#i could only think of three options for martha and it was:

[starry-bi-sky]

just wanted to say that your thomas wayne au is making me swoon - baby bruce is the most adorable baby ever and they love each other so much 😭

(I saw you mentioned them meeting canon dc and I think everyone of the batfam would be unwillingly won over by this adorable baby and their grandad (and adult bruce would either be paralysed by emotion or start crying or both)) (and maybe there is no martha wayne, simply thomas and alfred raising the cutest and most troublesome baby 😏)

Aaaaahhh I'm so glad you like it 🥺 i love making aus that have the emotional effect of a gut punch on the Bats 🥰 its why 'Danny being a variant of Jason' is such a fun little au I have that I haven't shared here since its pretty convoluted imo.

And i absolutely agree you have it down pat that the canon DC Batfam would be unwillingly won over by Baby Bruce and Danny/Thomas frfr. Danny is so protective and affectionate with his little guy, and I have a personal headcanon that he teaches Bruce how to play piano after discovering an interest in it once he's adopted by the Waynes. (OH and when Bruce is older Danny sits him out in the gardens or on the roofs and shows him how to find constellations)

Danny finds out that the bruce in this world grew up without his parents and starts side-eyeing him HARD bc he wants to be affectionate to this version of His Boy but he doesnt want Bruce to react negatively to it

I'll also tell you a secret: the day Danny and Bruce are transported into the canon universe was the day Danny and Bruce were meant to end up in crime alley :) they were just about to leave the manor.

[sojourner-between-worlds]

A random assortment of autistic!Yusei headcanons on this fine Friday in December.

Yusei got a weighted blanket after the whole Arc Cradle ordeal. Best sleep he's ever had. Crow tried to borrow it once; it did not end well for him, lol.

Eye contact? What's that? Yusei doesn't know her.

He's more prone to shutdowns than meltdowns but they both do happen. (He's definitely accidently hurt himself on more than one occasion but he's gotten better at redirecting those behaviors even on his own as he's gotten older and his reactions less severe.)

He's semi-verbal to begin with so periods of losing speech entirely are a fairly normal occurrence. He's usually fine, and if he still needs to say something, the boys all know sign language anyway. (It's not "real" SL but rather a dialect of Satellite the citizens created to be able to communicate without Sector Security understanding them. Yes, I stole this from @/shitpostingkats, what of it? It lives rent free in my head.) The first time it happens after moving to the City, Yusei doesn't even consider that Aki and the twins don't know their SL and so he signs. Crow laughs at everyone's dumbfounded looks before he both translates for Yusei and then explains. All three are more than eager to learn it. (Rua thinks its "the coolest thing ever" in typical Rua fashion.)

Never quite breaks out of the "subtle stims only" mindset that was forced by necessity of the environment he grew up in. He wasn't about to give Sector Security any reason to single him out, after all, and old habits die really hard. Aki noticed he tended to rub his fingers together a lot, to the point of sometimes accidently scratching himself on the sharper edges of his nails when he's not wearing his gloves and started looking for other options. She bought him a spinner ring for his birthday and while it didn't 100% fix the problem, it did help quite a bit. (Between that and a tangle, he's practically good to go. He never had anything like that growing up, and they bring him great joy to have now.)

For the same reason, he was technically never diagnosed as a kid because Martha didn't want to paint a target on his back with SS. When he moved to the City, he didn't see any point. He was self-employed so any accommodations he could possibly need he could just, ya know, give himself. The first time he ever truly considered it was after he started working for MIDS and was working on his degree. (Even then it took quite a bit of convincing because he wasn't sold on it actually being helpful.)

Feel free to add on!

[yellow-dejavu]

MARek TannHAus = MARTHA nielsen

SONJA tannhaus = JONAS kahnwald

There is this interpretation that i really like that says that Jonas and Martha are like a reflection of Marek and Sonja. Jonas and Martha only exist because of Marek and Sonja. Even their names create them, Martha can be formed with Marek's full name and Jonas is basically an anagram of Sonja.

I like to think of it as the origin world splitting what was already there and mixing in the pain and vision of the creator (H.G. Tannhaus) to create this anomaly. It's like an exaggeration. It made two worlds that depend on each other to ever happen and erase itself in just a moment of time.

Nielsen Siblings and Marek Tannhaus

The three Nielsen siblings start with an M because of Ulrich's brother (Mads). However, I think that each of them can represent a way in which H.G. Tannhaus saw his son.

Magnus: Something I always noticed about Magnus in season 1 is how protective he is of his mother. He is constantly trying to help her with everything that is going on and trying to be on her side. We get to see that side of Magnus again in Season 3 when we see a different version of the characters at the beginning of the chaos for them. When Ulrich comes to visit, he doesn't want him there the moment Katharina gets home. He also thought Martha was talking nonsense about the end of the world, and he just didn't wanted her bothering their mother with it. When we meet Marek, one of the things he says to his father is, "No wonder Mom couldn't stand it here." Marek is someone who understands his mother's point of view and seems to be on her side most of the time. Just like Magnus.

Martha: I think Martha represents the most misunderstood side. Something we see about Martha is that she stands up for herself when she thinks her parents are being unfair. She usually does this when her parents are too focused on their things and don't pay attention to her wants and needs as their child. In one way or another, it can be seen in both worlds as her father abandoning the family. We also see her more than once having problems with Katharina because she feels ignored by her. It is the same with Marek when he says that his father never saw him. Still, we see that their parents really want to try to connect with them, even if they don't know how. I think the best way to describe it is something Katharina said to Martha in 3x06: "I'm sure i'm the last person you want to talk to, but If you do I'm here. Your dad and I… A lot of things might be different now. But that's not necessarily all bad."

Mikkel: He is the little boy. That's how his parents would always remember him, and they would do anything for him. No matter how much time passes, they would still try to save him even if they can't save themselves. It doesn't matter if they lose their freedom or their lives. Even damning the whole world is an option. Ulrich tried to kill someone and got locked up because he thought he could find his son. Katharina fought until her last breath to reunite her family, while in other world she died holding Mikkel during the apocalypse. Tannhaus split the world in two because he couldn't let go the pain of losing Marek, Sonja and Charlotte. He couldn't accept a world without his family. Like Ulrich and Katharina, Tannhaus also did everything he could to bring his little boy back.

[kats-fic-recs]

The Best Batman fics I've read in 2022

As the end of the year comes closer, I've decided to make an Ao3 Wrapped for myself out of the best fics from every fandom I've read this year.

Here we go.....

The Best Batman fics I've read in 2022

Multi Media Marketing Mistakes

Gotham Gazette @gothamgazette

What did Oliver Queen and Bruce Wayne get up to in boarding school?! gothamgazette.com/baidguh24h

|

Oliver Queen @queenofficial

no comment

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Bruce Wayne @brucewayne

@queenofficial you know that commenting ‘no comment’ on a tweet kind of defeats the point

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Oliver Queen @queenofficial

@brucewayne shut up im not talking to you anymore

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Bruce Wayne @brucewayne

@queenofficial then stop texting me

games without frontiers

“Pennyworth.”

When he turned, Damian was hesitating at the doorway. His face was white.

He recalled Thomas and Martha’s well-intentioned consolations and chidings -- little snippets of it’s just a bat and it won’t hurt you intermixed with please, just go to sleep, Bruce, I’ve checked all the windows, it’s silly--- and discarded them with a pang.

They hadn’t helped Bruce, after all.

“If the creature is so dangerous,” Alfred said neutrally, surfacing from the memory. “We’ll need to get it out of the house. For the safety of the others.”

“...For safety. Yes,” Damian said. When he turned around, the paleness in the boy’s face had faded. He seemed burgeoned by the impending responsibility. “I will assist you, of course.”

the politics of dancing

After months of silence following his mysterious resurrection from the dead, the prodigal Wayne heir shows up at an unlikely meeting.

“Where is Mr. Wayne?”

Jason crossed his legs, cracking his neck. “He’s not coming.”

“I was assured Mr. Wayne would be here.”

“Tough. Looks like you’ll have to settle for me, huh?”

Comes In Threes

Felicity Smoak has a bad track record with billionaires.

Scrub-A-Dub

Talon's new master has put him in water, and Talon does not know why. This new master, though...Talon thinks he might like this new master.

Frightening, But Not Afraid

When the family is hit by a new strain of fear toxin, safety is in numbers. Unfortunately, three members of the flock are still out there, afraid and alone. Bruce may not be the best at comforting his children, but apparently, he can let his wings do the talking.

((aka, the classic fear toxin hurt/comfort but with a splash of the classic wings-make-u-feel-safe hurt/comfort))

Reclaiming Innocence

Jason Todd was kidnapped at nine-years-old and given two options. Work for his keep, or be forced to to work for his keep.

His life was not pleasant, but Jason was nothing if not a fighter, and dammit if was he going to let the hell around him kill who he was as a person. Or his dreams of growing up and going to college.

Those dreams suddenly came a little more into focus, when his idiot of a pimp accidentally tried to rent him to Bruce Wayne. Poor bastard could have never guessed he was the Batman himself. Heck, not even Jason figured that out, at first. And Batman had practically adopted him.

What would you do, if it all came back to you?

"Still standing, Jason clicked on the folder and opened the first video – Jesus, there were quite a few – and suddenly Bruce was staring at him. He moved the mouse, thinking the video had frozen, but no, Bruce really did spend the first few seconds just staring. (...)

“I… I found the book in your bedside table. “The Picture of Dorian Gray.”” He paused, looked away, then back at the camera. “You were always reading. I can’t remember the last time I just read a book for fun.”"

The Jason Project

Jason had just wanted to see his autopsy report, he had only wanted to know what information Bruce had about his death. And when Bruce hadn't given it to him, he had stolen it. He hadn’t meant to stumble upon the bucket list of a dead child and the footage of a grieving father crossing one item after another off the list.

bad people don't live in our house

Bruce stirred when the bed beside him dipped, and the sheets across his chest were yanked hard.

“What,” Bruce said roughly. A small hand smacked against his face.

“Shh,” said a little voice. The sheets pulled again. “Go back to sleep.”

More Precious Than Gold

Most dragons sleep on their hoards.

Bruce's hoard sleeps on him.

Or: Bruce is a dragon. Predictably, he hoards orphans.

Gifts From the Sea

Bruce, aimless after abandoning his plans to become a special education teacher, takes an internship at Amnesty Bay Aquatic Zoo. His life changes forever when he meets the zoo's orphaned merboy. (AU where the Batkids are merpeople and Bruce is their human adoptive dad.)

I Was Lost For You to Find

Bruce never planned on having kids. After watching his parents die, the idea of starting a family of his own was foolishness at best and an impending disaster at worst. Never in his wildest dreams did Bruce think he'd ever be up to the task of raising a child, and he was okay with that. But when an orphaned acrobat starts weighing on his mind, Bruce makes the (questionable) decision to become a foster father. Everything after that is just dumb luck.

Yesterday's Voices

While trying to take down a drug cartel that deals with memory altering drugs, things go awry, and Batman wakes up with no recollection of the last five years.

As a result, his family must now race against time to find the antidote, while also having to deal with a Bruce who still thinks Jason is Robin. A Bruce who doesn't recognise most of them. A Bruce far less jaded and cynical than the one they're used to. A Bruce who still cares.

Take Care of Business

Summary: Bruce has a conference call with Wayne Enterprises. Having it at the Manor was, in hindsight, a really shitty idea.

“I don’t have your phone!”

The two boys began trading hits, yelling at the top of their lungs. Bruce turned back to the webcam just as Damian leapt on top of Tim’s back, a high-pitched battle cry torn from his lips.

“Mr. Hodges,” he said cheerfully, unflinching as Tim threw Damian into the wet bar sink. “Have you had a chance to examine the chart I pointed out?”

Brother Wanted

Well-behaved boy (10) is looking for big brother (11-15). Must meet up with me three times a week, for at least two hours each. Overall duties include helping me with homework, playing videogames with me, and showing me how to play catch. 10$ per hour.

Tim, lonely and in desperate need of company, decides that if his parents are not going to give him a sibling, he's going to hire one instead. Luckily, Jason Todd-Wayne shows up in the nick of time.

and i'll be two steps on the water

Studying his profile as she pours, the name clicks in her head like she knew it would. Even downturned, that face is unmistakable, and the realization thunders lightly in her mind.

Bruce Wayne.

All the Cups Got Broke

The police officers of metro Detroit had seen a lot of weird over the years, between the violence of the day-to-day, the year with all the freaky clown sightings, and that time with the tiger at the auto plant.

Their newest transfer - pretty-faced, former circus kid, son of a billionaire - might have been the weirdest, though.

his name was king

Everyone knows who the butler is.

The Bachelor: Robin Edition

Gotham loses its Robin and Bruce Wayne loses a son. Tim finds one of these too tragic to bear. In his quest to make sure Bruce Wayne lives to see the next year, he strikes upon the perfect solution: another son.

*

His best bet is, naturally, Crime Alley.

By 8 pm that day, Drake Manor is filled with ten black-haired, blue-eyed boys sitting around the large dining table, looking around the room suspiciously.

Well. Eleven. But Tim doesn’t think he counts.

Empty Graves

Swimming with the Fishes

The Bat rules Gotham with an iron fist. People do not come out of his Manor. They say he has a monster lurking within the building’s walls.

Jason is brought to the Manor as gift to earn the Bat’s favour.

*****

Mob Boss + Mers -> the combination you didn’t know you needed.

How to Train Your Mers

The tank lurched again and he silently begged for any sea god to please let him out of the dizzying, pitch-black hell. His body ached from getting beaten into the box’s side. The water was stale and disgusting in his gills. There wasn’t any light and he couldn’t see anything.

He was so full of fear he was beginning to get numb to it.

He didn’t know what these humans wanted with him, but he knew it couldn’t be good if they started by shoving him into this too-small box and tossing him around like a boat on an angry sea.

-----

Clark is an aquatic mammals trainer at the Metropolis Aquarium and Bruce is their very unruly new resident. Clark doesn't realise that Bruce is only the first of many mers that are going to live in the Aquarium.

Loading and Aspect Ratio

So, it didn’t start out like this.

Alfred would scoff at the statement, about how Bruce was trying to justify the whole situation to himself. It had started out as a simple design, black everything with black outlines and black hood. It got a little more intense as the world went on, got wind of his ghost on the streets, and became scared of The Bat . So Bruce got a little more creative with it, Alfred and him had a good laugh over the name, the scare, and Alfred had a vicious streak of humor that he had passed onto his ward-

So now the suit had a visible bat-theme, an insignia to drape in the shadows and to paint across the streets of Gotham.

It only took a year into the whole charade of heroism for Bruce to overhear a conversation between some goons- some low level thug hired by the Riddler this week- about nothing at all pertaining to what the hell the Riddler was doing in the sewers but instead:

“ The Batman can fly, you know, I’ve seen his wings.”

--

A world where nobody has wings, but people think they do, and that changes everything.

Bonus Superman fics:

Time travelers who plan to kill Superman never account for Martha Kent in their plans. She may not be the World's Finest, but she's a mother with a shotgun, and all told that might be scarier.

darling, so it goes

Clark shows up still wearing his suit—the sixth and final attempt—holding tight onto a little girl’s hand and looking terrified. The same symbol from his ship is displayed onto her odd looking clothes. Martha takes one look at the pair of ‘em and then goes to see if they’ve got any lemonade in the house

[angeltreasure]

Cecilia here. I did have some time to think on what you said, and being able to get off of work from the injury really has changed some perspective, Lent hasnt been a failure, rather productive actually. For example, I have been able to attend daily mass and adoration much easier, I've finished Story of a Soul, and picked up a new Chaplet to St. Anthony. I also went on retreat fine, the drive wasn't too bad. And I had a lot of revelations while there, I think I'm more contemplative than I had assumed, maybe completely active order religious isn't for me. We had adoration and we got to kneel right in front of the monstrance on the first night, and just be in front of Our Lord, like I could touch it that close. Literally I heard Him in my heart say Just Let Me Love You. I may have cried, the theme also during my prayers I found was God in relation to me doesnt want a soldier, He wants a bride. I'm used to fighting for what I have, having to be strong for my own survival, for whats right, for others, for protecting God's Word from defamation and slander, practically everything, but it felt like He is telling me to just be a bride, which I'm still learning how to do. Otherwise I'm gonna talk to my spiritual advisor tomorrow too, so I can get more clarity on everything, this is just a touch of everything. God Bless you sister Angel, I brought your journey to prayer and your intentions I'd seen online while on retreat, I hope that you're doing well, and your words are always so comforting in times of distress so praying for you and I hope you're doing well. Btw TLM is wonderful, do attend it if you need an option for your work hours, daily TLM is quite meditative since most of the Mass is done in silence.

It’s really interesting to watch where God leads us on our path. We think we have a steady mountain path up to clearing in the woods, but God has another plan. He sends you on the unexpected turn to a path that is rugged, a path which we are uncertain of the destination. Instead of the forest clearing, He leads His little lamb up to a clearing where you can see a beautiful view of the blue sky and sprawling mountain range. It’s like switching from being Martha to Mary. He invites some to listen to that still, small voice that begs your love in return, a surrender to His will: ‘Just let Me love you as my bride.’

To learn how to just be His bride feels similar as a mystery that I am feeling called on:

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

- 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

You are going to learn how to be that bride by the charism of the religious order you look into. Once you find your top three over time, you will find a rich treasure of information about the founders and how they made the order to be. It can be a great solace and answer that tug you feel in your heart. Your spiritual director might be able to offer advice for sure about how to be a bride, even now as a layperson and have some Orders in mind.

The closest Catholic church to my house is a TLM only church. Might have to look at that website again. They lock a lot of church doors around.

Aww! Thank you for continuing to pray for me. I’m glad I can pray for you.

[mythicaldemigoddess-of-deltarune]

Hazformers Ships: Blitzdust/Blitzhusk/Huskdust Plus More Part 2

[Note: Mature Audience Only, and Reading This Post Is Optional. also if you haven't watched all the Hazbin Hotel Season 1, make sure to do that first before reading this. also I might make a part 3 for this.]

I had to make a poll first before finally making a part 2 of this, the poll is about which one is the number 1 adorkable apple goober king of them all.

like either Lucifer from Hazbin Hotel, or one of the Devils from Cuphead Game or Cuphead Show.

I have no regrets and I would still pick Charlie's Dad as The Number 1 Adorkable Apple Goober King.

but those who do see the poll can pick either him or the two versions of Devil from Cuphead Game or Cuphead Show.

of course my first poll I make on here, will be weird, what you see is what you get, and at times its gonna be weird with me.

Blitzdust might stay in the "I bud it" zone and it's okay if it does, and even if Husk and Angel do become closer like they do eventually in the canon timeline, that would mean that Huskdust would be in the friend zone as well.

I wouldn't mind poly-shipping Blitzhusk/Blitzdust/Huskdust.

it is possible that only some percent of poly-ships work.

and Niffty can be the daughter of those three, because of Angel seeming to be a Helicopter-Dad in one episode, and Husk being the Tired-Dad who has to make their daughter happy, of course I'm gonna "Fam" those three. XD

Blitzwing would be the Fun-Dad.

it could still be possible that Blitzwing knows about Niffty's interest in bad boys, and could end up being very amused whenever Niffty chases Lockdown around and trying to add his fur or one of his snake scales to her collection.

and Blitzwing wouldn't warn Lockdown about Niffty's little habit and how she can smell a bad boy from across the other side of the hotel.

I don't know why I love Megatron x Carmilla, but they just seem well too perfect together, and yeah they might not meet in blitzy-blitzwing's story, but I wouldn't mind writing their ship in the story I'm working on that has Sari as a main character, which by the way has Sari at the age of 23 and later I will have her become 24 years old and the story that involves Sari is still gonna be on hiatus.

I might do another drawing of Sari in her much older form sometime.

and yeah, my drawing the Megamilla ship drawing which was my first ship drawing of Megamilla, was thanks to listening to the song "Out For Love" from one of the episodes of Hazbin Hotel.

I can't help but think that if Megatron and Carmilla Carmine EVER got into a fight, where it is Overlord Vs Overlord, it would be a mix of a battle between two would be both deadly and beautiful, like a very deadly and dangerous dance.

like even if they point some weapons at each other, but it would look like Megatron is dipping Carmilla in the middle of their fight that looks like a dance to most eyes/optics.

also is it weird if the Overlord that Alastor took out, reminds me of Martha from Helluva Boss...?

I wouldn't be surprised if she did become a Overlord, but she shouldn't be allowed to keep the title for long even if she did become one.

Angel could end up finding out a bit too little too late about his true feelings for Blitzwing, which would leave Blitzdust in the Platonic Zone.

and of course even if Vaggie is a Angel, no one could tell, because of her Moth form looking not very different from a Sinner, which might be a good thing, it is a balance between both worlds, like a Twilight or something.

so of course the Autobots that make up Team Optimus, and Megatron and the Other Decepticons wouldn't know that Vaggie wasn't originally a Sinner, and she was a Exorcist and is a Angel.

like picture in a Crossover AU, if The Well Of Allsparks had the same problems.

and picture Emily and Charlie's song, becomes a Trio, with Sari Sumdac singing along with them.

I like the idea of Emily and Charlie forming a type of sisterly bond, and Charlie being like the big sister and Emily being the little sister.

I think it could be possible that Emily, could be around 17 or 18 biologically, which would mean she could be close to Octavia's age.

in the story I'm working on, that has to do with Sari which at first she wasn't originally the main character but then I got the idea to add Transformers into the mix, which works well for the title.

but yeah, Sari now sees that not all Decepticons are evil and there is a reason why they became the way they are.

and yeah, there can be some evidence and proof on the number of planets that the Decepticons have and the high number of planets the Autobots have, and some of those autobot colonized planets may have had organic life on it before they were cyber-formed for the needs of the Cybertronian life that would be the Autobots.

if in a Fanon Timeline in a Crossover AU, where Optimus and Megatron's Team are in the afterlife in a Hazformers Timeline.

Sari could end up becoming a Leader made up of both Human and Cybertronians, to fight back Cybertron and keep them from Cyber-forming Earth.

those who become a part of her Freedom Fighters or Rebellion against those like Ultra Magnus (who I still think is secretly Megazarak, and I still like Transformers Prime Ultra Magnus a bit more than that one.)

the Rebellion, is made up both Earthborn Cybertronians, who would technically be Terrans, and not just the ones born from the Emberstone but also those who were born from the Allspark.

those who would end up being part of Sari's Team and Family of The Rebellion, would not just be Humans, but also Autobots and Decepticons, and the reason why the Decepticons follow Sari might not only be the whole her technically being Megatron's daughter through him going through the budding stage in Sumdac's Secret Lab.

but they also could believe that she is the hope for a better future, because she could of been the first in a very long time, to speak out against those who control Cybertron and have corrupted the spark and processors of its citizens.

like picture one of the Decepticons that was part of Megatron's most loyal Decepticons, falling in battle and ending up meeting Megatron in well the wrong afterlife, and Megatron wondering why they are wearing two insignia (one being Decepticon and the other being Terran but like in the color Green with Purple Highlights.)

the said Decepticon would end up telling Megatron, that he was fighting along side his Ladyship Sari, along side other Decepticons, Autobots and Humans to fight the Autobots on Cybertron trying to Cyber-form Earth.

who knows how Megatron would react to that, like learning that a small human is now leading his decepticons.

well she was a cybertronian first, she just ended up becoming a hybrid and becoming human, thanks to the DNA she absorbed.

I still like the idea of Isaac having a twin brother, called Ivaan and the twin brother being like the Ford Pines of their universe.

and yeah in a plot twist, Isaac would turn out to be the Uncle and Ivaan would turn out to be the true genetic human father.

even if both Huskdust and Blitzdust ended up in friend zone, Angel could end up end up with someone unexpected, besides Megatron.

like so unexpected like the ship that is Mamtella, which the name itself still reminds me of food and that you put on toast.

I'm talking about the whole Mammon x Stella, which I'm gonna call their ship name Mamtella, which still sounds like food.

would it be weird to think if Blitzwing walked in on Megatron and Carmilla making out, Blitzwing would act like Will from The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air.

of course Megatron, would be like the Mom in the situation.

and Blitzwing could be telling Carmilla

"I'm not ready to talk you yet, young lady!" XD

of course the reference would be a bit different, well unless it has them just sitting on the bed and they were caught making-out by Blitzwing....and well, Bumblebee being well himself, he would likely think they are having a sleepover and ends up being picked up by Ratchet and covering his optics, even if he does cover Bumblebee's optics, all Megatron and Carmilla are doing are making-out.

like it could turn out, at first Megatron was going to try to take-out Carmilla while she was sleeping, but she ends up knowing he was there and they did fight, but the fight ended up leading to them kissing, so even if Blitzwing and Zestial wanted to stop them from k*lling each other, they end up walking in on them kissing.

I'm still gonna OTP Crossover ship Megamilla, and it is thanks to that song "Out For Love" I ended up drawing that first ship drawing of those two.

Swindle's true love could be anyone or anything, well he does seem to love money, so him ending up falling for and zinging with someone that isn't money, could be a surprise.

and even if Lockdown tries to get Prowl to like him, but he isn't given the time of day, but right behind Lockdown, there will be Niffty breathing down his neck and wanting to make him her boyfriend.

I would enjoy the thoughts of the Semi-Ship, where Lockdown is being pursued by Niffty, it is interesting and a bit funny.

some Semi-Ships are like one-sided feelings, or like maybe when two do have feelings for each other but are either too scared or shy to come out to each other with their feelings.

in Lockdown's case with Niffty, it would be the one-sided attraction where the other has to run like Charlie's Dad is behind them giving chase. XD

or like if Unicron was chasing them.

and to Lockdown, it would be like Unicron is chasing him, even if it is a small and hyper sinner demon called Niffty.

Lockdown could try to act less of a bad boy, but Niffty could probably smell that he is faking being a good boy, and knows he is still a bad boy.

some ships are platonic and some are romantic, but for the platonic types you don't use "I ship it" you use "I bud it" for the friendship type and the "I fam it", "I sib it" for the family type that is of course platonic.

there are different forms of romantic ships, plus for those who might be in a romantic relationship or might already be so.

ya don't have to make-out all the time or act all mushy all the type to show their affection, I mean most can just respect each others space when needed (which the Adam from our universe should of done for Lilith, and those Three Angels should of done so as well...), like if your partner doesn't want to be touched at times, then it is important to respect that and only touch them if they are okay with it.

I mean ya can watch a movie or show or play a video games together, even if it has a bit of romance in it but also some action in it where their is fighting some bad guys.

not every moment together has to be some heated make-out, and with how some humans are, they believe one attraction has more importance than the romantic attraction.

but at least not every person is like that, there could still be different tender moments between those who are together, and it doesn't have to be well something that is a making-out being mandatory.

and some Crossover ships can start out as friends first that slowly become a romantic type, while still being friends but also more.

Husk's smile in that isn't forced, is really great, and it is nice to see him smile from his heart along with Angel in a episode where they end up forming a Bromance, which it could mean Huskdust is in the friendship zone, even if Angel still has a crush on him.

we could view that Angel had zinged with Husk the moment he first saw him.

so it might be understandable why he would get upset with Vaggie, but Angel still puts on the persona to flirt with Husk.

Angel might flirt with guys that he finds attractive, but there could be more to the flirting, and for those he truly feels a deep attraction for, will be more than just a one time fling.

anyway I think I will wait to talk more about the different type of ships, in both romantic and platonic in a part 3 of this.

which might not be right away or even on the same month as the part 1 and part 2, but I will try to get around to it when I'm able to.

maybe I will talk about Shockkitty in the part 3, of course that is a ship name of Shockwave and Valentino's Robo-Fizz who is called Kitty. and Kitty's being in a episode, would prove that Hazbin Hotel and Helluva Boss do take place in the same universe but in two different stories happening in that same universe.

Shockkitty could be platonic or romantic, or like a ship that starts out just friends but ends up being more than just friends who end up with romantic feelings.

it's okay not everyone likes the Crossover ship idea about Shockkitty, but I will try to find the time to talk more about it and how it could work in a part 3 of this, even if they might not really meet even if it is in a Fanon, but the idea of Shockwave getting a soft spot for Kitty and being protective of them, does seem sweet.

of course that might be just me, and I still want to view Kitty as being a girl, well nonbinary type, where they go by She/Her & They/Them.

not sure if Kitty will even speak in the show or what type of personality she has, but fans can still love them.

and well besides Shockkitty, I could think about who Lugnut would be ship with, besides Strika, I think he could do better than her...

he's too good for her anyway, plus for all we know she could be in a secret relationship with Obsidian, ya know, the Decepticon, NOT the Gem Fusion from Steven Universe with the same name.

Tigerhawk was technically the first romantic fusion before Steven Universe's OTP Power Couple that form Garnet.

so Cybertronians combining into a new Cybertronian, can either be platonic or romantic. but yeah, Lugnut could end up with someone who could be better for him and it could be possible that Strika could end up two-timing him with Obsidian, even if Lugnut is very loyal and sweet as a gummy-bear to her.

Lugnut is a Sweet Gummy-Bear Bug that must be protected.

well now I have a nickname for the Sinner Demon version of Lugnut from the Hazformers AU...and that is Sweet Gummy-Bear Bug. XD

anyway like I said, when I'm able to I will write part 3 for this and maybe even talk about the thought of maybe a heart-to-heart or like a spark-to-heart talk between Vaggie and Blackarachnia, who if we think about it, kind of have something in common but still being different at the same time.

like one of the things that are different, is that Vaggie was betrayed on purpose, and Blackarachnia was accidentally betrayed.

Vaggie was a Angel, and Blackarachnia was a Autobot.

well technically, Vaggie is still a Angel, but the two could share their past and how they felt when they were hurt by those they trusted.

Vaggie could hear Blackarachnia's story, but also understand that it did seem that it was a accident, but it still doesn't mean that Optimus and Sentinel leaving her behind, didn't still hurt and cause some form of emotional and psychological harm.

and Vaggie, could see that Blackarachnia has a right to be mad but also if Optimus does truly feel sorry for hurting her, than maybe when she is ready, she can try to talk it through, and not just how she had been placing all the blame on him.

if Vaggie and Blackarachnia did form a type of bond, it would be more like a "I fam it" and could be like in a process of Blackarachnia "redeeming" but not in the same way that would turn a Sinner into a Winner, unless Blackarachnia fully accepting a part of what happen in the past was part of her fault, and not just Sentinel and Optimus.

then she might end up transforming into a Angel version of her Original form Elita-1. or she could stay as she is, I'm speaking of a what if type of hypothetical, where if Blackarachnia did accept she shares part of the blame and not just Optimus and Sentinel, it could cause her to transform into a Angel version of her original form.

so yeah, Vaggarachnia would be platonic and be like Blackarachnia being like the Big Sister and Vaggie being the Little sister.

we could view Waspinator being the Little Brother of Charlie, who has become really attached to her, and for all we know, he could be younger than her, even if she is biologically 20, the chronology of the age could be different...but Cybertronians aging is a bit different.

so Waspinator could still be like the little brother, and Charlienator would be platonic just like Vaggarachnia.

I mean if Vaggie and Blackarachnia did bond over their past on how they were betrayed by two people they trusted.

but unlike Vaggie, Blackarachnia wasn't found by someone who would keep her in the light and fill her heart/spark with love.

in other words, Blackarachnia never found her Charlie.

and anyway, maybe I will talk about a romantic ship for Blackarachnia in the part 3...I'm going to check out some art and maybe do another post, and maybe I will wait a few days to make a second poll.

my first poll I ended up making on here, ended up being about Charlie's Dad and the two versions of King Dice's Boyfriend, which I did mention in this...who knows which one of them will win and be The True Adorkable Apple Goober King...we still have time, so it could either be the Devil from the Cuphead Game or Cuphead Show that might win, or Lucifer from Hazbin Hotel.

once again, Lucifer from Hazbin Hotel, was the first one I gave the nickname "Adorkable Apple Goober" and even if the nickname stays in the fanon and doesn't become canon, I'm fine with that.

but yeah, I'm still gonna call him by that nickname.

maybe the next poll I make will end up being weirder than that one.

I have no regrets getting weird on that poll, and it was the first one I made on Tumblr, and I'm glad I was able to make it.

anyway besides making a part 3 of this in maybe tomorrow or a few days...

I think maybe if I don't try to do that whole salt thing on my pendulum today or later tonight, I can either try tomorrow or in a few days or maybe wait until next month.

it could still be pulling one of it's pranks on me, even if I did try to get it to reply with "No" but kept going clockwise fast for "Yes"...

well I can worry about that later...anyway maybe I can talk about other Crossover ships sometime.

maybe like Jevil x Pomni, you know like from Deltarune and The Amazing Digital Circus respectfully.

maybe I can draw Jevil x Pomni sometime, which might not be right away but whenever I feel like drawing the ship idea of those two.

I think a ship between Niffty and Blitzwing, wouldn't really be romantic, but it would be the type you don't call a "ship" because it would be the platonic type that you use the words "I fam it" when describing it.

cause Blitzwing would be The Other Dad to Niffty, and have to try to keep her under control when she gets a little too bad boy crazy. XD

so Angel and Husk would probably wouldn't mind handing Niffty over to Blitzwing for him to watch her, because Angel and Husk could be tired from trying to calm her down as well as trying to keep her from chasing every bad boy that catches her interest.

so yeah, Niffty's relationship with those three, would be platonic and her being the daughter they never had.

so yeah, when it comes to Angel seemingly acting like Dad to Niffty without meaning to, "I fam it." and even if that wasn't really the purpose of the episode where it happen, but Angel still seem like a Helicopter Dad to Niffty, and Husk being the Tired Dad. XD

and well anyway I'm going to just hurry up and post this, and check out a few more fan arts on here and then I might just go and lay down and sleep for a few hours before waking up again, and watching a movie later....so yeah, if I don't make part 3 this month, I will try to do so next month and it might not be as long or maybe it will...

anyway if by chance some do see that poll I made that is about Charlie's Dad and King Dice's Boyfriend, I hope some have fun picking who they think would be the Number 1 Adorkable Apple Goober. :)

[ladyeyrewrites]

Feelings Hurled Like Hand Grenades

Part 4 of Rebuilding Burnt Bridges (Read Part One, Part Two, and Part Three)

Chapter One: Do Some Homework

Rated M

3,138 words

“Please, for the love of God and Martha Stewart, do some homework.”

When Aunt Gina told Mikey to do something, he always tried his best to do it. Not that he was always successful. Let’s be honest, most of the time he wound up failing miserably. Case in point: his marriage. And that was only the latest in a long line of Mikey Kinard screw ups.

But he was sober now, so maybe that’d make a difference.

God, Mikey hoped it would make a difference cuz he really didn’t want to fuck up this chance he had to have his older brother back in his life.

So, when Mikey got off the phone with his Aunt Gina, he went on his laptop and pulled up Google. Sure, he could have used his phone, but he didn’t like doing import things like booking flights or emailing his lawyer on his phone. And this felt like an important Google search: how not to be an asshole to your gay older brother.

Which honestly didn’t produce super helpful results accept for a few Am I the Asshole Posts on Reddit, so Mikey put his professional pants on and refined his search terms until he came across the PFLAG website which had a bunch of super useful information about how to be an ally to your LGBTQ+ family and friends.

Continue reading under the cut or on Ao3

Mikey maybe spent the rest of the afternoon reading as much of the website as he could. Maybe he looked up the local chapter to see when their next meeting was before realising that he was going to be late for his AA meeting if he didn’t stop the research binge in its tracks and leave now.

Part of Mikey want to screw his AA meeting and keeping reading, but no. If he wanted to keep seeing the kids, his sponsor had to sign off on the fact that he’d attended a certain number of meetings each month. And Mikey couldn’t do that to his kids. Not again. This time really had to be different.

So Mikey put his laptop to sleep and grabbed his keys and spent the entire drive from his shitty bachelor pad thinking about the glossary of LGBTQIA+ terms he’d read through and how much bigger the world was than the binaries of gay and straight and male and female. It made him a little angry that he hadn’t known any of it before, that his father had shut down all conversation of such things when he was a kid and then Mikey just hadn’t thought to find out what he was missing out on.

Not that Mikey thought he was anything but a straight, cis (a term he’d only heard inadequately explained in mandatory workplace non-discrimination workshops) man, but he’d never known there were so many other options out there.

He was still thinking about it when he parked in the church parking lot (same one where they’d held Nonna’s funeral all those months back) and when he trudged down to the basement with its industrial carpeting and flickering florescent lights that were still stained with cigarette ash back when they’d still allowed smoking during coffee hour after church. Back when Mikey was a little kid. Back when Tommy and Mom were still around.

Mikey took a seat in a plastic folding chair in his usual spot in the circle. It was mostly the regulars and a couple new faces, a couple folks who hadn’t been to a meeting in a while. Mikey was glad they were back. Glad they were giving it another go, wondered if the regulars were glad every time he came back after falling off the wagon and finding a new rock bottom again. But that wondering was only a brief detour from the world of aromantics and internalised homophobia and queerbaiting and two-spirit that had opened up to him that afternoon.

To be honest, Mikey hardly heard a word every one else said as they moved around the circle introducing themselves, sharing if they wanted. He almost didn’t notice when it was his turn to climb stiff-kneed to his feet and say “Hi, my name’s Mikey and I’m an alcoholic.”

“Hi Mikey!” the room replied with varying levels of enthusiasm.

This was usually the part where Mikey started talking about how his drinking had led to him blowing up his marriage and almost loosing visitation with his kids, keeping it all fresh and current. But the drinking went back further than that. So much further. Back to when Tommy left for the army and suddenly Dad didn’t have his favourite verbal punching bag and Mikey – who’d always been invisible – was thrust into the ice blue spotlight of his father’s eye.

“I uh, don’t think I’ve talked about why I’m here before,” Mikey began. “I mean, sure. I’ve told you guys about the blackouts, the driving drunk, the benders, missing all those important moments in my kids’ lives because the booze seemed more important at the time.” Mikey shook his head, took a breath. It never really got easier, this bluntly talking about all the ways he’d fucked up, but that was part of the problem, wasn’t it: taking the easy way out by drinking instead of actually facing his shit.

“I don’t think I ever talked about how I started in the first place. Not here. Not honestly.” This next part was hard, but he had to get it over with, so he crossed his arms and fixed his gaze on a stain in the carpet almost exactly in the centre of the circle of chairs. “My mom died when I was fourteen. An accident. Wish I could say she died on impact, but she didn’t. They kept her alive for days before they could get Dad sober enough to make the decision to pull the plug.

“It wrecked my dad.” Mikey sniffed because as much as he knew his father was an absolute bastard, he still loved his dad, still felt sorry for him. “Wrecked all of us: me and my brothers. But it made Dad worse. He was always angry before. Pissed at the world, God, my brother. But before Mom died, he had good days. Days where he was fun. Days where he fixed my bike. Sometimes he’d even take all of us fishing or hunting. You know, real father-son kinda shit.” Mikey smiled, remembering the first time he’d ever caught a fish on his own and how proud Dad had looked. He hadn’t said much, just nodded with a hint of a smile on his lips and clapped Mikey on the shoulder. It was one of Mikey’s favourite memories.

“The good days pretty much vanished after Mom died,” said Mikey. “Dad got angrier. He got meaner. He was always worse with my older brother, Tommy, than he was with us younger ones. I don’t think he ever forgave Tommy for being born, for forcing him to get married so young, get a job, live a life he never wanted.” Mikey shook his head. “Anyway, all my life, I remember my dad shouting at Tommy, blaming Tommy for all sorts of shit. Hitting Tommy. And yeah, Tommy tried to please him, but there was no pleasing Dad, especially not when he was drunk, or his back was hurting.

“But then Tommy got bigger and stronger, and he started shouting back and Dad couldn’t throw him around anymore and it was all yelling all the time. And then Mom died, and Dad tried to blame Tommy for that too. So, Tommy left. Joined the army.”

The day Tommy told him about enlisting was one of Mikey’s most vivid memories.

2002

They were in the backyard trying to clear away the weeds from Mom’s vegetable garden even though neither of them really knew what was a weed and what was supposed to be there. Tony had gotten bored and wandered off towards the back of the yard, by the fence line which was overgrown and the perfect place to look for sticks and insects. “There’s something I gotta tell you,” Tommy said, pulling at a fluffy looking stem only to reveal that it wasn’t a weed but some sort of mutant looking carrot.

They both stared at the carrot for a moment, with its many twisting limbs that almost made it look like a little person dancing in the dirt.

“Wonder if it tastes any good?” Mikey asked. He gave it a sniff and it didn’t smell like carrot, only dirt.

“Wanna find out?” Tommy tossed him the carrot and waited until Mikey took a bite of the bitter, gritty, weirdo carrot before continuing. “I enlisted.”

Mikey spat out the carrot, panic rising through him like a growing flame. “In the army?”

Tommy nodded, pulling out a dandelion stem. “Yeah.”

“But we need you,” said Mikey. He knew it was supposed to be this big brave thing, joining up to get revenge for 9/11, but other people’s brothers could be brave in Afghanistan. Not Tommy. “We just lost Mom. And Dad—” no need to finish that sentence. The whole reason they were out there in the back yard was because Dad was home sleeping off his latest bender and they wanted to keep him asleep for as long as possible.

Tommy sighed. “I can’t stay here, Mikey.”

“Then move out and take us with you,” said Mikey. “We can live together.”

Tommy smiled at that, like he liked the idea and for a moment Mikey was hopeful, but then Tommy had to go and shake his head. “I don’t have any money, Mikey,” said Tommy. “Not enough for rent and groceries and school supplies for you and Tony. You think we’re poor now, it’ll be worse if we all leave.”

“I don’t care about that,” said Mikey. “You can’t leave us alone with him. I can get an after-school job. I can help out.”

Tommy put his hand on the back of Mikey’s head. “I promise you, I’ll come back for you,” he said. “As soon as my contract’s up, I’ll come get you and Tony and we can leave this town and never look back.”

“Promise?” Mikey asked.

“Cross my heart and hope to die,” said Tommy.

2025

Mikey shook himself out of the memory. He was still standing in that church basement, a circle of alcoholics around him, in the middle of telling the story about how he’d started drinking. Where was he? Oh yeah, Tommy joining the army. “I don’t blame Tommy. Not for leaving. Maybe I blame him for not coming back though. Okay, there’s no maybe about it. I do blame him and for a long time I was so angry about it I never stopped to think about it from his point of view.” But that was getting ahead of himself. “With Tommy gone, Dad needed someone else to blame for his problems and he picked me.”

Mikey didn’t want to go into the details, not here. Not now in front of a group of relative strangers. He didn’t even want to get into it in his own head, not until his therapist eventually dragged it out of him kicking and screaming. “Anyway, I needed an escape,” he said. “And hey, booze seemed to work for Dad, so why not me? Except, like Dad, it made me worse. Made me say awful shit to people I love. Made me do things I never woulda done if I was sober.”

Mikey didn’t know how long he’d been talking. He should probably start wrapping things up, but he needed to say his piece. “Tommy’s helicopter crashed,” he said. “Two years into his six-year contract. Six months out of flight school. I don’t know what happened, exactly but they shipped him home from Afghanistan and gave him an honourable discharge. Medical. He was pretty banged up, but it was the PTSD that was the worst bit. But I didn’t really understand what that meant at the time. I was sixteen, spent most of the time I wasn’t in school drinking under the overpass.

“So, I get this bright idea in my head – at least it seemed like a bright idea after raiding my dad’s liquor cabinet – that me and my little brother could go and live with Tommy now that he’s back,” Mikey shook his head. “I took Tony to the VA hospital to see Tommy. He was pretty out of it, covered in bruises, probably barely aware we were there. I asked him if we could live with him. Never doubted he’d say yes, cuz Tommy was always there for us when we needed him.” Mikey shook his head. “Only this time he wasn’t. Said we had to go home, back to Dad or to our aunt’s. I was still drunk, and it pissed me off cuz before he left he promised we’d be together when he got back. I, uh,” Mikey was ashamed of this next bit, “I called him a fa—” The word had been so easy to say when he was sixteen and drunk. Now, it stuck in his throat. Maybe that was progress. “Called him a slur. He told me to leave. Didn’t see him again for almost twenty years. Until my Nonna’s funeral.” Mikey shook his head. “He looked good. Not happy of course; it was a funeral, but he’s got a guy and they’re getting married and I’m happy for him. I just wish I coulda been there for him the way he was for me when we were kids.” Mikey wasn’t sure how long he’d been rambling for or if he’d made any sense, but it was probably time to wrap things up. “Anyway, I uh said that when I was drunk and for a long time, I didn’t see anything wrong with what I said. I was just so caught up in being angry and trying to make myself feel better that I never thought about how I hurt my brother. Kicked him when he was down. I wanna fix that. I’m gonna try to fix it.”

Mikey sat back down.

#

He called Tommy back after his meeting.

It went to voicemail and Mikey didn’t know if that meant Tommy was off doing some heroic rescue down in LA or if he was screening his calls or what, but Mikey left a message. “Hey, Tommy, it’s me Mikey, your brother. Which is probably pretty obvious unless you know another Mikey. I, uh, wanted to say congratulations on your engagement. Auntie G, told me and I, uh, I’m happy for you. And yeah, I wanna talk. Wanna try being brothers again, whatever that means. Heck, if you wanna go to family therapy, I’m down. Already doing that with my kids on top of my own therapy and going to AA meetings. And yeah. Text me some dates and I’ll see when Tony’s free and we’ll fly down to LA to see you. No need for you to come back up here. I’m sure you’ve got a lot of shit memories of this town, and I’d rather do this some place you’re more comfortable.” Mikey really had diarrhoea of the mouth today, didn’t he? “Anyway, let me know. Love you.”

He hung up and only then realised how he’d finished his message. He almost panicked, but why shouldn’t a guy tell his brother he loved him, huh? He’d been reading about the toxicity of men not being allowed to share their emotions and how damaging it was and that had really resonated with him, so why not tell his brother he loved him? Nothing wrong with that. It was healthy even.

Mikey sighed and checked the time. It was getting on towards midnight. Oh, maybe that was why Tommy hadn’t answered. He was probably asleep. Tony wouldn’t be asleep though. Tony was a night owl, always had been. The guy had been impossible to get to sleep when he was little and hadn’t changed a bit since. So, Mikey called his younger brother.

“You better not be in jail, Mikey,” said Tony, picking up after the second ring.

“They don’t let you use your own phone in jail, dumbass,” said Mikey. Although, to be fair Mikey didn’t usually call his younger brother after midnight unless he needed bailing out. “Nah, it’s about Tommy.”

Tony’s sharp intake of breath was audible over the line. “What about him?”

“He called me,” Mikey said. “I gave him my card back at the funeral. It’s been so long, figured it wasn’t gonna happen. But Tommy called me this afternoon. He wants to see us. To talk to us.”

Tony stayed quiet for a long time and maybe Mikey had overstated to both Tommy and Aunt Gina how much Tony was actually interested in rekindling a relationship with their estranged older brother. But surely Tony would give it a chance, right? Give Tommy a chance? Sure, what happened sucked, but it had been twenty years since then, surely, they were all adult enough to sort things out and move on?

Finally, Tony spoke. “You really want to do this?” he asked.

“I do,” said Mikey. “I want my brother back. I want to do it right. I found this thing called PFLAG, sounds a bit like AA but for people with gay family members.”

“I know what PFLAG is,” said Tony. “My best friend’s a lesbian, remember.”

“Oh, yeah,” said Mikey because, yeah, he’d forgotten. “Any way, I think I’m gonna go to a couple meetings. Check it out.”

“Good for you,” said Tony.

“You wanna come?” Mikey asked.

Tony chuckled. “If you want to invest all this energy right off that bat, Mikey, go for it,” he said. “But I’m not going to a PFLAG meeting until after we talk to Tommy. Now, when’s that going to be?”

“I’ll let you know,” said Mikey. “Think you can take time off to come down to LA with me?”

Tony sighed. “Yeah. I can swing that.”

“Just don’t tell Dad,” said Mikey.

“I know,” said Tony. “I’m not an idiot, Mikey.”

“Good,” said Mikey. “Yeah, anyway. I’ll text you.”

“Bye, Mikey,” said Tony.

Mikey looked down at his phone. Looked around his mostly empty apartment with it’s eggshell white walls and rented furniture and clean floors. There weren’t any toys to trip over, no crayon scribbles on the walls, no stains on the upholstery and maybe some people would have thought that was a good thing, but to Mikey, it just spoke to how empty his life had become since the divorce. To the hole gnawing away at his innards every time he had to say goodbye at the end of his supervised visits with the girls.

A brother wasn’t a kid, but both were family and Mikey wanted so desperately to have his family back.

[rosereflects]

10/10/2023

[12/26/2023]- With some free time on my hands and a newfound sense of purpose and determination owed to the fantasy of our union, I have decided to share some recent diary entries. Though they are lacking in the philosophical speculation which I believe will draw us close, they are at least a brief introduction into the current state of my life. Further, I hardly expect you to find this collection any time soon, if at all. My intention is that when (if) that happens you will have enough to form a clear conception of me. 

[10/10/2023]- I find myself in this cave once more, though this time the circumstances are quite a bit different. I have quite a bit to talk about, and despite not planning on writing today, I will use the day well. I should mention here that I plan on collecting, editing, and sharing my recent writings, as well as those that are hopefully to come. I am thinking of The Reflections, my journal entries, and The Confessions. I only mention this because I have just very recently ‘lost’ several writings, namely a personal narrative with an explanation of Universal Evolution, a journal entry, and a close-to-finished version of the theory of Pride. With that in mind, I will start back at the beginning of September.

As of the first of September I am now twenty and five years old. It is difficult to recognize that I have been roaming this world for a quarter of a century. It’s shameful to recognize that as of yet there is still nothing of value to which I can put my name to. I hope that will change soon; that is, after all, the purpose of this trip. Still, it is terrifying to think that my life could at any moment end and there would remain no meaningful proof of my existence, nothing which would tell what I once was, and nothing that could possibly justify a quarter century experience. This collection of writings, I believe and hope, will be the very first thing to change that.

Now I would like to mention something that has been on my mind quite a lot lately. For quite some time now, I have been interested in combat sports. Lately however, I find myself thinking about them much more. I have also (loosely) kept a workout routine, but have recently increased this in both intensity and duration. I very much enjoy the idea of competing with others and building myself up to a level where I feel confident doing so. I am seriously considering joining some gym to learn a martial art upon my return home. This, like writing, seems like an avenue which may lead to feelings of true accomplishment. I believe it is exciting, difficult, and a practice to which I could dedicate several years of my life. At any rate, I genuinely hope that I do not lose this passion for some time.

I am still living in Arizona with my host Martha. It has now been over three months and I have no intention of making it past four. Things have been very well at the farm, and I believe I could rightly call Martha a friend. However, I did not plan to spend anywhere near this much time in any one place. There truly is nothing of significance to complain about here, and thus I would not mind staying longer if it were not for the fact that I have limited time while on this trip. I also told my family that I would be back in Texas for Christmas and New Years. After that, considering I wish to see as much of this country as possible, I think it would make more sense to head East rather than back West again. I would very much like to reach the West coast, however, I would just as much, or more, love to see White Sands National Park in NM. Thus, my biggest practical question at the moment is figuring out where to head to next. I have also considered simply visiting the park and then heading to California to WWOOF. As I consider it now, I think this may be the best option. After leaving Martha’s, I could take a couple of days to see Hoover Dam, the Grand Canyon, and White Sands.

While I am on the subject of camping, I would also like to mention a recent camping trip I had. About two weeks ago, I visited the Pierce Ferry Rapids. To reach that point, I took a ten minute walk along a sand path, and once at the rapids I decided to keep walking along the river. I walked/ hiked for about two and a half hours, pausing here and there to take pictures or a bit of shade, until I found a nice tree with plenty of space to set up underneath. I walked back to my truck, a bit faster this time, gathered my things, and headed back. I spent two nights there and had a very relaxed time. I did not do any real writing while I was there, but I did take my first attempt at composing a poem. Frankly, it was far from good, but I do believe it is something I should devote some focus to. The last thing to mention regarding my stay at Martha’s is the arrival of a new WWOOFer. This was Amanita, and they arrived just a couple of days before my trip to the rapids.

Amanita’s original name is Arnold Joseph, but they decided to change it some time back. They are not the type of person I would normally make friends with, this stemming simply from the fact that we share practically nothing in common, yet we hit it off well. They were polite and amicable, and several times we enjoyed a smoke after dinner. After a discussion of my recent camping trips, we planned a trip together. This decision would cost me those writings I mentioned, a headache, and is the reason I am writing now. 

Our trip began yesterday morning very innocently. We both packed our things, Amanita had breakfast and I a shower, and we headed out. We each came in our own vehicle because Amanita planned on heading home for a week after the trip. The first thing we did was head to a nearby dollar store for supplies. I bought some food for myself, as well as two 12-packs of beer and four boxes of cigarettes. Upon arriving here, the first thing we did was hike up to the cave with just a small number of supplies. We had had no more than three beers each when we decided the sun was low enough to begin hiking around. We walked for less than an hour before we reached the peak. Once there, Amanita decided it was the right time to take some acid. I, of course, agreed, believing there to be no cause for concern. We had reached the bottom before we began to feel the effects. We then brought the rest of our stuff up and got ready for a chill night in the cave. However, not thirty minutes had passed when Amanita decided they would like to sleep at the bottom, near the vehicles, and this was not up for debate. As we were beginning to feel the acid start to take full effect, we quickly gathered what we needed for the night and headed down. Once back at the bottom, I had the most enjoyable twenty to thirty minutes while the acid was hitting me full blast. Then, it was very quickly ruined.

I am really not sure when or how I noticed, but Amanita had all their stuff in their car. Then, without warning or explanation, hopped inside and started the vehicle. I quickly jumped up, put my hands on the driver’s window and asked what they were doing. Amanita’s only response was that they needed to talk to a friend, were leaving to get service, and may be back. I truly tried to stop them. I held on to the car, begged and pleaded, and even chased after them. I begged them not to leave. Afterwards, I was left with the stress of knowing I had provided alcohol to a twenty year old who was now high and driving. I did not believe driving after them was a good idea, so I stayed put. This morning I considered packing my things, driving out, and calling them to see if they were ok, but decided against it. I do not believe there is anything left for me to do now. Whether Amanita is or is not ok is not something I can change at this point. The only question is whether there is or is not some sort of trouble waiting for me on my return. Obviously then, I am not very happy towards Amanita and would gladly prefer to not see them again. Thus, despite not planning on writing today, here I am. Lastly, the reason I no longer have those couple of writings is that once we made the last trek down the cave yesterday I wanted to bring my bag down, but as we were carrying too much I, for whatever reason, decided to pull only that booklet out and take it down. I handed it to Amanita who put it in their backpack, and I obviously only realized until after they were gone. However, that is not so bad. While I do wish I could have copied those writings, this is more or less the way I intended to share them. I originally planned to leave it somewhere for a stranger to find, but I figure that as long as I don’t see them again, it will be close enough. 

It is now Wednesday morning; we arrived here on Monday. My stuff has been packed and I am currently writing inside the truck. I am going through the final motions of leaving and frankly I’m a bit worried. I worry there is some sort of legal punishment awaiting my return. I do not believe it to be very likely, but definitely a possibility. However, I genuinely believe I did not commit any sort of moral wrong. This trip was truly intended to be only innocently fun. I do hope everything is ok and I hope to not see Amanita again. Were it not for that detail, this trip would have been much more enjoyable. I believe it still was, to an extent, but I truly must take this as a lesson and attempt to not repeat it. In any case, I hope the next time I put pen to paper I am in much better spirits.

-Rose

[arkhameirs]

it was the work of a man who had wrapped himself so up in his delusions that he missed the truth that was woven between each entry. i drove myself to the brink in my search , i now have ten out of the twelve and while i continue forward i'm haunted by the idea that gotham is not up for control - that -i- can't do anything ... to enter the court of owls would result in my death alone - no , i must sit on the sidelines for they have no use for me.

THE COURT OF OWLS ; alan wayne entries.

alan wayne became obsessed with the idea of eyes watching him , convinced that in each of the founding families quest for power that there was a society created within gotham to control the shift of power. they wanted the waynes - alan wayne only joined when threatened , he begrudgingly built 'eyes' and 'nests' into each building making the circle of power complete for the court. he spent many of his years avoiding various duties while expanding upon the empire of wayne. it was finally decided that alan wayne had become nothing more than a nuisance - it was then elected and upheld through each of the founding families that he be killed. so , down a manhole he went - the shores of gotham decomposing his body the only remaining identifier was indeed his gold plated 'W' tooth.

alan wayne went on to document every process and procedure for one to move freely within the court of owls. documenting that all with a single key that could unlock it all. bruce wayne found that key and the first page - it's been months of the batman going to locations that were either underwater or in areas that were safe from gotham's grip. traveling to the shore points as he found a deed to a shore house that at one time belonged to the waynes. these entries took days to decode , the result ?

bruce finding out that he himself is part of the court of owls by blood - the arkhams so loyal that they sent martha arkham to marry thomas wayne. a hope that they could AT LAST bring a wayne back into the fold ; though thomas rebelled knowing the wayne history with the court , and fought against them daily (it is thought that the court of owls killed thomas). this information then plants the seed that his brother is indeed involved - the two never quite confirming but , bruce accepting that in the eyes of the court the 'right' wayne is in their control (or so they think).

**UPDATES & NOTES**

there is no entering the court - the batman and bruce are not that powerful nor do they want to die. the various assassins that have been lobbied their way are always met with defeat , and bruce himself has survived three attacks on his life.

the only option is to somehow work with the court , and infiltrate through the kanes , elliots , and arkhams. his childhood friend thomas elliot has recently returned to gotham. thomas elliot working as a neurosurgeon in philadephia has unwillingly come into contact with edward nashton ... an elliot has returned and with that return comes hope.

[nadiajustbe]

Actually thinking about how contextually cool and important it is that's it Howl who says this line. Because I'm absolutely sure no one else would put it this way, mostly because of the senses and stereotypes they were surrounded growing up.

We're literally in a magic fairy tale land and every character acknowledges this in their own way: Sophie thinks she's the failure just because she's the oldest, Lettie thinks everyone want her to get a husband because a pretty heroine always ends up having a husband, Martha thinks she cannot just have a steady, home life because the youngest is supposed to go on adventure and the "three stage" journey, as If the classic storytelling structure, is very well known. Even the same fist line establishes the world (and country, as Ingary is one of a few, If not the only, magic driven land) we're in:

"In the land of Ingary, where such things as seven-league boots and cloaks of invisibility really exist, it is quite a misfortune to be born the eldest of three."

And for people of Ingary all of this rules are just a basic, fundamental knowledge. For us this a fairy tale world, yes, but for them it's pretty much real. They don't quote or just randomly blast with fairy tale quotes, because for them this kind of quotation is like for us, saying "if I cross the road at a red light, I can be killed" just simply staying on the street.

Sure, you can start putting it in context complaining about how you think that traffic lights system is stupid or how you would get faster to your job If it wasn't there, or how you might try to cross the road anyway because there's chance it won't hurt you and it all worth the risk. You may remind this simple rule in your head as If reminding yourself about how laws works as well, too, but there's no need saying it aloud. Yeah, that's the rule. Yeah, everyone knows that, your parent probably tell it to you when you were three. Of course that's how it is, there's reason laws exist, after all.

Except, here's the kick: Howl is not from this world. His view of Ingary is very close to ours. It may be even exactly like ours. We're from the same world, after all.

He's the one seeing it as fairy-tale rule world and not just "the way reality works". He's the one seeing how these rules affects the world while not thinking about it as the only law. He's the one getting the satire. He's the one getting all the best of it while all the others are completely unaware.

And, what's important, he's almost the only one quoting fairy tale lines and scenes alound. The ones Ingary might not even have, as it's our world thing, but still fairy tales:

"I could go and play bad fairy at my own christening if I wanted."

The Sleeping Beauty

“We can’t all be Mad Hatters,” said Howl."

Alice in the Wonderland

"Teach me to keep off envy’s stinging’-that’s all part of past years now."

"Go and catch a falling star" (a pretty much fairy-tale inspired poem)

And talking about the John Donne's verses, it's also incredibly smart for a witch to toolk a fairy-tale inspired poem and had him get from his not at all fairly tale home realm in which he doesn't live now. As If showing the results of him own actions.

The most important part about it is that he doesn't give a damn about this fantasy stereotypes. He adopts them when he wants it, yes — being a cool wizard in a lond expensive medieval costume and mystical skills is almost as cool as adopting great mythical character for your new perfect wizard name. But living by them was not even an option in his head, as If iy wouldn't be in mine or yours — he grew up in a word where being the youngest is nothing but getting old clothes from your older siblings from time to time, the only fate searching journey is your choice for college and dragons exits only in the childish paintings and old legends.

And this, originally, makes him more aware of how this world works than anyone else, really. He knows the mimic, he read it all. Just changing the world would never change the cultural and world-wide knowledge stuck in his head from the very childhood, and so he's playing with all of them like it's chess. He would never believe that this stupid words on a paper, even If you become a part of it, can tell you what you're supposed to do.

His own world couldn't tell him what he's supposed to do, so why this one should?

That why him reassuring Sophie that her being the oldest is not making her a failure. She's just thinks about this too much, and she doesn't have to. He doesn't do it. It's all nonsense. She shouldn't let this world with it's nonexisting rules to rule them, and he loves Sophie enough to tell just that.

That's why him saying "happily ever after" is such a powerful move. Because it's the classic fairy tale end. Because anyone else in this room would just take it for granted — that's how the story end.

But Howl sees this from the whole other perspective. He puts a comma near the end, as If understanding that he is in a magic world, he is in a some kind of a fairy tale land, that's how they end and he's saying it. That's the context he knows, the context he grew up with, the context he read thousands and thousands times at the end of a book.

But at the same time he's mocking it. Puts a comma instead of a period. He's "happily ever after" is not an end. It's the start of the most crazy, unbelievable, horrible stories in the whole universe, all of them — and it would be hair-raising, and he would be exploited, and Sophie would cut up all his suits to teach him.

In his view, happily ever after is just a figure of speech, because for the first time he would able too see and feel it, instead of just taking as "The end".

Because who needs fairy-tale rules when you have your own?

I WILL NEVER GET OVER:

"I think we ought to live happily ever after".

EVER.

[ragingbookdragon]

Friends To Arranged Marriage To...Wait, How Many Kids?

Bruce Wayne x Reader One-Shot

Word Count: 3K Warnings: Explicit Language

Author's Note: Y'all ever write a self-indulgent Friends To Lovers fic? 'Cause that's what this is. Enjoy! -Thorne

It wasn’t unusual for her to suddenly appear in his office. She did it most days. Okay, it was more like every day but that’s not important. The fact is, she showed up and he wasn’t at all the least bit surprised when she barged through the office door and slammed it behind her.

“Morning,” he murmured, taking his eyes off the screen but a moment to lock them with hers.

“Good morning, Bruce,” she responded with a polite smile. “We need to talk.”

That wasn’t unusual either. When she came to the office it was because she wanted to either complain about something going on or because she was bored and didn’t have anything to do, so badgering her best friend seemed like the best option. It wasn’t, but he wasn’t going to tell her that.

“What do we need to talk about?” Bruce questioned, clicking at the mouse until his screen loaded.

“Something important. Something especially important.” She replied and with one hand reached behind her and flipped the lock on his door.

Now that was unusual. And Bruce saw this going one of two ways and he hoped it wasn’t the first way that involved her pulling a gun.

“Okay,” he said and watched her out of the corner of his eye as waltzed around his desk and perched herself on the corner. “Am I in trouble, (Y/N)?”

“If you disagree with me, you will be,” she retorted and she started fumbling in her tote.

“You sound serious,” Bruce noted.

(Y/N) harrumphed. “I am quite possibly the most serious I’ve been in years.” She pulled out three manila folders and handed them to him, watching as he opened the first and started reading through it.

He didn’t say anything as he opened the others and read them but frowned when he set them aside and went back to his computer.

“I’ve already planned on a new secretary, (Y/N).”

She watched him with careful eyes and explained, “Those aren’t secretary files, Bruce. They’re marriage candidates.”

At that, his entire body went rigid and ever so slowly he drew his gaze from the screen back to her, staring her straight in the eyes.

“I…beg your pardon?” he asked as if not understanding what she’d just said.

(Y/N) rolled her eyes and picked up the files. “Each of these women are successful elites from either Metropolis, Star, or Central City. You have arranged marriage meetings with them Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday to decide which one you want to marry.”

This was happening way too fast, and he still didn’t know what “this” was.

“I’m not opposed to marriage, (Y/N), but why?”

She pointed to the picture on his desk, and he briefly glanced at it. Him, Dick, and Alfred on Christmas morning last year.

“Dick needs a mother.” She was never one to mince her words. “A father can raise a son, but the boy needs a mother’s love too, Bruce.”

“I think you’re a bit out of line here.” He remarked, brows pulling together. “We’re fine at the manor.”

“Bruce…please don’t take this the wrong way, but you’re not a soft man. You’re hard edges and firmness, and while that isn’t a bad thing, Dick needs a mother who can be the parent that isn’t firm. He needs a mother’s guiding hand.”

She handed him the files again. “I’ve met each of these women. They’re good women who will make wonderful wives and even better mothers.” She stared at him. “You should know how important it is for a boy to have a mother.”

Bruce was on his feet in an instant, in front of her, eyes narrowed into a glare as he bit out, “(Y/N), now you’re out of line.”

“Really?” she challenged, not at all threatened by his towering figure. “Look my in the eye and tell me which parent you miss more. Thomas…or Martha?”

“I miss both of my parents. Every day.”

“And I don’t doubt that. But I know you miss Martha the most. Isn’t she the one you promised to save Gotham for?” (Y/N) questioned and his mouth snapped shut, jaw clenching tightly as he averted his eyes because he knew she was right.

She reached out and rested a hand on his forearm, forcing his eyes to hers once more; her gaze softened and she murmured, “You miss your mother more than the world, Bruce. How do you think Dick feels every night when he goes to sleep? Fathers are the protectors for their children, but mothers are the comforters—there are going to be things that you can’t help him with, but a woman can.”

(Y/N) gazed at him and pulled her hand away. “At least go and meet them,” she requested and when he didn’t say anything, she sighed and picked up her tote, making her way to the door.

She flipped the lock and paused, glancing over her shoulder to say, “At least think about what I’ve said, Bruce. For Dick…and for you.” He met her eyes and she added, “I think getting married would be good for you too.”

He nodded, and since that was all they could hope for, she left the office and Bruce collapsed into his chair, turning around to stare out the window.

***

His theory that she would show up Friday evening proved true when she waltzed into his office and took a seat in one of the leather chairs in front of his desk, delicately crossing one of her legs over the other.

“How’d the interviews go?” she asked, not even bothering to ask him how his day was or how his week had been.

“My day was great, (Y/N), thanks for asking,” he mocked with a glare and she waved it off.

“Interviews, Bruce. How’d they go.”

He let out a sigh. “They went well. Each of them was polite and kind.”

“And?” (Y/N) gestured for him to continue.

“And nothing. That’s it.”

She huffed and crossed her arms over her chest. “Seriously? You just met them for a singular purpose and all you’ve got it, they’re polite and kind?” She glared at him. “What’d you talk about?”

Bruce sighed again and reclined in his office chair. “Humanitarian works, college days, high society—you know, the usual.”

(Y/N) gave him an unamused look. “Did any ask for a second date?”

“All of them in fact.”

“Did you agree?”

“No.”

Her head lolled back, and she glared at the ceiling. “Did you even think about what I talked about a few days ago?”

“I still am.”

“Then why didn’t you agree to see one of them again?”

“Because there wasn’t anything we had in common.”

“Most people who have arranged marriages don’t, Bruce. That’s why you go on dates and get to know them.” Her eyes were still on the ceiling. “What’s the real reason you said no?” She always knew when he’d lied to her.

After a moment, he murmured, “…I didn’t think any of them would be suitable to be Dick’s adoptive mother.”

“I guess that’s…fair,” she agreed and they both fell silent.

A couple minutes later, he said, “I’ve been thinking about what you said though, (Y/N). About finding a wife who would be a good mother for Dick.”

“Uh huh.”

“I think you’re right. I do offer Dick everything a father could. Support, protection, guidance…but he is missing that love only a mother can give a son.”

“And how’s that making you feel?” she questioned softly.

His voice got quiet. “Like how I was when I was growing up without mother. (Y/N), I…I don’t want Dick to feel that way.”

At that, she drew her gaze from the ceiling to his eyes and she reasoned, “Then I think you should call one of the girls back and agree to a second date. You won’t find perfection in one day, even with how intuitive you are.”

Bruce shrugged. “I just want to find someone closer to Gotham. Someone who is familiar with us already.”

(Y/N) grunted. “I purposely moved away from Gotham because no one is.”

“That’s fair,” Bruce chuckled, and they fell into a silence again.

Suddenly, a thought flashed across her mind and she sat up. “Us.” She blurted out and he looked at her.

“What?”

(Y/N) gestured between them. “Us, Bruce. You and me.”

“I don’t follow,” he replied with a confused expression and she huffed, rolling her eyes.

“You’re an idiot,” she griped, then she stood and planted her hands on his desk, leaning over to get in his face. “You and I are the closest to Gotham as you’ll get, and I’m familiar with you and Dick.” She smiled. “Marry me.”

She could count on one hand how many times she’d ever stunned her best friend silent and that was number two because his jaw went slack and his eyebrows shot up to his hairline, steel blue eyes wide.

(Y/N) frowned. “Oh, come on, you can’t tell me the thought didn’t cross your mind at least once.” Silence. “Oh my God, are you serious? You didn’t even think about it at all? Like ever?”

He shook his head, mouth still hanging open.

“Oh, for God’s sakes, close your mouth and wipe that stupid look off your face. It’s not a completely inconceivable idea, you moron.” (Y/N) held a hand up, counting off her fingers, “I’m of acceptable status, I dress well, I’m thoroughly educated, I do humanitarian work all over the world, I love your son, and I’m probably the one woman that doesn’t make you wanna stab yourself in the eye with a fork.”

She grinned at him. “You’re not going to find anyone better than me here in Gotham, Brucie-boy. Besides, I think (Y/N) Wayne has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?”

Finally, he managed to make himself speak and he blurted out, “I stopped thinking like five minutes ago. I’m not even sure how to do that anymore.”

(Y/N) pulled a face and griped, “You’re an idiot.”

“I am not,” he retorted with a glare. “You can’t just propose to your best friend out of the blue and expect them to function like it’s normal!”

“You’re Batman,” she whispered. “Figure it out.” (Y/N) pointed at him. “There’s another plus on my side! I already know your deepest secrets! See, aren’t I a catch?”

“Was this your plan all along?” Bruce suddenly questioned and she gaped at him for a second before shaking her head.

“…No.”

“(Y/N),” he drawled, and she sighed.

“Alright, it crossed my mind a couple times but that’s why I started with the other women first. I was kinda hoping you’d pick one of them.” (Y/N) looked at him. “I really don’t see anything wrong with us getting married though. We’ve been friends since we were babies, we have a lot of the same interests, and we both care for Dick.”

She shrugged. “I mean we might not be in love, but our marriage doesn’t have to be. We’re stepping up for a greater good. For a young boy who deserves to have two parents.” (Y/N) reached out and held out her hand. “So? What do you say?”

Bruce gazed at her for a long time, longer than she was comfortable with because she knew he was mentally pulling her mind apart. After a few moments he stood and walked around the desk to stand in front of her.

She pulled her hand back in and gave a curious look. “Bruce?” His hands gently took hold of her cheeks and he leaned forward, even as her eyes went wide and she whispered, “Bruce, what—”

He softly brushed his lips against hers and (Y/N) all but melted against him, her hands pressed flat against his chest. They pulled away a moment later and he rested his forehead to hers.

“I think we can make it work, (Y/N).”

She couldn’t fight the giddy smile that came over her face. “Yeah?”

Bruce matched her smile. “Yeah.”

***

“So, you’re tellin’ me,” he started dubiously, looking at him. “That you and Ma only got together because you guys wanted to make sure Golden-boy had two parents instead of just you?”

Bruce didn’t even take his eyes off the screen as he responded absentmindedly, “That pretty much covers it.”

Jason threw his hands in the air. “There’s no way! There’s no way that shit was arranged! You two make googly eyes at one another when you think no one is watching and you kiss Ma before you go to work every day!” he looked at his brothers. “Y’all know what I’m sayin’ right?”

Tim nodded. “Jay’s got a point, dad. For an arranged marriage, the two of you are really in love.”

Dick placed a hand over his heart and smugly admitted, “You’re welcome everyone, for bringing mom and dad together in real love.”

A chorus of “Fuck you’s” echoed from Jason and Tim, and Damian placed his hands on his hips.

“When did you know you loved Umi, Father?”

Finally, he pulled his gaze from the Batcomputer, and even behind his cowl, they could see the love he had in his eyes and in his voice as he said, “Your mother and I dated for a year before we married, but the night of our wedding, we spent it at the manor and Dick crawled into our bed and spent the night wrapped in our arms.”

Bruce smiled. “I woke up early that morning and saw him curled in (Y/N)’s arms and all I could think was that I’d never loved a woman more than that moment then.” His eyes shifted to all of his sons. “And I’ve only fallen deeper in love with her with each of you that’s come into our home. You make us better parents every day and I wouldn’t change what I was given for anything in the world.”

He barely had time to breathe before all four of his sons were crashing into him, squeezing him as tears spilled down their cheeks.

Bruce huffed a quiet laugh and took a moment to brush a hand through each of his sons’ hair. “I love you, boys.”

A chorus of “I love you too’s” came back at him and before anyone could speak, they heard someone coo, “Aww, that’s so sweet!”

They spun around to see (Y/N) with her phone out, a mile-wide smile on her face, eyes shining with tears.

“Ma…what are you doing?” Jason questioned and she clicked something on her phone.

“Oh, nothing, my sweet boy,” she smiled, and all of her sons started pulling away from Bruce.

“Did you just record that?” Tim asked and she took a step back.

“I would never!” and she stared them down for a split second before spinning on her heel and hauling off towards the stairs. Her sons sprinted after her and she let out a squeal as she skipped the steps two at a time to get away from them.

“Ma come back here!” Jason shouted.

“Umi! Our dignity is on that phone!”

“I dunno, I think it’s sweet!”

“It’s not going to be sweet when she sends it to the group chat that every superhero is in, Dick! We have reputations!”

“Oh…that’s a good point, Tim. Mom! Come back here!”

(Y/N) gasped as someone’s arms wrapped around her waist and she came face to face with Bruce—well, Batman, and she yelped when he pulled her phone out of her pocket.

“Bruuuuuuce!” she whined. “Please don’t delete it!” (Y/N) reached for the phone and he held it out of reach. “Darling, my sweet darling, Bruce, please,” she plead. “If you love your wife and mother of your children, you won’t do that.”

His gaze darted to hers and she pouted, sticking her bottom lip out in the way that she knew he’d crack. “Please, my heart. Let me have a reminder of my beautiful boys.”

“You won’t send it to the chats?” he asked, and she crossed a finger over her heart.

“Cross my heart, darling.” He handed her back the phone and she smiled, leaning up to peck the corner of his mouth. “Thank you, Bruce.”

He cupped her cheek with his gloved hand, thumb brushing over her cheekbone and he pulled her into a real kiss, ignoring the exaggerated gags behind him.

“I love you,” he murmured as he pulled away from her lips. “More than you know.”

(Y/N) hummed, her eyes still closed, and she whispered, “You might love me more, but I love you most.” She opened her eyes and gazed at him. “All my boys.”

Suddenly, her phone started dinging like crazy and he stared at her, his Batman voice coming out as he surmised, “You sent it to the chat, didn’t you?”

She gave him an innocent smile and giggled, “I might’ve.”

“You’re going to pay for all the teasing that Hal and Barry are going to give me, (Y/N) Wayne,” he warned, and she scoffed.

“Oh, boo hoo, I’m so scared of what the big bad Bat is go—” a gasp escaped her when he hauled her up against his body and she stared at him with wide eyes.

A siren went off down in the cave and he looked towards the boys. “Go.” They all hurried off, complaining about the various texts they were all getting.

Bruce looked back at her, voice lowering as he growled, “After patrol I’m coming up to the bedroom and you’d better be ready, because I’m not going to stop ravishing you until you’re begging me for release.”

Something hot, tight, and fierce shot through (Y/N)’s gut and she could only flounder like a fish as he pulled her into another searing kiss before he spun on his heel and descended into the cave.

She gathered herself and called out after him, “You can’t just say something like that and then leave! That’s not fair, Bruce! Bruce, are you listening to me!”

Only his laughter echoed from below.

“Bruce!”

[creativeashproductions]

What's a Knife Between Onscreen Family // Charlie Gillespie

Summary: Filming an emotionally wrought scene on the set of your current role as a regular goes very wrong very fast. Expecting the scene to be the most taxing of the day you find yourself in the ER getting a transfusion. It’s all fun and games until someone’s holding a sharp knife incorrectly, guess it’s just something in common with co-star Jared Padalecki.

Warnings: Swearing, blood, fear, injuries, hospital, needles, angst, and fluff

Words: 3.5k (including lyrics)

A/N: I watched a part of a panel from a Supernatural con and found it hilarious that Jensen accidently stabbed Jared. So I had to write that for a Charlie Gillespie fic. Link to the video talking about the stabbing is right below this message.

Jensen Ackles Accidentally Stabbed Jared Padalecki during filming From 1:00-6:00

TO BE TAGGED SEND AN INBOX PLEASE!

Masterlist

It had to be one of the most emotionally taxing scenes in your entire career as an actress on a physically demanding show. The scene had been incredibly mentally draining the daughter of a Winchester. It had been once season recurring, one series regular and now filming the third season. As the teenage Winchester, it threw a wrench in all the plans and the reckless character gave no shits.

“Okay, this is our last scene for the day!” Robert Singer, the director of his episode, called out from off stage. Standing at the top of the stairs in the Bunker, you jumped in close with a scrunched nose at the squishy sound.

Over the railing, both Jared and Jensen nodded their support from the ground level with concerned expressions. Ever since you joined the cast in season 13, they had become fathers to you. The sight of you drenched in stage blood was enough to churn their stomachs.

“I gave you the barebones of the scene so work with it. Briar’s traumatized after fighting for her life and has been gone for a while.” Robert explained, “Cas couldn’t find her. I want this to be a tribute like Dean in season 10 episode 14: The Executioner’s Song.”

Taking a deep breath in your emotions channelled into a hurricane in your chest, clenching your fingers on the knife.

“Action!”

Pacing the floor plan of the Bunker is two brothers bonded by sorrow, pain, sacrifice and love. Each throwing out locations on where Briar could be, Jack and Cas had been little help. Sam’s heart clenched tight bypassing images straight to torture. The kind of torture he had endured over the years.

Dean’s mouth opened to suggest another place when the Bunker door creaked open. The red converse appeared before the soggy jeans as the teen slowly made her way down the steps. Briar Winchester shook like a leaf staring off in the distance as the blood congealed on her face and hands.

“Briar.” Dean slowly spoke, moving towards the girl. His green eyes lit up in fury as the seventeen-year-old flinched back. Dean’s hand gently took the stained knife from the young girl.

“I-I didn’t mean to do it.” The meek voice appeared so unlike the usual confidence Briar talked with. In exhaustion, Briar’s knees collapsed, sending the teen right into Dean’s arms.

The stoic man gripped the youngest Winchester as his waist bearing her weight against his while Sam circled to be behind Dean. The choked sob echoed by another escaped the family huddle; one from Briar and the other from Dean.

“Dad.” Briar choked clenching her arms around the green-eyed adult’s shoulders, craving the safety of her father.

Ever since Dean could remember he had had a strict rule of always practising safe sex, he didn’t want a kid. Not in a world that had it out for Winchesters and not one where he might hold his child’s dead body in his arms. That all changed when Cas delivered Dean to a county jail where Briar was held just for a minor assault charge on a wealthy bully.

Dean never let himself want a future with the picket fence and the dog in the backyard but when Briar changed that. Dean would do anything for his family no matter the cost. Example: Selling his soul for Sam.

“Sh.” Dean spoke kissing the crown of her hair he savoured having his child safe in his arms, “I’ll help you to the bathroom to get cleaned up. We’ll heat some soup and toast.”

On autopilot, Dean helped Briar down the hall to the bathroom where she would freshen up and later burn the unsalvageable clothing. As Dean returned to Sam’s side, Castiel came with a sombre expression and an explanation.

“Dean. Sam.” Cas greeted them, flicking his blue gaze between the two brothers. The faint sound of the shower only picked up by the trained heightened sense of hearing from years of watching over their backs.

“Cas what the hell happened?” Dean demanded, “Why the hell is my little girl bruised and coated in blood?”

END FILMING SCENE

“Cut!” Robert called out to the large room with a big smile on his face, “I’ll watch it back. See if we need more takes.”

Jared and Jensen wiped the tears that fell from their cheeks just thinking on how wrought that scene felt. As fathers seeing a young adult in such a state severely agonized them. The duo jogged to see your back against the cold wall—a pinched expression marring your young face.

“How are you feeling after that?” Jensen asked, coming closer to squeeze your shoulders unfazed by the sticky fake blood. It was already all over his clothes from hugging you in character.

“You shouldn’t be allowed to have sharp objects.” You spoke glancing down at your knee that had been punctured by the knife. The dark jeans soaked in stage blood now concealed the real blood.

 “Jensen, did you really stab another person.” Jared deadpanned his best friend referencing back a few years. Jared shoved one hand through his hair, receiving a nasty glare from the hairstylist on call.

The glare on Jensen’s face blistered the taller actor, “I didn’t stab you. You walked into the knife.”

The two bickered as they guided you back to the main stage where Robert had reached a final verdict. He had watched the replay twice along with his crew finding the raw emotion to be perfect. The little detail the three had added was well played. Dean unexpectedly consoling his daughter in tears; no threats to kill or push her to tell him what happened. The first time Briar referring to Dean as her father. Lastly, Sam’s unsure actions in consoling a young girl sucked into life like he was in his youth.

“We got a one-take winner!” Robert called out sending the entire crowd into loud applause and cheers. Jared taking most of your weight as you hobbled to the costume trailer.

The lovely costume designers helped remove the sticky shirt, jewellery and the red converse that had once been white. Only the jeans remained on your body to not mess with the wound. As much as you’d love to shower the blood off, it was near impossible, moving your knee stung and it was best to avoid aggravating it.

“Someone needs to ban Jensen from knives. Just wait till his wife finds out about this, she adores Y/N.” Martha chuckled from her sketches she designed on her breaks for a future in fashion design. Often in your free time, you would be her guinea pig with her designs using refurbished material.

Normally the banter would continue but not when your leg was bleeding, and Jared was taking you to the ER. To make time faster, Jared had scooped you into his arms to the black car their driver waited in.

“Towels are in place. Sorry, you got hurt, Kid.” Clif spoke, opening the door to the backseat where Jensen sat patiently. Unlike usual, he had seated himself in the front so you could stretch in the back.

A weak chuckle met air in the packed car from the blood loss that wasn’t overly bad but enough that Jared took the towel. His pressure on the wound caused a yelp that had Jensen flinching in guilt.

“The knife must have been sharp to cut a mouse in half,” Clif muttered turning towards the hospital close to set. Coincidently the drive took you passed the set your boyfriend currently filmed at.

“Might as well call me butter.” You retorted wincing at the throbbing pain, “You aren’t allowed any more sharp objects, Mr. Ackles.”

“Danneel already threatened to hide all the knives in the house.” The on-screen father laughed as the tension decreased in the small car. Despite the dizziness, it didn’t hide the guilt in Jensen’s green eyes.

Time flew by as you found yourself in a bed for observation and pictures for the knee. It came as a shock when the doctor requested one blood transfusion for the blood loss. The hope of being in and out had evaporated like water beads on a blistering summer day.

Julie and the Phantoms Set

Charlie adored his life as an actor where he was free to visit places, he might not have had the opportunity to do. He made friends with everyone he spoke to and even met the love of his life as an actor as well.

That being said today had been the longest one with a full schedule and barely time for lunch or snacks. Even a nap was unachievable, and he desperately wanted one for being awake for hours by now.

“Charlie! Did you know you’ve got missed calls?” Jeremy inquired, staring at the phone that went black once more. Charlie’s eyebrows came together at the mention. His family had the rough outline of times he would be unavailable to talk.

Stepping back from the craft table’s supper options, he lifted the phone from the table, bringing it to life. His lock screen showing multiple missed calls and voicemails from you, his family and two unknown numbers.

His jaw dropped further when Meghan called for the first time out of the group, “Megs?”

“Finally! Where have you been?” Meghan demanded pacing in the studio she had been using when she got the call. The pretty and successful young woman had gotten terrified at learning about Y/N.

“Filming? It’s the longest day of filming the show. It’s on the family schedule.” Charlie spoke, settling into one of the empty tables. His eyes watching the people entering and exiting the tent set up for food.

“Jesus. Mom called me when you didn’t pick up. Y/N’s in the hospital.” Meghan revealed sending the Canadian actor into a stiff posture. His hazel eyes blow wide and panic flooding his entire system.

“What?!” Charlie didn’t mean to shout nor turn paler than a piece of white paper, but it happened. The volume contracting looks from everyone in the vicinity. Owen even dropped the donut back in the box by the volume.

“She got stabbed with a knife. I sent the address earlier, and I haven’t gotten a lot of info.” Meghan told her older brother, “I know she’s getting a blood transfusion, but nothing else was released.”

Charlie couldn’t tell you what happened between Meghan telling him and reaching the hospital frantically. Nor could he figure out how Owen was in the back of the Uber with him guiding him through exercises; all thanks to Owen’s therapist for his anxiety.

His sneakers squeaked on the polished white floor in his mission to the receptionist transferring information from a chart to digital. Charlie’s painting brought him attention from the kind nurse acknowledging his presence.

“Just let me finish this one sentence.” The nurse hummed saving the information before turning their full attention to the frazzled male, “How can I help you?”

“What room is Y/N Y/L/N in? She was stabbed and needed a transfusion.” Charlie demanded deflating as Owen placed a hand on his shoulder. The Canadian’s eyes bright with panic and a deep fear

The nurse’s eyes softened, “I can’t give out information on patients unless your immediate family members.”

“I’m here-“

“Husband! He’s her husband, they eloped so she hasn’t changed her last name or updated her information.” Owen blurted out, rubbing the pad of his index finger on the black jeans he had worn for his role. The two hadn’t even bothered changing into their street clothing.

The nurse nodded their head-turning back to the computer to enter the name for the patient for the information. It took seconds before the nurse wrote on the miscellaneous sticky note of the ward and room number.

“My name is Riley. If you need any help, you can come back here, and I’ll do my best to give you answers.” Nurse Riley informed the duo with a kind smile nodding in the direction of your hospital room.

Owen’s long legs ate up the distance Charlie made in his sprint to the stairwell, “Shouldn’t we take the elevator?”

“My girlfriend is in a hospital bed. I can’t wait for an elevator.” Charlie rebuked the suggestion on the second flight. Owen’s sigh was the last sound made as the duo slammed into the door to the floor level.

Charlie and Owen appeared in the doorway of your hospital room panting from the exertion meeting the gaze of two actors. Charlie’s heart stuttered at the sight of the high volume of blood in your clothing and your hair.

The sharp gasp brought your attention to the shaking Canadian actor solely focused on scanning for wounds. His eyes barely staying on the two adult males you had been starring with for a few years. Schedule conflicts often led to no introduction to each other’s co-stars.

“What the hell?” Charlie choked stumbling to the chair beside your hospital bed next to the pole holding a blood bag, “Did you get mugged? Are you okay?”

“Char, take a breath, man.” Owen’s blue eyes shadowed with the worry as Charlie’s breathing shuddered. Owen could barely look at you covered in blood.

“Whoa! Charlie. I’m fine. This is stage blood. We had an intense scene, and there was a minor accident.” Your voice soothed the man gently taking Charlie’s hand to comfort him, “I lost a bit of blood. The doctor decided to give me a blood transfusion to bring my levels back up a bit before stitching it up.”

“How do you get stabbed accidently?” Owen questioned glancing at the two men standing silently in the corner. Due to contracts on the Supernatural set details of scenes and storylines was off-limits.

“Well, during filming, I took a knife from her, and she walked into the blade?” Jensen trailed off, shoving his elbow into Jared’s side at the scoff. It happened every time it was brought up.

“I-“Charlie blinked, shaking his head as he took a deep sigh in pushing that to the back burner to focus solely on you. His hand rubbed his face while he settled on squeezing your one hand in both of his.

The touch of your skin grounding him back to earth with the shattering visions of walking into the world without you. It would be both ways, the second his calloused warm skin brushed your hands; it was like the pain faded. Only a sense of content settled in your weary bones.

“Okay Miss Y/L/N.” Dr. Clancy walked into the room only halting to grab a pair of medical gloves, “I see your entourage grew. I’m Doctor Jim Clancy, and you must be Miss Y/L/N’s husband.”

Three pairs of eyes widened at the doctor’s words aimed towards the brunette actor turning a blushing mess. The words mouthed by Charlie to go with it gave barely any insight, but you did it. The moment you had a free minute with Charlie, you would interrogate him in the new title you had.

“Yeah, my husband.” You spoke flicking an expression to Jensen and Jared that caught on from the years together. They had taken you under their wing on your first day on set, and then you became family with their immediate family.

“I can confirm that my initial observation is that the wound doesn’t have anything that shouldn’t be in there. We stopped the bleeding, the x-ray came clean, we’ll set you up with IV fluid, and tetanus shot to be safe.”

“Nurse Gellar here will cut the rest of the jeans off, get you in a gown for a few hours of observation. Just a precaution for blood transfusions. We’ll have some scrubs you can wear when you can leave.” Dr. Clancy motioned to the tall redhead with a quiet demeanour.

Charlie’s lips lingered on your temple at the fear that flared in your expressive eyes, he would give anything to take your place. He softly sang your couple song as a whimper fell from your lips as the jean tugged the dried blood from the wound. The painful pressure felt as you guessed it had started to bleed again, the feel of liquid rolling down your skin, confirming it.

“I’ll sing anything.” Charlie whispered going through his mental catalogue of songs on your shared playlist, “Oh!”

I’m booking myself a one-way flight

 I gotta see the color in your eyes

 And telling myself I’m gonna be alright

 Without you baby is a waste of time

The tears falling no longer came from the pain but the sheer amount of love you had for the man there. Eyes glittering with pure adoration as his voice came off absolutely heart-melting. So, lost in each other neither of you noticed Owen had been filming from the moment Charlie had said ‘oh’.

Yeah, our first date, girl, the seasons changed

 It got washed away in a summer rain

 You can’t undo a fall like this

 ’Cause love don’t know what distance is

 Yeah, I know it’s crazy

Charlie’s hand slowly slid up your arms to cup your tear-streaked tacky cheeks in his warm grip. The hospital faded as it became just you and Charlie. Completely oblivious at the audience in the room.

“He loves her,” Jensen whispered to Jared out of the camera frame that the blonde-haired kid’s phone. It was such a pure moment it felt disrespectful to see this exchange but also honoured to see it firsthand.

“I’ve only seen the look in your eyes for Danneel,” Jared replied, cupping his hands over his face listening to the near inaudible wet chuckle you gave.

“As I have between you and Gen. They have the real kind of love.” 

But I don’t want “good”, and I don’t want “good enough.”

 I want “can’t sleep, can’t breathe without your love”

 Front porch and one more kiss, it doesn’t make sense to anybody else

“Charlie.” You sobbed at the best part of your life serenading you in such a romantic moment at the odd setting—his hazel gaze greener in what would come to be a very dear memory to reminisce about.

The calloused thumb caressing your cheek wiping a teardrop away he continued to see as the doctor finished suturing the wound. 

Nothing mattered other than the couple currently in a bubble.

Who cares if you’re all I think about,

 I’ve searched the world and I know now,

 It ain’t right if you ain’t lost your mind.

 Yeah, I don’t want easy, I want crazy

 Are you with me baby? Let’s be crazy

Charlie’s voice faded with the rest of the song bringing you back to reality with the nurse cleaning up around the wound. That’s how the rest of the day went on waiting for the blood transfusion and IV fluids to finish. You stuffed the tetanus shot while Charlie sang between different genres.

“Thank you.” You softly spoke with Charlie being the only one left in the room with you.

Owen had headed back to their set to finish a scene while giving the updates on you while Jared and Jensen grabbed food. J2 had been very clear they would get Martha to grab some clothing for when they came back. Jensen was determined to deliver you to your home as the first action to make it up to you.

“For what?” Charlie questioned as your index and thumb picked at the cuticles of the opposite hand. Your eyes were hidden from your boyfriend’s gaze.

“For dropping everything to be here.” The words were quiet in the room only filled with breathing and the heart machine you had to be hooked up to.

“My girl-“

“Don’t you mean wife?” You teased brushing a lock of his hair from his forehead taking in the man you had the honor of loving. Of waking up next to in the apartment, you’d been renting ever since you landed the role on Supernatural; overtime Charlie’s things had just accumulated there.

“It was the only way they’d let me in.” Charlie spoke sitting on the edge of the hospital bed, “It’s a little early to call you, but I’m excited to make you my last girlfriend and then my only wife.”

The chuckle fell from your lips, “So, you want to marry me?”

“In front of all our family and friends. Tucked away from the media to celebrate the love we have for each other.” Charlie spoke, “There’s no one else I’d like by my side for the rest of my life.”

A new flood of tears welled at the sincerity in his voice and the warmth laden in his eyes of kaleidoscope colours. Sometimes, depending on his emotion or his clothing, his eyes would be greener, or when he was happy, they had a blue tinge in the green in sadness or your favourite; brown with the swirls of green.

“How did I get so lucky to have the absolute honour to fall in love with you?” Your words created a swell of emotion in the Canadian’s heart.

“The same way whatever deities there are took pity on a boy from Dieppe by bringing him an angel.” Charlie words preceded the kiss on your lips with a grin as you chased his lips after. With one last peck, he leaned back with a fond expression.

“Seriously how do you get stabbed accidently?” Charlie chortled with that gorgeous smile lighting up the room more than the white lights.

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[calamitykaty]

A Twist of Fate

Charlie x Fem! Reader

Word count:7670

Warnings: Slight Swearing, I think that’s it?

Requested: Sorta? It’s a multi writer topic by @vicesvsvirtuesfanfic​ revolving around the idea of y/n finding an ad to rent a date for Thanksgiving. *You can find the first writers fic HERE

A/N: HUGE thank you to @dream-a-little-bigger-x​ for reading every rough draft of this that I sent her, along with bouncing ideas with me! Also a huge thank you to @vicesvsvirtuesfanfic​ for supporting me when I got stuck and reading my super rough draft! 

I wasn’t gonna post this until tomorrow but now I have a Christmas Reggie fic that I want to post tomorrow so...Happy Reading.

 Y/N wrapped the buffalo plaid scarf around her neck and pulled her favorite slouchy red beanie over her thick mop of curls. Her cellphone was pressed between her right shoulder and ear as she buttoned up her navy peacoat and half-listened to her mom rattle off the preparations she needed to make for Thanksgiving.

“Mom, I really need to…” Y/N attempted to interject only to be cut off by her mother. She placed the phone on speaker and set it down on the counter while she slipped her feet into a pair of black boots. She had stopped listening to her mother’s droning voice nearly a half-hour beforehand, but her ears perked up when her mother asked the dreaded question.

“Are you bringing Noah this year honey? I know you guys like to alternate holidays with his family, but your Aunt Martha is going to make it this year and she is just tickled to finally get to meet him.”

Y/N pursed her lips and ran a hand over her face, she hadn’t told anyone that Noah broke things off with her two months prior. She hadn’t meant to keep it a secret for so long, but her mom loved Noah and she just knew she would blame her for ruining a good thing. She had been dating Noah for three years and it was perfect until Noah started talking about marriage and Y/N began to realize that she couldn’t picture her entire life with him. Noah felt like a moment in time to her, not an eternity. 

“I’ll have to check, Mom, I don’t know what Noah is doing yet.” Y/N settled on a half-truth to buy herself some time. She placed her elbows on the edge of the counter and rested her head in her hands.

“Honey, I need to know by the end of the week, okay?”

She could hear the irritation in her mother's voice at the non-answer that Y/N had given to her. Her mother was a meticulous planner and she could not stand curve balls making a mess of her perfect holiday plans. Her mother treated every holiday as if the editors of Better Homes & Gardens were going to drop in at any moment and do a two-page spread on her decor and perfect meal. 

“Got it, mom! I have to go!” Y/N quickly ended the phone call and shoved her phone into her pocket. She huffed out a heavy sigh and made her way to her front door, grabbing her keys from the catch-all bowl on the table next to the door. She quickly locked up her apartment and rushed down the two flights of stairs to the small community lobby. She adjusted the scarf around her neck and reached for the door but stopped as a new flyer on the community board caught her eye. She took a step back and ripped the paper from the thumbtack that held it to the cork board and shoved it into her coat pocket before pulling the door open. 

Her hair whipped around her face as she stepped outside and was met with the cool autumn breeze that had settled in over the last month. Y/N looked both ways before stepping off of the sidewalk and hurrying across the street where her best friend, Leigha, was already waiting for her inside the small corner cafe. 

“How is it that I have to drive from the other side of town and can make it on time but you literally live across the street and can’t?” Leigha teased as Y/N unraveled her scarf and took her coat off, draping both over the back of her chair before sitting down. 

“Sorry! Sorry! My mother…” Y/N rolled her eyes as she recalled the phone call.

“Enough said!” Leigha laughed, she had one of those laughs that turned heads. Her laugh was always a little too loud and sometimes she would snort, it always caused Y/N to break into a fit of giggles. Leigha had been Y/N’s roommate all the way through college and they had been inseparable since the very first day they had met. 

“So,” Leigha crossed her arms on top of the table,” did you work up the courage to tell her about Noah?”

Y/N shifted her gaze across the cafe and bit her lip “not exactly…” 

“You are unbelievable, y/n ” Leigha sighed, exasperated.  

Y/N snapped her eyes back to Leigha and held her hands up in defense “I tried! Well...I mean…I tried to try…” 

“You know if you show up stag and your mother already has a place setting for a plus one, you might as well just go ahead and bury yourself, honestly” Leigha tutted. 

“That’s why I have a plan!”  Y/N turned around and rustled through the pockets of her peacoat before placing the crumpled flyer on the table. She smoothed her hands over the paper and pushed it towards the middle of the table. 

Leigha snatched the paper up as the waitress came over and took their orders, Leigha ordered a blueberry scone with a chai tea while Y/N ordered a croissant with a side of strawberry preserves and a coffee.

“I mean…” Leigha read over the paper before sliding it back over to Y/N, “you’ve got nothing to lose.”

Y/N bit her lip and stared down at the flyer, re-reading it for the fourth time before she pulled out her phone and scanned the QR code to bring up the app. 

“I can’t believe I am actually this desperate to try to literally purchase a date a week before Thanksgiving.” She muttered as she began to fill out her profile. 

“Wait! Thanksgiving is next week? As in a week from today? I haven’t even made my Thanksgiving Pinterest board yet!” Leigha panicked and grabbed her face.

Y/N looked up from her phone and shook her head at Leigha’s antics “why do you need a Pinterest board? You literally do the same thing every single year.” 

“Yeah…” Leigha jutted her bottom lip out in a pout, “but I want people to think that I am making all of these intricate and super cute appetizers and stuff. It’s the illusion that I care about!” 

Y/N looked up and thanked the waitress as she set the food and coffee down in front of her before turning her attention back to Leigha who was eagerly biting into her scone. 

“Help me answer these?” She passed her phone over to the girl and picked up the knife, spreading the strawberry preserves onto her croissant. 

“Beach or Mountains?” Leigha readout with her mouth half full. 

“Mountains!” Both girls yelled out at the same time and burst into giggles. They continued down the row of questions, passing the phone back and forth until Y/N finally hit the submit button. Leigha practically yanked the phone from Y/N’s hand as the algorithm began to shoot out potential matches. Her thumb scrolled through the pictures at lighting speed before she stopped and slowly scrolled back up before thrusting the phone in Y/N’s face. 

“This one! Oh my god, this one! And if you don’t select the platinum package so that boy can say he loves you then I will literally never speak to you again!” 

Y/N wiped the jam from her chin and grabbed the phone from Leigha. He was cute, there was no doubt about that but unlike Leigha, she cared about what his profile said about him. She scrolled through his pictures, one of him playing guitar, one hiking, one surrounded by friends around a campfire. Lover of nature, endless adventure, campfire songs, and sharing the love with my friends. I’ll jump if you jump, let’s take this plunge together? 

She felt her lips curl up into a soft smile as she whispered his name to herself, liking the way that it rolled so easily off of her tongue. 

“I told yooouuuu!” Leigha sang out and crossed her arms over her chest, a smug look on her face. 

Y/N placed the phone on the table and tried to control the blush that she could fill rising to her cheeks, “calm down,” she rolled her eyes, “I’m paying for a Thanksgiving date, not falling in love.” She selected the platinum option and typed in her credit card number before clicking the purchase open without a second hesitation. 

“I better be your maid of honor!” Leigha teased as the two girls dropped the appropriate amount of money onto the table and began to layer their coats and scarves back on. Y/N pulled the girl into a hug and placed a kiss on her cheek before heading back across the street towards her apartment.

 She had just placed the keys back into her catch-all bowl by the door when her phone began to ding. She felt her heart begin to race as she saw the approval message on her screen that Charlie had accepted her request to rent him as her Thanksgiving date.

“Oh my god...okay...okay, this is fine...everything is fine.” She muttered to herself as she received another notification that Charlie had messaged her. She set her phone down on the counter and peeled her coat and scarf off before slipping her feet out of her boots. She wiped her sweaty hands on her jeans and grabbed her phone, refusing to look at it until she had settled in on her couch. She crossed her feet under her and pulled a throw pillow to her chest before finally sliding up on the notification and reading the message that he sent. 

Let's get to know each other? Lunch tomorrow?

Y/N hesitated for a moment before her fingertips began to slide across the keyboard on her screen.

Sounds good! How do you feel about chicken & waffles? I know a place!

She read over what she had sent several times, worried that she sounded too eager. She could hear her heartbeat in her ears as she waited for his response, watching as several dots appeared and disappeared several times on her screen before he finally sent his response. 

A girl after my own heart! How is 12:30? Send me the address? 

She felt her cheeks grow warm at his response and mentally reminded herself that he was just being kind and that she was quite literally paying for him. 

500 Rue Kennedy Dieppe, NB. and 12:30 is perfect! I’ll see you then! 

Y/N took a deep breath and closed the app before her thumb hovered over her mother’s contact. She quickly clicked on her number and quietly whispered to herself “please don’t answer, please don’t answer, please don’t answer.” 

“Thank god!” she exclaimed as the phone sent her to voicemail. She rolled her eyes at her mother’s elaborate message before finally being told to leave her message at the sound of the beep. 

“Hi, mom...it’s me...I just wanted to let you know that you will need to make sure to set an extra place setting for thanksgiving. Love you.” She rattled off, keeping the message vague but to the point. 

The following day Y/N stood inside of her closet staring at her assortment of clothes trying to decide what said “I'm cool and  definitely not desperate even though I paid for a date for Thanksgiving because my family is insane.” 

She pulled a mustard yellow cable knit sweater from a hanger and laid it out on her bed before heading back to her closet. Her fingers sorted through the variety of skirts before settling on a silky, pleated navy skirt that was cinched at the waist. She laid the skirt out next to the sweater before moving over to her vanity. 

She sat on the poof chair and stared at her reflection for a brief moment before pulling the small drawer to the left open and lining up her primers, eye palette, eyeliner, mascara, and her signature red lipstick. She grabbed the mason jar that sat on the right tableside of the vanity and grabbed the appropriate brushes, lining those up as well. 

She used her middle finger of her right hand to gently swipe the eyeshadow primer onto her eyelids before dusting the brush across a shimmery gold eyeshadow. She used a maroon eyeshadow on her crease and slowly blended the colors until she achieved a golden and subtle smokey eye.Y/N shook her hands out to steady her nerves before slowly pulling the liquid eyeliner across her eyelids and flicking it softly at the end for a subtle cat-eye before she carefully built volume on her eyelashes with the mascara. Finally, she grabbed the matte red lipstick and carefully swiped it across her lips before blotting them with a tissue. 

Y/N jumped at the sound of her phone vibrating on her nightstand. She moved across the room and grabbed the phone from the charger. 

See you soon! 

She felt the nerves settle back into her stomach and wiped her clammy hands on her pajama pants before quickly undressing. She pulled the yellow cable knit sweater over her head, careful not to let it touch her face. She followed that by pulling on the pleated navy skirt,  the fabric falling just above her knee. She pulled on the fabric of the sweater at her waist so that it slightly hung over the waistband of the skirt before she slipped her feet into a pair of black pointed flats. She took one last look at herself in the mirror and pulled her curls over her shoulders before grabbing her purse and slinging it across her body. 

Y/N entered the bustling restaurant and let her eyes wander across the tables trying to find Charlie. She wrung her hands together and pulled her lips into a thin line when she didn’t see him, her heart dropping at the thought that she had been stood up or even worse, that she had really fallen for a scam. She turned on her left foot and reached for the door, barely pulling it open before she felt a hand on her shoulder. She let go of the door, resulting in a soft thud as it closed. 

“Y/N? You weren’t about to bail on me were you?” The soft voice teased as she turned around. 

 “I thought you had stood me up, actually.” She could feel the blush that dusted across her cheeks at the accusation. Her left hand fell to her right wrist, her fingers loosely wrapping around it as she looked up at Charlie through her eyelashes and offered an apologetic smile. 

Charlie’s green eyes crinkled at the edges and his nose scrunched up as he laughed “take the money and run, I wish I would have thought of that!” 

“Oh..” Y/N looked back at the door and then back towards Charlie, “if you don’t want to do this, it’s fi--” 

Charlie smiled softly at her “I was just teasing, I didn’t want to sit at the table by myself in case you didn’t show and have to do the walk of shame, so I was at the bar.” 

Charlie placed his right hand on the small of her back and guided her to a table in the middle of the bustling restaurant. He pulled her chair out for her before taking a seat on the opposite side of the table. Y/N tucked her hair behind her ears and glanced at the menu, though she already knew what she was going to order. The waiter, a young kid, probably seventeen stopped by their table and quickly took their order. 

Y/N  finally looked up to find Charlie staring at her, his face cradled in his hands with his elbows propped up on the table. 

“Why are you looking at me like that?” 

“I’m just trying to figure out why a very beautiful girl would need to rent a date for a Holiday.” 

Y/N felt herself blush at his compliment and shrugged her left shoulder “I got dumped.” 

“Oh, I’m so sorry” 

She smiled and waved him off “It’s no big deal, we wanted different things out of life. He wanted marriage and I,” she hesitated, she hadn’t talked about this with anyone other than Leigha.

“You what?” 

 “I want adventure and I know that sounds silly. Like, of course, you can have adventure and marriage but Noah,” she paused, “that’s my ex.” 

Charlie nodded and gestured for her to continue, “Noah works in the financial district and he wanted marriage and kids and stability….and I barely know what I want to eat for breakfast let alone what I want for eternity.” 

“You’re a free spirit, nothing wrong with that!” Charlie interjected and Y/N felt her first genuine smile of the night spread across her face. 

“You get it.” 

“I do get it.” 

Y/N thanked the waiter as he sat down two beers along with their orders of chicken and waffles, before turning back to Charlie. 

“So, tell me about your family. What should I prepare myself for?” Charlie lifted the pint glass to his lips and took a sip of the amber-colored beer.

‘Well,” Y/N blew air into her cheeks and sighed, “my mother thinks she’s Martha Stewart. So be sure to compliment the decor as soon as you see her. You’ll win her over for sure...and maybe don’t mention the whole free spirit thing or you will definitely end up on her list of terrible suitors that I have brought home.” 

“Noted.” Charlie nodded before adding, “and your dad?” 

“My dad is easy going, just talk about beer and hockey and you'll be fine.” 

Charlie threw his head back in laughter and Y/N couldn’t help but smile at the way his whole face lit up when he laughed. She felt a flutter in her stomach as Charlie leaned forward so that his forearms rested on the table and his fingers lightly brushed across hers before he pulled back. Y/n pulled her hands off of the table and dropped them into her lap, her fingers lightly traced over the silky fabric of her skirt.

“Is everything okay?” 

Y/N inhaled a sharp breath and rolled her bottom lip into her mouth before exhaling, “yeah, but I should probably tell you something,” she looked up at Charlie through her eyelashes. 

“Well, c’mon then..” Charlie teased after several seconds of silence. 

“My folks don’t exactly know that Noah and I are….done...and I know there’s going to be a big event made of it when they find out.”

“Oof…” Charlie sighed and took a swig from his beer and a bite of his food. 

Y/N felt her heart beating in her ears, “I understand if you, I mean if this is too much and you want to back out.” 

Charlie looked at her with a playful smirk, “are you actually going to eat that or?” He pointed at her untouched plate of food with his fork. 

“W-what?” Y/N looked down at her food and back up at Charlie before letting a smile slip onto her face. She didn’t understand how someone she had just met could put her nerves at ease without even trying. 

Charlie let his fork clatter on his plate before leaning forward on his elbows. Y/N watched with furrowed brows as he grabbed the maple syrup and poured it in a circle over her chicken before he leaned back into his seat and met her eyes with a soft smile on his face. 

Y/N picked up her fork and knife and cut into her maple drenched chicken before popping a small bite into her mouth, “are you happy now?” she teased Charlie before putting her fork back down. 

Charlie tried to hold back the smile that threatened to take over his face as he nodded his head. 

“So, what’s our story going to be? It’s gonna have to be a good one if I have to upstage Noah to win over your folks.”

The two spent the next hour concocting a believable, but very romantic story of how they met. They talked about their likes and dislikes, their quirks and habits, and all of the little things that couples are supposed to know about each other, 

Y/N felt butterflies erupt in her stomach as Charlie walked her to her car, his left hand just barely brushing against hers. She mentally scolded herself for feeling jittery over a guy that was simply fulfilling his job, but she also couldn’t help but hope that maybe he was feeling their connection too.

“I’ll pick you up next Wednesday at 4 pm, yeah?” Charlie asked as they arrived at her car. Y/n tucked her hair behind her right ear and nodded. 

She felt her breath hitch as Charlie leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her cheek before walking backward and sending her a wave. 

A week later and Y/N found herself pulling on a green sequined, long sleeve dress, the hem set just above her knees. It was her go-to holiday dress, classic but not too formal. She painted her face with gold eyeshadow, a sharp winged eyeliner, and her classic red lips. Her hair hung over her shoulders in cascading curls. She sat on her bed, fastening a pair of strappy black heels when her phone dinged. She fastened the buckles of her heels and grabbed her phone, a smile instantly sliding onto her face at Charlie letting her know he’d be at her place in five minutes. 

She stood up and checked her appearance one final time before grabbing her gold clutch handbag and shoving her phone into it, just as Charlie knocked on her door. She quickly made her way to the front door and turned the lock before pulling the door open. 

“Wow…” Charlie breathed out as she came into full view. 

Y/N shyly smiled back at the boy, thankful that the blush she had on her cheeks already would mask the red glow that she could feel heating up her face.

“You’re not too bad yourself,” she teased, her eyes trailing from his brown wing toed shoes up to his pristine white button-up and finally to his slightly coiffed hair.

“Shall we?” Charlie extended his arm out to Y/N after she locked her door. She looped her right arm through his left, her hand resting lightly on his forearm as they made their way through the corridor and outside to Charlie’s car. 

He opened the passenger side door for her and waited for her to get situated before closing the door and running around to the other side of the car. Their forty-minute drive was mostly silent as Y/N worked to calm her nerves down. She knew that she was going to have a lot of explaining to do when she showed up with Charlie in place of Noah and she was trying to memorize all of the details that they had agreed on a week prior. 

“Are you okay?” Charlie glanced over at her for a brief moment before returning his eyes to the road, his left hand took hold of the steering wheel as his right hand settled on her bare knee. 

His hand was warm against her cold skin and Y/N wasn’t sure why but she found her left hand moving to settle on top of his hand. Without hesitation, Charlie flipped his hand over and let her palm fall into his before his fingers slid between hers and gently curled. 

“Just nervous…”

Charlie lightly squeezed her hand before letting out a small chuckle “if I didn’t know any better, I would think that you’re the one about to meet my family.”

“Oh, I’m not nervous about them meeting you, they’ll love you,” Y/N clarified,” I’m nervous about the terrible things that I know my mother is going to say to me about ending things with Noah.”

Charlie licked his lips as he pulled into her parents’ driveway. He pulled his right hand free from hers and put the car in park before turning slightly in his seat to face her. 

“You know that nothing she says is going to be true, right? You don’t have to live by someone else's timeline for your life.”

Y/N pushed down the warming feeling in her heart and nodded her head at his words. 

“Yeah, I know...are you ready?” 

Charlie smiled brightly at her and pulled the keys from the ignition before getting out of the car. He double-stepped around the car to the passenger door and pulled it open for her, waiting for her to get out before closing the door. 

He slid his left palm into her right hand and tangled their fingers together before placing a soft kiss on her hairline and whispered “let’s put on a show.” 

Y/N could feel the nervous energy erupting in her stomach as they stood outside of her childhood home. She took a deep breath before twisting the doorknob and pushing the red front door open. They were met with the warm heat of the home and the smell of cinnamon as soon as they stepped inside. Charlie let his eyes wander across the walls of the entryway, scanning the line of pictures before tugging Y/N over to one. 

“This is you, yeah?” The question was rhetorical as it had been obvious that it was her in the picture. She stood on a cliffside, at the top of a mountain with a bright smile on her face, her childhood dog, Rex, beside her and the ocean behind her. 

“Yeah, I was seventeen and went backpacking by myself for the first time. My mom was so mad. This family that was passing by was kind enough to capture the moment for me and my dad insisted that it be hung on the wall of accomplishments…” Y/N rambled off the story before letting her eyes move from the picture and up to Charlie. 

Charlie smiled down at her and laughed, “this is gonna sound insane, but I think that was my family that stopped and took the picture.”

Y/N pulled her brows forward so that her forehead was pinched in the middle “shut up! No it wasn’t!” she finally exclaimed. 

“Rex….the dog’s name was Rex. I remember because I thought you were pretty and I got flustered and I said something dumb about Rex from Toy Story.”

Y/N’s eyes grew wide as Charlie recounted the story and she felt her cheeks growing red at the revelation “well, this is a weird twist in fate--” 

She was cut off by the sound of her dad’s deep voice bellowing her name as he turned the corner. Charlie pulled her into his side and let his right-hand rest on her hip, while her right hand rested on his chest. 

“Well, this certainly isn’t Noah!” Her father exclaimed a large smile on his face and his eyes soft. He had never been the biggest fan of Noah’s to begin with. 

Charlie dropped his hand from her waist and stepped forward with it stretched out towards her dad, “Charlie Gillespie, sir.” He was taken aback when her dad threw his head back in laughter and pulled him in for a full bear hug. 

“Nice to meet you, son” 

Y/N giggled at her dad’s antics, he had always been the type to do things like that. He was a stout man with laugh lines at the corners of his eyes. He had graying hair and a well-kept beard and he radiated kindness. 

“And you, little missy, are going to have a lot of explaining to do to your mother.” Y/N pulled back from her dad's embrace and blew the air out of her cheeks. 

“Yeah, I know…” 

Her dad gently squeezed her arm and gave her a reassuring smile before leaving the two to grab a beer from the kitchen. 

“Why do I have the overwhelming feeling to call your dad pops and ask him over to mine to watch hockey?” Charlie joked. 

Y/N shrugged and tangled her fingers with his, “I told you he was the easy one. Are you ready for the rest?” 

“Lead the way, beautiful.” 

Y/N tugged on Charlie’s hand and he followed behind her as they made their way to the den where her brothers were corralled around and a card table, intense looks on each of their faces as they held their cards close to their bodies. Their wives were set on the opposite side of the room. Y/N could feel the three women’s eyes on her as she entered the room with Charlie and she knew their hushed whispers were aimed at her and the fact that Charlie was very much not Noah. 

Her youngest brother, Josh, was the first of the three boys to look up and notice her. He dropped his cards on the table, face down, and scooted his chair back against the hardwood floors. 

“Junebug!” He yelled as he practically launched himself towards her. Y/N exploded into a fit of giggles as her feet left the floor and he twirled her around in circles. Josh was three years younger than her, sitting at nineteen but she had always been the closest with him. Her giggles quieted down as he sat her back down and turned to Charlie. 

“Well, you’re not Noah.” Josh quipped with a playful smirk on his face. 

Charlie rubbed the back of his neck and laughed “I have a feeling I am going to be getting that a lot today.” 

“You play poker?” Josh eyeballed him. 

“I know my way around a deck of cards, yeah.” Charlie shrugged. 

Josh turned to Y/N and lightly punched her shoulder, “looks like you got yourself an upgrade, Junebug!” 

Y/N rolled her eyes at her brother and wished Charlie luck as he was pulled over to the table and introduced to her two older brothers, Samuel and Michael. She felt her shoulders relax for a moment as the table erupted with laughter from something Charlie had said. He looked up from his cards and shot her a wink before turning his attention back to the game at hand. 

Y/N glanced back at Charlie one last time before making her way over to the prying eyes of Amy and Melissa, the wives of Samuel and Michael. The two women each held a mug of her mother’s homemade cider in their manicured hands. 

“Who’s the cutie?” Amy was the first to speak, her left eyebrow raised as she asked the question. 

Y/N looked over her shoulder for a moment with a smile before turning back around “Charlie…” 

“Oh! Well, you’ve certainly never said Noah’s name like that before!” Melissa looked at Y/N with wide eyes. 

Y/N shook her head at the two gossipy women “like what?’

Amy and Melissa both shot knowing looks to each other before Amy quipped, “sweetie, that boy’s name left your lips like honey falling from a spoon.” 

“It did not!’ 

“You can deny it all you want, but we both heard it!” Melissa declared and brought her mug up to her lips, taking a sip of the warm cider. 

“Looks like I’m out boys!” Y/N heard from the other side of the room. She glanced over her shoulder to find Charlie laying his cards down on the table before he slid out of his chair. She smiled at him as he made his way over to her. He stood behind her, his arms wrapped around her waist and tugged her back into his chest, his head resting on her shoulder. 

“Charlie, these are my sister-in-laws, Amy, and Melissa.” 

“Very nice to meet both of you.” Charlie beamed at the two women. 

Melissa and Amy stood up at the sound of heels clicking against the tile floor of the kitchen. Melissa made her way around Y/N and she gently squeezed Charlies’s bicep, “good luck honey.” 

Charlie pressed a kiss to Y/N’s cheek and tightened his arms around her waist as he felt her body tense in his arms.

“You’ve got this,” Charlie reassured before loosening his grip on her and letting her grab his hand. 

Y/N sucked in a deep breath and gently pulled Charlie behind her as she navigated through the formal dining room and towards the kitchen where her mother was sure to be found. 

She stopped just inside the doorway to the kitchen and turned to face Charlie, “you can still get out of this, ya know?” 

“I wouldn’t dream of it.” Charlie placed his hands on her shoulders and gently turned her around, nudging her into the kitchen while he followed. 

Y/N stood silently for a minute as she watched her mother pull the green bean casserole from the oven and wipe her hands across her floral apron. Her mother was a thin woman with auburn hair that was almost always pulled into a chignon. 

“Mom? Can I talk to you?” Y/N hesitantly asked, suddenly feeling less like a twenty-two year old woman and more like a twelve-year old child. 

“What do you want to talk about, dear? Because if it’s about Noah,” her mother grabbed a wooden spoon and stirred the brown gravy that was simmering on the stove, “then I frankly don’t have time to listen to your childish reasons for ending the only good thing you had.” 

“You know?” Y/N choked out

Her mother grabbed the pepper grinder and began to twist the top over another pot of food, “I called Noah after we spoke last week since you couldn’t give me a straight answer when I called you.” 

“Oh…” Y/N placed her hands on Charlie’s chest and gently pushed him backward. Her eyes pleading with him to give her a minute. She didn’t want him to bear witness to the reprimanding she knew was about to come. Charlie hesitantly left her side and waited on the other side of the door. 

Her mother finally turned around to face Y/N. She placed her hands on the edge of the counter, her knuckles white from the tight grip. 

“Honestly, y/n. I don’t know why you can’t get your life together. You graduated college just to throw away your education for this silly photography hobby of yours and now you threw away a perfectly acceptable relationship because you want to travel and have adventures? You’re not a child, anymore, y/n. When is this going to stop? When are you going to grow up?”

Y/N stood silently as the words washed over her. She could feel the tears pricking at the corners of her eyes and let out a shaky breath. 

“I…”

“What? You what, Y/N? What explanation could you possibly have this time?” Her mother cut her off. 

Charlie pushed himself off of the wall he had been leaning on from the other side of the door and quickly made his way back into the kitchen. He felt her mother’s eyes on him as he quickly pressed a kiss to Y/N’s cheek, his hand sliding across the middle of her back before he put on his best smile and made his way over to her mother. 

“You have a lovely home, Mrs. Y/L/N. My mother would be insanely envious of the spread you’ve created, it’s magazine worthy!” 

“Thank you, dear. You are much too kind! I am so sorry, but I don’t believe I caught your name?”

Y/N looked down at the floor and smiled to herself at the charm that Charlie exuded as he introduced himself to her mother and offered to help her bring the endless amounts of food to the formal dining room for her. 

“I’ll go gather everyone.” Y/N shot an appreciative smile to Charlie before she made her way back to the den to gather the rest of the family into the dining room. 

Y/N made her way over to the empty chair next to Charlie, the latter getting out of his own chair to pull her chair out for her before sitting back down. He placed his hand on the inside of her thigh and let his thumb rub circles on the top of her leg. 

Her dad stood at the top of the table and carved the turkey while small talk was exchanged between her brothers and their wives and suddenly the question finally came from her mother. 

“So, how did you two meet?” 

Y/N glanced over at Charlie not sure if he was going to take the lead or not and was surprised when he started spitting out a story that was definitely not the one they had agreed on during their lunch meeting, 

 “I met your daughter several years ago on a hiking trip with my family,” Charlie paused and looked over at her before continuing, “my older brother, Patrick actually took that photo that you have on your wall in the entryway!” 

Y/N’s heart was beating erratically as Charlie squeezed her knee before turning his focus back to her mother “your daughter took my breath away that day and I kicked myself for weeks for not getting her number and just having this missed connection. I guess you could call it a twist of fate, really, that I found her again.” 

Y/N’s mother smiled at the two of them and Y/N felt her body tense for just a moment before relief rushed over her at her mother’s words “that may be the most romantic thing I have ever heard in my life.”

“Can we eat now or?” Josh hesitantly asked as he grabbed the plate of yams and began piling a portion onto his plate. 

Y/N felt at ease for the rest of the evening as their shared meal went off without a hitch. Her family shared embarrassing stories of her with Charlie and she sipped glasses of wine as he endlessly complimented her. Her heart felt full as the night drew to a close and her dad pulled out the last Thanksgiving tradition. The wishbone was passed around the table until it landed in her hands. She turned to Charlie and gestured for him to grab the other end of the bone. They both tugged on the bone with their eyes closed until it snapped. 

Y/N opened her eyes and looked down at the fractured bone in her hand and then over to Charlie who was holding the larger side. 

“Make a wish,” she whispered to him with a soft smile on her face. Charlie shook his head and kissed her forehead. 

“I don’t have to, I’ve got everything I want right here.” 

Y/N dropped her eyes to the table and reminded herself that as much as she felt the connection between her and Charlie, that he was just playing a role.

She looked up as the sound of chairs sliding against the floor filled the room. She followed suit and slowly stood up from her chair. 

“Do you need help, mom?” 

“You go ahead and head out honey, I know you have a long drive.”

Y/N made her rounds of goodbye to her family before looking back at Charlie and grabbing his hand. They silently walked to his car and he opened the car door for her. Y/N hummed along to the songs that played on the radio during the drive back to her place. She tried to ignore the heat that she felt in her stomach as Charlie’s thumb ran across her knuckles every now and then. She watched the cars that passed by them, red tail lights lighting up her face as they drove on the highway. Before she knew it they were parked outside of her apartment. 

“I guess this is it then…” Charlie looked over at Y/N as she unbuckled her seatbelt. 

“I guess so.” Y/N agreed, her right hand rested on the door handle as she looked at Charlie, her eyes searching for any indication that he didn’t want her to leave. She let her hand pull on the door handle when Charlie didn’t respond. 

She swung the car door open and stepped out into the street before making her way to the sidewalk. She turned around at the sound of another car door shutting and was taken aback by Charlie running over to her side 

“I should walk you to your door,” Charlie answered the silent question

Y/N smiled and led the way through the apartment corridor until they stood outside of her door, her keys dangling in her left hand. She looked up at Charlie and smiled, “you didn’t have to see me inside, ya know?” 

Charlie rubbed the back of his neck with his right hand and shrugged, “all part of the job.” 

Y/N felt her smile falter and turned around to place the key into the lock of her apartment door. She quickly turned the key and opened the door before stepping inside. She turned to look at Charlie one last time, “well, thank you for giving me my money’s worth,” she let her eyes fall from his. 

“Goodbye, Charlie.” She closed the door and dropped her keys into the catch-all bowl before kicking her heels off and making her way over to the couch. She let her body slump into the soft cushions and pulled her phone out to call the only person that was going to understand. 

“Tell me everything!” Leigha demanded as soon as her face appeared on the phone. 

‘Well,” Y/N sighed, “I think I accidentally started to fall in love with him.” 

Leigha couldn’t stop the giddy laughter that erupted from her small frame “I knew this was going to happen! I so called this!” 

Y/N rolled her eyes at her best friend and poked her bottom lip out in a pout “it’s not funny Lee...I’m never gonna see him again and now I have all of these feelings to deal with.”

“You don’t know that!” Leigha argued

“I appreciate that you’re a hopeless romantic, Lee, but I was nothing but a paying customer to him...he basically said so himself.” Y/N frowned, thinking back to Charlie’s words as he walked her to her door. 

“Oh...hun, I’m so sorry.” 

Y/N let a sad smile slip onto her face, “I’m gonna go to bed, coffee tomorrow morning?”

Y/N hung her phone up and pulled herself up from the couch. She shuffled through the apartment until she reached her room and slowly peeled the sequined dress from her body. She made her way to the vanity and grabbed a makeup wipe and slowly removed the makeup from her face before she crawled into bed and pulled the covers tight around her body. 

It was 8 am when Y/N was pulled from her slumber by her phone blaring the ringtone that Leigha insisted she set for herself. She rolled over with her eyes still closed and fumbled around for her phone before slowly cracking her eyes to hit the green button.

“What?” Y/N grumpily answered

“Don’t what me!” Leigha chastised, “there’s a cute boy at the cafe and he just ordered your order! Like to the T!” 

Y/N set up in her bed and pressed her fingers into her eyes, rubbing the sleep away in small circles. 

“Ok? And?” 

“AND?! AND!!! His name is Charlie! I swear to god if you don’t get out of bed and make yourself look decent, I will literally kill you!” 

Y/N dropped her phone onto her bed and pulled the covers back. She quickly made her way to her bathroom and brushed her teeth. She stared at herself in the mirror and ran her fingers through her messy bed head, her curls tangling together between her fingers. 

“Shit..okay….okay…” She muttered to herself and opted to twist her hair up into a top knot. She secured it with a hair tie and ran back to her room where she threw on a pair of black leggings and an oversized jumper. Her heart nearly leaped out of her chest when she heard a knock on her door. 

She wiped her hands on her leggings and quickly made her way to her front door. She took a deep breath to settle her nerves before reaching forward to unlock the door. Her hand shook as she turned the doorknob and slowly pulled the door open. Stood on the other side was Charlie with a small brown bag and a hot coffee extended out to her. 

Y/N stepped to the side and opened the door wider, allowing Charlie to come in.

“What are you doing here?” She asked as she took the bag and coffee from his hands. She sat the bag on the counter and pulled the cup to her lips, taking a small sip. She hummed to herself as the warm liquid slid down her throat. 

Charlie stepped forward and hesitantly took the drink from her hands, setting it on the counter behind her. Y/N watched anxiously as Charlie’s eyes moved across her face, flickering between her eyes and lips several times before he lifted his hands and placed one on her right cheek while the other cradled her neck.

“I’m gonna kiss you now,” Charlie whispered into the space between them before catching her lips with his. Charlie pulled away before Y/N had a chance to react, his face glowing red as he held his bottom teeth between his top two teeth. 

“Is this free of charge?” Y/N joked as she placed her hands on Charlie’s chest and leaned forward, bringing her lips back to his. 

@straywonpil @siennanoelle01 @choppedhoundsludgeclod @cool-ultra-nerd @hxney-bunches-x @crybabyddl @sorryyoureoutofmyleague @dream-a-little-bigger-x @kcd15 @all-in-fangirl @ifilwtmfc @onlygetaway @iainttakingshitfromnobody @angryknightstatesmantrash @jazzyhales @bathtimejish @lanasfandoms @miranda0102 @emotionalbruv @aliandthephantoms @multifandombabies @kinda-really-lost @5sosmukefan @alexpjoyner @mo-d3ans @hannahhistorian92 @sunsetcurvenotsunsetswerve @i-should-be-writing-my-own-fic @sunflowerbecca @n0wornever @vicesvsvirtuesfanfic

[starblue2406]

Fans are worth a lot, what fans do is worth gold and the opinion of the fans is a treasure, if I have learned anything from bad experiences with other creators and my view of excellent creators both near and far, is to learn to love the creations of the fans and their point of view.

I know how valuable a work is to a fan because I have been one myself, even though there are opinions that are rather demanding, there will always be someone who really admires and respects your work, so much so that they not only get inspired but also give their perspective on it. That last one is a beautiful thing and having the opportunity to tap that someone's shoulder and tell them that you are willing to join in is magical.

Whether it's with a drawing, a meme, an AU, a conversation or a piece of writing and whether it's with whatever intention or tone, it's a beautiful thing.

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It is necessary to differentiate from the imposition and the loving display.

This is the second option.

It is important to walk around and if you are lucky enough to have a small fandom like me, listen or read every opinion and anything that comes up personally. They are the ones who see from afar realities that you as a creator wouldn't see. That's normal, sometimes you're so wrapped up in the planned line of your story that it's very hard for you to think of other possibilities so far away from the plan.

That's why I try to get involved in anything that has to do with my fic, I want to see any point of view, whether it's to inspire me, comfort me or just have a good time.

In this case I would say that this little piece of writing has made me Saturday, I have found the cure to the pain and overwhelm that I have felt in strong or mild intensity.

I already have my plans for my ending, for the development and relationship between characters. But this has let me see that there may be another possibility. Initially I was planning to just have fun with this AU and say to myself "what would have happened if you hadn't done it"; but this writing, so well taken care of with the details and that has managed to simulate so much to something I would write, makes me see that I am still in time to solve so many things.

It's important to listen to people's opinions, not to fanservice or to accommodate someone else's tastes. It is important to listen to the opinion of the people, not to make a fanservice or to accommodate someone else's tastes, but so that together they can enjoy the work that is in your hands and so that from a critical and loving perspective of a third party they can build a better future for the work they love and value.

So if I change my plans slightly, abruptly or completely, don't feel guilty or bad. You simply gave a new path that before my perspective was unimaginable but I listened to you, I looked at you and you inspired/helped/enchanted me.

THE PEOPLE DESERVE TO BE HEARD!|

@starblue2406

Because I couldn't leave this idea alone. This is so rushed and rough, but I had to get it out of my system. This AU is going to consume me now.

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Martha wasn't sure what to think.

She remembered she changed her mind about going to Alola. She wanted be with her husband, so on short notice, took a smaller ship back to the mainland. Then made the trek inland back to Michina. For those few days, she dreamed how their reunion would go. He'd miss her. She missed him. They'd embrace. Prehaps it would spark something intimate at last.

But it hadn't turned out that way.

Instead she caught her husband in the arms of another. She felt that this was a dream, a very strange horrible dream. Damos? With another man? Surely she couldn't be awake. She was probably still in Alola, asleep, she'd wake up soon, and laugh about all this. Because this couldn't be real. Damos would never do this to her... not her Damos. Not the man she loved so dearly. He'd never cheat on her like this. Of course this was a dream...

But why did everything feel so real? The sweat on her brow, her heart beating so fast, a cold chill, the two men staring right back at her in surprise and horror. One she didn't recognize at all. Sort of...

After her feet failed to get her away from the scene, she slumped down to the ground. She wanted to cry. She wanted to be angry. But there were so many emotions swirling in her she didn't know what to feel anymore. She sat against the wall, her head on her knees, sobbing. She wondered what she did wrong to have her husband seek out someone else. Or was this going on behind her back since they were courting? Was this man a past lover that was trying to break them up? She didn't understand.

There was an inaudible murmur between the men, and a rustling of blankets as she heard footsteps approach her. She looked up to her husband, his torso wrapped in a blanket. He looked absolutely remorseful.

" Martha...I'm so sorry." He began.

" How...how could do this to me?" She shook her head "Didn't I give you enough? Was I not enough?"

" You are! You absolutely are!" He explained.

" So why this..?" She motioned to him, the bed, and the man on it. Her temper was flaring now. Her eyes darting to the stranger behind her husband. The intruder in their lives. " Why is he in OUR bed, Damos? Why would you allow him in our marriage bed!?"

" I know you feel confused...but please listen!"

" Confused? I dont even know how to feel! How am I supposed to feel? Happy for you? Happy that you will gladly share the bed with him, but not me? Why on earth did you marry me for?! You should have married him if you did not love me!"

" I love you, Martha. But... I love Arceus, too."

Martha's blood turned cold. That man on the bed was..Arceus?! It couldn't be, but when she looked again, the man already donned his usual clothing again with a mere snap of a finger. The appearance was unmistakable. Her heart was racing. This was worse than she thought. It wasn't just a mere marriage affair, this was sacrilegious! Damos would be hung for this! Stoned!

" Oh Damos, what you have done? What did you do?! How could do such a thing to our creator?! You'll be killed for this! Your entire family name will be ruined!! Erased from history!! What will become of me?!"

Arceus spoke up at last. " Damos will not be killed, I will not allow that. He is not solely to blame. I too, love him. This is as much my fault as his."

This hit her hard. In several ways. At first she believed Damos might have forced himself on Arceus, but to hear from her own perfect, divine creator that he wanted this. He was fine with Damos being intimate with him in such a way. It made her head spin. This was so against everything she believed about Arceus.

But there was also a strange thought that entered her head too. If he was okay with this, did it mean, this wasn't sacrilegious? That maybe the texts were wrong or misinterpreted? That unions between human and pokemon were...okay? After all, Arceus made the very concept of perfection. So, if this was fine, then this meant it was also part of perfection? Maybe Arceus could change its meaning?

She blinked back tears as Damos knelt beside her, holding her, she didn't push him away. Her mind was racing a mile a minute trying to put together the fractured pieces of everything she thought she believed. But even if Arceus was fine with this, it didn't give him a right take away the love of her life.

" Even if it's Arceus, I just can't accept this. I love you, Damos! I don't want to lose you! But I know I can't compete against a god."

Arceus shook his head, making his way toward the two.

" You do not need to compete against me. Not that you could. However.." He looked at Damos " Do you not think this has gone on long enough? I dont wish to cause such a rift in your relationship. And there is also my image at stake."

Damos looked up. " ...I don't know. I'd be heartbroken to lose either of you."

" You can only have one of us." Said Arceus, now sitting next to the couple " Right? Is that not how human relationships work? And you are already married to her. That is not the case between you or I."

" But I still don't want to lose you." Explained Damos "I love you just as much as I love her. My life wouldn't be complete without you both. But you're right, normally there is only one partner."

It was here Martha saw the tension between them. Neither wanted to say goodbye, however she was not going to let Damos go either. So where did that leave them? Damo's last words also reminded her of something she saw back in Alola. The culture was very different than their own in many ways, but one of the most striking was that it was perfectly acceptable for marriages to consist of three or more people. A woman could have three husbands, a man, two wives, or any other combination of that.

At first, she thought it was obscene. But then, as she saw the lovers interact and live their daily lives, the more she sorta liked that set up. There was no loneliness there. If the husband had to go off to trade with another island for a few days, the two wives had each other as company. If a husband passed away unexpectedly, she had her other husband to console her. There was always support. There was always love.

She envied that. When Damos was busy with Markus or the temple...it got lonely. Sure she had friends but there were times she wanted someone to hold as a lover. It would've been nice if there was someone else she could turn to during those times.

She looked back at Arceus and Damos. What if, both of them could be that for her? She could be that for them. After all, if she admitted. Arceus was rather attractive on top of being such a generous and patient deity.

But could she ask..? Would she dare..? Could he love her too?

" Damos.." she said softly " If you love him, I won't stand in your way."

" Martha, no! I'll do right! Arceus is right, prehaps it's time we do call this off. I haven't been a good husband to you, I promise this sort of thing will stop."

Martha shook her head. " You don't need to call it off. I'm not going to dictate your feelings for me or him. Instead, I'll allow it of you allow me to join in."

The two men collectively looked bewildered. So she explained the unique relationships she saw in Alola. Arceus had heard of such a thing before from Lunala, but never thought to consider it an option in his own life. It certainly did seem ideal for what was going on.

Damos was incredulous, it seemed so absurd, but Martha explained some of the benefits of such a set up, and suddenly he felt that maybe...just maybe.. such a thing might work out for them.

" But even if this could be ideal.." He turned to Arceus " Is this something you could accept?"

Martha looked up at Arceus hopefully. " Could you? I dont know you very well, beyond the sacred texts, but I'm willing to learn more about you in a different way if you have room in your heart for one more?"

Arceus silently admitted the same thing. He didn't know much about her, only what Damos said, and it was always in a good light. Sure he felt jealous of her when Damos first announced their marriage, but he never hated her for that. She was a good woman, a good match to Damos. Prehaps...she could be a good match for him? Besides he really respected her now, instead of breaking up him and Damos, she found a third option where everyone could be happy! That was smart and compassionate of her. He could see himself learning to love her.

" Of course!" He gently took her hand " Please show me what love is like from a woman. I'd like to know about all kinds of human love."

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[imaginationjunkie]

Say the word

Jason Todd x Reader

It’s kinda heartwarming

I tried to control my fast breaths, lifting my head from the crook of Jason’s neck to give him a lazy kiss. Deliriousness coursed through our veins, minds hazy from the aftermath bliss of an intimate climax.

Being apart for weeks for his mission and my conference clearly had one gigantic perk- the mad intense I-missed-you-so-fucking-much sex.

It doesn’t matter if it was the first or the thousandth time, the feeling of his body against mine never failed to weaken my limbs to mush and warm my heart, like it’s soup being heated up on a stove.

A smile split my lips as I tried lifting my naked body up from his chest, and failing. The thick, muscular arms that were tightly wrapped around my waist stopped me from doing so. It made me smile wider and lean down to put my lips on Jason’s.

“You know you’re gonna have to stop doing that right?” I murmured, running my fingers through his dark raven locks. A chaste kiss was placed on my cheek by his smirking lips.

“Hmm? Doing what?”

I leaned down so that our bare chests pressed against each other, lips hovering over his. My whisper was naughty as I answered him.

“Why should I? We both seem to like it so very much,” Jason nuzzled his nose against mine with a mischievous smirk.

“Because if by any chance I get preggers before marriage, my parents will chase you to the ends of the earth and decapitate the crap out of you,” I whispered jokingly, but meant every word. “And then after they’re done with you, they’ll feed me to the demons.”

My ever-so-daring boyfriend’s reply was to lowly chuckle and simply kiss my shoulder. 

Affection came naturally to us now, especially since Jason had been touch starved practically since birth. The first few months of our relationship, I had to have a mental debate every time before touching him; how far I should go with the cuddling, to hold his hand or not, put my legs on his body while cuddling or not...

Unlike his brother Dick, who much to Jason’s irritation loved pulling me into a tight hug every time we met, Jason just wasn’t the affectionate type.

After a few months, I understood how badly he needed to be touched- to be loved, to be comforted. When he got the message that it’s okay to hold me as much as he wants, that there’s finally someone he can lose himself in, someone he can love, he found a way to touch me every spare moment we spent together. Kissing my neck, nuzzling his nose, holding my hips, putting his large hand on the small of my back or around my waist, constantly lifting me onto his lap- the list’s never ending.

“I’m serious, a child out of wedlock is beyond just a sinful taboo in my family,” I booped his nose, leaning my forearms on his chest to hold my upper body up.

Jason pretended to be lost in thought for a while before suddenly rolling our bodies over to our sides, the ridges and sinewy muscles of his defined chest flush against my back. He tucked the messy portion of my hair out of the way before kissing from my neck up to the back of my ear. 

“Well since marriage is out of the question, I’ve no option than to not make my pull out game weak,” his tongue darted out to lick my ear teasingly.

Ignoring the pang that hit my heart at his statement about marriage, I turned to swat his chest teasingly. My lips were unable to hold back a grin at his reference to WAP .

“What? You’re the one who keeps dancing to it every morning,” Jason grinned back at me.

“It’s 4 am, we should sleep,” I shook my head at him, turning to face forward again. Jason and my shared bedroom turned dark as he flicked the dim bedside lamp off, making the glow of moonlight our only source of light.

The warmth from having his arms encased around me brought a serene feeling, making me think about how impossible it’d be to live without Jason Todd. 

“I love you,” he murmured against my neck.

My eyes closed shut, senses overwhelmed with the depth of my feelings.

“I love you,” I whispered back.

I had an amazing life- loving and supporting, albeit sometimes overbearing, parents, a great job, a pretty apartment, and a man I’m certain I’d love and be loved by for the rest of my life. For the entirety of my existence, I’ve had the one thing Jason never did- stability. 

But when it’s meant to be, it’ll always be. 

God, fate or whatever higher force is up there looking over us made sure to let our souls find each other. Cherish each other. 

I knew Jason’s views on marriage and children. It was hard enough for him to indulge himself with something as normal as a committed relationship, that too for two and a half years; but it’d actually be impossible for him to be a husband, a father. He didn’t have a basic job in the least, and thus didn’t think tying the knot and being a family man would be suitable for him. 

Ever since I was a little girl, one of the things I’ve wanted greatly was to be married to the man I loved someday. But for Jason I could give it up. I could give up the hopes of having a ring on my finger and a baby on my belly, because he means more to me than anything ever will.

¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡

*2 months later, New Year’s eve night at the Wayne Manor backyard*

“Damian, those aren’t fireworks, they’re explosives!”

At my alarmed exclaim, Dick quickly snatched the big box from his younger brother’s hands, waddling his finger as if to say ‘no no’.

“They’re fireworks,”  Jason assured from behind. “The kid and I labelled it explosives so Dick doesn’t steal it,”

Dick’s face scrunched up in confusion, “”Why would I steal your fireworks? I’ve better things to do for fu-”

“Miss, the barbecue is ready. Would you like to add the last bit of sauce on top?” The always-polite and everyone’s favorite Alfred smartly interrupted Dick from saying the curse word.

Every time I practically forced my boyfriend, his brothers and father into having a family night, Alfred let me help with the food; and since I suck beyond words at cooking, he always gave me the easy tasks to do.

Now if you’re thinking that prevented me from considering myself as the world’s second Martha Stewart, you’re wrong.

I clapped my hands together in delight, “I’d love to!”

“No she wouldn’t,” Jason, Dick and Tim said at the same time.

I turned to them, perplexed at their concurrent interference. 

Taking note of the unusual shiftiness in the boys’ stances, I raised a brow- “And why is that?”

Out of the three suspicious-looking brothers, Dick replied- “Because there’s only 20 minutes till midnight and you have to help us set the fireworks off!”

Now both my eyebrows rose, and I crossed my arms against my chest.

“So you’re telling me,” I said in slow amusement, dragging the words sarcastically. “That three of the strongest night vigilantes of Gotham, one being a violent nutcase once,” a look was thrown in Jason’s direction, “Needs an ordinary girl to set off fireworks?”

This time Tim responded, “Well you see, we’ve never set them off. None of us has ever had the chance to have a normal new years with fireworks and a countdown,”

“Really?” I deadpanned, voice turning into a shrill by the end of the question, “So have I been planning and working my ass off every new year’s for the past three years to make robots happy?”

Tim realized his mistake, sheepishly rubbing the back of his head before trying to redeem himself. “But we’ve never had a family new years, y’know, with the barbecue and fireworks,”

“Also, you’re nowhere near ordinary,” Jason added in a low voice as he came to stand behind me and kissed my temple. I rolled my eyes at the cheesiness, wrapping an arm around the middle of both the boys’ backs.

Right then Damian piped in, surprising everyone. “Plus you’re not a girl, you’re a woman,” he emphasized on the last word, making Jason scoff with a smirk and everyone else laugh.

It didn’t take long for me to grow on Damian, making him accept and like me. From what I heard from his brothers and Alfred, he didn’t like most people and never went easy on newcomers. I was especially concerned about getting Jason’s family to like me, since he didn’t have much of a good relationship with them and I wanted to change that. In the end everyone ended up accepting me; and gradually even treating me as one of their own. Dick and I were practically best friends.

Despite what he used to say, I knew Jason loved them all like they were his own blood; so I knew that it meant a great deal to him to rekindle his relationships with them.

Bruce Wayne’s voice spoke for the first time that evening, “Good evening, my apologies for the delay,”

An awkward silence took over our so-far cozy night. All of the boys looked other directions, not acknowledging their dad who never bothered to show up to any family days on time. I tried my best to knit the boys together, help them get close and create a bond; and saying that I succeeded wouldn’t be a lie. But the fact that Bruce couldn’t even take one day off from his billionaire/ vigilante duties sort of upset me every time.

Jason scoffed, his mouth opening to say something undoubtedly snarky to his father. But before he had the chance to I stepped on his shoe and gripped his hand tightly, silencing him.

“It’s okay Bruce, at least you made it,” I smiled.

The excruciatingly tense atmosphere was cracked by Dick, “I still need help with the fireworks, anyone up for it?”

“I’ll come!” I was quick to squeak and walk towards him.

“Me too,” Damian grumbled, following me.

Tim was the last one. “Yeah, me as well.”

“Great, so you guys do the fireworks and Jaybird and I will be right back!” Dick clapped his hands together in perky delight, pushing Jason’s back forward as they walked into the manor. From the distance, I saw Jason shrug Dick’s hand off before glaring at him. Again, confusion filled me at their strange behavior tonight.

“What was that about?” I asked Tim.

He smiled, “Nothing, probably just vigilante stuff.”

As the minutes passed by, the new year came nearer and nearer. The three of us successfully managed to set off the first batch of fireworks, looking up at the sky and laughing freely. Even Bruce had a small smile as he took a sip of his drink, looking up and the lit up sky with a hand in his pocket.

When it was about 10 minutes to the clock ticking 12:00 am, worry started to cloud the excitement I was feeling; but Tim and Damian were quick to distract it.

“Now can we do the grand purple one?” Damian gave me a rare pleading look.

“Yeah we can, but where’re Jason and Dick? They’re gonna miss new year’s,” I voiced my concern. 

Right then, my phone started ringing. 

Incoming video call from mom.

I answered, knowing that my parents were calling to say Happy New Year like they did every year. What rendered me surprised after receiving the call was that almost my entire family was on the frame of my mom’ video- two of my aunts, uncles and all the cousins I’m close to. Which are a lot.

I’m a family person, if you couldn’t tell already.

“Hi baby!” My mom grinned.

I grinned back, glee taking over the initial confusion.“Hey y’all! Are you having a New Years party without me?”

One of my younger cousins replied, “Sort of, now show us!”

My brows furrowed, “Show you what?”

A string of ‘oh shit’s sounded from mom’s side, further increasing my confusion.

Out of the blue, Dick intervened from behind me, “The fireworks of course!”

A sudden bang! took us all by surprise, and I looked up to see the huge purple fireworks lighting the dark canvas of the sky up. A wide grin split my lips, along with all the other boys as they whooped at the different shades of purple. It happened to be my favorite color. 

I felt the familiar warmth of Jason’s body against my back before hearing or seeing him. The digital clock on the top corner of my phone read 11:55 pm. Not being able to contain my excitement, I subconsciously shoved my phone to Tim, who was beside me, while my family was still on video. I raised a hand to point at the sky.

“Jay look, it’s all so purple!”

And then something happened. Something I wouldn’t even dream of imagining.

Jason’s larger hand rose to the level of mine, which was still pointing up at the sky. He spread my fingers out so that my hand was displayed open. I turned to look at my boyfriend, not quite understanding his intentions.

His eyes were trained on mine, a golden and purple reflection from the fireworks and balcony lights visible on the glossy blue orbs. 

Our eyes stayed on each other’s as I felt something cold graze the top of my ring finger.

In the background I heard Dick harshly whisper, “Tim, the song!”

I wasn’t dumb. I knew what my boyfriend was holding on top of that finger.

Jason’s lips were an inch away from my ear as he spoke clearly, not a hint of hesitation in his voice, “Just say the word, and I’ll put a ring on you.” 

I couldn’t even look at it as I tried to get over the giant bucket of emotions that was thrown over me. Shock, flabbergast, sheer happiness, disbelief, excitement, a rush of adrenaline. My heart threatened to beat the crap out of my chest.

“Jason,” I whispered, my eyes fluttering shut as he put his chin on my shoulder, inches from mine. “What. Are. You. Doing??”

He bit his lip, smiling before cryptically answering. “I love you.”

“I thought you didn’t want to get married?” I questioned again. “Do you think I’m pregnant? Are you doing this cause-?” my voice was breathy.

Jason smirked, his unoccupied arm going round me from behind to rest on the other side of my waist. “No baby, I don’t. The twenty something negative pregnancy sticks on the bathroom trash sort of made it clear that you aren’t pregnant.”

I couldn’t hold back my own grin from his teasing. For the first time, I turned my head to look at our hands. The sky was phenomenal in the background of them, a swirl of blue, red and purple as Damian and Dick continued setting the fireworks off. Tim was holding my phone up to where Jason and I were standing, undoubtedly showing the scene to my family. Now I knew why they were all gathered together to call me.

“You asked my parents?”

Jay rubbed his nose on my cheek, his smart-assery coming to action as he quoted my words from that night two months ago- “Of course, wouldn’t wanna be chased to the end of the earth and be decapitated the crap out of now, would I?”

The boys all had blinding bright and hopeful grins on their faces; even Damian! Alfred’s expression could only be described with one adjective- delight, and Bruce had an odd smile as he saw the straight-out-of-a-movie scene unfold.

I turned my head to the side to look at Jason again, grin faltering to a small smile.

This time nervousness coated his expression and words as he asked once again, “Will you marry me?“

I heard my mom speak through the phone, “Oh come on, stop torturing the poor boy! Answer already!“

Taking a deep breath, I leaned my head even closer to Jason’s. His blue eyes pierced into mine with their intensity, and my lips touched his as I said the word softly. 

“Yes.”

[elysianightsss]

It’s Just Business - one

Werewolf Steve Rodgers x reader series

Warnings for the series: fluffness, Bucky and Sam bickering like five year olds, smutty smut, bad language.

Part two

“Buck, I can feel her here.” Steve spoke, his figure frozen as his wolf tried clawing his way out. Fighting to find it’s mate.

“The only people here are the servants.” His beta replied patting his shoulder. “She’ll reveal herself soon enough.”

“Dinner is served.” An old man dressed in a penguin suit said poshly dragging out each syllable. Everyone gathered around the table taking their seats.

The woman of the house whispered something to the older looking maid, though to everyone else except her husband, they all heard it as though she shouted it.

“Get my daughter down here.” The maid scurried off and the woman plastered a fake smile upon her face. A few moments of waiting later, a sweet scent of vanilla, old books and rain filled Steve’s nostrils.

I walked into the dining room my hair swaying behind me, my outfit was too revealing for my mother’s taste, I could see it in her eyes when I walked in, but I suppose that’s why I wore it. Just to see her pissed off expression, it gave me a giddy feeling inside. Flashing a smile to the participants of tonight’s show. I couldn’t wait to see how my parent’s had planned to brag today.

“I apologise for being late.” I spoke clearly, sitting down at the end of the table, opposite to my father who gave me a small nod. I returned the gesture. Food was placed in front of me and my stomach lurched at the fancy pancy sustenance.

“Would so kill for a burger.” I grumbled quietly, but a muffled snort had me looking at a brunette. He wore his hair in a low man bun, his blue eyes deep. His black shirt suited the dark demeanour he held. Blinking away from our locked gazes, I tuned into the shrill sound of my mother’s voice as she conversed with their wonderful benefactors.

That’s who this meal was for. My father, the Mayor, had only a small handful of people he trusted his affairs to. The three people sat at this dining table were some of them. They gave my father his protection against politisions that might try and weave their way into his office. The three men lead an organisation that I wanted to stay far away from, one that snuck inside other organisations and gained power from knowing their secrets.

The other two groups of people gave my father his money and his immunity to do whatever he wanted to people and get away with it. It wasn’t that my father was a bad man, he had just done certain things to get where he was now. Certain things that gave him his status as Mayor, that gave him his money, that gave him all the secrets that filled his pockets.

My parent’s invite their benefactors over for dinner frequently but I always avoided them, with the excuse of studying or extra curricular activities. However this one I couldn’t get out of, I didn’t think of an excuse quick enough. Was too tired that day and now I had to munch on leafy soup instead of my usual burger and fries from my favourite diner.

I took the chance to look around at the other two men. One was a man who I’d actually met before, once at my Father’s office. His name was Sam, he was kind and funny. Made the meeting we had to sit through bearable with his jokes and the gift of sharing my sarcastic language. His dark purple shirt made him look some what posh, though the bored look in his eyes could of made me laugh until my stomach hurt.

The third man was absolutely gorgeous. He was the kind of man I wanted. All rugged and lumberjack like. His dirty blonde hair slightly overgrown, but not enough to be able to tie it back like the brunette. His beard had me clenching my legs together at the thought of beard burn on my thighs. Damn. How can someone be so hot? I didn’t know it was physically possible for a shirt to stretch that much. The dark blue material was clinging to his body for dear life, trying desperately not to break as he moved his arm up and down gulping down the green soup.

It seemed he was trying to eat it quickly, almost getting it over and done with. Better than having to endure the rath of my mother for refusing her ‘finest’ chef’s qu’usine. He seemed to noticed me staring at him but ignored it. His eyes were blue, they reminded me of the ocean. There was something reassuring about it.

“Miss Alexandra,” I looked to my left to see Martha my personal maid, “there’s a very important call for you.” She could hardly contain her excitement, too loud that everyone heard what she said. I glanced towards my mother who nodded, instantly I was out of my seat practically jogging to answer the phone.

“Hello?” I spoke, cringing at the eagerness in my tone.

“Miss. Culling?”

“Yes this is she.”

“This is Townsend University calling about your application for a scholarship. We wanted to let you know personally that we are declining your application. We’re very sorry.” The woman sounded as if she could care less.

“Can I ask the reason why?” My lip quivered making me bite down on it hard.

“You simply have too much money Miss. Culling. I’m sure your parents can help you in securing a place here. Other than that we have no other way to help you, I apologise. Have a good evening.” She hung up after spouting her bitter train of thought.

My breath came out shaky matching my unsteady hand as I placed the phone down. Covering my mouth to stop any sobs from escaping.

“Oh my dear.” Martha wrapped her arms around my shoulders stroking a wrinkled hand through my straightened hair. “Maybe you should call your brother. Not the silly whipper snapper but the golden troublemaker.” She chuckled at the thought of the boys she basically raised. She was right.

“Little sister to what do I owe the honour?”

“Townsend University rejected me.” I fought the tears that wanted nothing more but to ruin the mascara I’d put on earlier this evening.

“Oh Alexandra. I’m so sorry. Did they say why?”

“Our parent’s money. Same as the others. How did you do it Bash?” My foot tapped against the hard wood floor waiting impatiently for some kind of way to fix my problem.

“Back when I was completing mother and father’s task, colleges only cared about having someone of title on their campus to get a higher status. Now all they care about is money.” He scoffed.

“I don’t have any other options left. Bash what do I do?” I begged him to tell me.

“Why don’t you come here for a few days? You can relax while I think of a plan. Get you out of that retched house.” I heard him flipping through a book and I knew it was his calendar.

“Are you sure Lara won’t mind?” I inquired after his pregnant wife.

“Never she adores you, you know that. Just get through the evening little sister and I’ll have a car come pick you up.” He hummed through the phone.

“Thankyou brother.” I hung up and took a series of deep breaths. I sighed making my way back inside the room.

“Who was it my dear?” Mother asked with a slight glare that if anyone else saw it, they’d assume it was motherly concern. I was not anyone else.

“Bash called.” I replied sitting down next to the lumberjack who’s eyes burned a whole in my head.

“Oh our eldest son, he is a delight.” My mother chirped.

“Isn’t he just.” I quipped under my breath. I loved my brother dearly but I couldn’t help but be slightly jealous of the affection he gained from both my parents when I had none.

“I’m staying there for a few days before finals start.” I smiled at her. She seemed to think it over for a moment before glancing at my father.

“I think it’s a good idea.” He shrugged and went back to whatever they were talking about before I came back in.

Soon dinner was over, it took far too long for my liking. My father and his benefactors retired to his office for a while. My mother on the phone to one of her stupid friends bitching about something I didn’t care to listen to. I just wanted this evening to be over.

“Miss, your father would like a word.” Omg did he know already? Did he find out I had failed? No! He couldn’t! He promised to stay out of it until the end of the year. Wiping my sweating hands on my jumpsuit, I knocked on the office door and went in.

My Father’s office wasn’t too big or too small. The double doors I stepped through were made from a dark wood like everything else. There were books covering every inch of the right wall and a window on the left one. In the middle was a big desk my stoic parent sat at. The three men scattered around the room. The brunette sat at the windowsill. The blonde stood leaning against the bookshelf. And Sam sat in the left of the two chairs sitting opposite my fathers desk. I took the right and waited expectantly.

“You’re going to stay with Steve here until the end of summer.” He gestured to the blonde from earlier. Steve Rodgers. That was it? That’s all my father had to stay.

“Why?” I wouldn’t usually question my father but something in me pushed to ask. I had a right to know.

“I said you’d be sent somewhere this year for your survival skills and this is it. Anything could happen at any moment. You could be kidnapped or this very house could be held hostage. I have be sure I’m not worrying about you in case that happens. I need to know that I can focus of the business side of it not emotion.” He grunted. As if he had any emotions at all.

“The end of summer...starting when?” My nails dug into my palms, I started to feel so angry. I was eighteen years old for Christ sake and he was sending me away like he did when I was a child to summer camps so he didn’t have to deal with me.

“After you come back from your brother‘s house.” Suddenly I never wanted to come back from Bash’s house.

“But that’s eight months.” I sputtered, this was ridiculous. He was sending me away for almost a year give or take a few months.

“You dare question me in my own home?” He leaned forward on his desk glaring me down. I had glared back before and had faced the consequences. Not this time.

“No father. I’ll start packing the second I’m home.” I lowered my head.

“Good. Now get out.” I didn’t need to be told twice. The moment the door closed behind me I ran to my room pulling a bag out from my closet, packing what I’d need for a few days away and leaving without a goodbye. The car was already waiting for me just as Bash had promised.

“Thank. You. Bash.” I grinned getting inside the black car and telling the driver to step on it. Thoughts plagued my mind while I gazed out the window at the big trees.

Why was I being sent away? Why so long? Why didn’t my parents love me enough to want me to stay? Was it my fathers idea? How the fuck was I going to make a plan to complete my parent’s task if I’m up in the forest? Was it the forest or mountains? Or both?

But the question I didn’t expect my mind to conjure up left me slapping my hand against my head to pushed it away.

Was I going to enjoy living with the big sexy lumberjack called Steve?