear. They die laying on top of the poor kid.

Casey is deeply traumatized from it all. The only times he feels safe are when he’s with his mom and later with Leo. Watching Leo protect a young tribute during his game and then go on a bloody rampage to avenge them makes Casey wonder what it would have been like to have a teammate like Leo.

When the to meet Leo puts Casey at ease. Leos used to upset little brothers so calming Casey and shielding him from swarmy sponsors is second nature. Durning Raph’s game when the child Raph was working with dies Casey goes to seek Leo out. His mom is out trying to get a sponsor for their remaining kid and Casey can’t be alone after watching a kid get speared to death. He goes to Leo’s floor, where Usagi already is.

Casey isn’t sure why Usagi is there, but he knows he feels safe around Leo and he needs to be around someone he feels safe with right now. Leo doesn’t mind. He welcomes the kid in and let’s him curl up next to him on the couch. Casey passes out curled up to Leo as Leo and Usagi start to plan their next move to keep Raph and Mona alive.

Cassandra eventually finds her son. (She had been in a panic going floor to floor thinking the capital finally took Casey, only to find him curled up at Leo’s side. Leo’s the only person besides herself that Casey is comfortable sleeping in front of. Cassandra doesn’t need any other reason to like Leo.

When the 3rd quarter quell comes ups Cassandra is furious both she and her son were going back to the arena. It wasn’t fair. She’s sure it was rigged. She goes to see who she will have ti kill to keep her son alive and her heart stops for a moment when Leo is called because Casey wouldn’t survive having his only other safe person turned against him.

When Raph volunteers it’s a relief for at least when she’s dead and gone Casey will have Leo. Though having to watch his brother and future sister in law die won’t be easy in Leo. If only there was a way that more of them could get out.

[myanxiousebrain]

hgn... the AUs in my head demand freedom...

note: all aus will eventually escape my brain, this poll is to decide which one I should hyper-fixate on right now.

au descriptions under the cut:

Witch Town au:

after Draxum's lab explodes, Splinter stays in the mystic city instead of going above ground, eventually moving to Witch Town. April is still friends with the turtles (she met them via portal practice accident with Leo). Each of the turtles would have a different magic specialty (all I have figured out so far is Donnie == an alchemist, and maybe Leo == illusions/ stage magic). This AU starts like a month before the show begins and then continues through the events of ROTTMNT, mostly exploring what would happen if the turtles had WAY more practice with mysticism than in the show.

important notes:

__________________________

Triple divorce au:

Draxum made the turtles completely legally, with both Big Mama and Lou Jitsu/Splinter agreeing to it, so long as they both got to have a presence in the turtles' lives growing up, however, after the turtles were made, Big Mmama tried to get full custody rights over the turtles but the court said no to that. TLDR Draxum and Splinter get joint custody over the turtles, with Big Mama getting visitation every other week. Splinter gets weekdays and draxum weekends. Draxum has his redemption arc much sooner in this au, realizing that not all humans suck after getting to know April through the turtles. This AU focuses on the turtles growing up and how their lives would be, and the main plot of ROTTMNT, just with draxum being good the whole time. (this entire AU came from me thinking "What if they knew Big Mama as like their mom who divorced their dad" while watching Bug Busters for the Nteenth time)

important notes:

__________________________

IDK what to call this AU:

Big Mama accepts Splinter's marriage proposal but first reveals that she's a yokai, Splinter doesn't care at all and says he'll love her no matter what, and moves in with her. Eventually, he decides to fight in the battle nexus, because it seems exciting (note: he CHOOSES to fight in it and can stop at any time he wants, unlike in canon where he had no choice). After fighting for a while, draxum sees him and decides to use him for the mutants like in Cannon, UNLIKE in Cannon however, Big Mama comes in right after the explosion and right before Splinter gets mutated, having her watch as he gets mutated, she rushes in and takes him & the turtles home. Big Mama puts a bounty on Draxums head for what he did. The Turtles grow up with Big Mama and Splinter as their parents. They met April because she and her family were staying in the Nexus Hotel after a mold infestation in their home. This AU follows the plot of the show. (pls give ideas for the name of this, I'm begging)

important notes: Splinter x Big Mama, Leo is the heir to Big Mama's empire

__________________________

Adopted Cass AU:

On 7-year-old Cassandra Jones's first day in the foot clan, before she really had strong ties to it, she fell down an open manhole while she & the other recruits were following Foot Lieutenant and sprained her ankle, but it's ok! they'll come back for her in 3 minutes, just wait! Then 3 minutes becomes 30 minutes, becomes 60 minutes, becomes 3 hours... no one is coming to get her, are they? eventually, she's found & taken in by Splinter and raised as the turtle's intense, but well-meaning, sister.

[rottmnt-hc]

OCs for 03 that will be reused in Rise and IMPORTANT Rise OCs

Hazel: Old widow who lives alone, she has four grandkids from an arranged marriage. She owns a pistol and considered a back alley doctor. (That's how she met Raph). She had recently lost her wife Rosa, and was making Mac and Cheese when she hear a crash and there lay a turtle in a red bandana. Oh cool, new grandchild.

Age:64

Favorite color:green

Favorite Turtle: She loves them all equally Raphie

Favorite food: Mac and cheese but starting to like pizza

Living relatives not mutant: Four grandkids, two kids all live too far away (different country) and her ex husband who is her best friend Marcus, older brother who is actually in a nursing home.

Cristina: A young dance instructor with a dream to fly, the goggles on her head belonged to her father when he was young. While she did live alone, she also likes to go to the bar once and a while. She knows Casey Jones, no she didn't date him, since the two were young. She actually meets Donatello while he was avoiding Purple Dragons, the two somehow became close friends for the longest time without his brothers knowing.

Age: 22

Favorite color: Blue but wears mostly red

Favorite Turtle: Donnie (maybe Mikey)

Favorite food: Stuffed Peppers (she has managed to make pizza stuffed peppers)

Living relatives: Mom and Aunt whom she cut from her life

Hamato Amakuni: One of the best blacksmiths in Japan, know for the reliability and beauty of his weapons. He wasn't interested in marriage or women, but he delightfully chatted with an unknown Samurai despite the tense between ninja and them. He is the third tallest Hamato at 8ft and a jolly personality. His main weapon of choice is Kakute.

AOD: 30

Favorite color: Pink (or a yellow like a certain Yokai samurai's eyes)

Favorite Turtle: Even though Raph spoke to him first, Leo has similarities to him

Favorite food: tempura and soba

(Image is not complete(ly) accurate, he has a tattoo on his chest of a deer with Sakura on its antlers.)

Hamato Hana: Is the toughest ghost kid in the Hamato clan, she was the last kid to die. She was the first kid to interact with the brothers, which she absolutely adores. She often dances around Raph and Donnie the most, the two act just like her own parents.(Whom of which are humored by it)

AOD: 6

Favorite color: all colors

Favorite Turtle: Raph and Donnie

Favorite Food: Dango

Adrienna "Crumb" [redacted]: She was born on a rainy night, her mother being hunted down by a man named Bishop. She's a human Yokai hybrid, her father being a Yokai and killed during the invasion. Her mother captured for "science" by a misguided Bishop. Leonardo delivered her and Raphael tended to her. Her mother was recaptured after forcing the boys to run, and Bishop is finally doubting his Superiors.

Age: newborn

Favorite color: she has a liking to orange so far

Favorite Turtle: she loves them all so far

Favorite food: N/A

Hamato Himari: Is a trained assassin and one of the few Kunoichi that died directly to Saki, she is bitter about that and doesn't really like the turtles (she warms up to them) and one of the few who didn't accept Draxum or April to the clan. She allows Cassandra only because she was raised with the foot and technically Saki's responsibility. (She'll come around and even train Mikey how to be an assassin) though for now she doesn't interact with the family unless it's necessary.

AOD: 29

Favorite color: grey

Favorite Turtle: None (Mikey)

Favorite food: Oyakodon

Miranda [Redacted]: She is "Crumb's" mom and had been taken by EPF for questioning due to her husband's revealed nature. Once they found out she was pregnant, they attempted to experiment on her. Thanks to Agent Bishop (Dr. Bishop's daughter) she was able to escape but ended up in a extremely early labor. Raph found her.

Age: 30

Favorite color: Midnight Blue

Favorite Turtle: she's only met Leo and Raph

Favorite Food: Burritos

Adrian [Redacted]: Crumb's dad, he's a lizard Yokai that had been Kraangafide. Luckily he didn't have a cloaking brooch but he did have his wallet with his and his wife's pictures in it. He is still Kraangafide but aware of his surroundings.

Age: 32 in human years

Favourite Color: Black

Favorite Turtle: Has not met any turtle

Favorite food: Deep fried rat rice

[mx-mongoose]

Crossover prompt, Casey and Casey Junior centric

So when meeting Casey Junior, the 2012 gang is just AWESTRUCK on how different Casey is in this universe. He’s nice, calm, considerate, well mannered, respectful- you get the point. Everything 12!Casey ISN’T. And most of the 2012 gang absolutely likes him. It feels nice to have a Casey that doesn’t constantly push their buttons and feel like they can have a mature or calm conversation with.

Leonardo spars with him and is shocked by how formally trained he is.

Since Junior grew up with Rise Donnie, he tries to help Donnie with projects when he allows him to and is actually good company for Donnie!

Junior is the only one who can stomach Mikey’s cooking since he survived on roadkill and scraps most of his life so maple syrup and tuna pizza tastes like Gordan Ramsey to him,

April is just appreciative to have a meaningful conversation with another human for once.

Raphael is the only one on the fence about Junior for a reason stated later.

As for 12!Casey, he absolutely HATES Junior’s guts. Mainly out of jealousy. He’s jealous of how his team trusts him and how they’re not generally annoyed to be around him, hell he’s even jealous of how sick his weapons are! I mean a chainsaw hockeystick fusion and a grappling hook?! No-one would trust him with those but apparently these guys do. There’s also this thing where Junior is just so… Bland?! (In his eyes) He can’t understand why anyone likes him, universal cosmo law or not that wasn’t Casey Jones and he’s not gonna share his title to the equivalent of white bread.

So it sparks this one-sided rivalry and Junior doesn’t understand any of it. Like Casey will start random competitions, will pick on him, purposely make him mess up on missions, hell he’ll even try and make Junior physically fight him a couple times before someone will have to tear Casey off of the poor boy. (It doesn’t help that 12 Donnie constantly calls Junior the “better Casey”)

Eventually the two of them talk and they make a truce then they become friends (i have no idea how, just imagine some emotional conversation between them)

Then they’re walking and they go up to one of the Donnies and ask

Casey Jr: Hey Dona- i mean Donatellos, my counterpart wants a replica of my weapon if that isn’t any trouble

Casey: What my good looking bro is trying to say is- Dude I NEED a hockey stick chainsaw

Rise Donnie: Okay two things, one-

2012 Donnie: No way in hell that i’m giving YOU a chainsaw

Rise Donnie: And two, who said you guys were counterparts?

Then there’s this long silence and Casey asks

Casey: how we are not counterparts? We share the same name, we share the same handsome face and both play hockey??

Rise Donatello: That’s because he’s the counterpart of your would-be-son Casey Jones Junior. Your counterpart is our friend Cassandra Jones, you guys haven’t met because she doesn’t visit much-

Casey: JUNIOR?! CASE, WHY DIDN’T YOU MENTION THE JUNIOR PART OR YOUR MOM.

Casey Jr: It never came up! But i guess that makes sense, you do remind me a lot of my mom.

Rise Donatello: It also explains why when I asked Donnie over here how his Casey was sent to the past without mystic energy he looked at me like I was crazy

2012 Donnie: To be honest, I was more shocked that a Casey was put in charge of saving the world. Now I can sleep easy at least

Casey: YOU’RE FROM THE FUTURE?!

Rise Donatello: You didn’t tell this guy anything did you???

After that, Casey loves to pull the “Technically i’m your dad, so you have to listen to me” and teasingly calls him “son”. Of course this is all out of earshot of Cassandra. But this also is a weight off Casey’s chest that this is indeed a separate person and of all things his son! Hell it kinda gives him an ego boost (not that he needs one) that someone as crazy as him can raise someone like Junior.

They’re close friends and I love them

[holymolyineedtherapy]

I don't think Casey Jones is Casey Jr's real name. I think he took the name after his mom, Cassandra Jones, died. While I love and believe that Cassandra would be so egotistical to name her child after herself, I don't think that she did. I don't even think that Cassandra named Casey or is Casey's biological mom.

I don't see Cassandra being the type of person to seek out that type of intimacy in the apocalypse. She would be the type of person to be out on the front lines and always make sure that people got home safe. I believe that Cassandra found Casey as a toddler and he already had a name. She then raised him as her own.

When she died, Casey wanted to keep part of her with him. Something more than her mask. He was raised by her and looked up to her for everything. He wanted to be her. So he took her name and became Casey Jones. He rose up to become the new person to fight on the front lines and make sure everyone went home safe.

I think that's a much better story and gives them both a bit of character development.

[nataliedanovelist]

So a few days ago, @fanficmaniatic made a post, a fun little theory you can read here.

This inspired me in more ways than I can say. My writer’s block that had been concrete for several months was smashed to pieces, and I decided to push myself in a slightly different way, taking a slightly different approach than previous works. I had an idea, and I ran with it. When I couldn’t run, I walked. and when I couldn’t walk, I crawled. Bottom line: I am excited to announce a multi-chapter fic coming very soon!

I will happily gush about how much this fandom has impacted me the last few weeks, but for now, please enjoy a sneak peak at my newest fic,

The Apocalypse That Was, But Never Is.

~~~~~~~~~~

Cassandra opened the door in her gray sweatpants and hockey t-shirt. She raised an eyebrow at the teenager at her door and said, “Sorry, but I have a vacuum cleaner that works, and I’m too broke for charities or fundraisers.”

Casey’s face turned red and he pulled on the collar of his t-shirt. “Uh, n-no. I… uh, I’m… Um, wh-what I mean to say is… um…”

April hurried to Casey’s side and greeted with a loud, “Cassandra! CJ! MY main queen! What’s shakin’, bacon?!”

“This should be fun.” Cass said, leaning against the doorway with an amused smile. Say what you want about April O'Neil, but a day with her was never boring.

April chuckled nervously, then put a hand on Casey’s trembling back, and said, “Cassandra Jones, I’d like you to meet Casey Jones.”

Casey wasn’t exactly sure how to start delivering the news, but she was a journalism major in college, and that was way better than anything Casey could come up with.

The last three weeks Casey had tried to imagine what his mom might do when she met him. Be confused? Be excited she’s a mom? Be bummed she’s a mom at eighteen? Laugh it off? Dismiss him? Accept him?

What he didn’t expect (but probably should have expected), was for once she learned someone else had her name, she pulled out her hockey stick, raised it for an attack, and screamed, “THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE!”

“CASS, NO!”

[uppastthejelliclemoon]

Uppast's Cats Tour Comments: Act 1

note: i'm referring to the cats by their show names, however I may use the actor's name for a specific comment!

Overture

They did this SO well! I definitely missed seeing the cast in the aisles, but they projected the green eyes onto the stage, and it was the perfect amount of creepy/weird/hypnotizing.

I absolutely love the lights slowly being raised while shining all the spotlights, it sets the vibe PERFECTLY

also saying this now: the orchestra was incredible!

Prologue: Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats

right off the bat, we’ve a super sweet Demestrap moment, with Munkustrap checking on Demeter after the car! It was adorable!

Devon's voice is SO good for Munkustrap, also the man is TALL OH MY GOD

Tugger didn't get his "can you say of your bite that it's worse than your bark" line, which I was a little disappointed about. However, Zach as Bill Bailey is absolutely 10/10.

Brianna… the babiest Sillabub… so precious... so small...

There were some Victor and Gus moments, with them either standing near each other or sharing looks/touches, so if anyone ships them, y'all got your rarepair moment!

THE BOOT WAS SO LOUD LMAO

They use the set so well!

The Naming of Cats

creepy, wonderful, everything I want from this number

A handful of the cats got right to the edge of the stage where the lighting was, so they were all glowing, and it was the BEST vibe.

Taylor was staring into my soul during the last verse so now I can say I've been vibe-checked by Coricopat.

Invitation to the Jellicle Ball

Hyla is the PERFECT Victoria!!!!! She's so incredibly graceful, she had the sweetest expression on her face, and ugh it was flawless.

Paul is also just an amazing Mistoffelees.

Munkustrap had literally the sweetest moment with Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer and I almost started crying. Right before Jennyanydots' song, when everyone's getting into place, Mungo and Rumple immediately went to Munkustrap and were cuddling his legs, and he gave them pets, and just oh my god T_T

Gumbie Cat

OKAY SO I ABSOLUTELY ADORE THE KITTEN SQUAD SO MUCH MY HEART

When everyone's setting up for Jennyanydots' song, after the nuzzles, the lights start to switch, and the kitten squad was trying to catch the lights on the ground while Munkustrap was looking at them with the fondest expression and i swear i cried a little bit over how cute they were.

SKIMBLE LOVES HIS WIFE SO MUCH AND WAS HELPING HER GET THE KITTENS INTO THEIR MICE COSTUMES

Plato, Alonzo, and Mungojerrie were great cockroaches, 10/10

The Gumbie Trio was so good! Their voices sounded amazing together, and they were all just having so much fun!

SO MUCH MAMA JELLY AND SON TUMBLE I FEEL SO HAPPY

I'm going to go more in-depth in my Kitten Squad post!

Rum Tum Tugger

The way Zach said "Who will it be?" was absolutely amazing, i loved it, 10/10 character introduction.

Jennyanydots stomped off when he interrupted her accolades, she was very upset.

Zach and Devon nailed Tugger and Munkustrap's sibling dynamic PERFECTLY, Devon was the best Tired Older Brother Munkus.

Yeah, this number pretty much confirmed Zach as my favorite Tugger.

Mistoffelees and Cassandra did some lounging together in the background on the car.

Chelsea's Bomba is absolutely *chef's kiss*, I adore her

Obviously Tugger and Mistoffelees did their little dance, and it was wonderful. I'm not sure if other shows had Mistoffelees do this, but he went between Tugger's legs at the end of his little solo and Tugger was just vibing.

MY FAVORITE MOMENT THOUGH had to be near the end of the song, Munkustrap was 100% getting into it, and Tugger went over to him and was teasing him, poking him, and it was the cutest brother interaction.

They did have the camera! Zach did some very Tugger poses, and it was great.

Grizabella the Glamour Cat

haha Tugger went to hide behind the metal bars on the furthest side of the stage away from Grizabella, I'm in ✨pain✨

Sillabub goes to touch Grizabella, Grandpa Skimble pulls her back and starts scolding her, I want to hug the baby.

No, but I did really love that moment. It's off to the side, but you can see him giving her a talking to, and she's trying to say something back, but he's very firm.

Mungojerrie egged George on to scratch Grizabella, George sweetie don't be mean.

Taylor has such a perfect voice for Grizabella, and I loved her look!

OKAY SO LAUREN AND CHELSEA'S VOICES

Lauren's voice is so smooth and suave, and Chelsea's voice has a little growl that almost made me pass out, like ma'am i'm in love? But their voices mixed together, as well as how slightly different they are was such a great choice, and I kind of hope that other future productions take note and have two actresses with vastly different vocals for Demeter and Bombalurina.

Bustopher Jones

Mistoffelees and Victoria go to great Bustopher together and it was the cutest thing, they were so excited to see him!

Munkustrap immediately grabbing Mungo and Rumple by the necks and steering the gremlins away from the Very Important Cat.

Tugger was keeping watch so Munkustrap could be silly with everyone else during Bustopher's number, and that's not something I'm forgetting. Usually, obviously, Munkustrap's sort of in the background, standing, watching, and not really interacting. But Tugger switched places, and was up on the scaffolding watching, and it was CUTE!

My Tuggandra crumbs, thank you Zach and Lexy, I'm indebted to you both.

Tugger literally was just lounging on the car during the end of Bustopher's song, just waving his arms around, and I love him.

Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer

Elana (Teazer for this show) had the PERFECT Rumple giggle!

They're so silly, I love them

They made the best facial expressions, especially when Mungo "stole" Rumple's pearls.

Very dramatic gremlin twins, jumping all over the place, not caring about anything!

They were so confident at the end of their song when they went to walk off, and immediately went into "oh shit" mode when Munkus, Plato, and Alonzo came out.

Run through the legs of Munkus! See Munkus, this is why you need to not stand with your legs apart when you're attempting to control kittens.

Old Deuteronomy

Saying it again, Devon and Zach are SUCH a good Munkustrap and Tugger.

The babies were so excited to see Old Deut! They could barely contain themselves, and then got cuddles! (Also Tanto was with the kittens and i love that for her, let her be a kitten!! I definitely got "big brother Cori/little sister Tanto" vibes)

Everyone's getting Deut nuzzles!!

Tugger did a VERY dramatic shimmy at his dad, and Deut laughed, and I cried.

Tugger and Munkustrap standing on either side of their dad!!!! He's so proud of them!!

Jellicle Ball

Sillabub was hiding on top of the oven before the Ball, sweet baby T_T

George got to sing with Old Deut!! Happy boy!!

TUMBLE FLIPS TUMBLE FLIPS TUMBLE FLIPS

Jennyanydots and Skimbleshanks being the Supervisors!!

There was a really sweet Jellylorum and Alonzo moment (def going to talk more about it in the Alonzo post), but my "Jellylorum is Alonzo, Tumble, and Pounce's Mom" hc is feeling SO VALIDATED TONIGHT

I've said this so many times, but I adore that Plato and Victoria get their own little solo before their Big Solo. It's so sweet, and Hyla and Adam have wonderful chemistry!

Tugger chases Bomba offstage before The Moment, and I love that for them

CUDDLE PILE!!!

Munkustrap and Demeter cuddled together in the corner away from the pile and I want to sob because they were just so sweet, her head was on his shoulder, and he was holding her, and literally everyone in this show has such good chemistry with each other.

Tugger looks up with the psychic twins during Grizabella's reveal, once again making me think that Tugger and Munkustrap have magic like their brother.

OH AND TUGGER DID THE STUPIDEST LITTLE DANCE WHERE HE WAS SHAKING HIS BUTT AND HAVING FUN AND MUNGOJERRIE LAUGHED AT HIM AND THEY HAD A MOMENT AND IT WAS GREAT

Memory

ouch ouch ouch

Jennyanydots blocks the stairs up to Deut's tire so Grizabella can't go to Deut, my heart

steering the babies away from Grizabella even though Silla wants to give her a hug.

Taylor you hurt me in the best way possible

I always get emotional over Grizabella's dance before her song, it's such a telling moment, but unfortunately I don't think everyone understands that it's supposed to be a serious moment and not funny.

Deut sits on his tire the entire song and it's HEARTBREAKING

At the very end, Grizabella does the reaching back, and Deut reaches forward, and if you're sitting in the right spot it looks like they're touching and i'm NOT OKAY

[randomly-a-fan]

How Can “IT” Love a Human? Finale

Pt. 1

Pt. 2

Pt. 3

At the private airport, Scarlet got out of the taxi and walked into the waiting room for her private jet plane to land. Scarlet took out her family photo from when Kandy was being held by her big brother. Scarlet never have forgotten when Pennywise shouted ‘Fat Chubbies’. When she made a chuckle, she started to cough worse than before. “Ma’am, are you feeling alright?” asked the attendant. Scarlet nodded as she’s saying that she’s fine. “I’ll be fine... What time is it?” Scarlet asked. “It is... 9:49 pm,” the attendant answered.

***

Meanwhile, Cassandra was driving Pennywise and the kids to the airport after giving her some threaten-like persuasion. “If what you’re telling me is true, I really hope we make it...” Cassandra said to Pennywise as she was concentrating on the road. Just then, the train came by and had no choice but to stop. “What the hell are you doing?” Pennywise asked. “There’s a train you dope! I can’t past a train.” Cassandra scolded. 

It was 9:55, and he knew that by the time the train leaves, they won’t make it in time. “Give me the wheel, I can get us to the airport.” Pennywise offered. “No freakin’ way... I don’t trust you.” Cassandra argued. “If you care so much about your cousin, you’d obey my request and give me the freakin’ WHEEL.” Pennywise said with red in his eyes. Cassandra had no choice but to let Pennywise drive. “Hang on kids, daddy’s driving...” Pennywise adjusted the mirrors and put on his nighttime shades and floored the speed pedal and drove off the road to beat the train. Cassandra was freaking out as she was regretting for letting Pennywise drive. Archie too was petrified, except for Kandy who was sleeping the whole time.  

Pennywise drove neck to neck with the train and spotted the perfect spot to use as a ramp, but he had to drive past the train, so he adjusted the nozzle and hit the speed that was impossible for a corvette to handle but succeeded. As Cassandra and Archie screamed in fear with Kandy screaming with excitement after waking up from a commotion, Pennywise speeded up and made the leap before the train could crush them all. Pennywise looked back to see if his kids are alright. “You kids okay? When this whole nightmare is over, I’ll take you kids to McDonalds for a Kids Meal.” Pennywise said while patting Archie’s leg. Then he turned to Cassandra. “You want a Big Mac later, cuz-in-law?” Pennywise chuckled. Cassandra stared angrily at Pennywise as she was fixing her hair and adjusting her glasses.

***

When they finally made it to the private airport, Pennywise noticed a private jet was about to fly, so he leaped out of the car and ran after it, thinking that it was Scarlet’s plane flying away. 

“NOOO... STAR...” Pennywise shouted as the private jet flew away. Pennywise collapsed to the ground in grief.

Cassandra and the kids rushed over towards Pennywise as the kids wanted to comfort him. Cassandra noticed another private jet landed, so she checked the time on her watch. “Pennywise, that was the wrong plane; that was a 9:55 pm plane. Scarlet’s plane just landed.” Cassandra told Pennywise with excitement. Pennywise looked over and saw Scarlet walking over to the pilot. 

Albert the pilot escorted Scarlet onto the plane, until she stopped, she couldn’t feel her pulses and is starting to lose clear vision. “Ms. Jones are you alright?” Scarlet then started to weaken and began to lose her balance. “STAR...” Pennywise rushed over to Aquarius at an impossible speed to catch her before she hits her head hard to the ground. Scarlet couldn’t see very well, but she can recognize the white face. “...Penny... What are you doing here?” Scarlet asked weakly. 

“What do you think? I have Cassandra drive me and the kids to the airport to fetch you--” 

“You never loved me though--” 

“Just shut up and listen!!!”  Pennywise said in a stern tone. Scarlet decided to stop talking so she can let Pennywise speak. “To you you’re Scarlet... To me, you’re still Aquarius the Singing Clown, and you don’t have to be a clown to receive my affection... I know I said I can’t ever love you as a human, but that’s only because I don’t want to hurt you...” Scarlet started to cough hard before Pennywise could finish. “I still love you Penny... Both you and the kids... But I don’t think I can make it...” Scarlet said. “Yes you can; the only thing that can keep you alive is being with your family, and me and the kids are here for you... I love you Star.” Pennywise said as he saw Scarlet smiling weakly with tears in her eyes. 

Pennywise gently kissed her by the lips for a long while. He thought that Aquarius will be alright after that... apparently... Star gave up her last breath after the kiss ended. “Star... STAR?” Pennywise said in shock. Cassandra crouched down to feel her pulse on her arm. “She’s... she’s gone...” Cassandra said as she teared up. Pennywise’s eyes were wide open after hearing the fact that Aquarius actually died. Pennywise screamed to the heavens and hell with a mix of ferocious animal noises. Pennywise held Aquarius against his chest while crying with his face pasted to her head. “Star... I’m so sorry... I’m so very sorry...” Pennywise whispered. normally his tears would float up, but this time, his tears dripped down onto her cheek.

After a while, Pennywise walked away with grief with Cassandra following him, leaving Archie and Kandy behind. Archie cling towards his mom while Kandy crawls out of her big brother’s backpack and crawled towards her mommy. “Momma...” Kandy said, as it was her very first word. With Kandy’s word being heard by Archie, they also heard another voice. “Did... Did Kandy just said her first word...” “MOMMY,” Kandy squealed with excitement. Not only did Scarlet came back to life, but she regained her clown form. Archie also cling to his mom with happy tears, as she was hugging both her kids with happy tears. 

Aquarius noticed Pennywise standing back facing her while Cassandra tries to comfort him, as both of them were unaware of Aquarius being revived. She walked over to her husband and laid a hand on her husband’s shoulder. “Penny...” Pennywise turned quickly and saw the part-human and part demon clown girl he loved. Pennywise immediately grabbed hold of her and lifted her up in the air before kissing her hard. “I thought I lost you... How is that possible?” Pennywise asked while tearing up. “I don’t know... I was blackened out, until I’ve heard Kandy’s first word.” Aquarius answered. Pennywise turned towards his daughter and walked over and picked her up. “Didja just said your first word, Kandy?” Pennywise asked in a cute cooing sort of way. “Momma...” Kandy said as she extended her arms towards her mommy. Aquarius took her daughter into her arms and kissed her by the head while Archie was being picked up by his dad. “Dad, I think Kandy has discovered her secret power; the power of reviving...” Archie said. Pennywise chuckled before he hugged his son. “Kandy is still a baby, son; I think your mom coming back to life was a lucky coincidence.” Pennywise said to his son. 

When Archie looked over at his baby sister, he could have sworn that he just saw Kandy smile with little fangs and made a wink at him. Archie realized that Kandy is a lot smarter than he thinks; however, no one is going to believe him, so he decided to leave it at that... Until next time perhaps.

***

The next morning, Aquarius was sleeping peacefully until she smelled something good. Pennywise came in, wearing his comical black waitress costume. “Penny, what the hell are you wearing!” Aquarius laughed. “I thought I just try on  a new look. So I thought I make you Bacon and Legs-- uh I mean-- Bacon and Eggs...” Pennywise chuckled awkwardly. Aquarius laughed at Pennywise’s performance and his word error; known to the fact that she usually cooks Pennywise some bacon and legs, which explains his word error. Pennywise’s eggs and bacon are a little imperfection, with the bacon kind of burnt and the eggs had a broken yoke... Just the way she likes them. “What made you want to do this for me?” Aquarius asked while eating her breakfast. Pennywise sat next to his wife while lying down in a sexy pose; exposing his garter. “You’ve been through a lot; ever since we’ve started a family, you do most of the house work... Since the other day when you were human because of The Dream Demon, I have to raise the kids myself... It was hard, and I really missed you. So you deserve some time off...” Pennywise got on top of Aquarius with his legs spread apart and gently removed her plate. “I took the liberty to send the kids to the Voorhees place for the day... so you and I can have the time for ourselves... You deserve some nice pampering... What do you say... Scarlet?” Pennywise asked with a wink.

Aquarius smiled in fondness since she knew that he was doing this because he was feeling guilty for the way he acted. It made her feel so loved. So she placed her hands on his cheeks. “From all the trouble you’ve been putting yourself into just for me, made me realize that I’ve been more loved than ever before... I’m glad that I became your mate...” Aquarius said before they kissed. Pennywise broke the kiss to ask Aquarius a question. “Can I remove this outfit now? it’s making me feel itchy and my garter is starting to block the bloodstream.” Pennywise asked with a little whine. Aquarius laughed as she agreed; since he had to remove it anyway for... Well, you get the drift.

[In Hell]

While the Satin Clown was distracted, Freddy was getting close into breaking free from the chains, even if he had to cut off his own hand to do so; after all, he is a The Nightmare Demon and his limbs will grow back. So Freddy Krueger escaped the carnie hell and back to his lair.

So at night, you can almost hear his maniacal laughter.

The End?

[themusicplayedherlife]

Some Sugar

Part 3:  you think you can open my heart?

pairing: sugar daddy!steve rogers x reader characters: reader, steve rogers, cassandra jones (oc), selena (oc), others word count: 3k+ warnings: angst, family issues, money problems, cursing, talks of sex summary: family can be pretty wild a/n: sorry this took so long, but shit happened--from car accidents to quarantine to a lack of motivation, and it was just really hard to write anything. I tried, but it was all shitty. Couldn’t even bring myself to finish this chapter, but I managed it, until I realized that part of this chapter wouldn’t fit in to this anymore and needed to be pushed back -insert grimacing emoji- so really this chapter could’ve been posted weeks ago lmfao IM SORRY

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Quiet hums reach your ear as you stare at your phone’s screen, the large sum of money with too many zeroes staring back at you. It hasn’t even been a week yet and you’ve already received your first allowance—first. 

You throw yourself back onto your twin sized bed and the spring mattress squeaks horribly under your weight; you ignore it as your mind drifts to your conversation with Steve a couple of nights ago, your phone still in your hands and resting on your stomach.

“Even if you have a month left, it’s best to pay off the debt now.” As much as you wanted to pay attention to his blabbering, you were a little busy trying to keep your mind from how fast he was driving.

He had started off slow, or as slow as the speed limit allowed, really, until he got wrapped up in your story about your mom’s cancer returning, your sister’s self sacrificing nature (“She takes after you then,” he said with a grin), and your aunt and her subtle threats that were no longer so subtle.

Left hand gripped the seat tightly while your right hand clutched the handle on the roof. Your feet occasionally slammed down on the floor, braking whenever you felt Steve was going too fast for your liking. Wasn’t Captain America all about doing the right thing and following the law? Being safe? Honestly! He was lucky the streets were empty and there weren’t any cops in sight. You could have laughed at the imaginary headline: Captain America and His Sugar Baby Pulled Over For Driving too Fast. “Right,” is all you managed to say. 

“I can probably wire you the money tomorrow and then some,” he said, completely oblivious to your dilemma. You didn’t—and still don’t—know whether that was a good or bad thing. “We should probably figure out how allowance is going to work first, though—hey, are you okay?”

You ripped your gaze from the blur of the world outside, eyes a little wide to find Steve alternating between looking at you and the road. “Can you—can you maybe ease up on the gas a little?”

He blinked, eyes falling to his dashboard and soon the world started blurring less and your body was no longer trying to fight against gravity. You exhaled and let go of the leather seat that you’re sure you’ve scratched up, and he chuckled. “Bad habit,” he admits. “More used to my motorcycle than a car.” Right. Captain America rode a motorcycle.

You leaned back into the seat and your head rolled against the headrest to look at him. “That’d explain it.”

He chuckled, looking at you from the corner of his eye. “I’ll be more careful.”

“Yeah, that’d be great.” It’s sarcastic, and you almost feared he’d be mad but he only chuckled in response, blue eyes twinkling with mirth. Huh.

“So, allowance?”

Allowance. Right. That’s a thing. Allow-ance. Why is that such a weird word to you now? “I trust you.” (Selena had advised you a base price of 2,000 per meeting, but you thought—like most of her suggestions—it was ridiculous. “Give yourself some credit,” she had said when you scolded her.) “Whatever you think is right, I’ll accept.”

For a moment he mirrored your frown, until he nodded resolutely and smiled. “I’ll handle it.”

And handle it he did. Not that you’re surprised that Avengers make bank because c’mon they’re heroes! You just didn’t think they’d make that much bank to spare this much money! Tony Stark? Sure. He owned a damn company—or was on the board, you don’t know anymore. But the rest? Not so much.

A familiar ring from your phone pulls you out of your thoughts and you don’t even bother checking who it is, you just accept the call. 

“Mornin’,” Steve’s voice greets you, a smile very much apparent in his voice and your heart does a flip. “I’m downstairs.”

You sit up hastily and in your hurry you almost fall off, eyes darting to the closed bathroom where Esmeralda is showering. “What?” Didn’t he say you were meeting at noon for lunch?

“My meeting got pushed back to this evening, and since you asked for the day off from the restaurant, I thought we’d make the most of the morning.”

“I’ll be down in a moment.” You pause when the doorbell rings. “Please tell me you’re not at my door right now.”

“No, but that might be Peter Parker.” How does he know—Shit. Right. He mentioned knowing the kid from his internship after you told him about your sister. “Just saw him enter the building with his friends.”

“Did he see you?” You really hope not.

“I don’t think so. If he had, the kid would’ve said something.”

You let out a relieved sigh and open the door just as you hear Ned say: “I swear that was Captain America downstairs!”

“What?” He said they didn’t see him!

“Morning,” Peter greets you as MJ rolls her eyes at Ned’s comment.

“I didn’t see anyone,” she says pointedly at him, before greeting you and smiling when you let them in.

You dumbly stare after them.

“It was him!” Ned insists, making a beeline towards the window facing the street and dragging Peter along with him.

MJ turns to you as she moves around the half wall separating the kitchen from the living room, not surprising. “Mind if I grab something to eat?” 

“Sure?” You still don’t know why she bothers asking.

“The windows are tinted, Ned,” Peter hisses. “I can’t see.”

“You got Greek yogurt? Oh. You do. Cool.”

Ned frowns and scratches his head, murmuring, “I swear it was him.”

You sigh, and drop your hand holding your phone without ending the call. “Can you tell Esme I got called into work?”

“Yeah,” Peter says, turning away from the window. “Sure!”

“And tell her to shoot me a text before you guys leave for school.” Peter nods, not really paying attention to you as he joins Michelle in the kitchen, already knowing the drill. “No dirty dishes in the sink.”

The last thing you see is MJ flashing you a thumbs up before you close the door behind you.

As you make your way towards the stairs, you lift your phone back to your ear. “Didn’t see you, huh?”

“I may have poked my head out of the window to say hi to the kid, until I heard them mention you and your sister.”

“Yeah. He usually picks her up, doesn’t like Esmeralda going to and from school alone,” you explain as you search around the street. With a sigh you immediately spot him. “Can’t you drive a least expensive car? You stick out like a sore thumb.”

He chuckles and you hear movement before seeing the driver door about to open. “I could always drive my motor—“

“No, no, no!” You rush towards him. “Do not get out of the car.”

“But—“

“Ned was looking out the window when I left,” you say, your eyes moving to the windows of your apartment, but thankfully don’t see him. “He still might be.”

He sighs, but obliges, the door closing.

“Thank you,” you tell him as you hang up the phone and open the door.

“They're bound to find out,” he says, raising an eyebrow in your direction as you buckle yourself in.

You know, and you tell him as much, “I don’t know how to exactly explain this—“you motion to him and you—“yet.”

He frowns, fingers tapping against the steering wheel as he pulls away from the curb. “We’ll figure it out.”

He takes you to a small restaurant in Brooklyn. Light blue walls and leather seats with white and golden lights—it’s retro, super retro, but cozy. Steve keeps his sunglasses on and the bill of his hat low. It’s ridiculous if he thinks this is really a disguise that works.

The curious host leads you to a table in the back, away from prying eyes—hopefully—after you ask for a booth. He settles into the leather facing the door and you opposite of him, large painting being the only thing you have sight of other than Steve, and yourself if you turn to your left and stare at the mirror covering a third of the wall.

She hands you both menus and leaves after you take a quick scan of the drink menu.

“How effective do you think the sunglasses and hat are?”

“It’s covert,” he defends, playful offense in his voice.

You lean on your crossed arms resting on the table. “You’re literally wearing sunglasses indoors, Steve. That’s weird. And bound to attract attention.”

“Tony does it all the time.” Is he whining?

You snort, staring into the dark lenses, imagining where his eyes are. “Yeah, because he’s the Tony Stark.” He scoffs and you shrug. “He can do things like that and get away with it. Not like he’s actively trying to hide himself either.”

“Okay, I get it. It’s a little ridiculous.”

You grin, amused at the small pout forming on his pink lips. Who knew Captain America was a sulker. It’s cute.

Your assigned waitress comes by and takes your order after placing down your drinks that the hostess marked down for you both. You choose something light—a pesto caprese sandwich—compared to the hearty breakfast Steve orders for himself—a loaded omelet, heavy on the cheese. You smile up at the waitress, but you find that her eyes, although listening to you, are trained on Steve. He seems to notice, too, because he smiles politely before gesturing to you with a small incline of his head.

“How about we share a side of tater tots, sweetheart?”

You blink lazily at the nickname just as the waitress drops her gaze to you as if finally remembering that your voice belongs to an actual body. There’s a tingle that curves down your spine and you know he’s staring at you behind his dark glasses. His shoe nudges yours and his lips curl into a lopsided smirk. 

You recline your cheek against your perched arm and tilt your head further into your palm with a smile. “Anything you want, baby,” you coo and Steve lifts a playful brow in question, your smile only growing wider when he nudges your shoe again.

The waitress squirms and mutters something before scurrying away.

“Baby?”

Sweetheart? you want to shoot back, but instead you remain neutral, reaching for your drink with your free hand. “Better than calling you daddy.”

He straightens, visible skin turning red and you stifle a laugh as he shuffles in his seat. “I—“ You don’t break eye contact, if his eyes are following yours, as you wrap your lips around the paper straw and suck the sweet orange juice to coat your tongue. “You can call me anything you want, sweetheart.”

Interesting. “Even Stevie?”

“Anything,” he reiterates, leaning back into the seat to rest his arm over the backrest and you smile. “As long as I get the same privilege.” 

“It’s a deal, sugarplum.”

He snorts a laugh and you just shrug, trying to hide your smile with pursed lips. 

“Tell me more about your family.”

The question cools you down, smile effectively shrinking into tight lips. 

“Like?” you ask, suddenly finding the painting hanging behind his head much more interesting. It’s a simple painting of the beach, golden, warm colors contrasting with the beautiful cool shades of blue and white used for the ocean. 

“You told me about your mom and sister, even Peter and his aunt, but you didn’t mention your dad—unless,” his voice turns soft, posture relaxing as if to put you at ease, “unless you don’t want to talk about him. I’m sorry—I shouldn’t be—“

“It’s okay,” you interject softly, lifting your head from your palm. “I just don’t know where to start.” He nods and removes his glasses with one hand as he reaches for one of your hands. “Um, my dad… he died in a car accident when I was 13.” You watch his fingers as they intertwine with yours, just like they did at the bar. Steve doesn’t seem like it, but he craves physical affection. Always seemingly touching you by holding your hand. Not that you mind it, it definitely comforted you, but you can’t help but wonder: why. “He was a good man. Smart. Loved us all very much. Loved technology,” you emphasized followed by a small laugh. 

He’d spend hours tinkering with home appliances to try and upgrade them. You loved those moments the most, when you’d sit by him and he’d ask for a tool and you’d hand it to him. He’d tell you what he was doing, explain every step and process and what that change would do. He nurtured your mind, treated it as his equal.

He squeezes gently and you let his warmth cover you. “I’m sorry.”

You shrug. “It’s okay. I’ve gotten over it.” He doesn’t mention the twitch of your fingers or the way your voice falters, he instead lets you change the subject. “I also have a brother that is 3 years older.”

Unlike your sister, you, and your dad, JC has always been more artistic, preferring to follow in your mother’s footsteps in learning how to play instruments and singing. He never understood your fascination with tinkering and creating, shunning your father’s activities when he tried to get all of you to help upgrade the television or stereo or whatever project he brought home from the lab.

He frowns at that, a little confused. You don’t blame him. You didn’t exactly mention him when you talked about Esme and your mom. “Did he move away?”

“Yep,” you pop the p, absentmindedly twirling the straw in your drink. “Moved out as soon as he turned 18. Would see him twice a year at best, but we used to hear from him often. Then after I turned 18 we never heard from him again.” And he made sure you wouldn’t be able to find him, too. Changed his number, deleted all of his social media, cut ties with his friends, and vanished. Not that you were surprised, he hated the struggle you and your family went through after dad died. You had always known he’d leave at some point. 

But you stupidly held onto the hope he wouldn’t leave when you needed him most.

“Oh.” He frowns, trying to think of what to say, maybe even offer to help look for him. But what would that do? That’d just bring him back to the life he wanted to get away from. 

You flex your fingers in his hold, just to readjust your grip on him and hum lowly. “It is what it is.”

“Do you miss him?”

“Sometimes,” you admit, but it somehow feels wrong when you think about the last time you spent with your brother. The hurt he caused when you woke up and he was no longer there in the morning, only a single cupcake with a candle waiting for you on the kitchen counter. “Other times I—I don’t.” His thumb caresses the edge of your palm, barely grazing your wrist and you can’t help but let the negative feelings fade with his gentle touch. “What about you?”

“What about me?” he asks, soft with blue eyes staring into you. He knows you’re changing the subject, but he lets you. You don’t want to talk about JC anymore or even think about him, and it’s for the best.

“What’s your family like?” He looks at you as if you've grown another head and you flush slightly. “I meant your friends, Steve. You’re all like family, right?”

“Oh!” His eyebrows shoot up and he tenses for a moment before relaxing, smile worming its way onto his lip. “Uh, yeah. Yeah, we are. They’re great. A little out there, but they’re good people.”

He tells you all about them; from Tony and Bucky and how the were able to set aside their differences when the world needed it most and how they bonded over their love of science; Natasha and Wanda and their bond as sisters, including the fact that they could most likely rule the world if they tried; Vision and Clint and their strange friendship that was born from trying different food; Sam and Sharon and their newfound relationship that everyone likes teasing; to Thor and Bruce and their bromance born from fighting in a planet a la gladiator style—all of them, telling you things you wouldn’t hear from television or read from articles with interviews. And from the way his eyes light up and his voice lightens, there's no doubt in your mind that he loves his family just as much as you love yours.

Your aunt stares at you with barely disguised distaste before unpleasant eyes move to Steve, who stands close to you still wearing his hat and sunglasses. No matter how many times you told him to stay in the car, he wouldn’t listen. “If she’s willing to send someone to threaten you, who knows what she’s capable of,” he had said, grabbing onto your hand before letting you go to get out of the car.

The check is flat on her desk, but she doesn’t move to pick it up. “How did you get this?”

“Does it matter?”

She tutts, eyes boiling with restrained anger. “I don’t want stolen money.”

That’s rich coming from her. “It’s not.”

“I suggest you take it ma’am,” Steve speaks up, breaking his silence. “And consider the debt paid.”

She tilts her head, eyes taking over Steve properly, like a huntress on the prowl. “And who exactly are you?”

“That’s none of your business,” you answer for him, moving to stand in front of him and effectively cutting her gawking. “Just sign what you need to sign and we’ll be on our way.” And we won’t have to see each other again.

She stares unblinkingly at you before wearing a strained smile. She pulls out a file from behind her and flips it open to the correct page, signing it and stamping it along with the last page before ripping it out—a receipt—and handing it to you. 

You take it from her hands and scan your eyes over it—PAID. A giddiness bubbles in your stomach, but you hide it from her. “I would say it was a pleasure Magdalena, but it never is.” You turn on your heels and Steve is right behind you. “One more thing,” you pause at the door, Steve close enough to press his chest against your back. “Stay away from my family,” you warn before strutting out the door, smile curving your lips when you meet the disgruntled gaze of the man that had threatened you at your work.

He gives you a nod of acknowledgement as he makes his way into your aunt’s office.

“Say hi to Johnny for me,” she suddenly calls out just as he closes the door behind you, but it’s enough to throw you off guard. For your throat to close up and for you to stop in your tracks and for your hand to reach out for the hem of Steve’s jacket, barely caching the smirk she sends your way.

“Sweetheart?” Steve’s voice floats to your ears, warm and soft. “What’s the matter? Who’s Johnny?”

“My brother,” you say through a breath. He couldn't have come—wouldn’t have come back. There’s no way. JC made it perfectly clear he never would. You shake your head. “She must’ve been lying. Trying to get a rise out of me.”

“It worked,” he points out obviously and you sigh as he gently pries your hand from his jacket.

You don’t want to admit it, but… “It did.”

“Come on.” He slips his fingers between yours and tugs you out of the desolate building and back out into the streets of Queens. “Let’s get out of here.”

There’s a bubbling in the pit of your stomach, heart hammering as you glance over your shoulder back at your aunt, the small relief you had felt at getting her off your back tainted by the thought of JC being back, not even Steve’s warmth can ease your worry.

But there’s no way—he wouldn't. There’s nothing left in Queens for him anymore, and there never will be.

next

[team-annex]

Little Ezekiel

Set just after the Christmas Thief episode, this one sorta ties into Basically Nothing that I wrote like two years ago. I loved getting to know more about Ezekiel’s backstory and I always have fun writing for these two, hope you enjoy. 

Merry Christmas LITs~.

Cassandra enters the Annex from the Main Library, but halts when she sees Ezekiel at the table. She rests against the doorframe as she studies him. He’s bent over his phone, a book open to his left. This is the first time she’s had a moment alone with him since Christmas Eve. They’ve been hit with case after case, not just saving the world twice before Friday. This week, they’ve saved the world four times before Friday.

She doesn’t want to disturb the peace, but there’s been something weighing on her mind. “Ezekiel?”

The boy glances up at her and a small smile breaks the serious expression he’d been wearing. “Hey, was just reading up on something.”

The thing she wanted to ask him slips her mind for a second. “What is it?” She joins him at the table and peers over his shoulder. “Is that something in the Saint’s collection?”

Ezekiel shakes his head. “I’m good, not crazy. I don’t want to deal with him anymore.” He dog ears the page and closes the book on the sculpture he’d been researching. Then Ezekiel turns to her, giving her his undivided attention. “What do you need?”

“Help finding that collection on gargoyle mythology.” Ezekiel flinches at the mention of gargoyles. “Sorry,” she winces, “I forgot how touchy it still is.”

He shakes it off and gets to his feet, quickly tapping on his phone screen. Cassandra knows that he’s been trying to make the Library digital, but it’s a whole feat of its own that the thief must not have time for. However, he seems to have had enough time to catalogue the book she’s looking for, because he heads towards the second floor. She trails after him up the steps and waits patiently as he flicks through the stacks. Ezekiel appears before her with a smile on his face and the exact book she was looking for being offered with both hands.

Cassandra’s eyes catch sight of his phone screen, which is underneath the book as she takes it away. The screen fades to black, but not before she sees the background photo of Ezekiel and his mom in the sleigh. Cassandra knows his lock screen is of the two of them and Jake. She wonders if the background of his apps has always been his mother. She never thought to notice. 

The second floor gives her the privacy to ask the question that had been on her mind the past few days. “Hey, can I ask you something else?” She tucks the book underneath her arm.

Ezekiel shrugs. “Sure, I guess.”

“Your mother?”

His face quickly rearranges into something akin to horror. “Oh. Cassandra. No.”

“But I’ve met her now, surely i can ask a few questions.”

“No, no, no,” Ezekiel says as he scoots by her and heads towards the stairs.

“You just never let on that–”

“La, la, la, I’m not listening.”

“Ezekiel Jones, stop being a baby and talk to me!” she exclaims.

Ezekiel whirls around. “I don’t want to talk about her, Cassandra. Can we–”

“I just want to know more about her. I want to know about you.”

“Then ask about me. I don’t want to talk about her.”

She tips her head. “It’s hard to separate the two, don’t you think? If I want to know about little Ezekiel.”

Ezekiel frowns. “No one wants to know about him.”

Cassandra steps towards him. “But I do,” she says softly. And she isn’t lying. Ever since she stayed over at his place almost three years ago, she’s had this want. She wants to know Ezekiel more and while she does know their resident thief well, there’s a wall she hasn’t been able to break through. “Humour me.”

Ezekiel sighs, because it’s so hard to say no to Cassandra. He leans against the railing over looking the Annex and she joins him there. The book rests on the railing, her arms over top of it. Her patience with Ezekiel is always high, so she waits him out.

When he speaks again, his voice is soft, his accent thicker than usual. “Mum picked me up off the streets. I couldn’t stand foster care, so I ran away. I’d been on the streets for about three weeks when she found me. I don’t think I would’ve lasted much longer. I think I was 7 or 8 when she offered me a place to stay. By then, she already had a full house.”

“Because of your sisters.”

“Yeah,” Ezekiel agrees. “Charity, Honour, and Mercy took me in as if I was their actual little brother. We were all street kids; we knew what it was like to have no one.”

Cassandra listens as Ezekiel shares the stories he hasn’t shared with anybody else. She learns about the bullying at school, how kids made fun of the clothes he wore because his mother couldn’t afford more.

“She stole those clothes and I wasn’t going to ask for more,” Ezekiel explains.

Ezekiel shows her a scar on his right side from when some kids had kicked him before a teacher found them on the playground. He vowed then to never feel that humiliation ever again. Cassandra wants to reach out and squeeze his hand then, but Ezekiel is speaking as if she isn’t there anymore. In her mind, she watches Ezekiel age from the bullied child to the master thief he’s become. She imagines the ridicule from his older sisters when he appeared to be a failure at the family business.

“Mum never gave up on me though. Even if she thought I was a complete failure as a thief.”

The stories aren’t just about his mother and how she was lacking in all aspects, but also how big a heart she had.

“Sure, we’re a family of thieves, but she taught me that when you have nothing, you can still take in as many people as your heart will let you. She took the four of us in when she clearly could not afford it, but I didn’t really go hungry. Yeah, sometimes the food was terrible, but back then, beggars couldn’t be choosers.”

Cassandra and Ezekiel stand there in silence as they overlook their work environment. They both still consider it a new job, because the fact that they work for this magical building will always feel surreal.

“Why did you never tell her who you were?” Cassandra asks.

“What do you mean?”

“Like, never tell her you were the Ezekiel Jones. If you wanted her respect, you would have gotten it being the world-class thief you are. Why wait so long?”

Ezekiel ponders this question. In this moment, she studies him, appreciating the person he’s become; but also appreciating the person she never realized he always was. The good person she knows Ezekiel Jones to be now was always there.

“You heard her,” he says suddenly. “She was greedy, probably because she always had to steal to get what she wanted and to feed us. Mum would have definitely taken advantage of the fact that I’m as good as I am.”

There. In his voice. The Ezekiel Jones she first met had an egotistical undertone, but now he’s just stating a fact.

“Why are you smiling at me like that?” Ezekiel asks.

“It’s just…” She reaches for his hand and squeezes his fingers. “I understand how she raised such a good kid. And I understand the respect you have for her, even if you say she was a bad mother.”

“Let’s be real, Cassandra, she was,” he laughs, his eyes crinkling up in that way of his.

She laughs and knocks her shoulder into his. Cassandra finds her arm resting against his. “I know, but… no mother is perfect.” Her eyes lift to meet his. “And yours wasn’t, but you turned out… good.” She’d caught his gaze drift to her lips while she’d been talking. She swallows the lump in her throat.

His breath fans over her face and she’s suddenly very aware of the cologne he’s wearing. It was something Jenkins had gifted everyone at Christmas. The molecules in the perfume bind differently with each person who wears it, pulling the base notes in everyone’s skin. She finds that Ezekiel’s scent is dizzying. 

The two of them jump apart when Jake runs into the room. “Guys! We gotta get to Nanjing. Cassie, you brush up on your Mandarin lately?”

She looks to Ezekiel, whose gaze is as soft as hers. It holds promise of further conversations, conversations she won’t have to wait three years to have, and then she looks down at Jake. “我记， 管他呢。(I remember, don’t worry.)”

“好。 我们走吧。(Good. Let’s go.)”  Jake waits for them at the bottom of the stairs. “We’ll do the gargoyle research later. That one can wait.”

Cassandra leaves the book on the table while Ezekiel moves next to Jake. “What? The gargoyles are just gonna wait to kill us later?” Ezekiel asks as Jenkins walks into the Annex to dial up the Door for them.

Jake snorts. “Doesn’t matter what the gargoyles plan to do. You’ll probably adopt all of them and take them in and we won’t have to worry about it anyway.” Jake rushes through the Back Door first.

Cassandra gives Ezekiel a knowing smile. His attachment to animals and things that nobody wants, now she understands where it comes from.