#his friends forced him into situations that will get him to talk to herr | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

manyothermusingsofmine · 2 years ago

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Is A Friend In Deed || Drabble

Fandom: Ace Attorney Wordcount: 3688 Warnings: A dead body is found, but there’s no details. Worry over a loved one gone missing. Idk about anything else, let me know. Summary: People are rushing and trying their very best to find a woman gone missing

----------------------------------------- The doors to the police station were honestly used to quite a bit of a beating. Often flung open by officers, detectives, and more likely distraught loved ones of victims, they were quite sturdy. So when they were actually thrown open with enough force to slam into the nearby wall and tremble, someone must have been immensely upset.

And in his defense, Klavier was just that, as he stalked over to the front desk in a manner that betrayed just how upset he was.

Before the officer at the front desk even had a chance to ask what was wrong, Klavier went off in a worried frenzy about how they had to take his statement, how it was a matter of grave importance- in all honesty, it wasn’t the first time he had raised his voice around the place to try and get quicker results, but something was different about it this time; especially when he started barking that they better bring Detective Skye down from her post as she would at least heed his words and treat him seriously.

Another officer nearby decided to sneak away as his tirade went on. If he wanted Detective Skye to tell him the same thing the front desk officer had been trying to tell him ever since his outburst started, then so be it. She knocked on the detective’s door.

"Detective Skye?"

Ema groaned, looking up from her work with a certain amount of annoyance. Couldn't she see she was busy? But the officer that had knocked on her office door and disturbed her process seemed, well, pretty disturbed herself.

"Your, uhm, 'favorite' prosecutor is here and... He's honestly making quite a scene."

Yeah, that tracked. Ema let out a resigned sigh as she got up from her chair. What the hell did he want this time around?

"I'll deal with it."

She went down to the front desk where the glimmerous fop, as she called him, was indeed still making quite a ruckus to the poor sod manning the desk. She rolled her eyes slightly, used to his dramatics by now.

"Oi, fop, what's all this about then?"

"Ema!"

Ema? The stark difference of it made her eyebrows knit into a frown. He never called her by her actual name. It was always Fraulein, to her personal chagrin because at this point she felt like he was doing it on purpose to annoy her.

"Can you please tell Herr Front desk over here to just take my claim seriously?!"

"Woah, woah, I just got here! Can you at least tell me what's gotten into you this time before you start making demands?"

"Mary's missing."

Mary. Mary? Ema tilted her head slightly in thought, trying to match the name with a list of people and descriptions in her head. Oh, wait, that was one of the workers at the district court. Fire hair girl, her, and- Ah. Well, that explained a lot.

"And I told him what I tell everyone! I can't take such a claim for an adult unless they have been missing for 48 hours. She's an adult, she's allowed to leave if she wants to!”

"And I'm telling you, she wouldn't!" Klavier snapped in such a vicious manner that Ema immediately put herself between the two- it somehow felt like the desk wasn't protection enough and she didn't actually feel like arresting a prosecutor for assaulting an officer. Had she actually ever seen Klavier this upset?

"Stand down," she said, low and firm, holding her hands up in an attempt to deescalate the situation.

"What makes you think she's missing? Talk to me. No, ignore him," she said holding her hand back to the officer in a gesture meant to shut him up, while redirecting Klavier's attention back to herself.

"Talk to me, not him. What happened?"

"She didn't show up to work this morning; that's uncommon enough as is, but no one seemed to know where she was. She didn't have a day off, she didn't call in sick. I took some time myself to go the usual route she takes to work- I was worried she might have gotten in an accident or something."

Ema frowned, momentarily debating on what to do- her relationship with Klavier wasn't on a level where either of them was used to comforting the other, and she didn't really know what kind of comfort she could offer. She just gestured for him to continue.

"I got to her place, and it just got weirder. Her car was still parked in the usual spot. I went into her apartment, I have a key to the place, and nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Well, I mean, in a weird way; if she bailed country or something she would've at least taken her clothes, wallet, laptop and chargers with her, right?"

Ema nodded, since he had a point there; that did strike her as an odd turn of events.

"And then, I found the most condemning bit of evidence that makes me believe something else happened- That something is wrong."

Klavier moved his hand up to his shoulder, moving his hair out of the way to reveal a small European robin nestled up against his neck. A small peep left the bird, as if it wasn't keen on being out in the open all of a sudden. Klavier sighed, a very worried expression making its way onto his face.

"That's Grayson; her pet bird. She adores him. I'm pretty sure half her salary goes into his dietary needs and veterinarian bills because she specifically looked for someone specialized in aviary care. She would never, ever leave him unattended like this. So, believe me; something happened to her. I don't know where she is, Ema, I need your help. Please."

Ema blinked, unsure for a moment how to react to his plea as her brain was still processing what she had been told. But the second it clicked she just nodded. If throwing her weight around would help find someone who clearly had no reason to vanish on purpose, then so be it.

"I hope you've been writing that down," she said to the front desk officer.

"But a missing-"

"I'm not treating this as a simple went missing on her own accord. She was either in an accident, or worse, and I don't like the worse option especially not with an employee of the district court. Write it down and open the case."

"Yes, detective Skye."

She looked back at Klavier, hoping to have at least relieved a little bit of his worries, though she wasn’t sure if she had accomplished that when she implied something worse could’ve happened to Mary

"Thank you," he whispered to her, as the gravity of the situation was clearly setting in.

"... You're welcome. Do me a favor; get back to the office. Leave this to me. I'll find her."

She watched him leave, and immediately a sinking feeling washed over her. Well, time to make some calls.

For once in his life, he heeded her directions, and he actually went back to the district court. It hadn’t only been on her suggestion though, he figured the best course of action currently was to ask Simon how he was going to take care of Grayson while the bird’s owner was missing. Simon had Taka the hawk, so honestly, Simon was his best and only bet.

“Anything?” Simon asked as soon as Klavier walked in, surprised when a small carrier cage was set on his desk and opened. Grayson hopped out, looking around for a little bit, before fluttering off and sitting down on the perch next to Taka. Apparently the poor thing was looking for some comfort, too.

Simon had followed the flight of the little bird before turning back to Klavier, who just shook his head and started pacing around the room.

“What am I going to do, Simon? What if she’s out there, hurt-“

“You have to leave this to the police. They have more man power, more resources- I know it is hard, but you have got to let them do their job. That is the quickest way we will find her.”

Klavier just looked at him, huffing as he felt like he was barely keeping it together. Sure, Simon was technically right, but what use was he to Mary sitting here twiddling his thumbs until someone else found her?

He only partially picked up that Simon was on the phone with Nevada, trying to calm them down as the news of Mary’s disappearance had just reached them as well. Several people were upset, trying to calm down, all because nobody knew where she-

Klavier left Blackquills office without another word, angrily slamming the elevator button to the ground floor. He was storming out of the building as soon as the elevator brought him to that level, making a beeline for his motor bike while in a smooth move putting his helmet on.

He revved the engine up hard, before speeding off from the property. He ignored the incoming calls on the headset he wore underneath, letting all of them go to voicemail. He was well aware who was calling him, and he wasn’t interested in picking up because of it.

Sure, the police had more manpower, but he had a bike he could fit through the smallest openings of traffic. And the least he could do, in his own mind, was to check all the spots he and Mary went to together, and all the spots he knew she retreated to when she felt the need to.

“Incoming call from; Blackquill,” said the robotic voice of his headset.

“Decline.”

"Damn it, Gavin-san, pick up!" Simon yelled at his phone as he got connected to voicemail again. Nevada was beside themself- Simon really didn't have the ability to both comfort his partner and chase after Klavier who had clearly taken his own plan after learning about the disappearance. And worst of it all was that Simon couldn't even blame him- he'd probably do exactly the same had it been Nevada instead of Mary.

She had probably heard the discord of his heart when he had yelled at the phone, because Athena was just there, next to him all of a sudden.

"What's wrong?"

"Light-san is missing. Gavin-san is not taking it well in the slightest and sped off on his bike, and I can afford neither the time nor dedication to chase a rogue prosecutor all over town. My duty is to keep it together so that I can support Nevada, but we need someone to talk some sense into our resident trouble maker, could you-"

Athena laughed a nervous laugh.

"Oh, sorry, it's not funny, that's not- He's not going to listen to me either, Simon," she explained, when a lightbulb plinked up over her head.

"But I think I know someone who can give it a good old try."

If you had come across him on the road, you'd probably curse him out. Klavier was zigzagging between cars like a maniac, only barely paying attention to the speed limits- and then just because he couldn't afford wasting time explaining to an officer why his driving and turning was so damn erratic.

On a stretch of road that went straight ahead for a long time, he barely noticed that he kept picking up speed when a call came through on his headset. Incoming call- Apollo? Before he even realised it himself he agreed to accept the call, only to immediately be met with;

"Pull over."

"I'm a bit-"

"Pull over!"

Apollo's voice was loud and resounding enough that a few people stopped what they were doing to look at him, but his worry for a friend's wellbeing overwrote the usual anxiety he would feel about disturbing the peace like that. Still, his chords of steel seemed to reign it way back in as he quietly added "... Please."

Klavier sighed, signalling for a moment that he wanted to get to the very edge of the road before pulling over there and stopping, pushing his bike all the way off the road and standing next to it.

He pulled off his helmet, switching the headset’s call to his phone with a simple button press and putting that to his ear. Might as well have the call like that so Apollo didn’t feel the need to yell at him again.

"What?"

"Do you really think this is helping anybody? Driving around like a maniac in some attempt to find her?"

"I-"

"Klavier. It's not. You're not helping anyone, least of all her, if you get yourself killed on the road in a blind panic. Please, come back to the district court. Let the detectives do their job, and let us help you in whichever way we can."

"Apollo..."

"I know," Apollo said softly, trying to show empathy. It wasn't often that he heard Klavier's voice actually shake with fear like that; he fully understood that all of this was just a desperate plea for help from someone who didn’t know where a loved one was. He honestly, truly couldn’t blame him for that. He didn’t. He just didn’t want him to make any reckless decisions while in that state.

"Please, come back. And drive safe."

"..... Okay."

Klavier sighed as the call ended, leaning back against the bike in a desperate attempt to calm his racing heartbeat and blink the burning tears out of his eyes. He hated falling apart like this.

But, ultimately, Apollo was right. This wasn't helping anyone. Though he also doubted that being in the district court would give him anything useful to do.

Still, he put his helmet back on and got back on his bike, joining the traffic at an appropriate speed and behaving like one should on the open road. He just circled his way back around to the district court house.

Somehow or another, he found himself now being basically babysat by Blackquill. Figured the other prosecutor wouldn’t let him out of his sight again after the stunt he just pulled, and especially not after being chewed out for just leaving the robin there. In Simon’s defense, Grayson only seemed to have any interest in eating his food if Klavier was the one offering it up, but even caring for the pet of his lover did little to calm Klavier’s emotional state.

“Can you please give me something to do?!” Klavier eventually whined, being glad to do anything but listen to his own mind driving him mad.

It only made him end up with a but of paperwork, but hey, it was better than nothing.

“So miss Light is missing?” Gumshoe asked, tapping the steering wheel as he and Ema drove around town. Ema just looked out of the passenger window before giving a small affirmative huff. What else was there to say about the matter? That Klavier wasn’t taking it well? That none of her friends seemed to be taking it well? That was hardly a surprising thing. “I just want to find her. Hopefully alive. My relationship with the fop may be strained at best, but I don’t actually want life to throw another wrench into his life; not like this.”

Gumshoe just nodded, understanding where she was coming from, and honestly being quite proud of her for being the way she was. They drove around town looking for anything that could be a sign of something awry. They got some food at a burger joint at some point, with Gumshoe basically inhaling the meal Ema bought for him before driving back around the town while she was still eating.

“Did you get any reports in of some kind of accident, Gumshoe?”

Gumshoe just shook his head.

“Nope. Some of the officers have been going around to ask the hospitals if anyone like Miss Light came in. No luck there either. It’s like she completely dropped off the earth since yesterday.”

“Well, she has to be somewhere.”

It was at that moment a call came in through Gumshoe’s radio. The station had gotten an emergency call about a fatal shooting happening down at the old abandoned factory, and was asking for the closest unit to go take a look at what happened down there.

“That’s outside of town, right?” Ema asked, and Gumshoe nodded. They were thinking the exact same thing; they had passed the route out of town only a few minutes ago, and the drive there would probably take no more than forty minutes. It was worth checking out.

Gumshoe picked up the radio, calling in that he would go take a look, and drove off as soon as he had set the radio speaker back in it’s holder.

The sky had already been turning gloomy with grey clouds when they had started their search for Mary in the earlier hours, but by this point there had been a pretty steady downpour going. After last night, it had only cleared up for a few hours in the morning before the rain had made it’s vicious return. As soon as they stepped outside of the car, both of them were pretty much soaked with rain. Other police cars had also started to show up, and Gumshoe’s stomach dropped when he realised one of the cars was the one of the forensic team.

It didn’t take Ema and him long to figure out why. In the middle of the sandy, but now muddy, field where the long abandoned factory stood was a dead body.

Ema was immediately intrigued and went over to check it out, while Gumshoe definitely had no desire to do so; just because he was a detective didn’t mean he did well with blood crime scenes. Surely he could ask Ema later what the cause of death was, and who they should ask to oversee and prosecute the case.

With the sheer amount of clouds in the sky the sun was pretty much blocked out, and the rain also didn’t help much when it came to seeing what was happening around him. Gumshoe took out his flashlight, clicking it on and started wandering around the premise of the factory in the hopes of finding anything that the rain hadn’t washed away yet.

Someone had opened the door to the factory, that much was for sure. Rain and dust had mixed in patterns near the front door, and there were definitely handprints in the dust on the door.

Taking a small breath, Gumshoe shone his flashlight into the dark, abandoned factory. Well, nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary there. There was a bunch of old rusty looking machinery, long tile floors that hadn’t been cleaned in a while, someone’s foot, absolutely nothing out of the-

Wait. Someone’s foot?

Gumshoe immediately pointed his flashlight back in that direction. Yup, there was no doubt about it, that was someone’s foot being illuminated by the light in the darkness. Directing it forwards he saw their silhouette, and for just a moment he froze in shock.

Was that- oh, god, it was-

"Hey, pal!" He yelled towards Ema, "I think I found who we were looking for!"

Hours had passed like until the hues of the sky started to change from blue to orange as the sun began to dip behind the clouds. As far as he was concerned; Simon hadn't minded Klavier's pacing around his office for all that time. Honestly, he had rather the German was pacing around in his office, where Simon could keep an eye on him, than off doing lord knows what to try and find Mary.

When Klavier's phone finally rang, he leaped from the chair at Simon's desk where he had been sitting since the pacing had tired him out. He almost dropped the phone, and then watched it ring for a few moments before reaching it out to Simon in a nonverbal plea.

Simon just gave a soft, understanding huff, holding out his hand and answering the call as soon as the phone was dropped in his open palm.

"Gavin-san's phone, this is Blackquill speaking."

“This is Ema; Uhm, would you mind putting me on speakerphone?”

Simon obliged, turning the phone to speaker and putting it down on the desk as Klavier made his way around and sat down on the chair. He seriously thought his heart was going to leap out of his chest in pure anxiety.

“So, uh, I have good news and I have bad news, what do you want to hear first?”

“The good news,” Klavier huffed, not reassured in the slightest by how the conversation was going.

“Well,” Ema started, actually rather unsure as to how to break this to the two people on the other side of the phone line.

“The good news is that we found Ms Light.”

Klavier let out the biggest sigh of relief he ever felt in his life, falling back in his chair as a whole lot of anxiety dropped off his shoulders in one fell swoop. Simon, however, still had a certain amount of hesitation to his posture. That was the good news, sure, but stated in that way it often meant... well..

“And the bad news?”

“.... She’s-” Ema started, biting the inner part of her cheek. Oh, there was absolutely no easy way around this.

“Being taken in as... the prime suspect of a murder.”

She could hear the dead silence on the other end of the call, as Simon’s face dropped in pure shock. He felt his body jerk a little in surprise when a few moments later, after this bombshell bit of information had reached him, Klavier’s chair moved with a croak. His hands dropped from his face, arms on the speaker that he used as a make shift desk in front of him, his expression unreadable as it clearly took another moment to fully sink in.

And Simon swore the glass of the window pane actually trembled from the high, sharp pitch of the German’s voice when he finally replied to what Ema had said with

“... What?!”

#Drifting writes things

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manicmarsupial · 2 years ago

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Hasi

I don't know what my brain was doing when I ended up having this weird dream. This was my attempt at making sense of it.

Though honestly, giant outlaws is my jam

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I can’t believe it. It’s been years since I’ve seen Leo. To the best of my understanding, he has been with a gang on the run. It made it hard to keep in contact with him, and by sheer coincidence, he’s here.

Should I play a trick on him? I’m going to do it. Who knows when I’d get another chance?

Leo is currently talking to another man in low tones, who after a while of talking, leaves Leo alone. I smile as I sneak up behind him. I wrap my arm around his neck and poke him in the back with my fingers.

“Your money, or your life, Leo?” I mock an outlaw accent.

Leo was initially terrified, but relaxes when he recognizes my use of his nickname.

“Zhe factory opens at five,” he replies using the usual joke.

I suddenly feel dizzy and cold. I slide my hands off Leo to steady myself.

“Hasi?” I hear Leo’s concerned shout.

“Focus, keep breathing.”

I put my hands on my knees and look at the ground, closing my eyes and control my breathing.

Once calm enough, I open my eyes. I’m confronted by a startling sight. Fight or flight kicks in and I run, ducking and weaving, ignoring the loud sounds behind me. I dive into a small gap and stop to catch my breath.

This is impossible. The ground shakes beneath me as cart sized boots approach my hiding space. A loud rumbling causes some debris to fall. It can’t be. Though deeper and louder, it’s definitely Leo’s voice. It sounds like he’s arguing with the other man he was with.

I back away as I see him begin to kneel down but there’s nowhere for me to go as his colossal face appears in the entryway. It’s certainly Leo, albeit older. The same blue eyes behind his small rounded spectacles, slightly protruding ears, and familiar smile.

“It’s just me, Hasi. You haven’t forgotten your old friend Leopold, have you?” he gives a small smile.

I slowly creep forward as he leans back to give me a bit of space. I stay at the edge, ready to run back if I have to. It takes a lot of restraint to not instantly run away now that Leopold is a giant, compared to me anyway. His head is higher than a church steeple, even when he’s kneeling down.

“What happened?” I stammer.

“Vell...Herr Matthews zhere had something to do vit it,” Leopold gestures to the other man who, while standing up is the tallest thing I’ve ever seen.

I start backing up.

“Come on Hasi,” Leopold says placing his hand down in front of me.

My gaze flits between Leopold, his hand, and the other man. I’ve known Leopold for many years and he’d never deliberately hurt me. I climb onto his hand, which still has ink stains and slightly calloused fingers from a lifetime of writing. I settle into his palm as he curls his fingers and uses his other hand as a protective wall. I hold his thumb as he stands up, the force of the wind almost pushing me down.

“Aside from startled, you alright?” Leopold asks.

I feel one of his fingers gently stroke my spine. I can’t get the words out, but I nod. The other man, Matthews, appears from behind Leopold’s shoulder. He’s not as scary now I’m higher up.

“Sorry ‘bout shrinking you. Thought you were actually a thief,” he apologizes.

“Hasi is too good of a soul for zhat,” I’m rocked as Leopold holds me against his chest protectively.

“I’d hate to interrupt your reunion, but the law will be here soon,” Matthews says.

“Ve can’t leave Hasi alone like zhis.”

“Then take her with us.”

Leopold thinks for a few seconds then opens his jacket, placing me in the inside pocket as gently as he can.

“Ich habe dich vermisst,” he mutters

“Ich habe dich auch vermisst,” I reply.

Despite the unusual situation, I’m glad to see my old friend.

#my dreams are weird #rdr2 #red dead redemption 2 #this a small tidbit of a whole AU #Hosea is a size shifter AU #it's a big AU #ohh I made a pun #Leopold Strauss #Hosea Matthews #Herr Strauss #I don't know why my brain chose him for this thing #but whatever #RDR2 G/t #G/t #giant/tiny

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writewithurheart · 3 years ago

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Hearts of Kyber: Part II

a/n: Hello lovely readers!! We’re back for Part 2 of 3! I’m so happy to be able to share this with all of you. And once again check out the work the rest of Crow Squadron has done because it is absolutely FABULOUS.

Corporalki: @kazandthecrows

Materialki: @anubem (art link) @generalstarkov (art link) @pijoshi (art link) @mitdemadlerimherzen (art link | art link 2) @erandraws (art link) @nannadoodles (art link)

Summary: When an Imperial pilot defects, the Rebellion sends its best spies to find out what he knows. They discover the existence of a planet-destroying weapon known as the Death Star and a scientist who holds the secrets to its only weaknesses. Guided by the pilot, Wylan, and a former storm trooper, Matthias, Kaz Brekker leads a team to uncover the secret that can save the Rebellion before it’s crushed for good.

A Grishaverse Rogue One AU for the Grishaverse Big Bang 2021

Read on AO3 or below the cut:

Part II

Inej wraps her scarf around her head as the shuttle enters the atmosphere to a downpour of rain. She checks her gear. There’s a couple scorch marks from the earlier fight, but everything else is in good repair. It should keep her relatively dry.

Satisfied with her equipment, she turns back to Nina and Matthias. Nina’s fallen asleep on Matthias’s shoulder, exhibiting that her ability to sleep anywhere remains intact.

He looks uncomfortable with everything that’s happening around him. Despite all he’s already shared with them, Matthias still looks unsettled. His hand grips Nina’s, thumb moving in circles against the back of her hand. Inej isn’t even sure he knows he’s doing it. It’s clear that he and Nina have gotten close over the last two years. Inej is happy for her friend.

Matthias clearly didn’t sign up for this. He leaned on Nina for support through their entire conversation. She’s seen that confusion in contacts they’re trying to turn before. Normally Jesper was the one to help put them at ease. Kaz and Inej had their own modes of gathering information.

It can be hard to be thrown into a new situation, and Kaz doesn’t exactly ask your opinion before he turns around and questions your entire belief system. Matthias doesn’t seem to regret what he’s shared. He had only floundered when Kaz had asked about the anti-military defenses. He’d moved past it quickly and all the information fits with what they already know about Imperial procedures.

She moves through the shuttle back to Kaz’s side, leaving Nina and Matthias in their bubble. He’s on the radio to Rebel Command, sequestered in a little corner. She lets him speak as her eyes drift over Jesper in the pilot seat. The Imperial Pilot - Wylan - is pointing out something as the shuttle weaves around rocky pillars.

It has something to do with radars and detection. Jesper’s the natural choice to fly, better with the quick maneuvers than anyone else on their crew. Inej leans against the wall and watches the rain through the windshield.

Kaz finishes his report and turns back to her. He looks tired, his face tight and drawn. They’ve worked together long enough that she can recognize his expressions. He’s shutting down his emotions right now. Whatever they’ve said isn’t something he’s pleased with.

She tilts her head. “What did they say?”

His hand curls into a fist. “They want to send a strike team.”

Inej’s gut clenches at the thought. In the last three years, they’ve, collectively, done terrible things for the Rebellion. They’re the team that gets their hands dirty and keeps the Rebellion well-informed. This weapon - the Death Star - is greater than any other threat they’ve ever faced. She honestly doesn’t know how they’ll face it without more information, which can only be found on Eadu according to Wylan.

“What’s the play?” she asks.

He taps his fingers on the head of this cane. He doesn’t look at her as he works through his problem. “They think it’s too risky to leave the scientists alive. We only have a couple hours before they arrive. If there is information, we have to get it before they get here.”

Inej runs her hand over one of her blades as she considers the change to the plans. “That’s cutting it rather close.”

He finally looks at her. He doesn’t say anything but he can tell by the look in his eyes that he knows it’s going to be difficult, but that she can do it.

Inej pulls out her knife and starts to spin it as she thinks about how this changes their plans. “We can’t fight our way in. It would take too much time.”

Kaz nods.

“Me, Jes and Matthais,” Inej says firmly, nodding at her own thoughts. Kaz’s brain has to be on the outside if something goes wrong. Wylan is a liability: someone might recognize him. Nina would be an asset but they need Matthias’s understanding of base layout and protocol more.

“Get the information and get out.” Kaz rubs a gloved hand across his jaw. “If the scientist slows you down…”

Inej stops the spin of her knife and looks at Kaz. His meaning hits her. He wants her to kill the scientist if necessary. It needles her. He’s never asked her to kill before. It’s always been a matter of survival: fighting because there was no other way out of the situation. He and Jesper are always the ones who carry out of assassination assignments.

She swallows thickly.

“I can tell Jesper,” he offers. If he was a soft man, the words might even be tender, but Kaz Brekker has never been soft.

“He might be the only one with the information,” Inej counters. Her hand lifts to the necklace around her neck. “Force knows we need to find a way to destroy that weapon.”

He gives her a look. She knows he doesn’t believe in the Force even a little. He prefers to put his faith in his own mind. He also puts an extraordinary amount of faith in her, to the point of being dangerous, bewildering and exasperating. He believes in her and that’s heady, but it’s also exhausting because it’s not like he would ever admit it.

He watches her for a moment, eyes boring into her soul.

“We’ve got this, Kaz.” She assures him. She takes a deep breath to breathe in the will of the Force, like her mother once taught her. She doesn’t want to hear his reservations or doubts, because she knows he won’t say them and she doesn’t want this to drag on.

“Keep your comms open,” he instructs. “We’ll be your eyes on the outside. We won’t be able to call off the airstrike.”

She takes a deep breath and grips her necklace. She can do this. She’s choosing to do this.

“It’s now or never,” Jesper announces, jumping out of the pilot seat. He checks his weapons and glances at Kaz and Inej. With his raised eyebrow, Inej realizes just how close they’ve gotten in the little alcove and takes a small step back. “You get in touch with Herr Peskal?”

Kaz nods.

“And?”

“We have ninety minutes.”

Jesper nods. His brows furrowed. “Any leeway in that?”

“Should be more than enough time,” Kaz says instead, walking away towards the back.

Jesper looks back at her, consternation written into his features.

Inej releases her necklace. “We have to get the information and get out. There’s a strike team on it’s way.” She tightens the band on her braid and tucks it into her hood.

He pulls on his own poncho. “Kill protocols?” Jesper checks his pistols as he asks the question. When it takes too long for her to answer, he looks up at her.

“We get the information. If the scientist slows us down…,” she can’t finish the statement. Jesper’s eyes are soft as he nods, understanding what she can’t say. It’s silly that she still has these hang-ups.

“Got it,” Jesper says. He slides his pistols back into their holsters and covers them with his poncho.

Inej nods and moves to the hatch. Kaz stands beside the door and looks out. She stands beside him as they look out into the dark rain. He leans toward her, as close as he can be without touching. She meets his eyes. His eyes are heavy with determination about what needs to happen. In the years since she’s known Kaz, she’s seen him trade his soul for the Rebellion over and over again. He shut down his feelings under a layer of armor too thick for anything to penetrate. It’s a rare moment when she can read the depth of his emotions in his eyes. It’s only when he’s concerned about her or Jesper, not that he’d ever admit that.

At times like this, she wishes she was the kind of person who was more comfortable with touch. She reaches out slowly and clasps his fingers. His eyes drop to her fingers and squeeze hers briefly. His eyes meet hers with the silent order to take care of herself. Inej nods in understanding and then steps back to flip her hood over her head.

“We’re out.”

She hears Matthias and Jesper follow her out into the rain. Their longer legs overtake her quickly and she falls into step with them easily enough.

It turns out the infiltration itself is easy enough. According to Matthais, this base isn’t a military target and is isolated enough that they’re about to sneak in through an air vent. Or Inej is able to. The boys are reluctant to fit themselves into the vents.

She crawls along to a control panel and allows Matthias to talk her through rerouting the cameras so they loop the current footage. It’s a crude set up but that’s all they have time and prep for. She uses the same panel to open the door for Jesper and Matthias. She sticks to the vents and drops into an empty lab based on directions she pulled from the system.

“Kaz, who is it we’re looking for?” She asks the comm.

“Bo Yul-Bayur.” His voice scratches over the open comm. “At least that’s what it sounds like. The pilot’s brain is still scrambled from Bor Gullet.”

She pulls up the scientist directory on a nearby screen and scrolls through the information. “He’s not in the main labs. They look empty. Jes, Matthias, got anything?”

“It looks like there’s some sort of meeting on the main landing pad,” Matthias answers.

“Got all the big brass and everything,” Jesper mutters. “They’re still gathering. This is the time to grab the scientist.”

Inej starts opening cabinets in the room to see if she can find a spare uniform or a lab coat, anything that will help her blend in as she searches the halls for this Yul-Bayur she needs to locate. She’s about to despair when she notices a cubby on the far side of the room with something hanging on it.

The white coat is a pretty good fit, if a little large on her slight frame. She only takes a moment to note that difference before her eyes land on a small picture that was hidden behind the hanging coat. It’s a holodisc, cleverly hidden that wouldn’t be visible in another light, but that’s not what stops the breath in Inej’s chest. She recognizes the photo and her own eyes staring up at her from the center, wrapped in her mother’s arms with her brother perched on her back.

She hasn’t seen her family since she was stolen away. This means…

The name tag on the jacket confirms her suspicion: Ghafa.

A memory returns of a cold steel building where she used to play with a ship and where her father met with important men. She’s too young to care what’s going on, but she remembers the frigidity of it all. Nothing like the caravan and the acrobats which had always felt like home. She remembers that well. But not the before, not the time when her dad…

Whoosh

The door opens and Inej throws herself toward the nearest workspace in the hopes that she can look busy, knowing the jacket should be enough camouflage that she doesn’t need to hide in the limited shadows.

“Hey! You there! What are you doing at my desk?”

The voice is a chill that runs up her spine. She’d been so sure that he was dead. That her father was lost that day when the troopers came to the caravan. Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined he was alive, that he had been taken.

Inej slowly turns around. There’s a suspicious burning in the back of her eyes as she finally lays on her father. He stiffens with a soft gasp when he finally gets a look at her face. They stand there in silence for a drawn out minute, staring at each other with open wonder.

“I-I-Inej?”

Her words are lost as tears start to fall so all she can manage is a jerky nod before she flings herself into his open arms and gives herself over to the joy of her father coming back to life.

<hr>

Kaz doesn’t do well when he can’t plan for all the variables on a mission. He scowls and glares out the windshield of the ship at the rain that thuds down on the clear screen. There’s nothing but darkness and rain outside. The comms have gone quiet as Jesper, Matthias, and Inej infiltrate the base. He’s not happy with hastily thrown together plans, even when it’s their only chance to snatch up invaluable information. He’d prefer this to have more finesse.

Wylan Van Eck beside him still twitches nervously in his seat. His eyes are wide in perpetual shock, as if he can’t believe what his life is or how he got there. He’s going to have to get over that quickly. Kaz doesn’t have time to hold his hand. Whether he knows it or not, the pilot likely has valuable information given his relation to a relatively well-known commander of the Empire. Although whatever the Shu did to him seems to be taking its toll.

It’s unfortunate.

Nina finally moves from the back of the ship. In the screen, Kaz watches her stretch to wake up from her nap, as if this was just a normal turn of events. They’re going to have to talk about the last two years and her stay on Jedha, but again, that’s not the priority, not right now. Obviously, she did her thing and convinced a Druskelle to change ranks. It still makes her motivations now unknown.

Kaz looks over the radar even though he knows the strike team is still a while out. He doesn’t like having nothing to do while his team does the difficult work. His mind is on Plan Q of this improvised operation. He dislikes the amount of variables and his role as back up. It would be irresponsible to leave anyone else with the ship. No one else would be able to make the call to leave if it came to that.

“What’s got your panties in a twist, Brekker?” Nina asks from behind him. She’s managed to find some supply of sweets on this ship that he didn’t even realize was there.

Her question prompts Wylan to observe him, snapping him from whatever reverie he found himself in.

“There wasn’t much time to plan. It’s too sloppy.” It’s too risky. Kaz isn’t convinced that it’s worth the amount being risked. He doesn’t trust hearsay and rumors and fickle scientists. This could easily be a trap.

“It’s more than that. The Force moves differently around those who are preparing to kill.”

The pilot jerks in alarm. “What?”

Kaz looks at Nina, projecting his own blank face. He’d forgotten how annoying her perceptiveness could be. Blasted Force-users.

“Jesper was prepared to kill. Even Inej-”

“We’ve got a problem.”

Kaz sits up and leans into the console at Jesper’s voice. “Talk to me.”

“The scientist we were sent to get. He’s gone.”

Kaz frowns. “What do you mean he’s gone?”

“As in, dragged away screaming in front of a cadre of his own scientists and his son,” Jesper reports. There’s a voice too far away for the comm to pick up, which tells him the son is right there. “Kuwei says he knows how to destroy the device. But he won’t tell us until we’re off planet.”

Kaz glances at the clock. They have time. “Wraith, report.” Each moment of silence screams that something is terribly wrong. “Wraith.”

“She was in the labs,” Jesper reports.

“They should be mostly clear by now,” Matthias adds. “We can pick her up on the way out. They don’t have much in the way of holding cells if she was captured.”

“Because they’re more likely to shoot first than stop and ask questions,” Kaz surmises, an observation that isn’t immediately countered which does nothing to assuage his worry. Not that there’s any reason to be concerned about the Wraith. Inej is too good to be captured.

“There would have been an alarm raised.” Matthias’s voice is hard. “They’re already on high alert. Jesper should take Kuwei back to the ship. I can blend in better on my own.”

Kaz grits his teeth. It’s not ideal. Ideally his people need to be out of there but they need to know how to destroy the Death Star. “Do it.”

Nina reaches past him to slam her hand against the control. “Alright, Brekker. Out with it.”

She leans against the console and stares him down. Kaz looks blankly back at her. He didn’t miss dealing with Nina on a regular basis. She always struggled with the grey areas of their jobs, the ones where you had to make the tough calls. She liked to rely on the Force, on a higher power. Kaz prefers to rely on his own intelligence.

“Who are you planning to kill, Kaz,” she enunciates, getting into his face.

“No one.” Technically true now. The plan to kill the scientist is moot if they need him. The Rebel strike team is the more pressing concern at this time.

“Don’t bullshit me. If anything happens to Matthias...”

“You know that any infiltration has some amount of risk.” At this point, the risk is with Inej. If she can, she’ll get out of there.

“There’s something more at play here.”

Kaz glances at the time. “We need to know how to destroy the Death Star. That takes priority.”

“Priority over what, Brekker?”

He looks at her. “We also need to know they can never create another one.”

Nina pales.

“There’s a strike called in for the base.”

“Well, then call it off. They can blow it up from the inside or something.”

He bats her hand away as she reaches for the comms. “We don’t have the explosives for that. Nor the time.”

“The alarm’s been raised. We’re coming out hot.”

Kaz’s blood freezes in his veins. That’s Jesper, not Matthias or Inej. That means they’ll have to take off quickly without hope of waiting it out for any stragglers. Nina meets his gaze in a challenge. He flips a button and the engines start up. He turns to Wylan in the copilot seat. “Can you fly us out of here?”

He nods jerkily and reaches forward to start checks. Kaz bodily inserts himself between Nina and the cockpit. He has to lean heavily on his cane as he pushes back to the loading bay and opens the door.

“Matthias-” Nina forces her way past him to jam on the button. Kaz smacks it off with his cane.

“Inej will get them out if she can. We need to prepare.”

“You bastard! I will never forgive you for this, Brekker.”

His jaw clenches. Inej would never forgive him if he faltered on his path.

“I’m going after them.” Nina rushes out the open door. Jesper arrives with an unknown entity in view.

He can’t afford to wait for her. “Prepare for take off,” he shouts to Wylan as Jesper drags the scientist onto the space ship.

The scientist collapses onto the bench, breathing heavily. Jesper looks back, pointing over his shoulder where Nina disappeared into the rain. “Where’s she going?”

Kaz scowls. “She refused to leave her partner behind.”

“Inej?”

“Plan J,” Kaz responds. It’s his standard response when things go wrong. It’s their shorthand for ‘she’s going to find her own way out’.

“We’ve got incoming,” Wylan shouts from the front. Jesper slams the door and dashes to the cockpit. The ship is his baby.

“It’s the alliance,” Jesper calls.

Kaz breathes out. He turns away from the door. “Get us out of here.”

<hr>

The alarm blares through the compound. Matthias listens to the sirens. Unless they’ve changed the signals, it’s the intruder alarm. Either Inej or Jesper has been found. He sighs and adjusts his suit, tugging at his borrowed uniform so it sits straight. It’s been two years and the outfit that once felt like a second skin now feels stiff and constraining.

A platoon of troopers races past Matthias, down the hallway in the opposite direction. He overhears their leader shout about an unknown man with Lab Assistant Al Bul. Not that he has any idea where Inej might be.

He heads towards the labs, nodding to officers as he marches along. He sticks his head into the various rooms. He lifts his hand to the silent comm.

“Inej? Report?”

He sees two scientists pulled from a lab in front of them. Only one is dressed in standard Imperial research regalia, the other just has a white overcoat. He vaguely recognizes the slight figure of Inej as she lurks slightly behind the scientist.

“You’re supposed to be in the main hangar, Ghafa.”

Matthias freezes. He knows that voice. It’s the same voice who trained him, the one that took him under his wing and trained him to take his place. Jarl Brum was the man who was a father figure since he was an adolescent. He’s the one he spent the last two years considering trying to contact.

“Of course, Commander Brum. My assistant and I just had to finish one last computation. The captain didn’t communicate the urgency of the situation when he came by earlier.” The man sounds as polite and rational as any might be.

“You know better than that, Ghafa. My second says he saw you on your way to the hangar when the announcement went up. You stopped. And who is your assistant? I don’t recall seeing this one around before.”

Matthias curses. Inej isn’t sneaking under the radar. She’s not getting out of here clean, not when they’re already on high alert about a trespasser. The display in the hangar would imply that they know they have a leak, and Jarl Brum is the type to shoot first and then brutally interrogate. Leaving her is not an option.

He drops his hand to the gun at his side and sighs. Two years ago, this wouldn’t be a consideration. He would turn himself over to Brum and gladly share everything he knew, use that knowledge to ingratiate himself to his pseudo-father. But that was before Jedha, before he witnessed what survival on the street looked like, before he learned what citizens of the Empire would consent to live under rather than suffer Imperial rule.

He glances down the hallway and sees only one man at Brum’s side. The rest of the hallway is clear, but there’s no guarantee it will stay that way for long. Matthias looks down and sets his blaster to stun. He carefully doesn’t allow himself to think for too long. The first shot goes wide as Matthias readjusts to the Imperial blaster. He readjusts instinctually and the second shot hits the soldier in the middle of his forehead.

Brum, with typical arrogance, doesn’t even reach for his blaster as he turns to look down the hallway. He blinks in shock as he recognizes Matthias. It couldn’t be too difficult now that he’s finally back in the Imperial uniform.

“Matthias Helvar? My son, you’ve returned.” He turns away from the scientist.

Inej has pushed the scientist behind her. She looks nervous as she glances between Matthais and Brum.

“I’m not your son.” He might be a little defensive on that point seeing as he barely has the trust of this heist team. “We’re going.”

Inej moves, keeping herself between the scientist and Brum as she pushes him further down the wall. Matthias doesn’t remove his eyes from Brum.

Brum turns to face Matthias fully. “It’s good to see you. We thought you were lost when you landed on Jedha. You look well.” He takes a deep breath as Matthias starts to back away down the hallway. “You know you won’t get away. The entire base is looking for you.”

He doesn’t dignify the statement with a response. He could shoot Brum right now, slide the gun from stun to kill. It would cement his change of allegiance. His finger hovers over the trigger for a moment. The hesitation costs him. Troopers round the corner. They waste no time in firing once they see Matthias pointing his weapon at Brum. He ducks and rounds the corner, firing back as he glances over at Inej.

“We need to go. Where’s Jesper?” Inej says from where she crouches beside him.

“He went ahead with the scientist,” Matthias replies. “They’re the ones who set off the alarm.”

She scowls and glances around. “Where’s the hangar?”

He pauses in firing. “The opposite direction from where the transport is. We need to go back the other way.”

“No,” Inej counters. “Jesper and the scientist are back at the shuttle. That means they’re gone. We need alternate transport. Dad?”

“What do you mean?” Matthias frowns. “They wouldn’t leave…” He’s cut off as the man gestures down the hall. Inej starts to move. Matthias hits his head against the wall. Of course they’re going to do something not in the plan. It’s what he should expect from an undisciplined bunch.

“They had no choice,” Inej whispers. She pulls a blaster on approaching troopers, causing them to drop back to avoid blasters.

Matthias fires off a couple more shots as they race through the hallways. He curses in Fjerdan as they run. Stupid demon spies with unorthodox plans and no communication skills. “What are you talking about?”

“There’s a strike team coming. They’re going to blow this base with us in it if we don’t get off planet now.” Inej’s voice is calm.

When they get out of here, Matthias is going to have some strong words with Kaz Brekker about his asinine plans and the danger he puts his people in. “We’re going to the private hangar. The main one will be too crowded. It’s where they gathered the scientists earlier. Brum’s transport should be on his level.”

He smashes open the door to an elevator. He lets Inej and the scientist in before him and then slams on the button to the correct floor as he remembers it. Finally he glances at the scientist and then to Inej. “I thought we wanted Yul-Bayur?”

Inej shifts. It would almost be nervous except she looks completely unapologetic.

“Why do you want him?”

Matthias doesn’t speak. He has no idea who this scientist is and isn’t about to divulge secret information.

“The Death Star,” Inej says, turning to face the man.

He pales. “They finished it?”

“How do you know about it?” Matthias crosses his arms, but his eyes follow the indicator on the elevator as they close in on their target. The door opens directly to the flight platform which is blessedly empty of guards. He stands with one foot out so the door won’t close and face the scientist.

“I worked on it.”

“We got word from a pilot that there was a way to destroy it.”

Inej is too trusting. Matthias is ready to leave.

“Yes, but how do you know this?” The man asks. “I was unable to pass that information along.”

“You?” Inej laughs, throwing her head back and then throws her arms around the man. “Of course you did, Papa.”

That finally connects the dots for Matthias. He can’t let himself get distracted. If this is the scientist which has the information they need, then they need to get out of here even more now. He turns toward Brum’s personal shuttle. There are two other ships in close proximity - his guard ships. But they only need one.

“Come on,” Matthias interrupts as he starts toward the main shuttle.

Inej turns around and stabs one of her knives into the control panel, effectively destroying it in a single motion. It’s clever. He should have thought of it, should have realized. But the more important goal is to get out of here.

Halfway across the tarmac, Matthias hears the shot.

Inej’s scream pierces the air and the world stops as he spins around to see her father collapse to the ground.

<hr>

Nina regrets her choice as soon as she steps out into the cold, lashing rain. The wind rips at her braided hair. It slaps against her face and lands askew. Her boots are filled with water through the little leaks she never bothered to patch while living on Jedha. It was unnecessary on a desert planet, after all.

Her robes whip around her and the darkness blinds her to her surroundings. Nina shuts her eyes and lets the Maker guide her steps on the uneven terrain. She knows Inej and Matthias are likely fine on their own. Something calls her forward. It demands she walk into the abyss. It’s a call she’s used to answering.

She’s helpless to fight it.

Nina learned it’s best to trust these moments of intuition, even as it annoys Zoya, Kaz, Matthias, and everyone she’s ever served with. It’s part of her unique times.

The door to the base is ajar, likely propped open for breaks for onsite personnel, the kind that balks protocol and that is largely unknown save by those who frequent it. The site is abandoned in favor of responding to the intruder alarm. The door opens inward to soldier barracks and Nina quickly sheds her robes to change into the standard armor of a foot soldier, unnoticeable in the best of times. It’s the perfect disguise.

The helmet is almost suffocating as she drops it over her head. The visor allows her startlingly little light to see by, probably as troopers are to be feared rather than effective. Nina lifts her bladder and proceeds into the hallway, falling into step with troopers moving rapidly in one direction.

“Intruders at the West Entrance. Assistance has been requested.”

“Belay that order. Platoon B divert to General Brum.”

Nina follows the example of the troopers around her and salutes to the man who orders their change in objective. She’s part of the Rebellion. She knows the name Brum. Apprehension sends a shiver down her spine at the name of the man famous for rooting out and murdering Rebel spies. That Matthias served directly under him only adds to her anxiety.

Brum himself meets her new platoon at the elevator with a scowl. It’s the first time Nina has ever seen the man in person but the frosty expression is reminiscent of her first days in Jedha with Matthias in his Druskelle idiocy. He stands stiff and tall, frosty in a way that Nina thinks he never learned to smile.

“Intruders are headed to my private shuttle. Detaining them alive is preferable. Dead is acceptable. One former Druskelle, one girl, and Scientist Ghafa. THey must not be allowed to escape.”

Again they salute with terrifying synchronicity.

“Two of you, with me,” he orders as he steps into the lift. “The rest of you, take the stairs.”

Thank the Force, Nina finds herself nearest the elevator doors and she steps in alongside another faceless trooper. One the ride, she focuses on her breath instead of her proximity to the man known to have murdered her comrades. Idly she wonders if her breath could fog up the inside of her helmet, if her breath was labored enough.

She exits the lift alongside the other trooper, finger carefully on the trigger. She calls on the Force to protect Matthias and Inej. Briefly, she considers turning on Brum but the Force screams at her to follow this course of action. She doesn’t understand but she trusts it to guide her in her actions.

There are already troopers on the platform, firing on Matthias, Inej and the scientist. She swore Jesper was the one with the scientist, not Inej. She watches as the scientist falls to a well-placed shot. Her resolve to listen to the Force almost breaks when she realizes that Inej and Matthias aren’t going to reach the shuttle without further casualties. A moment later, the Rebel spy ship emerges from the darkness of Eadu and rains down shots to cover their retreat.

The troopers move for cover as Matthais and Inej carry the scientist over their shoulders and race for the ship. It looks almost comical - a man strung between the tall Matthias and the tiny Inej. Nina herself isn’t pleased at the arrival of the ship she swears she just saw fly off with the intent to leave them behind.

It would appear Kaz and Inej are still doing the same circular dance of flirtation without addressing their own issues and feelings.

“Bring that ship down!” Brum screams, as if the troopers’ meagre blasters could somehow penetrate the ship’s shield.

“If I may, sir,” NIna says tentatively enough while still playing the obedient trooper. One with a brain. “Perhaps pursuit would be more successful.”

Brum stares a moment before he once again starts barking orders. It looks like she’s getting off this rock anyway. The Force still has some use for her after all.

<hr>

They were out. They were minutes from freedom.

The words are on repeat in her head as Inej drops to the ground beside her father. Rain soaks through her clothes as she pulls her father into her lap. His hand wraps around hers with surprising strength. In the background, she can hear Matthias shouting, the pew pew pew of blaster fire, and then something that sounds like Kaz’s rasp which makes no sense. They should have taken off by now, maybe even be out of the atmosphere.

“Stardust,” her father whispers. His hand reaches up to brush dripping wet hair from where it hangs in her face. “Scarif...you must go to Scarif…”

“You’re coming with us,” she whispers. Tears blur her eyes as she tries a watery smile. A hand grips her shoulder and abruptly the rest of the world comes back into sharp relief. She feels each drop of rain from the sky, the sizzle of hot laser blasts hitting water, and Jesper’s plea for her to move. “I’m not leaving him!”

Matthias grumbles in a different language as he fires off another couple of shots. Jesper circles Inej to throw her father’s arm over his shoulders. Inej rushes to help her. Her father grunts as they shift him. He’s too injured to help them as they half carry, half drag him towards the shuttle.

Kaz would have her head if he knew they were risking everything to bring her father with them. Her orders were to get the scientist out of there. If Jesper already got one, then they could have left her father behind. It’s her sentimentality. That’s what he would blame it on.

Inej’s free hand wraps around the necklace tied around her throat. For so long it was the only memento she had of her family. She prays to the Force, to the long forgotten religion of her people as she staggers under her father’s weight. They can do this.

Her feet land on a metal incline and Inej pushes herself to get to the flat of the ship. Matthias slams on the button to close the doors and Jesper slips out from his position holding Inej’s father up to race to the cockpit.

Only Inej’s superior sense of balance and upper body strength allow her to keep her father from dropping to the floor. Kaz slides over to take Jesper’s place as the shuttle leaves the tarmac. It rocks dangerously as they get her father to a bench. He groans as he lands hard on the unforgiving surface.

“Matthias, I need you on the guns!”

Inej blocks it all out as she focuses on her father, drinking in the lines on his face. “I’m here, Dad. We’re gonna help you.” Her eyes land on a med kit Kaz drops beside her. She throws it open to gaze at the contents they haven’t replenished in far too long. She rips his jacket open to find where the blaster shot landed. Her father’s hands fumble to help her only to still her hands. She frowns and looks up at him.

“Papa-”

“Listen, Stardust. The Death Star. There’s a way to stop it. A weakness…exhaust port...plans are on Scarif...your mother…”

“You need to save your strength,” Inej whispers. His hands fall from hers, suddenly weightless. With one hand Inej claws through the med kit, her hands landing on bacta patches. She pulls his shirt back and desperately presses the medication to the wound.

“You can’t leave me like this, Papa. I just got you back. I can’t lose you again. Not like this. I need you. You’ve got to meet Jesper...and Kaz. Jesper will make you laugh like you’ve never laughed before. Kaz is a bit harder but I think you’ll like how much he cares. He’s been looking for you, you know. You’re going to be okay.”

She scrambles for the serum that will put him in stasis until they make it back to base. If there’s a chance to save him, it will happen there. Tears are hot on her cheeks. Inej presses her lips to his hands. They don’t grip hers back as he succumbs to the serum. His whole body goes slack under her hands, his eyes shut. The fight slips away from him. Inej loses her own battle and sobs in earnest. One hand finds her father’s pulse. Tension weeps from her body as she feels the faint flutter under her fingers. He’s still alive for now.

The motion of the shuttle smoothes out as the shuttle goes into lightspeed.

“Inej-”

Kaz’s voice is cut off as she looks back up at him. She stares at him, finally processing what his presence here means. “You came back.”

Inej forces a deep breath and pulls back from her father. She swipes at the tears on her face. Air won’t come easily. She wrestles with it as Kaz kneels beside her. Matthias returns from where he was manning the weapons. With surprising gentleness, he arranges Inej’s father on the bench, and checks his pulse again. He checks the bacta pack and nods. Inej rises to her feet and takes deep breaths. She tries to reboot her mind, to get it to focus on what the next step is. There’s something she need to be doing but all she can think about is what she just found that was then almost ripped unceremoniously from her grasp.

They must have done it: gotten away from Eadu in one piece. Her eyes drift from her friends, her heart swelling with warmth only for her gaze to land on the newcomer. She feels ugly emotion rise in her chest as her eyes take in this scientist who was allowed to just walk away while her father is…

Inej can’t finish the thought. She shakes her head, and turns back to Kaz. There’s so much she wants to say, to ask about. The ship should have been gone and they came back. Kaz’s gloved hand slips into hers and he squeezes it. He doesn’t say anything, doesn’t do anything else, but it feels like the world has shifted with that one singular motion.

Her father is dead, but that will not be where this story ends.

<hr>

Wylan’s hands are steady on the controls as he steers the ship into the landing field of the Rebel base. His breath is uneven in his chest and his heart feels like a jackhammer as he fears what this group will do to his already fractured psyche. He’s gotten better in the last few days - miles better than whatever it is Bor Gullet did to his brain on Jedha. It’s like his brain and body had to relearn how to communicate.

He hasn’t told anyone that the symbols on the controls and all his displays are illegible to his mind. Struggling with reading isn’t new to him. It was one of those things his father despaired of before he shipped Wylan off to the flight academy, enraged that his son would never be an Imperial officer. Now the screens hurt his eyes.

It doesn’t matter. He’s trained himself to fly without the assistance. It just gets in the way of good pilots most of the time. Jesper leans forward and looks over the screens, then glances at Wylan. He raises an eyebrow and falls backwards into his chair with an impressed whistle.

“You’re not even reading the specs, are you? Are you some kind of super pilot?”

Wylan glances sideways as he lowers the landing gear. He shrugs vaguely. The way Jesper is looking at him sends a shiver down his spine. It’s a loaded glance. He doesn’t want to look too deeply at what it means, doesn’t want to jump to conclusions about what he’s thinking. Any flirting is in his own head.

“That’s hot.”

Or not. Wylan frowns at him as he powers down the plane. “Are you serious, right now?”

Jesper winks, and throws him a devilish smirk. “What can I say? Competence is a turn on.”

“Stop flirting.” Kaz’s voice breaks through the fog in Wylan’s brain as he briefly forgets how to think. “We need to report.”

“Aye, aye, captain,” Jesper throws back as he jumps to his feet.

“You’re ridiculous,” Wylan informs him.

“Welcome to the Rebellion, Sunshine. Let’s go!” With more enthusiasm than he thinks is warranted, Jesper propels Wylan in front of him and out onto the dry base. He receives some interested looks, but not so many as the floating stretcher escorted by Inej and Matthias as it races into the base.

“Will Pavel Ghafa be okay?” He asks, staring at the stretcher as it disappears.

Jesper and Kaz both turn to look at him. Wylan wants to shrink away from their gaze.

“How do you know Inej’s father?” Kaz demands.

Wylan tilts his head. So that’s what he missed while flying the plane. “He was nice to me. None of the other scientists would speak to me. They…” They thought he was stupid. His first day on base, his father had made a point of shoving his face in everything he couldn’t understand by bringing him to the science labs. The joke was on him because Wylan could understand parts of it, even if he couldn’t read anything. Scientist Ghafa was the only one who noticed. Afterwards, he was the only one who continued to talk to him. “He taught me how to blow things up.”

Jesper grins. “Damn. I like him already.”

“Is he going to make it?” Wylan asks.

“Did he ever tell you about his work? Anything about the Death Star?”

Wylan pauses and tries to think about their past interactions. The memories stall. He sighs and shakes his head. “I don’t know. I don’t think so. He always told me to be careful, to keep my head down. I’m sorry. I don’t know.”

Kaz nods and turns away. He makes a bee-line for a man and a woman, both waiting by the entrance to the base. The two of them are standing still while the rest of the base moves around them. It takes a special sort of power.

Wylan looks over at Jesper and then past him to Al Bul. Kuwei had never been particularly kind to him, or mean, really. He doesn’t know much about him at all. He wasn’t happy with the way he was coerced into helping them get rescued, largely because he ended up being interrogated by Bor Gullet. Turns out the Shu weren’t too happy with the potential ability to get back two of their own citizens. Wylan would have appreciated that knowledge before he landed in Jedha to a hostile situation.

“Don’t worry. We’ll get this solved.” Jesper nods at something Kaz conveys with a quick hand signal. His hand moves from Wylan’s shoulder with a quick squeeze. It lands heavily on Kuwei’s shoulder and pushes him forward. “Come on, Kiwi. We got you out, so now it’s your turn to cough up what you know.”

<hr>

The universe is a perpetual joke.

Jesper plays with the settings on his blasters as he sits in the dark corner of HQ while voices rise and fall in impassioned debate. Kuwei, for all his supposed knowledge, can only tell them that there’s a critical weakness in the Death Star’s defenses. It’s in the plans, which he thinks he can create from memory. The leaders of the Resistance are far less trusting of this information. Spymaster Per Haskell is angry that he’s devoted so many resources on a dead end. Inej is pushing for an expedition to Scarif, where she can recover the plans. According to her, her father knows the plans are there. Genya seems interested in the plan, but the majority of the people present are convinced of the futility of the prospect.

They’d rather continue along their familiar routes of information gathering. Even from across the room, Jesper can tell Kaz is going to follow Inej on this. That boy will move worlds to get her what she wants.

Jesper gets to his feet and walks away from the noise of the room. He’d better get their ride ready. Wylan Van Sunshine is the only one to recognize his exit and he falls into step with Jesper.

“What are you planning?”

Jesper shrugs. “What makes you think I’m planning anything?”

“The demjin would not give in so easily.”

His head whips around to his other side where Matthias is now standing, face set in a scowl. “I’m going to put a bell on you.” They both continue to stare at him. “Stop that. There’s no plan.”

“There’s a plan,” Wylan says, looking at Matthias.

“Of course, there’s a plan.” Matthias agrees. “Nina’s on Scarif.”

Jesper laughs. “That’s quite a leap.”

“She’s on Scarif,” Matthias repeats.

Jesper shakes his head. There’s no possible way he can know that. There’s a whole galaxy out there where she could be, and that’s if she got off the planet. The poor guy is delusional. “Look, I know it sucks that we left her behind. The odds of her surviving the strike are not great.”

“Brum’s shuttle left after us. It survived the strike. She was on that ship.” Matthias says tightly.

“I want Nina to be alive just as much as you do, but there’s no way you can know that.” Jesper squints at Matthias, trying to determine what Matthias actually knows and what is just him trying to will into being.

Matthias gets a pained look on his normally stoic face. He looks up at the sky, as if he can’t believe what he’s about to say. “I would feel it if she were dead.”

Jesper looks at Wylan, glad to see that he’s just as lost as Jesper is. Jesper runs a hand over the back of his neck with a sigh. As much as he would love to continue his unbelieving attitude, Jesper knows the truth resonates in Matthias’s words. Nina’s alive and somehow is going to be exactly where she needs to be, but Matthias isn’t in contact with her. He’s just got faith. “I hope you’re right, soldier boy.”

“Please tell me there is actually a plan,” Matthias answers. His face is all scowly.

“Plans are a turn on for you, aren’t they?” Jesper speculates as he looks the soldier over. “How does that work out with you and Nina?” She’s the least rule-following person he knows. She likes to improvise too much when the Force speaks to her.

Matthias doesn’t answer. He just narrows his eyes at Jesper’s tone. Jesper bites back a smirk. He’d bet good money that the reason it works is because they’re both soldiers, who are loyal and stubborn as hell. Helvar doesn’t seem like a complete dick, and exactly Nina’s type. He really does hope he’s right about Nina.

Jesper pushes past them both and walks towards the mess hall, where he knows the intelligence agents who are on base spend their down time. Unlike many operatives who find ways to work the Rebel insignia into their uniforms, the intelligence agents are a paranoid bunch who value their identity too much to risk their allegiance being revealed, even a Rebel base.

Generally, the intelligence agents are known as spies or The Dregs. Kaz calls them the Crows because they go out in the galaxy and collect shiny bits of information which they hoard and return in the hopes that it might turn out to be valuable. They don’t often work in large groups but they can recognize each other. Wylan and Matthias trail behind him as he walks across the way to Rotty, who’s sitting alone and staring into his mug.

He looks up as Jesper drops into the seat across from him. His eyes take in the three of them, assessing even as he looks half asleep. That’s part of his charm. People underestimate him. He takes them in, looks around the room and then leans forward. “This about the meeting happening right now?”

Rotty’s good at connecting dots.

Jesper shrugs as if to say “what can you do”.

Rotty throws the rest of his drink back and drops his mug on the table. “Is the intelligence worth it?”

Jesper runs a hand along this jaw and the stubble that’s starting to grow as he looks around, glancing at Wylan and Matthias. “We have confirmation the information’s on Scarif. Nina’s on the inside.”

Rotty blinks in surprise. “Nina? Zenik? I thought…” He looks at Matthias. “So the rumors about Jedha?”

“All true. We need to move before things get worse.” Jesper glances around the room. “It looks like the vote will go the other way.”

The Dregs have the best blank stares. Jesper watches his eyes and the calculations going on behind them. “Kaz?”

Jesper knows he’s got him. Rotty will help them. “Sent me to spread the word. No orders. This isn’t mandated. It has to be your choice.”

“Who do you have so far?”

“Kanej and these two.”

Rotty snorts. “You’re still hoping that catches on.”

“It’s so much easier to say than Kaz and Inej every time. When we have time, remind me to tell you about the repressed pining from this last stunt. It’s a good one.” Jesper taps the table and stands. “Spread the word. We’re leaving as soon as the meeting lets out.”

Rotty nods.

Jesper is two tables away when Rotty calls after him. “How do you know Zenik is on Scarif?”

Matthias tenses. It’s comical how easy he is to read.

“She sent an encrypted message.” Jesper reveals with a grin. Then, because he doesn’t trust the druskelle yet, he throws in a little lie. “In the ship’s lights as Brum’s shuttle left Eadu. Kuwei confirmed Brum would fall back to Mustafar and then likely Scarif to check the Death Star plans. We’re watching the old channels for updates.”

Rotty nods.

Matthias shakes his head as they walk out of the cafeteria. “You could have just told me that.”

Jesper laughs. “And missed the look on your face? Never! Now, come on, Helvar, Sunshine. We’ve got a ship to prepare. Stealthily.”

<hr>

“We can’t take no for an answer. You know this is wrong! We have to go. There’s no guarantee Kuwei has any idea what he’s talking about. It’s all guesswork. My father nearly died getting us this information.”

Kaz leans heavily on his cane as they leave HQ as Inej rants in his ear. It’s been awhile since he’s been the recipient of one of her rants. They’ve long accepted their own philosophical differences. He knows her well enough to understand that this is different. This is the first tangible connection she has to her family. Defeating the Death Star is now a part of his legacy and she’ll do anything to protect that. “I know, Inej.”

“So why didn’t you say anything?! You stood silently by. You didn’t even argue for a plan that could work.”

He rubs at his leg like that will alleviate the pain. It’s not great that it’s worse today but Kaz has worked through the pain before. It shouldn’t cause any hiccups assuming that they can get out of here before someone tries to stop them. Based on Genya’s nod as they left, he’s willing to bet that she’ll run interference.

“They were never going to agree. Scarif is a stronghold. We haven’t been able to infiltrate before. Whoever goes in, even if they succeed in getting the plans, they would likely die.” The words are harsh. They have to be. He can’t have anyone doubting the risks involved.

“It would be worth it.” Inej’s eyes are fire, pure passion. It does funny things to his heart beat. She’s a woman meant to live life to the fullest. She’s never more beautiful than when her whole heart is devoted to something she cares about.

Kaz holds her gaze for a minute and then nods. “I agree. That’s why Jesper’s collecting the Crows.”

He struggles with a smile at the shock and warmth in Inej’s gaze, the way her lips part in surprise. The him of several years ago wouldn’t have made this choice. He turns away from her and continues to walk. His smile would come out if he continued to look at her. A few years ago, he wouldn’t have let this melt the ice around his heart, but he’s started to let people in again. It’s a strength as much as a weakness.

“We’re going?” She speeds up to walk in front of him, turning so she can face him as she walks backwards. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

“If you didn’t fight for your father, Haskell would have been suspicious. He would have grounded us.”

Her eyes sparkle and another little bit of ice melts. Her hand reaches out like she’s going to reach for her hand. Kaz’s chest is tight - both with desire for her closeness and in fear of contact. Slowly telegraphing her movements, Inej’s hand lands on his forearm. He stops in the middle of the hallway. The bile he expects doesn’t overwhelm him. Instead, it feels almost nice. He relaxes into it as he drinks in her gaze. She smiles at him.

“Thank you.”

He shrugs. He only did what had to be done. Kaz slowly turns his hand over and pulls it back so that their hands meet, fingers intertwining. He stares at the contact and wonders briefly what it would feel like without the gloves between their skin. He wants to be brave enough to push himself to that point but he’s not ready for that yet.

He loosens his grip and lets their hands slip apart before he starts walking, glancing around the hallway. Per Haskell has his eyes on them despite being engaged in conversation with Genya in the entrance to the conference room.

“We need to get out of here before we get locked down.”

Inej nods. “Right.” She pulls away and they start to walk down the hall again.

Kaz’s tensions relax when they reach the hangar and see the Crows all milling around the shuttle, looking inconspicuous for the moment in the bustle of people, but he knows it’s not long before they start attracting attention. His eyes flit to each familiar face. They acknowledge the silent signal and all head toward the shuttle.

It’s a tight squeeze, done nearly silently. It isn’t until he’s moving toward the cockpit when he hears the agitated back and forth of two dissenting voices.

“You’re doing it wrong. We’re never going to get out of here with that clearance code.”

There’s an annoyed huff. “Well then, you’re in charge of the code. I can handle the flying.”

“It’s my ship. I’m the pilot, Sunshine.”

Kaz reaches the entrance to see both Wylan and Jesper at the controls.

“You don’t fly like an Imperial pilot. They’re going to notice.” Wylan glares at Jesper and bats his hand away from the control he’s reaching for. “Just focus on the codes.”

Jesper leans forward. “You know, it’s kind of hot how you take charge.”

Kaz clears his throat. He ignores the way Wylan’s skin flushes and Jesper’s predatory grin. “Time to fly.”

Engines hum to life, shortly followed by a radio static call. “Imperial Ship, you have not been cleared for take off. Please state your call sign.”

Wylan and Jesper look at each other in alarm. It’s almost comical. Jesper, only slightly less useless in this situation grabs the radio. “Oh, right. Tower, this is Rogue...One.”

Kaz closes his eyes at the stupidity. Even Wylan looks pained. Jesper however forges ahead.

“Rogue One, taking off.”

He closes the radio connection as Wylan maneuvers the shuttle into the air and they head off into uncertain danger. Kaz glances back at Inej. She meets his gaze with the same stoic determination. At least they’re in this together.

...

Keep an eye out for Part III coming out next week!

#gvbb21 #gvbbfic21 #six of crows #rogue one au #grishaverse

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peakatseven · 4 years ago

Note

MICHAAAA CONGRATULATIONS

🌕 broke a finger knocking on your bedroom door I got splinters in my knuckles crawling across the floor

andddd

🎸 haunted

this bitch really came for me asking for a story AND a cover of such a hard song to sing. okay thanks i guess.

nah im just kidding babe i had so much fun writing this! i feel like it’s the first time in years that i’m posting proper fanfiction? kind of? idk i was trying to find another name for the mc but i kept picturing frat boy harry so here we go:

Concentration is impossible when the silence is loud and the work is important. The worst part is when one starts thinking about the need of being concentrated, rather than the actual work that needs to be done. As a university student, Harry was no different than most: his anxiety about school and his future co-existed with the emotional backlash of relationships and the need to "experience the best years of your life". There were few people with whom he wouldn't worry about meeting some kind of expectation. But she had been silent with him for the better part of a year. Images of Caro kept coming back to him, a trauma he couldn't let go off. Granted, it was the one painful brake up he'd experienced, one that was never truly over. Even now, uncountable names in between him and her, he still couldn't get her blue eyes off of his mind. The thought of her porcelain skin over his sun-kissed body came to him every single one of his one-night-stands. And at that moment, sitting on his desk, trying to get his homework done, the memory of her laughter drowned every sentence he tried to compose. He forced everything out with a loud grunt, grabbing his head with both hands and pulling on his hair. "The results show that 73.3% of patients responded positively to the treatment." He voiced out loud, trying to silence Caro's laughter in his mind. "No, that's bullshit." After a few moments staring at the cursor beeping at the end of his last sentence, he finally shut the laptop down. On an impulse, he unlocked his phone and opened a conversation from three days prior. He should've answered it when he got the text, but he wasn't in the mood at the time. "Hey, babe, wanna go for a beer rn?" He wasn't even done changing when the phone buzzed on the table. Two happy emojis popped up, and then a "Meet you there in 10". He kept the speed up as he rode off campus, through a park and then into the city. He was glad for the chill air against his face, numbing it to the point where it was the only thing he was able to think about. Finally some peace of mind. It wasn't dark yet when he got to the bar, but the sun had already set behind the buildings. There was one single tree, barely taller than him but strong enough to hold his bike. As he secured it, a red leaf fell to his knee. It was autumn when he got to kiss Caro for the first time, and it was also autumn when he kissed her last. "Nope. Something else, think of something else." he thought to himself. Incapable of coming up with anything, he brought out a cigarette and inhaled deeply. Somewhere inside him, there was a bit of guilt about what he was trying to do. But it'd been so long since he started that it no longer bothered him. His new game was called Darren. The younger guy looked like a model, straight silver hair and pale skin that Harry couldn't wait to leave marks on. All he could think about when Darren was around was the things he wanted to do to him. It was purely sensual, and that was pretty clear from the start. Or at least that's what he told himself. That Darren was on the same page as him- no strings attached, just fun and games. But the way his phone had been buzzing ever since he got on the bike, there was clearly more interest from one side. But instead of doing the right thing, and not stringing him along, Harry was about to sleep with him again and leave with a lame excuse to not spend the night. And then it was back to emotionless texts, conversations on the verge of ghosting him just in case he'd be in the mood again. But it was okay, Darren was playing the same game. He had the same dynamic with a lot of people lately. None knew of each other. They didn't have to, and they didn't ask either. He was no monster, though. Harry would tell that to himself constantly. That because no one had explicitly asked for exclusivity, it was implied they weren't obliged to it. The only one who did, what was her name again? Odella... no, that's not right... Ornella, maybe? He laughed dryly at himself. He'd become one of those guys that didn't even remember the names of all of his

partners. But he was no dougebag, when Ornella asked to be exclusive, he straight up told her no and then never bothered her again. They weren't on the same page anymore, so no more games. He wondered if that would ever happen with Darren too. There was not much time to think about this, because he was soon greeting the guy with a half hug and a gentle kiss just beside his lips. "You smell nice." Darren said, hands in his pockets and scarf almost over his mouth. "You just like the smell of tabacco." Harry smirked and put the unfinished cigarette down. "Let's get in, you're freezing." The night went exactly how Harry planned it. All his jokes were welcomed by Darren, and he let the young boy win at pull- he was cute when he bragged about his skills. But the best feeling was whenever Harry would approach Darren. A stroke of the lower back, a smirk from the other side of the table, a kiss when no one was near... Darren accepted any and everything Harry was willing to give him. The power high that it gave him to have someone be so devoted to him was indescribable. But the night was fully set and he was growing impatient. "Let's get out of here." He whispered to Darren's ear right before his turn. Darren had already started pulling Harry's bike for him when the phone on his pocket buzzed again. Harry walked alongside his date, though his eyes were on his phone. He had a lost call that he hadn't noticed while inside. The number wasn't saved to his phone anymore, but he hadn't managed to erase it from his own memory yet. "Oh, shit." He whispered. "I... Sorry, man, I have to go. There's a- um, it's a family thing." Harry was on his bike before his date could answer. He didn't even look at Darren's eyes before leaving. There was a sting of guilt building up, and maybe he'd feel disgusted by himself if it wasn't for the sheer adrenaline running through his veins. Maybe the alcohol had a bit to do with it too. This had only happened a few times before, and the outcome was always the same. Still, Harry couldn't keep himself from falling to his knees when it came to her. As he rode his bike as fast as he could go, a cynical smile crept on his lips. How ironic. Darren was probably feeling the same way about Harry just a few hours prior. Whenever Caro was in town, she stayed at her best friend's apartment- all the way on the other side of the city. So it was past midnight already when he got to the building. There was a party on the roof, maybe they could sneak in for more drinks. She had some catching up to do, as Harry was already tipsy. Still, he didn't have to check the phone to know which floor to go to and which door to knock. Just like everything else about Caro, he had it indefinitely memorized. 409, the doorknocker was a silver seagull. A very heavy, silver seagull. At first, Harry didn't feel it when his finger got caught in between the door and the seagull, but by the third time he knocked, it started changing colour. "Hm." He said to himself as he examined the swollen-red finger. He put it in his mouth and kept on knocking to the beat of the music coming from above. Why did they have the music so loud? Harry could barely hear his own thoughts, so the neighbours had to be furious about this noise. Carolina was probably waiting for Harry, who was already late due to how far he was when she texted him. "Fuck!" He said, taking his phone out of his pocket again. He hadn't answered. Dumb ass. "im herre" He sent the text before reading the ones Caro had sent before. One was a laughing emoji and the other was a voice note. There were people laughing on the background, and someone turned the music down a bit for Caro to speak into her phone. "I'm so sorry, ignore that, it was a dare." She half said, half laughed. Harry didn't understand, so he played it again. Again. Again. And again one more time. Was she talking about the lost call? or was it about her being in town? Had he really fallen for such a stupid trap? Harry fell to the floor, phone glued to his ear as the voice note played over and over again. His chest was about to

explode, face red and throat dry. He knocked on the door again, now with his fist. The inevitable tear fell down his cheek, though it was impossible to know if it was sadness or anger that caused it. "Oh, god." Someone said behind him. But when he turned around, the stairs were empty and someone on hills was running up the stairs. He got up and ran after them, but he was too intoxicated to keep up. He fell halfway up the stairs, having to crawl for a few steps before getting up. On the rooftop, there were too many people in heels to know which one had seen him. "Great." He sight. Might as well look around. He walked around the place, inhaling the cold air of the night and trying to calm down, make sense of what had just happened. He was about to light up his last cigarette when someone took it from him. She had long purple nails and her skin glowed under the moonlight. She smirked as the cigarette reached her mouth. He lit it up for her. "I didn't think you'd actually come." She said. Her smirk turned into a sincere smile. "You told me to." "Yes, but I also said you should ignore that." "Well I didn't." He took the cigarette from her fingers and smoked himself before speaking again. "Should I go?" He wanted to seem as cool with the situation as she appeared to be, hide the fact that he had just been played like a puppet for a fucking drinking game dare. "What happened to you finger?" She shouted, stepping closer to him. "I- I don't remember." Harry lied. There was still a bit of dignity to be salvaged. And there it was, but this time it was real. Her laugh, once again, drowned every thought on his mind. There was no music and no people around them anymore, it was just him and her, together again, laughing in the middle of the night. "You know I meant to call you, right?" Caro said, a hand tenderly rubbing his arm. She knew exactly what she was doing, and he knew it too. "I'm sure you did." He said. "I did!" She pushed him a little, both cracking a knowing smile. "I promise I did, it's just that-" "Shut the fuck up." He felt more stable now that he'd taken some air and the alcohol effect had cooled down. "It's okay, Caro. Let's just have fun tonight and see what happens." "Sounds fun." She leaned in and kissed him on his cheek, the kiss lingering just a second too long. He instinctively put a hand on her hip, but she walked away swiftly after the kiss. The pain on his chest came back, and the little composure he had gained crumbled. She wasn't coming back to him. This time it was definitive, and it had been for a while now. But the worst realization that came to him that night, was how much power she had over him. How much hope, urge, love, anger and pain she could cause in just a matter of hours. She had him at her mercy, like a puppet she could toy with however she wanted. They were both the same kind of wicked, using others for validation, feasting on their adoration. But as much pain as it caused him to know he was at the other end of his own game, it also sparked joy to know he could provide that for her.

#idk how to add an audio file to an ask so the cover is posting in a bit #hope you like it!!!#asks #micha's 700 celebration!#thelasttimeyoueversawme

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ja-baby · 4 years ago

Text

《 Cont. from x // @chords-of-justice 》

He's late to the scene.

Usually Klavier is the first to notice something amiss. To catch the scent of potential evidence and chase it like a bloodhound. However, he supposes he shouldn't be too wounded by being second to important proof. It's in the WTA's nature to bring about new possibilities, after all. Apollo seemed to be inheriting that trait from his new mentor quite well.

It was because of him that Klavier was here in the first place.

Apollo had pulled through in court, and now there was the threat of new suspects. And Gavin figured, being a rockstar and all, he probably shouldn't leave any rock unturned.

Ugh, that's a corny joke even for me. Which means I definitely have to tell it to herr Justice.

Unfortunately, any crack at puns died in his throat once he crossed the warehouse threshold.

A figure, hunched on their hands and knees. Their movements were too sloppy. Too shaky and off balance. Klavier watched as they kept at their goal of standing up, only to be forced back down by the weight of their own limbs. Something was wrong. These were not the movements of someone who was dusting for prints or examining blood. These were the dizzy actions of someone who needed help.

His heart stuttered.

He would recognize that red outfit anywhere.

He was calling out before his brain could even catch up, legs surging forward to clamber beside Apollo. As if it belongs there, Klavier's hand rests at Apollo's lower back, gently coaxing him back down. His mind feels like it's on autopilot. Weird, fuzzy mind autopilot as he goes through what to do to help. The feeling was familiar -- reminiscent of when Daryan had once almost choked to death.

He remembered how everything had passed in such a blur. Even now he wasn't sure how his body knew what to do before he could even process it. One second he's hearing Daryan's choked cries from another room. The next he's performing the Heimlich maneuver and his friend is spitting up stringy bacon from his breakfast sandwich.

He wonders if it's from years of murder cases and high school emergency lectures that he's able to perform well in these situations. Somehow, that doesn't seem right though. Sure, Klavier knows it plays a part. But even with training, people tend to freeze when faced with the real thing. A lifeless doll is nothing compared to a real deteriorating body. Maybe he's just lucky. That, or failure is scary enough to keep him moving.

The threat of what could happen if he doesn't act drives him even now.

Klavier whispers reassurances as he looks over Apollo. It terrifies him to think of what he could be facing.

Gunshot wound? Stabbing? Where's the blood? There's no blood-

A groan redirects Gavin's attention to Apollo's face. Or where his face would be, if the smaller were not still lowered toward the ground. Instead he's met with the back of Apollo's head...and he finally notices it.

A bump. Swelling and angry.

It didn't take long for Klavier to piece it all together. That didn't make the lurch in his belly any less violent though.

A head wound. He might have trauma. Have to keep him still. Can't move him unless necessary. Can't move his neck. Keep head and shoulders elevated. Watch for changes in breathing. Is he breathing? God, he could have a seizure-

The big difference between a choking victim and a potential head trauma victim was: One of these things he could do nothing about. He could press at someone's stomach, sure. However, he was not a doctor. He could do nothing for skull or brain damage. That realization was quickly making him feel helpless. Was inducing panic at a time where he needed to be calm. His hands fight tremors as he pulls out his phone, taking a few seconds longer than he'd like to properly dial 911.

“No... I gotta...Cl...client... there’s proof he didn’t..."

Every word seems to douse his body in ice. Apollo's words match his actions. Stunted. Strange. Slurred. Which threatened a very scary thought:

Concussion.

He doesn't register the voice on the other end of the phone. His attention is latched solely onto the wilted syllables, following the lips hiding beside clutched fists.

"...saw someone, I think...?”

Someone?

Someone to press for information?

Or someone...who would kill to hide information?

Everything comes together in ugly little puzzle pieces. The picture it forms is less than pretty, and incredibly anger inducing. Before he knows it a scowl is overtaking his features. This was no accident. This was on purpose. Whatever evidence Apollo had stumbled upon, it was important enough to add another murder to someone's record. No. Not murder. Apollo isn't dead yet. No! Why yet? He isn't going to die at all.

"Are you there? Hello? Are you alright?"

The growingly concerned and insistent voice on the line snaps him out of it. If only enough to provide details on their predicament. He hurriedly offers their location and the possibility of both a concussion and threat on the scene. All the while he's pulling off his jacket, hoping desperately that if it's folded enough it could provide enough elevation for Apollo's head.

Unfortunately for him, Apollo has other ideas.

Once again, Apollo is forcing his way up. Throughout their time together, Klavier has learned a lot about the defense attorney. The most prominent fact being he's as stubborn as a mule. Gavin wonders if that runs in the family -- the WTA family at least. As he speaks with the emergency dispatcher, he can hear Apollo trying to get his attention. Perhaps he misheard, considering he's both balancing Apollo, fear, and the call, but he could've sworn he heard the smaller mumble something about needing a flashlight? A blackout? Klavier didn't understand anything he was talking about. If anything, it only furthered the concern that Apollo needed help.

Klavier places his newly folded jacket on the ground, hand gesturing for Apollo to lay back down. The other obviously isn't having it. Instead he confusedly fumbles out his own phone. Gavin takes in his increasing irritation and muddled nature as he shakes at the device. As if it was the one that knocked him across the head. Well, it may not be the one that swelled that bump. But with that bright screen, it'll certainly make Apollo's headache worse. While he doesn't hang up, Gavin does put his phone down in favor of assessing the other.

He's about to tell Apollo to put his mobile down. To sit still and rest until the ambulance and authorities arrive. It all dies on his tongue though, pushed back down by Apollo's startling query.

"Where are you?"

It's such a strange question. So odd that for a few moments it leaves him disoriented. Where? What did he mean? Gavin was right here. Granted, Klavier had paced a bit during his call, examining the surroundings for clues and taking in a suspicious fire extinguisher as he did so. Even so, he made sure to never go too far. To stay where both Apollo could see him and he could see Apollo. Maybe it was hard to see with a concussion. Maybe it was like being drunk but worse -- where there were three of every person instead of one, each spinning like in the cartoons. Maybe there was more of him than Apollo was used to.

Or maybe...there was none of him.

A request for a flashlight. Concern for a blackout. Irritation with a phone's brightness. And finally, not knowing the prosecutor's location.

Klavier had a theory as to what this could mean.

He desperately hopes he's wrong.

Cautiously, as if worried he'll startle Apollo if he moves too quickly, he makes his way back to the sitting figure. When he crouches down, he does so slowly, hoping that this will alert Apollo of his presence.

"Apollo...?"

A whisper. He doesn't want to speak too loud. Doesn't even want to speak at a normal volume in case the sudden closeness causes alarm. And yet, he knows that if his speculation is right... Apollo will be scared either way. His hands softly gather Apollo's, pulling away the neglected phone so it can be replaced with his fingers. He's quiet for a moment. Unsure of how to tackle this in a way that results in the smallest amount of fear possible. Eventually he settles for presenting the facts.

"Apollo...there is no blackout...the lights are on"

A pause. Was that the right choice? Or has he chosen the wrong evidence? Presented it at the wrong time? He's itching to run a hand in his hair. Instead he settles on giving Apollo's hands a gentle squeeze.

"Both an ambulance and the authorities are on their way. Everything will be okay. I'm right here. I won't leave you"

He has to ask. He knows he has to ask. He hates that he has to ask but he needs to.

He looks Apollo in the eyes. The gaze he meets is foggy, and that fog makes Klavier feel like he can't see either. He can't see Apollo in that cloudy haze.

"Apollo...can you not...see me...?"

#{oh boy hurty time}#{ thread: blind justice }#{ scream it out ! : chords of justice }

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twentiethcenturymoviesandtv · 4 years ago

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Frankenstein: The Story

Before Frankenstein even starts, the movie wants you to know that it isn’t messing around. This isn’t a horror-comedy, or a mildly spooky drama. This is a horror story, make no mistake.

The film opens up in a rather unconventional way. Edward Van Sloan, who plays Dr. Waldman in the film, appears from behind a curtain in order to directly address the audience:

“How do you do? Mr. Carl Laemmle feels it would be a little unkind to present this picture without just a word of friendly warning. We’re about to unfold the story of Frankenstein, a man of science who sought to create a man after his own image without reckoning upon God. It is one of the strangest tales ever told. It deals with the two great mysteries of creation: life and death. I think it will thrill you. It may shock you. It might even horrify you. So if any of you feel that you do not care to subject your nerves to such a strain, now is your chance to, uh… Well, we’ve warned you.”

After this genial warning, Mr. Van Sloan steps back behind the curtain, and the music starts over the credits. (This is the only time music will play during the film.)

The film opens proper this time, appropriately enough, in a graveyard.

The scene is a funeral, a sad occasion over which church bells are heard ringing. Fittingly enough, the story of Frankenstein already is focused on death, and so is our possible main character.

Enter Dr. Henry Frankenstein. (Colin Clive) (Spoilers below)

Frankenstein waits outside the graveyard, alongside his hunchback assistant, Fritz (Dwight Frye), for the mourners to leave, and for the gravedigger to finish up. As soon as the cemetery is deserted, the gruesome twosome move in, using their own tools to dig up the grave again, removing the coffin. As they do, Frankenstein manically murmurs this:

“He’s just resting. Waiting for a new life to come.”

With that, the pair put the coffin on a wheelbarrow, and head off. They stop at a gallows, where Frankenstein tells Fritz to clamber up and cut the body down. Reluctantly, Fritz obeys. The doctor examines the body, before proclaiming it useless.

“The neck’s broken. The brain is useless. We must find another brain.”

He’s 2 for 2 on the ominous foreshadowing, despite the fact that that’s not how neuroscience works.

Fritz, in a quest to find another brain, hides outside a medical college, where he listens to Dr. Waldman (Edward Van Sloan) teaching a seminar about brains. He has two specimens: one, a perfect example of a model brain, and the other, the brain of a criminal.

After class is dismissed, Fritz sneaks into the classroom, intending to steal the well-adjusted brain. At first, it looks like success, but a loud noise startles him, and he drops it. Panicked, Fritz grabs the brain labeled: ‘Abnormal Brain’ and takes off.

Meanwhile, we are introduced to a few new characters: Elizabeth (Mae Clark), Henry’s fiancee, and Victor (John Boles), friend of Henry and Elizabeth. Elizabeth has just received word from Henry for the first time in four months. She reads the letter out loud to Victor, who explains that he is in the middle of an amazing discovery, and is working on his experiments in hiding in an abandoned watchtower, where they can remain secret.

Elizabeth explains that she sent for Victor because she is worried about Henry, saying that he’s talking as though he’s crazy. She also says that she’s heard him talk about these experiments before, and that when they were first engaged, Henry was happy to tell her about them, but now acts as though everything is a great mystery.

Victor agrees that Henry’s acting strangely. He tells Elizabeth that the last time he ran into Henry and asked to see the lab, Henry got very defensive.

So far, the movie really isn’t selling the audience on Henry. Not many good traits for this guy if we’re being honest.

At this moment, Victor tells Elizabeth that he is in love with her, which doesn’t help the situation at all. This is not the first time he has done this, but Elizabeth is already engaged to aforementioned mad-scientist.

Victor also says that he will go track down Dr. Waldman (remember him?) who was Henry’s mentor, to see if he knows anything about Henry’s behavior. Elizabeth runs after him, determined to go along, and the two set off.

The two arrive at Waldman’s office and begin discussing Henry and his odd behavior. Waldman admits that Henry is brilliant, but he’s also erratic, possessing an “insane ambition to create life”. Waldman also explains that Henry had wanted actual human corpses for his experiments

“You do not quite get what I mean. Herr Frankenstein was interested only in human life. First, to destroy it; then, recreate it. There you have his - mad dream.”

The university obviously wouldn’t allow the use of human corpses, and so Henry left, in order to pursue graverobbing for his experiments. More worried than ever, Elizabeth convinces Waldman to accompany them to find Henry and bring him to his senses.

Henry, as it turns out, is inside his watchtower where a mighty storm is brewing. It’s dark, there’s a thunder and lightning storm growing, and inside, Henry is busy about his laboratory, full of crackling electric gadgets and a table, on which lies a figure, with a cloth lying over it and bandages wrapped around its head, inside which is the brain that Fritz had stolen.

“The brain you stole, Fritz. Think of it. The brain of a dead man waiting to live again in a body I made with my own hands! With my own hands.”

As Henry prepares his experiment (powered by electricity, hence the storm), there is a knock at the door, interrupting him at his work. Irritated, he sends Fritz down to send whoever is there away. Upon realizing that Elizabeth is at the door, Henry changes his mind, and lets her, Victor, and Waldman in, albeit reluctantly. He tries to persuade them to leave, but is stopped short when Victor accuses him of being crazy.

“Crazy, am I? We’ll see whether I’m crazy or not.”

Taking the accusation as a challenge, Henry brings his unexpected guests upstairs to the lab to witness his experiment. He forces Victor and Elizabeth to sit, chases Waldman away from the hidden body, and describes his experiment.

In short, Henry has discovered a ray that is the foundation of life, and that he has created a body, stitched together from other corpses, super large, super strong.

Without further ado, Henry launches into the most famous scene of cinema history. He starts up the equipment as the storm begins to rage, and the table holding Henry’s creation rises up the tower towards a skylight, where the thunder and lightning crash and flash. Slowly, Henry brings the body back down, and the hand of his creation begins to move.

Say it with me:

“Look! It’s moving. It’s alive. It’s alive… It’s alive, it’s moving, it’s alive, it’s alive, it’s alive, it’s alive, IT’S ALIVE!”

In his euphoria, Henry compares himself to God, and in shock and horror, the others restrain him.

Weirdly enough, at this point, the movie decides to put itself on hold.

After an emotional, tension filled high point, one of the most famous scenes in movie history, the film decides that, rather than show you Frankenstein’s creation, to take you instead to the home of Baron Frankenstein, Henry’s father, and a conversation with Elizabeth and Victor.

The movie has been moving at a pretty good clip up to this point, albeit with rather sparse ‘monster’ action. We don’t see Frankenstein putting his creature together, we only see the before and after, and now we don’t even get to see the after. The sequence interrupting the ‘good stuff’ seems to come in, interrupting a continuous flow.

Henry’s father is also worried about him (it seems to be a pattern), but refuses to believe Elizabeth’s claims that he’s just tired. The Baron believes there’s something legitimately wrong with him, and that he’s involved with another woman. At this point, the Baron isn’t sure if there’s even going to be a wedding between his son and Elizabeth, which is unfortunate, since the whole town is preparing for it.

The Baron makes a decision: he’s going to go visit Henry now, too.

See, as it turns out, Henry hasn’t left the watchtower. He’s still with his experiment, and so is Waldman.

Waldman, for his part, isn’t in the slightest happy about Henry’s experiment. He explains that the ‘monster’ is dangerous, but Henry isn’t buying it.

“Dangerous? Poor old Waldman. Have you never wanted to do anything that was dangerous? Where should we be if no one tried to find out what lies beyond? Have you never wanted to look beyond the clouds and the stars, or to know what causes the trees to bud? And what changes the darkness into light? But if you talk like that, people call you crazy. Well, if I could discover just one of these things, what eternity is, for example, I wouldn’t care if they did think I was crazy.”

Waldman explains that the brain that Henry used was a criminal brain. Henry looks disconcerted for a moment, but brushes it off, ignoring Waldman’s pleas to stop experimenting.

“I’ve got to experiment further. He’s only a few days old, remember. So far he’s been kept in complete darkness. Wait till I bring him into the light.”

As he finishes speaking, heavy footsteps are heard in the hallway. Henry shuts off the light, casting the dark room into further shadow, as a towering figure steps, backwards, through the doorway. It turns, slowly, facing the camera, with a dead, blank expression.

You already know what he looks like.

Henry tells the creature (Boris Karloff) to come in and sit down. The creature, although mute, seems to understand him, obeying as Henry rolls back the skylight.

The monster stands, looking up, and raises his hands to the sky, trying to touch the light. The expression comes to life, full of curiosity-

And Henry closes the light again.

The monster halts, looking dejected, as Henry gleefully brags about his creation.

Right here, we as an audience have been told a lot of information about a lot of people.

There’s Elizabeth, the loving fiancee, Victor, the concerned friend, Waldman, the dismayed mentor, and Baron Frankenstein, blustering father, but when you boil it right down, the audience’s concern lies with two characters: Henry and the monster.

We know that Henry is a raging egomaniac, who is determined to make his mark on scientific discovery. He is proud of what he has done, to the point of hysteria, and has become so absorbed with his work that he has neglected family, friends, and his fiancee, to the point where he has driven them all to worry about him. He’s obsessed with his creation, with his apparent success.

And the creature?

As famous and magnificent as the laboratory scene is, the scene where the monster first sees the light is almost as well-known, and with good reason. Arguably just as important, this sequence gives the audience some very important information about the creature: he is not inherently a ‘monster’. His expression is not that of a vicious beast, but a curious child. His backwards lumber into the room and straining to touch the light stirs an emotion out of the audience: not fear, but pity.

Hold onto that, we’ll be coming back to that shortly.

After the monster sits back down, Fritz comes tearing into the room with a lighted torch, brandishing it at the creature. The creature, naturally frightened, goes into a bit of a frenzy, barely restrained by Henry and Waldman. The two scientists tie him up, and Waldman, more resolute than ever in his stance that the creature is dangerous, tells Frankenstein that he must destroy the monster.

The two scientists move the creature to the cellar, where Fritz continues to torment him, beating him with a whip and antagonizing him with the torch.

Upstairs, Henry and Waldman hear a bloodcurdling shriek, and rush downstairs, where they discover the monster, free, and Fritz, strangled.

The pair manage to get out of the cellar and close the door behind them, but it won’t hold for long. The monster’s superior strength comes to bear as he struggles to smash down the door.

Henry, horrified at his own creation, reluctantly agrees with Waldman’s assertion that the monster must be destroyed, and allows Waldman to go up for a needle for a hypodermic injection. After Waldman returns, the pair open the door, and as the creature attacks Henry, Waldman injects the monster in the back with the needle. After a tense moment, the drug takes effect, and the monster slumps to the ground, unconscious.

Waldman and Frankenstein hide the body of the creature as they hear a banging on the door: Victor, warning Henry that Elizabeth and Henry’s father are on the way, right behind him. Henry goes upstairs to clean the blood off of him.

When Elizabeth and Baron Frankenstein do arrive, they find Henry, collapsed from exhaustion in his lab, muttering mournfully about Fritz. They decide to take him home, and Waldman promises Henry that he will preserve Henry’s research, and destroy the monster.

While Henry is taken home and helped to recover, Waldman sets about dissecting the creature. Before he can get started, the sedative wears off, and the creature wakes up. Seeing the doctor bending over him with sharp tools, the creature strangles Waldman, gets up, and wanders out of the watchtower, now loose across the countryside.

The story takes a little bit of a skip now. Henry is recovered, and it is the day of his wedding to Elizabeth. His father, the Baron, hands Henry and Victor orange blossoms, family tradition for weddings, and toasts the wedding, remarking about his hope for a future son of Frankenstein.

An interesting comment. More on that later.

Meanwhile, the creature’s wanderings have taken him to a forest, relatively close to civilization. There, he stumbles upon a girl named Maria, who is playing by the side of a lake.

Instead of being frightened at his appearance, the girl approaches the creature and invites him to play with her, bringing him down by the water as well. She gives him a flower, which he reacts to with a look of genuine happiness.

Maria offers up an interesting look at how people approach the creature. Up until this moment, he has been contained, tortured, and treated as an experiment at best, and a monster at worst. This is the first time that anyone has treated him as anything close to ‘human’, and it’s a touching moment.

Unfortunately, this is a horror film, and we have to take a sharp left turn into disaster. Or at least, tragedy.

See, Maria teaches the creature a game where they toss flowers into the water, demonstrating how they float. Once the creature runs out of flowers, he tosses Maria in, not really understanding why that’s not acceptable. As it turns out, Maria can’t swim.

Her floundering in the water frightens the creature, and, clearly upset, he runs away.

The scene switches once more to wedding preparations. Elizabeth, already in her wedding gown, asks to speak to Henry privately, as she’s feeling rather uneasy. As a matter of fact, she’s downright afraid. She explains to Henry that she’s not sure why she’s afraid, but she is concerned for Waldman, and asks why he’s late. She adds that she’s very afraid of losing Henry, but he reassures her that he’s not going anywhere.

The touching moment is interrupted by Victor, banging on the door, shouting about Waldman. He’s been found, dead, in the watchtower where Henry had been working. Henry locks Elizabeth in a room and rushes out, knowing that the monster must be loose. He and Victor begin searching the house for the creature, all the while thinking that at least Elizabeth is somewhat safe.

Elizabeth is pacing the room, very nervous. I can’t blame her.

As she paces, the monster comes through the window of the house, stalking her down. Elizabeth screams, and tries to escape, but of course, Henry locked the door in his most brilliant move since reanimating the dead. The monster gets out the way he came in, and Henry bursts in to find Elizabeth unhurt, but hysterical.

Henry proclaims that he cannot get married until his creation is destroyed, and leaves Elizabeth in Victor’s care while he leaves to track down the monster.

“I made him with these hands, and with these hands I will destroy him. I must find him.”

Meanwhile, interrupting the wedding festivities outside, a grief-stricken father carries the body of his little girl, Maria, into the town. The townspeople, now subdued, follow him as the father approaches the Burgomaster, proclaiming that his daughter has been murdered. (This is perhaps the one plot hole that I have the hardest time getting around, as if she’d been drowned, there’s no way the father could have figured she’d have been murdered.)

Still, it’s enough to get the townspeople in a riot.

The Burgomaster organizes the mob, splitting it into three groups and putting Henry in charge of one. The mob storms off, armed with torches and pitchforks (what else?).

Henry’s group spots the monster, and stumbles upon an injured man who points them in the direction of the creature.

Naturally, Henry gets separated from the rest of the group while up on a mountain, and, of course, runs into his creation.

Frankenstein tries to scare the creature with his torch, but the monster is well past the fear of fire by now. He lunges at Henry, they struggle, and the monster knocks him unconscious, dragging him away.

The creature takes Henry into a windmill, pursued by the mob of angry villagers. As the monster lugs Henry up to the second story, the search party tries to break the door down.

Henry wakes up, and narrowly escapes another attack by the creature, hiding behind mill machinery before entering another losing grappling match with the creature. After a brief struggle, Henry falls from the mill, unconscious.

Some of the search party stop to take Henry home, as the rest light the mill on fire.

The monster remains trapped in the flaming building, under a fallen beam, terrified and alone.

With the monster presumed dead, Henry begins recovering again, under the care of Elizabeth at his home. His father, the Baron Frankenstein, breaks out the old wine for the wedding and makes another toast: a toast to the son of Frankenstein.

Cue closing credits.

The story of Frankenstein is not a long one, clocking in at just over an hour and ten minutes. On a rewatch, it can seem like there isn’t even that much of the monster. Instead, we spend a lot of time with the creator of the creature, watching him prepare for his wedding. We even get a few scenes with Elizabeth and other supporting characters.

At first, these scenes really seem to slow the story down. The odd placement of a few scenes with Henry’s friends and family worrying about his sanity sprinkled in-between the monster’s creation sequences can seem to abruptly grind the movie to a halt as the audience is forced to sit back from the edge of their seats. I mean, what is this story about, anyway? Reanimating the dead or Henry’s wedding?

More specifically, who is this story supposed to be about?

That’s kind of the problem, isn’t it?

The easy answer is to say that Frankenstein as a film is focused on Frankenstein as a man. The scientist, bent on playing God, creating a monster and forced to destroy it. Frankenstein, the son, the fiance, the student, the friend.

By the same token, it’s equally as simple to claim that the focus of the story is on the monster.

The mute creation of a madman, the childish brute who never asked to be made, who was never shown any kindness. The lonely monster, tortured and brutalized for being ugly, condemned for the sins of his creator. The monster, the son of Frankenstein.

Typically, finding the protagonist of a film isn’t that hard. Luke Skywalker, Rocky Balboa, Dorothy Gale, are all easily presented as who the story is about, the person who pushes the action forward. But unfortunately, protagonists aren’t as easy to spot in every case.

Protagonists, as it turns out, aren’t always at the center of the story. In our study of Ladyhawke (nearly a year ago!), we discovered that sometimes, the protagonist and the character that the audience spends the most time with aren’t necessarily the same person. In Running Scared, there are two protagonists, but only one major one. In our analysis of Psycho, we discussed the fact that the protagonist doesn’t even have to be a hero.

That’s certainly the case with Frankenstein.

Whichever way you slice it, there is no ‘hero’ in Frankenstein. Neither monster nor man saves the day. The climax, presented as a victory to the townspeople, is a tragedy: the creature, beaten and hated for his entire short life, is seemingly burnt alive, trapped, rejected by his creator.

This is not a happy ending. But then again, it’s not a happy story. It started with digging up corpses in a graveyard, remember?

It turns out, when you think back over the events of the film, it’s actually pretty easy to spot the protagonist.

When it comes to ‘spotting’ the protagonist in Frankenstein, it’s less an analysis of the actions taken by specific characters, and more the ‘blame game’. Who’s fault is most of the story? Is it the monster, for killing? Is it Fritz, for antagonizing him unprovoked? Waldman’s, for mentoring Henry in the first place?

Rather grimly, looking back over the course of events in the story and determining who is to blame gives us our protagonist. It is, of course, Henry Frankenstein.

Henry Frankenstein is far from heroic, but he is responsible for nearly every action taken by every character in the story, from his friends checking up on him to his creation wreaking havoc. It is his blind arrogance and refusal to take into account the consequences of his actions that lead to so much suffering, and, ironically, death. Henry is bent on achieving the impossible, and in doing so, nearly dooms much of the main cast. He digs up the graves. He creates the monster.

Worst of all, he’s the one who won’t give the creature what he needs most: love.

For all intents and purposes, the creature is the son of Frankenstein, his creation. Henry has been nothing but an active character up until the point where he creates the monster, and after that, he suddenly becomes passive. His goal accomplished, he doesn’t treat the monster like a person, but a successful experiment. He halfheartedly scolds Fritz for tormenting him, but doesn’t actively try to stop him. Through his carelessness, he gives the monster none of the attention he needs, and as a result, the monster is treated terribly at worst, and with indifference or scientific curiosity at best.

Once people start dying, Henry wakes up a little bit. His growth, his character arc, comes in the form of self-realization, of owning up and accepting blame for what he’s done. After he realizes his guilt, he does something about it, going after the monster and trying to ‘right’ his wrong by destroying it.

While still not exactly a heroic figure, at the very least, Henry does change by the end of the story. And isn’t that what protagonists are supposed to do?

Yes, it is.

But there’s another character we’re leaving out of this equation.

The idea of the monster being a reflection, or another side, of Frankenstein is not a new one. It’s an idea that’s frequently discussed and analyzed by plenty of experts. Right now, though, we’re not looking at the monster as a reflection of Frankenstein. We’re looking at him as a creation, as a son.

See, Henry isn’t the only person that changes throughout the story. While Henry goes from mad monster to man, the creature has a reverse progression.

Throughout the first part of his existence, the creature is a passive character. He is acted upon, created through no will of his own, and then tormented for no good reason. He is a curious creature, a being that demonstrates a childlike joy at the world around him.

The creature doesn’t truly become a ‘monster’ until more than halfway through the film. He kills Fritz, only because he tormented him. He kills Waldman while the doctor is trying to dissect him. In his early moments, the monster reacts to people trying to harm him, rather than lashing out, unprovoked. His interaction with light, and people who aren’t cruel to him, demonstrate the monster’s potential true nature: a gentle giant.

When the monster breaks out of the tower and meets Maria, there is no hostility. He is genuinely happy, enjoying interaction with the first person to show him genuine kindness. Her death is an accident, the result of his misunderstanding, causing him great distress.

After that, a switch is flipped. It is here that he goes after Elizabeth, (though not harming her) and attacks Henry after Henry pursues him. At this point, it can be argued that the creature truly becomes the monster…but it’s hard to say that it’s his fault.

We as an audience don’t know what’s going on in the monster’s head at this point. He can’t speak to tell us. But it’s not a large leap of logic to wonder if the monster might be blaming his misery on Henry and the others in his life as well. And in the end, he is seemingly killed, abandoned by his uncaring creator and shunned by a world who mistreated him without cause.

No matter who Frankenstein is about, it’s a sad story. It’s also a good story.

Frankenstein learns his lesson, repents from playing God, and fixes his mistake. The monster dies. All of the human, ‘non monster’ characters live happily ever after. (Until Bride of Frankenstein.) Good…wins?

There’s no line drawn, no sides of ‘good or evil’ in Frankenstein. The story is not good guy vs. bad guy, no good vs. evil, just a creator and his creation, the tragedy of a man too arrogant to realize the blasphemy of his actions, and the creature he made, turned into a monster due to mistreatment and misunderstanding.

It’s sad, yes. It’s also a satisfying ending.

It ties up loose ends. It answers the questions. It gives everyone an ending, happy or not.

While Frankenstein does have some plot holes, overall, it’s a tight story. More importantly, it’s an emotional story, and a smart story. It brings up questions of morality, of nature vs. nurture, and of what we perceive as monstrous. It’s a gripping story with a great atmosphere, an iconic look, and immortal characters, setpieces, scenes and dialogue that have been remembered for almost ninety years for a reason. It’s an iconic film, a memorable masterpiece of simple, but smart, storytelling, constantly driving at an emotional core that still holds up to this day.

A toast to the son of Frankenstein.

In the articles ahead, we’re going to be taking a look at some of the other important elements to the story of Frankenstein, so if you enjoyed this one, stick around and join us! Don’t forget that my ask box is always open for questions, requests, comments, or just a conversation. Thanks so much for reading, and I hope to see you in the next article.

#Movies #Film #Frankenstein #Frankenstein 1931 #1931 #30s #Horror #Sci-Fi #Science Fiction #Drama #PG #Boris Karloff #Colin Clive #Mae Clarke #Dwight Frye #Edward Van Sloan #James Whale

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giveamadeuschohisownmovie · 5 years ago

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Hypothetical set-up for the seventh Ace Attorney game

Episode 1: Turnabout Legacy

Phoenix Wright and friends defend Esme Strange, an art school professor accused of murdering her school’s dean. Prosecutor is Winston Payne. The team is surprised when Franziska von Karma arrives, returning to the series since Trials and Tribulations. The big twist is that Franziska reveals Esme is her half-sister, going back to the first Ace Attorney game when Manfred mentioned he had a seven-year-old granddaughter.

At the end of the episode, we are introduced to the game’s main antagonist, “The Mastermind”, a criminal who is setting up elaborate crime scenes. Someone is framed for the crime while the actual killer is also forced into committing the crime by the Mastermind. The Mastermind challenges the Wright Anything Agency to a game of wits.

Episode 2: The Independent Turnabout

Athena Cykes and Apollo Justice are challenged by the Mastermind to defend a struggling indie singer accused of murdering a popular singer. Simon Blackquill is initially the main prosecutor but he steps down for unknown reasons. In his place is the main prosecutor of this game, “Herr” Nolan Dirge (I’ll explain the pun at the end of this). Athena proves the defendant’s innocence but is dismayed when she realizes the Mastermind was just testing her.

As a subplot to this episode, Athena confronts Simon about why he stepped down and Simon reveals that the Mastermind has dirt on him. Athena asks if Simon knows who the Mastermind is and Simon says that he doesn’t know.

After the case, Athena and Simon go on a road trip to figure out who the Mastermind is. To fill in for her in the next case, Ema Skye takes over as the main assistant.

Episode 3: The Military Turnabout

Apollo Justice is challenged by the Mastermind to defend a soldier recently discharged from the army who was accused of murdering a high-ranking general. “Herr” Nolan Dirge returns as the lead prosecutor and Apollo, based on Nolan’s behavior, starts thinking that Nolan is the Mastermind. Apollo tells Phoenix this and Phoenix tells him to get evidence first. Apollo proves the defendant’s innocence, impressing the Mastermind.

As the subplot to this episode, Thalassa Gramarye returns after being invited to the Wright Anything Agency by Phoenix. At the end of the episode, Thalassa reveals to Apollo and Trucy that they are half-siblings. Apollo and Trucy are shocked by this while Phoenix reveals to Ema Skye that he knew this whole time.

Episode 4: Betrayal of the Turnabout

This episode is seen from three different POVs. The first is Phoenix Wright, who is challenged by the Mastermind to defend a corrupt politician who was accused of murdering another politician trying to expose his corruption. The real killer is revealed to be “Herr” Nolan Dirge, who had ties to both politicians.

The second is Athena, who is investigating the Mastermind’s previous crime scenes with Simon Blackquill in order to find out their identity. The investigation is successful but what they find shocks them to their core.

The third is Apollo, who is bonding with Trucy and his mother. By chance, they pick up a lead on the Mastermind. The three launch an investigation on this lead and learn a shocking truth in the process.

In Phoenix’s story, not only does Phoenix prove his client’s innocence, he successfully proves that Nolan Dirge is the true killer. Phoenix, remembering Apollo claiming that “Herr” Nolan Dirge is the Mastermind, thinks he was able to stop the Mastermind once and for all. That’s when Athena and Apollo return. In both Athena and Apollo’s independent investigations, they discovered that the Mastermind is none other than...Ema Skye.

(side note: “Herr” Nolan Dirge, if we go with the spelling “Herr N. Dirge”, is an anagram of Red Herring)

Episode 5: Showdown of the Turnabout

Phoenix Wright, Apollo Justice, and Athena Cykes are still shocked by the revelation that Ema Skye is the Mastermind. Ema vehemently denies it but Athena and Apollo tell Phoenix that they are sure about what they found out. Phoenix is unsure of Ema’s innocence but says that she deserves a fair defense. With Nolan in custody, Apollo volunteers to be the prosecutor in the case, thus marking his first turn on the prosecution side.

Phoenix leads the defense, with the intention of proving that Ema Skye couldn’t possibly be the Mastermind despite what Apollo and Athena found out. For the most part, Phoenix’s defense is successful, with Apollo and Athena beginning to doubt what they found. However, before Ema’s name could be cleared, the team learns that the Wright Anything Agency was set on fire! The team rushes out of the courthouse and heads to the firm. Apollo Justice rushes into the burning building to rescue Trucy Wright. He succeeds but is injured in the process.

We then cut back to “Ema Skye” back in her holding cell. It’s revealed she’s responsible for the Wright Anything Agency fire. It’s also revealed that she isn’t the real Ema Skye. The real Ema Skye, from her POV, is seen being held in some undisclosed area. The big reveal: The Mastermind underwent surgery to look like Ema in order to get close to Phoenix and his team.

For the second half of the episode, Apollo Justice has been admitted to the hospital. Franziska comes back into the story and says that she’s sure that Ema Skye is the Mastermind. Due to Apollo’s condition, she is taking over as lead prosecutor. The trial restarts, this time with Franziska as lead prosecutor. As before, Phoenix’s defense is successful to the point that “Ema Skye” is on the verge of acquittal. However, Phoenix starts having doubts about the trial. Something about this whole situation feels off for him.

Deciding to attack from a different angle, Phoenix starts testing Ema Skye to see if she’s really who he’s talking to (referencing the Ini Miney and Dahlia Hawthorne cases). Despite some strong testimony that contains few contradictions, this is where “Ema Skye” accidentally says something that reveals she isn’t who she says she is.

Pressing on this point, Phoenix and Franziska expose “Ema Skye” as a fake. Realizing she’s been found out, the Mastermind sets off a bomb in the courthouse and escapes in the chaos. While escaping the ruins of the courthouse, Phoenix finds a note from the Mastermind. Turns out, the Mastermind planned on getting caught in hopes of being cross-examined by Phoenix Wright. The Mastermind congratulates Phoenix for besting her in the cross-examination and as his reward, the Mastermind leaves a list of clues leading to the real Ema Skye’s location.

The final act of the episode is Phoenix, Franziska, Athena, and Apollo searching for the real Ema Skye, using the clues left behind by the Mastermind. They succeed in rescuing her but the Mastermind still manages to get away.

As the episode ends, Miles Edgeworth (making a cameo appearance in this game) promises to launch an investigation into capturing the Mastermind. Franziska leaves once again, saying that she’s opening her own firm. Ema, realizing the Wright Anything Agency has enough employees, decides to work with Franziska as her main assistant. With the actual agency still burned down, Phoenix, Apollo, Athena, and Trucy move into a temporary location, hopeful that they can rebuild what they lost. Lastly, the Mastermind is seen undergoing surgery again, hinting that the next time we see her, she’ll have a different face.

Post-Credits

That’s the official ending. The post-credits scene features Phoenix Wright returning to the temporary office late at night. There, he sees Maya Fey, who somehow got into the building. When Phoenix asks why she’s here, Maya says that “they” need his help with a case. Phoenix asks who else needs his help, leading to Iris Hawthorne / Fey revealing herself, making her reappearance since being last seen in Trials and Tribulations.

Ace Attorney 8 will presumably focus on what Maya and Iris need help with, as well as the return of the Mastermind as the main antagonist.

(side note: yes, I pictured the Mastermind being the James Moriarty to Phoenix’s Sherlock Holmes. The Joker, the Riddler, and Saw’s Jigsaw were also influences)

#ace attorney #phoenix wright #maya fey #apollo justice #athena cykes #simon blackquill #miles edgeworth #franziska von karma #capcom #franziska ace attorney #naruhodo ryuichi #ema skye #iris fey #iris hawthorne #thalassa gramarye #trucy wright #ace attorney trials and tribulations

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judgement-free-sideblog · 5 years ago

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Dancing Lessons

Barry Berkman x reader

Summary: Barry is finally cast in a feature, the problem? He said he could dance and now he can either disappoint Sally or found a way to learn some steps.

Warnings: Swearing, blood, violence, guns, cheating, drinking.

Part 1 ● Part 2 ● Part 3 ● Part 4 ●

Part 5 ● Part 6 ● Part 7 ● Part 8 ● Epilogue

Part 8

NoHo Hank was already in they warehouse that the other bald man drive him to, he looked a hit more pale than usual, but he still had a bright smile on his face, and if it was possible it grew even more once he saw him enter the building.

"Oh Barry, I thought Anzor will have to bring you by force here" He said and as always having an exaggerated hospitality considering the large weapons his men were carrying and the desolate place they were in, and specially since Anzor had already tied his hands together an sit him on a chair in front of Hank "Well I'm sure Fuches told you, we had an offer for you, and I want to be clear, I am more than willing to negotiate, but Batir is more of a "Do it or else" kind of guy, so what do you expect from this little exchange?" He said like this was a normal job interview, and maybe his annoying attitude made him came out of the trance and realize this was a bad idea.

"I won't kill for you anymore Hank" He said, but the pale man ignored him, or pretend he didn't listen "I came here because Fuches ask me too, but I'm no going to become your henchmen, I'm no longer killing for a living" And then because he was actually not to convince to fight for his life he add "So if you want to kill me do it for once, this is your best chance" he said and rise his tied hands

"Oh relax, who said anything about a henchman? We are no longer that kind of business" Hank said and with a hand order his men to walk out, then he let him lose, so he start rubbing his wrists.

"And the Chechen mob just want to hire me as what? An accountant?" He said bitterly. "What kind of business are you now then?"

"Batir is expanding our portfolio of business, and well sometimes acquiring new companies takes a little of persuasion, you would understand that people don't feel comfortable with guys like Anzor doing the negotiation, a gorgeous tall man with piercing blue eyes like you could come in handy to us"

"That sounds a lot like being a henchman, also what if I said yes? I am going to bully every company owner in LA for you and Batir, and then what? When I'm no use for you anymore you will shoot me? I don't think so" He said, desperately trying to figure out an escape plan.

"Oh but that's were you are wrong Barry, we don't want to hire you to be part of our organization, this is more a freelance situation" He said and smile widely since Barry was now perplex and silent. "We have a problem with a little oil company that thought they could found a wide benefactor in Texas so they will protect them from Batir, you must understand how disrespectful that is, so we want you to go a and make their lawyers to back on that idea and come back to us, after all you have greatly offended us, however if you do this your debt will be completely erased" he said and let him a couple minutes to think.

"How am I supposed to convince them?" He asked finally.

"Well you can just look at them with those puppies" he said pointing at his eyes "And if that doesn't work I'm sure you can figure something out, in the end if something happens to them I'm sure their boss will understand the message"

"How many?" He answered, and even when he haven't agree yet he could feel the adrenaline run trough his veins.

"Two guys, semi rich, but pretty unknown guys" he said unable to hide his excitement.

"And we are clear?"

"And we are clear" He said delighted "After Fuches little charade with the Burmeses, Batir thinks you are better away from us, but he will spare your life for a favor, specially a big one like this one, and if it comes to the worst case scenario for them he will also pay you for your service.

"It must be a big company if they are willing to forgive everything just for two guys" Barry said and Hanks let out a little laugh that made him realize there was something else going on there.

"Isn't it funny? This is how we met, and how we said goodbye too" he started "One of the guys used to work for us, but then he starts getting ideas of how to get ahead of Batir and he start giving advice to companies to go with our competition for a price obviously and then Batir found out he has been dating one of his niece's for like a year, like any other straight guy, right? Why do you have to be so toxic? Anyway, he wants him dead, and he is convinced that is you could do an exceptional job as you did in the monastery you can eliminate him" He handed him a folder but before he could open it a moment of clearness came to his head.

"Why me?"

"Well because you can handle a gun like anybody and are the best cold blooded killer of course" He said with no hesitation.

"Hank, you know what I mean, why do you want me to kill this man specifically, and why now?" He said with his hands trembling while he opened the folder.

"Batir found out he was dating Monique while we were following you" He started, serious for the first time in their exchange "Crazy coincidence huh? Anyway it could be of use to your lady friend, the guy is an asshole, not like Monique is any good either, but you know Batir, it took some convincing him to give this work to you, otherwise he will send our guys to deal with him, and you know how stupid these guys are, there could be collateral damage" he said and he could see the anger on his face as he look the pictures of Alan coming out of Y/N studio.

"I'll do it, I want half in advance" he said finally, and the dark look on his eyes was enough for Hank to not prevent him to leave "She needs to stay out of this, you know that right? I will kill you myself if she knows, understood? " He said before he walked out.

"Loud and clear"

Once he was alone in his car and away from the look of Hank's men he did the only logical thing he could think off and he start screaming, and loudly banging his hands against his head, he had swear to stop this, no more blood in his hands, but Hank was right, there would be collateral damage otherwise, and if doing nothing meant having her blood on his hands he rather take his gun out again.

The next morning a duffel bag with 15 thousand dollars masterly appeared at his door, thankfully before his roommates could see it, and he spent the next three days using his rehearsals to calculate Alan movements out of the studio. And he concluded that his best chance was early in the morning when he leave his house to go to his "office"

"So tomorrow is the big day" her voice said once he was resting after a particular hard session with Macy, but since his mind was on her husband he didn't saw her approach him.

"How do you know?" He asked alarmed, but he immediately realized she couldn't possibly know.

"Well you told us that your big recording of the dance is tomorrow, that's why Macy is making you do this all extra work isn't it?" She said a bit scared of his tone, maybe fearful that they were not supposed to talk yet.

"Oh that, sure, I'm just a bit worried about it I'm sorry" He said and finally a good idea came to his head. "Actually it would mean a lot of you could be there, you can tell Janice to stop acting out and teach a thing or two to my coordinator" he improvise a smile and she take it as a good sign because she smiled back.

"I would love too, what time?"

"Well I have to be there at 10, but you should go early like at 8 and see the studio, I'll text Sophie so she will give you a pass" he said knowing that Alan leave the house exactly at 8:30.

"Are you sure you want me there? I mean maybe you'll get more moral support from your..."

"I'm sure my ex girlfriend is busy tomorrow" He cut her mid sentence and for a brief moment that doesn't have to do with murder he enjoy the little smile that curve on her lips at the word ex

"In that case I think I can be your cheerleader for a day" She said but then she took a guilty look at her wedding ring and her smile disappeared "I'll see you tomorrow I guess"

He had a sleepless night, he took his gun out and cleaned, then he reviewed his plan over and over again, trying to think of a way out of this, he would kill Alan and broke Y/N heart because his nexus with the Chechens will be clear after his dead and he will be finally free, and in a couple months he and Sally will be happy, that was it right? She may be ashamed for his husband but she will be alive...

He could obviously spare his life, convince him to go away, in that case how long before Batir found out?, how long before he killed him... but she will be safe, with both men away from her... Because it was clear to him that spare Alan's life meant his own death sentence, maybe months later, but eventually, but if he was now without Sally, without Y/N, even without Fuches, what was the point?

He finally took a decision and put both the gun and the money in his backpack and fall asleep at 3 in the morning. Making his last thoughts to be of her, waiting in the studio to cheer him on his big scene.

When the sun rise over LA next morning he was drinking a hot cup of bad coffee, looking in the distance how she exit her house at 7:30, she looked prettier than in his dreams, he could have swear that she was carrying her white seetrough dancing skirts on her bag, ready to teach Janice a lesson, and his heart ached, he could not do it anymore.

Suddenly he felt the urge to confess, so he called her, begging the heavens for her to pick up, she would hate him, but she would be safe.

The phone ring... once, twice, it went to voicemail after the fourth. He was about to hang up, but suddenly he found himself talking, he didn't confess... not to his crime at least, but he was now certain that herr life and stability were more important, and sure that he will no longer see her again.

At exactly 8:30 Alan left the studio, he walk to his car that he parked a little far from the entrance, so he didn't saw the man wearing a hoodie and a baseball hat approach him, and there was so little people on the street that nobody else did.

"Keep walking asshole" and angry voice, oddly familiar, said and put what without a doubt was a gun on his back.

"Take my wallet and my phone man, that's all I got on me" he said with a nervous voice "Here my car keys, is that one there, is new" He said now more like a plea.

"I don't care about your fucking money, keep walking" he said and put him closer to him, it almost look like two friends walking, nothing suspicious about them, finally after a couple blocks he made him walk towards an alley and finally made him face him, he took off the hoodie and the cap.

He looked surprised at first, maybe a little less frightened, but the gun on his hand was a very real threat.

"I don't understand" he started "what do you want?"

"Do you know a man named Batir?" Barry asked with a dry growl, enough to make him silent.

"No, what are you talking about?" He lied nervously.

"It will be on your best interest to don't lie, I will ask one more time, do you know who Batir is?" He said putting the gun between his eyes.

"Ok, I do, I may have work with him a couple times, but I'm clean now ok?"

"Don't piss your pants dude, one more question, why did you think it was a good idea to screw his niece?" Barry said and Alan's brain seemed to finally connect the dots.

"This is about her? I'm no longer with her, we broke up, after you saw me with Y/N, I swear" He said, and the mention of her name make him loose his guard for a moment, something that Alan notice. "Listen I love my wife ok? You don't have to do this, I already got a better job offer in Texas, I will leave and Batir can keep harassing small companies, if he want the merge gone is gone ok? I don't care about the money, it was all my associate Tom's idea."

"You really like to snitch right?" Barry said exasperated "Turn around" Tear started running on Alan's face, and all hope abandoned his body "TURN AROUND NOW!!" He screamed.

He obeyed shaking and face the wall, and maybe without the fury of Barry's eyes looking at him he managed to think with clarity.

"Think of her" he said and even when he didn't saw him he felt his respiration change and saw his hand an the gun shake on the corner of his eye. "I know you are her friend, she told me everything last night because I saw you leaving the studio in the afternoon." He explained quickly and since he didn't fired he continued "You must care about her since you didn't told her what you knew about me, your a decent guy Barry, don't do this, I promise I will leave..."

***

"Y/N? Damn it's your voicemail, anyway I'm calling because... actually I don't know why I'm calling, I'm going to see you later right? , I was thinking maybe we should go eat after... You know what? The truth is... that I think, I don't know maybe if things were different, maybe I would have asked you out, but you are married and I can't change that, but at least I wanted to say that I'm glad that I met you, thank you for being there... I'll see you soon"

It was already 9:45, and he hasn't showed up yet, but you had made a full tour of the studio with Sophie and she even let you give notes to Janice, since apparently she have saw you dance in NY years before, but for a moment an odd feeling invaded your heart, the message had no sense but it felt like a goodbye.

Something completely stupid of course since he had no reason to say goodbye, but you did. You had confess to Alan about your adolescent crush, and after a long talk you had decided to try again, even when you were sure it was impossible. But it wasn't fair on your side to drag Barry into that mess, he was a good man after all.

***

The sudden sound of something hitting the ground scared him, but it was just a backpack.

"Pick it!" He said and he obeyed "There are 10 thousand dollars there, I'm sure a smart guy like you can find a way to survive somewhere else with that, you will leave and never comeback ok? No contact with Y/N or any girlfriend, no family. Nothing" He said angrily.

"Of course, thank you, I swear you won't see me again" he said frantically.

"Give your phone and your wallet, and your car keys" Alan do as told quickly now with his breathing regulated. Barry was about to start walking away from him, when he could saw him smile sardonically. "What is so funny?"

"The fact that I knew sleeping with Monique was wrong and I panicked when you saw me with my wife, but I never thought that it could save my life" He said and maybe the nod Barry gave him encouraged him to keep talking. "At least now you can be with her, and I don't intend to come back and ruin your future happiness by her side."

"What?"

"Y/N, last night she was so helpless telling me how sorry she was about her little crush on you. That's how I know you are a man of honor, you had dirt on my, and you like my wife, yet you didn't told her."

"Is not about honor, not like you would understand it" he said suddenly getting angry at him.

"Yeah yeah, everyone has an agenda Berkman, and everyone can be bought, maybe not all with money, like in this case"

"What do you mean?" He said with a calm that hide his anger from Alan.

"Well I bought my life from you and ten thousand dollars in exchange of my silence and my blissful ignorant wife, who appears to be to decent to cheat on me, maybe you'll have to work a little there for her to take you, but don't worry I won't come back"

"No, you won't"

#barry berkman #barry berkman fanfiction #barry block #barry hbo #barry x reader #barry fanfiction #barry berkman x reader #barry berkman x you #barry berkman imagine #Barry #bill hader

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thedcdunce · 5 years ago

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Preacher

“If the Devil created Texas like some folks say he did, this is where he rested on the seventh day.” - Preacher

Real Name: Jesse Custer

Gender: Male

Eyes: Black

Hair: Black

Powers:

Divine Empowerment

Abilities:

Hand-to-Hand Combat (Advanced)

Tactical Analysis

Theology

Deception

Universe: Preacher

Base of Operations: Texas

Citizenship: American

Parents:

John Custer; father

Christina L’Angell; mother

Marital Status: Single

Occupation: Reverend

First Appearance: Preacher #1 (April, 1995)

Powers

Divine Empowerment: Jesse Custer is possessed by a powerful entity from Heaven, called Genesis. It is the offspring of an angel and demon.

Mind Control: Jesse Custer is possessed by a powerful entity called Genesis. Granted access to the word of God, he can physically force people to do whatever he wants them to do, through the power of God.

Abilities

Hand-to-Hand Combat (Advanced): Jesse is an extremely efficient opponent, able to overpower multiple strong foes.

Tactical Analysis

Theology

Deception

Early Life

Jesse Custer was born to John Custer and Christina L'Angell. When he was toddler, his family was attacked by Jody and T.C., who worked for Christina's family. They were all kidnapped and taken to Angelville, the L'Angell's house. There, Marie L'angell, Christina's mother, ordered John to marry Christina, and said that they would raise Jesse as a man of God. She also threatened to kill them if they ever tried to leave. After a while, John Custer decided to try and escape. Jody and T.C. caught them before they were two miles away. John Custer was executed, and Jesse decided he would never cry again. After John died, Christina was never the same. She eventually tried to escape, but was shot by Jody and presumed dead. With both of his parents gone, Jesse was left in the care of Marie L'Angell. When Jesse was much older, he escaped, and started working his way toward Texas.

Return to Angelville

Jesse met Tulip O'Hare, and the two fell in love. Months later, they were on a park bench in Northern Texas, and Jesse announced that he was taking her to California. She went to buy him a beer, and once she was gone, Jody and T.C. sat down on either side of him, and announced that they were taking him back to Angelville. They told him that they would kill Tulip if he resisted.

Becoming Preacher

With no fight left in him, Jesse turned to God, which was what Marie L'Angell had been waiting for. She pulled some strings and got him a church in Annville, and he was appointed Preacher. He eventually tired of life there, and started drinking copious amounts of alcohol. One night, he decided he was fed up with the people of Annville, and told them so the next morning. He was beat up, and he woke up the next day with intent to preach about forgiveness. However, before he could give his sermon, Jesse merged with Genesis, a creature who had escaped from Heaven, and gained the ability to force people to do anything. This merging resulted in an explosion that killed everyone in Annville but Jesse.

The Search for God

After the Annville incident, the police searched for whoever caused the explosion. Angels from Heaven had hired the Saint of Killers, an immortal being whose only purpose was to kill, to find Genesis and kill it. Meanwhile, Jesse, Tulip, and Cassidy were just outside of Annville, standing around Cassidy's pickup truck, while Jesse described the sensation of having Genesis in his head to the others. The trio were then surprised by the police, led by Hugo Root. Jesse told all the police to drop their guns and let them go. When all the police obeyed, Jesse realized the power he had been given. After the three drove away, the Saint showed up. In the ensuing carnage, all of the cops were killed, except for Root. Later, Jesse and Cassidy were involved in a bar fight, which was reported to the police. Root had informed his superiors about the situation, so the crime was flagged. Soon enough, Jesse, Tulip, and Cassidy were located at a motel. Root took Jesse by surprise; catching him at gunpoint while Custer was exiting the motel. Root then proclaimed that if Jesse tried to speak, he would pull the trigger. When the Saint showed up, Root was distracted. Arseface, Root's son, tried to stop the Saint from killing Root, but before anyone could do anything, Jesse ordered everyone to stop, and forced the Saint to holster his weapons. Then he made the Saint call down the angels who had hired him. DeBlanc, an Angel from heaven, informed everyone present that God had quit, the moment Genesis was created. Jesse swore to find God, and Tulip and Cassidy followed. Jesse ordered Root to do something against Root's beliefs, and Root killed himself afterward.

Angelville Once More

Later, Jesse and Tulip were attacked by Jody and T.C. Jesse's power didn't work on the two, so him and Tulip were taken to Angelville. Marie L'Angell claimed that God was on their side, and that was the reason why Jesse's power couldn't affect them. Jody shot and killed Tulip, leaving Jesse in a state of shock. John Wayne, a figment of Jesse's imagination who had been with him since his father died, talked him into fighting back. Jesse tried using his power on T.C., and when it worked, he laid waste to the entire estate. Tulip helped, who had been resurrected by God as a show of good faith. The two killed everyone there, and burned the house down.

Masada

During the search, Jesse, Tulip, and Cassidy ended up at one of Jesus DeSade's legendary orgies. Herr Starr, a member of The Grail, was searching for Jesse, and arrived at DeSade's party a while afterward, with a small group of armed men. They captured Cassidy, who had told them that he was Jesse in order to save Tulip's life, and took him to their headquarters, Masada. Jesse and Tulip began the journey to Masada, and Jesse met one of his dad's old war friends at JFK airport. Later, Tulip and Jesse stole a car and drove the rest of the way to Masada. At a hotel nearby, Jesse left to find Cassidy himself, worried that Tulip would get hurt. Upon arrival, he ordered the guards to take him to The Allfather, the man in charge of the Grail. The Allfather revealed that he was in fact Jesse's cousin, and threatened to kill him for what he did to Marie. The Allfather forced Herr Starr to duel Jesse in a fight to the death, but Starr ran, leading Jesse to a cell in the basement. He showed Jesse that the Grail had captured a fallen Angel, who was also the father of Genesis. Before the two could speak to it, however, the Saint of Killers showed up. The Saint was about to kill Jesse, but the angel saved him by revealing that Jesse was the only person who could tell him what happened to his family. The Saint agreed to help Jesse escape Masada, if he would later tell him the real story. The angel then told Jesse that God would be at Masada that night. Jesse decided to save Cassidy first, torturing Starr into telling him where Cassidy was. God had visited Cassidy, saving his life and giving him a message for Jesse. Jesse saved him and the two escaped, though Jesse never managed to see God.

New Orleans

Cassidy told Jesse of a friend of his who was a voodoo priest. Cassidy said he may be able to help him access Genesis's memories. Cassidy, Tulip, and Jesse traveled to New Orleans to meet him. On the way, they ran into Arseface, who threatened to kill Jesse, in revenge for what had happened to Root. Jesse talked him down, and offered him a ride to New Orleans. However, once they got there, Cassidy was immediately noticed by members of Les Enfants du Sang, a cult dedicated to a vampire that Cassidy had killed. Jesse, Cassidy, and Arseface met Xavier, Cassidy's friend. He said he could help them, but not until the following night. Three members of Les Enfants du Sang attempted to kidnap Tulip, who had opted to go to the hotel instead of meeting Xavier. She killed two of them, and ordered the last one to take her to the cult. She shot a few more, then left, threatening to kill anyone who came after her or her friends. The next night, at midnight, Xavier took them all out to a cemetery, including his girlfriend Janis. He introduced Jesse to Luther, his python, who would assist with the hypnosis. He put Jesse under, allowing him to see the true history of the Saint of Killers. While he was under, Les Enfants du Sang showed up, attacking everyone, but targeting Cassidy. They wanted to force him into turning them into vampires. Janis was killed, and Cassidy was beheaded, though he healed later. Jesse decided to head west, and Tulip and Cassidy joined him.

The Ultimate Mexican Standoff

Jesse bought some peyote from a Navajo, and resolved to use it to speak to Genesis directly. Tulip and Cassidy took him to a remote spot in the desert to take it, so they'd be safe. Little did they know, Herr Starr had decided to follow him. Starr also anticipated that the Saint would show up, so he came prepared with an army. Jesse told the Saint what happened to his family, and the Saint proclaimed that they were even, before defeating Starr's army. Jesse, Tulip, and Cassidy were escaping in a plane before Starr called in a E.M.P. missile strike on the Saint. The Saint survived, but the E.M.P. caused Jesse's plane to stop working. Jesse was flung from the plane, with Cassidy trying for dear life to hold on to him. Jesse forced Cassidy to let go, after telling him to tell Tulip that he loved her. Jesse fell into the desert.

Salvation, Texas

Jesse woke up after being nursed back to health by Johnny Lee Wombat, a disgraced wannabe astronaut, though he was missing his left eye. Jesse stayed with Wombat for a while, but decided to move on and search for Tulip and Cassidy. Along the way, he found Skeeter, a dog who became his new pet. Jesse found his friends, but after he witnessed the two kissing he left without making himself known. He made his way to Salvation, Texas. After rescuing Lorie Bobbs, the sister of his childhood friend, from a group of men who were harassing her, he was offered the position of deputy. He declined, but said he would be sheriff. The current sheriff agreed, and Jesse quickly began cleaning up the town. He also found out that his mother, Christina L'Angell, lived here. Odin Quincannon, a local businessman, approached Jesse and told him to leave his employees alone. Jesse didn't let up, so Quincannon decided to have him killed. Eva Oatlash, Quincannon's lawyer, assisted him. After his first attempt, a car bomb, failed, Quincannon hired the KKK to help him. After that failed, he hired an ex-Navy Seal to place bombs around the town. Quincannon blew up the sheriff's office, and told Jesse to meet him. Right before he blew up the rest of the town, Odin was struck by lightning, though he managed to escape by shooting a local and sneaking off in the resulting chaos. Jesse followed him back to the meatpacking factory he owned, where he discovered that Quincannon had been having sex with meat dolls. Jesse killed him, and moved on from Salvation.

Meeting God

Jesse went to a deserted boat dock and took the peyote he had bought. He immediately started hallucinating, and his hallucinations showed his deepest fears and regrets, also revealing how he really felt about Jesse and Tulip. He then had a flashback, revealing what really happened when he fell from the plane. He died, but God had a conversation with him. The conversation angered God, and in a fit of rage he bit Jesse's eye out. He resurrected Jesse, but left him missing an eye.

Together Again

Jesse drove to meet Amy Grinderbinder, a mutual friend between him and Tulip. It turned out that Tulip was visiting her too, so the two met again. Amy left to give them their privacy, and after a while, Jesse and Tulip started to talk about everything that had happened. Tulip revealed that Cassidy had given her a steady supply of booze and drugs so that her judgement was so impaired as to let him sleep with her. After six months, she came to her senses and left, shooting him as she went. Jesse found one of Cassidy's old acquaintances, Sally, and she told him of all the awful things that Cassidy used to do. Jesse came back to Tulip, but just after he did, so did Cassidy. Jesse intimidated him into leaving, but not before making plans to meet in two months.

Custer's Last Stand

Jesse visited DeBlanc and Fiore, and interrogated them about past events in Heaven. Then he went and disturbed the Saint of Killers's grave, drawing him out. He convinced the Saint to help him kill God, and sent a message to Herr Starr telling him where he would be in one week. Jesse drugged Tulip, and left her at the hotel, as he was afraid she'd get hurt. Jesse met Cassidy as planned, and planned to fight him in front of the Alamo at five a.m.. Starr prepared his forces to attack Custer, and Hoover and Featherstone followed. Jesse met and fought Cassidy as planned, but the fight ended when Cassidy committed suicide by sunlight. Tulip had woken up and read the note that Jesse left for her, and had rushed to try and save his life. Featherstone, who now realized that Starr was purely being selfish, attempted to kill him, but was shot down herself. Hoover attempted the same, with the same result. One of Starr's men shot Jesse, killing him and Genesis. Tulip killed Starr in revenge. However, Cassidy had made a deal with God, guaranteeing the survival of both himself and Jesse. God resurrected Jesse, without Genesis, and Cassidy, who was no longer a vampire. Jesse met Tulip, and the two rode off into the sunset on a stolen horse.

#preacher #jesse custer #dc #DC comics #thedcdunce

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feelssogoodinmyarms · 6 years ago

Note

songfic hernst of “we looked like giants” by Death Cab For cutie

Heyyyyy there uhhhhh it’s MONTHS late but I did it YEET

WC: 1622

TW: It gets kind of,,, nsfw after “Next thing he knew” and continues until “That day”. It’s not at all explicit but I figured I’d warn just incase.

Maybe it was his smile, or the way he nibbled his pencil, or how his lips moved when he read, but something about Ernst that drew Hanschen in. The blonde could usually charm his way to the hearts of cute people, but Ernst was different. However, today was the day. Hanschen was going to ask Ernst out. Today he wouldn’t get distracted by Ernst’s pretty eyes or his laugh or anything. Hanschen tried his best to look confident as he walked to Ernst’s locker with his usual swagger.

“Hi!” Ernst signed as hanschen approached him. Ernst was holding onto his backpack straps and smiling. Hanschen could have melted right then and there but he forced himself to stay cool.

“Hi. How’s it going?” Hanschen signed.

“Great, actually! I got a 96% on my math test and Wendla made cookies. I think she’s in bio if you want to get some from her. How are you?”

“I’m great too. Well, not great because I-” Hanschen tried to flip his hair seductively but instead hit his head on the locker he was leaning on.

“Shit!” He yelled as his hand flew to his forehead.

“Crap! Are you ok?” Ernst signed before reached to touch Hanschen’s bruise.

“Yeah, I’ll be fine” Hans signed before gingerly touching his forehead again.

“Should we go get an ice pack?” Ernst asked.

“No no, it’s fine”“You’re still cute when you bump your head, you know” Ernst grew less concerned and more flirty.

“Thanks” the blonde boy couldn’t help but smile at that.

“You sure you don’t need me to kiss it or something?” Ernst signed, a coy smile on his lips.

“Oh god, you’re too nice” Was Ernst flirting with him? Was this progress?

“Well you are one of my closest friends” and just like that, Hansi’s heart sank again with the use of ‘friend’.

“Was there something you wanted to ask me?” Ernst signed, still smiling.

Right! What was it? God, Ernst was so hot. That sparkle in his eyes was so distracting, he was just so pretty… what was he going to ask?

“I forgot” Hanschen felt like an idiot.

“Well, see you Hansi!” Hanschen internally kicked himself when he remembered that he was going to ask Ernst out.

He gave a weak wave as Ernst walked away. God, that boy was amazing. Hansi could never tell if Ernst was flirting or just being nice. Hanschen was being played at his own game and it was driving him crazy. How could he have everyone in the whole school except for the guy he wanted?

Hanschen was still distressing over the encounter a few days later. When He saw Ernst giggling over something with Georg Zirschnitz, his anger surged. It was gross, how close together they were. What was so funny that a dweeb like Georg could be saying? Hanschen felt a burning in his chest and stormed over to the boys before he could rationalize the situation.

“Hi! We were just talking-“ Hanschen angrily cut Georg off before he could finish.

“Beat it, Zirschnitz” He snapped without signing.

“Jeez, ok. See you Ernst” Georg signed to the other boy before exiting.

“What was that about?” Ernst looked confused. Why would him talking to Georg piss Hansi off so much?

“Why were you talking to him, of all people?” Hanschen questioned, still angry.

“He was telling me a funny story. I know him from Bio. Why do you care?” Ernst didn’t need permission to talk to people from Hanschen. Well, he and Georg weren’t exactly talking. Georg was trying to flirt with Ernst in his own Georgish way. Ernst had flirted back a little just for fun. But why would Hanschen care?

“I don’t, I just-“ If Hansi had a crush on Ernst, he would care.

“Jealous, Herr Rilow?” Ernst teased.

Hanschen felt his face start to heat up.

“No” Oh he definitely was. Ernst could have squealed for joy and kissed him right then but decided to keep Hansi waiting.

“Really? Because you look pretty upset” Ernst was thoroughly enjoying the feeling of rendering Hansi speechless, especially like this.

Next thing Ernst knew Hanschen had pinned him to the wall of the courtyard. He silently thanked god that there was no one around. Ernst was terrified but still had the smallest bit of a grin on his face. He was loving how protective Hansi got suddenly.

Hanschen’s scowl turned into a sinister smirk before pressing his lips to the other boy’s. He pulled away after just a moment to see if Ernst was ok with his advances. Ernst took advantage of it and pressed Hanschen to the wall instead before reconnecting their lips. Hanschen sunk down on the wall as their kisses became slower and less sloppy. He let Ernst move on top of him and press his body into the soft grass. His hands had just moved to Ernst’s waist when they heard footsteps. Ernst quickly flung himself off of Hanschen and tried his best to look casual.

Luckily, it was only Moritz, who barely lifted his glance from his shoes to wave at the two boys. Still, it was a close call.

“What class do you have?” Hanschen signed after a moment.

“English. I can skip it” Ernst knew that sounded desperate, but he was done with playing it cool.

“Are you suggesting that we get out of here?”

“That’s exactly what I’m suggesting, if you’d like to”

“God, yes”

The plan was to go back to Hanschen’s house. His parents worked late and Thea and Melitta usually went to friends’ houses after school. But when the boys found a secluded part behind the mountain passes on their way, they decided the urge to touch each other couldn’t wait any longer.

“Are you a virgin?” Hansi signed when he felt Ernst’s hips start to grind against his.

“In theory. I’ve never gone all the way but I’ve done stuff, if that’s what you mean” Ernst replied, trying not to blush at his own excitement.

“Would you want to-“ Hans began.

“Not today, not here, I couldn’t-”

“We don’t have to go all the way right now. I just wanted to know. I would never do that if you didn’t want to” Ernst smiled.

“Could we go back to what we were doing?” Hanschen smiled, genuinely this time, before his lips collided with Ernst’s once again. It was all hands fisted in each others hair and slid down the other’s pants, lip bites and moans, and want.

“Is this good?” Hanschen was touching him and Ernst was savoring every second.

“Yes” Was all Ernst could sign, nodding his head for more. “Oh

god- please!”

“Mmmm… oh Ernst, I’m gonna-“

It ended wrapped in each other’s arms, with just them and the warm breeze. That day they were awkward and too excited and unsure, but it was the first of many. Once, sometimes twice a week that’s what they did. They’d sign themselves out of classes they didn’t need to be in or leave at free period to go explore each other’s bodies. It was there, behind the hills, secluded by tall grasses and flowers, on his back, that Ernst started to learn what love was. How to make love, and how to feel it so deeply for another person.

“I think I’m falling in love with you ” Hanschen signed one afternoon. It was a Sunday afternoon, they boys had been eyeing each other throughout the entire service. Ernst had made an excuse about studying with Moritz and ran behind the church to meet Hansi.

“Really?” Ernst broke into the cheesiest grin and he didn’t even care. It was difficult not to melt with Hanschen’s head in his lap and the boy confessing feeling to him

“Yes” Hanschen signed as he sat up. “Is that ok? Because I didn’t know if you liked me like that or just enjoyed the sex? Because that’s ok, I don’t-” Ernst cut Hanschen’s signing off my softly pressing their lips together. Ernst smiled before answering Hanschen’s questions.

“I’m in love with you too. I do enjoy the sex, but I love you for more than that. I love all of you” Hanschen smiled sheepishly.

“I’m sorry, I’m usually not like this”

“Like what?” Ernst asked.

“At a loss for words, vulnerable, everything you make me feel” Ernst felt the same, but he didn’t need to say anything.The look on his face told Hansi everything.

“So where does that put us?” Ernst asked. The brunette already knew the answer, but the two had never discussed it.

“You mean in this relationship?”

“Yes. Are we boyfriends?” Just so they were on the same page.

“I’d say so, if you want to be”

“I definitely want to be” the verbal reassurance was everything.

“Good” the pair enjoyed the comfortable silence for a moment until Hanschen started to laugh.

“I’ve never had a boyfriend before” It sounded ridiculous to say.

“Really? But all the people you’ve screwed?”

“Sex doesn’t always equal romance”

“Right. Well it’s really not that hard. It’s pretty fun, actually. You know, holding hands in the hallway and sneaking into janitor’s closets’ to make out”

“You’ve done all that?” It was Ernst’s turn to laugh.

“No, but I’ve always wanted to”

“We can do that together”

Ernst smiled before kissing Hanschen and pushing him down into the soft grass. He closed his eyes and turned to memorize exactly how it all felt, from the hands in his hair, to the way Ernst’s warm lips felt like heaven on his, to the tingling in his hands and feet.

The world felt so small compared to what he had with Ernst. The two of them were like giants. The world was insignificant.

#heeeeeee thats it #im scared but its been so long i just decided to post #hernst #Hanschen Rilow #Ernst Robel #mine #dwsa #sa #deaf west spring awakening #georg zirschnitz #rhiannon writes #spring awakening

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bossasbatch · 7 years ago

Note

Send 🗣 to overhear my muse talking to somebody else about your muse!

Hochstetter wasn’t a tall man, but his fury made up for the short few inches. When the Gestapo major had first stormed in, Klink barely got time to stand and salute him before the vulture started to screech. With the latest blow up (literally) being so close to the camp, Hochstetter was determined to take his Senior POW officer for questioning. Klink has gotten better about saying no. But, something was different about the major, something that caused the colonel almost forgot how to breathe. It was hard to breathe when those dark, scornful eyes were baring into what felt like his very core.

“Klink, why do you keep refusing the Gestapo?” the man suddenly asked. His voice was at least no longer yelling, but Klink wasn’t sure if the chillingly calm voice was any better. “You’re not /hiding/ anything, are you?”

The fact that Klink was now realizing that he was looking up at the major only made his heart race worse. When did he sit down? Did his knees give out? He was glad he was sitting down, for the question would of knocked him down. “Am I..? No, no. I’m not hiding anything!” He was surprised that his voice sounded offended at accusation, considering how sick he felt with his rising terror. Now, whether the terror was from the fact that he was actually hiding something or the way Hochstetter was leaning in closer than comfortable to study him, Klink wasn’t sure.

Apparently, neither was the major.

“If you are not hiding anything, then why are you so set on keeping Hogan? Why do you care about his welfare?” He gave a pause, as if giving Klink time to digest these questions. “You do treat him rather /odd/. Something not quite as harsh as an enemy, but just short of friend. Do you have an explanation for this behavior? Or should it be /you/ I bring in rather than Hogan?”

“N-no, Herr Major, that won’t be necessary.” It was decided: this uneasy calmness was much worse than the man yelling. A small, old voice was hissing at him: ‘He’s in arms reach of you, He can easily strike. Lunge at you.’ Klink swallowed. “You know just a little bit of the colonel. You know what he is on paper, I know who he is in flesh.” Don’t cringe at the poor word choice. “He is a very tricky man. Now, one can’t pry the man open like a diary to find his secrets.” He could feel his heart in throat now, but a small sense of pride flickered in him as he- despite the small warning voice- calmly folded his hands together on his desk. He wasn’t a good liar, but he was good at telling enough without giving too much away….if he was thinking straight. “You, you can't simply /force/ these situations.” He couldn’t stop that small shiver, so he simply pursued that the major wouldn’t notice it.

A grin much less than pleasant curled Hochstetter’s lips. It looked like it almost pained the man to grin… Another chill despite the rather warm room.

“Don’t underestimate me, Klink,” he spoke through his teeth. Then, just like that, the younger man straightened up and the grin was gone. Good. “I will get him, whether you agree or disagree. Hogan might of trained you, but he won’t bypass me.” Then he was gone.

Despite how much he wanted to, Klink couldn’t relax. He had never seen that side of the major, and he would prefer to never see it again.

//I don’t even know…sorry for the novel!

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hallowsnothorcruxes · 7 years ago

Text

At the same time in a completely different place in the universe

Mr Supreme Mugwump,

I was contacted by a fellow countryman of yours. Little brat with some stupid made up name. Asked me about you.

Thought you'd might like to know that someone manages to talk to me at least.

- GG

Dear Gellert,

after out last encounter I was under the impression that you never wished to talk to me again.

I must ask about that fellow you mentioned. This made up name wouldn't happen to be Voldemort, would it?

My apologies, I seem unable to come up with something else to write at the moment. I hope you are well.

Albus Dumbledore

Dumbledore,

never talk to you again! You are a fool, Dumbledore! At the same time in a completely different place in this universe we have never stopped talking!

We're out there, the rulers of the new world! The revolutionists! Masters of death! Like it was supposed to be!

You pretentious airhead, sitting in your castle, hiding from your own greatness, from OUR greatness! You were never good at pretending to care.

But, of course, omniscient as you are, you're right. The name's Voldemort. Lord Voldemort to be precise. He's boring me.

- GG

Austria, Hungary, Switzerland, France, Germany, Belgium and Poland were part of their alliance.

There was not a child in the world, who didn't shudder at the sound of their names - or rejoiced upon hearing them.

There had been fighting, of course. There had been killing and prisoners. But by now the countries had found peace. Each country had a wizarding government, which included muggle advisors - Albus had insisted on that. Insisted on giving the muggles a voice as well. And they had given the alliance one constitution, right at the beginning.

Hospitals were installed, where healers and doctors worked together. Shops - muggle and wizards alike - were open to all, just like sport events, theatres, operas, bars, clubs and public transportation. Education was still kept separate, though children were being taught about both cultures.

There was a common court of justice and a common prison, as well as a common currency. The muggles had had to give in a lot. They had to give up their currency and had their prisons warded by enchantments and aurors.

Albus had lied, had he said he wasn't feeling guilty about the blood on his hands, but when he looked at the world they had created, he calmed himself, thinking it had been for the greater good.

"Scheiß americans!" Gellert entered their mansion dramatically, threw his papers on the table and his cloak over a chair. His eyes were glowing with anger.

Albus looked up from the draft the French government had sent them concerning a new marriage law. The countries of their alliance each had an autonomous government, but before any law was passed it had to be send to them for approval. Just like every proposal for constitutional amendments.

"I take it, Madame Picquery hasn't changed her mind."

"No!" Gellert glared at him as if he had personally insulted him.

"Next time, I'll talk to her."

"Good luck with that. I haven't heard so much reactionary nonsense since that meeting with Herr Russland-doesn't-need-allies."

"I hope you didn't break a glass this time."

"Didn't even offer me a drink."

Albus had to force himself not to smile at their childishness.

"Well, you've never been the best of friends."

"Are you mocking me?"

"I'd never dare,” he said dryly.

Gellert narrowed his eyes, so Albus went on: "I've told you: let me talk to her. Kaufmann's adviced you to let me talk to her. But you insisted. She can't stand you, my dear. It was rather obvious that she wouldn't listen to you."

"Then why didn't you insist that you go?"

Albus smiled. "Because in this case you just needed to see that even if you're hell-bent on getting your way, it doesn't always work. And since you're seldom listening to me when I tell you so, you had to learn it this way."

Gellert frowned. "I hate when you do that. That parent lecture thing."

"Next time, just let me do the talking with the difficult nations." He stood up and showed him the draft he was working on. "The French want to legalise all kinds of marriages."

Gellert raised an eyebrow, took the parchment and looked it over quickly. "At least someone's got the right ideas. You know, we should make this a constitutional amendment."

Albus smiled. "That's what I thought."

"Maybe we should marry, then."

Albus stared at him, speechless - and that didn't happen often.

"Marry?"

"It would be the right signal. For all, who doubt that decision."

"Look at you, what a romantic you are. Let's marry, because it's strategically an advantage."

Gellert rolled his eyes. "I don't need marriage to know that we belong together. But it'd be for the greater good."

Albus took his hand with the Elder Wand in it and twirled it thoughtfully. "Of course it would be."

Gellert,

I wasn't aware you have come to believe in the universe. But if such a place exists, I do hope there is another place, where we have not stopped talking and where we haven't headed down the dark path you have chosen in this time and place.

I hope that nobody had to die, because of our connection. I hope I was able to see clear enough to stand up to you and I hope, in that place, you find satisfaction in your own brilliance and in love, not in power and atrocities.

As for your remarks regarding my mental abilities: Although many think me omniscient, you of all people should know that often I know far less than I seem to do. Many of the things I seem to know are merely theories and assumptions that tend to prove to be right. You see it is much more my distinctive ability to assess and conclude - and maybe a talent for pretending to be sure of myself - , which makes me seem omniscient than omniscience itself.

I think Tom Riddle - that is his real name - will soon prove to be a lot of trouble. If he is boring you, I suggest you end contact with him.

I must go now. There are children, who still have a lot to learn.

- Albus

Old friend,

I am well aware of your ability to pretend. I am also aware of what people think of you. Of the great Albus Dumbledore!

After all it's always been this way, even when we first met. You were already popular and well loved by the academic world. Hogwarts' star student. And you were already pretending to know what's best for your siblings, to be in control, on top of things!

But you were only a boy, resentful of your situation. I opened up the world for you! I showed you what you could really be! What we could be! We shared something!

And you abandoned me, blamed me for an accident, when you and your brother lost control just as much as I did! And now you lecture me so passive aggressively about how you wish we'd never have shared, what we did. And how you wish my fulfilment could fit into your Moralapostel view of the world.

But we are the same, Albus! We are brilliant! That much you can't change!

- Gellert

Dear Gellert,

be sure, I have no intention to lecture you. What you say about that brief summer is true. I was resentful and you did spark me. But our loss of control cost so many people so much, how can I not regret that?

And as much as you feel like I abandoned you, I feel like you were the one to abandon me. Maybe we abandoned each other and maybe if we hadn't, history would be different now.

But now, all is said and done and it does not do dwell on that.

I hope that in this other place in the universe we managed to overcome our differences and stay together. I hope in some place we didn't leave each other alone.

Be well.

- Albus

Albus had never been violent, not even as a young boy. His brother had had a tendency to get himself into barrels and often ended up with a black eye or something similar. Albus had always stayed well out of that and if anyone had ever tried to pull him in, Aberforth - with his protective strike - had picked up the fight for him.

He didn't like that, but he simply preferred to solve conflicts with words or magic, if it had to be a fight.

He had never understood his brother's liking for sheer violence, but there were a lot of things he hadn't understood before that summer.

When Ariana died, they were in shock. All three of them. It had been so loud before, yells and curses flying around so much that none of them could tell which one belonged to whom, anymore. And when his little sister collapsed on the ground, suddenly, it was so quiet.

The silence wasn't just heavy, it was oppressing, like a thick blanket intending to suffocate them.

Gellert bolted away without another word, leaving them with her corpse. None of them talked to the other, Aberforth went back to Hogwarts in September and Albus felt more miserable than ever.

He didn't dare ask Bathilda where Gellert was, he didn't do or feel anything for a long time, but when he opened the door one afternoon in October and found himself staring into Gellert's face, a flash of emotions overcame him, so powerful it almost knocked him over.

He loved Gellert, even after all that had happened, but in that moment he was just so, so angry. He had never been that angry in all his life and never that desperate as well.

He was speechless at first, but when Gellert opened his mouth, something broke inside him and all emotions he hadn't been able to feel during the past few weeks broke lose inside him.

They yelled at each other, in front of his house, so loudly, that all the neighbours had to be able to listen to every single word they said.

It was both their fault, they both had fought, neither knew whose curse it had been, that had killed her, but whosever it was, Albus knew, he was guilty anyways. Guilty for neglecting his sister.

When Gellert screamed this to his face, though, voicing Albus' feelings, he did something for the vert first time in his life: he punched him.

Off all things, Gellert apparently didn't expect that, so he stumbled back in surprise, holding his jaw. He stared at him for a few moments, then something lit up in his eyes and before he could react, Gellert had him pinned to the wall.

They beat each other bloody and only stopped, when Bathilda called Mr Highland and Mr Cemetery - two friendly wizards, who lived nearby - to tear them apart.

Surprisingly, when he lay in bed that night, his whole body hurting from the remaining bruises that weren't easily healed by a few potions or ointments, he felt relieved.

He still felt anger burning inside him - mostly directed at himself - and sadness and desperation. But at least he was feeling something.

After two days, he was the one standing in front of Bathilda's house and Gellert the one staring at him.

"I know it's my fault, too."

Gellert nodded slowly. "I shouldn't have lost my temper."

"No, you shouldn't have. But I should've seen it coming."

It was his fault. And it hurt so badly that tears clouded his view. Gellert stepped forward and pulled him into a hesitant embrace. Albus leaned in, hid his tears in Gellert's shirt.

"I'm still angry," he whispered, his voice thick with tears. "You cursed my brother and you ran away. It's our fault, she's dead."

Gellert pulled him closer. "I know."

It was a struggle all their lives to keep on the light side of magic. They were brilliant together, but they could be dangerous - almost toxic - too.

They managed rather well. They were great, they did travel, they did a lot of research, they discovered things that helped a lot of people, but that could never make up for the guilt they felt over Ariana.

Aberforth refused to talk to him ever again and although he missed his brother, he couldn't see a way to consolation.

Albus ended up at Hogwarts, Gellert stuck with science all his life. They were well-respected, every child in their world knew their names, they looked up to them, without knowing about the battles they fought behind closed doors or at night in their dreams.

Albus Dumbledore,

you still love me! I must say I am surprised, even after all this time? After everything that's happened?

Is that why you never visit?

Do you wish to forget me? Your secret sin? Do you wish we'd have never met?

- GG

Gellert Grindelwald,

Do you?

- AD

Dumbledore,

You're the best and the worst thing that's ever happened to me.

You enlightened me, you shaped my way, you gave me the very words that are caved in my prison now. You created the conditions of my confinement.

Without you I'd never have reached my greatness, without you, I'd never have experienced certain kinds of magic. They call me a madman, but I'm not mad enough to try blood magic with someone incapable or someone I don't trust. I'm not mad enough to let just anyone use legilimecy in bed.

You are the more powerful of us, I can admit that - at least concerning dueling. And If I submit to anyone, I submit to you.

You are the only equal, the only friend I've ever known. You are the only one I've ever trusted.

And you betrayed me, you abandoned me. But you cannot turn back time, you cannot undo what we have done together, what we have been together.

I'd rather live with that, than never know what greatness feels like.

- GG

At the same time in a completely different place in the universe Albus Dumbledore had become the youngest ever Minister for Magic.

He'd traveled the world with Elphias Doge, had found twelve different uses of dragon blood, had worked on alchemy with Nicholas Flamel and history with Bathilda Bagshot. He had written more front-page articles for Transfiguration Today than anyone else and had been awarded withe the Order of Merlin, first class in 1928, when he had tracked down and killed - as there was no other way, he had been more powerful than anyone else Albus had ever met - a man called Grindelwald, who was on his rise to power in Europe, spreading fear among wizards and Muggles alike.

Grindelwald had been more ruthless, more atrocious than Albus had ever imagined anyone could be. He hadn't even established a regime and had already killed hundreds of people in his path. And even when he stood in front of the man, Grindelwald had only laughed at him coldly, had been completely void of emotion except for cruelty.

It was something Albus would never forget, especially when he proved to be so powerful. He had wondered many times how someone so obviously clever and talented could become so dark. How anyone could ever become so indifferent. He wondered what kind of life that man had had to live.

Ariana had died aged 18 from the Obscurus inside her and had taken their mother with her. Aberforth had suffered and for a while, Albus had feared his brother would follow them.

He'd never married, never had had a relationship even that went further than sex and dating. Sometimes, he thought, he'd never really loved. He'd just never found a man that he found intriguing enough to spend more of his rare free time with. Sometimes, he thought, he didn't really know human connection. But he was content nonetheless.

To his immense surprise he had won the elder wand from Grindelwald and was still looking for the other two hallows. He was powerful, he was a popular minister, he had his friends, his brother, he had a hallow and the means to find the others, too.

He had everything he had dreamed of since he was a little boy. There was nothing he could miss, after all.

Dear Gellert,

I suppose it won't surprise you to hear that the Daily Prophet just recently labeled me madman as well.

I think you would be rather amused by all the names my students make up for me.

I must admit, I am tired. And I am exhausted of contemplating my feelings concerning you. You have tangled my heart and you have always known that. But we are old now. You sit in your high tower and I sit in mine.

There are more pressing affairs I have to deal with. Tom is proving to be even more dangerous than I had expected.

Love, An old fool

My dear Albus,

You should just go ahead and show the stupid boy how boring his wanna - be dark lord attitude is. You could beat me after all and I was much smarter than him.

He doesn't even have a purpose, does he? Just his hunger for power - how trite!

I'd be tired of dealing with something like that, too. I am tired of putting up with the dumbness of the wards here. I am sure, I will die of boredom one day!

You know, in another place in the universe, she never died and we have never parted ways and neither of us is tired or bored now.

I will go to sleep now and think of that. Good luck with your ascending dark lord.

- A bored madman

Since he could think, everyone had always told him he'd be famous one day. That he'd be great and bright and people would look up to him.

He'd believed it all his life until the day his mother had died and he'd seen all his dreams shattered.

If somebody had told him at the time, that a good part of the witches and wizards he looked up to would know his name even before he turned 21, he'd never have believed them.

But these days they knew him. Him and Gellert, because of their progress in research of Obscurials.

That hadn't been a selfless venture, initially. They had only tried to find a way to be able to travel, to search for the hallows, to become invincible. They had tried to find a way to cure Ariana, so that they could take her on their journey, but somehow along the way it had become something different.

Ariana was relatively stable for a year now - stable enough to travel anyway, but they hadn't run off, yet. They stayed in Godric's Hollow, they kept working together, they published their discoveries. Leading witches and wizards in their respective fields contacted them, wanted to talk to them and work with them, sometimes even invited them to congresses and galas.

He knew Gellert was still toying with the idea of mastering death and establishing an empire, but most of the time he was too busy to dwell on it.

"One more week." Gellert hugged him from behind, pushed his hair aside and kissed his neck.

One more week until the end of school term. One more week until Aberforth graduated. One more week until they were free to go wherever they wanted.

Albus grinned, turning around to capture Gellert's lips with his own.

"Which is good, since I am invited to the European Congress for Transfiguration and Ms Appleburn said I should bring my handsome comrade, too."

Gellert smirked. "And for your birthday, we'll already be in Brazil with the Obscurus Research Organisation."

Aberforth was glad to take care of his sister and let them run off together.

They traveled the world for almost a year and at the end of it Albus felt like he'd learned more than in his seven years at Hogwarts.

They had found a way to tranquilise an Obscurus using a mixture of the venom of a Tibetan Swooping Evil and Phoenix tears and were awarded for it in the same year.

More of an accident, although that seemed hard to believe, was their stumbling over the Elder Wand at Gregorovitch's in the Black Forest. In an impulsive course of action Gellert broke into Gregorovitch's office and stole the wand. Albus felt slightly guilty for that, but the thrill, the excitement of possessing a hallow got the better of him and Gregorovitch hadn't put it to good use anyway.

Following that incident, they continued their search for the hallows.

It took them five more years, but in the end, they found the other two in British pure blood families and it was easy enough to manipulate the right relative into giving it up for either money or favours.

They decided Albus would use them first but when he stood there with the stone in one hand and the wand in the other and the cloak around his shoulders he didn't feel like the master of death. He didn't feel anything special at all.

He turned the stone and mother and father appeared in front of him. He was so happy to see them again he almost started crying. His mother smiled at him lovingly and his father nodded, a proud glimmer in his eyes. But when he reached out he couldn't touch them, not really. They weren't ghosts, but they weren't real either. They were something in between, but it wasn't enough.

He spent days and nights, turning the stone again and again, sometimes even with his siblings. He could barely think of anything else, but to see his parents again, when he had lost them so early on, but it was never enough. Each time he couldn't touch them, he wanted nothing more than to try again. And again. And again. And again.

He hadn't even realised how much he had missed them until he had seen them again now and it was making him sick.

"You have to stop." Gellert told him very seriously one evening. "You're wasting away and I can't watch this. The damn fairytale was right. It doesn't work."

Albus could only shake his head staring at his parents, who now looked as sad and desperate as he did. Gellert sighed angrily, took the stone despite his protest and threw it into the nearest river.

They kept the wand and returned the cloak to the Potters and then they went on with their lives.

They spent some more years with their studies until Gellert started doing politics in Austria and Albus applied for a position at Hogwarts.

Dear Gellert,

Although we were so captured by the deathly hallows, by the prospect of mastering death, you and I were never afraid of dying. Once you even told me that death is but the next great adventure.

Maybe you were right and this great adventure just takes place in a different place in the universe. Or in a different universe.

I do not know, but I am ready to find out. I think we will meet again rather soon.

I have missed you most of my life. I am a patient man. I will wait for you to start the next adventure and I hope we will get it right this time.

I love you, my dear. But you already know that.

Be well.

- Albus P. W. B. Dumbledore

Al,

Maybe in this different place, maybe on this next adventure I will be able to love you, too. Properly.

Looking forward to it.

See you soon, Gellert

#hp #harry potter #Albus Dumbledore #life and lies of albus dumbledore #gellert grindelwald #fanfiction #ff #grindeldore #this is a bit of tragedy #but also kinda happy #something in between #inspired by skam #if you squint

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ilovehighhats · 8 years ago

Text

Scutum, ch. 2, The Walk

The bed was made after she forced herself to get up and do some chores, shower and dress. Hopping on top of the cover she sat comfortably, preparing to surf the net. To distract herself from tempest raging in her mind since yesterday.

Thoughts coiled in her head all night, simultaneously tightening and releasing pressure over Helena's heart. Bane was alive. He was a short walk away, a distance she could scale anytime she wanted. He came for her, to be with her. It was everything she wanted. More even, since he was silently watching over her through all the years. Vigilant but careful, he never let her feel pressure other than concern of a friend.

All that while he planned to destroy a whole city, after keeping its occupants hostage for few bitter winter months, exposed to elements and cruelty, and oppression. Men, women, children alike.

Death was indiscriminate, but his pragmatism and casual way he talked about it rung discord in Helena's brain. How could one be both loving and murdering? Focused on subtleties of academia and brutally murdering scientists?

She spent unnecessary hours trying to find in her mind arguments against him. Every single one felt hollow. Bane was a child of circumstance he was born into, molded by violence, later excelling in a cutthroat mercenary environment he was an autonomous part of. Tied by honour or sentiment he worked for League of Shadows, destroying and tainting the world… but what was the difference between him and some shady businessman who funded those kinds of operations? Where was he worse from people ordering abductions, assassinations, assaults? How were his sins comparing to presidents ordering their troops to invade foreign countries, supposedly for peace and upholding higher moral values?

Ultimately, Helena knew Bane was at the very least a murderer. Probably objectively could be qualified as mass murderer. She couldn't find in herself an ounce of honest to God fear over that fact. What she needed was an explanation, reasoning, validation.

Above all, she wanted to make sure he was done with his mercenary work for good.

If only he'd spent all those years and resources towards his research. At fifty there was still some time left for him to leave his mark on the world, a different one he had scored already over the years. Maybe he could bridge the gap between his disposition and what the world made him become, maybe he could reconcile merciless machine of destruction with intricate tool of discovery.

After all, many inventions came to life from dusts of war.

Helena was still the most interested in Bane the person. The man behind now non-existent mask.

How would he be without everything he built so far? No people to govern over, no tasks to complete, no places to conquer. Peace and quiet of retirement crushed many men before him. Would he be like Napoleon, a genius tactician reduced to moping around an island he was confined to, no light in his eyes anymore? Would he become gluttonous and complacent?

All she needed to do to find out was simple - let the man do what he wanted.

But damn, he always got his way. This didn't feel right to just let him slide into comfort of a relationship, without a hitch, hindrance, without second thoughts.

She wanted nothing more herself...

Chime announced new email. She wasn't in the least interested in anything but her neighbourhood friendly mercenary, but obsessing over Bane had to stop. And for that she needed distraction. An email would do.

Was it a commission? A friend with news on their kid? A request from LinkedIn? Some horribly disfigured person asking for money for a medical procedure?

No such luck.

‘I read your emails.’ the message said simply.

Another chime.

‘All three hundred sixty four of them. It took a while.‘

Helena stared at the screen. Laptop could use some cleaning; the edges were darkened with grime. Fingerprints smudged the dark plane of glass. She focused on them instead of words displayed below.

‘One might think you were worried about me.’

“Oh, you fucking dick!” she growled.

‘Contrary to what you might have thought, I took care of you to the best of my abilities and possibilities. This land for instance, along with everything on it would be yours in the event of my death. There is a hefty sum to go with it. The notary is obliged to assist you in any legal matter you might encounter.’

‘Also, there is the small subject of your concessions. Who do you think gave Herr Schmidt your contact info? ‘

‘Also, there is another plot of land in Italy, and apartment in London. A mansion in Kashmir. Summer houses in Chile, Namibia, Mongolia, and Argentina. House in Louisiana. Pick any if this place doesn't suit your needs.’

‘Also, you might want to reconsider your comment about being indebted to me. You're welcome to follow my suggestion as for the interpretation of this whole situation.‘

Infuriating. He danced around important subjects, never leaving any information that could link him to his true identity, all the while conscious of Helena’s awareness of the double meaning of his words. Playing her knowledge against her.

Closing her eyes to think she exhaled slowly, ignoring pings of notifications coming from the computer. Well, for one Bane did put enormous effort into tricking her. Then again, it was all to make her comfortable and content. He never talked her out of her numerous affairs. Instead, he made sure she was well provided for, either by his own commissions or those of his friends. As control freaks go, he was actually quite caring and generous.

Okay, now he was agitated too. Five messages in span of around five minutes.

Very unlike Bane.

Helena glanced over the emails, more ranting with “also” as a starter, and hit reply on the latest one. If they were to discuss anything it certainly couldn't happen over monitored emails.

‘Let's go for a walk. Meet me at mine in five.’

She sent it and closed the laptop. Not wasting time immediately went to put on her boots and warm jacket. She was finishing with laces when Bane appeared on the pathway to her cottage. Well before the time she gave him.

She thought he'd look out of place, the memory of his imposing silhouette from Armenia still etched in her mind, but he was irritatingly casual to a bystander. If not for the scars one could think this was just an ordinary man, past his prime but still fit. Dark jumper with turtleneck hid most of his markings, the sleeves long enough to cover his hands down to base of thumbs. Washed down blue of baggy jeans blended with grey sneakers. The only spot of colour was scarf tossed carelessly around his neck.

Helena could have sworn he magically shrunk over the years. Once she thought he was a giant. Now, as he stood politely by the glass door to the terrace waiting for an invitation in, she saw he couldn't be taller than her latest fling. Which put Bane from realm of fantasy back into cozy normalcy. Unnerving. Dangerous. He was anything but normal, average or ordinary.

She stood up and gestured for him to come in.

“Since it's all yours I don't see why you're sticking to formalities,“ she observed, sliding her hands into warm jacket. It was still chilly out.

“It's your home. I'd hate to be impolite.”

Helena only hummed in wonder. Bane watched as she tucked scarf and hat on, zipped up and put gloves on her hands.

“Are we going far?”

“Don't be so amused. I was always amazed how you'd burn up even in the middle of winter.” They went out to the terrace and Helena immediately congratulated herself choice of wardrobe. Despite the sun, cold wind pinched her cheeks with unpleasant gusts. “We might take a turn around the beach?”

Bane nodded and they started, silent for the short walk down to the sea. He followed Helena down wooden steps through budding foliage, across the tarmac and down to the sandy patch by the water. Only then he stepped up a bit to catch up and stroll shoulder to shoulder.

“I like your hair like this,” he gestured vaguely towards her messy bun.

“Dishevelled?“

“Long. But the disarray is quite charming too,” he admitted.

“Thank you. I like you with your hair on better too.”

The weather was nice, even though gale from over the sea tossed their scarves around carelessly.

“You know, I don't think we ever went anywhere together like this. Always either you or I was one step behind, trailing along.”

“Technically you’re wrong, since I carried you around once or twice. Almost the same.”

“I disagree. That's hardly comparable to walking together.”

“Perhaps.”

“I'm worried, you know.” She sighed. Bane waited patiently for a follow-up. “You turn up all of a sudden after all this time and I have to remind myself of everything you are.”

“Do you?” He sounded genuinely interested.

“No, I really don't.” Helena laughed dryly. “But it feels wrong to just pick everything up and start anew.”

“Why?”

“Well, you're a mass murderer. Maybe not exactly, since the bomb exploded safely away from Gotham, but you confirmed yourself you wanted to blow everyone up.”

“Does it matter to you?”

Fuck.

“Maybe.”

“Helena.”

He knew her too well, had her thoughts, intimate and private, on display for him for years.

“How do I even call you now?” she spat angrily, furrowing her brows in impotent frustration.

He only chuckled. “Tony.”

Nose wrinkled in comical display of distaste Helena sneered.

“Don't be ridiculous. It doesn't fit you one bit.”

“It’s my name.”

“I get it, your alias should be like a second skin, yadda, yadda…”

“No,” he interrupted. “You don't understand. That is my real name.”

“It is?”

“Yes.”

“But you were born in prison.” Like that would be the explanation to everything.

“Every penal institution keeps meticulous records.”

“Even ones where people are treated like animals?”

“Yes, even those. I know exact time and date of my birth, names of my parents, my weight, height, and credentials of doctor who cut the umbilical cord. No different from any other person.” Looking down at her he snorted inelegantly. “You thought it was all savagery and dirt?”

“It sounded like it.”

“Nazis treated people like inferior beings, which didn't stop them from recording every name anyway.”

“Point taken. Still, Tony just doesn't suit you.”

He chuckled again. “What would then?”

“...Bane.”

He laughed.

“But we can't keep using that name, what if someone overhears?” she continued, oblivious to the way he stared at her in amazement. Whether she realized, the decision was made, and she already acted upon it. “I could always try calling you ‘babe'. “ She winked at him. “Sounds almost the same and is culturally acceptable. Alas,” theatrical sigh escaped her, followed by slight shaking of her head, “that would imply a relationship closer than what we have.”

“How do you mean?” Bane furrowed his brows again. Maybe she knew exactly where she stood and only played with him?

“Well I don't really know you. I thought once I had you all figured out,” rueful smile softened her gaze for a second, when she recalled one conversation they shared, “but in reality I don't know how to reconcile everything I know about you. You're like three different people to me now. Bane the terrorist, Tony the scientist and this unnamed man who said yesterday he loves me.“

No, she wasn't sure what she wanted, Bane thought. She was figuring it all out still.

“It’s too much, all at once. Two days ago I was mourning your death. Yours and Dorrance's!” She huffed a small scoff. “And now here we are. But enough on that. What did you mean when you said you want me to go away with you?”

“There are people who know your name and your connection to me never was a mystery. I wanted to take you somewhere where we could both have a fresh start.”

“But I like it here.”

“It would be safer that way.”

“You assumed I'd just pack my things and go because you say so?”

“Yes.”

“How typical.” There was some disappointment in her tone, but she was surprisingly stable otherwise. “How about this. Stay here with me. Let me get to know you. Then we'll see.”

The proposal was risky at best. Unwise.

“For how long?” Bane found himself asking to buy some time.

“I don't know. As long as it takes, I guess.”

“It’s not a game, Helena. “

“I'm not playing games with you… pal.”

“Pal?”

“I have to call you something!”

“How about ‘mate'?”

“Tsk, tsk, you try to sneak double meaning in there?”

“Never,” he winked.

But his smirk faltered into a disappointed scowl.

“I imagined this to be different,” he admitted towards the sea.

“Well, it's real.”

“It is,” he agreed.

No matter what happened next he knew he'd never let her go now. Even if she would keep him perpetually an arm’s length away. Just being together like this, walking down the beach, was doing wonders to his battered soul. For the first time in years he felt good. Even despite aches of his body and discomfort the conversation brought along.

The smile he gave her when he turned back threatened to overpower weak March sun. She didn't see it, observing rolling clouds, swimming deep into her own thoughts.

He faltered. That was his mistake in the past. He was too focused on his own musings to take into consideration she had ones of her own. Valid point of view, vector of actions she took. He would do well to listen to her more carefully this time. What he wanted could be different from what she needed...

“How did you get here, anyway? After you've been hit by a rocket back in Gotham.”

The reply was automatic, he had other things on his mind, but he was glad she was interested in him still.

“There was a lot of commotion that I missed, since I was unconscious for the most part. I ended up in a bunker, been roughly patched up. Transported around the city to avoid detection, then out with a smuggling tunnel. Spent most of those two months on a vessel at sea.” And in a hideout that was tropical mansion in Bahamas. Details, details, details. Helena didn’t have to know everything, at least not all at once.

“And you magically healed yourself?”

“No. There was a professional who took care of me.”

“So, the League of Shadows just let you go?”

“No.”

“Are you going to volunteer any information without me explicitly asking for it?”

“Probably not. It's not who I am.”

“Go figure,” she chuckled.

Bane resisted an overwhelming urge to gather her close and kiss that sound away. He hadn't had a chance to kiss her yet. How did that omission even happen?

“Okay, so what about your primary occupation then?” she continued, unaware of his inner turmoil.

“I'm an astrophysicist.“

“I'm being serious here, friend.”

He was taken aback.

“Is it really so hard for you to call me by my name?” Do we have to negotiate everything too? He thought. Do you still want me? Why won't you accept me for who I am now instead of who I was?

“Yes. Now stop evading the question.”

Her sincerity put him in his place.

“They thought I was dead, but are probably looking for me.”

“Why?”

“They expect me to lead them. Expected. Now they probably want me eliminated.“

It came out more bitter than he intended, resentment towards Helena bleeding out into his words.

“Would you stay alive as long as you did, if that was really their objective?”

Bane stopped dead midstride.

“Well, your men are League’s men, are they not?”

“They are loyal to me.” The argument sounded childish even to his own ears. But he knew that to be true.

“Maybe they just let you retire with dignity.” Helena reasoned, offhand remark offering no comfort, only brutal honesty backed by cold logic. That was a hard blow. The realization he might have been let go of consciously, as a courtesy for years of work. As a reward for his sacrifices.

“You could step up and lead them different path, right? But you chose to come here instead.”

Action as clear to interpret as a written resignation.

“What happened to the people who cared for you when you were convalescing after Gotham? The ones who smuggled you to safety?”

“They work for the league still, or went into hiding.”

He never stopped to think about what happened to them. Some leader he was.

“I still don't understand how you are up and about so fast after major injury.”

“That drug I was taking, the one the mask was for. It had many purposes beside the main one. One side effect was vastly improved self-healing ability of my body,” he supplied absentmindedly.

He didn't leave them, they abandoned him. A general no longer needed. Broken soldier sent back home to put himself together, too incomplete to be an asset again.

“Cool.”

Helena's amused voice brought him back to reality.

Wasn't that what he wanted? To be left alone, to live in peace?

If the League let him go, as she suspected, he had nothing to escape from. He could just stay here.

“Plus I was cared for by the person who concocted it. She is real magician with organic chemistry,“ he finished his previous thought out loud.

“Isn't magic an undiscovered science?”

“Indeed.”

This time he made sure she saw his happy grin. Relief pooled in the pit of his stomach and he started different kind of plotting nearly instantly.

Again, why didn't he kiss her yet?

oOo

Bane stopped at the threshold waiting for Helena to permit him entry. She scoffed and waved him in, aggravated with his attention to formalities.

“Do it one more time and I will legitimately treat you like a vampire. With your accelerated healing and all.” She warned half seriously.

“That was Venom. Don't have it anymore.” He vaguely gestured around his bare face.

“Oh. Mere mortal like the rest of us puny humans.”

“Quite so.”

He followed her downstairs to the kitchenette.

“Take a seat,” Helena threw over her arm as she busied herself with the stove. There was still enough soup for the two of them, and she could make some grilled cheese to go with it.

Warm chest pressed to her back and two big palms splayed over the counter on each side of her. Bane leaned in to peek over her shoulder.

“What are we having?”

“Chunky tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. Do you like them with mustard?”

“I don't know.”

“I'll make two kinds then. Fried in butter or baked?”

“You decide.”

“Mustard ones will be fried, and I'll make plain baked too, then.”

“Sounds good,” he rumbled and turned back to sit at the table.

Silence stretching between them was cozy like a blanket, invaded only by sounds of Helena working, heating up pan and oven, layering cheese over toasts and checking on soup back on the stove. Bane just watched her sprawled in the chair like in the old days, listening to her absent-minded humming. Skylight in the corner let some of pale sunlight in, but it hardly reached the counter below and rest of the room. Helena worked under cold spotlight stretching under upper shelves over the working station. The oven emitted warm, yellow light, a counterpoint to almost medical detachment of grey planes of steel shelves with their cold blue of led lamps.

This was it. The feeling of rightness washed over Bane, the familiarity of place and situation, ridiculous since there was nothing he could attach himself to. But he did find himself at home. Sitting in a chair and watching Helena like he did so many times before.

It was right, somewhat. He was complete.

“You make me satisfied. That's why I came here. You make life simple. There is something that's just enough, without much fight, without much arguing. You allow me to just, be,” he said, recalling a rant interested same subject years past.

To think she knew what was best for him even back then.

“This is the first time in your life no one expects anything of you,” she mused, mulling over his words while she ladled the soup.

Bane only murmured in agreement, waiting for anything more she might add.

Twin bowls clunked softly on wooden plane of the table, followed by plates Helena set gently with a smile.

“Tuck in,” she encouraged Bane, sipping soup with a muffled sigh of satisfaction.

“How barbaric,” he noted, smiling over bite of toast.

“Cutlery is useful, but not always necessary. This is much better at warming one up after a stroll,” she defended herself, glancing coyly over rim of the bowl before she set it finally on the table. “Besides, isn't it nice to wrap your hands around something warm and pretty?“

“I had in mind something else than clay,” he smiled. She didn't pick up on frivolous tone he used. Too soon still? “This is my new favourite thing. This soup.” He practically inhaled half of it in one go. “If I knew how good you were in the kitchen I would have you cooking along with copying.”

“You don't get to joke about that!” She huffed in mock annoyance.

“Why not?”

“I'm supposed to be traumatized over the subject, you know.”

“Are you?”

“Not over this one, no.” There was enough between them to leave open the possibility of working through myriad other things other than the fact she was abducted and imprisoned. “So, did you have anyone? Over the years?”

Surprised look he sent her was a gem, the unguarded way his lips opened a bit taking off at least a decade of strain off his face.

“There were women,” he admitted.

“Anyone long term? “

“No,” he furrowed his brows, leaning back in the chair. “You know how difficult it is to meet anyone not professionally interested in my person, in my line of occupation. They were all paid.“

Helena nodded with a hum, not in the least put out.

“I expected as much.”

“Last one was few years back,” he said quietly, munching on his toast, eyes turned down.

It wasn't like him to be embarrassed, so what was it?

“So this is the first time in your life you're allowed to just get to know people, develop healthy relationships, without complications over work.”

That wasn't a question. She said it like she only needed him to confirm something she thought about long and hard, before they even started this conversation.

Bane didn’t like the look of resolve on her face. Not one bit.

“Where are you going with this?”

“I think we both should give each other ample time and space to work this situation over,” she said, a decisive nod punctuating her conclusion.

“Explain.”

“Perhaps it is not me you're in love with, but the idea of this life that I lead. The peaceful life you want to have. Perhaps I'm in love with the memory of you, more than the actual person.”

He couldn't argue otherwise immediately, which in itself gave him pause.

“What then? How do you want to proceed?”

“We have the basic covered already. Let's get to know each other. You have your cottage, I have mine. I wouldn't mind if you wanted to broaden your circle of friends.”

With some effort Helena could pretend she didn't notice how he seethed across her.

“Which reminds me, Grace and Graham will invite me over for Easter, am I allowed to say you're here?”

“Yes,” he hissed.

“Would you like to come with?”

“I don't know,” His eyes were impassive, but his jaw was set so hard he barely opened it to speak. “My thanks for the meal,” he nodded and turned to the stairs.

“Are you gonna sulk because I want to deal with this situation like an adult?”

“Am I allowed to?” He sneered.

“Do what you want. I know I can take care of myself and just live on my own. Can you?”

He turned at the bottom of narrow staircase, straightening up to look down at her. No more a scientist she walked with over past hour.

“Helena, you will do well to remember one simple truth about me. Whatever you or I would like to think, I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions.” His voice was quiet, but gravitas of words seeped to her in powerful confident waves, strengthening their message. “And my decisions over past decade proved that not only am I capable of taking care of myself, but also of you, and a very complicated military operation, all at the same time.” His eyes narrowed, conducting the anger he felt. “Now for the solitary living, the whole point of me being here was to avoid it. I've been alone most of my life. But I understand your fears. You won't hear from me again, until you ask yourself for my presence.” He nodded in farewell. “Goodbye, neighbour.”

#bane #fanfic #bane dcu #original character #tdkr #fanfiction

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