#did I mentioned this has a Captain Erik Lehnsherr yet?

[plantasticjoisley]

Ok so I accidentally deleted the post-

Hi! After a very long time, I decided to post my first fanfic in forever. Seriously, last time must've been over a decade ago in an account long lost.

Enjoy a long-owed Cherik slowburn in a pirate AU with a found family and a friends to lovers to possibly enemies theme, superpowered people and surviving prosecution.

You know, x-men with a twist.

I'm genuinely excited to write again, and I do have some other wips laying around, some Cherik and other Marvel classics.

[abimess]

Split City, Divided Heart - Chapter 6

Mob!Wanda Maximoff x Mob!Reader

Masterlist | Get notified of my next stories

Chapter Summary: Completely surrendered to Erik's will, Wanda watches you being tortured by her own father. Upon discovering you're being accused of sins you didn't commit, the redhead has to do something about it. [Series Summary]

Warnings: +16. Violence; guns; bladed weapons; blood; death; torture; kidnapping; mentions of sex (no description); drugs; mob/mafia

Word count: 3.434 || Pronouns: she/her

Things get very... intense 👀 enjoy! and please don't hate me too much

You do NOT have permission to repost or translate my work on any platforms (even with credit)

Series Masterlist | Previews Part

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“Somebody messes with me, I’m gonna mess with him.” – Al Capone

Businessman Anthony Stark arrested tonight after admitting his involvement with local mafia. Police believe to have firm leads to reach said group.

The Captain grumbles as she reads the headline for the tenth time that morning. The woman takes a deep breath, trying to remain calm. 

Everything seemed to be going wrong. The increasingly constant intrigues with the Guardians, members of the Avengers being killed, no word from you since the conversation about Lehnsherr's daughter... And now this. 

At least this she had ideas about how to solve, and now the blonde is waiting anxiously, a glass of whiskey in her hands as she tries to keep herself together. And as if listening to her thoughts, the door opens, revealing the one she had been looking forward to seeing all morning. 

"Finally." The woman says, getting up from her armchair. "Sorry, Captain." The teenager replies, smiling apologetically, before closing the door behind him. "She didn't follow the schedule you gave me so I had to wait a while."

"But did you make it?" The woman asks, impatiently, and the boy nods eagerly. "Yes, I did," he replies, rummaging through his backpack for a while, "here you go." He finally says, pulling out some polaroids from there.

Carol promptly picks them up, running her eyes over the photos of the woman, a fulfilled smile on her lips. "Perfect." The blonde says, more to herself than to Peter, her eyes still running the photographs. "Captain?" The boy's uncertain voice wakes Carol to reality, raising her eyes to him. "Who's she?" 

"No one you need to worry about." She answers simply, a gentle smile on her lips, and the boy nods, taking the hint. "Good job, kid, you can deliver them." She says, handing the pictures back to the boy, who smiles gratefully at the compliment. 

With a nod of his head in farewell, the teenager walks to the office door as Carol returns to her seat in the armchair, but then a thought crosses her mind, and she calls him again. "Parker?"

"Yes?" The boy utters as he turns around, looking at her expectantly. "Have you seen Y/n around?" The Captain asks, a mixture of curiosity and hope in her voice, but Peter just frowns, shaking his head in denial. "No, Captain."

Carol hums in acknowledgement, nodding slowly as she thinks. "You can go." She says with one last smile, to which the boy reciprocates before leaving the office for good. 

Left alone now, the Captain allows her thoughts to take over her mind, a single thought standing out.  

"Where the hell are you, Y/n?"

⋅ ─ ⋅ ─ ⋅ ─ ⋅ ─ ⋅ ─ ⋅

Spitting out a significant amount of blood, you try to recover from yet another punch delivered to your jaw. 

The pain that spreads through your body is excruciating, leaving you disoriented. But Erik looks at you with a sickly smile, the blond man, who goes by the ridiculous codename Vision, doing the dirty work, and Wanda standing by the door, watching everything with an impassive expression. So, you decide not to let your pain show.  

"I don't understand why you just don't tell me what I want to know." The older man asks, pacing back and forth, and you take a deep breath. "I have no idea what you're talking about, Lehnsherr." You answer honestly, and receive another punch from the blond man in response.

"I'm talking about the Avengers meddling in our business and stealing our supplies." Erik strikes back, approaching the chair you have once again been tied to, and you hold his gaze without hesitation. 

"Do you really think we waste our time with that, Lehnsherr?" You ask sarcastically, forcing a laugh even though your whole body aches in the process. "If we need something, we get it our way. We don't need anything that comes from you."

"Are you sure about that?" The gray-haired man teases, risking a glance at Wanda. You clench your jaw immediately in response, and notice out of the corner of your eye the redhead shifting her weight on her feet uncomfortably. 

"A one time mistake," you say simply, ignoring the growing hurt, "and what a mistake it was." You add, looking directly at Wanda this time, and the woman immediately looks away, crossing her arms tightly against her chest.

"Someone's a little bitter." Erik teases, and you look down, averting your gaze from the Guardians in the room. Feeling victorious, Lehnsherr straightens his posture, turning away from you. "That's enough for today, who knows after a night's sleep you'll give me the answers I'm asking for." 

With that, the leader of the Guardians walks to the entrance of the cell and you take a deep breath. "Wanda, my dear, clean her wounds. We don't want an infection, do we?" You hear Erik say and resist the urge to roll your eyes. He was doing it to affect you, and you knew it. The worst part is that he was succeeding. "And you, keep an eye on our guest.”

As Erik leaves the cell, Wanda starts walking toward you, but then stops. "Untie her." She says firmly and you immediately close your eyes. It has been a while since you last heard her voice, and the sound has had more of an effect on you than you would like to admit.

"You can take care of her injuries with her tied up." Vision replies then and although you refuse to look directly at the scene, you can see out of the corner of your eyes Wanda crossing her arms. "Untie her." She repeats through clenched teeth, and the man lets out a humorless chuckle in response. "It could be dangerous, dear."

"I don't think she could do anything with the beating you gave her." The redhead promptly hits back, and you frown discreetly at the obvious signs of anger in her voice. "I won't say it again."

After a few seconds of silence, the blonde huffs and moves to untie you. Once your arms and legs are free, you bring your hands to your wrists, massaging them. As Wanda approaches you with a small bucket of water and a cloth, Vision stands at the entrance to the cell. 

You walk to the bed with difficulty, supported by Wanda's hands. The touch burns your skin, and all you want to do now is to pull her hands away from you and scream. But you are too exhausted and hurt to do either of those things, so you just sit there without showing any emotion.

The next few minutes are spent in silence, Wanda carefully cleaning your wounds and you avoiding looking at her for dear life. 

"How are you?" The redhead's uncertain question sounds out soon after, and you decide to pretend you didn't notice her hesitation. "I've been worse." You answer impassively and hear Wanda huff softly. "Look, Y/n-"

"Save it, Wanda, I don't wanna hear it." You interrupt immediately, anger growing inside you. "But you should let your daddy know I have no idea what he's talking about." You say with false humor and risk a glance at the redhead, regretting it in the same moment you saw her sadness-laden face. 

"I know you don't." She says softly, hesitating before she adds, "I trust you." The line is a mere whisper, so that only you can hear. You laugh wryly in response. 

Despite the irony, there is nothing comical about the situation in which you find yourself. But there is a huge lump in your throat right now, so laughing seems a better option than crying. 

"Good to know one of us is trustworthy." You retort bitterly, looking away once again. Wanda swallows dryly, trying to stand her ground even though she is on the verge of crumbling. 

"Enough talking." Vision says before Wanda can answer. Faced with your complete lack of reaction, Wanda just takes a deep breath and goes back to tending to your wounds in silence. 

When the redhead is finished, she gets up and walks to the exit without saying a single word. Now alone in the cell, you let out a breath you didn't even know you were holding. 

Before you can begin to enjoy the silence, Vision's voice makes itself heard once again. "She's quite a sight, isn't she?" The blond man says, making you roll your eyes. "The hottest woman I've ever seen. Just imagining her with no clothes on…"

"Shut up." You speak next, your blood beginning to boil. That day couldn't get any worse. "What?" Vision says next, looking at you with a look of debauchery through the cell bars. "Don't you like to hear the things I would do to her? How I would fuc-"

"Shut up!" you repeat, shouting this time, as you walk with quick strides to where he is, the pain completely dulled by hatred. You grip the iron bars tightly, your knuckles turning white from the strength.

"Look at you," the man says with a grin, his face mere inches from yours as he revels in your obvious fury, "still think she's yours. Pathetic. She never was, and she never wi-" 

Vision's words are cut off as you pull him by his shirt. Being taken aback by the sudden movement, the man slams his face hard against the metal bars. The blond man mutters curses as he takes a few steps backwards with his hands on his face.

"You son of a bitch." He says as he notices the blood on his hands that has dripped from his nose. You just hold his gaze, a small smirk at the corner of your mouth, and the man's expression stiffens in anger. "The beating wasn't enough for you, huh?" he says through gritted teeth, unlocking the cell. "Let's see if one more will do the trick."

As he enters the cell, you swallow dryly. Added to you being seriously injured, the man is much bigger and stronger than you. But you would not go down without a fight. So when he approaches you, you raise your fists.

⋅ ─ ⋅ ─ ⋅ ─ ⋅ ─ ⋅ ─ ⋅

Wanda had never felt so powerless in her entire life. Still, she had never felt so guilty. 

As soon as she left the cell the night before, the redhead went straight to her room, emptying the entire contents of her stomach as her insides turned violently in guilt and pain. 

When there was nothing left to put out, the woman broke down in sobs, tears burning her skin as the images of you in that chair burned her mind. 

But now Wanda was sitting on her bed. In the same position she had been when she first sat there. Motionless. Unaware of everything around her, the redhead barely noticed the knocks on her door. And when she does, she does nothing about it. 

The door opens next, revealing Pietro on the other side. Wanda merely looks at him, and the blond man flashes her a small, empathetic smile. "Hi, sister," he greets softly, closing the door behind him, "how are you-"

"Don't ask me that." Wanda interrupts, her voice shaky and the lump in her throat making it hard to breathe. Pietro is silent then, and sits down next to her on the bed. Out of the corner of her eyes, the redhead notices her brother watching her, but doesn't have the strength to raise her gaze. 

"You can talk to me, Wanda." The man says eventually, moving closer and holding his sister's hand in his. The redhead looks at their intertwined fingers, and smiles minimally at the action, even if the comfort brought by it is almost non-existent. "I thought you knew that. You could've told me-"

"Told you what, Pietro?" Wanda interrupts, suddenly releasing her hand from his. "That I fell in love with an Avenger? You would've taken that so well." The redhead says with bitter sarcasm, and the blonde clenches his jaw.

"I would've tried to understand you." He says, but Wanda laughs through her nose in disbelief. "You're my little sister, Wands, I would never judge you." The older Maximoff assures, but seeing no sign of belief in his sister, he jokes, "but I probably would've told you to find someone better."

Wanda forces a weak laugh in response, her vision blurring intensely soon after. "I'd never find someone better." She says with her voice breaking, the lump in her throat becoming increasingly unbearable. 

"It's true then," Pietro says eventually, and Wanda raises her eyes to him, "you and her." He explains, and Wanda flashes him a tiny smile. "It is... And it's also true that I ruined her life." The redhead comments bitterly, the tears finally falling, "She trusted me, and I stabbed her in the back."

The redhead's brain fills her mind with all the worst possible insults, about how she didn't try hard enough, about how she could have stopped all this from happening. But the truth is that this is not how things work. 

The only contact Wanda had with you was in the apartment in which she and Pietro grew up and which was now your and her spot, her oasis. Outside that place, she had no idea how to find you, how to get in touch with you. 

So there she waited, agonizing days and nights waiting for you to knock on the door but you never did. Just as she was about to give up and look for you on your side of town, even knowing all the risks that entailed, knocks on the door finally came. 

They weren't yours though, and the redhead's heart shattered into a million pieces at the sight of Vision entering, showing up there on her father's orders to wait for you to come by. There she realized that it was too late. 

Wanda could have told you to leave when you arrived later that night, told you to run and not look back. But she knew that the moment she did that, Vision would go not only for you but for her too, both of you would be killed in that same place. 

At least if she followed the plan she would have time, she would have a guarantee to keep you alive while she thought of a way to free you. At least that was what she had thought of as the best way out of that situation. 

But to see you in that condition, being beaten and tortured... It was as if every organ in her body contracted and tore itself into a million painful pieces. It was as if she had died all the same.

"I wish there was something I could do to help you, sestra." Her brother says truthfully, waking her up from her thoughts, and Wanda casts him a small, grateful smile. "There's nothing you can do, Piet." She assures, and the other nods slowly. 

"I just... I just need some fresh air." Wanda says, standing up and wiping the tears on her cheeks. "I'll go with you." Pietro then says, following her to the door. "There's no need, brother, thanks."

"I insist." The blond says, and Wanda turns to face him, her eyes narrowed. "What's going on?" she questions, and the man puts his hands in his pockets awkwardly. "Papa asked me to keep an eye on you."

"Of course he did." The redhead replies impatiently, feeling increasingly suffocated. "I trust you, though," Pietro hastens to say, "I meant that." Wanda stares at her brother for a few seconds but, finding nothing but honesty in his expression, she huffs. "Fine."

"Where are we going?" Pietro asks, following his sister out of the room, and Wanda shrugs. "I don't know, I just need to leave this place." She answers, walking toward the entrance of the hiding place. Then an idea crosses her mind, and she changes her route. 

"But first, I need to talk to Shuri."

⋅ ─ ⋅ ─ ⋅ ─ ⋅ ─ ⋅ ─ ⋅

"Uh-oh, if the Maximoff twins are together, there's trouble coming." The girl says as soon as she sees the two entering the armaments room. "I need your help." Wanda says next, Pietro right behind her closing the door, and Shuri chuckles. "I knew it," she states, nodding, "what do you need?"

And then Wanda tells her everything. About you, about her father finding out, about him suspecting you of the stolen supplies, and about how deeply she trusts you. All the while, she tries to keep her voice steady, to keep the tears away. But the lump in her throat is too big to stay hidden for long. The other two in the room notice, obviously, but decide not to comment on it. 

"The girl you're hooking up with is an Avenger?!" Shuri asks in astonishment when Wanda finally finishes speaking and the redhead lets out an incredulous giggle. "Is that really all you paid attention to?"

"No, you're right, sorry. Stolen supplies." The girl says, shaking her head. "What do you want from me?" She asks then, and it is Pietro who answers. "Do you have any suspects? Someone you don't trust?"

"I don't think so." Shuri answers after thinking for a brief moment, her eyebrows frowning as she does. "I have a few." Wanda replies, nearly annoyed, and Pietro laughs through his nose by her side. "That's because you don't trust anyone."

"Right now I only trust three people, and one of them needs me." Wanda replies promptly, looking at the two in the room. "And I need your help to solve this." The redhead says, sounding as firm as she can, but the pleading in her voice is evident.

"You can count on me." Shuri says then, a sincere smile on her lips, and Pietro nods. "On me too." The man confirms and Wanda smiles, standing up next. "Thanks, guys." She says honestly, and the two smile in response. 

"I have to go now, if I stay here another second I'll freak out." The redhead tells, getting up from the stool she was sitting on, and Pietro does the same. After saying goodbye to Shuri, the two Maximoffs leave the armory. 

Reaching the communal room of the hideout, Wanda clenches her jaw. "What's Vision doing here?" She asks and, noticing the bruises and cuts on the man's face, frowns. "And what happened to him?"

"I have no idea," Pietro replies, following his sister's gaze with his own, "I woke up and went straight to your room." He lets her know and Wanda looks at him in confusion. Woke up? How long has it been since last night? Did she really not sleep at all? It wouldn't be surprising.

"Wanda." She hears her name called before she can ask any of those questions and the redhead sighs angrily. Today would be the day she would add another murder to her list of committed crimes.

"What is it, Raven?" She asks, irritation rising exponentially. "I brought breakfast to your pet Avenger earlier. She looked quite a mess, if you ask me." The blonde informs, a smile grown as apprehension takes over Wanda's features. 

"But don't worry, I took good care of her. And I gotta admit, Wanda, now I see why you're so fond of her." The blonde adds as she notices the other's countenance change, a taunting smirk on her lips. "What's going on underneath that shirt is... something else."

Without a second thought, Wanda holds Raven's hair, pushing her head hard against the nearby pool table. The noise of the impact is loud and echoes through the decommissioned subway station, followed by several surprised gasps from the surrounding Guardians.

"Wanda!" Pietro shouts in astonishment, pulling his sister away before Wanda could ruin Raven's face any further, which was now covered in blood.

"I'll kill that bitch any day now!" The redhead says, her face hardened by anger. Pietro, who was not trusting his sister's common sense one bit, continues dragging her towards the exit of the hideout. 

"You can't attack her every time she annoys you, you know?" he reasons, but Wanda can barely hear him, her heart pounding furiously in her ears. "I'm going to anyway." She mumbles through clenched teeth, making her brother let out a low chuckle. 

"Come on now, let's get out of here." He says when the two are already out of the decommissioned subway station and Wanda huffs heavily. Trying with all her might to forget her tsunami of problems, the redhead follows her brother to his car.

───── ⋅ ✮ ⋅ ─────

Things are not looking good for our dear reader, uh? What do you think it's going to happen next? Thoughts and comments are always appreciated!

Chapter 7

[ask-the-phan-site]

Phan Cam: The Unexpected Heist

>The Hub. After taking the heart of Sheriff Johnson and Oracle and Violet starting college, we finally have time to keep our promise to the Scorchers and Battle Force 5 to help them reopen the portal of Highway 35 and bring back the World Race.

>We were all gathered together waiting for Oracle’s fellow hackers to make contact.

Me and Sophia have made the necessary precautions just in case the Silencerz attempt to trace us if we are caught.

Good, Sage. We’ll need it.

I just hope the Silencerz don’t realize that the ones hacking them are the people they had to deal with in the past.

Don’t worry. Something tells me they never had to deal with a hacker like me before.

Really? What makes you any different?

Oracle: Ever heard of Medjed?

The hacktivist group? Yeah. Why do you ask?

Brace yourselves. I was the founder.

Scorchers and Battle Force 5: (in shock) WHAT!!!?

You’re Medjed? I can’t believe it. I actually followed their work. Though, I thought how Medjed was doing these days seemed a bit odd. Now I know why. Other hackers were impersonating you. But now, I’m meeting the real Medjed!

Oracle: I was the real Medjed. That was a long time ago. I’m Alibaba now. But Oracle is good, too.

RING! RING!

Oracle: Speaking of Alibaba...

Incoming call from three unknown callers.

Oracle: Patch them in.

>Three holographic screens pop open.

Oracle: Hey you guys, long time no see!

Hey, Alibaba! Still rockin’ the headphones! I like that!

Still loud as ever, Yu-ichi.

Somethings never change, huh, Six?

Six: Yeah, nice to see you again, too, Lunch.

So you’re Fu- I mean, Alibaba’s fellow hackers.

Lunch: Yeah, nice to meetcha. You can just call me Lunch.

Six: I’m called Six.

Yu-ichi: And I’m Yu-ichi.

Six: Which is not much of a hacker name since it’s your real first name.

Yu-ichi: But it’s clever. No one would ever suspect that my hacker name is my real name.

Oracle: Okay, guys, stay with me.

Yu-ichi: Sorry. Hey, are the others coming, too? Spooky? Hitomi? And... what’s-his-name? (Gee, it’s been a long time, so I forgot his name.)

Lunch: They’ve been through enough already. Best to leave them out of this. So, why did you bring us back together?

Oracle: Nothing much. Just hacking into a secret organization’s databanks.

Yu-ichi: (laughing a bit) That’s all? That’s like the easiest thing there is. Give us a bigger challenge.

Six: (a little anxious) Get serious. We don’t even know anything about this secret organization.

Oracle: I’ll tell you about it.

RING! RING!

Oracle: Soon. Right now, our next hackers are calling in.

>Another screen opens.

Are we fashionably late?

I think that’s suppose to be my line.

Oracle: Nope. You four are right one time.

Alright! Let’s get this party started!

Hold on, comrade. I get there feeling there are more guests coming.

Indeed there are.

RING! RING!

Queen: That should be him.

>Another screen appears.

Here I am. Did I miss anything?

Queen: No, Forge san, you made it right on time.

Hold on! You’re Forge of the X-Men. Peter told me about you.

For real? Harry, Makoto, and Captain America told me about him, too.

Joker: And Adi told me.

Mixer: (in awe) Holy- It’s really Forge! Dude, I’m one of your biggest fans.

Joule: Come sono io.

Forge: Thanks. It good to meet a fan and a colleague. Un piacere di conoscerti. Y tú también.

Makoto, how do you know Forge?

Queen: Do you remember that Inhuman student from the school festival? The one who said her friend is a mutant? I looked into those students. The mutant student was visited by Dr. Hank McCoy. Forge san just happened to have come with him.

Forge: We wanted to talk to her before she and her friends left for Attilan. We wanted to make sure that she’ll be ready to go up us or her parents worrying about her getting M-Pox if she’s exposed to the Terrigen Mist. We also wanted to let her know that she’ll always have place with the X-Men.

Joker: That’s good to hear.

I thought you left the X-Men so you could do your own thing.

Forge: I still help them from time to time. Mostly with mutants who’ve just come into their powers.

Queen: I know what you mean. I had to go through Scott Summers and almost the rest of the X-Men to contact you.

Forge: And I still can’t believe you decided to ask me and had to go through all that just to do it.

It was either you or the other Forge. The one who still maintains his youthful appearance from being stuck in another dimension for many years.

Forge: Yes, I know who you’re talking about. I’ve met my Fellow Forge many times. A little rambunctious, but he’s a good person. I even asked him with help on some projects. Including this one I’ve been working on.

>Forge hold some kind of metallic helmet along with his phone which had an app open with the lets “c” and “p”.

Forge: I call it Cerebro Portable. Me and my Fellow Forge created it to help telepaths find mutants within a hundred mile radius. Especially ones who just got into their powers. But it’s not finished yet.

Yu-ichi: Really? How so?

Forge: We tried to design it based on the original concept for the original Cerebro. There’s just one problem.

Sophie: And what���s that?

Forge: There are only two people I know who know more about Cerebro than any and that would be the original creators. Professor Charles Xavier, but he won’t awaken from his coma for eight more years. The other is... Erik Lehnsherr.

Magneto.

Forge: That’s right. And I’m not about to go all the way to Genosha just to ask him to help me create something that he, himself, could use to find mutant to recruit into the Brotherhood or his mutant army. So it may be a while. Hopefully Professor Xavier will be awake by then. But for now, I’ll just settle with getting help from my Fellow Forges.

RING! RING!

Forge: Speaking of which.

>Another screen opens.

Sorry for the wait. Just finishing up with Kurt and the others.

Forge san! It’s been too long.

Queen: Yes, it has.

Forge: I didn’t want to leave him out of it, so I invited him to help out, too.

Other Forge: I’m willing to do what I can.

Joule: I think we’re going to have some confusion here.

Six: Yeah, how do we address one of you?

Other Forge: Well, my Fellow Forge came here first, so I guess we can call him Forge 1. I’ll be fine with being called Forge 2.

Yeti: If that works, we’ll take it.

How did you two meet Forge 2?

Queen: (unsure) Well...

Noir: (smiling) I can tell you. It all started...

>Flashback.

>The streets of Shibuya in the summer before the pandemic. A fast car was driving up wildly. Queen and Noir were coming back from grocery shopping... and Noir was behind the wheel.

Haru, please be careful! These eggs are for a special meal Sis is making tonight.

It’ll be alright. I think I’ve had a lot of improvement.

>The car was zooming around while people try to back off. Suddenly, someone accidentally fell into the street.

LOOK OUT!!!

>The car was about to hit the young man on the street... But it didn’t. The car suddenly was floating in the air. Queen and Noir looked to see that the young man they nearly hit had some kind of device that was creating some kind of gravity field.

Wow! Good thing I came here to show my new anti-gravity generator for situations like this. Hope you girls have your reentry cushions checked.

>End of flashback.

Mona: (unsurprised) That makes sense.

Noir: We exchanged information and we’ve known each other since.

Forge 2: And your eggs were even safe.

Forge 1: And how did that anti-gravity generator work out?

Forge 2: They said they’ll thank about it.

Translation: You were rejected.

Forge 2: Yeah, I figured.

Noir: Why would they? It’s a great invention. It really helped us.

Forge 2: Good question. Either because their minds are too slow or small to handle how advanced my inventions are, or... Well, you know.

Vert: Because you’re a mutant. Now that’s just unfair.

Forge 2: Sounds like you know the feeling.

Vert: (a small smile) Let’s just say, I have secrets of my own.

>For a moment, a small light formed in Vert’s hand which quickly vanished just as I saw something move on his back behind his uniform... I wonder.

RING! RING!

Oracle: Sounds like another fellow hacker’s here.

>Another screen opens.

I’m here and ready for anything.

Joker: Glad you can join us, Player.

Wayne: Yeah, how are things back up there, eh? I haven’t been back in awhile.

Player: Well, things are still quiet because of the pandemic. Other than that, everything’s great.

Joker: And speaking of of how things are, how’s Red chan doing?

WARNING: Spoilers for Carmen Sandiego ahead.

Yeah, ever since V.I.L.E. went down in flames and Zack and Ivy joined A.C.M.E., she’s been pretty quite.

Player: She’s fine. She finally found her mom, but she hasn’t said anything else. But I’m sure we’ll learn more soon. For now, I’ll see what I can do. Thanks again for inviting me.

Oracle: We’re gonna need all the hackers we can get.

Yu-ichi: I know. Hackers are getting younger and younger these days.

Six: (whisper) And yet you ack like you’re getting younger and younger... Don’t change, man.

Player: (smiling) Hey, the Spookies. Nice to meet you. You’re actually one of the reasons I was inspired to become a hacker.

Lunch: Really. That’s good. Of course, our reason for hacking is probably much different than ours.

Player: Pretty much.

Wolf: (a bit surprised) Hold on! Spookies? I thought you three were familiar. I should have realized that when you said Spooky, real name Masahiro Sakura.

Queen: Now that you mentioned it, I think I remember my father talk about a case from another part of Japan. I didn’t think much of it at the time and completely forgot about it.

Yu-ichi: So you know about that? I wonder what he’s doing now. He disbanded our group after some stuff happened and he left to find himself.

Lunch: I’m sure we’ll see him again soon.

Six: Same here. I sort of miss him and the others.

RING! RING!

Sophie: We have another one.

>Another screen opens.

I just finished my start-of-term homework, now I’m all free.

Joker: So glad you could join us, Adi. I just hope the Future Avengers won’t be called away anytime soon.

Adi: No, things have been relatively slow lately, so I think we’re good. But just in case, Mr. Stark and Cap want us on stand by.

Skull: I’m sure it’s nothing you, Makoto, and the others can’t handle.

Adi: I’m sure, too.

Joker: Thanks for helping us, little-brother-may-become-son.

Adi: You’re welcome, big-brother-may-become-father.

>I can sense I made Adi happy inviting him here.

Rank Up!

Confidant: Codec

Arcana: 3

Ability: Technical Act Type 2

Delivers the same effect as Technical Act but to a much greater extent.

RING! RING!

>Another screen opens.

All set and ready to go!

*Chirp*

Oracle: Welcome to the party, Conor. You, too, Chim-Chim.

Mixer: Is that a robot monkey?

Conor: Yeah, I’m allergic to most furs, so I designed him.

Forge 2: Whoa! Robotic technology sure has changed since 1978.

Conor: What do you mean by that?

Forge 1: It’s a long story.

There are so many hackers here.

Joker: I know, it reminds me of that movie Oracle showed us.

Oracle: Yeah, Angelina san was a treasure in Hackers Jackers.

Yeah. So, is that everyone?

Forge 2: Not quite. I have a feeling... that we have a couple more to go.

RING! RING!

Mona: You bet.

>Another screen opens.

Have you guys been waiting long?

Oracle: Just a little.

Thanks for inviting us. We’ve hadn’t had much to do since what happened on Eternia. I guess now that most of the evil of the universe, particularly Lotor, has been defeated, business for the Voltron Force has been a bit slow.

Really? That’s a shame. I’m sure something will come up soon.

Pidge: Well, it’s not totally slow. We do get the occasional bully or mad conqueror. Though, it’s not really the same.

Forge 2: Don’t give up. You guys will see real action again someday.

Pidge: Thanks, Forge-Of-My-Dreams. But for now, the only real action we’ve seen is in our dreams. Like how I dream that I’m some kid with heel problem fighting monsters from Greek Mythology or a pirate kid with a very pirate family or some kid with magical slugs.

Joker: That’s all?

Pidge: Pretty much. But I haven’t been having more actiony dreams. There were two others, but they’re gone for some reason. Though, one of them I’m glad is gone. But the other one I really miss.

Forge 2: Yeah, I think I know. But, you still have me... and our last hacker.

Vert: (confused) Our last hacker?

Queen: Vince isn’t the last hacker we’re expecting?

Vince: No, but Pidge says he knows about him.

Then he knows that he’s just as smart as I am.

RING! RING!

That should be him now.

>Another screen opens.

Sherman: About time. We were afraid you weren’t coming at all.

Yeah, I kinda forgot until I took a siesta and these two reminded me. (he nods to Forge 2 and Pidge)

Pidge: You’re welcome.

Vert: (a bit suspicious) You seem familiar... You wouldn’t happen to know a teen alien who sounds like I used to when I was his age and is accompanied by a little alien robot that sound like you, would you?

Hi-Tech Young Man: (smiling) Maybe.

Spinner: Everyone, this is our cousin, Roberto Martinez. We call him Berto for short.

Berto: Hola, nice to meet you.

Six: Great, now we’ve got three headphones.

Hey, respect the headphones, man!

Mixer: Yeah, dude, don’t start dissin’ the phones.

Yu-ichi: Besides, you’re the one whose only mode of transportation is a skateboard... BTW, you still use for that?

Six: (blushing a bit) ... Maybe... Okay, so I’m still a long ways from getting that fancy sports car I’ve wanted. Business at our family’s store is rather slow these days. Even more since the pandemic hit. But I’m not giving up.

Berto: Hey, no shame in still skateboarding at your age. Look at me. I’m close to your age and I still do it.

Six: Easy for you to say, you look like you have a car. Most likely a high tech one at that.

Berto: Ture, I have a couple, but nothing beats a deck. Plus, it’s good for the environment.

Six: I guess that’s good to hear.

Wolf: So, is that everybody here, or are we expecting more?

Skull: Let me check. Yo, is anybody expectin’ anybody!?

Panther: Well, I did thought about asking Tecna for help, but I don’t want to get her or the Winx in trouble with the Silencerz, so she’s out. But I’ll call her if anything happens.

Skull: Then yup, that’s everyone!

Vert: Now that our team’s been assembled, let’s get on it. Now, I bet most of you are wondering why you’re here. Well, for that... I turn things over to my dad. Take it away, pops.

Thanks, Vert. You’re here because we might have a way to bring back one of the greatest inter-dimensional races ever. However, the secrets to that are locked away in the Silencerz’ mainframe. Your mission, should you choose to accept it (I’ve always wanted to say that), is to hack into their mainframe. In the mainframe, you must find a file containing the research data of the late Dr. Peter Tezla. But be warned, the Silencerz will try every hacker defense trick in the book: Firewalls, anti-virus software, encrypted passwords, security algorithms, even their own viruses and malware. If you do managed to get in and find the file, you have exactly 15 minutes to copy it before the failsafe kicks in.

Adi: Failsafe?

Jack: 15 minutes after the file’s been hacked, said file will delete itself permanently to prevent further hacking.

Forge 1: But if the Silencerz try everything to stop us, it’s going to be hard to get past all that. I think this is going to be much different than hacking into MRD tech.

Sophie: Luckily, that’s where I come in.

>The hackers on the screens (except for Adi, Player, Conor, and Chim-Chim) where confused until Sophie vanishes and reappears on the main screen.

Vince: (surprised) Holy!!!

Pidge: (smiling) I had a feeling that was no ordinary girl.

Yu-ichi: Amazing. An AI with it’s own ego... I wonder if I should tell my cousin Tokita about this.

Sophie: I am Sophia, humanity’s companion. I am going to help you all with whatever I can. That includes hacking into the Silencerz’ mainframe.

Mixer: You know, we have an AI of our own.

Sophie: You do?

??-??: A! I! S! H! A! We! Are! AISHA! ... Sorry, I couldn’t help it.

Sophie: So you must be M.A.Y.H.E.M.’s AI.

Call me In-Su.

Oracle: Didn’t I see you as part of an opening act for August Gaunt?

In-Su: With my sisters, yes. But that was a long time ago. I’m with M.A.Y.H.E.M. now. I mainly help Friday, Mixer, Gremlin, Joulie, and Safeword with cybernetic things, but I have done on-the-field missions... If the field is in Cyberspace.

Sophie: That’s good to hear. Nice to meet you. I guess we will be working together. I look forward to our mission together.

In-Su: I so will I, sachon*.

*”Sachon” is Korean for “cousin”.

Conor: Hey, if you’re gonna do something like this, me and Chim-Chim want to go into the virtual world.

Chim-Chim: *chirp chirp*

Lunch: You can do that?

>Conor shows he has some VR equipment.

Lunch: I guess that works.

>Conor connects the VR headset to his computer and Chim-Chim connects to it as well. Within moments, they were jacked in and something appears on the main screen with Sophie and In-Su.

Conor: Alright, all buffed up and ready for action! (begins singing) Here they come. Here comes Conor and his monkey, Chim-Chim.

>We all just stare... Which of us will be the first to ask?

Six: Oh, god. And why do they both of mustaches?

Vince: I’m guessing to match.

Yu-ichi: (smiling) I kinda like it. It’s actually quite clever.

Conor: (satisfied) Ha, I knew it! Take that, Lucy.

Pidge: Go with what works for you.

Jack: True. But remember what I said, the Silencerz will do whatever it takes to protect its secrets. I should know, I used to be the leader.

Vert: I wonder who took after you when you left.

Jack: (looking a bit down) Vert... I think you have pretty good idea.

Vert: I... I see. Well, we’ll still be able pull this off we work together.

We will. We can do this.

Vert: Thanks, Ren.

Jack: Again, I have to warn you, the Silencerz don’t play around. This is your last chance to back out. If you do, I won’t blame you.

>The other hackers were showing some doubt. No doubt they were thinking about what Jack said... However, their doubt quickly fades.

Player: Our friends wouldn’t have called us here if they didn’t we could handle the risk. We trust them.

Safeword: He’s right. They even helped M.A.Y.H.E.M. with a little something. Time to repay the favor.

Conor: Same with me, Chim-Chim, and our friends.

Vince: And us, too.

Lunch: I know this is the first time we’re meeting Alibaba’s friends, but we will help them.

Adi: Me and the other Future Avengers trust Ren, Yusuke, and the others.

Forge 1: We also just met, but we trust you.

Forge 2: Yeah.

Berto: (curious) Espeda, M.A.Y.H.E.M.? Racer Academy? And Arus? Aren’t those the places the Phantom Thieves... You know what? Never mind. I don’t wanna know.

Taro: (smiling a bit) Good. I don’t think you could keep your mouth shut.

Six: Look, what we’re trying to say is that we’re in. We’ll help you.

Jack: (with a look of gratitude) Thank you all.

Taro: Good luck, you guys. The fate of the World Race and Highway 35 is in your hands.

No pressure or anything.

Six: Believe me, we’ve seen through demons in a cybernetic world.

Safeword: Fight an evil organization everyday.

Player: What Safeword said.

Adi: Ditto, with a side of other villains.

Conor: I think we can handle it.

Vert: (smiling) Then let’s get to it!

Oracle: I’ve already got a lock on the mainframe. Ready when you are.

Conor: Ready as we’ll ever be.

>With that, Chim-Chim transforms into a motorcycle and Conor gets on.

In-Su: How are we suppose to keep up with that?

Oracle: Leave that to me.

>Oracle programs something into her laptop and something appears on the main screen.

What in the world!?

Oracle: I hope you don’t mind. I just thought we’d go with something more appropriate. This Johanna pretty much has all the things the original has for extra protection. Sophia, you’re driving. In-Su, I’m adding a side car for you.

>Oracle types something on her computer and a side car appears on Cyber Johanna. Sophie switches to her Phantom Thief attire.

Are you ready, In-Su chan?

In-Su: (now wearing a purple helmet with M.A.Y.H.E.M.’s fleur-de-lis which was blue on it) Ready.

Conor: Then let’s get going!

>With that, Sophie and In-Su get on Cyber Johanna and they, along with Conor and Chim-Chim, ride off.

>A little later, we were at the mainframe of the Silencerz. It was shaped like a giant tower with the Silencerz’ logo on it.

Sophie: This must be it.

Yu-ichi: You can already tell that they’re hiding something here.

Forge 2: And we’ll find out those secrets soon enough. Time to get to work.

Lunch: Let’s see what we’ve got here.

>Lunch begins hacking into the first line of protection.

>Meanwhile in the Silencerz’ Headquarters in an unknown location, an alarm goes off in the computer room.

We have a problem. Call #1.

>Almost immediately, another Silencer comes in.

What is it, #2? What happened?

Silencer #2: Someone is trying to hack into our mainframe.

Silencer #1: So what else is new? Have you got a lock on where the source of the hacking is from?

Silencer #37: (don’t ask, we’re using their numbers) Not yet. We are still trying to find it. But we have got a lock on the hacker’s virus.

Silencer #5: I do not know what to make of this.

Silencer #1: A virus based on a ghost? Then I suggest you try busting it.

>Some of the Silencerz began typing something.

>Back in Cyberspace, the Spookies’ virus was phasing open a way when something appears near them. They looked like four men in jumpsuits curing some kind of large device on their backs that had guns attached to them.

In-Su: (confused) Are those... the Ghostbusters?

Jack: I told you, every trick in the book.

>The Cyber Ghostbusters begin firing at the Sppokies’ virus ghosts.

Conor: Time to go to work, Chim-Chim!

Chim-Chim: *chirp*

>Conor and Chim-Chim begin fighting off the Cyber Ghostbusters. In-Su and Sophie join in as well. In-Su’s dance moves already makes her a capable fighter and Sophie was swinging her yo-yos. After a while, Sophie, In-Su, Conor, and Chim-Chim manages to beat the Cyber Ghostbusters, but they had completely destroyed the Spookies’ virus.

Safeword: Our turn now!

>Safeword, Joule, Mixer, and Yeti, begin typing.

>At Silencerz HQ...

Silencer #20: This does not look right. What do we do?

Silencer #12: Try typing “cookie”, you idiot.

Silencer #1: Hey, be nice. And I do not think that would work. I have seen this movie before. Try regular anti-virus software.

Silencer #20: Yes, sir.

>Back in Cyberspace, the first few defenses have been broken though. Suddenly, a bright light flashes and the virus is deleted.

Forge 1: (smiling) You ready for this?

Forge 2: (also smiling) You know it!

>Forge 1 and Forge 2 upload their viruses.

Forge 2: Scott, this is for you, man.

>The two viruses begin attack the Sliencerz’ other defenses. Vert was looking at Forge 2′s virus.

Joker: Is something wrong, Vert?

Vert: Something about Forge 2′s virus that reminds me of someone... But I’ll think more about it later.

>Back at Silencerz HQ...

Silencer #3: Now we have viruses based on mutants?

Silencer #2: Be nice. One of my relatives was a mutant.

Silencer #1: Either way, we cannot let them through.

Silencer #3: I know.

>Silencer #3 begins programming something.

>Back in Cyberspace, Forge 1′s virus and Forge 2′s virus managed to break through more lines of defenses.

In-Su: It looks like we’re making progress.

Conor: Keep it up, you guys!

>Suddenly, something appears... Something big.

Forge 1: That can’t be good.

Sophie: I can help them with this. Time to show you my own power. Persona!

Pidge: (surprised smile) Whoa! I didn’t think she had one, too.

Vince: But there are robots who do.

Six: I think I read something about that... And dreamed about it.

Berto: Like I said, I don’t wanna know.

>Sophie and Pandora fight the Anti-Virus Sentinels along with the Forges’ viruses.

Player: With them busy, looks like I’m going up to the plate.

>With that, Player begins typing something and a new virus comes up. It looked like Carmen Sandiego, but a little blue.

Player: I hope Red doesn’t get too upset for changing her colors.

>Player’s virus begins using an enlarged version of her laser cuter to cut through the defenses.

>Back at Silencerz HQ.

Silencer #7: They are still coming!

Silencer #1: This is getting out of hand. Have you found the source of the attack yet?

Silencer #37: It is hard to tell. They are coming from multiple sources.

Silencer #1: See if you can find the closest source. We will start there.

Silencer #37: Yes, sir.

Silencer #40: I will deal with the current virus.

>Back in Cyberspace, Player’s virus has cut through more of the mainframe’s defenses and the Anti-Virus Sentinels have been deleted.

Oracle: There’s only a few left. Keep going, we’re almost there!

Adi: I think I have something that’ll move us faster.

>Then, a virus that looks like a queen bee appears with a swarm.

Adi: I got the idea from some children’s show. I’ll tell you more about it later.

>The bee viruses begin helping Player’s virus cut get through more of the defenses along with the Forges’ viruses. Suddenly, something flies up.

Adi: These guys don’t quit, do they?

>The virus swarm fights off against the security algorithms with Sophie, Pandora, and the Forges’ viruses while Conor and Chim-Chim break through the last of the walls.

Conor: Just a little more...

>Finally, the last of the security walls were gone. But no sooner they were, a blast of flames came and nearly blew Conor and Chim-Chim away!

Conor: GREAT BALLS OF FIRE!

In-Su: You mean great walls of fire. It’s a firewall. Don’t worry, I’ve got this.

Pidge: Hold on, I have something that could help you.

>Suddenly, some big gun that resembles a lion appears in In-Su’s hands.

Vince: This wind blaster will help blow out the flames. But don’t use it now. Wait until you’re on the other side of the wall to use it, or you might blow the flames at the files and destroy them.

In-Su: Right. Here I go.

>With that, In-Su dances her way through the flames until she finally got to the other side.

In-Su: Stand back!

>Then, with a large blast of wind, the firewall was out. Conor and Chim-Chim go in.

In-Su: Okay, we’re in.

Jack: Well done, kids! Now, the file you’re looking for is labeled “200335″.

Oracle: We’re searching now.

>Outside the mainframe, the security algorithms were still coming.

Sophie: This looks bad, we’re running out of room. If only we had at least one more to help us.

Berto: Leave that to me! I’ve got the perfect thing!

>Berto then uploads his own virus.

>Berto’s virus assists Sophie, Pandora, and the Forges’ viruses as In-Su, Conor, Chim-Chim, and the other hackers search for the file.

>At Silcencerz HQ.

Silencer #20: Damn! They are in the mainframe.

Silencer #1: You still have not found them?

Silencer #3: We might be able trace them if they find they file they are looking for.

Silencer #1: Then do it.

>With that, the Silencerz begin their work.

>Back in Cyberspace, the Silcencerz’ security algorithms were finally defeated.

Sophie: We did it! Thank you all.

>The viruses gestured a “You’re welcome” to Sophie and disappear back to where they came from.

Vince: That virus of your, Forge 2, it makes me wonder.

Forge 2: Wonder what?

Vince: If... If I should have asked my dream brother from New Olympia to help us, too... Oh well, I’ll ask him next time.

Vince: You’ll have to get through his Big Buddy, Hunk’s dream brother. And I don’t think my own DB would be too happy. Especially after everything that’s happened in recent months. But I’m sure I can talk him into it.

Panther: Dream brother?

Queen: You mean...

My gift of connecting people’s minds and hearts with my singing strikes again.

Conor: Hey, I think we found it!

>Conor, Chim-Chim, In-Su, and Sophie who joined them, found a file that looked like a file cabinet. One of the drawers was labeled 200335.

Jack: That’s it!

Sophie: We found the file. Let’s copy it.

>Sophie opens the drawer show many files. No sooner did she open it, it starts flashing and making a siren sound.

Spinner: (covering his ears) Yikes, that loud!

Jack: That’s the alarm for the failsafe. You now have 15 minutes to copy the file before it deletes itself permanently.

Oracle: Leave it to me. I’ll just use the same program I created to copy Makoto’s Sis’s computer.

Queen: Let’s hope it works on the Silencerz’ mainframe than it does Sis’s.

>Oracle enters the program and it begins to copy the file.

>At Silencerz HQ, the computer room was now flashing and alarms were ringing.

Silencer #3: They are copying the file! Now, if I could just... Got it! I got a lock. The source of the copying is coming from... some town nearby.

Silencer #1: You mean... Handler’s Corners.

>Silencer #1 begins to leave.

Silencer #9: Sir, where are you going?

Silencer #1: (turning back) To visit an old amigo.

>With that, Silencer #1 leaves. Suddenly, the alarm gets louder.

Silencer #20: What is happening!?

Silencer #3: This looks bad. Someone else is in the mainframe. They are also copying the file.

>Back in Cyberspace.

Oracle: This doesn’t look good. There’s someone else here. Someone’s also copying this file.

>Sure enough, something comes out of the file cabinet. It was a little blue bad... wearing a pair of glasses and had the most ugliest comb-over ever.

It’s Strega! What the hell do they want?

Vert: Who?

Taro: Some cult.

Oracle: If they’re also copying the file, then us copying it will be difficult.

Lunch: So, we may not be able copy the whole file?

Yu-ichi: Well that sucks.

Player: I’m sure I think I might help with that. I mean, I can’t stop Strega from also copying the file, but I think I have an idea what may happen and how to solve the problem.

Oracle: I hope so.

Jack: Hurry, only 9 minutes left.

>Oracle’s program tries its best to copy the file which is difficult as the program from Strega (most likely made by Jin) is also copying the file.

Jack: Only 6 minutes.

Oracle: We’re almost done.

>Before we knew it, only 4 minutes left. Please copy it.

>3 minutes. Not much time left and the copying is still going.

>2 minutes. There’s still more.

>1 minute. Almost there.

>59 seconds... Come on. Come on! COME ON!

>10... 9... 8... 7... 6... 5... 4... 3... 2... 1...

FILE DELETED. CONNECTION TERMINATED.

>The main screen goes to static. Then, Sophie is re-projected back with us, In-Su returns to M.A.Y.H.E.M.’s computer, and Conor and Chim-Chim are back in their real world forms.

Panther: Conor, Chim-Chim, are you two alright?

Conor: (a little dizzy) We’re fine. We’re used to this sort of thing.

In-Su: I’m fine, too. My source code is a little frizzy, but that can be helped with a quick fix.

Joule: You’ve earned it, In-Su. Enjoy your nap.

>With that, In-Su shots off for now.

Vert: So, did we succeed in copying the file?

Oracle: Let me check.

>Oracle checks the copied file.

Well, I’ve got some bad news, good news, and some stressful news.

Agura: I had a feeling it wasn’t going to be easy.

Oracle: Bad news: We weren’t able to copy all of the research data. Good news: We did manage to copy most of it. Stressful news: Most of it is encrypted. Until we can decipher the code, you guys are going to have to wait a little longer.

Taro: I figured as much.

Berto: But with all of us, we should be able to crack the code.

Mixer: Afraid you’ll have to count us out. We didn’t tell Persephone that we did this and she’s got a strict policy about messing with organizations other than L.E.G.I.O.N. without her permission.

Yeti: (looking down) ...

Mixer: (panicking) YETI, YOU TOLD HER!? SHE’S GONNA PUT ME ON COFFEE DUTY AGAIN!

Safeword: I see. If that’s the case... I’ll take a double shot expresso.

Joulie: I’ll take a mocha.

Mixer: (shocked) Seriously?

>With that, we bid our M.A.Y.H.E.M. friend fair well for now and they leave.

Conor: Chim-Chim and I have to bow out, too. Speed will be back any minute and I don’t want him to know what we did. I wanna keep it a surprise.

Pidge: Me and Vince have to go, too. I have a few castle defenses to upgrade.

Vince: And I’m on standby. I know business is slow, but Keith says peace time is the best time to prepare for anything.

Joker: Right, see you all later.

>With that, Conor, Chim-Chim, Pidge, and Vince sign off.

Adi: The rest of us will stay and help you decipher the code.

Player: With Red on break, I’ve got time.

Oracle: Thanks, you guys.

Berto: Guess I better let Max, Steel, and Ferrus know I’m gonna be busy for awhile.

Sherman: We’ll back you up.

Berto: Gracias.

Spinner: That’s what primos are for.

>With that, Oracle and our hacker friends begin their work to unlock Dr. Tezla’s research to reopen the portal to Highway 35 and bring back the World Race.

Oracle: But I am curious about one thing: What does Strega want with Tezla’s research?

>Meanwhile in an unknown location...

Crap! Of course the Phantom Thieves would be after this file.

Yeah. Talk about rotten luck.

Uh-huh.

Maybe you should have some kind of alert for them.

Jin: I’ll think about that. Right now, thanks to their hacking into the Silencerz’ mainframe for that file, I only copied most of it, but not all of it. Not to mention it’s encrypted.

I wouldn’t say that. I’d say that you copied plenty. And I’m sure with our new allies’ help, we might be able to unlock all of Dr. Tezla’s secrets.

Jin: Why are we even doing this, anyway? Since when are we interested in a long forgotten and completely no longer popular race?

Takaya: You would be surprised by what one can learn from things like this. After all, there are many ways to achieve your goals. Am I correct?

>Someone comes out of the shadows... in a dance-like manner.

That’s right, ghosty boy. I bet even M.A.Y.H.E.M. couldn’t think of something like this.

Jin: (a bit confused) Even though they were just in the mainframe as well.

Gaunt: A minor mishap. Something we’ll fix soon.

Myles: With a voice like that, it’s hard to say he’s wrong.

Evan: Uh-huh.

Gaunt: (with a small bow) Thank you.

Jin: So, can L.E.G.I.O.N. help with deciphering the code?

Gaunt: Maybe. Even we can’t work miracles that quickly. Just look at me. At first, I was only partially restored. I didn’t even have my-

Jin: (quickly with a frown) Okay, okay, we get the picture!

Takaya: Soon, we’ll gain what we’re after... Soon...

>What will happen next?

NOTE: We apologize if this post is a little long. We thought this would be the end of this heist, but like we said, this post was a little long. The last post for this heist will come soon.

[knives-out20]

If I Could Fly - Erik Lehnsherr x Male!OC

Fandom: X-Men

Pairing: Karmel Rosenstein (OC) x Erik Lehnsherr

Warnings: Gay, Fluff, Erik being genuinely happy, Karmel being a babyass bitch, TW SELF HARM MENTIONS,

Notes: I’m not telling you if this is canon or not because that spoils the series, and also spoils the fun. The song used is If I Could Fly by One Direction, it’s in the Erikarmel playlist. Enjoy!

Karmel walked inside Erik’s and his home on the island of Genosha, dusting dirt off of his shoulder. “Ricky, y’here?”

“You left.” 

Karmel turned and saw Erik standing in the shadows. He rubbed the back of his neck. “Yea, sorry, hon. Promised Decker I’d show him around the fucking island.”

“‘Decker’?”

“Yea, the new mutant. Dreadlocks, kinda has vitiligo?” Before Karmel knew the official name for vitiligo, he remembers calling it “spotty syndrome.”

Luckily, he was a child at the time. That made it seem less mean, or ignorant, since as a child he didn’t really know any better.

“Ah, okay. You could’ve told me first. Waking up without you for the first time...who knows how long, was...strange. A bit disconcerting.” Erik drifted in and out of the sentence, still not used to being openly emotionally vulnerable. He slowly walked out of the shadows, a hanging lamp lighting up his features.

Karmel scoffed, placing a hand on Erik’s shoulder. He smiled when Erik responded with his automatic hands around his waist. Karmel then had an idea. “I’m glad you’re awake now, though.”

“Aren’t you always?”

Karmel rolled his eyes, pulling away from Erik’s touch. ”Well, yea, but that’s not the point right now.” He answered, walking over to a different corner of the room. “I reckon I’d show you this song I wrote, ages ago.”

“How long ago is ‘ages’ ago?”

“Ages as in while you were in Poland. Seems like literal ages ago.”

Erik nodded.

Karmel had a guitar in his hands; he dusted it off. “It’s called ‘If I Could Fly’ and I didn’t let Grimm release this one. It felt...too personal.” He explained, sitting down on their bed and tuning the guitar to perfection. 

Erik, almost like an eager child, rushed over and lay on the bed in a position where he rested his head on Karmel’s legs- the guitar occupied his lap.

Karmel raised an eyebrow. He chuckled, “comfy, captain?”

“Always, with you.”

“Loser.”

“You love me.”

“Yea, yea, whatever. Just lay there, look pretty as per usual, and listen alright?” Karmel instructed, taking a deep breath.

Erik nodded obediently. “Yes, sir.”

Karmel nodded back at him. “If I could fly, I’d be coming right back home to you...I think I might give up everything, just ask me to.”

Erik rested a hand on his chest, eyes watching Karmel’s, which were careful on the guitar’s strings and frets.

“Pay attention, I hope that you listen- ‘cause I let my guard down. Right now, I’m completely defenceless,” Karmel continued softly. “For your eyes only, I’ll show you my heart. For when you’re lonely, and forget who you are. I’m missing half of me, when we’re apart. Now you know me, for your eyes only...For your eyes only.”

Erik let Karmel meet his eyes for a moment, offering the man an assuring smile.

Karmel fought back a smile of his own; focus on the song, he thought. Focus too much on Erik, and you’ll mess up. “I’ve got scars, even though they can’t always be seen. And pain gets hard, but now you’re here and I don’t feel a thing.”

Erik glanced at Karmel’s limbs, knowing he’s fallen victim to seeing those scars one too many times. Including the scars Karmel had that weren’t physical, but mental, and emotional. Erik’s seen Karmel for who he is and who he isn’t, but to this day continues to love all of him for who he is.

“Pay attention, I hope that you listen. ‘Cause I let my guard down. Right now, I’m completely defenceless...” Karmel repeated, doing the same with the chorus. But louder this time, and with more feeling.

Erik closed his eyes slowly, feeling peaceful enough to let Karmel’s voice, the one he cherished so much, to carry him with their flow.

“I can feel your hear inside of mine; I feel it, I feel it. I’ve been going out of my mind- I feel it, I feel it. Know that I’m just wasting time...And I, hope that you don’t run from me,” Karmel crooned, eyes falling down on Erik’s features the same ones he’s memorized a thousand times over. He remembers the original lyric behind ‘And I, hope that you don’t run from me, again’ but the word didn’t fit into the beat; plus it just felt mean.

Erik opened an eye, a small grin on his lips. “Never” he whispered.

“For your eyes only,” Karmel locked his eyes with Erik, “I’ll show you my heart.”

Erik trailed his hand up to his chest, placing it flat over his own heart.

“For when you’re lonely,” 

“Which I never am, anymore.”

Karmel giggled, softly shaking his head. “And forget who you are.”

Erik thought back to the gap of time he had been in Poland for. He remembers Karmel released song after song after song through Grimm, being that Grimm was an actual musician so he produced the songs and released them (after either gender-bending them or gender-neutralizing them for the public). Erik sighed silently, not knowing how he could process how he feels for Karmel like Karmel does for him through these songs.

Erik is deep into his high-held relationship with Karmel, yet he still isn’t used to being emotionally vulnerable. He can’t blame Karmel for not being able to teach him subconsciously though the years, because it’s been clear that Karmel isn’t used to being emotionally vulnerable himself. Erik knows that he’s trying, though, he’s trying his best, and so is Karmel. Ever since they began this relationship, they’ve spent every moment possible on making it work out. Clearly, they’ve done well so far.

This song itself, “For Your Eyes Only”, is clearly about Karmel being emotionally vulnerable with Erik, and Erik only. It’s about the unique intimacy Erik and him share, Erik knows that by now. It’s Karmel’s way of telling Erik he’s completely open with Erik, and he’s okay with that.

And Erik’s more than glad.

“I’m missing half of me, when we’re apart,” Karmel riffed ‘me’ like an angel, fingers dancing across the strings. “Now you know me, for your eyes only” he cleared his throat, the final chorus being the loudest part of the song. “For your eyes only, I’ll show you my heart! For when you’re lonely, and forget who you are- I’m missing half of me, when we’re apart. Now you know me, for your eyes only...”

Erik smiled up at Karmel, the type of smile he had reserved for Karmel, and Karmel only.

“For your eyes only...For your eyes only.” Karmel finished. He exhaled heavily, setting the guitar aside eagerly; he raked his now-free hand into Erik’s hair. Karmel whistled lowly. “Well-?”

Erik took Karmel’s other hand, placing a soft kiss on each beautiful knuckle of his. “You’ve got a major talent in you, Karmel. Why did you confine yourself to that library?”

“Don’t ask as if you don’t remember, babe.” Karmel grinned.

Erik scoffed. “You enjoyed the pay- despite being born rich. You enjoyed the idea of getting to tell people to shut up for a living,” he chuckled, “you found it cute when little kids or anxious teenagers would skulk up to you for help finding stuff. Yea?” Erik remembered, sitting up.

Karmel shrugged half-heartedly. “Yea.” He cooed, nodding. “I leave all the talent up to Grimm. He’s the star of every show.”

“Yet you’re the star of mine.” Erik flirted, pointing at Karmel.

Karmel rolled his eyes playfully. “I hate you.”

“’Til the end of time, my paradise?” Erik raised his eyebrows hopefully, the smile on his lips outshining the damned sun in the sky.

Karmel cupped Erik’s cheek, holding it as if touching a sacred artifact worth millions. Which was half-true: Erik is sacred, and Erik is worth millions, if not, billions. Trillions, even. “Even then, you’ll still be mine.”

[nerdinreview]

“WandaVision In Review”

The first of many Marvel Disney+ shows has just recently concluded.  With fan theories running rampant, and twists and turns during almost every episode, it isn’t surprising that WandaVision was so successful.  However, the show is not without its own issues as nothing can ever be quite perfect.  Below is our spoiler-filled review of WandaVision.

My first impression when watching the early (first two) episodes of WandaVision was confusion.  I had a hard time trying to determine why Disney and Marvel would take us on a nostalgia tour through classic television series featuring two underserved and underutilized Avengers.  I have to admit, I wasn’t overly invested in the project in the beginning.  I enjoyed the references to The Dick Van Dyke Show and Bewitched, but I honestly didn’t care much for it past that point.  Despite this, I kept watching for curiosity’s sake, and it certainly paid off.

When it becomes clear that Wanda is more in control of this reality than was initially assumed, I was hooked.  I’m a big fan of Wanda Maximoff as a character.  In the comics she has been a force to be reckoned with and the Marvel Cinematic Universe hadn’t seized the opportunity to really utilize her until this point.  It was exciting to see Wanda use her powers in a way we hadn’t gotten to see on screen before, and the ending definitely implies that this is just the tip of the iceberg for her.

As someone who has been critical of Vision in both comics and film, I have to say that this did wonders for his character as well.  We finally get to see a more “human” side of the synthezoid.  That said, it’s hard to determine how real this side of him was, as he’s technically a manifestation of Wanda’s grief.  At the very least, we get to see Vision as Wanda saw him, which is almost beautiful in its own right.

As mentioned above, some of the best content to come out of WandaVision is the character development.  While the two titular characters had the most development, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the other characters who stuck out.  The first of which is Monica Rambeau.  The last time we saw this character she was a child in Captain Marvel, and while she may have been dreaming for the stars, she had a lot of growing up to do before she became the version of her we see in the show.

Monica was another bright spot in the show, she was fearless, and certainly didn’t back away from a challenge.  She, similarly to Wanda, is dealing with grief.  Losing her mother in addition to the last five years of her life, would be maddening to anyone, yet Monica jumps right back in to work at SWORD, and is often the voice of reason throughout the series. It was also incredibly exciting to see Monica get her powers after being exposed to the boundaries of Wanda’s “hex” three separate times.  We even got to see her powers in action, first being able to withstand Wanda’s attack to get her to leave the neighborhood again, and then being literally bulletproof in the finale.  I don’t think I need to go too deeply into the significance of the MCU literally giving us a bulletproof black female superhero! It was amazing, seeing her protect Billy and Tommy, while also being impervious to Hayward’s attack.  It was a powerful scene that only highlighted Monica’s character even more.

 However, what impressed me most about this character was her empathy to Wanda.  No one would have been overly critical of Monica if she had taken Hayward’s side.  After all, she too was held hostage by Wanda and forced to play a role in Wanda’s show. The experience was even described as “excruciating,” in Hayward’s retelling of Monica’s experience, and yet Monica is unyielding in her opinion that Wanda is not doing this maliciously.  In fact, she willingly exposes herself back into the “hex” despite knowing that it is quite literally altering her DNA, with unknown side effects.  This was something that Jimmy Woo wasn’t even willing to expose himself to once.  During his first scene in the show, he says he doesn’t enter the town because he can “feel” that they’re not supposed to go inside.  He stays true to that throughout the series, only entering Westview when Wanda breaks down the “hex” during the final episode.

As mentioned previously, Jimmy Woo was another character we got to see develop a bit since his Ant-Man and the Wasp appearance.  He and Thor’s Darcy Lewis, were oftentimes the comic relief in the show when things got heavier.  However, we got to see a side of Jimmy Woo’s character that we hadn’t seen before.  While he was appreciated in Ant-Man and the Wasp, he was often at odds with Scott Lang as he was assigned to make sure that Scott was following his house arrest.  It was refreshing to see Jimmy defy Hayward and fight back, being a key role in thwarting his escape.

It was nice to see Darcy Lewis get in on the action as well.  In the Thor franchise she was often comic relief but rarely in the spotlight during action scenes.  While she still didn’t do much fighting in WandaVision it was refreshing to see her stop Hayward with her stolen truck, and have her be the leading expert during SWORD’s investigation of Wanda.  It was particularly exciting to see that she has earned her doctorate, so she is no longer Jane’s intern, and isn’t playing second fiddle to Jane Foster or Erik Selvig.

Finally, Kathryn Han’s Agatha Harkness is also deserving of praise.  With the exception of a few of the films, Marvel has had a bit of an issue with giving fans villains that were worthy adversaries to their favorite heroes.  This was not the case with Agatha Harkness.  Seeing her toy with Wanda throughout the series was a highlight of the show and seeing her be a full fledged witch was equally as exciting.  While Wanda defeated her in the finale, they certainly left the door open for Agatha to return, and I certainly hope they find a way to incorporate her in the future.

While I have mostly praised WandaVision, I have to mention some of the negatives as well.  Overall, I greatly enjoyed the show, there are still a few points that I took issue with.  The first of which is Maria Rambeau.  Maria Rambeau was last seen in the Captain Marvel film and had become a bit of a fan favorite.  She was a pilot, similar to Carol Danvers before gaining powers from the Space Stone, single mother, and according to WandaVision the eventual director of SWORD, yet she is killed off-screen from cancer.  

While this is frustrating for a number of reasons, I was particularly miffed because Marvel still has a long way to go in terms of diversity in their films, and to kill off one of your few female black characters off screen left a bit of a sour taste in my mouth.  That’s without getting too deep into the fact that many fans were hopeful that Maria and Carol might have a romantic relationship in the sequel, and this all but confirms that won’t be the case. This adds another layer to the fact that Marvel has yet to have an LGBTQ+ hero in the films.

Additionally, the Marvel films have always handled Wanda and Pietro’s Romani roots poorly.  Not only are the actors not of Romani descent, the culture of their characters is often used as a prop or a joke.  Specifically, Wanda’s costume in the Halloween episode being referred to as a “fortune teller.” 

Additionally, having the twins willing join Hydra--a Nazi organization while having Romani and Jewish roots, through their father Erik Lehnsherr, in the comics has always rubbed me the wrong way.  WandaVision had an opportunity to remedy that when Wanda is reliving her past.  They could have easily given us a one off line about Wanda and Pietro not knowing that it was Hydra when they signed up to be experimented on and didn’t find out until later.  Unfortunately, all we get is a line about the twins wanting to “change the world.”

One of the other issues that I took was the presence of Evan Peters’s Quicksilver.  Initially, I was very excited to see him show up on the show and hoped that this meant we’d be seeing more of Fox’s X-Men in future Marvel films. Not only was he not the real Quicksilver, but he was instead just a long running “boner” joke, as he was Ralph Bohner, Wanda and Vision’s next door neighbor that Agatha was controlling.  While I wasn’t expecting him to be a huge character,  I was hoping for something a bit more significant than Ralph Bohner.

Finally, something that has been sticking out in my head for a while is Jimmy Woo’s missing person.  Jimmy Woo mentions in his first scene that Quantico had sent him to investigate a missing person in witness protection, who lived in Westview.  Initially, this was who I believed Evan Peters’s character to truly be, yet when Jimmy sees him on screen in the All New Halloween Spectacular episode, he just makes a note that Pietro has “the wrong face,” and doesn’t indicate that he recognizes him.  In fact, Jimmy’s missing person is never mentioned again later in the season and it seems as though that was just a plot device used to include him in the show.

Overall, I greatly enjoyed WandaVision.  It was refreshing to have Marvel be able to spend six hours to devote to character development and plot rather than it just being action-centric.  I think the show was an excellent first step in setting up a post-Iron Man Cinematic Universe.  After Avengers: Endgame, so many characters were lost, and it felt like a finale of sorts.  I think this was a great way to continue the story with a whisper rather than a bang, and I look forward to their upcoming Disney+ content.

WandaVision is currently streaming on Disney+.

[gerec]

So a long time ago (it feels like) I wrote a little fic called Lost and then Found about a divorced Erik and Charles working through Erik’s amnesia to try and find their way (or not) back together. Some stuff happens off-screen that gets briefly referenced in the main fic, and I’ve written a few of them so far in my collection of LatF out takes. This preview here is the beginnings of ‘that one night’ that happened between Charles and Logan, which gets only a couple of mentions but obviously had a huge impact on all of their lives...

@lachatblanche

“Hey, you wanna go grab a beer?” He knows he’s going to get a terse ‘no’ from Lehnsherr, same as the last time he asked and all the times before. Watching him now, hidden under a mountain of files and drinking his eighth cup of coffee, Logan can’t help but shake his head and sigh. “No thanks. Just going over this file on the Benson hit before I head out,” Erik says, his attention riveted to the computer screen. The man has always been a bit of a workaholic, he knows, but it’s gotten completely out of hand since the divorce. Lehnsherr is practically living in the precinct these days, spending almost all of his waking hours either working or thinking about their cases, a habit that their asshole of a Captain is only too happy to indulge. It’s not exactly the healthiest way to deal with a failed marriage, though Logan’s in no position to judge, and he’s certainly not going to stick his nose where it doesn’t belong. “Alright. See you tomorrow.” He grabs his jacket and keys, and waves a quick goodbye to Ororo as he makes his way to the elevator. 

Logan is halfway there before he decides he doesn’t actually want to go home just yet – to an empty apartment full of old take-out containers and too much quiet. It’s been two years since Jean left and he’s still not used to it, though he’s long past the phase Erik is going through now, trying to bury himself under an avalanche of work. He’d tried alcohol too, and fucking a whole string of strangers to deal with the pain; in the end it was only time that made things slightly tolerable again. He pulls over in front of Jake’s and hops off his bike, intent on grabbing that beer anyway and maybe catch a game on the bar’s TV. The place is close enough to his apartment that he can walk there if needed, though Logan doesn’t think he’s in the mood to get hammered tonight. No, he’ll probably just shoot the breeze a bit with Remy the bartender, and then head back and jerk off before going to bed. Of course all his plans go entirely out the window when he sees Charles Xavier nursing a scotch at the bar. Fuck. He remembers meeting Charles the first time...actually he remembers every damn time he’s seen Xavier, but the first time is definitely burned into his brain. Lehnsherr was newly transferred and just assigned to be his partner, the two reconnecting for the first time since their days together at the Academy. He’d always liked Erik and his passion for police work, though he wouldn’t have called them friends, and Logan had admired the man’s sharp instincts and zero tolerance for bullshit. Working together now felt…right, just the perfect balance of mutual respect for their skills and a healthy trust to watch each other’s backs out in the field. But boy did he envy the guy, because Lehnsherr – a bastard as ornery and reticent as Logan – somehow managed to snag himself a gem of a husband like Charles Xavier.

[meganmazing]

fics i read while on vacation

I went to australia to visit family last week, and boy oh boy are layovers and delays a joy - especially when you are not a person who easily sleeps on planes. To cope, I ended up downloading a bunch of long fics and binge read them all. The hardest part was just picking a few (lol) of what I read for this list.

Here are some of the ones I loved the most. They’re mostly cherik but there’s also a klance, a drarry, and a stony or two (or three) because those pairings are like my comfort food when it comes to fanfiction, and I needed that the past two weeks (hello, canceled flights and difficult support staff). These are also all rated either Mature or Explicit, so if that’s your thing, join me. This is a long one.

As always, if you want more recs from a whole host of pairings and more nonsensical gushing about why I love them, check out my bookmarks on my ao3: megamazing. All links below go to the ao3 version of the work. Click the titles for the link even if the little line doesn’t show up under them. And don’t forget to leave kudos for the authors and share the love!

CHERIK

No Longer in Silence by Black_Betty  26k  Rating: E

It has been eight years since Charles has seen Erik. Eight years since they parted under unkind circumstances and Erik went off to sea. The boy he once knew is Captain Lehnsherr now and they are as known to one another as strangers, and yet--Charles finds that eight years has done nothing to diminish the feelings he had when he was 16 and in love.

It's unfortunate then that Erik doesn't feel the same way.

(Persuasion AU)

The writing in this is incredible, truly. It’s in Charles’ perspective and the emotion coming from him throughout this one kills me in the worst and best ways. And Erik, my utter love. It’s based on Persuasion, so it’s Jane Austen, so you know damn well that there will be misunderstandings galore, and yet...

I usually avoid non-powered AU like the plague, but I gave this a shot and I am so, so glad that I did. Regardless of whether you like/know the story it’s based on, you will fall in love. It is heartwarmingly romantic, and still earns it’s rating in the end. This is a forever-rec, fit for everyone, and i will be shouting it from the rooftops forever.

Tessellation by nekosmuse  116k+  Rating: E

He had been following Xavier's career for years. He had read and reread and reread again everything the man had written. He had tried, on more occasions than he could count, to recruit Xavier into the Brotherhood, but each request for a meeting had been denied. Aside from his work, no one knew anything about Xavier. Not what he looked like, not the full extent of his power--though from what little they did know, he was by far the most powerful telepath in existence--and not what his intentions were.

The man was a recluse. As far as Magneto knew, Xavier had never once stepped foot outside his impenetrable Westchester manor. And now he was scheduled as the keynote speaker for the largest pro-mutant conference in the world.

This is the novel length cherik AU fic you didn’t know you needed. To be fair, I do not read many fics involving Genosha, but I may be reconsidering my preferences after this one because I WAS IN LOVE. It deals not only with all the romance/love/fluff/banter I adore with cherik, but it really gets into Charles and his disability as well as his relationship/history with alcohol. The relationship feels so genuine and believable that I was smiling and aching for these two by turns. I also love Emma in this? More Emma in fics, please.

Mutually Beneficial Transaction by Pookaseraph  41k+  Rating: E

In his sophomore year at Columbia University, Erik, feeling slowly strangled by his mounting college debt, places an add on a sugar daddies website. He doesn't know exactly what to expect from it, but when he's contacted by a man named Charles who seems less creepy than the other people who have responded to his profile, he decides to give it a shot. Charles is nothing like what he expected, and Erik finds himself slowly falling in love with his sugar daddy while trying to find out exactly what caused this amazing guy to buy his emotional and sexual intimacy when he clearly deserves so much more than that.

Pulled straight from the highly emotional comment I left on the fic immediately after reading: “This story is fucking fantastic. In every way. I usually steer clear of non-powered AUs, but holy shit I am so glad I clicked on this one. I'm in love with their love and you wrote this so fucking beautifully my emotions are all over the place. I will rec this until I die. All the love and kudos to you <3″ Here is me, holding up my end of the rec’ing bargain. I was in A State after finishing this story, if you couldn’t tell. The relationship between our boys here is so complicated and vastly different from what I've read before.  

If you are looking for sexy humor and angst for days, then look no further. I wanted to hug them both, constantly. They needed it.

Urban Legend by toesohnoes  10k+  Rating: M

They say that if you stand in front of a mirror and say his name three times Magneto will appear. Charles has never believed in urban legends and he's never been capable of turning down a dare.

Urban Legend was downright mesmerizing. It reads kind of like a campfire story (but with M rated bits, so maybe not one for the kiddies), and the atmosphere it created was elegantly creepy. Because i came in already loving Eric, part of me was rooting for him and Charles, while the other half was screaming for Charles to GTFO.

You Know My Name by dvs  11k+   Rating: M

Erik and Charles are spies with something in common.

Look. I know this isn't a Man From U.N.C.L.E. fic, but it gave me MFU feels and it does the Cherik relationship beautifully, so it pretty much has it all. Erik is Bond, Charles is charming, and I am craving more of this universe. It’s fast paced and from Erik’s POV, and tbh I just found the whole thing dangerously sexy. Plus, the plotty bits were right up my alley.

Tale As Old As Time by madneto  44k+   Rating: M

Charles is a bibliophile living with his stepbrother in a remote village. Erik is a lonely prince with an affliction he doesn't know how to control. Logan is the greatest hunter in the whole world.

Pretty much what it says on the tin. If you've seen Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" you know pretty much exactly what you're getting into. Lots of fluff.

So, you may or may not know I love Beauty and the Beast. And yet somehow, despite that, I wasn’t totally convinced that I was going to love this fic. WRONG. I was so wrong to doubt. It was everything you want out of this kind of AU, while still holding true to Charles and Erik. The story feels very much like it’s own thing, which is so important to me in AU stories. I also love the way the author played with mutations and the curse. I desperately want to give more specifics, but I feel like it would spoil things? Which is weird for a AU this well-known, but I really felt like this author made it their own.

Final quick mention: Love Runs Out by ikeracity   24k+   Rating: M

Just yes. This is one of my absolute favorite modern!AU with powers fics. It's just so sweet and loving and it makes me happy. Apartment complex neighbors, a whole host of mutants, and a community center that made me smile so much. You need a good, fluffy read every once in awhile, okay?

STONY

Rom-Commed By Fate (Or JARVIS) by leashy_bebes   14k+   Rating: E

The best thing about being an Artificial Intelligence is the ability to parse, filter and modify the things people say until you've got the cause to do exactly what you wanted in the first place. Or, in which JARVIS cock blocks Tony into having an actual relationship.

This has everything I love about stony in one form or another, and I was so jazzed to see that I hadn’t already read it! How I missed it, I have no idea. Steve’s characterization in particular really hit the nail on the head for me. It is so sweet (I am seriously understating the fluff here, trust me you will melt) and sexy, and like I said before, we all need some good, happy fics once in awhile. Break up the angst-fest with what I pretty much consider required reading for fans of stony. It’s like a little taste of everything there is to love, with minimal angst.

JARVIS is an honorary Avenger in my book, and I love the Avengers fam dynamics. Fight me.

Any Other Way of Loving by brandnewfashion  27k+   Rating: E

In which Steve is bad at dating, Tony isn’t, and neither of them are as subtle as they think.

I have re-read this one multiple times. Not even on purpose, just because I keep gravitating back to it somehow, and I love it more every single time. It’s fake dating, but is it? Totally. Maybe. Our boys are a bit slow on the uptake. I love their dialogue in this one. Bants for days. I will die on the hill of Tony Stark, and this fic has great Tony POV. Also, great pinning on both ends. (that sounds dirty, but I don’t actually mean it that way this time)

The Last Love Song of Anthony E. Stark by jibrailis   42k  Rating: E

After contracting an Asgardian virus, Tony starts forgetting things. And people. And Steve.

So if you read that summary above, you can probably guess that this one is not fluffy. There are wonderfully heartwarming and heart-wrenching moments that make you feel all the things, but I don’t think I would call it fluffy. It’s Tony POV all the way, and that makes the pain even worse! This story is so good. The writing is spot-on, and the style of storytelling had me hooked.  

Wanna feel pain and sadness and read a really moving story that has a genuine plot? What if I told you that there are also sexytimes, and pinning, and on-point jokes and moments that hurt my heart and melted it at the exact same time? Not convinced? Asgard roadtrip. With Loki and Sif. Also, Steve loves Animal Crossing. Did I mention the sexytimes?

Specifically, I found the way that Tony dealt with everything happening to be completely accurate for the character, and the same goes for Steve, Loki and Sif. And stony low-key feels until they are very much no longer low-key. But the memory loss hits you harder every time, and the aspect of unreliable narration absolutely killed it.

DRARRY

Reparatio by astolat   17k+   Rating: E

Draco snorted. “I’m not reduced to penury. I want something considerably beyond money, and I rather think you’re the only one can give it to me.”

“You want the Invisibility Cloak,” Harry said, flatly. He’d half expected as much; it was the only thing he had that Draco could want—

“Don’t be stupid, Potter,” Draco said. “I want my reputation back.”

It’s that thing that looks like fake dating, but is really, really not. You know what I’m talking about. It also looks like friends with benefits, but who are they kidding? Not me. Barely even kidding themselves, and even then it’s not for very long. Draco and Harry banter fuels me. This one is Harry POV, and it’s very well done. Draco is also cunning and strategic, which so many people tend to drop off in favor of just making him just a sassy prick, and I was so here for all of that. Pretty sure Harry was too, deep down.

The one thing that had me going, hmmmm, is that Ron and Hermione are not together, but there is no drama there so it’s really not a big enough deal to make me put it down. No character bashing, which is a must for me.  

KLANCE

Don’t Break Connection, Baby by princedeadend   38k+   Rating: M

Keith works part-time as a phone sex operator and receives a prank call from Lance. This does not go as planned for Lance. Thus begins the adventure of our dear sweet goofball continuing to call Keith to fuck with him (but not like fuck fuck with him...at least not yet). And y'know, eventually having legit conversations with him and getting attached and growing on Keith. Summaries are not my strong point, alright?

aka the phone sex operator fic no one asked for

Maybe no one asked for it, but I certainly needed it. This was one of those “why-not” clicks for me, since I don’t usually go for this kinda thing, but WHERE HAS THIS FIC BEEN ALL MY LIFE. I loved every second. The humor, the banter, the perfectly written sexytimes, and the awkwardness you just knew was gonna happen the minute you read the summary, were gorgeously timed and executed.

This is a rom-com in fic form, but a bit more graphic. Lance and Keith being happy and smile-y with each other is my kink. This fic also reminded me that phone sex is a great, great thing indeed. Not to mention, Lance has a bit of a praise kink? Sort of? Say what you want, I’m here for that.