#don't try to fight me about how i'm wrong about this

[mintedwitcher]

I'm not playing anymore. Eddie's behaviour was textbook abuse. Buck flinched away from him. You cannot sit here and try to tell me that they were "both in the wrong" because they absolutely were not.

Buck was being passive aggressive about Eddie moving back to Texas, because he found out about the job offer from a game of fucking telephone instead of hearing it straight from his so-called "best friend". Said "best friend" then twisted the entire situation to get angry about a scenario he made up in his head. "You'd make it all about you, the tragedy of Evan Buckley, a play in 97 parts".

Buck has not talked to a single person about how he's handling Bobby's death. He hasn't brought it up to anyone. Even when Maddie asked, he told her he was coping. He is trying so hard to avoid burdening the people he loves with his own grief, even though he has just as much of a right to grieve as the rest of them do. He is putting ALL of his time and effort into making sure everyone ELSE is okay.

But no, that's him "making it all about himself" and being selfish and exhausting, and he shouldn't get to feel that way because he's not the only person who lost Bobby.

Buck knows he's not the only one who lost Bobby, he's not actually stupid, despite what apparently all of his "friends" think.

Buck apologised. In the scene where he did absolutely nothing wrong, he was the one to apologise. Because, what, he didn't want to relive the moment that Eddie found out about Bobby dying? We don't think there MIGHT have been a REASON that Buck didn't want to rehash that particular moment?

Eddie is entitled to his grief, however he is not entitled to hurting others, especially not his so-called "best friend". If he wanted to talk about how that phone call felt, he had time to do that at Henren's house. He didn't need to get violent with Buck about it, and he certainly didn't need to pick a fight to justify bringing it up.

[sugarlywhispers]

b.katsuki + quirkless!gf gets attacked by villians

☆— fem reader, suggestive -not completely smut but something similar- emotional sexual tension(?) idk, man🙈

☆—a/n; so, in between the new fic that's draining my mind lately lol i have finished this little piece i have had in my draft for A WHILE🤭 i wanted to make it part of the Fuckin' Marry Me Series, however i liked the way it went like this, so i'm not gonna change it. you're free to decide if you want to imagine it in that world tho😉

Bakugou Katsuki is… surprised. Very much so.

He honestly thinks he has never been this surprised before.

There you are, looking tough and proud and brave –so fucking hot if he has anything to say about it. When you shouldn't. 

Don't get him fucking wrong, he does believe that women can be brave and all. Fuck, there are a bunch of Heroes that are women who are fearless and deadly. The prime example of that is Mirko, his third favorite hero after All Might and Jeanist. But if his experience with civilians, mostly women, has taught him something, it’s that they aren’t so… strong, mentally and emotionally, after the incident happens. And this is not him fucking judging, fuck you. This is more statistics. And commonly, women would be ones going through a harsh fucking breakdown if they had gone through what you just did.

Here's what happened.

You and Bakugou had been together for almost a year already and it had been… fucking magical.

Yes, he will fucking describe it like that because, damn, you had shown him how good it feels to be loved and cherished, and fuck, he isn't a fucking coward, he will admit that he is head over heels in love with you. You both had been so enraptured inside a bubble of love, cutesy bullshit and all annoyingly gorgeous pink, that Bakugou really didn't see the big fucking storm coming.

His day began as hectic as any other day at his agency. But it was close to the afternoon, while he was revising a new case outside the city with Deku that he received that phone video call. It was from an unknown number. Normally, he would ignore it. But he accepted it this time, don’t ask him why.

The image that appeared on his phone's screen made him mad –real mad– and completely terrified at the same time.

You were kneeling on a dirty floor, tied up, hands and legs behind your back, tape over your mouth. You looked angry, with tears streaming down your face and sweaty. That infuriated Katsuki even more.

"If you want her back, you know what to do Dynamight," a fucking distorted voice said before ending the call.

It didn't take much for him and Deku to find the fucking bastards, hiding in an old abandoned factory not so far from the city. To summarize it, they were stupid brats beginning their careers as villains, now, of course, continuing it in jail. Dynamight had captured others from the same group when they attacked a technology corporation, so they wanted their stupid little friends free. That's why they kidnapped you.

The biggest fucking mistake they could ever have done.

After that, while you were being treated by the nursing team, Dynamight and Deku were watching the camera records around the place and at the entrance of the factory, and they were… impressed. They were watching how you gave them hell in trying to make you cooperate and enter the factory. You were kicking, screaming, scratching, insulting them with a colorful language that not even Katsuki knew you were able to speak. Even though you were Quirkless, damn, you did give them a fight. It was even clearer when you kicked one of them in the balls so hard that both heroes heard the painful kick.

Fucking ouch!

So, back to the present, he is very surprised as he looks at you entering the apartment with your head held high. Not one tear, no breakdown, no fear in your eyes. Just annoyance. You still sigh because it's been a hell of a tiring day.

"Do you… Do you need my help to…" He can't finish the sentence. What he means is if you need help to bathe or shower. You said on the car ride back home that you were going to get one as soon as you crossed the entrance door to the apartment.

It's not like he hasn't seen you naked already, you have had lots of fun already together, but he knows that during these events people tend to prefer privacy. Isolation even. But when he asked you in the car if you needed to be alone, you said you wanted him to stay with you. 

So he is gonna stay the night… and all nights you ask of him.

"I'm fine, Katsuki," you smile, so bright and so cute it's a harsh contrast to how messed up you look with your hair tangled, some cuts over your face, and some parts of your clothes torn.

It hurts his heart seeing you like this. A constant pressure over his chest he can't soothe away, no matter how many times he repeats in his head that you are safe.

He looks down at his hands as he says, "I'm sorry."

"What for?" You chuckle gently as you walk closer to him and grab one of his hands, fingers interlacing with his. "If I remember correctly, you saved me."

He exhales a small sarcastic snort through his nose, "The reason they fuckin’ got you in the first place was because of me."

You shake your head, still smiling and looking at him like he's the most perfect man on earth, which Katsuki knows he isn't.

You're looking into each other's eyes when you say, "You think I didn't know what I was getting myself into when I accepted that first date?"

Bakugou Katsuki is out of words. He doesn't know how to answer back, because the only thing he wants to do is kiss you so strongly it might hurt you. Hug you so strongly that it may combine both bodies into one. So he stays still, holding back his need for you, while you stand on your tiptoes and kiss his cheek before walking towards the bathroom. He takes a deep breath. Fuck. He loves you so fucking much its driving him insane.

He was going to talk to you, to make you see how dangerous it actually was to be with him. He was going to convince you to break up, for your safety. Fuck! If he had been two minutes late today, he doesn't want to think of what could have happened.

But he can’t. Bakugou Katsuki is such a selfish bastard that he can’t tell you to break up with him. He wants you. He needs you. Katsuki fucking loves you so much he can’t breathe without you. So he won’t.

Katsuki shuts his eyes.

This never should have happened. He should’ve seen it coming, yet he didn’t, and that scares him to death.

The thought of losing you makes his chest ache like it’s splitting open. 

So he makes a silent vow, a determined promise: Never again.

He��ll train harder. Watch closer. Be better. Protect you from everything and everyone.

No matter what it costs him, he’ll keep you safe.

Because you’re his entire world. Because he loves you with every fiber of his being, and he’s never giving up on you. Not to fear. Not to fate. Not to anyone.

He is so concentrated stirring the soup in the oven a couple of hours later, he doesn't hear you when you enter the kitchen. He realizes you're there when he sees you jump to sit over the counter through the peripheral vision of his eyes.

"That smells good," you comment, a soft and delicate curve of your mouth in the form of a smile that makes him go weak on the knees for you, as you move back and forth with your little bare feet. You're so freaking cute he wants to bite you.

He smirks when he finally sees how you're dressed. It's one of his t-shirts that are so big on you it functions more as a dress. He wonders if there's something else underneath. Or not. This last idea makes him hungry, and not specifically for food.

That's also when he notices the purple and reddish marks on the inside of your thighs and along your legs. He feels his blood boil like the soup he's done cooking. He should have killed those bastards.

Katsuki takes a deep breath before turning off the oven and walking til he's standing between your open legs. Your eyebrows are up, kind of surprised by the sudden proximity, but it is not unwelcome.

He doesn't say anything as he starts to drop down to the floor until he's kneeling, eyes still locked on yours. His mouth then starts a slow and gentle path from your shin, pecking your skin as he ascends to the inner side of your knee, coincidentally kissing around each mark this dreadful day has left on you. Always softly, doing his best in never putting too much pressure to make it hurt again, but enough for you to understand that he is sorry you got each and every one of them.

Your breathing quickens, eyes never leaving his face. A face that shows how concentrated he is now in his task, with his eyes closed as his mouth climbs towards your inner thighs. A small noise, almost like a breathed moan, leaves your mouth when his tongue touches your skin.

His breath brushes against your skin, warm and reverent, and the sound of it nearly undoes you. His hands, calloused but careful, anchor themselves at your hips as his lips reach the tender flesh of your inner thigh. There’s a tremble in his touch, but not from hesitation. You recognize it immediately. It’s restraint. Every part of him is tensed, like he is being extremely conscious of every move of his. You know then, he doesn’t want to scare you away, and that thought warms your heart.

“Katsuki…” Your voice is a breath, half plea, half warning, but he just shakes his head against you.

“I know, Firefly,” he murmurs, the rumble of his voice caresses your skin, softened by guilt and affection. “I know you’re hurt. I’m not gonna push. But let me take care of you, please…”

Bakugou Katsuki never begs. But he does. For you, only for you.

He leans in again kissing the spot just above the last bruise, and then another, slow and deliberate, as if he’s memorizing every mark this day has etched into your body. Every kiss is an apology, every breath he draws is laced with the fury he holds back. Not at you, never at you. But at the world that dared touch you like this.

You reach for him, threading your fingers through his messy hair, grounding both of you. He exhales, a low sound that vibrates against your thigh, as his eyes close for a moment. Enjoying your touch. Like your touch is all he needs to survive.

When he finally looks up, red eyes meeting yours, the heat there is unmistakable. But so is the tenderness, the love that rarely expresses out loud, yet it’s unquestionable that he feels for you.

“You tell me when to stop,” he says, voice thick. “I’ll go slow. I’ll stop. I’ll just hold you. Whatever you need me to. But I need to show you… Need you to feel it. That you’re still here, that I’ve got you.”

And with that, he travels back up your body, peppering kisses along the way until he’s hovering over you, foreheads touching, breath mingling. His hand cradles your cheek, thumb brushing gently beneath your eye, and for a long moment, all he does is look at you. Eyes so focused on you, you can feel the burn, but his body still.

“Let me make you feel safe again, Firefly…”

[akanemnon]

Everyone here being surprised at The Nugget's ability to fight, meanwhile I'm here thinking it was already kinda obvious.

I mean just think about it! How many times has Frisk fought Asgore and Undyne, you know, THE strongest monsters? How many times have they fought Asriel, A LITERAL GOD! How many times have they been psychologically traumatized by Omega Flowey using horrors beyond comprehension? ... To many, probably.

What I'm trying to say, it's only natural Frisk would be OP in fights lie this

A lot of people tend to forget that. Not sure why exactly. Yes, they're a kid, but you do take Frisk on that ride. And they are perfectly capable of dealing with anything that's thrown at them. Especially if they have been doing this over and over ad nauseam.

That's why it's kinda hard for me to look at some older fanworks.

Don't get me wrong. As a writer, I DO get the intent behind it. But making one character shine at the expense of another makes me a little sad.

(We don't talk about the ones that portray Frisk a VERY SPECIFIC WAY. YOU KNOW THE ONE. Those can go die in a pit for all I care)

[sammki]

i'm gonna add my two cents for the zero people that asked

also i never write up posts like this so be nice to me. or don't. i'm not your mom

i love eddie as a character. i love messy characters, i love messy relationships, i love conflict and drama and flaws and shades of grey. i'm of the opinion that just about anything can make for a good story in the hands of a skilled enough writer. everyone being fluffy and getting along always and agreeing with each other can make a good story.

but that's not what 911 is about.

i'm absolutely due for a rewatch, but ever since eddie's introduction he's been a guy trying to make the best of a bad situation, but can get in over his head with the decisions he makes. he struggled with chris's schooling/care situation at the beginning, and it was after buck introduced him to carla that progress was made on that front.

his grief over shannon's death leads to the street fighting arc in season 3, where it takes almost killing a guy to snap him out of it. his treatment of buck during the lawsuit arc is an extension of this turmoil. bottling up his emotions after this, and the shooting, leads to his breakdown in season 5 that scares christopher enough that the kid calls buck in for help. his unresolved issues lead to the kim fiasco, which results in chris moving back to his grandparents. he follows chris to el paso to rebuild their relationship--yay! (ignoring the lack of addressing the kim of it all) ...but because he's there, he misses bobby's death, and the guilt and the grief of it all causes him to lash out again.

is this healthy behaviour? not really! should he probably go to therapy and maybe address some of this? everyone on this show needs to go to therapy! and maybe this is an unpopular opinion, but this mess is what makes eddie interesting to me.

stepping back for a moment, i've also seen people bring up that eddie is far from the only character to physically lash out at anyone--buck, bobby, chimney, they've all done it in the past. how was eddie putting hands on buck any different from bobby pinning him to the wall in season 1? what about buck spraining eddie's ankle due to his jealousy over the whole tommy situation?

chimney punching buck--i only recently started watching (within the last year) so i wasn't around in the aftermath of that punch, but i do see some of that bashing floating around. i'm not gonna say racism has nothing to do with it. i'm white. it's not my place to say what does and doesn't count as racism. others have and are able to put it much better than i ever will, but i didn't want to say any of this without at least acknowledging it.

the difference between eddie last night and these other physical altercations? the narrative frames the others as in the wrong.

bobby's actions are not depicted as in the right because buck was snooping through his stuff. sure, buck shouldn't be snooping, but that very same episode ends with him and hen performing a welfare check on bobby after he's fallen off the wagon. bobby is deep in his suicidal self-hatred spiral. even the score throws in a little dramatic sting here. there's reasoning behind his actions, but they're not reasonable.

chimney's punch is less in-your-face since the apology happens offscreen, but the narrative makes sure to throw in a line that there was an apology. he's at the height of this great emotional maelstrom--maddie's left him with their months-old daughter, who he's just found out had to go to the er after the incident in the bath--and he's just found out that buck's been keeping important information from him. sure, jee was fine and it was an accident, but as her father he certainly had a right to know. nonetheless, lashing out physically is presented as wrong, even if only as an afterthought with a throwaway line. there's reasoning behind his actions, but they're not reasonable.

after buck checks eddie and sprains his ankle, he spirals in his guilt. he let his jealousy get the best of him, and he maimed his best friend. bad behaviour, and it's all on buck. he says as much! in both his conversation with maddie, and with tommy at the end of the episode, he owns up to his actions! we don't see him apologise to eddie onscreen, but he's pushed to do so and i get the implication that he does call and clear the air. there's reasoning behind his actions, but they're not reasonable.

*beats that last sentence in with a hammer* see what i'm trying to get at here?

with eddie, his actions are born out of his immense guilt and grief at not being able to do anything when bobby was dying. earlier in the season, he snapped after buck told the rest of the team about eddie's plan to move back to el paso, which eddie was not comfortable sharing yet (again, putting aside whether the secret-keeping was smart, to eddie, buck still betrayed his trust by telling everyone while he's dealing with the stress of trying to find a subletter)

but... does he really apologise for either of these? in the first fight, they're interrupted by bobby hen and chim showing up at the front door and taking him out for a goodbye celebration. in the second he flies christopher in from texas as a surprise visit with tia pepa with an offhanded "heard some dick was being mean to you"

chris was the apology? eddie took responsibility? he doesn't even say i was a dick. he distances himself and throws chris and pepa at buck as a diversion. only one diaz actually said i'm sorry in that scene and it wasn't eddie.

i just. this whole thing could play out exactly the same and it'd sit so much easier with me if i knew there'd for sure be some form of payout at the end of it all. if you have two characters that are supposed to be best friends and one of them has buck's insecurities, then having the other go for the jugular in fights like that can't be fixed with a simple "aw someone was mean to you :(" and throwing a kid at him.

and backing buck into a corner, getting his face, putting hands on him? call it abuse or don't, but in what world is it at all okay to put hands on someone like that, in such an emotionally charged moment? i don't buy the argument that buck and eddie's friendship is Like That, or even that some irl friendships are. someone putting their hands on another in the middle of a heated disagreement is NOT RIGHT and the number of people i've seen calling it "romantic" is. concerning.

write him flawed. write him angry. write him aggressive. but for the love of god stand behind what you're putting on the screen.

[emeraldserenade]

Could you write a fanfic where the reader has light-based healing powers that work on others but not on herself? She’s been injured like maybe a gunshot wound but is casually walking around like nothing’s wrong. Joaquin notices and starts freaking out, trying to get her to stop and take care of herself. Meanwhile, she’s confused and brushes it off, like, “Why do you even care?” They’re close friends, but she has this deep-seated belief that no one really cares about her, so his reaction throws her off. And she just goes to heal a minor cut on him and he’s like tweaking out

Healer ~ Joaquín Torres

synopsis: you've always been able to heal everyone but yourself and you feel like no one wants to heal you

tw: fem!reader, reader has a younger sister, sister gets hit by car, gunshot wound, barely edited.

fic, ficlet, drabble, request

The thought of Joaquín tweaking out is so amusing to me. Anyway, this was fun to write.

➽──────────────❥

You healed people, you always have. It started small, hugs when your friends and family felt sad. No one knew right away, the hugs happened in private and eyes were always closed. The light the gently shined as you hugged them, as you healed them from their hurt, went unnoticed for years.

Then your sister got hit by a car, your baby sister that you swore you were mature enough to watch. You called out for your parents, they were preoccupied but they cane running. You were crying and cradling your sister in your arms, and that's when they saw it. A light shined from you, from where you were holding her, and then she was better.

From that moment on, you never really felt like a person anymore. It felt like people no longer cared about you, that they only cared about what you could do. You tried to heal yourself, from mental turmoil to small cuts, but it never worked. The light never shined and you never felt any better.

Eventually you met Joaquín and Sam, you were only a few feet away when they finished a fight. Both hurt and your guilt of being able to help started eating you live. So you ran, the consequences be damned, you ran to them and healed them before anyone could react. One small touch, just a brush on their arms, and they were completely better. Then you ran away and they wanted to find you.

✧°˖ . ݁˖︵‿❀‿︵˖ . ݁˖°✧

"How'd you do it?" Sam questioned as he and Joaquín walked up to you, you were at your job, stacking the return books from the library turn in.

"Do what?" You tilted your head, your confusion real.

"Heal us, we each had at least something broken," Sam clarified.

"Oh, I just can. Not sure why, I think I always could," you told him, grabbing the stack of books and walking off. They followed you around as you put them back.

"I'm looking to put the Avengers back together," Sam mentioned.

"I'm not useful, I can only heal," you muttered.

"And we don't have any powers."

"You," you spun to face Sam, Joaquín had wandered off, "have suits." Sam paused, he didn't think you would be so against the idea.

"You don't have to have a suit, powers, or even know how to fight. You can come in after everything, you can do what you can," Sam told you and it was your turn to pause.

"I have a life here, I have a job and a," you stopped talking again, you were going to say a boyfriend. You had one, he cheated on you and only told you so you could heal his STI.

"A what?" Sam questioned and you sighed.

"A nothing, not anymore," you told him. "Can I test it out first? Like a no strings attached trial run?"

"You can," Sam affirmed and you nodded.

✧°˖ . ݁˖︵‿❀‿︵˖ . ݁˖°✧

You were with the boys for months, you never left after you joined. You found a family and possibly a crush on Joaquín, one you tried to keep secret but you could tell Sam knew.

You started going on missions, Sam and Joaquín taught you to fight. And you spent more time bouncing between the two, healing a cut or broken bone every time you saw they had one. You weren't sure if they noticed that you never healed yourself, you've gotten pretty good at hiding what was wrong with you.

Then a gunshot sounded, you weren't with Sam or Joaquín, you were in a room fighting on your own. You felt the bullet tear through your skin, the deep seated pain that radiated from your upper arm. You ran to the assailant, your hand landed on his arm and you let your body heal something that wasn't there. His body went into overdrive and he fell as his body made tumors and killed him, it never felt good to do that but you did what you had to.

You walked around like normal, your jacket thrown on to cover your wound. You would address it later, when you had the right tools. You healed Sam, smiling at him as he thanked you. He was always genuine in his gratitude, yet you still felt that low hum of not being cared for.

Joaquín was off to the side, he managed to get out with little injuries so you went to Sam first. You didn't notice it, but your blood seeped through your crude dressing from a ripped shirt of the enemies and your jacket. Joaquín did, he saw it the moment you walked up, it worried him.

"Holy shit, are you ok?" Joaquín grabbed your forearm when you reached him. "What happened?" You glanced down at your arm at his words.

"I'm fine, why do you even care?" You pulled your arm away from his grasp, missing the look he gave you. You didn't wait for an answer, you reached out and gently laid your hand on his face. The warmth from your hand and the light settled into his skin as you healed his bruise, normally it was enough to calm him. But he was more worried about you, your wound, and your behavior.

It wasn't uncommon for you to brush off your injuries and no one questioned you, they were normally minor. A bruise or a small cut that would heal in a few days, but a gunshot wound? He pulled away before you were done healing the other bruises and cut on him, you gasped at the feeling of your healing being cut off.

"Joaquín, come back here," you tried to order but he shook his head. "Joaquín, what are you doing?" You questioned as he pulled you with him, he pushed you to sit on the back of the truck you all took there.

"Why'd you keep this to yourself?" Joaquín helped you take a jacket off and unwrapped your makeshift dressing.

"It's not that big of a deal," you told him.

"Why not heal it?"

"I can't heal myself," you admitted and he head whipped up to look you in the eyes. You were so close your noses were barely touching and your breathing mixed together. His eyes moved around your face, you couldn't tell if he was trying to see if you were lying or if he was taking in all your facial features.

"You can't heal yourself?" Joaquín's volume was considerably lower, almost a whisper. You couldn't find your voice to respond, so you gently nodded your head. Joaquín said nothing as he went back to dressing your wound, his movements slow and deliberate.

"I'm sorry," you whispered as Joaquín finished with your arm.

"It's ok, angel," Joaquín told you before planting a kiss to your forehead.

➽──────────────❥

Masterlist | Requests

[jaydude1992]

"If I'm getting the details wrong, please correct me, but after the show (where he betrayed Azula's trust and told Ozai that she lied to him..."

If the lie in question was "Zuko was the one who killed the Avatar in Ba Sing Se", it's kinda hard for me to see it as reasonable for Azula to feel Zuko betrayed her trust; as far as I'm aware, the only reason she told that lie was because she suspected Zuko wasn't being honest about Aang having no means of surviving the events in Ba Sing Se, and she wanted to use him as a scapegoat in case Aang was in fact alive.

"...attacked her repeatedly..."

If we're talking the events of the show, in the vast majority of cases (The Boiling Rock, the Western Air Temple, technically the fight at the start of Book 2) it's Azula who initiates hostilities, with Zuko fighting back in self-defense, though there is admittedly a bit of justified anger on Zuko's part in that last example.

"(1) puts Azula into an abusive mental facility..."

I've discussed this in another post of mine, but my problem with this argument is that besides it often being made in bad faith, what exactly happened to Azula at the institution - and how bad it was - is vague at best, based on the little material we've been given. The most we've got is a quote from Gene Yang indicating only that Azula's time in the institution didn't do much for her mental health, and the existence of another character who was put into the institution and had a bad time there, due to the institution putting more effort into keeping her contained than helping to solve the issues that got her sent there.

"(2) never visits to learn about the conditions she's being kept in (like being a straightjacket all the time);

(3) only shows up when he needs something from her (get Ozai to disclose info about Ursa)..."

As far as I'm aware, there's nothing that indicates Zuko never visited her prior to the ending of The Promise. And if that is the case, who's to say he didn't visit her early on, only to leave after Azula's response was to immediately scream and blast flame at him? She wasn't exactly hesitant or bothered about trying to hurt him during their Agni Kai.

(That's just a hypothetical, btw. But it's at least as plausible as the idea that Zuko never visited Azula.)

As for the straitjacket argument, there's no indication whatsoever that Azula was kept in one "all the time". The only occasions we see her wearing one are when she's meeting with Zuko at the end of The Promise (i.e. she's in close proximity to the Fire Nation's head of state and an individual to whom she's expressed hostility and a desire to see hurt before) and when she's taken out of the institution to meet with Ozai (i.e. taken out of the secure location dedicated to keeping her confined). We don't know what her daily life at the institution was like, how often straitjackets were used on her, or whether or not the use of them was unjustified on those occasions.

"(4) dangles her off a cliff..."

From what I can see of the angle, both her feet are still on/above solid ground. You could say that she's in a precarious position regardless, but the only reason she's in that position is because, again, she attacked Zuko first.

And again, he told her he was willing to take her out of the institution and keep her under house arrest in her old room at the palace before she decided to escape and burn all of Ursa's letters.

I'll concede that Azula might have less reason to trust Zuko than I do. But if that is the case, then again, what's to stop her from just trying to sneak into the palace if she wants to reconcile with certain members of her family but doesn't want to put herself back in Zuko's power? It wasn't exactly impossible for her, given the events of Smoke and Shadow.

"I'm not sure why you're ascribing that expectation to Azula, rather than some subset of fans..."

I'm lampooning the apparent fanon belief that all Azula needs to become a good person is Ursa, Zuko and Iroh casting aside all their other responsibilities and devoting everything they have to tracking her down, and then apologizing to her for not doing enough for her when they find her. The argument that Azula shouldn't have to do anything to facilitate her own redemption, in other words.

"Azula just wants a mother's love!"

Then why didn't she turn herself in following the events of The Search? Given that Ursa does express concern for Azula in the comics, and was willing to admit possible fault on her part back when she had no memories of her, I'm certain she would've made use of an available opportunity to at least talk to her daughter and try to fix things.

You can't really say Azula was worried Zuko would just throw her back into the "abusive" institution; he openly stated he wanted to help her near the end of The Search, and he was willing to let her room at the palace again near the start of that trilogy. Alternatively, if Azula was just worried about having her freedom curtailed, why didn't she just use her knowledge of the palace - and its secret passages - to sneak in there and confront her mother while also retaining a chance to escape? Why did she instead come back and start trying to corrupt Zuko into a tyrannical, fear-wielding Fire Lord in Smoke and Shadow?

In my mind, Azula's problem isn't solely a belief that Ursa didn't love her enough/saw her as a "monster". She's also still holding onto her Ozai/Machiavelli-esque view of the world, and thus wants to turn Zuko into a Fire Lord she can project herself onto.

"Ursa should be trying to find her!"

There are already people - i.e. Ty Lee and anyone Zuko assigns to her - trying to do that. Ursa's not a tracker or a trained combatant, and she doesn't have the resources that Zuko does. She did have a skillset and such that enabled her to indirectly help Zuko when Ozai was planning to murder him, but that's not the case for directly helping Azula here.

Besides that, Ursa has a much younger daughter she's currently responsible for. Should Ursa really become an absent figure in Kiyi's life so she can devote herself to finding Azula? How is that any different from her allegedly favouring Zuko at Azula's expense when those two were growing up? Because Azula supposedly deserves it more?

In addition, there's not exactly much that's stopping Azula from trying to contact her mother. Sooner or later, she has to take at least some responsibility for trying to solve her problems, rather than expecting everyone else to run themselves ragged on her behalf.

[lastofthewardens]

Friendly reminder (or not; passive aggressive reminder, actually) that this is how Matt felt about working with Bullseye for his own benefit of surviving/escaping after he killed people he cared about, one of which was Karen, in the comics.

It even blew up a tentative deal he had with Fisk because Fisk was the one who brought Bullseye into it. But yeah sure Matt would totally work with Bullseye, on the streets of New York against Fisk, after he killed Foggy Nelson. That's 100% an in character thing for them to make him do, yup.

It's impossible to tell from what we know if this is going to happen or not, and fandom is being weird as hell about Matt and Bullseye, so I'm trying not to jump to conclusions because who knows right now. But if they DO go through with this 'enemy of my enemy' idea, they're just admitting that they never cared about Foggy or his relationship with Matt, despite 60 years of comic history between those two, and that they don't understand any of these characters.

(I already know they don't care about Foggy and don't understand these characters, but you know... I keep hoping to be wrong lol).

I'm obviously not against a more nuanced take on Bullseye, I loved how they did him in season 3, but that would not be the way to do it. The Fisks, specifically Vanessa, manipulating Bullseye doesn't change the fact he pulled the trigger. Charlie even talked in an interview about how that prison scene with Bullseye was Matt going in with the ONE goal of just getting through the conversation without killing Bullseye while he was there.

Better creators would have Matt's rejection of and inability to work with Bullseye be a plot point. Not some half baked, completely out of character team up because "it'd be cool", and because they clearly have a thing about Bullseye, since they talked about the concept of a potential show with him.

I'm hoping the set pictures are just them fighting a ton, which I have other issues with, but this is way more significant to me because this would be such a massive betrayal of the original show, its characters, the comic books.. just wild that this is even a possibility I'm discussing.

[gayofthefae]

It's been hours and I still can't get over how good they are that Buck and Eddie had a totally valid fight about grief but Eddie came back without even having to be told Buck was hurt saying "I'm sorry, I was too harsh, here's an apology gift[: our son]"

Like that's so so healthy I'm obsessed with them. AND so different than they've been in the past. They're really getting there guys. They(the writers) are solving their relationship issues before their relationship starts.

In the past, they've needed at the very least to talk it out or some form of "you hurt me". There have been miscommunications and actions based on assumptions.

But Buck and Eddie had one fight and instead of even just resolving it and hugging it out like they have in the past, Eddie left what was to him a "Be Back Soon. I'm sorry" note, even if it was a "I'm done with you" note to Buck and he brought him something to "cheer him up"!!

Buck WAS in the wrong for the things Eddie said he was like not checking in on him when he was in need too. But he still acknowledged that he came at it too harshly and needed to smooth over the hurt he caused not just by apologizing, but actively cheering him up.

They have grown so much. From

"dont come back until you're healthy"

"I'm suing"

"how could you leave me"

"I'm not leaving I'm trying to get back to you but if you don't want me screw you"

"that hurts"

"I'm sorry"

"just don't do it again"

to

"you hurt me"

"I'm hurting too"

"don't make this all about you! - I'm sorry, that was over the line, to make it up to you, I brought you a child"

Not over the fact that Eddie was in the right but acknowledged without having to be told that he was too harsh and went beyond apologizing and took immediate action to actively make it up to Buck. Spent money on a plane ticket and with the time difference and flight time, might have even called Chris to come that same night.

Couples therapy tactic goals. Tackled like a pro, Eddie. He realized their pain wasn't at odds and thought "how can I lessen his so we can go both be in a better place to support each other?" And did it.

[mintedwitcher]

"How are you holding up?"

It's late. He probably shouldn't have called at all, but... well, here he is. Clutching his phone like a lifeline and trying - always trying - to keep his head above water.

"I'm fine," Buck answers. Tommy's quiet for a moment on the other end of the line.

"Evan. I saw," Tommy says. "There were cameras in the corridor. I saw you, after."

"I'm fine," Buck insists, even as his voice wavers and his eyes blur with unshed tears. "It's not about me, anyway, I'm not the only one who lost him, I'm fine. I have to be."

"Woah, Evan, hold on," Tommy says. His voice is calm, stern, and Buck wants to listen to it forever. "You might not be the only one who lost him, but you still lost him. It's okay to be hurting over it. You're allowed--"

"No, I'm not!" Buck bursts, and it's like unclogging a drain. It all just pours out of him: "I didn't do enough to save him! I just walked away! I left him there to die! I could've done more, I could've helped! I shouldn't have listened to Maddie, I should've just followed my gut and found a way into that damn lab! But I'm too goddamn selfish, and I let Bobby die! And now, everyone's keeping shit from me and tiptoeing around me, and I know they're all thinking it too! Eddie basically admitted it. Bobby said they'd need me but he was wrong, don't you get it, Tommy? Nobody needs me. I'm just... spare parts."

The fight goes out of him entirely with the last two words, and he wipes away the tears that have fallen. On the other end of the line, he hears a car start up.

"W-what are you doing?" Buck asks, his voice small and nervous.

"I'm coming over," Tommy replies.

"Tommy, it's three in the morning, you don't--"

"I'll be there in fifteen minutes," Tommy says.

"Tommy--"

"Evan. It's not selfish to need help," Tommy says sternly. "I'll see you soon, okay?"

"Okay," Buck whispers. He can feel himself crumbling already, but he can hold it together for a little bit longer. Just til Tommy gets here.

Fifteen minutes. He can hold on for fifteen minutes. And maybe, maybe, he'll figure out a way to ask Tommy to hold the weight with him.

[trippiexlove]

Ch.23 - Serendipity

Story Master List

Main Master List - If you would like to be tagged comment below!

Druitt POV

"So what the fuck was that?" My gaze locked onto Jey, his face a mask of fury. "Why didn't you tell me Melo was your ex?" The accusation hung heavy in the air.

"I didn't feel the need to," I replied, trying to keep my voice level despite the knot tightening in my stomach.

"You didn't feel the need to?!" Jey's voice exploded, cutting me off and sending a jolt of anger through me.

"No, I didn't," I retorted, meeting his glare. "Because I haven't spoken to or seen him since I was drafted."

"Regardless, that's your ex, Druitt," Jey insisted, his jaw tight. "You knew there was a possibility of him getting drafted, of him working around us."

"Like I told him earlier today, he is a non-factor in my life," I emphasized, the words sharp. "So no, I didn't feel the need to bring up a ghost from my past."

His eyebrows shot up, and the scowl etched on his face deepened. "But you just said you haven't spoken to him since you got drafted? So we're lying to each other now?" He shook his head, a bitter laugh escaping his lips as he turned towards his bag.

A fresh wave of anger washed over me. "Jey, let's not start this," I warned, my voice trembling slightly. "Don't forget you conveniently left out Jeyce." The words hung between us, a reminder of his own omission.

He spun around, his movements sharp and sudden. "No, that is completely different! You know I was eventually going to tell you. Even when you asked, I didn't deny it. You were just hoping I wouldn't find out!"

"That's not true!" I shot back, my defenses rising.

He crossed his arms, his stare unwavering. "Okay, so when were you going to tell me?" The silence stretched, thick with unspoken accusations. I stood there, the words caught in my throat. "Exactly my point. And then you're having secret conversations with him. I don't know what that's about."

I raised an eyebrow, a challenge in my eyes. "What are you trying to say?"

"I don't know, you tell me! Hell, for all I know, you two could've been talking about getting back together, reminiscing about the past and shit." The accusation landed like a physical blow, stealing the air from my lungs.

Stunned, hurt that he could even entertain such a thought, tears pricked at my eyes. "You know what, Jey?" My voice wavered, and I blinked rapidly, fighting to maintain composure. "I'm just going to leave if that is truly how you think of me."

I moved quickly, grabbing my bag and phone, the clatter of my belongings a stark punctuation to our argument. A shaky text to Liv.

 Can I crash in your room tonight? 

Her responded almost immediately.

Livvy 🖤: Of course, girl. What's wrong?

The text brought a fresh wave of tears.

At Liv's, her arms wrapped around me in a comforting hug the moment I walked in. "You okay, love?" Her voice was soft with concern.

I sniffled, managing a weak smile. "Yeah, I will be. Thanks for letting me crash. I'll be out of your hair in the morning."

"It's no problem at all," she said warmly, gesturing towards the spare room. As I lay down, the silence amplified the turmoil in my chest. My fingers flew across my laptop, pulling up my flight information. A wave of relief washed over me as I successfully changed it to an early morning departure back to Florida. A break. I need a break from this. My eyelids felt heavy, the unshed tears finally spilling over as I drifted into a restless sleep.

The next morning, the sterile quiet of Liv's spare room was a stark contrast to the volatile energy of the previous night. Sunlight filtered through the blinds, casting stripes across the unfamiliar ceiling. I woke with a dull ache behind my eyes and the lingering taste of unshed tears. The memory of Jey's accusations felt like a raw wound.

Liv knocked softly before opening the door. She held a mug out to me, her expression gentle. "Morning, sleepyhead. Coffee?"

I sat up, the thin blanket slipping from my shoulders. "Morning. Thanks." The warmth of the mug seeped into my cold hands.

"Everything okay?" she asked, perching on the edge of the bed.

I took a slow sip of the coffee, the bitterness a familiar comfort. "Not really. Jey and I had a argument."

Liv waited patiently, her gaze steady and supportive.

"It was about my ex, Melo" I finally admitted, the words feeling heavy. "He got drafted to Raw. Jey found out he was my ex and was furious I didn't tell him." I explained everything in detail as Liv listened.

"That's rough," Liv murmured sympathetically. "But you said you haven't spoken to him?"

"Exactly! It wasn't a conscious decision to hide it. He just hasn't been a part of my life. Why bring up something that felt so irrelevant?" Frustration laced my voice. "And then he accused me of wanting to get back with him! After everything Jey and I have been through."

Liv frowned. "That doesn't sound like him."

"I know!" I exclaimed, running a hand through my disheveled hair. "That's what hurt the most. The lack of trust."

A sigh escaped my lips. "I just... I needed to get away for a bit. I changed my flight. I'm heading home this morning."

Liv's eyes widened slightly. "Back to Florida?"

I nodded. "Yeah. Just to clear my head. Maybe give Jey some space too."

"Druitt," Liv said softly, placing a hand on my arm. "Are you sure running away is the answer?"

I looked down at my hands, the coffee mug suddenly feeling heavy. "I don't know what else to do, Liv. I felt so misunderstood. If he can so easily believe the worst of me, what's the point?"

A comfortable silence settled between us. Liv didn't try to argue, didn't offer platitudes. She just sat there, a quiet presence in my turmoil. After a few moments, she stood up. "Okay. Well, let me help you pack. And I'll drive you to the airport."

As I packed my things, a wave of conflicting emotions washed over me. Relief at escaping the immediate tension, but also a deep sadness at the thought of leaving things unresolved. Was I overreacting? Was Jey? The questions swirled in my mind, unanswered and unsettling. As Liv and I drove to the airport, the familiar landscape of the city blurring past the window.

~A Few Days Later~

The rhythmic clang of weights was the only sound in my home gym, each repetition a desperate attempt to exorcise the frustration and anger that had been coiling inside me for days. I pushed myself relentlessly, the burn in my muscles a welcome distraction from the gnawing emptiness Druitt's absence had left. It was a familiar pattern – physical exhaustion as a poor substitute for emotional resolution.

My phone buzzed, the screen illuminating Jon's caller ID. A flicker of hope that it might be Druitt died instantly, replaced by a familiar weariness. I snatched the towel, wiping the sweat stinging my eyes and neck.

"Yo, what's going on, twin?" I managed, my voice still heavy with exertion.

"Nothing, man, just got done working out." Jon's tone held a familiar undercurrent of concern. "You good?" He didn't need to elaborate; we both knew what he was asking about.

"No, but I'll be alright, uce," I mumbled, the lie feeling heavy on my tongue.

"Did y'all at least talk it out?"

"Tempers were high. It was just back and forth, and then she left." I began putting the weights back, the clink and clatter echoing the disjointed thoughts in my head. "She changed her flight, so I assume she's back in Florida."

A sigh traveled through the phone line. "This ain't the way to go, Jey. If y'all love each other the way you say you do, then you should be able to talk to one another."

"I know, man," I admitted, finally walking back into the house, the silence amplifying my regret. "But I was just so damn pissed that she didn't tell me about Melo being her ex. I went in blind, uce." The vulnerability of that moment still stung.

"I can understand your frustration, but are you going to let this be what separates y'all? Maybe she had her reasons. You don't know, but y'all need to talk."

"So what should I do then?" I leaned heavily against the kitchen island, my head hanging low, the weight of everything pressing down on me.

"I can't tell you what to do, twin. Just do what you feel is best and go get yo' girl back, uce." Jon's words, simple yet direct, resonated deep within me.

I nodded, even though he couldn't see me. "Alright, man. I'll figure it out. Talk to you later."

"Alright," The line went dead, leaving me alone with the echo of his advice. I stood there for a long moment, the silence allowing a new resolve to take root. An idea sparked, sudden and clear. I moved quickly, heading upstairs to pack a bag, the click of the suitcase latch a decisive sound. The confirmation email for my flight arrived moments later.

~The Next Day~

Stepping out of the car, the humid Florida air hit me like a familiar embrace. I tipped the driver, with fresh bills a small price for the journey. "Thanks, man." He nodded and pulled away as I grabbed my bag, the weight of it grounding me. Walking up the familiar path to Druitt's door, my heart pounded with a mixture of anticipation and trepidation. I knocked twice, the sound feeling loud in the quiet neighborhood.

The wait felt like an eternity, each passing second amplifying my anxiety. Finally, the door creaked open, revealing Druitt. She was dressed in comfortable shorts and an oversized tee, her hair piled messily on top of her head. Even in her casual state, the sight of her stole my breath. I must have been staring for too long because her voice, soft yet laced with surprise, broke through my reverie.

"Joshua!"

I snapped back to attention, I gave a quick nod. She stepped aside, gesturing for me to come in. "Hey," I followed her inside, my gaze sweeping over her place. It was exactly as I remembered it, a comforting familiarity in the midst of our recent turmoil. I walked into the living room, sinking onto the familiar couch.

"Uhh, what are you doing here, Josh?" Her arms were crossed, a defensive posture that made my stomach clench.

I furrowed my eyebrows, my gaze earnest. "It's been a few days. I thought we could talk now that we've both had some time to cool down."

She remained on the other side of the couch, her expression guarded. I took that as my cue to continue, the words I'd rehearsed on the plane feeling inadequate now that I was actually here.

"I just want to understand why you didn't tell me about Melo." The question hung in the air, heavy with unspoken emotions.

I watched as she sighed, the tension in her shoulders evident. Finally, her eyes met mine, and I saw a flicker of vulnerability within their depths. "Honestly, Jey, I don't really know why." She ran a hand through her messy bun, a gesture of frustration. "I cut that part of my life out. The hurt he caused me… I just never want to think about it again." Her voice was soft, almost a whisper. "I didn't mean for you to go in there blind. I genuinely apologize for that."

I nodded slowly, understanding dawning in my chest. Her silence hadn't been malicious; it had been a form of self-preservation. "I just want you to see where I was coming from too. He was coming at me about you, and I was in defense mode. I felt like I was protecting us."

"I understand that, and I don't blame you for it," she conceded, a small nod of agreement passing between us.

A fragile truce seemed to settle in the room. "Come here," she said softly, her voice losing some of its guarded edge. She slowly got up and moved towards me. I reached out, pulling her gently onto my lap, the familiar weight of her a comforting anchor.

I began to softly rub circles on her thigh, the simple touch a silent apology. "I also want to apologize for the things I said back there. I let my emotions get the best of me. I didn't mean those things." The memory of our heated argument still felt like a raw wound.

She shook her head, her gaze softening. "I accept, babe." She leaned down, pressing a tender kiss to my lips. As she started to pull away, a wave of longing washed over me. I instinctively wrapped my hand around the nape of her neck, deepening the kiss, a low moan escaping her lips as our connection reignited.

Druitt POV

Jey lift us off the couch, I instantly wrapped my legs around his waist. He walked us up the stairs til he got to my room. He sat me on the bed pulling away only to take off my shirt, leaving me in my shorts since I didn't have a bra on.

He leaned down, his lips finding my sweet spot surely leaving a mark. I moaned as he trailed down til he got to my left breast, attaching to it. He used his other hand to show the other attention soon switching sides. He came back up bringing me into another kiss. 

His hands pulled on the hem of my shorts and I helped him take it off. 

"Hmmm no bra or no underwear?" he sat up raising his eyebrows.

I chuckled "what a girl can't be comfortable?" I teased. He smirked as he took off his shirt, his tribal tattoos on full display. He took my legs pulling me towards him, earning a glare from me.

"Fix ya face"

"I-" I was going to say something until Jey took his fingers and slowly pumped in and out of me, applying pleasure to my bud of nerves. I moaned out at the feeling. 

"Hmm what were you going to say?" he leaned , kissing down my legs til he got to my center. He soon removed his fingers, licking the juices off, before taking a long swipe of his tongue up my slick folds. My breath hitched as he continued. I soon felt that familiar feeling building up.

"F-fuck baby" I arched my back off the bed "I'm getting c-close"

He stopped what he was doing, leaning up bringing me into a lustful kiss, tasting myself. "On all fours right now" he said in a commanding tone, which only turned me on more. I turned over, making sure my arch was perfect. I looked back as Jey dropped his shorts. He stroked himself as he lined himself up. "You better not run" I soon felt him enter me slowly, letting me get used to him. After a few slow thrusts, his strokes became faster and deeper.

I moaned out as he hit my spot a few times. So much pleasure was flowing through my body and I couldn't take it. I moved up a bit on the bed, Jey's grip tighten around my waist. I soon felt a smack to my ass and I moaned out. "What I say? ain't no running take it like I know you can" 

I felt myself getting close and the pleasure was becoming too much. I reached my hands back onto his abdomen to slow him down. He groaned pulling me up, my back flushed against his sweaty chest. He wrapped his hand around my throat, his other hand circling my clit stimulating me more. "Look at you, you're doing so well." he laid openmouthed kisses along the side of my neck. "Tell me who you belong to"

I moaned out loud as I felt my orgasm nearing "B-baby I'm close"

"You better not til you answer me" he growled, starting to go deeper and harder, only heightening the sensation "who do you belong"

"Fuck! Baby I belong to you" I moaned as my orgasm took over, Jey rode it out. He soon turned me over, laying in-between my legs. He soon re-entered me, going at a slow pace. 

I moaned as Jey also slowly kissed and sucked on the side of my neck. Soon that familiar feeling built up again as I wrapped my legs around him tighter. 

"Mmm wait baby right there" he continued hitting that spot til I felt my release. 

"You look so pretty, taking me like the champ you are" he continued stroking as we both rode out our orgasm together, a low, deep fuck leaving his mouth. He leaned down bringing me into a soft kiss. He got up, coming back with a warm wash clothe cleaning me off. He handed me my shirt while putting his shorts back on. 

He pulled me towards him, laying a kiss on my forehead. I found it easy to fall asleep in his embrace.

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[blazinghotfoggynights]

Huh? I miss the days of long ago when this fandom was not messy.

I'm scrolling Tumblr after a few weeks of RL chaos, don't ask, hoping to enjoy the pics, memes, gifs, etc. Then comes the off the wall posts.

I was left scratching my head and wondering where that take in those posts came from.

The take in those posts? Eddie is abusive.

What the actual...?

Because he got in Buck's face? Because he wrote a truthful note to hide the surprise he planned to make his best friend feel better and as an apology for going off? (I saw someone call that gaslighting. Sometimes you have to withhold information or even outright lie to pull off a surprise. I know that's confidential knowledge that only a few people know. 🙄)

Grief makes people act out in different ways. You want to know the funny thing? When they lash out, picking fights, yelling, arguing, they tend to aim it at people they are close to. Why? It's safe. You know they will likely understand and forgive you. Have some of you never grieved?

Please make this make sense. Eddie and Buck both lost the man who helped them find their footing in life and built a family for the 118. Eddie was right. Buck has been spiraling. Eddie getting in Buck's face was not him negating Buck's feelings. It was Eddie's sad and emotionally constipated way of saying, "I'm hurting too! Look at me! You know me. You know I'm not okay."

Did you forget he turned away from Buck and quieted himself right after? Because that is who Eddie is. He hides his emotions. He doesn't know how to break. But when he does, who does he break in front of? Buck.

That scene was the tiny crack in the armor Edmundo Diaz wears 24/7. It was his version of a cry for attention from the one person he has canonically been completely flayed open for.

So I have to ask this, if Eddie Diaz is abusive what is Tommy Kinard? Some people who are dragging the character of Eddie Diaz for his telling Buck that they are all suffering have cheered Tommy Kinard and his relationship with Buck. If Eddie is no good and abusive, what does that make Tommy Kinard?

When Buck tried to talk to Tommy about his worry for Bobby after his heart attack, Tommy coldly pointed out Buck's biological father is alive then turned the conversation into innuendo.

Tommy Kinard didn't understand Buck, and the rest of the 118, being fed up with Gerrard. That alone could be a long standalone post, so I will leave it at that.

When Buck was afflicted with that..erm..rash...Tommy added something that was clearly asking for Buck to heal so he could get some. Tommy wasn't worried about Buck, just how it was affecting his sex life.

He gave Buck basketball tickets for their anniversary. Buck? Basketball? Really? Thoughtless as hell.

Twice he saw an opening when Buck was spiraling and he took advantage of it to get with Buck. When Buck was worried about losing Eddie to Tommy, he jumped in and kissed him. When "the competition" was gone, and Buck's level of sobriety was questionable, Tommy didn't hesitate to jump into bed with him and try to rekindle that toxic relationship. The one he ended by telling Buck he always knew it would not last. Tommy saying he always knew the relationship would end with a broken heart wasn't romantic or loving. It was his way of saying he knew going into it there was no future, but he didn't tell Buck that.

Imagine someone dating you knowing they plan to bail at some point. Is that what caring, loving people do? Or selfish, lying jerks?

Eddie admitted he hurt Buck and tried to right the wrong. But he's an abuser? Tommy keeps doing wrong. But he's Buck perfect match?

Are we watching the same show?

[zeldaversed]

Malink or Zelink? Which is better?

I think it's less of a question of which is better, but more which one makes more sense.

This has been a long-standing debate with Zelda fans everywhere. Canonically, Twilight is Time's blood descendant, so he must have married someone. So let's talk about this.

Clearly, I'm not going to make everyone happy with this analysis. It's only my opinion based off of what we already know. Just to be clear, I like both OoT Zelink and Malink. I'm a sucker for both. So let's get started.

First, let's talk about OoT Zelink. To keep it simple, we're only going to talk about the Child Era.

There's not a lot about that. It's the less popular of the two theories in my experience, but that doesn't make it any less valid. Zelda is the only one who stuck by Link's side beside Navi, even though she was disguised as Sheik. When he returned to his child self and came to her, she knew he had clearly been through it, even if she wasn't particularly sure what it was. They had a connection.

Zelda is the only one who knew what he'd been through. She knew about Kokiri Forest and the death of the Great Deku Tree, she knew about his quests to find the Sacred Stones, all of it. Then Ganondorf attacked, and she was forced to flee. Link was imprisoned by the Master Sword until he was old enough to wield it, and their actions allowed him access to the Sacred Realm. For seven years, Zelda hung onto this guilt disguised as Sheik and hiding right underneath of Ganondorf's nose. She waited seven years for him when everyone else was sure that Hyrule was done for.

When it's all over and Link comes back, he has the Ocarina of Time. Zelda has been having dreams about this for as long as she can remember, and now he's really here? She realizes that he's been through more than anyone else has and understands this.

It's unclear what all happens, but in Majora's Mask, they have a moment in the beginning of the game when she entrusts the ocarina to him. He settles Termina's business, reliving days and days and days and stopping the entire moon from falling, then returns to find Hyrule in a state of pre-war. He probably has traveled everywhere trying to find his purpose and can only do so in Hyrule, fighting for his country, because he feels like that's all he can do.

Zelda and Link probably work closely together during the war and the subsequent capture and execution of Ganondorf. They have a profound connection by this point. Maybe he even is prompted to tell her everything that's happened to him when she wasn't there.

However, here's where things get a little fuzzy.

No matter what, if Twilight is Link's descendant, Time would have had to have had children.

If Link and Zelda had children, then that would have made them royalty or illegitimate, if Link and Zelda weren't technically allowed to be together because he's only a knight and she's the princess; nobody knows he's the hero, remember? In either case, Link ends up in the Lost Woods/Faron Woods area and ends up dying with regrets, becoming a stalfos. This leaves Zelda and their children without his protection, which may very well be one of his regrets. My theory is that, knowing that Ganondorf might one day return, Zelda sent her children away (either to farmlands if you consider only the game, or to the village on the desert border if you consider manga canon too) to presumably keep them safe.

What I'm saying is OoT Zelink works pretty well. Link and Zelda have an obvious connection that becomes romantic over time, and eventually (whether it's allowed or not) they have at least one kid that ends up being sent away to keep it safe after Link's untimely death. Maybe in his death, Link follows his descendants and tries to keep them safe, which is why he finds Twilight so easily.

Now for Malink.

Now, Malink works too and I love it, don't get me wrong. But. Link and Malon don't really have as much of a connection. Even in the manga, Malon makes a comment about how she missed her chance with Link because he's talking about Zelda all the time.

My theory for this is that after the events of Majora's Mask, Link returned to Hyrule and became a knight. He and Malon became friends, then something more. He may or may not tell her everything he's been through, solely because he fears it could destroy their relationship because it's a lot to take in. But they bond over their love of horses, and they fall in love without a shadow of a doubt. They get married, and have children, and Link still somehow ends up in the Lost Woods/Faron Woods area dying with those regrets. But, his children don't need to go into hiding. They're just farmers, nothing very conspicuous about that.

And whether you think the manga is canon or not, it works both ways too. If we lean closer to manga, we can say that his descendants wanted to follow in his footsteps and become knights, hence why Twilight comes from a long line of them.

My conclusion here is that both Zelink and Malink both work, they both make sense, and they're both good love stories, although I will be the first to admit that OoT Zelink is a more juicy one with more angst with a semi-happy ending before Link's death.

If you have anything you'd like to add or you want to be a part of the tag list, please let me know!

[2hff]

People are screaming about Eddie's "red flag" behavior but completely ignoring Buck's own more subtle "red flag" behavior. Buck's use of passive-aggression and "everyone is against me" is behavior used to emotionally manipulate Eddie. It's a tactic to make Buck feel he's "right" and Eddie "wrong" because people aren't grieving the way Buck thinks they should. And it is basically explicitly outed as manipulative victim-hood behavior when he throws out the line, "Sorry, I'm sad that Bobby's dead." (You don't say that to a person who is grieving the same person without it being disrespectful and callous on your part to the person's relationship with the dead, their grieving process, and you ARE making it all about yourself.) If you're pissed that Eddie, WHO IS ALSO GRIEVING, expressed .5 seconds of anger, SPONTANEOUSLY...then you should also be pissed at Buck for entering into that conversation fully aware how his words would hurt (plus essentially trying to actively instigate a fight) and still chose to say them.

[sweaterkittensahoy]

Hey, if you shop at a small business on Fridays, please still go shop at that small business tomorrow. My local comic shop put up an explainer on Insta that they need their regular Friday business to do things like make payroll and pay the mortgage. One of the reasons I'm against the boycott tomorrow is because it says it's about taking on the big companies that rolled back DEI but also said you weren't supposed to shop anywhere at all, which makes the message of the boycott very muddled.

If you love and support your local businesses, please keep up with your regular shopping routine if you have one. Those small businesses need their expected income to keep open.

[thelionheartedo3]

saw the skin of leg for the first time since february. scary.

[beef-brisket]

The crowd continued to belt molotovs, bricks, and whatever else they thought could do damage to the palace. Each new hit or smash grew Lucifer's anger. This was the house he lived with Lilith in, ever since they fell. But most importantly, it contained the room that Charlie grew up in.

Lucifer : You fucking heathens!

The sinners glared up at the king as he flew down. They turned their weapons towards him, but he magicked a force field, keeping everything away from him.

Lucifer: What the hell, Angel?! I was so, so fucking close to bringing Charlie here! And your answer to that is to burn her home down?!

Angel: Fuck you, Lucifer! I sat outside, waiting for your short ass! I was ready to fucking go! And nothing! You left me there! But what a waste of my fucking time- you're worse than Adam! In every fucking way!

Lucifer: How fucking dare you! I was about to come see you-!

Angel: Fuck up! You're a liar, a fucking liar! All I want is Charlie! And if she saw how much things have gone to shit, she would be fucking disgusted! Look at what you've done to Pride! To Hell! The overlords are in power again, new fucking sinners are scared when they get here- and they run to those fuckers! What Adam had set up actually evened out the fucking power balance! Val fucking controls me, asshole! FULLY! I barely sleep- barely fucking eat-!

Lucifer growled: That's not MY problem, Angel! That's yours! You were a fool to sign your soul over to him, and now you have to deal with it!

Angel: You motherfucker-!

Lucifer: The FIRST motherfucker~.

Angel: ...Charlie was wrong about you. You are a failure. You are a fucking WASTE! You're pathetic, Lucifer! A pathetic, wife stealing CUNT! Who couldn't handle not being good at something- so you have to fucking ruin everything you fucking touch-!

Everyone gasped and stepped back as their new king swooped down and thrust his fist through Angel's chest, making his words and breath catch in his throat.

The sinner grabbed Lucifer's shoulder, trying to push him away, but Lucifer only moved closer, now pushing his whole arm through him.

Lucifer: Don't you EVER speak of shit you know NOTHING about! You have no idea how hard i had it! How much Lilith and I had to fight! We built this place with our bare fucking hands- only for you worthless assholes to destroy it! You're the monsters! You're all the fucking devil! Not. Me! I'm a revolutionary! I created this place! I'm the fucking KING!

HI IT'S ME-! I HAVE AN AU FOR YOU!

God of War!au

👀👀👀

It's set during the extermination. Adam and Lucifer's fight is like Thor and Kratos' fight.

Adam: You think you can fall down here, start a family, and get a clean slate after all of the shit you caused?!

Lucifer glares, struggling to hit back Adam's axe.

Adam: That's not how it works! You're a destroyer, like me!

Lucifer's quickly lost strength, and Adam manages to smack him over the head with his axe, killing him.

Everyone screams as Lucifer falls back, golden blood running down his head.

Adam: Oh no. I say when we're done, asshole!

Lucifer's eyes snap open as Adam shoots holy light into him. He convulsed on the ground as his senses started coming back.

Lucifer: S-Sto-.

Adam: Fight. Me. Asshole. Like you fucking mean it.

@beef-brisket

(Interesting)

Lucifer: A, Adam n, n, no-

Adam growled: I have had enough of this! You WILL fight me!!!

Lucifer may be battered and bruised and barely able to lift a single finger but because of his pride he was unable to beg for mercy.

Lucifer: D, do it! ...pussy!

That was it as Adam felt all his hatred and rage boil down to him in that point with one clean cut, Lucifer's head rolled down.

The demons and angels could only watch as Adam proceeded to chop Lucifer's body into piece after piece.

When Charlie finally realized what Adam was doing after her moment of shock had passed she screamed.

Her screams echoed across the pride as everyone shook from her mournful cry.

Adam stopped what he was doing and turned to the princess, watching her with a mere raised brow. She trampled forward, ready to enact vengeance on her fallen father.

However, Adam was ready for her.

He had been the moment she was born.

When she had gotten close enough he shot a powerful beam of holy light in her direction, disintegrating her entire existence.

The so-called anti-Christ was nothing more than a pile of ash.

Vaggie: CHARLIE!!!

Oh yeah, he almost forgot about the traitor.

He flew right up to her and decided that an extra punishment would be in order. He was no longer taking disrespect from a former soldier.

He held her in a vice grip and refused to let go. He saw the demons around her moving quickly to attack him, but he moved faster.

He took off to the sky high above. But not too far away that she wouldn't be able to see what was to happen.

Adam: NOW!!!

The sinner's eyes widened as the remaining exorcist girls sliced the hotel's residents with their spears.

The former soldier could only watch in despair as the people she had grown close to were butchered and mutilated before her.

Vaggie: NOOOO!!!!!

Adam: You only have yourself to blame, Vaggie.

He then gripped onto the base of her wings and started to swing her around. He threw her so hard that soon she could feel the familiar sting of her wings separating from her body.

When her dizziness dissipated, she could see Adam smiling cruelly at her while he held onto the only thing that gave her the ability to fly.

She screamed as she hurdled towards the earth. Was this what it was like to feel true helplessness?

When she had reached the near ground, she was met with only the steel of angelic metal. She gasped as she began to cough up blood.

How could this have happened? They were the good guys. They were supposed to win.

Good prevails evil.

That's how the story goes...or at least how it's supposed to.

Her vision began to blur as she began to feel cold. She saw two figures approach her. Immediately telling who it was when she heard her voice.

Lute: A debt has been paid...But I think I'll make do on my promise.

She unsheathed her sword and, with one swoop, cut out her good eye. Watching it pop right out as at long last the traitor was dead.

In the midst of it all, there was Adam with his right hand standing by proudly. The cannibal army left not too long ago. Not wanting to take any chances with their souls.

However, too bad for them Adam wasn't finished. In fact, he was just getting started.

Adam: I have had enough.