#gonna try to remember this whenever I get a little too impassioned about a specific trope or whatever

[followerofmercy]

Came to the devastating realization that most of my fandom bitching is just "I don't like writing that misses the point of everything important about a character." Scalding hot take, I know.

[owl-with-a-pen]

We didn’t get much insight on nias breakup with brainy, like how nia was feeling through the whole thing! It was pretty upsetting. So how about an almost rewrite of reality bytes where Yvette takes nia out to a party to loosen her up, she gets drunk, and brainy comes to the rescue? Like takes her home, stays with her when she gets sick and takes care of her kinda thing. Thanks!

- Okay the word count speaks for itself but this one really got away from me. But I had to throw in all the angst I possibly could. Thank you for the prompt! x

Working under the oppressive eye of Lex Luthor grew worse by the day.

Brainy had always been a master at multitasking, and so he had never assumed it would be exactly there that he would struggle the most.

And yet, here he was. Trying his hardest to focus on Lex’s latest tedious task to keep him in check. After all, Lex Luthor may have very well believed Brainy’s impassive charade, but that did not buy trust. Only time and a one hundred per cent success rate would accomplish that.

To achieve it, distractions had to be eradicated. He had already made his excuses time and time again for not attending one of Kara’s famed game nights, and despite Alex’s insistence, he had not given in to any other form of group activity, either – especially those involving Al’s Bar. He needed to maintain a clear head, to do as his doppelganger had instructed; to protect his friends and their future, he had to rid his mind of them. All of them. It was imperative to success.

And yet, the moment his phone buzzed with an incoming call, Brainy’s heart leapt into his throat.

It was Nia’s name that popped up on his screen. Nia’s face. So jovial, so care-free. In the photograph, her arm was wrapped around Brainy’s shoulders where she had pulled him in for a last-minute selfie. She’d kissed his cheek just seconds after it had been taken, insisting it’d be an awesome couple photo.

He had meant to change that. Why had he not…?

He swallowed hard, focusing instead on his computer screens, relaying information back and forth between them. It was without passion, meaningless data that could be shifted anywhere whilst maintaining the same result. But, it still served a purpose, keeping him from his intestinal inclination, that gut instinct to reach for his phone and answer without a moment’s hesitation.

When was the last time he had heard her voice?

He had been keeping his distance where he could, maintaining a professional formality with her whenever he caught her in the field as Dreamer. He knew it hurt her, every time it hurt her, but he could not avoid his duties in as much the same way she could not avoid hers.

They were in effect destined to bump into each other. The only way Brainy could lessen that hurt was by avoiding conversation as much as possible, throwing up every wall he could think of, even if he had to stumble over his words to do so.

When Nia’s face disappeared, Brainy released the breath he’d been holding, letting it dust across his screens.

Then, his phone buzzed twice more.

Voicemail.

Nia never left voicemails. Not since he had ended things with her so abruptly, walking out of her apartment, refusing to elaborate, to offer her any kind of closure.

It was a calculated hurt powerful enough for her to abstain from asking questions; a necessary evil, and one Brainy would never forgive himself for causing.

He shouldn’t be doing this, his mind warned, but his thoughts were racing, derailing from all twelve tracks at once.

His hand was already poised over his phone. Before he could think better of it, Brainy snatched it up, connecting to his most recent voice message. He pressed it to his ear, pursing his lips in anticipation.

“You suck, you know that?”

Brainy flinched, the phone nearly slipping right from his hand. Nia’s voice was harsh, anger tinged with upset, but it was her voice. It could have been filled with all the fury in the world and Brainy would have still listened just as eagerly, if only for the chance to hear her again.

As the voicemail continued to play, Brainy realised that Nia’s words were slightly obscured by the heavy beats of music playing in the background, not to mention the loud chatting and whooping of people he certainly did not recognise. Brainy frowned. She must have been at some kind of party. Although, none of the voices present sounded as though they were talking to her specifically.

A nightclub, perhaps?

Nia wasn’t usually one for clubbing. So, why would she-?

“And y’know what?” Nia’s voicemail continued out just as harshly, cutting off Brainy’s train of thought. “Yvette’s so right, I deserve better than some guy who’s gonna leave me hanging, who leaves with zero explanation, and I- oh crap, sorry-” There was a scuffle, one caused by Nia knocking into a fellow patron if her apology was anything to go by. The slur in her voice was very evident, which led Brainy to conclude that she had been drinking heavily that night, enough to pick up the courage to call him.

His stomach lurched when he heard another voice in the background.

“Girl, what are you doing?” It was Yvette. Of course Yvette would have been the mastermind behind this apparent night out, likely with the well-minded intent of assisting with Nia’s mood.

Yvette’s voice grew louder as she came closer. “What are you- wait, are you calling him? No, no, you get off the phone right now, that’s messy as hell!”

Brainy was inclined to agree. Nia, however, seemed to have other ideas.

“It’s fine,” she insisted. “I-”

Before Brainy could hear anything more, the message cut off.

Brainy squeezed his eyes shut, clenching and unclenching his jaw methodically.

He shouldn’t do it. He shouldn’t be giving into gut instinct, not now, not-not ever. Not with so much at stake. He was supposed to be monitoring Lex’s movements, doing everything he could to keep a step ahead of whatever he was planning. So far, he had failed at that. And, if he continued to lose sight of his objective, he would only slip further still.

But, if there was one thing he could count on now more than ever, it was the Big Brain. Perhaps it was not that his skill at multitasking had been limited as of late, but more-so that he was not utilising it to its fullest extent. He could easily keep a thought track open for any updates on Lex’s data entry, could even continue development on the bug he was planning to slip into Lex’s private servers. For the moment, they were obstructed by a firewall even he was having difficulty breaching. But, with time…

Brainy’s fingers curled together, winding tightly around his phone. He had the room to deviate from his plans for one night. Besides, it would take mere seconds to get a lock on Nia’s GPS…

He had been trying so hard to keep out of her private business these last few weeks. The little he did know were only of her recent exploits as Dreamer that had been plastered all over the news. But, even knowing what she’d accomplished in such a short time, how capable she had become as a hero, it could not stop the worry that clogged so suddenly inside his throat.

He just had to know where she was, he rationalised. He just had to know that she was safe.

The moment her co-ordinates flashed in his mind, Brainy’s chest caught, lips parting. She was close-by, an estimated three minutes by flight from his current location.

He shouldn’t be doing this.

Brainy’s eyes scanned empty air, but beyond that he saw everything. The security for the club was rudimentary at best, and far too easy to hack. Nia’s most recent location had pointed her somewhere near to the club doors, which was only confirmed when Brainy linked up to the cameras out front, pinpointing her almost immediately.

Yvette was with her, holding up her weight as Nia slumped precariously into her side, nearly tripping down the club’s steps in an effort to remain upright. If it hadn’t been for Yvette’s guiding hand, she likely would have.

Brainy gritted his teeth. Just how much had she had to drink? He had never known Nia to drink so excessively, especially with how rigorously she had been training as of late. This was new behaviour for her, but not unpredictable. Brainy was more than aware of the many coping mechanisms one might find themselves adopting in times of emotional distress.

He had caused this.

He could fix this…

But he couldn’t, couldn’t - no matter how much his heart insisted otherwise, he could not give in. Nia wanted nothing to do with him, that much was clear from her message. And… Yvette was with her. Yvette would get her home safely.

But Yvette had clearly been drinking, also. What if something were to occur between the club and their apartment? Nia was disorientated, vulnerable, and with alcohol marring her judgement, her reaction timing would never match that of a clear-minded foe.

Brainy stood from his desk all at once, nearly toppling his chair in his haste. Fortunately, he was in a private office. Another upgrade from Lex. He swallowed down the bitter taste in his mouth; at least he could use this particular gift to his advantage.

He needed to get to Nia undetected. Immediately.

Brainy’s calculations had been - as expected - totally correct. He reached the club in no less than three minutes, giving himself ample distance to land so that no drunk bystanders might notice his arrival. Not that their likelihood of remembering any of this come morning was very high, but it was best not to push those odds.

The moment he saw her, Brainy’s world stopped moving.

Nia and Yvette were sat together on the club’s steps. It appeared Yvette had not been successful getting Nia all the way down them. Now, she was stubbornly trying to encourage Nia to drink from a water bottle she’d had stashed in her bag. Nia only turned away from her with a grimace, pushing her face firmly into her hands. Her cheeks were rosy from alcohol consumption, her dark hair beginning to thicken and frizz from the humidity of the club. The dress she wore danced with row upon row of sequins, glinting in purple and pink tones beneath the streetlight.

She was so beautiful it nearly caused a physical ache inside of Brainy’s chest.

Never had he wanted to go to her so ardently, to scoop her into his arms, hold her close and never let go.

But, he couldn’t. He was bound by his decision and, what’s more, he was the very cause for this entire situation in the first place. Nia was only in this position because of what he had put her through, and he couldn’t take that back. So long as Leviathan was a threat, he could not give up this ruse, he could not tell her the truth.

Even if he did… the acidic tone in Nia’s voicemail told him all he needed to know. That he may have well lost her for good by doing this. And he could barely stand to think it.

Again, a distant part of his mind queried why he was even here? Was this not already traipsing on incredibly dangerous territory? If Lex found any reason to distrust him, this logical and distant image Brainy had been parading would’ve all been for naught, and his Earth would meet the same fate as his female doppelganger’s.

No, no. Regardless of his decisions, the side he had been forced to take, he was still himself. In which case, there was nothing wrong with helping those that required his assistance, even if they hadn’t exactly asked for it. In that way, he could at least be there for Nia. If she would even allow it at all.

He hadn’t expected a warm welcome, but when Yvette recognised him from halfway across the club grounds, the look she gave him was practically poisonous.

“You,” Yvette sneered, wrapping an arm protectively around Nia’s shoulders. Nia only groaned, digging her fingers against her face. Yvette’s eyes narrowed distrustfully. “Voicemail didn’t cut it, hm? You know you broke her heart, right?”

“I’m… aware,” Brainy said tightly, trying his hardest to maintain the same collected calm he’d been offering the rest of his friends. Any slip-ups now could be the end of this ruse once and for all.

Nia had yet to lift her head, and so Brainy took that as his opportunity to remove his phone from his pocket, very clearly displaying the Uber app on his screen, making his intentions clear. “I can help get her home.”

Yvette snorted derisively, tightening her hold around Nia. “Uh-uh, there is no way I’m leaving Nia alone with your cheating ass.”

Brainy’s face fell. Cheating? Was that what Nia had told her? Or… or had that been Yvette’s own assumption of events? “I didn’t cheat on her,” he said, a little defensively.

“Please,” Yvette scoffed. “No one’s feelings magically change overnight unless there’s another woman involved.” She gave him a snide once-over. “She can do better than you.”

Brainy’s stomach sank, his eyes flickering to Nia, capturing every inch of her. “I… I have no doubt.”

It took some back and forth, but eventually, Yvette agreed to his help on the condition she came back to the apartment with them. Brainy understood that she hadn’t wanted to cut her own night short, but Nia’s health came first. At least on that, they could both agree.

Regardless, it was a very awkward Uber journey back to the apartment.

Nia didn’t speak the whole car ride, and Brainy began to wonder if she was lucid enough to understand her surroundings at all. She didn’t look up from her hands, and more than once Brainy considered that she might be doing it purposely, far too aware of who she was currently sharing a car with.

Although, the steadily worsening pallor of her skin pointed towards another, far likelier, possibility.

Which was confirmed the second they got into the apartment’s elevator.

The juddering motions of the small space was all it took for Nia to break her silence, cupping a hand desperately over her mouth.

“I feel sick,” she murmured into her palm.

“Hold off,” Yvette said gently, rubbing Nia’s shoulders. “We’ll be home any second.”

Brainy wished it could be him to offer Nia comfort like that, but he’d practically backed himself into the furthest corner of the elevator, acting as nothing more than a passive shadow to the night’s unfolding events. He dug his hands into his pockets, clenching them tightly to keep from reaching out to her, watching with worried eyes as Nia grabbed suddenly for the elevator’s rail with her free hand, swallowing thickly.

The moment the doors opened, Nia stumbled out, nearly tripping in her haste to exit. Brainy maintained his distance while Yvette helped Nia down the hallway, waiting awkwardly with his arms folded as she fumbled with the keys to the door. He hovered hesitantly outside the doorway when Nia broke from Yvette, rushing into the bathroom, although he noticed that Yvette was wary to follow her in.

When he caught her eye, Yvette grimaced, shaking her head. “I- I can’t, I’m a sympathetic vomiter,” she explained weakly. “If she hurls, I hurl.”

Brainy nodded his understanding, reviewing the door’s entrance as though it might swallow him whole. After a long moment, he ducked his head, stepping inside. “I can stay with her, if you would like,” he offered, quirking a brow. “After all, you are in need of rest as well.”

Yvette pulled a face, staring at him suspiciously. “You really don’t quit, do you?”

Brainy only shrugged.

“I’m keeping my eye on you,” Yvette said, which at first Brainy didn’t understand as an invitation. That was, until, she stepped aside, waving her hand in the direction of the apartment’s bathroom.

Brainy didn’t waste any time. He barely managed a breathy thank you before he headed the way Nia had disappeared.

Nia was curled around the toilet when Brainy pushed the door open, her hands pressed firmly against the rim. She hadn't appeared to have thrown up yet, but she was pale and shivering, her jaw clenched tight with discomfort.

The moment he was close enough, Brainy dropped to his knees, reaching out a hand hesitantly towards her, gauging her reaction. When none came, Brainy carefully rested the flat of his palm across her back. She didn’t try to move away from his touch; instead, with a shaky sigh, she relaxed against him, eyes fluttering shut.

And so, Brainy continued, boldly enough to massage his fingers gently and precisely around her spine, quickly finding a pattern that she seemed to appreciate. He rubbed her back in large, repetitive circles, filling the silence with the quiet crunch of sequins as they rolled lethargically beneath his palm.

It wasn’t long before Nia’s shoulders tensed up. Her chest convulsed and she groaned out, throwing her head over the toilet just in time before she vomited into the bowl. As expected, the contents of her stomach appeared to mostly be liquid, which certainly explained the dangerous level of her intoxication. Brainy remained exactly where he was, holding her back steady with one hand whilst studiously bunching Nia’s hair behind her shoulders with the other, tugging away loose strands that had caught across her lips. No sooner had he done so, Nia gagged again, squeezing her eyes shut as round two commenced.

Brainy continued to rub her back, murmuring soft comforts at her side, slipping between both English and Coluan. Nia had certainly picked up some of his native language in the months they had been together, but not enough for her to realise in that moment the weight of what he was telling her. Or, rather, what he wished he could be telling her - in a language she might recognise.

When Nia was reduced to dry heaving over the bowl, Brainy realised that her mascara had begun to run, bleeding black streaks down her face. The strain of vomiting could certainly cause such a reaction, but something in his heart told him that this was more than that.

He wished he could brush those tears away as tenderly as he once had, that he could reassure her that everything would be okay.

But how could he when he knew the probability of their relationship rekindling once the dust had cleared? How could he when said relationship was already in shambles, pushing them apart even while they were sat so closely together on the bathroom tile?

“Here.”

Brainy blinked out of his thoughts, turning his head to find Yvette stood in the doorway, trying very hard to keep her eyes away from Nia’s current condition. She held a glass of water outstretched towards him.

Brainy took it gratefully, lowering his head into a sincere bow. “Thank you.”

“You’re still so weird,” Yvette said, although for just a moment, he thought he caught a fondness in her tone. Then, she cleared her throat. “This doesn’t mean I like you,” she said quickly, heading back out into the hall. “Remember, I am one room over. You try anything, and I’ll-”

Her words were cut off by the slam of her door, but Brainy understood well enough the threat she had posed. He nearly smiled. If anything, he was glad Nia had a friend and roommate as protective as Yvette. She had been there for Nia in a way that Brainy had not been able to for far too long, offering her a shoulder to cry on, and a party to draw her mind away from the pain, if only for an evening.

Perhaps it hadn’t worked as Yvette had wanted, but Brainy hoped that even for a little while, Nia might have experienced something other than heartache that night.

When there was nothing but bile left in Nia’s stomach, Brainy took her shoulder, offering the water glass out to her. “Nia,” he said gently. “You must try to drink this. It’ll help-”

Before he could finish, Nia shot to life, slapping away his hand so hard that the glass’s contents sloshed down Brainy’s arm, drenching his sleeve.

“No!” Nia cried out weakly. “No, get off me, you jerk!”

Brainy let go of her immediately, shuffling away from her forlornly. He watched instead as Nia folded her arms angrily across the toilet bowl, pressing her forehead against the rim.

For a while, only her harsh breathing echoed around the small space. Then, Nia stopped, arms clenching as she squeezed her hands into fists. “Why’re you even here?” she croaked.

“You… called.”

Nia snorted. “That’s never stopped you from ignoring me before.”

Brainy’s stomach twisted uncomfortably. “You were in need of assistance,” he said instead, trying his hardest to keep his voice from crackling.

“What is this, Brainy?” Nia asked exhaustedly. She lifted her head, dark hair curtaining her face, but Brainy could see that her eyes were trained downwards, seeing nothing. “Why’re you doing this to me?”

“Nia—”

“No, no, you go radio silent on me for weeks. You don’t give me any explanation, you don’t talk to me, you act like I don’t exist. And you think you can just turn up now and- what? What do you want?”

Brainy’s eyes were beginning to burn. He blinked quickly, doubling down on the same toneless voice he’d perfected over the last few weeks. “I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

Nia laughed, although it sounded more like a sob. She spat into the toilet, lips twisting sourly. “Well,” she muttered darkly. “I’m not. You broke my heart. And you can’t fix that.”

Brainy’s own heart felt as though it might shatter in his chest. He opened his mouth, only to close it again when he realised there was nothing he could say that might absolve him. He didn’t want to be absolved. Nia was right. No matter what he said, even if he folded and told her everything right that second, wouldn’t fix what he had already broken.

He didn’t try to touch her again. Instead, he simply knelt there, watching as she picked up the water he’d left out for her, drinking the half that hadn’t spilt over his sleeve.

When Nia didn’t appear to be in danger of vomiting again, Brainy walked her to the bedroom. He stayed a respectable distance from her the whole while, enough that he could steady her should she decide to fall. At the last few steps before her door, she did stumble slightly, and Brainy held his arm out to her on reflex. Begrudgingly, Nia took it, staggering the final distance down the hall.

Nia let go of him the moment her bed was in sight, practically falling against the mattress, uncaring of the uncomfortable and clearly not bedroom-appropriate attire she was still wearing. Instead, she curled up quickly beneath the comforter, hugging her knees close to her stomach.

Silently, Brainy set about placing a fresh glass of water on her nightstand, as well as retrieving a trash can from the bathroom, tucking it within easy reaching distance of the bed. When he was done, he stood there a moment, watching the steady rise and fall of Nia’s back, wondering briefly if she may have fallen asleep.

“You know the way out.”

Her voice was devoid of any care, and yet it was still sharp enough to cut a hole through his heart. She sounded so empty and drained, exhausted by the night’s events.

But, worse yet, she had been exhausted by him.

Brainy closed his eyes, a million and one apologies budding on his tongue, desperate to leave him in a fierce burst, to explain everything, to beg for her forgiveness in every language he knew.

But as always, logic won out. No matter how much he wished he could tell her, he couldn’t. Not unless he wanted to put his family’s lives in mortal danger.

And so, it was upon Nia’s instruction that he left her without another word.

It wasn’t until he was out the front door, halfway back towards the elevator, that Brainy’s chest hitched, his breathing jerking harshly outside of his control. He stumbled into the wall, baring his teeth as the first of his tears began to flow.

“I’m sorry,” he murmured to nothing. To no one. After all, he knew in his heart that those words would never be enough; no words would ever be enough.

The longer he kept this up, the more he knew with one hundred per cent certainty that Nia would never forgive him.

And that hurt more profoundly than any words she left on his voicemail ever could.

[night-fallz]

Jason Todd x Avengers Crossover

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Ao3 // Wattpad

previous II next

Unexpected (part 3)

If he knew that he would be blamed for murdering someone the moment he got back to Gotham, then Jason would’ve waited another week or two before returning.

No matter what a lot of people said, Jason wasn’t stupid. He knows not to expect things that were unlikely to happen.

Jason couldn’t risk raising his hopes when it came to the bats.

He knew that he wasn’t gonna receive a warm welcome filled with hugs and cupcakes. Honestly, the most he expected was a nod of acknowledgment. And if he was lucky, then maybe- maybe he would’ve gotten a smile with the quiet whisper of a welcome back.

It made his heart twist in all the wrong ways to know that his family didn’t trust him as much as he thought. Jason genuinely believed that he and the bats were on good enough terms to earn him the benefit of the doubt.

He forced himself not to flinch as he met Batman’s harsh, distrustful gaze.

“I wasn’t even here when he was killed,” Jason tried to say as calmly as he could, knowing that if he loses his temper, everyone would use it against him. “I was following a case up in New York.”

He couldn’t go back to Arkham! Not again. Not with the Joker only a few cells away from him, taunting him with his laughter— his voice filled with cruel exhilaration as he continuously promised Jason that they would play together once again. How he would soon be reunited with his favorite playmate.

His favorite Robin.

He heard someone suck in a breath behind him.

Jason didn’t expect anyone to defend him. Not against Batman. But still-

He didn’t expect them to just stand and watch as Batman tore him into shreds once again. Batman threw accusation over accusation, yet he never once provided a single piece of evidence that proved it was Jason that did it.

He took a step towards Jason and he had to force himself not to flinch. Batman wouldn’t… not with his kids in the same room.

He ignored the rising panic in his stomach. Jason was safe.

He was safe.

Bruce wouldn’t beat him in the cave. Not in front of everyone. Not in front of Damian.

Jason would be able to walk out of the cave with his ability to walk. He was gonna be okay.

“Look, B. You can even ask them,” he pointed at the spot where Dick and the others were standing. “I told them that I was leaving Gotham for a while.”

Batman turned to where Jason was pointing. “Well?” he asked expectantly.

The cave was engulfed in eerie silence before Tim opened his mouth, faltering a little when he met Jason’s pleading gaze. “He’s not lying Bruce. He told me that he had a mission out of Gotham while we were hanging out a few weeks ago.”

Jason could feel his chest loosen up for a few seconds, thankful that Tim confirmed his statement.

He remembered the day that Tim was talking about. The bats were getting even clingier than usual. They weren’t even trying to hide the fact that they were following Jason anymore.

Tim asked Jason if he wanted to watch a movie and Jason agreed.

The bats were gonna be watching him anyways— they didn’t even try to hide the fact that they bugged him and all the known safehouses he has.

At this point, Jason didn’t know whether he should feel offended with how much they underestimated or relieved.

They already viewed him as dangerous and unpredictable. If they ever find out that Jason’s been holding back, even if it was just a little-

He won’t let them throw him back to Arkham. Jason would rather go back to the League of Assassins.

If Jason wasn’t watching Batman so closely, he would’ve missed the sliver of a nod the man-made.

Jason tried not to think of the fact that Bruce immediately accepted Tim’s answer without hesitation.

For the millionth time in this conversation, he wished that he was wearing his helmet. Instead, he forced his expression to remain calm. To remain bored as turned back to Bruce an eyebrow raised.

“Is that good enough proof for you, old man?” he couldn’t help but spit out, bitterness clear in his voice.

Batman remained unaffected, not even bothering to verbally answer Jason’s question. Instead, he just nodded.

Jason’s heart clenched, of course, he wouldn’t get an apology. Batman was too prideful for that.

“Truth.” Cassandra’s voice rang across the cave, breaking the heavy silence. “No… not lie.”

Batman nodded once again and Cassandra’s eyes met his. It took everything in him to stop a retort from coming out of his mouth.

Couldn’t she have said that a few minutes ago? Before Batman ripped him apart like he was nothing but flimsy paper.

Still, he guessed he should be thankful that she defended him. Even though it was too late.

After a few seconds of no one saying anything, Dick broke the awkwardness with an annoying smile on his face. “Now that that’s settled, why don’t we get that movie started?”

It was only because of all his training that Jason didn’t break down right there.

Of course this was just another thing that they’d sweep under the rug. Something that they would never want to speak off again.

Discussions of what movie they were supposed to watch erupted the room. It didn’t take long for an argument to break out between Damian and Tim.

Jason watched the scene for a few seconds before looking away.

They looked like a real family.

He turned away, these things happened frequently enough for Jason to know that he wasn’t welcomed.

He blocked out all the noise as he walked towards his helmet, eager to put it back on.

It was only a matter of luck that the universe hated him so much that he knocked something down, the thumping noise alerting everyone that he was about to leave.

Jason couldn’t help but feel relieved that he put on his helmet as soon as he got his hands on it.

At least he didn’t have to go to all the trouble to force his expression to remain impassive anymore.

Batman could use it against him.

Dick’s eyebrows furrowed, “Where are you going, Jay? I thought you were joining us tonight.”

“Yeah, well maybe I’m not in the mood to watch a stupid movie tonight.” Jason spits out.

Was Dick being serious right now? There were so many things wrong with that question.

One: Why would Jason want to spend more time with the people who thought he murdered someone and didn’t even bother to defend him.

And two-

No one invited Jason.

Before anyone could say anything else, Jason hopped on his motorcycle. He needed to get out of the cave.

He could feel their eyes on his back but no one bothered to stop him.

The last thing he heard was Cassandra’s voice assuring the bats. “Be back,” she said with enough confidence that one would think that she could command Jason to turn around with only her words. “He will be back.”

Jason held in the harsh remark that threatened to leave his lips.

Plus, it wasn’t like Cassandra was lying. He knew it— and hell, the rest of Bats probably knew it too.

Jason would come back. He always did.

It wasn’t like he had anywhere else to go.

But for now, he needed to get away. He thought that one week would be enough to calm the pit.

It wasn’t.

In fact, he feels like the interaction with the bats today just made it worst.

He’ll stay away from them for two weeks. That should be enough time for the pit to stop screaming at him.

But who would he stay with?

Jason had enough experience to know that the best way to calm the pit was to surround yourself with people you trust.

Kori and Roy were still in space.

And Talia was busy with the civil war against Ra’s.

Jason had no one else.

Except-  

His phone grew heavier in his pocket and he remembered that an Avenger owed him a favor.

Clint said that Jason could text him whenever.

And the more he thought about it, the more Jason decided that he did trust the archer in some way.  

Jason soon found himself staring at the side mirror of the vehicle and poisonous green eyes stared back.

He quickly averted his eyes.

Clint was his last choice. And Jason couldn’t risk being in the peak of a pit episode without anyone to keep him in his place.  

He could do this.

It wasn’t like he had another choice.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

notes:

Balancing out school and volleyball was a lot harder than I thought it would be. Only one month has passed and I am swamped with work.

I don’t know how I feel about this chapter. It’s not my best work but I wanted to put something out for you guys!!

I hope that you liked it.

I’m gonna spend this weekend to try and get my life together so hopefully, that means that next week will be easier for me.

Especially since I still need to finish my permit course. (If you couldn’t tell, I’m kinda hating sophomore year of high school right now)

Like always, please leave a comment. i love reading them and they just motivate me so much! And they would help an extra ton these days.

And once again, if you have any fanfic requests, questions, or just suggestions for a specific fanfic i’m writing, just leave it in a comment down below or you can just message me here on tumblr.  

[blackfemmecharacterdependency]

02. Write Whatever You Want

Previous Chapter: How Did You Betray Simon?

Grace had to write something down. There were kids who had left the Mall Car, confident in their own abilities to take whatever journey that lies ahead of them, some who were still processing in their private areas, and some who were out and about, just enjoying life at the moment, but Grace needed writing supplies, as she realized that there were several things she needed to write down.

She wasn’t the list maker. She didn’t take notes of inventory to determine when they needed to go on a raid. She didn’t record number changes of the highest ranked Apex members. She didn’t even make a roster of the kids. Simon made the lists.

He was very big on the fact that details needed to be written down and plans needed to be described. Relying on your mind was tricky. Only do that for the unimportant things, but keep a record of the things that matter, the things that will make a difference, the things that you would need to remember later. 

She’d just shrugged her shoulders at the time of his impassioned lecture and told him, “Write whatever you want.” (Boy, did he take THAT advice and run with it).

Before she knew it, they had codes, procedures, laws… stuff that she was definitely gonna listen to him when he ranted about it, but she’d likely not memorize them. They were important or whatever, but… Simon knew them all and she always had Simon, so learning all of them seemed repetitive and unnecessary to her. Fun fact: She could repeat just about everything he said in that little rant before she cut him off by giving him the permission to start records that he seemed to be requesting by making her listen to his very strong opinions about writing things down. She could even remember exactly what he said whenever she gave it to him. “Way ahead of you. I’ve been keeping record of everything important. I just don’t like to take credit for my great ideas.” She smiled to herself as she repeated his words under her breath, his voice saying it in unison with her, in the back of her mind. Her smile faded as the memory did.

But, this was important… and she realized that she didn’t have a single thing to write with. She rarely came into the throne room after everything. It felt… bad. Plus, Simon or maybe the kids at his behest, had gone in there with lipstick and written in big red letters “VOID” on everything that was specifically hers… everything she guessed that Simon didn’t want after he overthrew her. 

There were a few things that were salvaged, and in the drawer. Must have been saved in one of his short moments of clarity during that time. There were torn up photos of them from the photo booth, some with her face scratched out of it, or with her cut out of it, some with VOID etched across her Apex symbol, some burned… But, there was one that was them in the photo booth, about 14 years old or so. They had kissed, and it captured 4 photos of the moment - the kiss, her breaking it, her laughing and him turning away, blushing… She stared at it for a while, noting things that she didn’t remember noticing that day. The look on his face when they kissed, the way he looked at her while she was in the midst of a laughing fit, the way he looked embarrassed about it… 

When she remembered that day, she remembered it as a fun little experiment that they both agreed had been a hilarious mistake. The photos didn’t seem to tell that story at all. That was something that she was coming to learn about Simon and her… They never quite had the same story in their minds. They simply went with whatever each other said about a story. They were really cozy in their bed of lies. She wondered why he wouldn’t have destroyed this one. This record of what she figured now was probably painful for him. This evidence of her wronging him yet again… Oh. Maybe that was why. It could remind him that he couldn’t trust her, that he didn’t love her anymore. She blinked away tears and placed it into a pocket inside the satchel that she brought along with her to collect valuables, before attempting to get things cleaned out of their chambers.

The entire mall needed a cleansing, but she didn’t just want to tear everything away and start from scratch. They rescued, fixed, and freed any denizens that they could that hadn’t been wheeled. They paid respects to the ones that they couldn’t save and all of the others that they could remember wheeling, and now, they were salvaging. The kids who stayed were all getting all of their things that they couldn’t live without while here and trashing whatever they could live without (or things that made them think of things that they didn’t want to think of). Grace had something important to write down, but figured she’d bring a bag for gathering, in the meantime. There weren’t much to salvage of what she had left. Simon made sure of it.

The throne was still in one piece, still resting at the bottom of the escalator, like a memorial to Simon, as the last person to reign on it… a jar of what he left behind was placed on it. Lucy said she didn’t put it there and tried to wheel it, but Grace had asked her to leave them. “That’s probably where Simon would have wanted them to be kept.” Lucy shrugged and set them back down. As far as she knew, nobody had touched them since. 

And because grief was a confusing and hard thing, the kids that might be too embarrassed to speak about how they were handling no longer having Simon, or having to see what happened to him were given a way to pay respects to him through this display and the confidence to do so, because Grace didn’t erase him, even though, technically, according to his own laws, Simon was a “void.” But, she still found herself in his room, clutching the very coat that he used to distract her enough to try to kill her. It smelled like him, and she hated how used she was to that scent, but, it was something in her memory that she knew would eventually fade.

Like her mother’s. She’d often go into her mother’s boudoir and admire all of the things that made the woman the art that she was whenever she went out into the world. But her favorite thing used to be grabbing her night robe and draping it across herself. It was a little like a hug from someone that she knew she might not get another one from. They didn’t hug very much. Sometimes for photos and publicity gatherings. So, hugging herself in a robe scented like her mother was her secret joy and imprinted into her mind… 

But, some time ago, whenever she thought about it… she realized that her brain couldn’t conjure up as many details. Like how the material felt against her skin. She recalled thinking when she was young that it felt like fuzzy towels swaddling her, but she couldn’t remember that feeling in her body. She couldn’t remember if it was peach colored, off white, or pink, later on. And eventually, she couldn’t recall the exact smell of her. She had wanted so badly to hold on to it, but it was gone. She would hold on to Simon’s for however long she could.

“Aha!” She said, finding a drawer full of pens and notebooks. Most of them were written in. Stories, journals, poetry, notes, procedures… Some had drawings. Characters, blueprints, battle plans… One of them had her name on the front and she pulled it out and opened it. “If I should fall before you do, this is a collection of the things that I wanted to say to you but never had the nerve…” She shut it. That seemed… highly personal and given how he felt by the time he… acted out… She doubted that anything that he wrote in that thing still applied. 

For all she knew, it had been buried in the bottom of this drawer for years. Still, she tucked it into her satchel. She took a few of the other ones too… Then eventually put all of them inside. She collected every notebook that Simon had in his room, and all of his pens, too. She stared at shelves of his figures, at the bed that was made with military-like accuracy, pretty much as soon as he got up out of it… She could tell that he hadn’t been sleeping in there during his last days. Probably was in the throne room. 

She sat down on the foot of the bed and opened an empty notebook. She clicked a pen and took her own advice. Write whatever you want… She set the satchel down, because she was feeling heavy enough, and started, even though she had no idea how you start something like this. She decided on, “Simon Laurent’s Eulogy…”

A/N: I do not plan on writing Simon’s Eulogy for Grace, so that will not be the next chapter, though the eulogy may be mentioned in later installments. Though this chapter was highly centered around Simon, the story isn’t and his appearances are in relation to her memories and her feelings about him.

Next: Strengths and Weaknesses

[ravenforce]

Devil’s in the Detail

Prompt: "Can you do Natasha Romanoff x reader. Where the reader is the Devil, like the actual devil dangerously beautiful and suave queen of the underworld in a red&black suit. Somehow their paths cross, Nat ends up to selling her soul to R in order to keep herself alive. The R first accepts it but starts to fall for Nat and ends up canceling their deal. She asks a different favor from Nat instead of her soul. The Devil wants a gf experience or something at first but they both end up falling in love."

Requested by: @petagoniablue

Word Count: 1612

Warning/s: None; except it’s long.

A/N: Damn, I didn’t mean it to be this long but it just happened. I hope you like it.

***

You have been walking the earth for millennia since your fall from grace. You lived various lives, and it was exciting - oh very exciting - at first. Originally your father thought sending you down here with the beings you envy and loathe is the best punishment for your insolence but anywhere is better than home. At least down here, you're free. Free from the demanding, suffocating rules of your father; finally free to do whatever you want, whenever you want without no one to answer to.

Up there you were once one, if not the brightest star; your father's beloved. Here on earth though, you're nothing but a monster. Painted specifically as a naked red being with horns, spiked tail, and carrying a huge fork to scare children to obedience. Here you are nothing but a rebellious child. You were in a museum when you encountered such painting that's supposed to represent you. "How inaccurate," you said to yourself with a sigh.

Inaccurate, it was. Because on the contrary, you are as charming as you used to be, even more so with these gullible human beings easily falling for your dangerous smirk and quick wit. You're beautiful, confident, powerful and you know it. Maybe they got some of it right, you're rebellious. That is the propaganda - rebellion; against the system, against the order, against rules. You built your empire on earth as the savior of the damned; providing shelter for people forsaken by heaven just like you.

And that's how you met her.

***

You're up in the roof of your club in New York when a fight broke out in an alley across your building. As the devil, you don't really concern yourself with breaking up fights. If you're being honest, you actually like watching fights; they're one of your favorite form of entertainment. Seeing very clearly from across the road - thanks enhance abilities your father probably forgot to revoke - a woman seem to be fighting off five men. She moves with a grace of a butterfly but as deadly as a venomous spider that even out the playing field; she looks like she's winning. Until one of the men produced a serrated knife out of nowhere are stabbed her across her chest.

She crumpled to the ground while the men ran off and left her soaking in her own blood. You were curious, you jumped off the roof to the ground with ease. You cross the street in huge confident stride, the tail of your red and black suit billowing in the wind. You reached her and kneeled beside her to check for a pulse. She's alive but barely. You pulled your hand away from her but she caught it.

"Save me, please. I'll give you anything," she struggled to say around the blood spilling out of her beautiful mouth.

Shit, what? Beautiful mouth?  You thought to yourself. In your long life, very little faze you anymore but this woman, even in her dying state, makes you nervous. Your face remained impassive though.

"I'll give you my soul", she said before she closed her eyes.

You sighed heavily before you leaned down and kiss her forehead. You brush her red hair away from her face.

***

Natasha woke up to multiple voices murmuring somewhere in her feet. The room is lit by the wide window on her right, while Steve, Tony, and Clint are by her feet.

"If this is you guys trying to whisper, I'll be damned," she said loud enough to startle her friends.

Clint was first to speak, "You're awake." Relief is evident in his voice.

"No thanks to you guys," she joked. Everyone laughed, morphined Natasha is definitely cute.

"I'll go get the doctor," Steve, the ever responsible Captain said. The doctor asked her if she remembered anything. She does, she remembers a face - a very beautiful one at that - but she's not about to admit it because she's not entirely sure if she was real or a by-product of her dying imagination. So she shook her head, he explained what happened; called it a miracle because she lost a lot of blood and the knife was mere millimeters away from her heart.

After some arguing between keeping her team, it was decided that she will recover at the hospital instead of moving her to Stark Lab. That night she dreamed of the same pretty woman; scratch that, she dreamed about her every night.

***

It took a full week before she was given the clearance to go back home. On her first night back, she snuck out and went back to the same alley; for what she doesn't know.

"It's dangerous for women to stand around dark alleys, you know," said someone from behind her.

She turned around so fast, she felt an incoming whiplash. Normally, no one gets to sneak up at her; she's the black widow after all. She stood frozen when she got a good look at you.

"You," she stammered.

"Hi," you said confidently. Standing on the sidewalk, illuminated by the glow of the streetlight, you look ethereal, dangerous, and hot. You're wearing black leather pants, a red form-fitting suit top, and black coat. You walked towards her until you're a foot away from her, you leaned towards her ear and whispered, "don't forget to breathe, love. I just got you back."

Natasha shivered and released the breath she didn't know she was holding.

"Who are you?" She asked as confidently as she could muster.

"(Y/N), I'm the devil you sold your soul to," she answered.

***

Logically, of course, Natasha didn't believe you at first but the longer you two spend time together and the more she sees and experience your unearthly abilities, she accepted it as the truth. One afternoon, she was hanging out your modern, open interior industrial apartment when you caught her staring at you. She looks so relaxed lounging on your bed.

"Anyone ever told you it's rude to stare, " you quipped from the kitchen. Earlier, in whatever it is you two are doing, you have renegotiated the terms of your deal. Instead of being your slave, she'll be your girlfriend for the time being.

"You're so different from the images of you on the internet", she said. You looked at her from across the room and laughed. You've been doing that a lot around here, it ruins your badass reputation.

"Well you've seen me naked enough, there's no way I can hide a pointy tail, " you said as you cross the room and sat beside her. She tried to hide her blush by sipping from the coffee mug you just handed to her.

You were inclined to tease her about it.

***

The next morning you woke up to some intense whispering by your door. You recognized Natasha's and Clint's voice. You've met him enough to recognize him and know that he doesn't like you as a person and for Natasha. You caught some of their argument, it's hard not to in an open layout apartment.

"Nat you have to come home. (Y/N) is not good for you," he said. Natasha scoffed.

"She's literally the devil, Natasha." He said through gritted teeth.

Natasha rolled her eyes. "I am aware," she said coolly.

Clint is not having her attitude. He started walking towards the door. "You're wasting your life here with her. She's the devil, she got all the time in the world to play with you. One day, when she got bored with you it'll be too late for you to find someone to really love you, " he said before she slammed the door in his face.

When she turned around you were there beside the coffee machine.

"He's not wrong you know," you said hopping up the counter. Your face stoic, in contrast with the soft look your morning outfit (underwear and her t-shirt) gives you. In the time she's known you, she learned how to read you; and it scares her right now that she can't.

"About what?" She asked, masking her nervousness. She feels like something bad is about to happen.

"You're wasting your life here with me," you said trying not to cry. The devil doesn't cry. When your father slammed the gate of heaven closed in your face, you didn't cry. So you're not gonna cry now.

She walked towards you until she's standing between your legs. You run your hands along her cheeks, you cupped her face and look into her eyes before saying, "you've given me enough.  I consider your debt fully paid. I brought you back to life, you should live it. I'm letting you go."

She pulled you into her and she's sobbing in your shirt.

"You're an idiot", she said through hiccups.

You pulled away from her laughing, and you wiped her face of her tears.

Then she pulled you in a kiss that's unlike any kisses you shared before. She kissed you like she doesn't want to lose you. You kissed her back like you want her to stay. When she pulled away, you were both breathless. You leaned your forehead to hers and asked, " what was that for?"

"I'm in love with you, (Y/N). Sure this started out as a deal with the devil but the more I got to know you, the deeper I fell in love with you;" she said solemnly.

A minute passed, you're gaping at her like she has grown two heads.

"(Y/N), please say something" she said nervously.

Unable to form words, you pulled her in for a brief kiss. "I'm in love with you too," you said.

[dyaz-stories]

SanKag #10?

10. high school popular kid/nerd au

Honestly, bless you for sending this request anon! I’ve been wanting to try my hand at KagSan for a while now (InuKag is my OTP but I just love my girls). First time writing some, but I hope you will enjoy it! Tooth-rotting fluff ahead…

SangoTaijiya was no doubt the coolest of all the cool kids of the ShikonHigh School. Captain of the martial arts team, she was knownthroughout the school for winning several championships, and perhapseven more, throughout the girls of said school, for being alwaysready to defend them in case there was a problem with a boy — asMiroku Hoshi had painfully discovered more than once.

Sangodefinitely tried her best to put her strength to good use whenevershe needed it, as had been taught to her by her father. She didn’ttry to intimidate people nor to scare them off, though she knew shehad that effect on some of the younger students, which she found tobe very unfortunate. It didn’t bother her too much this yearthough, unlike the previous years, because at least she didn’t seemto scare her.

Her,being Kagome Higurashi.

Sangohad been assigned to working with Kagome for the semester in theirlab sessions. She remembered Kagome vaguely as the girl who struggledin her maths class, which Sango related to a little too much for hertaste, and she thought that this class could only go rather poorly,considering she wasn’t exactly great at precision and delicacy andKagome was apparently bad at that stuff.

Boy,had she been wrong.

Itturned out, Kagome may have trouble with maths, but she definitelyhad her shit together when it came to virtually everything else, andSango spent most of her time staring in awe.

Itdidn’t take long before she knew a lot more about the girl, whobehind her bangs and her impassive attitude turned out to be a verybright and kind person. She was good at most stuff because shestudied a lot (“what can I say, I have a lot of free time”), herpersonal preference was history and more specifically the Feudal Era(“as long as my grandfather’s not the one talking about it”),and she occasionally trained for her spiritual powers and archery butshe left most of that to her sister (“I guess Kikyo’s the one whogot the talent…”).

Oh,and she had the most beautiful smile Sango had ever seen, and eyes inwhich she regularly got lost — which would make Kagome laugh andtease her and wowher laugh and…

AndSango Taijiya was, no doubt, hopelessly and helplessly in love withKagome Higurashi. Which was a problem, because she could not, for thelife of her, manage to ask her out, nor even to find an excuse tospend time with her outside of class.

Itshould have been easy for her. She’d beaten up people twice hersize, her dad occasionally asked her for help with their demonhunting agency (perfectly legal which only went after criminals, bythe way, simply being specialized in demons), and she— she hadnever had problems talking to people, dammit!

Butapparently, that didn’t apply to Kagome, who just so happened to bethe first person she had ever wanted to talk to thatmuch,and God, did she hate herself for that.

Untilone day, while she was going to the cafeteria to eat her lunch, shefound Kagome in the hallway, cornered by Koga, captain of thefootball team, wolf-demon, and all in all kind of an asshole, thoughSango had heard from her friend Ayame that he had his good sides.

Itwas instantly clear to her that Kagome was uncomfortable. She hadheard through rumors — completely by accident, not like she wastrying to find out more about Kagome or anything — that Koga hadalready asked the girl out several times, always earning a refusal.Apparently, that hadn’t been enough for him. It took her less thana second to take action.

“Hey,Kagome,” she said, letting her hand fall on the Koga’s shoulderin a way that wasn’t exactly friendly, “everything okay?”

Kagometurned towards her and smiled. She didn’t exactly look like she wasimpressed or star-struck, which Sango had to admit was a littledisappointing, but at least she seemed happy to see her.

Maybe.

Perhaps.

Possibly.

Argh.

“Everything’sfine,” she replied, slipping from under Koga’s arm easily.“You’re late for lunch though. Bye Koga!”

Theboy opened his mouth while Kagome grabbed Sango by the elbow, but thedark glance the martial arts champion gave him seemed to manage tomake him shut up. Maybe he realized what he was risking.

Sangofollowed Kagome in an awkward silence, internally praying that shewasn’t blushing too hard (she was), until Kagome commented, a hintof amusement in her voice, “I could have taken care of him, youknow.”

Oh.Definitely not swept off her feet, then?

“Spiritualpowers?” Sango guessed.

Kagomelaughed. Had Sango mentioned she loved that sound yet? Because it hadto be her favorite sound in the world and it made her heart beatfaster in ways nothing else had before.

“That,or just conversation, you know? Koga is not such a bad guy if youknow how to handle him.”

Sangosomewhat tensed at that. “Well, he clearly can’t take no for ananswer.” And then her voice softened. “Maybe you’re just tookind Kagome.”

Kagomechuckled guiltily. “Yeah, I get a lot of that… Wanna actuallyjoin me for lunch, by the way?”

Ifher heart kept skipping beats like that, Sango was going to genuinelystart worrying.

“S-sure!”

Hadthat been too enthusiastic? Or not enough? And why had she stuttered?Oh God, what if Kagome knew she liked her now? And, maybe worse, whatif Kagome thought she didn’tlike her?

Andwhy on Earth was Kagome more terrifying to her than any demon she hadever fought? She needed to get a grip on herself!

“Great!I eat on the roof.”

Huh?Wasn’t that… Not allowed? It didn’t sound like Kagome to breakrules.

Itall became clear when Kagome pushed the doors to the roof opened andthey were greeted by white hair and a growl, soon followed by “You’refucking late you— Wait, why is shehere?”

Well,she’d be damned. Inuyasha-fucking-Taisho — no wonder no one wouldsay anything to him. Despite being a half-demon, he was one of thestrongest demons around, second only to his brother, and ofcourseSesshomaru couldn’t be bothered with taking care of him.

“She’sa friend,” Kagome replied as she let herself fall next to thehalf-demon while him and Sango stared cautiously at each other likethey were trying to assess the threat they presented. “I made you abento.”

“Itold ya not to do that. I can just go back to my place to make myselframen during lunch. ’s not like anyone’s gonna notice I’mgone.”

“Iwould,” Kagome replied simply, handing him a box, and it was soobvious that it made him so damn happy that Sango had to resistshaking her head openly.

Butthen, she was probably just as obvious, so she didn’t have muchroom to talk.

“I’msorry I don’t have anything for you by the way, Sango, but if youlet me know if you ever want to eat with us, I could make you one!”

“Youwant her to what?”

“Inuyasha…”

Tobe honest, Sango was paying no attention whatsoever when they startedto banter, too focused on Kagome’s proposition.

Shewas going to make her a bento.

Rulesof interactions should have made her decline politely, and thenhopefully Kagome would have insisted, but now Sango wanted to eatthat bento somuchand—

“Howabout tomorrow?”

…She’djust said that out loud, hadn’t she? Kagome interrupted her banterwith Inuyasha to look at her, and maybe it was just wishful thinking,but Sango could have swornthere was a light blush on her cheeks.

“H-huh?I-I mean, yeah, I-I can make that work, I mean I’d loveto, I mean… I’ll make you one!”

Andagain, maybe she was imagining it, but it looked like her smile waseven more bright and blinding than it usually was.

WhenSango arrived on the roof the next day, maybe just a littleover-excited, there was only Kagome there, which surprised her a bit.It had seemed that Inuyasha and her were close friends, and Sangoexpected to find him here.

“Idon’t know where Inuyasha is,” Kagome said like she was readingher mind. “He’s not that rude usually.”

Sangogrinned. “Oh, really?”

“Well,okay, maybe he isthat rude,” Kagome admitted, smiling back, “but he’s a reallygood guy underneath all of that, I promise!”

Sangosmiled again at Kagome’s enthusiastic defense of her friend. Shehoped she could one day be counted in the people Kagome would reactlike that for.

“Soare you two, like…”

“Hm?”

Wouldit be obvious if she asked what she had in mind? Did people ask thatsort of stuff to their friends? Did— She really needed to stopworrying about that stuff so much.

“…like,a thing?”

Kagomeblinked a couple of times. “Inuyasha and I? Oh, no! I mean, hedated my sister at some point…”

“Kikyo?”

“Youremembered!” Kagome beamed for a second. “Yeah, so they weretogether, but that, ahem, didn’t work out, to say the least. Webecame friends though, we have been for a while — but no, there’snothing like that between us.”

“So…You’re not interested in him?” Sango was probably pushing herluck by now, but dammit, she wanted to know.

Kagomelooked at her, still rummaging in her bag for the bento, and when sheblushed, Sango felt her heart stop.

“N-no,”Kagome mumbled, “I’m— er— Here you go!”

Holdinga box in her hands, she presented it to her, probably a little tooquickly, and Sango’s heart sunk. Kagome was lying — and poorly,at that. It was okay. She couldn’t force anyone to have feelingsafter all, nor would she have wanted to.

Witha heavy sigh, she opened the bento.

Andthen, everything stopped, while she stared at the heart made of ricethat she was facing — surrounded of course by other delicacies towhich she paid no attention for now.

Wh—Did— Was that— Did friends do that? She had never gotten a bentofrom a friend. She had never made one either. Was that a thing?

Sheglanced at Kagome, but the girl was staring at her bento, her hairtucked behind her ears, which were now a very obvious red as well.

“Ihope you like it,” she ended up whispering.

“I-Ido!” Sango replied immediately. “Me too— I mean I really likeyou— it!I really like it!”

Kagometurned to look at her, and Sango immediately plunged into her eyes.So beautiful, so blue, so expressive.

Then,Kagome’s eyes started getting closer. Was she— Was she leaningcloser? Was Sangothe one leaning closer? Was this actually happening? Please,please,let this be happening.

Kagomeclosed her eyes, only inches away from Sango’s face, and Sango didthe same. She could feel Kagome’s breath on her lips, she couldalready imagine her taste and—

“Hell,no.”

Witha shriek, the two girls jumped away from each other, and Sango’sfurious eyes landed on Inuyasha, who was perched on the fence thatwas supposed to stop people from, you know, jumping from the schoolroof — something a half-demon didn’t really need to care about.

“Iwas down to give you time to figure it out and all, but I ain’twatching this.”

IfSango was mad, Kagome’s blood was screaming for bloody murder.

“Inuyasha!”she hissed, furious, “I swear I—”

“You,”Inuyasha said, ignoring her completely, eyes fixated on Sango. “Ifyou hurt her, I’ll fucking kill you.”

Sangostared and him, then blinked. “First of all, I’d like to see youtry.That being said, if I hurt her, you will have my permission.”

Inuyashafrowned, but nodded. “Good, then.”

“Good.”

“Ifsomeone hurts me, I’ll take care of them myself,” Kagomegrumbled, clearly annoyed at their attitude. “You’re all reallyunderestimating me.”

Sangoand Inuyasha exchanged an amused look. Yeah, right…

Theyhad an enjoyable meal. Inuyasha was already starting to relax aroundSango, which made her think that he was mostly acting all tough. Hedid seem to be a really nice guy, just like Kagome had said. Thatdidn’t mean he was particularly talkative, but he wasn’t openlyhostile, and that was definitely improvement. If it kept going likethat, Sango mused, they’d be best friends in a week.

Oncethey were done, they proceeded to leave the roof, ready for anafternoon of class, after the best bento Sango had ever eaten.

Inuyashawalked out first. Immediately, Kagome grabbed Sango’s hand and,getting on her tiptoes, pressed her lips against the other woman’sfor a brief kiss.

Sangomelted. It didn’t last long, but Kagome’s mouth was warm and softand she felt heat all over her body suddenly.

Kagomepulled away too soon, exactly when Inuyasha was reopening the door tocomplain about how long they were taking. He eyed them suspiciouslywhen he saw their expressions, but didn’t comment.

Sangomanaged to grab Kagome’s hand on their way down, and Kagomeintertwined her fingers with hers.

Sangothought then that life couldn’t get any better.

Shewas wrong, of course. There were many better times to come. Theschool dance with Kagome by her side, the day when they moved intogether, the moment when she asked Kagome to marry her.

Butthis was the beginning of it all, and she would probably be right ifshe said the sun had never shone so bright on her life.

So I was going to mention them getting married at the end, but then I remembered same-sex marriage isn’t legal in Japan and now I’m sad, but anyway that’s why I say Sango asked Kagome to marry her. I don’t know if they’d get married in another country or if they’d wait for it to be legal and I didn’t want to make it sad (because I would expect them to want to get married), but, erm, yeah. Sorry for rambling, I hope you liked it!

[lurkingcrow]

(2/2)I'm currently reading another fic where old Ben is possessing Councilor Obi-Wan. So. How about. For unspecified reasons/methods, Old Ben (anywhere from just post-66 to post-RotJ ForceGhost) is cosharing (to what extent, you decide, are they separate, or blending) with either CW!Obi-Wan or Padawan/Knight Kenobi. And same with Vader-coshares appropriate Anakin. How aware all 4 personalities R of each other - up 2 U. I'm bad at specifics aren't I. I try to narrow down, yet still go or,or,or.

Why go for “OR” when you can use “AND”?  ;)

Sorry about the delay, corralling this into something doable was a bit of an effort. Even now there’s still an extra scene or two that don’t want to cooperate, so I decided to call it quits and share what I’ve got...

Anakin was five when he went mad.

(“You are not mad child. This is the will of the Force.”)

The voices of course disagree, but Ani knows that the only other people to hear invisible voices that nobody else can are the ones who've spent too long in the desert and ended up addled.

(“Ok, you may have point there... but trust me this is different!”)

When he brings up the issue to his Mom however she just laughs a little sadly and tells him that he's not mad - plenty of children have imaginary friends, and he should enjoy his time with them while he could.

(The voices fall silent, as they always do when she is near.)

Anakin isn't quite convinced. There's something in his heart that tells him something is… not wrong, but not right either. Still, his Mom is really smart so maybe he should talk to them anyway?

And so began his years long relationship with the ghosts in his head.

“You need to get those power converters checked quickly - if Watto ends up using one it’s going to blow up in his face and he’ll take it out on us.” advises the man who claims to be his older self.

Anakin looks from the part in his hand up to where only he can see the outline of a tall man lounging against the wall - the ghosts have become stronger over the years, capable of appearing outside his dreams. It would be nice if they could do more than talk at him though. He looks back at the converter. It looks fine. But then again Big Him hasn’t been wrong about this kind of thing before.

Anakin sighs. “Yeah, ok. At least there's only eight of…”

He cuts off mid word as both he and his other self turn to look beyond the door, where the dark shadows seem to coalesce into another large form.

Big Him glares venomously. “Oh. You’re back.”

The Dark Man seems continues to walk forward, unperturbed by the interruption. The faint echoing hiss of nonexistent machinery fills the back of Anakin’s mind as he nears.

One gloved hand reaches out as if to pick up the part in Anakin's fingers, only to pause as the figure remembers his incorporeal nature.

“You persist in this folly. Why? With my help you could be free of this all!”

“No.” Anakin says firmly, gathering his will and holding his chin high. “You hurt people. It’s not right.”

The black mask regards the boy impassively. “There is little that is right about this accursed planet. You could embrace your power, use it to do great things, and yet you allow this idiotic… JEDI to poison you with his weakness.”

“I am NOT weak!” snarls Big Him, fists clenching. “And it's not difficult to see that the Sith are EVIL!”

Anakin can feel the tension rising in the Force (another thing his ghosts had introduced him to) and steps between the shapes, forcing their attention on him.

“Hey, Big Me? Could you go check on Mom? She should be down at the market by now.”

His older self looks uncertain for a moment, the need to protect their mother battling with the urge to defend Anakin himself. “If you're sure.”

“I'll be fine.”

The apparition disappears, leaving behind only the menacing shadow.

For a moment neither of them speak..

“Why are you so mean? You're him right? The same way that he's me.”

“I am NOTHING like him. Anakin Skywalker was a weak fool.” the Dark Man rumbles.

“But we, you, ARE Anakin Skywalker!”

“No.” Rasps that deep deep voice “ I KILLED Anakin Skywalker.”

Anakin just looks at him sadly.

“And that's why I'm gonna keep saying no.”

*****

Obi-Wan Kenobi is not insane.

He knows this, feels the Force hum with certainty whenever he questions it, and yet he still has no better answer for the apparitions that haunt his waking mind.

“Believe me, if I had any answers for you I would give them. This situation makes no sense to me either.”

Obi-Wan holds back a sigh of resignation as he washes the last traces of mud out of his hair, long experience leaving him comfortable with his unseen company even within the privacy of his own quarters.  

Why him? Of all the beings in the universe for the Force to choose to experiment with temporal displacement, why did it have to be Obi-Wan Kenobi? He may be strong in the unifying Force, may have had the occasional Force vision, but surely there are more important individuals to bestow this on?

Still, no matter his confusion, there's no reason to take his frustration out on his other self.

“I know. I just wish… anyway thank you, for your advice back there. I dread to think what a fool I would have looked like if I’d gone ahead and greeted the High Chief as I’d intended.”

The bearded apparition winces a little ruefully. “It would not have been the most pleasant of experiences, no.”

Obi-Wan slings his towel over his shoulder and looks at the other him with a smile. “Then I appreciate your willingness to help me avoid it.” His mood dampens a little bit. “I think I’ve disappointed Master Qui-Gon on this mission without adding public humiliation to the mix.”

The ghost looks pained. “I understand completely. With the years of hindsight I would still argue that his response was a little unnecessary, I see his position. The desire to see one's Padawan grow and succeed is a Master's greatest pleasure, and I'm sure the harsh words were not intended as such.”

A dry chuckle emerges from the other corner of the room and Obi-Wan abruptly remembers that  there are in fact three presences inside his private quarters.

“Or perhaps he simply did not think. There comes a time when we must accept that even the most revered Masters are fallible, and can be wrong. You of all people should understand this General.”

The General ( for that is what he is clad in battered armour emblazoned with the symbol of the Order and Obi-Wan shudders to think of the circumstances under which Jedi would become soldiers) flinches as if hit by a physical blow before rebounding and locking his gaze upon entering their eldest iteration with keen intent.

“Perhaps. Of course if you wish to elucidate upon the subject I would be happy to listen, Ben.”

The older, sadder, Jedi Master raises one eyebrow, and silently regards his younger selves.

Ben does not talk often, and when he does it is full of regret and deep loneliness. His silence on the specifics of his past have led to considerable tension with the General - one day Obi-Wan will apparently have a Padawan, a Grand-Padawan even, and the General is desperate for information to prevent whatever tragedy will befall them.

(“No.” Ben says the first time the General pushes. “It will only cause you pain. Our young self is the only one of us with the opportunity to change his future right now. To act rashly is to risk losing what precious little hope remains.”)

Obi-Wan can kind of see both their points. He’s not sure he wants to know what horrors the future holds in store, but at the same time he is desperately curious about the people who will come to mean so much to him.

Still it doesn’t matter. Ben is immovable on this subject.

Realising the current conversation has reached an impasse, Obi-Wan attempts to defuse the simmering disquiet.

“It’s ok, what’s done is done. We need to focus on making sure the next time we’re in a situation like that we have alternatives.”

One heartbeat, two, and Ben’s face crinkles up into a genial smile.

“Ah yes. Have you considered the merits of converting some mission funds into small trade items for emergencies? Sewing a pouch into the band of our trousers would minimise the risk of it being lost, and we wouldn’t need to worry about transactions being traced.”

Obi-Wan takes the moment to finish dressing, mulling the idea over.

“ An interesting idea. Why did I never think of that?” muses the General, idly stroking his spectral beard, a keen glint in his eye.

Ben regards them both,eyes ever so sad. “You never needed to. Until we did.”

And Obi-Wan Kenobi  wishes that he was only mad.