#hey y'all i finished it~

[sunset-opal]

a graceful swan, a dance from the heart

[kaoyuuuu]

merry christmas ゴロ美ちゃん~🎄✨✨

[renabe4life]

Something feels off as he goes through the motions, and it's not just that his neck is stiff from sleeping funny. Or that his knee still faintly hurts from knocking it against the tub last night. No surprise there, probably sporting the start of a lovely bruise.

Splashing water on his face, he then reaches for the hand towel. Fingers clutch at air, find an empty ring where one usually hangs. Odd, he remembers it being there yesterday. He shakes hands out over the sink, lets his face drip a few moments more before turning around to grab one from the shelf. Nearly empty. Right, he thinks as he dries his face. He'd done a load of wash last night.

Hopefully got all the blood out.

Blood…?

He drops the towel from his face, eyes darting to the tub. In the dim morning light that filters in through the window, he can see that it is half full with water. And it hits him like a truck that there ought be something else in there too.

[queenofbaws]

there are already roughly a million posts like this already circulating, but man. just. sometimes you really do have to step away from something you're working on and come back to it later.

creative buds, please. please. no one is worse at taking my advice than i am, believe me, but seriously, if you've been feeling down or frustrated or stumped with something you've been working on lately, take this as your sign to maybe take a little break. a week, a month, whatever. you've been looking at it too long, you've read it too many times, you've erased that same line so many times you've lost count - you need to come back to it with a rested brain and fresh eyes.

however rough it feels to you now, i promise, promise, promise that it'll feel so much better after a little distance. <3

[pinkywritesstuff]

can you write a story where pinky comforts brain after a bad day maybe😼😼

Brain tossed and turned, the gift of sleep failing to reach him yet again. Every time he tried to close his eyes, he’d open them again mere seconds later, wide awake without an inkling of tiredness. Even as Pinky slumbered soundly next to him, his quiet noises usually allowing Brain to drift off, he still couldn’t fall asleep.

And he knew exactly why.

His plan for tonight had been a complete disaster. Not in the traditional sense, nothing exploded or melted luckily. But still, something horrible had occurred that left him without words.

For the rest of the night.

He had constructed an idea involving him using public speaking as a means to motivate the world into following his rule. Brain was optimistic that he would be able to express his potent vocabulary to encourage millions to benefit the good of the world. Was it a little corny? Certainly. Though he presumed that the population would support someone looking out for them without much hassle in this melancholy society.

Why did he have to be so wrong?

As soon as he stepped to the podium to present his great speech that he’d been advertising and preparing for days prior, the crowd turned on him. Badly. He had only gotten to say a few words before chaos ensued. The jeers of the people mocking him were cruel and unjust. Callous and insulting. Almost ridiculous, yet still based in reality.

“Look at how small he is!”

“He’s clearly an idiot. His forehead is the size of my pickup truck!”

“Great! Another fat politician to manipulate us.”

“You’re ugly!”

“You are overweight. Really fat.”

“Shut up!”

“No one cares about you. Get off the stage you moron!”

Brain tried easing the people to continue his speech, but soon, items began being thrown at him. Vegetables, the free pens he handed out earlier, even dangerous things like chairs. The crowd was livid, and their harsh yells continued to ring loudly in Brain’s ears.

“Pointless idiot!”

“Overweight dumbass!”

“Loser with no life!”

He felt sick to his stomach, lightheaded and weak. His heart pounded in his chest, his breath becoming labored. These dreadful phrases just kept coming, over and over again. It almost became like a mantra of sorts. And all he could do was blankly stare and avoid the occasional object haphazardly thrown in his direction. Brain swallowed a lump in his throat, doing his best to not cry.

He was so lost until he heard a familiar voice speak over the microphone.

“Stop hurting Brain! He’s trying to help you! Can’t you see that? Poit! Just leave my boyfriend alone!”

Pinky was far too kind to try and assist him with calming the crowd. Brain felt a little better knowing his partner was on his side, defending him to the very end.

Unfortunately, his admittance of the two being romantically involved proved to be the nail in the coffin.

The people got aggressive, the shouting increasing to a deafening degree. They raised their fists and Brain could only whimper as he began hearing insults thrown at both him and Pinky.

“Homosexual garbage!”

“Your boyfriend is as ugly as you!”

“I thought you were pathetic before but now that I see you’re in a same-sex relationship, you suck even more.”

“Fa-”

And that’s when he heard it. The infamous f slur. Brain only recently came to terms with his sexuality and when he looked up the word, he was more than a little unnerved. This was the first time he’d been called it though. And it hurt.

He felt himself grow dizzy as the people began to chant the word aloud. It was maddening how inconsiderate and cruel the public could be, not even giving him a chance to show what he could do. Brain was so lost in emotions that he didn’t even realize he’d been pulled off the stage by Pinky, who was grasping onto his paw with a worried expression.

“Brain, are you alright? Brain?”

All he could do was nod, his eyes still widened in disbelief at what had just unfolded. Brain bit his lip as he felt Pinky’s hold on him increase in intensity.

“Don’t listen to them. Narf. They don’t know that you’re the bestest mouse on the planet and they don’t need to know. I love you, Brain. That’s all that matters.” Pinky kissed Brain’s head soothingly, attempting to comfort him to his best ability.

Brain blinked at his partner once, his mind still in a haze. Still, he tried to show Pinky that he’d helped, thought it wasn’t entirely accurate. “T-thanks Pinky. I’ll be fine. I promise.”

He wasn’t fine. That was the furthest thing from the truth.

The entire walk back to the lab was silent. While the duo walked with their fingers intertwined underneath a starry night sky, Brain averted his gaze from Pinky, trying to hide his upset state. Pinky didn’t even say anything to lighten the mood, which was completely unusual for him. When they’d reached their cage, Brain went to bed instantly with Pinky following suit not too long after.

It was only 10:00. He wasn’t even tired.

Time passed and Brain still could not sleep. Pinky was a naturally quick sleeper, so he was already out and would likely remain asleep for a long time. He turned around to face his companion’s calm form. His face softened out when he noticed how peaceful Pinky looked and the miniscule smile that graced his lips. Brain blushed a little; Pinky was extremely adorable when he slept.

And yet, he still didn’t feel any better about what had happened earlier. In fact, he felt even more distressed now.

Brain couldn’t believe that such vicious and abrasive comments existed, that people could even bother judging him before they knew him personally. Though he relinquished in the support that Pinky brought him, he still felt vulnerable, inferior. Like everyone else saw him as a disappointment.

He knew that these words wouldn’t leave his mind, at least not tonight. Brain needed to contemplate all that had occurred in a secluded area, away from prying eyes (Pinky specifically). So, deciding that sleep was out of the question, Brain sat up in the bed, pulling the blanket away from his body. He was careful as to not accidentally make a sound when exiting.

Things were going well so far. Hopefully Pinky wouldn’t notice the shift in weight on his side.

The short mouse stood up, freezing for a moment, and glancing back towards his friend, who was thankfully still asleep. Brain sighed in relief before he began to walk away from the bed. He took quiet steps, hoping that nothing would deter him from finding a place to hide and ponder. He needed this mental break.

Brain almost reached the cage door, preparing to pick the lock open with his crooked tail when he heard the bed creak behind him.

“Brain? Where are you going so late?”

Drat. He’d been caught dead in his tracks. What was he to do? Acknowledge Pinky’s question and fess up to everything? Ignore his partner and pretend that he didn’t hear him, which would absolutely cause tension in their relationship?

Not wanting to discuss with Pinky his emotional instability, he decided on the latter option, which he would definitely regret at a later time. Brain trudged farther away from Pinky, not responding to his question as he continued working on the lock.

“Are you okay? Zort. Is something bothering you?”

There was no stopping him, was there? He didn’t really have a choice. Pinky would be adamant about knowing what was up and would not silence easily. Groaning in annoyance but putting on a look of contentment, he turned around to face Pinky, who looked extremely concerned and unsure.

“Uhm…everything’s alright Pinky.” Brain slowly moved away from the cage door, trying not to reveal any of the thoughts that were currently invading his mind. He came up with a quick lie to further sway his companion. “I was just heading back to bed after…uh…taking a last look at my notes for tomorrow’s plan. Nothing to fret over. Go to sleep.”

Pinky quirked an eyebrow, not buying Brain’s fib in the slightest. He sat up from the bed and began walking slowly towards the megalomaniac. “I don’t believe you. You look all scowly and sad. Is something wrong? Do you wanna talk about it?”

Brain felt himself stall as Pinky approached him. Curse his inability to lie in a stressful situation. Pinky had seen right through his façade. His friend’s emotional intelligence was truly befuddling.

“I assure you that I’m fine as I stand currently. You…you don’t have to worry about me at all. We don’t have to discuss anything.” He tried backing away from Pinky, but his legs just wouldn’t move. It’s like he was stuck in place. “Really, Pinky. It’s fine. We can just return to the bed and prepare for tomorrow night. Everything’s just great.”

The taller mouse shook his head, maintaining his watch on Brain’s now anxious face. He continued to walk towards him, almost demandingly.

“Zort. You’re lying Brain. I can tell. Is this about what happened earlier at your speech thingy?”

Oh no. He knew about that. He’s understood that Brain hadn’t been okay after the failed plan. Pinky knew. How he’d known was not a question that Brain was worried about. Rather it was the fact that sooner or later, he’d need to fess up to Pinky about what had truly been happening.

Brain halted, fighting back against the sudden increase in emotions rising within him. He was at his breaking point; guess he just had to come clean now. There was no way out. “Alright, you got me.” Brain started, his voice laced with sarcasm, anger, aggression, and a little sorrow. “That whole entire speech plan was a failure. And for once, it was for something that wasn’t exactly my fault. That sounds great, right? Well, it’s not.” Brain’s face fell, his breath hitching before he resumed. “For once, a plan failed because of things I claim I can control, but I actually can’t. Those people only saw the worst parts of me. Ones I’ve been trying to alter for years now so that I may appeal to the masses. I finally go out as myself and look where that got me! People threw produce in my direction. I got called offensive names. Just for my looks. And, Pinky, just face it, I believe their statements were accurate.”

Pinky gasped, running over to Brain quickly before attempting to console him by placing his paws on Brain’s shoulders. “Brain. You know that what those people said was just stupid. You know that. I care about you…”

“You don’t understand, Pinky! You’ll never understand these hardships I’ve had to go through my entire life!” He pulled away from his companion, his agitation increasing rapidly and his tone raising to an agitated shout.

“Look at this.” He gestured towards his body, trying to get his point across by all means necessary. “I’m overweight, pathetic, and no one cares about me. I’m judged before I’m even given a chance to do something for the greater good. People hate me for simply existing. It’s not like you where you walk into a room, and everyone instantly wants to be your friend. I work harder than anyone to gain appreciation for the things I do, and it never works out in my favor. Others just see me as a chubby loser with no meaning in life.”

“Brain, I sometimes don’t feel good about meself too. Narf. I don’t just walk into a room and make friends, at least for the most part. And you are not a loser. You are incredible and smart and super handsome…”

“Just listen!” He cut Pinky off again, though he didn’t even care about hearing what Pinky had to say; he needed to get this off his chest before it caused him to collapse internally. “Don’t you understand what they called us at the speech? When you tried defending me, they hated me even more simply because I’m in a relationship with someone of my exact gender. I’ve only recently accepted that side of myself, and I’m already being put down for it. I just…I can’t…”

A garbled sob slipped out. Brain allowed a few tears to run down his face. His control over himself was gradually dissipating. He only felt worse when he saw Pinky’s upset expression, tears pricking the corners of his eyes. Things were escalating. And Brain wasn’t done yet.

“I’m worthless, Pinky! I fail at everything I do! It’s how the world sees me apparently. And everyone was right. I’m just a pretentious, moronic, useless, stupid fa-”

He was silenced, not by his own volition, but by Pinky forcibly pushing him to the floor, restraining him with his own body. He was about to respond in alarm before he felt lips press against his own. This kiss was aggressive and messy yet still tender and calming. Brain closed his eyes as he accepted all of Pinky’s intense feelings which seemed to transfer between their connected mouths. He held onto his partner’s back tightly, moaning softly as the kiss deepened.

Pinky was the one to part for air, Brain huffing heavily after the unexpected kiss. He and Pinky sat up, still gasping for breath. But before he could process what happened, he was grabbed by the shoulders as Pinky stared at Brain face-to-face, with a look that could only be described as enraged.

“No, no, NO!! Brain, you DO NOT say those awful words to yourself or to me! Poit! You are NOT any of those things you said. Not even close!! And you DO NOT CALL YOURSELF THAT HORRIBLE WORD!! I looked up what it means on the Goggle site earlier and it’s most definitely not okay to call yourself that unless you’re positive about it! You are incredible and amazing, and I love you so much! Troz! You don’t deserve those meany-mean people’s attention! Do you understand?!” Pinky yelled, louder than he’d ever yelled before.

Brain wasn’t expecting Pinky to be this hostile with him, but he wasn’t entirely opposed to it. His friend’s kind but firm words made him feel a little better, though he continued to hold in tears.

Pinky seemed to notice this, moving his paws to cup Brain’s cheeks and rub them gently. His angry scowl turned into a soft smile as he inhaled and calmed down. “If it makes you feel any better, I don’t think you’re overweight. I like your chubby head and belly. They’re so much fun to squish! Zort!” He nuzzled Brain’s nose, causing the pink-eyed mouse to blush again. “Those people don’t see what I see in you, Brain. But their opinion doesn’t matter. As long as I love you, that’s all that matters to me.”

Brain held his breath, trying to hold in a very aggressive outburst. Pinky was truly his everything, his world. But he still felt this nasty feeling inside. Like even though he had his partner, it still wasn’t enough.

As if Pinky had read his mind, he pulled Brain closer, placing a small peck on his temple. “I can tell you’ve been holding in a lot recently.”

All Brain could do was sit without words, still attempting to contain his feelings.

“You don’t have to hold back for me, love. Let it out. You’ll feel much better when you do.”

Overcome with emotions that were becoming too much for him to bear, Brain proceeded to bury his face into Pinky’s chest, sobbing hard. He was so exhausted of all those horrific words poisoning his thoughts. Still, he was relieved that Pinky didn’t care about him allowing him to let himself go a bit. He held onto his companion like his life depended on it.

Pinky calmed Brain, lovingly tracing his fingers through Brain’s fur, and whispering soft, comforting words in his ear, hoping it would help. Luckily, it seemed to be working.

As Brain continued to bawl, he couldn’t help but feel as if not all these tears were as a result of what those people had said. Some were certainly from the fact that Pinky was still with him, aiding him with all these problems and loving him boundlessly. He was so grateful for Pinky. Especially at times like this.

After what seemed like hours, Brain sighed, his built-up feelings fading away slowly, but surely. He hummed, pulling his head from Pinky, and staring into his partner’s soft blue gaze. He sniffed a little before allowing himself a light smile.

Pinky took this as a sign that Brain was finished crying. He placed his paws on Brain’s cheeks, scrubbing the excess tears off with his thumb. “Are you feeling better now, Brain? Poit. Are all those nasty-wasty feelings gone?” he asked delicately, his voice in a faint whisper.

Once again reduced to silence, albeit because of entirely different reasons, Brain could only nod once before he pushed himself forward, resting his face into Pinky’s chest once again, but this time in a tight embrace. Almost instantly, he began to place kisses along his companion’s body, anywhere he could reach. Pinky reacted appropriately, breaking out into fervent giggles as the two fell to the floor.

“Braaaaaaaaain!” Pinky’s entire face was red in a deep blush, his smile bright. “What are you doing?”

Brain smirked suggestively at Pinky, brushing his fingers along his partner’s fur as he briefly stopped kissing him to respond. “Why, Pinky. I’m simply showing my appreciation for you in a way we both can comprehend.” He nuzzled his nose against Pinky’s chest, almost purring. It was primitive, but he couldn’t be bothered.

“Naaaaarrf!!” Pinky swooned, his breath catching as he exhaled as Brain continued to hold him close. He could hardly believe how snuggly Brain was being. His heartbeat became louder; he was positive that Brain could hear it now.

“I do hope this isn’t too much. Over-stepping your boundaries is something I never want to do to you, considering how much I care about you.” Brain was still a little insecure about his…romance skills. He never wanted to make Pinky feel uncomfortable.

“Of course not, Brain!” Pinky placed a soft kiss on Brain’s nose, causing the latter mouse’s face to flush darkly. “It’s perfect, darling. Please keep going!”

He happily obliged to Pinky’s request, grabbing his lover by the waist and continuing to show how much he truly loved him. Brain peppered kisses along the crook of Pinky’s neck and on his collarbone, making sure not to miss a single spot. It didn’t take him long to begin kissing Pinky’s face too, occasionally sneaking a peck onto Pinky’s lips to add an element of surprise.

Pinky burst into hysterics once more, his infectious laughter leading Brain to chuckle slightly in between kisses. “Oh, Brain! I’m so happy you’ll be okay! Troz!” He cupped Brain’s cheeks to stop him temporarily. “I love you.”

Brain couldn’t help but smile in Pinky’s tender hold. “I love you too,” he whispered gently, before pushing himself forward to begin kissing Pinky once more.

While he knew that others would hold him back and ridicule him, Brain was positive that Pinky would be there to love him and cherish him during all the harsh turmoil.

As long as Pinky loved him, the world would come to him someday.

 No one could do anything about that.

[whysamwhy123]

Illness be damned, I finished this next OrangeHook fic, holla! Thank God this one's nowhere near as long as the first. It definitely got away from me though, didn't end up being about what I intended it to be about. But I don't think it's terrible? At least, not offensively so? I don't know. I'll see how I feel about it after I'm done editing. Maybe then I'll think about posting it sometime later this week?

[theangrypomeranian]

I officially only have two more chapters of Baby Steps left to write...

[yangjeongin]

everyone. i did it i made it through all of the skz "album special" era playlists. if you go to the skz youtube channel and look at them. All of them. i definitely missed some ts files that had no youtube evidence of their existence but i have truly had enough. over 2000 videos in those playlists and i DID get to skip a lot because they were other members' fancams or videos but still. gotta be at least 1000 videos i Legitimately Went Through. i love being a crazy person

[pinkandgreenarepurpleandyellow]

I regret getting into a band fandom. get me out of here. I am going to become heterophobic.

[theinfinitedivides]

now y'all know the f*cked up sh*t about this is the k-pop fans will be defending these f*ckers but at the same time we have domestic ones trying to kick Seunghan out of RIIZE........... do you see where i'm going with this

[dirtyoldmanhole]

you know the characters in a fic have some serious chemistry when they ignore every single direction to cool it on one sex scene and then you just have to add another, different sex scene in authorial exasperation

[dennisboobs]

i'm v flattered and :))) by the amount of stuff i've seen in fanfics recently that makes reference to stuff i've pointed out, i love the feeling of passing the brainworms back and forth

[fleursbending]

mother!tiri is GOING OFFFFFF in this fic !! i am excited for y'all to see it. my sully's stick together story has such a special place in my heart ahgfhg!!

[elshells]

Agent Ace Chapter 12 || HARLEY -1-

Rating: Teen + Word Count: 4,388 Content Warnings: Violence, weapon use, and descriptions of blood and gore; reader discretion is advised. Summary: After a heartfelt moment in the city, Harley and Jade return home, unaware of the danger that awaits them there.

↤ PREVIOUS CHAPTER

⬗

June 25 9:00 P.M. Hub District - Pandor: Manalis Residence

Jade pulled into Harley’s driveway, parking behind Ahren’s car. The headlights illuminated the front yard, which, aside from a single potted rose on the front porch, was barren and overrun with weeds. Cressida rarely had time to do any yard work.

“Are you sure it’s alright for me to come inside?” Jade asked. She studied the house through her window, resting one hand on the steering wheel. “Ahren sounded pretty frazzled over the phone. I wouldn’t want to intrude.”

“You could never,” Harley replied as she unbuckled her seatbelt. “Besides, it could be fun! The house has been so gloomy lately. We could use your sunny disposition.”

“Well… alright.” Jade shut off the car, and the headlights died away. “What the heck?”

“That’s the spirit!” Harley grinned and shoved open the door. “I hope you like slapjack. Ahren’s terrible, and since Mom’s still not here, I might actually win.”

“I’ve never played.” Jade picked up the can of spray paint from the backseat and gave it a playful rattle. “Though I have been told that I am a beast at cribbage.”

Harley laughed. She’d played cribbage with Jade enough times to know that she’d never stand a chance.

They stepped out to a hazy purple sky and the thick scent of rain. While the rest of the city never seemed to sleep, time almost stopped under the dimly-lit streets of Pandor. Peace and quiet had always been Cressida’s preference, and after everything their family had been through, Harley couldn’t say she blamed her.

Thunder rumbled faintly overhead as they walked up to the porch. Harley knocked twice on the front door, and it creaked ajar at her touch.

“Um, okay.” She peered around the edge of the door, though she saw nothing through the darkness. “Why isn’t it locked?”

“Maybe Ahren forgot?” Jade said.

Harley nodded uncertainly, doing her best to ignore the tight feeling in her chest. “Ahren? We’re here!”

She pushed the door open all the way and entered to an uncanny silence. Every light was off, shrouding the hallway and living room in shadow. Goosebumps prickled on her arms as soft footsteps padded behind her, even though she knew it was only Jade.

“Harley Manalis.”

The low voice lingered in her ear, chilling her from the inside out. She froze.

That’s not Ahren.

Light pulsed in the corner of her eye as the living room lamp flicked on. She flinched as Jade grabbed her arm with a gasp.

Ahren sat on a chair in the middle of the room, his face pale with anxiety, clutching one mangled, bloody arm to his chest. Behind him, a woman in black leather lounged on the couch, with her wedged combat boots propped up on the armrest. White-blonde hair spilled over her shoulders, and slivers of light bounced across the walls as she twirled a silver dagger in one hand. She turned her head slowly, and Harley’s breath hitched as her blue eyes pierced through her like shards of ice.

A vigilante. Harley had never met one, but somehow, she was certain.

The vigilante tilted her head to the side. “You shouldn’t have brought her along.”

Without warning, Jade released her arm. Harley watched in horror as she flew back down the hallway, as if something invisible had struck her in the gut. She yelped as the curve of her back connected with the wall, pinning her in place.

“Jade!” Harley started to move, but faltered as cold steel pressed against her throat. Her stomach dropped as she looked down to the dagger hovering in midair, the blade kissing her skin.

“Stand down,” the vigilante warned. “Not one move.”

Her heartbeat flew into a frenzy as slow footsteps thudded behind her. Jade lay rigid against the wall, fixing Harley with a wide, fearful gaze. Harley stared back, helpless and unable to speak.

The vigilante paced in a circle around Harley, stopping to face her. She held a flat, outstretched hand in Jade’s direction, while the other sat poised beneath the dagger, close enough to caress the hilt. A light hum emanated from her fingertips.

“You can decide to come with me,” the vigilante said, her voice deadly soft as the dagger edged closer to Harley, “or I’ll make the decision for you.”

“Let her go!” Ahren yelled.

The vigilante snapped her head towards Ahren, and the dagger spun to face him like a compass needle. “Silence. Don’t make me regret sparing you.”

Harley held her breath, transfixed by the floating dagger. This woman could control the dagger while holding Jade in place—without putting a finger on either. But how? Some sort of magic trick, or an optical illusion?

No. Technology. That had to be the solution—at least, it was more plausible than magic. But when did the world advance to accommodate telekinesis?

Jade let out a low cough. Harley watched from the corner of her eye as she extended her arm out in front of her, the can of spray paint trembling in her hand.

As her gaze met Harley’s, she dipped her chin into a tiny nod.

Harley furrowed her brow. “Wha—”

She broke off as the vigilante’s gaze returned to bore through her skull. Her face was inches away, so close that Harley could make out a freckle below her right eye.

“Say that again.” Her voice was sharp and no louder than a whisper.

Jade tossed the can into the air. As it sailed towards Harley, an impulse clicked inside of her, sending her into forward drive. Without breaking her gaze, she grabbed the can above her head and rammed it into the vigilante’s face.

Her arms bounced back from the recoil as the vigilante staggered back soundlessly, holding her face in her hands. Behind her, Jade collapsed off the wall with a gasp. The dagger dropped out of the air, and Harley lunged forward to catch it clumsily before it hit the floor.

Gripping it tightly, she backed into the living room, jumping as Ahren’s hand grasped her shoulder from behind. The vigilante stood up straight, staring balefully in their direction as she reached over her shoulder. With a metallic clang, she unsheathed a broad, gleaming knife the length of Harley’s forearm and leveled it in front of her.

Oh, shit.

“Get back,” Ahren muttered.

Harley clenched her teeth, her legs shaking as she lifted the dagger higher. The vigilante’s lip curled into a snarl.

With a high-pitched battle cry, Jade sprang onto the vigilante’s back, latching her arms around her neck. The vigilante spun and thrashed as Jade locked one arm and reached forward with the other, grabbing the hilt of the blade.

The vigilante took Jade by the arms and wrestled her free. She flipped her off her back and slammed her down on top of the dining room table. The knife slipped out of Jade’s fingers, pausing in midair, before soaring back to the vigilante’s hand.

Blood pumping in her ears, Harley shoved Ahren aside and lunged toward them. “Hey!”

She drove the dagger as deep as she could into her back. The vigilante crumpled to her knees with a guttural scream of shock. At the same time, Harley cried out and staggered back, hands shaking in front of her.

What did I… how did I—

She flinched as a pair of hands landed on her shoulders, which spun her around until she was staring up at Jade’s round, panicked eyes.

“Jade!” she gasped, heart hammering inside her chest. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine!” Jade replied breathlessly as she took Harley’s wrists in her hands. “But we—”

“We need to go!” Ahren yelled from behind them. “Now!”

Jade nodded, releasing Harley to follow after Ahren as he disappeared through the front door. Harley only made it a few steps after them before a hand roughly grabbed the collar of her shirt and yanked her back. Her gut dropped, and her heels dug into the carpet as she reeled backwards and bent over the table.

Her mind froze as the vigilante’s palm struck her in the chest, looming above her with a gleaming, rabid gaze. Her hair fell in front of her face, the long strands brushing across Harley’s cheeks.

Harley huffed, pain sparking through her jaw as she clamped it shut. Adrenaline surged through her body, and a cry exploded from her mouth as she kicked her leg out with as much force as she could summon. Her foot slammed into the vigilante’s gut, knocking her away without a sound.

Harley threw her head forward and pushed off of the table. As she started her dash back towards the threshold, the door shut with a bang. The vigilante rose to her feet, with one hand reaching towards Harley.

Shit, shit, shit!

Harley’s footsteps thudded against the wooden floor as she ran back the way she came, aiming for the staircase—her next closest escape.

The stairs shook as the vigilante climbed after her. An end table with a porcelain vase sat at the top of the landing; Harley upended it, sending them both tumbling down the stairs. She barely heard the wooden crash and the shattering of the vase as she crossed the landing into her room, slamming the door and locking it shut behind her.

She’d bought herself some time, but now she’d cornered herself. She had to act fast.

As the vigilante’s footsteps grew louder, Harley shoved a bookcase in front of the door to barricade it. A second later, the walls shook as the vigilante slammed into the door repeatedly with all of her weight. The bookcase wobbled with each impact, books spilling off the shelves as it threatened to tip forward.

Harley turned away and surveyed the room, her eyes falling on her suitcase that lay half-unpacked on the floor. Nestled on top of a pile of clothes was the headphones and Uncle Kit’s communication orb. Without a second thought, she snatched them both up; there wasn’t time to take anything else.

Setting the headphones around her neck, she looked to the window. If she could get it open, she could crawl out onto the roof. But she was on the second story—it would be a long drop to the driveway, and there was nothing in here that she could use as a rope.

A loud crack sounded from behind her. Her time was up.

Her next best bet was to hide.

Dropping to her knees, Harley rolled under the bed. The wood bed frame nearly suffocated her as darkness fell over her like a blanket. She clutched the orb to her chest, holding still while dust tickled her nose.

The banging on the door stopped. From the spot under the bed, Harley saw the bottom of the bookcase shift along the floor, clunking back into its place against the wall.

The door, now open by a sliver, swung open wide.

Harley held her breath as the vigilante entered the room. The carpet softened each step she took, but every vibration ran through Harley’s body like a shudder.

The vigilante stopped in the middle of the room. Harley couldn’t see anything above her boots, but she could imagine her eyes scanning the room, like a cat stalking a mouse.

“I know you’re here.” Her voice was low, but clear. “What are you afraid of?”

Harley’s pulse skipped a beat as the vigilante took slow steps across the room, away from the bed and towards the closet. As silently as she could, Harley rolled over onto her stomach and inched over to the edge of the bed. The tip of the vigilante’s dagger became visible, wickedly sharp and slick with blood from when Harley stabbed her.

“We can help each other.” She spoke again, almost in a monotone. “Everyone else is a liability. Understand?”

In a flash, she ripped open the closet door. Fabric rippled inside before the room fell silent again. Harley squeezed out from beneath the bed and crawled over to her dresser a couple of feet away, crouching beneath it just as the vigilante turned back towards the bed. She clicked her tongue and flipped the dagger around threateningly.

“No use hiding.” She took one step towards the bed, then another. “Show yourself, before I find you first.”

Harley pressed her back against the dresser, craning her neck towards the vigilante. One more step, and she had an opening.

“Harley.” The vigilante came into view. “It’s time to be a hero.”

Harley sprang out at her from behind the dresser, reaching for the dagger. She let out a cry as the vigilante grasped her by the scruff of her neck and threw her down to the ground. Her cheek stung against the carpet, and as she lifted her head, the tip of the blade met her nose.

“Up.”

Shakily, Harley returned to her feet, holding the orb close to her body as the vigilante positioned the dagger beneath her chin. A thin trail of blood trickled down the center of the vigilante’s face, dripping off the tip of her nose.

But the gash that Harley gave her had begun to glow a brilliant blue.

Harley’s lips parted as she let out a quivering breath. “Wh-Who are you?”

The vigilante’s frown deepened. Without a word, she lifted up Harley’s chin with the dagger, forcing her to meet her stare. Harley’s heartbeat thumped against the orb.

“Shut your mouth,” the vigilante said, her voice deadly quiet. “And no sudden moves.”

At first, Harley couldn’t bring herself to disobey. Her mind raced while she was frozen in place.

I can’t go with her. I have to get out of here. I have to do something!

With a surge of strength and conviction, she turned and chucked the orb at the window. The glass pane shattered on impact, sending a shower of shards in every direction. Harley shoved the vigilante’s arm away and leaped on top of the bed. Broken glass grazed her skin as the extra momentum from the mattress sent her through the window and onto the roof.

The orb soared over the roof in slow motion. Harley dove for it with outstretched arms. As she snatched it narrowly out of the air, her foot slipped on a roof tile and she lost balance, tipping over off the edge of the roof.

A bellow of thunder rang out in the sky, mocking her.

Raindrops pelted her face as the driveway raced up to meet her. Her throat tightened as she held back a scream, and every muscle in her body tensed for the impact.

She squeezed her eyes shut. A second passed. And then another. Three seconds, four seconds.

Why hadn’t she hit the cold pavement?

Harley pried her eyes open to find herself hovering a foot off the ground, before her body dropped out of the air with a soft thud. She sat back upright on the rain-speckled driveway just in time to see the vigilante jump off the roof and float down—almost angelically—to land in front of Harley. Wind lashed through her hair as the rain mixed with blood, streaking across her face in rivulets.

The dagger glinted dully as she flipped the blade to point at Harley and held it up high.

“N-No.” Harley’s voice cracked as she scrambled away from her. “Please, no—!”

Bright light flooded Harley’s vision. She blinked and it was gone, replaced by the screeching of tires as a moving wall slammed into the vigilante. 

Harley watched in shock as she crumpled over the slick black hood of a cargo van, bouncing off the windshield before rolling off into a heap on the driveway. The dagger clattered down in front of her, blood staining the pavement as the rain washed the blade clean.

She gawked up at the van as the tinted passenger window rolled down. A strange man sat in the driver’s seat, his gaze transfixed in horror at the windshield, but Jade’s hands were on the wheel, half sitting in his lap.

“Get in!” she screamed.

After the initial second of shock, Harley seized the dagger and ran towards the van. She threw open the door and crawled up onto the seat.

“Shut the door, quickly!” The driver demanded, his voice high with stress.

Harley shot backwards, her arm almost dragging her out the open window. The dagger sailed around to the front of the truck, to the vigilante’s trembling hand.

The driver let out a shout, grabbing the wheel. “Damn! Hold on!”

He slammed his foot on the gas, and the van screeched down the driveway. Harley fell back inside, pulling the door shut behind her. Her stomach did a loop as the van pivoted around before speeding off down the road.

Breathing heavily, Harley peeled herself off the door and grabbed the center console for balance. “Who are you?” she asked the driver.

He shot her a glance from behind Jade’s head before turning back towards the road with a rigid posture. “I’ll answer that in a minute,” he panted. “But for now, I need you both to get in the back!”

Harley nodded. “O-Okay.”

Jade took her hand as they climbed off the seats and entered the doorway behind them. The back of the van was windowless and dim, lit by a long line of string lights hanging above them from wall to wall. A half-deflated air mattress lay tucked in the corner, mostly buried beneath a pile of threadbare blankets. 

Sitting atop the mattress was Ahren, who seemed occupied in wrapping up his injured arm with scraps of fabric he ripped from the blankets. He looked up, and his face fell in relief. “Harley, you made it! I wasn’t sure we’d be able to get you out of there.”

Harley’s knees buckled as she took a step forward. Jade caught her just before she fell, and the two of them collapsed next to Ahren on top of the mattress.

“Harley!” Jade’s arms wrapped around her tightly, holding her so close that Harley could feel her pulse racing against her own. “Did she hurt you? Please tell me you’re okay.”

Harley gasped for air, clinging to Jade as her body shook violently with each breath she took. She leaned back with her head on Jade’s chest as her hold around her grew tighter.

“I-I-I...” She swallowed as her eyes grew blurry with tears. “I—”

Jade shushed her gently, resting her head on top of Harley’s. Harley shut her eyes and curled her fingers around Jade’s arms, sinking into the warmth of her embrace.

Her breath hitched again. She stretched her legs out in front of her, working to relax her muscles. 

Breathe, Harley. Breathe in, breathe out.

Slowly, she peeled her eyes back open. The string lights clattered softly above her as they swung back and forth with the movement of the van. For several minutes, she stared up at them, too dazed to move or think. The heavy pattering of raindrops on the roof filled the van as Harley struggled to slow her breathing back into a steady rhythm.

“Harley.” After what felt like an hour, Jade finally spoke in a shaky whisper. “That was her. The one who broke into my apartment.”

Harley’s voice was hoarse, scratching her throat as she asked, “Are you sure?”

“Positive,” Jade replied. “As soon as I saw her face, I remembered.”

Harley nodded stiffly, reaching up to wipe the tear tracks from her cheeks. How the hell did we make it out of there alive?

Victor Kylmenko’s lifeless face loomed in her vision—the Guardian that died the morning of Sophia’s call. That vigilante had killed him. There was no questioning that now.

But why had she spared Harley?

“She’s not working alone.”

Harley sat up and turned to Ahren, who looked back at her with a face full of guilt. 

“What did you say?” she asked.

He turned his head to face the opposite wall without a response. Curious and confused, Harley followed his gaze to see a makeshift bulletin board sprawling along the wall of the van, overcrowded with papers and webs of yarn.

“Woah,” Jade said, releasing Harley from her grip. “What is that?”

Harley made her way back to her feet, approaching the wall with careful steps. A map of the city lay spread out in the center of the wall, marked with scribbles and notes that were impossible to decipher. Colorful, holographic cards had been taped all over the map, each one featuring art bearing the likeness of a Guardian.

With a jolt, Harley recognized the cards. They belonged to Heroes of Glory, a popular strategy-based game where players pitted the elite Guardians against each other to find out who would win in a fight. It had been Sophia’s favorite game as a kid, and Harley used to play occasionally with Jade and Max during lunch and study hall. 

The cards were taped to the corresponding districts of the Guardians on the card—Equinox of Blumoore, in her signature yellow and purple leather jacket, arms crossed as she smirked from behind red visors. The Falconeer of Lexdon with his swarm of birds of prey circling overhead. Barracuda of Calanell brandishing his famous spear, the hooked tip glittering in the light. Seraph of Skylar, her gaze skyward as she spread her mechanical wings in a ray of celestial light.

One Guardian in particular caught her eye—Maverick of Dantary, who Jade and Max had once dubbed ‘Space Cowboy.’ He tipped back his wide-brimmed hat with a wink, pointing the smoking barrel of a sniper rifle at Harley. The artist had clearly meant for this pose to be cheeky, but seeing it now had a much different vibe.

Maverick had been Sophia’s handler when she joined the Guard. He’d trained her as a sharpshooter and sniper, and Harley knew Sophia admired him. His card was also valuable in the game, with a unique ability written in a small script along the bottom of the card.

Double Agent: Discard a Guardian of your choice from your hand and draw a new card from the top of the deck.

Something about that ability, coupled with the fact that Maverick’s picture was present in this van at all, filled Harley with dread.

Don’t trust the Watch.

With a sinking weight in her gut, Harley turned away from the map to read the other papers on the wall. After skimming over files of medical jargon and more notes that were just as illegible as before, she found a collection of photographs. Sketches, IDs, mugshots, candid portraits—most were low resolution, and the subjects hard to make out, but the clearest ones had some familiar faces. Jade and Victor, Max and Sophia. Even Harley herself. 

Immediately, she snatched the photos off the wall and knelt down next to Jade, spreading them on top of the mattress. “Jade, look at this!”

Ahren began to interject. “Harley, what—”

“It’s Max!” Jade held his picture up to the light, and then grabbed another. “And the murdered Guardian, too. It’s like this guy is collecting evidence for their cases.”

“Not just any case,” Harley murmured. “Sophia’s case.”

Ahren cleared his throat. “I can explain.”

Harley looked up with a frown. “Ahren, what’s going on?”

“The Watch hasn’t been able to contact Sophia for days now,” Ahren said, fiddling nervously with a thread hanging loose off the wraps on his arm. “And the lack of concern on their end was suspicious. So… I may or may not have hired a private investigator to find her.”

Harley blinked. “Private investigator?”

“Detective August Bracken.” Ahren smiled wryly. “He has the best reputation in the city.”

“Better than the Watch?” Jade asked. “Or has the market for detectives been booming lately?”

Ahren shrugged. “Let’s just say he was desperate for work, and I’m desperate for answers. Plus, he showed up when I alerted him to an emergency at the house, so I have no reason to complain.”

So, that’s why he was waiting for us outside. “What do we know so far?” Harley asked.

Ahren picked up one of the photographs, staring down at it grimly. “Max’s case is one piece to a puzzle August has been trying to solve for years. The Watch may have been in on it, and Sophia had no idea what she signed up for.”

Harley’s blood froze at the mention of the Watch. She buried her face in her arms as the thought that had plagued her for days now came surging back at full force.

This can’t be happening. This can’t be happening. This—

“The Watch is behind this?” Jade’s voice sounded far away. “How?”

Ahren sighed. “Look, there’s a lot I don’t know. I don’t know what they’re hiding, and I don’t even know if they can be trusted. But what I do know—what August knows—is that they’re connected to a bigger issue. All of this is.”

Harley lifted her head. “And what’s that?”

Ahren passed her the photo in his hand. “Vigilantes.”

Harley squinted at it in the dim light. The image itself was dark, and details were hard to make out, but it looked like a full-face metal mask, expressionless except for the empty eye sockets. Upon closer inspection, she noticed a spot of ink had bled through the image, and she flipped it over to see a crude drawing of a black-and-white diamond, accompanied by a single word, this time written clearly.

Pluto.

But Harley barely noticed it. Somehow, she felt inexplicably drawn to the diamond. She knew she’d seen it before. But where?

Jade peered over her shoulder, furrowing her brow. “What’s that mean?”

Ahren took another deep breath. “It means the vigilantes have started working together.”

⬗

To be continued...

NEXT CHAPTER COMING SOON

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[izzy-b-hands]

tonight is a four hour shift

last one for this poll

i can do this

(narrator: he both did not want to nor was he mentally in a place to be doing this.)

[miabrown007]

#8 for the ask game

8) Which fic would you put on your obituary?

Heist AU!! <333

out of the ones I have posted I'm probably most proud of "Love Is An Open Door" though