#danny has doesn't have a problem he just really like the way the rings look and feel

[regonold]

Danny has recently joined the young justice team after they discovered amity and how they were under media black out and a group of people were pretending to be government agents were attacking using a law that was never actually passed as an excuse for it

Anyway whilst meeting the justice league he notices how one of the members has a ring on and trying to make small talk starts talk about it and how he has his own ring trinkets just like it

He doesn't get why everyone got so silent after he mentioned how he collects the different colours as a hobby they're practically a dime a donzen in the realms

Not to mention all rhe times clockwork has sent him to some different planet in the past and rings have quite literally floated to him before dropping after getting too close

Or

Sometimes when rings are off looking for someone to weild them they will sense a great emotion and accidentally fly through a natural portal and then being suddenly just absolutely covered in emotions they end up shorting out and just floating through the realms

And danny has found so many of they he just considers them trinkets or clockwork has sent danny to a different time period on difficult planets and a ring has sensed the great emotion and tried to choose him but then it's covered in emotions and blacks out and Danny's just swiped it not think much

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

Ama be honest i just love the idea of dannys core going it smells of space and i want it

To be clear due to the fact of the infinite realms being infinite sometimes a portal will open near enough to a lantern ring for it to head to wards it thinking it's just someone with great levels of insert required emotion

Like if a portal opened near fright knight and a yellow lantern ring happened to he close by it would go on that guy just radiates fear i want him

But after entering the portal it's no longer in any dimension and it's swamped in emotions of all kinds simply due to the nature of the realms

[writingfeedsthedarkestones]

Okay so this might be nothing, but I've been thinking about it.

So, DC × DP world, yeah?

Phantom isn't really a big time hero yet, he's still focused on Amity, but he's being scouted for the Justice League, and he notices something.

Is... is Green Lantern firing ecto-blasts? Because those really look like ecto-blasts.

It takes him a while to actually get close enough to confirm, but yeah, those are definitely ecto-blasts, but Green Lantern isn't dead. Also, there's a whole group of them, so what gives? Are they using ecto-weapons? How? Why? They seem convinced it's some kind of alien tech, but Danny KNOWS what ecto-blasts look and feel like.

Obviously, he has questions. But as a minor hero like him, you can't just go up to a founder of the Justice League and start asking questions like that.

But, he can do a bit of his own research, right? The Watchtower has some files he can access, and the rundown on the Lantern Corp seems... familiar. Energy blasts and powers fueled by strong emotion, that's definitely ectoplasm. It can form shapes, act partially intangible or not, all things Danny has seen in the Ghost Zone.

Okay. But there's other Lantern Corps, different colours. But Danny knows that Ectoplasm can take different shapes and colours, he's definitely encountered pink before, and his own ghost powers sometimes show up as blue. So if the different emotions corrospond to the different colours, it would make sense.

The rings are powered from something in space, he knows that. He's not sure WHAT, he doesn't have access to those files, but he knows the rings need to recharge from it. If it's something like his parent's tech, than maybe it needs to re-up the ectoplasm every once in a while, like a phone battery.

So, Danny is 99% sure that Green Lantern uses ectoplasm, but what can he do about that? What should he do? Green Lantern is a senior hero and might not even listen, and would that even matter? It's not like not knowing has caused problems, but still, knowing something GL doesn't is making Danny anxious.

And for a while, he doesn't do anything. He goes on missions, he protects his town, he goes to college. It isn't until a massive threat sweeps across the earth that he finally does something.

The Lantern Corp is down. All of their rings are drained, they don't have time to charge them, but the League only just figured out how to stop the threat, and the Lanterns would be the best way to do it. They're all arguing in the Watchtower, trying to decide who to send in instead, when Danny finally blurts out "I can recharge the rings!"

Everyone goes a bit quiet, then start yelling all at once at him. He only manages to get them to listen by yelling over all of them again to be quiet.

Eventually, he explains, and watches as Green Lantern goes from disbelief, to bafflement, to determination. The rest of the Justice League seems equally surprised when Danny channels some ectoplasm into the ring, and it starts glowing again.

They defeat the threat, with the Green Lantern Corp and Danny fighting side by side. It's the biggest role he's had in one of these fights, and he's nervous, but when they all get back to the Watchtower for the debrief, he gets a pat on the back by Green Lantern, and a nod from Batman.

[gilbirda]

So, I have an idea to contribute to the anger management brainrot:

I know how we all say that Jason's pit madness is just corrupted ectoplasem, BUT! hear me out, what if the pit madness is the result of his body coming back, and his spirit/soul being still (at least partially) trapped in the infinite realms?

Add a dash of Good BatDad!Bruce to this AU, and he tries to help Jason by doing a ritual to free Jason's soul from the ghost king. Only problem is, Batman CAN do magic, he's just generally very bad at it and too stubborn to admit it or call Zatana for help in most cases (Yes, this part is actually DC cannon) . So the ritual works- technically. Jason gets his soul back, but by obscure infinite realms law, he's now "bound to the ghost princess", which is a fancy way to say that Jason and Jazz are now betrothed.

But! Here's the real kicker: neither Jason nor Jazz have met yet. They both get "rashes" (actually marks symbolizing their union) on their ring fingers, and are frustrated that no amount of skincare will cure them. It can even start off with neither of them realizing that they're engaged. Jazz is just wildly confused when ghosts keep asking her when the wedding is, because she isn't even dating anyone, and hasn't really felt attraction to anyone since Johnny.

Jason, on the other hand, thinks he's been cursed. His liminality is flaring up with a vengeance. Randomly he's been passing through objects, turning invisible, all sorts of out of control ghost hijinks. He has his soul back, he just wants to move on and be with his family, make up for lost time. After Bruce losing more hours of sleep over research than should be humanly possible over research, they find out the truth. Jason is horrified. He thinks that whoever the "ghost princess" is, she must be a spooky monster.

The bats try to correct the situation, and immediately attempt to summon the ghost king. They beg and plead with him to remove the betrothal. Danny, being a little chaos gremlin says that he won't, his sister will have to decide for herself.

I loooooooooove funny arranged married shenanigans 🥰🥰🥰

Also I think it's hilarious if Bruce is the one that fuck things up because he doesn't want to call for help

At least after everything is said and done, and everyone can look back and laugh, he could joke that he is a matchmaker

Also I would love Danny being pissed off at being summoned, again, and this summon is so sloppy and shitty he expects some kids joking around and trying to be edgy-

and its freaking BATMAN?

and as they explain what's going on he starts laughing and he is like "im sorry, this is very serious, but my sister, the princess, can and will fuck you up for this"

-> cue everyone thinking this princess is as jacked and tall and eldritch as Danny

So Danny goes fetch her and batfam like "okay, game plan, once she is here he try to apologize and beg to not be smited-"

And then the princess arrives, she is a 7 feet tall Tired(tm) goddess that looks so pissed off-

And then she sees her betrothed

"hi"

I want to read this so baaaaad

Thanks for the ask! Love it a lot 💖💖

[twoidiotwriters1]

Copycat: Cryptomnesia —(Marvel Fem!Oc)

A/N: Guys the way I struggled with the last chapters of this book, was a herculean task, such a shitshow I can't believe I got it to work 😭 -Danny

Words: 2,300

Phase Five Masterlist

Previous Chapter // Next Chapter

xxix: Pest Control

Cat and Harley sat there staring at the Stark tech, both with the same frown.

"What now?"

The young man looked at her with incredulity. "Call Spider-man!"

"So he calls me a thief?" Cat scoffed. "No, thank you!"

"If you tell him about the girl—"

"He'll say I 'endangered' a child."

"Why do you use quotations there?" Harley scowled at her. "You did."

"The chipmunk stayed as a lookout while I did all the heavy lifting. I'm a responsible adult."

"No one buys that."

"That's not the point," Cat waved a hand dismissively. "We have this and my blaster, but we can't use them any time soon."

"Because Damage Control will know you did it, or they'll go after the girl again."

"I don't think Damage Control is the bad guy here," she said pensively, her index finger above her upper lip, "they're the fastest way to hear about the possible new mutants in the city, and Deever was informing someone else and trying to get them... for testing or slavery. I expect."

"There's something that's been bothering me since you told me what Kingpin said to you," Harley put the sunglasses away.

"What is it?"

"Smerdyakov told him about you?" He raised a brow. "It doesn't add up."

"What do you mean?"

"The Chameleon spent years not knowing what you could do after you escaped, you left the lab before recovering properly, right?"

"That's what Kurt's told me."

"So there's no way he would've known that you could mimic without touching, or teleport, or any of that. All of that you developed after you killed him."

"You're right," Cat frowned. "You think Fisk was lying?"

"Kingpin is no liar. He's a manipulator, but he never lies, that's what Matt says. And either way, how could he know Dmitri was the one who caught you the first time?"

She shook her head. "Well, Russo has been on the lookout for me, and that was years after I blew up the labs... Sharon found out about me after she got reinstated... so maybe Nat had added the full background to my files when I was in space?" Her phone buzzed, it was Kate. "Hang on— Hi, princess, what do you need?"

"You haven't forgotten, right?"

Cat glanced at the calendar on Harley's desk. She was blank. "No?"

"Really?"

The young woman looked at his friend for help, Harley rolled his eyes and mouthed:

"Graduation!"

"You're graduating next week!"

"That's right! You guys are coming?"

"Harley might be busy, but Kurt will definitely make space for you! He's been dying to meet Jack anyway, wants to ask about his fencing techniques and whatnot."

"What about you?"

Cat silently begged Harley for help. Her friend only gave her a stern look as a reply.

"Have you told your mother?"

Kate sighed, unimpressed by her answer."She knows I'm graduating."

"But did you—"

"She can't come, Cat."

"Kate..."

"I've had enough of her 'how are you gonna make a living'. I only want my friends and you with me that day."

My friends and you, she'd said. The mutant sighed. "It's your life..."

"Damn right," Kate stated. "Gotta go. I hope to see you there, Cat."

"Take care."

She hung up and looked at Harley. "Girlfriends, am I right?"

"Oh, don't say that word like you mean it in one way, when I know you're dying to use it for real," he rolled his eyes. "Anyway, I'll try to go, but we should get the Pest under control before that, and you should give those glasses to—"

"One problem at a time, Junior," Cat interrupted him. "In the meantime—" her phone began to ring again and she answered. "You fell and can't get up?"

"Sharon's been arrested," Bucky informed her. "We're questioning every person she had business with, turns out she's been giving away intel and weaponry like they're Halloween candy. Good job, kid."

"You should know better than to think I did it out of selflessness," Cat replied.

"Oh I don't think that, I just have manners," he scoffed.

"Well, I'll be perfectly lovely once you've done this one favor for me."

"What is it?"

"I think Sharon revealed my identity to a couple of people I rather not meet in this life."

"You want me to what, take care of 'em?"

"Would you do that for me?"

"I'm not your hitman," Bucky stated.

"Then don't offer it, asshole, I wasn't going to ask that anyway," Cat scowled. "Someone's been trying to hunt down the mutants in my area, so I want names and I want them soon."

"How do you know it's just the mutants?"

"Because Spider-man's still out there and so is Daredevil. If this was about heroes, they would've been pestered and I would've heard from them already."

"I'll see what I can get you."

"Thanks. See? I can be polite too."

Bucky hung up and she sighed, pushing her curls back.

"Mouse."

"I'm here."

"We need Agent Deever's files," Harley got up and walked up to the door, opening it for her. "I need to know what she's up to."

"Why on earth would you bring that?"

"I didn't bring it! Jack gave it to me just now and I have nowhere to put it!" Kurt held onto the sword.

"Teleport that thing to your house!" Harley scolded him. "They'll kick you out of the ceremony if you have that with you!"

"Fine!" Nightcrawler vanished in a cloud of smoke only to come back two seconds later. "You guys suck."

"Why is Jack giving you swords?"

"We practice fencing on the weekends and he's got too many so he's giving me some."

"That only leaves me with more questions," said Harley.

"Guys! Guys!" Kate had her gown on and the hat tucked under one arm. Jack was right behind her. "I'm so glad you could make it!"

The sight of her in the gown made Cat feel proud, for some reason. She hadn't been there to see her struggle through college, of course, but she reminded her of the time when Pietro graduated from high school. It'd been a couple of tough months. She was happy to see her friends getting the things they most wanted.

Cat took off her sunglasses and opened her arms for a hug. "How ya doing, pretty?"

Kate hugged her briefly before looking at her with a giddy smile. "Guess who's here?"

The mutant tilted her head, not sure of wanting to be right. "Him?"

"The whole family."

"Wow, so it wasn't just holiday syndrome?" Cat joked.

"That is not a real thing and you know it— hi Harley! Hi, Kurt!"

The boys congratulated her. Jack and Kurt quickly engaged in conversation while Harley, Kate, and Cat walked to their seats. Clint looked at the group and smiled amicably.

"If it isn't the heathen!"

"Hi, Pidgeon," Cat greeted the rest of his family. "Hi, everyone."

"Mr. Barton, a pleasure to meet you," Harley reached to shake hands.

"You're Stark's prodigy?" Barton eyed him with interest. "Heard you're almost as bright as Tony."

"Not even close."

"He's being modest," Cat patted his back.

"Okay, so you guys take a seat, the ceremony's about to start!" Kate said. "Cat, can I talk to you for a moment?"

"Oh?"

The young woman moved away from the rest.

"How's the plan going?"

"We still need some stuff."

"What about Kingpin?"

"He's still in jail and not talking."

"Okay, well, as soon as I'm able I'll help you out—"

"You don't have to."

"No no no, it'll be good for my work experience," Kate insisted.

Cat snorted. "You're still set on becoming a detective?"

"I hope you don't take this the wrong way, but your case is mindblowing and I'd love to stalk people for you."

"What an honor," she laughed. "Get your degree first, then we can talk about stalking."

Kate smiled at her before rushing back to the front, Cat went back to her seat between Clint and Harley, and the younger man nudged her arm.

"Everything okay?"

Cat opened her mouth to answer, she was about to reply, when she stopped and took an actual second to take it all in. She was with her best friends, one of her old mentors, and life was... moving.

She was stressed, she was sleeping little and waking abruptly every morning, but right at that moment, she was alright. Cat had to appreciate the little moments, just like Harley had advised her to.

"I'm happy for Kate," she admitted. "Looking forward to the party."

"Why? You don't even drink!"

She elbowed him playfully. "If there is one person on this earth that can have fun without alcohol, that's me."

"Debatable," Kurt replied from his seat.

"Shut up, Smurf."

"You know, Happy, just because I have strong arms doesn't mean you have to leave most of the shopping bags to me."

"You offered to help me!"

"I think you're taking revenge for all those years Tony did this to you," she left all the bags on the table. "Man, you buy too much food for someone who lives alone..."

"I like cooking for Morgan on the weekends, she eats a lot."

"Well, she's growing," Cat sighed. "Can you believe she's almost ten?"

"C'mon, we still have two years before that happens!"

"No wonder Pepper's retiring next year, time moves so fast..."

Happy looked at her beaming. "Just have to look at you to know it. You'll be what, twenty-four next October?"

Cat glanced at him. "Twenty-five."

"A whole decade since we met!" Happy said. "Do you remember how anxious you were about your clothes?" He pointed at her sunglasses and her battered jacket.

She laughed. "I have more pressing issues now, I fear. Sometimes I miss it, y'know? My worst enemy: other teenagers..."

"They were my biggest fear too, especially boys," he made a face. "You remember when I took you to some kid's house so he could help you study?"

"No," Cat blinked. "You did that?"

"Yeah! I remember being stressed the hell out about it."

"I have no memory of that," she smirked. "I put you through a lot, huh?"

"In the end, it was all worth it, you're my kid."

Cat patted his shoulder. "You're getting increasingly sappier as time goes on, old man. You gotta watch that or I'll catch you crying over a Hallmark movie next!"

Kate placed her stuff right next to the door. She looked around admiringly.

"I feel like I owe Jack my life right now," she sighed. "He restored everything! Look! I have an AC!"

Cat lingered at the threshold, Kate looked around for a little longer, then turned to her and smiled... but she didn't. The mutant was suddenly aware of a third presence. Cat looked away clearing her throat.

"I'll head to work."

"Oh."

"See you later."

Without waiting for a reply she closed the door. Looking to both sides of the hall she saw no one was there. She was sure she'd heard something though, Cat put on her sunglasses and walked out of the building.

As she walked down the street she felt it again. Cat looked for a place where she could corner this stranger, but nothing was useful, there were too many people around. She teleported at the first chance she got.

"Harley, I think someone—"

"There you are!" He was strangely enthusiastic. "You did it!"

"I... what?"

"Agent Deever!" Harley approached holding his tablet. "Sam and Bucky followed her into this building near New Jersey— it was a subterranean lab!"

Cat felt her blood run cold. "Were there any... any mutants?"

"No, it looked brand new. Bucky and Sam are looking into it but it seems there were no mutants in there yet."

"I should go see if I recognize any of the workers... I should call Miss Marvel..."

"It's not necessary, Cat. They confessed."

"What?"

"They confessed."

"Why?" Cat asked in annoyance. "This sounds wrong."

"You're just used to things not ending unless you blow something— or someone up."

Cat hesitated. "I... I don't know. They said why are they hunting mutants?"

Harley's expression darkened. "Not really. But Sam's going to question Sharon again, see if he can get something new—"

The young woman stared down at the tablet. "Sharon didn't do this."

"How do you know? She was the one with all the resources!"

"Yeah exactly, she even knew about me," Cat replied. "So if she really wanted a servant that badly, all she had to do was give me a call threatening to take you, or Kate, or even Yelena! This is not right, Harley."

"Perhaps she saw you working with Hawkeye and thought you'd be harder to convince now," Harley grabbed his tablet and tapped some things into it. "Guess what? One investor was found at the lab, he was supervising the whole thing."

He tapped on the screen and Mr. Harper's face projected in the middle of the desk.

"His wrinkly ass was angry because Pepper found you first, just like you said."

Cat looked at it in mild surprise. "Well, he won't be missed."

"You don't look happy," he pointed out. "What's going on?"

She wasn't sure, but it felt like there was a huge chunk of the story missing.

"Why mutants?" She insisted, shaking her head. "L.A. is packed with supers begging to be hired— why go through all this trouble? It's like they're trying to get a specific type of hero..."

Harley shrugged. "If I had to give a reason... considering how these men think, I'd say is because they tend to be outcasts. L.A. is packed with supers who have a roof over their heads, but mutants... they're considered freaks, most of them have tough lives, so it's easier to force them to obey without having to pay them."

Cat shook her head again. "This is almost a perfect reflection of how Dmitri's lab started, a stunt like this one takes so much time and money, it couldn't have been made so quickly and by someone who's on their first try..." Cat's insides twisted in dread, a memory jumped out of the back of her mind. "Sergei."

Before Harley could ask what she meant, her phone rang.

"H-Hello?" She answered.

"We got the creeps," Bucky told her. "Most of these weirdos are De Fontaine's old contacts from her time at Hydra, but she didn't build this place, and neither did Sharon. They got hired by a man, and they say he employed a 'mutant hunter' to bring their patients—"

"The guy that f-found us the first t-time," Cat said. "But we didn't call him a mutant hunter then."

"You know this guy?"

"Yes," Cat felt like throwing up. "He trained me."

Next Chapter—>

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[quirkless-accident]

How about Danny get's into UA in his Human Form, but once the Nomu attack happens he Goes Ghost and everyone is just like "where'd that come from"? Just because I think it's funny.

Danny didn't so it on purpose.

It was easy enough channeling his power in his human form after enough practice, and he didn't want to bother with transforming. The dumb jumpsuit he died in wasn't in the least bit flattering, and it was uncomfortable. And if he was going to be fighting a bunch of robots, he wanted to be comfortable.

So in the entrance exam, he was just plain old Fenton, and he got a solid third place. Robots were dumb and slow and easy to take down. There hadn't been a need to exert any more energy than that.

And in training, since it's the start of the year, it's been just the basics. Save for the battle simulations on their second day, it's just been experimenting with different types of hand-to-hand combat. And even then, during the simulations, he had been playing a villain. He hadn't needed to transform to keep Kouda and Mineta at bay.

But then they go to the USJ.

And then villains attack them.

He gets thrown into the same section at Todoroki. Taking down the F-tier villains is as easy as breathing, even with their minimal training.

But then he sees his teacher crushed by a giant monster.

Danny is moving before he's thinking. He doesn't even realize that he's gone into the air, he doesn't notice the rings wash over him. He doesn't notice the surprised looks of his peers who are able to spare him a glance.

All he focuses on it his fists beating into the monster, pulling him away from his teacher.

And it's a tough fight. Danny is fast in either form, but as Phantom he's able to flit around the beast in the air with more ease than he ever would have been able to as Fenton. He knows he can't beat it in a one-on-one fight, so he turns intangible and distracts it long enough for the others to get Aizawa out of harms way, and for the heroes to finally show up.

And after everything is said and done, and they're watching as an ambulance takes away their teacher and classmate, the class all but pounces on Danny.

"I didn't know you could do that!"

"Why didn't you tell us-?"

"You sparkle almost as brightly as me, mon a mi."

"It's a magical girl transformation!"

There's too many questions all at once, but the one that gets asked the most is why he didn't tell anybody. And...Honestly, he hadn't even realized he hadn't transformed in front of them before. The topic never came up, and each of the problems they've been faced with until today have been small enough to not justify a full transformation.

So naturally, when he just shrugs and says, "I don't know, I just didn't really think about it, I guess," his classmates go ape shit.

It's almost comforting, Danny thinks, that after staring death in the face, they can still laugh and joke around as if nothing ever happened. They're not hung up-not now, anyway-about what it would be like if they or a peer died. If the choices they made were a little different, if they could have done something faster-

And Danny almost envies them. But he knows as heroes they'll all have their fair share of hardships to come. So for today, he lets them hound him for the next week about his transformation. He walks into school on Monday to see a crudely drawn picture of Sailor Moon and can't keep his laughter under control for the rest of the day. Aoyama is insisting that he takes some glitter with him everywhere to shine even brighter, and although he has no intention of ever using it, it's the thought that counts. Kaminari spams his phone with He-Man and She-Ra memes.

Danny makes it a point, now, to transform every time he plans on using his powers.

The smiles he sees on everybody's faces is well worth it.

[dannyphantom-justiceleauge]

Black Lantern Danny

so the black lantern is powered through death and only corpses can use them, creating zombie like creatures who go on killing rampages and raise the dead. they're usually villains in the lantern series and have to be defeated. also the death rings release black tendrils into the corpses and therefore can't be removed until the ring itself is destroyed. most rings start inert and are powered when you kill and rips someones heart out.

so danny getting a black ring isn't great for him. he's dead enough that when he finds it and puts it on it doesn't destroy him. i also expect that the ring could be powered with ectoplasm instead of murder in this case. having access to the ghost zone makes controlling this ring a hell of a lot easier and it does provide a powerup to danny's usual powers. it protects him better than the half ass shields he puts up and has a mild sort of regeneration involved. the ability to raise and control the dead is the biggest deal. not only does it mean he has access to an army in a graveyard, but it probably means he can control ghosts to an extent. something he debates the morality of because he knows what it's like to be controlled and hated it, but also sometimes the big ghosts aren't going to go away any other way.

but the thing is even if danny controls the ring wells and resists the murder impulses and remains a hero, (mainly protecting the ghost zone from external threats or dragging the dead back where they belong. settling other zombie and death problems such as the Lazarus pit) he doesn't look like a good guy. he in fact looks terrifying as all hell. if danny uses the corpse raising powers he's not going to look like a good person, and add his history of bad pr and well it's far more likely that the lanterns are going to try to defeat him rather than recruit him.

this situation also brings in the weird scenario of the dead zone. a place similar to the ghost zone where the unliving reside. but it's all black and white. the dead don't seem as... cartoonish or driven by obsession as the ghosts are so i could see them as two separate but similar areas. maybe even dimensions that are either overlapping or tied to each other. danny having access to both is strange for him but also adds to how op he is. i have a feeling the black ring corps will have no idea what to do with him once they have him. he's powerful, he's capable but he's really not about killing or the death of the universe thanks.

add to that he's technically still alive, or at least half alive, and he's in a very unique position. the only living person to use a black ring. unable to remove it even as he switches back and forth. labeled as evil just for having it. danny's not having a good time with this ring. especially because it makes him 'even more of a freak'.

maybe we could pull some lore and world building into this and say the dead zone and ghost zone once were the same place but due to pariahs rise to power and a war with the being that rules the dead zone, the dimensions separated. and that's why the dead zone is so lifeless and soulless, and why the ghost zone is so chaotic and broken.

danny as the link between worlds ends up having to unite the ghost zone and the dead zone somehow, bringing them together and restore balance in death. which is a whole lot of responsibility to shove on a kid who's been dead a year. but hey i'm all about escalating conflict. we can throw in ghost king danny too. he might already have the right to rule the ghost zone through his defeat of pariah dark and he'll probably have to defeat someone else to bring the zones back together. and just that kind of act is going to put him into the position of being the biggest deal in the ZONE. so really it can be a whole thing. clockwork is probably manipulating things a bit in the background to ensure this.

also still being apive and having attachments to that means he's uniquely qualified to handle the death stuff in the living world, so he's helping balance that. too.

essentially giving danny a blank lantern ring makes him a death god. and grim reaper to zombies and the like. and this happened entirely accidentally on his part.

i have a feeling he's going to end up fighting the green lanterns at some point and it'll be total self defense on his part. i think the fact that he doesn't kill them is what convinces them that oh, he's in control. great. but it's still a bad time for everyone. and afterwards they kinda accept danny and the fact that he's a lantern, but they also have no idea what to do with him

danny's cool with being left alone but is always down to be called to space to handle other Death issues or black lanterns. i think seeing him interact with the black hand and some of the other evil revanant types would be interesting. mostly because he'd be so sarcastic about it and they do not understand where he's coming from at all.

the revelation that he's still alive and just a teenaged kid is the biggest mind blowing event to happen to anyone in the corps black or green. you're telling me this baby defeated us? this paradoxical alive and dead baby? what do you mean he's destined to restore the zones to their rightful state? it also puts hal into a mood because he 1. didn't know he was trying to beat up a literal child. and 2. is now a concerned dad to said child. but he is not at all prepared for all the metaphysical implications that danny represents.

the ring makes him of three worlds. eventually two. but still that means he's the only one that can do this stuff. it also means he's the most alone. being a halfa he at least had dani and vlad. being a black lantern? yeah their are other lanterns but again most of them are killers trying to destroy the universe. being a black lantern and a halfa. that's one of a kind. so expect issues from that too.

i could also see the ring trying to bring the murderer out of him, especially in moments of weakness. the fight with dan helped but a neat stop to that potential. danny will always have the will power to resist it because he knows what the bad end looks like. but it'll still be hard and strike him at bad moments. so seeing him emotionally struggle with the ring saying "kill" in the back of his head will be interesting.

it's a fun scenario and hopefully danny will make friends along the way that will help balance out the bad times. i'd really like to see how it goes - Hestia

[doyelikehaggis]

Twelve Days of Rarepairs: Scanny | Scott McCall x Danny Mahealani (Teen Wolf)

Requested by @childofsquidward

The collie laying on the table is patient and docile as Scott finishes slotting the cone into place around her neck. She just stares up at him with big eyes, nudging against his hand with her nose.

Laughing, Scott rubs her head. Her tail gives a little wiggle in response.

"You know, you're the only one I've seen who isn't bothered by this thing," he tells her, scratching behind her ear. 

She just gives a playful yip in response. 

The bell rings over the front door, alerting Scott to someone entering the animal clinic. Somewhat pointless considering he heard the heartbeat first. But Lola's ears immediately perk up, and her tail bangs against the table.

Scott grins at Danny when he appears in the doorway, holding two festive coffee cups.

"You've been missed," he says.

Lola's already standing on the table, barking fondly at Danny. He laughs, and moves towards her, fuelling her excitement.

"By which one of you?" Danny jokes.

Scott's eyes widen. He opens his mouth, but he falters, and Danny's already focused on Lola again anyway. Heat rushes to his face. He quickly tries to regain some composure. 

"Hey, girl! Oh, you look so good!" Danny coos. "Did Dr. McCall take good care of you?"

Scott tries to bite back a smile and fails. He's getting used to hearing his friends call him Dr. McCall, more as a joke, but something about the way Danny says it gives him this fluttering in his chest.

So, when he first saw him at the start of December, it was a surprise. He'd practically disappeared off the face of the earth for two years, and then suddenly he was back in town for the holidays, to see his family and friends. 

But not only that, Scott hadn't quite realized just how attractive Danny is. Was he always that good-looking while they were at school together? Of course he was, everyone knew it. But Scott hadn't exactly been out to himself at that point, so seeing Danny back from New Orleans, even more tanned, with even more defined muscles—yeah, Scott might get a little nervous whenever he sees him now.

And it doesn't help that they seem to be seeing more of each other now than they did while at school. They run into each other in town. When Scott went back to fill in for Coach while he was away towards the end of the year, Danny just kept showing up, saying he was visiting a teacher to discuss something (he is, after all, in computer programming now, so it makes some semblance of sense), and they'd talk out on the field. He bmped into him while bringing his mom lunch at the hospital. 

Scott even saw him while out with Lydia two weeks ago. He was catching up with Jackson, who was also back in town for the holidays, like everyone else. 

And now at work, too. The universe seems to be playing some joke on him. He doesn't mind all that much, for once. As long as this isn't going to lead to him finding out that Danny's actually been turned into a vampire, or has been possessed by some new, evil spirit.

"Thank you," Danny says, lifting his eyes to Scott. Of course, Scott's still the one looking up at him, because it would appear Danny has had another growth spurt as well as everything else. 

Scott realizes he isn't answering. Just gazing. He grins, and hastily tries to not be totally obvious.

"Just doing my job," he says with a shrug. 

Danny rolls his eyes. "Yeah, but I know for a fact that this clinic should have been shut for the rest of the holidays. So, thank you for seeing her anyway."

Scott hesitates at that. "Well… you're a friend. And I had to come in today anyway. And—" he looks down at Lola, who's settled back down on the table, and gives her head another rub "��I couldn't just leave this one stranded on Christmas Eve."

"We both thank you, then." Danny then holds out one of the coffee cups. "A gesture to prove it."

"God, thank you," Scott says, gratefully accepting the cup and taking a drink. "I haven't had anything all day. Or since last night. Including sleep. I might be running on three Mountain Dews and a kitkat."

Danny raises his eyebrows in disbelief. "That… can't be good for you."

Scott just shrugs again. He'll probably feel the effects later on today, since it's currently only one-thirty in the afternoon. As long as he makes it to four to head to the station to see Stiles, then he can head back home and have a nap. And maybe food.

"I didn't know the life of a vet was so demanding."

"It's the holidays," Scott explains, taking another drink before continuing. The gingerbread-cinnamon-whatever is in this latte is the best thing he's ever had right now. "Lots of people want their pets better before Christmas and New Year. A lot of strays get found with bad injuries. Currently I have—"

Barking starts up from the dog room in the back. Scott smiles, gesturing towards the door as Lola once again perks up.

"—them. Eight labrador puppies. They're under a year old. Deaton and I were trying to get them rehomed before the holidays, but it didn't work out. That's why I was coming in to work anyway, since Deaton's out of town."

"Never mind, your job is clearly far more demanding than I thought." Danny smiles, glances down at Lola, then pauses. "Do you need a hand with them at all? They sound pretty eager for attention."

"Yeah, I was gonna take them out for a walk once I was finished up here," Scott says.

Danny's grin widens. "You planned to walk eight hyperactive labrador puppies by yourself? In the snow?"

Scott just gives another shrug. "They're not too hard to handle once they're outside."

The look Danny is giving him only intensifies the fluttery feeling in his chest. It's like something's tickling him from the inside. He can feel the heat beneath his skin, in his cheeks.

"Guess that whole Alpha thing really does give you an advantage, huh," Danny says, a certain teasing twinkle in his eyes but his grin sincere.

Scott has barely gotten used to the idea of Danny knowing about the supernatural at all, never mind him making casual comments about it. And especially not while he's looking at him like that.

"I don't know if it's anything to do with that," Scott says, shaking his head. "But… sometimes, yeah. It comes in handy."

Danny nods. The puppies are still barking in the back, trying to get Scott's attention.

"Well, I think Lola could use a walk after being so good about this," Danny says. He looks at Scott, smiling. "Mind if we join you? I can be pretty good with dogs, might help to take a couple off your hands for an hour."

Scott's eyebrows raise in surprise, and his heartbeat raises itself as well. 

"You… but—" he frowns, his head tilting with a confused smile "—it's Christmas Eve. Don't you wanna get back to your family?"

"They won't miss me for a little while," Danny says, brushing it off. Then, because he seems to be catching on, he rolls his eyes, and says, "Please? You helped me with Lola when you clearly already had your hands full. I wanna do more than get you coffee."

Scott's heart drops into his stomach and lurches right back up. He swallows, and tries to keep his mind on one track, biting his lip. 

"Uh… yeah," he breathes out before he can think twice. "You know what? That would be great. Thank you."

"No problem," Danny says, sincerely.

They get Lola to hop off the table, and head into the back room to get the others ready. Danny just laughs when he sees the little christmas hats Scott put on the ones that were happy to wear them.

As they're getting them all on their leashes, Danny casually adds, with a glance at Scott, "And if you were up for it, I'd like to get coffee with you sometime."

Scott accidentally clips the leash to his hand instead of the collar. He winces, quickly undoing it and fixing it to its right place instead. Then he looks over at Danny and his amused grin, his heart racing.

"Like—like a date?" he asks, hardly daring to believe that's what he means. Danny was never interested in him. Was he? 

Scott's quickly going through every interaction he's ever had with him.

"Exactly a date," Danny corrects. 

Scott's eyes are wide. His mouth opens, then closes. He wasn't prepared for this. Sure, the thought of Danny liking him back crosses his mind after Stiles and Lydia both insisted that he did after he told them about running into him all those times. But that doesn't mean he was prepared for it.

"You can say no," Danny says, giving another casual shrug as clips the last lead on to the last excited puppy. "I just thought I might as well ask. Waiting three years to do it was bad enough, I didn't want to seem totally pathetic by waiting four to at least know what you'd say."

"Three—what?" Scott asks in disbelief, sure that he must have somehow misheard. "You've wanted to ask me out for… three years?" 

"Like I said, it was starting to seem pathetic." Danny looks at him, holding his stare with a soft gaze. "But, Lydia told me that you came out last year, and after seeing you, I figured I should at least ask."

"Wow. Uh…" Scott's mind is a mess, and he can't sort his thoughts out. Except for one. "I'd love to."

Danny blinks, thrown off his own guard now. Apparently even he wasn't prepared. But he quickly recovers, as does Scott, smiles forming across both their faces.

"Go on a date with you, I mean," Scott says, as if it needs further elaboration. 

"Really?" Danny asks. "Uh… today?"

Scott's breath is knocked out of him, but he's already nodding again. "Yeah, absolutely."

He didn't think anything could make the fluttery feeling in his chest worse. Turns out, Danny smiling at him like he is right now is the thing that can. 

"Okay, great," he says. "Then let's get these guys out of here."

Scott happily agrees. They head out of the back door after making sure the front is locked up. It has to be an hour or more that passes as they walk the dogs through town, taking an open path into the woods, through the snow. The whole way, Scott and Danny are talking, and laughing, catching up on the years they missed and in between. 

[judgement-free-sideblog]

Blood, tears and sea breeze.

Warnings: ANGST, mental health issues, graphic depictions of violence, blood, cursing, mentions of sexual assault, mentions of sex, substance abuse.

Summary: The not so peaceful town of Broadchurch face dead again, while Alec Hardy continues his journey to redemption will this school teacher be the key to solve the mystery or just another victim of the ever watching evilness that seems to reside in the town.

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 5: Walls made of love

The diaries started as a joke, and Alec Could see Y/N was not taking her assignment seriously, he could even imagine Dr. Florence exasperated expression reading them, as much as he remembered the way she looked at him when talked about his own dreams. But every now and then there was some real opinion about her life.

Monday, April 8, 2019

08:00 am. I get to school and I didn't take breakfast, I had a boring morning, as boring as this bloody activity. Sorry doc, but you clearly fail on this one.

10:00 am That was rude I know, but what else you want me to tell, I had a boring lunch and I have a call from Jonathan's mother, I get it the ring was important and I know how much she doesn't me to take away her son, she doesn't have to be that bitchy about it.

By the time he reach the last five days he listened to the tape as he was reading, there were just little more details about what she ate, barely anything, and the people she talk around the day. One detail call his attention, apparently Paul was indulgent enough to let her drive for brief moments in straight lines, and Hardy was not sure if it was relevant for the case or not.

Then he finally found the recollection of the night she went out drinking with Ashley, she usually put on hours before writing so the doctor would follow better her descriptions.

2:30 - I just came home and took a shower, I'm sorry Doc, you will be receiving this one way late than usual, and please don't worry, I went for drinks with Ash as I told you yesterday I would, do you actually read this? I would hate to imagine a woman like you sitting at home alone waiting for my poor written crap. Anyway, I'll tell you a secret I didn't drink today, we were at the club at 10 but stupid Jonathan called me to tell me that I shouldn't be going out with, I told him where he could put his opinion, but I listen and took only mocktails, Ash didn't notice I think, she was so funk I even drove back, thankfully the streets were empty, I hope she didn't eat me out with Jonathan, and I will apologize to him lateer in the morning, I will tell him: I can't wait to be doing this for the rest of our lives.

I haven't told hin about your plann of putting me on medication, I will surprise him with it when he gets back, that would definitely make him happy.

"Hardy, Paul Coates is here, he wants to talk to you" One of the agents said and he immediately pull the papers behind some other files, they felt like something private not sure why.

"Sure, tell him I'll be out in a minute" He said and once he was away he move to close the blinds and the door of his office.

But if I'm completely honest I'm not sure if he actually wants me to get bettr or just wants me to be what he wants, as you said we all put on walls, and as I tried to move on from mine and from the memory of parents stopping me from getting out of Broadchurch I let Jonathan trapped me in litral walls in our huse, and the walls made of love that I built to keep me from telling him that I want to drive, that I need to work, that I'm capable, anyway have a nice night or morning or whatever time is you are reading this, I'll send you the next entry tomorrow.

Alec checked the time when Dr Florence received the document 2:53 am, so a few minutes after she wrote it, wich was obvious since it had several misspellings and missing letters.

He had already checked the traffic cameras around her home and all her movements checked out, there at 1:52 am just a few miles before the dirty road to her cottage he identified the car that should belong to Langford, and then the same car leaving at 2:05 however the first time he didn't notice that she was the one driving, and then Ashley driving back, apart from that her story checked out.

He stood up and walk to a waiting room where Paul was sitted , he respected the reverend but sometimes his good intentions could be too much.

"DI Hardy" He said always polite standing up to shake his hand "I'm sorry to bother you but is about Y/N"

"Do you have new information about the case?" Hardy said dryly, and sitedin front of him "I believe Miller already talked to you this morning, and I don't have more to say apart from that"

"No, I already say everything I know, is just I figured since Y/N is not going to be able to go back to his place because of ... the investigation and that" he frowned thinking about Jonathan's body "I thought maybe she could stay at the church, we always have a spare room and well since her family is not around I figured ..."

"How did you know she is getting free?" Alec interrupted him.

"Well I don't think she is responsible for anything" He started clearly surprised that he questioned that.

"Ah, you think you can do my job better than me?" Hardy said, clearly about to loose his temper.

"I just think, or at least I like to think I'm better at knowing people" Paul was more serious, and Hardy was shock by that, maybe it was the years of tragedy he had face with the town, or maybe it was something more personal.

"Oddly how things turn out isn't it? The fiance is gone, and now she goes back to you, and you even want her to live with you. And you are no longer with Becca do you? All seems way too convenient don't you think?" He said looking for something in the priest face, but there was only indignation.

"What are you suggesting? Really? You are going to questioning me?" He said and Hardy just remained silent with her arms crossed "Fine if I you need to know, and I'm surprised Ellie hasn't told you yet, I know her ages ago, her, Ashley we went to school together, and we were together for about one year, I don't know she was 26 at the time. And we broke up because I was busy with the church and we have been friends since then." He said quickly and Alec nodded.

"And you were friends with Norbury?" Alec asked not sure on why he wanted to know.

"I introduced them, a few weeks after he move here he began helping me at the church, and she often volunteers to watch the trouble makers, she must have watch Tom and Danny a couple times back in those days" a shadow of sorrow crossed his face remembering the young kid, something that happened often in broadchurch "I actually forgot to tell something to Ellie" He said remembering suddenly "I don't think is relevant but anyway, I am I meet Jonathan at a AA meeting, and that's why he started helping at the church. He had troubles with drinking at London that's why he came here."

"Did he ever relapse?" Alec ask suddenly with all his alarms on "Like recently?"

"Not that I know, he didn't want Y/N to know about it, and I ask him to talk to her before the wedding, I'm not sure if he did" The sad look was back now for his lost friend.

"She'll be out in fifty" Alec said standing up, and walking towards the door "You can wait for her here"

"What? Oh thanks, she has been trough a lot already, I hope I can help her out on this at least."

"You said her family is not around, what ever happened to them?" He said suddenly stopping at the door.

"They died, in a car accident ten years ago, she was about to leave town, she was not living with them anymore, she was the youngest and they care for her a lot, but after that she felt guilty I guess, she started coming more to church and her problem got worse for a few weeks, I hope that doesn't happen again".

"Sure" Hardy said and walked fast to the interrogation room where Y/N have spent the night. He found her sitted in the same place, and she had clearly been crying, he felt sorry for her, but he had to get things clear first.

"You lied to us" He started siting in front of her. "You drove home on Friday morning out of the bar" She only nodded and took a sip of the water bottle she hasn't touched yet.

"I'm sorry" Y/N said with a throaty voice "I did, I know I'm not supposed to but I actually can drive very well, and I haven't drink that night it, I thought it was safer if I take the wheel than Ash, but she was stubborn enough to drive back herself"

"Any particular reason on why you don't drink?" He asked not giving it much importance.

"I really don't like it that much, and it worsens my anxiety, so I may take a glass of wine here and there, I think that's why I blacked out so long two weeks ago I did drink a few more shots than my usual three" she said putting her hair behind her ear "He was in AA" She said biting her nails "Or at least I think he was, someone left a voice message about changing the hour for the meeting" She face Hardy with red eyes but she didn't cried, not anymore.

"Do you ever saw him drinking?" He asked and his mind was still in the coroner report trying to remember what he said about the content of the stomach.

"No, also he always had "Boy's night" with Paul on the day I knew he had his AA meetings, is weird how any of them thought I will figure it out" She had a sad smile on her face "I always thought he was a terrible liar because of it"

"You can leave, reverend Coats, amm Paul is waiting for you" She gave him a surprise look.

"Why is Paul here?" She asked then putting up her hands so he could uncuffed her.

"You can't go to your own place, we are still looking for evidence there" Alec said avoiding her gaze.

"Detective Hardy, do you believe me?" She asked caressing her wrist, they felt numb after all that time.

"Is there a reason I shouldn't?" He asked looking at her straight in the eyes.

"No, but earlier it felt like you thought it was me" She said.

"I don't have to believe you or not, I make questions and I follow evidence, and evidence doesn't suggest you did it" He avoided answer her directly.

"Then can I ask you a favor?" She said standing up. "When you find who did this to us, and I have faith in you to do it, if is someone I know, please don't tell me" Her voice was low and almost imperceptible and he had to bend over the table to listen better.

"Why?" He asked in a whisper almost as quiet as hers.

"Because I would hate them, and I would want to kill them, and I don't want to be that kind of person" She said and he could see the fear and sorrow in her eyes, and felt grateful that another officer entered to take her way from him. He went back to his office trying to forget that look when Miller walked in.

"Did you let her go? Paul told me on the way out she would stay at the church, that seems fine for now" She said looking at him but he was apparently not listening. "Ready to go see his apartment?"

"What does the coroner said about his stomach?" He asked suddenly leaning back on his chair.

"Vodka? Whiskey? Some sort of alcohol, why?" She asked curious.

"Yeah, something like that, come on Miller we can't lost more time" There he is, Miller smile when he put on his coat again and start walking outside. "By the way, I haven't told you this" He turned at her with a odd expression in his face "I am in therapy with Dr. Florence, I have been there for a few months now, is not important, I just thought you should know" He nodded and kept walking.

"Ok, sure, fine. That's great" Miller said against her impulse of asking more, she was glad he shared that of course, but she knew how hard must have been for him to admit it. "Anyway Becca Fisher owns the apartment where Norbury lived, she gave me the key"

They walked out and Alec started telling her about Jonathan's problem with alcohol, and a few other details he learned that morning but leaving out all about the diaries. He was sure as much as Ellie that Y/N was innocent but that only made things more complicated and he was hoping for a new lead to appear at the apartment, Please don't tell me her voice resonated in his mind and when he closed his eyes he could see her face. This was getting more and more difficult every minute.

I wasn't sure if people was actually reading this, but I'm glad they are, so if you want to be in the tag list just say so and I would gladly add you.

@allonsymexgirl

[ladytshelby]

Stand By Your Gun Chapter Two

𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐵𝑦 𝑌𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝐺𝑢𝑛 𝐶h𝑎𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑇𝑤𝑜: 𝑆𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑇𝑜𝑔𝑒𝑡h𝑒𝑟

Finally, here is chapter two! I hope you enjoy it. As always comments and feedback are welcome. Chapter one

Warnings: mild swearing, brief mention of panic attack, nightmares, death, alcohol drinking (if anything else needs to be put here please let me know).

Amelia leans against the door of Tommy’s room and waits for the click of the latch before asking, “You know more about the robbery than you're letting on, don't you?”

Tommy is standing by the window, looking out with a blank stare not saying anything. Even though half of his face is turned away from her, Amelia can still read him like an open book, can practically see the wheels turning in his head. She has always loved his brain and how it seemingly never stops running, always being five steps ahead of everyone else. Sure he is a good-looking man, but then again, he always has been.

Moving to sit on Tommy’s unmade bed, Amelia spots Pride and Prejudice on his bedside table in the place Amelia left it a few days before. A forgotten betting slip acting as a bookmark sticks out so Amelia reaches down and grabs her beloved novel to fix the paper. She has lost count on the number of times she has read the book but each time gets better nonetheless. Some nights when she doesn't want to go home to her mother, she’ll fall asleep in the armchair reading, sometimes by herself or with Tommy not really listening but enjoying the background noise when sleep won’t come.

Finally, after a few moments of silence, Tommy turns around and sighs breaking the quiet that has enveloped the room, “I know enough.”

“That’s a shit answer and you know it,” Amelia scoffs. “The face you were making downstairs is enough to tell me that you know a lot more than everyone else.”

“Millie, it is none of your concern at the moment.” Tommy grabs a bottle of whiskey off of his dresser, takes a swig, and sits in the armchair crossing his legs. “Besides, I have everything under control. There’s nothing for you to worry about.”

Amelia looks at him and can’t help but feel a bit hurt. Tommy usually tells her everything no matter the importance saying that he values her opinion and wants to hear the situation from a different angle, “If it has something to do with the family then I bloody think it’s mine and the whole family’s concern.” Amelia stands and moves to stand in front of Tommy with her arms crossed, “You saw what they done to Arthur for God knows what reason. What if it happens again to John or Ada or worse Finn—”

“It won’t happen again, Amelia. I’m making sure of it.” Tommy interrupts Amelia. His hands gripping the arms of the chair so hard his knuckles are turning pale.

Frustrated, Amelia starts pacing back and forth, “I just don’t understand what the problem is and what you aren't telling me.” She stops pacing and looks Tommy in the eyes hoping what she is about to ask isn’t true. “You have the guns, don’t you?”

Tommy’s face has the answer written all of over it, and Amelia can feel her blood heating. “Are you insane? Of course, you are because no sane person would be hiding the stolen guns the bloody government is looking for.”

“Will you be quiet,” Tommy snaps in a hushed tone, “All of Birmingham doesn't need to hear you.”

Amelia puts her hands over her face and lets out a frustrated sigh. She moves over to stand by the window taking the place Tommy was at before. She can see two small girls playing with rocks, dirt covering their already gray dresses. Amelia can’t help but miss the innocence of being a child in a moment like this. The only thing on your mind being games and wonder at the world around you. Having no idea that the world is dangerous and falling apart.

When she looks back at Tommy, he is looking at her the same way he has since they met when they were barely teenagers, a silent way of asking her to be on his side and to keep his secrets, no matter what. Normally she would never waver, but with this— “Why do you have them, and who all knows?”

“It was an accident. My boys were on a regular pick up, nothing out of the ordinary, and they must have been drunk or not paying attention,” Tommy exhales loudly and pours another whiskey. “They grabbed the wrong crate and brought it back to Charlie’s yard and that’s where it sits and holds Lewis Machine Guns, ammunition, semi-automatic rifles, and pistols with their shells. And the only people who know are the idiots who got it in the first place, Charlie, Curly, me, and now you.”

Amelia nods and doesn’t say anything, can’t find the words to speak them. She can’t decide if she is surprised something liked this happened, but ultimately, she isn’t. Everything was going seemingly well for a while, so of course, some problem such as this had to make its way into their lives, “You have to get rid of them, dump them in the cut or put them back where you found them. Campbell will hang you if he discovers you have the guns. You can’t do that to the family.” You can't do that to me. Amelia thought but didn’t say.

She wraps a loose thread from her dress around her fingers and pulls tight. The thread breaking with ease, leaving a red ring on her pointer finger. Amelia has always been a fidget, especially when she’s nervous.

Tommy sensing her uneasiness gets up and makes his way over and puts his hands on Amelia’s shoulders trying to get her to look at him and says, “It’s nothing for you to worry about, Millie. This isn’t women’s business; I’ve got it handled.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, it became women’s business when all of you got on that train to France, Tommy. What’s changed now?” Amelia finally lifts her head and meets his gaze.

“We came back.”

Amelia looks at him and shakes her head. “No, you didn’t, you’re still there, Tom. Maybe not all the time, but sometimes I see that look in your eye. You might be here physically but mentally, you are back there.”

A shadow goes over Tommy’s face, and he moves back from her as though he is making room for his breathing, tugging at his collar to loosen it. Amelia didn’t move closer because if he starts panicking she doesn’t want to crowd him and make it worse. From working at the hospital, she knows different people want different things when they are having a bout of panic.

“At The Garrison, Danny had a fit and knocked over tables and chairs and shouting like he was still in the trenches. Freddie and I got him calmed down or at least we thought,” Tommy stammered still trying to catch his breath. He picks up his glass and downs it before continuing, “he then and went and killed an Italian waiter with two other Italians watching and now they want Danny dead for it.”

“What?” Amelia gasps, “There must be something we can do. You can’t kill Danny; it’s not his fault. Surely they will understand.” Amelia said this even though she knows there is nothing that can be done. The death of one means death for another.

“You know there’s nothing we can do. It’s either I do it or they do.”

Amelia wracks her brain thinking of a way out of this. Danny doesn’t deserve to die because of his past trauma from the war. No one does. “Tommy, what if there was a way to shoot Danny and make him appear dead, but in reality, he is still alive.”

Tommy leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. He has a smirk on his face and light has returned to Tommy’s eyes. Scheming has always been one of Tommy’s favorite pastimes. “I’m listening.”

“You know that butcher shop down by my house?” Amelia asks and when Tommy nods she continues, “I happen to be friends with his son, he works at the hospital with me, so what if you get some sheep’s brain or something and find a way to shoot that so the blood goes everywhere, and the Italians think that Danny is dead. You said you had some business in London, send Danny there to do it.”

“Amelia, that might work.”

“I’m glad I may be of service to the cause, Mr. Shelby.” Amelia jokes and they both lightly laugh.

Tommy reaches for his cigarettes and matches but they are just out of reach, so Amelia grabs them and hands them to him, their hands lightly brushing. The contact making a tiny spark run through Amelia making her pull her arm away. It is something she always reads about in her novels, that jolt of electricity when the love interest and main character touch.

It is also something she always ignores when it comes to Tommy and herself, or she tries to forget about it, but it is becoming more difficult with each passing day. The glances, the touching, the secret whispers back and forth, and the familiarity with each other is sometimes too much for her, reminding her of old times the two used to share. There may have been a time and place for them but she is afraid that time may be over, so she never says anything and neither does he. Everything is too different now.

Amelia watches Tommy as he lights the cigarette in silence, her eyes following the smoke as it slowly dances its way up to the ceiling. The smell encases the room and it makes Amelia want to cover her nose but she doesn’t. She has always hated the smell of them but with Tommy, she doesn’t mind it. The smell of cigarette is something that is a part of him so much so that often she would find herself missing it when he was in France.

“How have you been sleeping?” Amelia questions, finally breaking the silence after a few moments. “Are you still having nightmares?”

Tommy doesn’t answer right away but when he does he murmurs, “Its okay, but the dreams are still there.” He shakes his head, his hair going in his eyes. The urge to move it out of his face is there but Amelia pushes it down like a cinder block. “Sometimes I wake up before the explosion and sometimes I don’t.”

Amelia nods understanding. “I still dream of my father. Sometimes they are a good and happy, but other times he will look at me and motion for me like he is beckoning me to come to him, but when I try to move I’m stuck and he then starts screaming at me to hurry up but it’s like I’m frozen to the spot; I never get to find out what is behind me. I only see the horror on his face.”

Every time she dreams of her father, it’s as though he is really there like when she wakes up he will be sitting in his favorite chair reading the paper or laughing at something Amelia had said; the sound still present in her ears long after she wakes. She knows it is a dream but she can’t help the disappointment that settles in her stomach when she remembers he is actually gone and will never come back—no matter how hard she wishes.

“Amelia there was nothing you could have done. You were only twelve and the doctors did all they could.”

“I know.” Amelia wiped a tear before it had a chance to escape down her face. “That doesn’t mean it can’t hurt.”

They were quiet for a few moments, the silence hanging in the air like a cloud of smoke and if Amelia breathed it would surely choke her.

Tommy coughs while stretching out his long legs, his trouser moving up around his ankles. “When was the last time you went home?”

Amelia scoffs. She did not feel like having this conversation about home and her mother. “I went home two days ago to get a change of clothes for my shift. I’ve been at the hospital or here since.”

“You need to go home, Millie.”

“Do you know that first thing my mother said to me when I got home?” Amelia asks not looking at Tommy only picking at her nails.”

“No.”

She laughs halfheartedly, “The second I walk in the door, the first thing she asks is if I paid the rent. No greetings or pleasantries, only a question about money. It’s as if I’m not her daughter anymore.”

Tommy comes to stand in front of her and lifts her head with his finger so she is looking straight at him, ice blue eyes meeting russet brown ones. Purple splotches stain the pale skin around them, proving his tiredness. She watches as he swallows, his Adam's apple bobbing slowly as if he is swallowing words he wishes he could say. “One day, you are going to get out of there and then you will be able to breathe and finally relax your shoulders and clear that head of yours, but for now, Millie, you need to go home.”

Amelia grabs his arm and removes from her chin, but she doesn’t break eye contact with him, “I’ll go home, but I want to help you the guns, or something. I can help you, please.”

“It’s going to be messy and could get dangerous. I don’t want you around that.”

I can handle it, Thomas.”

Tommy nods, never doubting it, “I know, I just don’t want you hurt.”

“Then I won’t get hurt,” Amelia responds and moves around him to go to the door,

“How did the horse charm go? Do you think it will work?”

“They did it and we’ll know on race day.” He shrugs making to follow her out the door, “and Amelia, just keep your eyes and ears open and tell me if you hear anything suspicious.”

“You got it, boss.”

~~~~~~

Amelia said she would go home, but she didn’t say she would go home sober. She slowly made her way to The Garrison, wanting, no, craving the drink that will send her into the sweet oblivion that is sleep.

Amelia’s walk was a short and quiet one, the only noise seemed to be the thoughts exploding in her head about the situation Tommy presented to her. She can’t help but have a twinge in her stomach that this is not going to end well, but she does know that will get through it no matter the outcome. They will always walk through hell together and make it to the other side.

The bar was loud but that was to be expected. The place is littered with people she knows and people who she has never laid eyes on in her life. People are dancing with their hands up to music that isn’t there. Some are gathered around tables playing cards with the money they just got paid. The whole place is chaotic but the craziness is what the bar was made for. A joint to drink booze and not think about your problems that hit you the minute you walk in your front door.

“Well if it isn’t Miss Hastings.”

Amelia spins around and is greeted by an older man who is looking at her with a smile. He has soot on his face from the coal job she knows he works tirelessly at. She matches his grin and stretches her arms out towards him. “George, long time no see, sir.” She pulls her old friend in and squeezes tightly and pulls back putting her hands on his shoulders. “I hope you’re well.”

George nods. “I could complain but why would I want to.”

“And the same goes for your wife and kids, I hope.”

“Yes, all thanks to you, Martha’s sore throat cleared up wonderfully.”

Amelia laughs, “It wasn’t me. Tea, honey, and good rest did all the work.”

After parting ways with George, Amelia finds an empty bar stool and even though she is sitting away from most of the patrons, she can still hear their conversations as though everyone is trying to be louder than the rest. Most of the talk is of work, failed marriages, on-the-side girlfriends, and the occasional whispering of the new chief inspector who has strolled into town thinking he owns the place.

Amelia leaned in closer trying to catch any information they might have but she misses what he says because of the roar of shouting in the back from some bloke who decided to wear whiskey instead of drink it.

“They are quite a loud lot aren’t they?”

“As loud as they come, I’d say.” Amelia looks up and meets the gaze of the girl she ran into earlier standing behind the bar wiping down a glass. “Hey, I’m sorry I about earlier, I can be a mad clutz when I’m in a rush.”

“It’s fine. I wasn’t paying attention to where my feet were headed.” The girl, Grace, puts down the glass and extends her hand out. “I’m Grace.”

Amelia shakes her hand noting the softness of it. Seemingly too soft especially to work in a place like this. “Amelia.”

Grace smiles and moves down a bit to pick up a gentleman’s glass to refill when she asks, “What can I get for you, Amelia? Harry said it’s on the house.”

“Irish Whiskey and you can leave the bottle.”

“Hard night?” Grace questions when she sits the glass in front of Amelia.

Amelia takes a swig before answering letting the amber liquid slide down her throat leaving a burning trail in its wake, “We all stress, some days are more stressful than others.”

“I understand that completely.” Grace replies twisting the rag in her hands seemingly catching her eye on something or someone, but Amelia doesn’t turn to look because Amelia is taking the chance to look her over.

Grace is very pretty with the blonde hair and blue eyes of an upper-class lady she would have met when Amelia was still in the class herself. At all the society parties her parents would drag her to when she was a young girl. She seems more like a girl that would work at the hospital with her not serving her whiskey at The Garrison.

Grace turns back to her and gives her a smile. “You wanna talk about? Your bad day I mean.”

Amelia pours another glass, “Can’t. Promised I wouldn’t tell a soul. Just know that I learned something that could be harmful to people I care about if it was found out.”

A light seemingly sparks in Grace’s eye and she looks down trying to hide it, but Amelia notices it immediately. She gave the vaguest detail she could just to see if her curiosity was going the right direction and it seems like it is. Watch out for the barmaid called Grace.

Amelia stands up and fishes out the money needed to pay for the whiskey and puts it on the table. “Well, I’ll be seeing you around then for more chats perhaps, when the bar isn’t as crowded. Us Small Heath girls have to stick together.”

Amelia gives her a warm smile, which Grace returns, and picks up the bottle and turns to leave when Grace says, “Harry said it’s on the house.”

“Harry says a lot of things besides he has a new salary to pay.”

Amelia walks through the double doors of the bar and makes her way home.