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unsettledink · 4 years ago

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Back in the days of LJ, I used to try and do a post at the end of each year, looking back primarily at fandom and fic. I fell out of the habit when everything moved to tumblr, and then it seemed like I didn’t have anything to say since I wasn’t writing or really participating any.

But I always liked the idea of it, because I love to be overly reflective on stuff. And talk about my fic. Any excuse! I shuffled around some of the topics I used back then and added a few I’ve seen around that I liked. It got… long, because I TALK, so I split into two sections.

Your main fandom of the year?

Marvel (MCU) for sure. Primarily with characters from Spider-Man and Iron Man movies.

Your favorite film watched this year?

The Old Guard - I saw a couple trailers and everything about it looked like catnip. ‘It’s probably going to be so dumb, but I don’t even care,’ I thought. And then it was so good. It was so much fun and so much smarter than I expected and I loved each and every character and it just made me happy in so many ways.

Your favorite book read this year?

Red, White, and Royal Blue, Casey McQuiston - I read it twice this year actually. It’s so… cute isn’t the right world. Sweet and hopeful and soft and comforting and intense. I liked every single character which is pretty rare. I cried during the sad parts and then again at the happy ending, like straight up sobbed - both times. I already want to read it again.

Your favorite tv show watched this year?

Schitt’s Creek - I started it on a whim and because a lot of people had said it was good. The episodes were short so it wasn’t a huge time investment. The first season was a little rough, but there were enough funny moments that I hung on, and then… I kept getting fonder and fonder of these idiots as they grew. And THEN… it kept not disappointing me?

You grow to expect certain scripts, twists, jokes, especially in queer story lines. To wait for the bad thing to happen, because it always does. Instead, Schitt’s Creek kept going, ‘hey, here’s the set up for that! Guess what? We’re not doing it. Here’s the happy version instead.’ The relief of having that happen again and again - the last season I’ve watched (I’m sort of saving 6) I cried a bunch but it was always because I was happy.

Your favorite album or song to listen to this year?

1896 - I’ve been waiting for the new Steam Powered Giraffe album so eagerly for aaaaaages. Finally getting recordings of Zero’s songs! Lying Awake remains my favorite off the album, with Eat Your Heart and Bad Days on the Horizon high up there as well. I’m loving what Zero brings to the band.

Your best new fandom discovery of the year?

I don’t know if I really did discover that much? I stuck pretty closely to old fandoms and the ones I picked up in 2019. Maybe Zodiac? It was definitely inspiring, and I want to write and read more in it.

Maybe the couple discords I joined? I still really dislike discord and am not on there much, and mostly lurk when I am, but having somewhere vaguely like the comms I remember makes me feel a little less isolated. It’s the potential, that maybe if I said something I might make a friend, or someone might actually want to hear what I say.

Your biggest fandom disappointment of the year?

The Watch - I mean, I knew it was going to be a disaster with every word said during pre production. I wasn’t ever going to be happy with it. And then it came out and was even worse and uglier and … disrespectful not just of the source material but of actual people connected to Terry. I’m beyond disappointed that this is what we got, and it’s probably going to be a long time before we get anything else.

Devil All the Time was terrible, but I didn’t have especially high hopes. It still didn’t manage to meet them. Yikes.

The most missed of your old fandoms?

Maybe MASH? Someone I follow started talking about it and I was reminded all over again of the wonderful fics in that fandom. I went looking and a lot are gone (still on my computer, lol, but not online), but rereading was such a trip. A slightly depressing trip, but still.

The fandom you haven't tried yet, but want to?

Hmm. I’ve kind of not had the energy to invest in other fandoms at the moment? When The Witcher was having it’s big moment back in January, I had a feeling I might enjoy it enough to fall headfirst into the fandom, so I avoided watching it. Ikr? I don’t have the time or the energy to actively seek anything out.

Your biggest fan anticipations for the New Year?

SO EXCITED about Winter’s Orbit. I mean, the third Spider-Man movie for sure, with worry. The second Venom movie, ugh yes. I have tentative hopes for Jungle Cruise? Jumanji was stellar and I always enjoy Dwayne. I have both hope and dread for the new Suicide Squad - I did love Birds of Prey, so if it’s along those lines, yay. The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard because it should be some fun garbage, my favorite kind. I don’t know how I feel about Dune, but, uh, I’m anticipating it. It seems highly unlikely it will actually happen, but The Wheel of Time TV series.

I want to be excited about Black Widow but it’s hard. It’s not the story I’ve been wanting to see, and I’m angry about Natasha not getting a movie until she’s dead.

You know. If any of it is released for real.

The Good:

I moved to a better place. I got a better paying, better benefits, better environment job that lets me work from home. The house acquired 3-7 more cats depending on the month. I was able to get some serious problems on my car fixed. I have insurance and was able to start on some health stuff. No one I know got sick or died. I wrote a LOT.

The Bad:

Aside from the obvious? Depression hitting extra hard during the winter. Having to put two kittens to sleep. Have my car be hit three times in our parking lot. Being driven INSANE by one of the cats for months while the vets were all closed. Kidney stone. Dealing with several health problems. Stalling for months on Gotcha.

The Indifferent:

Not leaving the house often or easily. Enjoying a new fandom but not doing great at making connections (still real awkward, bud). Raising kittens and saying goodbye. Need new tires. Reading a lot of fic but not a lot of books. Having more pay but more expenses as well (wth insurance??).

2020 fic stats

Number of stories: 39

Number of fandoms: 6? Or 2, if you cluster the others under mcu

Total number of words: 152049

Average word count per story: 4kish

Longest fic: Causality (18k, P/Q)

Shortest fic: Can’t, Won’t (1k, P/Q)

Most comments received: Sieche (49, T/P)

Fandom you wrote the most of: MCU Spider-Man - I only wrote TWO fics that didn’t feature that fandom, wow. And one of those was still MCU.

Fandom you wrote the least of: Zodiac (1!)

Events you participated in: Marvel Trumps Hate, Kinktober, IornspidersGeorg Exchange, Starker Festivals Exchange, MCU Secret Santa, Spiderio Big Bang

Looking back, did you write more fic than you thought you would this year, less, or about what you'd predicted?

SO MUCH MORE OMG. I mean, even just counting posted stuff! (I probably wrote a solid 300k of Gotcha this year.) I did not expect or plan on doing Kinktober, so that’s a whole 31 fics right there. I also wasn’t planning on doing any exchanges - I have a History - but then I did three? And beyond that, I did not expect for everything to get so LONG.

Topic you wrote that you would never have predicted in January:

Tony/Quentin. Goddammit @the-me09 They were like hey, they could be interesting! And while I agreed, I had no ideas for them. THEN they had to go and write Just Bodies That Collide and next thing I know, I’ve got ten fics featuring them and two-six series focused on them or Peter/Quentin/Tony. What the fuck.

Leitmotif of the year:

Vulnerability, I think. I had a bunch of things typed up and they all circle back to vulnerability in the end; sex, being seen, being wanted, sharing trauma, asking for help, trying something new. Offering a soft spot in the hopes it won’t be hurt.

Favorite character to write about:

Tony Stark, for sure. There are just a bunch of slightly different takes, and a lot of canon to work with (kind of frustrating too though). And I’m a sucker for emotionally damaged snarky traumatized characters that are viewed poorly both in universe and out.

Favorite kind of fic to write:

This year? Fluff and smut combined. Maybe that’s not the right term really. I keep looking for and writing, even in the angstiest fics, for those soft moments. Sure, maybe it’s a super smutty kink scene, but I want the affection to be obvious. Maybe everyone is consumed by guilt, but I want it to be based in caring too much. Maybe there’s no real love, just sex and even that’s messed up, but I want to find that tiny bit of fondness.

And I want happy endings. Or endings that look like they’re going to be happy, at least, even if there’s all the angst first. I don’t think I’ve killed anyone this year? Who AM I?

Biggest disappointment:

Not finishing the rough draft of Gotcha. I was making such good progress in 2019, from August to December. Even after the move, I basically finished part 6 in January. I fumbled around and fussed with 1 a lot, but that had already been given one draft, really, and I got through half of 4 before I slowed to a stop. I’ve barely gotten anything accomplished on it since June. Bits and pieces here and there, but nothing significant, not like I was doing. I can excuse October, due to 80k invested in Kinktober (yikes!), but aside from that… I’m sad. I’ll finish it eventually, but I really thought I could have the first draft done in a year. I’m sitting at about 480k out of what I’m almost certain will be 700k.

Biggest surprise:

Kinktober! It was kind of spur of the moment, decided just a week in advance. I’ve tried month long or even like, 20-25 day long challenges and I don’t think I’ve ever completed one. I thought there was a good chance I’d do so again, so I gave myself a little help and made my own list of prompts, things I knew I liked and hadn’t done much of yet. And it worked? I actually completed it, what the hell? Despite spending five days travelling near the end! Despite falling behind in getting ahead and writing a bunch of stories the day they were to be posted! Despite apparently forgetting how to do short form!

I, uh, could have done without the spawning of eleven series or sequels or continuations jfc WHY SELF.

Something you learned this year:

Ideas breed ideas. I swear to god, the second I sit down to think through a current idea, I wake up the next morning with three more.

Words need to be restocked. I need to consume new - not rereads, not fic - content every so often to refresh my word bank. It is astonishing how quickly writing goes again after I’ve done so.

I can write so much more than I thought I could. I can do so much more than I thought I could. Yes, I can complete challenges without dropping out early. Yes, I can do exchanges and not regret it. Yes, I can write more than 100k, more than 200k, more and more - and I can write 10k+ easily too. Though I wouldn’t mind if I could once again write less than 10k without feeling like I’ve cut off in the middle.

My time is shrinking, and if I want to write as much, I’m going to have to make the time. I can’t rely on three days off a week, on seven hours of uninterrupted overnight shifts, on hyper focused writing binges that leave everything else around me on fire.

Most memorable comment:

So, so many! I can’t pick one. I’ve been really lucky to get a bunch of really detailed, enthusiastic, analyzing comments across all different fics. One of the types that always sticks with me are the ones like ‘I didn’t think/know I liked this ship/kink/twist, but fuck, apparently I do? You made me, what the hell?’.

What, if anything, are you going to try to do differently in your writing in the new year?

So with writing Gotcha but not posting until it’s done, my view of what I’ve written vs anyone else’s is extremely skewed. I’m sitting here thinking, hey I’m 400k in and got another 10k done today, so much writing! While anyone looking at my AO3 account (for most of the year) is like, you’re averaging three months between fics :(

All that to say I want to try and get something posted more frequently while I’m working on Gotcha.

Also, writing for kinktober was really interesting - pushing myself to write every single day, often for that day’s post, forced me to get back into shorter form fic. Which used to be all I did? But it was surprisingly hard to just stop and not write more. So I’d like to challenge myself to write more fics under 10k at least. Maybe even under 5k though that might be asking a lot lol. I might get there with the many continuations of those fics I’d like to do. Does that count?

Goals:

I want to hit 365 fics. :) I’m only 32 away!

Aside from writing -

I’ve really enjoyed the reading record sideblog I started this year. I’ve let it lapse a little the past month or so, but I’d like to keep it going strong.

I’d like to leave a lot more comments. I want to get better about allowing imperfection - I want to write The Best Comment, but in the end? Probably 90% of fic writers are going to be happier with a comment expressing enjoyment in any way over no comment at all.

And not just on fics, but on general posts as well. It’s hard not to feel… weird and stupid and invasive and rude leaving any sort of comment on someone’s post if I don’t know them at least a little. I have godawful rejection sensitive dysphoria and a lot of interactions that ended poorly; I’m really not good at people. But as dumb as it feels to say those things, I know I am thrilled and warmed and happier when there’s a reblog with tags or a note or a comment or an ask or just, any small interaction that shows someone out there notices and cares, at least a little. There’s no reason I can’t at least try to offer that to other people.

I’d like to make/run a couple challenges of my own, later in the year. I’m still figuring out what I want to do and what I could do. I’m really interested in doing something that’s not focused on creators, but the readers; some sort of comment or rec challenge maybe.

I want to find a cheerleader for Gotcha. I’m struggling to keep up my motivation to write it when it’s already in my head, where I can ‘read’ it any time. There’s a line between depending too much on external validation and trying to generate all your validation yourself, and I’m getting to a point where I think I need to ask for help (gasp! The hardest thing EVER).

(Part Two: Pick Some Fics)

#end of year #unsettled rambles

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maladaptive-ninja-returns · 5 years ago

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The Bad Guy (3)

Bucky x fem!Reader

Smitten Kitten

Theme: It’s a good day in New York City for Bucky Barnes, who seems to feel right at home till his morning is disrupted by a bad guy. Maybe New York isn’t the same place after all. Now he has teamed up with the Bad Guy to fight the good fight. But this Bad Guy is bringing things on his surface he never knew he had

Chapter warnings: horny dumb asses and one thicc ass cock blocker

A/N: @writing-prompt-s once gave a prompt last year that stuck with me…I don’t remember the exact wordings but it had something to do with the reader/writer being the villain having a crush on the hero, always finding excuses (or crimes) to meet them. One day they are getting their ass beat and you decide to jump in and save the day. This one is same but with a liiiiiiiitle twist

Word Count: I hate periods!! Unless someone is paying me for this blood and mucus please just make it staaahp! I don’t know how many of you will get the reference of those dog and cat names. But oh my God if I could hug each and every one of you who reads, reblogs and comments on my fic I would hug the living souls outta you...five...people!!!!! Hnnnnghhhhh!!!!!

MASTERLIST in bio, love. Tags are open

“Are you sure this is the location?”

“That’s what she texted Bucky.”

“...I don’t have a good feeling about this.”

“...you…don't have a good feeling about...this mission or Y/N texting Bucky?”

Steve retreated his gaze from the binoculars to give Natasha a knowing look. The latter just shrugged her shoulders with the display of her innocent face. “He didn’t show you the text. He just told you the loc-esh. It’s normal to worry about it.”

Steve sighed and went back to the binoculars, looking at Bucky playing with a rock at the entrance of the warehouse before kicking it away. Steve hated the idea of Bucky wearing his favourite grey Henley shirt for a meeting with a bad guy.

“If I didn’t know him any better-” Tony’s voice crackled on the comms- “I’d say he was going on a date when he asked me if he could borrow my cologne. And if we go by our history, I really don’t know him any better.”

“Come on, guys. Cut Cap some slack,” Barton- who was screening the whole area from the top of the local water tank a couple of miles above the hill- added, “it’s not every day you see your best friends fall for the bad guys. Twice.”

A giggle and snicker eroded through the comms and Steve rolled his eyes while pushing himself into the seat. “Thanks for the input, Barton.”

“Alright, everybody shush,” Natasha interrupted the tease session, “she’s here.”

A Land Rover smoothly turned into the rundown estate to come and stop by Bucky’s Mustang. Those stooping shoulders suddenly found their rigidity and turned towards the car to welcome whoever was about to step out.

For a hot summer morning with plans to make plans to take down an entire cartel, you were dressed in a floral sundress. Brown shades covered your eyes and most of your face from that merciless sun. What they did not cover was the smile on those naked lips that had been painted the most enticing red Bucky had seen, apart from the gun you held in your dominant hand.

“Hello Sergeant,” you sang while taking patient steps in those white wedges that were in no way shoes made for a fight, “did you get my texts?”

Bucky, the soldier had already evaluated all the entries and exits, the type of gun, it’s range, the best stances if it came to playing offence or defence. Bucky the himbo from the past, though, was having a hard time concentrating on anything else but that suggestive smile and tilt of your head; the light hitting your hair perfectly while the languid breeze annoyed your strands now and then.

“Of course, that’s why I’m here, aren’t I?”

You tsked. “You know what I mean Sarge.”

Of course, he knew what you meant. He could feel his chest flutter by just the thought of those texts last night.

You: meet me @ the warehouse on boulevard street tomorrow. We’ll come up with a plan to bust those bitches. Gimme a suitable time.

Bucky: Ok. How does 12 sound?

You: In this weather? Sarge, we’ll be sweating like a bunch of pigs under the sun!

Bucky: *typing* How about 7? am?

You: Do you feel like going skinny dipping tomorrow with me?

Bucky:

You: I know a really good spot a little away from here. Might end up on a road trip.

Bucky: *typing* I think we should concentrate on the miss-

You: Where do you live, btw?

You: *sends location* This is my place

Bucky: *erases everything* shouldn’t you keep your home location to yourself?

You: Hmm...But if I do that, how will you come over?

Bucky: *silence* *types* why would I want to-

You: It’s not every day I feel like sharing a bottle of some good stuff with someone.

You: It is soooo hot. I’m taking my pants off.

Bucky:

You: The top’s gone too. Phew! Just my lingerie now.

*one minute later*

You: Yeah, it’s not working. Bra is never comfy. Ever.

You: It’s better now! The night breeze is hitting every sweat bead on the spot.

You: Every window is open now.

You: Hmmm...Sarge. Are you thinking what I think you’re thinking?

You: Well, thinking isn't gonna do you any good, Bucky.

You: Thinking about my clothes on the floor.

You: Thinking about my skin.

You: Thinking about how much more this wind is getting action than someone you know.

You: Thinking about my hands roaming on my chest.

You: And then my stomach.

You: And then down further…

By this time the phone was a crushed pile of junk in his hand and his cock a frustrated bulge in his boxers. Oh, the dissatisfaction of not being able to push you against a wall and grind his needy bulge against you was frustrating at best. The want to see you naked in the sheets under him while you called out his name increased with every second. Why did you have to be such a fucking tease?! A great one at that. Now he did want to dash out of the facility, steal one of Tony’s cars and drive to your home to take your by your hair and shut that pretty mouth of yours. He did think about it. But imagining you seeing him at your doorstep stopped him for some reason. Instead, he got out of his boxers, jumped on his bed and took care of that urge himself, fantasizing you, your touch, your moans, your highs with his hitting the rocks, till his legs were shivering and he had to stop himself from groaning out loud.

“I...fell asleep.”

Your tongue played with your upper lip and a tiny shudder in his pants was enough to tell him, you knew it was a lie. A lie through and through. There was a point when he started to fear that you might even know what he did after reading those messages.

"Sure, ya did," you chuckled the words through your teeth. "Anyways-" lifting your gun up casually to stroke it- "I was wondering about you last night. A lot. And there were things I did not like."

The safety clicked off and your arm turned straight to point it right at Bucky's forehead.

On the other side of the binoculars, Steve was already shouting his team to move in. Natasha was already driving forward, skidding to a stop right next to Bucky's wheels.

You could hear the commotion all around you but you were more interested in the disappointment building up on Bucky's beautiful face, looking at his pal with a hint of resentment.

"That-" you tilted your head a little in Steve's direction- "is what I don't like. You thought I wouldn't find out?"

"I told you to stay away, Steve!" Bucky yelled at him.

"Alright, this is over," Steve fumed from where he stood, "I knew we should not have trusted you."

With the right force, the gun crunched in your palms as turned towards Steve. You said nothing to the blonde. Removing your shades, you nodded at Natasha. "Hey, Nat."

"Y/N. How's Mr Fuzzy Boy."

"It's Fluffy Boy. And he still hates you. Talking about boys-" you looked around with your arms across your chest- "I thought you would have knocked some sense into them by now."

Natasha shrugged. “Not really. No.”

“She tried but we are too stubborn and our egos are bigger than our-”

“Hey, Stark,” you announced at the voice breaking out through Natasha's car. Turning to Bucky you sucked at your teeth. “I honestly thought you were doing this little team up because you wanted to work with me. Clearly that is not what this was about. You wanted to find out if I was working with the cartel, didn’t you, James Barnes?”

“Oooh, full name,” Clint cringed from his nest.

“You’re not really known for your goodness, Y/N,” Steve broke it down for you. “No offence.”

“Save it, Captain,” you spewed in his direction, “and to think I wanted to crush that face between my thighs.” Digging into your sundress’ pocket, you took out a burner cellphone and threw in his direction. “Happy hunting, you fucked up psychopaths.” You turned towards Bucky with no sign of any empathy in those y/e/c eyes. “Don’t expect anything more from me.”

The Land Rover moved out and away and with a part of Bucky’s broken heart that wanted to stop it so bad but had to do with turning to Steve and yelling out his anger at him. “You had to put your leg in the door, didn’t you. I had it handled!”

“Handled? Handled?!! Buck, she’s been playing you like a fiddle!”

“And you think I can be played?”

“I saw her texts for God’s sake!! Don’t tell me you’re going to defend her.”

Natasha cursed under her breath and stepped away from Steve. “Wow,” Bucky breathed in disbelief. “So just because she is horny on the phone means I am her little puppet? Is that how little you think of me, Stevie?”

“I don’t want you getting hurt, Buc-”

“I am not fourteen anymore! Neither are you! You know what, I’m out. I’m done. She’s given you something. Go use it and go punch some Nazi heads. I don’t want anything to do with this.”

And so he went away too, leaving everyone but Steve standing there to uncomfortably watch the captain look at the car.

“So…” Tony’s voice muttered over the comms, “which ice-creams should I keep ready in big dessert bowls when you guys get back home?”

It's good. Whatever happened was good. I mean, Steve and Tony got what they wanted. Y/N is no longer in the picture and...and…I don't have to interact with her...anymore.

The ball bounced from the ceiling into Bucky's hands, going back and forth without a pause. The other hand rested under his head- the very head that was blankly staring at the ceiling, thoughts running in there like a freight train. Wait, no, scratch that. No trains. They were running more like a leopard- just running around, presenting a brooding picture on the outside while on the inside- just like that very leopard, this poor muscular soul was dying of overthinking and anxiety. The agitation was on the level of a nine-year-old sulking in his bed because his mom was not letting him play with his friend. It was reasonable that the friend was bad, could be a bad influence, had been directly or indirectly leading him on some things he hadn't thought of in a while. But he had just made a frieeeennddd!! Hngh!

Crack!

The sound brought him out of the huffing trance to watch the paint and plaster crack in the ceiling. Fuck! Stark's gonna be pissed.

Bucky closed his eyes and let the hand engulfing the ball rest of his forehead.

Well, to be fair to his 'mom', Bucky was sure he was worried about what would happen if his new friend took him to the dark side again. After all the efforts and blood so many people had gone through, for one woman to undo it all. That was a genuine concern. But then again, she has been more interested in Sergeant Barnes than the Winter Soldier. Except for the part where she said she wants to see him…under the…sheets?

Right! What is with this woman! She speaks without a filter!! Does not care who's listening and what they'll think. I like that. I really like that. But all she wants to do is fuck me? And then what? Go back to ogling America's ass?

A part of him nudged at those angry corners, pressing at the fact that you had been too engrossed to be angry at him to even think about Steve today. So, maybe it was not all about the ass.

Bucky turned to his side, rolling that thought along with him. The ball was moved around by his flesh index while his mind jogged with the possibility of doing something next.

Well, there was one thing he could do. It would drive Steven Grant Rogers crazy but it would be worth all the trouble he would be going through. Well, if he were to get caught he would have been caught last night when he sneaked out of the facility to go check to your place.

The distance had not been much on the bike but the New York heat hitting his face the moment he entered the city was more unwelcoming than the people living in the city. Parking the bike in an alley, he had pretty much parkoured his way over the houses to reach the building next to yours. Silent as a cat in the night looking for its prey, Bucky had planted himself on your apartment’s balcony and watched in impressive horror the modesty you lived in. Paintings made by kids were pinned all over the living room walls while a volcano sat on the coffee table- half done. An empty bottle of orange juice lay on the kitchen table while cushions were sprawled over the floor. Taking a step to his right, he was looking through the french windows into your bedroom where you slept in your queen-sized bed like a baby. All around you were oil paintings in blue and green of what looked like ocean waves in different art styles. On the bed lay your worn down laptop still running. Bending at an angle, his throat let out a muted gasp at collage with his photos on the screen, suggesting you had fallen asleep looking at his photographs. What was weird for Bucky was that his accelerated heartbeat had not found a single photo of his winter soldier avatar in there. What cooled down his burning chest was the serenity on your face. Sleeping under those thin grey sheets with a plushie of a right next to your head, Bucky almost had the urge to grin so wide. He could not believe you were the same woman who had threatened his best friend in full public view. And he knew exactly what he was going to do. Take a picture and blackmail you with it.

Looking down at his jeans to take his phone, his heart felt like he had fallen down the stairs when a pair of glowing eyes caught his. Gaining his mental footing, he breathed in the fact that it was actually a cat staring back at him from the other side of the window. White fur stood out in the dark of the night as it hissed Bucky and tried to claw at him, clearly seeing him as a threat. Sensing the feline’s uneasiness with his presence, he thought it better to leave before that little white monster woke you up. But not before he left a bunch of biscuit crumbs on the balcony tiles as a sign of peace for the little fanged beast.

Now, he wanted to go back through the front door and get face to face with that rage today- not something he had expected after last night’s scenic view of that perfect face.

Pausing movement of the ball, he picked it up in his metal hand, got himself up from the bed and slid towards the edge to put on his socks and boots only to pause and form an attack stance with his metal arm towards that svelte figure leaning by the door.

“Gonna hit me with the ball?” Natasha cocked a brow at Bucky.

Loosening his muscles at Natasha and went on to put his boots on. “Going somewhere, Grumperella?”

“Outside. Away. Somewhere I can grump in peace,” Bucky stated, getting up.

“Take this pretty lady too,” Tony announced as he walked by his room and tossed a pair of car keys at Bucky, “I don’t think you’ll improve those points by going to her place on a bike.”

Silence.

The flutter in Bucky’s heart drowned by Natasha’s words. “Don’t worry. Only Tony and I know. We’ll handle Steve. Just don’t let our image fall further,” she concluded, walking out with a smirk.

“Truffle, Fluffy, stop looking at the neighbour’s lunch and come eat your chicken thighs,” you announced from the kitchen. With a bandana on to keep your hair as far away from your skin, your skin itched for something colder than what the air conditioner was providing right now. This was the third time you had fiddled with your thermostat today. Damn this summer! That’s it, I’m moving out of this fucked up city.

Fluffy’s taps came to a skidding halt at the doorway to slip towards his bowl while Truffle gracefully walked to his bowl and ate his share while keeping a paw between him and the corgi’s audible gobble and chomps, nearly pushing his face away.

Sighing, you sat down on the seat by the kitchen table, looking at your two kids devour their lunch while you questioned the disappearance of your appetite. Maybe it’s the PMS. Is it the PMS? You looked at the calendar over your fridge. Still a week to go. Maybe it is him. That stupid fucker.

Your thoughts started forming around that magnificent frame of Bucky. There were not enough times you could say you had been left attracted to a bewildered face of a guy in awe of your skills. Men would mostly take that power inside you as a wrong stroke on their ego. But this one? This one just stood there looking at you as if the theme of Love Story 1970 was playing in those anime eyes while he watched in gasping admiration at something out of this world. That was the first time someone’s face had given you such warmth. Well, a stranger’s face. Don’t let my family hear it, you thought to yourself. Just then, Truffle looked up from his bowl to turn and stare at your for a solid minute before going back to his lunch.

The doorbell rang, getting you out of those dreamy thoughts- for barely a second- that were making you sweatier by the minute. Getting up and walking to the door, you kept wondering about that metal hand, those absolutely luscious lips, those surprised yet aroused eyes and oh Gods! Those shoulders. Those beautiful shoulders you wanted to bite into. Arrr!

You did not realise when you clicked the door open. But you did feel like eating your own words when that Love Story 1970 theme started playing in the background just as your eyes locked onto those beautiful oceans of blue; the abyss inside them widening just as you came into view.

Bucky forgot how to breathe. For a second you did too. You did not expect him to be standing here; not after the humiliation you put him through in front of his team/friends. And yet, here he was. At your door. Standing in front of you, the bad guy, moving his hair back with his hand, revealing the redness of those kissable cheeks that had been struggling to keep the blood inside the veins the whole elevator ride to your floor. The rubbing of his hand fingers against his palms while his legs shifted his weight on each other.

“Hi,” his husky, barely audible voice sent shivers down your spine straight to your core.

“Hi,” you responded with a softness you had not heard in ages. And the guitars strum in the background, the tune carrying all the unspoken feelings in the shape of melodies in the air around the two of you.

“Can we talk?”

Bucky was almost scared of having the door being slammed in his face. But when you moved aside to let him in, he felt live rush back into his bones. He had not felt this alive since Wakanda. With sure steps inside, he was not letting this feeling go away anytime soon.

The gush of that one magical wind inside you made you discreetly smile to yourself and you could not help but wonder if it was his last night’s visit to your place that brought him back or just his curiosity with this mission. Whatever it was, you challenged yourself to not let this one get away till you had explored every little inch of his being in person.

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chubbyooo · 4 years ago

Text

Blurred Lines: Cursed Past Chapter 91 - The Recuperation of Broken Families

Gacen continued waiting for Lana and talks to Risha about family

Gacen sighed, explaining the wait to Sumalee had been a pain, she clearly was not a fan of uncertainty and had begun drilling Gacen for questions to confirm whether they were getting the help or not.

Still she’d understood eventually maybe Sumalee would’ve been better suited for this task she brought up a bunch of things Gacen hadn’t even thought to mention, he guessed that could come later though they needed the face before the logistics right?

Gacen let out a deep breath “well that was just as condescending as I expected” Risha let out a slight chuckle

Gacen walked back towards the bar he still had his drink to finish “Hey I know she’s a little intense she’s just devising a strategy and wants all the information possible I promise she appreciates it” Gacen shrugged he knew Risha was right but still

He walked up to the bar to see his drink empty and frowned “hey bartender where the heck’s my drink” the bartender turned around

He apologised “sorry sir the Commander came in looking pretty upset I wasn’t gonna stop her she’s like my boss’ boss’ boss” Gacen grimaced well that was unfortunate he hoped the Commander wasn’t angry with his proposal, Lana had probably mentioned it to her.

He waved it off with the bartender he didn’t mind “get me another one to go and we’re square dude” he nodded and Gacen turned around “so get this Rish while we were chatting my drink got nicked by the Commander” there was an audible gasp from Risha it wasn’t that impressive though

Risha responded quickly “I thought you said she wasn’t there” the bartender passed him his drink, he decided to avoid any further drink theft he’d have it on the top balcony he saw it looked quiet.

He began to stroll out as he answered Risha “so did I, guess she just got back” he made his way over to the lifts he saw one just closing as he arrived and cursed, now he’d be here for ages the person inside could’ve held it.

He tapped his foot waiting for the other elevator as Risha responded “well did you see her?” Gacen frowned he didn’t care that much

Gacen shook his head as he stepped into the elevator “nah Risha I didn’t don’t worry I’m not crying over a stolen drink the bartender fixed me a new one” he took a sip from the straw he’d been provided

Risha sighed “I’m not thinking about your drink you could’ve asked her about the proposal you clearly have some stuff in common if you both like that awful drink” Gacen had to admit someone liking the drink was rare but it was kinda a weak connection

Gacen shrugged “maybe, maybe I’ll see her later when I meet back up with Lana” the elevator arrived and he strolled out onto the balcony, it was quite nice, quiet and peaceful although up high it seemed like it’d been rebuilt once or twice judging by the clear repair marks. He sipped his drink quickly as he made his way around; he wasn’t letting it be stolen this time.

Gacen strolled out towards the edge, there was a large statue of someone he swore he’d seen before lots of armour, a mask, a hood and very built but he couldn’t put his finger on it. He looked out over the balcony at the world of Odessen, dense jungles all around it was a beautiful planet.

He smiled “you know this place is like a less humid and less hidden Gabredor” it had been a secret base once apparently so Gabredor was probably much more secure with the extra precautions

Risha laughed “yes well we can’t all have poisonous nebulas to hide our activities” Gacen nodded it had certainly given him the run around

Gacen leaned against the balcony “so what are we gonna do after all this stuff with Dubrillion Rish, I got time so thought I’d ask” Risha took a long moment before responding clearly it was a loaded question

She seemed excited in her response “well first thing to do is remove the absolute power the Monarchy has and establish some form of democracy” Gacen nodded he’d never really expected Risha to rule all powerfully

But he still would tease her about it “whaaat you don’t wanna an all powerful queen Rish” he could almost feel the eye roll from lightyears away

Risha laughed “first off I’m already a powerful queen and you know it, and I’ve already been head of a criminal organisation after we save Dubrillion I just wanna take it easy with you start maybe thinking about my family” Gacen swallowed he straw and choked on it for a few seconds

Family? Like Kids!? He hadn’t even thought of that “I uh what like our family” he could hear Risha laughing at his surprised reaction

She did respond eventually “well yeah I love you and well you’re plenty but don’t you want to start a family eventually” Gacen felt a little conflicted on the one hand he’d love to but he’d never done well with family

He stammered “I uh I guess it’s just my track record with family isn’t good Rish you know that story” he did want to just maybe not so soon when he was such a mess

Risha sighed “yeah I know Gacen but you never know hun things could change, I think you’d be a great dad” Gacen let out a weak smile

He sighed “I feel like the only way to go is up considering my father” Gacen shivered thinking about all the pain he’d caused by leaving, then again that’s just what Gacen had done too.

He took a big swig of his flask as Risha responded “not just yours mine ordered me to kill you so we’re even in the bad dads club, but you’re not like that Gacen trust me” Gacen shivered sure he wasn’t

Gacen finished his swig “I just well I don’t know if I’m ready Rish what with my family and my own problems” Risha had always known about his drinking but tried to help him tone it down, not as much as Ash had but still

Risha responded “well don’t worry then I don’t think I am yet either I’m talking in like 5-10 years Gacen” Gacen let out at sigh of relief

He smiled “oh ok well maybe I’ll be ready then” Risha seemed fine with that stepping away from the comm leaving Gacen with his thoughts

Good timing too it sounded like someone else had just arrived in the lift, he didn’t want to look like a crazy person talking about babies. He took a long deep breath, he’d not really thought about family as he said he didn’t have the best track record with family and keeping it, his dad left and he’d never got a reason leaving Gacen to look after everyone. Gacen frowned; he didn’t like thinking about all that man hadn’t been there for and what it’d caused, his mom died a year or two later and he was powerless to stop it.

Gacen wiped his eyes not expecting to get like this he just didn’t want to make those same mistakes with any new family, he’d lost the only family he had left for the same reasons. Could it happen again? And to his offspring that was even harder he wished he hadn’t run his sister had deserved better, he’d just been like his dad running and what if he did again he didn’t want to be like that

Gacen took a deep breath, he did want to have kids one day but he had to make sure to not make the same irreversible mistakes as he did with Kyradia, Gacen held his neck he realised he was being watched out the corner of his eye. He frowned, had they been watching the whole of his little episode? He sighed without context he doubted it mattered but they were still standing there not moving as if waiting for him.

He frowned, he guessed maybe they were shy and were here to take him to Lana, he felt like he had to turn around or this would just get more awkward. He turned around to face them and gasped his stomach becoming tight and his breath shaky as he saw the figure, the red hair, tattoos and the shocked expression.

His sister Kyradia stood in front of him all grown up, mouth agape and clear tears in her eyes “G-Gacen?” Gacen just stood there in shock. What was she doing here? Had she been-? Gacen realised it all at once, the drink, the interest Risha had in the Commander, why he was sent here he felt like a moron. Kyradia’s breath was shaky as she suddenly pulled him into a tight hug and mumbled “I thought you were dead” Gacen was completely overwhelmed not quite sure if this was real.

He was being hugged by his little sister and she was crying he put his arms around her and comforted her “I’m sorry Dee I thought you wouldn’t want to see me” Kyradia looked up at him tears welling up and shook her head Gacen let out a half smile maybe he was wrong all along maybe there was a chance…

https://open.spotify.com/track/2n0U2OG5d6TuW5mKx7YrC0?si=e_12UUeaSFui0npz0wMC6w

91/92 chapters it took to write this scene it's not over yet but it's begun and I hope you all love it :D

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lj-writes · 6 years ago

Text

New platform, old drama: Kylostan tantrums on a Pillowfort Finn community

It started out so innocently. I was looking for Finn content on pillowfort.io, as one does, and found a group centered on him, FinnAppreciation. I joined up because heck yeah Finn!

Since the community was pretty inactive, PF being in closed beta and all, I made a post asking about people’s ideal endgames for Finn in IX. I rattled off my usual wishlist, Force-sensitive non-Jedi Finn, Stormtrooper uprising etc. I hoped it would stimulate some conversation, though I wasn’t expecting an answer.

I checked in another few days and was happy to see I got two replies! Except the content of the first reply gave me pause (handles withheld because PF is in closed beta):

Rey and Finn somehow end up on the same planet as Kylo, and Rey tasks Finn with turning him. While she goes off to do something important, Finn talks off Kylo's ear about what happened on Jakku, and slowly but surely Kylo realises that Finn is who he wants to be like. That Kylo isn't who he's meant to be at all, he's just really messed up for a whole bunch of reasons. Kylo realises then that he's Ben, and he's meant to be Ben. He's always meant to be Ben. But he can't be Ben in the FO. He can only be Ben if he leaves it. And so Kylo asks Finn for help, because Finn left the FO, and Ben has never forgotten that. And then at that moment Rey returns, and the three of them wind up blowing the whole damn thing to smithereens and NEVER looking back... And they all live happily ever after until they're really old and sometimes talk when they reminisce about how crazy it was years and years ago when Ben was still Kylo Ren...

The ideal endgame for Finn was... turning Kylo Ren good? Also "Ben’s” actions in the movies are just “crazy” things he did back in the day when he was a different person?

I thought about it and went with what I thought was a light, humorous approach. I answered:

What I'd give to be a fly on the wall for those reminiscences. "Remember the time I deliberately caused you agony by stabbing you in the shoulder and sliced you across the spine? Hah... good times." "Oh, and when you told me you could take whatever you wanted and made me cry with the pain of mind invasion? LOL." "Let's call in Poe to talk about the time you killed an entire village and tortured him until he shattered a droid's audio receptacles with his screams!"

Reader, all hell broke loose. A different user made a discussion post to say:

I’m not able to comment on the other Endgame discussion for some reason so here’s mine:

I’d like to see Finn and Rose settle down on a backwater planet and just have a long and happy life together. Whatever happens, given all he’s been through, Finn of all people deserves a soft epilogue.

Also - this is supposed to be a Finn Appreciation channel, not a Kylo Ren hate channel, so if some folks could knock it off that would be pretty great. If you want to hate on Kylo Ren go do that on an anti channel where those of us who like both of them don’t have to see it.

There is NOTHING about loving Finn that requires you to hate on Kylo Ren.

Well this was pretty great. First I’m told that Finn’s ideal ending is him serving Kylo’s story, and then I’m not-so-vagueposted at that I’m “hating” on Kylo Ren by, like, saying what he did in canon. Not only that, I was being told by a non-mod what I could and could not post to the comm.

I told the actual comm creator/mod, who was not active on PF and didn’t realize the trash fire her comm had turned into. She responded by making me a mod, with my consent.

That announcement prompted the reylos to declare they were leaving, in the process advertising their own hate-free Finn comm because they have excellent manners I guess. I admit I was not sorry to see them go.

Soon afterward I wrote a post explaining why appreciating Finn vs. “hating” Kylo was a false dichotomy, especially if we equate discussing Kylo’s literal canon actions with “hate,” since so much of Finn’s actions were reactions to Kylo’s violence (Pillowfort link). I pointed out that policing Kylo “hate” in this way actually prevented a full discussion of Finn’s story.

This prompted yet another reylo to pop up (gods how many of them were there?!) accusing me of posting in bad faith, of reducing Finn to only being good in contrast to Kylo, and of virtue signaling.

Your post is made in bad faith. I want to talk about Finn in this community without the weird "anti-Kylo" stuff consistently being used to prop him up (as you have done in this post! Finn is not only a good character by comparing his actions with Kylo!) Finn is interesting OF HIS OWN ACCORD, leave Kylo out of it unless it's a specifically Kylo & Finn post - otherwise it reads as spite-fueled character love, which is .. disingenuous.

In addition, Finn deserves better than to only be liked and applauded so people can virtue signal. This whole thing is is very bad taste.

I have to wonder, just how bad are Kylo’s actions if just discussing what he did on screen and pointing out it’s pretty damned serious is somehow “Kylo hate” and “anti-Kylo?” And how much do you actually like the character if you can’t bear to be reminded of what he did in canon?

I wanted to document these events because, for all of reylos’ protestations that they are victims of fandom policing from antis, in practice there’s plenty of policing coming from their direction as well. (I was also amused on a personal level at being repeatedly called an anti, because it was like last month I was berated up and down for not being anti enough.) Even something as simple as a Finn appreciation discussion can be derailed big time by their determination to silence even the most canon-based, mildest criticism of Kylo Ren.

Though this behavior is strongly associated with a ship, what disturbs me is not who they ship but the insistence that discussions of canon must be tailored and constrained to their tastes in order to avoid “hate.” The problem here is a cult mentality that refuses to accept reality and attempts to police how others see it and discuss it.

Despite the unwarranted crap, I’m still happy with the community system on Pillowfort and I think this incident displayed how fandom drama can be resolved relatively peacefully by fans having separate discussion communities on a platform. Since I was given mod power, the fans who disagreed with me were unable to keep berating me on the comm because they knew they could be kicked out. They were in turn free to make their own community, and we could have our separate moderation policies and spaces. Maybe that separate peace is the best we can have in a polarized fandom.

#fandom wank #anti reylo #pillowfort #anti kylostans #rebelfinn #sw finn #kylo ren #fandom drama #fandom bs #receipts #first of all

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chancellormatt · 6 years ago

Text

Voltron Rewrite Episode Six - Far from Home

“There’s another what!?” Shiro exclaims.

He looks on a screen displaying an image of Keith, with the other Paladins in the background.

“Another...Voltron.” Keith repeats with a sigh.

“And...Zarkon and Lotor are piloting it?” Shiro asks, uncertain.

“Not just those two. Pidge and Hunk thought they were battling Haggar and Sendak as their counterparts. We’re not sure about the pilot of their Blue Lion, maybe someone we haven’t seen before.”

“That’s...not good to say the least.” Shiro says, looking disturbed. “Are we sure this isn’t some kind of trick?”

“We’re sure.” Keith says glumly.

“We sure didn’t get beaten up by an illusion, I can tell you that.” Lance puts in.

Pidge elbows him in the arm.

“Hey!”

“Read the room.” She scolds.

Lance’s only reply is a sour expression.

“Did they say anything that might tell us how Zarkon and Lotor were both able to come back?” Shiro asks.

“Allura said she heard Lotor say some strange things...but I think maybe it’d be a good idea to discuss this later. Right now we really should get headed back to Earth. Not exactly a short journey back. Especially since we had to leave the teleduv behind.” Keith cringes at that. “Really hope that doesn’t come back to bite us.” He shakes his head. “Anyway, we’re sending you the footage of the fight. Maybe you guys will be able to notice a weakness or...something.”

“Understood, we’ll look it over. Get back here safely Paladins.”

“We’ll try.” Keith says weakly.

The image of Keith disappears. Shiro moves to turn off the screen but accidentally reaches with the arm that is missing a limb. He sighs and clicks off the scree with his remaining arm. He sits back in his seat staring at the blank display.

“Another Voltron...that’s just what we need right now.” He rubs his eyes.

“I concur, that is highly concerning.” A voice says from behind.

Shiro stiffens as he turns to see Admiral Sanda standing in the doorway to the room, just behind.

“Funny, I thought I locked that door…” Shiro ponders.

“This is my base Shiro. None of these doors are locked to me.”

Shiro sighs. “I take it you heard everything?”

“That enemies you thought were dead are back and now they have their own Voltron? Unless I missed more, then yes, I caught it all.”

“Does that...help or hurt our case for Earth joining the Coalition?” Shiro asks.

“I honestly have no idea. An even bigger threat could push the council to seek protection in numbers. On the other hand it could strengthen their resolve not to get even remotely involved. But from what it sounded like, your Voltron lost…”

“All the more reason to bring in the Atlas into the fight as soon as it's ready. Might make the difference next time.”

“Hm.” Is Sanda’s reply to that.

“Sanda.” Shiro says pointedly. “Can you at least try to spin this for us? Whatever you’ve said in the meetings I know that you think Earth should be in this fight.”

“What I think doesn’t matter.” She says solidly

Shiro gives her a skeptical look.

She seems to chew on the inside of her mouth. “...fine. I’ll do what i can. But that isn’t a promise Shiro, so don’t expect anything.”

“Thank you. Really.”

Sanda scoffs. “Honestly. You know I was supposed to be retiring soon? Like hell that’s going to happen before we finish dealing with this fiasco. This is a thousand times worse than when we lost the kerberos mission.” She narrows her eyes at Shiro. “Funny how you always seem to be around whenever all this goes wrong.”

“Sorry. Guess I’m just bad luck.” Shiro shrugs apologetically. “Remind me to get you a bottle of scotch when this is all over.”

“Make sure it's the good stuff.” Sanda replies, turning away. “None of that bottom shelf garbage you got me for my promotion to Admiral.”

“Understood.” Shiro allows the slightest smile grow on his face.

Sanda stops just before walking away. “This battle...there were casualties?”

“Unfortunately.” Shiro nods.

“...did the Holt boy make it through?”

“Matt’s alive, yeah.” Shiro says.

“Figures. Not even a giant evil robot from space can get that nuisance out of my hair.” She shakes her head.

“Careful.” Shiro says. “If I didn’t know better I’d think you cared.”

Sanda only grunts at that, and walks away.

***

Lance sits in the cockpit of the Red Lion, floating in space. In his mind, the scene of him missing the shot on Raimon’s lion plays again and again. He grips his throttles tighter, as if he could take the shot again, and and hit it this time. But of course, he could not.

“Lance? You there?” Keith asked over the comm. The Black Lion flies up next to Red.

“Huh?” Lance replied, blinking. “You say something?”

“I must’ve said your name five times.”

“Sorry I was...distracted.”

“Well get undistracted. Everyone else is ready. It’s time to go.”

“Right. Home.” The word sounds hollow in Lance’s current tone.

Keith flies off in The Black Lion, and Lance follows in his own. They meet the rest of the Lions, along with the remains of the Coalition fleet. Lance notes that even the Blue Lion is there.

“Allura is back to flying already? Is that...a good idea?” Lance says.

“I’m fine, Lance.” Allura replies curtly.

His expression falls.

“Alright guys.” Keith says, addressing the group. “We’ve got a long way back so let’s get started. Everyone ready?”

The remaining Paladins give a chorus of unenthusiastic replies.

“Yeah that seems about right…” Keith says more to himself than them.

The Five Lions start flying at speed, and the Coalition ships follow. The Lions fly for some time in silence. Inside Red, Lance is visibly uncomfortable. After several minutes of uncomfortable shifting in his seat, he finally gives up.

“...are we just not going to talk about what happened?” He says, breaking the silence.

“What’s there to talk about Lance?” Keith replies. “We got beat. End of story.”

“That is definitely not the end of the story! First of all how the heck did all our old bad guys come back with their own Voltron!?”

“I don’t know Lance. Your guess is as good as mine.”

“Well...even forgetting that, what about our Voltron?”

“What about it?”

“Don’t give me that Keith! Our bayard abilities! A bunch of them didn’t work!”

Keith doesn’t reply to that at first. Hunk and Pidge both look glum.

...my sonar cannon failed also.” Allura finally admits.

Keith sighs. “My Lion’s wings...didn’t come out either, when I needed them to.”

“So, how could something like that just happen?” Lance asks. “Did they do it? Did the other Voltron interfere somehow?”

“I don’t...think so.” Pidge says. “I didn’t get any readings of interference or anything like that. I did diagnostic on my lion after the fact and there wasn’t anything wrong there either.”

“...what if it's us?” Allura says suddenly.

“What do you mean?” Keith asks.

Allura chews on her lip, reluctant to continue. She does anyway. “Our lions, and Voltron itself are all based on connections. If we are divided or out of sync, it could be affecting Voltron as a whole.”

“We aren’t...divided.” Keith says. “...are we?”

No one replies.

“Guys?”

Lance hesitates. “...Allura?”

She sighs.

“What?” Keith asks.

“Lance and I had an exchange that ended...rather poorly, just before leaving. Maybe a little worse than poorly.” She admits.

“Hang on, what happened here?” Pidge interjects.

“Nothing.” Lance says quickly. “I’ll tell you about it later…”

“Wait was that about….the uh advice I gave you? Was that my fault?” Hunk asks. “Lance did I give you bad advice?”

“No it...look let’s just talk about this later?”

“Seems like it might be pretty important.” Pidge says testily.

Keith sighs. “Well whatever it was I don’t really think one conversation alone would completely throw off Voltron...unless…”

“What?” Allura asks.

“It's probably nothing.” Keith shakes his head.

“Well it's not like we’ve got anywhere to be…” Hunk says.

Keith sighs again, more exhaustedly. “I’ve...also been dealing with some stuff. So...what if it's not just Lance and Allura? What if it's all of us? What if we’re all dealing with things that are making it harder for us to pilot our lions, and command Voltron?”

Everyone seems to think on that.

“Anyone else want to volunteer something that’s been going on with them?” Keith asks.

No one says anything at first.

“Pidge has been in a mood lately.” Lance offers.

“Lance!”

“What? It's true…”

“I have not been in a mood!” She practically yells.

“I rest my case.” Lance says.

She folds her arms. “Fine! You know what, yeah! I’ve been really mad at some idiot for a while now! Maybe that’s what my problem is!”

“Really? Who?” Lance asks.

“Take a guess!”

Lance looks hurt. Pidge also looks like she regrets the words, but doesn’t say anything further.

“Well that answers that question…” Keith says. “So next would be…”

Hunk swallows. “Uh...can we skip me?”

The silence that follows is it's own answer.

“...alright fine.” Hunk says reluctantly. “...but you guys really aren’t gonna like this.”

“Oh come on, how bad could it be?” Lance asks.

“I’ve...been thinking about leaving Voltron.”

“WHAT!?” The other Paladins reply with shock.

Hunk sighs. “Okay I really should have worded that better. I just meant...well yeah I did mean that. But I didn’t mean immediately!” He adds the last quickly, before anyone can speak up. “I meant that this war...it's been going on for a really long time. Every time we think we’re done a new bad guy suddenly appears. Battle after battle, bad guy after bad guy, It never seems to end. I just...don’t know if I can do that forever.”

Everyone is quiet. Lance and Pidge seem to think on his words. Allura only looks sad.

“...being a part of Voltron is a great honor…” Allura says halfheartedly.

“I know.”” Hunk nods. “And it’s been an honor to do all of this with you guys. But...I don’t want to do this for the rest of my life. Do any of us really? Do you guys honestly want to fight in a space war until we’re all dead?”

Keith had his eyes clamped shut, and appears to be processing. When he does open his eyes, they are hard as stone.

“...there are people that need us. That need Voltron, now more than ever. ” Keith’s word start out quiet, but gradually grow in heat as he continues. “People that are dying. Are you just going to abandon them!?”

Hunk waits before responding. “...No. I’m not planning on abandoning anyone. Before we returned home...I had this fantasy. We’d come back to earth, after the war, and we could all go back to our families and the people we cared about. And then, eventually, It’d be the next generation’s turn. I’d pass the Yellow Lion off to a new Paladin, and they could be the one to be the hero. I still don’t think thats such a bad idea. Maybe let somebody new do what I couldn’t anymore.”

“Wishing someone else was doing all the fighting instead. That just sounds like cowardice to me.” Keith says coldly.

“Hey!” Lance breaks in. “That's not fair! Weren’t you the one that left not so long ago, Keith!? What does that make you then?”

“I…” The fight seems to go out of Keith. “...think I’m going to go scout ahead.”

Without any further warning, the Black Lion boosts forward, leaving the other Lions behind.

“Should...someone go after him?” Pidge asks.

After a moment, Allura throws her throttles forward and tails after Keith.

“Well that...could have gone better.” Lance says. The other two mumble in agreement.

***

“Keith wait up!” Allura says over a direct comm.

The Black Lion slows only a hair. Enough for the Blue Lion to catch up, but still an accelerated pace.

“...are you...alright?” She asks, pulling up next to him.

“Did I sound alright?” Keith replies. “I’m...I’m such a bad leader. Shiro never would have gone off on Hunk like that.”

“We’re all a little high strung at the moment, so I think you can be forgiven.” Allura points out.

“Maybe.” Keith says unconvinced. “You know what the worst part is? Lance is right. I did leave. I did exactly what Hunk was talking about. I stepped aside, and let Shiro do what I couldn’t. Because...I’d rather be with the Blades, than defending the universe. I’m worse than a coward, I’m just...just a selfish jerk.”

“....Is that really how you see yourself?” Allura says after a moment.

Keith blinks.

“Because from where I was sitting, leaving Voltron was one of the hardest decisions you ever had to make.” She goes on.

“And it was the wrong decision.” Keith retorts.

“Part of leadership is making bad calls.” Allura shoots back. “You spread yourself too thin, and tried to do everything yourself. My father used to say that was the first mistake every leader makes.”

“Well I sure fell into that one…”

“-He also used to say that that the second mistake was not forgiving yourself for past missteps.”

Keith doesn’t reply, so Allura goes on.

“Like it or not Keith, you are our leader now. And for what it’s worth, I don’t think that’s such a bad thing. You’re going to make mistakes. We all are. It's part of being in a team.”

Keith smiles. “...thank you Allura.”

“Thank me by being the leader I know you can be.”

He lets out a chuckle. “After everything you’ve been through lately, I’d figure you’d be the needing to be cheered up, not the other way around.”

Allura shrugs. “Learning that Lotor was back...it was hard. I…I really did care for him so that betrayal… well finding out he was back, it was like I was reliving it all over. I think I ended up hurting Lance’s feelings for that reason. One of my own mistakes, I suppose.” She considers that for a moment, then continues. “The strange thing was, Lotor didn’t even seem to recognize me during that battle. But however it happened, he is back. And as terrifying as that is, at least now I have something to fight. He’s not just some hollow myth for my people to idolize. He’s a man, and we can beat him. Maybe we can even show them what he really is in the process. So in a way I’m a little bit relieved. As impossible as it seems now, I have a clear goal. An obstacle to overcome.”

“Guess...I didn’t think about it like that.”

“I’m making it sound easier than it is. Really I’m terrified.”

“Aren’t we all?”

“I guess so…”

They sit in silence for a moment. After a moment, Keith quirks an eyebrow. “So...just out of curiosity what did happen between you and Lance?”

“Well…”

***

“...I kinda told her I was in love with her.” Lance admits.

“You WHAT!?” Pidge exclaims with shock.

“In love!?” Hunk says, equally surprised.

“Well I got cutoff, but I’m pretty sure she got the gist…”

“I thought this was just about a date?” Hunk says, confused.

“I got caught up in the moment alright…” Lance says defensively. “Anyway she kind of freaked out and left immediately. Guess I can take that as her answer...

“How do you get caught up in the moment and just tell someone you’re in love with them!?” Pidge asks.

“I’m a passionate guy, alright!?”

“Well now I’m really mad!” Pidge says crossing her arms.

“At what? Me telling Allura my feelings!?”

Pidge sighs longsufferingly. “No Lance, I’m mad because you aren’t really in love with Allura!”

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me.” She says, putting her chin up.

“Uh maybe we shouldn’t-” Hunk cuts in.

“And how would you know if I’m in love with Allura or not!?”

“Lance, what do you actually know about Allura? Without using the words pretty brave or princess?”

“She...she really cares about her people! And...and Voltron! She loves being a Paladin of Voltron!”

“...is that really it?” Pidge asks after a moment of silence.

“Well I mean, if you gave me a minute-”

“What’s her favorite color?”

“What?”

“Her favorite color. What is it?”

“I...uh...her armor is pink so...although she’s always wearing that blue dress-”

“What does she like to do for fun? When she’s not piloting Voltron?”

“I don’t...that’s just weird trivia stuff! I don’t need to know that to-”

“What are her fears? Her desires? What is she really like underneath that lion, and those prim dresses? Can you honestly answer any of those questions? Can you seriously tell me a single thing about her deeper than the most basic stuff!?”

Lance is speechless.

Pidge lets out a long sigh. “...my problem, Lance, is that everything you seem to like about her is surface level. It's all stuff anyone could tell you even without really knowing her. If you really loved her, you’d be able to answer those questions.”

Lance doesn’t say anything for a while.

“...I think Keith had a good idea. I’m gonna go check out the fleet’s rear.” He says finally. He turns his Lion to go.

“Lance…” Hunk says, as if he could salvage the situation.

He flies off.

“Was that really necessary?” Hunk asks.

“He needed to hear it.” Pidge says, not managing to sound very convincing.

“Still, think you could have put it a little nicer.”

“Hm.” Pidge says in what might be agreement. She sits back and bangs her head against the back of her lion’s seat.

The two sit in silence for a while.

“So...you really might leave Voltron?” Pidge asks after a time.

“Maybe...probably.” He admits after a moment. “Are you mad?”

“Nah. If you’ll recall, I was the one talking about leaving Voltron before it was cool.”

“Oh yeah you did do that.” Hunk gives a light chuckled. “Still that was a long time ago. We hadn’t been through half as much stuff back then. I kind of get why Keith is so angry. It almost feels like I’d be turning my back on you guys. On our friendship.”

“Well if you do decide to leave, I’ll support your decision...but I will be sad to see you go.”

“I’ll be sad to go...but nothing’s official at the moment. I wouldn’t count me out just yet.”

“Still, it’d be too bad.”

“Hm?”

“No one on the team is half as good as cooking as you.”

“Oh, I’m glad that’s the reason I’m so indispensable from this team.”

They both laugh. After a few moments the laughter dies down to silence.

“...you should really go apologize to Lance.” Hunk says.

Pidge cringes. “...I know. It's just that...he can be such and idiot sometimes!”

“I think he’d say it’s part of his charm.”

“Yeah he would wouldn’t he…hold that thought.” Pidge says noticing something on her display. She grows more concerned as she he studies it. She opens the comms.

“Hey Matt are you getting this same sensor reading?”

“Sure am.” Her brother replies. “Was just about to ask you about it.”

“Wait, what’s happening? What am I missing here?” Hunk interjects.

“There’s a cloud of...something is approaching.” Pidge explains.

“Might be nothing.” Matt points out.

“After what just happened? I’m not about to take a chance on that. Everybody come in, do you read me?”

***

At the far back of the Coalition fleet, Lance flies in the Red Lion, firing off shots from the mouth beam at asteroids.

“Dang Pidge.” He mutters under his breath. “Doesn’t know what she’s talking about…” He fires again, completely missing an asteroid. “Dang it!”

He lines up on the asteroid again, but fires at the wrong moment and misses again. His eye twitches and he fires another few times, to no avail. Eventually he sighs and gives up.

“...maybe she’s right.” “Everyone come in do you read me?” Pidge voice suddenly comes over the comm. Lance blinks with surprise.

“We got a dark cloud out in space heading for our location now.”

“This is Keith, I read you. Is it possible that its just be debris or something?”

“...Don’t think so. It seems to be changing its trajectory to follow our course. Whatever it is, it's coming for us, and fast.

“Whatever it is, it sure has fantastic timing.” Allura says with a sigh.

“Understood Pidge.” Keith says. He takes a deep breath. “Paladins...regroup. This might be something Zarkon sent after us, or some Galra weapon. Either way it looks like we gotta deal with it.”

Lance hesitates only a moment before pushing his lion into gear.

***

The Black and Blue Lions Fly up to meet Green and Yellow. Red is the final arrival.

“So what’s this bout a space cloud?” Lance asks.

“Unidentified object moving fast. Probably some kind of mass inside it, but I can’t get any reading through the thing.” Pidge says quickly, as her fingers fly across a virtual keyboard.

“I understood some of those words.” Lance replies.

“Take a look outside your viewport…”

Sure enough a large cloud of what looks to be dust is approaching the fleet. The dust gets thinner and a shadowy outline can be seen inside the cloud.

“Hang on the cloud’ dissipating. The dust must have just been some kind of camouflage...guys, there’s something alive in there. ”

The smoke continues to disperse and the outline grows more clear. The creature has a long body, that thickens in the middle, with six total limbs down it's length. On its head what appears to be a mouth opens, and the creature seems to breath, despite the vacuum of space. The remaining dust blows away, revealing the creature entirely. It is dark grey, with scales covering its body, claws at the end of each limb and a massive toothed mouth, that hangs partially open. It gazes at the fleet with six eyes on it's head.

“What the heck is that!?” Lance exclaimes.

“It's a Drigmaw!” Ryder cries with shock.

“A what!?”

“A Drigmaw.” She repeats. “It's a space-dwelling creature that preys on Balmeras.”

“It preys on Balmeras!?” Hunks says with shock. “As in eats them!?”

“In a manner of speaking. It burrows into the Balmera itself and feeds on it's crystals. Eventually this kills the Balmera, and the Drigmaw produces offspring in its husk. It's probably after us for the crystals powering our own ships.”

“How horrible…” Allura says.

“For us.” Pidge puts in.

“Alright guys, let’s stay calm.” Keith says. “We need to-”

Without warning, the Drigmaw lunges for the nearest Collation ship. The creature’s massive claws clamp down, and it wraps its body around the length of the cruiser. It opens its mouth to bite down on the ship. Lance quickly lines up to fire down the creature’s throat, but hesitates the instant before. Before he can act Keith flies past, and blasts the creature in the side of it's head. The Drigmaw seems to shrug off the hit and completes its motion of biting down on the ship. The metal warps where it's teeth dig in.

“It's penetrating the hull!’ Ryner cries.

“We’ll get it off. Paladins open fire on that thing!” Keith orders.

All the lions begin to blast the creature’s head limbs and back, but to little effect. The most the Drigmaw does is shift its position slightly, then digs it's teeth and claws in even deeper.

“This isn’t working!” Pidge says.

“No it's not…” Keith admits. He seems to be thinking of an alternative solution.

Allura takes a breath and closes her eyes. “Please Blue...let this work…” When she opens them, her eyes are set with determination. Allura moves to activate her Lion’s weapon and it works. The Blue Lion’s sonar cannon appears on it's back and fires at the Drigmaw. Waves of energy beat against the back of the Drigmaw, and it finally reacts. It shudders with what looks like pain under the sonar blast, and unclamps itself from the cruisers. Then it turns around and tries to eat the Blue Lion. Keith fires quickly, hitting the creature in one of its eyes, and diverting it's jaws to close on empty space. Allura uses the opportunity to get well away from the Drigmaw. The Lions draw together.

“All ships stay away from this thing. We’ll try to handle it, so don’t provoke the thing.” Keith orders.

“Fine by us. I don’t wanna be anywhere near that thing…” Matt replies.

The Drigmaw however, apparently no longer interested in the cruiser, starts moving towards the Lion.

“Well we got it's attention...now what?” Lance asks.

“Good question…” Keith replies.

The Drigmaw lunges at them with its front two claws. The Paladins scatter, each lion flying in a different direction. Lance and Pidge pull around to one side, to blast it in the side. They get sent flying from a slash of its claws for their efforts. Allura uses her sonic cannon again, but this only seems to make the Drigmaw angrier and she nearly gets eaten for a second time. Keith flies up and down the creature, blasting it with mouth beam and tail laser relentlessly, while dodging it's clawed limbs. Despite his efforts however, the Drigmaw seems uninjured, and he is forced to pull back when the creature tries to constrict him.

“Our normal weapons don’t seem to be working!” Pidge points out.

“I can tell…” Keith replies, thinking. “Lance, the cannon on red working?”

“...no.” Lance admits after trying to use the weapon.

“Of course not.

“Pidge? Anything?”

“Nothing.” She says helplessly unable to use her lion’s ability.

Hunk...claw armor?”

“No.” Hunk replies quietly. “Not working.”

“Great…” Keith sighs. “Guys I think we gotta form Voltron.”

There is a series of uncertain agreements.

“Let’s do it then…”

The Lion all form up, and begin to fly upwards. Despite their formation and the flight, nothing seems to happen.

“Come one...come on!” Keith urges. But the lions do not join. The Drigmaw tilts its head curiously, then flies up to cut off their path.

“Evasive maneuvers!” Keith yells.

But none of the Paladins have time to avoid the massive swing from the Drigmaw’s tail. All Lions are struck and go flying.

The Drigmaw lunges for the nearest Lion. Red. Lance eyes widen as the creature’s mouth nearly closes on him.

“Lance!” Pidge cries, as her lion slams into his. The mouth closes on empty space. Both fly out of it's reach as it tries to strike again.

Hunk watches the creature move towards the Red and Green Lions. Hunk narrows his eyes and moves his lion into gear. He blasts the Drigmaw along it's back, and when that doesn’t work he slams the body of his lion into its side. That finally makes the Drigmaw whip around to grasp at the Yellow Lion. Hunk tries to pull back, but he isn’t fast enough, and gets caught. The Drigmaw, now with Hunk’s Lion in hand, rockets forward. It slams Hunk’s Lion down into the face of an asteroid. Hunk groans in pain. Then the Drigmaw, opens its mouth and moves to place the Yellow Lion inside.

“Hunk get out of there!” Allura yells, firing her sonar blast. The creature ignores the blast, focusing on trying to pull Hunk’s Lion down it's gullet. Hunk struggles, firing in full reverse, but he cannot break from it's grip. Lance and Pidge fly up and unleash their own blasts, but this does nothing.

“I….can’t get free!” Hunk says finally.

“N, you aren't’ giving up that easy!” Keith snarls, suddenly swooping in. Before the Drigmaw’s mouth can close over the Yellow Lion, Keith slams the Black Lion into the creature’s throat. The Drigmaw is thrown off balance, and Keith continues to fire full thrusters to keep the creature’s head away from Hunk.

“Keith you can’t keep that up for long!” Hunk says. “Just get out of here before it gets you too!”

“No!” Keith barks. “ I don’t care if you want to leave, or if you’re done with all of this! You’re my friend, and I’m not leaving you behind! None of you, not again!”

Hunk looks on with stunned silence, as Keith continues his struggle against the gargantuan creature. The Drigmaw starts to overpower Keith’s burst, and it's head gradually lower.

“AAAH!” Keith bellows, throwing all his force into the Lion’s throttles. Suddenly the Lion’s wings appear. The Drigmaw’s head snaps back as it is thrown from the force of Keith’s incredible burst of speed. Even Keith is shocked, and tumbles out of control for a second, free of the Drigmaw’s pressure. The Drigmaw sees this and lunges towards Keith with an open mouth.

Hunk grips his controls, and telling, he thrusts his Lion upward. The armored claw blades form on The Yellow lion, and dig into the Drigmaw’s tail. Seizing the creature, Hunk drags it back doward to slam it into the asteroid.

“Thanks.” Keith says, pulling up next to Hunk.

“Just paying back the favor.” Hunk shrugs. “Besides, for the moment...I am still a member of this team.”

Keith smiles. “In that case, you guys want to try forming Voltron again?”

“Yeah!” Lance agrees.

“Might as well.” Pidge shrugs.

“On option it seems we have.” Allura puts in.

“Let’s do it!” Hunk says with a grin.

“Everyone...from Voltron!”

The lions fly in formation, and this time, begin to glow. The five lion join together, becoming Voltron.

The Drigmaw, for it's part, rises from the cracked asteroid, and flies at its new enemy. Voltron tears out it's sword, and meets the Drigmaw’s charge. The creature makes as if it’s going to try to bite Voltron, but instead, pulls back and swings its tail.

“Shield!” Keith orders.

The Shield is thrown up, and the Drigmaw’s attack is easily blocked. Voltron then swings it's sword, slashing the Drigmaw’s side. The creature recoils, pulling back to hide it's gashed side, that glows with the energy from Voltron’s blade. Voltron pushes forward, hammering the Drigmaw with sword strikes. For a while the creature seems to only be able to duck and dodge Voltron’s attacks. But as it's narrowly dives below another swing, the creature puffs up it's chest, and vomits out a new cloud of the dust cloud around Voltron. The Paladins are instantly blinded.

“Where is it?” Keith asks.

“I don’t know!” Pidge replies. “This stuff blocks my sensors!”

Voltron is slashed by a sudden claw strike. It is slashed again, when another claw hits from the other side. Voltron swings around the sword in random arcs, but doesn’t hit anything. Suddenly Voltron is struck again, from behind, but this time the Drigmaw uses the opportunity to writhe its body around Voltron. It holds down Voltron’s limbs with its claws, and squeezes it's serpentine body around the robot, constricting it.

“Lance...sword?” Keith utters, struggling to get Voltron to even move.

“Can’t..move.” Lance replies.

The dust starts to disperse, not that the helps the Paladins. They are only able to better see the Drigmaw open its mouth, ready to bite down on Voltron’s head. The Paladins are helpless.

Then, the bayard port in Hunk’s lion begins to glow. His eyes widen with surprise, but he grins.

“Chew on this!” Hunk yells.

The cannon forms at the same time as the Drigmaw lunges. Rather than bite down on Voltron’s head, it gets a mouth full of cannon. The cannon fires.

There is a blinding flash of light. When the Paladins can see again. The Drigmaw has no head. The limp body slides off Voltron, to drift off into space.

“Good...good job team.” Keith pants. He smiles. “Especially you Hunk.”

Hunk only shrugs. “All in a day’s work.”

***

The Lions of Voltron pull into one of the Coalition ship’s hangar bays to rest. They all get out of their lions.

“That was awesome Hunk!” Pidge exclaimes.

“Yeah the way you blew that thing’s head off!? Never saw it coming…” Lance adds.

“Well I just…did what I had to.” He shrugs.

Keith clears his throat. All eyes turn to him. He takes a breath, mumbles something to himself, then looks them each in the eye.

“Paladins...guys.” He sighs. “I know...I know I’m not the best at this. Leading the team, I mean. To be honest I think I’m really bad at it. But It's the job I’ve got. And I’m not going to run away from it. Not…” He looks down. “...not again.”

Lance’s eyes also fall at that comment. Allura, meanwhile, nods with approval, and urges him to continue. Keith looks back up, with more resolve on his face now. His gaze falls on Hunk.

“Hunk...I’m sorry man. I...I’m just trying to keep this all together. But I shouldn’t have attacked you like that. I’m gonna screw up. A lot, probably. And If you want to leave Voltron...well that’s your decision. I can’t, and won’t try, to stop you. You’ve fought this fight with us for a long time, and no one has any right to call you a coward, especially not me. I just hope...I just hope that even if you leave, we keep being friends...I don’t have many of those.” He adds the last reluctantly.

Hunk looks at Keith with watery eyes. “Oh come here you edgy lone wolf!” Then he grabs Keith up in a bear hug. “We all know it’s just an act and you’re just a big softie deep down!”

“Oh! Alright we’re hugging now…” Keith says clearly caught off guard.

“If I ever leave I’m making you all a giant cake!” Hunk says, sniffing. “However big your imaging, make it five times bigger!”

“Looking forward to it big guy…” Keith smiles, hugging him back.

“Looks like it all worked out in the end.” Lance says.

“Hm.” Pidge agrees in a reserved voice.

Lance glances over to see Allura. She smiles at Keith before heading back to her own lion. Pidge takes note of his gaze. After a moment he turns away and glances down to see Pidge looking up at him.

“Hey.” He smiles weakly. “You kinda saved me yourself back there. Thanks.”

“Don’t mention it.” She looks down. They’re silent for a moment.

“...sorry. For what I said before. You...you didn’t deserve that. I was being a jerk. I know I’ve been...kind of high strung lately, so I’m sorry I ended up taking that out on you.”

She waits patiently for his reply.

“...forget about it.” He finally says with a shrug. “You were just being honest. Maybe you were right too...guess however I feel about Allura doesn’t matter considering how she reacted. Don’t think she really wants anything to do with me after that.”

“Lance.” Pidge says seriously. “...what I meant to say back there -what I should have said back there- was just that you didn’t understand what Allura was going through when you told her that. It wasn’t just you, it was what it reminded her of.”

“What do you mean?” He asks, with a quirked eyebrow.

“Well she had just found out Lotor had returned.”

“And?”

“And then you told you were in love with her.”

“I’m failing to see the connection here.”

Pidge rolls her eyes. “Lance, how did Allura feel about Lotor?”

“Well I guess she kind of...well they sorta...oh...OH!”

“Yeah…”

“And I just...just made her think about the last guy she was with, who turned out to be super evil jerk who killed her people...quiznak. I really am an idiot.” His shoulders slump.

“I...think you just caught her off guard, and she ended up reacting strongly. It doesn’t mean that she hates you or wants nothing to do with you now. She just needs time.”

Lance chuckles and shakes his head. “When did you become an expert of love Pidge?”

“I”m not-I don’t...listen this is just common sense stuff!”

“Well be that as if may, thanks for telling this idiot what he did wrong.”

“S-sure. Anytime…” PIdge stammers, cheeks growing hot.

“You alright there Pidge?”

“Fine.” she says quickly. “Just fine.”

***

Haggar stands on the bridge of a Galra cruiser, overlooking dozens of other Galra ships. Commander Sendak walks up to stand next to her.

“Is there any word of my son?”

“None.” Sendak replies. “No one has seen anything since…”

“Since?”

“...since he fought Voltron.”

“Just what are you implying Commander?”

“Nothing.” He says quickly. “...but it may be time to consider that he is not coming back.”

Haggar whirls around to look the Commander in the eyes. She crackles with violet energy. “Emperor Lotor is not dead!”

“I...of course.” Sendak says, lowering his head.

“Continue the search. I want every planet, every asteroid, every rock searched until he is found.”

“Understood.” he nods, carefully.

“Commander! We have unidentified craft approaching! Definitely not one of ours.” An officer shouts from his station.

“Who would dare attack us?” Sendak muses. “Is it Skriel? Maybe Maroffa? Or did that pathetic Coalition finally grow the spine to attack us?”

“These readings...they look like Voltron, sir!”

Haggar looks over sharply. “What?”

Before the officer can even reply, Dark Voltron suddenly bursts into view. It deactivates it's booster wings, and for a moment, only hangs there in the rough center of the cluster of Galra ships. Then an image appears on all the ship’s screens: Emperor Zarkon, sitting in the cockpit of the Black Lion.

“Zarkon.” Haggar gasps.

“To what remains of the Galra Empire: Your eyes have not deceived you. Your emperor has returned. And as you can see...”

Dark Voltron tears out it's sword, as if to emphasis.

“...I have my own Voltron. And I assure you it is stronger than the one those pitiful children of this ‘Voltron Coalition’ are piloting.”

Beside Zarkon’s image, a new image pops up, and begins to play a video. It is an abbreviated version of Dark Voltron’s fight with the other Voltron.

“...I trust you will all understand what this means. This empire is now mine, as is rightfully so. You are now mine. There will be no discussion. I am in charge once more, and forever.”

Sendak swallows hard.

“...ma’am?” He asks gingerly.

Haggar does not reply.

“Haggar.” Sendak says, firmly.

She finally nods slowly.

“Only one thing to do: Bend the knee.”

Sendak lets out a sigh of what might been relief. He nods to an officer.

“This Commander Sendak, the leader of this small fleet.” Sendak says over the comm. “We are yours to command Emperor Zarkon. Vrepit Sa!”

Zarkon goes silent for a moment. “...I accept your allegiance, Sendak. Prepare to be boarded…”

The image of Zarkon disappears. A moment later Dark Voltron splits up into Lions.

“How could he be alive ma’am? He...he died at Lotor’s hands did he not?” Sendak asks.

“I don’t…” Haggar doesn’t finish the sentence.

A flash of violet light appears on the bridge. Haggar’s eyes widen and she throws up a barrier of energy. A fraction of a second after she does this there is an exposition of violet lightning that tears the bridge apart. In an instant, everyone on the bridge is dead save for Haggar and Sendak. Dust and debris rains down. Haggar lets her shield drop. Two new figures now stand on what remains of the bridge, shadowed by the dust.

“I told you Sendak.” A voice says. “I wouldn’t die from such a simple attack. I’m smarter than that…”

Honvera steps forward, along with another Sendak at her side. Haggar gasps, and takes an involuntary step back.

“What witchery is this!?” Sendak exclaims at seeing his twin.

Honvera only smiles. “Now let’s see how long it takes me to figure it out…”

Haggar is only silent for another few moments.

“...alternate reality.” She finally says. “They are us from an alternate reality. It's the only explanation for them, Zarkon, and that Voltron being here. Voltron itself was made from a trans-dimensional comet...no it is not such a stretch at all.”

Honvera claps lightly. “Excellent. I was worried I’d have to lead you to that solution, but well...you are me after all.”

“So they are...us?” Sendak asks.

“Indeed.” The other Sendak replies.

“And they intend to…”

“Kill us and take our places, most likely.” Haggar says simply.

Honvera shrugs. “It's necessary, I’m afraid. We’ll fill in for you two. It seems the rest of the Paladins no longer have alternates, so that won't be a problem for them. The story will be that Zarkon’s death was meer Coalition propaganda. We’ll say he’s been away constructing his own Voltron this whole time. That way we don’t have to try to explain all the intricacies of interdimensional travel. It's just cleaner like that.”

“I understand. I’d probably do the same.” Haggar says, her hands begin to crackle with violet energy. “Sendak...try not to die. It seems we have a fight on our hands, and I’d prefer to live through this day.”

“Fighting myself…” Sendak muses.

“It should be interesting to see who is stronger, if nothing else.” The other Sendak replies.

With no other warning the fight begins. Haggar throws a bolt of crackling energy at her alter. Hovera passively knocks the bolt away with a swing of her hand. Her own hand crackles, as if to fire a bolt, but at the last second she teleports inches away from Haggar. Haggar only barely manages to teleport out of the way in time, the bolt flying through where her body had been moments before.

Meanwhile, the two Sendak’s charge. Commander and Paladin each throw out their artificial arms, the two clashing in mid air. Both reel their arms back in to strike out again. The Commander Sendak ducks below the other’s rocketing fist, to fire off his own. Paladin Sendak however, activates his bayard, forming it into a shield, blocking his opponent’s attack. The Paladin Sendak then charges forward, bashing his shield into the other Sendak’s chest, sending him stumbling. The Paladin follows his blow up with a punch from his artificial arm. The Commander Sendak stumbles, almost falling. He pulls his arm back in, this time in a guarding position.

“I can see one major difference between us now.” The Paladin Sendak says.

“And what is that?” The Commander replies.

“I was the one that was strong enough to become a Paladin of Voltron.”

The Paladin Sendak charges.

Haggar and Honvera fire off twin blasts of crackling energy at each other. The two women struggle, neither seeming to gain the upper hand. But then, Honvera drops a hand, and Haggar’s blast takes the lead. But Honvera dropped the hand, not from weakness, but to fire a second bolt of energy at the ceiling above Haggar. Haggar quickly teleports away, but is met with a bolt of energy flying right for her new location. She throws up a shield just in time to block the blast. Haggar then teleports behind her alter, and throws a blast that forces Honvera to throw up her own shield.

“This fight could go on for days. We are too evenly matched.” Haggar says plainly.

“Oh I don’t know about that…” Honvera says. She starts peppering Haggar with short quick bursts of energy. Haggar teleports away, but is forced to teleport again as the energy blasts strike at her new location. She is forced to do this several more times.

“Who will outlast whom, I wonder?” Honvera asks. “All that jumping around has to be taking its toll.”

“Perhaps you are right…” Haggar says, teleporting again. She keeps one arm behind her back, where violet glyphs begin to swirl around her hand.

Hoverva smiles. “I always am.” She pulls out her own hand covered in the same glyphs. A blinging blast of energy tears across the bridge right for Haggar. At the last moment, Haggar teleports out of the way, to stand right beside Honverva. “-You weren’t this time.” She throws out her own hand.

Honvera’s smile never wavers. A thick beam of violet energy slams into Haggar’s side sending the woman crashing into the far wall.

“I wasn’t aiming for you.” Honvera chuckles. Across the room, Paladin Sendak stands, holding out his shield, crackling from where he used it to reflect Honvera’s earlier blast back towards Haggar.

Commander Sendak tries to use the opportunity to attack Paladin’s exposed back. Moving fluidly, Paladin Sendak spins back around, leg sweeping the Commander, sending him to the floor. Paladin Sendak then swings his massive arm down once, twice, three times. The Commander Sendak does not rise.

Honerva waves her hands and a series of glyphs appear. She throws them and they surround Haggar, and disperse into crackling energy. Haggar, ragged from the blast, tries to teleport away, but the crackling around her prevents her from going anywhere.

“Warded. You can’t escape I’m afraid…” Honvera explains.

Haggar gives up struggling. Honerva turns away, back towards the two Sendaks. She walks over and kneels down, touching the beaten Sendak on the forehead. Energy crackles from his forehead to her fingertips. She then touches the hand to the Paladin Sendak’s forehead.

“There. I took just the basic memories. Enough for you to get by as him. Passphrases, names of subordinates and the like. The rest should be easy enough to figure out.”

“Thank you mistress.” He gives a slight bow.

“Now finish it.” Honerva nods to the other Sendak.

Paladin Sendak steps over his fallen alter.

“W...wait!” The beaten Sendak pleads. “I’m you! You don’t want to do this!”

“I’ll admit it's...philosophically troubling. But orders are orders. And besides…” The Paladin Sendak shifts his bayard into an axe. “...this is what you deserve for being weak.”

Sendak swings the axe.

Honerva turns away from the grisly scene. She looks back at Haggar slumped on the ground, but still looking in her direction.

“What about her?” Sendak asks, turning away from the corpse.

“We won’t kill her...yet. Her mind will be far harder to extract knowledge from.” Honerva smiles slightly. “Let’s find somewhere safe to keep her. I think I want to have a talk with myself…”

#voltron #voltron legendary defender #plance #plangst #pigdance #lance #pidge #keith #hunk #allura #allurance #voltron season 8 #fanfic #fix it fic

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inawickedlittletown · 6 years ago

Text

Walking The Wire (87/?)

Summary: Tony Stark always knew about Peter Parker. He didn’t know that Peter was going to get superpowers and become Spider-Man, but he always knew about Peter because Peter was his son.

This will span from pre-Iron Man up through the rest of the MCU (eventually including Infinity War) and will be for the most part canon compliant except where I’ve taken some liberties and interpreted canon a certain way.

Pairings: Pepper/Tony, Tony/Steve (endgame), Tony/Mary (past)

A/N: If you want me to tag you when I post new chapters let me know. This fic is also on AO3

I used Collider’s MCU timeline to stay canon and the title of this fic is an Imagine Dragons song that is just so fitting for Peter and Tony

Masterpost

Chapter Eighty Six - (Author’s note post-ch. 86)

He called him dad.

It was -- it was a minor detail to focus on in light of everything that was happening, but at the same time it was huge.

Peter changed into the suit and Tony gave him his privacy but even then, he couldn’t help but notice that Peter had a lot of bruising on him. That guy had made a building fall on Peter. On his son. He was going to pay for that. Tony had been so relieved to find Peter after Friday alerted him to the building collapse that his anger at knowing what had occurred had faded some, but it was fast returning.

“Dad,” Peter said and the word was everything.

“Yeah?”

“He was my date’s father,” Peter said. “I don’t know if Ned told you. I wasn’t looking for trouble -- I was just going to the dance and he figured out I’m Spider-Man and--”

“And?” Tony asked.

Peter sort of shrugged his shoulders. “He threatened me -- told me to stay away. I couldn’t, though. I really couldn’t and you have to understand, I wasn’t--”

“I know, Pete,” Tony said, cutting him off.

It was a hard reality to face -- to realize that maybe he had been too hard on Peter. Too overbearing and too much of what could be considered overprotective. He’d watched enough footage of Peter’s time with the suit to know that Peter was good at what he did. That everything he’d done over the course of this whole thing with the weapon dealers had been with every good intention and then a whole bunch of bad luck.

“Thanks for coming for me. I was —”

“I know.”

Peter wiped at his eyes and face but there was still a lot of dust left behind. “I didn’t think Ned would get through to you.”

“Friday redirected him to Pepper. If that hadn’t happened I don’t think I would have known.”

“Oh,” Peter said and he looked down. “I stole a car.”

Tony couldn’t help but laugh and then he looked towards the car. “I can see that,” he said. “You weren’t kidding about not being able to drive. We might have to rectify that among other things.”

His kid was a precious amazing and wonderful mess and Tony couldn’t imagine ever loving anyone the way that he loved Peter.

“So, what are we--” Peter trailed off and sort of motioned is arms.

Tony had been thinking about that too. They had to find and capture this guy. It was high time this was dealt with.

“Friday?” Tony asked.

“Boss, there’s movement over by that empty billboard,” Friday said, from the suit and both he and Peter turned and sure enough the winged guy was up there and he didn’t seem to be moving. That was the man that had made a building fall on his kid and he wasn’t going to be getting away.

“The plane,” Peter said with a gasp. “He’s waiting for the plane to take off.”

Tony turned to look at Peter. “What?” he asked.

“Your plane,” Peter said. “He’s trying to steal the plane and everything on it.”

---

“Friday, where is the plane?” Tony asked.

Peter kept his eyes fixed on Toomes. He seemed to just be perched up there by the billboard. Peter could just swing up there. Toomes probably wouldn’t even expect it really. He glanced back at his dad and then he put the mask on.

“You are injured, Peter,” Karen said.

“Doesn’t matter right now. And hardly.”

“The plane took off two minutes ago,” Tony said and Peter heard the strain in his voice. They had wasted too much time after Peter had been rescued.

“Can it -- can it fly back to the tower?” Peter asked.

Tony shook his head. “No-- wait, he’s on the move.”

Peter turned fast and sure enough The Vulture was in the air. Peter didn’t think twice before he ran up Flash’s car and jumped into the air as he threw out a web. He swung up towards where The Vulture had been. He heard the Iron Man repulsors behind him and enjoyed the sound as he reached the billboard. The Vulture was too high up to reach, but Iron Man wasn’t as he flew past and Peter didn’t even give him warning before he attached a web to the armor.

“Where’s the plane?” Peter asked.

“Reflector panels,” Tony said and he sounded distracted.

Peter focused on how quickly they were moving. If they could get a little closer he might be able to grab onto The Vulture. Although maybe that might make him notice them. Peter shot another web at the armor to steady him and his dad glanced back and in that same moment a couple of things happened.

The Vulture turned. One of Peter’s webs broke off.

The next moment happened quickly. “I knew you’d be around here somewhere, Stark,” The Vulture said. “So I prepared for that. Just like I prepared for Peter. Shame it had to come to that. I kind of liked the kid.”

That was when Peter realized that Toomes hadn’t seen him. He was hanging off of the armor but just out of view and it was dark. The Vulture was also overconfident and so sure that he’d managed to keep Peter under the building.

“You’re going to pay for that,” Tony said and then Tony lifted his arm and Peter was trying to keep himself from moving too much due to the wind. He could tell that Tony wasn’t moving too much because of him -- because the high altitude was not something that Peter had accounted for while creating his webbing and the wind was pushing and pushing at it.

Toomes dodged the repulsor blast and Peter felt the web breaking. He shot out another but it didn’t land on the Iron Man armor. Instead, it was on The Vulture who didn’t even seem to notice. He was far more focused on his dad which was good except that Iron Man somehow didn’t see The Vulture throw something at him.

“Dad,” Peter gasped over comms, but it wasn’t enough warning.

“EMP,” Karen said to Peter just as The Vulture flew up and away from Iron Man and taking Peter with him.

“The suit can guard against that, though,” Peter said to Karen.

“Yes, but I don’t believe that was a regular EMP,” Karen said.

Peter turned even as he had to hold on as The Vulture speeded up and he caught the tail end of the blast and then Iron Man was falling.

“Dad?” Peter asked over comms. There was no response. “Karen, what do I do?”

“Iron Man suit will be up and running soon,” Karen said.

“Okay. Okay. So I have to stop The Vulture, then.” Peter took a deep breath. He had just been under a building that this man had brought down on him and every single time before this had ended horribly but --- but he could do this. He could do this.

“Are we getting close to the plane?” Peter asked.

“According to GPS we’re close,” Karen said.

They hadn’t even managed to delay The Vulture much. The wind was coming harder and harder as they came up faster and then they were at the plane and Peter had to brace himself as The Vulture landed and Peter just managed to hold on. He threw more web at it and at least some of it stuck but it kept being ripped off. So much for amazing tensile strength.

“Karen, how -- what do I do?” Peter asked.

“The plane does not have a pilot. Just a destination,” Karen said.

Peter nodded. Then, what did that mean? Was Toomes trying to just do as he always did and take some of the stuff on the plane or was he trying to somehow steal everything on it. The wings had attached to the plane and they weren’t moving. Peter had to think quickly.

“There are also security measures,” Karen went on to say.

Peter was barely holding on to the plane. He had to get inside but he was well aware that there was no way to do that. Except that Toomes had that handy thing that disintegrated matter. And he’d sealed up his hole with his wings!

“Peter?” Tony’s voice came in and Peter felt relief flood him.

“He’s in the plane,” Peter said. “I’m -- I’m kind of outside of the plane.”

“Shit,” his dad said. “I’m coming. Suit had to reboot.”

That’s when a drone came off of the plane.

“Karen, scan that thing -- what is it doing? What is Toomes doing inside?”

Peter moved closer to the wings. He tried to kick them even as the plane shifted its course and the wind came at Peter fast and hard.

“He’s taken control of the plane,” Karen said.

---

EMPs weren’t fun. For the most part his suits never had much problem with them anymore -- nothing like the early suits. Some of the EMPs actually gave the suit more energy than shut everything off -- but this had been alien tech or something constructed from alien tech and even his suit hadn’t been able to take it. But it was lucky that a quick reboot didn’t take longer than a couple of minutes. Long minutes during which he worried for Peter who had gone with the winged guy. He hadn’t even had Friday to keep him company as he fell and then systems had come back and he’d had Peter’s tracker to follow. As he got closer, he could see the plane reflecting Peter’s suit on it’s panels.

“Boss, it appears the plane’s security measures have been overridden. It is no longer headed for the Upstate New York facility.”

Peter had said that the guy had made it onto the plane. It was almost a little impressive that he’d managed it. He saw the drone fly away from the plane and shot it down with a small missile.

“Where is it going now?”

“I don’t know,” Friday said.

“Damn it,” Tony said. He was closer now and Peter spotted him. Peter who was trying to dislodge the wings. Tony flew towards him and he motioned for Peter to move back as he raised his hand and shot a repulsor blast at them, and whatever had been keeping them on the plane gave.

They seemed to come to life rather than fall off so Tony just shot at them again. In the meanwhile, Peter scurried into the plane which was good. He’d be safer in there probably. Tony dodged a wing that came close to hitting him. Something fell into the hole in the plane. Good -- it might stop enough of the depressurizing.

The wings came back at him and Tony was just on the side of almost impressed at how well they did with no pilot. He didn’t want them to hit the plane with Peter inside, but he kept them occupied and hoped that Peter could deal with Toomes on his own. No. He knew that Peter could. Because despite how much Tony wanted to hurt that man for what he had done to Peter, Peter could fight this fight too.

---

“So you made it out,” Toomes said and he looked angry and intense -- his eyes wild as he stared at Peter.

Peter didn’t respond. He knew his best bet was to tie him up. The hole on the plane was sucking things out -- not any of the cargo because that wasn’t directly where the hole was, but it could get to that point and either way a hole in a plane was just not a good idea.

“You just couldn’t let this be and you had to involve Iron Man too. Didn’t you, Pete?”

“I see nothing wrong with involving the person you’re trying to steal from,” Peter said and he shot a string of web at him which was when Toomes moved and lunged for Peter, his hands extended.

Peter was faster. He jumped back onto the wall and then it wasn’t far from getting to the ceiling and dropping down behind Toomes. The cockpit was right behind him with all the controls and while Peter may not know much about flying a plane -- maybe he should add that to skills he needed to learn next to driving a car -- he knew Karen could probably guide him on changing the destination coordinates. First, he kicked Toomes on the back. But there was also the hole to deal with and Peter knew enough about physics to know that any kind of horrible thing could happen next.

Toomes turned as he stumbled and Peter shot web at his arm attaching it to the side of the plane. He didn’t hesitate to shoot out more at his other hand.

“So you’re just going to take me from my daughter now, Peter? I kind of remember something Liz said...something about you not having any parents--”

He was good at talking -- good at trying to get Peter to lower his defences by angering him.

“Well, she’s wrong,” Peter said. “And Liz deserves so much more than you.” Then, Peter used his elbow to fix a blow on his head and he threw more web at him. Toomes’ head dropped down but he was still breathing.

“How’s it going in there, Peter?”

“Do you think I could learn to fly a plane?” Peter asked as he walked back to the cockpit. The plane seemed to be rocking a little and it was getting worse.

Tony didn’t say anything for a moment. “Do you need to fly a plane right now?”

“No. I don’t think so. Just -- I have him webbed up but now --”

“Peter, the plane is losing altitude,” Karen announced. Tony must have gotten the same impression. “It’s losing pressure fast too.”

It was the hole - it was going to bring the plane down if it didn’t first cause some sort of explosion. Maybe if he could close it up--

Outside there was some sort of explosion and for a moment Peter thought that it was the plane -- that somehow a motor or turbine or something had just exploded. The plane rocked even more and Peter felt it shift downward. This wasn’t good.

“Dad, what -- what should I do? I think it’s going to crash.”

“I can see that. Can you get that hole taken care of?”

“Yes. On it,” Peter said and he’d already been headed there.

Peter tried to move towards the hole despite how much it was pulling. He knew he might be sucked out and as he drew nearer he felt the pull. It was only his strength and his powers that kept him from flying out and then Peter saw that one of the boxes had actually been pulled towards the hole. It was plugging some of it, but not all. It was a miracle it hadn’t fallen through entirely. It was probably the reason the plane was still in the air even if it was destabilizing and to add to that, Peter felt a bit woozy.

He filled in the holes he could with webbing, unsure that it would hold for long but hoping that it would do something while he found something else to cover the hole. At least the pull had lessened. Peter rushed towards the cargo and he ripped off the lid of one of the wooden crates. He webbed it into place just as the plane jolted again.

“I got the plane, Peter,” Tony said. Oh, that’s what that last jolt had been about. “How’s our friend?”

Toomes was still out cold. It didn’t mean he wouldn’t wake up soon, but Peter was prepared for that. He just would prefer if he didn’t and if he didn’t have to deal with this man ever again. But Peter did hate what it would do to Liz. Despite everything, she was back at the dance having fun with her friends. She wouldn’t have any idea what was coming and Peter hated it it a little bit and yet he couldn’t let him go even for Liz.

Karen gave him instructions on what to do at the controls to make it easier for Iron Man to just take the plane down. They somehow ended up at the beach in Coney Island, but it turned out to be the best place to land the plane safely. It was a bit of a rough landing, but it was a landing.

The door the plane was opened fast after that and Peter stumbled out into the armor. The helmet came off and his dad smiled at him.

“Proud of you kid. Couldn’t have done this without you. Now where is he? I’d like a few words with him before the authorities get here.”

There was anger in his father’s eyes. Anger in a way that Peter had never seen before -- it looked dangerous.

“I -- I webbed him up inside.”

Chapter Eighty Eight

#peter and tony #peter and tony fic #mcuwriting #mcu fic #iron dad #iron dad and spider son #stony #stony fic #marvel

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