#galvanized beams | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

oshygoshy · 3 months ago

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what genre of tiktok brain rot do they watch (aka just things that pop up on my fyp)

word count - 1,054 words

warnings - not proofread also wrote this at 3 am so probably doesn't make sense

a/n - in honor of tiktok getting banned in the states. fly high, fellow americans. unfortunately i seriously need to Lock In so i am NOT redownloading any other app. i need to focus on school (desperate). feel free to add on your own headcanons too!

karasuno

daichi - that one construction building meme like with the galvanized steel beams and wood veneers or whatever

suga - whiteboard marker ink test videos

asahi - sticker room decorating like where they have the little tweezers and place the sticker down perfectly every time (tried to buy a pack of them for himself bc they seemed relaxing but actually just got more stressed from trying to place them down perfectly first try. they're sitting half opened in his drawer)

noya - 3d ai art (animal fusions are his fave)

tanaka - those slideshows that are like "where are u shitting the hardest tag ur bro"

kageyama - volleyball videos. this man does not have a social media presence whatsoever. he is so disconnected

hinata - anime edits with brazilian phonk music

tsukki - car crash videos ("bikers fault") sprinkled in with the occasional study vlog. also on reels not tiktok.

yamaguchi - “your month your x” videos and sends the ugly ones to the gc always (yk how december is always a harlot and kageyama’s bday is in december?)

yachi - girl group idol fancams. makes study blogs on a side account. tsukki knows but doesn't tell her. he likes & follows (under a blank account with no pfp or anything duh)

kiyoko - makeup grwm, nail art videos

nekoma

kuroo - skibidi toilet rizz brain rot (unironically, for some reason it's always the smart stem majors studying the hardest shit with the most intense brain rot) or idk like those math edits that actually cook. like i've seen actual edits to the pythagorean theorem

kenma - streamer clips, new video games news, etc. watches maxwell the cat ravage the block and sends them to kuroo. he enjoyes them as well.

yaku - cooking videos, NOT asmr - very clear distinction. like newt on tiktok. funny and also helpful voiceovers

lev - skibidi toilet rizz brain rot (this time genuinely just brain rot, not studying stem) or gym videos

aoba josai

oikawa - volleyball. except this time he is connected to the internet unlike kags, he's just Addicted To That Grind so he consumes vb content on his downtown. or mercury cream depotting videos (my fave tbh i want to eat it so bad)

iwaizumi - makes the occasional gym videos and always blows up bc he's hot and oikawa is for sure jealous

mattsun - those alien videos that's like blowing up the earth with a ray gun or something and the entire comment section goes "bleep blorp zop?" yk??? and always sends them to makki

makki - matches his freak and always replies with "dw pookster daddy can handle it🐺🥀⛓️❤️🖤" and sends the exact same shit back to mattsun

kunimi - matcha making aesthetic asmr videos (hates matcha though)

kindaichi - sports videos as a whole he kinda dabbles in them all (is confused why kunimi watches matcha when he hates matcha)

fukurodani

bokuto - animal video compilations (so cute!!)

akashi - booktok and literature, new manga & book releases. hates on coho but overall mature with his booktok takes

konoha - pokemon nuzlocke/competitive clips. highkey has no idea what's going on (same) but enjoys them nonetheless. tried to make a competitive team once, and immediately got lost (ev? like the little fox guy?)

shiratorizawa

ushijima- does not have tiktok or insta, but still watches the videos tendou sends him tho

tendou - i feel like random shit in general but likes horror/true crime/cave exploding stories

semi - hair salon videos…like hair styling. the more alternative the better

shirabu - school memes but is a haughty pre-med biology student and always likes the ones that are complaining abt how hard stem is, esp compared to humanities. sorry not sorry there's always gotta be that one kid

goshiki - dog grooming videos. he wishes somebody could apply that level of care to his own hair bc wtf is going on top of his head

inarizaki

atsumu - artificially likes a bunch of random shit that he doesn't gaf abt to make his fyp seem all aesthetic and cool. in actuality doesn't go on social media ever bc 1.) his pr manager has begged him not to, at least without checking in first, and 2.) genuinely just On That Grind and isn't on his phone much to begin with

osamu - coloring videos. loves hearing the sound of the marker scratching against the paper

suna - this man's screen time is insane. mostly spent on soap-cutting videos

kita - the chickens in his backyard coop. his farm doesn't have wifi.

aran - those what i fed my dog videos except it's those raw-fed dogs that are given like kangaroo bones and bear hearts and shit. actually insane diets they eat so much better than me. watches them as he eats like a microwaved tv meal and feels kinda sad abt himself

extra schools

hoshiumi- clips of nature documentaries/movies. always tries to find the rest of the movie on the account, but they never post the entire movie and gets really pissed abt ending on a cliffhanger everytime

hirugami - "what i cooked for my husband, john, after his 12 hour shift today: traditional british pea and carrot soup" and it's deep fried, frozen. and salty. ifykyk!!

daishou- twitter arguments with temple run in the background (also video always ends with "pluh!" ifykyk)

sakusa - aita videos omgggg he loves them sm. for one, it feels like gossiping which he loves (don't tell me he doesn't love gossip, 1.) he's cousins with motoya AND 2.) chided hinata for collapsing IN A HIGH SCHOOL match which?? did he even see that himself??? like karasuno wasn't against itachiyama for that match, AND THEN brought it up to hinata when they were both in msby - aka THEIR PROFESSIONAL CAREERS. he remembered a little mishap from like 6 years ago, and that’s the first thing he brings up to hinata?? not even a hello???? he TOTALLY remembers & holds a grudge) and two, it gives him something to listen to while doing his 10 step skincare routine

komori - mukbangs. sends the messiest ones to sakusa every time, and gets blocked for an hour every time as well

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ilaurabhdh · 3 months ago

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| My dove | Ben 10 x reader | Chapter 2|

Masterlist

Warnings : none

Word count : 5.5k

A/N : English is not my 1st language

Credits : @cafekitsune for the dividers

Chapter 1

"Still not working right, Blukic. Set it on stun, we get blast ! Set it on blast, we get low battery warning !" A Galvan complains.

"The knob is upside down, Driba." Blukic points at the knob on the blaster.

"And WHOSE jobs was that ?" Driba glared at Blukic who only hummed and pointed at him.

"Yours."

"Was not."

"Was too."

The two Galvans continued arguing as Ben who transformed into a crystalsapien or what he calls diamond head. Was used as a practice target for their new blaster. The brunette only yawns before transforming back into his human form. You mainly came here to inspect the base and its security, but decided on staying to see what the two galvans had created.

Ben sighs . "Come on guys, are we done here ? I thought galvans were supposed to be the smartest beings in the universe." Even if he was tired, Ben took every opportunity to be sassy and sarcastic. "Smart as in figure stuff out quickly so that Ben Tennyson could go home smart."

You click your tongue. "Didn't you agree to this Tennyson ? You should then see it through with no complaints." Your eyes never leaving your tablet, you were finishing up some reports. You enjoy doing paperwork, keeping everything well and organized. You are competent enough to manage your time with paperwork's, deadlines, meetings and missions. Work was somewhat of your hobby, so doing nothing productive makes you feel extremely uncomfortable. That's why you sometimes do the paperwork of other people to pass time, with their consent of course.

"Yeah, but I didn't think it would last so long. I've been here for at least three hours !" Ben complained. "Why are you even still here ?"

"I was interested in what these two galvans were working on. Plus, my studies aren't ready yet and working in the comfort of my room makes me feel too sleepy." You just finished proofreading for the fourth time what you had written on your tablet and pressed the sent button.

"Geez, do all magisters have to do so much paperwork ? Everywhere you go, you always write something on that tablet of yours. Doesn't it get annoying or exhausting ?" Ben quickly transformed into another aliens as the two galvans started to shoot him again. "Ow, ow !"

"Its actually relaxing, you should try doing some, Tennyson." You said his last name coldly.

"Why does everyone get to be called mister and I don't ?" Ben questions you "Also, why did we hire you guys again ?" Another question but turned to the two arguing galvans.

"Mainly to not get confused with your grandfather, maybe because I thought you were underserving of such title. But after our first mission, I can tell you're not a bad guy. Just a bit annoying at times." You received a notification from Rook, he had sent you some book recommendations about humans and their culture. You and Rook had a pretty good affinity. Two plumbers sent to work on earth, not knowing anything about its inhabitants, culture and surroundings. Even better, Rook was also very organized and a kind gentleman. Rook was almost everything Ben was not.

"What do you mean, was I some kind of bad guy in your head before ?"

"No, I just thought you acted a bit like the people back on my home planet." You answer vaguely.

"And what were people like on your home planet ? Wait, actually, where do you even come from ? Like what alien are you ? I don't mean to be rude but like I've never seen aliens like you." Ben had gotten used to the multiple beams blasting him, he was now more focused on you and your mysterious like aura.

You stopped in the middle of your writing and put your pen down for a second. "I'm an Ornix, we resemble humans but have features from an animal on earth you call 'bird'. Almost all Ornix went instinct." You paused for a moment. "I'm most likely, the last remaining of my kind. And if you ask me, it's better that way." You pick your pen back up and continued writing.

Ben wanted to ask you more questions and why you would say such a thing about your own people. But the familiar beeping sound of his omnitrix went off. He transforms back into a human but the galvans couldn't stop their firearm in time and so had lit up his pants. Ben starts screaming, startling you as you finally look his way. You almost burst out laughing seeing his predicament but held it in and went up to help him put out the flame.

After the whole ordeal, you all agreed that it was enough testing for today and walked out of the room to the corridor.

"Seriously, I'm done being your lab rat !" Ben says firmly.

"Blukic is the one who crossed the polarities !" The shorter Galvan blamed.

"You set his pants on fire." Blukic responded.

"Liar, liar !" Even so, Driba laughed a bit. You couldn't help but join in. "I don't know if it was an accident or not. But seeing Tennyson in such predicament really was one of the most funniest things I've seen. Keep up your work."

"Seriously, you guys are worst than Azmuth. Also [name], don't ever mention this again." The last part of Ben's sentences sounded a bit desperate.

"Of course, we are. Everyone is."

"That Galvan's a genius !" Druba finished off Blukic sentence.

"You don't always get the opportunity to see the oh so legendary savior of the universe, get his pants set on fire. I don't think I'll be forgetting that." You continued laughing, to Ben's displeasure. The hero was embarrassed, the only thing he could hope was for you to soon forget it and never mention it to anyone else. You could see the worry on his face. A little smile etched on your face but vanished as fast as it appeared. "Don't worry Tennyson, I won't tell anyone about it. I'm just going to tease you about it."

"I don't know if that's better but I'll take it." Ben's happiness was crushed by your last sentence but at least you weren't going to snitch on him. "Oh, also, you can just call me by my name. I think that's easier to differentiate between me and my grandpa."

You stay silent, you never really acted familiarly with any of your partners or in short your coworkers. It felt unfamiliar calling someone by their name with no titles. Sure people called you daily by your name because well, you don't have a last name. But they would always start with some kind of formal title. It's the first time you've been on a team where you could call your partners by their first names. In fact, it's the first time you've been on an actual team that didn't last less than three days.

"Okay, Ben. But that's only because I don't want to hear you bugging me about it longer." This was the best response you made up to protect your honor and the rising heat on your face.

"Am I that anoying ?"

"Yes" All three of you say in unison.

"I'm never doing this again." Ben grumbled.

Unbeknownst, two figures roam around until finding the exit. A dog growls. Its owner, a tall figure with bones as armor holds him back. "We have everything we need now, boy. No secrets are safe."

====

The next few days passed by, not much happened since then. You mostly stayed behind at the HQ, making renovations to your offices. Today, Rook had proposed to stay behind while you go patrolling with Ben in Undertown. You were pretty reluctant but agreed.

This is how you ended up fighting off some mercenary after the Omnitrix. A crowd had formed, watching you and Ben fight this 'Sunder' off. Ben had many encounters with him in the past.

"Get him ! Come on ! Hit him harder ! Smash him good !" The crowd shouted.

You easily dodge the hoverboard coming at your way. "Why is there so many aliens gathered here ? Shouldn't they evacuate ?" You questioned everyone's favorite hero, Ben transformed into a gimlinopithecus. Shocksquatch in his words. You had just accepted the ridiculous name he gave to his aliens. You were tired of always correcting him.

Ben dodged the hoverboard and was about to punch Sunder but got hit by the same board. He landed next to you and coughed a bit. "It means they trust us. After all, I saved the universe so I can definitely kick butt and save them."

You gave him a skeptical look. "That just sounds danger incoming. I'll trust you on this one Tennyson. But if anybody gets hurt...you are very much done for." Ben didn't know what he should be scared of, the hoverboard and axe swinging at him or his partner, you.

The large grey alien hopped onto his hoverboard. "Give me your new omnitrix, Ben Tennyson, and this could all be over."

"Sure since you ask so nicely." Ben's sarcastic comment didn't amuse the grey mercenary who threw his axe at his way. You activated your wing engine, leaving Ben to fend for himself. The axe chased Ben down, on his way was a child, he quickly shielded away from the axe and let him off to the kid's father. "Geez, don't mention it." The father only gave him a thumbs up. You tried approaching Sunder but he would skillfully dodge you and continue to rope Ben.

You sent out one of your halos to try capture Sunder who let go of Ben and deflected your halo. You smirked as a second one was sent from behind to capture him. The one he had deflected came in front of Ben's. He smirked, held on the halo and electro shocked it, sending it to you then the halo that captured Sunder. Breaking the villain's hoverboard, sending him flying far away.

"This isn't over !" Sunder screamed before disappearing. Ben transformed back into a Human and screamed back at the direction of his enemy. "Looks to me like it is !"

You landed next to your green shirt partner. Ben smiled at you and raised his hand, showing you his palm. You title your head on the side and continued looking at him weirdly.

What human message is this ? I don't get it..? Am I supposed to read something ?

Ben realizing you probably didn't know what a high-five is, held your wrist and slammed each other's palm. "What was that ?" You ask, still not getting it. "It's a high five. Like you high five with somebody after winning or when you're just happy to see them." You thought about it for a second. "How is us slapping each other palms symbolizes joy or victory ?" Ben looked at you a bit exasperated, you and Rook really like to question everything. "It's just a thing we humans have been doing for like a super long time. Just don't question." You looked at your almost fully coved palm for a brief moment and closed it. "Noted."

At the moment, a tall, green alien with ginger hair and mustache, dressed like a magician walked in front of you and Ben.

"Congratulations my dears ! I saw what you did. Wonderful ! Wonderful, yes, indeed. Absolutely superlative." The green magicians attention was now on Ben. "But, my boy, if you want to prevent that run of elixir down feeling after transformation from beat to boy. What you need is a bottle of professors Hokestar's miracle elixir !" The shady alien shows off a small blue bottle with a star on the centre.

"The who with the what now ?"

"This is the opportunity of a lifetime ! Professor Blarney T. Hokestar's miracle elixir will change everything !" Ben gave him a side eye, the omnitrix user was about to make some kind of snarky remarks but you cut him off. "Is that so ? I've never heard of such products, was it registered ? Did it get verified by the safety department ? Is there a list of ingredients written somewhere ?" You ask curiously, you've never meet a salesman's like him before.

Professor Hokestar's was baffled by your comment. Ben giggled a bit before pushing you behind me. "What she meant to say was thanks but no thanks." Ben dragged you back into the crowd. You observe the professor T. Hokestar demonstrating his elixir on a 'stranger' named Solid Plug. You watch Solid Plug grow floral like hair with one drop of this elixir. You've never seen a product grow floral hair, just by the looks of it, the elixir had no ingredients listed. This was going against many laws. Most of the crowd had left, leaving only three other aliens, Ben and you.

"Now, who will be the next among you to partake of my miracle elixir. Two taydens a bottle." The three aliens still here all bought a bottle or two. You and Ben watched him on the sidelines. After finishing his business, professor Hokestar turned to you and Ben, he was more laser focused on Ben.

"As you can see, business is booming."

Ben gave him an unimpressed look. You were wondering how 8 tayden could be profitable, when including the craftmenship of the bottle and the possible ingredients that were used for this magic elixir. "Doesn't prove a thing. Like they say, there's one born every minute"

"And may i add, you've only earned 8 taydens. That is barely enough for a semi decent meal." Ben tried to hide his laughter again.

The professor only let out a nervous laugh. "No need to worry young lady ! I make decent profit, maybe even more than the average if lucky !" You raised your eyebrow at the statement. Professor Hokestar put an arm around you and Ben shoulders. "But my boy, it is my time to waste."

The professor started to lead the two of you somewhere. You were ready to knock him out unconscious if he dared to do anything. Ben shared the same sentiment, not only because the professor was very suspicious but also because he was very annoying.

You stopped In front of a giant cylinder home.

It looks pretty good. He must make some kind of profit to afford it.

"Welcome, welcome, welcome to Professor Blarney T. Hokestar's Extraterrestrial Emporium, lad!" He laughed. "If you cannot find it here, it probably doesn't exist!" The professor takes out some kind of remote, pushing the button. The front of the home opens to display a multitude of toys and plushies. You were extremely confused, this was a waste of time.

"Seems like it's just a bunch of old second-rate-" Before you could ask Ben to leave, he gasped at the sight of what looked like an obese almost human plushy and picks it up. " Where did you get this Sumo Slammers action figure ? I've never seen one like it before." You looked from behind Ben, what was so special about it ?

Professor Hokestar approaches Ben and take the plushy in his hands. "Special limited edition, only available from the concessionaires of Budokan. Fewer than 100 ever made. If you like it, it's yours, my boy, with my compliments." You put your hand on Ben's shoulder and shakes your head when he glanced at you. Ben looked at Hokestar with a distrustful look. "Why so generous?"

"Oh, it wouldn't be the worst thing in the universe to have a one-man superhero team as a spokesman for my elixir, now, would it?" Professor Hokestar then glanced at you. "And witch such pretty lady as you sidekick, we could make fortunes-"

"No." you responded flatly.

Ben still frowned a bit. "I guess you and your stuff may look kinda weird, but... it all seems harmless enough. Let me think about it." You gave Ben an unimpressed stare and pinched the bridge of your nose. At least he was being a bit suspicious of the merchant.

"That's all I ask, my lad." Professor Hokestar confidently responded, ignoring your remark. But you and Ben had already left before her could finish his sentence.

As you both walked off, Ben was playing with the new toy he had gotten with glee. You couldn't understand how such insignificant thing can make people happy sometimes. You've heard of the human culture of collecting these toys and leaving them to collect dust on their shelves. You weren't aware that Ben was also looking at you funny as you judged his toy.

"Is there anything wrong ?" The brunette inquired. "Nothing, I was just...curious of this thing..." You pointed at the round plushie in Ben's hand.

"Oh you mean this limited sumo smasher plush ? I've never seen one of these before but now I can keep this treasure in my collection !" You gave him another weird look. "I don't understand why you humans collects such random objects just to leave them collecting dust. What even is this 'Sumo slammers' thing ?"

Ben gasped as if you just insulted his whole lineage. "You don't know SUMO SLAMMERS ?? Wait when I actually think about it, it's probably an earthling thing...I also dust and take care of my collections, for your information !" Ben proudly proclaims. "But still I need to show you some of its games, movies and stories ! They're like the most awesome things ever ! They've practically defined my childhood !" You froze, your breath hitched and the world seemed to go slower for a moment.

Childhood..?

Is this really what childhood about ? Attachment to non existant beings and inanimate objects ?

That sounds really stupid, yet, it is able to bring such joys to everyone. These little attachments formed, define a person.

Something you'll probably never experience.

But it's okay.

As long as others were able to experience it, it didn't matter. It's one loss for the life of a thousand more.

Right ?

"You good ?" Ben moved his hand in front of your face repeatedly. You pushed his hand to the side, nodding and preceded to walk forward. Ben shrugged it off and followed you.

Not long after, Ben receives a call from your third partner, Rook. "Hello Ben and [name], how did it go with Sunder ?"

"Quick. He had to catch a flight. Hey, can you look up a "Professor Blarney T. Hokestar" on the Extranet ?"

"Oh, [name] had already sent a message about it."

Ben glanced at you, you were reading some information on your tablet from Rook. And he thought you had warmed up to him...

"I'll just tell you what I found. Professor T.Hokestar is an intergalactic flimflam man. Is he a threat ?"

"No." Ben scratched his head. "Long story. Me and [name] ran into him...okay, maybe not that long."

"Well, should you need backup-" Ben cuts him off. "I'll promise I'll call you." Ben ends the call.

You continued patrolling the area with Ben, he was playing with his plushie while you did most of the work. During the inspection of an alleyway, you had received a message from the plumber's HQ on your tablet for an emergency meeting so needed to leave. Since you were now one of Ben's partner, you were supposed to not attend meetings or manage intergalactic relationships as much and prioritize protecting the universe. So it had to be urgent if they had called you.

"Ben, I have duties to attend to. I'll leave the rest up to you."

"What duties ?"

"Diplomatic. If you need any help please call Rook. I won't be able to help you until an agreement is settled which could take a few days, weeks or more."

Before Ben could make any snarky remarks, you had already taken off. Ben stands unmoving for a second and sighs. Continuing the patrol he did not expect someone waiting for your leave to talk to him and drag him into his schemes...

====

"So we all agree that every party will not engage in any fights or wars and trading agreements will resume with no problems ?"

The two parties grumbled a bit, and one of them raised their hands.

"No, you cannot try and negotiate about eating babies. You know what happened to Jarett, he still hasn't recovered from it. I personally know the perpetrator behind it so I won't be afraid to send them at your door."

The alien lowered his hands and let out a sad grumble. After everyone signed the agreement the meeting was dismissed. You sat down letting a huge sigh of relief, you had done it a million times but this meeting you only had 5 minutes to understand the situation and resolve it. It felt really draining, hence why you were very proud of yourself for accomplishing it, nothing more fun than work...

Uncle Max, enters the room. Everyone had left except you. Normally you could handle about a week or two of no sleep, but these days you feel a bit more tired out...

"I don't know how you manage to pull it off. That was incredible. Sorry for the late notice, the original diplomat had an accident last minute, you were the only one free and of close proximity." He complimented with a smile.

"I've dealt with many more before, it's only my job to make sure that the universe stays at peace." You rubbed your temple, you really need to sleep...Maybe after you finish the next set of papers sent yesterday...

"You look pretty tired, kiddo. Have you been sleeping lately ?" Uncle Max patted your head affectionately. You wanted to pushed his hands away, you weren't a child. But you couldn't bring yourself. "I'll sleep tonight. After finishing my work."

Uncle Max's face shifted to concern. "You really need to take more care of yourself."

"I do, I always make sure to take a shower, make myself look presentable-"

"Not in that way, I meant your health and life style. Even if you try so hard to act like an adult, you're just a kid." You were offended before you could say anything uncle Max sat down and let out a huge sigh, it conveyed some kind of sadness. Your first were clenched, you tried to control your body from shaking. You didn't need his sympathy, you didn't need anyone's sympathy. Why can't they see that you are...

"Stop always trying to protect others by yourself." Your eyes widened, your clenched hands had lessen. "I know that you never want anyone to experience what you've lived through. But you need to stop carrying such a heavy burden. A 16 year old girl shouldn't be settling a potential war between two planets. She should be enjoying her youth. I'm not saying to stop working overall but to find a balance. Take this old man's advice, have fun, go make life long friends and even meet your love, make many mistakes, it's okay as long as you learn from them. Don't be afraid of the unknown."

You remained silent and pondered over his words. As long as everyone was safe it was all fine. Maybe you should ask HQ to lighten your workload..? A little smiled tugged up your lips. Mister Tennyson was truly a good person.

"Okay, I'll try mister Tennyson." Uncle Max returned your smile. In that moment when you thought you were shaking, your halo had been vibrating for a while, your made it move in front of you. Putting your hand in it to take out your plumber's badge, you had received 17 missed calls from Rook and 29 missed calls from Ben. You tried calling back Ben but he didn't respond. You then called Rook, he responded immediately.

"Hello,[name] ? How did the meeting go ?"

"It went well, explain why I've receive so many missed calls from you and Ben. What chaos did he cause again ?"

"Well...A Screegit was let loose-"

"WHAT ?!" You shouted. Rook covered his ears. "How did a SCREEGIT end up on earth ?!" Rook took a minute to recover from your shout. "Ben's taking care of it. He's got the situation under control-"

"Send me his location, I'll be on my way." You ended the call. The immediate moment the location was sent. You quickly bid farewell to uncle Max and flew to your destination.

Meanwhile. Ben, transformed into Bloxx was trying his best to contain the screegit. He didn't know how long he could contain it until professor T.Hokestar finally did his thing. "Now, professor ! Now !"

"On my way, my boy !" The professor tried to climb out as fast as he could out of the building through a window but fell. Before he could reach the ground. A pair of arms catch him.

"Hurry up ! I can't keep this up !" Ben grunts in pain, the screegit was letting out more acide and trying to break free. The professor clumsily tried to get his machine but you just took it from his hands and shoved it through Bloxx. The screegit had shrunk back to its little adorable form.

"Professor ?" Ben calls out. "It's over my lad" responds Hokestar's.

"And I better get an explanation on how a screegit ended up on earth."

"Okay, before we start, I'd like to say it's all his fault." Ben pointed at professor T.Hokestar, putting the screegit back in its bubble container. "There you are, precious. Back to your rightful form."

"No !" A Florauna pushed the professor, taking the screegit and running away. "The screegit must run free ! Free the screegit !"

"Does this guy ever quit ?" Ben was about to starts chasing him but, you put your arm in front of Ben. Stopping him from pursuing the activist, that was almost immediately captured by Rook.

"Nice one Rook."

"Always my pleasure." He responded immediately with a smile.

The crystal the screegit was contained rolled to Rook's feet. "We will take possession of the creature now, thank you very much."

"Go ahead ! Lock me away ! Then I'll get to experience how my caged alien brethren and sistren feel." You respected activist but some just go too far. You felt like you've had a hundred migraines today. For once Ben notices. Rook passed Ben the screegit.

"So it's a happy ending for everyone."

"Indeed !" The troublesome professor intervenes, trying to take back the screegit. "And now, with your kind permission, gentlemen, I shall take my Screegit and be-"

"Handcuffed to that nut job for a year if you so much as think about touching that Screegit." Ben hands back the screegit to Rook. "And about 5 years of jail, 70 000 taydens owed." You said unconcerned, starting to already report the situation. Hokestar's only stares blankly. He nervously rubs his hands together and smiled. "Screegit ? W-W-W-What Screegit ? Never heard of the thing before in my life. Heh. No, indeed. Now, if you'll forgive my hasty departure, pleasure to make your acquaintance, looking forward to your endorsement of my products, Ben Tennyson ! Hahaha."

As soon as he was finished, the conman ran away. "Yeah... Like that'll happen." Ben looked at the running professor. Ignoring his assistant trying to run away from multiple plumbers trying to capture him. "Even if it did, we'd probably tax him more." The two boys exchanged concerned looks.

"The professor's motives, I can understand. That Pax fellow, not so much."

" He means well. Which makes him even more dangerous." Rook nods at Ben's statement.

Ben glanced at you for a second. "Rook, buddy. How about we do the next patrols together this week ?"

"But isn't-" Ben shoot Rook a stare and repeatedly glanced at you. Trying to hint something.

"Oh, yes indeed. I think it will be a good way for me to discover more human traditions."

"Are you guys excluding me ?"

"No ! It's just that recently, Rook and I wanted to know each other more ! So we wanted to hang out as bros ! Ain't it, Rook ?" Rook quickly nodded, giving you an awkward smile.

You blink at both of them. "Ok, then. It's good that we all get along as a team." You continued to write in your tablet. The boys both left to go patrolling the area, leaving much more time to manage the damage done.

====

It was late at night, Ben just finished his night patrol and had just gotten back in the plumbers quarters. He didn't even get a moment of rest when grandpa Max instructed him to deliver some documents to someone.

Ben groans. "Why me ? Couldn't grandpa just ask another plumber. I just got back..."

The brunette quickly spotted the room he was supposed to deliver the documents. He knocked on the door once, twice, thrice. No answers. Ben was impatient so just forced the door open. He was surprised to see the familiar [hair color] girl, sleeping on her desk under many documents. On the side, piles of what looked like an unending waves of documents.

How did you manage this ? Ben thought to himself. God, that's why you looked like you were about to fall anytime. Ben was hesitant to put more documents down. He had just realized how much work you handled and the pressure you had to carry everyday.

Ben glanced at the door and back at you repeatedly. He sighed, taking some of the documents that looked easy enough, he sat down at a nearby couch and tried to fill up the papers . It wasn't his strong point but he tried his best, only filling up the documents he was confident wouldn't cause an outbreak. He was only able to finish one pile out of the dozens you had, he had to brainstorm hard on the many meanings of these documents and recheck them on multiple occasions.

By the time the Omnitrix user got up, it was already past 4am. He had arrived at about 11pm, so he spent more than 5 hours only being able to fill up one pile. Ben's respect for you had just skyrocketed, you really managed this in a daily basis. He felt bad, he once did get overwhelmed by schoolwork before. It wasn't as bad as what you had but he could understand to some the degree the pressure.

I really need to ask Rook to teach me a bit about alien diplomacy...

Before leaving and going to bed. Ben tried to carry you to the couch, but you momentarily woke up.

"What...Who are you..?" You asked, feeling drowsy.

"I'm, Ben Tennyson, hero of the universe." Ben confidently affirmed.

You were barely able to keep your eyes open and only snuggled up to him. He put you down on the couch, with a blanket over you. As he was about to leave he could hear you mumbling something in your sleep.

"Bye Mr Ben Tennyson, savior of the universe. Promise me you'll save us all."

Ben turned towards you. "Save who ?"

"My family, we're so close...we'll finally be free soon..." Some tears were forming at the corner of your eyes. Ben approached you once again. Taking a seat on a nearby chair.

"Be free of what ?"

"Will you promise if I tell you ?"

"I promise."

You gave him a warm smile. He had never seen you like that until now, but you looked like an ethereal beauty.

"I'm happy, you'll finally save us from ourselves."

"What do you mean-" You already feel back to the embrace of sleep. Ben was left with more questions than answers. He could try and look up more about your origins but if not even Rook knows what happened on your planet. Then how could he ?

Ben got up again, this time, leaving the room for good and going back home. He had already texted his parents about how he'll come home late. Maybe not this late but they understood his duty as savior of the universe. Back in his room, he lays on his bed and pondered. He shouldn't have asked you all of that when you were barely conscious, he'd just have to wait for you to open up to him. Until then, he'll try the help as best as he can.

When he finally closed his eyes, his omnitrix rang. He quickly picked it up.

"Good morning Ben ! Are you ready for our patrol today ?" Rook energetically says.

"What do you mean ? We're only... 9am ?!" Ben was shocked, he didn't even get a blink of sleep, he spent to much time thinking that he forgot to sleep !

"Yes ? Are you ready for a whole day of patrol ? You did take all of [name]'s shift for the next week, remember ?" Ben laughs in pain. This was going to be a long week.

====

Bonus scene :

You woke up later than usual. It was a first for you, but that meant you'd have to spend more time on paperwork, that you didn't mind much. But it would mess up your schedule and routine. Thank the skies that Ben had taken your patrol.

Shortly after finishing your morning routine. Making sure you looked presentable. Applying a bit of lipgloss. You came back to your office and realized out of the 15 piles of paper you've had, one of them was completed. As you reviewed them, you didn't recognize your writing or anyone for that matter. It did have some clumsy writing yet it looked like they put effort into it. It reminded you of your first times and how you had to work really hard to perfect this skill.

You smiled and continued working pleasantly, wondering who it could be.

Chapter 3

Taglist : @supernerdycookietrashblrr

#ben 10 omniverse #ben 10 x reader #ben 10 #ben 10 omniverse x reader #ben ten omniverse #ben tennyson #ben tennyson x reader #rook blonko #gwen tennyson #xreader #ben 10 alien force #kevin levin

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luna-desert · 8 months ago

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i take notes text:

Let's design a house for 100 million slug pups, So after Five Pebbles fixed up the super structure he struck gold, adopted an exploding slug cat and cleared out the metropolis, life was awesome. Then his slug cat gave birth to 100 million slug pups all at once. The room was way too small. No problem for five pebbles though. He used his secret animal technique, with one powerful move he expanded the entire floor, borrowed 500 square meters from the neighbor Looks To The Moon, and then set up like this. Lay down the eco friendly wooden floor tiles and install slime mold and gooieduck on the ceiling to brighten up the room. He dug round holes on each floor of the exterior wall and installed extra small pin holes to keep the air fresh and let the slug pups in. Then he used tons of galvanized square steel to weld one billion bed frames, covering them with eco friendly wood veneers that are durable for 100 cycles. He borrowed a million clumps of moss from his neighbor Looks To The Moons super structure, so each of the million slug pups has their own separate bed. Now the slug pups are separated and dont make any noise. They even sleep smelling like nothing at night. He didn't waste any space under the beds either. Five Pebbles installed long drawers small enough for all the slug pups pearls and baby rattle toys. The newly welded and covered eco friendly floor slab is beautiful, strong, and sturdy. Between floors he installed cages full of lizards and scavengers for entertainment. Big investments bring high returns, and the focus is on the billion slug pups. Going up and down the walls is now easier and more convenient. Forget traditional den entrances, they're too easy for naughty slug pups to kick open. Instead he installed heavy titanium alloy doors that even a miros vultures blast cant dent. To top it off, five pebbles installed a set of access controls at the door with facial recognition its safer for the slug pups to enter and exit ensuring no smelly scavengers sneak in. Five Pebble added a few more galvanized square steel beams on the wall and set up filled with snacks that slug pups love encouraging them to develop the good habit of hunting every day. And a wet pond to play in borrowed from Looks To The Moon. In the middle he placed a large statue of the ancients for the slug pups to worship daily. Inspiring dreams of karma and ascending. This is how little Pebble organized his home comfortably accommodating 1 billion slug pups. More slug cats more joy more happiness and fewer worries.

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ratan0706 · 3 months ago

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The Role of Galvanizing in Achieving Sustainable Construction ?

In today’s world, where safety, reliability, and durability are paramount, hot-dip galvanized earthing flats emerge as an indispensable component in ensuring the safety of electrical systems and infrastructure. From industrial setups to residential complexes, these galvanized components are designed to offer optimal performance, corrosion resistance, and an extended lifespan.

What Are Hot-Dip Galvanized Earthing Flats?

Hot-dip galvanized earthing flats, also known as earthing GI strips or earthing patti, are flat steel components coated with a protective layer of zinc through the hot-dip galvanization process. The hot-dip galvanization process ensures that the steel is resistant to environmental factors such as moisture, heat, and chemicals, making it ideal for electrical grounding and earthing systems.

The earthing system plays a critical role in protecting electrical installations by providing a safe path for excess electrical energy to safely drain into the ground. Use of galvanized components such as galvanized beams, galvanized steel beams, and galvanized c channels ensures that these systems are durable and efficient.

Benefits of Hot-Dip Galvanizing for Earthing Flats

The hot-dip galvanization process provides various benefits for earthing flats, including:

1. Corrosion Resistance

One of the most significant advantages of hot-dip galvanizing is its ability to resist corrosion. The zinc coating acts as a barrier, protecting the underlying steel from rust, even in harsh environmental conditions. This ensures the galvanized steel grating and earthing flats maintain their integrity for decades.

2. Cost-Effectiveness

Although the initial investment for hot-dip galvanized products may be more compared to non-galvanized options, reduced maintenance and replacement costs make them a cost-effective solution in the long run.

Steel and zinc have a high recycling rate. Once galvanized iron or steel has served its lifetime, it can be collected, melted, and then reused. This makes such construction projects an eco-friendly method.

3. Safety

Hot-dip galvanized steel has a life expectancy greater than 50 years within any environment, making it fit to be used for integral structural components of stainless-steel cable trays and earthing systems.

Uses of Galvanized Earthing Flats

Galvanized earthing flats are one of the most versatile and commonly utilised products in many industries with wide applications, including:

1. Industrial Plants

Factories and processing plants require reliable earthing systems to protect the machinery and personnel. In addition to earthing flats, there are components such as galvanized c channels and chequered plates that are applied to ensure an all-rounded safety solution.

2. Power Transmission

Power generation and distribution requires reliable earthing systems to avoid faults and guarantee smooth running. Galvanized steel beams and earthing flats are the pillars of these systems.

3. Renewable Energy Systems

Solar farms and wind turbines necessitate efficient grounding systems to protect against lightning or electrical surges. Stainless steel cable trays and galvanized checker plates along with earthing GI strips enhance the durability of these systems.

4. Infrastructure Projects

Large construction projects involving bridges and buildings make use of hot-dip galvanized earthing components for safety and structural stability.

Hot-Dip Galvanized Earthing Flats’ Contribution to Sustainability

Sustainability is one of the growing concerns in modern construction and manufacturing. Hot-dip galvanization is an eco-friendly process that supports sustainable practices in the following ways:

1. Recyclability

Galvanized steel, including chequered plates and earthing strips, is 100% recyclable, which reduces waste and conserves resources.

2. Reduced Maintenance

The long life of galvanized products means less frequent replacement, saving resources and energy in the manufacturing process.

3. Energy Efficiency

Hot-dip galvanized earthing flats reduce the probability of system failures, thus avoiding downtime and saving energy in industrial processes.

Comparison with Other Coating Methods

Hot-dip galvanization is compared to other coating methods, for example, paint or electroplating, on the following grounds:

1. Durable

Paint may only offer a temporary protective covering, but it is not as durable as that of a galvanized zinc coating, especially in demanding environments.

2. Thorough Coverage

The galvanization process ensures full coverage of the steel surface, including corners and edges, which are often missed by other coating methods.

3. Low Maintenance

Unlike paint, which may require frequent touch-ups, the galvanized coating remains intact for decades, offering superior performance with minimal upkeep.

Why Choose Parco Engineers?

At Parco Engineers, we are committed to meeting the highest industry standards, and our hot-dip galvanized products are of good quality. Our product categories include galvanized steel beams, galvanized steel gratings, and checkered plates, all designed for safety, durability, and performance.

1. Galvanization Expertise

With years of experience and expertise, Parco Engineers mastered the art of galvanization, providing good quality products which are long-lasting.

2. Extensive Product Line

From stainless steel cable trays to galvanized c channels, we provide a wide variety of products to suit different applications.

3. Sustainability

Through our practice of sustainable manufacturing, we are contributing to a greener future while still producing top-quality products.

Galvanized earthing flats, a part of the modern system used for safety, efficiency, and durability, are indeed widely used in many other areas like power transmission or renewable energy. Hot-dip galvanized earthing components from Parco Engineers have the right durability and are cost-effective, sustainable products that can serve your purposes. Depend on Parco Engineers for innovative products that would pass the test of time and assure the safety and efficiency of your systems.

#galvanized steel #galvanized steel beams #galvanized checker plates #galvanized channels

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kpgreenengineering · 1 month ago

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Why Galvanized Crash Barriers Matter for Road Safety

Keeping Roads Safe with Strong Barriers

Road safety is a big deal. Highways, bridges, and city roads need solid protection to prevent accidents. One of the best solutions? Crash Barriers. These sturdy steel barriers are coated with zinc to make them tough, rust-resistant, and long-lasting. They help keep cars on the road and reduce the damage from crashes, making roads safer for everyone.

As more vehicles hit the road and infrastructure grows, the demand for road crash barriers has skyrocketed. These barriers don’t just stop vehicles from going off the road - they also reduce the impact of accidents. Their strength and durability make them a must-have for modern road safety.

What Are Galvanized Crash Barriers?

A galvanized crash barrier is a protective steel structure covered in a layer of zinc. This zinc coating protects against rust and damage from the environment. You’ll often see these barriers on highways, bridges, and flyovers, keeping vehicles safely on track.

How Does Galvanization Work?

The process, called hot-dip galvanizing, coats steel with a protective zinc layer. This makes the barrier resistant to rust and corrosion, ensuring it lasts for years—even in harsh weather. The zinc coating acts like a shield against moisture, chemicals, and other elements that can wear down regular steel.

Why Galvanized Crash Barriers Are a Smart Choice

1. They Resist Corrosion

One of the best things about galvanized crash barriers is their ability to fight off rust. The zinc layer protects the steel from rain, salt, and chemicals, making these barriers perfect for any climate.

They’re especially useful in coastal areas, where the salty air would normally speed up rust. Thanks to their corrosion resistance, these barriers last for years without needing constant repairs.

2. They’re Strong and Built to Last

These barriers are designed to handle heavy impacts. Whether on highways or city streets, a road crash barrier made of galvanized steel helps absorb and redirect crash forces, reducing serious injuries. Their tough build ensures they stay intact even after minor collisions.

3. They Save Money on Maintenance

Unlike regular metal crash barriers, galvanized ones don’t need constant upkeep. The zinc coating prevents rust and damage, cutting down on maintenance costs. That means fewer replacements and repainting jobs - making them a budget-friendly choice for road safety projects.

4. They’re Eco-Friendly

Choosing galvanized crash barriers is also good for the environment. Since the zinc coating extends the life of the steel, there’s less need for frequent replacements. Plus, galvanized steel is recyclable, making it a sustainable choice for modern infrastructure projects.

5. They Keep Drivers Safe

A well-placed W beam crash barrier helps keep vehicles on the road, preventing accidents caused by sudden swerves or lane departures. These barriers are installed on highways, flyovers, and accident-prone spots to reduce the risk of serious injuries.

The way these barriers are designed helps absorb the impact of a crash, making accidents less severe. That’s why they’re a key part of modern road safety.

6. They’re Quick and Affordable to Install

Compared to concrete barriers, crash barrier installation is faster and more cost-effective. Galvanized steel is lightweight, making transportation and installation easier. Plus, W beam crash barriers come in prefabricated sections, meaning they can be set up quickly - even on busy roads.

7. They Work in Many Places

These barriers aren’t just for highways. They’re also used in parking lots, industrial areas, and even private properties to improve safety. Since they can be customized for different needs, they’re a great option for all kinds of safety applications.

Choosing the Right Manufacturer

When picking a crash barrier manufacturer, it’s important to look at material quality, production standards, and customization options. KP Green Engineering makes high-quality road safety solutions, ensuring every barrier meets industry standards for maximum protection.

What to Look for in a Manufacturer:

Quality Materials: High-grade galvanized steel lasts longer.

Custom Options: Different roads need different barrier designs.

Industry Certifications: Make sure the barriers meet safety standards.

Reputation & Experience: Trusted manufacturers offer better reliability.

Installing and Maintaining Crash Barriers

Proper crash barrier installation is crucial for safety. Engineers assess the site and place barriers in the best spots for impact absorption. Regular checks and maintenance keep the barriers in top shape.

If you need guidance on choosing or installing the right barriers, the team at KP Green Engineering can help.

Simple Maintenance Tips:

Regular Inspections: Check for damage or wear.

Keep Them Clean: Remove dirt and debris to maintain visibility.

Replace Damaged Sections: If a barrier is seriously damaged, swap it out right away.

Final Thoughts

Galvanized crash barriers play a huge role in modern infrastructure. They’re strong, cost-effective, and great at preventing accidents. Investing in high-quality road crash barriers helps reduce fatalities and makes roads safer for everyone.

As road safety technology improves, crash barrier installations are getting even better—offering stronger protection and longer service life. Using galvanized barriers in infrastructure projects ensures reliable safety solutions with minimal environmental impact.

#galvanized crash barriers #road safety barriers #metal crash barriers #highway safety #W beam crash barrier #crash barrier #galvanized steel barriers

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mariamariquinha · 2 months ago

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wailing wall (Alejandro Gillick x f!reader)

A sequel to dark arrangements.

Summary: The day you touched hell.

Word count: 5.833.

Warnings: Violence, torture, death, mentions of suicidal thoughts (and practices), discussions about drug trafficking, DARK!THEMED, bad words, descriptions of torture 'rituals', physical illnesses. Angst. Like, really angst. With a considerable "happy" ending.

A/N: From the series of things that were sitting in my Google Docs.

I literally used Google Translator for the Spanish parts. Sorry for any mispelling or mistakes (I'm learning).

****

Important links you might be interested:

National Registry of Missing Persons

International Committee of the Red Cross

Diego Luna's interview with Variety about 'State of Silence'

****

You messed up.

You should’ve known better, in fact, and that led you to mess up.

That nickname made sense: it caught attention, it made people turn to you with a certain sense of trepidation. This also ended up becoming a basis for reputation, which, at that time, was of no use at all.

Icarus.

“But she’s a girl, right?”

Never a woman, just a girl. Because being a girl to them made it easier, or more enjoyable, and reduced you to a position of vulnerability. Just a girl? Is this what you have that is so valuable?

And then your uncle would show that sinister gleam in his eyes, place his rough hand on your shoulder or your back, in a falsely delicate touch, which you resisted just moving away from, and prepared himself to give the most intelligent answer he had managed to come up with in all those years, one that you heard almost like a mantra.

“It's because she doesn't have an ounce of fear of flying too close to the Sun.”

And you flew very close that time, going against your own convictions and, damn it, your own sense of protection that made you survive all those years.

You knew why Alejandro was the first person you thought of when you found yourself most conscious. It was the pain, almost excruciating and cruel, that took you to more distant or sometimes more recent memories; you would give anything for one last stern look from him before he himself ended your agony.

But he wasn't there. Nobody was. It was just you, a basement that bordered on isolation, the irremediable smell of blood and a pain that was slowly being healed in your ribs and chest. As soon as it happened, you could barely breathe, and you were writhing on the floor with your hands on your chest, grunting in pain as you felt the cold concrete against your face. Your head also hurt a lot.

In a rare occasion of affection, Alejandro had given you a book. It was something he particularly liked, perhaps, you couldn't be sure, but it was good in the early days, right when you got into that mess, when you just stared at any beam of light in that place with the hope that you would die soon.

At first they wore the aspect of charity, and seemed white and slender angels who would save me; but then, all at once, there came a most deadly nausea over my spirit, and I felt every fibre in my frame thrill as if I had touched the wire of a galvanic battery, while the angel forms became meaningless spectres, with heads of flame, and I saw that from them there would be no help.

The Pit and the Pendulum. Edgar Allan Poe.

You didn't make a lot of jokes with each other, but the next time you saw him, you chuckled and said "I didn't know you were the type to read that", even though you weren't calling him 'not very intellectual', just someone who didn't connect with that kind of thing. You were wrong, of course; the content of that story, as well as the others that made up that tiny collection, reflected how Alejandro's life and world were limited to death, shadows and hopelessness, just like his own.

That day, he moved his lips in what seemed like a return smile, and you closed your eyes in relief at still having your mind in reality to remember that.

That wasn't how it was supposed to be, however. It didn't make sense, it didn't… encouraged any agreement. He promised you. Well, you made him promise you. That it would be quick, without reservations, and that he wouldn't look back, because killing you had no use for him, and you didn't deserve more than a second look if you were so useless. He didn't verbalize it. He didn't say "sure, whatever you want" or just an "I promise"; Alejandro almost never said any safe words to you anyway, so you figured he would just do it.

You wondered if your mother felt the same way you did; if she was taken to that basement, or one that was far away from the house so you couldn't see her anymore. You even wondered if being away from you was a type of torture for her, if they used it against her as a valid promise that they would kill you if she tried something, only to then put you in the same place and slowly subject you to the torture of a slow death.

You had been thinking about her these last few days, more than usual. It was a sign that your end was near, with dreams filled with memories of her, or with subliminal messages that you didn't understand, or the consequences of fever, hunger or neglect.

You started to miss her more. When you accepted that it was what it was, you went to sleep every day thinking about the moment you would meet her again.

Suddenly believing in the afterlife wasn't so bad.

****

“How do you feel today?”

You still hadn't been able to decipher whether Dr. Salazar was just another person who submitted or conformed. He would see you every two days, even if you were no longer sure how much time you spent there, and you were always welcomed in a very bright, sterilized and inviting place. It wasn't a hospital, nor a doctor's office – these places didn't have two armed men at the door, or the irremediable smell of the sickly air freshener that the employees used throughout the house.

He always approached you with great patience, his attentive eyes that made you cling to a sigh of care, even if it was fake. When he was announced, and when you were taken away, you could always count on a caress on your forehead, where he would wipe your skin with a damp cloth and then, perhaps breaking a small rule, give you discreet sips of water, always looking back to make sure no one was watching.

He always seemed very tired and worried.

“... Tengo tres hijas, todas jóvenes. Uno de ellos incluso se parece a ti,” I have three daughters, all young. One of them even looks like you.

Because Dr. Salazar couldn't bear the silence of your pain, so he filled the room with little laments about his life outside the walls of that place. You never responded, mostly because you didn't know if you could still speak or if you were afraid of what was going to come out of your mouth, but he kept talking, and you watched his serene face as he did so.

Three daughters. A horse farm. A medical degree in Cuba. Swiss lemonades. A desire to get to know Spain.

Sometimes, when you were particularly emotional, you felt like saying that you thought about the beach, about those desires to be under the Jamaican sun without any worries, but you both knew there was no point in that, so you just remained quiet, watching him assess your bones, skin and eyes.

“Sin sangre.” No blood.

It was your response ever since you heard him mention the diagnosis to someone you didn't know. Menstruation was one of the first things that went away during torture, along with everything else that came little by little. You concluded that he was monitoring this, so when he asked you these questions, you only answered this: no blood.

Dr. Salazar nodded positively, wrote something down in a notebook, then began the regular inspection. You were dirty; they had denied you a bath for a while. In addition to the smell, your nails were also dark, a mixture of things you didn't want to know about, and he always inspected them as if there was something interesting in it, or if he was just waiting for the day they would disappear. You expected it too, you wanted to say. You expected so much worse.

He would give you some new medication and then that person you didn't know would come in, listen to instructions from him, and after that, over the next few days, someone would appear where you were and do something different to you: they would change your gauze, they would adjust the bed so that you didn't feel so much pain, they would choose another place to cut or kick or punch you.

It was senseless torture because they didn't ask questions, because nobody needed to know anything about you; it was recreational. A punishment, perhaps, that your uncle enjoyed having power over.

That day, after the usual check ins, Dr. Salazar hesitated before calling the person. He looked through the notebook, then placed it on a table and came to you, pulling your unresponsive body close in a hug, with the announced justification that he was just checking your physical stability.

“Ellos vienen. ¿Dónde estamos?” They come. Where are we?

It was whispered in your ear, his arms wrapping around your spine and pressing you against him as he pretended to be putting you on your feet. You blinked a few times, your hands falling to your sides without the strength to make you react physically, and your brain took a few seconds to process what that meant.

You thought it was a final test, something they wanted to be sure of so they could decide whether to kill you or not.

With effort, you raised your left hand and squeezed the sleeve of his coat, turning your head just a little so he could hear you whisper the answer against his soft hair.

“Caracas. Muro de las Lamentaciones.” Caracas. Wailing Wall.

****

He made a comment about your nails with an amused smile on his face, pointing to your hands with the tip of his fork before using it to spear a piece of meat on his own plate.

You couldn't move your arms. Since that invitation, you had been forced to sit there, at that full table, staring at a beautiful piece of filet mignon with mashed potatoes and carrots (your favorite dish) without being able to taste it, feeling, among other things, your belly twisting with hunger. He had authorized a shower after a session: one of your shoulders had been dislocated, and the other was bruised, so you were cleaned up by the person you didn't know, then dressed in a clean change of clothes, and set out for a private dinner with your uncle.

He spoke, and you heard one thing or another while blinking heavily, overcome by intense physical fatigue that he just didn't care about. You didn't even look at him: you knew that if you did, you would throw up what you didn't have in your stomach to vomit.

When he falsely noticed the lack of contact with the plate of food, he asked if you weren't hungry, and then said you had to try the steak, which they did excellently, that the mashed potatoes was the same recipe as your mother.

You looked at him when you saw him lean over to you and cut a piece of meat for you. He was smiling like never before, sadistic, taken by God knew what and visibly out of his mind, and when he held out that piece of food to you, a feeling of survival passed through you. He opened his mouth, suggested that you do the same.

Good girl, he said. Isn't it delicious?

And it was. It was divine. It was soft, well-seasoned, mild, and the only thing you ate that night.

****

He had plans, he told you over dinner. That your gringo friends were starting to bother him, so he would have to disappear for a while; just for a while, just until he found a way to get rid of them. When you returned to your 'room' that night, weak in your legs and almost carried by one of his guards, photos of Matt, Steve and Alejandro had been laid out on the mattress. You stared at it for a while, kneeling at the foot of the bed, and knowing that he would be watching you through the camera on the ceiling, you picked up Alejandro's photo and imagined the look on his face as you ripped off a piece of paper with your teeth, chewing it with ferocity, fighting your stiff shoulders for the sake of a show.

That's what you threw up later that night, alongside that single piece of meat.

****

It was a bang: a big bang, as if something had been knocked over by a bomb. You woke up scared, the sudden movement of sitting on the mattress making you feel pain all over your body, and in an impulse to get out of bed, you ended up falling to the floor.

You could feel the ground shake beneath your palms, hear from afar what sounded like shouts of orders, and soon after, some shots started. It was all very far away, distant, almost imperceptible, and you decided you were hallucinating. You stayed there, lying on your stomach, curled up inside yourself, listening to the noises with your eyes closed as if you could materialize them if you wanted.

The door opened abruptly. Heavy footsteps came towards you and you waited to be pulled up, or a kick, or a punch.

Someone knelt down next to you, and you opened your eyes. It was black tactical pants, military boots of the same color and the tip of a rifle. It… It looked like…

You felt a lump in your throat, but you didn't find yourself able to say anything. He didn't need you to say it. Then you deduced that yes, it was there, at that moment, that your life would end, and that he just came back to fulfill his promise. Just a small favour, something to make you die as you wanted to.

“I want to take you somewhere.”

And as if you were a feather, he calmly lifted you, wrapped a hand around your waist and, without complaining, dragged you with as many steps as you could take out of that room. You looked around: there was blood, bodies, a characteristic dust. The noises were no longer there, but the screams and voices continued. His grip helped you stay upright, like Dr. Salazar's, and suddenly you wanted to ask where he was, if it was time for your appointment, or time for him to talk about something new in his life.

But it wasn't. No, it wasn't. You felt the vest pressing against your right side, the smell of gunpowder, the rigidity of a solid body; Dr. Salazar smelled like a fresh bath – he was soft, cozy.

You lifted your face and stared at Alejandro's profile. He was staring ahead, passing hallways and passages, filled with flashes of light or complete darkness, and you frowned in confusion.

He stopped walking. Calmly, he turned his face towards you and with those penetrating green eyes, he accessed the full extent of your lost expression. You stared at each other for a while, until you realized that you were in the front room, at the foot of the stairs of the house, and that just a few steps away from you was the vastness of the yard, the gate and the road. Outside, you could see Matt and Steve passing from one side to the other, giving orders, holding guns as big as Alejandro's.

Someone grunted at your feet.

Someone impaled him in the shoulder. It was a generous iron bar, and it was the way it was secured that prevented the blood from expelling from the body. He shouldn't be here, right? And not like that?

You moved away from Alejandro's body and hoped that he hadn't noticed your spontaneous action of pulling the pistol from his thigh, and if he had, that he wouldn't stop you. You didn't see anything else; you didn't see if he had left your side, if he was watching.

Your uncle was hyperventilating – he didn't have much time. When he noticed you, he raised his face as best he could, moving his legs in despair, mumbling a lot of nonsense things, mentioning your mother, giggling in shock, going on and on and on-

“Sabes que solo hice lo mejor para ti y me apuñalaste por la espalda. Cariño, puedo perdonarte. Podemos-” You know I only did what was best for you and you stabbed me in the back. Baby, I can forgive you. We can-

It was a shot.

Just one, on the forehead.

His head got heavy and he fell back, his empty eyes looking up at the ceiling.

Your arm hurt like hell, more than any pain you could have felt since you got there, and it fell to your side as if the gun weighed a ton. Suddenly it wasn't just something that poked your waist when you wore it on your belt; suddenly, you watched as the blood finally began to flow into his eyes, ears and head.

Your head felt heavy, dizzy. Any micro strength you gained at that moment began to fade and you swung to the side with the weapon, your eyelids almost preventing you from seeing the exit. There were shadows, then. You knew that your unconscious efforts to stay alive were no longer necessary, that the evil had passed, and that you could go. You could.

The sunlight hit you hard, it burned you, and your legs almost couldn't take it, but you needed to get out.

You saw your mother. She was wearing that beautiful, chic dress, the one she was wearing the day she disappeared, with her face made up, her hair up. You always knew she fit the aesthetic of that house, so elegant and soft, full of secrets but graceful. She was calling you, wasn't she? Was that why she was smiling at you like that?

You've already had the tip of a gun pointed at your head, but this time was different. You would only need to press the trigger, just push your finger, and then everything would be over for good, and you would finally have an inch of peace.

Your eyes closed, but you didn't hear the bang of a bullet going through your head; the ice from the gun was still there, touching your head, and nothing came out. It was a click, a small 'tick' that yielded nothing; frustrating, pathetic, ridiculous. You felt a hand grab the gun, then lower it, then take it away from you.

He said something, didn't he? Take her? Help her?

Whatever it was, you soon felt a pair of arms wrap around your back, then your legs, and you were lifted into the air, this time without brutality, as if you were finally seen as fine china and not a sack of potatoes. You couldn't hold on to Steve, but he carried you without much trouble. With your head hanging back, you saw what you were leaving in that place, and what would become of it; you smelled the gasoline, saw the door open wide and blood begin to drip onto the floor beneath your uncle; saw the pile of bodies spread across the yard.

Alejandro was standing there, Matt finishing pouring the liquid around the room where your uncle's body was. He watched you disappear, almost in slow motion, and the last thing you saw was the small flame of the lighter in his hand.

There was a discordant hum of human voices! There was a loud blast as of many trumpets! There was a harsh grating as of a thousand thunders! The fiery walls rushed back! An outstretched arm caught my own as I fell, fainting, into the abyss. It was that of General Lasalle. The French army had entered Toledo. The Inquisition was in the hands of its enemies.

****

He noticed you before he actually saw you. It was like a feeling, like a sensitive shiver when you were around, because you were trouble, and he knew how to sense one coming. Usually he would sort it out before he could feel it again.

It was clear he never did that to you.

You always wore a lot of dresses when you were still doing what you did, maybe to create a little sense of naturalness, which was stupid, but he also didn't tell you anything because it wasn't a bad look. Yeah, well, you had done that: you had given him something to appreciate in the midst of so much chaos.

Matt never hid where you were, but he knew better than to try and look for you; they both knew that Alejandro already broke too many 'ethical protocols' for you.

Seeing you that afternoon, Alejandro began to count details of your body as he did before, and as he did in the hospital, when he paid you a single visit while you were still unconscious, because you were stubborn and certainly wouldn't go more than two days without opening your eyes. There, you had two deep, dark eyes, your dry lips, your face dry from malnutrition; the horizontal cuts were made on your forearm, but he could see that they had done things to your chest, and if he could bet, he would recognize the shock burns on your nipples. The worst part was a cut along your navel that had become infected, and later he would discover that you ended up acquiring poor bone formation in one of your thighs due to an excruciating recovery from a broken leg.

He could see the scar from your leg surgery peeking through the hem of your dress. It was a clean job, but it was still a scar, and it still seemed to clash with a lot of who you appeared to be. You went from one side to the other with a certain grace, even if with steps partially limited by your leg, and no one seemed to notice that you had marks, and everyone smiled back at you, and none of it seemed anything similar to how he found you years before.

Alejandro had been in Puerto Rico for two weeks. For two weeks, he accompanied you throughout your routine, and soon found you living in a discreet bungalow in a remote area of the city, almost always in the company of a man who he discovered was called Fernando.

That night, after a day of being a very silent sidekick to your day, Alejandro saw you go to bed early: you took three different pills, treated your skin with some cream, and sat up in bed as if you were thinking or, perhaps, praying. You stayed there for a while, staring into space, until you turned your face towards the window and saw him.

The two of you stared at each other for a long time. After years, it was the first time you saw him and that he saw you face to face, and all you did was offer that tired expression, without the hint of provocation or natural cleverness that usually crossed your face. You had no fear, no joy, no resentment: you were just there, recognizing that he was there too, and that empty look was perhaps the only time that made him lie in bed thinking about you with a small churn in his stomach.

You had become him.

****

Fernando was the one who answered the door, so you weren't surprised when he came walking into the kitchen with a sour face talking about a guy looking for you. You had been bracing yourself for this for a long time, and as you told Fernando to tell him to come in, you thought you were pretty confident that you could act normally.

And in a way, seeing Alejandro sitting at your kitchen table was… different.

He hadn't said much since he got there. He accepted the coffee you made and was sipping it, but you didn't know if he liked it, if it was to his taste at all, and Fernando kept glancing between you and him while he took a while to leave, as if he wanted to hear what the two of you would be talking about.

Eventually, you convinced him to go to work at once, that you would be fine, and that he shouldn't forget the oranges you needed for lunch. Alejandro watched the way Fernando patted your waist twice, gave him a severe look and then left through the side door; he just raised his eyebrows expressionlessly, scoffing lightly behind his back while sipping on the coffee.

You leaned your back against the sink, crossing your arms defensively against your chest. It was just the two of you now.

“... Have you changed your mind?”

Because it was the only first thought you could manage to spill out, even if in a low, pathetic voice, and to which he just placed the cup on your table before leaning back on his seat, still unimpressed.

“No.”

“No?”

“No.”

“Then why are you here?”

He considered your face for a moment, then swiped his eyes around the room, accessing your belongings and his surroundings before tilting his head to the side. You hated yourself for still knowing what that meant.

“Some things happened,” He excused.

“Yeah, I know. Things like that take three years to end.”

You didn't understand why you saw his mouth twitching, holding that smile he always hid, but you weren't attached to it. Heavens, you knew you couldn't. Of all the insistence for Matt to give you some idea of where he was, of all the places you looked for him, you had the right (or the obligation) to feel offended by the fact that you still felt your heart warmed by that kind of thing he did.

Alejandro stared at you for a beat too long, those green eyes taking everything in, and suddenly you felt the need to cover yourself more, to hide. He took that in stride.

“Who’s he?”

“A friend.”

“Like me?”

“No,” You squirmed a little. “You’re not my friend.”

“... Certainly.”

If you felt half as witty as you did before, you'd be sending him out of your house, or at least using his mouth for anything other than treating you like an idiot, but God knew you didn't carry half of your personality from those years, and that the most you could do was to bring that offended feeling towards the fact that he was there.

You wanted to say that you missed him, that you had been missing him since you woke up in that hospital and he wasn't there; you wanted to speculate why he played with you like that, handing you a gun with a single bullet, and letting you believe that you could end it, just to watch you fail; you wanted to say that you didn't feel better, that Fernando was a good comfort, that he had no right to be there to make you realize that he was the one you felt true appreciation for.

But you couldn't say anything because since he arrived, he only asked you two questions, and none of them were about how you were.

You turned your face to the door Fernando had come from when you heard him get up from the chair, and your eyes closed when he got close, very close, placing one of his cold hands to your neck and resting it there while he lowered his head just a little, merely brushing his lips on your forehead.

“Take me for a walk.”

****

That's what you told him the first time you met, when Matt introduced you as one of the trusted contacts he had. The two of you were outside the inn they were staying at, and you nursed a cigarette when you asked him to. Since that time, a lot of things had been weighing on your heads, but you lived on a different wavelength, so that wasn't what the two of you talked about that night.

Well, he asked why you were doing that, and at the time your uncle was merely an issue you were working on, not necessarily the epicenter of the problem in general. The two of you talked about Mexico, went over some information about the topic at the time (you talked, actually, since he didn't say much), and it was the closest you came to that feeling of delicious flirtation, the attraction starting to bubble inside you.

You had an independent spirit before; when the two of you walked, you were always a step or two in front of him, swaying your hips, having a more harmonious flow. Now, you had to unconsciously put your arm around his for support when there was a small incline in your path, because your leg was never going to do what it did before, and you didn't want to feel the shame you felt when he watched you do it.

The two of you didn't walk much (you could go further, but you had spent the whole previous day circling around the city, so you were pretty tired) and sat on a more discreet bench near a path where you routinely walked.

“I'm still active, you know, physically,” You said, even though he didn’t ask. “I can't do cartwheels or handstands, however. There went my gymnastics dream.”

The teasing was supposed to clear the mood, and when Alejandro huffed, you felt like it worked, even if slightly.

“You've been taking care of yourself,” He concluded, his arm slightly pressing against yours on the bench. “Has Fernando been helping you?”

You couldn’t help but smile at that, glancing at him with a hint of amusement.

“He’s not a threat.”

“It depends on what threat he could be.”

Things changed, you almost pointed out as he looked at you with a calm but cold expression. You were no longer a pepper full of fire, nor a girl willing to enter into a possible contest of egos (which was definitely not the case) to find out who was the 'man' in your life. Since you stopped there, and even before that, you had been taking care of your own life, believing that you knew how to manage on your own, but nothing was the same as before, and when these ideals almost all fell to the ground, you just thought it would be prudent to count on a more qualified person to help you.

You didn’t know if Alejandro would impose that he would establish a presence in your life; you didn't even know what he was doing there, and that should be the first thing you should worry about.

“You’re tired,” He pointed out next, when all you could manage was a silent answer, and you sighed, brushing your hands on your face.

That was the hardest part, if you could even put some level of difficulty in how things were going. You were doing well materially: you had a nice house, your body recovered well, you were basically retired if you wanted to. That was triple what many people who had been in your shoes got. Sometimes, or almost always, you spent sleepless nights dwelling on your privileges, remembering how everything for you was a matter of opportunity, how you took advantage of a system that you were supposed to help fight or just stay away from, how you pushed your luck every chance you got because you were an asshole.

You wanted to tell him that you had been thinking about finishing what you started that afternoon – that sometimes you stared at a river for a long time, or put your hand on your neck, and imagined that that wasn't where you were supposed to be, that you didn't deserve it. It felt like a gathering of many things you wanted to say but weren't saying; Alejandro should have known, he always knew.

“How is it for you?”

He shook his head softly at that, averting his gaze to the landscape in front of you two.

“Empty.”

“So you don't feel anything?”

“I feel angry.”

And you felt guilty. Dirty. Worthless. All very primal feelings, the kind that made you look at Alejandro with different eyes, or at least genuinely understand why he was who he was, or did what he did. You spent so much time playing a dangerous game that you didn't realize that death for some people was the only possible option.

“... Well, I am tired because I dream a lot, so I can’t exactly rest. I’m reckless in my sleep, I… It's been three years and I still feel like it was yesterday. I bought a bungalow so I wouldn't feel suffocated, but sometimes I can't breathe even though I'm here, in the open air.”

It seemed like an outpouring of frustrations and regrets, but Alejandro didn't seem indifferent, because he was rarely when you got the things he wanted to hear. Although you didn't know if this was something he wanted to know, you just said it, under the excuse of it being a justification for a question he had asked.

“I also dream,” He offered.

“With what?”

“I dream about you.”

Which wasn't at all difficult for him to say, as if it were a routine comment about life in general. You felt a little against the wall. If he dreamed of you, what would it be? Did his mind project the grotesque images that yours did, or was he more comfortable with his awareness of what he was doing all these years? Was it all deaths or all losses? With you, was your figure destroyed on or under a dirty basement floor, on a sofa or a bed in some apartment?

You opened and closed your mouth, then shrugged sheepishly. “... What about me?”

“Nothing, just you. Your face. Your voice. Your smile.”

“It seems random.”

“I might have thought that at first, but that's not what I think now. You and I both know that you are an anomaly in my life.”

It hurted, but it was the truth, so you nodded.

“You should have killed me when you killed my father.”

“It's been 20 years and you're still here.”

You felt a cold breeze hit your face and you shivered; it was a psychological reaction, you knew, you were more sensitive to changes in temperature.

He didn't offer you his jacket, nor did he make any gesture of welcoming you.

In your world, him choosing not to kill you was some kind of proof of sentimentality that transcended the need for a warm hug – maybe it was the most romantic thing anyone had done for you, you couldn’t tell.

What you could tell was that in three long and painful years, this was definitely the first time you truly felt happy.

Alejandro was back to you.

****

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