#fic: in the morning i'm bulletproof

[jamietarttsnorthernattitude]

1, 3, 21, 26

1. What’s something new that you tried in a fic this year? How did it turn out and would you do it again?

Oh a lot of things I think, as I had not written in a long time and I kind of blacked out what I actually wrote previously. I wrote my first m/m, ot3 fics and my first smut. I might do it again. I'm not sure how good I actually am at it, so I'd never say never, but I don't have any particular plans at the moment. My first time writing whump (long time reader, first time writer) and I will absolutely continue to do that.

3. What’s something you learned about yourself as a writer?

That I can work on multiple stories at once. And we’ll, that I can even write in general. I wrote based off one story that wouldn’t leave my brain and basically never stopped.

21. Share your favorite piece of dialogue.

Okay this was hard, I'm cheating and doing one silly:

“I know, but it’s still true. Sam, you're one of the nicest people I’ve met, and I treated you like shit. It’s instant caramel, innit,” Jamie says, wincing slightly as he moves the mug to his table. “Jamie, that is not true. Wait, did you say instant caramel?” “Yeah, because getting what you deserve sticks to you like caramel.” “Jamie, it’s instant karma, you know what, never mind. 

and one serious:

“Whether that’s normal or not, it is what it is. I didn’t expect you to come in, and I didn’t expect the note and Ted Danson, the little army guy you gave me. I didn’t expect it because you sent me away, Ted. I know; I was a prick. But I was trying. I really was. I mean, I sacrificed those boots my Mum got me. Richard dumped in some fucking sand, and I opened myself up for the first time since my Dad came back into my life, and I really fucking tried. I thought maybe that was enough to see that I was trying. I was going to do better, be better.

But then you sent me away, Ted. And well, that was worse because I was actually trying, and the next thing you did was send me right back to where my fucking Dad would be. Like, maybe he was right; maybe I got too soft, so I had to be sent back so he could take care of it. I thought that’s why you walked away. Because you said, you said you cared about us. But then you just fucking sent me away. So, yeah, that was worse than walking away. That was thanks for playing Jamie, but you’re just not good enough. That was thank you, but fuck you.”

26. If you had to choose ONE, what was the most satisfying writing moment of the year?

If I had to choose, I think it was just receiving my first review, like you read my little story that wouldn't leave my brain and took the time to tell me you liked it????? I will love you forever.

[sharky-teeth]

top dean/bottom sam fics that perfectly exemplify why bottom sam is the best (the list got kind of super long because i'm just too passionate about this topic):

take the things you love by hathfrozen: i think everybody and their grandma knows this one but i had to include it, this is our gospel. literally changed my life.

mommy dearest by tradwifesam: if you don't like feminization, read this and see the vision.

Softly, as a morning sunrise by LaughableLament: one of my go-to authors for fun and short PWPs.

Noise Complaint by formalizing: a lesson on how to make a thousand words count!

Coast On Through by philalethia: this actually contains switching, but when i tell you it has some of the best samdean scenes ever...

Feel About the Same Most Every Day: pining that you can feel in your bones.

Like a Machine by ani_coolgirl: camboy!sam perfection.

Untouchable for Life by Sintari: another one for my camboy!sam enthusiasts.

Undertow by Molly: starts out angsty and ends with psychic sex vibes, what's not to love?

Birthday Boy by DickBaggins: sam's ass is dean's birthday present, need i say more?

Keeping it Clean by themegalosaurus: swesson filth <3

this thing, for which we break by orbiting_saturn: intense and intimate, as PWP as it comes.

Sweltering by WhoopsOK: brothers with benefits done right. slutty sam as a treat!

weecest:

With A Bit Of Spit And Luck by elsi: in my top 5 weecest of all time, which is saying something because the competition is crazy.

Bulletproof by road_rhythm: gunplay! incredible characterization, if you have a kink for guilty dean who's unable to stop himself, and pushy sammy, this is the one.

Heart of Worms by Ninni: very moody, and beautifully written.

Petulant by formalizing: another short read that hits all the right spots and leaves you wanting more.

and all is right in Dean's world by ladygizarme: loved dean's characterization here, he left me feeling unsettled.

for those like me who need some jokes with your p*rn:

The Koala Conundrum by De_Nugis: (mentions of switching) to this day, one of the most unique & refreshing stories i've read, an absolute masterpiece.

the one with aphrodisiac: this one managed to be hilarious and hot in equal measure, an amazing feat.

Incidentally, It Was Christmas by ani_coolgirl: one of my favorite fics of the year! ani's humor is impeccable! if you also believe in the sam-sexual dean truth, this is a must read.

Tongue-Tied by ADeedWithoutaName: cursed!dean unable to speak, and sam speaking for both of them, you know where this goes...

Dicks in a Box by fictionallemons: buried alive and how do sam and dean decide to spend their time? it ain't cuddling!

Versatile, Tender and Delicious by themegalosaurus: improper use of a zucchini. read and find out.

for my omega sam lovers:

Five Weeks & its sequel Three Weeks Too Late by rei_c: probably my favorite wincest a/b/o of all time! i could've read 100k of this universe, loved the details put into it.

A Blind Fool's Luck by hellhoundsprey: this is also a favorite! i remember the tension in this fic had me dizzy. this author has an incredible way with descriptions, vivid and unique writing style.

Phantom Pain by hellhoundsprey: weecest! love their dynamic here so much, great blending of a/b/o traits while keeping them in character.

Clover by hellhoundsprey: perfectly done late seasons getting together! with the right amount of schmoop. clearly this author is very dear to me lol

know the feeling by sammyatstanford: this is the longest work in this list, around 40k words, and so worth it! really enjoyed the worldbuilding.

now to my favorite flavor (bottom sam with a side of delicious angst):

Lesser Evils by Dyed_Red: [non-con] not for everyone, but definitely for me. if you love samdean at odds and suffering, this will push all the right buttons. life-changing fic.

Is It Tomorrow (Or Just the End of Time) by elsi: the angst here is so glorious. from beginning to end it's angst, angst, then more angst. there is no resolution to their issues, and i love that.

Collision Course by lovetincture: one of the most believable first time stories i've read, spot on characterization and raw descriptions. didn't shy away from the ugly side of incest.

You can run away with me any time you want by Trojie: sam leaving for stanford fic! oh this one hurts like a motherfucker. there's a line in here that's so beautiful, it lives in my brain.

his skin barely keeping him inside by hathfrozen: another banger by hathfrozen, i have a weak spot for first time in a long time stories.

No such thing as Forgiveness by hellhoundsprey: lawyer!sam getting his life sent off track when big brother comes back to the picture... the unhealthy dynamic here is to die for.

Blood sacrifice sex magic type of thing by Goshen: sam performing ritual sex to cure his demon brother... as he should.

Worship Not These False Idols by killabeez: ruby fucking sam while pretending to be dean. as amazing as it sounds.

Circles of Light by WhoopsOK: there is a "Magical Healing Ass" tag. enough said

end of list! i tried to only include works with less than 10k hits here, so someone might find something they haven't read before. i didn't include warnings, so definitely check out the tags first. all these fics are seriously amazing, i hope more people will read these gems <3

[runningfrom2am]

leveling the playing field // epilogue

summary: seven years later.

pairing: coriolanus snow x fem!reader

wc: 2.7k

masterlists / nav / requests

tags/warnings: capitol brat!reader, maybe slightly ooc coryo, idk i tried my best. this part is quite tame! idk, discussion of the games as a concept is pretty messed up? obviously r & coryo are both delusional but whats new??

a/n: this is it :') thank you all so so so much for all the love on this fic! it means so much to me that you guys enjoyed it! but don't get too sad (like me) bc i am not ready to let them go so i'll probably do like blurbs and stuff ab this series so stick around for those!

series masterlist // playlist

~ seven years later ~

"You've got this, Darling. It's going to be perfect." Coryo insists, kissing your temple as you relentlessly adjust your hair, trying to tame any imaginary flyaways in your flawlessly straightened hair.

"As long as it's not a disaster..." You mumble, giving up on your hair and refocusing on making sure you have all your papers.

Arena map? Check. Tribute and mentors list? Check. Schedule?

"With you in charge, I do not doubt that it will be anything short of flawless. I know you. You wouldn't have it any other way." Your husband assures you, taking your spot in front of the large mirror to adjust his red coat, matching to yours.

You sigh, tucking the large stack of meticulously organized papers into your bag. "I mean, does anyone honestly expect it to be perfect? It's my first games... There's a small margin for error, right?"

"No." Coryo replies sternly, turning to face you. He grabs your chin as you groan, forcing your eyes to meet his. "There's no room for error, but it will be perfect. So don't worry." He plants a gentle kiss on your lips. "And if you need anything, just call."

"Okay..." You hum, smiling as you look up at him. "I'm going to miss you, though." Your smile shifts into a pout, and he kisses your forehead.

"I know. I'll miss having my assistant around, too." He mumbles against the softness of your skin.

Your time working together under Dr. Gaul had been a dream. Why did everything have to change all at once? You've been together every day for years, and you had the most fun helping plan the games and pitching all your ideas to Dr. Gaul, staying up late over ideas due the next morning and too many cups of coffee, giggling over how funny it would be to see a games where the people of the Districts got to vote over who to send in.

"Do you think it's because that's kind of what happened to Lucy Gray?" You giggled in the dark, feeling Coryo's form shift under the blankets next to you before you felt his breath hit the side of your face.

"Now that you mention it..." He laughed quietly. "Yeah, it totally was."

You had always come up with Dr. Gaul's favourite ideas together. But now, she was gone. And it was just you. You honestly thought that woman was some kind of immortal beast, but clearly, no one is fully bulletproof.

She had offered the position of Head Gamemaker to both of you in her will. You and Coriolanus had worked well together, she had always said that about you. That the two of you were her favourite experiment.

"No, Darling. You take it."

"What? No, we've always done everything together." You protest, furrowing your brow. "She's offered it to both of us, we can do whatever we want, no more waiting for her approval. We can run with it! Come on, it'll be so fun, Coryo."

"That's your dream. Not mine." He smiled at you, brushing his thumb over your cheek.

You frowned, focussing yourself on pulling the buttons of his shirt so they were perfectly aligned. "Are... Are you sure? I don't know if I can do it without you."

"You'll never do anything without me, you know that." He hummed, pushing your hair out of your eyes. "If you need help, just ask. I'm right here. Always."

"I'm not an assistant anymore." You laugh. "Technically, you're kind of my assistant now." You shrug, leaning down to pull on your shoes, white with bottoms red to match your coat.

"Okay, well, I wouldn't put it like that..." He laughs, shaking his head at you and holding out a hand to steady you while you adjust yourself to accommodate your heels.

You take it gratefully, standing up and brushing off your coat once more with your free hand. "Be honest, Coryo, do you think the bear is too much? I feel a little like it's cheating, they don't even really have a chance. Do you get what I mean?"

"Darling," He cups your cheeks in his hands. "No one will be able to look away. That's the most important part."

"I just... I want it to be something different. Something people will still want to watch."

"Everyone will be watching." He assures you. "Now, let's get going. You have a big day ahead."

"Yes sir, Mister President."

"My name is Lucretius "Lucky" Flickerman, your favourite and only host of the annual Hunger Games on Capitol TV, and I have a very special treat for you all this morning before the beginning of the games." You gently remove your coat as you sit down across from Lucky, holding it out for someone to take before the cameras flit your way, though the live audience can already see you.

"For anyone who lives under a rock, this beautiful woman here with me is our lovely First Lady of Panem, and now, Head Gamemaker, Dr. Y/N Snow." He continues as your coat is taken away, and you smile across at him. "Thank you so much for squeezing us into your very busy schedule. Now, how are you feeling about today, Miss Snow?"

"Doctor is fine." You correct him politely, to which he utters a quick apology. "And I am feeling very good about my first games. Dr. Gaul left some big shoes to fill, but I've been working with her for years so I have some really exciting ideas that I just can't wait for the world to see."

"Yes! I'm certain you do." Lucky grins. "Now, I don't know how much of our audience will remember this, but the first time we met was during the tenth games, I was hosting for the first time and you and your husband were both mentors! Just young academy students with some big dreams, isn't that right?"

You laugh, nodding as he speaks and letting the cheers die down. "Yes, I remember that. All of us were kind of getting a feel for how things would work, and my husband was actually the one who came up with the ideas of betting and sponsorships. He has truly always been such a leader, and so smart. He was the one who asked Dr. Gaul if I could help him with his mentorship, and she agreed, and then she just really loved how well we worked together so she kept us around to study under her all these years. It has been such a fun and kind of... fulfilling journey for us both."

"And now, here you are." He nods at you.

"Here I am." You echo it back to him, waiting for another question.

"Now, we have to address what can only be described as the elephant in the room..." He starts, and you try and hide your confused look as you straighten your posture. If there was some kind of problem you should have been made aware before you set foot on stage. "That summer, after your mentorship. Tell us. What happened? Both of you disappeared off the face of the earth right after your success in the games, then came back with these shiny new internships under Dr. Gaul, how did you swing that?"

"Oh!" You laugh, partially relieved it wasn't about these games, but hesitant because everyone knows better than to bring up the tenth games in any sort of detail. "Well, that was the beginning of our internship with Dr. Gaul, and she wanted us to gain some life experience, so we did some touring of the Districts on our own to get to know the people of Panem better. Neither of us had ever left home before, so it was definitely a unique experience that I think was really good for both of us. It was a super secret thing, for some reason. We weren't even to tell our families."

"I see! Well, I hope you learned everything you sought out to?"

"We did." You nod. "And more."

"Okay, well, with that cleared up, tell us more about the games you have planned for us this year. Is there anything new we should be expecting?"

"Oh, definitely." You nod, smiling wide now that you can once again talk about your games. "But I wouldn't want to spoil anything, so everyone will just have to watch." You shrug.

"I don't know if you are aware of this, Dr. Snow," He leans in a little closer, smile on his face. "But one new thing that we know for sure is changing this year, is that the president, your husband, has made it mandatory to watch the games. Not just here in the Capitol, but everywhere in the Districts as well. He made an announcement just this morning, he wants everyone to see what you've worked so hard for."

"Aw." You blush, pressing your hands to your chest. "That's so sweet! No, I didn't know that." The audience eats up your reaction, and you try to keep your eyes on him instead of acknowledging all the clapping and shouts from below you.

"Well, that's just about the cutest surprise! He has a lot of confidence in you." He laughs, reaching over and patting your leg. "You've all heard it here, he's just as good a husband as he is a president!"

"It's true." You agree, hardly audible over the crowds enthusiasm.

"Speaking of your husband..." He says, turning back to look into the wing of the stage and nodding at someone. "He set us up with a little surprise for you, if you don't mind."

"Oh, please." You laugh, covering your face as your cheeks heat up. "Of course he did." You shake your head, whistles from the audience not helping your blush.

"Okay, you can look now. Don't hide!" Lucky laughs, and you lower your hands from in front of your face to be presented with a bouquet of white and red roses. It wasn't an extravagant gift from him, the amount of roses he has gifted to you since your return from Twelve together is astronomical by now, but it's a gesture you cherish nonetheless. You smile as you take them.

"Beautiful, as always." You grin, making a point of smelling them before handing them back to the assistant who's waiting with a vase for them.

"And we have one more thing here, I believe..." He hums, looking back again while you're distracted passing off the wrapped flowers.

When you turn back to look at him you gasp, hands flying up to cover your mouth, fearless of whether or not you would smudge your lipstick. "Is that for me?" You ask, voice higher in octave from the excitement as one of the stagehands walks out with a small dog, fur dyed a soft shade of red with a matching bow around its neck.

"Indeed it is!" Lucky laughs as you're handed the puppy.

"Oh my god..." You smile, tears brimming in your eyes. "Hi there..."

"I think there's a note for you there too..." Lucky urges you and you grab the tag tied onto the bow. "Mind reading it for us?" He says, holding his handkerchief out to you.

"Thank you," You laugh, dabbing under your eyes with your free hand. "A new assistant to match your shoes." You read, laughing at the inside joke.

Everyone laughs, and you get from Lucky's confused expression that you should explain. "Uh, working under Dr. Gaul we would always joke that he was my assistant and vice versa." You laugh, wiping your eyes again before you continue. "I am so proud of you. Finally, the world will see you as I do. Intelligent, strong, and beautiful. Unstoppable. That's why I love you, you're as pure as the driven Snow."

The audience awe's, but you know none of them get it the way you do. "Another inside joke." You nod at Lucky, trying to hold back from crying so much you turn into a mess.

"I stand corrected. That is the cutest surprise." He points to the dog in your lap. "Both literally and figuratively."

"I don't know what I'll do with it." You laugh, shaking your head as the puppy jumps up against your chest, trying to lick your face.

"How about a name, to start?" Lucky prompts you.

"Oh, gosh. Well..." You giggle, lifting it and setting it back down so it will sit in your lap. It's so small, hardly bigger than your hands. It'll likely never grow larger than your lap. It's perfect. "What about Lucky?" You tease.

"Oh, you flatter me, Y/N. Come on, something better."

"I don't know!" You laugh. "I'm not good at naming... things."

Lucky laughs. "Our Head Gamemaker with no ideas? That seems unlikely."

"Okay, okay. You're just putting me on the spot here, I'm a little nervous." You laugh, stroking over the dog's head. "I tell you what, before the games begin this morning I'll come up with twelve names, assign them randomly to the districts, then whoever shall win the games will determine the name of my dog. Does that sound fair?"

"Ah! That's brilliant!" Lucky laughs, clapping his hands together. "And that's a good incentive for anyone who hasn't yet placed their bets or sent in donations for the tributes! Your donation may just be what gives the First Lady's dog its name. How fun!"

"It'll be interesting." You giggle, looking down at the puppy in your lap. It must have been white before the dye, it took so well. Maybe it will fade into a pink before it grows out its natural white fur- you wouldn't want it to stay red forever, but for show, it was perfect.

"Now, we really shouldn't be taking up any more of your time. You have a busy day ahead!" Lucky says and you nod in agreement, standing up and carefully tucking the small dog under your arm. "Thank you for making time for us, I know I'm looking forward to seeing what you have in store for us."

"Thank you. I really hope you all enjoy the games!" You smile, holding out a hand for him to shake which he takes quickly, then allowing you to walk off the stage.

As predicted by a certain Mister President; Coriolanus Snow, your first games as Head Gamemaker went without a hitch. They were perfect in every way. Capitol citizens were buzzing- not just about the games, the mutts you incorporated into the newly decorated arena, or the most shocking kills, but also about your dog. The people loved her, and so did you. She hardly ever left your lap or your side for the duration of the games, which only lasted a matter of days.

The party your husband threw for you at the presidential palace, your home, at the end of the games was extravagant. Coryo couldn't help but broadcast his pride to all of the Capitol. He loved you; you were his, and he needed everyone to know. Not a soul in all the world was anywhere close to being on your level, and shaping you into the perfect wife and First Lady was what Coriolanus Snow considered his greatest achievement. As you stood next to him, his palm tucked neatly against your lower back, you were perfect. More perfect than you were the day you fought for a spot in the mentorships that he granted you, more perfect than the he first time he kissed you, and more perfect than both of the days he had killed someone for you. Without question, he would do it all again if it meant he would get to hold you even just one more time.

"I'm so proud of you, Love." He gently rubs your back, looking down at you while you overlook your garden from the patio off of your bedroom.

You smile, standing up on your toes to plant a kiss on his cheek. "Snow lands on top." You whisper, biting your lip when you see a shift behind his eyes.

"You bet we do." He hums with a smug smile, lifting you up and carrying you back inside.

And somewhere, thousands of miles away in the Northern shambles of a still recovering District Thirteen, while you and your husband are celebrating, Sejanus Plinth and Lucy Gray Baird share knowing, sorrowful glances when it's announced on the crackling radio that the winner of the Seventeenth Annual Hunger Games was a boy from District Two, and because of this, the First Lady of Panem's dog shall be called Sage.

taglist: @totallynotkaibiased , @stelleduarte , @klplynn , @secretsicanthideanymore , @bejeweledreverie , @gloryekaterina , @andrewgarfieldsbitch , @queenofspades6 , @pepperonipastas , @ladybug0095 , @lunamothwrites , @sbrewer21 , @mus-tbe-a-weasley , @splxtscreen , @unclecrunkle , @karmaswitch , @coconut-dreamz , @nekee-lilac02 , @ooooglymoooogly , @riddlerloveb0t , @lovedbalances , @notyourwildestdream , @snowlandson-top , @too-lit-for-fanfic , @utopiakys , @deafeningballoonnacho , @roosterschanelslut , @chmpgneprblem , @cosmoetik , , @urvampgfsworld , @carolanns-world@nan-nie , @shakespearseclipse , @iovemoonyy , @notyoursweetheart-honey ,  @xyzstar , @eatpizzasass, @slytherinholland , @queenofshinigamis , @elodiebeau , @soulessjourney

taglist is closed for coryo unfortunately, but my requests for him are open!! so send me all your suggestions!! requests here!!

[gerec]

Do you have any canon movie fics to recommend? (could be canon divergence too)

the best ones of course

Hi Anon,

It's impossible to define 'best ones' when it comes to fic as everyone has their own set of preferences but I'm happy to share some of my personal favourites. :D And this list barely scratches the surface of all the incredible fic we've been blessed with in this fandom so def. do your own search on ao3 and filter for your preferred tropes! Also, feel free to check out some of my previous fic recs posts on my blog for more options! Happy reading!

XMFC

never too late to be who you might have been by acetamide Erik wakes suddenly and takes a deep breath, and realises that there is nothing.

Replay by SlightWeasel (series) After Magneto of an X2-ish future succeeds in the unthinkable, Charles sends his consciousness back to 1962 to guide Erik away from the path that will lead to the genocide of the human race forty years hence.Charles knows that Erik has always loved him, and intends to use this knowledge + sex to seduce Erik away from his ideals in his youth.There’s no way this well-thought-out, sensible, debugged and 100% bulletproof plan can possibly go wrong.

When We Two Parted by nekosmuse At the end of X3, a still depowered Erik travels back in time to meet 1962 Charles. Cue angst, desperate kissing and happy endings for all. Written for the x-men kink meme.

Lucid Dreaming by listerinezero Magneto finds himself in 1962, on the morning they go to Cuba, in the bed of the young Charles who’d spent months letting him think they were in love before breaking his heart. But he is not the same man he was forty years earlier, and as he gets to know young Charles again, he discovers that things might not have been exactly the way he remembered them after all.

Time to Grow by zarah5 In which you'll find chess dates which aren't dates (or maybe Charles is wrong about that). -- Based on First Class, this turns (slightly) AU during the beach scene.

Not Half As Blinding by keire-ke Cuban beach AU. Charles discovers that death does, in fact, solve everything.

Blood and Steel and Miles Between by dreamlittleyo (Post-movie AU.) On a beach in Cuba, Charles manages to talk Erik down from the edge. But even after the missiles have been diverted, compromise is impossible. There are two different futures to build, and Erik and Charles will always be separated by their principles. But when Charles is kidnapped and the X-Men can't find him, Erik will get him back no matter the consequences.

Homecoming by nekosmuse Five years after they part ways on a beach in Cuba, Charles sends a telepathic message: We are under attack.. Erik drops everything to rush to Charles' side. In which battles are fought, war is avoided, a middle ground is found, and happily ever afters do exist.

how near to fairyland by ikeracity Since childhood, Charles has kept all the things he can't let go of in a beautiful room in his head. Cuba brings his precarious balancing act crashing down.

The Line in the Sand by ikeracity The CIA agents on the base are bullying the children, mocking them for their mutations. Charles will not tolerate it.

DOFP

Hope by daymarket  A near-decade of hatred can't be wiped out with a single summer, no matter how eventful that summer might be. When Erik shows up uninvited at the mansion, Charles is just barely civil enough to not throw him out, but that doesn't mean he'll let him stay.

Mile High by cygnaut There’s only so much time you can spend sublimating your emotions into chess.

Spark Me Up by blarfkey “This is Erik raw. This is Erik lost. This is Erik looking at Charles like he is the only piece of wreckage in a vast ocean. The only star in the sky.

And such a look does things to Charles.”

After ten years, they are both starving for each other.

XMA

third time's the charm by Gerec XMA ficlets and missing scenes

Regrets by SlightWeasel After Apocalypse, Charles and Erik sleep together—but it’s way too soon for Erik.

as it arcs towards the sun by pearl_o

night by night by pearl_o

things worth fearing by pearl_o

Dark Phoenix

After the End of the World (One Bad Day) by kianspo Set during and immediately after the events of X-Men: Dark Phoenix. Everyone deals with the aftermath of Jean's transformation and everything that comes with it in their own way. Could there be found a measure of peace and happiness after everything they've lost?

Never a Place by kianspo It takes some getting used to. Charles hasn’t seen Erik cheerful, actually cheerful without a homicidal intent of some sort in a very long time—perhaps never. Or. Charles takes Erik up on his offer while trying to process everything. Erik is remarkably patient until he isn't.

rue de la paix by Ireliss Post Dark Phoenix. Charles, Erik, and the winding road towards peace.

The First Move by TurtleTotem Charles and Erik live together now, in Genosha. They get up together, spend the day together. And then... go to sleep in their separate beds.

Charles is going quietly crazy.

[avastrasposts]

The British Connection - ch. 1

This is a completed fic from early 2023 and in a small-ish fandom, but it was my first finished fic in a long time and I'm still very proud of it. Since The Boys is coming out with season 4 TODAY (!!!!) I thought I'd re-edit this fic and re-post for anyone who comes looking for some Billy Butcher fics after watching the new season.

Summary: Grace Mallory makes a reluctant Billy Butcher and The Boys team up with an MI6 operative sent over from London to track down a dangerous supe killing people on both sides of the pond. Billy is being his usual arsehole self but maybe opposites attract?

It's 14 chapters and complete and 'll be posting a new chapter every day

Warnings: canon typical violence, smut, fluff, Butcher being his usual grumpy and unreasonable self, nasty supes, guns etc.

Lieutenant-Colonel Grace Mallory had requested, no, demanded, Butcher’s presence at a meeting this damp January morning. He grumbled down his phone at the early hour she gave him but agreed to meet. Saying no to Mallory isn’t wise, especially since she’s the one paying the bills. 

He finds the address she’s given him leading to an anonymous looking office building on a seedy side street in midtown. The entrance door opens after he rings the bell for the 16th floor, a small camera verifying his identity before he’s let in. The building is what you’d expect from a covert agency office, nothing betrays the nature of the activity on the inside. 

As the lift takes him up to 16th he ponders on the nature of this meeting. It’s rare for Mallory to be in the city, even rarer for her to meet with the leader of The Boys. Things have been flowing rather smoothly the past few months. Minor supes were biting the dust almost on a weekly basis, information was coming in from reliable sources, coerced or otherwise, and Butcher felt sure that sooner rather than later they would find intelligence that would deal a hard blow to Vought and The Seven. Maybe Mallory had found something too sensitive to share electronically and set up this meeting, maybe this was it. 

The lift arrives on the 16th floor and he steps out into a small reception area. A middle aged lady with greying hair sits behind a desk in front of a sturdy looking glass door. The slight green tinge to the glass lets Butcher know it’s bulletproof. The receptionist looks up as he steps out of the lift. 

“Lieutenant-Colonel Mallory is expecting you, Mr Butcher. Down the hallway and to your right. Sign here”. 

She hands him a pen and he signs his name to the visitors sheet, as if they don’t already know he’s in the building and will keep eyes on him until he’s left.

The receptionist pushes a button on her desk and the glass door clicks open, he grabs the handle and makes his way through, his heavy boots making squeaking noises on the cheap linoleum floor. The hallway beyond is lined with the same material, walls painted a nauseating lima bean green. He turns the corner and is met by another long hallway, blank doors on either side and at the end a conference room with large glass windows with the same green tinge. 

Mallory is standing by a large table, her back turned against the door, looking at another woman in the room whom Butcher doesn’t recognise. She’s leaning over the table, hands splayed, studying an open file in front of her. She looks like an agent, that same anonymous black suit they all wear, white shirt, sensible shoes and, oh yes, a glimpse of a holster under her jacket. He can’t make out what gun she’s carrying but she’s definitely packing. At the sound of his squeaking boots approaching she looks up from the file and gives him a once over. He knows that look, it’s the same look he gives anyone who walks up to him, assessing the potential threat, finding weaknesses and making a worst case scenario plan in a split second. Yeah, this lady is definitely an agent. 

The women's movement makes Mallory turn and look behind her. As she sees Butcher approaching she says something to the woman who closes the file in front of her and straightens up. Mallory walks over to the door and lets Butcher in by clicking a button next to it. 

“William, thank you for coming,” she says as he walks through the door. 

‘Ello, Mallory” he replies, “always a rare pleasure to see you in the city”. 

He walks round the table so that he’s standing at the short end, back against the empty wall, clear view over the room. 

“What’s the occasion?” He locks eyes with the other woman in the room. She moved as he moved, facing him with her side against the long table. Clearly whatever Mallory wants it involves this agent lady. 

“Butcher, this is MI6 officer Edwards. She’s been sent over from London by her commanding officer to gather intelligence on a supe that we are also very interested in. As the MI6 mission objective closely matches our own desired outcome, it’s been decided she will work with you and your crew while she’s stateside.” 

Mallory has kept a straight face up until now but her composure finally cracks and she gives a crooked smile at Butcher. 

“And I thought it rather fitting to let you work with one of your own for a change”. 

Edwards stretches out her hand towards Butcher but doesn’t make a move to close the distance between them. 

“Eve Edwards, nice to meet you” she says and Butcher curses internally, Fuck! 

Her accent cuts the air like glass and he’s got her pegged. Privileged, public school, Oxbridge, old money and all the connections you could need to make it in ol’ Blighty. He glares at Mallory but she’s either playing dumb or doesn’t understand the implications of her accent and its stark contrast to his own. In the US, class is based on money, in the UK you can be the richest wanker in the land but your family and your accent will decide what class you belong to. And Eve Edwards’s class has spent centuries fucking over everyone from Butcher’s. 

“Billy Butcher, pleasure” he says to Edwards but he doesn’t offer his hand, neither does he cross the space between them. She drops hers without a word, the sarcasm in his voice is hard to miss. 

“Why’d you put me up with this, Mallory?” Butcher barks, turning to her. “I decide who joins The Boys, it’s me own crew and not some CIA MI6 bullshit operation. And ‘specially not with some..”, he waves his hand in the other woman’s direction. 

“We’re working for the same cause here Butcher” Mallory intervenes before he can finish his insult. “We’re sharing our intelligence with MI6 and they are sharing theirs with us so that we can stop this supe faster, before any more damage is done. And as an added bonus,” Mallory gestures to Edwards, “your team is strengthened by a seasoned MI6 officer who I’m sure will prove a very valuable asset.”. 

“I’ve read your file, Butcher.” Edwards says before he has a chance to open his mouth again, pointing at the fat documents folder she closed as he arrived. “Former Royal Marines, former SAS, tours in Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia. If you were still in the UK we’d most likely be working together already. We’d probably even have served together in some of those places”. 

She walks down the length of the table and puts her hand out again as she approaches him. 

“I’m not joining your operation, we just need to work together on this one and working with someone who knows how MI6 operates is going to make this easier on both of us”. 

Butcher stares down at her, he’s at least a good head taller than her, she barely reaches his shoulder, but the way she walked over, the way she stands in front of him now, even with her hand stretched out, tells him she’d be no pushover in a fight, even against him. 

Fuck.

Furrowing his brow, he acknowledges her effort to win him over with a curt nod, convincing himself this is the easy way to do it. Mallory is not backing down. But he can’t make himself take her hand, instead he snarls at Mallory, 

“Fuck it then, I’m in, and she’s in. But you better follow my orders, sunshine”, he growls back at Edwards who yet again has dropped her hand. “And you’re gonna ‘ave to change out of that fuckin’ suit, you look like an operative coming a fuckin’ mile off.”

Chapter 2

[existentialcrisistime]

Nic's AOS McKirk fic recs part 1:

longer (mostly 10k+ and/or multi-chapter), more plot-focused works

There are SO MANY excellent McKirk fics out there, and I'm only scratching the tip of the iceberg with these ones, but these are ten of my top favourites (you know, the sort of fics where you have to either yell in the group chat or stare into space for a bit afterwards, then think of it constantly for the following week?), so I hope some of the ones in here become your favourites too.

And remember, be kind, leave kudos/comments where you can, and enjoy!

In no particular order, we have:

jim kirk's guide to starship management: how to work with people you don't like by espressohno (E, 23k)

Jim has an anonymous hookup (read: the best sex of his life) with who else but the one and only Leonard McCoy, who's scheduled to start as the Enterprise's CMO the next day. Hijinks (emotions and miscommunication) ensue. A great exploration of Leonard and Jim's relationship, based around the question of: what if they met under slightly different circumstances?

unscrew the stars by espressohno (E, <10k)

Jim, lamenting his inability to pursue personal relationships due to being Captain of the Enterprise and under Starfleet's fraternisation rules, believes he's found a loophole that allows him to sleep with his CMO. Leonard, however, wants something more. Another one by espressohno, and honestly I'd recommend pretty much anything by this author.

Ask me again in the morning by @torsamors (G, 26k)

Time loop fic: Bones is stuck in a time loop. This fact upsets Jim every time he finds out, but Bones definitely isn't having a fun time either. An excellent getting-together fic told from the perspective of Jim outside the loop, with plenty of hurt and comfort.

One Little White Lie by laughter_now (M, 71k)

Jim lies about being married to Leonard after an accident which leads Leonard to losing his memory, which quickly spirals out of control. An incredible, emotional exploration of the fake marriage and amnesia tropes, becoming so much more than the sum of its tags. Another one for the fellow fans of Bones Having a Real Bad Time, with plenty of Jim angst in there too.

A Wish in the Dark (for a bulletproof heart) by drmcbones (T, 18k)

Without giving too much away: one close call too many for Jim has Leonard at the end of his tether. Somehow, a mysterious medical/magical ailment links the two of them together - how long can they keep it secret from even each other? I say this about every fic on the list, but this one is absolutely excellent - a really interesting plot I hadn't read much like before.

Catching Fire (The Firehouse AU) by kel_1970 (E, 46k)

21st Century fire department AU. Paramedic Leonard McCoy flees a disastrous break-up in Savannah and ends up working at a fire department in Iowa where he meets Jim Kirk. I know this one is on pretty much every McKirk rec list, but for good reason! A beautifully-written, emotional rollercoaster of a fic with rich settings and side characters. Will rip your heart out and stamp on it, then carefully piece it back together again. I read this one over a year ago and still I think of it on a regular basis, it hurts so good.

I Will Hold As Long As You Like by @excavatinglizard (T, 18k)

The Lighthouse fic. Set post-Into Darkness, Leonard takes Jim to a lighthouse to convalesce. Together they learn to weather the storm. A beautiful, emotional character study with rich settings that paint such a picture in the mind. Also comes with (beautiful) art and a playlist to really set the scene. Another one that I read over a year ago, as it was being published, and still think of on a regular basis.

Take a Bite of My Heart Tonight by EntreNous (T, 26k)

Vetenarian Bones AU. Jim Kirk and Leonard McCoy get off on the wrong foot as soon as they meet. So if Jim wants another shot with that gorgeous but grumpy veterinarian, he had better get his hands on some pets who need vet appointments, right? Such a fun, sweet, mostly fluffy fic of Jim getting up to some absolute (mostly unsuccessful) antics to win Leonard's heart

three sundays by espressohno

The fight club AU. Not Fight Club the film so much as a literal fight club: Leonard goes to fight club to get his anger out. Jim goes to fight club to get hurt. Leonard realizes this, and decides he doesn't want to hurt Jim anymore, but he doesn't want to stop seeing him, either. Plenty of hurt/comfort, and a whole lot of aftercare.

palimpsest by @fireinmywoods (E, 61k)

What can I say about this one that hasn't already been said? Such an incredible story, even if the final chapter did make me yell out loud the first time around (and I mean that in the most affectionate way). I've read this one twice now and got something completely different out of it each time - an enjoyable read the first time but even richer with hindsight, so cleverly constructed. As for the plot - the Enterprise is sent to negitiate readmission to the Federation with an isolationist religious group known as the Kindred. While there, Jim notices that some of the children seem to be gravely ill. The Kindred do not allow a doctor to be brought in, and so Jim... well, he improvises. + 9 (so far) further, shorter works to flesh out the whole Palimpsest verse, which I enjoyed just as much as the original story - especially aganorisis (E, 15k), which I guarantee you'll want to read right after. Can mostly be read out of order, but you gotta read Palimpsest first, I promise!

And that's it for now! Thank you for reading, please tell me which ones you enjoyed the most (or your own favourite longer/plotty McKirk fics), and keep your eyes peeled for part 2

[cakeemoji]

collection of fics i've written :]

| links in each section are sorted by most "recent" to oldest lol; click "read more" to view the rest (watered down my works in the mini description here so please read the tags of my pieces for more info !!)

rinhime works (enstars)

☆ gold-plated | rinne has a tongue piercing, himeru commences the act to make out. a little all over the place regarding the metaphors and stuff. sorry

☆ forget-me-nots | rinhime bathe together and speak of philosophical things aka immortality (set in a universe i call "the warped tour au" hehe)

☆ a little death | rinhime metaphorical cannibalism

☆ favourite record | written for rinhime week 2023. one of the prompts was "alternative universe" so i wrote this in mind to crossover with mcr's concept album, "danger days". features crazy:b as killjoys and a little peek into their crazy lives :]

☆ black morgue + back to you | two-shot mini-series, based on the concept of a one-night stand, some love and the aftermath. third person limited, himeru-centric.

rinnazu works (enstars)

☆ rinne puts his boyfriend on speaker (WHAT HAPPENS NEXT WILL SHOCK YOU) | rinne gets a call from nazuna and puts him on speaker, traumatizing crazy:b for life (<-a pretty unserious work so i shared it under a separate pseud)

☆ u pretty, he ugly! u swan, he frog! | shu finds rinne and nazuna holding hands one not-so-peaceful morning. he assumes the worst

☆ hand in mine into ur icy blues | in which rinne and nazuna laze around on a snow day and warm each other up :3c (written in dec 2023)

applejuice works (twst)

☆ madol for your thoughts? | deuce and epel go on a date (very fluff-oriented ^_^)

☆ small, simple, safe price | deuce and epel bond over apple carving

mammon/reader works (shall we date?: obey me!)

☆ winter mood/dreaming of spring | emotional hurt/comfort, dabbled on idea of wanting to love + be loved while being terrified of commitment and never being good enough

☆ we'll get by, somehow | "i'm tired of losing people i love." - a take on a "what if" scenario where MC dies in L16 (<-personally, i think this is the best thing i've written for this fandom)

☆ bulletproof loneliness at best | in which reader finds old scars on mammon's back and comforts him, features small scene of bathing together and sleeping together (literal sense)

☆ where i belong | waking up from a nightmare and being comforted by the great mammon =]

☆ summertime | inspired by the devilgram "a private beach for two", short & sweet.

☆ hearts only hurt from here | heavy on hurt/comfort + implied/referenced self-harm. based on what i wanted to hear when i was in a dark place.

hidadei works (naruto)

☆ hands that god gave you | two gross men do gross things (care for each other)

☆ a lovely night | inspired by the song from la la land the musical; this was written in 2021 so it's definitely not all that great lol

[westiec]

Writing Patterns Meme

I feel like I would've called this the Opening Lines Meme, but I'm not in charge around here so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ tagged by both @bladedweaponsandswishycoats and @tavina-writes thank you kindly

Rules: List the first line of your last 10 (posted) fics and see if there's a pattern!

"Shizun, please, let me help." Luo Binghe's eyes were big and wet, and it was completely unfair how weak that made Shen Qingqiu, especially now. It Does a Body Good - Scum Villain, Bingqiu, lactation kink pwp for Tit4Tat

"Come on in, Rex," Anakin called out as the door to his temporary rooms slid open. These were nicer accommodations than they'd had in a while, all things considered. a different intimacy altogether - Star Wars, Anakin/Padme/Rex, first time threesome, also for Tit4Tat

First, there are kisses. A Tender Shoot Unfurling - Love Between Fairy and Devil, Dongfang Qingcang/Xiao Lanhua/Changheng, a polyship remix for Multiamory March

In retrospect, Wen Ning should have realized that something like this might happen. Novel Avenues of Empirical Research - MDZS, Wen Ning/Nie Huaisang, body discoveries of a horny nature for Cursed Clutch Exchange

Sizhui is pleased to discover that he loves traveling with his Ning-gege. wanting spills out - MDZS, Lan Sizhui/Wen Ning, soft fucky somno, also for Cursed Clutch Exchange

Somehow they always seemed to be running away from gunfire and explosions. Medically Inadvisable - Trigun, Vash/Wolfwood, a comedy of errors for Misinterpreted Tropes flash

Her husband always looks so fucking pretty in a skirt. Fucking Pretty - MDZS, Jiang Yanli/Jin Zixuan, genderplay pwp for Bulletproof

If someone had told Mo Xuanyu just a few years ago that she'd be living in Jinlintai as an officially-recognized sister of Jin zongzhu and apprentice practitioner of the ghostly path, she never would've believed it. things are happening every day - MDZS, Mo Xuanyu & Xue Yang, a slice of a very trans modern cultivation AU, for MDZS Genderfuckery

The first thing I noticed was the color of the sky. It was that really pretty ice blue right before the clouds in that one post, you know the one. I Died and Got Transmigrated Into WHAT???! - Scum Villain, OC/Shang Qinghua/Shen Qingqiu, some absolute nonsense for Birthday Bash [I am making the executive decision to skip some even sillier Birthday Bash masterpieces lmao]

Shen Yuan was having a hard time meditating. New But Not So Strange - Scum Villain, Liu Qingge/Shen Yuan/Shen Jiu, trans ace queerplatonic sex pollen times, for Amperslash (and a bonus, because I just like this one:)

Sister Felicity was stricken one morning with the undeniable and utterly ruinous realization that she was in love. Like a Wellspring, Her Love Overfloweth - Original Work, nun/demoness, piss kink with feelings for Flash Flood

What have we learned?

I like a one-liner, and I tend to start by declaring that A SITUATION IS UPON US and then rewinding a bit to look at how we got here.

Fairly even split between past and present tense, and usually a close third POV unless I'm Intentionally Doing A Bit.

Less dialogue than I expected! Usually when I do this one, I have a bunch of: "Opening words," they say, as the Situation comes to a head, "and then the second, longer half of that sentence."

Let's do @sandumilfshou @jaggededges123 @theindianghost and @livingmeatloaf, plus whoever else would like to play!

[tavina-writes]

Writing Patterns

Rules: List the first line of your last 10 (posted) fics and see if there's a pattern!

Thanks to @nemainofthewater for the tag! (I had NOT been tagged in this round already! Thank you much for tagging me!) Some of the last ten fics I've written are currently stuck in exchange jail, so I will pretend they don't exist and go with the visible ones!

"It takes two months after Consort Wan has had her child — a son, which the court astrologers had predicted when asked — for her greeting card to be placed back into rotation for the Emperor to look at when he considered where he would spend the night." [pastimes] Original Work, Tit4Tat, mostly about breast bondage tbh.

"As he comes into the Palace of Everlasting Joy, Prince Lian waves away Consort Chun's attendants with an idle hand. "If she's asleep, there's no need to wake her."" [at dusk] Original Work, Tit4Tat, Lactation Kink.

"In Sheng, when they were married, Ye Xiwu whipped him every night." [Can you see the sunlight?] Till The End of The Moon, Bulletproof 2024, Alternate Universe Scene of Post Wedding in Jin, Li Susu/Tantai Jin.

""You know, husband," Ziyang says when he comes out into the garden to cover Liu Xiangying's shoulders with a heavy winter cloak, "if you keep insisting on not taking care of yourself I'll start to believe that you enjoy getting sick."" [only love is hard to understand] Original Work, Bulletproof 2024, Hurt/Comfort and Hair Washing Post Permanent Injury.

"Maybe, Temari thinks at half past three in the morning after spending far too long trying to argue her youngest brother off of the roof of the Kazekage's residence, our old man really fucked us all up bad." [and I would've stayed with you all night] Naruto, Bulletproof 2024, Temari & Gaara missing scene post Konoha Crush.

""What are you daydreaming about?" The sound of her husband's voice brings Sheng Minglan back to herself. He still stands in front of her, his arms raised, half expectantly waiting for her to pronounce him dressed so he can leave for court." [Show Me The Places—] The Story of Minglan, Bulletproof 2024, Gu Tingye/Sheng Minglan, Missing Scene Post Marriage

"On the day of Cheng Lingsu's death, Medicine King Valley was shrouded in fog." [有谁例外| Who is the exception?] Side Story of the Fox Volant, Bulletproof 2024, Cheng Lingsu/Hu Fei, Alternate Universe regarding Cheng Lingsu's Death.

"It takes some moments for Lan Wangji's eyes to adjust to the light." [Shards] MDZS, Consent Issues 2023, Imprisoned Jadecest.

"It is a dark and stormy night when Haruno Sakura throws open the door in the dingy hotel in Water Country and sits down across from Hoshigaki Kisame." [the moment greatness flickers] Naruto, WDLF: Dark and Stormy, Haruno Sakura & Hoshigaki Kisame, Time Travel Fix It

"It is some time after his brother returns that they are able to find a quiet moment alone to talk." [all that changes, all that endures] Love Between Fairy and Devil, Yuletide 2023, Missing Post Canon Scene, Dongfang Qingcang & Dongfang Xunfeng.

Tbh, I'm not sure that I have much of a pattern when it comes to opening lines. I do think I like to start in the middle of things, when some situation has already happened and then wind us into the scene itself.

tagging: @shadaras, @iamwestiec, @xslytherclawx-writes, @nemaliwrites, @saiditallbefore, @frodo-of-the-nine-fingers and anyone who sees this and wants to play! I have no idea who has been tagged and who hasn't bc what is time :D

[siriannatan]

Combat Maids

Remember THIS thing? I wrote Chapter 1 so here it is

For anyone curious I have a Pinterest reference board for this fic :}

CW: possible mild violence in later chapters

fWhip was fed up with his boss. What kind of prissy idiot refuses to have guards near because they aren't 'cute' enough? "Boss it's for your safety..." he tried arguing.

"No." Scott S. Major, his boss. Shook his head between sips of tea. After fWhip barely managed to stop another attempt on his life, mind you. He saves the guy and all he gets is another damned argument. "I'm paying you to protect me so I can set my own rules," Scott continued arguing. "You've got a pretty face but this outfit just ruins it," he sighed staring fWhip and his black, tactical gear down with a disapproving, cold, stare. "I'm sure a guy of your talent can figure it out," he smiled, annoying his half-dragon bodyguard even further.

fWhip took a deep breath to stop himself from murdering his employer. Cuter outfit huh? "So if I wore, let's say, a maid dress you'd be fine with me being around?" he asked already wondering if it were possible to make a maid dress out of the usual protective fabrics top-line mercenaries and bodyguards used for their protective clothes. He was sure some tailor in town would be crazy enough to try making it. Katherine maybe? She could make about anything happen.

"You'd sure look much cuter with some frills," Scott smiled, a slight blush creeping up his cheeks. "I'll be at home the rest of the day, should be safe."

Once dismissed fWhip instantly called Katherine even before getting into his car. "Katherine, I need a favour. Can you make me a maid dress out of our usual protective fabrics? Because Scott's being annoying and saying I need to stay out of his sight unless I look 'cuter'... I'm on my way to do any measuring. I have little time... Morning? Monday? Tomorrow? If you say you can do it..."

Scott was sure he was done with his security issue. Either fWhip returns cute and Scott has something to stare at during his days. Or he resigns and maybe he hires Scar to protect him from afar. But that had one issue - Scar usually worked with Cub and Scott didn't ever have the mood to deal with him. The half-dragon didn't look too eager to wear a maid dress but... he was the one to propose it. And Scott was maybe slightly giddy at the thought of his handsome guard being all cute in a short, frilly dress with a little apron.

fWhip might have underestimated how fast Katherine could work. She was indeed done with the whole get-up the very next morning. Apparently the short, a little above-the-knee-long maid dress was fire, blast and bulletproof. Same with the thigh highs she included... Maybe he should have actually participated in designing it... The knee-high boots, laced on the front, with bows on the side, weren't the worst part. Not even the short gloves and lack of sleeves of too much lace and frills. No. The worst part was that... he didn't hate it. It actually made moving with a tail a lot easier and the pouch on the belt and frills could hide a lot. And it helped him blend in with the house staff. Even if his 'uniform' was very different from much longer in both sleeves and dress length uniforms. 

And maybe Scott would finally stop complaining.

The shocked face Scott pulled when fWhip marched into the dining room and took the spot that usually had Scott complaining made fighting with the barely there make-up and lipgloss worth it. "Everything all right boss? Should I call Grian and tell him you're busy?" fWhip asked with what he'd call his cutest smile. No smirk. Just a soft smile that had the present in the room maids blushing and tripping. And Scott looking even more lost for words.

"That won't be necessary," Scott waved it off and hid behind the cup of morning tea he was enjoying with his breakfast. "That's not a lot of a dress," he commented once he had his thoughts a bit more in control. Damn, fWhip had nice legs under those mercenary pants. And a great waist. And did his arms have to be completely out and in full view with all that muscle? Scott wanted to touch them for forever. Or be held by them for even longer. He hasn't yet decided which.

"I assure you it's perfectly functional for my job," fWhip assured with his best attempt at a curtsy. "Should I get the car ready?" he asked. From checking Scott's schedule he knew they had to leave within half an hour. Getting Scott ready would take the maids a lot of that time.

"Yeah... you do that," Scott nodded feeling a bit stunned still. Sue him. fWhip looked cute and he had a massive fetish for cute boys in maid dresses. All the maids around the mansion did nothing for him but fWhip in a dress had him tripping over his feet to get ready and have his pretty bodyguard around.

fWhip got the car ready, checking for traps and bombs and all that little stuff. And explained his outfit to the head maid. She didn't seem to understand it all that much but didn't say he couldn't look like a maid. As long as he stood out enough to not be mistaken for her staff. He could do that. And keep an eye on her. There was something suspicious in the way she behaved and talked. Like she was hiding something. If whatever that was put Scott in danger fWhip would now be even closer to stop it and keep his boss safe.

He was a bit shocked to see how quickly Scott was ready to leave. Marching in and waving maids off in his dark green vest and shorts and white button-up and under-the-knee boots and a cape for the chilly, rainy day. Stomping on the garage tile with his heels. 

And visibly softened when he saw fWhip waiting by Scott's favourite 'going out' car. The half-dragon's tail barely not scraping against the tile, at the moments small wings fluttering slightly. Vigilant, and dangerous while staying utterly adorable. "I'm sure fWhip's more than capable of driving me to one stupid meeting," Scott huffed one last time before waving the head maid off. 

fWhip made another mental note of the head maid being weird. Usually, she'd just let Scott leave as he pleased with no complaining. And there were suddenly more maids around than usual. Maids who didn't seem to know what they were doing... At least now he could stay close to Scott. Speaking of, apart from shutting up Scott's complaining the dress was doing okay. It was easy to move in and comfy for his tail if a bit ticklish with all the lace Katherine included under the skirt part - for the shape she said, for gun and knife hiding - fWhip said.

"I want to sit in the front today," Scott hummed, and fWhip had no reason to say no. The closer Scott was to him the safer he was. And fWhip would live through Scott staring at his legs. Scott poking his skirt as he opens doors for him would take some getting used to, as flattering as it was.

"Should I tell my tailor you liked the new uniform?" fWhip half-joked as he waited for Scott to be settled with closing the door. Closing it on Scott's coat was the last thing he wanted to do.

"And that if I have any more bodyguards I might need more uniforms," Scott chuckled back.

fWhip absolutely would pass it over to Katherine. And was already guessing the 'uniform' would make finding new staff difficult. Very difficult. He himself probably wouldn't just agree to wear this dress on his first day. It was a result of Scott annoying him for weeks. But he pushed that away and when Scott was secured with his seatbelt he closed the door and fully on purpose marched to the driver's seat around the front of the car so Scott could stare.

Scott could swear fWhip was moving his tail more than usual on purpose. Like he figured out Scott had a thing his bright red scales or something. Or maybe it was just the dress giving him more space for it? Whatever the reason Scott appreciated the length of fWhip's skirt a lot. Even if his legs were mostly covered by his boots and stockings or tights. And the heel on his boots... Scott probably shouldn't be shocked a bodyguard and mercenary of fWhip's reputation knew how to walk in heels. Or drive in them as much as Scott was distracted by fWhip's arms - mostly hands for whatever reason.

 With his finger-less gloves and up close it was easy to notice fWhip clearly put a bit more effort into his appearance. Aside from his hair being neatly brushed and styled to fit the frilly headband fitting his dress along with a ribbon tied on one of his horns. The barely there eyeshadow and blush and lipgloss and clearly manicured nails. The things a nice dress makes possible...

Did not include the boring call Scott received just as they left the mansion's driveway. Some boring business talk about some transports and stuff Scott, unfortunately, had to hear about even if he delegated most of the business matters to other people. He was in fact so absorbed in listening to a boring, not-at-all-cute person tell him about transport and construction delays he didn't notice when he started to play with fWhip's skirt until a scaled tail poked his wrist. It wasn't like fWhip said anything about it. Just tossed the umbrella somewhere in the back of the car.

"We have company. Please hold onto this, lock all the doors and keep your head low. We're early so they should not make us late," fWhip said with a smile and left Scott alone in the car. The thing about Scott was... for someone who dealt with a lot of crime and illegal things he really didn't like violence. Blood make him feel weird and seeing sharp things got his head spinning. He preferred to leave things like that to fWhip or any other hired security - as uncute as they looked, violence was even less cute. But now fWhip was the picture of cuteness and maybe, just maybe Scott was for once tempted to watch. But fWhip told him to keep his head low so he did after locking all the doors and his as well as he could.

"G-g-great fWhip reduced to a maid? What a joke," one of the goons sneered as fWhip fixed his skirt. There was some more talking from them but fWhip had no time for that. "Are you numbskulls done? We have an appointment to get to," fWhip said rolling his shoulders. Ten idiots to deal with. Whoever send them clearly underestimated fWhip's ability. And it wasn't yet known he had to cosplay a maid to do his job properly.

It didn't matter how many guys they had anyway. fWhip was yet to find someone fast enough to be a real threat to him. And now he had the power of all the mobility a skirt could provide and was by who he assumed was in charge of this squad. Knocking him out before the other goons could react. In fact, they were so slow that he managed to send one more goon flying back and trip third with his tail.

Seven numbskulls still standing barely started to move then the third guy was knocked out. Not that it helped them much. fWhip was far too fast and agile for them and quickly had two more down. That had the last five seeing they had no chance and attempting to run away. fWhip obviously did not let them escape and had them knocked out quickly. With how few of them there were and how dumb their plan must have been fWhip assumed they were working on the assumption that he still had to keep his distance from Scott. But he'd still have to drive him here anyway... 

No matter. Scott had a meeting to get to, and if any more idiots showed up fWhip would take care of that. For now, he quickly called Joel so the numbskulls could be collected and went back to the car to let Scott know he was safe. "Boss? It's safe now," fWhip said as he knocked on the passenger side window. It's raining outside the parking building area, give me a second to grab an umbrella," he added after helping Scott out and straightening his cloak.

"That was fast," Scott hummed, looking around the place. He looked a bit pale.

"Well, we do have a meeting to get to," fWhip shrugged, finally finding where he put the umbrella earlier.

"Um, since it's raining and we were already attacked will it be okay if I stay close?" Scott asked, he was indeed walking very close to fWhip. "Just asking in case I would get in the way..."

"The closer you are the easier it is to keep you safe, here," fWhip stopped him and offered an arm. Scott was stunned for maybe a fraction of a second before grabbing onto fWhip.

Walking with Scott holding onto his arm and holding an umbrella while in high heels was not easy but fWhip managed to avoid tripping and got Scott to his meeting with Grian. As expected Mumbo and his moustache and suit were also there.

"Sorry I'm late, someone tried to kill me," Scott sighed. What was interesting to fWhip they both looked genuinely surprised by the news. And Mumbo was not known for his acting skills. His traps and marksmanship yes, not faking stuff. "Luckily I have the cutest bodyguard out there," he was still holding onto fWhip despite the umbrella being not needed at the moment. Not that fWhip complained. After nearly a month of Scott refusing to be anywhere near him, he was just glad he could do his job properly.

[justahappycloud]

first line

Rules: Post the first lines of your last 10 fics posted to AO3. (Sort by date posted.) If you have less than 10 fics posted, post what you have.

thank you @duquesademiel for the tag!! (i love these challenges jhjadh) i cheated, because most of my fics start with one very short sentence!! and that's boring!! so i'm gonna make this a first lines challenge

It’s a cold autumn morning. Harry power walks down the station as if getting to the stop faster could make the shivers go away. - Station 28

Some things in this world aren’t meant to be seen. Some things in this world are only meant to be seen by a few. - taste the ambrosia on your lips

The music explodes in the speakers. The young life of Manchester dances to the rhythm of the bumping sounds running through their bones. - Bulletproof

The video starts inside of a car. A door opens on the driver's side and a man with clear jeans sits down. - "i hate you" is my love language

Three knocks on the door. “Roman! We’re here!” - Playing Matchmaker Goes Wrong (Or Does It?)

The amber light of the morning sun filtered through the blinders, falling on top of the mess of forgotten pillows scattered on the floor. - the lies we tell ourselves (are not always what we think)

Logan has always been surprised by the human natural desire to suffer. No matter how much time we’ve spent looking for ways to extend our life and avoid early death, we still manage to find alternatives to guarantee our pain. - i see your true colours

Dirk wanted to punch something. Preferably himself, but he figured that would hurt lots, so no, thank you. - stand up and shout it out (if you want it)

Life isn’t easy. It’s never been. Event after event, it makes sure that every person going through it has a hell of a ride, making them stump over a chain of incidents where they found themselves, for their bewilderment, involved as constant characters. - Liminal Space (UNDERSTATEMENT OF THE YEAR)

Dirk has met a lot of people through all his life. Some of them were terrifying enough to wake him up in the middle of the night with a cold shiver running down his spine. Others kind and sweet enough to stay in Dirk’s heart even when they had to let him go on different ways. - The Jacket Rainbow of Dating Todd Brotzman

that was fun! in the future i'll try to write lengthier starting sentences in the future akdjaksdhkd

i tag @enchantedlandcoffee, @larry-hiatus, @imogenleefic, @always-in-love-x, @parentalziam and @faithinwalls369

[jamietarttsnorthernattitude]

For the Fic Writer asks: 11, 19 and/or 26

11. What fic was the most satisfying to finish writing?

in the morning i'm bulletproof for sure. My first longer ones I kind of trudged through and they mostly followed canon adjacent so I didn't have to really create anything on my own if you will story wise. So that was the longest story I wrote with it's actual own plot from start to finish.

19. Share your favorite opening line.

"Roy hadn’t meant to hit him." from hope the skin heals where he pain enters.

26. If you had to choose one, what was THE most satisfying writing moment of your year?

Answered here :)

[campingwiththecharmings]

20 Questions for 20 Writers

thank you for the tags @virtie333 and @runa-falls 💖💖

(it looks like there are two sets of questions lol i'm confused. maybe i'll just choose the 20 i like 😆)

How many works do you have?

oh jeez. on AO3 there are 61, on FF.Net there are 13 (l o l), and on Tumblr there are 65.

2. What’s your total AO3 word count?

227,871

3. What fandoms do you write for?

oscar these days, but i've written for a few different fandoms over the years.

4. What are your top 5 fics by notes?

Another (Miguel x Reader - SMUT) Thaw (Miguel x Reader - SMUT) Wasted on You (Poe x Reader - SMUT) Morning (Poe x Reader - SMUT) Rich Girl (Jake x Reader - SMUT)

5. Do you respond to comments?

yes! or, at least i try to. sometimes tumblr doesn't notify me of reblogs for whatever reason tho and it takes a minute.

6. Who (or what) is your writing inspiration?

i think it's pretty clear from my blog that it's oscar as;dksl;fkgl lmao. if you'd like specifics tho: i started writing again after seeing the ads for dune (which ironically, i still have not watched a;sldkl;fk;sdlf). those ads made me rewatch the star wars sequels, and doing that made me wanna write my own poe fic and...well, here we are now lol.

7. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

i don't write much angst unless there's a happy ending tbh lol. off the top of my head it's either part two of Just Friends or Out of Time.

8. What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

i mean, happy endings feature in most of my fics lol. ummmmm....the one that comes immediately to mind is Invisible String tho, so let's say that one.

9. Do you get hate on fics?

i don't think so? if i have, i've blocked it out 😆

10. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

i do, indeed. what kind? ....the smutty kind? lol what do you mean by this, sorry.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

not that i know of.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

lol no, i'm not popular enough for that 😆

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

unless you count those times i've gone back and forth with people on posts, no lol. i'm not against them or anything, it's just that no one's ever asked 😆 tbh tho, i'd be the worst person to write something with. i procrastinate SO MUCH.

14. What’s your all-time favorite ship?

to read or to write? if it's to write, captain swan is technically the only ship i've written for. if it's to read....honestly? probably dramione.

15. What’s a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

lmaoooooooooooooooo all of them??? no but fr....maybe my old CS fic bulletproof. there's no urgency to finish bc no one is reading it (no one read it when the fandom was active either lol). i do wanna finish it someday tho, if only for myself. i have it planned out and everything i just struggle to write it whenever i've sat down and tried. SOMEDAY, DAMN IT. SOMEDAY.

16. What are your writing strengths?

lol shit idk. i've been told that my smut is both sexy and sweet so maybe that? 🤷‍♀️

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

i have trouble ending a fic sometimes tbh. most of the time, the scene in my head is so clear and there's no issues, but others i just have no idea where to stop and so sometimes my shit just like ends lol. also summaries and coming up with titles, if that counts.

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic?

i think the effort should be made if the character is from a particular culture, especially if they've been shown speaking another language in whatever media they're from.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

pokemon lol

20. Favorite fics you’ve written?

A Sunday Kind of Love (Poe x Reader - SMUT) Never Have I Ever (Poe x Reader) Sugar (Santi x Reader) Night Moves / Good Neighbors (Santi x Reader - SMUT) Safe Haven (Marc x Reader)

please feel free to check out my masterlist for more (if you're interested), i have all of my faves marked. 😊

---

tagging whoever wants to do this bc idk who has (ik that's always my excuse, i'm sorry ;-;). PLEASE feel free to tag me if you decide to do this!! i wanna add more fics to my reading list!

[bnhacorner]

Hi! So since you are taking fic refs, i thought i’d submit this one. It’s super angsty but has a happy ending, and it may have actually made me cry.

But anyway, if you’re looking for an angsty Dadzawa and Shinsou fic, this is definitely a good one.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/27858838/chapters/68208294

In the Morning I'm Bulletproof by lettersofold

Rating: Not Rated | Category: Gen, M/M | Words: 8,110| Chapters: 3/3 | Status: Complete

Summary:

‘You’re a villain’, echoed through Hitoshi’s head. 

They also think he’s the traitor. But what had he done that made them believe that? He was so confused. Everything was fine last night before his parents left. They had hugged the two of them goodbye before they left, promising they’d be safe. Telling him and Eri that they loved them. 

His dad- could he even call him that anymore?- grabbed him by the arm and made him stand, glaring heavily at him. 

“You aren’t my child,” he hissed, “neither of you. And you are going to regret ever being here.” 

Hitoshi felt as if someone had ripped out his heart and stepped on it. What had he done that was so bad?

Or Alternatively: Hitoshi is accused of being a villain, which leads to a terrible confrontation between Aizawa, Hizashi, and Hitoshi, and it brings back some awful memories and insecurities Hitoshi hasn’t had in years. All while trying to protect his little sister.

title inspired by the song Young Blood by Noah Kahan

[avastrasposts]

The British Connection - ch. 1

Read on Ao3

Before I started on The Pilot and his Girl I got back into fanfic writing by writing a OFC fic set in The Boys fandom. The Boys is a fairly small fanfic fandom on Tumblr it seems but I'm very happy with the fic and it was the first one finished in a very long time. I never properly posted it here so I'm scheduling it for the weekend in case someone wants to read it while they wait for the next chapter of The Pilot (so much happening in that chapter!).

The plot follows MI6 agent Eve Edwards as she's assigned to help Billy Butcher and The Boys take down a new type of supe killing politicians on both sides of the pond. Not much fluff in this, plenty of canon typical violence, smut and extreme amounts of Britishness 😄

Lieutenant-Colonel Grace Mallory has requested, no, demanded, Billy Butcher’s presence at a meeting this damp January morning. He grumbles down his phone at the early hour she gives him but agrees to meet. Saying no to Mallory isn’t wise, especially since she’s the one paying the bills. 

He finds the address she’s given him leading to an anonymous looking office building on a seedy side street in midtown. The entrance door opens after he rings the bell for the 16th floor, a small camera verifying his identity before he’s let in. The building is what you’d expect from a covert agency office, nothing betrays the nature of the activity on the inside. 

As the lift takes him up to 16th he ponders on the nature of this meeting. It’s rare for Mallory to be in the city, even rarer for her to meet with the leader of The Boys. Things have been flowing rather smoothly the past few months. Minor supes were biting the dust almost on a weekly basis, information was coming in from reliable sources, coerced or otherwise, and Butcher felt sure that sooner rather than later they would find intelligence that would deal a hard blow to Vought and The Seven. Maybe Mallory had found something too sensitive to share electronically and set up this meeting, maybe this was it. 

The lift arrives on the 16th floor and he steps out into a small reception area. A middle aged lady with graying hair sits behind a desk in front of a sturdy looking glass door. The slight green tinge to the glass lets Butcher know it’s bulletproof. The receptionist looks up as he steps out of the lift. 

“Lieutenant-Colonel Mallory is expecting you, Mr Butcher. Down the hallway and to your right. Sign here”. 

She hands him a pen and he signs his name to the visitors sheet, as if they didn’t already know he was in the building and will keep eyes on him until he’s left. 

The receptionist pushes a button on her desk and the glass door clicks open, he grabs the handle and makes his way through, his heavy boots making squeaking noises on the cheap linoleum floor. The hallway beyond is lined with the same material, walls painted a nauseating lima bean green. He turns the corner and is met by another long hallway, blank doors on either side and at the end a conference room with large glass windows with the same green tinge. 

Mallory is standing by a large table, her back turned against the door, looking at another woman in the room whom Butcher doesn’t recognise. She’s leaning over the table, hands splayed, studying an open file in front of her. She looks like an agent, that same anonymous black suit they all wear, white shirt, sensible shoes and, oh yes, a glimpse of a holster under her jacket. He can’t make out what gun she’s carrying but she’s definitely packing. At the sound of his squeaking boots approaching she looks up from the file and gives him a once over. He knows that look, it’s the same look he gives anyone who walks up to him, assessing the potential threat, finding weaknesses and making a worst case scenario plan in a split second. Yeah, this lady is definitely an agent. 

The women's movement makes Mallory turn and look behind her. As she sees Butcher approaching she says something to the woman who closes the file in front of her and straightens up. Mallory walks over to the door and lets Butcher in by clicking a button next to it. 

“Butcher, thank you for coming,” she says as he walks through the door. 

‘Ello, Mallory” he replies, “always a rare pleasure to see you in the city”. 

He walks round the table so that he’s standing at the short end, back against the empty wall, clear view over the room. 

“What’s the occasion?” He locks eyes with the other woman in the room. She moved as he moved, facing him with her side against the long table. Clearly whatever Mallory wants it involves this agent lady. 

“Butcher, this is MI6 officer Edwards. She’s been sent over from London by her commanding officer to gather intelligence on a supe that we are also very interested in. As the MI6 mission objective closely matches our own desired outcome it’s been decided she will work with you and your crew while she’s stateside.” 

Mallory has kept a straight face up until now but her composure finally cracks and she gives a crooked smile at Butcher. 

“And I thought it rather fitting to let you work with one of your own for a change”. 

Edwards stretches out her hand towards Butcher but doesn’t make a move to close the distance between them. 

“Eve Edwards, nice to meet you” she says and Butcher curses internally, Fuck!  

Her accent cuts the air like glass and he’s got her pegged. Privileged, public school, Oxbridge, old money and all the connections you could need to make it in ol’ Blighty. He glares at Mallory but she’s either playing dumb or doesn’t understand the implications of her accent and its stark contrast to his own. In the US, class is based on money, in the UK you can be the richest wanker in the land but your family and your accent will decide what class you belong to. And Eve Edwards’s class has spent centuries fucking over everyone from Butcher’s. 

“Billy Butcher, pleasure” he says to Edwards but he doesn’t offer his hand, neither does he cross the space between them. She drops hers without a word, the sarcasm in his voice is hard to miss. 

“Why’d ye put me up with this, Mallory?” Butcher barks, turning to her. “I decide who joins The Boys, it’s me own crew and not some CIA/MI6 bullshit operation. And ‘specially not with some..”, he waves his hand in the other woman’s direction. 

“We’re working for the same cause here Butcher” Mallory intervenes before he can finish his insult. “We’re sharing our intelligence with MI6 and they are sharing theirs with us so that we can stop this supe faster, before any more damage is done. And as an added bonus,” Mallory gestures to Edwards, “your team is strengthened by a seasoned MI6 officer who I’m sure will prove a very valuable asset.”. 

“I’ve read your file, Butcher.” Edwards says before he has a chance to open his mouth again, pointing at the fat documents folder she closed as he arrived. “Former Royal Marines, former SAS, tours in Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia. If you were still in the UK we’d most likely be working together already. We’d probably even have served together in some of those places”. 

She walks down the length of the table and puts her hand out again as she approaches him. 

“I’m not joining your operation, we just need to work together on this one and working with someone who knows how MI6 operates is going to make this easier on both of us”. 

Butcher stares down at her, he’s at least a good head taller than her, she barely reaches his shoulder, but the way she walked over, the way she stands in front of him now, even with her hand stretched out, tells him she’d be no pushover in a fight, even against him. Fuck.

Furrowing his brow, he acknowledges her attempt at making an effort to win him over with a curt nod, convincing himself this is the easy way to do it. Mallory is not backing down. But he can’t make himself take her hand, instead he snarls at Mallory, 

“Fuck it then, I’m in, and she’s in. But you better follow my orders, sunshine”, he growls back at Edwards who yet again has dropped her hand. “And you’re gonna ‘ave to change out of that fuckin’ suit, you look like an operative coming a fuckin’ mile off.”

[swinging-stars-from-satellites]

Whumpay Day 3: bruised

post/slightly canon divergent Young At Heart | tagging @today-in-fic, @whumpay2022

Scully has been injured before, of course, but she's never been shot. The chilling awareness of how close it had been — if Barnett had been standing any closer when he'd taken that shot, even the bulletproof vest might not have saved her — follows her around the entire night, as paramedics tend to her and Mulder hovers at the corner of the ambulance. She doesn't hear much of what the medics are saying to her through the shock she's fighting off, but between the tones of their voices and her own medical knowledge, she gets the gist. Take it easy, take painkillers, she's going to be inutterably stiff for a week or so. Bruised ribs, even with no breaks, are no joke.

Mostly she just watches Mulder, watches the way he can't seem to keep still, keeps pacing back and forth but never very far away, the way his hands tap at his leg or stay hidden in his pockets as he talks to other officers and agents. He's making them come over here, outside the main cluster of the crime scene, just to get his statement or offer added information. Scully blinks away a bit more of the glazed feeling in her eyes that she knows is finally subsiding shock and suddenly feels a little bit touched by his hovering.

She knows this case has been difficult on him, even before Reggie was killed; the pain in his eyes when he talked about the family of the agent who died on the original task force was clear enough. Mulder always places too much blame on himself, and by the way he keeps briefly glancing over at her, then looking away before she can catch his eye, she thinks he's probably blaming himself for her being hurt.

"Mulder," she calls, once the paramedics have backed off a bit, and he turns to finally really look at her. She just gestures to beckon him closer.

"How you feeling?" He asks, cast in the whitish glow of the ambulance's interior lights. He lifts one hand, like he wants to touch her but isn't sure.

Scully grimaces. "It hurts," she says simply. "I can only imagine how stiff I'll feel in the morning."

Mulder frowns, glances down at the neckline of her shirt, where she's certain a nasty bruise is already visible, and grits his teeth. "I'm sorry." His voice is quiet, almost hesitant.

"It's not your fault," Scully replies, equally as quiet. Talking hurts, with bruised, maybe fractured ribs — she'll likely go in later for an x-ray, just to be sure, but she's too tired tonight; it's not like treatment is different, either way. Breathing itself hurts, but she'd like not to show that right now.

"But-"

"Mulder," she cuts him off. "Please don't."

He stares at her for a few seconds, then nods. "Do they want to take you to the hospital?"

She shakes her head, suddenly wishing that he would touch her. It's probably lingering shock, combined with cool night air, but she's chilly. "They gave me some painkillers and told me to stay off my feet. I was wondering, would you mind," she hesitates only for a split second, "Driving me home?"

They'd come in separate cars, but it's not hard to get one of the other task force agents to take the Bureau car Scully had driven back to the garage. Scully doesn't think it's a good idea for her to be behind the wheel tonight. She also thinks it is a good idea to give Mulder something to do; she's not much inclined to ask anyone to take care of her, but she thinks they both need this one thing.

Mulder nods again. "Yeah, of course," he replies, then turns to the paramedic standing a few feet away with a clipboard. "Is she alright to go home?" He asks.

A brief exchange — ending with Scully quietly reminding the medic that she's a medical doctor and knows how to take care of herself — later, and she's tentatively on her feet again with Mulder standing at her shoulder. He carefully rests a hand on her back as they walk to his car, and maybe she steps a little bit closer to his side; he's warmer than she is, after all. She turns the heat up once she's in the passenger seat and stares, slipping into the fog of her thoughts — herself, the case and implications thereof, Mulder, mortality and eternal youth — as she looks out the window.

"Scully," Mulder says, his voice snapping her out of her stupor. She looks up, then, realizing that they're sitting in front of her building, and blinks a few times to try and clear the adrenaline-crash tiredness from her head.

"Thanks for driving me," she says, trying to use as few muscles in her torso as she can as she unbuckles her seat belt, opens her door, and prepares to stand. Before she can, though, Mulder slips out from behind the wheel and darts around the front of the car to reach her side. She's immediately grateful, because standing up is a treacherous thing, as sore as she is, and she leans into his gentle grip at her elbow to brace herself. "Thanks," she murmurs again, not looking up at him and not moving away.

"Can I walk you up?" He ducks his head, trying to see her face better.

Scully shakes her head and now she does take a step out of his grip, only missing the warmth of his hands on her for a heartbeat. "Goodnight, Mulder. And thank you," she adds once more, meaning for driving, meaning something more that she can't put into words. Pausing before she heads inside, she meets his eyes one more time. "Will you be okay?" She knows he isn't right now, so she doesn't even ask that.

"Yeah." He gives a forced half-smile, as if to reassure her. "Will you?"

Scully smiles in return, pretending like it isn't half a grimace at the throbbing of her bruised ribs. "I'm fine," she assures him before they part ways, and it's the truth; or at least, in time it will be.