#finally completed another bingo entry!

[rosellacwrites]

Healing Hands

summary: You’re facing something scary, but Steven helps you through it in more ways than one.

pairings: Doctor!Steven Grant x Reader (undescribed)

rating: nothing but fluff here, folks

warnings: sickfic, medical situation/discussion (brain surgery), flirting via infodump, post-anesthesia honesty

word count: 1.1k

author’s note: Written for the Moon Knight Spring Bingo @moonknight-events — entry #1 of hopefully many. Happy reading!

dividers by @firefly-graphics

“It’s definitely not cancer,” your neurologist had assured you. “Completely benign. But when it’s causing symptoms like this, it does need to come out, unfortunately.” Your face had fallen, and she’d looked at you sympathetically. “I’m going to refer you to the best surgeon I know,” she’d told you. “He’s — a bit odd, maybe, but he’s a genius. You’ll be in excellent hands.”

And now you’re here, waiting nervously to meet the man who’s going to be cutting into your brain, and it’s getting later and later and you’re about to run out screaming, when he walks through the door and smiles at you. And somehow, without anything having changed at all, you feel like you’ll be okay.

“Hello,” he says with a little wave, and oh God, he’s got a British accent, one of your known weak points, and deep brown eyes, another, and you absolutely cannot do this because it’s beyond inappropriate, but you’re melting anyway. “I’m Steven. Uh, Dr. Grant, that is. Dr. Steven Grant, with a V, and I’m probably not filling you with a lot of confidence here, am I?” He smiles ruefully, and that’s the third pillar knocked out from under you because he’s an adorable dork, and it all comes crumbling down. All you can do is stare at him as he comes closer and takes your hand in both of his and looks deep into your eyes. “But I promise you, I’m very good at what I do, and you’re going to be just fine.”

Steven — Dr. Grant, you have to remind yourself — spends a solid hour with you, patiently answering all your questions and making you wish you hadn’t turned down that 8 AM neuropsych class in college. Who knew the human brain was such a fascinating thing? Or is it only fascinating when you’re learning about it from a dark-eyed, sweet-voiced man?

“How big of a scar will I have?” you finally dare to ask him. You’ve been coping with the whole thing by focusing on the more minor aspects; whether or not that’s healthy is between you and your therapist, but this is the spot your anxiety’s decided to settle down and get comfy in.

A big grin lights up his face at your question, and he runs a hand through his disheveled curls, confirming how they got that way in the first place. “Absolutely nothing anyone will see,” he assures you. “I’ve had a good long look at your scans and there’s no reason at all we can’t do this the way we usually do these days. Do you happen to know much about Ancient Egypt?” The apparent non sequitur catches you by surprise, and you shake your head no. “It’s a bit of a — special interest of mine,” he says, smiling sheepishly, and you notice for the first time that his rumpled tie is patterned with hieroglyphics.

“What does it have to do with the surgery?”

“Right,” he says. “Your surgery. You won’t have a visible scar because we’re going to go up through your nose. I know it sounds unpleasant, but this really is the best way to do it. Better all round — minimizes the pain and the risk to you, and shortens the recovery process.” He grins at you, tilting his head. “And, back in Ancient Egypt, that’s how they removed the brains of those they were preparing for mummification — they’d go right up the nose, just like we’ll do. But fortunately, your brain’s going to stay right where it belongs, minus the little bit that’s causing you all the trouble.”

You can’t help laughing at his explanation. “That’s really helpful to know, actually. Thank you.”

“We try to be as non-invasive as possible.” His eyes twinkle, and you have a sudden urge to kiss the little creases around them. “We know you’ve got a life to get back to, after all.”

You start wondering about his life, then: there’s no ring on his finger, no happy family photos decorating his office wall. Maybe you’re imagining things, in your state, but you feel like he’s been holding eye contact with you just a little too long, leaning a little too close to you to point out something on his screen.

You don’t mind imagining that — not even a little bit.

And when the appointment’s finished, and he squeezes your hand and says he’ll see you again when it’s all over, you find yourself thinking about his hands, gentle and strong and capable.

For the first time in a long time, when you ask yourself what is WRONG with my BRAIN, you don’t mean it literally.

***

You’re still a bit groggy when Dr. Grant makes his post-surgery rounds. “Everything went brilliantly,” he tells you, squeezing your hand. He’s wearing a different Egyptian-themed tie this afternoon, one with little cats and ankhs, and it makes you smile. “No problems whatsoever, and you should have a smooth recovery, but once you’re home I want you to call me if you have any questions or concerns at all.”

The warmth of his hand and the last foggy wisps of anesthesia are suppressing your usual filter, and you blurt it out before you can stop yourself. “Can I call you even if I don’t? Like — for a date?”

The tips of his ears go red, and he clears his throat. “I — I’m flattered, really I am,” he says softly after a moment. “Immensely so. But… I can’t date a patient of mine. It’s not right, ethically, and I’d be in quite a lot of trouble with the hospital, and… and I’m sorry.”

“Oh.” You try to hide your disappointment, but you’re not doing a very good job of it.

He holds up a hand, a smile beginning to hover around the corner of his mouth. “But. What I was going to say is, you’ll have one more appointment with me in a few weeks, to follow up, and then you’ll officially be discharged back to your regular neurologist. She’ll handle all your care from then on.”

He’s waiting for you to cotton on, and you finally do. “Discharged — that means I won’t be your patient anymore, then?”

He dips his chin briefly in acknowledgment, and the smile turns into a boyish grin. “Nothing wrong with your brain,” he compliments you. “And I should know.”

“That’s good,” you murmur, suddenly feeling sleepy again. You settle back against your pillow and give him your most dazzling smile, or at least your best post-anesthesia approximation of one. “Wanna take you out after that, then. ‘S only fair — you’ve already been inside me.”

He chokes, and you fall asleep still smiling.

author’s note (yeah, you get two, suck it up): This is a piece of pure self-indulgence; last year, there was a point at which I thought I’d be facing the same surgery as Reader, and the idea of our lovely Steven as a doctor was a comfort to me. Fortunately, brain surgery was not required in my case, and this remained a fun thought until I dusted it off and wrote it up for the bingo event!

That said… while I was lucky, a very dear friend of mine was not, and I’m dedicating this to her. If you enjoyed reading this and you feel willing and able, please consider making a donation to the American Brain Tumor Association, or your local equivalent, to help fund research that aims to improve and extend the lives of people like S.

[dean-winchester-is-a-warrior]

Fight Me, Love Me, Save Me Pt. 3

This will fill the, Isolated/Trapped square on my @jacklesversebingo card. This is my last entry on my bingo card!!! This is the first time, out of NUMEROUS bingos, that I've actually completed my whole card!! 😍😍

Summary: A series in three parts exploring Y/N's and Dean's relationship from bickering children, to love and broken promises, to a plea for salvation.

Warnings/Explicit 18+: Mild smut, more, making out, really. Show level violence. Angst. Grief. Sadness. Fluff. The usual from me. ��

Pairings: Dean Winchester x Y/N

Word Count: 7,698 (🫣🫣 I'm so sorry - this last part had a lot of story to tell!)

A/N: So this series will fill the last three squares on my bingo card. The first part covers "It's Mine, and you can't have it." Part two will cover Broken Promises, (Nov 12) and part three will be for the Isolated/Trapped square. (Nov 19 23 - I'm very sorry! But it's here now!)

Series Masterlist

I hope you enjoy!! If you do, please remember to like, reblog and/or comment. Means the world to us writers! ❤️

The dividers included here were created by @talesmaniac89

Dean sat in the empty motel room, grateful to be alone once again. He'd been avoiding their motels as much as possible over the last couple of weeks because he needed that solitude. It was too hard to be in the same room with her; to sit across the table from her and not be able to reach over and take her hand - it was awful.

So, he'd been sleeping in the Impala's back seat a lot lately, making due with the confined space, and trying not to think about the very pleasurable times he'd spent back there with Y/N in his lap. 

He was pretty sure those times wouldn't come again. Y/N had made it fairly clear she wasn't interested in moving forward now. She'd barely spoken two words to him in as many weeks. He'd come close to apologizing a few times. But then his anger talked him out of it. 

I have nothing to apologize for, he thought angrily. 

She was the one who needed to apologize. But his anger at her didn't make it any easier to keep his hands off of her when she was around. It didn't stop his heart from squeezing painfully tight every time he looked at her and remembered how perfect she felt in his arms.

Which was why he stayed away.

But sometimes he couldn't avoid coming back. He was back now because his dad had called him that morning and told him they were trailing a big nest of vamps a few towns over. Seemed to be a nasty group, so they were gonna need all the help they could get in planning how to take them down. 

He knew he'd promised their dads that their relationship (or loss of it) wouldn't interfere with the team. So, he came back immediately.

But when he got to the motel they'd been staying in for the last while, it was empty. So, he just sat and waited for them to return.

When the door finally opened he looked up, expecting to see the group of them coming back. But only Y/N slipped through the door, pulling up short when she saw him sitting at the table. 

There were a few seconds of frozen staring from both of them before Dean broke eye contact and took his gun out of his inside jacket pocket and started pulling it apart, pretending he was going to clean it, simply to give his hands something to do. 

Y/N stepped all the way into the room and closed the door behind her. She took off her jacket and sat on the couch under the window. Dean was hyper aware of her every move; he could smell her perfume and he gritted his teeth against its effect. 

He snuck in a glance at her and had to hold in a moan at how fucking gorgeous she looked. She was wearing tight black jeans and a pale pink sweater that fell off her shoulder, revealing a black bra strap. Her hair was up in a ponytail, exposing her long, extremely kissable neck. 

Dean bit his lip and then swept his gaze away quickly when Y/N looked up at him. 

Jesus Christ, being here is torture, Dean thought.

After another minute of silence, Y/N gave a huff of annoyance. “This is so stupid.” She said suddenly, the words bursting out of her like an explosion. 

Dean looked up from his gun cautiously. He didn't say anything, waiting for her to elaborate. She stood up and walked over to the table, plunking herself down on the chair across from him. He sat back in his chair and tried to pretend he wasn't retreating from her effect on him. Being so close, and yet so far, was extraordinarily painful.

She opened her arms wide, questioning. “This is stupid.” She repeated, “Can't we just move on from this, like we always do?”

He shrugged as though he was indifferent and then looked her in the eye.

“Sure, if I hear an apology in there somewhere, we can definitely leave it behind.”

Y/N clicked her tongue and rolled her eyes, making the same hurt and anger from their last conversation begin to burn in his heart again.

“Apologize?” She said with disdain. “For what?”

Dean clenched his jaw to keep from screaming at her and trying to force her to see how much her attitude and judgment had hurt him.

Instead, with extreme effort, he kept his voice low and steady. “How about, for breaking your promises?”

Y/N rolled her eyes again. “God, you’re so dramatic!” She said angrily. “I didn't ‘break my promises’.” 

“Yeah, you did, actually!” Dean shot back, some of his feelings seeping into his tone despite himself. “You promised you wouldn't get mad. Swore you wouldn't freak out.”

He tapped two fingers against his chest. “I didn't wanna talk about it! I TOLD you I didn't wanna talk about it. But you insisted.” He said, pointing his two fingers at her now. “So I told you the truth - and you nailed me with it.”

He fell silent, and Y/N watched him. Her nostrils were flared and she wore the stubborn, defensive expression that meant she wasn't going to back down. 

“Yeah well,” she said, skating her eyes away from his, “it was a LOT of truth.”

“Whatever, the point is,” Dean said coldly, “you promised I could trust you with the truth and then you broke your promise; you immediately got pissed and judgy.” 

Y/N rolled her eyes a third time, and it was the last straw for Dean. “Yeah, okay.” He said, quickly reassembling his partially disassembled gun. “Tell my dad I'll be back later.”

He put the gun back in his pocket and stood up. “Clearly you don't give a shit, so whatever - this is done.”

He stomped towards the door.

“Wait!” Y/N said quickly, standing up. But he ignored her and reached the door. “What do you mean, done? You mean…the conversation is done, or…?”

She left the question dangling and Dean turned back to her. He took all of her in - her beauty that clobbered him, her arms crossed defensively over her chest, her expression of anger, fear, and stubbornness - and he shook his head.

“We were stupid to think this was ever gonna work.” He said quietly. He saw her expression crumple for a moment and it was almost his undoing. But then she jutted her chin and her voice was accusing as she shouted at him, her voice full of derision.

“You're telling me I have to apologize, but what about you? Where have you been, Dean? You're hardly ever here. So, who are you…just where have you been staying?”

Her question hit him like a punch. He clenched his teeth, anger simmering with hurt. “Why don't you just ask me what you really wanna ask me, Y/N?”

Y/N's face was dark and stormy and her voice dripped with acid. “Fine.” She enunciated her words exactly. “Who are you sleeping with now?”

Dean didn't let the wound she caused show on his face, instead he let his own arrow fly.

He shrugged carelessly and let ice settle over his expression. “Whoever says yes.”

Despite the direct hit he knew he scored, he took no pleasure in drawing blood and turned away quickly from what he was leaving behind.

***

Three days later

Y/N woke up in the dark, choking on blood. She instinctively turned her head towards the ground, coughing and spitting the coppery taste out of her mouth. She jumped as a voice spoke beside her in the dark.

“Now, now, sweet thing, you just drink up.” As her eyes adjusted somewhat to the dark she could make out the shape of a man standing beside her. He reached out and petted her hair before gripping the back of her head and holding it still as he pushed his wrist against her mouth and she tasted the blood again. 

She screamed and tried to get away, but her wrists were bound above her and the sounds of chains rattled as she fought against his hold. Finally he pulled his wrist away from her mouth, but whispered in her ear.

“Sorry to lock you away like this, beautiful, but the others are gonna be jealous and want a piece of you and I want you all to myself.” She felt him lean into her, placing chapped lips against her cheek. “You were just too pretty to eat. I wanna keep ya.”

Y/N was choking and gagging on his blood, and as terrifying truths began to push their way into her mind, tears clogged her throat as well.

The man ran a hand down her cheek and she shuddered. “I know you feel rotten right now, beautiful,” the man whispered again, “but that's just because you haven't eaten.”

He ran his hands up her arms and tightened the rope that bound her wrists. She looked up and saw that the rope was tied into some kind of pulley system that disappeared into the dark above her, those were the chains she’d heard.

“Now, I don’t want my scared little filly to run, so…” He stepped away from her and began tugging on a rope that worked the pulley, raising her a foot off the ground so she dangled there like a fish on a hook. “You just stay put while I fetch you some dinner.”

He came back to stand in front of her and let both his hands trace down over her sides, coming to rest on her hips and squeezing them. “Then after you’ve eaten, and you’re feelin’ better, we can have some real fun.”

Y/N tried to move away from him, but he just slapped her ass and left her swinging there as he walked out. He slid a door open, and as light spilled in from the other side, she realized they were in a barn, and above her was a loft. The pulley system she was attached to was for hauling hay up into the high storage spot. 

The man blew her a kiss and closed the door with a thud.

Left there in the dark - trapped, alone, and terrified - Y/N began to panic. She struggled uselessly against the rope that bound her, but she just swung pathetically back and forth. She refused to think about the fact that her eyes had begun to adjust remarkably well to the dark, and her ears were starting to pick up sounds that had been beyond them minutes earlier.

She knew what that man really was, knew that he wasn’t really a man, but she couldn’t focus on what was happening to her or she’d start screaming and never stop.

Into her panic and fear, Dean’s face appeared in her mind’s eye, and she took strength from it, as though he was there with her, egging her on and annoying her into fighting back as he always had. Suddenly she could hear his voice in her head.

Figure out your next move.

She nodded. Yes, she needed to get her bearings and deal with the immediate problem, which was getting away from the slimy monster who had her trapped. She closed her eyes and thought back to her last memories before waking up in the dark.

She’d been hunting, they all had. They had been hunting the nest for a couple of days, and tracked them to a dilapidated old house two miles out of town. She was standing guard at the west entrance while Sam was at the south, both of them watching for stragglers.

It had happened in seconds, the monster grabbing her from behind, sinking its teeth into her flesh and provoking a blood-curdling scream from her throat before the world went dark.

Now she was awake, and she wished she could go back to oblivion. But she couldn’t. So she focused on her surroundings. Loud, off-key music had begun to play from somewhere on the other side of the door. She could hear raucous laughter and loud voices too, as though a party had started. 

She heard screams and suddenly the thick, metallic scent of blood hit Y/N’s nose and she panicked again at the way her senses heightened and her body ached with hunger. She was sick with want, with need for the blood she could smell beyond the door. There was no longer any way for her to hide from the truth. The man who held her was no man. He was a vampire, and now she was too.

Suddenly the barn door opened and the vamp came through again, dragging a half conscious woman behind him. The woman roused slightly when she was tossed to the ground, but she seemed incredibly weak, barely able to sit up. 

The vamp moved to the pulley and lowered Y/N’s feet back onto the ground. Y/N’s focus sharpened and a plan came to mind. She drew on Dean’s invisible strength and his always impressive calm in the face of stark odds.

The vamp walked up to Y/N and gave her a stern look. “Now, pretty thing, if I take you down, you have to promise to sit nicely and eat your dinner like a good girl.”

Y/N nodded and tried to sound starving, which wasn’t difficult.. “Yes, yes, I promise. Please, I’m just so hungry.”

The vamp chuckled and reached up to pull her down from the hook. “Yeah, I remember those days. I’m gonna make you all better.” He smiled at her and she could smell the blood on his breath.

He sat Y/N on a bale of hay and yanked the woman back up off the ground. He bit into her neck, where the skin was already covered in bite marks, opening her up again so that blood rushed down the front of her filthy blue shirt. 

The scent hit Y/N's nostrils again and suddenly she felt fangs descend behind her closed lips. She let out a horrified yelp that almost drowned out the woman's faint cries of distress. She raised a hand to her mouth and cut her finger on one of her own razor sharp teeth as she prodded at it. 

The vampire thrust the woman forward and she landed in Y/N's lap. “Eat up, sweetness.” The monster said with another chuckle. 

The woman was shaking and weak, her lips blue and nearly lifeless. Y/N felt as though her entire body was cracked and parched like a desert, and the alluring scent of the woman's blood felt like an oasis. But her big brown eyes begged for mercy from Y/N even though her voice had been silenced by weakness, and Y/N pushed her roughly off her lap and jumped to her feet. The vamp seemed startled by the move and his momentary confusion was her only saving grace. 

She kicked him as hard as she could in the nuts. His cry of pain was thankfully lost in the pounding music and the screams of the people being feasted on, just on the other side of the wall.

He fell to his knees and she kicked him hard again, in the face, knocking him over to sprawl on the barn floor. With her wrists still tied, she grabbed the long, pointed spade that hung on the wall three feet away, and jammed it into his throat. He gurgled and tried to rip the tool from her hand, but she wrenched it away from him and kicked him half a dozen more times while he writhed and bled on the ground. Finally she got a good angle and stuck him with the spade again, leaving his head hanging on by a few tendons and a bit of muscle tissue. 

She smashed the spade into his neck one final time and his head rolled towards her rather pathetically.

She stood staring at it for a few moments, as she panted and her head swam.

Finally she dropped the spade and ran to the woman lying a few feet away. The smell of her blood overwhelmed Y/N again and she immediately jumped back, desperate to control herself. 

But the blank, empty look on the woman's face told Y/N she was dead anyway; so she couldn't help or hurt her now. Y/N knew that in her present state there was nothing she could do for the people being killed on the other side of the wall either. So she pulled her wrists free of the rope and ran.

She tore out of the back of the barn, and ran as fast and as far as she could. She had no idea where she could run to, she was simply trying to outrun the monster she was now.

***

Fear sat heavy and thick in Dean's heart as he followed the obvious trail Y/N had left behind her. At least, he thought it was her, it had to be her.

Please, God let it be her, Dean begged.

The world had gone dark ever since he'd heard Y/N's scream of terror and pain outside that rundown shack. He’d run to where she was stationed, but she was already gone. A red pickup truck sped away down the dirt road. But Dean had managed to secure most of the license plate number.

With it, they managed to track the vamps to their new hideout, the barn. This time they took out the whole nest. While the others were questioning the last two vamps about Y/N's whereabouts, Dean had started looking around the space and found the dead woman and the decapitated vamp. The dead monster made hope surge in Dean, and he'd called to the others. They'd split up to search for her and Dean went North simply by instinct at first, because some sixth sense was drawing him in that direction.

But after a couple hundred yards, the trail began to become more obvious. Someone had barrelled through the thick brush surrounding the old barn, and they were no longer attempting to hide their steps. 

Almost a mile away from the barn, Dean stopped short. Just ahead of him he could hear what sounded like moans, like someone in pain.

No, not someone, Dean thought, terror licking through him. 

Y/N.

He moved forward in a rush and burst through the brush into a small clearing. His heart leapt with joy and relief as he saw Y/N sitting on a turned over log barely twenty-five feet away. 

She was alive.

But as he ran towards her she jumped up and tripped over the log as she scrambled away from him.

“Y/N!” Dean called to her, but she screamed back at him.

“No, stay away from me.”

Dean frowned at her but kept walking forward. “Sweetheart, what are y-”

Y/N folded her arms against her middle and groaned again, just as sharp fangs descended. Her beautiful features twisted in a snarl as she stumbled backwards again.

Dean stopped dead, staring, unbelieving, shaking his head in denial. He felt frozen to the ground as he looked at the truth standing right in front of him. He felt his world fall away as he stared at the monster who used to be Y/N - the girl he'd known his whole life, his best friend, his rival, his perfect other half. 

And now she was lost to him. A monster.

She fell to her knees and shook her head, holding her hand out towards him, warding him off, warning him to stay back. In the bright light of the full moon and the distant glow of city lights, Dean watched her fangs retreat and tears roll down her cheeks. He approached her cautiously, somehow unable to stay back. 

She looked up at him and her beautiful eyes were stained, the whites of them pooled with blood. 

“Dean.” she croaked as she continued to shake her head at him. “Please stay away from me.” She begged. 

She nodded towards the machete that was strapped to his thigh. “Please? Just end me before I hurt someone.” She sucked in a ragged breath. “I don't want to…” Her eyes pleaded with him. “I don't wanna hurt you, or anyone.” 

Her face spasmed with pain. “But I can't…I know I can't control this for much longer. Please, help me. I don't want to kill someone.” 

Her voice was cracked and broken and suddenly Dean saw that little girl again, the one who begged him not to kill the frog, begged him to help her save it. Because she couldn't stand the thought of hurting something helpless.

That little girl could never be a monster, and he knew she still had to be in there somewhere.

He found himself shaking his head. “No, Y/N, I won’t…” He couldn't even say the words. He cleared his throat “I'm gonna save you.”

Y/N looked at him like he was insane. “Save me? There's no way to save me. There's no fixing this. I'm a monster, Dean! I can feel the bloodlust in my head, it makes everything foggy. I can hear your heart pumping and I want -” She cut herself off and closed her eyes. “Please.” She whispered again, begging him to end her life.

But instead he got down on his knees in front of her and took a deep breath. Her eyes widened and her nostrils flared as he drew closer to her. 

“You won't hurt me, Y/N.” 

“Dean!” Y/N shouted. But he shook his head.

“No, I'm right about this.” He declared, using his old playground trick of challenging her to get a rise out of her and force her into what he wanted. It seemed to work at least a little because some of the despair in her bloodshot eyes turned to annoyance.

He shook his head. “I refuse to believe there isn't a cure out there somewhere, or at least, someway to help you live with it.”

Y/N laughed humorlessly, exasperated. “Like a twelve step program for vampires? ‘God grant me the serenity not to rip open a vein.’?”

Dean grinned at her gallows humor. “Yeah, something like that.”

He looked over his shoulder and when he looked back his face was serious. “But look, I don't know how my Dad, or maybe even your Dad are gonna feel about this idea. I mean, they're so hardcore about hunting, about what’s a monster and what’s human. I don't know if I could convince them what I say is true, that I can save you.”

Y/N frowned at him and fear clouded her expression again. “You absolutely don't know it’s true! You are risking your life every second you're near me.”

Dean raised his hand slowly to her cheek and watched her swallow convulsively. “You're worth the risk, sweetheart.”

Tears filled Y/N's eyes again at the familiar endearment. She brushed away the tears and then took his hand from her cheek and held it. 

“Does this mean you forgive me?” She asked, looking up at him with a wavering smile. 

Dean grinned at her. “I don't know, does this mean you're apologizing?”

Y/N gave a watery laugh. “Yes.”

They stared at each other for a moment, both struck with just how ridiculous their fight seemed in view of their current situation. 

“Well, don’t worry, you're forgiven completely.” Dean promised. “But back to my earlier point. I think we should take off for a while. We can let our dads and Sam know we're okay, but we'll just keep moving till we find an answer.”

Y/N nodded. “But, Dean. I feel so weak already. I don't know how long I'll be able to -” 

Dean shook his head. “We'll be fine.” He said, his voice unrelenting.

“Dean -” Y/N tried again, but Dean stood up and pulled her up with him.

“No, Y/N.” He stared into her eyes, his words pushing through the pounding in her skull and the throbbing in her veins for the first time since she'd awoken as a monster.

“I will not walk away from you, I will save you.” His jaw flexed. “Or die trying.”

Y/N felt her heart constrict because she knew him well enough to know he meant every word.

***

Two weeks later

Dean listened to Y/N’s rattling breaths and felt the chasm of darkness grow deeper inside him. She was laying on the floor of the old abandoned house they were squatting in, and her skin was so pallid and pale that she matched the gray dust around her.

She'd been getting weaker and weaker the longer she went without feeding. They’d hoped that animal blood might do the trick. But they'd tried pigeon blood and rat blood - Dean had even found and shot a coyote that had been knocking over trash cans down the road, hoping that bigger game might make a difference - but none of it worked. 

Y/N threw the blood up as fast as she choked it down. She cried about the animals that had died. “We're killing them for nothing.” She wheezed. “It's not working.” Her voice was scratchy, as though she hadn't had any liquid for days. 

They'd been on their own for nearly two weeks, and every day Y/N faded a little further. 

Over the course of the two weeks there had been a few close calls between them, when Y/N's hunger threatened to overtake all her other senses. But Dean had managed to subdue her long enough, until she came back to herself. When her conscience returned, she would always shake with fear at what she'd almost done and beg him to leave her there and run. She said it without hope because she knew he never would. 

But now, she was no threat to him at all. Dean looked down at her frail body, cheeks sunken, dark black circles bruising the skin below her eyes, and he knew he was losing her. 

He knew what he had to do. 

He sat beside her on the floor, his big hand holding her skinny fingers which he squeezed gently. 

“Y/N.” He called softly. “Y/N wake up.” 

Her eyelids lifted with what looked like a herculean effort. Her eyes were unfocused until Dean moved closer and looked down at her, his face hovering above her. Then she smiled at him as she dragged in more rattling breaths.

She opened her mouth to speak, but only garbled air came out. Dean shook his head and put a finger to her lips. “No, sweetheart, don't talk, just listen.” 

He ran a thick finger down the sunken hollow of her cheek. “If you don't feed, you're not gonna make it. Now, when I spoke to Sam last time, he said they had a lead on something that might be something. But that doesn't sound like a lot, and they can help you if you're…”

He shook the word out of his mind. “We just have to keep you well until they figure it out. So…”

He trailed off and then shrugged out of his jacket. He opened the buttons on his flannel, exposing a wide swath of his warm skin. 

“So feed.” He told her.

He watched her bloody, cloudy eyes widen and darken. She shook her head feebly, her breathing becoming loud and wheezing as she tried to sit up and back away from him.

But Dean caught hold of her easily and shifted her into his lap. He brushed her limp hair back off her forehead.

“Y/N, please listen to me. We just need something to keep you going. Please.” He said, his voice and expression begging her. “I trust you. Feed.”

He kissed her lips gently, and then leaned over her, kissing her neck and leaving his exposed and vulnerable. 

“Dean.” Y/N managed to put some sound into her voice and Dean pulled back to look at her. 

She sucked in a long labored breath. “You…promised.” She shook her head again. “Promised to…” 

She had to stop talking for a few moments, her eyes falling closed before she tried again.

“Promised to save me.”

Dean's face was desperate. “What do you think I'm doing?”

Y/N's head moved minutely from side to side. “Not.” She croaked. “Saving. Save me from…monster. No monster.”

Dean understood her and he felt tears burn his eyes. She wanted him to save her from becoming a monster. It was true that neither of them knew what would happen if she fed. Would she just get stronger, or would it sever her hold on her humanity?

There was no way of knowing, and she was begging him to save her from the possibility of a bad outcome. Dean wanted to yell at her, scream and fight with her over this as they always did when they disagreed. But he knew she had no fight left. 

So he just nodded at her and took solace in the peace that drifted over her exhausted face. He shifted so that she was laying with her head in his lap and traced his finger over the delicate bones in her face and collarbone. He spoke barely above a whisper.

“Okay, sweetheart. Sleep now.”

***

Twenty-two hours later

Dean jumped as someone pounded on the door. It was the most he'd moved in hours. He rose slowly from the ground as the pounding came again accompanied by Sam's voice.

“Dean! Y/N! It's me, open the door!”

Dean reached the door and slid the bolt free, letting Sam through. His little brother rushed past him. “Why haven't you been answering your phone?” Sam asked, and then barreled forward without waiting for an answer.

“We found it, we found a cure. Dad remembered hearing some obscure piece of lore saying you could cure a werewolf with the blood of the wolf that bit them and he figured maybe vamps had something similar. So after you guys took off that night, he went back to the barn and took the fang’s blood just in case. The one Y/N killed - figured it was our best bet.” He clarified.

Sam's excitement was blinding him to Dean's stillness and he rushed on. “So, we went down to New Orleans. You know they had a bit of a vampire problem in the French Quarter about a century ago, so we thought maybe they'd have-”

Suddenly Sam stopped talking, the momentum that brought him there finally deflating under the weight of the darkness in the air.

He shoved his hands in his jacket pockets. “Dean? Where's Y/N?”

Dean's jaw clenched and he gestured to the other room. “Too late.”

Sam's expression sank, the last bit of his youthful excitement crumbling at the words. He walked in the direction Dean pointed, freezing in the doorway when he saw Y/N's frail body laying on a dusty table.

“Didn't wanna leave her lying on the ground.” Dean said, his voice deep and thick with unshed tears. 

Sam wasn't as practiced at hiding his emotions, and tears fell down his cheeks as he watched Y/N's still, lifeless body and thought of the way her father had fallen further and further into a bottle as the days passed, hope slipping further from their grasp. 

John had sent Sam on ahead to Dean and Y/N so that he could go back and let Darren know that there was finally hope for his daughter. Now, they were going to have to crush that last spark of hope.

He was exceedingly glad he wouldn't have to be the one to do it.

He reached Y/N and grimaced at the emaciated creature that only vaguely reminded him of the girl who'd been his big sister for all intents and purposes.

When Dean came to stand beside him, Sam shook his head. “How, how did she die?” 

Dean looked at him angrily for a moment before he clipped out an answer. “Painfully.”

Silence reigned for a moment until Sam brushed away his tears and tilted his head. “But…” He didn't finish his thought, slightly intimidated by his much bigger brother's anger and frustration with his questions.

But his mind was working and he couldn't stop himself.

“But I mean, that's sort of the thing, isn't it?”

Dean scowled at him and Sam shrugged. “I just…I mean, vampires don't die. They can't.”

“Unless they're starving.” Dean growled out but Sam shook his head. 

“No, that's my point. I've done SO much research on vampires over the last couple weeks, and some of it is a bit conflicting, but the one thing that every one of them agreed on was that the ONLY way to kill a vampire for good, for real, was to chop off their head.”

Dean was scowling at him. “What are you saying?” His voice was gruff, but Sam saw a spark of hope in his eye, and he prayed he wasn't giving his brother false hope. 

“I'm saying we found a couple hoodoo priestesses that gave up their cure for vampirism. I think we should make it and give it to Y/N.”

Dean's nostrils flared as he fought down his own burgeoning hope. “You really think some hoodoo cure is gonna bring her back from the dead?”

Sam shook his head and took off his backpack. He got down on his haunches and began pulling items out for the spell.

“But she's not dead.” He said adamantly and then amended his words cautiously. “At least. I don't think she is, cause her head is still on her shoulders. So, again, how did she die? Of starvation you said?”

Dean nodded down at Sam. “Yeah, she…she tried to drink animal blood but it wouldn't stay down.”

Sam shot him a worried look. “But she didn't drink any human blood, did she? Like even a drop?”

Dean shook his head. “No, that's why she died. I tried to get her to drink from me, but she wouldn't.”

Sam sighed with relief. “Thank God she's smarter than you are.”

Dean scowled at him, but Sam ignored it. “The spell only works on newbie vamps, and only if they haven't ingested any human blood.”

As he finished up mixing the ingredients for the cure, he explained what he was thinking. “So, if vamps can't die of starvation, then…I think she's desiccated. I read about it in only one account. This one big bad vamp in New Orleans, they couldn't stop him, so they trapped him and when he couldn't get any food, he desiccated and basically fell into a vampire coma.���

He stood up with a jar in his hands that contained a foul smelling liquid. He handed it to Dean and reached into his backpack to pull out a tin that held a syringe full of blood. 

He pushed the plunger and emptied it into the drink.

“So I think,” he continued, “that when Y/N couldn't get blood she desiccated. But see if we give her the cure she won't be a vampire anymore. So the lack of human blood in her system shouldn't matter.”

Dean frowned. “But what if, because she wasn't fully a vampire, what if she didn't just wither into a hundred year slumber? What if she really is.. just…”

Sam but his lip. “Well, we won’t know till we try to give her the cure and see.” He said with a shrug in his voice.

Dean nodded and accepted his little brother's reasoning.

He moved towards Y/N and said a prayer to a god he didn't believe in that this would work. He’d been denying the alternative for nearly a day, desperate to believe it wasn’t true. This was their chance to make it not true.

Sam lifted Y/N's shoulders so that she was sitting up, and opened her slack jaw while Dean poured the concoction down her throat. Some of it spilled out, but most of it sank slowly down her esophagus.

When the jar was empty, they laid Y/N down and held their breath.

Dean unclenched his jaw long enough to ask, “Those witches give you any idea how long -”

His words were cut off as Y/N's eyes popped open and she gasped for air like a fish on dry land just before she turned her head and began vomiting black liquid. 

Dean felt a horrible mixture of elation and terror as Y/N continued to spew up black bile.

Finally she dry-heaved a few times more and then fell forward. She would have fallen to the ground if not for Dean, who swept her off the table and into his arms. 

He held her close, hardly daring to breathe for fear that he'd break the bubble of surrealty that he found himself in. Could this nightmare really be over? Did he have Y/N back in his arms for good. 

The pessimist in him was shouting warnings at him not to risk it, but he wasn't listening very well. Hope bubbled up in him as he watched her breathing even out 

Finally, her eyes fluttered beneath her closed lids for a moment before they opened slowly. 

“Dean?” She asked groggily. “What's…?” Her voice faded as she looked around, clearly confused.

Dean set her back on the table so that he could push the hair back from her face. His voice was hesitant. “Y/N? Are you…okay?”

She turned her head and saw Sam looking at her expectantly as well. Her brow stayed crinkled for a moment more until understanding began to dawn on her face. Tears filled her eyes, and even though they were still slightly bloodshot, Dean could practically see the color returning to her cheeks, her skin losing its thin, papery look. 

He began to feel the ache in his chest ease as he tucked Y/N's hair behind her ear. “How do you feel, sweetheart?”

Her smile spread across her face and her voice was filled with the same relief and joy Dean could feel seeping through him as she answered. 

“I feel like me.”

***

The next few days were a bit rough for Y/N as the cure continued to work through her system, but they were also some of the happiest in her life. 

She’d returned to their motel and to her father’s waiting, grateful arms. The group of them celebrated her rescue and return, and the incredible tool they now had to help save vamp victims if they could get to them in time. 

For the first day or so, her father didn’t let her go very far out of his sight. But eventually, he eased off, and allowed that she was an adult and had a right to some space and privacy. So finally, four days after waking from her vampiric coma, she and Dean were able to sneak out alone. Their fathers were going to meet with another hunter about a shifter one state over, and Sam was quite glad to get the lovebirds away from him for an evening. Their pining, long looks, and frequent touching was driving him crazy.

Dean and Y/N hopped into the Impala and drove and sang together with the radio for hours. They talked and talked about absolutely nothing important, old favorite movies, and people they used to know from their hundred different hometowns. It was light and easy, and beautiful after weeks of pain, heartache and fear. 

Hours later they once again found themselves parked (on the side of an old abandoned back road this time) and cuddled up beside each other in the back seat.

Rain had begun to fall, soft but steady, beating a soothing pattern on the roof. The radio still played low from the front, and Y/N gasped when she realized that Dean had slipped in the mixed tape she’d made for their anniversary more than a month earlier. It felt like a lifetime ago.

“You kept this.” She said, smiling up at him. “I thought you hated these songs.”

Dean shrugged. “I hate them less when I’ve got you tucked up against me like this.”

Y/N reached up to pull his lips down to her. She kissed him softly and then pulled away. She lowered her gaze. “Dean, I really do owe you an apology for how I acted before.”

Dean was shaking his head, but she put a finger to his lips. “Please let me finish.” He fell silent and she continued. 

“I get a little crazy when it comes to you. I don’t know if you’ve noticed - I hide it very well.” She said with mock seriousness. 

Dean nodded along. “Of course.” 

Y/N smiled and looked down at her hands twisted in her lap. “It’s just…all my life it’s been…chaos. Different towns, different schools, different kids, different teachers, different rules, different cliques, different everything. Over and over, nothing but new…new and scary.”

Dean nodded again, knowing it was true. 

Y/N smiled sheepishly. “But through all of it, through everything new, everything different, everything scary, there was always you. You, there to piss me off and rile me up, you to challenge and push me, to defend me, to break a nose or take the fall for me. In my whole life the only constant is you. It took me a long time to realize it, but Dean,” she looked deep into his eyes, “you are everything to me.”

Tears filled her eyes. “And the truth is you’ve saved me over and over, my whole life. Yeah okay, I mean now you’ve actually offered up your very life for me, but you’ve been saving me every day, all our lives.”

Dean’s eyes were moist as she continued. “So, the thought of losing you to someone else, of losing all you are to me…” She shook her head. “It’s terrifying.” 

Dean grasped her cheeks and turned her face up so he could kiss her, not softly, not gently. His kiss was all consuming, it was hard and possessive. He pulled away from her and she could barely catch her breath.

His voice was raspy as he spoke against her lips. “You’re an idiot.”

She spluttered a bit and scowled at him, but he just smiled. 

“Sweetheart, you say it took you a long time to realize all of that? Okay. But I’ve known since first grade. I’ve known since the second our dads met up at that park to talk about a Rugaru and I saw you on the swingset. You were wearing a rainbow t-shirt and purple overalls, and your hair swirled around you while you were swinging. I thought you were the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen.”

Y/N laughed happy tears. “You remember what I was wearing?”

Dean brushed them away. “I think of you every time I see a rainbow.”

Y/N could barely believe what she was hearing. Dean shook his head as though it had been so obvious. “Sweetheart, I’ve loved you every day of our lives together. Even when I didn’t like you, I loved you.”

Y/N hiccupped a sob and threw her arms around Dean’s neck. He put his hand on her back and pulled her onto his lap. He buried his face in the crook of her neck and spoke against her skin. 

“So as long as you want me here, I’m here. As long as I can be yours, you’ve got me.”

She pulled back from him and sniffled. “So…you were lying then? You weren’t sleeping with a bunch of other girls all the time we were broken up?”

Dean shook his head. “Of course not.” He kissed the corner of her mouth. “No one else is you, Y/N.”

She kissed him again, her tears mingling with their panting breath. She straddled his thighs and then lifted her t-shirt up over her head. Dean made a choked sound in the back of his throat. He pressed his hands to her waist and kneaded his fingers into her lower back.

“Y/N,” Dean began but she kissed him again.

“I don’t wanna talk about it anymore Dean.” She said as she pulled away. “I know everything I need to know about your past.” She pushed her hands into his hair and tugged his head back slightly so his face was turned up towards her, his mouth open and reaching for her. 

She brushed her lips over his. “You’ve loved me your whole life.”

He grunted as he twisted their bodies so that she landed on the seat with a squeak, pinned beneath his weight. “I didn’t say my WHOLE life. There were like six years there where I didn’t even know you existed.” 

Y/N giggled. “You mean the six years you were alive before we met?”

Dean grinned. “Exactly. I was free as a bird then.”

He laid his hands against the leather on either side of her shoulders and pushed himself up. One knee was sunk into the seat between her legs and the other rested on the floor as he pulled his shirt up and off. 

She reached up and ran her fingers over his smooth, broad chest and down over his stomach. He watched her, a muscle squeezing tight in his jaw, before he took her hands and wrapped them around his neck so he could stretch out above her again. 

She looked into his bright green eyes, shining like emeralds and got lost in them. She picked up their conversation as though they’d never stopped talking, but her voice was breathy and heated. “And you’re gonna love me for the rest of your life, right?”

Dean nodded. “Every day.”

“K, good.” She said, her eyes welling up again. “Me too, by the way. I mean, just in case you were wondering - I love you too.”

Dean’s face lit up but he just nodded and shrugged one shoulder. “Of course I know, I’m smart like that.” He kissed her hard and quick. “But let’s not forget who said it first.”

1 - Jensen RPF + Any/All characters Jensen plays. @lyarr24 @deans-spinster-witch @impalaslytherin @maggiegirl17 @akshi8278 @candy-coated-misery0731 @deanswaywardgirl @slytherinlyn314 @globetrotter28 @jensensgirl @perpetualabsurdity @tristanrosspada-ackles @djs8891 @muhahaha303 @kayyay1219 @emily-winchester @recoveringpastaaddict @maximumkillshot @mimaria420 @sacriceria @envyaurora95 @lacilou @jc-winchester @spnwoman @mimi-luvzyu @jackles010378

2 - Dean Winchester Fics Only. @carryonwaywardgirl @slamminmine

3 - Any/All Fics (regardless of fandom/character.) @kazsrm67 @sexyvixen7 @alexxavicry @nancymcl @spalady26 @slut-for-evans-stan

4 - Everything (includes fan vid/DOOL edits as well) @unabashed-lover-of-fictional-men @maliburenee @supernatural4life2022 @spn730015 @kickingitwithkirk @waywardbaby @foxyjwls007 @deanwanddamons @deandreamernp @deanwithscissors @myloversgone @snowlovespie @leigh70 @all-alone-he-turns-to-stone @charred-angelwings @hopefuldreamers-world @jensensgotyoudean @thoughts-and-funnies @magssteenkamp @princessmisery666 @eevvvaa @mishkatelwarriorgoddess @waynes-multiverse @mrsjenniferwinchester @bernasaurus @jensenslady79 @courtn92 @avanatural @ellie-andthemachine @this-is-me19 @roseblue373 @katbratsupernaturalwhore @fanfic-n-tabulous @k-slla @stoneyggirl2

[the-bad-batch-baroness]

Of Frogs and Clones

Hardcase x Fem!Reader

Chapter 1: The Mysterious Liquid

Summary: It's the clone's last night in the barracks together as soldiers and Hardcase drinks a mysterious liquid from Jesse's duffle that turns him into a frog. With the help of his brothers and the Right To Love Matchmaking service, they work against the clock to find him "true love's kiss" and turn him back into a human.

Pairing: Hardcase x Fem!Reader

Characters: Hardcase, Jesse, Kix, Rex, Fives, Echo, Tup, Dogma

Tags & Warnings: matchmaking!au, fluff, humor, strange magic, clone shenanigans, unconventional love story, dialogue heavy

Word Count: 3.6k

Author's Note: My first entry for the @tcwmatchmakingau! This series is pure fun and ridiculousness. There's no angst, no hurt, no underlying themes, and no deep meanings. Only utter nonsense. Reader and RTL are not in the first chapter. I know I have other series to finish, but I needed to cross off another bingo square first 😅 As always, please enjoy 💚

@clonexreaderbingo Square: Mystery

Chapter 1

The Clone Wars have finally drawn to a close, leaving the remaining clones in a precarious spot of facing the unknown civilian life before them. To aid in their assimilation, the senate passed legislation to give clones official citizenship status, government subsidized housing, a credit stipend, and help with job placement. Tonight is their last night sleeping in the barracks and as they pack their belongings and prepare for life outside of the GAR, things get a little hectic.

“What do you think it’s going to be like?” Jesse asks while pulling things out of his overstuffed duffle.

“Dunno,” Hardcase answers as he stares at the bunk above him, hands laced behind his head. His duffle doesn’t have much in it, so he finished packing a while ago.

“I bet it’s going to be fun,” Fives smiles while throwing his things haphazardly into his duffle. “No rules, no regulations, no chain of command.”

Echo stops folding his blacks and grimaces at the thought. “That sounds awful.”

“Lighten up,” Tup playfully punches Echo’s shoulder. “We can finally do whatever we want.”

“I’m with Echo,” Dogma adds. “A bunch of people doing whatever they want sounds chaotic. Where’s the order?”

“We make our own order,” Kix chimes in. “We follow the laws and do the right thing. Like we’ve always done.”

“What if we mess up?” Echo wonders, a twinge of apprehension in his voice. “I don’t want to be court-martialed on day one.”

“You can’t be court-martialed if you’re a civilian,” Fives chuckles. “But if you do mess up… Then Fox will get you!” Fives jumps on Echo’s back for dramatic effect.

Echo groans and pushes Fives off while the rest of the group laughs.

“As long as we stick together, we’ll be fine,” Jesse reassures.

Murmurs of agreements resound through the barracks and they resume organizing what little belongings they have.

Hardcase rolls onto his side and watches Jesse attempt to pack his duffle bag so that the zipper will close. He’s still unsure how Jesse accumulated so much junk over the past few years. The ARC has a souvenir from almost every planet he’s ever been on. Even after everyone else is done packing, Jesse is still sifting through his things, picking which ones to take with him and which ones to leave behind. He pulls out a bottle of green liquid and places it on the ground.

“What’s that?” Hardcase asks while pointing at the bottle.

“I’m not sure,” Jesse answers. He picks up the bottle and inspects it for a second before setting it back down. “It was given to me by a local at the beginning of the war. I must have forgotten about it.”

“Is it alcohol?” Hardcase asks curiously. He sits up in his bunk and grabs the bottle off the floor, tilting it from side to side to watch the strange liquid slosh around.

“Maybe,” Jesse shrugs. “I couldn’t understand the local language and I never opened it to try it.”

Hardcase wonders what it could be as he continues to turn the bottle in different directions, completely mesmerized by its shimmering contents. “Can I drink it?”

“I don’t see why not,” Jesse says.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Kix warns. He swipes the bottle from Hardcase’s hands.

“Hey,” Hardcase pouts. He sits back down on his bunk and crosses his arms. “That’s mine.”

“Technically–”

“You don’t know what’s in it,” Kix interrupts Jesse’s rebuttal to give a warning. “It could be poisonous.”

“We won’t know that unless we try it,” Hardcase argues.

“Listen,” Kix sighs. “We’re one night away from being free men. I’m not going to let a bottle of suspicious liquid ruin that for you.”

“Isn’t that my choice now?” Hardcase questions.

“Not until 05:00,” Rex chimes in. Upon hearing their captain's voice, all of the Torrent Company stops what they’re doing and stands to attention.

In preparation for their official discharge from the GAR, Rex spent the entire day with the senate and a specialized CCL (civilian clone liaison) to make sure that his men’s transition was taken care of and that it would be as smooth as possible. He meticulously worked each clone’s case with the CCL to approve their housing, their new identichips, and their credit stipends. It was an exhausting process, but his signature was required on every form in the assimilation packets.

“At ease men,” Rex says.

“So,” Fives begins with anticipation. “What’s the word?”

Rex smiles and reveals a stack of identichips. “It’s official.”

Rex walks around to each one of his men and hands them their new identichip. The clones take them eagerly and marvel with wonder at the digital cards with their chosen names and faces inscribed on them. Not a CT number in sight. The excitement in the room is almost too much for the clones to contain. Whispers and wide-eyes turn into hollers, whoops, and hugs. They’re now official citizens of Coruscant and have the same rights as any other citizen.

“Settle down and listen up!” Rex exclaims. “These identichips are your key to life. Do not lose them. They will go into effect at 05:00 tomorrow morning, so until then, you are still under my command.”

The clones stop their chatter and nod their heads in understanding.

“Tomorrow, you’ll be free men,” he starts, “and I will no longer be your captain, but your friend. You’ll be able to make your own choices, live your own lives, and decide your own destinies.” Rex pauses and shifts his weight. “Help each other, help others, and be good citizens.” Rex pauses one more time, his voice wavering with emotion. “It truly has been an honor to serve alongside the finest men in the galaxy.”

The barrack of clones erupts with the sound of clapping and whistling. Rex takes in the moment before he puts up his hand to quiet the men and pull out his data-pad.

“A couple more things,” he begins while scrolling through a list. “Housing assignments have been allocated and your new addresses can be found on your identichips. The apartments are fully furnished, but you’ll have to buy your own clothes, food, and any extra comforts. Credit stipends will be automatically deposited monthly into your bank account until you gain employment. You can keep your armor, but they have asked that you not wear it in public. You are also allowed to own a single DC-17 hand blaster, but it must be registered with the Coruscant Police and tied to your identichips. Any questions?”

Hardcase raises his hand, a look of concern painting his face. “So, I can’t keep my Z-6?”

“No, you can’t,” Rex answers. “Anything that was considered infantry or heavy weaponry cannot be owned by civilians and must be turned in to the Coruscant Police. It was difficult enough to convince them to let us keep a single hand blaster.”

Hardcase plops onto his bunk and crosses his arms while grumbling to himself. That Z-6 was his best friend during the war and now he has to give it up. It really is a shame.

“Any other questions?” Rex asks as he scans the room. “Alright then. Get a good night's sleep and I’ll touch base with you in the morning.”

As Rex leaves the barracks, more chatter erupts amongst the clones. They are both excited and nervous to get their new lives started. The jitters are evident and no one is sure they can actually sleep tonight. They’re like children on Christmas Eve, wanting to stay up late and wait for their presents to arrive instead of sleeping. The anticipation is too much to contain. However, once curfew rolls around, the clones have to turn out the lights and at least try to go to sleep.

The clones all nestle into their bunks for one last night and fall into dreams of what their new lives will be like. Well, everyone that is except for Hardcase. He’s lying awake, staring up at the bunk above him and feeling restless. He’s still thinking about that bottle of green liquid Kix took away from him. He’s not sure what it is about that mysterious bottle that has him so enraptured. Maybe it’s the color, or the way the liquid moves from one end of the glass bottle to the other.

Unable to contain his curiosity, Hardcase decides he wants the bottle back. He waits a couple of hours, and when he hears some of his brothers snoring, he quietly gets out of his bunk and meanders his way to Kix’s bunk. Kix is sleeping on his stomach, one hand under his shirt and the other stretched out over his pillow, with his leg hanging off the side with the blanket falling off. Hardcase shakes his head. He’ll never understand how Kix finds that sleeping position comfortable.

He waves his hand near Kix’s face, checking to make sure he is asleep, then crouches down to look through his duffle. He quietly rummages around, being careful not to knock anything too far out of place, and eventually finds the little glass bottle of green liquid under a pack of gauze. He picks it up, smiles, and admires the bottle like it’s a precious jewel. He puts Kix’s duffle back together, brings the bottle back to his bunk, then looks around to make sure no one saw him.

Once he knows he’s alone and the only one awake, Hardcase pulls the cork off the top of the bottle and it makes a loud popping sound. He winces at the unexpected noise as it echoes through the barracks, then looks around to make sure no one woke up. He relaxes his shoulders and sighs when no one stirs. He looks into the glass bottle and swishes the green liquid around. It’s a shame to drink it when it’s so pretty, but he has to know what it tastes like.

“Bottoms up,” he whispers to himself. He knocks the drink back like a shot and swallows. His face scrunches at the bitter aftertaste and he makes an audible noise of disgust. “Yuck! Definitely not alcohol.”

Disappointed in the gross tasting drink, Hardcase flops back onto his bunk and sighs. He doesn’t feel any different, so it’s probably not poison. If he had to venture a guess, it’s probably some type of tribal medicine native to the planet Jesse got it from. Medicine is the only thing he’s ever tasted that matches that level of bitterness, and he hates medicine. He shutters at the residual taste in the back of his throat, then tucks himself into his bunk to finally go to sleep.

As dawn breaks and the light of the morning peeks into the barracks, Jesse stirs in his bunk. He stretches his limbs and yawns while sitting up, then breathes a contented sigh when he remembers that today is the day he’s a free man. He looks around the sunlit room and sees the rest of the clones stirring as their internal alarm clocks activate. Excited to get moving, he slides down the back ladder of the bunk, his bare feet hitting the barrack’s cold floor with a dull thud.

Jesse looks at Hardcase’s bunk, which sits right beneath his, but his brother is not in it. “Has anyone seen Hardcase?”

“Not since lights out,” Echo answers while stretching his arms.

“I haven’t seen him either,” Tup yawns.

“Got me,” Kix shrugs.

Out of the corner of his eye, Fives catches the blanket on Hardcase’s bunk move. “Did anyone else see that?”

“See what?” Dogma asks while rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.

Fives stares at the blanket and watches it move again. He points his finger at the lump in the center. “That!”

“What do you think it is?” Jesse asks as he moves to stand next to Fives.

“I don’t know,” Fives tilts his head to the side as he thinks.

“Only one way to find out,” Echo says as he grabs the corner of the blanket and rips it off, revealing what is underneath.

“It’s a… frog?” Kix raises an eyebrow at Fives.

“Don’t look at me!” Fives puts up his hands in defense. “I didn’t put it there.”

“Guys, it’s me,” a voice says.

The group of clones whip around looking for the source of the voice.

“That sounds like Hardcase,” Jesse says. “But I don’t see him.”

“Down here,” the voice says.

Tup crouches down on the ground and looks under the bunk, but there’s no one there.

“Too far,” the voice says. “On the bunk.”

Tup slowly peeks up from his crouched position and looks at the frog sitting on the bunk. They stare at each other for a moment.

“Hey,” the frog says.

“Ah!” Tup startles and crashes backwards into the adjacent bunk. “That frog just talked!”

Dogma rolls his eyes. “Frogs don’t talk.”

“I'm telling you that frog talked,” Tup argues.

Jesse snorts. “Tup, I think you’ve lost a few marbles.”

“You're the one who’s lost his marbles,” the frog says as it jumps from the bunk onto Jesse’s arm.

“Ah!” Jesse jerks and flings the frog off his arm.

“Catch it!” Tup yells.

Kix catches the frog in his hands and examines it curiously. It looks like a regular bullfrog to him. Mottled olive-green mucus-covered skin, a dull-yellow belly, raised eyes, short little forelegs, and long-webbed hind legs. The only strange thing about this bullfrog is the blue lines going down the left side of its body. He’s never seen a bullfrog with blue stripes before, but then again, he doesn’t claim to be an expert in frog species. Kix brings the frog closer to his face to look at the lines.

“Hi Kix,” the frog says.

Kix startles and opens his hands, dropping the talking frog onto the floor of the barracks.

“Hey!” the frog says. “Watch it!”

Fives kneels down in front of the frog. “Hardcase?”

“Yeah, it’s me,” Hardcase sighs.

“You’re a frog!” Fives exclaims as he picks him up.

“I noticed,” Hardcase says.

“How is that even possible?” Echo questions in bewilderment.

“I don’t know,” Hardcase says. “I just woke up like this. I had a heck of a time trying to find my way out of that blanket though. Thanks.”

“Kix?” Dogma looks at the shocked medic for an explanation.

“Don’t ask me,” Kix raises his hands. “There’s nothing in the medical texts about clones turning into frogs.”

Jesse looks at the frog, that is Hardcase, and narrows his eyes. “What did you do?”

“What do you mean, ‘what did I do’?” Hardcase retorts as he jumps from Fives’ hands to Jesse’s.

Jesse cups his hands together to catch Hardcase. “Kix is right, clones don’t just turn into frogs,” he says. "What did you do?”

“Nothing!” Hardcase shouts. “I just woke up like this. I’m as lost as you are!”

Kix gets curious and looks around Hardcase’s bunk area. He rifles through his duffle bag and grabs the empty bottle. He takes a deep breath, straightens up, and crosses his arms. “You drank it.”

“Oh, yeah,” Hardcase chuckles nervously. “I forgot about that.”

Kix grabs Hardcase out of Jesse’s hands, encircling his fingers around Hardcase’s stomach as his long hind legs dangle down freely. He brings Hardcase’s little frog face close to his. “You idiot!"

“How was I supposed to know this would happen?” Hardcase argues as he squirms to escape Kix’s grasp.

Kix closes his eyes and rubs his forehead with his free hand. “If you would've waited one rotation, I could have done an analysis!”

“Oops,” Hardcase says.

“Oops?” Kix scowls. “That’s all you have to say for yourself, oops? You’re a kriffing frog!”

Hardcase tries to roll his eyes, then spits out his tongue and whacks Kix’s nose to shut him up.

Kix scrunches his face in disgust, pulls Hardcase away, and places him back in Jesse’s hands.

“He’s your problem now,” Kix says as he wipes the slime off of his nose.

“Me?” Jesse protests as he looks between Hardcase and Kix. “What am I supposed to do with him?”

“I don’t know,” Kix says. “Figure it out.”

“Can someone please explain to me what is going on?” Dogma asks in confusion. “I’m so lost.”

“Hardcase drank some weird liquid and it turned him into a frog,” Fives recounts.

Dogma takes a moment to digest Fives’ words. “You’re joking, right?”

“Wait!” Tup interjects. “I’ve heard about this before.”

Everyone turns to look at Tup. “You have?” the group asks in unison.

“Yes!” Tup says. “I read it in a holo-book once.”

“Since when do you read?” Dogma asks with a raised eyebrow. “I’ve never seen you read before.”

Tup shoots Dogma an unamused look. “I did when I was a cadet.”

“So, what did the holo-book say?” Jesse eagerly asks.

Tup thinks for a moment. “There were a couple different stories. I can’t remember if this is the one where he’ll turn into a pumpkin at midnight or fall asleep and never wake up. Either way he needs a true love’s kiss to turn him back into a human.”

Silence fills the room.

“Jesse?” Hardcase asks while looking up at him.

“Yes,” Jesse answers while looking down at him.

“I don’t like squash,” Hardcase says.

Jesse sighs. “Then we’ll hope for the ‘sleep and never wake up’ one.”

Hardcase turns to face Tup. “So, if I get a girl to kiss me, I’ll turn back into a man?”

“According to the stories,” Tup explains. “Except it can’t be any random kiss. It has to be a true love’s kiss.”

“What’s the difference?” Hardcase asks.

Tup knits his eyebrows. “Not really sure to be honest.”

“Amateurs,” Fives says. “True love is when you love someone more than anyone else.”

“Oh,” Hardcase says. “I still don’t get it.”

Fives sighs. “You need to get a girl to fall in love with you.”

“In three days!” Tup interjects.

Fives nods his head. “Yes, in three day– Wait, what?”

“I think,” Tup says. “That might have been the seafoam story.”

“Can we focus on the frog story please?” Jesse says with exasperation.

“Does it really matter?” Hardcase asks. 

“Yes, it matters!” Jesse exclaims. “We don’t need you dying on us!”

The room goes silent at the words that everyone is thinking, but no one wants to say. As funny as the situation is, they really have no idea what will happen to him and it has them all worried. They're finally free men, but that freedom won’t mean much if one of them is missing from it. They can’t replace Hardcase and they don’t want to think about enjoying their new lives without him. Regardless of how dumb his action was, they all need to work together to try and save him.

“I think we should tell Rex,” Echo says. “Maybe he can–”

“Maybe he can do what?” Dogma interjects. “Look it up in a reg manual?”

Echo huffs. “I’m just trying to be helpful.”

“And we appreciate it,” Kix places a hand on Echo’s shoulder. “I agree with him. The next course of action is to tell Rex and then work together to turn him back to normal.”

As Kix finishes his sentence, Rex enters the barracks. The group of clones mumble amongst themselves on how they’ll break the news to their captain that one of his men is no longer a man, but a frog. It sounds like a joke, and maybe it is, but this is their reality at the moment and lying is not an option. They think about hiding Hardcase and telling Rex at a later time, but they can’t come up with a good excuse as to why he isn’t in the barracks and where he is.

“Morning,” Rex happily greets the clones with a smile.

Jesse hides Hardcase behind his back.

“Morning, captain,” Kix says.

Rex chuckles. “It’s just Rex now.”

“Oh, right,” Kix rubs his neck in embarrassment. “That’s gonna be an adjustment.”

“Are you boys ready to check out your new home?” Rex asks with excitement.

The room stays silent.

Rex furrows his brows. “Don’t everyone jump up at once…”

The room is still silent.

Rex puts his hands on his hips. “Alright, spit it out. What’s going on?”

“We have a slight problem,” Fives says.

Rex sighs. “What did you do this time?”

“It wasn’t Fives,” Echo answers quickly.

“Well, that’s a surprise,” Rex mumbles under his breath. “Then what is it?”

Jesse brings his hands around from his back to show Rex the frog.

Rex is confused. “Okay… It’s a frog. I don’t get it.”

“Hi Rex,” Hardcase says.

Rex jumps. “Kriffing stars! Did that thing just talk?”

“That thing,” Kix begins, “is Hardcase.”

“What?!” Rex asks, his mouth hung open in shock.

The group of clones explain to Rex the events leading up to this point. Rex listens intently, but maintains a bewildered expression on his face. He’s not surprised at Hardcase’s actions, but he’s not once in his life ever heard of a man changing into a frog. He wonders if the green bottle of liquid was some kind of magic potion. Unfortunately, Jesse can’t remember which planet it came from, so researching it is out. Rex ends up agreeing with the only other option, true love’s kiss.

“First things first,” Rex starts. “Let’s get moved out of the barracks and into our new apartments. Then we can strategize a plan of attack.”

The group of clones nod in agreement and disperse to grab their belongings. Jesse puts Hardcase down on his bunk while he grabs his things.

“Oh, and Hardcase,” Rex squats down to look Hardcase in his little frog eyes. “Don’t get squashed in the meantime.”

“Yes, sir,” Hardcase sighs.

Chapter 1

Masterlist

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[nekoannie-chan]

Insider

Title: “Insider”

Ship: (Not) Brock Rumlow X Jemma Simmons (Love).

Word count: 538 words.

Rating: Teen.

Square: N5 “Discovering someone’s secret identity”.

Summary: Jemma discovers a horrible secret.

Warnings/Tags: Skrull, betrayal, heartbroken.

A/N: This is my entry to @marvelrarepairbingo​  @marvelrarepairbang​ MarvelRarePair Bingo Round 2 2023. Annie MRP-066.

You can read it on Wattpad and Ao3 too.

@saiyanprincessswanie

My native language is Spanish so I wanna improve my writing skills in English if you notice any mistakes, please let me know and I will correct them.

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DISCLAIMER: I don't own Marvel's characters (unfortunately), except for the original characters and the story.

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Jemma Simmons at first thought she didn't have an exciting life; however, after a few missions, she changed her mind, not to mention the countless dangers she faces sometimes. But the weirdest thing that happened to her was when she had to go on a mission with the STRIKE team, not to mention that she was under Brock's protection.

After that mission, something that seemed completely implausible happened: Brock started visiting her until he asked her on a date, and even more unusually, Jemma fell in love with him.

However, everything changed one day when Jemma discovered something shocking. During a mission where they were investigating a secret Hydra base, Jemma noticed strange behavior in Brock. At first, she thought it was just her imagination, but when she found evidence that Brock was a Skrull, her world fell apart. However, the Skrull never realized that Jemma had discovered it.

Jemma was devastated. Not only had she lost trust in him, but now she also felt vulnerable and distrustful of all other S.H.I.E.L.D. agents. She didn't know who else could be a Skrull infiltrator, and that had her constantly on alert, not to mention that she didn't know if the real Brock was involved or not, nor had she obtained any information about the real Brock's information.

He tried to keep his discovery a secret while he investigated more about the Skrulls and their presence in S.H.I.E.L.D. He discovered that there was another agent who was also a Skrull but could not reveal his identity without hard evidence. Meanwhile, Jemma was forced to work alongside Brock, pretending she didn't know the truth and that the supposed relationship they had remained the same; she needed to have proof to unmask what was going on.

As time went on, Jemma realized that her love for Brock was just an illusion. She couldn't trust him anymore, and that gap in their relationship became insurmountable. Although they continued to work together, the love she once felt faded completely.

Finally, Jemma found the evidence she needed to expose the other Skrull agent. She presented the evidence to Nick Fury and Steve Rogers, and together they planned an operation to unmask the infiltrator and protect the organization from future threats.

The mission was a success; all the Skrulls were captured and taken into custody. Jemma could finally breathe a sigh of relief, but she also realized that she could never fully trust her teammates again.

Despite everything, Jemma pressed on. She continued to work for S.H.I.E.L.D., facing dangers and uncovering hidden secrets.

Two months later, Jemma was walking through the corridors of S.H.I.E.L.D. when she saw Brock. For a moment, everything they experienced flashed through her mind. Maybe... perhaps...

“Where have you been?" Jemma asked him. Brock turned around, raising an eyebrow. He didn't understand why that woman was talking to him.

“And why do you care where I've been? If you need any information, you can address it to my superiors," Brock answered haughtily.

Jemma smiled a little and shook her head. It seemed that this was the real Brock, and everything that happened weeks ago had been a simple illusion, something that only she would know happened and that she wouldn't tell anyone.

[drabbles-mc]

Latest & Greatest

Neil Fak & F!Reader

For @the-slumberparty's Bingo Challenge! Bingo square: family friend

Warnings: 18+, language, weed, pining if you squint

Word Count: 1.7k

A/N: I finished yet another rewatch yesterday and I just love Neil Fak so much. So here we are.

The Bear Taglist: @withmyteeth @garbinge @narcolini @hausofmamadas @ashlingnarcos @justreblogginfics (If you want to be added to any of my taglists, please let me know!)

It was impossible to hear much of anything with all of the chaos going on. There were at least ten different conversations going on, most of them being conducted by screaming instead of talking. On top of that there was the clattering of pots and pans, items being thrown and dropped, not to mention Donna’s slew of timers. The ringing was all so staggered that no one could keep them all straight, least of all Donna. It was bedlam, but they all knew it was coming, and year after year they all kept deciding to come back.

Because of all of that, Fak hadn’t heard his phone the first time it chimed when a text message came in. When the reminder chime rang, he was too deep in a yelling match with Richie to pay it any mind. It wasn’t until all of the people who were usually occupying his time were being occupied by someone or something else, that he took the time to check his phone.

“Still doing Christmas at the Berzatto’s?”

He smiled, completely tuning out the rest of it for a moment as he replied, “Fence in 5?”

The response was almost immediate. “Clock’s ticking”

You were already outside by the time he managed to escape the house. You were leaning against the fence that divided the back of your yard from the back of the Berzatto’s, arms rested on top of it. You couldn’t remember the exact year this became the meet-up spot for the two of you during the holidays, but it had stuck ever since. It gave you a breather from your own family, and it gave Neil a break from the Berzatto’s, not that he ever really seemed like he needed one.

Every year he was in a different flannel and sweater combo. You wondered if he and Theodore flipped for it each year to see who got to choose. Not that it really mattered much since they both ended up wearing the same thing regardless. One year you were going to have to weasel your way into going on that shopping trip with them.

“Can’t stay away, huh?” you said as he walked over to the fence.

He raised his eyebrows, laughing as he came to a stop in front of you. “You are the one who—”

“I meant from Donna’s,” you cut him off, chuckling as you nodded towards the house behind him.

“Oh.” He laughed and gave something of a shrug, not giving more of a response. There wasn’t really much more to say about it. He made himself busy, fumbling with the button on the pocket of his shirt. You didn’t say anything, just pulling your sweater tighter around you as you watched him pull a joint out of the small pocket. It was enough to send both of you into a fit of laughter.

“Saw Francie earlier when I went to the store,” you said with a chuckle. “Still on the no-fly list with Nat.”

Neil shook his head as he sparked his lighter, mumbling emphatically around the joint in his mouth. “Because of the fucking thing!”

You laughed. “Doesn’t help that she never said sorry.”

“Maybe she took your spot,” he said once he lit his joint.

“My spot?”

“On the no-fly list.” He took a drag before handing it to you.

You were laughing as you placed the joint between your lips. You inhaled deep before responding. “I’m on DeeDee's not Nat's.” You shook your head. “Pretty sure I’m fuckin'…permanently barred from entry.”

There was a beat of silence between you, like the conversation was about to take a heavy, serious turn. But instead you both broke down into fits of laughter. There was so much that could be said about Donna being the one that banned you from the holiday festivities, but you didn’t know if it said more about her as a person, or about you.

“You hated Christmas here anyway,” he finally said when the laughter had died down. Even as he said the words he still had that same goading smile on his face.

“Most sane people would.”

“You’re not sane.”

You handed the joint back to him with a roll of your eyes, “Sane-adjacent.” You paused, watching him pull another hit. “My mom asked about you, by the way.”

He chuckled and shook his head. “Bullshit. She did not.”

“She did!” You were laughing as he passed it back to you. “She asked how her favorite Fak was doing.”

“That does not mean—”

“And you’re my favorite Fak,” you kept going, talking over him the way you all always did with each other, “so by extension you’re also her favorite Fak.”

“What makes you so sure?”

You chuckled and shrugged. “’Cause I’m her favorite daughter.” A beat passed as you brought the joint back to your lips again. Your voice was slightly strained as you tried to talk without letting out your entire inhale at once. “So? What’s the latest and greatest?” You finally let go of the breath you’d been holding. “Catch me up on the last few months. What've I missed in the life of Neil Fak?”

He watched you for a second, staring at you as you stared down at the joint in your hand and tried to figure out how much more the two of you could even really get out of it. It was almost done, the rendezvous almost over.

“Got a new high score on Ball Breaker.”

You nodded, expression serious but the glint in your eyes giving away the humor of it all regardless. “Of course, of course.”

“The toilet at The Beef is still exploding every couple of weeks.”

“I think Richie breaks it purposely just so he can see you again.”

Another beat. Another second of you two staring at each other. Another shared fit of laughter at the sheer ridiculousness of that notion.

“How’s Ralph Squared?” you asked, trying to hold back just a little bit of your laughter over the fact that he named both his cats Ralph.

“Ralph are good! No escapes lately.” He tapped his knuckles against his head. “Knock on wood.”

Your smile was enough to nearly make your cheeks hurt. “Good.” You paused. “How are you?”

Fak shrugged and nodded. “I’m good.”

There was a look in his eyes that had you thinking maybe he wanted to say something more, but he didn’t do it. He wouldn’t. That’s not what these little meet-ups were for.  These were for both of you to get some fresh air and something similar to silence after spending hours in your respective war zones. Granted, Christmas at the Berzatto’s made your family Christmas seem like a walk in the goddamn park. But you still enjoyed the breather. Still enjoyed leaning on the opposite side of the fence from Neil and smoking together like you were still in high school.

“Please,” you joked, “spare me the details. Don’t get too carried away on me now—I only have so long out here.”

He rolled his eyes at you, face turning pink in a way that you both simultaneously and silently agreed to chalk up to the cold. He snatched what little was left of the smoke from your fingertips and finished it off, both of you chuckling quietly at the petulant child-like nature of it.

“You know how I am,” he finally said with a laugh. “You?”

You sighed, dropping your head so that your chin was resting on your forearms, forcing you to look slightly upwards at him. “Still waiting for you to get out of Chicago for a week and come visit me!”

“It’s so far.”

“It’s not that far.”

“It’s pretty far.”

You rolled your eyes but you were still smiling. It was the same debate every time you came home. You weren’t actually that upset about it—you knew who you were dealing with after all. The Fak's and the Berzatto's weren’t the types to just up and leave Chicago. Even if it was just for a week.

“I’m just saying,” you stood upright, adjusting the sleeves of your sweater, “I’ve got a pull-out couch with your name on it.”

“I don’t even get a real bed?”

“I hardly even get a real bed!” you shot back with a laugh.

“That does not make me want to come and visit you more. Just saying.”

You chuckled and shook your head. “I’ll work on that.”

Before either of you could try and say something else to keep the conversation going, the screaming in the Berzatto house reached a crescendo, followed by the sound of shattering glass. Neil tucked his chin down for a moment, gathering himself up before heading back in to see what the damage was this time.

“I’ll let you go take care of that,” you said with a small laugh as you crossed your arms over your chest, the cold finally starting to get to you.

“I’m sure Mikey's got it all under control,” he replied, getting both of you to laugh.

“Mm, I don’t know, sounds like it might be A Fak.”

He laughed. “It’s always A Fak that’s why they invite us.’

You shook your head, unable to stop the smile on your face. “Merry Christmas, Neil. Tell Theodore I said the same.”

“And Francie?”

You laughed. “Sure. You can tell her, too.” You took a step back towards your parents' house.

He gestured to the fence. “Same time next year?”

You had to laugh. “I’m here for the rest of the week—I better see you again before I go. Preferably not in, you know,” you gestured to the fence again, “fuckin' no-man's land.”

“Pfft,” he mocked deep confusion and offense, “Do I not come when you call? Do I not respond when you beckon? It’s what I do—I show up.”

You laughed. “I’m just saying.”

“I’m hearing, I’m hearing,” he said, smiling as he started to make his way back towards the house. “Merry Christmas!” he called back to you once you turned around and started to head back to your own house.

You laughed as you turned just long enough to shout back, “And Happy Fuckin' New Year!”

[medusapelagia]

Comment bingo - 5th line!

Andrew and I are so happy because we made another line and we are going to get a badge with our favorite colors! Courtesy of @feedthefandomfest (To be honest, Andy can't really see the colors but I told him those are my favorite and he agreed because he is a good friend!)

As always go give them some love to these fics if you want to! And keep commenting! A lot of my new entries are from The Harringrove Big Bang Collection! I still have to read most of them but they are all amazing!

Comment on a fic with under 50 hits: Dandelion Wishes by Carerra_os (@jellyfishloveletterghosts), rating T, WIP, Harringrove. This is a super sweet fic with child Billy and a very little magical Steve! And being part of the @bigbangharringrove it also has incredible art made by @raven-cl ! (now it has more than 50 hits like it deserves but I was lucky enough to be one of the first peole to read it!)

Theorize about world, character, and/or theme: and then you came by what_about_the_fish (@whataboutthefish), rating E, WIP, Harringrove. Another incredible fic from the @bigbangharringrove (so it has art as well! Made by LucaDoodleDoo) In a Dom/Sub universe Soft Dom Steve finds Billy, a Sub without a Dom that desperatly need one who took care of him like he deserves.

Epilogue comment: speculate on characters' futures: The Only Living Ghost In New York by beetlesandstars, rating M, complete, Steddie. A modern AU where Steve realizes that he is in love with Eddie... when Eddie gets married! It hurts so good!

Explain while the fic is better than canon: Let it happen by Romeren (@romeren), rating M, WIP, Harringrove, super sweet story written for bigbangharringrove and with beautiful art made by @lemonhitsu and @applewillowstone

Leave a long comment: Baby, I got sick this morning (heal me, darling)by TheRedHarlequin (@a-redharlequin) - rating: E, a lovely WIP with my favorite threesome: Steve, Billy and Eddie! Half sick fic and half magical AU! And it's not cheating if I put it again bacause it's a WIP and we finally got TO THE HOT CHAPTER and the world needs to know it! (Those are Andrew's the Octopus words, not mine, obviously...)

The other fics that helped me fill my bingo card under the cut!

comment that is at least half keysmash: start by pulling him out of the fire by pricklywhicket, rating: E, complete, Steddie. This fic is SO good, I'm just at the first chapter but Wayne's characterization is amazing! If you are a Wayne lover (as I am) you have to read it!

Comment on a fic posted today: All I want for Christams is you, by LexiRoseWrites. rating: Teen and Up, Steddie, Complete. A sweet Christmas omegaverse fic!

comment detailing emotional devastation: hold me, scold me , by lydiah135 - rating: E, complete, Steddie. This fic has everythig! Transmasc Professional Dom Eddie, emotional pain and wonderful OCs! This is the 4th part of the series, I recommend to start from the first one!

revisit fic you read in the past & leave a(nother) comment: If I stare too long by brawls (brawlite) and ToAStranger, rating: E, complete- The first Metalsandwich fic I have ever read. It's hot, and fluff, and cute and it has incredible art!

Holy trinity: kudos, comment and bookmark: Sea of waking dreams by Oonionchiver, rating: E - Steddie, WIP. As everything that Azriel writes is intriguing, hot and supernatural!

Unhinged liveblogging reaction: Everybody wants you - Whataboutthefish - rating: E, complete - Harringrove. A sexy and painful song fic. It hurts so good!

Highlight & explains 3 favorite quotes: Baby, I got sick this morning (heal me, darling)by TheRedHarlequin - rating: E, a lovely WIP with my favorite threesome: Steve, Billy and Eddie! Half sick fic and half magical AU!

Find a comment you agree with & replay explaining why: The Long Night, by - Nox_Wiked - rating:E, another threesome Steve, Billy and Eddie and another WIP half survival and half unconventional omega fic!

Comment on a every chapter of a multichapter fic: Just add water by Just_my_latest_hyperfixation ( @just-my-latest-hyperfixation) -rating: E, complete, a super sweet Mermaid AU Steddie fic!

Comment on a WIP: To B, With Love by Triddlegrl (@fizzigigsimmer - rating: E, WIP an incredible Harringrove Omegaverse Western AU!

Comment on a fic posted at least 3 years ago: i think of you (i want you, too) i'd fall for you by To A Stranger - rating: E, complete, a Harringrove Criminal AU with hurt/comfort!

Leave a comment that is half emoji: what's mine is yours (to leave or take) by througheden - rating: M, complete, a Steddie sugary sweet AU with baker Eddie and nurse Steve and a lot of cakes!

Comment of a fic post in the last three days: Baby, It's Cold Outside by StitchedFox - Rating:M - complete, a Steddie Christmas fic about traditions and compromises!

promote a fic on Tumblr and/or Discord & tell the author so: All those fics!

[critter-genfic-events]

Fights: A Critical Role Genfic Rec List

This week, we have nine (nein!) fics that feature fighting - the aftermath of a battle, fight clubs, verbal fighting, and fighting crime, to name a few. Check them out under the cut, and remember to kudos and comment!

stop making me like you by baehj2915 (2684,Not Rated) Warnings: None Pairings: Kaylie & Scanlan Shorthalt

Scanlan saves Kaylie from a barfight. Complicated feelings ensue

Reccer says: It allows Scanlan to try to be a good dad, in the only way he knows how - and also for both of them to be kind of a mess.

all her wounds in front by StarryCleric (4274,General) Warnings: None Pairings: Beauregard Lionett & Yasha Nydoorin

After freeing herself from Obann, Yasha joins a fight club to work through her problems

Reccer says: Great action descriptions, and also amazing work with getting into Yasha's psyche.

Liquid Courage by soyybeanboy (512,Teen) Warnings: none Pairings: Veth Brenatto & Essek Thelyss

Essek is not built for battle. He's in the middle of a fight anyway.

Reccer says: It's short, funny, and has the exact same feeling as Essek bringing up his tiny fists to fight in canon.

Community Service by starkraving (5908,Teen) Warnings: Pairings: Essek Thelyss & Reani

Reani and Essek fight crime (whether Essek likes it or not)

Reccer says: Crimefighting is a type of fighting, and I have a soft spot for odd buddy cop pairups. Plus, the fic is one of my favorite comfort reads, it's funny but also allows Reani to be deeply creepy and weird.

a bone from the wall of house of myths by grayintogreen (10827,Teen) Warnings: None Pairings:

A Tombtakers caper fic, involving a spooky house and plenty of ghosts.

Reccer says: If you like the idea of the Tombtakers in their element (fighting ghosts and monsters), this fic is for you.

Especially the Lies by Operafloozy (7800,Teen) Warnings: None Pairings: Astrid Beck & Beauregard Lionett

After the finale, Beau tries to get the truth from Astrid.

Reccer says: The verbal sparring between Astrid and Beau is top notch, with both striking hits and neither being completely in the right.

i have been praying to the god of giving up by Princex_N (2252,General) Warnings: None Pairings: Veth Brenatto & Caleb Widogast

Caleb reflects after an argument, early in campaign 2

Reccer says: It perfectly captures where early campaign Caleb was at

watch my back, and keep the blade by jadeandquartz (3553,General) Warnings: Graphic Depictions of Violence, Major Character Death Pairings: Orym & Imogen Temult

Orym and Imogen go after Otohan on their own in a roaring rampage of revenge.

Reccer says: "Thull took our hearts from us, so let's rip hers out" lives in my head rent free and for that line alone, this fic is absolutely amazing. It's also just another brilliant look into what could have happened if the fight with Paragon's Call had gone worse.

Prowl by resonant_aura (5241,Teen) Warnings: graphic depictions of violence Pairings: None

Pike takes care of some business (by being a MONSTAH) while rebuilding Sarenrae's temple

Reccer says: A wonderful character study that also allows Pike to be a badass in battle

If you liked this rec list, follow along for more! We'll be posting a new list with a new theme each Monday. Want to make your own recs? Check out the rules, and then use the form to submit!

Next week, we're featuring Modern AU's, followed by some cuddling, FCG, and Forgiveness (just what you need after a fight).

If you're looking for some more, there's been some new entries in the critter genfic bingo tag! Or you can request your own card and join in on the fun!

[tonystarchive]

Perilous Waters (Part I of II)

Read on ao3

"Tony should have expected Peter’s eyed to be closed but the sight still caused knots to form in his stomach. His hands trembled as he shook Peter’s still form. 'Peter. Peter, wake up. Eyes open, kid.'

The complete silence in response from the usually animated boy was enough for bile to rise in Tony’s throat. He looked around, trying to make sense of what had happened. That’s when his eyes caught the slightest trail of smoke rising from the lab entry access panel."

Following the events of Avengers: Endgame, Peter Parker temporarily moves into the Stark eco-compound to help Tony Stark in his recovery from the snap. The pair is left alone in the cabin for the first time when a flooded lab and a fried security system lead to a life-or-death situation.

Peter Parker rummaged through the fridge, searching for ingredients that he might be familiar enough with to use for putting together a meal. Besides some whole wheat sandwich bread he found in the back of the pantry, presumably for Morgan’s school lunches, he wasn’t having much luck. 

If he could just find some… bingo. Behind a large glass bottle of Pepper’s favorite brand of Kombucha, Peter found a plastic container of chicken salad, most likely from some high-end health grocery store.

Peter grabbed the container, grinning to himself. With Pepper and Morgan out on a mommy-daughter date, he was in charge of lunch for himself and Tony. Luckily for his mentor, Peter happened to be an expert sandwich maker. 

“You sure you don’t need any help in there, kid?” Tony’s voice rang out from the living room couch.

Peter’s head popped out from behind the refrigerator door, his arms full of various toppings from the produce drawer. 

“I fight crime for a living, Mr. Stark. I think I can handle making lunch on my own,” he rolled his eyes playfully, “Have you no faith in me?”

Tony looked over the rim of his glasses, “Hey, last I checked that list of spider traits didn’t include culinary expertise. Plus, I wouldn’t exactly call wheatgrass juice and quinoa a wide range of ingredients.” 

Peter laughed, using his foot to shut the refrigerator door while he set out the food items. “That’s definitely not how you pronounce quinoa, but don’t you worry. I have plenty of experience feeding toddlers, just ask Morgan.” 

Tony pointed a finger in feigned warning, “Don’t make me come over there, Parker. Just because I’m on forced bed rest doesn’t mean I can’t still take you out.” 

Peter’s eyes widened, playing into the empty threat, “Don’t you dare. It’s my first time on babysitting duty, Pepper would never let me hear the end of it.” 

He threw two slices of bread into the toaster while Tony grumbled something about Pepper not being the boss of him under his breath. Peter laughed, knowing full well that they both knew that was untrue. 

He wasn’t entirely joking about his nervousness, though. Peter had been staying with the Starks at the eco-compound since Tony got back from the medical facility in Wakanda two weeks ago and this was the first time the pair had been left alone in the house. 

Pepper had taken a temporary leave from her SI duties to take care of Tony full-time while he recovered from his injuries following the snap. It had been a long and grueling few months, but Peter couldn’t be more relieved that his mentor was finally out of the woods. 

Even so, Peter couldn’t help but be a little overprotective of the man he’d come to view as a father. They’d all come much too close for comfort to losing Tony forever and the reality of that fact still loomed heavily over Peter. 

After returning from the Blip to find that he’d already lost five years with his mentor, he didn’t want to risk losing another second. Which is why Peter was more than happy to stay with the Starks as long as they’d have him. 

Of course, Peter wanted to help Pepper in any way that he could, but a larger part of him still needed the physical closeness to Tony to reassure him that he really was okay. He just wanted to be around the man.

Peter scooped a heaping pile of chicken salad onto the bed of lettuce on Tony’s sandwich before adding a slice of tomato and the top slice of toasted bread. He cut the sandwich into triangles and poured a glass of green juice that Pepper insisted on Tony drinking with every meal, his nose scrunching up at the smell. 

He loaded the food onto the wooden dinner tray and made his way over to Tony, making a dramatic display of placing the meal on the man’s lap. “Your lunch is served.” 

Tony grinned, “Would ya look at that? Not bad, kid. You even got the slime juice and everything.” Peter laughed, turning to the kitchen to grab his own plate before returning to sit crisscrossed next to Tony on the couch. 

The pair ate in comfortable silence, happy to enjoy each other’s presence. Once Tony finished his sandwich, he placed his plate on the coffee table and leaned back. 

“You know, since I’ve finally got you all to myself, there are some upgrades to your suit I’ve been brainstorming. Maybe we can on ‘em together–”

Peter’s eyes widened with excitement, and he couldn’t help cutting in, “Are you kidding? Yes , please. When did you even have time to do that? Are you sneaking off to the lab in the middle of the night?” 

Tony laughed, swatting Peter’s arm playfully. “No, genius. I happen to have a Starkpad for those kinds of things. And a lot of spare time on my hands,” he gestured over his reclined form, “if you haven’t been able to tell.” 

Peter tried to hide his genuine relief with a chuckle. If he was being honest, the thought of Tony sneaking around in the night and getting himself hurt without anyone around to help him sent a chill down Peter’s spine. 

Tony shot him a curious look, “So are you gonna go get my tablet, or should giving it legs be my next project?” 

Peter laughed, “Watch it, old man. Is it in your room?” Tony nodded, “Should be. Chop chop, kid. I’m not paying you the big bucks for nothing.” 

Peter launched himself off of the couch, shaking his head in amusement, “You mean this is what you pay me nothing for .” He made his way down the hall to the master bedroom. 

Though when he reached Tony’s bedside table, the tablet was nowhere to be found. Peter checked around the room to be sure he wasn’t missing it before calling out, “It’s not here!”

Tony replied, “Might be charging in the lab, then.” 

Peter turned on his heels and exited the room, making his way to the door to the basement stairs. He’d only seen Tony’s new lab a handful of times when grabbing odds and ends that Tony needed back at the facility. Though every time, he was met with a bittersweet nostalgia of the days his mentor and he would spend hours on end tinkering around in the Stark Tower lab. 

Peter secretly hoped that someday Tony would suggest a lab day in the new house. When he was back to his normal self, of course. In the meantime, Peter was content just lounging around with the man. As long as Tony was happy and healthy, it didn’t really matter to Peter what they did. 

Having made it to the bottom of the stairs, Peter was appalled to find a pool of water at his feet. His brows furrowed in confusion, “What the…”

Deciding to investigate the source of the liquid, Peter raised his hand to the lab access panel. Though the minute his palm came in contact with the screen, his entire body lit up in bright hot fiery pain.

The sensation was all-consuming, whiting out Peter’s vision as he briefly registered that it must be what being burned alive felt like. Huh. 

Peter was paralyzed, limbs rigid and lips unable to even cry out in his agony. Darkness quickly came to claim his consciousness, and Peter instantly welcomed the relief. 

Ten minutes passed and a whole glass of green juice was downed when Tony started getting impatient. He used his good arm to help sit up and muttered to himself, “What the hell is taking that kid so long…”

Tony knew he shouldn’t be getting up without a chaperone but he knew Peter wouldn’t be able to hear him calling from upstairs inside the soundproof walls of the lab. And for crying out loud, a man should be able to walk down the stairs of his own house. 

Tony let out a grunt as he pushed himself off the couch, his knees clicking in protest. “The things I do for you kid…gonna break my back one of these days.” 

Looking back, Tony should have decided to get off his ass a lot earlier and gone down to get the damn tablet himself. He’d never forgive himself for that mistake. 

Opening the door to the basement, Tony peered down the staircase to a sight that made his blood run cold. Peter’s foot was peeking out from behind the wall. 

Tony felt himself go into autopilot as he gripped the railing and made his way down one step at a time as fast as his weak body would allow him, Peter’s name at the tip of his tongue the entire way. 

He resisted the urge to call out to the boy, as he didn’t think he could handle it if he didn’t receive a reply. His eyes remained locked on Peter’s completely unmoving foot until the rest of his body came into view and the air left Tony’s lungs.

Peter wasn’t moving. Peter was facedown in a puddle of liquid on the floor. He wasn’t moving. Tony fell to his knees beside him, hands useless at his sides as he urged his body to do something . 

He inhaled sharply and flipped Peter over by his shoulder. He was wasting time . He needed to do something. He needed to fix this.

Tony should have expected Peter’s eyed to be closed but the sight still caused knots to form in his stomach. His hands trembled as he shook Peter’s still form. “Peter. Peter, wake up. Eyes open, kid.”

The complete silence in response from the usually animated boy was enough for bile to rise in Tony’s throat. He looked around, trying to make sense of what had happened. That’s when his eyes caught the slightest trail of smoke rising from the lab entry access panel. 

Electrocution. He’s in shock. Check his vitals. Check his breathing. Tony’s mind screamed at him as he quickly lowered his head to Peter’s, waiting for the rhythmic puff of air to hit his cheek. His hand landed on Peter’s neck, fingers searching for the pulse point. 

He whispered to the boy, pleading, “Come on. Come on. Come on. You’re alright. Give me something here, Pete.” Without registering his actions, Tony gripped one of Peter’s hands in his own. 

Seconds passed by like an eternity until… there . Peter’s heartbeat was thready but it was there and Tony could have cried with relief as a small puff of air brushed his cheek. 

Peter was alive. Tony could work with alive.

“Okay, buddy. There we go. You’re okay. Can you hear me? Can you squeeze my hand for me, kiddo?” Tony gripped Peter’s limp hand like it was his lifeline as we waited for any indication that the kid was with him. 

His chest deflated when he received nothing in response. Peter needed medical attention yesterday . Pursing his lips, Tony wracked his brain for the first aid procedures for someone in shock. 

Call 911. Elevate his legs. Keep him warm. Tony felt for his phone in the pockets of his pajama pants only to come up empty. “Damn it!” He’d left it upstairs. “FRI? You there?” 

Silence. All systems must have been down. Judging from the expanding puddle of water on the floor, the whole lab must have flooded during the storm the previous night. 

Tony cursed under his breath. He’d have to make the trek back up the stairs and risk leaving Peter unaccompanied. As much as the thought terrified him, Tony knew he didn’t have to medical knowledge or resources to give Peter the help he needed right now. 

His eyes scanned Peter’s still form, reassessing the situation as he went over his options in his head. Quickly, he brushed his hand through the boy’s curls to calm his racing heart.

“Okay, Pete. Let’s get you comfortable and then I’m going to get some help.” Tony moved behind Peter to lift the boy from under his armpits. He grunted while he shifted Peter’s body closer to the staircase so that he could elevate Peter’s legs on the steps. 

The simple task was much too difficult for a man who used to be able to carry triple Peter’s weight with no problem. Tony hated how useless his body was now. 

If a father couldn’t even carry his son in a time like this, what good was he?

Pushing the self-deprecating thoughts aside, Tony busied himself with talking to Peter as he arranged the boy’s legs propped up at an angle against the stairs. 

“There we go. That’s much better, huh? Get the blood pumping to that genius head of yours.” 

Peter most likely couldn’t hear a word Tony said, but the man’s flaring paternal instinct made it impossible to refrain from at least trying to offer some comfort to his kid. 

Tony had to let him know that he was there, and that he would never let anything bad happen to Peter. Though a nagging voice in the back of his mind kept telling him that he already had . 

Finally, Tony roughly pulled his sweatshirt off his back, leaving him in the white T-shirt he slept in the night before. He folded up the material and gently lifted Peter’s head to place it underneath. 

That was all Tony could do for him now. What Peter really needed from medical attention from a professional. Staying by the boy’s side any longer would only be stalling though Tony could hardly bare leaving Peter when he was so vulnerable. 

Having no other choice and refusing to waste any more time, Tony squeezed Peter’s hand. He blinked back tears as he took in the boy’s slack face and pale lips. 

“I’m gonna get help now okay? Don’t do anything stupid while I’m gone, you hear me?” Tony’s voice was choked up with emotion, “I’ve got you, Pete. Dad’s got you.” 

Tony raised the joined hands to his lips and placed a quick kiss on the back of Peter’s wrist. It was time to go. 

Making the journey back up the staircase was much harder with the knowledge of what Tony was leaving behind. But at the same time, he had a fierce determination to make it to the top in order to reach his phone. 

Tony’s knuckles were white as he clutched the railing for support in hoisting himself up each step. A burning sensation had spread across his chest as his lungs protested against the exertion. 

For a moment, Tony wondered if he had even recovered at all since the snap. His body might have looked better physically as the angry burn scars healed, but he was clearly not in good shape if we could barely manage to do anything other than lounge on the couch all day. He was useless . 

By the top step, dots had begun to cloud Tony’s vision as beads of sweat trickled down his neck and back. He collapsed to his knees on the floor, gulping in air through his mouth to steady himself. The living room was feet away. He couldn’t konk out now. 

Resorting to crawling the rest of the way, Tony finally made it to the coffee table, his entire body buzzing. He was just able to grab his phone before sprawling out on the carpet in defeat. Call Helen. Call Helen Cho. 

Clumsily, Tony was able to unlock the device with shaking hands. He was eternally grateful that he had made Helen an emergency contact a few months after meeting Peter for situations like this. Though he never imagined he’d have to call her for an incident that wasn’t Spider-Man-related. 

As the woman’s smooth voice rang out after the second ring, Tony exhaled deeply with relief. “Tony. It’s been a while. How is recovery treating you?”

Tony couldn’t get the words out fast enough, struggling to form a sentence with his dry tongue. “Pete’s– Peter. He needs help. Now.”

Helen’s tone immediately turned serious, having grown quite fond of the superhuman teenager over the years. “What happened, Tony? I’m on my way. He’s staying with you at the compound, correct?”

Tony’s eyes were closed as he lay on the floor with the phone pressed to his cheek. “Yes. He was electrocuted. The lab–I guess the lab was flooded and he was down there getting something for me and he’s–he’s not waking up. I think–please just hurry. He needs help.”

Tony could only make out a few of Helen’s words amidst the thundering of his racing heartbeat in his ears. “Tony, breathe. –coming. –Pepper? You need–, Tony. –ten minutes.” 

Helen was coming. Help was on its way. Tony could finally breathe again. The phone fell from his cheek as his hand went limp from exhaustion. 

Tony focused on the rapid rise and fall of his chest as he pictured Peter alone on the basement floor. He prayed the boy’s heart was still beating. He couldn’t accept anything else. Hang on, Pete. Help is coming. Hang on. 

[trillscienceofficer]

harry and b'elanna for the ship bingo? o:

ANOTHER VERY GOOD ONE

I finally check the 'they're fucking the same guy' box and I don't even get bingo smdh

I LOVE THEM... I can take either friendship or romance when it comes to Harry and B'Elanna but I 100% believe they've fucked at least once. There's a post that says 'they're het TO YOU, I know they're both bisexual' and that encapsulates the way I see Harry and B'Elanna together very well.

I love the way they meet in “Caretaker” and how that just solidifies in this friendship were they can both be their best (worst?) mad scientist selves. They're just so in sync, practically from the start! I love that Harry finds nothing wrong with B'Elanna's ideas and objections, and that his respect for her comes through very clearly so that B'Elanna has no issue with trusting Harry and that if he has a different perspective from her own he's not objecting to B'Elanna herself.

As @clementine-kesh has pointed out multiple times, it's interesting that these two people became fast friends because their backgrounds could not be more different. Harry is the gifted kid destined for great things, whose family always had his back; B'Elanna's life is a succession of adults and authority figures telling her that there is something wrong with her and that she'll never be able to fit in anywhere, which has destroyed her sense of identity almost completely. It's fun that they're foils this way but the whole 'being 70 years away from getting back home' levels the field and allows them to form such a loving connection.

Of course this not to say that their differences don't come through sometimes. Harry seems to have trouble understanding B'Elanna's stubborn efforts in trying to 'make things right' (think of “Prototype” and “Muse”), as he perceives them as futile while B'Elanna stakes a lot of her self-worth on being able to correct what she finds wrong in the world. Conversely B'Elanna makes fun of Harry still holding out hopes that she considers naive, though in reality I think it's just because those hopes were the same she used to have and can't bear to be reminded of. I love when these little jagged edges come out in a friendship that is generally unproblematic.

It makes me INSANE that season 3 gave them both essentially the same plotline with Tom, ie they almost lost control of themselves entirely and hurt Tom in the process. That's so fucked up and they never talked about it! Nevermind the fact that I think them discussing it could have lessened the racist framing of “Blood Fever” (Harry is obviously not Klingon and yet he lost control as well when push came to shove, what does this say about being human?), but I also would love to make it more fucked up and have them hook up post-“Blood Fever” for maximum angst potential as I've talked about here.

Angst aside I think this is the kind of really loving, devoted relationship I wish both B'Elanna and Harry had been allowed to have (more) on the show. Even in a throuple with Tom I consider the Harry/B'Elanna side to be of extreme importance and value, to the point that without it I don't think Harry/Tom/B'Elanna would hold much interest to me, whoops

[here are the other ship bingo meme entries]

[quiobibingo]

Rules & Info

The relationship between Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan must be the focus of the fanwork, and that relationship can be either gen or romantic.

The fanwork must be a new piece of work: a. New work posted to a pre-existing series (i.e. a part 2, not a chapter 2) is allowed. b. New chapter posted to a pre-existing fic/WIP (i.e. chapter 1 was already posted prior to cards going out) is not allowed.

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Label, rate, and tag your fills accordingly. Tag your Tumblr posts sharing your entries and completed bingos for us to reblog appropriately. Clearly indicate in your posts whether the entry is NSFW and if any content notes or trigger warnings apply. a. If using Tumblr to post your entries, the content of your written entries must be below a cut, and all NSFW or triggering content must be below a cut.  

One new entry can fulfill multiple prompts. a. Example 1: a 3-part comic and each part fills a different prompt. b. Example 2: you write a 4 chapter fic and each chapter is dedicated to a different prompt while still being one complete story.

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Tag #quiobibingo and @quiobibingo to be reblogged, and add your entry to the AO3 collection.

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Only completed entries count as fills (we will reblog all tagged works but if your fill is incomplete at the time we close the bingo, we may remove it from the AO3 collection).

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[heaven-s-black-box]

I need him- Mikayuu

Return to File- Event Masterlist

Recovery date: May 5th, 2020

Description: Hanahaki AU

Notes: This is an entry from the Mikayuu 2020 bingo records. Click here for the next entry.

Word count: 761

Back to directory

There was a reason the hanahaki disease was only a legend, to be afflicted with the disease you needed to be completely in love with the person. It had to be the purest form of love. This fact was unknown though so people believed that it simply didn’t exist. After all, this form of love was so rare that there were under one hundred cases of the disease. Doctors always tried to explain away the deaths, but there were still those who knew the truth. Those people spread the rumors, and thus the legend of the hanahaki disease was born.

Growing up, Yuu had been a fan of manga, more specifically romance manga. Despite being quite cynical, he still had a little hope that he could find love. The other orphans pretended not to notice when their manga vanished for a day or so. In fact for christmas, they left him an anonymous gift of a short manga series. He didn’t know who sent it, so he didn’t know who knew. He just accepted it and nothing was said on the matter.

This series had a male protagonist who was in love with his neighbor. It was your usual highschool romance with the addition of the hanahaki disease. Unlike most hanahaki stories, the boy had it. The final chapter was the girl going through his room after the disease killed him, and finding a confession letter. The last panel was her reaching up and touching a scar on her neck. It turned out that she had had the disease in middle school and had gotten the surgery to end it. He had let the disease kill him, unwilling to let his love for her go.

A hypothetical conversation with Mika came from this ending. What would you do if you had the disease? Mika said he’d confess to whoever it was, if they didn’t return his feelings he’d get the surgery. Yuu brought up what happened to the girl as a possible scenario. Mika said if it was really meant to be, he was sure his feelings would return. After all, true love trumps all. Yuu’s response was a little more cynical, he’d just get the surgery. The disease was born of unrequited love, what was the point of going through rejection. In response, Mika pointed out that the person only had to think it was unrequited. 

Now, leaning over the toilet bowl in the Shinoa squad dorms, he hoped Mika was right. He continued to spit out flower petals and blood. Maybe Mika was right, maybe he just had to confess and it would all go away. Just like those manga. Either way, he didn’t think he’d be able to get the surgery. 

“Yuu,” he heard Yoichi from the other side of the door, “are you okay? You’ve been there for awhile.”

“I’m-” he was cut off by a fit of coughs.

“Yuu?” He heard the door knob turn.

“No don-” Too late.

Standing in the open door way was Yoichi, and behind him was the rest of the squad. How long had he been in here that the whole squad was worried? He looked at them in terror for a few seconds before he turned back and coughed up more petals. Shinoa must have pushed through because he saw her kneel next to him and start patting his back. He heard footsteps leave then come back and Kimizuki offered him a cup of water. His coughing began to subside and he sat back. Mitsuba leaned over him to look into the toilet.

“Red spider lilies.”

“Huh?” Yuu asked, wiping the forming tears from his eyes.

“You’re coughing up red spider lilies… They represent a final goodbye.”

Everyone fell silent. They were crammed into the small bathroom, Kimizuki was leaning against the sink, Yuu was sitting in front of the toilet with Shinoa and Yoichi on either side, and Mitsuba was behind him. None of them knew what to do. What does one do when a supposide legend comes to life? Dealing with an apocalypse was one thing. Fighting with weapons that had demons trapped inside them? Just another day for them. Finding out that one of your teammates is a seraph? A little weird but eh. This was crazy though.

“I need to see Mika,” Yuu finally broke the silence. He didn’t have a plan yet, but he figured he’d just confess. If it worked in the mangas, it should work here, right? Either way, he hopped that Mika was right, and Yuu only thought his love was unrequited. 

[mauannacreates]

Fluff Monthly April

Hi guys, this is my April fluff monthly made by @flufftober.

I had fun writing this, and it's a bit different to other months. Doing a journal entry before getting to the story and also doing fluff with multiple characters. 🙃 And I guess completing some bingo spaces twice over...?

Anyways, enjoy reading this month's story.

------

April 2nd

Dear Diary

So today, something unexpected happened. We were supposed to hold a scavenger hunt for Braedon. And I thought, since it’s a week until Easter, Magnus and I thought of revealing what’s happening next week as part of it. But to my surprise, he took it really badly. 

And well, let’s say I got Jules involved, and they weren’t pleased either! They took me to Braedon’s room and tried to sort things out, but I think it frustrated him more.

I tried to intervene and… Well, he said he was still upset about what happened a couple months ago. About me lying to him. 

So, as he told us to leave. And Jules mentioned they were going to do the scavenger hunt with me… And eat all the salmon cakes that Braedon likes while they’re at it. 

I was hesitant, but Jules said the plan might work, as they said Braedon wouldn’t give up on salmon cakes, me and them. 

So, we’ll see how that turns out. I really hope it works.  

Five days later…

“Hey Lulu!” Jules’s grins as their face glows, waving hi to her. She couldn’t help but wave and give her a smile back as they ran closer to her. Their green hair sways along before they reach towards her and give her a quick hug. “It’s so nice it’s finally easter.” They say as they touch her shoulders with a mischievous glint in their eyes. “We can both finally annoy the hell out of Braedon!” Lucie starts to laugh along with Jules’s enthusiasm. As much as she doesn’t like the prospect of annoying Braedon, somehow, they made it like the activity’s fun to do. And they are laughing too. 

She glances at the simple white but neat t-shirt with their black and white pendant on around their neck. Dark gray skinny jeans hug through their legs with black shoes but surprisingly, there is no sign of leather around them today.  

“You’re not wearing your jacket today?” Lucie asks. They looked surprised for a second. But then, they wore a smaller smile. 

“No, not for today. It doesn’t suit the theme.” They pause, looking to the side. “And a leather jacket on a hot day…? No thank you.” 

She smiles, but the air around them didn’t feel burning to touch, but neither did it feel the coolest either. Lucie tilts her head “But, it’s not hot today, is it…?”

They put their arms off her, and glance around the furnished corridors before they glimpse back at her. “No, not exactly. But, volcanoes are hot y’know.”  

“And the room is colder than a volcano, isn’t it?” Lucie asks. “Wouldn’t it mean that-”

“Let’s just say I don’t need the jacket, ‘kay?” Jules’s smile tenses until Lucie nods. But then they lean back and brush their hands on their shirt before glimpsing at her. Lucie gives a brief smile back. 

“It suits you.” Lucie says. Jules flickers up to her gaze, and Jules’s eyes widen. 

“What? Me with…?” They stare as if they had lost their trace of thought.

“Without it. It’s nice.” She smiles, and to her surprise, their face glows crimson. Jules breathes out heavy before a grin trails their face. 

“Anyway, let’s go. We gotta find it before Brae Brae does.” She nods. That’s right, for the salmon cakes. They travel through the dark red corridors and when they turn towards the stairs, Lucie glances at Jules. 

“So… Where are we going?” 

“The kitchen.” 

Lucie’s eyes widens. “But wait, isn’t the kitchen downstairs…?” They grasp on the wooden railing, as they turn towards Lucie. “There’s another one upstairs.” What… Another one upstairs? What could they be talking…?

A small pink hand comes to her view, and when she glimpses up, a small smile trickles their face. “Come, I’ll show you.” She glimpses at their hand before she touched their smooth hands. They grasp their other hand on the railing as they climb up. “Actually I wouldn’t technically call it a kitchen, but…” When they climb the set of stairs, Lucie glances at the space around them. 

They are right. It’s like a kitchen, but… It’s not?

“King Magnus set some huge dining area with a kitchen to use, just for today.” They took a few steps as Lucie drops their hand. “And they have salmon cakes hiding around the room...  You wanna try?” Lucie nods. 

Another person marches up the stairs from the distance. A big orange bear with those familiar sharp eyes and… Braedon!? Lucie takes a glimpse at Jules as they cooly smile at him. 

“Hey Brae Brae. What ya doing up here?” Jules coos. As Braedon walks past. He turns around and his cerulean eyes stare hard at them. 

“You know what I’m doing here. Don’t try playing cute with me.” Braedon replies. 

Their smile wilters for a bit. “Well… I look forward to beating you on the scavenger hunt today.” 

“Sure.” And before he walks past, Jules squeals as his big hands scrub through their green hair and he walks towards the table. They blow a strand off their face, but it comes back down. 

“Oh, we’ll beat him.” Jules says. Lucie giggles until they fix the strand on their face.   

 They walk towards the table, to meet with Braedon and a brown rabbit. Fluffier than other rabbit people she’s seen, but not the fluffiest either. Their dark brown eyes glances at them with appreciation as they platted their light purple sleeves on the side and clasps their hands together. 

“Hi all, nice to see you all coming for the world’s royal scavenger hunt!” The rabbit says in a playful voice when Braedon bumps their arm. 

“Val. It’s not the world's Royal scavenger hunt.” Braedon says. 

“Brae Brae, I’m setting the mood here. Hush hush.” They smile at him and chuckles as they put their hand up as an additional reminder. Braedon crosses his arms with a slight smile, flickering between Jules and Lucie before looking back at his sibling. 

“Anyway! Let me tell you guys the rules! First, The aim of this is for bonding, not for fighting.” They take a glimpse at Braedon. “I’m looking at you Brae Brae.”

“Hey! What!?” Braedon starts and everyone else lets out a chuckle before Val smiles. 

“Next, you need to find as many of these salmon cakes as you can.” They held out a golden patty. The ones that Braedon likes. He is glancing at it with his eyes narrowing at it. 

“And finally, have fun!” Val goes to the side of the wall and waves at them. Lucie waves back. 

“Oh, I am beating you guys. Whether it’s friendly or not.” Braedon says.

“Careful Brae Brae, you might break rule number one; to not fight. And then we’d win.” Jules gives such a smile that they are messing with him. But Braedon narrows his eyes as he steps closer to Jules, leaning towards them with a smirk riding his muzzle.  

“Are you sure about that?”

“Yeah, I’m sure.” They say with an amused smile on their face. “Your sibling’s keeping a close eye on you.” He glances at them before he leans away from them. 

“Ok, be prepared to feast on some of the salmon cakes when you lose. I’m sure you’ll both love it. Especially you, Luce.” He laughs as he walks to the end of the room.

Lucie shivers. She would not like that! 

When she glimpses to Jules and their mouth tightens as their eyes narrows, watching Braedon. 

“Uhh, Jules?” Their ears flings up, jerking towards Lucie, and they laugh as they put their hand on the side of their face. 

“Sorry Lulu, got caught up on something.” Jules says. “Anyway, lemme tell you something. I asked Val to help us win.” They whisper, but Lucie’s eyes shoots open. 

“You what…?!” Lucie squeals, trying to whisper, but a bit of laughter escapes her. 

“Bear with me Lu, bear with me!” a smile brightens their face as they laugh too. “Cause since Braedon can practically sniff them out, I asked them for a few hints.” 

“Oh my god…” Lucie looks down, is this even a good idea? She glimpses back at them, with a smile tensing her face. “Isn’t this against the rules?!” 

“No. No rules state it. As long as you’re nice and find the salmon cakes, it’s fine!” Jules chuckles as they lean towards her. “And I double checked with Val for you. They said it’s ok.”  

Lucie glimpses behind to see Val on the side of the wall, looking around the area, then their gaze lingers to Lucie and they give her a wide smile. 

She glimpses back at Jules. “Does… Does that mean we’re partners?” 

And their face flushes as their eyes goes wide.

“Oh my god, I-I didn’t mean it like that!” Lucie laughs, Oh why did she say this!? “I mean…” She couldn’t get the words out and she breathes, “I mean for the scavenger hunt!” Oh, did she actually offend them? Why are they looking at her like that!? “I’m so sorry it was such a strange question,” she gives an unsteady laugh. “I didn’t mean it like that! And-” 

“Lucie.” Jules says. She glances at them with jittery silence filling the air. But then they give such a sweet smile, her heart skips a beat. “It’s ok Lulu. I’ll be your partner for this time round.”

She couldn’t help but smile at them as she nods. Her face heats up.  ”Aaa… Thanks Jay.” For a second Jules’s brows shoots up. But then they swing their arms over her shoulders. 

“You welcome Lulu.” They corner of their mouth twitches, “Now let’s beat Brae Brae, hm?” Lucie laughs as Jules leads Lucie towards the cupboards, and they both peek up there. And Jules stretches their arm out to the second shelf, and there is a small container. Lucie opens it, and inside there’s plenty of salmon cakes. There had to be at least ten in there. How couldn’t Braedon spot it? 

She glimpses at Jules giving a thumbs up towards Val and they’re laughing back. 

“How…?” Lucie says. 

“Containers. But anyway, in a minute, Val’s going to put on some music.” Jules whispers.

“What’s it called?”

“I don’t know, they didn’t tell me. But… They said I might like it.” Jules’s hands trails behind their neck. “And, if I did… Val dared me to sing it aloud.” 

Wait… Jules can sing!? 

“Lucie, don’t look at me like that! They told me to just sing a part of it, not the whole thing.” 

Lucie gives a smile to them. “Well, I’m sure you’ll do great.” Lucie says and they give a small smile back.

“Thanks… I…” Their back stiffens as they step back. Then they ran and jumped onto the countertop. They start to sway as they hold the doors of the cupboard. 

“Jules!” Lucie says. Oh goodness... Are they going to injure themselves!? But surprisingly, they stayed steady on the countertop as they grabbed two… Oh my, three containers!?

 Then they turned around… Then the sounds of gentle piano playing.  And their ears perks up, and they freeze. 

“No way…” Lucie thought she hear Jules mutter as they cover their face. And, are they laughing? 

“Share my life,

Take me for what I am

‘Cause I’ll never change 

All my colors for you.” 

They look as if they’re laughing with a big grin on their face, then they continue.

“Take my love 

I’ll never ask for too much

Just all that you are

And everything that you do.”

“I don’t really need to look, very much further

I don’t wanna have to go

Where you don’t follow

I will hold it back again

This passion inside 

Can’t run from myself 

There’s nowhere to hide”

“But don’t make me close one more door

I don’t wanna hurt anymore 

Stay in my arms, if you dare

Or must I imagine you there?

Don’t walk away from me

I have nothing, nothing, nothing

If I don’t have you…”

Their strong voice went to a whisper like the song did, but then they glance at Lucie as they sang the next lyrics… 

“You see through 

Right to the heart of me

You break down my walls 

With the strength of your love mmh, 

I never knew 

Love like I’ve know it with you

Will a memory survive?

One I can hold to”

Her heart flutters the way they’re looking at her. It’s almost as if… They’re trying to say those words to her. Lucie's face burns like it's in flames as they continue to hear them sing through the rest of the song, becoming more passionate as the song goes past. Then, when the song finishes, they get down from the countertop, laughing.

“Oh god. Really didn’t expect that song to play of all songs…” Jules says. Lucie couldn’t say anything, all she could do is stare. How did she not know about this? But then Jules stares back at her. Sparks burns around them. Lucie steps towards Jules. 

“I didn’t expect you to sing so well. And it’s… Touching.”

Their face went red, but they went and pulled her towards them. Jules gives an awkward laugh.

“Thanks, I don’t know what got over me… I…” Jules’s eyes lingers on her. Looking at her lips… Lucie leans closer to them, as they glance down towards her. And they tilt their face…! 

But then Braedon yells his siblings name. She nearly forgot they were doing this scavenger hunt with them. Val is saying something back, but she could only focus on the corner of Jules’s mouth tenses as they slide their hands to her hips.

What are they going to do…? They wouldn’t possibly kiss her in front of him, would they? 

Jules’s dark eyes searches around her and they place their hands off her hips. A swirly feeling rouses in her stomach. Oh goodness! They’re touching her face…!? And, they’re leaning towards her. She closes her eyes, her heart beating out of anticipation.

But soft lips press strong onto her forehead.

Telling her that everything is going to be ok.

That they will protect her…

And, that they’ll love her until the end of time… 

When she no longer felt their touch, Lucie opens their eyes, with a big smile glowing their face. She couldn’t help but smile back. 

Heavy footsteps from behind comes towards them, and she pivots in haste towards Braedon. His eyes flickers between the two of them with a raised brow. “You two look awfully happy. What happened?” 

Lucie couldn’t get her mouth to work, she doesn’t even know if she can say anything without laughing or getting all flustered. She glimpses at Jules and surprisingly, they are grinning from ear to ear, and laughing too. 

“You know Brae Brae. We’re just really relishing the fact that we’re going to win.”

“Oh, really? So, how many of these salmon cakes did you get?”

“I think, forty…? Wait, lemme count.”

Jules brings the boxes of salmon cakes to the table and starts to count them, and after a minute, they glance up at him. “Fifty one.”  

His eyes widens. “Fifty one!? No!” Braedon grabs the boxes Jules has  and starts counting. He grabs a few pieces as if he is going to put it in his mouth and Lucie grabs Braedon’s arm as she tugs his arm back. He snickers. But by the time he finishes, he glances between them. “How…” 

Then Val comes towards them with a smile. And Braedon points to them. “You. Why!?”

“Why what Brae Brae?” Val looks as if they are going to laugh. 

“Valley, don’t mess with me.” He points at both Jules and Lucie. Jules is covering their mouth laughing and Lucie couldn’t help but smile. “You rigged the game for them, didn’t you?”

They gave a gasp, “Brae Brae, such a wild accusation!” but they are laughing too. Val’s brown eyes glimmers. “Yes, I rigged it. But it’s not cheating.”

“What does that-”

“What were the rules, Braedon?” Val’s brows lifts to a questionable brow. If anything, Braedon’s jaw tenses. And as much as Lucie hates to admit it, she feels a bit sorry for him. Braedon sighs.  

“To bond, find the most salmon cakes…” He glimpses at Lucie.

“And?”

“To have fun?”

“Mhm.” Val nods, with their left ear flipping around them. They gave a smile to him. “And, I’ve got to admit Brae Brae, you looked like you were having a lot more fun compared to other months.” They start to laugh. “Especially when --”

“Val, stop.” Braedon says. Jules’s eyes widens, before their muzzle swishes away from Braedon and their ears going red. 

“And, you know Braedon… Lucie is also the one who planned this scavenger hunt for you.” His eyes widens as he flickers to her. “I know what she did hurts, but everyone has made some lies in the past. I’m sure you’ve lied in the past too Brae Brae…” His eyes bores into Val’s but Lucie is surprised when they continue. “And you and Lucie are partners within the great scheme of things. Maybe not in a romantic sense, but… Wouldn’t it help to get along a little bit more?” 

He glances at Lucie, looking at her face for a few seconds. His eyes squeezes shut then he turns to Val. “Ok, I need you two out of here.”

“W-What!” Jules blurts. “What do you…?” But he turns to them and their eyes flickers around him before they give a brief nod. “Ok. Just don’t hurt Lucie, kay?” And whatever expression Braedon give, Jules has a slight smile on their face, and flickers towards Lucie. 

They turn towards Val as they touch their shoulder. “Kay, let’s go bunbun.” Val nods as they follow Jules out.  

Braedon glances at Lucie a while after they left. What is he going to say to her…? The last time it ended up as a disaster and-

“Lucie, I’m not going to hurt you.” She glimpses at Braedon, putting his arms behind his neck. He darts his eyes away from her. “God, I knew you planned it, but I didn’t expect it to be… Fun.” He pauses, glancing at her. “I thought it’s just another one of those parties you’re forced to attend. But the salmon cakes… Jules got me good.”

Well, Jules is right about that point… But where is he? 

“Look, I know after what happened months ago, it was hectic. I still can’t completely process it, but… After you left with Jules, I did some thinking.” He pauses. “And, it was a hard hit, Luce…” He glances down, his eyes flickering. “I know, I was being unreasonable. The way I reacted was horrible. And, I’m absolutely tired of the fighting." 

Braedon glances at Lucie, and… She's never seen him looking so… Lost. Her heart squeezes seeing him like this. "I will not ask for your forgiveness, but…” Lucie grasps both of his hands and Braedon's sharp eyes widen, glancing at her.

She gives a small smile. "Braedon. I'm just glad you're ok." His eyes flickers around her face as if he's checking to see if she's lying…but then, Braedon's face tints red. And he breathes out, before extending his hand out to her.

"Partners?"

Lucie gives a small smile as she clasps her hand onto his. "Mhm, to the end of time."

He returns it. "I'm glad."

[lorifragolina]

Sweet Pies

Seventh entry for Mungrove Summer Bingo 2023 prompt: C1 Outdoor concert

@mungrovebingos

Four rings and a last concert

Eddie Munson looked through the curtains at the side of the stage.

Gareth Emerson was at his side. He was paler than usual, and sweaty.

“Do you think it’s the right thing?”

Eddie turned to Gareth, smiling to who despite all, was still his best friend.

“Of course. 100%. The best thing”.

Gareth sighted, not persuaded.

All started, and in some way finished, a week ago at the mansion in Montecito.

Eddie, Billy and Steve just confessed to each other they were in love, and that they wanted to be boyfriends, and also confessed to the band they were the three together and the photos a gossip magazine published lately weren’t a problem for them.

It was a little weird but they didn’t mind, on the contrary they were relieved because they wouldn’t have problems working with Steve and his series. Gareth even asked him to sign his book.

They had a little party after the dinner, to celebrate they finished their work and they had only another gig to go before some well deserved time off.

Eddie sometimes looked at Gareth and Martha, his girlfriend, because he overheard some calls between them and was a little concerned; they were a little distant, it seemed to him, during the dinner. He was just looking at them when Gareth called for their attention touching the glass with a knife.

“Friends, could you please take a drink?” Fred gave a soda to his children, and Martha took another for herself. Eddie poured three whisky shots.

Gareth looked at Martha and smiled. “Well, Martha and I… we are expecting!” he blushed really a lot, and Martha started crying and everything they tried to say after that was covered by their absolute roar of happiness.

What Eddie overheard were in fact concerned calls, because they had a miscarriage the last year, that they didn’t tell anyone, and while Gareth was at the mansion, they were waiting for the analytics Martha took. Finally everything was sorted good, she reported personally at the mansion, they are finally pregnant and not with only one, but with two big and healthy babies.

Eddie had to comfort Billy, who was weeping, and he couldn't completely process the fact that Gareth wanted to take some time from Corroded Coffin to focus on his family.

“What news” smiled Billy, when they returned to Eddie's room, still shaken and excited.

“Indeed” said Eddie, laconically, going to the balcony to light a cigar.

“It’s all ok, Eddie?” said Steve, taking off his shirt.

“Are you worried for the band?” insisted Billy too.

Eddie smoked a little, quietly. The pool was surrounded with lights, he could see the moon and smell the summer in the air.

“Eddie?” Steve came out on the balcony. He wore only his underwear, his skin was covered in sweet moles and his skin was lightly gold, shimmering. Eddie looked at him, he was so happy and joyful and felt the warmth of his skin.

“It’s all right, yes” he smiled, throwing away the cig. “I’m going to buy this place” he added, coming into the bedroom.

“What?” said Billy. “It would cost a fuckilion, Eddie!”

Eddie laughed. “Well, maybe a similar place is a little less expensive. But I want to buy a house here. I really want”.

“Are you sure? What happened?”

“Well… I have money. And I… we can stay here together. I mean…I can build a studio here, and a gym for Billy, and… well, whatever Steve does”.

Steve opened his eyes and snorted. “I write, Eddie. I’m a writer. I write”

“Oh yes? Ok, whatever…” Steve threw a pillow against him. “There is a little outbuilding where you can stay away from our chaos”

Eddie looked away, lying on the bed.” I… I am happy, really. I want to be happy forever”

Billy lied down at his side. “And you think you can be happy buying this place?” he laughed.

“Maybe” Eddie smiled. Steve took the other side. “And if it won’t work, at least I’d fuck you two in the pool”.

Steve laughed in return, and tickled him, then sat on top of him and kissed him deeply.

And now, they were there, side to side, backstage, in a big stage in Central Park, New York, for the last concert they would do together for a large amount of time.

“You can tell me the truth, Eddie, are you really fine with this?”

“Gareth, it couldn’t be in a better moment. We just released the album, we finished the jingles and the soundtrack, and I think you can come to the studio sometimes if we need you. We also just finished the tour… don’t worry. It’s the right thing, absolutely”.

Gareth smiled shyly. He took a little box from his pocket, stroking it with his thumb.

“What if I am a bad father? Or if I couldn’t be a good… husband?” he was shivering a little, opening the box, and Eddie thought he needed to calm down to play in a few minutes. He already saw Gareth scared, in their first concerts for example, but never scared to death like in that moment.

“Gareth, you’re simply as good, I promise you. You just have to try, it’s what all us do, and you’re good. Don’t be scared now, it is nonsense”.

Gareth let go a little whine. “What if I ruined everyone’s life?”

“And what if you don’t? Come on, Gareth…” Eddie hugged him lightly and looked him in the eyes. “You can count on me and I… I am scared too, you know”.

Gareth smiled and shook his head. “For the rings? Don’t be silly, you have never to be scared of”.

When they returned from Montecito, Gareth called Eddie one morning. He asked him to join him for a coffee and Eddie knew it was strange.

Gareth asked him to go with him to buy a ring for Martha. They talked about marriage before, and the two agreed it was not a priority for the moment. But now, with two babies on the way, Gareth wanted to give Martha a present, a real ring and a wedding to give her peace and safety.

“This one is really you” Eddie pointed to a red gold ring with a dark yellow stone, with a lilac accent. “It really recalls your eyes”.

“Oh, you’re being really romantic, aren’t you?” Gareth smiled and looked him in the eyes, then took the ring and looked it near.

“Now the girl will think we are boyfriends” Gareth whispered and giggled silly.

“Yeah…” Eddie answered a little absent minded. His look was captured by a display with simpler and more masculine rings.

“I’ll take this” insisted Gareth. He paid, but Eddie still stared at those rings.

“Eddie?”

“What if… what if I buy those rings?” he pointed to a wide white gold band with black enamel hints, matte, and a little stone of yellow gold in the center.

“For…”

Eddie nodded. “For… for them both. Maybe it’s too soon?” he looked at Gareth, and he saw, maybe for the first time, a real struggle in Eddie’s face.

“Why not?”

“I… I love Billy and I love Steve, but I met him a really little time ago, but…”

“What do you think if you imagine giving them a ring?”

Eddie smiled and seemed lightened a little. “I imagine myself really happy…”

“Eddie, you found two people that see the life just as you see it… what makes you happy make them happy and you all have the same idea about the relationship, and it’s so rare… throw yourself”

Eddie nodded. They both left something to engrave on the rings and Gareth explained his idea for the proposal to Eddie, who happily agreed.

“You can’t be scared of the rings, they will faint for happiness”.

Eddie nodded. “Yes, but it’s not for this,” Eddie sighed. “I made an offer for a mansion in Montecito,” he confessed. Gareth cursed a little.

“What?” was the only thing he could say.

Eddie nodded again. - I wanted a house, and I made an offer. It’s almost all my money, and if something goes wrong I will be homeless and broke-.

“Wow” said Gareth, and “Wow” again, after a while. “With… Billy and Steve?”

“I would live with them, yes, but the house would be mine… I never had a place of mine before” .

“Yes. I am sure all will go right, you can always count on me” smiled Gareth, and now he didn’t feel so scared anymore.

When they came out on the stage, Eddie tried to find Billy and Steve in the crowd, but it was quite impossible. He offered them the VIP zone but they preferred to have a picnic and a rest in the park trying to maintain a low profile. He hoped they were in the crowd hand in hand, and kissing while he was singing. He tried to put all the love he felt in his performance.

When they unexpectedly announced that that would be the last concert in a while, the crowd exploded and people got closer and more moved, screaming and singing the songs and dancing and cheering.

Near the end of the show, he presented his bandmates and they went out together. After a little while, Eddie came out again with an acoustic guitar and a stool, and the crowd gasped and rumbled in waiting.

Eddie took the mic.

“Well, my friends, today is a really unique day. We announced we will get a pause from live concerts, and I think now you expect our encore with our classic tracks that we love dearly. But today is special” Eddie's voice shivered, and he took a breath, he was really, really moved himself “and I want to call on the stage my best friend, you know, Gareth Emerson, my brother. Come on, come here, Gareth!”.

The crowd started to call Gareth loudly, and the drummer came to the stage with a nervous smile and completely red.

Eddie hugged him, and looked with the corner of the eye to the VIP zone, where Martha was just as curious as the others. Jeff went to her and took her hand driving her to the ladder of the stage, and she giggled and went to the stage covering her face, with her little baby bum visible under her Corroded Coffin crop top. The silence of the crowd was tangible.

Eddie sat and started strumming softly on the guitar.

“Come on, Gareth” he whispered, far from the mic. Gareth nodded, touching his back pocket. He tried to talk to the mic and his voice was uncertain and thin.

“Well, Martha, Eddie helped me do this thing, so please don’t be mad at me” and then people laughed and he gained confidence. “Everybody, she is Martha, my girlfriend, Martha, please, come nearer”

Jeff pushed a little Martha and then went away.

“How’d you do, darling?” said Eddie, distracting her. She giggled and said something, and in that moment Gareth took the ring box from his pocket and said in the mic: “Marta, do you want to marry me?” and then knelt in front of her.

The crowd went crazy, Eddie didn’t feel ashamed for the tears he was crying, and Martha was speechless hiding her face in her hands.

Gareth opened the box and handed it to Martha. He was smiling silly and a little nervous.

Martha nodded, at first just a little, then more convinced. “Yes, yes!” she cried at last.

Gareth put the ring on her finger and then they hugged and kissed.

“She said yes,” said Eddie from his corner, and everybody laughed, breaking the tension. Gareth took Martha’s hand and showed it to the crowd, clapping, screamed and whistled, completely happy.

Eddie kept playing during all the show, and when Gareth and Martha went away, he announced the last song, a new ballad he secretly wrote in the last two weeks, that he called "Sweet pies”.

“This song is… for somebody out there. You completely changed my life and you gave me the sweetness I didn’t know I needed, " he said, his voice trembling.

He wasn’t used to writing love songs, but he sang with his heart in his lips and, again, searching in the crowd his two boyfriends, while he was feeling his own box in his own back pocket, like it was vibrating.

He went down from the backstage, some fans were there and he signed a couple of autographs, then two special fans reached him, holding their hands, one with a baseball hat and mirror glasses, wearing a really hot pants and a crop top and another with an oversize Corroded Coffin sleeveless shirt and a little red sunburnt in all his uncovered skin, and no sunglasses.

“The joy of being a writer, nobody knows your face” said Steve, pointing to his burned skin.

“I told you to use sunscreen, I even offered to spread it on you”.

Steve kissed Billy sweetly, then smiled at Eddie who was looking at them with sparkling eyes.

“Come here” said him, taking the hands of both into the backstage again, where they were alone.

Billy took off hat and glasses and immediately clung to Eddie, kissing him hungrily. Steve came in turn and they stayed a long moment kissing and touching ferally.

“That song was beautiful” whispered Billy, trying to take off Eddie's shirt while Steve was busy with his pants. “Awesome,” added Steve.

“Wait a minute, guys, wait” Eddie tried to stop them, that was really strange, and both looked at him with a concerned glance.

“Let me say a thing first” Eddie put a hand on his back pocket. - Did you say what Gareth did, right?”

They nodded. “Oh, it was really, really sweet,” said Billy, drying his eyes. Eddie knew that things could only get worse and wetter.

“Yeah” continued Eddie. “And I think…” he took the box and showed it to the other two “although we can’t properly marry, I think, for now… I wanted to give you something…” he opened the box and they saw the three identical rings, in a red velvet fabric, shining quietly in Eddie’s hand.

“Oh my god” said Billy, weeping again, to no one’s surprise. “Oh my god, is it real?” he looked at Eddie, and then at Steve, who was speechless for once, processing and realizing things.

“Eddie…” he said carefully, looking at the rings. “You really want… we… we know for a little time…”

“Yes, I know, but… but I feel this is the moment. With you both. I… I love you. Really. I want to…” he couldn’t find the words.

“Yes” said Billy, smiling and crying and shivering. “Yes. Yes!”

Steve nodded too, he was so overwhelmed his voice was dull in his throat.

Eddie took a ring and put it at Billy’s finger, then at Steve’s. He put his ring to himself and they hugged together feeling it was indeed the right moment and the right place.

Then Eddie slipped his hands under Billy’s top, and he rapidly dried his face and put a sly smile on it.

Steve came back to Eddie’s pants, and after a while he dropped to his knees, maybe it wasn’t him who had to kneel for the proposal, but nobody complained.

Eddie leaned against a table and grabbed his hair with his now engaged hand.

He engraved E, B, S, in each ring, and it was really all they needed, now and forever.

[sapphireshineauthor]

My final entry for Bad Things Happen Bingo!

Chained

Dark Blue = Completed

I hope you enjoyed the series. Another prompt card may be started in due time, but we shall see how my other projects go. Have a good night!

[nekoannie-chan]

Special signs

Special signs

Title: Special signs.

Fandom: Marvel, Captain America.

Ship: Jack Rollins X Reader.

Word count: 255 words.

Square: 5 “Private language.”

Rating: Teen.

Summary: You and Jack have a very useful private language.

Major Tags: Mission.

Additional tags: This is my entry for the @fandom-free-bingo Flight Edition.

Links: Wattpad, Ao3, Spanish version.

@saiyanprincessswanie

My native language is Spanish so I wanna improve my writing skills in English if you notice any mistakes, please let me know and I will correct them.

I don’t give any permission for my fics to be posted on other platforms or languages (I translate my work myself) or the use of my graphics (my dividers are included in this), I did them exclusively for my fics, please respect my work and don't steal it. There are some people here who make dividers that anyone can use, mine is not this type, please look for the other people. The only exception is the ones I gifted 'cuz now belong to someone else. Please let me know if you find any of my works on a different platform and are not one of my accounts. Reblogs and comments are always welcome.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Marvel's characters (unfortunately), except for the original characters and the story.

Add yourself to my taglist here.

My other media where I publish:  Ao3, Wattpad, ffnet, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter. 

If you like it, please vote, comment, and give me feedback to improve my skills and reblog.

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You knew it was going to be a difficult mission, but you and Jack made a great team and this was in part thanks to the language you had that no one else knew.

A simple tap of the wrist meant "lookout," while a subtle nod of the head to the right was "go ahead."

The idea had come on a day off so rainy that you couldn't get out.

Jack looked at you and tapped his wrist twice. You understood instantly: "Wait."

You stood motionless, watching the enemy patrol patterns, waiting for the right moment.

After a few minutes, Jack made a three-finger signal, followed by a chopping gesture with his hand. You knew that meant "three guards, neutralize." You nodded and braced yourself.

You moved through the dimly lit corridors, avoiding cameras and sensors.

When they reached the control room, Jack waved his hand at you, indicating "Wait." You watched as he manipulated the security systems, deactivating alarms and opening the necessary doors.

While you downloaded the information, he kept guard, suddenly, Jack gave you a signal: two fingers pointing to the floor, "Danger, down".

You both hid just in time; you were not discovered. Once the danger passed, you completed the download and gave him another signal: "Ready, go".

When you finally exited the site and were in a safe zone, Jack turned to you and, with a smile, made a gesture only the two of you knew: a hand over his heart and a little wave. "Mission accomplished, I love you."

[unsuspecting-person]

I posted 31,592 times in 2022

That's 6,646 more posts than 2021!

15 posts created (0%)

31,577 posts reblogged (100%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@acerikus

@meggydolaon

@lemon-3ds

@foolforshera

@good-beans

I tagged 917 of my posts in 2022

#khdr spoilers - 105 posts

#... - 27 posts

#me - 23 posts

#ml spoilers - 10 posts

#*sigh* - 8 posts

#oh no - 6 posts

#*sobs* - 6 posts

#:d - 6 posts

#<3 - 6 posts

#yes - 5 posts

Longest Tag: 130 characters

#but now it just became another entry into the list of things that could have been cool but capitalism and technobros made dreadful

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

Lea Crosscode for the character opinion bingo?

Why thank you for the wonderful ask, me!

She's my newest blorbo and deserves the whole world <3

1 note - Posted October 7, 2022

#4

plays Youtube video on the PS4

Two unskippable ads

"Ok now I can watch the vid-"

Ad will play in 5 seconds

It's the exact same 2 ads again

Actual video finally plays for a few minutes

Ads again

2 notes - Posted October 20, 2022

#3

The thing that sticks out most to me I think is the one flashback scene in Blinding Light, where Chrom's remembering his father becoming Naga's new vessel. The way he describes the change in his father after becoming her host, the dramatic change in his eyes -- and especially how vividly he remembers Emm's terror at the whole thing. It just has such a punch, particularly because it's a memory from when he didn't know enough to be really scared himself.

I think that was my favorite scene to write of Chapter 1!

I had a lot of fun playing with how possession is usually handled in the series (Loptous especially), where instead of a sudden thing where the demon/dragon/whatever takes hold of the victim it's instead this fucked up public ritual where Naga's light slowly enters the current Exalt's body and completely burns their soul along with it in a twisted "purification".

And most of the time, much like with Chrom's father, the Exalt accepts this willingly and considers it an honor to become Naga's new body.

4 notes - Posted August 4, 2022

#2

For the October drawing suggestions, you could try drawing Anya from Spy X Family! She seems like she might be fun to draw.

Secret Agent Anya will protect the world peace!

(bonus smug doodle)

See the full post

10 notes - Posted October 12, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

Best game I played all year, you all should go play it

50 notes - Posted October 28, 2022

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