#friendship is the greatest superpower

[magicbutsevenofit]

Chapter 50: Paradise of Oblivion Part 2

So this Krat thing is a total cult that lures in victims for scams. People make prayers, the Krat followers "delivers"...and boom, Krat gets more followers.

So back to Teito, Ouka and the Wars. The Wars wants to make them part of his collection to protect the "treasure". If he builds the collection for his master every month, he will get to stay in his "paradise" forever. Kururu has already been added to the collection. He tries to encase Ouka but Teito saves her (And Kururu.). Mikage had escaped due to his small size so they don't need to worry about him. Anyway, the Wars is named Lem and he is very good at trapping his victims, making sure that not even healing magic can save them...

We later see Krat himself leading his cult and he's the one who breaks the news to them that the Pope has committed "suicide". Then he tells them God's going to disappear.

Krat tells his followers he will save them and goes back to his attendant to have Lem prepare some more incense for him. Then Frau finds him. Then he hears trouble from Lem's garden. The chapter ends with Teito and Ouka teaming up to take down Lem.

[st4rtar0t]

Random Uplifting messages for you

Pick a picture

Please DM for person readings

This is a general reading so only take what resonates.

Picture one

You are capable of achieving incredible things.

Your resilience is inspiring.

Don't be afraid to dream big; you have the talent to achieve it.

Embrace challenges; they make you stronger and wiser.

Your kindness makes the world a better place.

Believe in yourself, and others will too.

Your journey matters; every step is a victory.

Life may be tough, but so are you.

Your smile is contagious; keep spreading positivity.

You are not alone; your friends are here for you.

Each day is a new opportunity; make the most of it.

Your uniqueness is your superpower; celebrate it.

Don't underestimate your impact on others' lives.

Your potential is limitless; never stop exploring it.

Remember, progress, not perfection, is what counts.

Your efforts never go unnoticed; keep shining.

Mistakes are lessons in disguise; learn and grow.

Your courage inspires others to be brave too.

In every setback, there's a setup for a comeback.

Your heart is pure gold; cherish your compassionate nature

Picture 2

Every storm runs out of rain; brighter days are ahead.

You are stronger than you think; keep pushing forward.

Your positive attitude is your greatest asset.

Challenges are opportunities for growth; embrace them.

Your determination knows no bounds; keep going.

Life's hurdles are stepping stones to success; keep climbing.

Your presence brings light into the lives of others.

Stay focused on your goals; you are unstoppable.

Your energy is infectious; keep spreading the joy.

Believe in the beauty of your dreams; they will come true.

Your perspective is valuable; never hesitate to share it.

You have the power to change the world; start with kindness.

Your passion drives you; let it lead you to greatness.

Remember, even the longest journey begins with a single step.

Your creativity knows no bounds; let it flow freely.

Life is a canvas, and you're the artist; paint it vibrant.

Your laughter is music to our ears; never stop singing.

You are a beacon of hope; keep shining your light.

Your friendship is a treasure; cherish the bond we share.

Every day may not be good, but there's something good in every day.

Picture 3

Your spirit is unbreakable; keep soaring high.

Believe in miracles; you are one waiting to happen.

Your generosity knows no limits; keep giving from the heart.

Life's challenges are like a puzzle; you'll find the missing pieces.

Your humility is your strength; stay grounded and keep rising.

Remember, the best is yet to come; keep the faith.

Your wisdom is profound; keep sharing your insights.

You are a masterpiece in progress; embrace your journey.

Your love and kindness create ripples of positivity.

Every setback is a setup for a comeback; keep fighting.

Your enthusiasm is contagious; keep inspiring us all.

Believe in the power of small steps; they lead to significant changes.

Your friendship is a gift; thank you for being you.

You have a heart of gold; keep spreading the warmth.

Remember, life is what you make it; create something amazing.

Your dreams are the blueprints of your future; chase them fearlessly.

Your determination fuels your success; keep the fire burning.

Believe in the magic of new beginnings; they hold endless possibilities.

Your presence is a present to the world; keep shining bright.

Remember, you are loved, valued, and cherished; never forget your worth.

[bibibbon]

My main problem with class 1a and izuku relationship by the end is that it's far too realistic for a superhero story.

Like yes in real life after college or high-school you lose touch with ppl you used to see everyday and it's not bc your a bad friend it's just kinda how the world works. You start a career and a family and get busy and only check up on highshool buddies every now and then but a fictional superpower story shouldn't end like that at all. I mean mha is one of the most "power of friendship" themed stories I've ever scene it's not gonna hurt anybody to make so that they miraculously kept in touch and met up constantly over the years (this is if we pretend that this was the only problem with ending 😅)

When someone asks for a realistic story it doesn't mean I need every character to got the bathroom every couples of hours and trip over themselves unless it's there for a reason. Realistic stories means set up and pay off like for example if your gonna kill a character it'd be realistic to have ppl react to it (cough twices death shouldve impacted more than just Toga cough). What I'm trying to say is that the ending is awful and mha is the defention of wasted potential.

(this rant went a very weird direction and I'm not sure if it makes sense)

Hi @jettanasser 👋

The term realistic can be used as a good and bad thing like you said for a story that has the core theme of WE are the greatest hero and the power of love and friendship that was supposed to carry the last act from the ending of the vigilante arc to the big final fight ending the story with them not meeting eachother as often leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

Yes this is realistic but 1A never actually develops a proper found family bond which is why I find the last act so underwhelming because there is no substance to 1A and their bond. Also the way the final chapter ended begs a lot of questions why didn't we ever see 1A members hang out outside of school uniform or hero costume? If there are less villains then why is there more work? Like yes I understand that a lot of heroics isn't just taking down villains but also reforming society but even with that MHA did go to make a point that this is now a society where heroes have free time did it not?

[flygrl]

i have absolutely no desire to seek friendships in this season of life. my solitude is my greatest superpower

[cwseriesshowdown]

Round 3: Superman and Lois vs iZombie

Superman and Lois: After years of facing supervillains, monsters and alien invaders, the world's most famous superhero, The Man of Steel aka Clark Kent and comic books' famed journalist Lois Lane come face to face with one of their greatest challenges ever -- dealing with being working parents in today's society. Complicating the already daunting job of raising two boys, Clark and Lois worry about whether their sons, Jonathan and Jordan, could inherit their father's Kryptonian superpowers as they grow older. Returning to Smallville to handle some Kent family business, Clark and Lois are reacquainted with Lana Lang and her Fire Chief husband, Kyle Cushing. The adults aren't the only ones rediscovering old friendships in Smallville as the Kent sons are reacquainted with Lana and Kyle's rebellious daughter, Sarah. Of course, there's never a dull moment in the life of a superhero, especially with Lois' father, Gen. Samuel Lane looking for Superman to vanquish a villain or save the day at a moment's notice.

iZombie: When over-achieving medical resident Liv Moore attends a party that turns into a zombie feeding frenzy, she ends up joining the ranks of the living dead. Determined to pass as human despite her pale appearance and newly listless demeanor, Liv forms a plan to resist her drive to consume fresh human brains by taking a job at a coroner's office, where she can secretly snack on the brains of corpses delivered there. Soon discovering that she absorbs the memories of those she feeds on, she finds new purpose by posing as a psychic and working with a detective to help solve their murders.

[televisionpromos]

Superman & Lois Season 4 "Superman is Dead" Trailer Final Season - In SUPERMAN & LOIS, after years of facing megalomaniacal supervillains, monsters wreaking havoc on Metropolis, and alien invaders intent on wiping out the human race, the world’s most famous superhero, The Man of Steel aka Clark Kent and comic books’ most famous journalist, Lois Lane, come face to face with one of their greatest challenges ever - dealing with all the stress, pressures and complexities that come with being working parents in today’s society. Complicating the already daunting job of raising two boys, Clark and Lois must also concern themselves with whether or not their sons Jonathan and Jordan could inherit their father’s Kryptonian superpowers as they grow older. Returning to Smallville to handle some Kent family business, Clark and Lois are reacquainted with Lana Lang, a local loan officer who also happens to be Clark’s first love, and her Fire Chief husband Kyle Cushing. The adults aren’t the only ones rediscovering old friendships in Smallville as the Kent sons are reacquainted with Lana and Kyle’s rebellious daughter, Sarah. Of course, there’s never a dull moment in the life of a superhero, especially with Lois’ father, General Samuel Lane looking for Superman to vanquish a villain or save the day at a moment’s notice. Meanwhile, Superman and Lois’ return to idyllic Smallville is set to be upended when a mysterious stranger enters their lives.

[itropeyou]

Challenge 3; 11th-Hour Superpower

Before we begin, please make sure you check out the introduction post for more information about this challenge.

Challenge Date: November 1st, 2023 - November 30th, 2023

This Month's Trope: 11th-Hour Superpower

We've all seen it happen countless times - the hero is facing his greatest enemy and the enemy seems to be winning. The hero is about to be defeated but then BAM! He's suddenly given a surge of power, perhaps triggered by love or friendship or simply the desire to protect a loved one.

A great example of this would be Goku from Dragon Ball Z. After a long and difficult fight against Freeza, he powers up and goes super saiyan in order to finally beat his enemy and protect everyone he loves!

If you'd like to read more about this trope and find some more examples, you can click here.

Remember to @ this account and use the tag #ITYchallenge so I can reblog your wonderful works ^-^)/ If you have any questions or concerns, don't hesitate to reach out to me. Most importantly, have fun!

[pareiwheeler]

these are my byler fic recs because no one asked but i love them!!!!! all of these are on ao3

fall where i stand by delusionaltogether (Whyyyyy)

In terms of plans, this might not be the worst one Mike's ever had. In terms of execution, well- there might be room for improvement.

rated T, no archive warnings apply, one shot

i LOVE this fic so much its so good and its like the perfect fake dating fic. this author is probably my favorite on ao3!

2. The Secret To Being Unlucky by lovetriangled

The end of the world is daunting and Will's not entirely sure he can handle it. Everybody else seems to think he can—sometimes, they think he's their fighting chance.

It wouldn't be so laughable if Will hadn't been born with rotten luck.

rated T, no archive warnings apply, one shot

one of my fav established byler fics! such an underrated author and features the amazing party dynamic and lucas being the best boy

3. oh can't you see you belong to me? by andiwriteordie

“The end is near, Michael,” One says again, but his voice sounds like Will’s this time. “You have already lost.”

“Get out, get out, get out!” Mike screams, sobbing roughly. His throat feels completely raw, and he covers his ears, desperate to block out the sound of Will’s screams mixed in with One’s distorted, maniacal laughter. “Get out of my head!”

Or: Two years after One's initial defeat, Mike has an encounter with the greatest evil of the Upside Down and learns far more about his plans for Hawkins, for the party, and for Will than he ever expected.

rated T, no archive warnings apply, one shot

so angsty!!! but one of my favorite s5 spec fics and will and mike are so cute

4. emotional motion sickness by delusional together (Whyyyyy)

And anyway, it's too late to back out now, with him lying on the single bed of their hotel room, Jonathan and Argyle sleeping on the other side of the wall. There's a tin cup on the floor that still holds half a joint in it and the whole room is hazy with smoke, and Mike's head is hanging off the end of the bed, upside-down and pink-cheeked, and Will can feel the slow rush of the drug flooding his system. Will's fault, Will's idea. His brother's stolen stash on the floor between them, Will's eyes already unfocused, Will's guilty, guilty love hanging in the air around him, refusing to fade away along with the smoke like he secretly hoped it might.

Oh, he thinks dimly, as his senses glitch, and his eyes lock on Mike's: this was a bad idea.

rated T, no archive warnings apply, oneshot

the byler getting high scene that we never got, also pretty angsty. they love each other so much.

5. i'll find a new place to be from by andiwriteordie

In the direct aftermath of his return to Hawkins, Mike and the Party find themselves in the midst of a war against One and the forces of the Upside Down. As life as he knows it changes, Mike must find a way to navigate his friendships, his relationship with Will, and most importantly, his understanding of himself.

rated T, creator chose not to use archive warnings, multi-chaptered

i will always be amazed by this authors writing and talent. its such an amazing fic with will having superpowers, mike and will pining and flirting terribly, and amazing s5 spec. SO GOOD!!!!!! gives me goosebumps

6. til' kingdom come by andiwriteordie

Will Byers' life has always been a little bit strange—at least since he was first kidnapped in 1983. But as it turns out, there's a little bit more to his life than meets the eye.

Namely... this isn't his first life.

rated T, creator chose not to use archive warnings, oneshot

BYLER MERLIN AU EVERYONE CHEERED also i may have an obsession with andiwriteordie's writing

7. make a move by astrobi

“You’re thinking,” Will says, skating a finger down the line of Mike’s nose, under his eye, over his cheekbone, then resting, finally, just at the corner of his lips– “about me.”

Oh, Jesus. Mike’s throat is very, very dry. “What?”

Will opens his eyes – slow, a little hesitant – and smiles. “You are,” he says, way, way too smug for Mike’s liking. “You’re turning red!”

“Shut up,” Mike mutters, and Will’s smile grows. “You– I’m just nervous!”

It should be illegal for someone to look this pleased with themselves.

“Yeah?” Will says quietly, index finger still hovering at the corner of Mike’s mouth, thumb pressed gently under his chin. “I make you nervous?”

Or: Mike thinks Will might be psychic. (Kind of.) Will is being very irritatingly vague about the whole thing.

rated T, no archive warnings apply, oneshot

SO FLUFFY AND CUTE!!!! byler flirting and mike overthinking = amazing fic. I LOVE ASTROBI!!!!

8. i'll find myself in the moonlight by beansie

He looks up at him, eyebrows drawn together. “Do you not love her?”

Mike shrinks back. “What?”

He hadn’t meant to say it. He wouldn’t have, if he’d stopped to think about it for half a second. But it’s too late to take it back, and he can’t breathe until he knows the answer, and he looks at him resolutely and says, “Do you only love her because of what I said?”

Something darkens on Mike’s face, twisting it into a shape Will’s never seen. “Get out.”

It’s not a no.

rated T, no archive warnings apply, oneshot

i love this sm!!!! angsty painting talks, nightmares, mutual pining, the works. very realistic and mike needs to get his act together 😭 def made me cry

9. irresistible by perexcri

Will knows what having a crush looks like. He’s known it for years. And lately, he's been seeing the signs on the face of one Mike Wheeler every time he looks at him. Maybe it’s always been there, but not to this degree.

In the last six months, though, the planets had aligned in some strange pattern, or the earth had been tilted on its axis by the hand of God, or something, because Will noticed it pretty quickly.

So, Will's finally decided to start testing the waters. For example: he has been flirting.

Well, okay…

rated T, creator chose not to use archive warnings, multi-chaptered

flirty byler and confident will yes please!!! also some very cute and funny hopper-will dynamic

10. we'd be great together by makeit_pink

"What are you thinking about?"

Will blinks himself back into the present, screeching his thoughts to a halt before they’re able to go any farther into dangerous territory. “Honestly?” Mike’s eyebrows tick up just a bit at Will’s tone, and he nods slowly. Will answers before he’s even allowed to think about it.

“You.”

And- great. That’s great. What the fuck?

rated T, creator chose not to use archive warnings, oneshot

all i can say about this is CUTIESSSSSSS the mutual pining is MUAH CHEFS KISS

thats all and i hope you enjoy!!!!!

[sehtoast]

Ben Info Sheet!

Finally got around to building a character info sheet for Ben! Hopefully the formatting from the character building site doesn't look funky lol.

Benjamin Elliot Colyer

Age

26 y/o

Nationality

American

Current residence

Manhattan (Vought Tower)

Occupation

Superhero for The Seven

Income and salary

60k before The Seven / 20m Yearly After The Seven, not including estimate net worth from product licensing

Talents and skills

Tech, Spider Superpowers, Guitar

Background as a child

Born female, raised alongside two brothers- one left when Ben was 5- the middle brother was incredibly abusive and cruel to Ben, especially after he came out as transgender. Benjamin had both parents present for his upbringing. Went to public school, and was mostly alone save for one or two friends with whom he lost contact after graduation. He was bullied in school after coming out as transgender.

Ben came out as transgender when he was 13, and was met with kickback from everyone in his household- sans his grandmother.  His parents eventually accepted his identity as truth, as did his oldest brother, Robbie- but Bryan grew extremely bitter at Ben for this and became the cause of significant trauma in Ben’s adolescence. Ben was dosed with Compound V as an infant, but had no knowledge of it. His powers did not emerge until his late teens.

Birth order

Youngest

Brothers and sisters (describe relationship)

Robbie- Distant, but respectful and friendly.  Oldest brother Bryan- Estranged. Ben was abused by this brother physically, mentally, and emotionally while growing up. Bryan is bigoted and hates Benjamin for many reasons- but particularly for his status as a transgender man. Heavy tension. Older brother Aiden- Son of Robbie, but Ben considers him more like a younger brother. Ben loves Aiden dearly, and sees Aiden as a reflection of himself.

Children (describe relationship)

Ryan- Son of Homelander/John. Distant, yet friendly.  Ben is willing to step in as a parental figure if the need/occasion were to ever arise.

Grandparents (describe relationship)

Nonna (maternal great grandmother, deceased)- Ben's first friend since birth. Extremely close with her, until she died of Alzheimer's complications when he was 14 years old. Gran (maternal grandmother) - Much like a second mother to Ben, she lived with him and his parents until the day she died (when Ben was 21).  Ben watched her die of suffocation after her lungs failed.

Significant others (describe relationship)

Homelander/John- Boyfriend (secretly dating). John recruited Ben to The Seven against his will, and hung threats of murdering his loved ones over Ben's head. Eventually, Ben is forced by the company to work alongside Homelander for a time, and finds himself sinking into a friendship with the world's most powerful supe. Homelander, starved for love, attention, validation, etc, becomes attached to Ben, and the two eventually succumb to their tension one night, and a romantic/sexual relationship blooms from there.

Relationship skills

Mediation, communication, gentleness, understanding.

Height

5'7"

Weight

160lbs

Hair color

Brown

Eye color

Brown

Glasses or contact lenses?

N/A

Skin color

Pale

Distinguishing features

Curtain style haircut, a mole under his right cheekbone, spinneret openings at the base of his wrists

Dress style

Casual

Mannerisms

Uhms and Uhhs when feeling awkward. 'Y'know's sporadically in speech.

Hobbies

Guitar, formerly enjoyed video games but lacks time, enjoys swinging through the city for leisure, enjoys movies with John although he’s usually not paying attention.

Favorite sayings

"Be Strong Enough To Be Gentle"

Style

Comfortable

Greatest flaw

Noble to a fault. Always pushing himself to save everyone, despite knowing that there's no realistic way that he could do that. Can't make time for loved ones. Touch aversion

Best quality

Kindness, understanding, his drive to do good

Introvert or extrovert?

Introvert

Educational background

Bachelor's Degree, High School Diploma

Mental health

Anxiety, Depression, Gender Dysphoria (mostly resolved)

Short-term goals

Keep life steady, help others

Long-term goals

Expose Vought's crimes, keep real world damage from Vought to a minimum, protect John (post depowerment) from Vought and other supes seeking revenge

How does your character see themselves?

He sees himself as someone responsible for protecting others. Thinks of himself as an awkward person.

How does your character believe they are perceived by others?

Awkward, shy, nervous. As Spider-Man: confident, brave, bold, outgoing

How confident is your character?

As Spidey, very. As simply Benjamin, not much at all.

How emotional is your character?

Ben has a very tender heart

How logical is your character?

Very logical, and sometimes has to fight his brain to allow his heart to feel what it must in order to process emotions. Other times, must fight his heart when he knows his brain is correct. Ben had a therapist in his teens/early twenties, and is well practiced with emotional regulation.

What would most embarrass your character?

Secret identity revealed, wardrobe malfunction

Strengths

Logical, kind, understanding, quippy, humorous, easy-going, gentle

Weaknesses

Anxious, socially-awkward, reads-too-deeply. Can lose his web powers when overwhelmed with grief or other negative emotions 

How does the character deal with conflict?

Often will just ride the wind as it blows, but will intervene with larger scale issues.

How does the character deal with sadness?

Bottles it up, goes for a swing, has a good cry somewhere. On the odd occasion, may even vent/cry to John

How does the character deal with change?

Tries his best to go along with it, even if he doesn't enjoy it.

How does the character deal with loss?

Bottles it up, tries to continue on because he knows that's how life is. Gives himself time to mourn, but does not view death as a bad thing. Just the absence of the person. Otherwise, tries to suppress outward reactions caused by his grief.

What does the character want out of life?

Peace

What would the character like to change in his or her life?

To have been born as a cis man

What motivates this character?

Love, doing the right thing.

What frightens this character?

Avarice

What makes this character happy?

Friends, certain family, John

Is the character judgmental of others?

Sometimes, but generally only to those of poor character quality (abusive, cruel, etc)

Is the character generous or stingy?

Generous

Is the character generally polite or rude?

Polite

Is religion or spirituality a part of this character’s life?

No

What is this character’s role in the story?

Protagonist

Describe the scene where this character first appears

Benjamin, who is currently moonlighting as Spider-Man, is in the process of webbing up small-time crooks he prevented from burglarizing a bodega. In this scene, he meets Homelander- who tries to proposition and threaten him into joining The Seven

Consider this character’s relationship with other characters.

Homelander- significant other, fiercely loved and devoted Maeve- Coworker, mixed feelings Starlight- Coworker, enjoyable acquaintance Black Noir- Coworker- and probably his favorite of the bunch (sans Homelander) The Deep- Coworker, detests A-Train- Coworker, mixed feelings Madelyn Stillwell (deceased)- His former manager. Mixed feelings, did not like toward the end Ashley Barrett- Not quite his manager, but respects her and feels sympathy for the stress she picked up by taking the job as VP of Hero Management Jason Ortega- Best friend, sees rarely but still close Bryan Colyer- Detests Robbie Colyer- Loves, but is distant Aiden Colyer- Loves dearly Mother- Loves dearly, but is distant Father- Loves dearly, but is distant

How does this character change over the course of your story?

Goes from morally solid, noble, etc. to understanding that life as a hero is very gray. Understands that "be strong enough to be gentle" means that, sometimes, he'll have to do very bad things to protect others from cruelty (ex: killing Arne in the depowered series). Learns to accept John's past actions- and present/future ones- and accepts that his heart belongs to a man who has committed many, many atrocities.

Superpowers:

Spider-sense, setae inside finger and foot padding that cling to even the most sheer surfaces, advanced acrobatics, super strength, organic webbing production in wrists, untapped bio-electricity powers that emerge later in Tender Threads canon

[thegirlwiththeblush]

My One Constant

Kate Bishop x Female Reader

 Word Count: 2.4k

Shared prompt with @vorsdany​

Summary: Told from Kate’s perspective and taking place in the family Christmas scene in Hawkeye episode 6, Clint forces her to confront feelings. 

a/n: I’m sorry for how terrible and cheesy and self-indulgent this is, I quite literally have a toothache and I’m not sure if it’s from writing this or all the energy drinks and candy I’m consuming.

Paulo Coelho once said, “Life is the train, not the station.” I think my life is prime evidence for this.

I’ve stopped by many varying but equally shocking ‘stations’ over time. Witnessing a herd of cybernetically enhanced beings invading earth and taking my father’s life. Discovering my mother was working under a crime lord to pay off family debts. Training under the world’s greatest archer, who I had previously believed had saved the world, only to learn I’d heard the twisted version of the story.

Needless to say, my life has been far from predictable, and wildly inconstant.

Now, I’m not saying this to sound like a huge downer. These events only serve to make me more grateful for the one thing that hasn’t ever changed: my best friend.  

I’ve known my best friend since childhood; she knows absolutely everything about me, even the most shameful qualities, and has stayed close in spite of it. Living in a universe like this one, with superpowered and supernatural beings, I’m always half expecting her to get unjustly murdered or possessed or something of the sort. But somehow, I’ve been lucky enough to keep hold of her all this time. She’s been with me through good and bad, thick and thin, and I’d give my own life to keep her safe.

So I’m sure you can understand why I’ve begun to develop feelings for her.

Having worked with Clint so much lately, he’s heard everything there is to know about my best friend. He may as well have met her already with how much I go on about her, and he’s definitely figured out about my crush. I know he gets kind of bored with my rambling, but occasionally, I swear I could see a hint of an amused smile pinching at his mouth. The only input he ever has for me is the obvious point that I should discuss my feelings with her, but of course, I always shyly but loudly disregard him. I don’t want to risk losing our friendship, the one constant, but Clint doesn’t seem to understand this. How could he? His life is all taken up by his wife, and kids, and superheroes and villains, and trauma, and all that fun stuff.

He’s invited me to his family home for Christmas, which means a lot, considering I have no real family to spend the holiday with now. He tells me I should invite her; her family are difficult to get along with, and she’s mentioned on multiple occasions that she’d rather spend the day away from them. I’m still torn. What if she feels awkward and unwelcome, and associates me with those feelings? What if she figures out that I’m attracted to her and leaves abruptly? There are so many worst-case scenarios, and the chances of avoiding them seem so slim.

But my growing addiction to her presence forces me to ask her anyway.

I pass on the invitation during our weekly catch-up in town, while we’re seated in a cozy café. The radiant smile she responds with warms my insides, despite the wintry chill passing through my coat. She puts her mug of hot chocolate to stand and embrace me tightly, and the somewhat unnecessary affection fills my stomach with butterflies. I bite back a nervous laugh as she sits back down and heartily agrees to come.

“I’ve heard so much about this Barton guy,” she adds, “it only seems fitting that I finally meet him!”

“I don’t talk about him that much,” I protest in vain.

“Kate, you’re practically in love with him,” she retorts with a giggle.  

I have to laugh along with her nervously before my expression reveals too much. If only she knew how much Clint knew of her.

On Christmas morning, I spend far too long deciding what to wear. I berate myself inwardly for acting like a middle school girl with a crush, before picking out a fairly plain but tidy red and black open sweater, over a black shirt tucked into jeans. Sometimes ‘simple’ goes a lot further than overdressing.  

Listen to me, talking like I understand fashion.

After a certain getaway incident with Clint, I don’t trust myself near the steering wheel of any car, so I entrust my friend with the role of chauffeur. She pulls up in her car, and goes the whole nine yards, climbing out to open the back door for Lucky.

“Oh, how kind of you,” I say in a posh voice, earning a laugh from her. She fakes taking a top hat from her head and bows deeply, pursing her lips comically. She’s incredibly adorable, I can’t stand it.

After securing Lucky in the backseat, we clamber into the front and turn the stereo on to play the trashiest Christmas songs we can find. Sitting next to her, screaming along to the music, I feel so safe. I know she doesn’t see this as any more than the homely platonic feeling, and I’d never expect anything more from her. Still, I have this unnerving suspicion that I’ll never find anyone who makes me feel so at ease, and who draws me in so irresistibly.  

We pull into Clint’s driveway, and spot him standing outside, waiting for us with a small pile of presents in his arms. He gives a small wave as we park, and I return the gesture with perhaps a little too much enthusiasm. I hear her laughing softly next to me at my excitement, and smile to myself. At least she doesn’t find my pep as irritating as Clint seems to.  

As I help Lucky out of the car, he looks my friend up and down respectfully. “So, this is her?” he says with a slight smile. “About time I met you.”

They formally introduce themselves while I watch fondly, like a proud parent. They know so much about each other already, all because of me.  

After greetings have been fully exchanged, he gestures toward the house, surrounded by abandoned bicycles and outdoor chairs. “Let’s go in and get warm.”

As we follow him to the front door, crunching through the gathering snow, I voice the doubts I’ve kept down until now. “Hey, are you sure this is okay?”

“I’m telling you,” he says over his shoulder, “they’re very excited to meet you.” He swivels his head between the two of us. “Both of you. They love to meet new people.”

I feel a reassuring hand on my shoulder and turn to see her smiling at me confidently. She knows when she’s welcome, and she wants to make sure I do, too.

Just before we reach the door, a small boy comes bounding down the stairs, crying, “Daddy!” He throws himself at Clint, who stacks the presents in one hand as he holds the boy close. “Hey, buddy, merry Christmas!” he replies, and looks up to see two more adolescents waiting for him at the top of the stairs with excited declarations that he’d made it and kept his promise. He hands off the presents for them to carry in, hurriedly introducing us as we all scramble inside.

I pause to take off my shoes, and she does the same, both of us leaving our woolly socks on.

“I hope they like us,” I murmur nervously.  

She smiles fondly up at me. “Well, if they don’t like you, they’re crazy,” she states softly.  

I raise an eyebrow. “What makes you say that?”  

She chuckles, almost in disbelief. “Who wouldn’t like you, Kate?”

Before I can question this, she puts a hand on my back and gently pushes me toward the door, Lucky eagerly racing ahead of me the moment I get his leash off. The kids emit cries of adoration as he makes himself at home amongst them. “The dog is so cute!” The youngest one, Nathaniel, looks up at me, grinning. “What’s his name?”

“That’s Lucky,” I respond warmly, inadvertently grabbing the attention of an older woman who had been embracing Clint.  

Clint turns round, suddenly recalling our presence. “Oh, right, yeah,” he chuckles softly. “Brought home a couple strays.” He introduces each of us in turn with a sly smirk at his own joke.

Closing the door behind the two of us, I give my sweetest and most confident smile to Clint and his wife, Laura. “Hi,” I say shyly, before I feel a hand sneaking into mine. She, too, beams back at them, squeezing my hand gently to remind me she’s there.

“Welcome, Kate,” Laura said kindly, coming over to pull me into a hug. “So good to have you!”  

After embracing my friend, she pulls away to look us both up and down. “Are you two... together? Or...”

“Oh, no!” I hastily intervene, my nerves kicking up a notch. Instinctively, I pull my hand away and rub my neck with it instead. “Just... best friends.”  

Laura’s expression is dubious and concerned, but she nods and says, “Well, lovely to meet you both!”  

I sneak a glance at the girl next to me; her mouth has turned down slightly at the corners and her eyes are devoid of emotion. Have I made her uncomfortable? Has the thought of being my girlfriend made her sick? How do I fix this?  

I follow the rest of the family to the living room, trying to ignore my racing thoughts.  

But as we tuck in to Christmas lunch and watch as the kids open presents, I can’t disregard the tension growing between the two of us. Sure, she puts on a very good show of being cheery and joining in the rambunctious whoops of delight; but having known her for the majority of my lifetime, I know something isn’t right with her.  

But I have no choice but to play it off for now. That is, until Clint calls the two of us out, requesting our help.  

We follow him out to the woodshed, where he turns to face us, his expression as somber as ever and his hands stuffed into his pockets.  

“You are lucky my family are not as good at reading the room as I am,” he begins, “because that was painful.”  

The two of us glance back and forth, between Clint and each other, feigning ignorance.  

“What do you mean?” she says, bewildered.  

Clint rolls his eyes, the cheesiness of the entire situation getting on his nerves. He turns to me, exasperated. “Well, you seemed awfully happy that Laura thought you were a couple.”  

I open and close my mouth several times, making flabbergasted noises in an attempt to play it off. I hadn’t looked happy, had I? Had I really been smiling? Come to think of it, I recall the temperature of my cheeks rising slightly...

“What do you mean?” I protest, shutting my train of thought down. “I just found it funny, that’s all-”

“Right,” Clint interrupts, before turning to face my friend, nothing more to say to me. My petty excuse had probably done all the talking necessary. “And you,” he continues. I feel the girl next to me stiffen. Damn it. What have I done, bringing her here, having Clint and his family make these statements right in front of her? She’d probably rather be at home with her overbearing family than here next to me.  

“Don’t think I didn’t notice you,” is all Clint has to say to her. He nods at us both, and finished with, “I’m leaving you two to sort things out, you’re not coming back inside until this whole woeful sappy mess is dealt with.”

He stalks back to the house without another word, leaving us shivering and alone.

We stand in silence for what feels like hours. Where the heck am I supposed to begin?! I’m standing in front of the sweetest, most beautiful girl I’ve ever known, who is probably thinking about how much she hates me, with all these accusations piling up-

“I understand if you hate me.”

My eyes widen and I raise my head. She kicks a rock at her feet, her arms folded around herself. Avoiding my gaze, she adds, “I get it, really; you deserve better.”  

Taking a moment to kickstart my vocal cords, I murmur, “What?”  

She finally looks at me, her eyes watering; whether it’s from the cold or emotion, I’m not entirely sure.

“I really like you, Kate,” she continues. “I didn’t know how or if I should tell you. I mean, we never really talked about boys, but I assumed you still liked them. And besides, it’s not like you’d get feelings for your best friend, especially not when you hang around super cool people like Clint every day.” She shuffles her feet shyly as she looks away again.

I blink rapidly in shock. Before I know what I’m doing, I unwrap my arms from myself, place my hands on her cheeks, and kiss her softly. It’s only half a moment, but she’s even more perfect than I’d always hoped. Instinctively, she moves her head toward mine as I pull away, her doe-eyes full of astonishment.

“In all of this...” I wave my hands around for emphasis, “madness, you’ve been my one constant. If it’s gonna be anyone, it’s... it’s you.” I take her hands; now it’s my turn to nervously avoid her eyes. “You don’t have to be, cool, or superpowered, for me to care about you that way. And honestly...”  

Taking a deep breath and summoning up the necessary courage from God knows where, I blurt out, “I’d love to be your constant, too.”  

Wait, that’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever said. That doesn’t even complete the sentiment-

Before I can amend it, she’s grabbing my waist and pulling me close, and the shock of it topples us both into the snow, giggling and kissing softly. She whispers softly in my ear, “You already are, you silly goose.”

This is equally stupid, so I feel a little justified. She does make the stupid seem so adorable, though.

I hold her close for a moment longer, sharing body heat with her, before saying, “We should probably go back inside, huh.”

“Poor Clint will be relieved at the lack of tension,” she laughs.  

Helping each other up, we walk back to the house hand in hand, leaving a temporary mark in the snow of something far more permanent.

[mariacallous]

U.S. President Joe Biden’s visit to Israel, his meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog, the war cabinet, families of the hostages, Rahel Edri and other survivors of the slaughter together with his remarks to the Israeli nation in its hour of need are a paragon of true friendship. “You’re not alone,” Biden told us. And to the enemies who are considering joining the war against us, he made clear once again: “Don’t. Don’t, Don’t.”

Biden did and said everything a friendly state can do for a country that was attacked as Israel had been, and beyond. Israel couldn’t have dreamed of greater support from the world’s greatest superpower. Biden was full of understanding, compassion, empathy and readiness to stand by Israel in every way, with all the resources and means that can be imagined.

Biden spoke explicitly about the hostages and missing persons. “We’re “pursuing every avenue to bring home” the captives. “For me as the American president, there is no higher priority than the release and safe return of all these hostages.” He also promised that the United States is on our side militarily: with the aircraft carriers, the economic aid package, with weapons, Iron Dome and a commitment to stick by us if we are attacked by Iran.

We should draw encouragement and strength from all that Biden has said and done, but we should not see his unprecedented support as a free hand to fight with no restriction. The president cautioned Israel not to make mistakes in rage. “We have seen [the Hamas attack] described as Israel’s 9/11. … I’m sure those horrors have tapped into … some kind of primal feeling in Israel, just like it did and felt in the United States. Shock, pain, rage – an all-consuming rage. I understand, and many Americans understand.” He added that this rage led to mistakes and urged Israel to learn from the U.S. experience and not to repeat those errors.

Biden called Hamas a terrorist group and said that in Israel it committed atrocities that recall the worst ravages of the Islamic State group, but he added: Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people. Hamas uses ... innocent families in Gaza as human shields.” This distinction requires both taking care not to harm the civilian population and not to violate the laws of war. Israel is not a terror organization. Terrorists live in darkness, “but not you, not Israel,” he said.

“I came here to think where we’re going, what the strategic targets are and what we want to achieve,” he said, stressing that it’s not only toppling Hamas. “Despite the all the difficulty we must strive to reach peace so that the Jewish people and the Palestinian people can live beside each other in peace,” he said, presenting a strategic outline for the vision: the two-state solution.

Biden has demonstrated America’s commitment to Israel and its security. So it’s important to listen to the messages he conveyed to the Israeli leadership and public and to act in close cooperation with our most important ally.

[chaoscradle]

Whenever I see someone saying that Mileven is gonna survive S5 and there’s no reason why the Duffers would have them break up since they’ve had them together since S1, I’m always kinda baffled. How can you look at the current state of their relationship and say that? On top of the fact that they’re not doing well currently, the foundation of their relationship was also not the greatest and it’s going to keep causing problems in my opinion. Mike expressed his feelings towards El when El was practically fresh out of the lab where she had nearly zero understanding of what love like that was, and both of them knew next to nothing about each other. Mike knew she was called Eleven, believed she was from a mental asylum (or something like that, he found out later she was from the lab), had superpowers, and was willing to help them find Will. El knew he was called Mike, he was Will’s friend and wanted to find him, and he let her stay with him. Mike didn’t even like El at the start, he decided to keep her because she could help them find Will, and explicitly made plans to supposedly send her back once they had found him. That was the basis of the relationship that these people believe is going to be carried through S5 and given a happy ending. Not the relationship that has years of background friendship and understanding, not the one where Mike is protective and where they talk about their problems and resolve them, not the one with genuine romantic chemistry, not the one that has been slowly built up from the beginning. The one where a boy kisses a girl with minimal communication skills and they take that and try to make it work.

[lolitystories]

Don't let me down 6 : Reconciliation.

When they left the apartment, Miguel hadn't noticed that someone had followed them...

They first went to the florist. There she bought white tulips.

“Why tulips ?”

“In the language of flowers, they mean forgiveness.”

“...”

Normally, Miguel would have said something sarcastic to her, but he was too worried about her to be kidding.

“Do you know the language of flowers ?”

“My grandmother loved them… It was her job.”

He put a hand on her shoulder as he walked her to the cemetery.

He trailed off slightly when she finally found the stele, which had been carved for her family.

When I think... That he's not even in it...

“Hello dad…I…”

The words stuck on his tongue.

"I…"

She tightened her arms around herself.

A hand came to rest on his shoulder.

"Are you ok ?"

She shook her head.

"We can stay there a little longer if you want, you don't have to talk."

And that's what they did, they sat down under a tree and he listened to her cry.

He asked her questions about her family, about what she loved, about everything…

“The sun is going down…”

“Yeah, we should go.”

He walked her to the station and put his jacket over her shoulders.

"Thanks."

“It’s nothing, you might catch a cold.”

“No I mean… Thanks, for today.”

“...”

She smiled shyly at him, and so did he, then they parted, when her train arrived.

“Let me know when you get back.”

"Okay."

The doors closed and Miguel watched the train leave.

When he turned around, he found himself face to face with his brother.

“Gabi !?”

“Mmm mmm…”

"What are you doing here ?"

“You weren’t responding to my messages, so I came to see if you were okay, that’s when I saw you going out with Sara.”

“She wasn’t feeling well…”

“Yes, I saw that… And you, are you okay ?”

“...”

“Miguel, you know that if you have a problem, you can talk to me.”

"I know…"

“How about we go have a drink ?”

“...Sorry, I’m tired.”

"Yes, of course, like always."

“But, if you want you can come.”

Surprised, Gabriel took a while to respond.

He was used to his brother being distant, especially since what happened with Dana.

“Do you want me to come to your house ?”

“Yes… Well if you want.”

"You don’t have to ask me twice !"

He put his arm over his brother's shoulders and started walking with him.

A little company couldn't hurt...

**

After these events, the days continued to pass, new enemies and dangers appeared, but their friendship grew stronger.

It even seemed like things were starting to go back to the way they were before...

But despite that, something refuses to disappear... It is always there... In the shadows.

**

“Grandma look !”

“What is it my darling ?”

“A prototype, electric wires.”

“Electric ?”

“Yes like that I…”

“You don’t need this, you will develop your power soon.”

“Yes but if…”

"We are not talking about this…"

“...”

“You’re being a little hard on her.”

Her mother told her, to defend her.

“Maybe she needs more practice…”

“Oooh like that time you tried to see if she could deploy a web, by throwing her in…”

“Calm down my darling and you mom… What does it matter if Sara doesn’t have any power ? Do we really need a new Spider-Man or Woman ?”

“And… I’m a little afraid of spiders.”

Sara added.

“Because the fate of the world would depend on a girl who has no power ! There’s only Spider-Man, nothing else!”

“...”

“I…I could help, even without powers.”

"No. Everyone who wants to help and doesn’t have the power ends up…”

“Okay, that’s enough, let’s leave. Go get your things Sara.”

Back home, Sara's father went to see her in her room.

She was spinning a mechanical firefly between her fingers.

“Hey little firefly can I come in ?”

"Yes…"

He came and sat down beside her on the bed.

“What’s bothering you ? Why do you want to do so many things ?”

“That’s not true.”

“You're trying too hard my darling, you don't need to be the best or perfect in the eyes of others, who you are... Deep down, it's...”

“...But what if she was right ?...What if I had no talent ?”

“You have the greatest talent, you already have superpowers.”

"Really ?"

His father showed her, her heart.

“Right there… This is your greatest power. I am and will always be proud of you.”

**

Sara woke up, her body numb, she looked at her alarm clock and sighed.

Shit… I'm going to be late.

When she turned her head, her eyes widened, seeing the person next to her.

“Jay!?”

“Mmm?”

“Why are you still here !?”

"I…"

“I’m going to be late for work, get up !”

She tore the covers off him and he almost fell out of bed.

“Sorry but it was so good last night, I fell asleep and couldn’t wake up.”

Yes… Good for you…

“Um… Are you doing anything tonight ?”

“It depends, why ?”

“There’s a small party at a friend’s house tonight and…”

“I already told you, I don’t want to be with anyone.”

“Yeah, but, it would just be to party, you know…”

She stared at him and he looked away.

“I need to get ready, don’t forget your things this time.”

**

"You are late."

Miguel told her.

"I know…"

“I already badged for you.”

"Thanks."

She said, dropping into her chair.

"Coffee ?"

"My pleasure."

At her desk, she noticed a lunch box, but it didn't belong to her.

“You really need to watch what you eat.”

"You did it ?"

“A potato gratin and salmon, the best dish in the world.”

“You mean… Your favorite dish.”

"It's the same thing."

She smiled and hastened to taste it, the smell had made her hungry.

“Tell me… Are you doing anything tonight?”

"For what ?"

**

“Gabriel ? You’re here ? It’s me Dana.”

“Dana ? Yes, come in.”

The young woman came in and took him in her arms.

"Oh, what's going on ? Miguel came back didn't he ?”

“Yes… And yet…”

"..."

"He is different. I'm afraid I’m losing him."

He took her gently by the shoulders.

"Were you also afraid of losing me when you left me ?"

“Gabriel… Please, how many times should I apologize? And why did you forgive Miguel ?”

“Because you’re a manipulator.”

"Wrong."

“No, it’s the truth, you did the same thing to Xina.”

“Her again !?”

“She was Miguel’s best friend and she would have been with him, if you hadn’t done everything to separate them.”

“I didn’t like her attitude, her way of thinking she was better than everyone… A bit like Sara.”

“I thought she was your friend ?”

“...”

"You should go."

“No wait please, I would like you,to do me a favor.”

“...”

“I want to know… If I still have a chance.”

“Are you asking me to spy on my brother ? Really ?"

“...”

She moved closer and placed her hands on his cheeks.

“I love Miguel, I love him more than anything…”

“...”

She quickly placed a kiss on his lips.

“Remembering the good old days…”

“Dana… Fuck !”

He pushed her away.

She smiled at him, then left.

Gabriel remained frozen for a few moments, before quickly wiping his lips.

"Oh… She’s really a…”

**

"No, not like that."

"What ?"

“Your guard is way too easy, do you want to end up in the hospital again ?”

They were above his building, the wind was blowing hard.

He really needed practice.

"Come on, what are you waiting for ? Hit me !"

"I'm not going to hit you."

"You won't hurt me. In fact… You should already be able to reach me.”

Finding it easy, Miguel fired a web, which Sara quickly dodged, she was moving fast.

"You need to concentrate !"

"That's what I do !"

"You don't use your powers enough."

"I don't have spider sense !"

“No need, close your eyes and listen.”

“...”

“Breathe…I’m sure you can hear it.”

"What ?"

“My breathing, even from here.”

He remained attentive.

He heard her approach, her heartbeat, her muscles flexing, her breathing.

He blocked her next blow, and she smiled, quite a bit. He looked at her and it was a mistake, because she sent him light.

"Damn it ! What is !?"

“I told you to close your eyes !”

She kicked him in the shin.

Miguel pulled himself together, he hesitated to use his claws.

“Attack me Miguel, I know how to defend myself, you on the other hand, you have no control over anything, neither your powers nor your love life apparently…”

“...”

“You will say thank you to Lyla.”

“Lyla…”

*Sorry but it’s not my fault if you forgot to deactivate me.*

The training continued.

It was completely dark, with the city lights just below, it looked like they were above an ocean of stars…

"Come on ! Once again !"

Sara charged, every time she tried to strike Miguel, he dodged, becoming much faster than her.

He didn't use his eyes.

She took out an electric stick and tried to touch him, he used his webs to stop her and spread his claws.

Their confrontation had turned into hand-to-hand combat.

“This time I got you!”

He grabbed her and flipped her over, preventing her from moving, trapping her beneath him.

“...”

“...”

They looked at each other without taking their eyes off.

“It looks like the student beat his master ?”

“You are still far from surpassing me !”

She reversed their places.

“But I must admit… You are improving.”

She straightened up and gave him her hand.

“Do you think I would be… A good Spider-Man?”

“What made you change your mind ?”

“Well… If I was chosen… It must be for something.”

“You weren’t chosen Miguel…”

“...”

“No one is chosen, no one is the chosen one, you choose to become a hero, you are responsible for the choices, which will make who you are. Everyone has this power… You always had it in you. You just doesn’t know…”

He looked at her wide-eyed, why did she always make him feel so...

"I knew it !"

A voice shouted and they both turned, to find Gabriel.

“I knew it was you spider-man!”

“...”

“How come Sara knew about it before me!”

"...What are we doing ?"

She asked.

“I can still paralyze him…”

"Knocking him out would be less painful."

"You think ?"

“Uh… Guys…”

Sara and Miguel looked at each other before bursting out laughing.

“Excuse me Gabriel, but your face…”

Said Sara patting her on his shoulder.

“Yes, very very funny…”

"Come on, before you fall."

Said Miguel, welcoming them inside.

“So tell me, can you take webs out of just your hands, or…”

“Gabi…”

“Everyone wants to know !”

**

Days passed, becoming weeks, then months. Miguel had tried to work things out with Dana, a restaurant, and take vacations… It seemed like the wedding was on the way again, finally… That's what Dana believed, because the closer the days approached, the more her fiancé had doubts, especially after Gabriel refused to help her, and don’t talk to her anymore.

And for more dramatic information… During one of their missions, Sara and Miguel, discovered that Tyler Stone, the man who was at the origin of his misfortune, was also his real biological father.

The more time passed, the more things changed. New avengers, aliens, mutant monsters...

They often had a lot of distractions.

“He’s going to escape!”

"I know…"

She said, trying to follow the thief.

As he shoot, Sara was protected by Miguel.

"Thanks !"

He held her against the wall of a building, hiding from the enemy's next attacks. He had one hand on the wall near her face and the other on her hip.

Close… Much too close…

"Are you ok ?"

"What ? Yes, yes I’m fine.”

“Your heartbeat is…”

“He’s going to escape, hurry up !”

And it was not the first time that this kind of situation happened…

Like that day in the lab...

“Seriously, tell me why you love…”

“Old things ?”

"That's not what I meant."

“Yet it is what it is…”

Sara was the only person Miguel knew who still bought books, or bought music albums.

“I like the feeling of being able to have the object in my hands, to collect it… It’s a bit like… Well, it reminds me a bit of my grandmother’s house.”

"...You know...I still have the book you gave me about Narnia."

"Really !? Did you read it !?”

“Yes, even if it took me a while.”

He couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm.

She had come closer to talk, and while they were talking about fiction, Miguel noticed something, in fact... He had smelled that several times... Her perfume... Was it his mutation that made that…

"Something’s wrong ?"

“Hum… Did you wear perfume ?”

“No, I rarely wear it, why ?”

"No nothing... You... You smell good, that's all..."

Sara blushed at her words and Miguel looked away, doing his best to hide his blush.

**

But the most embarrassing moments must surely be when they had to put on their hero outfits, and change next to each other, turning away from each other. But after doing it a hundred times, it became natural.

Miguel had noticed something on her body and Sara laughed at what was bothering him.

“You have the right to look you know.”

"...I didn't know you had a tattoo ?"

He asked, seeing violets on her thigh.

“I did it after high school. It was a gift from a friend.”

“Oh… It’s very beautiful. It suits you.”

"Thank you…"

**

Two sweaty bodies lay in a bed, Sara's bed.

She turned her back on her partner.

As always… Loneliness was already back. And she hated it.

“Are you…are you up for another round?”

"Yeah…"

Jay started to return to her, but the sound of something breaking echoed in the living room.

“Um… Do you have a cat?”

"No."

"Sooo…"

"Stay here."

Sara got up and put on a t-shirt and panties before going out into the hallway.

There was a shadow near the window.

She approached slowly.

“Sarah?”

“Miguel?”

She turned on the light and found the young man dressed as Spider-Man, kneeling in her living room.

"What are you doing here ?"

“Your window was open, I need help with…”

“No, no no what the hell !? I have a door!”

“...”

Miguel stepped back surprised by her anger.

"Sorry, I…"

“I’m busy at the moment, come back later !”

"But…"

“Sara ? Everything is fine ?"

She froze and Miguel understood that he had not arrived at the right time.

“Oh… I… Sorry.”

"Get out !"

She said, pushing him towards the window.

**

"Ouch."

“Don’t move, it will hurt even more.”

“Is it me or are you doing it on purpose?”

“Maybe… Now you know you have to go through the door.”

“I didn’t know you had someone.”

"I don’t have someone."

“...”

“Let’s just say… Sometimes I feel alone.”

Miguel didn't add anything to that.

"So ? How are you going to explain this new injury to Dana?”

“...”

"What's the matter ?"

“Dana and I… We broke up.”

"What !?"

“It’s nothing, forget it.”

“What do you mean, you were going to…”

"It's nothing…"

Sara froze, Miguel had just grabbed her thigh, but especially with his claws.

Miguel took a while to react, but suddenly realized that his claws were touching something...

"Shit ! Sorry !"

He quickly moved away from her, removing his hand from her thigh and looking at her in panic.

"It’s…"

“Obviously I screw it up again.”

“Mig…”

“Why do I always have to…”

“Miguel !”

He looked at her, she quickly cleaned the scratch and sat down.

“It’s just an accident, I have spiderman blood in my veins, it’s nothing, I’ll get over it.”

“...”

“Honestly, a cat would hurt a lot more…”

This reflection succeeded in relieving him a little.

“I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

“I didn’t really feel pain, I was more surprised than anything else.”

She motioned for him to come and sit next to her.

He was much calm, not thinking, as she treated him.

"It's because you're scared for her, isn't it ? Are you afraid… Of not controlling yourself ?”

“...”

"I'm sorry."

She put her hand on his, but he didn't dare shake it back.

Sara blamed herself. She blamed herself for what he was going through... This burden, and the feelings she felt, she shouldn't be with him right now, she wasn't the one he loved, or needed.

Miguel's body was bruised and she feared that some of the marks he had were inflicted by himself.

She would have to ask Lyla to make sure he sleeps and eats well.

"I finished."

"Thanks. Have you got the results yet ?”

“You’re not planning to return on a mission ?”

“That’s all I have to do…”

"You should rest."

"No need."

"Stop…"

He looked at her as she tightened her grip on his hand.

“This is what I need right now.”

“...At least let me fix your suit... Actually, I've been thinking about making an upgrade for a while.”

If she couldn't do anything to hold him back, she would do her best to protect him.

“...Could you do something for my cape ?”

“Spider-man, don’t wear a cape.”

“I like it.”

He knew it pissed her off.

“No cape…”

He laughed and let her do the repairs.

Before he knew it, Miguel was dozing off, listening to the sound of her fingers working on the keyboard.

He woke up a few hours later, feeling a strange feeling. His claws extending and retracting at his fingertips.

His eyes widened, seeing Sara staring at them in wonder.

“...Do you see me as a cat?”

“A grumpy little cat, yes.”

She said, pointing at the fangs protruding from his mouth.

He pouted at the thought but continued to let her play out.

His hands that had already caused so much harm... Seen as something cute...

“You know… About Dana.”

“...”

“You must not let her go.”

“I can’t protect her.”

“But you love her.”

“...”

“She knows you, she knows who you really are, she has seen your past and she has always supported you. Love is strong... So, you should show her everything you are ready to do for her, open up to her, even with your fears. If you love her… Tell her the truth.”

"...You really think that ?"

"Yes. You deserve to be happy. If you don't... You risk losing her. Is this what you want ?”

“...”

Sara let go of his hand and looked at him with a sweet smile.

"I still have to work on your suit, so go ahead."

"Thank you Sara."

As soon as he was gone, Sara's eyes darkened.

Lyla appeared beside her.

*Sara… I noticed your heart was beating really fast when Miguel was around you lately.*

"Oh really ?"

*Yes, I took the liberty of doing a test, but everything is perfectly normal.*

“...”

*Sara… are you ok ?*

Her gaze was that of a compassionate friend.

"I'm fine."

*Love is a painful thing… Do you want me to order your favorite meal ?*

"I'm not in love Lyla."

*It's already done ! I also prepared your favorite movie, now you have to put on a comfortable outfit and relax !*

Sarah laughs.

“Thank you Lyla…”

*...I may not be real. But I'm your friend.*

Sara while the hand where the digital woman appeared.

“You are a precious friend Lyla.”

**

Meanwhile, Dana was recovering from her old relationship. She was angry, she knew that Miguel was hiding something from her, and her brother too.

But as strange as it may seem, that's not what bothered her the most... She knew that Miguel still loved her, if she really wanted him, he would only be hers, so why ?... That was left her with nothing but a void ?

“Good evening Mr. Stone.”

“Good evening dear Dana, how are you ? Miguel has been less at work lately, I thought it was because of your wedding planning, but apparently that’s not the case.”

"No... We broke up, I'm sure he has feelings for this Sara, who works with him."

“...I always knew that Miguel was different, but to break up with a woman as extraordinary as you, what a mistake.”

Dana blushes.

"Thank you Mr. Stone, you've been more than nice to me lately. When I think that he invented this whole drug thing... Now I know, that you would never have hurt him.”

“It’s only natural my dear… You know, I’m organizing a small reception in two days and I would be very happy to invite you.”

"Really ?"

“Yes… Besides, it seems to me that Miguel will be there, this would be the moment to show him what a bad decision he made.”

“...I like your way of thinking.”

She said, before kissing him.

He had hurt her... So she was going to destroy him in turn.

Back to masterlist - Previous chapter - Next chapter

[lostnlucky]

I want to see your webcomic rec list 👀

Thank you for indulging me here's the masterlist of recs, if you're looking for something with queer/trans characters you've come to the right place:

(All links lead to the the first page of the comic, to avoid spoilers!)

Note: many of these comics deal with really heavy topics, and I recommend you check out the CWs (usually on the about page) before you read! If you have concerns about anything, hmu I'm happy to help Modern / Historical Comics:

2 Slices -- Cute queer romcom about two teenaged boys who keep getting mistaken for one another and form a very begrudging friendship when trying to disentangle themselves from each other's lives. The art style is really cute, it has some good twists and terms, all around a great time. I cannot recommend this enough. (Complete!)

Freakshow -- Set in historical France, the comic follows a series of murders surrounding a failing carnival/"freakshow." This is the most wild murder mystery I've ever read, because you're fairly sure you know the murderer since page 1. The twists are fantastic, the layers of character relationships are amazing. Every single update to this comic makes you reread the entire comic, searching for the hidden things you missed. Wonderful foreshadowing, wonderfully written.

Fantasy:

White Noise -- The monstrous and fantastical nation of Aetheri has come out of hiding, and there's a war brewing as humans and monsters begin to collides. The comic switches between the POVs of Hawk, a half-human traveling neighboring countries searching for his sister, and Liya, his sister who thinks he's dead. Absolutely fantastic and well-paced, with a lot of queer and trans character front-and-center (a major storyline revolves around transitioning!). (If there is ever a time to catch up on White Noise, it is right now. The moment they've been building to for 10 years is literally the next page!)

Tiger, Tiger -- A noblewoman in an alternate historical period steals her brother's identity, ship, and first mate and sets off for a distant country to study sea sponges (and gods). Has a really cool and interesting mythological system, and the entire comic is drawn in pencil! It's gorgeous

Daughter of the Lilies -- Great for fans of DnD! Follows the newest addition to a group of up-and-coming mercenaries, who refuses to show her new friends her face. Also has a cool magic system and really solid world-building. The twist with the main character is really good, trust me.

Shaderunners -- Thousands of years ago, all the color in the world faded to grey. Now, color is reemerging: bottled and sold to the highest bidder. The comic follows a group of bootleggers who have banded together to steal color from the rich in the greatest heist ever. Has a slow start, but the writing is fantastic, and the setting is very in depth and interesting.

Sleepless Domain -- Magical girls, except they're a commodified child soldier industry. I can't give any more detail than that, because the very premise of the comic spoils the massive plot twist at the end of the first chapter, but please trust me. This comic is an absolutely amazing breakdown of grief and industry, and it's fantastic. I have never watched a magical girl anime, and this is one of my favorite comics of all time.

Recoil -- The main character discovers he has superpowers after a horrible accident and is snatched up by a government agency designed to keep superpowers a secret. The art style took me a little to get used to, but the story is fantastic. There are so many good, horrifying plot twists, you'll be on the edge of your seat the entire time you're reading. The sort of comic where you reread it and notice 5 more things that you never noticed before. (Please read the CWs before starting this comic!)

Inhibit -- In a world where superpowers are common, there also exists facilities for teenagers whose powers are out of control. Main character gets wrapped up in uncovering a massive conspiracy embedded in the institutions who employ superpowered people. Fun plot twists and interesting relationships and dynamics between characters

Post-Apocalyptic:

Countdown to Countdown -- Humans with superhuman abilities are captured and butchered for magical body parts. The main character is housed in a "correctional facility" for superhumans, where he's safe from the terrors outside. Everything changes when someone breaks into the facility. I've been following CtC since early into its first iteration, and it's really fun! The powers are cool, and I love the art style.

No End -- Very much a slice-of-life comic about a group of people trying to survive in a post-apocalyptic society, traveling between different safe zones. Fun characters, kickass world building, a really interesting and nuanced take on how people deal with the zombie apocalypse (and how society would re-evolve)

Sci-Fi:

Saint for Rent -- Time travel is a tourism industry in this comic, with "inns" spread throughout time serving as way-points for travelers to duck in and out of. Saint runs one of these inns and has to watch his friends (and family) rush around him as he stays still in time. I am being completely honest when I say that this is the best time travel plot I have ever read. Definitely a brain twister, and you'll appreciate a reread to try and piece together characters' individual timelines, but absolutely fantastic and very sweet.

[cwseriesshowdown]

Round 1B: 90210 vs Superman and Lois

90210: The show originally revolved around the Wilson family, including new Beverly Hills residents Annie Wilson and Dixon Wilson. Their father, Harrison Wilson returns from Wichita, Kansas, to his Beverly Hills childhood home with his family to care for his mother, former television and theatre actress Tabitha Wilson, who has a drinking problem and clashes with his wife Debbie Wilson. Annie and Dixon struggle to adjust to their new lives while making friends and adhering to their parents' wishes. Like its predecessor, the show follows the lives of several wealthy students attending West Beverly Hills High School in Beverly Hills, California. The show later focuses on the same group of friends when they graduate and begin their lives in the adult world. Some attend college at California University, while others begin exploring avenues beyond post-secondary education.

Superman and Lois: After years of facing supervillains, monsters and alien invaders, the world's most famous superhero, The Man of Steel aka Clark Kent and comic books' famed journalist Lois Lane come face to face with one of their greatest challenges ever -- dealing with being working parents in today's society. Complicating the already daunting job of raising two boys, Clark and Lois worry about whether their sons, Jonathan and Jordan, could inherit their father's Kryptonian superpowers as they grow older. Returning to Smallville to handle some Kent family business, Clark and Lois are reacquainted with Lana Lang and her Fire Chief husband, Kyle Cushing. The adults aren't the only ones rediscovering old friendships in Smallville as the Kent sons are reacquainted with Lana and Kyle's rebellious daughter, Sarah. Of course, there's never a dull moment in the life of a superhero, especially with Lois' father, Gen. Samuel Lane looking for Superman to vanquish a villain or save the day at a moment's notice.

[type1diabetesinfandom]

2?

Fandom end of year asks:

2: favourite fic of the year 

Ok so you're getting a list because I can't pick just one, and I love reccing fics! I should do it more.

Favorite Podfic: @prettybirdy979 's None So Blind read by @read-by-badfinch . This one is easier to pick because I listened to only a few podfics, but I absolutely love this fic and the reading was so good!

Fandom: Daredevil and the Avengers

Warnings: none

Rating: Teen

Relationships: Gen

Tags: Ableist Language, Ableism, Secret Identity, Identity Issues, Canon Disabled Character, Blind Character, Disability, Learning Disabilities, Crossover, Identity Reveal, Deaf Clint Barton, Matt Murdock Needs a Hug, Hurt Matt Murdock, Angst, Hurt/ComfortPodfic, Podfic Length: 3-3.5 Hours, Audio Format: MP3, Audio Format: M4B

Summary:

They say when you assume you make an ass of you and me.

Matt wishes that the Avenger's assumptions about his seeming inability to read the written word did something as benign as making an ass of him and them. Being called illiterate shouldn't hurt, not when he knows he's not, and it's not like he can tell them the truth.

Not that the truth would make much difference. He's just going to have to grin and bear it.

If he can.

First off, it's got great characterization and hurt/comfort, but it goes above and beyond discussing assumptions, judgements, and ableism and it's SO good.

Fics

@rageprufrock 's Hindsight is a delicious all roads lead to canon au.

John Sheppard has t1D, doesn't join the air force, DOES join the fbi, and meets Dr. Rodney McKay when someone puts a bomb in the man's car. 23k

Fandom: Stargate Atlantis

Warnings: none chosen

Rating: explicit

Relationships: John Sheppard/Rodney McKay

Summary:

Hindsight is, at best, only 20/20.

The Sonder series by Zelos is a delightful look at the mess Peter's knowing teachers help him clean up post Homecoming. His principal is very very tired of dumb teenage superheroes, especially when they see his insulin and accuse him of doing drugs. 31k

Fandom: Spiderman Tom Holland movies

Warnings: none

Rating: Teen

Relationships: Gen

Summary:

sonder n. the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own—populated with their own ambitions, friends, routines, worries and inherited craziness—an epic story that continues invisibly around you like an anthill sprawling deep underground, with elaborate passageways to thousands of other lives that you’ll never know existed, in which you might appear only once, as an extra sipping coffee in the background, as a blur of traffic passing on the highway, as a lighted window at dusk. —The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows

A series about the aftermath of Homecoming, what it means to support a hero, and the prices you pay for doing just that. Spoilers for Spider-Man: Homecoming. Not Far From Home compliant.

Asking Questions by anonymous is short but packs such a punch. What would life be like if you could shapeshift into the form of your greatest potential, a form that would allow you to escape your physical pain/disabilities, and be unable to live the entirety of your life like that?

Fandom: Shazam movie

Warnings: none

Rating: Teen

Relationships: Gen

Tags: Friendship, Bonding, Superpowers, Chronic Pain, Disability, Canon Disabled Character, Backstory, Past Drug Addiction, Fluff and Angst, freddy has to deal with chronic pain, billy just wants to be a good best friend

Summary:

“God,” Freddy said, hopping from foot to foot a couple times before leaping a few feet into the air. “You know you’re fucked up when not being in pain is your favourite superpower.”

There's so many great fics I read this year, but I'll stick with these for my favorites because otherwise it's going to devolve into a plethora of PJO angst and there's a good probability I'll just make a separate list for that fandom on my main 🙈

Thank you for asking!